To offer more insight into the preteen perspective on music in 2024, my 11-year-old daughter—at her request—will be offering some color commentary throughout this post. The post Rankstravaganza: My 30 Favorite Songs of 2024 first appeared on All The City Lights ..read more

For the last 45 days, I’ve been participating in another Blue Sky music challenge: #UncoolTwo50.  Organized by the account @uncooltwo50.bsky.social, the idea is to is… The post Here Are My Picks for the Top 5 Singles from 1977-1999 for #UncoolTwo50 first appeared on All The City Lights ..read more

For me, 2005 was an entirely new era for the discovery of and interaction with music—establishing habits and patterns that I basically still follow today. Many of those tracks I added in those first few months of the iPod age are still among my most played and most beloved songs. The post Introducing #MyYearInMix for 2005, and Why it Was a Formative Year for Me and Music in General first appeared on All The City Lights ..read more

This list is partly an appreciation, partly a primer for folks who may grow to appreciate P.D.Q. Bach given some options for staring points, and partly as way for me to process the loss of a truly gifted musician and humorist. The post 10 Little Moments from P.D.Q. Bach’s Oeuvre That Play in My Head with Shocking Regularity first appeared on All The City Lights ..read more

When I tally up my most-played artists of the last year, the vast majority of my Top 10 is basically indistinguishable from my Top 10 most-payed artists from 20 years ago. Is it my fault they insist on still putting out strong, fresh material? The post Rankstravaganza: My 30 Favorite Songs of 2023 first appeared on All The City Lights ..read more

A plodding piano ballad about abortion was being played on mainstream radio stations across the country. Only in 1997 could something like this happen. It seemed weird at the time. But so did the Spice Girls. The post I guess it’s cool to share some thoughts on Ben Folds Five’s “Whatever and Ever Amen” or something first appeared on All The City Lights ..read more

OK, so you might argue the Oakland alt-rock quartet is overplaying the "endearingly awkward" schtick. But those melodic riffs? The casual Teenage Fanclub mention in album PR write-up? The goofy DIY music videos? That genuinely funny bio ("internationally ignored song stylists")? Objection overruled! The post Most Intriguing New Releases by East Bay Musicians of February 2023 first appeared on All The City Lights ..read more

Diverse influences mix together to create genre-defying sounds, particularly laid-back grooves that conjure up carefree summer afternoons hanging with friends? That's the Oakland sound in 2022. The post Rankstravaganza: Five Great 2022 Albums (+ Two EPs) by Oakland/East Bay Musicians first appeared on All The City Lights ..read more

This is an alternately twangy-and-laid-back and groovy-and-danceable and noisy-and-unhinged playlist this month. Just press play and treat yourself to the perfect mix for having your mind blown by the vastness of the night sky as you get ready to hit the clubs for a night of ranging against the machine. The post Most Captivating New Releases by East Bay Musicians, May 2023 first appeared on All The City Lights ..read more

It's going to take more time to let these songs rattle around in my noggin. But there's potential. Listen for yourself to this month's playlist. The post Most Beguiling New Releases by East Bay Musicians, April 2023 first appeared on All The City Lights ..read more