Winter round-up: It's February?

The only things I remember from this whirlwind of a winter are a trip to NYC (for a Communications Executive Council conference and Paul Rudd), buying my first home, and ringing in what’s shaping up to be a pretty sweet year.

Somewhere in between, I did some writing:

I hope to be back in writing mode as soon as I figure out this whole homeownership thing. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with:

Happiness don’t drag its feet.
  • This new (to the U.S.) beauty:

And this overdramatic but partially true New York Times post on the end of dating. Funny and sad, no?

Nashville Scene’s 13th annual Country Music Critics’ Poll

It never gets old - I’m thrilled to be a part of Nashville Scene’s annual Country Music Critics’ Poll for the third year in a row. Ninety-three journalists and bloggers from across North America submitted ballots and shared their perspective on the state of country music in 2012. I can’t say I agree with all of the final rankings, but to be in the company of those who write for The New York TimesRolling Stoneand Entertainment Weekly is something surreal.

Better yet, I’m humbled that one of my comments was chosen to run right alongside theirs:

Check out the full coverage below:

Posted on January 17, 2013 and filed under Music, Writing.

Sound Bite: Fans are critics

When you sing off-key or devote yourself to inane subject matter, people who are paying attention to you (i.e. your fans) notice. Even if they immediately forgive you or have the tact to avoid mentioning it. Even if they decide that your particular faults are part of your unique charm. A critic simply notices and then says so.

-Chris Wilcox on the value and role of the critic, a topic that’s surfaced again thanks to this Shania Twain quote:

I think the only thing that makes me nervous is the critics. The fans are who I’m out there for. I’m there for them, and I feel it. They’re there for the same reason that I’m there. We love music, and we love the entertainment. So I feel like there’s a really positive exchange there. And critics just make me nervous. What can I say? That’s the nerve-wracking part of it.



Posted on December 12, 2012 and filed under Sound Bites.

Sound Bite: Steven Tyler the sorcerer

It’s like things levitate in a room when we get in the studio. We’re like modern living sorcerers because we’re creating music and writing lyrics, and at the end of the day, there’s a live living thing there dancing around that everyone’s gonna be singing in a few months God willing. It’s just magical.

-The sometimes ludicrous, sometimes poetic Steven Tyler on "The View," discussing Aerosmith's  new album, due out Tuesday. 

Posted on November 4, 2012 and filed under Music, Sound Bites.