I have a web-only piece in LA Weekly today on Glen E. Friedman, whose name you might not recognize, but whose photos you most certainly would–even if only because he was the guy who shot the cover of Check Your Head. He’s also well known in musical circles for his seminal shots of Dogtown and… Continue reading »
Between the listening party preview and my eventual LA Weekly review of the Kanye record, I think I’ve said my peace. As predicted, it seems to be a love-it or hate-it proposition. So now that you’ve heard it, which one is it? Download: MP3: Kanye West-”Love Lockdown” MP3: Kanye West-”Heartless”
Re-reading my review, I briefly blanched at the easy potshot lambasting “stale, corporate local radio” for ignoring the Knux–then I checked out Power 106′s playlist. “Krazy” by Pitbull and Lil Jon?” “So Fly” by Slim and Young Joc?” You’re trying to tell me that neither “Cappuccino” nor “Bang Bang” is better than that gruesome twosome?… Continue reading »
Thomas Friedman opined that “drill baby drill,” is the dumbest bumper sticker in history, the energy equivalent of being on the verge of the PC/Internet-era and pounding the table for America to make more IBM typewriters and carbon paper. ” I’m inclined to agree. Though to be fair, who doesn’t feel just a bit brighter… Continue reading »
Q: What was it like for you growing up in Los Angeles during the 80s? A: It was the LA of the Reagan administration. Drugs were really heavy in the streets at that time…more crack addicts…crack babies. It was a good time simultaneously because there was more creativity within the music and it showed. You… Continue reading »
Sep
19
In advance of his show Saturday night at the Greek Theater, I interviewed Al Green for LA Weekly. Needless to say, I’ve experienced few things more surreal than talking to Al Green on the phone and hearing him spontaneously break into song. It was rather awesome. In addition, I wrote a shorter Wu-centric piece on… Continue reading »
Don’t really know what to say about this piece that it’s title doesn’t already hint at. It felt like it took an eternity to write, partially due to personal lethargy, partially because it’s a long story and the reporting and organization took forever. If you have any interest in Lil Wayne, the song “I Feel… Continue reading »
It’s early in the morning, I’m catatonically exhausted, several beers deep and certainly in no state to express anything remotely resembling coherence. Bear with me. So I wrote this big hip-hop genealogy thing for Rock the Bells, a sort-of primer guide to the acts and their chief influences. Along with it, I penned a hip-hop… Continue reading »
I mentioned a few weeks ago that I was working on a story about J Dilla’s legacy and the problems that his estate has had in enforcing copyright law. It’s up and running now for you to scoff derisively at. A follow-up story with Dilla’s family may be in the works, so there may be… Continue reading »
Goals for the remainder of the year: Stop writing articles for the LA Weekly involving the phrase, [Random Band] is the Best [Insert Hyperbolic Superlative Here]. That said, I get hopelessly stannish when talk turns to Arthur Lee and Love, in particular their masterpiece, Forever Changes, which was just re-issued by Rhino last month complete… Continue reading »
Excellent Adventures
Bogus Journeys
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Listening
Jeff Weiss
Sach O
Douglas Martin
Aaron Matthews
Abe Beame
Evan Nabavian
Tosten Burks
Matt Shea
Jonah Bromwich
Reading
Jeff Weiss
Sach O
Douglas Martin
Tosten Burks
Aaron Matthews
Abe Beame
Jonah Bromwich
Watching
Jeff Weiss
Sach O
Douglas Martin
Tosten Burks
Aaron Matthews
Evan Nabavian
Jonah Bromwich
Inner Sanctum
Miscellaneous Apostles
Local Natives
Understanding Media
The Sporting Life
2011
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2006
Miscellaneous
