Barry Manilow Goes to War With Spotify (Not Really)

Fun fact: My first professional, published music article I ever had was about Barry Manilow. More than 20 years later, I'm back writing about him. This time, it's about the strange six hours on Friday when the world thought he'd yanked his music in Spotify in protest of their support of Joe Rogan. My piece is over at MEL.

The Live Albums You Need Right Now

You can't go to concerts right now. So check out these concert albums instead.

Some Thoughts on 'Bombshell'

Is calling a movie "timely" actually a compliment?

Just how important is it to play a real person if you're gunning for an Oscar?

And what do "Peace in L.A" and "Let's Roll" have in common?

I answer those questions, and more, in my piece on Bombshell for MEL.

Remembering Jonathan Demme, the King of the Concert Film

Jonathan Demme passed away today at the age of 73. For Rolling Stone, I focused on a crucial aspect of his career: his concert films. Of course, that means a lot of love is shown to Stop Making Sense, but I also talk about his Neil Young movies and Justin Timberlake+ the Tennessee Kids. It's an incredible legacy, and I try to do it justice here.

Exploring Neil Young's Best Non-Hits

When it comes to someone like Neil Young, the notion of a "hit" is amorphous at best. Outside of "Heart of Gold," which went to No. 1, he's not exactly a dude who dominates the charts. So for MEL, I picked 10 songs that have never been featured on a live album or best-of collection. In theory, these are the greatest of his "obscure" songs. I hope this list shows many of the different aspects of the man's style and career shifts. Dig in.

Drive-By Truckers - "Ronnie and Neil"

Today, I fly to Athens, Georgia, to see my old buddy Will Leitch. So this song has been selected for two reasons. One, Drive-By Truckers (America's best rock band) are based in Athens. Second, I want to remind everyone that I've been raving about this band for years and years. Will, I am never going to let you forget that you once preferred Kings of Leon to these guys.

Crosby, Stills & Nash - "Guinnevere"

My father likes to insist that Neil Young ruined Crosby, Stills & Nash. (What can I say: The man simply has never been on Young's wavelength.) So, in his honor, here's one of my favorite CSN tracks. And let's be honest: There really isn't a place for Young in it.



P.S. If you haven't heard the alternate version of "Guinnevere," you should check it out.

Neil Young and Crazy Horse - "Safeway Cart"

Neil Young has so many great songs, but it's fun to root through his deep album cuts to find some real gems. One such track for me is "Safeway Cart," off Sleeps With Angels. Incredibly evocative, it paints a picture of a "ghetto dawn" that's moody and unnerving. Nothing seems to be happening, but the ominous stillness of the song could almost be the setting for a post-apocalyptic landscape. Or maybe it's simply a rundown part of town populated by the poor, homeless and forgotten.

All Hail Neil Young

This weekend, Neil Young Journeys opens. It's the third and final film in director Jonathan Demme's trilogy of concert films about the singer-songwriter. Like the previous two installments, it's great. For IFC Fix, I wrote about the lasting legacy of these three fine films. You can read it here.

thom yorke - "after the gold rush"

I was watching the American Masters documentary on Neil Young, Don't Be Denied, over the weekend. It's OK -- a very typical "hit the highlights" portrait of an icon -- but it did inspire me to seek out this Bridge School Benefit performance by Thom Yorke. He does a pretty decent cover of the great man's "After the Gold Rush," due in part to the fact that his voice can match Young's ethereal wail from the original.

neil young - harvest moon

Yeah, I'm a day late -- what do you want me from me, I was traveling. I'm going to a wedding today, and, well, I always think of this song around weddings.

neil young - crime in the city

The original "Crime in the City" is an acoustic/country/jazz sort of thing from Neil Young's fantastic 1989 album, Freedom. It's great, and if you haven't heard it, you should -- some of the best storytelling Young's ever done. But as much as I dig that track, the live electric version blows it out of the water. Here it is:

neil young: downtown

Neil Young doesn't break picket lines and endorsed Obama way back in 2006. Neil, this note's for you.

long may he run

Neil Young, that is. Jonathan Demme's fine new concert film about the man heads up my latest Consumables.