When it comes to music, I go with my gut. Sometimes I have to listen to an album a couple times in order to get it, but really I’m a love it or leave it […]
Author: Shaun Smith
Pharrell Revives N.E.R.D For ‘No_One Ever Really Dies’
It’s been seven years since N.E.R.D. released an album. But, this music has always been there for me when I needed it. In high school, songs like “Rock Star” helped bridge the gaps in my […]
The Highest Of The High Note – My 17 Favorite Albums Of 2017
I’m a big fan of albums. Does that sound as weird to you as it does to me? But I like the complete package; from the album art and the liner notes to the order […]
The Highest Of The High Note – Favorite Songs Of 2017
There are a lot of lists being thrown around now that it’s the end of the year. Looking back on 2017, it’s hard to create a comprehensive list of songs that I loved throughout the year. […]
Kamasi Washington Is Making Jazz Cool Again
Kamasi Washington is giving people a reason to listen to jazz. As America’s oldest music format, jazz has not held a prominent place in pop culture since bop-obsessed beats wrote about Charlie Parker. Of course, […]
56th Annual Philadelphia Folk Festival Photos
The 56th annual Philadelphia Folk Festival took place Aug. 17-20 at The Old Pool Farm in Upper Salford Township, Pennsylvania.
Episode 5 – Philadelphia Folk Festival with Baile An Salsa
This is an incredibly special episode of The High Note! First, I talk about Mordecai‘s debut album “It’s Never Enough.” Read my blog for info and see Mordecai Wednesday, Aug. 30 at Holocene in Portland. Next, I talk about […]
Mordecai Puts It All Into ‘It’s Never Enough’
Blending complex and emotional beats with deep, introspective lyrics, the Portland-based band Mordecai has created a strong debut album, “It’s Never Enough.” The duo of multi-instrumentalist Andrew Alexander Endres and violinist Kate Kilbourne create an […]
Philadelphia Folk Festival Prepares For 56th Edition Of Tradition
The legacy of the oldest continually-run outdoor music festival in North America will converge with fellowship, and of course music, at the 56th annual Philadelphia Folk Festival next week. On the third week of August […]
Toro Y Moi Heals His Soul With ‘Boo Boo’
Toro Y Moi guides listeners on a psychedelic safari through lush landscapes of loops and synths on “Boo Boo,” released Friday, July 7. Chaz Bear, who performs under the moniker of Toro Y Moi, combines […]