Category: Music

The new Hold Steady record, Boys and Girls in America was released on Tuesday, and I picked it up immediately at iTunes. I’ve listened to it straight through a bunch of times now, while doing onther things. So, how is it? The short answer is “Not as good as Separation Sunday.” At least, it doesn’t… Continue reading The Hold Steady, Boys and Girls in America

Over at his AOL gig, John Scalzi points to a list purporting to be the Top Ten All Time Pop Singalong Songs. Here’s the list: 1) Baha Men – Who Let the Dogs Out 2) Beatles – Hey Jude 3) Bee Gees – Stayin’ Alive 4) Whitney Houston – I Will Always Love You 5)… Continue reading Sing, Sing a Song

I’m a huge fan of the last Hold Steady album, Separation Sunday, and I’ve spent about six months (not consecutively) earwormed with “Your Little Hoodrat Friend,” so I’d be really remiss if I failed to note that there’s a new Hold Steady album coming out Tuesday. There’s also a nice article about the band in… Continue reading Boys and Girls in America

You know the song. It’s instantly recognizable, even without the slightly daft religious lyrics. The fuzzed-out guitar, the chugging riff, the weird little noises in the background. But who recorded “Spirit in the Sky” (now playing in a Nike commercial near you…)? The guy’s name is Norman Greenbaum, and this is one of those useless… Continue reading The Norman Greenbaum Award

Travis Hime listens to Justin Timberlake so you don’t have to.

Despite turning in early last night, I’m sleep-deprived and I have an early morning lab, so here are some random songs from iTunes to hold you until I feel more like blogging. Ten tracks from the four-and-five-star playlist, with bonus commentary on a few: “Little Razorblade,” The Pink Spiders. A new purchase, that I’m really… Continue reading Random Tracks

Some time back, I asked people to pimp me new tunes, and got a wealth of recommendations. I put in a big iTunes order not long after, and now I’ve had a chance to listen to most of those tracks, so I thought I should post a follow-up summary of what I bought and what… Continue reading New Tunes Follow-Up

As we were driving around the other day, the iPod served up “Valerie” by the Crooked Fingers, which is a weirdly unclassifiable little song. It opens with a skiffle-ish acoustic guitar riff, adds a little steel guitar in the background, then thumping sort of jug band bass drum, with a the vocals coming in aheadlong… Continue reading 116 Lines About 116 Women

Chuck Klosterman is a dangerous author for me to read. Not just because it leads to me posting quotes that upset people, but because I like his writing in a way that tends to creep into my own writing. After he releases a new book, I have be be really careful when I blog about… Continue reading On “Wussy” Songs