Happy Birthday to the great singer Eldra DeBarge, who today joins the 65 club that also now hosts me as a member. Here’s something I wrote about an ambitious but otherwise ignored album -- his only solo set that didn’t even make Billboard’s R&B chart. As Rolling Stone reviews go, I’ve done worse.

Just a friendly reminder that, if you're going to "follow" me here on Bluesky (as several of you have the past few days), you might as well also "subscribe" to my Substack -- Doesn't cost anything (unless you want to read the occasional "paid" post, which cost just $50 for a year's worth.) Thanks!

In which a travel mag commissioned me to map out a music-themed car journey around Texas's midsection —South Austin to Buda to San Marcos to Lockhart to Schulenberg to to La Grange to Coupland to Wahlberg to Llano to Fredericksburg to Kerrville to Bandera to New Braunfels to Luckenbach. And back.

In which a travel mag commissioned me to map out a music-themed car journey around Texas's midsection —South Austin to Buda to San Marcos to Lockhart to Schulenberg to to La Grange to Coupland to Wahlberg to Llano to Fredericksburg to Kerrville to Bandera to New Braunfels to Luckenbach. And back.

Streetcar lines are said to have coursed through much of Austin from 1891 until they trolleyed their last trolley in 1940. Though the last tracks were supposedly gone by 1942, I’m not sure how that explains these East Austin train rails to nowhere. In this post, I investigate how far north they go.

Rolling Stone website Songs of the Day 2008: Lindsey Buckingham, Manu Chao, Crüe, Dragonforce, Dr. John, Escovedo, Fucked Up, Buddy Guy, Jonases, Kid Sister, Kinky, Labelle, Ted Leo, Miley, Ne-Yo, Nickelback, Nugent, Darius Rucker, Sir Mix-a-Lot, Rick Springfield, Steinski, Taylor, V.I.C., 29 more.

PAZZ & JOP PRODUCT REPORT — early June 2026 YEAH: BCUC: The Road is Never Easy (Out Here Germany) 7; DJ Rata Piano: Cañonazos Picoteros, Vol. 6 (Palenque Colombia EP) 7; Neo Geodesia: Okaha Stamina (Chinabot UK) 7; Serokolo 7: Maramfa Musick Pro (Nyege Nyege Tapes Uganda) 7; continued...

PAZZ & JOP PRODUCT REPORT — early June 2026 YEAH: BCUC: The Road is Never Easy (Out Here Germany) 7; DJ Rata Piano: Cañonazos Picoteros, Vol. 6 (Palenque Colombia EP) 7; Neo Geodesia: Okaha Stamina (Chinabot UK) 7; Serokolo 7: Maramfa Musick Pro (Nyege Nyege Tapes Uganda) 7; continued...

Rolling Stone website Songs of the Day 2008: Lindsey Buckingham, Manu Chao, Crüe, Dragonforce, Dr. John, Escovedo, Fucked Up, Buddy Guy, Jonases, Kid Sister, Kinky, Labelle, Ted Leo, Miley, Ne-Yo, Nickelback, Nugent, Darius Rucker, Sir Mix-a-Lot, Rick Springfield, Steinski, Taylor, V.I.C., 29 more.

If John Bonham was still alive, he’d be 78 today. Led Zeppelin’s Coda came out in 1982, 2 years after he died. He kills on the thing, which comprises 8 odds, sods & rewarmed leftovers recorded in 1970, 1972, 1976, & 1978 (all even numbers!) 18 years ago, I contributed a chapter about it to a book.

Hard to keep up, but Chris Willman reports Fab Morvan — who is either Milli or Vanilli — is sadly still slated to play Trump’s semiquincentennial travesty. Different singers claiming the MV name were never invited. Confusing! Regardless, from '93, my Rolling Stone review of Rob & Fab’s comeback CD:

Once upon a time, in an era long gone, record companies used to send me free stuff in the mail. Mostly what they sent was records (first vinyl, then CDs, then occasionally vinyl again), but sometimes it was stranger and sillier. Here’s what I wrote upon receiving one such fancy item, 13 years ago.

4100 words on very long albums, Kendrick, Kamasi W., Chris Stapleton, Hamilton, Grimes + Musk, Latina innovators, Michael Jackson imitators, old people coming back, blues-rock past its sell-by date, dance crazes people love or hate, the eternal scourge of poptimism & my 150 favorite albums of 2015.

4100 words on very long albums, Kendrick, Kamasi W., Chris Stapleton, Hamilton, Grimes + Musk, Latina innovators, Michael Jackson imitators, old people coming back, blues-rock past its sell-by date, dance crazes people love or hate, the eternal scourge of poptimism & my 150 favorite albums of 2015.

First post in a while where I ineptly attempt to identify species of fungi I took pictures of in the woods. But this time, I actually have a system! Whether the system works or not is another question, but at least it gives me a place to start. If you know more than I do, by all means correct me!

