Composite image. Original photo of My Chemical Romance by Onome Uyovbievbo/STAFF. Traditionally during this time of year, I either write about the best (2020, 2022) or worst (2019, 2021) of Christmas music. I had a whole pattern going but I didn’t write one last year so I find myself…

Elliot James Reay, courtesy Em Cole. This week we’ve got a ’50s flashback from Elliott James Reay, a ’70s flashback from Robert Jon & the Wreck, ’90s flashbacks from Peter Landi and Blood Lemon, and some sounds without precedent from Nico Vega and Lambrini Girls. Lambrini Girls, “Love” —…

Kraftwerk performs at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, on July 6, 2022. The band is slated to play Coachella next spring. There’s a post making the rounds on Bluesky that shows the Coachella lineup and says, “Your real age is 70 minus the number of musicians you…

The publisher makes a new best friend on a recent trip to Alaska while running from all of his problems. Don’t worry, I’m not writing about the state of the country yet. I don’t have it in me. There’ll be plenty of time to rant and lament, but not…

Black Belt Eagle Scout, courtesy Nate Lemuel. Yes, I know Indigenous Peoples Day was nearly a week ago. I definitely should have written about it already. But my brother was getting married and I was busy. All that said, you’re welcome. Whether they prefer to be called Indigenous, Native, Indian,…

Fantastic Negrito, “Son of a Broken Man.” It’s been 10 years since Xavier Dphrepaulezz unretired from music and became Fantastic Negrito. Since then he released a self-titled reintroduction, won the inaugural NPR Tiny Desk Contest, won Grammys for three consecutive albums, opened for Temple of the Dog and collaborated with Sting,…

Starcrawler, courtesy. This week we turn down the tempo a bit with Hamish Anderson’s blues rock, Kokoroko’s Afrobeat jazz and jam band Worthy of Dawn. But don’t worry, we also have goth psychobilly from Inca Babies, psychedelic rock from Thus Love, ’80s-influenced pop by Jordan Duffy and alt-rock from…

The Offspring, “SUPERCHARGED.” I don’t mean to alarm anyone but Smash, the breakout album by The Offspring, was released 30 years ago. SUPERCHARGED The Offspring Concord, Oct. 11 8/10 Get the album on Amazon Music. Three decades is a very long time to maintain the frenetic pace of the band’s…

Oakland A’s sell-out crowd as they play final game at Oakland Coliseum on Sept. 26, 2024. Eakin Howard/Getty Images. As of Sept. 26, 2024, the Oakland Athletics are dead. The team still has a series on the road before it becomes the “Athletics” with no city, playing in a…

Lips Speak Louder, courtesy. Nashville alt-rock band Lips Speak Louder are releasing their debut album next spring, but today you can get a taste with the debut of their second-ever single, “Crush.” The band, made up of guitarist Rachel Brandsness and drummer Angela Lese (and split vocal duties), are…