In the brilliant, circular overture of synthesizer and riff that opens ‘Endless Wire,’ we find a triumph for what’s left of the Who.

by Nick DeRiso Thumbing through William K. Greiner’s coffee-table book, The Reposed, I was struck by the way people honor their dead. These stirring photographs, taken at gravesites throughout the Mississippi Delta, also made me think of my own father’s grave — left alone and quiet for better than sixRead More

by Nick DeRiso John Lennon was a bundle of contradictions, both peacenik provocateur and tender tough guy. He lived a life that was simultaneously brash and vulnerable, easy going and hard eyed. A flower child who was viciously murdered, Lennon’s story — and, indeed, his art — took twists andRead More

by Nick DeRiso The doo-wopping Temptations – five guys that had both a way with harmony and these pillow-soft on-stage moves – probably should have been an oldies act years ago. After all, a song like “My Girl,” recorded in 1964, might have held little resonance by the end ofRead More

Released in the time immediately following the Woodstock basement recordings (which wouldn’t see the light of day ’til the dawn — or is that yawn? — of disco), Bob Dylan goes twangy — and with resounding success. Folksy, without too much folk. “Rolling Stone” said “John Wesley Harding” helped setRead More

As noted, a “leak” of some new Dylan tracks from his own record label (ahem) got me back into the stacks – and back into Bob. We’re mixing and matching here, old and new, relevant and pee-yew. That’s Dylan for you … raising our sights, but occasionally frustrating our desires,Read More

Public Broadcasting always delves into its musical archives, come pledge-drive time, and this week was no different. The local station presented an edited version of “The Concert for Bangaladesh,” the early 1970s proto-benefit show organized by Beatle buddy and future Wilbury bandmate George Harrison – and it was a specialRead More

Recorded during Dylan’s songwriting rehab, after the 1966 motorcycle wreck, and not released until a decade later. These classic home recordings — done with The Band in the legendary old house known as Big Pink — showed even Bob Dylan throwaways were table scraps worth fighting over. Nick’s Pick: ARead More

Parts of Bob Dylan’s soon-to-be-released record “Modern Times,” his first in five years, were “leaked” by Sony last Friday – and while I get my mind around those tracks, I’ve begun my own never-ending tour of his old stuff. “TRAVELING WILBURYS, Vol. 1,” 1988 Recording a song a day, DylanRead More

Filled with outtakes, rarities and in-studio goof-offs, this is more revealing, even, than the sprawling 50-something track “Biograph” set. And, in fact, loaded with more songs. “The Bootleg Series” proves to be an intimate, strangely personal statement — seeing as how Bob Dylan didn’t put it together. It’s also aRead More