Category Archives: song of the day

by

Song of the Day #2,302: ‘Love is Eternal Sacred Light’ – Paul Simon

so_beautiful_so_what

Best Albums of the 10s So Far
#15 – Paul Simon – So Beautiful Or So What

 
Continuing my countdown of the best albums of the decade so far, I arrive at Paul Simon’s 2011 comeback record, So Beautiful Or So What.

Simon released only two album in the 00’s: You’re the One in 2000 and Surprise in 2006. The former was half-great and the latter a general disappointment. Before those records, it’s just 1997’s Broadway experiment Songs from the Capeman and the sublime Rhythm of the Saints way back in 1990.

Not very prolific, Mr. Simon.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #2,301: ‘1989 Medley’ – Superfruit

superfruit_taylorIn a case of perfect timing, I discovered Superfruit’s medley of all 13 track of Taylor Swift’s 1989 just as I was posting my own review of the album.

So I’ll wrap up this not-random weekend with their take on the record, which is predictably awesome. Maybe not up to the level of their Beyoncé medley, but excellent nonetheless.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #2,300: ‘Style’ – Taylor Swift

taylor_swift_1989I’m taking a break from Random Weekends in order to get in a quick review of Taylor Swift’s 1989. Swift’s music has generated enough discussion on the blog that I feel I owe it to my loyal readers to chime in on this latest batch.

1989 is, as everybody knows by now, Taylor Swift’s “pop” album. Though she has always flirted with pop in her music, even when she was a bona fide country artist, she has fully embraced the genre here.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #2,299: ‘Holiday’ – Vampire Weekend

contra

Best Albums of the 10s So Far
#16 – Vampire Weekend – Contra

 
Vampire Weekend has released two excellent albums in the 10s (with more to come, I can only assume). They are the rare band that showed complete mastery of their craft from the very beginning.

Each of their three records is focused and confident, nodding (sometimes very obviously) to influences but converting them into something fresh and unique.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #2,298: ‘Housewife’s Prayer’ – Pistol Annies

hell_on_heels

Best Albums of the 10s So Far
#17 – Pistol Annies – Hell On Heels

 
Miranda Lambert is one of the artists making multiple appearances on this list, and she shows up first as part of Pistol Annies, the country girl group she formed with friends and fellow songwriters Angaleena Presley and Ashley Monroe.

The best supergroups feel not like stunts but an organic coming together of similar musical sensibilities. The Traveling Wilburys are an old-school example, and Pistol Annies work just as well as that grizzled bunch.

Continue reading →