The Spin Blog

Why Metallica Is The Best

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:50:47 -0800

A little more than halfway through Metallica's concert last Sunday at Madison Square Garden, just after columns of fire spewed from the stage, and right before James Hetfield began barking out "Master Of Puppets," the friend I was with turned and me and shouted, "Why are these guys so much better than any other metal band?"

The Music Interests Of New Jersey Cabbies

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:23:46 -0800

As someone who has music for his vocation and avocation, it's always fun to hear what people who don't spend all day listening to, thinking on, and writing about the subject have to say about it. This past weekend, I got a nice opportunity to do that.

The Five Best CMJ Bands

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:37:53 -0800

I seriously need to catch up on some sleep. But before I do that, I'm going to share some impressions of CMJ, the culprit that robbed me of so much shut-eye over the last few days.

If you don't already know, CMJ (College Music Journal) is an annual music festival held each Autumn in New York City that brings hundreds of young bands to come play and hopefully build buzz for the coming year--think of it as a colder, less barbecue-centric South by Southwest. ...

Why Heavy Metal Is Awesome

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:57:37 -0800

Seeing recently reunited ‘80s Sub Pop doom mongers St. Vitus stomp all over a rowdy New York City crowd this past weekend reminded me why I love metal. It's just so defiantly uncool.

"Everything Has Changed"--A Rock Lifer Looks Back

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:53:26 -0800

During his 35 years as pop music critic for the Los Angeles Times, Robert Hilburn saw rock mutate from countercultural force to mass artform to the fantastically indescribable thing it is now. Speaking from his home in Sherman Oaks, California, I chatted with Hilburn about the massive shifts he's seen shake the music world.

The Best Song In The World

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:40:02 -0800

This column is about the songs that make us do those things. If it goes well I might turn it into a recurring feature. You'll let me know.

The Ten Best Bruce Springsteen Songs

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:15:31 -0800

Happy Birthday, Boss! This week, Bruce turns 60. To celebrate, here is my list of the top 10 Springsteen songs.

The Ten Best Pavement Songs

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:50:55 -0800

If you're familiar with the band, you're probably as excited about the news as I am. If you're not, take a listen to any of the following ten songs--my picks for Pavement's Ten Best. Tell me what you think in the comments section.

The Beatles Are Back

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:23:25 -0800

This Wednesday, after months of anticipation, The Beatles: Rock Band as well as remastered editions of the Fab Four's catalog finally goes on sale.

The Ten Greatest Oasis Songs

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 20:23:29 -0800

In a move that was probably more mildly surprising than totally shocking, songwriter-guitarist Noel Gallagher, 42, announced over the weekend that he was quitting Oasis, the world-beating Britpop band he formed with his younger brother, lead singer, and recurring nemesis Liam, 36, in Manchester in 1991