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Thurston Moore works out old ghosts with acoustics and noise
Apart from Sonic Youth, Moore showed that he's an amazing performer in his own right. Not a surprise, but still a thrill to see in person. February
Neil Young announces the likely return of Crazy Horse
I'm not sure what it says about me that a long jam on two old songs could get me this excited, but, here we are. Long live the Horse. January
Tracing the path of Neil Young's 'Helpless'
A simple ode to a song that I've strummed on the guitar for years and listened to for longer, and looking a little at where it measures up in Young's career. January
The Best of 2011: The Black Keys, again, own the year with 'El Camino'
This is the third time in four years that the Black Keys have recorded my favorite album of the year. Also included in this year-end wrap-up: debut of the year, single of the year, score of the year and more. December
Ticket stub memories: sorted, filed and treasured
I received a ticket stub album for Christmas, and had more than a fair amount of fun tracing my concert-going history through little pieces of paper I've refused to throw away. December
Ryan Adams works his magic in a rough setting
Adams was back on tour completely solo, and he sounded fantastic. But enough folks in the crowd in Boston also loved the sound of their own voices, and from there it got interesting. December
The Black Keys conquer genres, again, on 'El Camino'
Offering their take on a big, uptempo rock album, the Black Keys furthered the notion I have that they are almighty and can do no wrong. December
Noel Gallagher flies high on his own
Oasis had been going through a bit of a rebirth on their last albums, and Noel Gallagher keeps the inspired music rolling on his own. If you're wondering, yes, it's much better than Beady Eye. November
The curiosity of 'Lulu'
As I listened to this album in order to review it, I started to become convinced that Lou Reed and Metallica were trying to make a terrible album on purpose. Job well done. November
Revisiting the mechanical world of walkmans and cassettes
A broken iPod led me back to my tape player, a bunch of mix tapes, nostalgia and the like. It was a blast, though. November
Tom Waits is at his morbid, bizarre best on 'Bad as Me'
Waits always surprises me, and his willingness and ability to turn the ugliest sounds into something compelling is definitely admirable. Seriously, this rocks in the weirdest way. October
The Grateful Dead whip a worthy successor to 'Europe '72'
There are a lot of live Dead albums released every year, but not a lot stand out. This is one, however, does, though it was geared to stand out more than the rest. October
The perfect couple are no more?
The news that Thuston Moore and Kim Gordon were splitting up bummed me out. Archive-only tidbit: In coming up with the name, look and feel of Static and Feedback, I had Sonic Youth in mind at all times. October
Ryan Adams writes another beautifully sad chapter
In a great week for music — I'd just discovered Wild Flag two days before — Ryan Adams floored me with an amazing record, Ashes & Fire. Somehow, after hundreds of songs, he keeps amazing me. October
Wild Flag debuts with greatness
I first heard this record on my iPod, driving home from Boston. I listened to it again after I got home, and again the next morning, and again, and again ... October
Wilco resumes the search for sound on 'The Whole Love'
For a few years, Jeff Tweedy and Wilco seemed content with writing and recording good songs. On The Whole Love, the band returns to using the studio as an experimental instrument. October
Cameron Crowe delivers the ultimate Pearl Jam mixtape
The thrill of listening to Pearl Jam Twenty for the first time will not be forgotten for some time. This collection is amazing, and I tried to do it justice in a 600-word review. And just one week after trashing "Olé," too! September
Pearl Jam's "Olé" another sign of descent
A free single on the band's PJ20 site shows that bands older than 20 rarely remain solid creative outfits. September
Uncovering the horror of 'Midnight Rambler'
The seedy vision in my head of the Rolling Stones playing live really hasn't left me. And I wasn't that far off, either. August
The parallel universe of the Red Hot Chili Peppers
I'll be honest — I wasn't totally excited to read Anthony Keidis' Scar Tissue when it was lent to me at work. But it did lead me back to a classic record and song. August
Radiohead's lyrics as tools of guidance
I guess the review for The King of Limbs was what I needed to break through, since this is two consecutive pieces on Radiohead. Here's a column on the lyrics I've scribbled places since high school. March
Radiohead holds another challenging masterpiece in 'The King of Limbs'
As far as I can tell, this is the first time I've managed to write an entire, coherent piece on Radiohead. Write about this band typically gives me fits. This either means I'm getting better, or I've just gotten boring. February
North Mississippi Allstars send off their father in style
Whether or not the band as is stays together forever, Luther Dickinson has the look and feel of the lifelong guitarist, the guy who will play with anyone and everyone for a long time. And we'll be better for it. February
Goodbye to the White Stripes
I think it's pretty clear that the White Stripes are without peer when discussing the great bands of the 2000s. They changed so much. They were the White Stripes. February
Robert Plant hosts a Boston hootenanny
I might never see Led Zeppelin live, but with this show, I have now see all three living members live. Jimmy Page in 2000, John Paul Jones in 2009, and this. January
Cage the Elephant takes another step on 'Thank You, Happy Birthday'
Honestly, I can't decide if Cage the Elephant is a cool band, or on the verge of selling out. They really could go either way from this point on. January
Is Cake topping the charts really such a bad thing?
