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Stephen Thomas Erlewine @sterlewine.bsky.social · 4m

The guy is 82, he cut his signature song 40+ years ago.

Reposted by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Stephen Thomas Erlewine @sterlewine.bsky.social · 21h

My latest newsletter: reviews of new albums by Taylor Swift, Jeff Tweedy, Robert Plant. Plus, Saint Etienne says farewell, Ronnie Wood gets his own Anthology, Los Straitjackets break away from Nick Lowe, checking in on Sloan.

In Review: Taylor Swift, Jeff Tweedy, Robert Plant

Plus: Saint Etienne says farewell, Ronnie Wood gets his own Anthology, Los Straitjackets break away from Nick Lowe, checking in on Sloan.

sterlewine.substack.com

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Stephen Thomas Erlewine @sterlewine.bsky.social · 18h

Very true. Those guys had a very idiosyncratic dynamic.

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Stephen Thomas Erlewine @sterlewine.bsky.social · 18h

Ocasek may have had the ego to separate himself from the group in any case but Roberts certainly accelerated the division.

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Stephen Thomas Erlewine @sterlewine.bsky.social · 18h

That could be. With the Cars and the Heartbreakers, he seemed intent on making one person an obvious star which misread the dynamics in both groups (the Heartbreakers were lucky that Campbell was fine being a lieutenant.)

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Stephen Thomas Erlewine @sterlewine.bsky.social · 18h

One of my main takeaways from The Cars bio and the Mike Campbell memoir is that Elliot Roberts was an absolutely terrible manager for a rock’n’roll band.

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Stephen Thomas Erlewine @sterlewine.bsky.social · 18h

Agree with this completely, it’s a terrific book.

JBL @jodygraphs.bsky.social · 21h

The Janovitz Cars book really raises the bar on music bios. This is how you do a meat & potatoes, context-rich, loving but nonhagiographic deep dive into a band’s history. Funny, idiosyncratic, w a strong sense that it was written/researched by a *musician* while also accessible to a gen audience.

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Stephen Thomas Erlewine @sterlewine.bsky.social · 18h

I’ve heard it—the second disc repeats some Hotcakes outtakes but the rougher takes are a nice compliment to the slick LP, and the live show is aces.

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Reposted by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Marie (same one) @marieberd.bsky.social · 20h

Kaleb’s Los Angeles memorial will be held this Thursday afternoon. If you cared about him and would like to send flowers or well wishes, DM me for delivery instructions etc

Marie (same one) @marieberd.bsky.social · 11d

my husband @kalebhorton.bsky.social hated the phrase “passed away” and had nothing but scorn for softening euphemisms in general. he was a firm believer in the comedy rule of threes, but only if the third thing can hit as a surprise. and he just died

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Stephen Thomas Erlewine @sterlewine.bsky.social · 21h

My latest newsletter: reviews of new albums by Taylor Swift, Jeff Tweedy, Robert Plant. Plus, Saint Etienne says farewell, Ronnie Wood gets his own Anthology, Los Straitjackets break away from Nick Lowe, checking in on Sloan.

In Review: Taylor Swift, Jeff Tweedy, Robert Plant

Plus: Saint Etienne says farewell, Ronnie Wood gets his own Anthology, Los Straitjackets break away from Nick Lowe, checking in on Sloan.

sterlewine.substack.com

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Stephen Thomas Erlewine @sterlewine.bsky.social · 1d

Numero even had their Cosmic American Music comp in the recent past (Donato would've been old enough for it to cross his radar)

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Stephen Thomas Erlewine @sterlewine.bsky.social · 3d

The answer is clear.

Hot Streets, the 12th album from Chicago.

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Stephen Thomas Erlewine @sterlewine.bsky.social · 4d

I shared the same assumption but seeking out an album rip on YouTube simply doesn’t occur to most listeners. I know it’s slipped my mind on occasion!

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Stephen Thomas Erlewine @sterlewine.bsky.social · 4d

They’ve promoted this very very well—there seems to be a sense of awareness about the reissue among general audiences, which is rare.

