They adhere closely to what the band’s press dubs “formalist” structures, which is to say that the verse/chorus/verse format isn’t just used, but praised. The songs aren’t gimmicky, nor are they hip. They’re just really solid, enjoyable tunes. In that way, they’re pretty much the quintessential Merge band at the moment: Been around since the […]
The Beatles
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Roy Orbison — The Monument Singles Collection (1960-1964)
“The Monument Singles Collection (1960-1964)” collects 39 Orbison tunes on two discs (A-sides and B-sides, naturally) and includes a 25-minute DVD of a performance in Holland. Orbison was a master of the 2:20 pop song, as only four of these tunes break the three-minute mark (and “Mama” is 3:01, which barely counts). Many radio staples […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Hold On!
Like a certain mop-topped UK band who took America by storm a couple years earlier, the pointless but harmless vehicle finds Herman’s Hermits making a trip to America for a tour, and finding themselves mobbed everywhere they go. The “story,” as it were, is that their fans have lobbied hard to get a NASA rocket […]
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Bob Dylan — In Concert: Brandeis University
But when a CBS executive feared a libel suit from the John Birch Society and asked Bob to perform something else, Dylan walked out. American audiences never saw Dylan’s satirical song performed on the popular Sunday-night variety show on May 12, 1963. However, a previously unknown recording of that song from two days before is […]
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Billy Joel — Live at Shea Stadium: The Concert
Knowing these were to be the final musical performances at the Shea, Joel pulls out all the stops, playing to the crowd like it’s one big party. So what if they’re a little slow to pick up on which hit the band tackles before exploding into gracious applause? At least they’re appreciative. Joel even toys […]
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U.S. Royalty — Mirrors
The harmony-heavy vocals and full-band arrangements of these folky tunes scream Fleet Foxes, America and Crosby, Stills & Nash. But I like U.S. Royalty more than all of those, because their harmonies retain a vitality and directness that cut through kitsch and get to the heart of the feeling. It also helps that they have […]