First post in a while where I ineptly attempt to identify species of fungi I took pictures of in the woods. But this time, I actually have a system! Whether the system works or not is another question, but at least it gives me a place to start. If you know more than I do, by all means correct me!

5000 or so words (some of them mine) on fictional mood-enhancing Spotify artists, juvenile delinquent SoundCloud rappers, burnt out pop stars, soundalike pop hits, fascism returning, global hybrids, household chores, political free jazz, Drake, Cardi B, Post Malone & my 150 favorite albums of 2017.

5000 or so words (some of them mine) on fictional mood-enhancing Spotify artists, juvenile delinquent SoundCloud rappers, burnt out pop stars, soundalike pop hits, fascism returning, global hybrids, household chores, political free jazz, Drake, Cardi B, Post Malone & my 150 favorite albums of 2017.

From ancient yellowing pages of the Boston Phoenix, probably the longest piece I wrote about any country artist before I even turned 30, if not ever — and Tom T. Hall also remains one of my favorite songwriters ever (any genre). Reposting to commemorate what would have been his 90th birthday.

From ancient yellowing pages of the Boston Phoenix, probably the longest piece I wrote about any country artist before I even turned 30, if not ever — and Tom T. Hall also remains one of my favorite songwriters ever (any genre). Reposting to commemorate what would have been his 90th birthday.

Continuing and concluding unplanned Tulsi Gabbard Weekend in recognition of her leaving her Director of National Intelligence job, here's something I wrote three years back about supposed lefties who wind up twisting way around to the far right. Definitely and disturbingly an epidemic this century.

Continuing and concluding unplanned Tulsi Gabbard Weekend in recognition of her leaving her Director of National Intelligence job, here's something I wrote three years back about supposed lefties who wind up twisting way around to the far right. Definitely and disturbingly an epidemic this century.

Yesterday she resigned as director of national intelligence, theoretically due to her husband's cancer but presumably after compromising her stated principles about forever wars. Something I wrote about her 7 years ago, when she was still running for president as a Democrat, which I never trusted.

Yesterday she resigned as director of national intelligence, theoretically due to her husband's cancer but presumably after compromising her stated principles about forever wars. Something I wrote about her 7 years ago, when she was still running for president as a Democrat, which I never trusted.

3000 words on Barack Obama, Sarah Palin, the Great Recession, AutoTune, Miley, TV On The Radio vs. Vampire Weekend, streaming vs. vinyl, Africa/Europe/pop/dance/hip-hop hybrids, procrastinating 14 years on Chinese Democracy, how Republicans were already horrible, and my 150 favorite albums of 2008.

3000 words on Barack Obama, Sarah Palin, the Great Recession, AutoTune, Miley, TV On The Radio vs. Vampire Weekend, streaming vs. vinyl, Africa/Europe/pop/dance/hip-hop hybrids, procrastinating 14 years on Chinese Democracy, how Republicans were already horrible, and my 150 favorite albums of 2008.

Just a friendly reminder that, if you're going to "follow" me here on Bluesky (as several of you have the past few days), you might as well also "subscribe" to my Substack -- Doesn't cost anything (unless you want to read the occasional "paid" post, which cost just $50 for a year's worth.) Thanks!

The mid ’80s saw me unreasonably fixated on theoretically Detroit-inspired post-punk hard rock out of Australia, which was often pretty good regardless. Reviving this old Creem featurette to honor what would’ve been birthday #72 of Celibate Rifles frontman Damien Lovelock, who cancer took in 2019.

In my first 16 years in Texas, I never saw a live armadillo. In 2026, that has changed drastically. Here are way more words, photos and videos than necessary to document that development, mainly regarding a ‘dillo named Xylophone — plus many thoughts about these lovable critters’ evolving taxonomy.

In my first 16 years in Texas, I never saw a live armadillo. In 2026, that has changed drastically. Here are way more words, photos and videos than necessary to document that development, mainly regarding a ‘dillo named Xylophone — plus many thoughts about these lovable critters’ evolving taxonomy.

On the occasion of Lainey Wilson’s 34th birthday, here’s what I wrote two years ago about what’s somehow still her most recent (a/k/a fifth) album -- basically a classic rock record, per usual (though I get the idea a new one might be on the way before too long.)

On the occasion of Lainey Wilson’s 34th birthday, here’s what I wrote two years ago about what’s somehow still her most recent (a/k/a fifth) album -- basically a classic rock record, per usual (though I get the idea a new one might be on the way before too long.)

NEW!!! 4200 words on folk rock turning into rock, pop & rock swapping places, bands & cities that don’t dance, genres I never heard of, bubblegum blue-eyed soul, soul keeping doo-wop alive, fuzztone & fiddle fads, songs about assassinations + Viet nam + baseball, & my 150 favorite albums of 1968!

