Chuck Eddy

Fungustelechy Vs. the Amoeba Syndrome So basically, sometime during the almost two months since the last time I posted here about fungi, I bought a knife. Or to be specific, as Amazon describes it, “Mushroom Knife, Fungus Knife, Folding C...

On earthballs, puffballs, turkey tails, dog turd fungi, bracket fungi, split gill fungi, cellar fungi, wood rot, slime molds, and other organisms I may or may not have photographed and incorrectly identified in the woods. (Puffballs are the coolest.)

150 Best Albums of 1992 I wrote this a week after the election that ensured Donald Trump’s autocratic strongman return to power, and I wrote it partially so something else would occupy my mind.

Two Novembers ago, partly to take my mind off the news, I cobbled together 5500 words about early '90s quasi-populist/nativist presidential candidates, Sister Souljah, "Cop Killer," riots, riot grrrls, a critics band who critics soon forgot, mini disks, and (mainly) my 150 favorite albums of 1992.

150 Best Albums of 1992 I wrote this a week after the election that ensured Donald Trump’s autocratic strongman return to power, and I wrote it partially so something else would occupy my mind.

Two Novembers ago, partly to take my mind off the news, I cobbled together 5500 words about early '90s quasi-populist/nativist presidential candidates, Sister Souljah, "Cop Killer," riots, riot grrrls, a critics band who critics soon forgot, mini disks, and (mainly) my 150 favorite albums of 1992.

I'm guessing those last couple must have been off some Back From the Grave compilation or something? Some of the late '90s edition stuff threw me as well (Weezer? Pixies??), until I remembered....oh yeah, the late '90s edition.

Ha -- I love how the list is backwards, so listeners have to wade through all the singles and also-rans to get to stuff they might actually like! Also, a few bands I hadn't thought about for decades (Gore, Lul, Boomerang, "Metal Rap") and a couple I have no memory of at all (Sloths, Cords)!

Age of Discovery In the spring of 2000, singles weren't nothin' but mammals

Village Voice singles column, May 2000: Bloodhoung Gang, El Captain Funkaho, La Rissa, 95 South, Non Phixion, Razor-N-Guido, Snake River Conspiracy, Three Doors Down, 2Ge+her, Phil Vassar -- most of whom I cut way more slack than they deserved.

Snapshot J. Geils Images Frozen Without a Sound, Album By Album

Peter Wolf turned 80 yesterday, so here’s a 2300-word, album-by-album rundown of possibly the only band whose most blatantly pop album is also their most blatantly experimental. Written off the top of my head in discussion board posts 15 years ago, covering 14 years of music (including a solo LP).

Snapshot J. Geils Images Frozen Without a Sound, Album By Album

Peter Wolf turned 80 yesterday, so here’s a 2300-word, album-by-album rundown of possibly the only band whose most blatantly pop album is also their most blatantly experimental. Written off the top of my head in discussion board posts 15 years ago, covering 14 years of music (including a solo LP).

People Like Me, We'll Be Taking Over Blindfold Test #25

25 songs, 1925-'96: Carla Bley, Bogshed, Clint Eastwood & General Saint, Grandmixer D. St., Higsons, Inca Babies, Insect Trust, Jill Kroesen, Locomotiv GT, Derrick May, Mugwumps, Paper Lace, Rabbit, Billy Joe Royal, Silverhead, Carl T. Sprague, Tar Babies, UK Decay, X-O-Dus, Yothu Yindi, more!

People Like Me, We'll Be Taking Over Blindfold Test #25

25 songs, 1925-'96: Carla Bley, Bogshed, Clint Eastwood & General Saint, Grandmixer D. St., Higsons, Inca Babies, Insect Trust, Jill Kroesen, Locomotiv GT, Derrick May, Mugwumps, Paper Lace, Rabbit, Billy Joe Royal, Silverhead, Carl T. Sprague, Tar Babies, UK Decay, X-O-Dus, Yothu Yindi, more!

The Fall review, 1989 One of my all-time favorite bands, but I don’t think I’ve ever gotten a coherent explanation why onto newsprint or megabytes.

One of my all-time favorite bands, but I don’t think I’ve ever managed a coherent explanation why. I’ve tried several times too, to no avail. Here's the closest I’ve come. Reviving it now because Mark E. Smith would have turned 69 yesterday. (Born a year to the day after Teena Marie — who knew??)

The Fall review, 1989 One of my all-time favorite bands, but I don’t think I’ve ever gotten a coherent explanation why onto newsprint or megabytes.

One of my all-time favorite bands, but I don’t think I’ve ever managed a coherent explanation why. I’ve tried several times too, to no avail. Here's the closest I’ve come. Reviving it now because Mark E. Smith would have turned 69 yesterday. (Born a year to the day after Teena Marie — who knew??)

150 Best Albums of 2001 “CRANKY COMMENTS!!

3000+ words on my 150 favorite albums of the year 9-11 happened -- 2/3 cranky at year's end, 1/3 less cranky years later. Topics: tween daughters drumming to System of a Down, Dylan's not-bad far-from-best-album-ever, crit sanctimony, Aunt Flo visiting r&b, country carrying on, cold ones comin' on.

150 Best Albums of 2001 “CRANKY COMMENTS!!

3000+ words on my 150 favorite albums of the year 9-11 happened -- 2/3 cranky at year's end, 1/3 less cranky years later. Topics: tween daughters drumming to System of a Down, Dylan's not-bad far-from-best-album-ever, crit sanctimony, Aunt Flo visiting r&b, country carrying on, cold ones comin' on.

Teena Marie mash note, 1991 Teena Marie (who by the way has never even been nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — how stupid is that?) would have turned 70 today.

