Music

The Weight

Posted on October 30, 2019October 30, 2019 by Sam Kornstein in General, Music

I discovered this version of the Band’s song via a post on Jerry Coyne’s “Why Evolution is True” blog. It’s outstanding musically, and I’d never previously come across this “Playing for Change” song cover format where musicians all over the world perform a part, and the elements are thoughtfully stitched together in a way that keeps adding something new without ever letting the arrangement get too crowded. Interestingly, Jerry posted about it two weeks after it was published on YouTube and it only had 830 views. A month later it has almost 2.9 million. Here’s the video: If you enjoy this, it’s worth checking out some of the other “Playing for Change” songs that are recommended on YouTube.

The White Owls at Toad – Dennis Brennan and Tim Gearan

Posted on December 15, 2011December 15, 2011 by Sam Kornstein in Boston/Cambridge, Music

I saw them the other night at Toad with a friend visiting from Austin. I’d say Tim Gearan is one of the best guitar players in town. If you haven’t seen him, his band plays every Friday night at Atwood’s Tavern in Cambridge. Here are a few clips I shot. Not the best quality, but you’ll get the idea:

100 Greatest Guitarists

Posted on November 27, 2011November 27, 2011 by Sam Kornstein in Music

Rolling Stone has a new greatest guitarists list compiled by an impressive number of musicians. A few personal highlights: Keith Richards at #4. Enough said. Take that Scott Wilson. Jonny Greenwood at #48. ‘Radiohead are the consummate 21st-century rock band, and in Jonny Greenwood, they have one of the 21st century’s defining guitarists: an effects-loving wizard whose endlessly mutable style has powered the band’s restless travels – from the interstellar pomp of “The Tourist” to the misty shimmer of “Reckoner.” Like the Edge, only farther out in the art-rock stratosphere, Greenwood is a guitar hero with little apparent connection to the blues and little interest in soloing. He’s been known to attack the strings with a violin bow, and plays so

More Vinyl Recommendations

Posted on January 3, 2011January 3, 2011 by Sam Kornstein in Music

From the comments of my previous post on vinyl, Gabe Francis adds some great recommendations: Here are a few vinyl records I can’t stop listening to: 1. The Best of Nina Simone 2. Remain in Light by Talking Heads 3. Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan by Bob Dylan 4. Post War by M Ward 5. Moon Pix by Cat Power Gabe and I met this past summer in Costa Rica while he was working there as a Kiva Fellow. For those who don’t know about Kiva, it’s a community-based micro finance organization that connects potential lenders around the world, such as you and me, to low income individuals and organizations that need small loans. Unlike donating to a charity, when you give money

Top 7 Albums of 2010

Posted on December 30, 2010December 30, 2010 by Sam Kornstein in Lists, Music

All of my favorite bloggers are posting their year end lists, so on day three of this site, I figured I’d post my own. I’ll be honest. My original plan was to put together a full top 10 list, but I just couldn’t come up with 10 albums from this past year that I’m actually excited about. But I really enjoyed these seven (in no particular order): 1. Acrade Fire – The Suburbs 2. LCD Sound System – This is Happening 3. The Black Keys – Brothers 4. Broken Bells (Self Titled) 5. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy 6. Monsters of Folk (Self Titled) 7. Ok Go – Of the Blue Colour of the Sky The best music video