- It’s official – R.E.M. will be inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility. In a nice bit of timing, Patti Smith, one of Michael Stipe and Peter Buck’s musical idols, will also be inducted. After I posted this, I read a story where Stipe told Reuters that Bill Berry would play with the band at the induction.
- Speaking of Berry, the R.E.M. fan club single this year included the four-piece performing “So. Central Rain” and “Begin the Begin” at an Athens tribute. “Begin the Begin” rocks – I’m very glad to see that one in their playlist frequently these days.
- Broke down and started buying some tracks from iTunes. Gotta be careful with that. But it was a quick way to get Dada’s new EP, A Friend of Pat Robertson. The title track is excellent – great harmonies and a beautiful but disconcerting melody. “7 Dot 1” is a good rocker that kinda feels like a followup to “Information Undertow.” I’m not sure about the other three tracks, but for four bucks, I got my money’s worth.
- Among the other tracks I picked up: Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris’s “This Is Us.” I firmly believe that Mark Knopfler knows how to speak Guitar. I don’t know what would be like, but he must do it. The song sounds great, and I love Knopfler and Harris’s performance as a married couple looking back on a happy life together. Hopefully I won’t have too much trouble converting the track into a listenable format in 30 years or so.
Filed in Culture and Media