On Songs & Albums

A collection of 280 posts

On Songs & Albums

20 Years Later, Steven Wright has His Second Album

When I was a teenager, I memorized Steven Wright's first comedy album: I Have a Pony. He has a new album this week. It's called I Still Have a Pony.  

On Songs & Albums

Jack White Gets Dylan to Play Songs He's Rarely (or Never) Played

Rolling Stone asks: What strange power does Jack White have over Bob Dylan? I don't know, but wouldn't it be interesting if White ended up producing a Dylan album? Sure didn't hurt Loretta Lynn...

On Songs & Albums

The *Second* Over the Rhine Show Set List

I've seen Over the Rhine play live fifteen times now. Thursday night's show was a blast. But Friday's night's second show in Seattle was one of the very best performances I've seen by any band anywhere. They were on fire.

On Songs & Albums

Last Night's Over the Rhine Concert

Here's the set list from last night's spirited Over the Rhine show at the Triple Door in downtown Seattle: * I Don't Want to Waste Your Time * Fever * I'm On A Roll * Nothing Is Innocent * Born * The Trumpet Child * Who'm I

On Songs & Albums

Here Come the "Civilians"

The album I've been waiting for all year comes out tomorrow. Here's Thom Jurek's review.

On Songs & Albums

Pavarotti's Return to Catholic Faith

At ArtsandFaith.com, Steven Greydanus has noted this detail about Luciano Pavarotti that was overlooked in most obituaries. Church leaders and pastors, including Pope Benedict XVI, sent messages conveying their condolences. The Pope's message expressed his sorrow at the loss of "a great artist who with his

On Songs & Albums

Echoes of Pavarotti

Pavarotti's voice will never die. "He had a unique ability to touch people with the emotional and brilliant quality of his voice. He was a man with the common touch and the most extraordinary gift. He will be truly missed by millions," the statement said. To

On Songs & Albums

My Review(s) of Over the Rhine's "The Trumpet Child"

Earlier, I had indicated that my review of Over the Rhine's The Trumpet Child, which arrived in stores on August 21, would be in "the next issue of Christianity Today." Apparently I misunderstood. I've just received the new issue, and the music page focuses

On Songs & Albums

Album review: The Ragbirds, "Wanderlove"

  I've been listening to the new album by The Ragbirds for a few weeks now, and it's been growing on me. So I'm ready to report... First: Listen to new songs by The Ragbirds here, on their MySpace page. When Yes Nearby danced its

On Songs & Albums

Over the Rhine in the Netherlands

Here's a new review of The Trumpet Child from The Corner Table. Here's video from their August 18 performance at the Flevo Festival in the Netherlands. It's a live performance of "Latter Days" on the festival's main stage before close

On Songs & Albums

Stereo Subversion's Over the Rhine Interview

Stereo Subversion has a new interview with Linford Detweiler of Over the Rhine...

On Songs & Albums

Over the Rhine, Reviewed by Thom Jurek

Here's  Thom Jurek's review of Over the Rhine's The Trumpet Child. Jurek, like Andy Whitman, is one of the music critics whose reflections always challenge, inform, and inspire me... even when I disagree. His review of The Trumpet Child is sharp and full of

On Songs & Albums

This Week's Soundtrack

Oh how I want the Looking Closer music page to be more lively than it is. But too much is happening in my life right now, and I'm left singing along with great new albums while I work, wishing I had time to write in-depth reviews of all

On Songs & Albums

Suzanne Vega Returns

Here's one of my favorite music critics reviewing a new album from one of my favorite artists. And the news is very good. Beauty and Crime

On Songs & Albums

Interrupting David Bazan's Breakfast

So, this morning Anne and I have escaped our neighborhood to hide out at a coffee shop on the north side of Seattle. I'm planning to make a lot of progress on the sequel to Auralia's Colors (which is now due Wednesday), and we have got

On Songs & Albums

Radiohead Re-imagined: David Bazan, My Brightest Diamond, and Cold War Kids

Wow. Stereogum has posted a free mp3 album celebrating ... and reinventing... Radiohead's best album (in my humble opinion), OK Computer. Even better? It features artists like David Bazan's Black Cloud, My Brightest Diamond, and Cold War Kids. I'm going to check this out. Here&

On Songs & Albums

First Impressions of "The Trumpet Child"

"I don't want to waste your time with music you don't need," sing Karin Bergquist at the beginning of Over the Rhine's new album The Trumpet Child. No worries, Karin. We need this kind of glory, passion, and delight in the world.

On Songs & Albums

Over the Rhine's Free "Trumpet Child" Webcast

Sunday, July 8 - 8:00pm EST... Hear The Trumpet Child in its entirety for the first time, all around the world. Sunday July 8th at 8:00pm, gather the family around the computer and turn the lights down low, or invite some friends over, and open a bottle of

On Songs & Albums

Cowboy Junkies - "At the End of Paths Taken"

Okay, it's very late, I'm immersed in writing one of the last chapters in my current fiction project. But all I've had to drink is tea and I'm thinking fairly clearly. So I think I'm clear-headed enough to say this

On Songs & Albums

Andy Whitman: Music Blogger

When Andy blogs, I end up spending money on new music. Here's his latest batch of discoveries. Beware.

On Songs & Albums

Vintage T-Bone Burnett

Interested in some vintage T-Bone Burnett music? Check it out. Rhino is releasing a deluxe package of Proof Through the Night and Trap Door (or, to be exact, The Complete Trap Door). Thanks to Jim Bricker for the alert!

On Songs & Albums

Music bits: U2 Album Progress. Whitman's aves. Hartse on Feist. The Believer.

A quick blitz of music links: * U2's progress on their new album. * Andy Whitman rates the best albums so far this year. * Joel Hartse reviews Feist's The Reminder. * A summary of The Believer's annual Music Issue.

On Songs & Albums

The Police, Unplugged

MTV's decided to dust off Unplugged. Billboard reports it will feature appearances by Mary J. Blige, The Police, Bon Jovi, Kenny Chesney and John Mayer. Well... I'd tune in for The Police, anyway. But how about The Arcade Fire? Or The Decemberists? Nick Cave? Feist? Lucinda

On Songs & Albums

Over the Rhine's "Trumpet Child" Tour Kickoff

From the Over the Rhine MySpace page: Beginning this Saturday, June 2nd at Midnight Eastern Time (that's either Friday Night or Saturday morning - depending on your preference), you'll be able to buy tickets for the 8/31 Coney Island show exclusively at OvertheRhine.com. At

On Songs & Albums

Sufjan Stevens Plays The Innocence Mission

In this Pitchfork blog entry on Sufjan Stevens, there's a link to video of Sufjan Stevens (hooray!) performing a cover of The Innocence Mission's "The Lakes of Canada" (hooray!!!)