New music: Kacey Musgraves, The Knack, Duke Robillard

In this column I showcase the latest album releases from celebrated country music great Kacey Musgraves, power pop heroes The Knack and legacy blues singer-songwriter/guitar master Duke Robillard.

Artist: Kacey Musgraves
Title: Middle of Nowhere (Lost Highway/Interscope)
You might like if you enjoy: Kacey Musgraves, Miranda Lambert, Willie Nelson, Billy Strings

Tell me more: Kacey Musgraves is back! The acclaimed country music artist's seventh studio album has been met with widespread acclaim and for good reason. The 13-track album chronicles life's ups and downs with authenticity, heart and an infectious musical soundscape that will keep discerning listeners coming back again and again. There are so many highlights on the album, country music lovers will want to dive into the track listing with abandon. Musgraves wrote many of the songs after a painful divorce and period of isolation so the songs have a heft that will resonate with a single listen. The reflective ballad "Back On The Wagon," accordion-drenched two-stepping duet with Willie Nelson titled "Uncertain, TX," steamy "Mexico Honey," irresistible "I Believe in Ghosts" and aptly-titled "Loneliest Girl" are among the great originals on the disc. The playful "Horses and Divorces" is a winning duet teaming the top-tier vocal talents of Musgraves and Miranda Lambert. Based on the strength of her fantastic performance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April, fans will want to catch her in concert this fall. Musgraves' forthcoming "Middle of Nowhere" Tour includes dates in Phoenix, AZ on Oct. 17 and in Los Angeles on Oct. 18 and Oct. 19. Information: kaceymusgraves.com. 

Artist: The Knack
Title: Knackology: The Zen Recordings (Omnivore Recordings)
You might like if you enjoy: Cheap Trick, The Knack, Badfinger, Matthew Sweet

Tell me more: The power and excitement of The Knack's explosive power pop-meets-New Wave sound shines across the 19 studio, live and demo tracks featured on the newly-released Knackology: The Zen Recordings. From the ferocious opener "Let Me Out" (recorded live in Los Angeles in 1978), intoxicating rockers "Pop Is Dead" and "Ambition" (the latter two cuts from the band's essential 1998 LP Zoom) to a terrific cover of Badfinger's 1970 Pete Ham-penned hit "No Matter What," a breezy 1973 demo of "That's What The Little Girls Do," power pop perfection courtesy of "Can I Borrow A Kiss" and a hard rocking "Shine" captured at Leeds in 1991, magic abounds on this must-have collection. Among the other standouts are energetic live takes on some of The Knack's most beloved originals; inspired readings of "(She's So) Selfish" and "My Sharona" captured at a concert in Mountain View, California in June 1994 as well as the affecting "One Day At A Time" recorded in 2002 will thrill new and long-time fans of the Doug Fieger-led troupe. Mastered by Grammy-winning engineer Michael Graves, the package also includes liner notes from Grammy-winning set co-producer Lee Lodyga. Information: omnivorerecordings.com. 

Artist: Duke Robillard and His All Star Band
Title: Blast Off! (Nola Blue Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Dr. John, Tommy Castro, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Allen Toussaint

Tell me more: Duke Robillard, who recently celebrated his 77th birthday, is firing on all cylinders across his latest album Blast Off! Indeed, the legendary singer-songwriter/guitar great along with his All Star Band explore his love of blues, soul, R&B, jazz and more American roots genres across the 12-song collection. The album's parade of inviting cuts includes the exuberant Floyd Dixon-penned opener "When I Get Lucky," the jump blues sortie "I'll Be Glad When You're Dead (You Rascal You)," Chicago blues-styled ballad "Feel My Cares" showcasing Robillard's guitar chops and signature vocals, the instrumental swing foray "Play Boy Hop," soulful "Confusion" and lead guitar-anchored instrumental blues track "Galactic Grease." The album was produced by Robillard, and was recorded and mixed by John Paul Gauthier at Lakewest Recording in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Information: nolabluerrecords.com. 

