Posted in Goodbyes

Goodbye Dolly

Posted on by Michael

On August 25, 2026 the music world went into mourning with the news that Dolly Parton had passed away. The country music icon was 80 when she died. News outlets, social media, websites, musicians, fans, etc across the world have been paying tribute to Dolly.  It was even the lead story on Winnipeg Sports Talk podcast/Youtube channel who talked about her fondly.  People who don’t typically listen to her music expressed their sadness at the news.  Dolly touched so many lives in one way or another.

On a personal level – I have a memory of my Mom taking me to see the comedy 1980 movie 9 to 5 at the theatre when I was still a small lad, the movie that Dolly starred in with Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda. “Islands in the Stream”, written by Barry Gibb and sung as a duet by Kenny Rogers and Dolly was a smash hit in 1983. My Mom regularly played the Trio tape in the mid-late 80s, the album Dolly recorded with fellow legends Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris. Whitney Houston’s megahit cover of her Dolly’s song “I Will Always Love You” was a staple at dances and weddings throughout the 90s and beyond. Throughout the 2000s she was a constant presence on TV, radio, and online.  Just a few weeks ago I bought Dolly’s “Original Album Series” 5CD set.  Like many others have said, Dolly Parton had been around my entire life.

Rather than just being another singer – it was Dolly’s personality that radiated through multiple generations. A great songwriter, terrific singer, self deprecating, funny and beautiful – yet it was her kindness that really stood out. She seemed to love everyone regardless of their background, colour, sexual preferences, etc. Everyone was welcomed into her world with open arms.  With current social/political tensions running high, Dolly Parton was one that everyone could agree on.  She will be sadly missed.  

Posted in Album Reviews

Bill Callahan – Days of 58 (2026)

Posted on by Michael

Bill Callahan has been releasing music since the early 90s, starting as Smog before switching to his own name 20 years ago. Days of 58, looks at life from the perspective of almost five decades of experience. Callahan wonders why artists his age continue sing and tour on the opening track, “Why Do Men Sing”, the song being more of an upper than a downer. Later on “Highway Born”, he checks in on what’s happening on the country and declares that he “loves the highway”, horns supporting his tune.

As with many men in his 50s/60s, taking stock is common and this is expressed when he sings, “I don’t wanna be the man I am anymore”.  Trying to get better in the face of death and aging. The repeated lyrics of “Lonely City” becomes a memorable mantra. The heart of the record is “Empathy”.  A talk with his dad delivers the devastating line, “you said you got by without a father, so you figured why should I have one?”  The same track sees Callahan look at his relationship with his own kids, the good and the bad. Days of 58 is full of heart and feelings, the ups and downs of aging, looking back on life. Most men this age can surely relate.

8/10

Posted in Album Reviews

Paul McCartney – The Boys Of Dungeon Lane (2026)

Posted on by Michael

Paul McCartney’s 20th solo album was released in late May and sees the former Beatle working with celebrated producer, Andrew Watt. The album starts with two of its most rocking numbers. Just McCartney and guitar start on “As You Lie There” that really picks up in the chorus, a crunchy guitar powers “Lost Horizon”.  “Ripples In A Pond” is bright and bouncy, a bit more modern sound.

Many of the tracks look back at life with an air of nostalgia. Songs like the acoustic “Down South” and “Salesman Saint” where Macca sings about the hard times his parents had as young parents raising kids just after WWII.  Ringo Starr plays and sings on the upbeat “Home To Us”, the sound recalls 80s pop rock hits by George Harrison and Roy Orbison.

Throughout The Boys of Dungeon Lane, McCartney’s vocals sound fragile and he only lets loose on a couple of tracks.  Instead, the album is dominated by softer, quieter tunes like later tracks, “First Star Of The Night” and closer “Momma Gets By”.  The frail vocals, adds to the sound of these songs as they float through the air.  With most songs hovering around the three-minute mark, nothing overstays it’s welcome on a quite good album made by the 84-year-old legend.

7.5/10

Posted in Album Reviews

David Bowie – Serious Moonlight (Live ’83) (2018)

Posted on by Michael

A few months after releasing the wildly successful Let’s Dance album in 1983, David Bowie followed it up several months later by recording a live show in Vancouver, BC that was  released on VHS at the time with the two-disc audio CD later included in the Loving The Alien (1983-1988) boxset. Mixing songs from throughout the 70s along with a few tracks from Let’s Dance, Serious Moonlight (Live ’83) does a very good job of mixing with the old and the new, the experimental with the hits.

“”Heroes”” gets tossed out early as the second track on the album, thrillingly a few songs later “Fashion” segues beautifully into “Let’s Dance” eliciting loud cheers from the crowd.  The menacing rock and roll of “Scary Monsters (Super Creeps)” pushes the concert into a new direction before the glam guitar of “Rebel Rebel” gatecrashes the affair.

The last half of disc two really sees things start to cook.  His 1980 UK #1 single “Ashes to Ashes” is followed up by “Space Oddity”, the oldest track here.  An excellent version of “Young Americans” is well received before the one two punch of “Fame” and “Modern Love” (recorded at another concert) wrap up the show.  Oddly, there is nothing from the The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and Spiders From Mars album but minor quibbles aside, this is set that surely would have pleased both his older fans of his 70s material and new fans of Bowie’s MTV area.  Great stuff.

8/10

Posted in Album Reviews

Olivia Rodrigo – you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love (2026)

Posted on by Michael

The list of accomplishments Olivia Rodrigo has attained over the past few years is staggering.  Music awards, streaming records, appearing on business magazine lists of one to watch, etc. Her indie rock credentials are quite impressive – A few months ago she posted on Instagram using an obscure Broken Social Scene track and at this year’s Lollapalooza festival she appeared on stage with The Smashing Pumpkins.   In mid June she released her third album, you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love.

First single “drop dead went to #1 across the world, the uber pop song references The Cure with the line, “you know all the words to “Just Like Heaven””.  She does one better later with Robert Smith appearing on “what’s wrong with me”.  While there are more rock music like tracks on the album, this one sees Smith bending towards Rodrigo’s world vs the other way around. The aforementioned indie rock sound is most notable on the zippy guitar led “maggots for brains”.

“the cure” starts off as quiet and acoustic before a dramatic building in sound, she sings that “I thought I found the antidote with you” over thundering drums. “stupid song” uses a similar trick, quiet first verse that unleashes a sky reaching chorus. “less” is a slower piano track before the bouncy synths of “expectations” sees Rodrigo use different vocal styles to attack the song. It’s just one of the thirteen tracks on the album that Rodrigo co-wrote, mostly with producer Daniel Nigro. you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love is a well crafted soaring pop album.

8.5/10