Come for the movie (which I loved) and stay for the soundtrack. A few words about Jonny Greenwood's thrilling score for "One Battle After Another." shorturl.at/s0Mro

A playlist for Neil's 80th. Could've been easily twice as long, but these 40 songs ring true. open.spotify.com/playlist/0kU...

Neil Young is 80. Somehow he's made it this far without turning into a greatest-hits jukebox. When he tours, he plays whatever the hell he wants. In one of our interviews, I asked Young about how he managed to avoid turning into a "heritage act" unlike so many of his peers: shorturl.at/T1GOC

50th anniversary today of an album that I picked up the same week it was released, when I was a college freshman. I've got a longer chapter on Patti Smith and "Horses" in a forthcoming project, and here's a slice: www.facebook.com/share/p/1BU6...

Still can't believe D'Angelo's gone, but then again, those three studio albums are for now, then & always. We run it all down, including our memories of one of the greatest concerts we'd ever seen: @soundopinions.bsky.social and the D'Angelo experience: bit.ly/4oiILZA

From 11 years ago today, at the LBJ library in Austin, Texas -- a fitting home for Mavis and the story of her family's civil-rights activism. Plus this gives me an opportunity to mention that there will be new, updated edition of "I'll Take You There" coming soon.

Best review I've read in this season of renewed appreciation for "Nebraska" isn't a review of the so-so Hollywood biopic, but an essay by Bill Janovitz, an author & songwriter (Buffalo Tom). There's a "meanness in this world," as Springsteen sang, and now we're living in it too. shorturl.at/EhpHk

The great drummer & band leader Jack DeJohnette (RIP) played on some of my favorite recordings across several decades, including the Charles Lloyd Quartet's "Sombrero Sam" (from the "Dream Weaver" LP 1966), Miles Davis' "Live Evil" (1971) & "Special Edition" (1980). www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4m9...

A few words about Tony Fitzpatrick -- an artist, poet, instigator, activist, story-teller and hard-core Chicagoan whose contributions were often beyond words. @soundopinions.bsky.social bonus podcast: tinyurl.com/yewyaybb

Rough Trade Records founder Geoff Travis and his partner Jeannette Lee give us the lowdown on their partnership with River Lea Records and a new wave of rough-hewn folk on @soundopinions.bsky.social. It got me thinking about some of my favorite Rough Trade records, which I list here: bit.ly/3WeT98C

Chicago was getting after it today. Proud of my city. Miles and miles of citizen activists. Boisterous but peaceful protest. But kings? No thanks.

D'Angelo, the son of a preacher man, connecting the dots between generations. In the lineage of the greats, an incalculable loss. www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMb8...

Stunned by the death of D'Angelo at age 51. He left behind a small but powerful legacy: Three vital LPs and a series of concerts that I'll never forget. In 2000, "Voodoo" was my album of the year, and here's a little bit of what I wrote about it back then: shorturl.at/JxNvB

Arthur Baker has been crafting perfect beats since the '70s for myriad artists across multiple genres: New Order, Afrika Bambaataa, Bob Dylan, Cyndi Lauper, Bruce Springsteen, Neneh Cherry, Al Green + many more. The @soundopinions.bsky.social interview: bit.ly/4q741mz

I have seen shocking footage of thousands of people in Chicago fleeing what I assume are horrible crime-doers, or as the lib media is falsely describing it “The Chicago Marathon.” It is a war zone here, folks, and people were running so fast from the crime-people that others were cheering for them!

Chicago lost one of its best today. RIP Tony Fitzpatrick. I met Tony through Steve Earle, whose LP covers frequently became canvasses for Fitzpatrick's artwork. Jon Langford & Tony collaborated on a tribute to another one-of-a-kind Chicagoan, Lin Brehmer, at the Hideout in 2023 (pic below). (1/2)

I talked to Bob Mould in Chicago last night: “I’m astonished at the lack of protest music in the face of everything that’s out there today.” Then he went out and did something about it. Like his recent albums, his solo set spoke to what's happening in our streets. The review: tinyurl.com/3xd56ndw

How the scene that emerged in a funky Manhattan neighborhood shaped the future of American music. @soundopinions.bsky.social with author David Browne. My spiel here: bit.ly/4gVKQYx Interview with David here: bit.ly/4mRRyjT Enjoy!

Jim Kimball (RIP) put the overdrive into bands such as Laughing Hyenas, Mule, The Jesus Lizard, and more. He also did some fine work with Duane Denison and Ken Vandermark in a completely different musical vein. A few words about a drummer supreme on @soundopinions.bsky.social: bit.ly/42fkXNs

It’s a political movie but not a preachy one. It’s set in the now. And it’s both an entertainment and something much more. A reminder that the good fight can seem endless, unsustainable, but always remains essential to our humanity. A few words about "One Battle After Another": tinyurl.com/meufdcsr

Indie rock, we hardly knew you. Where it started and where it went. We talk with @chrisdeville.bsky.social, author of "Such Great Heights: The Complete Cultural History of the Indie Rock Explosion," on @soundopinions.bsky.social. Some spiel here: bit.ly/4gOQufk The show: bit.ly/3IIqp4G

How many recognized @jimmykimmel.com's opening line was a tribute to Jack Paar? "As I was saying before I was interrupted," was Paar's opener upon his return after walking off the Tonight Show for 7 weeks in 1960 when NBC censors cut a joke about a water closet (bathroom). youtu.be/c1tjh_ZO_tY?...

