mAKE iNTERESTING wISHES

Interview with superproducer Peter Asher, who has produced a disproportionate number of albums that I love.

Still hoping for the day when my love of "sensitive" 70s soft-rock" will get me as much cred as experimental indie rock or socially conscious hip hop.

Fingers crossed.

The new iTunes is a total catastrophe. I hate it. I'm thrilled that someone else feels the same way -- and here's hoping that Wired has Apple's ear.

Brad Paisley catches flak for taking on the lightning-rod issues of Southern culture, racism, and the lingering racial tensions in the USA. In a somewhat ridiculous song.

Yet. It’s an interesting (important?) discussion to be having, and I actually dislike all the ridicule Paisley’s fielding. I don’t think ridicule is the right reaction. He’s creating a more interesting, substantive conversation on racism and racial tensions than I’ve heard in a while (see: above link). Do I think the song itself is very good?  Well. Um, no. But is it hate-worthy and appalling? Nope. There are some super-problematic lines and ideas, but…I say great, let’s talk about ‘em! It’s actually a reasonably thoughtful song, with a heart in the right place and if you want to purely hate something that has no redeeming qualities whatsoever, let’s all agree to hate this instead: http://youtu.be/ruNrdmjcNTc

"New lullabye from Hem" is (literally) music to my ears

I enjoyed this new Josh Ritter album very much.

Also Stephen Thompson’s take is pretty spot-on.