Music for Pleasure column archives

Here are links to my column, "Music for Pleasure," which I wrote for phillyBurbs.com from 2003-2004. There are 34 columns in all.

John Peel RIP (Oct. 28, 2004)
A farewell tribute to John Peel, the most influential, exciting and important DJ in the history of broadcasting.

New CD releases (Sept. 30, 2004)
Fall 2004 new CD release previews.
Reviews: Mono - "Walking Cloud and Deep Red Sky" | The Delgados - "Universal Audio" | Social Distortion - "Sex Love and Rock and Roll"

Back in black (Sept. 16, 2004)
Preview of phillyBurbs.com's "Must Have Music Guide."
Reviews: Rogue Wave - "Out of the Shadow" | The Lovekill - "The Lovekill" | Mike Keneally - "The Universe Will Provide"

50 free MP3 downloads (Aug. 5, 2004)
Shameless shill to sell Emusic.com subscriptions. A man's gotta earn a paycheck. You do get 50 MP3s for nothin' though.

Makes no sense (July 29, 2004)
Sifting through the emotional aftermath after Delaware musician Phil Healy and Del. State Trooper Christopher Shea were killed while Healy was driving drunk.

Old memories (July 15, 2004)
Discovering music at Booth's Corner Farmer's Market, Your Worst Nightmare and my discovery of punk rock.
Reviews: Jing Chi - "3-D" | The Briefs - "Sex Objects" | The Soviettes - "LP II" | The Helio Sequence - "Love and Distance" | Various Artists - "Wantage USA's Hits Omnibus"

Middle-aged metalhead (July 1, 2004)
Lame attempt at being cool by proclaiming love of metal. Motley Crue book analyzed and Iced Earth/Death drummer Richard Christy joins Howard Stern Show staff.
Reviews: Motörhead - "Inferno" | Zeke - "'Til the Living End"

Nick Drake: Born to make magic (June 24, 2004)
Overview of the folk troubadour's career and recorded output.

Am I a criminal? (June 11, 2004)
What does it mean when a consumer downloads an album before it is released, then goes and buys the CD when it hits stores?
Reviews: Sonic Youth - "Sonic Nurse" | Mission of Burma - "Onoffon" | The Thermals - "Fuckin' A" | Rachel Z - "Everlasting" | Spyro Gyra - "The Deep End"

Someone to lean on (May 27, 2004)
Benefit for former co-worker Gehrett Ellis organized by Jen and Jon Oliver. Kim Chowchuvech cancer update. American Idol top 5 moments.
Reviews: Antietam - "Victory Park" | Ghetto Ways - "Ghetto Ways" | Carina Round - "The Disconnection" | The Marked Men - "On the Outside"

Remembering Elvin Jones (May 20, 2004)
Obituary of legendary jazz drummer Elvin Jones. Jessica Simpson sells out.
Review: Iggy and the Stooges - "Live in Detroit"

Thanks Howard (May 13, 2004)
Acknoledgement of the King of All Media.
Reviews: The Catheters - "Howling ... it Grows and Grows" | The DT's - "Hard Fixed" | Turn Me On Dead Man - "God Bless the Electric Freak" | Really Red - "Teaching You the Fear"

Unfrigginbelievable (Apr. 29, 2004)
Taking on America's top celebrities who sell crappy keychains, coffee mugs and t-shirts to their fans and followers. Much to my surprise, Howard Stern read this article on his show.

Sell and resell and resell (Apr. 22, 2004)
The gratuitous reselling and repackaging in the music and film industry has plucked my last nerve. Much to my surprise, Howard Stern read this article on the air.

Rembering Joey Ramone (Apr. 15, 2004)
Three year anniversary of Ramones frontman's death. With exclusive pics of CBGBs shrine.

Don't blame downloaders for lack of CD sales (Apr. 8, 2004)
Could file sharing and downloading of music really have no tangible impact on CD sales?
Reviews: Korn - "Y'all Want a Single" | Mimi Fox - "She's the Woman" | Particle - "Launchpad" | The Bigger Lovers - "This Affair Never Happened … And Here Are Eleven Songs About It"

Now they are 20 (Mar. 18, 2004)
A look back on the Dead Milkmen and the death of bassist Dave Blood.
Reviews: Federation X - "Nude Disintegrating Parachutist Woman" | Decapitado (ex-Die Kreuzen)

Kim's cancer (Mar. 11, 2004)
The life of music fan, Buddhist Kim Chowchuvech and the "We Love You Kim" benefit.

