Platonic ideal of a certain kind of jazz cover: declarative title, clean lines, a sharply dressed multi-racial band who look zooted out of their minds

I’ve been a fan of Hannah’s music ever since I first heard her band GADADU in 2018. She’s a highly accomplished musician and composer and her stunning debut album as a composer is out now. I reviewed it for PopMatters

I reviewed the wonderful new album from Hour this week. A really beautiful
piece of music.

I reviewed the excellent, moody, atmospheric new release from Josh Johnson.

Four massive red flags:
1) dragging his kids to see bands *he* thinks are cool 2) complaining when artists “get political” 3) complaining when artists don’t “play their hits”
4) complaining when broken-up bands don’t reunite

washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/…

The entire music industry is enthralled by a soulless machine that can crap out a pale facsimile of a Delta blues song on command. But enough about Eric Clapton—

I discovered “Queen II” at the age of ten, a few years into my Queen obsession. It’s not one of their better-known albums, but it was crucial in defining the band’s unique sound. The album turns 50 this month and I wrote about it

I reviewed the terrific new album from Tiny Hazard and Leverage Model alum Alena Spanger, which comes out tomorrow

It was an honor for me to write about Joe Jackson’s “Look Sharp!” - one of my favorite albums of all time, which turns 45 this week

Ayo is the real deal. Let’s make thanking assistants a regular thing. People who work in the trenches don’t have the best view, but they get it all done

STOP TOYING WITH US, FINCHER

Books read by me this year. Not a bad haul

Wilkinson was brilliant, a joy to watch onscreen. His performance in “Michael Clayton” contains some of the best acting I’ve seen in decades

Can we please stop the annoying trend of movie trailers using a creepy, slowed-down version of a popular song? At this point I’d rather go back to overusing “Solsbury Hill”

The result of a generous gift card from my in-laws. Can’t wait to dig into these. Also, unrelated: “Godzilla Minus One” was amazing! Thumbs up!

“Look familiar, fuckface?” is the new “Et Tu, Dottie?” (((Gary Gulman)))

The new (((Gary Gulman))) special (streaming on Max) furthers - to me, at least - his status as not only a brilliant comedian, but a deeply smart, sweet, empathetic and intelligent one. We need more of that.

every ad's music bed is ukulele and whistling now

it's the national anthem of credit card debt

some are saying that the music itself is piped in live, directly from hell

Well, if I’m doing Christmas shopping at a bookstore, I obviously *have* to get something for myself