Cake topped the Billboard album charts with the fewest records sold ever — just over 44,000. And I thought that was fantastic. January
Why another Pearl Jam live album?
Listening to it, I get it; it sounds good (minus the Backspacer songs). But a basic live album still seems strange for a band which has released so many live albums. January
Springsteen outlines an alternate reality on 'The Promise'
I'm never amazed more than when I study prolific artists. How Bruce Springsteen managed to write this many great songs in this short a window is nothing short of amazing. January
Ryan Adams releases two rockers from the vaults
Filling in the gaps in his already exhausting catalog, Ryan Adams' III/IV rocks to a surprising degree. It's like Rock N Roll, but much better. January
Two guys from Akron not named LeBron gave us their best in 2010
After many rounds of mental gymnastics, I settled on my favorite music of 2010. The Black Keys were the stars. Now, on to 2011! January
Conan returns: A running blog
When Conan O'Brien made his mighty return to television, I was there to hastily record my thoughts in the moment. November
Say goodnight to the bad guys
I caught two of the Black Crowes acoustic/electric shows before they made their hiatus official. Who knows when/if they're play again, but at least I got to say goodbye. October
In a good mood? What to do?
I went to visit a friend on the Cape, I realized I was in a fantastic mood, and I had no idea what to listen to. Not a bad problem to have, all things considered. October
Neil Young throws out the concepts with 'Le Noise'
It makes me ridicoulously happy that Neil Young just decided to try something new and make an album without some heavy-handed message or theme. September
Dark and rootsy, Lanois helped Dylan shine on 'Time Out of Mind'
Daniel Lanois' latest project is with Neil Young on Le Noise, so naturally, I went back and listed to Bob Dylan's Time Out of Mind about a 1,000 times. September
Love and passion on the Backstreets
This has always been a true favorite in the Bruce Springsteen catalog, but around this time I really started to dive deep into the meaning and the passion of the song. Just beautiful, really. September
Keith Richards, in a moment of calm
Here, I take a look at one of my favorite photographs, Jim Marshall's shot of Richards recording in 1972, and how it can mean so much to the music and the man. August
Nothing saves the season like 'Waterloo Sunset'
To set the scene, it's a hot night on a weekend. I'm alone. So what do I do? If it's a good night, I'll put on Something Else by the Kinks, and I'll write. August
Discovering the manic blues brilliance of Son of Dave's 'O2'
In a "New Classic" entry, I look at Son of Dave's 2006 record, O2. If you have even a passing interest in the harmonica, this album is a must. August
The Dead Weather arrive in time to save the summer
In the midst of a particularly uneventful and unproductive summer, I finally heard the Dead Weather's Sea of Cowards, and all was made right again. August
The Black Crowes bring their road show to Cape Cod
It's hard to keep finding new ways to describe what it's like to see this band when I've already written so many words about them. But I think I reconcilled that well enough here. May
Even with a digital cleaning, 'Exile' oozes unchecked genius
The remastered version of the Rolling Stones' masterpiece walked that line between making the most of technology and keeping the original spirit of the record alive. That the Stones did something right, mind you, is huge. May
In the moment, Pearl Jam thrives
It was hard reconciling my dislike of the new record with their ability as a live band. As it turns out, that was silly. They rocked. May
OK Go owns the video
OK Go is by no means my favorite band in the world, but I have to hand it to them for making me care about their videos. March
Conan O'Brien says goodbye
I don't know if I can ever forgive NBC for dumping Conan in favor of Jay Leno. But for Conan, I'll try. January
Total immersion: Delving into Jimi Hendrix's home recordings
When a friend sent me the CD Jimi By Himself — The Home Recordings, I was obsessed immediately. It took a few days to articulate my feelings on the subject, but, here they are. January
Petty redefines the Heartbreakers' greatness on 'The Live Anthology'
