On Six Songs of Me

Can people’s lives be measured meaningfully by the music they listen to? That’s the question NPR raises in an article on The Guardian‘s “Six Songs of Me” project which seeks to understand how people identify themselves by the music they listen to. The six questions… What was the first song you ever bought? What songContinue reading “On Six Songs of Me”

On the Beatles’ New “Album”

The Beatles released a new “album” today. I put the word “album” in quotes because it’s not an album, not really. It’s just an iTunes compilation, along the lines of the “Essentials” collections many bands have on the service, and it’s called Tomorrow Never Knows. It’s fourteen tracks. It’s supposed to highlight the Beatles asContinue reading “On the Beatles’ New “Album””

On Christmas Day Music Musings

Like many atheists, I love Christmas. Richard Dawkins, for instance, says that he’s “culturally Christian” when he’s asked why he does Christmas things — the Christmas celebrations are part of the cultural DNA. Elizabeth Cornwell wrote an essay for the Washington Post about her own “Very Atheist Christmas” and it hits a lot of myContinue reading “On Christmas Day Music Musings”

On Five Movies Everyone Should See

Five movies that everyone should, in my opinion, watch at least once. Y’know, I’ve never given this a moment’s thought. So here goes. 1. A Hard Day’s Night. It’s the first Beatles movie. It’s the black & white Beatles movie. It’s a riot. I love it. I’m too young to know what Beatlemania was, andContinue reading “On Five Movies Everyone Should See”

On MOJO’s Harrison Covered CD

A few days ago I stopped at Barnes & Noble on my way home from work. Though it was a little early in the month, I wanted to see if they had the latest issue of MOJO with its cover story on George Harrison and the cover-mounted CD Harrison Covered. To my surprise, there wasContinue reading “On MOJO’s Harrison Covered CD”

On Favorite Beatles Songs

This weekend at Shore Leave, on Saturday evening at 5 o’clock, I’ll be moderating a panel on the Beatles. It’s an odd topic for a panel for science-fiction convention, and I admit I put it down on my list of suggested topics as a kind of a lark, and I still have no idea whatContinue reading “On Favorite Beatles Songs”

On My 2011 Shore Leave Schedule

We come to it at last, the great battle of our times. No, wait. That’s not right. Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup. No, that’s not it, either. Oh! I’ve got it! Next weekend, July 8th through 10th, in Hunt Valley, Maryland, is Shore Leave, a science-fiction and fantasy convention.Continue reading “On My 2011 Shore Leave Schedule”

On Completing the 30 Day Song Challenge

A little more than a month ago, I began posting to Facebook and Twitter responses to the 30 Day Song Challenge. As I mentioned at the start of it, some friends of mine at work had been doing the challenge, one sent me the link to the “rules,” and I started answering the various questions.Continue reading “On Completing the 30 Day Song Challenge”

On DJ Danger Mouse’s Grey Album

Not long after I bought my Beetle, at the tail end of 2004, I decided I needed an awesome album for the Beetle’s stereo. I needed the Grey Album. The Grey Album was the infamous mash of Jay-Z’s The Black Album and The Beatles’ The Beatles (which everyone refers to as “The White Album,” becauseContinue reading “On DJ Danger Mouse’s Grey Album”