Who Will Get Joe Strummer's Vote?

On Medialoper: Who Will Get Joe Strummer's Vote?

It has been like this forever. In fact, I’m not actually sure that I can remember a time before this campaign started. Way back in March 2007, (over a year and a half before Entertainment Weekly said the same thing on their cover) I asked if this campaign was going to be the best reality TV show ever, and I think that it has ended up that way.

One small problem: I hate reality TV.

Deadwood Fans, Here's Your Conclusion: Screw You!

On Medialoper: Deadwood Fans, Here's Your Conclusion: Screw You!

Oh, and I only get to see this if I pay $180 for the full series set — despite the fact that I’ve already paid at least $100 for HBO during the initial runs and at least $180 total for the individual season box sets after that.

Will NBC & DirecTV's "Friday Night Lights" Experiment Work?

On Medialoper: Will NBC & DirecTV's "Friday Night Lights" Experiment Work?

It really seemed like there was no way that it was going to come back, and those of us who had fallen in love with it were going to lose something unique in TV history: a show that took a hard, smart look at small-town America and the institutions that that were important to it — including, of course, high-school football.

23 Musical Moments to Die For

On Medialoper: 23 Musical Moments to Die For

Husker Du
The White Stripes
The Who
The Church
James Brown
Mekons
Boston
Bangles
Sonic Youth
Jesus and Mary Chain
Ambulance LTD
Hole
Bash & Pop
Robyn Hitchcock
Beach Boys
The Brains
Los Campesinos
The Chant
Neil Young
Wilco
The Byrds
Camper Van Beethoven
Cheap Trick

From The Jam Should Go Back To Where They Came From

On Medialoper: From The Jam Should Go Back To Where They Came From

I think that it comes down to this: since the real The Jam isn’t performing, it’s fine for a tribute band to go out there and play those songs. Yay! However, it ain’t so good for that same tribute band to be competing against the real band in terms of selling product.

Alas, Poor David

On Medialoper: Alas, Poor David

And I just sit and wonder — selfishly, of course — what does it mean that I was so attracted to his art when that art wasn’t even enough to sustain his own perception of his life?

The Mess of The Rolling Stones Back Catalog

On Medialoper: The Mess of The Rolling Stones Back Catalog

That’s because they’ve recorded and released — and re-released — dozens and dozens of amazing, colossal singles, even from their weakest records. So clearly, the pushing of individual songs onto the public has always been part of how the Stones have been marketed. Is it any wonder that — after four decades of this strategy — the marketplace responds by downloading individual songs?