The Most Influential Musician You Never Heard Of

Genius is a curse, not only because it shares a driveway with madness but also because it often falls prey to that most insidious of demons: boredom. This is an occupational hazard particularly for musical geniuses.

1981: The Year Everything Changed

The Jam ring in the new year with a bulletproof classic

You may not realize it, but 2021 is the 40th anniversary of the Year Everything Changed. Well, musically-speaking, I mean.

The true importance of 1981 may not be realized for some time to come, given the intractable and reactionary nature of popular music today. But 1981 was a pivotal year in that many of the important innovations made in Rock music flowered in this brilliant, amazing year. 

For those such as myself who were conditioned to expect non-stop excitement in popular culture, many of the years since have been bitter disappointments.