I've long been a Tom Petty fan, and this four-disc box set blew me away when I got it for Christmas. It has completely changed my (already high) opinion of this band. January
2009: My year in music
A column that's exactly what the title says. Cheers to the Flaming Lips, Them Crooked Vultures and the Beatles, jeers to Pearl Jam and ... yeah. December
It's not too late: 10 gems you might've missed this decade
Year by year, I round up some overlooked goodies from the musical sphere of the 2000s. And I got to revisit Boomslang, a pivotal album for me in 2003. December
Sonic Youth: Not to be taken for granted
Sonic Youth really is the greatest live band I've ever seen. There are a lot of fantastic bands, and I've seen plenty of amazing shows, but no one else compares. They're just amazing. Damn. November
How I was freed from the shackles of classic rock by 'Gold'
A column trying to explain how this particular album by Ryan Adams shook me so hard that everything I felt about music wound up changing. No, really, it did. November
33 ways to a better listening experience
Sometimes when I write, I really just sit down and put myself in the mood to do it. When I wrote this, I just had the urge to get something down, so over the course of a couple of records I pumped this out. Not too shabby, I believe. October
'Embryonic' isn't just daring and inventive, it's stunning
The Flaming Lips have made a career of left-turns and surprise moves, but their latest album was a shock, even for them. Every time I listen to it, it gets better. Easily the best album of 2009. October
Them Crooked Vultures are more than just hype
Supergroups are typically terrible, or at best, underwhelming. Them Crooked Vultures are definitely the exception, and their show — before they'd even released an album — blew me away. October
The Beatles are finally given the treatment they deserve
My full, comprehensive review of the Beatles remastered albums, via the stereo box set. This tops 2,000 words, and I'm pretty proud of it. It was also a blast to write. October
What would another Beatles album have looked like?
A column where I put together the "next" Beatles album, based on solo recordings from 1969/70. It's a pretty fun game, and it's now a cool little playlist on my iPod. September
Too often, inspiration gives way to complacency on 'Backspacer'
For the record, it kills me to pan anything Pearl Jam does. But this album doesn't have the spook, and I can't make myself like an album. September
Celebrating 40 years of bad acid, dirty hippies, and oh yes, fantastic music
A video scrapbook of some of my favorite moments from Woodstock (which, as I note, took place 13 years before I was born). Let's see how long the youtube videos are actually active... August
'Quadrophenia' lets the tide in
I'm fairly convinced that Quadrophenia is one of the five greatest albums I've ever had the pleasure of hearing, and everytime I drive out to the beach to write, it's always the first thing on my mind. July
Wilco rocks again in a rain-shortened set
The Wilco coverage continues with this review of their show at LeLacheur Park, the home of the Class A Lowell Spinners. It was great until it started to rain at apocalyptic proportions. July
Wilco (the band) let their experimental side show
A review of Wilco's cleverly titled new album, which is quite catchy. July
Random Notes: Where the bootlegs invade iTunes
Another Random Notes column, one in which bootleg recordings seemed to pop up more than usual. July
Celebrating Record Store Day: The most wonderful time of the year
I recount my experiences on Record Store Day in the first half of this piece. April
Springsteen hits and misses on 'Working on a Dream'
A review of Bruce Springsteen's then-new album. January
Art inspiring art, a tribute to Cameron Crowe's masterpiece
A column exploring Cameron Crowe's 2000 film Almost Famous, it's place in music, and my own feelings. January
The Black Keys grew up quickly in '08
Attack & Release was my favorite album of 2008, and I also run down the other things that made my year. January
Three albums can cure a bad day's hangover
Column. How three albums — namely, Nebraska, Time out of Mind and Into the Wild — took the sting out of a frustrating day. November
It's not as bad as you think — it's worse
A review of Guns N' Roses' new album, Chinese Democracy. As the kids would say, OMG it was bad. November
CDs? Do they still make those?
