Pop Music Blog

By Providence Journal Arts Writer Rick Massimo

April 2009 Archives


Song of the Day, I Want to Believe Edition

4:33 PM Tue, Apr 28, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

I have no idea whether this is genuine. I have no idea how one would actually go about doing this. (I was going to say that I have no idea WHY either, but in fact the answer is: awesomeness.) If......

social bookmarking


Song of the Day, You Be the Judge Edition

10:23 AM Mon, Apr 27, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

"So Fine," the new Sean Paul single, can be heard at www.allseanpaul.com. My opinion after one listen? Ehh. But listen for yourself! (I'll check back in a few hours to let you know whether it's left my head yet. I've......

social bookmarking


Song of the Day, Never a Bad Time for War Edition

2:18 PM Fri, Apr 24, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

Speaking of the Oakland-based funk group, of course. I was looking for "Summer" so as to make an Overreacting to the Weather Edition, but I couldn't find one. This will have to more than do. "Cisco Kid" (live), War......

social bookmarking


Song of the Day, Phil Spector Conviction Edition

11:27 AM Wed, Apr 15, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

It's a shame. It's also a shame it took so long to achieve justice. However, in a recording studio, the guy knew what he was doing. Even if taking your first hit from your father's epitaph may not be a......

social bookmarking


Song of the Day, New Deer Tick Single Edition

2:54 PM Tue, Apr 14, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

Well, I guess I gave that away, didn't I? Coming to Lupo's 24 April, along with Low Anthem and Elvis Perkins in Dearland: http://partisanrecords.com/mp3s/deertick-easy.mp3 "Easy," Deer Tick (no video)......

social bookmarking


Song of the Day, Bangles Day Edition

11:49 AM Fri, Apr 10, 2009 | | Comments (1)
By Rick Massimo    Email

Really, every day should be Bangles Day. Another group I'm surprised it took me this long to give SOTD status to*. "James," The Bangles * Sorry; correct syntax costs extra.......

social bookmarking


Update: Newport festivals' applications postponed

6:34 PM Thu, Apr 09, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Pamela Reinsel Cotter    Email

By Rick Massimo Journal Pop Music Writer The Newport City Council Wednesday night voted to postpone the application of New Festival Productions, the company run by longtime Newport festival impresario George Wein, to once again run folk and jazz festivals......

social bookmarking


And about bloody time too

1:46 PM Tue, Apr 07, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

It's actually kind of amazing that they've remained this popular for this long when they broke up almost 40 years ago and you can't get a decent-sounding CD of theirs. The Beatles' catalog has been digitally re-mastered for the first......

social bookmarking


Song of the Day, Finally Getting Around To It Edition

7:00 AM Tue, Apr 07, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

I can't believe I never put this one up before. I listen to it all the time. "Louie Louie," The Pretenders (live on the ABC show Fridays, which was the best TV show for music back then. I should probably......

social bookmarking


Song of the Day, Opening Day Edition

7:00 AM Tue, Apr 07, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me. -- Hunter S. Thompson "America's Favorite Pastime," Todd Snider......

social bookmarking


Low Anthem signs to Nonesuch

4:35 PM Thu, Apr 02, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

Nonesuch Records tells me that they've signed the Providence-based trio The Low Anthem, who play an updated version of Americana music on a wide variety of instruments, and will re-release their latest disc, Oh My God, Charlie Darwin, on June......

social bookmarking


Michael McDonald coming to Newport's Sunset series

4:03 PM Thu, Apr 02, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

Michael McDonald will play at the Nantucket Nectars Sunset Music Series, held at the International Yachting Center, in Newport, on Friday, July 24. Tickets are $65 and $55 and go on sale online Friday, April 3. They can be had......

social bookmarking


Song of the Day, Playing Tonight Edition

2:09 PM Thu, Apr 02, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

At Club Hell, on Richmond Street in Providence, tonight: "The Lung," Dinosaur Jr.......

social bookmarking


Billboard Chart Alert: I Don't Believe I've Ever Seen You In Here Before

12:13 PM Wed, Apr 01, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

Holy moley! Twelve, count 'em twelve, debut records in this week's Top 20 album chart, starting with the number-one NOW 30 various-artists compilation and the Hannah Montana: The Movie soundtrack at number two. The Twilight soundtrack is at number three,......

social bookmarking


The funniest thing you will read all (insert long period of time here)

12:06 PM Wed, Apr 01, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

The worst lyrics of 2008, compiled and put into March Madness format by Rob Harvilla at the Village Voice. (It's a PDF, and some of the language is, well, "adult" is giving it a compliment, but you know what I......

social bookmarking


Song of the Day, Marvin Gaye Memorial Edition

7:00 AM Wed, Apr 01, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Rick Massimo    Email

Marvin Gaye, who would have been 70 tomorrow, was shot and killed by his father 25 years ago today. And I still don't know what to say about that. Except this: This is just a lip-synch; I have no idea......

social bookmarking