Davin Kolderup

San Francisco jangle boys are 2 for 2. Slumberland doesn’t miss!

My absolute favorite musical comfort food is any group from the ‘80s or ‘90s with strong VU DNA (see also Luna, The Feelies)

Rock’s “Phil” Power Rankings

An exercise in semantic satiation

Phil Lynott

Phil Manzanera

Phil Everly

Phil Lesh

Phil Elvrum

Phil Rudd

Phil Selway

Phil May

Phil Collins

Phil Ochs

Phil Anselmo

*Phil Spector (removed from consideration because we’re trying to have fun here)

Sleeper had as many hooks and as much lyrical acuity as any group to come out of the UK in the 90s, and I’m sure the fact that they’ve never been considered a top-tier Britpop band has nothing to do with the fact that they’re fronted by a woman.

Considered by most to be the third-best Cult live LP, I think it still rips, although my tolerance for ‘80s BÖC may be higher than average. I consider it historically noteworthy, however, for including two of the all-time greatest moments in live album stage banter.

1) During the opening performance of “Dominance and Submission,” Eric Bloom reassures the Hudson Valley audience “I know Poughkeepsie takes rock & roll seriously!”

2) During their cover of the Doors’ “Roadhouse Blues,” right before the section where he sings “I woke up this morning and got myself a beer,” the band goes into an extended vamp while Bloom, perhaps concerned the audience cannot take the leap of imagining him drinking a beer upon waking,… More

A transitional album - David Ruffin was fired during the recording, Norman Whitfield had almost but not completely usurped production duties from Smokey Robinson - and better for it in some ways, bridging the gap from the “Classic 5” 60s sound to the full on Psychedelic Soul of the Whitfield Era.