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…
Music
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…
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…
Note:Á‚ Mellow Gold #42 marks the original appearance of the now-infamous Mellow Gold logo.Á‚ Although it now appears on every post, let’s re-live the near-unbearable excitement, shall we? Welcome back…
[Jefito’s Note: Now this is an Idiot’s Guide Á¢€” 33 years and approximately 600 albums of music, all boiled down into a relatively manageable few thousand words (and few dozen…
While searching for a Jonathan Franzen short story sent to me a couple years ago, I came across a folder of old journal entries that date back to my senior…
(For more information on the 2 Meter Sessions, see 2 Meter Sessions: Volume One) Paul Weller – Above The CloudsJayhawks – Nevada CaliforniaJohn Trudell – Beauty In A FadeLong John…
Glenn Frey – True Love (1988) We’ve covered some crappy songs here in the past Á¢€” and trust me when I tell you that we will cover many more Á¢€”…
Hess – Everybody from Just Another Day (2003)BoDeans – Hey Pretty Girl from Blend (1996)Toto – Blackeye from I Will Remember (single) (1995)Michelle Shocked – Used Car Lot from Don’t…
Part two in a weekly, yearlong series designed to get you up off your dead ass and dancing. Shake your groove thing! Eurythmics – Would I Lie to You? (remix)
Mainstream Rock: Sammy Hagar and the Waboritas, “Mas Tequila” (1999) Will: Where to start with this? Well, how about that Gary Glitter really deserves a co-write? Several times throughout the…