Four Albums and a Film: The Best Summer Entertainment*
Sean MurphyThe Congos - Heart of the Congos (1977) Great art knows no seasons. Nevertheless, some music is made for—or at least can be fully appreciated during—specific times of the year.…
Neither Fleeting Nor Helpless: Fleet Foxes’ Instant Masterpiece
A couple of years ago as I assessed what I considered to be the best 50 rock albums of the last decade, I had this to say about the Fleet…
Revisiting The Heart of the Congos
Great art knows no seasons. Nevertheless, some music is made for—or at least can be fully appreciated during—specific times of the year. Reggae music, which many people still believe means…
Mothers and Sons*
The room was dim and cool, a shadowy contrast to the searing humidity outside. Her son had left his car running while he took her upstairs. In the elevator she…
Machinery*
2002 During the summer of 2002 if the phone rang while I was getting ready for work, that meant my mother was calling. If the phone rang while I was…
Machinery*
2001 The sights and smells, never welcome, quickly become recurring, then established. Once you’ve patrolled the hallways of a recovery ward, or helped your mother to and from the bathroom…
Machinery*
2000 The hardcore chemotherapy commenced just as the sweltering summer of 2000 settled into its sustained, apathetic groove. Our family took turns getting my mother to her appointments, and while…
Machinery*
1997 When you are young or healthy enough to not know better, or need to know any differently, you won’t spend a great deal of time pondering the ways our…
The 25 Best Progressive Rock Songs of All Time: Part Five
5. Genesis, "Watcher of the Skies" The mellotron certainly had its time and place. It became overused, a crutch for bands hoping to mimic the sounds made by bands like…
The 25 Best Progressive Rock Songs of All Time: Part Four
10. The Who, “Underture” The Who were not a prog-rock band. While both Tommy and The Who Sell Out could—and should—be considered crucial touchstones that helped pave the way, Pete…