At the precipice of a new year, there’s only ever one important question to be asked at this moment in December: What will we remember? Continue reading
Category Archives: 2015
Remembering Scott Weiland: 6 Songs That Reveal Lasting Musical Contributions
Although sometimes seen as a divisive figure among music fans and the industry in general, former Stone Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland had an undeniable impact with a steady string of alternative-rock hits in the 1990s and early ’00s. His death on Thursday offers a chance to reflect on those contributions. Continue reading
Pick Of The Day: New Dylan Box Set Features Song Sketch That Is Greatest Incomplete Masterpiece
A new, massive box set released Friday documents Bob Dylan’s whirlwind year of 1965 and 1966. While this compilation offers many examples of how masterpieces emerged in the recording studio, it also brings fans perhaps the greatest incomplete song in Dylan’s canon. Continue reading
2015 / Live Reviews / Music
Concert Review: Glorifying Americana, Dave Rawlings, Gillian Welch Excel As Roots-Music Missionaries
Although the members of the Dave Rawlings Machine took the stage in Madison Friday night dressed as every rural American archetype, the reason wasn’t to get a start on Halloween trick-or-treating. This Appalachia-loving string band was just getting in character to do what musical evangelist do best: Bring the fire to the people. Continue reading
Soundbytes: Pop Music’s 5 Frighteningly Great Halloween Songs
As a favor for those ghost and ghoul wannabes, here are a few songs that are worth adding to your Halloween playlist in time for the costume parties to come. Continue reading
Remembering Steve MacKay: Listen To Stooges’ Sax Player Forge A Masterpiece
Authors and critics might be correct when they write off Detroit-area saxophone player Steve Mackay as simply a sideman to the Iggy Pop-led Stooges in the early ’70s, but doing so sadly undervalues the importance of his contributions. Hired hand or not, any musician would want to be involved in making a musical masterwork. Continue reading
2015 / Live Reviews / Music
Concert Review: Elvis Costello Uses Hits, Deep Cuts To Signal Artistic Vitality
After a 30-year absence, Elvis Costello returned to Madison on Thursday night for a performance that seemed designed to prove a single theory: He’s just gotten better over the years. Continue reading
Eau Claire Music Festival Puts Wisconsin, Minnesota Music At Center Stage
For the next two days, the center of the introverted underground-rock world will leap from hipster blogs and snarky music websites to a real-world stage in western Wisconsin as the inaugural Eaux Claires Music & Arts Festival begins on Friday in Eau Claire. Continue reading
DiFranco Joins Wisconsinite’s Songwriting Protest Against Confederate Flag
Indie-folk siren Ani DiFranco has joined dozens of other performers to contribute to an online songwriting protest against the flying of the Confederate battle flag in the wake of a shooting rampage at a historic black church in South Carolina last month. Continue reading
Remembering Ornette Coleman: Listen To 5 Masterpieces
It’s a cliché that a genius’ work is often only recognized after death, but this will surely be the case when history renders its final assessment of maverick jazz saxophonist Ornette Coleman. His life’s work was anything but a worn-out cliché. Continue reading
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