Memories and Chart Synopsis by Rick Hiduk The rock band The Cars came along at a time when “disco backlash” was reaching its zenith. In addition to their outward appearance, which was everything that disco wasn’t, they rocked hard without a syncopated rhythm. That’s not to say that they didn’tContinue Reading
Synopsis by Rick Hiduk Blondie seemed to come out of nowhere when “Heart of Glass” burst on to pop radio in America in the spring of 1979. Radio seemed poised for change that year, as disco backlash grew ever stronger, and rock seemed to be headed toward a new wave.Continue Reading
Commentary by Rick Hiduk With guitarist J. Geils found dead at his home last week, I thought it prudent to look over the band’s catalog of hits and offer a synopsis of their chart finesse. My introduction to the The J. Geils Band (as a recording artist whom I couldContinue Reading
The simplicity of “Die a Happy Man” by Thomas Rhett (top) makes it an early bet for Country Song of the Year, while Maren Morris (above) claws her way up the still male-dominated chart with the clever “My Church.” Chart and Synopsis by Rick Hiduk The following list focuses on theContinue Reading
There is a lot of fun, lighthearted dance music on the pop charts already this year, including “Cake by the Ocean” by DNCE (top), “Roses” by The Chainsmokers & Rozes (above), and “My House” by veteran dance artist Flo Rida (below) Chart and Synopsis by Rick Hiduk The following list focusesContinue Reading
Alternative music has a strong and creative vibe already this year and may be poised to make a larger impact on pop and rock music in the coming months. Veterans like Weezer (top) and newer groups like Cage the Elephant (above) and the Strumbellas (below) are spicing up the chartsContinue Reading
Invite Pitbull (top, right) or Enrique Iglesias (above, left) to any recording session, and you can score a hot Latino hit record. More Latino music crossed over to the US Pop mainstream in 2015 since the decades of Gloria Estefan’s reign. When I moved back to the Endless Mountains in 2011Continue Reading
Compiled by Rick Hiduk I have to give Lucinda Williams (above) the nod for Folk Song of the Year for “Something Wicked This Way Comes,” but The New Basement Tapes (top), featuring Elvis Costello, Rhiannon Giddens, Taylor Goldsmith, Jim James, Marcus Mumford, and T Bone Burnett, impressed me with theContinue Reading
Compiled by Rick Hiduk While groups like Milky Chance (above) and Modest Mouse may have held the top spot on the Alternative Rock charts for more weeks with individual tracks, no alternative or rock act had as many successful entries in 2015 than Twenty One Pilots (top). If there was anyContinue Reading
Compilation by Rick Hiduk Chris Jansen (above) wasn’t asking for too much – was he? – with his tongue-in-cheek hit “Buy Me a Boat,” while Little Big Town’s intriguing “Girl Crush” tugged at people’s ears and sensibilities. We have to call it what it is. Modern Country bares little resemblanceContinue Reading