Column. One day, I forgot my iPod, and actually had to pick out a CD to listen to while I worked. The Beatles' Anthology 3 did the trick. November
Salewicz fulfills the book on Strummer
A book review of Chris Salewicz's thorough and fantastic biography Redemption Song: The Ballad of Joe Strummer. September
Random Notes: Paying respect to Queens and Kinks through the magic of iTunes
A column where I take another spin through my mp3 collection and let stream-of-conscious take over. September
The Who are honored, not finished
A long piece reviewing the taping of the VH-1 Rock Honors: The Who special in Los Angeles, as well as a look at the Who's place in history. Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, the Flaming Lips, Tenacious D and Incubus are also covered here. July
Living a Pearl Jam show 3,000 miles away
A column dealing with my angst of having to live vicariously through my friends, who were fortunate enough to see Pearl Jam on their 2008 tour. July
Ryan Adams is holding me hostage
Sometimes, I go on kicks where I listen to nothing but one artist for weeks at a time. When I wrote this column, it was Ryan Adams. May
Am I a musician? No. No. Not quite.
I like to pretend I'm a rock star, but in this column, I confess that my musical talents are limited at best. May
Ryan Adams' life a true work of art
This is a column exploring the intricacies of Ryan Adams' now-defunct blog, Foggy, and how it served as a window to his art. April
Why do so many Black Keys fans act like complete tools?
Here's a column best summed up by the title. Written after a particularly annoying concert experience. April
Not for me: Pearl Jam tickets too rich for my blood
If nothing else, this column shows that I can actually be critical of Pearl Jam when I want to be. March
The Black Crowes reclaim their song
A review of the Black Crowes' album Warpaint. March
The argument for the Foo Fighters
A review of the Foo Fighters' concert in Glendale, Ariz. March
BRMC set the new standard for cool
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's album Baby 81 was my favorite of 2007, and I pay tribute to it here. January
Where else can Mr. Mojo Risin' and the Gallaghers coexist peacefully?
Another edition of Random Notes, featuring the Doors and Oasis, among others. October
Wild call a quiet one for Vedder
A review of Eddie Vedder's soundtrack for Into the Wild. September
From the abyss: Rediscovering the mighty Zeppelin
In high school and the beginning of college, Led Zeppelin was my favorite band (other than Pearl Jam), but they took a fast and total fall off the cliff right around my 21st birthday. I got back into them in a huge way right around this time, centered on their live album, How the West was Won. August
A journey into the world at random
The first edition of the Random Notes feature on Static and Feedback, a stream-of-conscious column where the writer jumps off of whatever comes up on iTunes. July
All thrills and no frills: Marc Ford tackles his music with no pretense
Interview with guitarist Marc Ford, and a review of his concert in Phoenix. June
Killer Party: The Hold Steady lead a triple threat
The Hold Steady are one of the best live bands around, and they stepped up again on this night, leading a bill with Illinois and Blitzen Trapper. June
Icky Thump: How the White Stripes will one day save the world
As the title might've led you to believe, a very enthusiastic review of the White Stripes' Icky Thump. June
Wilco strips back with Sky Blue Sky
A review of Wilco's new album. June
Legendary rant: The message of Bill Hicks carries on
This feature looks at Bill Hicks masterpiece, Rant in E-Minor, 10 years after it was finally released in 1997. March
R.E.M. takes their place in the Hall
A column about R.E.M.'s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and how it made me feel as a long-time fan of their music. March
Poetry in motion: The Tragically Hip rattle the desert
A review of the Tragically Hip's opening set for the Who in Phoenix. I didn't review the Who's set because of some ugliness between my party and a member of the FSU gang sitting in front of us. I'm already getting angry thinking about it, actually ... March
Greetings from the road!
