Last week, I riled up the Mumfords with Five Reasons CDs are Better Than Vinyl. This week, I’ll try to get back in their good graces and give vinyl its due. I know what you’re saying. “Pick a side, Geek” It might seem a little wishy-washy on the surface, but…

I’m feeling a little spunky this morning, so I figured I’d rile up some Mumfords. Mumfords? That’s my latest name for hipsters. Outspoken, cooler-than-thou cats who are all over the latest music craze, regardless of whether it’s truly in their heart or not. Most writers don’t harass Mumfords, in fact,…

The Beatles are the greatest band to ever hit this planet. You may have heard that. But how much do you really know? What I have found over the years, both in the record store and while conversing with my friends, is that most people recognize the Beatles brilliance, but…

I can’t believe the things I decide to write about. Women? Have I lost my mind? I know as much about women as I do about God–not jack. Yet I continue to study both. In fact, I suspect they are one and the same. Like most subjects in my studies,…

I’ve stood and watched guys and girls play (mostly guys, mostly guitar), and wondered what it would be like to make an instrument talk… to connect with a crowd… to say something with lyrics. But lately, I’m not so sure. Maybe I wouldn’t want to be a musician. Maybe just…

A few weeks ago, in a little ditty called Five Signs That You Might Be a Music Junkie, I mentioned that I never deliberately listen to the same song more than once a day. That’s right, no “play it again, Sam” for this geek. (Note: That quote is from Casablanca…

When you are a certified music junkie like I am, you tend to weave music in and out of life. It influences every area of your existence. Does that mean music is part of my parental philosophy? Of course. It’s one of my greatest tools. In fact, I find that…

Some of my friends think I’m a music elitist. Totally untrue. After 25 years in record stores, and a lifetime of being a music junkie, I know more about music than the average bear. I cannot deny that. But an elitist? No way. I’m not even a decent critic. I…

My mom warned me about rock ‘n’ roll. She said it was a bad influence and a crazy lifestyle. Overflowing with sex, drugs, partying, and lots of other things God didn’t dig. She said stay away at all costs. So I made a career out of it. No, really. Not…

A few weeks ago, I wrote that there is no such thing as background music in my world. I’m constantly aware of what’s playing, for better or worse. When I posted the column on my Facebook page, I had two different people refer to the comment specifically. Knowing both of…

I’m feeling a little guilty about last week’s column, in which I took the crappy popular music of the ’80s to task (High School Music: A Reunion from Hell). Why? It was negative, and generally I like to promote good music instead of baggin’ on bad stuff. I’ve fed my…

I just got back from my 30th high school reunion in Minot, North Dakota. It was great to see so many of my lifelong friends and classmates. Most of us have spread out across the country, and we all commented on how comfortable and familiar it was to be back…

I’ll bet when you read that headline you thought, “Here we go again . . . Some old dude is going to bash on today’s music.” Wrong, Spanky. In my 48 years, I’ve never said “There’s no good new music these days.” In fact, after 26 years in the music…

Luckily, I started when they were just pups. Because I discovered something on our recent vacation: The large window of musical influence that I’ve exerted over my kids all these years has shrunk down to almost nothing. We take a driving vacation every other year, and in past years, I’ve…

I know. You like to rock. If it doesn’t kick ass, you don’t need it. Or maybe you’re listening to a different genre, like hip-hop, but it’s still the same. You like that hard-driving, in-your-face kind of stuff. That wonderful, rebellious, youthful music that makes you want to take another…

When my kids were little, and I’d be playing and talking about music with them, they’d say, “Dad, what is this song about?” You can probably guess my answer. Because eight out of 10 songs (not an official stat) are about the same thing: Love. Of course, that one simple…

As far as I’m concerned, people who don’t ever listen to albums are music lightweights. By “albums”, I don’t mean actual vinyl records. I couldn’t care less which configuration or delivery method you chose. I mean a specific group of songs in a certain order. As it is, I don’t…

How much is music worth to people? This isn’t a new question for me. For the past 25 years I’ve fed my family by selling the stuff. And even though I haven’t operated a brick-and-mortar record store for almost a year now, I’m still as curious about it, and as…

When it comes to music, do kids today have it better or worse than the generations before them? I decided to do some research into the matter. By “research,” I mean I asked my teenagers some questions, and then compared their answers to my opinions. Around here, we call that…

Finally, I get to write about music. I’ve been hanging out on the cultural side of the New Times site, Jackalope Ranch, writing a little column called Parent Hood. Not a “how to parent” column, more like a look at pop culture through the eyes of a parent (five kids…