Robert Kinsler

Omnivore Recordings announces The Knack's 'Knackology: The Zen Recordings' out May 8

Big news for fans of The Knack and power pop. A wonderful proponent of power pop and melodic rock, the Los Angeles-based band was formed in 1978 and released a number of great albums. "Knackology: The Zen Recordings" sounds like an essential title to add to your collection...Robert Kinsler

Omnivore Recordings Announces The Knack’s Knackology: The Zen Recordings Out May 8 19-Song Collection Features Rare Studio, Live and Demo Recordings from the “My Sharona”  Hitmakers

March 17, 2026: Today, Omnivore Recordings announces Knackology: The Zen Recordings, a special 19-song collection from The Knack. Out May 8, the release features rare studio, live and demo recordings — including their classic cover of Badfinger’s “No Matter What” and other hard-to-find performances — mastered by multiple Grammy-winning engineer Michael Graves, with liner notes from Grammy-winning set co-producer Lee Lodyga.   Principal songwriter and vocalist Doug Fieger of The Knack created Zen Records as an outlet for new Knack material, as well as early recordings, demos, and more in order to get them into the public ear. Omnivore Recordings has been honored to have a decade-plus relationship with Zen Records.   Knackology: The Zen Recordings collects 19 classic Knack performances. From pre-Get The Knack demos (“That’s What The Little Girls Do”), to a live “Let Me Out,” Knackology shows the band’s genesis. Follow that with more performances of hits across the globe, including “Good Girls Don’t,” “Baby Talks Dirty,” “One Day At A Time,” and — naturally — “My Sharona,” and feel the live power that caused a bidding war for their debut, and how it never relented onstage throughout their tenure.   Also included are studio tracks from their releases Zoom (which Fieger called their best album) and Normal As The Next Guy, showcasing that they were never truly that “one hit wonder” label they had been slapped with. Add in rarities like their cover of Badfinger’s “No Matter What” (originally released on a Badfinger tribute) and you have a total Knack education and experience.   Knackology: The Zen Recordings is more than just a compilation. It is both an introduction and refresher course to one of the world’s most important, impressive, and irreplaceable bands.   Pre-order here: http://www.omnivorerecordings.com/shop/knackolog   Knackology: The Zen Recordings: 1. Let Me Out (Live In Los Angeles, 1978) 2. Pop Is Dead 3. (She’s So) Selfish (Live At Mountain View, California, June 10, 1994) 4. Ambition 5. That’s What The Little Girls Do (Fieger/Averre Demo) 6. Les Girls 7. Rock & Roll Is Good For You (Fieger/Averre Demo) 8. Can I Borrow A Kiss 9. Oh Tara (Live From The Rock ’n’ Roll Fun House) 10. Normal As The Next Guy 11. Shine (Live At Leeds, 1991) 12. Good Girls Don’t (Live From The Rock ’n’ Fun House) 13. No Matter What 14. Love Is All There Is 15. One Day At A Time (Live From The Rock ’n’ Roll Fun House) 16. Seven Days Of Heaven 17. Harder On You (Demo) 18. Baby Talks Dirty (Live From The Rock ’n’ Roll Fun House) 19. My Sharona (Live At Mountain View, California, June 10, 1994) Credit: Randee St. Nicholas For more information about Omnivore Recordings, visit their website.

Fourth volume of Ken Sharp's "Play On! Power Pop Heroes" set for publication in February 2017

Okay, this is a book I can't wait to read! When you start talking about Crowded House, The Bangles, The Smithereens and Matthew Sweet, you definitely have my attention!

FOURTH VOLUME OF KEN SHARP’S “PLAY ON! POWER POP HEROES” SERIES SET FOR PUBLICATION IN FEBRUARY 2017

“You can’t talk about power pop without getting into a discussion of what it is. I always think about Supreme Court Justice Stewart’s famous comment about pornography here—‘I know it when I see it.’ While not necessarily naughty, power pop does have a funny place in the rock category pantheon. It can’t quite escape being a guilty pleasure for many. I am happy to say I have no guilt whatsoever about my pop, power or otherwise!”

- Mitch Easter, Let’s Active

Whether its Raspberries' naughty testosterone-fueled epic "Go All the Way," most recently prominently featured in Guardians of the Galaxy or Badfinger's "Baby Blue," which scored the climactic final scene in the series finale of “Breaking Bad” or The Knack’s worldwide smash “My Sharona,” power pop is feel-good music whose sonic reverberations continue to make an indelible impact on the culture. In Play On! Power Pop Heroes: Volume Four (Jetfighter/$39.97), the forthcoming installment of a five-volume series slated for release in spring of 2017, Ken Sharp honors the musical innovators who built the genre’s foundation.

