#113 - Review the Review: Man Alive | Dr. Lonnie Smith | A Question About The Beatles
Everything Everything released their first album Man Alive back in 2010 & Nick, who discovered them last Thursday, was an immediate fan. After a few listens, he decided to see what his old pals at Pitchfork had to say about this (still) fresh debut from a talented bunch of musicians; he did not like what he found. This week, Nick’s admiration for the crew at Pitchfork is put to the test. [Man Alive Pitchfork Review]
Songs:
Dr. Lonnie Smith passed away last week at the age of 79 & Greg brings us a remembrance. An American jazz Hammond B3 organist, Smith merged jazz, funk, and soul as both a member of the George Benson Quartet (among other groups) and as a bandleader in his own right. He continued recording well into 2021 and his illness and subsequent passing came quickly. He’ll be greatly missed and Greg’s queued up a handful of his many gems to share his appreciation of his music.
Songs:
Finally, a question about The Beatles. Well, first let’s listen to "Hey Bulldog" and then get some assumptions out of the way:
The Beatles are as close to universally loved as any band in history.
The Beatles are one of the largest influences on popular music in the latter-20th and 21st centuries.
They’re respected on a musical, cultural and technical level by the vast majority of musicians and non-musicians alike.
With the exception of Drake fans, no one thinks The Beatles were just a bunch of hacks that got lucky.
Okay, so the question: Were The Beatles successful because of their early teeny-bopper appeal or did stars truly align to make them a once-in-a-century phenomenon?
Also, Greg’s going to be on tour with The Red Not Chili Peppers over next couple weeks, check them out if they’re playing nearby!