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Stephen Thomas Erlewine @sterlewine.bsky.social · 4d

It’s really really good.

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Reposted by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Bowiesongs (C. O'Leary) @bowiesongs.bsky.social · 5d

new 64 Quartets. The start of Quartet No. 9: Wire. Overture→Harvest Lexicon: ADV-ALB. 64quartets.wordpress.com/2025/10/03/9...

9. Wire. Overture→Harvest Lexicon: ADV-ALB

Wire (Robert Grey, Colin Newman, Bruce Gilbert, Graham Lewis), 1978 (Annette Green) No blind spots in leopard’s eyes resistance is futile believe sea-burnt nurses in a black and white life th…

64quartets.wordpress.com

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Reposted by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Jason Cohen @cohenesque.bsky.social · 5d

"The funny thing about Ric and Ben is they were basically as old as Mick and Keith. They were older than Ronnie Wood. Ric was older than Steve Winwood and Neil Young." www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

Meet the Alt-Rock Pioneer Whose New Book Tells the Definitive Story of the Cars

The new book 'The Cars: Let the Stories Be Told,' by Buffalo Tom frontman Bill Janovitz, talks about 'Just What I Needed,' 'Drive,' and more

www.rollingstone.com

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Reposted by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Eric Weisbard @eweisbard.bsky.social · 5d

The Pop Conference deadline is less than three weeks away: October 22. Please, join me in spreading the word today. PopCon thrives on its ties to both lifelong presenters and dynamic new presenters. Got something good to speak to our Mayhem? Send in a proposal! www.popconference.org

PopCon | 2026

PopCon is the premier music writing and popular music studies conference.

www.popconference.org

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Stephen Thomas Erlewine @sterlewine.bsky.social · 5d

I am the ideal reader for this.

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Stephen Thomas Erlewine @sterlewine.bsky.social · 5d

Goddammit.

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Reposted by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Stephen Thomas Erlewine @sterlewine.bsky.social · 6d

Over at @deciderdotcom.bsky.social , I argue that the new documentary Lilith Fair: Building A Mystery--The Untold Story makes a serious case that Sarah McLachlan deserves to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. decider.com/2025/10/02/s...

The new 'Lilith Fair' documentary makes a stealth case that Sarah McLachlan deserves a spot in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery argues that the contemporary center of popular music is all downstream from the festival.

decider.com

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Reposted by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Thierry @tcote.bsky.social · 5d

There’s absolutely a case for Sarah McLachlan to be inducted into the RRHOF as a performer on the strength of her music, but as the Lilith Fair doc shows you could make just as strong a case for her as a non-performer (and the sports HOF term of « builder » would be absolutely fitting).

Stephen Thomas Erlewine @sterlewine.bsky.social · 6d

Over at @deciderdotcom.bsky.social , I argue that the new documentary Lilith Fair: Building A Mystery--The Untold Story makes a serious case that Sarah McLachlan deserves to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. decider.com/2025/10/02/s...

The new 'Lilith Fair' documentary makes a stealth case that Sarah McLachlan deserves a spot in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery argues that the contemporary center of popular music is all downstream from the festival.

decider.com

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Stephen Thomas Erlewine @sterlewine.bsky.social · 5d

Yeah, I was planning to get a replacement when my Superdrive bit the dust but it was gone when I had to do it last year.

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Reposted by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Bowiesongs (C. O'Leary) @bowiesongs.bsky.social · 5d

RIP Chris Dreja, ex-Yardbird and the man who could've had John Paul Jones' place in Led Zeppelin. Instead he photographed them (inc. the back cover shot of the debut). www.noise11.com/news/chris-d...

Chris Dreja of The Yardbirds Dies Weeks Before 80th Birthday

Chris Dreja, founding member of The Yardbirds and acclaimed photographer, has died aged 79 just weeks before his 80th birthday. Dreja was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.

www.noise11.com

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Reposted by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Todd in the Shadows @shadowtodd.bsky.social · 5d

"Angel" commercial but with pictures of sad Sarah McLachlan outside the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame would get it done

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