The other night, my band played “I Wanna Be Sedated” while two preteen boys jumped around onstage in front of us, shouting the tune’s words with contagious glee. “Twenty-twenty-twenty-four hours to go / I wanna be sedated / Nothing to do, nowhere to go, oh,” they sang as they bopped, “I wanna be sedated.”
The Read More
The New Prince Is a N.E.R.D.
In 1982, popular music was often whatever Prince Roger Nelson decided it was. Twenty years later, the same can be said for Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, two Virginians who, under their nom de pop , the Neptunes, have produced the work of Britney Spears, Ol’ Dirty Bastard Read More
Madonna began the 90′s at her commercial zenith, bestriding the
world in the overweening manner common to pop-
culture colossi. She ended the decade with only that English accent as her most
detestable affectation. In between, she released some magnificent singles. Greatest Hits Vol. 2 (WEA/Warner Bros.) not only complements her first hits
compilation, The Read More
Kiss: The Yankees Of Rock?
My friend Bill hates the Yankees. Always has. But he respects them. He cannot deny their sheer tenacity. Something similar is at work with Kiss. Although greatness has never been purely a statistical matter in popular culture, it’s clear that Kiss is the greatest rock ‘n’ roll band Read More
Peter Case Coulda, Shoulda …
The Bottom Line was maybe half full when Peter Case walked onstage for the late show on April 29. Just as things got under way around 11 p.m., a guy yelled out a request. Everybody could hear him. Mr. Case, who has played steadily for 25 years, first on street Read More
Sometimes I wonder what could possibly motivate Neil Young’s association with Crosby, Stills & Nash. Even if you believe the dubious notion that those three tubs of lard (even Graham Nash is getting round in the middle these days) had anything worthwhile to offer past 1968, it’s tough to fathom why Mr. Young has recently Read More
