Email Author Robert Wilonsky

1998 Stories by Robert Wilonsky

• Back in the game

  published August 6, 1998

  Chuck D began his 1997 book Fight the Power by revisiting the past, lamenting the present, and dreaming of the future. He opens his autobiography... More >>

• Paper cut

  published August 6, 1998

  Even Randy Galloway's 81-year-old mother, herself a lifelong journalism veteran, couldn't believe it when he told her the news. Margaret Galloway... More >>

• Out There

  published July 30, 1998

  Play, lady, play whitechocolatespaceegg Liz Phair Matador/Capitol Those who spent their time trying to figure out if she was... More >>

• Why are you?

  published July 30, 1998

  Two years ago, they reunited for the final time, one more time, hauling out Quadrophenia for the arena circuit while digging up Gary Glitter and... More >>

• Out Here

  published July 23, 1998

  One size fits all All Time Low Check R.S.R. Records This Denton foursome, made up of former members of Junebug and still... More >>

• Out There

  published July 23, 1998

  Full gallop Hell Among the Yearlings Gillian Welch Almo Sounds In a recent issue of Billboard, the owner of a San Francisco... More >>

• Lord, help him

  published July 23, 1998

  WICHITA FALLS--"Walk with me," Jerry Jones is saying in mid-stride, his voice dripping with sweat and twang. He moves quickly, wasting not a tenth... More >>

• Out Here

  published July 16, 1998

  Rock like a man Love or the Decimal Equivalent Legendary Crystal Chandelier steve It's tempting to call Peter Schmidt a... More >>

• Out of a Trance

  published July 16, 1998

  It began eight years ago as a hobby--no, a passion. It gave a home to bands no one else wanted, or bands who wanted no one else. It was an asylum... More >>

• Got ill

  published July 9, 1998

  Paul's Boutique remains their masterpiece, even if its genius is mostly borrowed from old funk vinyl sitting on the Dust Brothers' shelves. The... More >>

• Run its Course

  published July 9, 1998

  It's not how they planned it, bidding farewell in the margin of an advertisement. But there it was last week, buried in the Trees ad found on page... More >>

• Do over

  published July 9, 1998

  The reporters ask their questions in hushed tones, as though too ashamed to form the words. They stick their microphones and notepads in front of... More >>

• Out There

  published July 2, 1998

  Perfectly imperfect Car Wheels on a Gravel Road Lucinda Williams Mercury Records Only critics and accountants care about the... More >>

• Getting the business

  published July 2, 1998

  Tripping Daisy's rehearsal space has hardly any space at all. It's nothing more than a shack behind the house that Tim DeLaughter and his... More >>

• Got a Woody

  published June 25, 1998

  Billy Bragg knew from the beginning what Mermaid Avenue sounded like in theory: a freakin' disaster. He could hear the snickers even before he... More >>

• Out Here

  published June 25, 1998

  Blowing smoke Cleansed by Fire Pervis Idol Records They used to be the biggest contrivance in town, two half-half-dressed... More >>

• Out There

  published June 25, 1998

  Pop-top Robert Pollard Waved Out Matador Guided by Voices' early-'90s breakthrough records (Propeller, Vampire on Titus, and... More >>

• The good fight

  published June 25, 1998

  He taught himself how to fight, how to duck, how to win. He had his share of trainers, but nobody knew more about boxing than he did. Nobody could... More >>

• Out There

  published June 18, 1998

  Made for you and me Mermaid Avenue Billy Bragg & Wilco Elektra Records As music-biz gimmicks go, this one's high-brow:... More >>

• Sucking on the '70s

  published June 18, 1998

  Nostalgia is a hobby for those too afraid to move into tomorrow; it's the pastime of cowards and fools. But as we inch closer to the... More >>

• Broken Fever

  published June 11, 1998

  He's almost unknown now, another anonymous musician who sweats to get gigs and sells his basement tapes at shows and the odd independent record... More >>

• Out There

  published June 11, 1998

  Setting sun Imagination Brian Wilson Giant Records "When I grow up to be a man," he once wrote, but they didn't let Brian... More >>

• The last roundup

  published June 11, 1998

  The life of the rodeo wife is filled with the constant anxiety that some day, a wild steer or a bucking bronco will stomp her husband to death. It... More >>

• A stink over 'Think'

  published June 4, 1998

  There are 192 copyright registrations sitting in the Library of Congress for the song "I Think About You"--who says all of the good ideas are... More >>

• Back in black

  published June 4, 1998

  The record begins with the familiar, famous introduction: "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash," he rumbles, his voice as deep and wide as the Grand Canyon. He... More >>