For the most part, Cratedigger features vintage albums, but every once in awhile, I’m going to write about some new vinyl. That’s the case this week: The Cocktail Slippers’ CD…
Ken Shane
844 Articles
Ken Shane lives in Narragansett, R.I. He is a freelance writer and far and away the oldest Popdose writer. In fact, he may be the oldest writer, period. He wants you to know that he generally does not share his colleagues' love for the music of the '80s, and he does not forgive them for loving it. (Ken passed away in November 2022. R.I.P. —Ed.)
Ken Shane
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In the grand rock and roll tradition of bands who met in art school — in this case Pratt Institute in New York City — along comes stellastar* with their…
Ken Shane
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Once upon a time there was a pioneering Americana band from Belleville, Il. called Uncle Tupelo. Two of the founding members of the band were Jeff Tweedy and Jay Farrar….
Ken Shane
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The first Pete Yorn song I ever heard was “On Your Side,” from his debut album, Musicforthemorningafter (2001), but where I heard it was a bit unconventional — playing over…
Ken Shane
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In the late 1990s, Levon Helm was diagnosed with throat cancer. The radiation treatments reduced his once powerful voice to a mere rasp. Unable to make any money touring or…
Ken Shane
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I don’t want to write this. Like a lot of you, my heart is really heavy today. The only music that I really want to listen to, or even think…
Ken Shane
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Stay tuned throughout the weekend as we continue our tribute to Michael Jackson, with reflections and remembrances from the Popdose staff.
Ken Shane
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[kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/XMxQ6j4dNwU” width=”425″ height=”344″ allowfullscreen=”true” fvars=”fs=1″ /] I admit it. I’m jaded. After seeing more than 50 Bruce Springsteen shows over the years, with and without the E Street Band,…
Ken Shane
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Wilco is back, with the appropriately titled Wilco (the album), and Ken Shane is here to tell you how it stacks up against the band’s critically adored earlier work.
Ken Shane
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There’s a well-known saying that if you think Woodstock was great, you weren’t there. The point is that the mud, drugs, lack of food and water, and often bad music…
Ken Shane
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Some really good music has come to us from the mountains so far this year. First, from New York’s Adirondacks, we had the Felice Brothers with their brilliant Yonder Is…
Ken Shane
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In this week’s Cratedigger, Ken Shane blows the dust off a copy of Stephen Stills’ early ’70s apogee, Manassas.
Ken Shane
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Before you ask, yes, they are named after Manson Family member Linda Kasabian. She achieved fame for being the getaway driver following the infamous Tate-LaBianca murders in 1969. I’m not…
Ken Shane
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I get a lot of albums sent to me for review. The vast majority are things that I’ve requested from publicists or record labels. Occasionally, though, a person whose taste…
Ken Shane
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Old 97’s leader Rhett Miller has a real knack for taking lyrically dark material, and setting it to a upbeat tune. He takes that ability to a whole new level…
Ken Shane
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NON-COMMvention is the premier annual event for North America’s noncommercial Triple A radio stations. It was founded by Dan Reed in 2001, when he was at radio station WFPK in…
Ken Shane
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Goodness gracious — Ken Shane has made his way through every moment of Neil Young’s ten-disc Archives, Volume 1. What will you get for your $280? Read his review to find out.
Ken Shane
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There is really no rhyme or reason for the way these things go, but lately I’ve noticed a very definite increase in the amount of people who are discovering, or…
Ken Shane
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Listen up, Americana fans: Ken Shane says Justin Townes Earle is going to be a very big star. Read his interview with the singer/songwriter here!
Ken Shane
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In my Cratedigger colum last Saturday, I got out my vinyl copy of the 1965 Miles Davis album, E.S.P. The journey from that classic album to this DVD of a…
Ken Shane
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The first thing that you notice about the new John Vanderslice album, Romanian Names (Dead Oceans), is the sound. The album has a definite sonic quality that is akin to…
Ken Shane
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Ken Shane is back with another week of Cratedigger, and this week’s trip to the vinyl vaults produces a pair of jazz sides: Miles Davis’ 1965 release, E.S.P.
Ken Shane
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This has been a year in which two of rock’s greatest icons have released new studio albums far ahead of their usual schedule. Bruce Springsteen released Working on a Dream…
Ken Shane
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Cold hearted orb that rules the night, Removes the colours from our sight. Red is grey and yellow white, But we decide which is right. And which is an illusion?…
Ken Shane
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Perhaps you’ve heard their story. A bunch of GIs find themselves stationed in Germany in the mid-’60s. They decide to form a band, which they call the 5 Torquays. The…
Ken Shane
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One of rock’s most distinctive and respected keyboard players, Ian McLagan has appeared on a long list of hits by other artists — and he’s got an excellent new album out, all of which were topics of discussion during his recent chat with Ken Shane.
Ken Shane
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Cratedigger is a regular (well, maybe semi-regular) column in which I’ll discuss some of my favorite vinyl. The Royal Scam was released almost exactly 33 years ago. It is, in…
Ken Shane
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Last week I told you about the Hold Steady’s new DVD, A Positive Rage. You may recall that it is strictly a lo-fi affair, and really more of a documentary…
Ken Shane
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Today is Record Store Day in the United States and 17 other countries worldwide. According to the website, “This is the one day that all of the independently owned record…
Ken Shane
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“There are so many of these indie-rock shows that you go to that are so joyless. I just want people to feel this joy and celebratory nature of rock and…