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"In Dulce Decorum" by The Damned, released in 1986, captures a unique cultural and historical moment, blending the punk rock edge with a gothic aesthetic amidst the undercurrents of the waning Cold War. The song title, borrowing from a Latin phrase famously critiqued by poet Wilfred Owen during World War I, hints at a deeper …
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As a fan of Joe Jackson since the early 1980s, I’ve witnessed the remarkable range of his music, spanning genres like punk, new wave, jazz, and pop. His song "I'm the Man" particularly stands out for its mix of humor and sharp social commentary. This track, with its witty lyrics and energetic rhythm, exemplifies Jackson's …
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My first brush with Pink Floyd was thanks to "The Wall". I recall heading to San Francisco to see it on a truly BIG screen and seeing the movie was like a WOW moment, and it got me digging deeper into what Pink Floyd was all about. Of course the follow on album was “The …
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THE BAND Talking Heads was an American rock band formed in New York City in 1975. The band consisted of David Byrne (vocals, guitar), Chris Frantz (drums), Tina Weymouth (bass), and Jerry Harrison (keyboards, guitar). Over the course of their career, Talking Heads became one of the leading bands of the New Wave movement, blending …
Continue reading "Talking Heads, CBGB, Stop Making Sense, and Burning Down The House"
High on a hillside, the trucks are loadingEverything's ready to rollI sleep in the daytime, I work in the nighttimeI might not ever get home This ain't no party, this ain't no discoThis ain't no fooling aroundThis ain't no Mudd Club, or CBGBI ain't got time for that now. --Life During Wartime, Talking Heads, 1979 …
I recently finished reading David Byrne’s 2019 book "How Music Works”. For those that don’t know David Byrne is a well-known musician, singer, and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and principal songwriter of the band Talking Heads. In "How Music Works", Byrne shares his extensive knowledge and experience in the music industry and …
Punk rock emerged in the mid-1970s as a reaction to the overproduced, commercialized rock music of the time. It was characterized by a raw, stripped-down sound, DIY (do-it-yourself) ethic, and a rebellious attitude. The origins of punk rock can be traced back to the early 1970s, when bands such as the Stooges and the New …
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“It’s not about standing still and becoming safe. If anybody wants to keep creating they have to be about change.” - Miles Davis Many people probably do not initially see the parallels between the rock industry and the American military, and in fact, one might think they have been at odds with each other for …
By J. William DeMarco Sitting in the all too warm classroom….staring at the clock…wondering if sixth period English was ever going to end…glancing to my left… I notice Scott's Pee Chee folder with 6000 doodles on it…and a massive Union Jack labeled Teenage Wasteland in thick black Sharpie. A great song to be sure… but in …
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