NEW!!! 4200 words on folk rock turning into rock, pop & rock swapping places, bands & cities that don’t dance, genres I never heard of, bubblegum blue-eyed soul, soul keeping doo-wop alive, fuzztone & fiddle fads, songs about assassinations + Viet nam + baseball, & my 150 favorite albums of 1968!

From Bryan Adams, J. Blackfoot, Laura Branigan, Robin Gibb, Rebbie Jackson, Teena Marie, John Cougar Mellencamp, Nena, Ratt, Lionel Richie, Diana Ross and Tommy Shaw, remembrances of 12 hits that helped make George Orwell’s scariest year one of pop music’s greatest.

From Bryan Adams, J. Blackfoot, Laura Branigan, Robin Gibb, Rebbie Jackson, Teena Marie, John Cougar Mellencamp, Nena, Ratt, Lionel Richie, Diana Ross and Tommy Shaw, remembrances of 12 hits that helped make George Orwell’s scariest year one of pop music’s greatest.

PAZZ & JOP PRODUCT REPORT — late May 2026 YEAH: Ella Langley: Dandelion (Sawgod/Columbia) 7; Megan Moroney: Cloud 9 (Columbia Nashville) 5; Amy Grant: The Me That Remains (Amy Grant Productions/Thirty Tigers) 5; Hilary Duff: Luck...or Something (Atlantic/Local Weather) 5; [continued...]

≈ 2500 words on concept video albums spawning concept video EPs, Michael Jackson and Chic grandkids who should never admit it, Nazis winning critic polls, shopping venues where you can save money, income inequality, undergrounds going mainstream and vice versa, plus my 150 favorite albums of 2013.

≈ 2500 words on concept video albums spawning concept video EPs, Michael Jackson and Chic grandkids who should never admit it, Nazis winning critic polls, shopping venues where you can save money, income inequality, undergrounds going mainstream and vice versa, plus my 150 favorite albums of 2013.

The man born Marvin Burns in Chicago in '62 (May 13, to be precise, so Happy Birthday!) made two excellent house music albums as Lil’ Louis & the World, then pretty much stopped. Here’s what I wrote in Request mag about his debut, featuring his #50-charting orgasmo-porno-disco smash “French Kiss”.

1000s of words about polka, fishing LPs, bad movies, gay Olympics music, lesbian country singers, hillbilly heretics, power outages, future alt-righters, future superstars, CD Baby and Pandora, Pazz & Jop vs. Jackin' Pop, getting fired, getting married, and my 150 favorite albums of 20 years ago.

1000s of words about polka, fishing LPs, bad movies, gay Olympics music, lesbian country singers, hillbilly heretics, power outages, future alt-righters, future superstars, CD Baby and Pandora, Pazz & Jop vs. Jackin' Pop, getting fired, getting married, and my 150 favorite albums of 20 years ago.

3 “experimental break" craft projects from a mad scientist lab in deepest hipster turn-of-millennium Brooklyn — industrial dub for vampire Dubya, Dick Gregory cursing “stinking white ins-ti-tooo-shuns,” sub-oceanic pinball machines evolving into firing ranges. But were they all by the same people?

I wrote about him a lot — see long pieces on Dangerous and Blood on the Dancefloor in my 3rd book — but these may be the only time I wrote 2 different reviews of an album by him in 2 different publications. (Should have put these up 2 weeks ago, when he was all anybody could talk about. Oh well.)

The biggest hit by 1 of these 2 synth-pop acts got played at my older daughter’s wedding reception years back, but it wasn’t by the act whose biggest hit gets played at most weddings. That latter’s singer, Darren Hayes, turns 54 today, thus giving me an excuse to revive this Village Voice piece.

≈3000 words on The Year Of All Sortsa Things, squiggly little dance thingees, predicting utopias and dystopias, trollgazing, bro-stepping, indigestion, consumption, rockin' pneumonia, PBR&Boring, the moombahton boombahton, hypnogogic vaporchill, relics, Adele, and my 150 favorite albums of 2011.

≈3000 words on The Year Of All Sortsa Things, squiggly little dance thingees, predicting utopias and dystopias, trollgazing, bro-stepping, indigestion, consumption, rockin' pneumonia, PBR&Boring, the moombahton boombahton, hypnogogic vaporchill, relics, Adele, and my 150 favorite albums of 2011.

Today sweet 16 turns 81; glad Bob’s still alive, hope he’s still having fun. An though there’s still no official comprehensive Garage Punk Rock Years collection, there have at least been stirrings in that direction. One of these years....

Fewer words than usual (900 or so) but more internal links to old (short) reviews I wrote than ever (25 or so) in conjunction with my 150 favorite albums of 2003.

PAZZ & JOP PRODUCT REPORT — early May 2026 YEAH: Válek/Merta/Tarnovski: Punctum (Flaming Pines UK) 7; Shackleton: Euphoria Bound (AD 93) 5; The Black Warhols: Famous for Fifteen Minutes (Pure Sonik) 5; NTHNL: What Kind of World is This? (Youngbloods) 5; [continued...]