I didn’t know Adam Yauch. I never met him, or even spotted him in traffic or standing in line at a coffee shop in L.A. But when I read the news of Yauch’s passing last Friday, I crumbled. That afternoon, I drove over to the studio where his band recorded Check Your Head and Ill Communication, just a couple of miles from my apartment, and laid flowers by the back stairs. That … [Read more...] about Gratitude
personal
Fallback Albums: Schroeder
Next up in our fallback album series – new writer Schroeder: The Beatles - Let It Be This is my original fallback album. Let It Be is considered the black sheep of late-Beatles; slapped together by Phil Spector after the band split, it doesn't have the ambition of Sgt. Pepper or The White Album. The band coasted through this one, but boy is it great to hear the best band ever … [Read more...] about Fallback Albums: Schroeder
Fallback Albums: Courtney
After seeking out Velocity Girl's Simpatico! album for the umpteenth time at work, I wondered why I often go back to it, forsaking so many other tracks on my iTunes. And I started to think about my other fallback albums -- those albums that I go back to from time to time, knowing what I can expect and sometimes use them for a particular purpose. While I pondered those, I … [Read more...] about Fallback Albums: Courtney
I Was a Background Extra
Last year I moved to Los Angeles from a small town in northern California in an effort to become a "real musician." I spend most of my time here writing songs and playing gigs. I also spend a lot of time trying to think of something interesting to write songs about and desperately trying to convince coffee shop owners I should play gigs at their establishments. As you might … [Read more...] about I Was a Background Extra
The WB Bows Out
When they announced the merger of The WB and UPN, I was surprised but gave it little thought. I knew both netlets had been struggling with ratings, and a joining of the two for a potentially competitive network made decent business sense, even if it came with a crappy name: The CW. But it wasn't until The WB signed off with a five-hour block of pilots -- Felicity, Angel, Buffy … [Read more...] about The WB Bows Out