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Woody Guthrie and Songwriting
DIY - Everybody Has A Song In Them

Woody Guthrie believed that everyone has a story worth singing. This post explores his philosophy of DIY songwriting, showing how his simple approach turned everyday experiences into music.

* Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2025-11-18 Read post
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Getting Lyrics Wrong
Not Always The Worst Thing

Welcome to the world of "mondegreens" which are those often bizarre misheard lyrics that turn songs into comedic misunderstandings, revealing how our brains interpret sound

* Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2025-07-15 Read post
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The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players
Turning Strangers' Forgotten Photo Slides Into Art

Before the age of TikTok slideshows and multimedia concerts, one curious family band was already turning found photos into performance art: The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players.

* Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2025-03-25 Read post
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For Others
Review - Michael Tiernan New Album

A super cool concept record from San Diego's Michael Tiernan: A recorded collection of personalized song assignments for individuals. For Others finds Michael Tiernan leaning into clarity, restraint, and quietly confident songwriting.

* Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2024-11-26 Read post
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Three Bands I Knew Who Should Have Made It
Proof That Music Is Not Really A Meritocracy

There are so many phenomenal bands and singers out there that none of us have ever heard of. Here are 3 whom I've met and loved; and who's lack of success pisses me off.

* Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2024-06-18 Read post
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We Are The World - Plus 40 Years
A Review Of "The Greatest Night In Pop"

I just stumbled into the We Are The World documentary on Netflix and wanted to share what I got from the experience. I'm always trying to show what it's like in a studio, but only this doc can show what it's like to be in the studio with 45 music legends.

* Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2024-02-13 Read post
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Robbie Robertson
R.I.P. For One Of My Favorites

As pop-rock legends age and die, everybody in media seems to write think pieces about the artist and what they mean. I guess we're kind of doing that - but this is really just a hastily-assembled collection of thoughts about the music career of Robbie Robertson. Also: Listen to his album Storyville!

* Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2023-08-09 Read post
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Punchmade Dev
You Want Gangsta? He Puts The Organized In Organized Crime

No moralizing or attempts to break down the phenomenon that is Punchmade Dev. Just making sure you know about the breaking rap artist who has MULTIPLE songs that detail how to run credit card and other internet fraud. Wow. Just wow.

* Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2023-07-25 Read post
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50 Randy Newman Songs You Need To Hear (2 of 2)
Part 2: The Playlist

We love celebrating our favorite musicians and songwriters around here with some words and also a playlist of our favorites. Here in Part 2 we tee up the whole 50-song playlist along with thoughts on each of the 50.

* Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2023-06-06 Read post
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50 Randy Newman Songs You Need To Hear (1 of 2)
Part 1: Our Randy Thoughts

We love celebrating our favorite musicians and songwriters around here with some words and also a playlist of our favorites. This week it might be our #1 very favorite: Randy Newman. Part 1 here, we make our case for Randy (as if anybody should need us to tell them).

* Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2023-05-30 Read post
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Songs For The Cynical
Review - Spud Davenport

Songs For The Cynical is the kind of indie record that doesn't beg for your attention-it assumes you're already a little tired of everything. This review looks at Spud Davenport's wry, understated album, where dry humor, melodic restraint, and emotional honesty coexist without sentimentality. A listen for anyone who prefers their songs smart, skeptical, and quietly memorable rather than loud or earnest.

* Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2023-04-04 Read post
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Top 100 Political Songs - Part 3
Songs 61 through 100

More of our curated playlist of 100 great political songs you should remember or become aware of. We go in depth about what we like about songs #61 through #100

* Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2022-11-01 Read post
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Top 100 Political Songs - Part 2
Songs 21 through 60

More of our curated playlist of 100 great political songs you should remember or become aware of. We go in depth about what we like about songs #21 through #60

* Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2022-10-25 Read post
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John Mellencamp - Underrated Songs
Check It Out

Some John Mellencamp non-hits that I love came up recently in the old random machine. So, I thought I should put 10 of his songs that deserved better in front of you here for your enjoyment. Dig in.

* Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2022-08-02 Read post
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Prince's "1999"
It's Four Different Songs In Four Decades

An exploration of "1999" by Prince and how a party song actually changes its meaning over the years

* Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2022-06-07 Read post