If you ever get a chance to see the movie “Dazed And Confused,” you’ll be treated to a pretty accurate depiction of a typical weekend in late 1970’s America. The bad hair, the hiphuggers, the muscle cars, the 8-tracks. You May Also Like: ZZ Top’s “El Diablo,” “Thunderbird,” “Rough Boy”Read More

by Mark Saleski Do things in music always have to go smoothly? Does it bother you when your expectations are upset? I’ve always enjoyed it when a song takes an unexpected left turn. You May Also Like: Randy Bachman + Peter Frampton, “Heavy Blues” (2015): One Track Mind The StoneRead More

by Mark Saleski Ronnie Earl is one of the most soulful blues guitar players out there. Though he’s played with vocalists (Sugar Ray Norcia being my favorite), he specializes in instrumental recordings like the ones found on Hope Radio, a live recording put together at Wellspring Sound in Acton, Massachussetts.Read More

by Mark Saleski To the neophyte, microtonal music can seem less than accessible. Yeah, tones show up that the western ear just isn’t used to. On Stick Man, Haverstick takes microtonality and uses it in many contexts, not just ‘jazz.’ This is important because I’ve heard albums that focus soRead More

by Mark Saleski Sorta like Lou Reed’s Metal Machine Music, Pat Metheny and Ornette Coleman’s Song X has long been a strange attractor for all sorts of hyperbole, rumor-mongering and dismissal. You May Also Like: Ornette Coleman + Pat Metheny – ‘Song X’ (1986): On Second Thought Why You ShouldRead More

by Mark Saleski Blame this one on Irwin Chusid and his book Songs in the Key of Z. His chapter on Jandek drove me to seek out Jandek’s CDs — much to the displeasure of TheWife™. I’ve been hooked ever since. Don’t let the fact that the man can’t eitherRead More

by Mark Saleski How many times have you heard somebody say that they were never able to get into jazz because “I don’t understand it?” Maybe you are that person? Well, I want to let you in on a little secret You May Also Like: The Secrets, “Feel Pretty Good”Read More

by Mark Saleski Firstly, credit must be tossed in the direction of my former guitar teacher. Jerry Adams turned me on to piles of great jazz (and loaned me actual LPs). Jerry’s favorite guitarist was Jim Hall. I’m not sure I’d use the word “obsessive,” though Jerry did relate aRead More

by Mark Saleski Good gawd, the man is a veritable Fort Knox of ideas. From barroom stompers to pensive ballads to clattering percussion to spoken word oddities. Waits reciting Bukowski? Yes, please! Waits is the weird uncle you’re fascinated by and scared of at the same time. You still loveRead More

by Mark Saleski Yes, we know that the old methods of music delivery (read: the radio) are broken. This keeps some amazing music away from people’s ear. A happy accident (no Buffalo Tom CDs) at a similarly broken bookstore made me buy this record. It has been played to deathRead More