Back in '67, in describing their new single "I Can See for Miles," the Who's Pete Townshend coined the term "power pop," not knowing that the genre would come to take its name from his offhand description. "A Hard Days Night"..."You Really Got Me"..."Glad All Over"..."Feel A Whole Lot Better"..."Pictures of Lily"...”Tin Soldier”…"”Open My Eyes”…"Go All the Way"..."No Matter What"..."September Gurls"...”Surrender”…”My Sharona”…”Stacy’s Mom” these classic songs share one common thread: they contain all the ingredients that make up a musical form known as "power pop."

Louis Gutierrez, left, and Michael Querico of The
Three O'Clock performing at Coachella in
April 2013. Photo: Robert Kinsler

From the '60s to present day, power pop music has gone on to mean different things to different people. For some, the term conjures the guitar crunch of Badfinger and Cheap Trick; for some, it's the intricate orchestrated melodicism of the Beach Boys, the Zombies or Jellyfish; while for others it epitomizes the quirky jagged pop tread by acts like Squeeze, XTC and Fountains of Wayne. But the stylistic glue that welds it all together into one thrilling two-to-three-minute musical joyride is a collective reverence for a picture-perfect melody that will take your breath away and a supersonic hook, the size of the Empire State Building, that's near impossible to forget.

The Smithereens in 2011.

Featuring a foreword by Mitch Easter, the 528-page book culls exclusive extended interviews with 17 artists that defined the genre and is profusely illustrated with rare photographs and original handwritten lyrics. 

Track-by track commentary is provided about seminal albums including All Over The Place (The Bangles), Girlfriend (Matthew Sweet), Sixteen Tambourines (The Three O’Clock), Like This (The dB’s), Love Junk (The Pursuit of Happiness), Beat Music (The Spongetones), and Deluxe (Parthenon Huxley) plus select artist commentary about classic recordings from Crowded House, The Smithereens, Teenage Fanclub, Hoodoo Gurus, The Producers, Tommy Keene, Let’s Active, The Go-Go’s, and Michael Penn add to the inside story of this influential genre.

Buyers will receive over tracks of incredible bonus music (over a $ retail value) of rare, unreleased and live music from the dB’s, Redd Kross, The Smithereens, Mitch Easter, The Pursuit of Happiness, Tommy Keene, The Spongetones, Parthenon Huxley. In addition to those artists, there will be out of print and rare tracks from countless other power pop acts spanning the globe.

Play On! Power Pop Heroes: Volume Four is available exclusively from

http://www.goodmusicguy.com/play-on-power-pop-heroes-volume-4/

Matthew Sweet, left, with Robert Kinsler at The
Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, CA, in
August 2008.

Acts featured in Volume Four:

The dB’s

The Producers

Tommy Keene

Let’s Active

The Go-Go’s

The Spongestones

The Bangles

The Three O’Clock

The Smithereens

Crowded House

Hoodoo Gurus

Redd Kross

Matthew Sweet

Teenage Fanclub

The Pursuit of Happiness

Michael Penn

Parthenon Huxley

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ken Sharp is a New York Times best-selling author who has penned more than 19 music books, contributes to a variety of national music magazines, works on music documentaries and has done liner notes for releases by Elvis Presley, Sly and the Family Stone, Janis Joplin, Small Faces, Santana, Cheap Trick, Raspberries, Eric Carmen, KISS, Hall and Oates, Jellyfish, Heart and others. In addition to the Play On! Power Pop Heroes series, his books include Starting Over: The Making of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Double Fantasy, Elvis: Vegas ‘69, Nothin’ to Lose: the Making of KISS (1972-1975), Elvis Presley: Writing for the King, Sound Explosion: Inside LA’s Studio Factory with the Wrecking Crew, Overnight Sensation: The Story of the Raspberries, Play on!: Power Pop Heroes, Reputation is a Fragile Thing: The Story of Cheap Trick, Kooks, Queen Bitches and Andy Warhol: The Making of David Bowie’s Hunky Dory.

New releases provide time machine-worthy ride

From the ’50s rock ‘n’ roll-minded cult classic flick Daddy-O featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000 and a stunning look back at The Rolling Stones to the final release from power-pop champions The Knack and an ambitious look at the Continental Drifters, July has racked up an eclectic wealth of sonic riches.

