Category: Uncategorized

March 15

Week 566: “Yama / Niyama” by Birds of the West

At some point in the last decade, popular music left behind the Age of Albums…

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March 8

Week 565: “The Hubble Constant” by Kid Koala

There are two kinds of movie scientists. Usually, the scientist is a minor character; a…

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March 1

Week 564: “Happier than the Morning Sun” by Stevie Wonder

With any all-time band or musician, there is a strong compulsion among music nerds to…

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February 22

Week 563: “You Still Believe in Me” by The Beach Boys (M. Ward cover)

Are there any musical acts who are generally considered geniuses but, try as you might,…

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February 15

Week 562: “New Slang” by The Shins

Despite the title, this song by The Shins has nothing to do with slang; in…

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February 8

Week 561: “Night After Sidewalk” by Kaki King

For obvious reasons, I haven’t taken the subway in almost a year, and I have…

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February 1

Week 560: “Tomato Day” by Kelpe

It’s time for us to celebrate the humble tomato. And when I say humble, I…

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January 25

Week 559: “The Times are Tired” by Alaskan Tapes

The other day, in the late afternoon, I suddenly got tired. Not sleepy, or spent…

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January 18

Week 558: “Elton d’août (remix maman)” by Malajube

My wife is using an app to learn French. It’s a noble pursuit – it…

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January 11

Week 557: “Run On For A Long Time” by Bill Landford and the Landfordaires

Because I’m not a religious person, I’ve never listened to much music within the gospel…

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January 4

Week 556: “Ceffylau” by Catlin Finch and Seckou Keita

The coat of arms of Swansea, the second-largest city in Wales, is as elaborate as…

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December 28

Week 555: “All the Rest” by sad face

Last week, after recommending that people go out and try to spot the ultra-rare Jupiter-Saturn…

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December 21

Week 554: “In the Bleak Midwinter” by Gustav Holst (arr. Gjeilo)

Up here in the northern half of the world, today is the winter solstice. And…

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December 14

Week 553: “State Lines” by Novo Amor

I spent an awful lot of time looking at maps as a child. Any map…

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December 7

Week 552: “Liquid Blanket” by Matthew Solberg

It’s blanket season. Normally, peak blanket season is limited to those aimless, nebulous days between…

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November 30

Week 551: “Elegy” by Edward Elgar

It’s pretty unlikely that anyone will build a statue of me when I die, but…

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November 23

Week 550: “Longtime” by Yppah

2020 is just about done, and I can’t decide if it’s been the longest year…

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November 16

Week 549: “Prelude in E Minor” by Scott Twynholm

For years, I have wanted to feature Chopin’s “Prelude in E Minor” because it truly…

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November 9

Week 548: “Retold” by Nate Smith

I always wanted to be a drummer. Among the reasons why: It’s fun to hit…

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November 2

Week 547: “Warm Foothills” by alt-J

In 1976, Mary Leakey was leading a team of palaeontologists in Tanzania’s Oldupai Gorge. The…

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