I got worn out of most ‘fiddle and banjo crap’ (as Martin Mull put it) DECADES AGO. But every once in a while, there’s something that still has the magic for me–and this is one of them. Great folk music–even at its happiest–simply has to have a certain weariness to be worth much. At its source are people who never get the smell of work off their skin.

Another great article from Priceonomics: The Economics Of Selling Out. A discussion on the tipping point between authenticity and popularity in music and politics.

The Beatles Anomaly List. A place no Beatles lover should do without. A guide to every little niggly, beautiful ‘mistake’ and oddity. A labour of love and hours of fun.

What Song Changed Your Life?’: Bob Boilen On How Musicians Become Themselves

A great moment in this article is Trey Anastasio doing a pretty sophisticated analysis of West Side Story. It really nails what I consider the progressive rock ethos. He took something from another world. Analyzed it. Internalised it. And then took it somewhere new.

I just wish he had taken it somewhere else. 😀

If you’re interested in ‘the music biz’ on any level or popular music in general, I can highly recommend just about anything by New Yorker author John Seabrook, including this: Will Streaming Music Kill Songwriting?

Mr. Seabrook’s book The Song Machine is also tremendous read. It goes into interesting detail about how the vast majority of pop music is now dominated by such a small group of people. Eye opening.