On yearning, devastation, and one perfect Leonard Cohen cover. — I was at my local bookstore, The Nook, working on an article about George Michael. My table was positioned beside the checkout counter and hidden from the entrance by a floating shelf of Bestsellers. The clerk, a friendly chap named Taylor, was working that morning. …

Open invitation to the music discussion happening January 22 @ 4:00pm ET Way back in December, Charles Hu (Charles in San Francisco) said, “Not on my watch,” then proceeded to introduce us album club attendees to several women (Sister Rosetta Thorpe, Blanche Calloway, and Ina Ray Hutton, to name a few) all but erased from the annals of rock ’n’ roll, jazz…

Last night, after counting down to the new year, the kids and I decided to go outside and light the sparklers we had left over from last year. The air was still warm enough for a light jacket, if any, and in the sky was a steady stream of clouds…

At 24, he’s got plenty of time and talent to bridge the gap — Sometimes an artist survives the fray because they study and show themselves approved. This was my first thought after listening to From A Bird’s Eye View, Cordae’s second studio album, released last month. Not to say he isn’t naturally talented. Standing alongside some of music’s most incredible artists (H.E.R., Gunna…

100 New Albums in 2022 Challenge, 1/100 — “can’t stick to that / can’t fade us to black / so I’m coming back/ cause it hurts / like the end of the world” — Coming Back (feat. SZA) Hello album cover I opened Spotify that first day of January with plans to listen to precisely what I can’t remember. My intentions…

Meeting on Sunday, December 5th, @ 4pm EST — Why did I not remember how hectic November always is, and thus the worst month for me to volunteer to be the person responsible for choosing this month’s album? It’s been a helluva few weeks, and this is the ball I let drop. I’m sorry, guys. You should have been…

At first, I thought the single claps were being left by members of the Medium Old Guard. You know, those members who were on the platform…

A list of things holding me down and keeping me sane — (I never saw myself writing a listicle, but when Terry Barr invites you to join a challenge…) 10 Things I Can’t Live Without, in an order that means absolutely nothing. Crashing (TV Show)— Phoebe Waller-Bridge wrote a perfect one-season tv show that does not rhyme with tea rag. All the characters are deeply flawed, perfectly cast, and working through every human high note…

Join us Sunday, August 8th @ 7pm EDT Hello my fellow Riffers! This is your reminder that our Album of the Month meeting is this Sunday, August 8th, @ 7pm EDT. …