Articles by: Mark Saleski

WTF?! Wednesdays: Philip Glass, "Music With Changing Parts" (1970)

WTF?! Wednesdays: Philip Glass, “Music With Changing Parts” (1970)

In a recent radio segment, NPR reported on an experiment conducted by University of Arkansas professor Elizabeth Margulis. You May Also Like: Philip Glass Transcended David Bowie’s Towering Influence on ‘Low Symphony’ Linda May Han Oh – ‘The Glass Hours’ (2023) On the Joy, and the Pain, of Pete Townshend’sRead More

Sparks Fly On E Street: Bruce Springsteen, "Reno" (2005)

Sparks Fly On E Street: Bruce Springsteen, “Reno” (2005)

You know, forget the “controversy.” Sure, Starbucks didn’t want to carry Devils and Dust because of this song’s “explicit” lyrics. Well, good for them. I don’t buy their stuff anyway. I tell you though, sometimes it feels like this country will never grow up. You May Also Like: No relatedRead More

(Cross the) Heartland: Pat Metheny, "As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls" (1981)

(Cross the) Heartland: Pat Metheny, “As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls” (1981)

I don’t know about the rest of the Pat Metheny fan base, but I was pretty much unprepared for what As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls had to offer. You May Also Like: Pat Metheny – ‘From This Place’ (2020) Aruan Ortiz, with Andrew Cyrille + Mauricio Herrera –Read More

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The Friday Morning Listen: Arc Iris – Arc Iris (2014)

I don’t often read things about film (mostly because I never watch movies), but there’s this terrific little spat going on between film critics over at New Yorker. Richard Brody claims that you only need five minutes — any five minutes — to determine if a film has resonance. YouRead More

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Will Kimbrough – ‘Sideshow Love’ (2014)

There are musicians who carry an impressive resume, laden with sparkling session work and songwriting credits, and yet they never manage to channel that talent into their own work. This certainly does not describe Will Kimbrough. He’s worked with (and written songs for) the likes of Emmylou Harris, John Prine,Read More

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One Track Mind: Future Islands, “Seasons (Waiting On You)” from Singles (2014)

By all rights, this should not be my kind of thing. A synth-pop band fronted by a singer who’s bubbling over with earnestness? Sometimes, the “rules” just do not apply. You May Also Like: No related posts.

WTF?! Wednesdays: Eugene Chadbourne, "Electric Rake" (2005)

WTF?! Wednesdays: Eugene Chadbourne, “Electric Rake” (2005)

My introduction to guitarist/raconteur/wise ass Eugene Chadbourne came out of a short stack of records borrowed from a co-worker. This would have been back in the early 90s. There were things like Dinosaur Jr., Sebadoh, and Henry Kaiser in that pile. You May Also Like: Wendy Eisenberg and Shane ParishRead More

Sparks Fly On E Street: Bruce Springsteen, "All The Way Home" (2005)

Sparks Fly On E Street: Bruce Springsteen, “All The Way Home” (2005)

The story is that Bruce wrote “All The Way Home” for his friend Southside Johnny, who released it on his Better Days album in 1991. Many years later, a Springsteen version shows up on Devils & Dust. You May Also Like: Reevaluating Bruce Springsteen’s ‘The Wild, the Innocent and theRead More

(Cross the) Heartland: Pat Metheny, "Goin' Ahead" (1980)

(Cross the) Heartland: Pat Metheny, “Goin’ Ahead” (1980)

80/81 concludes with Pat bringing it all together with acoustic guitars. For all of the different aspects of jazz (and “jazz folk”) on display on this record, there’s something about Metheny’s final song that really does feel like a true, integrated conclusion. Certainly all of these years of listening haveRead More

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The Friday Morning Listen: Material – Hallucination Engine (1981)

OK, so I read a (somewhat long-winded) review of the William S. Burroughs bio “Call Me Burroughs: A Life,” and dammit, it’s looking like I’ve got to place it on top of my to-be-read pile. Do I really need to dive into over 700 pages on the mad genius? TheRead More