An update as I made my way across the country during my move to Arizona. January
We hope you enjoy the show: 2006, live on stage
I created a video yearbook of some great performances via YouTube, though most of the links have since died. Too bad, I got some good e-mails from this one when it first ran. December
'I want it so good' — the best albums of 2006
I contribute to one quarter of this look back at the best records of '06. December
A cassette classic makes a comeback
I've always been a fan of concert bootlegs, and this is a look at one of my early live tapes, a Black Crowes recording from 1995. December
The Who breathes fire on stage in Boston
A review of the Who's concert in Boston. December
Gov't Mule gets down to business in Providence
Gov't Mule, on a weeknight, tearing the roof off the joint in Providence, R.I. Needless to say, this is an enthusiastic review. December
Pearl Jam and their fans rally in Australia
I somehow have a lot of contacts Down Under thanks to the magic of the internets, and these Pearl Jam fans were more than happy to talk to me about a recent tour. December
Ain't Talkin': Dylan lets his songs tell the story
Bob Dylan doesn't screw around when he's on stage. Also, the Raconteurs were a great opener. November
Endless Wire a mark of maturity for the Who
At the end of 2006, the Who got together and released their first album in 24 years and their best in 31, Endless Wire. November
A tale of two cities: The Black Keys burn up the eastern seaboard
Matt Berry and I recount our thoughts on a couple of Black Keys shows. Mr. Berry, for the record, is also a fantastic writer and a true Georgia Bulldog. November
Mudhoney crafted a rude debut with 'Superfuzz'
A look back at Mudhoney's classic 1988 debut, Superfuzz Bigmuff plus Early Singles. If at some point you ask me to make a list of my 10 favorite albums, it's very likely that I'll list this one. November
Uncovering the Beatles: A series of demos unlocks 'The White Album'
The Beatles 'Escher Demos' shows a united side of the band, who were otherwise extremely divided during sessions for The White Album. October
Discovering an exiled gem of an album
A look at Ryan Adams' unreleased album, Exile on Franklin St., which I had just discovered. October
Dellilah: Music, the world and everything in between
A feature on Dellilah, an experimental band based in Jerusalem. Their guitarist, Elie Adelman, later became a guest contributor to Static and Feedback, and was able to land an interview with Mike Watt when the Stooges' The Weirdness was released. So, to say the least, I'm a fan of Elie. October
It's another classic for Dylan on 'Modern Times'
A review of Bob Dylan's latest studio record. September
Petty paves the way for a late-night treat
A review of Tom Petty's fantastic album, Highway Companion. September
Free your mind with the Flaming Lips
I swear, I've never felt happier in my life than I did when I walked out of the Bank of America Pavillion after watching the Flaming Lips do their thing. Oh man. September
How the Black Crowes made my night
The band calms my rage by putting together a fantastic show in Providence. September
How the Black Crowes ruined my morning
Hours after I bought tickets to see the band in Providence, R.I., Marc Ford announced he was leaving the band. I was not amused. September
It's official: I finally get Bruce Springsteen
I didn't understand it for years, but when I did, Bruce Springsteen immediately became one of my favorite artists. He still is, too. July
Sonic Youth rips through another chapter
A review of Sonic Youth's latest album, Rather Ripped, coupled with a peek into their set at Bonnaroo that year. July
Sad songs and the fits they cause
I was exploring a feeling here in this column, and the result was one of my favorite pieces of writing to date. June
Return of the madness: A detailed glance at obsession, music and mental health through four Pearl Jam shows in three weeks
A very personal account of following my favorite band on the road, travelling with friends and getting turned on to new music. This one tops 4,000 words, and is one of my favorite pieces of writing. June
The Flaming Lips take on a new world
A review of the Flaming Lips' album At War with the Mystics. At the end of the year, I declared this to be my favorite album of 2006. June
'So long, this time I'm gone'
Hours — literally — after Pearl Jam released their self-titled eigth album, I chimed in with a song-by-song account. May
Neil fires back against Bush
Neil Young was furious at the Bush Administration in 2006, and he focused all of that anger into Living With War, which was recorded on the fly. April
