Suicide has touched my world several times this year. I also have learned of families I know that are falling apart. Friends have told me how hopeful they had been about a fulfilling aspect of their work, only to see their employers mess it up by treating people like pawns, or by politicizing the work. And finally, I had a …
Horn Sections Make Rock Better: Indian Giver
Horn Sections Make Rock Better, Christmas Edition: If keeping this blog has taught me anything, it’s that the Squirrel Nut Zippers are a huge influence in my life. (See song posts here, here and here … plus workplace ideas here, here and here.) I love the entire album, but this one really takes the cake. The crying that leads to …
Horn Sections Make Rock Better: Blues for Baby Jesus
It has to be Christmas music now. Society has spoken. If you’re not ready, consider this something to squirrel away for holiday time. After all, it’s an entire album (of dixieland jazz). Many thanks to Robin for recommending this. An insurance company released it in 1972.
Horn Sections Make Rock Better: The Hard Way
Let’s continue last week’s soul music. This is James Hunter, a British throwback. And backing and producing him: the legendary Allen Toussaint. You can see Toussaint talk about Hunter in this promo video.
Horn Sections Make Rock Better: It’s Midnight
The Halloween horns are over. My plan was to tell you today, “Get ready for some Christmas music soon. But first, some more rock.” Now for the plot twist. I heard this soul band over the radio and loved their sound. When I searched for them online, this was the first one I heard. As you will see, this is …
Horn Sections Make Rock Better: Superstition
I was planning to make Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” my final Halloween-themed Horn Sections Make Rock Better. What showed up in my inbox this morning but a New York Times celebration of the 50th anniversary of the single’s album, Talking Book. Here it is, live, on … uh … Sesame Street.
Horn Sections Make Rock Better: Hell
Regular posts will resume soon, but meanwhile, another Halloween-themed Horn Sections Make Rock Better. And another one from the legendary Squirrel Nut Zippers. I have no problem making this the third Zips song we’ve used (here and here, plus reference in some blog posts).
Horn Sections Make Rock Better: Autumn in Ganymede
Anime composer/arranger/producer Yoko Kanno formed Seatbelts to record the soundtrack for Cowboy Bebop. Cowboy Bebop is surely one of the most groundbreaking anime series ever made. (We have a thing about cyberpunk on the blog, so maybe we’re biased.) The whole thing (see stills in the video) looks like it could have been a Hai Karate commercial. And the music …
Horn Sections Make Rock Better: Ghost of Stephen Foster
I have had some client work that has put the blog on hiatus for a few weeks. (If you think you’ll need help in 2023, please reach out soon!) But I couldn’t resist a month of Halloween-themed horn sections that make rock better. The Zips are a phenomenal band. I heard them perform this song on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic …
Horn Sections Make Rock Better: Not the One
Something I didn’t know I’d be doing as a dad is watching the same movie three times in a two-week period. And I know from some of you that I got off easy. Anyway, from the movie “The Bad Guys,” I discovered the Heavy. You’ve heard their music in soundtracks, etc., too.