The Beatles were my first love, musically. I remember being a young kid and having my uncle play me a copy of “Help!”. I hadn’t even heard of the Beatles…
Today, I signed a one-year lease on a crappy little apartment in a crappy little part of the San Fernando Valley. No big news, really. The thing is, I came…
Hey, did you know Sunday, August 12th is Vinyl Record Day? Me neither, until I was invited by the lovely jb over at The Hits Just Keep On Comin’ to…
DaBlog gives it up for Wayne Shorter and Terence Blanchard, then reviews the new Robben Ford and comes to the defense of the Goo Goo Dolls; AM, Then FM kneels…
Mainstream Rock: Men at Work, “Down Under” (1982) John: Forget “Lady Bump” Á¢€” Kath & Kim need to remake this. Kurt: Ah, the song that introduced the world to the…
Montreal’s Men Without Hats have an unfair reputation as one hit wonders (“Men Without HITS! Har!”), but people tend to forget they had another fair-sized hit in 1987 with “Pop…
Paul Shaffer – Coast to Coast (1989) purchase this album (Amazon) The following was reproduced, unaltered, from this album’s booklet: Here was the idea: that for one year, every time…
For a brief period in the ’80s, it was acceptable for a man to wear a headband and red leather pants. This was thanks to Loverboy, the Canadian hardish-rockish band…
What were you doing in 1986? If you were a suburban kid with access to a radio or MTV, you were experiencing the dawn of rap as a commercial force…
Greetings, Videots! CAPTAIN VIDEO! apologizes for running out on you so quickly during our last session together, but we had a bit of a commotion here on the ship’s bridge….
There’s plenty of debate as to the “original” power ballad Á¢€” this Wikipedia entry even traces it back to a Carpenters song! Á¢€” but when it comes to the ultimate…
What, you thought a measly little vacation was going to stop me from providing you with the mellowest music on the face of the planet? Au contraire! Player – Baby…
Before Hairspray, the musical…before Hairspray, the movie…Harris Glenn Milstead, aka Divine, aka John Waters’ original muse, was best known for eating dog poop. But we’re not here to talk about…
[Jefito’s Note: His first Idiot’s Guide was a controversial one for many of you Á¢€” but I loved it, and he wanted to come back for more, so this week,…
For a time, the power ballad was so prevalent that you almost couldn’t be a rock band and get away without recording one. Even the grizzled ass-kickers in ZZ Top…
(For more information on the 2 Meter Sessions, see 2 Meter Sessions: Volume One) Buffalo Tom – I’m AllowedShine – ShameG. Love & Special Sauce – Blues MusicJames Taylor –…
Giant – I’ll See You in My Dreams (1990) Well, this is awkward. What are the odds that a Cassingle Vault entry during Power Ballad Month would wind up being…
The Swingle Singers – The Well Tempered Clavier from Anyone for Mozart, Bach, Handel, Vivaldi? (1989)Red House Painters – All Mixed Up from Songs for a Blue Guitar (1996)El-P –…
Part three in a yearlong weekly series designed to get you up off your dead ass and dancing. Who doesn’t love a little Joe Jackson Level 42? Nobody, that’s who:although…
Some Velvet Blog doffs its cap to Little Feat; DaBlog takes a look at Steve Smith’s extracurricular activities, then toasts the great Roach/Gillespie summit, the great Snooks Eaglin, and Freddie…
Mainstream Rock: Quarterflash, “Harden My Heart” (1981) Jason: As a kid, I always had to pass through Quarterflash before I could get to the Queen records in the store. Pissed…
We need to change the title of this series this week. Don’t believe me? Well, why don’t we take a trip together – a laaaaame trip together – back to…
Yesterday’s Power Balladeers were roped into recording material by outside writers, and their career suffered accordingly. At the other end of the spectrum sat the post-rehab Aerosmith, gleefully lapping up…
Never let it be said that this blog does not have a raging chubby for all things Nick Lowe-related:and now, thanks to reader Stephen, we have a chance to prove…
I’m sure that, once upon a time, bands recorded power ballads for, um, artistic reasons. Falling in and out of love can make a man do strange things, like recording…
Aretha Franklin – Aretha (1986) purchase this album (Amazon) Often, when researching potential albums for this column Á¢€” yes, I do research; quit laughing, fuckers Á¢€” I’m surprised by what’s…
It was supposed to be like any other first date: Go to a movie, get to know each other, maybe have a couple of drinks, and, if lucky enough, share…
What were you doing in 1986? If you were a suburban kid with access to a radio or MTV, you were experiencing the dawn of rap as a commercial force…
The masses have spoken, and I have listened. Lo and behold, fuckers Á¢€” every (week)day this month, I’ll be “treating” you to a power ballad! (For more on why I’m…