12 Patriotic Songs Better than Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A."
Don't let bad music ruin your 4th of July. Here are a dozen great songs celebrating the U.S.A. without resorting to shmaltz... read more
If You're Happy and You Know It: The 13 Best Songs with Handclaps
Despite the wide variety of musicians at Bonnaroo this year, there was a commonality I observed at nearly every set, from Snoop Dogg to TV on the Radio to Bon Iver: the prevalence of the handclap. The crowd went wild each time the band gave them a beat they could clap along to, and the musicians seemed to appreciate the response. Why are handclaps so appealing? Maybe it's the sing-alongs we're taught as children, like "B-I-N-G-O" and of course, "If You're Happy and You Know It Clap Your Hands." Maybe it's the interactive nature of making percussion along with the... read more
Twelve Iconic Hairstyles
1. Farrah FawcettFarrah’s ’do made her a sex symbol, and her beloved feathers still show up in hairstyles today.... read more
Can Kanye West be Artist of the Year if He Never Releases an Album?
He’s certainly trying. So far this year, our buddy has released at least six great collaborative tracks, all of which are guest spots on somebody else’s records. Who says he’s self-centered? The man loves to share his gift! Act now and Kanye will perform at your wedding, bar mitzvah or funeral!... read more
A (Brief) Tour Through the History of Musical Parentheses
With today's release of Wilco (The Album), we celebrate not only a band, but also a rich musical tradition. No, not album-cover camels, or even rock 'n' roll groups with frontmen named Jeff. Rather, musical parentheses.... read more
Five Genre Fiction Gateway Drugs Other Than Battlestar Galactica (Which is Still Awesome)
With the reimagined Battlestar Galactica television series concluded, we've run out of socially-acceptable sci-fi to gush over. That should make you think, shouldn't it? Wouldn't life be more fun if we could step outside of the all-encompassing irony and self-awareness of modern living and allow ourselves a little bit of childlike wonder at the power of the imagination?... read more
Seven Great Websites for Out-Of-Context Concerts
There's nothing quite like the classic live music experience of standing elbow-to-ribcage with dozens or hundreds or thousands of strangers, basking in the glow of some sweaty collective of musicians working their magic onstage at a dark, smoky venue. But there's also nothing quite like that sweaty collective of musicians working their magic in the backseat of a car, or in a crowded elevator, or tucked between bookshelves in someone's office. It seems that the same easily-accessible digital cameras that've flooded YouTube with screechy, grainy concert footage have also made way for a whole slew of carefully-filmed live music performances... read more
Best Music of 2009 (So Far): Austin L. Ray, Web Editor
To celebrate the half-way point of 2009, this week Paste staffers are counting down their favorite albums and songs of the year (so far). Check out all of our lists here, and share your own favorites in the comments.There are more than a few things I'm not proud to say I've yet to put my ears on this year. Mos Def, I'm looking in your direction. People are telling me you're back. That you quit messing around and remembered what you're good at. They say Madlib helped. I'm looking forward to it. Elsewhere, there are so many hyped-up albums I... read more
Best Music of 2009 (So Far): Steve LaBate, Associate Editor
To celebrate the half-way point of 2009, this week Paste staffers are counting down their favorite albums and songs of the year (so far). Check out all of our lists here, and share your own favorites in the comments.So much love to give already this year, and it's not even July. And there's even more to come later this year with new albums from The Avett Brothers, Pearl Jam, the Beastie Boys, Tom Russell and Calexico, Jay-Z, Os Mutantes, Yo La Tengo, The Black Crowes, Gordon Gano, Erykah Badu, Lil Wayne and The Dead Weather. I'm only supposed to include 10 albums and 10... read more
Best Music of 2009 (So Far): Kate Kiefer, Associate Editor
To celebrate the half-way point of 2009, this week Paste staffers are counting down their favorite albums and songs of the year (so far). Check out all of our lists here, and share your own favorites in the comments. You might notice that Passion Pit’s Manners isn’t on my list, and that’s because I don’t like Passion Pit very much. (Apparently I’m in the minority.) I didn’t include Wild Light’s “California On My Mind” either, but that’s only because Josh plays it so many times a day that I feel like it’s his own personal song. As for the music I did include…if... read more
Best Music of 2009 (So Far): Nick Marino, Managing Editor
To celebrate the half-way point of 2009, this week Paste staffers are counting down their favorite albums and songs of the year (so far). Check out all of our lists here, and share your own favorites in the comments.... read more