Teena Marie (who btw has never even been *nominated* for the Rock&Roll Hall of Fame — how stupid is that?) would've turned 70 today. But at 54 in 2010, Lady T sadly passed on to the great Emerald City/Xanadu/Southern Tip of Spain in the sky. Reviving this piece to honor her septuagenerian milestone.

(Okay, technically 70 *tomorrow* -- March 5. Still...)

Teena Marie mash note, 1991 Teena Marie (who by the way has never even been nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — how stupid is that?) would have turned 70 today.

Teena Marie (who btw has never even been *nominated* for the Rock&Roll Hall of Fame — how stupid is that?) would've turned 70 today. But at 54 in 2010, Lady T sadly passed on to the great Emerald City/Xanadu/Southern Tip of Spain in the sky. Reviving this piece to honor her septuagenerian milestone.

150 Best Albums of 1969 My five favorite records on the November 17, 1969 WLS Chicago Top 40 Hit Parade are, in order of preference: R.B.

NEW!!! ≈4000 words about boogie plod, classical prog, blue-eyed swamp soul, heavy blues, (possibly) peak bubblegum & reggae, fringed suede vests, moonshots, Altamont, whether Led Zep were unoriginal, whether Paul was dead, whether the Stooges stunk, Detroit radio and my 150 favorite albums of 1969.

Yes and No (I don't think.)

150 Best Albums of 1969 My five favorite records on the November 17, 1969 WLS Chicago Top 40 Hit Parade are, in order of preference: R.B.

NEW!!! ≈4000 words about boogie plod, classical prog, blue-eyed swamp soul, heavy blues, (possibly) peak bubblegum & reggae, fringed suede vests, moonshots, Altamont, whether Led Zep were unoriginal, whether Paul was dead, whether the Stooges stunk, Detroit radio and my 150 favorite albums of 1969.

Pazz & Jop Product Reports, 2026 This post is a tool; it’s how I keep track of new music I hear — thus enabling me, for one thing, to put together long lists of albums I like when the year comes to an end.

PAZZ & JOP PRODUCT REPORT—early March 2026

YEAH: Whodamanny: Onda Biloba (Periodica Italy) 7; Mo’ong & Bilawa: Mo’ong & Bilawa (Bloxham Tapes UK) 7; Mandy, Indiana: Urgh (Sacred Bones UK) 7; Joshua Chuquimia Crampton: Anata (Puro Fantasía EP) 5...

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Power Ballots and Second Thoughts Nobody agrees with my 2026 R&R Hall of Fame votes -- including me!

To meet reader demand, here’s who I voted for on my 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Ballot last week, and related thoughts on the subject (including on everybody nominated, whether I voted for them or not. Do I have opinions, or what??) If I don’t agree with my votes, why should you?

Power Ballots and Second Thoughts Nobody agrees with my 2026 R&R Hall of Fame votes -- including me!

To meet reader demand, here’s who I voted for on my 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Ballot last week, and related thoughts on the subject (including on everybody nominated, whether I voted for them or not. Do I have opinions, or what??) If I don’t agree with my votes, why should you?

Pazz & Jop Product Reports, 2026 This post is a tool; it’s how I keep track of new music I hear — thus enabling me, for one thing, to put together long lists of albums I like when the year comes to an end.

PAZZ & JOP PRODUCT REPORT—early March 2026

YEAH: Whodamanny: Onda Biloba (Periodica Italy) 7; Mo’ong & Bilawa: Mo’ong & Bilawa (Bloxham Tapes UK) 7; Mandy, Indiana: Urgh (Sacred Bones UK) 7; Joshua Chuquimia Crampton: Anata (Puro Fantasía EP) 5...

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Half-Heartedly Defending Mariah Carey Sometimes I vote for her and sometimes I don't

I wrote this screed 2 years ago; not sure why I didn’t mention the Hole/L7-inspired grunge CD Mariah covertly helped record and release in 1995. Reviving the post now because just this week I submitted another R&R Hall of Fame ballot, and this time I *didn’t vote for her. Though maybe should have.

Let Kama Sutra Guide You Blindfold Test #24

25 songs 1961-1997: Abwärts, Airplay, A.R. & Machines, Autosalvage, George Benson, Cymande, Al Downing, Gaza Sisters, Heavy Metal Kids, Jack Off Jill, Manfred Mann, Barbara Mason (twice), Maximum Joy, McCoys, Mr. President, Negative Trend, Asha Puthli, Pyrolator, Jesse Rae, Tams, Twilight 22, more.

Rock & Roll Hall of Facebook In which people tried to guess who I voted for

I have never cared who gets into the Rock&Roll Hall of Fame. But they started sending me ballots several years back, and voting’s kinda fun. As is letting people try to guess who I’m voting for. Which is exactly what I did on facebook from 2018 through 2021. You can follow the play-by-play here.

Rock & Roll Hall of Facebook In which people tried to guess who I voted for

I have never cared who gets into the Rock&Roll Hall of Fame. But they started sending me ballots several years back, and voting’s kinda fun. As is letting people try to guess who I’m voting for. Which is exactly what I did on facebook from 2018 through 2021. You can follow the play-by-play here.

Let Kama Sutra Guide You Blindfold Test #24

25 songs 1961-1997: Abwärts, Airplay, A.R. & Machines, Autosalvage, George Benson, Cymande, Al Downing, Gaza Sisters, Heavy Metal Kids, Jack Off Jill, Manfred Mann, Barbara Mason (twice), Maximum Joy, McCoys, Mr. President, Negative Trend, Asha Puthli, Pyrolator, Jesse Rae, Tams, Twilight 22, more.

And now the line is much longer than when I got there.