The quest for the great, lost single
I spent years looking for Pearl Jam's "Off He Goes/Dead Man" single, and that journey came to an end in Berkley, Calif. March
Gilmour hones his craft with 'On an Island'
Former Pink Floyd frontman David Gilmour shows how to age gracefully in this review of his album, On an Island. March
Temple of Rock
Of all the venues in which I've had the pleasure of watching rock shows, San Francisco's Fillmore easily tops the list. As far as acoustics, environment and history, nothing tops it. And Black Rebel Motorcycle Club certainly played up to that standard on this night. March
Rage reached an apex in battle
A look back at Rage Against the Machine's 1999 classic, The Battle of Los Angeles. It was probably one of the most brutal and powerful albums of the decade. February
Discover the magic of the Faces — in a box
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of All Music Guide declared the Faces' Five Guys Walk Into a Bar... box set to be the best ever released. I completely agree, in column form. February
Unboxed: The story of the boxed set's rise
A feature looking at all the notable rock boxed sets since Bob Dylan set the standard with Biograph in 1985. February
Ryan Adams completes his 2005 trilogy
A review of Ryan Adams' last two records, Jacksonville City Nights and 29. January
2005's top 10 albums
I look back at 2005 and wrap up my favorite records from the previous 12 months, like the good little writer I am. January
Looking ahead to (and back from) 2006
The inevitable march of time freaks me out sometimes. January
The Black Crowes say goodbye to 2005
A review of two amazing end-of-the-year shows by the Black Crowes in Springfield, Mass., and Providence, R.I., which were immediately followed by the band's gig at Madison Square Garden on New Year's Eve. January
John Lennon's death, 25 years later
John Lennon was murdered about 18 months before I was born, but he's had a tremendous impact in my life. December
Do the rump! The Black Keys rock Boston
A review of the Black Keys concert at the Avalon in Boston, which was the first, and certainly not the last, time I saw the band.
Neil's still going, but Prairie Wind isn't his best
A review of Neil Young's Nashville effort, Prairie Wind. He made up for it with his next album. October
Moving a time to dive into old, new favorites
There's nothing like the packing of all your CDs and records into boxes to get you to listen to music you'd previously pushed to the side. October
Jim O'Rourke leaves Sonic Youth
A quick news story on Jim O'Rourke's departure from Sonic Youth. Funny, I don't think the news stories really need me to explain beyond the headline... October
Tell 'em Jack White sent ya — The White Stripes conquer Boston
This is, still, one of the five best concerts I've ever seen. I get goosebumps just thinking about it. September
Dylan matures and thrills on 'No Direction Home'
A review of No Direction Home, the seventh in Bob Dylan's Bootleg Series. September
BRMC blows away all preconceptions
I don't know what I was expecting the first time I caught Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, but I don't think I was expecting to discover one of my favorite bands of all time. September
Supergrass makes a giant leap forward on Road to Rouen
A review of Road to Rouen, which for my money is the best album Supergrass has made so far. August
Bootlegs galore: Pearl Jam changed concerts forever
A look back at Pearl Jam's place in the concert industry, specifically their practice of selling official bootlegs — which, really, is an oxymoron — of all their live shows. August
News flash: Stones tickets are expensive
A column detailing my love of the Rolling Stones and how it's always hard to reconcile the fact that they seem themselves as the BMW of rock and roll. August
Kings of Leon turn the Avalon into a rip-roaring roadhouse
Kings of Leon were in total control on this night, just tearing through their set. August
A musical revelation: The Who changed everything
There are many things I look for as a music fan when I'm evaluating bands, and the Who do just about everything right. In just about every other band I like, I can typically find an aspect of the Who in their music. They're my jumping-off point, I guess. August
It's time to pay debt to the forefather of the mp3
My first column for Static and Feedback, and this was under the old "head static" moniker, before I changed the name of the column to "Positively Blake St.," a nod to both Bob Dylan and my Quincy apartment. Oh, and this article is about mix tapes. August
