Music Blogs You Need To Read!

There are quite a few music sites out in the blogosphere that are worthy of your attention. Most have a distinct flavor that reflects the personality of their owners. Here are a few that I wholeheartedly recommend.

Music & More is a blog with a strong taste for female singer-songwriters. Even though female artists aren't the only thing W. Kates writes about I don't know anyone who is a bigger champion of women's music. Music & More provides a real musical education because many of these ladies are not household names. The author goes to a lot of concerts, publishes many pictures of the performers, and often posts samples of their work. If you're looking for something new that is not in the mainstream, you've found the right place. For example, here is a review of a recent concert by newcomer Shayna Zaid.

The Review Revue is the property of fellow music fan Perplexio who often writes about classic rock even though he is too young to have experienced it all firsthand. In addition, he will sometimes offer his views on recent films or the latest novel he just finished reading. His biggest musical love appears to be pop music from Australia. You'll see articles about well known, mainstream Aussie bands like Little River Band as well as many artists who are far more obscure to Americans. You can read a sample of the author's affection for Australian rock on this review of a CD by James Reyne.

The Hits Just Keep On Comin' has quite a large and devoted fan base. It's written by Wisconsin disc jockey, J. A. Bartlett. J. A. tells us his blog "is mostly, but not entirely, about our Top 40 past, and how it’s still with us today in lots of ways." Much of the music he writes about you'll know, but just as often he'll help us remember a long forgotten 45 RPM single of the 60s, 70s, or 80s. How many of you remember McGuinness Flint's hit single, "When I'm Dead and Gone" from 1971? You don't? Well, J.B. certainly does and he wrote about it too.

If you're interested in singer-songwriters and adult alternative music it's time to visit Direct Current. You'll find articles about everyone from India.Arie, to Pete Yorn, to Elvis Perkins, to Lily Allen, and U2. American Idols need not apply.

For a lot of jazz and blues, with some baby boomer rock thrown in for good measure, you'll need to catch Something Else Music, a very prolific blog published by two music fans from the American South. Pico and Nick are New Orleans Saints fans which may explain their love of the blues.

Music Obsessive is hosted by Martin Warminger, who lives in the same country that gave the World those four musical lads from Liverpool. For that alone he deserves the publicity, but he is also a published author who wrote Memoirs of a Music Obsessive a book about his own addiction to pop music. Martin may be the world's biggest fan of the 70s, all-girl rock band, Fanny.

Finally, there is Layla's Classic Rock Faves. Of course her name is a pseudonym, but the moniker suits her well because she loves classic rock more than anyone I know. Her passion comes alive on her frequent posts. If you're fans of Bono or The Boss Layla's site is the place for you. Last summer her blog ranked #69 on a list of the 100 most read music blogs.