Kim's cancer (Mar. 4, 2004)
The life of music fan, Buddhist Kim Chowchuvech and the "We Love You Kim" benefit.

Condensed life (Feb. 26, 2004)
Summary of my life in 20 line items. Hate mail.
Reviews: The Briefs - "The Joy of Killing" | Negative FX - "Government War Plans E.P./1982 Demo Tape" | Stereolab- "Margerine Eclipse" | The Homosexuals CD

Are you experienced? (Feb. 19, 2004)
My fake near-death experience, Mitch Albom and Devo. Kim Chowchuvech benefit annoucement. Andee Connors runs a triathlon.
Reviews: Screamers - "In a Better World" | The Nuns - "The Nuns" | The Von Zippers - "The Crime is Now" | The Slog Movie DVD | Descendents - "'Merican" EP

Bungle in the jungle (Jan. 29, 2004)
I mistakenly said "Aqualung" has the most annoying flute solo. Angry hate mail from Jethro Tull fans ensues. Heavy Metal Parking Lot on DVD update.

Pictures tell the story (Jan. 22, 2004)
Lame Michael Jackson pictorial. Also, hate mail from a reader who writes, "Your column was the longest piece of written bullshit I've read in the past three days."

All funked up (Jan. 15, 2004)
How I pissed off the Grand Funk Railroad fanclub.

I do ... nevermind (Jan. 9, 2004)
Bashing Britney's marriage, George Clinton on crack, Rush guitarist's son refuses to leave stage, both arrested, Ray Davies, Cris Kirkwood and Bruce Kulick are shot, Elliott Smith cause of death a mystery.

Predictions for 2004 (Dec. 20, 2003)
I actually predicted someone's boob would pop out on the Super Bowl. I just got the person wrong.

I hate Christmas music (Dec. 4, 2003)
The Christmas songs I wish they'd make
Reviews: The Darkness - "Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End)" | Pedro the Lion - "The First Noel" | Clairdee - "This Christmas" | Yellowjackets - "Peace Round"

Britney's big bomb (Nov. 20, 2003)
Review: Song-by-song analysis of Britney Spears' CD, "In the Zone."

Punk rock and roll (Nov. 13, 2003)
Reviews: Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros – "Streetcore" | Iggy Pop – "Skull Ring" | Television – "Marquee Moon" & "Adventure"
Feature: Going Underground: The Soviettes, FM Knives, The Flash Express, Federation X, Fleshies

Let's have a party (Nov. 7, 2003)
Reviews: R.E.M. – "In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003" | Beth Orton – "Pass in Time" | Ying Yang Twins – "Me and My Brother" | Lyrics Born – "Later That Day" | The High & Mighty – "The Highlite Zone"
Feature: Listening to radio online, Wanda Jackson

I love rock and roll (Oct. 30, 2003)
Reviews: The Strokes – "Room on Fire" | The Darkness – "Permission to Land" | Andrew W.K. – "The Wolf" | Grandpaboy – "Dead Man Shake" | The Dirtbombs – "Dangerous Magical Noise"
Feature: The Beatles get "naked," Macca is a daddy … again

No more sad songs (Oct. 23, 2003)
Reviews: Clay Aiken – "Measure of a Man" | Ludacris – "Chicken-N-Beer"
Obituary: Elliott Smith, 34, singer/songwriter
Opinion: Ludacris vs. Bill O' Reilly

What the world needs now (Oct. 16, 2003)
Reviews: Martina McBride - "Martina" | OutKast - "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below" | The Distillers - "Coral Fang" CD | Travis - "12 Memories" CD | Stereolab - "Instant O in the Universe" CD

One is the loneliest number (Oct. 9, 2003)
Reviews: Dave Matthews "Some Devil" | Sting "Sacred Love" | Dido "Life for Rent" | Obie Trice "Cheers" | Lost in Translation soundtrack | "Mainlines, Blood Feasts, and Bad Taste: A Lester Bangs reader"
Feature: The Bellrays