Every other Tuesday, the Bangkok Post publishes a music column by John Clewley, an informed and informative journalist and occasional DJ. He regularly features the Transglobal World Music Chart, highlighting the releases that most tickle his discerning ears. Regrettably, as he points out, the May 2022 Top 20 chart features just one Asian artist, fromContinue reading “Get A Clewley”
Author Archives: billpaige
Lesson Plan
From time to time, the Josephmooon discussion touches on the topic of what it means to “be famous.” Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio must be very famous indeed. AKA Bad Bunny, the Grammy Award-winning Latin music star recently was recognized with – not one, but two – wax figurines by the world-famous Madame Tussauds. HowContinue reading “Lesson Plan”
Brief Encounters
RIP, Cynthia Plaster Caster and Re Styles CAUTION: ADULT-THEMED BLOG POST; NOT INTENDED FOR CHILDREN UPDATE: Life celebration concert planned for Cynthia Plaster Caster. Two remarkable rock ‘n’ roll collaborators – Cynthia Plaster Caster and Re Styles – passed recently, from this mortal coil to whatever lies beyond. Cynthia was 74 years old; Re wasContinue reading “Brief Encounters”
Mango Milli
To the editor: Again with the “soft power” references, regarding T-pop sensation Milli’s appearance last weekend at California’s taste-making Coachellla music festival (“Milli’s sticky rice and mango stunt grabs world’s attention,” Bangkok Post, April 18). Please, in the name of responsible journalism, stop. The tenuous concept of “soft power” (primarily advanced and promoted by aContinue reading “Mango Milli”
The Most Important Book I’ve Ever Read (And it’s not even a “book.”)
When I was 17 or 18 years old, I purchased an early edition (not the first, which was published in 1968, but a later edition published in 1971) of the Whole Earth Catalog, edited by Stewart Brand. The magazine’s stated purpose was this: We are as gods and might as well get good at it.Continue reading “The Most Important Book I’ve Ever Read (And it’s not even a “book.”)”
Cassettes
Here’s an interesting article about cassette culture in 2022. What do you think? Should Josephmooon release its music on cassette? # # #
Lesson Plan
In the last week or so, I’ve encountered two “music stories” in The New York Times and Bangkok Post, one of which filled me with hope and the other with dread. I know you’re busy, so here is a short summary. Dig deeper if you are interested. The Dread: Women are prohibited from ceremonial drummingContinue reading “Lesson Plan”
Song Requests
Here’s my hot take on folks who make song requests at live music venues. It’s about control. [This is not a scientific analysis.] Some people, I have observed, need to feel “in charge” of their environment. Sometimes this pathology results in aggressive and unreasonable demands being made on the staff or kitchen (if we areContinue reading “Song Requests”
Music News?
There is a lot of what is called “music news,” but really, not much – if any – of it has anything to do with music. Apparently, things like chord structure, harmony, melody, and lyrical integrity are too “wonky,” so the media resorts to celebrity-type coverage of musicians, rather than attempt any thoughtful assessment ofContinue reading “Music News?”
Lesson Plan
This news sent a shiver down my spine. AI Music’s Infinite Music Engine “uses artificial intelligence to automatically ‘shift’ songs based on certain conditions, time, among other things. In other words, it can automatically create new variations of songs to present completely different music. (And we thought Muzak signaled the end of the world.)