'Rough Justice' kicks off this record with a bang
A review of the Rolling Stones' A Bigger Bang, which, is, you know, pretty good, all things considered. July
Sometimes, mistakes can be sold off
A column detailing the process of deciding which CDs I didn't need in my life anymore. And there's a sign of my early design growing pains, as all but one album cover has disappeared from when this was originally published. Huh. July
Gomez have a good ole' time on 'Out West'
A review of Gomez' live album, recorded at the Fillmore in San Francisco. July
Wilco spins arena rock on its head
Wilco put on a fantastic show at Agganis Arena in Boston, with My Morning Jacket opening. June
Tom Petty hosts the ultimate summer party
Suffice it to say, I had a blast watching Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers at Great Woods in Mansfield, Mass., and that's before I get into the fact that the Black Crowes opened. And I think my ticket cost $25 or something. Crazy! June
The White Stripes grow older and darker on Satan
A review of the White Stripes fantastic record, Get Behind Me Satan. June
7 Worlds Collide assembles an intense, brilliant band
A review of Neil Finn's concert DVD, 7 Worlds Collide, where he and a group of friends — including Johnny Marr, Eddie Vedder and two-fifths of Radiohead — put on a series of shows in Finn's hometown of Aukland, New Zeland. June
The Who smash on the ultimate rock scrapbook
A review of Jeff Stein's film The Kids Are Alright, a scrapbook and documentary of the original Who lineup. Honestly, is there a better rock movie? Maybe The Last Waltz. June
Surprise, surprise — Weezer rocks again
Of all the articles I've written, this is the one I'd most like to have back. I gave this a very favorable review, and then never listened to it again. I don't even own the disc anymore. Oh well. It made a great initial impression. June
Jawas, Woodstock and amps: Rust has it all
A look at Neil Young's concert film Rust Never Sleeps, part of the New Classic series. May
The 22-20s: A new way to demolish your speakers
A review of the 22-20s debut album, who turned out to be a one-and-done band. May
The Crowes (and rock n' roll) return to Boston
A review of the Black Crowes' concert at the Orpheum Theatre in Boston, their first since reforming earlier that year. May
Ryan Adams pumps out another classic collection
A review of Adams' Cold Roses, his first of three albums to be released in 2005. May
Beck brings the funk on Guero
A review of Beck's very funky Guero. May
Queens pummel speakers and turn heads on Lullabies
A review of Lullabies to Paralyze, the then-new album by Queens of the Stone Age. At the time, this was probably the best record revew I'd written. May
The Mars Volta make a right turn on Frances the Mute
A review of the second LP from the Mars Volta. May
Bob Dylan details the road less travelled in Chronicles
A book review of Dylan's Chronicles, Vol. 1, which, if you haven't read it, is superb. I'm still waiting patiently for Vol. 2, though. May
A record store surprise is an all-time masterpiece
A look back at In it for the Money, Supergrass' excellent 1997 album. April
Sonic Youth steps up and shatters eardrums
A review of Sonic Youth's concert in Providence, R.I. April
Mitch Hedberg: 1968-2005
A look back at the life and hilarity of comedian Mitch Hedberg. April
The Kings branch out on Aha Shake Heartbreak
I have to say, it's been fun watching Kings of Leon grow up and change so much so willingly. I was pretty blown away with this record, and the transformation was far from complete. April
Shipyard Wreck brings the funk on their debut
A review of Shipyard Wreck's Reflect and Shine. FYI, Shipyard Wreck is a fantastic band based in South Coast Massachusetts. March
Kasabian is a terrific debut, but it's far from complete
My review of Kasabian's self-titled debut album. Honestly, I'm still expecting more from them. March
The Music are storming America, one club at a time
A review of the Music's show at the Paradise in Boston, with Kasabian opening. February
An excercise in expanding musical horizons
A look back at Loose Fur's debut album, which sparked Jeff Tweedy into experimenting more with his main band, Wilco. This really is a fantastic record. February
A colossal sound that keeps getting better
A review of the second album by the Music, Welcome to the North. They kind of fell off the radar for me after this. February
Pearl Jam glance back, look ahead
A review of Pearl Jam's greatest hits compilation, rearviewmirror. I believe this was also my first article for the fledgling Static and Feedback, too. January