Given that I am the egghead white father of two non-white sons, you might think I’d be a big fan of egghead white Paul Simon and his exploration (co-option?) of pretty much every non-white musical style ever invented. You would be wrong. (On the other hand, I had an Uncle Al and a Cousin Betty who were indeed “pals” and who both died prematurely, so the song about Al and Betty always brings a lump to my throat, for reasons Mr. Simon never intended.)
Rock
Seventies Heartland Rock
The 70s gave us the post-Stonewall gay rights movement, women’s lib, a well-meaning, if not entirely successful, attempt at true nationwide school desegregation (aka busing) … and REO Speedwagon.
Oh well, you can’t win ’em all.
Seventies Album Rock
It’s hard to argue that there’s much that is “influential, important, or interesting” about this music. But Journey was Daveon’s favorite band for awhile, so I had to get them in here somewhere. Plus, I actually kind of like Boston (while Max detests them, so go figure).
Santana
I suppose I should love Santana, given that he lives in the Bay Area, is vaguely Latin jazz-y, and is all about peace and love.
I don’t.
Rush
I just got back from Canada, and while it’s nice and pleasant at all, the thing that always strikes me about it is that there’s no edge, no funk. I like it “fine,” which is pretty much the same as I feel for all-Canadian, funk-free band Rush.
Rolling Stones
I’m not sure what’s more impressive: The fact that these guys have been around and kicking for more than 50 years basically intact, or the fact that for the last 40 of those years they haven’t released anything worth listening to. (Note: Every time he sneezes, Mick Jagger makes $10 million. I’m sure he cares—a lot—about my opinion.)
Rod Stewart/Faces
On the list of musicians who actually have talent and completely threw it away, Rod Stewart probably ranks right at the top. “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy”? Number one, no. Number two, even when my kid was five and had a speech impediment, he knew how to spell and pronounce “do.”
Rockpile/Brinsley Schwarz/Dave Edmunds/Nick Lowe
The complicated history of these players and groups deserves a blog of its own. But my mom likes Dave Edmunds, and Nick Lowe released an album called Pinker and Prouder Than Previous, which sounds like a gay anthem, even though I’m pretty sure he’s not gay. So that must count for something.
Rockabilly
How is “rockabilly” different from “early rock and roll”? Is rockabilly different from early rock and roll? No idea. But I like the song “Summertime Blues,” so I needed a way to get it onto a list somehow.
Robyn Hitchcock
See Jonathan Richman. Swap in “Robyn Hitchcock.”
Bonus points for the lyric, “And balloon man/Blew up/In my hand.” What does that even mean?
Playlist of the Day 