Here's a summary of the Substack posts I've published since the start of the year, with links to each. 1. The Whole Blessed Thing. An essay about the lessons we learn from songs, inspired by a lyric from a Robbie Fulks song: 'If you've ever heard Hank Williams sing / Then you know the whole… Continue reading Songs and Objects 01.2025-03.2025
Tag: Bob Dylan
My review of “Hard Rain: Bob Dylan, Oral Cultures, and the Meaning of History”
My review of Alessandro Portelli's 2022 book Hard Rain: Bob Dylan, Oral Cultures, and the Meaning of History has now been published on the website of Oral History journal. This brilliant book takes the form of a set of responses to the 1962 song ‘A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall’, mixing these with narratives about the… Continue reading My review of “Hard Rain: Bob Dylan, Oral Cultures, and the Meaning of History”
Recent posts on Songs and Objects
There are new posts available on my Songs and Objects Substack, including reflections on Grandaddy's classic Sophtware Slump album, a set of observations prompted by the recent release of Richard Dawson's The Ruby Cord Live film and a three-part analysis of the musicality of lists which previously appeared as a podcast episode, now been revised… Continue reading Recent posts on Songs and Objects
Songs and Objects podcast
I am working on a podcast that explores the materiality of song. I’ve created it to accompany a research project I have been working on for some years now and which I hope to turn into a book in the future. The podcast is called Songs and Objects and the first five episodes are available… Continue reading Songs and Objects podcast
New book: The Late Voice
This week sees the publication of my third book, The Late Voice: Time, Age and Experience in Popular Music. The book is being published by Bloomsbury Academic initially in a hardback edition. A cheaper paperback edition will be published at a later date. From the book's blurb: "Popular music artists, as performers in the public… Continue reading New book: The Late Voice
Late Voice 