(Note: Originally published at jericsmith.com, copyright 2005, J. Eric Smith. All rights reserved). Best of the Blockbusters, Part One: Setting the Stage I think it’s time to take on the third in our series of periodic music geek essays, structured head-to-head style, following in the footsteps of The Worst Rock Band Ever and Rock’s Greatest … Continue reading Best Of the Blockbusters: The Greatest (Popular) Record Ever
UPDATE NOTE: Click here for a 2020 update of my 50 All-Time Favorite Films. Marcia and I watched The Lighthouse this weekend. A harrowing flick with innovative visuals and cinematography, and good enough for me to update the “Best Movies” section at my 2019: Year In Review page to include it there. As I was … Continue reading Screening the Teens: The 25 Best Films of 2010-2019
Note: This article was originally written in November-December 2013 as a serialized, ten-part feature. This post compiles all ten of the original articles into a single piece, running in the proper chronological order (e.g. the conclusion is at the bottom, not the top, as happens in blogs) to help avoid spoilers if you weren’t reading … Continue reading Great Out of the Gate: The Best Debut Album Ever (COMPLETE VERSION)
(Note: Originally published at jericsmith.com, copyright 2005, J. Eric Smith. All rights reserved). March of the Mellotrons: The Best Classic Progressive Rock Album Ever, Part One (Setting the Stage) Welcome to the fifth in our series of periodic music geek essays structured sports tournament style, with 64 worthy contenders slugging it out head-to-head for the … Continue reading March of the Mellotrons: The Best Classic Progressive Rock Album Ever
Note: For an index of all articles in this second “Favorite Songs” series, click here. For a summary of all artists covered in the original series, click here. Who They Were: A truly legendary Southern California band originally featuring the Dutch-Indonesian-American Van Halen brothers (Eddie on guitar, Alex on drums), singer David Lee Roth, and bassist … Continue reading Favorite Songs By Favorite Artists (Series Two) #30: Van Halen
Note: For an index of all articles in this second “Favorite Songs” series, click here. For a summary of all artists covered in the original series, click here. Who They Were: Pioneering psychedelic rockers turned progressive music titans turned arena rock superstars turned fierce litigants and creative combatants turned cultural icons of deep and lasting … Continue reading Favorite Songs By Favorite Artists (Series Two) #23: Pink Floyd
Edward Lodewijk “Eddie” Van Halen died today at the age of 65, after battling throat cancer for several years. He was a stone cold genius who changed the way people looked at and listened to the electric guitar in popular rock music, with perhaps only Jimi Hendrix having had as deep a transformational impact on … Continue reading Unchained: Eddie Van Halen (1955-2020)
Note: This article was originally written in January-March 2014 as a serialized, twelve-part feature. This post compiles all twelve of the original articles into a single piece, running in the proper chronological order (e.g. the conclusion is at the bottom, not the top, as happens in blogs) to help avoid spoilers if you weren’t reading … Continue reading Let’s Take It to the Stage: The Greatest Live Album Ever (COMPLETE VERSION)
J. ERIC SMITH 