Artist: The Rolling Stones
Title: From the Vault – Hyde Park Live 1969 (Eagle Rock Entertainment)
You might like if you enjoy: The Rolling Stones, Mick Taylor, Keith Richards

Tell me more: While the release of The Rolling Stones' From The Vault: The Marquee – Live in 1971 earlier this summer captured the band performing at an intimate club in 1971, the new From the Vault – Hyde Park Live 1969 (available on DVD and Blu-ray) features the same stellar Stones line-up of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Mick Taylor and Bill Wyman in their first public performance together. Captured at London's Hyde Park on July 5, 1969 (and only two days after the death of former Stones guitarist Brian Jones), the concert also marked the Rolling Stones' first full-length concert appearance in two years. From the Vault – Hyde Park Live 1969 is more than a concert, offering up the full 8-song set along with fascinating crowd footage (look closely and you can catch Paul McCartney), interviews with a young Mick Jagger and the debut of young lead guitar great Mick Taylor. A fascinating and essential moment in the Rolling Stones' impressive career.  Information: eagle-rock.com.

Get 'From the Vault: Hyde Park 1969' here

DVD Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: XXXIII (Shout! Factory)
You might like if you enjoy: Mystery Science Theater 3000, Svengoolie

Tell me more: What possible reason would compel any sane person to watch Daddy-O, an awful 1958 movie that somehow tapped into the explosion of early rock 'n' roll and hot rod culture while getting it all horribly wrong. Look no further than the first of four must-see films skewered on the newly-released Mystery Science Theater 3000: XXXIII collection. On Daddy-O, aspiring rock singer Phil "Daddy-O" Sandifer (played by singer-actor Dick Contino) somehow is able to pick up on girls, get pulled into a drug-running scheme and lose his best friend thanks to a solid story that somehow never flies on film. The most noteworthy aspect of the movie itself is that it provided young composer John Williams with his first-ever feature film score, while Joel and his two bots are able to entertain via their sharp-witted zingers and commentary. The other three films that get a well-deserved Satellite of Love treatment include Earth Vs. The Spider, Teen-Age Crime Wave and Agent for H.A.R.M. Information: shoutfactory.com.

Purchase 'Mystery Science Theater 3000: XXXIII' here

Artist: The Knack
Title: Live From the Rock 'n' Roll Fun House (Omnivore Recordings)
You might like if you enjoy: The Knack, Fountains of Wayne

Tell me more: Providing the final chapter in The Knack's long and acclaimed career, 2001's Live from the Rock 'n' Roll Fun House has been lovingly reissued and expanded courtesy of Omnivore Recordings. While the 17-song set includes the Los Angeles-based quartet's biggest hits ("That's What the Little Girls Do," "Good Girls Don't" "My Sharona"), the high-octane performance also shines via career-spanning material including the melodic "Can I Borrow a Kiss," driving "Pop Is Dead" and the set-ending rollicking medley of "Tequila"/"Break On Through." Sadly, Live From the Rock 'n' Roll Fun House would mark The Knack's final release; lead singer-rhythm guitarist Doug Fieger died after a long battle with cancer on Feb. 14, 2010. Information: omnivorerecordings.com.

Get 'Live From The Rock 'n' Roll Fun House' here

Artist: Continental Drifters
Title: Drifted: In The Beginning & Beyond (Omnivore Recordings)
You might like if you enjoy: Dawes, the dB's, the Jayhawks

Tell me more: The two-disc Continental Drifters compilation Drifted: In The Beginning & Beyond is astounding, with the Americana-styled collective's early course captured perfectly via a number of sweet demos, alternate tracks, live recordings and more. Featuring a number of talented members over the decade-long history of the group, the far-flung material ranges from the rousing folk rock-tinged "Who We Are, Where We Live" (featuring Vicki Peterson's strong soprano) and Southern rocker "Side Steppin' the Fire" to a freewheeling take on Gram Parsons' "A Song For You" (featuring Peter Holsapple and Susan Cowsill providing lead and harmony vocals) and harmony-filled enthralling take on Neil Young's wonderful "When You Dance I Can Really Love." The one bond that magically binds all the material across the 33-track collection is the strength of song craft and gifted touch used by the musicians to bring these songs to life. Information: omnivorerecordings.com.

Get 'Drifted: In The Beginning & Beyond (2-CD Set)' here

Robert Kinsler

Summertime soundtrack courtesy of great new releases

When it comes to summer, just the right music can make the days even better. Look no further than recent releases from Vonda Shepard, John Wetton and Giant Sand to make a great day even better.


