The definition of “cool” is a very amorphous thing. Basically, it depends on who’s doing the defining. One thing that a lot of people agree on these days is that…
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
2 Min Read
Do you like those smooth soul ballads? Maybe you like to kick back with your lady, or man, and chill out with the lights low, and the Delfonics singing softly…
Ken Shane
1 Min Read
The Hazards of Love (Capitol Records), the fifth Decemberists album, is a romantic fairy tale, albeit one with some extremely dark passages, and a very sad ending. Musically, Colin Meloy…
Ken Shane
1 Min Read
It certainly wouldn’t be accurate to say that Buddy and Julie Miller have bad luck. After all, each of them has had wonderful career as songwriter and performer. They’ve each…
Ken Shane
1 Min Read
It’s no secret that tribute albums and charity compilations can be hit-or-miss affairs at best. In the case of the latter, all you can really do is be happy that…
Ken Shane
1 Min Read
I’m not much of a believer in band reunions — they seldom result in any output that actually improves the band’s legacy, and often have just the opposite effect. Still,…
Ken Shane
1 Min Read
I don’t think it’s boastful to say that I know a little bit about music. I’m old, so I’ve been playing and listening to it for many years. In that…
Ken Shane
2 Min Read
I love soul music in each and every one of its glorious permutations, so it’s been gratifying for me to listen as a new generation of soul masters has taken…
Ken Shane
1 Min Read
Erika Wennerstrom is a genuine force of nature. If you’re hearing her voice for the first time, you quickly realize that it qualifies as a revelation. If you’ve heard her…
Ken Shane
2 Min Read
F. Scott Fitzgerald once famously declared that there are no second acts in American lives. It’s a good thing that the Bee Gees aren’t American, then, because they’ve had at…
Ken Shane
1 Min Read
Last year Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon blended his personal story, haunting melodies, and evocative lyrics on an album called For Emma, Forever Ago. The album found its way to almost…
Ken Shane
1 Min Read
As you might imagine, the music writers here at Popdose are constantly receiving new music from PR firms, record labels, and sometimes directly from bands. It keeps us pretty busy….
Ken Shane
1 Min Read
Bona fides: I’m a Jersey boy, and a fan. I’ve got more than 50 Springsteen concerts under my belt. I’ve even met him once or twice, and no, I never…
Ken Shane
1 Min Read
Rolling Stone writer David Wild makes a very good point in the feature-length documentary Going Home that is central to the That Lucky Old Sun DVD (January 27, Capitol/EMI). To…
Ken Shane
1 Min Read
Today is a very important day in the history of popular music. It was on this day in 1959 that Motown was born. An auto worker by the name of…