The Thinking Man

The Thinking Man’s Take On: Hipsterism

How To Play: Print this out and take it to the next show you go to. When you get a bingo, scream “BINGO!” at the top of your lungs, then…

The Thinking Man’s Take On: 2009 Summer Festivals

Well even though summer dragged its feet in getting here this year, we’re undisputedly in the midst of that warmest of seasons, which means one thing for music fans: Festivals.…

The Thinking Man’s Take On: Supergroups

In the past few weeks, I’ve heard the term “Supergroup” bandied about a lot more than usual. There have been debut releases from Dead Weather (featuring members of White Stripes,…

The Thinking Man’s Take On: EPs

A couple weeks ago I talked about the concept of the album in this space, and somebody by the handle of “Knatterjak” shared the tidbit that “The EP is the…

The Thinking Man’s Take On: Opening Bands

epic TV on the Radio photo by chasingfun. I have a pretty awesome week of music coming up this week. On Wednesday I’m off to see Here We Go Magic…

The Thinking Man’s Take On: Transient Modern Music

I’ve talked to a lot of my music loving friends recently about transformations that are going on in music – a topic that I find completely fascinating. There are so…

The Thinking Man’s Take On: Celebrity Spectacles

Did you see Amy Winehouse on YouTube? OMG, she was all, “warble warble gibberish” and then the crowd was all “AMY! AMY! AMY!” and then she was all staggering around…

The Thinking Man’s Take On: The Album

As promised, this week’s Thinking Man article is all about the album – in fact, most people a couple weeks ago seemed to ignore the whole singles debate and move…

The Thinking Man’s Take On: Singles

This past week’s publishing of the Absolute Best Songs of 2009 (.25 of the way through) got me thinking about music releases today – particularly about the role of singles.…

The Thinking Man’s Take On: Twitter

I feel like, with all the press that has been gathered, I would be remiss not to write about Twitter. Twitter, in case you have been living in a cave…

The Thinking Man’s Take On: Concert Crowds

I had the pleasure of catching Cut Copy and Matt & Kim at the newly reopened House of Blues in Boston this past weekend, a great show to be sure. …

The Thinking Man’s Take On: Album Of The Year 2009 Showdown, II

I want to say off the bat that I think Ed Droste, lead singer of Grizzly Bear, is a classy gent. When Grizzly Bear’s third studio release, Veckatimest, leaked at…

The Thinking Man’s Take On: Genre Definitions

Want an exercise in futility? Try to describe TV on the Radio’s sound to someone who has never heard them. What kind of music do they play? Soulful Earthy Poet…

RIP Indie Rock

Okay, sure, you like independent music. Fine. But what exactly does that mean? When you hear talk of independent music, what bands come to mind? Seriously, think about it. I’ve…

The Thinking Man’s Take On: The ABC’s

I’m having some major writer’s block this week here at The Thinking Man Headquarters (TTMHQ), and although I have a list of things to write about, I don’t think I…

The Thinking Man’s Take On: Compilations

A couple weeks ago, I unveiled the fact that Americans have purchased 4.5 million Snuggies (proper name: Slankets). And although I mocked the backwards bathrobes, inside I get it –…

The Thinking Man’s Take On: Album Of The Year 2009 Showdown, I

Well it’s 2009 already – check that – it’s well into 2009 already. Wow time flies. Seems like just yesterday we were drooling over the upcoming Animal Collective release and…

The Thinking Man’s Take On: Super Bowl Ads

Ladies and gentlemen, we live in marvelous times. Starting in October, the American people banded together, they let their voices be heard, and they spoke loud and clear – “we…

The Thinking Man’s Take On: The Oscars

The scene: An actor stands at a podium, clutching a shiny figurine, beaming with joy. He has just seen the toils of his life’s labor of love come to fruition…

The Thinking Man’s Take On: Alter Egos

It’s time to talk about a growing trend in pop music that is often confusing, sometimes disturbing, and often remarkably effective. No, I’m not talking about Autotune (although that time…

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