Author: Elizabeth Esser

Known today as one of the most influential albums in music history, The Beach Boys’ revolutionary record Pet Sounds did not receive the same critical acclaim when it was first released on May 16, 1966, by Capitol Records. At the time, the eclectic avant-garde album featuring sounds of bicycle bells, passing trains, and drink cans… Continue reading The Brilliance and Impact of Pet Sounds

Peter Buck of R.E.M once called them “a Rosetta Stone for a whole generation of musicians.” Gaining a strong cult following after their commercially unsuccessful three year run in the early 1970s, Big Star is now regarded by musicians as one of the most influential bands of all time, and also one of the unluckiest.… Continue reading Big Star: A Not-So-#1 Record

When was the last time you stepped outside and just listened? Bernie Krause made a career out of this in the late 1970’s when he began recording soundscapes of wildlife and natural sounds around the globe. I stumbled upon Krause’s story while listening to an episode of NPR’s podcast, Invisibilia entitled “The Last Sound”. NPR’s… Continue reading Bernie Krause and NPR’s Invisibilia: “The Last Sound”

Liz Phair is an American singer-songwriter and indie rock trailblazer. She rose to prominance in 1993 with the release of her studio album, Exile in Guyville, which is currently ranked #56 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of all time. Before Exile in Guyville, Phair wrote music under the name Girly-Sound and self-released cassettes which… Continue reading Liz Phair: The Girly-Sound Tapes