Pleasure should never be guilty, but oh baby, baby; forgive me ahead of time. This one’s embarrassing. I’m seriously risking some friendships and probably imposing deep and abiding questions about my sexuality with this admission. She’s been with me since 1999, bouncing onto the scene with her repressed sexuality and teasing strut. That’s right, folks, [...]
While most wouldn’t feel the slightest guilt over listening to JT, Ms. Dean thinks otherwise…
The year was 2004, the political climate was confusing at best, and I was just then learning how thoroughly a man could break my heart. I was also halfway through earning a degree in sticking it to the man, also known as “a liberal arts education”, or “majoring in pre-barista”. It was around this time when I first heard the song “Headfirst for Halos”, dropped surreptitiously in the middle of a lovelorn mix CD. My under-aged self was stunned; somewhere there was another person as angry as I was!
Yes, it’s an unabashed party album, with no aim of informing, let alone empowering the listener; yes, it’s a far, far cry from the days when they railed against the world’s injustices. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t, you know, good.
Imagine it’s 1997. Bill Clinton is serving his second term in office and Harry Potter receives his acceptance letter to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. More importantly, dance-pop group Aqua releases its debut album. 1997 is the dawning of the age of … Aquarium. Scandinavians Lene Rasted, René Dif, Søren Rasted, and Claus Norreen [...]
“Where have all the good men gone,” Bonnie Tyler once asked. While she was clearly crying out for a different type of loving, I’m wondering why the blokes of this world are flying the vocalist flag so poorly. Over the last few years, the girls have brought forth Amy Winehouse, Duffy, Adele, Estelle … and [...]
In 1997, U2 released its ninth studio album, Pop. While it had strong sales at first, fans quickly realized that the album didn’t live up to the hype surrounding it. The hit singles weren’t there. The tour had many unsold tickets. Overall, the entire period became a giant mess for U2, which the band doesn’t [...]
Although my musical tastes lean toward alternative acts such as Pixies, as well as classic heavy metal/punk bands, in the vein of early Motley Crue or Social Distortion, I’m actually quite open to a variety of styles (some would say to a fault). I can’t help it. I’m a sucker for a catchy tune, and [...]
I grew up Presbyterian, evangelical Presbyterian. Churched in the ’90s, as a teenager, you were handed two things – an NIV translation of the Bible and a copy of DC Talk’s Free at Last. You didn’t receive one without the other, and frankly, in hindsight, reading the Bible would have probably gotten me more chicks. [...]
I blame my ex for this…no even she couldn’t stand them, so that’s not fair. When going in to this I looked at it by these standards, would people look down upon me if they heard me playing these songs? Would I quickly change the song if it came up on shuffle around people I [...]