Mostly Just Turning Out Wrong

Posted by Lance Davis - January 29, 2011 - 1990, Bogart's, Soul Asylum

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In 1990, Soul Asylum released my favorite album in their catalog, And The Horse They Rode In On. The band was in their prime, the songwriting was concise, clever, and perceptive, and they destroyed live. I feel lucky that I got to see them twice that year. The first time was in November at […]

In Defense of Brother Sam

Posted by Lance Davis - January 22, 2011 - Sam Cooke

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“(Sam) Cooke had an enormous natural talent — but he mined a narrow vein, one in which restraint was prized over embellishment. So Cooke sang direct and clean lines, never pushing or straining his voice, always perfectly in time and tone with thoughtfully arranged instrumentals. No flailing, cathartic vocal runs, no bursts of horns, just […]

War at 33 1/3: 1990 Reconsidered

Posted by Lance Davis - January 21, 2011 - 1990, Chico, Ice Cube, Mark Arm, Public Enemy, Uncle Tupelo

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“Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” I can’t sum up 1990 in a single post without being hopelessly self-indulgent. I’d much rather spread my self-indulgence over the course of a few shorter posts because I’m a purist. So, today I’m concentrating on the politics of 1990 as viewed through […]

Your Mouth’s a Mile Away

Posted by Lance Davis - January 12, 2011 - Nirvana, Pixies

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Some of you may have read my tribute to 1989 from a couple years back. I’ve had that post in mind after reading John Roderick’s diatribe against the year-end top 10 list, rendered ironically (though appropriately) in top 10 form. He addresses a point I believe in fervently. By its very nature, a ‘Best […]