This blog has a bold and simple goal: to "write about every R.E.M. song, eventually." Since its launch in March, Pop Songs 07 has gone about its task with candor and seeming ease. The brief posts take on song after song from R.E.M.'s oeuvre, frequently delving into the group's history, surfacing quotes from Michael Stipe on a particular tune's origins, or refuting popular notions of a track's great success or lack thereof. The pop maven behind the site clearly adores the band, but he (or she?) isn't afraid to venture an opinion. One post asks, "Seriously now, were they even trying with "I'll Take the Rain"?" Another comments, "It's pretty clear that an entire album of this sort of thing would've been rather ill-advised." The Web's R.E.M. community has responded. Some of the posts have garnered up to 100 comments, many of them glowing with pleasure. Michael Stipe, we're just waiting for you to weigh in.
Filed under: Music, Blogs, Rock and Pop
Whether considering his groundbreaking work with the Talking Heads, his eclectic solo career, or even his really big suit, ya gotta love David Byrne. The guy's no slouch when it comes to the Web, either.
His site, DavidByrne.com, is chock full of goodies, including CD tracks, performances, a faithfully updated journal, and his own Internet radio station, on which he features a monthly selection of his latest musical passions. He and fellow musician Brian Eno have also made a couple of tracks available online for re-editing, mixing, and sampling from their seminal "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts" LP.
We wrote about Radio DavidByrne.com back in 2005. Recently, we caught up with the musical maverick over email to ask a few questions about the state of songs online:
Hey David, how long have you been using the Internet?
Wow, it's hard to remember. Early-to-mid nineties maybe? Dial up for years—I would go and make a cup of coffee while a single webpage loaded. I remember an art website called Spleen by a guy named Piotyr something or other. It made it obvious that there were possibilities out there.
How do you feel about the whole file sharing issue?
Every serious study (shows) that file sharing has NOT cut into CD sales. Really. That doesn't eliminate any moral or ethical questions, but it means the industry might look elsewhere for a scapegoat. People need to get out more and listen to and experience music, though. That's my only worry—that folks could become more isolated. But I'm optimistic that it's in our nature to socialize. Read the full profile...
Filed under: Music, Rock and Pop, Yahoo! Picks Profiles
For Jews who like to rock—or just enjoy ethnic parlor games—thank Moshiach for Jewsrock.org. The brainchild of Atlantic writer Jeffrey Goldberg, XM radio executive Allen Goldberg (unrelated, as far as they know), and Washington Post style reporter David Segal, the site is a celebration of Semitic contributions to American rock 'n' roll. But don't let the lolling tongue of Gene Simmons (aka Chaim Witz) scare you. Jewsrock.org isn't all Bar-Mitzvah Boy bluster and tales of groupie glory.
The site's comprehensive Challah Fame is an Aaronson to Zorn compendium of Jewish artists and groups, from the tenuously connected (Courtney Love?) to the wholeheartedly Hebraic (all of J. Geils Band, except J. Geils). It's great ammo for the next time your know-it-all cousin tries to tell you that half the Knack was Jewish. (Wrong! The whole band was—Sharona, too.) Or that Mama Cass choked to death on an unkosher sandwich. (Wrong! It was heart failure that killed Cass, not ham.)
With a Jewish-themed tattoo gallery, a Steely Dan d'var Torah, and close ties to an organization that helps sick children and their families, this site most definitely rocks.
Filed under: Music, Religion, Rock and Pop, Judaism
Filed under: Music, Collecting, Asia, Album Covers, Rock and Pop
Filed under: The Web, Rock and Pop, Songs and Songwriting, Bob Dylan
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