Articles by: Mark Saleski

Sparks Fly On E Street: Bruce Springsteen, "My Beautiful Reward" (1992)

Sparks Fly On E Street: Bruce Springsteen, “My Beautiful Reward” (1992)

An introspective (if slightly opaque) finale to Lucky Town, “My Beautiful Reward” finds our man summarizing the current chapter of his life. You May Also Like: Reevaluating Bruce Springsteen’s ‘The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle’

(Cross the) Heartland: Pat Metheny, "Oasis" (1977)

(Cross the) Heartland: Pat Metheny, “Oasis” (1977)

“Oasis” provides a very early counterexample to the notion that the music of Pat Metheny tends toward lightweight fare, closer to new age or (worse) smooth jazz than anything from the “real” jazz tradition. You May Also Like: Pat Metheny – ‘MoonDial’ (2024) ‘Bright Size Life’ Gave Early Definition toRead More

Vinyl

The Friday Morning Listen: Linda Ronstadt – Simple Dreams (1977)

One of my favorite lines from the old sitcom WKRP in Cincinatti had Johnny Fever asking fellow DJ Venus Flytrap if he wanted to go check out Carly Simon album covers. You May Also Like: Linda and Richard Thompson, “The Great Valerio” (1974): One Track Mind

WTF?! Wednesdays: Meredith Monk, "Unison" (1990)

WTF?! Wednesdays: Meredith Monk, “Unison” (1990)

She’s a composer. She’s a MacDowell Fellow. She’s a choreographer. The fact is, it’s kind of hard to define exactly what Meredith Monk does in a simple phrase. But no matter You May Also Like: Gregory Lewis, with Marc Ribot – Organ Monk Blue (2018) Witch ‘n’ Monk – ‘WitchRead More

Sparks Fly On E Street: Bruce Springsteen, "Souls Of The Departed" (1992)

Sparks Fly On E Street: Bruce Springsteen, “Souls Of The Departed” (1992)

Early yesterday morning, I happened to read Mark Twain’s “The War Prayer.” It was his response, published posthumously, to the Philippine-American war of 1899. You May Also Like: Reevaluating Bruce Springsteen’s ‘The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle’ jaimie branch – ‘Fly or Die Fly or Die FlyRead More

(Cross the) Heartland: Pat Metheny, "Icefire" (1977)

(Cross the) Heartland: Pat Metheny, “Icefire” (1977)

For me, music that tends to freeze time also tends to be sparse. “Icefire” has that, with the chiming arpeggios, artificial harmonics, and plenty of space. This track reminds me of what Pat did at the opening of “Phase Dance.” You May Also Like: Pat Metheny, May 16, 2019: ShowsRead More

Vinyl

The Friday Morning Listen: Sleepytime Gorilla Museum – Grand Opening and Closing (2001)

It seems like everywhere I look these days, there are new articles mashing up the related themes of the demise of the record business with the (so-called) evil of the new streaming services. You May Also Like: Ben Craven on streaming’s impact, working with Captain Kirk, and his terrific newRead More

WTF?! Wednesdays: Kronos Quartet, "Black Angels" (1990)

WTF?! Wednesdays: Kronos Quartet, “Black Angels” (1990)

I’ve never spent any time at all researching George Crumb’s “Black Angels.” To me, it’s always been this thing I like to play late at night, listening with headphones with the lights off. You May Also Like: Burnt Sugar the Arkestra Chamber – ‘Angels Over Oakanda’ (2021) Bad Company –Read More

Sparks Fly On E Street: Bruce Springsteen, "Book Of Dreams" (1992)

Sparks Fly On E Street: Bruce Springsteen, “Book Of Dreams” (1992)

You wouldn’t think that there’d be a connection between Bruce Springsteen and The Tubes but there is. In my head, at least. You May Also Like: Reevaluating Bruce Springsteen’s ‘The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle’

(Cross the) Heartland: Pat Metheny, "Watercolors" (1977)

(Cross the) Heartland: Pat Metheny, “Watercolors” (1977)

A year after his auspicious debut, Pat Metheny returned to the ECM label with a lineup that’s very close to what would become the first incarnation of the Pat Metheny Group. You May Also Like: Why You Should Give Pat Metheny’s ‘Rejoicing’ Another Listen Pat Metheny, May 16, 2019: ShowsRead More