Best Music of 2009 (So Far): Josh Jackson, Editor-in-Chief
To celebrate the half-way point of 2009, this week Paste staffers are counting down their favorite albums and songs of the year (so far). Check out all of our lists here, and share your own favorites in the comments.I've always been an album guy, but this is shaping up to be a singles year for me. I've already had quite a few songs on repeat—particularly a somewhat profane power-pop anthem from Wild Light. So my Top 10 Songs has become a Top 20, partly because of the brilliant charity compilation Dark Was the Night. Bon Iver, who didn't release a... read more
Best Music of 2009 (So Far): Rachael Maddux, Assistant Editor
To celebrate the half-way point of 2009, this week Paste staffers are counting down their favorite albums and songs of the year (so far). Check out all of our lists here, and share your own favorites in the comments.For the first few months of 2009 (and even creeping back a bit into 2008), I spent more time thinking about one album than any other album I've ever spent time thinking about in my entire life. And even now, after spinning through its cycle untold times and banging out a few thousand words about the band that made it, The Hazards... read more
Dad Rock Playlist
Happy Father’s Day to all you dads out there! We're thankful to our own fathers for raising us to love music, so in honor of the holiday we asked them what they’ve been listening to lately. Here’s what our dads had to say:... read more
A Dozen Quotable Moments as Reasons to Watch Christopher R. Weingarten Talk for 10 Minutes about Twitter, Bonnaroo and the Death of Music Criticism
I discovered this clip on Thursday afternoon (via Twitter, natch) on The Daily Swarm, and found it entertaining, thought-provoking and controversial. Christopher R. Weingarten has contributed to a number of substantial music publications over the last 10 years, and to say he's got a few things on his mind in regards to the state of the musical union is an understatement. Hilarious, furious, and argument-inducing, the above speech has more than a few quotable moments. As such, the dozen below are my way of coaxing you into burning 10 minutes of your life watching the video. It's Saturday, after all,... read more
10 Writers to Follow on Twitter
Yeah, I know, everybody's an author. Novelists, screenwriters, journalists, self-help gurus and social marketing experts all filling the void with words. But these 10 folks have a way with them, whether using 10 or 10,000.... read more
Seven Great Ohio Songs
Yesterday my fiancé and I were listening to The Low Anthem in the car, and he pointed out that there are a lot of great songs about Ohio. I’d never thought about it before, but some of my favorite songs are about the Buckeye State. Incidentally, some of my favorite songs are incredibly depressing. Enjoy!... read more
Four Killer Indie Artists I've Discovered This Year
1. Blue Roses: With her glass-shattering soprano and an acoustic guitar that sounds more like a harp, Laura Groves (pictured above) makes utterly formal folk music—it sounds like she learned her craft in a 19th-century British conservatory. I count seven outstanding songs on her new self-titled album, including the rapturous piano ballad “Greatest Thoughts,” which out-Tori Amoses Tori Amos, and “Coast,” a spine-tingling sea chantey.... read more
Top 12 Bonnaroo Moments
Somehow, 2009 marked my first Bonnaroo. After years of hearing stories of the hot, dust-laden, never-ending days in Manchester--combined with years of attending festivals and being unimpressed by inferior sound, overcrowded grounds and annoying sound bleed--I was skeptical. But I enjoyed every moment of Bonnaroo. Great acts were a given (as they've been at most fests I've attended), but the festival was large enough to constantly hold my interest but, somehow, still manageable. Sound was great, crowds didn't interfere with seeing or hearing bands, bleed was minimal, and fest organization was impressive.There are many great moments I missed. I'm kicking... read more
Five Euro Music Festivals That Make Us Want to Cross the Pond
Here in the U.S. of A., there's no shortage of summer-music festivals. In fact, there are so many purveyors of over-priced adult beverages and sweaty good times, it's rather difficult to choose between them. You'd think our musical curiosity would be satisfied, wouldn't you? But alas, as we peruse summer tour schedules that send some of our favorite acts overseas, we can't help but wonder about these festivities on foreign soils. What makes them so awesome? And, did someone enstate a rule that they must be held on some form of medieval ruin? Is a port-a-loo cleaner than a port-a-potty, or does... read more
The 20 Best Gadgets of the Decade…
The 17 Best Romantic Comedies This Decade
The 50 Best Albums of the Decade…
The 25 Best Movie Performances of the…
Blind Pilot - The Story I Heard
Gregory Alan Isakov - The Moon Song
Kim Taylor - Days Like this
B.O.B. - Put Me On
Punch Brothers - Punch Brothers at CMJ
Anya Marina - Whatever You Like
David Bazan - Hard To Be