Excited and honored to be the guest on today's @soundopinions.bsky.social discussing my book SUCH GREAT HEIGHTS and 21st century indie rock with living legends @gregkot.bsky.social and @jimderogatis.bsky.social. Check it out at the link / wherever you get your pods: www.soundopinions.org/show/1034

50th anniversary of a classic, from Mapplethorpe's cover shot to Patti's startling declaration of intent in the LP's first line. And then there's "Birdland," in which Smith pleads, “Please, take me up.” How did we get here? And how do we get the hell out? @soundopinions.bsky.social: bit.ly/3Vl7T5h

Redford was terrific in so many potent movies. My faves include "Three Days of the Condor, "Sneakers" and "Quiz Show." But nothing tops "All the President's Men." For us journalism students of a certain vintage, this movie helped point the way forward.

What the hell is "dad rock" anyway? Niko Stratis opens doors with some new perspective on how this maligned genre can change lives, as it did hers. bit.ly/4gg7Jpe

Latin jazz legend Eddie Palmieri is gone, but his music still cooks. What a life, what a career. A few words about the master on @soundopinions.bsky.social: bit.ly/46jVZPj

Looking forward to the conversation with @bobmouldmusic.bsky.social, followed by his solo electric set at @oldtownschool.bsky.social. Oct. 5. Ticket info here: oldtownschool.org/concerts/202...

It's all happening. And couldn't be more timely.

If you write about music, consider this

It was a true pleasure to discuss That Gun In Your Hand with two writers I've long admired, @jimderogatis.bsky.social and @gregkot.bsky.social for @soundopinions.bsky.social Have a listen 🔽 www.soundopinions.org/show/1031 @anvilpress.bsky.social @asterismbooks.bsky.social

It's a solar-powered @soundopinions.bsky.social this week, as ace journalist/activist @billmckibben.bsky.social returns to the show. As Bill says: “Renewable energy has suddenly become the obvious, cost-efficient choice… a very big and hopeful thing.” We provide the soundtrack. More: bit.ly/47BspGj

Thanks to the No Wristbands podcast for this interview with @soundopinions.bsky.social in which we covered everything from music journalism in a one-of-a-kind scene to our divergent takes on Chicago pizza. shorturl.at/AyrXG

Reconnected with my old Trib colleague Ken Wilson at the Bucktown Arts Fest in Holstein Park. Ken illustrated my Trib articles in the pre-digital era. I bought his mixed-media collage of Lou Reed and found a perfect home for it in my office. Check out Ken's music-centric work at Kawcuts.com.

Donny Hathaway is long gone, but he made one of the greatest live LPs of all time. I've returned to it again in recent days, inspired by "Twisted Melodies," a one-man play written and performed by Chicagoan Kelvin Roston Jr. More here on @soundopinions.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/32xptrhn

Swing, blues, a little bit of Ramsey Lewis, a dash of Beatles, a jaunt down Route 66 -- it was all on the menu. Guitar mainstay Joel Paterson with his trio on the Fitzgerald's patio this week dipping into what must be a miles-long repertoire. shorturl.at/15iKD

You'll hear these three people on @soundopinions.bsky.social this week. One of them is really good at playing a guitar, singing and writing songs steeped in blues, soul and country. Check out @valeriejune.bsky.social here: www.soundopinions.org/show/1029

Our pool party with Swamp Dogg on @soundopinions.bsky.social. The documentary is great. Our conversation with the man himself was something else. You will be entertained: www.soundopinions.org/show/1026

Salute to Eddie Palmieri (RIP), who turned salsa into an international sound with this meld of jazz and Afro-Cuban groove in 1965 and countless classic albums and performances ever since. www.youtube.com/watch?v=snUV...

I reconnected with Alejandro Escovedo last month when he played a Chicago festival. He's persevered through trying times and lived to sing about it, and his performance brought me back to a song he recorded 25 years ago about holding onto your vision no matter what gets in the way: bit.ly/3Utrn7v

What's not to love about Swamp Dogg ? His wild origin tale (yes, acid was involved), his laugh-out-loud story-telling, his no-genre-can-contain-him ambition? I spiel about the subject of one of our all-time favorite @soundopinions.bsky.social interviews: bit.ly/3IX1A4S

Horsegirl "on a stage meant for 300": The three musicians understand the value of space, what it means to let an arrangement breathe. As a result, what they do actually play sounds bigger, more intense. The review + video: shorturl.at/3otTs

Latest round of "Buried Treasures" on @soundopinions.bsky.social. Dero's picks are 1-5, mine are 6-10. Check 'em out, and give a listen: bit.ly/40AjAIo

Jim and Greg return mid-summer with a fresh batch of "Buried Treasures." From indie rock and doom metal to funk and chamber music, these are hidden gems worth your ears. Discover your next favorite track: bit.ly/40AjAIo

Public Enemy know what's up.

Whenever the five members of Eleventh Dream Day get together to play, it’s like they’re picking up the conversation where it left off last time, no matter how long ago that might have been. It’s a rare thing to witness. And it happened again last night. The review+video+pix: shorturl.at/eqcv6

An appreciation of the mighty Oz on @soundopinions.bsky.social: shorturl.at/zC7V6

It's the 100th anniversary year for the King of Zydeco. We clear some room on the dancefloor to pay tribute on @soundopinions.bsky.social : bit.ly/40whhpJ

Ozzy Osbourne is gone. That he made it to his 76th birthday likely surprised even him, because he always knew he was living on borrowed time. He and his Black Sabbath bandmates came from nothing, and become the most celebrated metal band ever. Some words about the wizardry of Oz: shorturl.at/0DqM4

It was a gorgeous summer night Monday that brought Joe Bataan, the voice of Nuyorican soul, and Novos Baianos, the avatars of Brazilian Tropicalia, to the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. A few words about a historic show in Chicago: shorturl.at/2lpbJ