Artist: Vonda Shepard
Title: Rookie (Hotelé Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Vonda Shepard, Carole King, Aretha Franklin
Tell me more: Vonda Shepard's newly-released Rookie is full-length showcase that fully displays the singer's ability to blend wonderful vocals and fully crafted songs that effortlessly blend soul, R&B and rock. The high-energy "Turn It Up" with Shepard's vocals blended into a chorus is especially effective, while "I Just Don't Get It" starts as a piano-anchored ballad that artfully grows to a more fervent celebration of love. Her ability to mine emotional depth at her piano on the wistful "Long for the Days," the lovely "Train to Inverness" and potent soulful title track provide other strong moments on Shepard's 14th album which also comes 25 years after the release of her self-titled Warner Bros. debut. Information: vondashepard.com.
Purchase 'Rookie' here

Artist: John Wetton
Title: The Studio Recordings Anthology (Primary Purpose)
You might like if you enjoy: Asia, Yes
Tell me more: Singer-songwriter John Wetton is best known for his role fronting supergroup Asia, but the talented Englishman has actually issued a slew of strong solo efforts. Although it was issued back in March 2015, now is the perfect time to get a listen of the outstanding two-disc The Studio Recordings Anthology. Always an introspective songwriter, Wetton's ability to look within himself shines bright across the collection. The symphonic opener "The Circle of St. Giles," the beautiful rock ballad "Hold Me Now," haunting "Battle Lines" as well as more propulsive rocker "Another Twist of the Knife" are among the almost three dozen sterling tracks to be heard here. Information: johnwetton.com.
Buy 'Studio Recordings Anthology' here

Artist: Giant Sand
Title: Heartbreak Pass (New West Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Leonard Cohen, Sonic Youth, Grant Lee Phillips
Tell me more: There is something to be said for a band that defies genres, sounds like nothing else and challenges itself and listeners with music that is simultaneously a great listen. Such is the case with Giant Sand's latest album Heartbreak Pass. The Tucson, Arizonia-based band finds frontman Howe Gelb and his collective blending spoken word, alt-country, indie rock, experimental touches and more across 15 essential new tracks. Highlights include the involving "Texting Feist," old school country music-styled soundscape on the aptly-titled "Hurtin' Habit" and sparse "Man On A String." Information: NewWestRecords.com.
Get 'Heartbreak Pass' here


Robert Kinsler

The Knack's final albums focus of Omnivore Recordings reissues

'Zoom' album cover

Fans of high octane power-pop (and of The Knack specifically) will be excited by the news that Omnivore Recordings has announced plans to release deluxe editions of The Knack's last three official releases beginning next month. Here is some information on the trio of releases courtesy of Omnivore Recordings.

Nearly 20 years after their iconic debut, The Knack returned proclaiming “Pop is dead! Bring your shovel!” But, Zoom proved this was anything but the case. With new drummer Terry Bozzio (Missing Persons, Frank Zappa), Doug Fieger, Berton Averre, and Prescott Niles delivered the album Knack fans had been waiting for—one Fieger often cited as his favorite.
 
Beginning with Havin’ A Rave Up! Live In Los Angeles 1979 and Rock & Roll Is Good For You: The Fieger/Averre Demos, Omnivore Recordings is ready to bookend and complete The Knack story by reissuing expanded versions of their final three albums, beginning with 1998’s Zoom.
 
The album’s original 14 songs are joined by 5 bonus tracks, 4 previously unissued! “She Says” (recorded during theZoom sessions) first appeared on the now out-of-print Proof: The Very Best Of The Knack. Three demos and a Bozzio helmed version of their classic “My Sharona” round out the remastered audio program, which includes set-list staples like “Pop Is Dead,” “Can I Borrow A Kiss,” and “Harder On You.” With fresh artwork and liners featuring a new interview with Averre and Niles, this version of Zoom will not only excite their fan base, but introduce the group to a multitude of new listeners.
 
It’s time to get The Knack again—and this reissue of Zoom takes its rightful place as an essential part of their catalog!

'Normal As The Next Guy'
cover artwork

 No one expected another album from The Knack. But, those who knew where to look were overjoyed with 2001’s Normal As The Next Guy. It’s safe to say that The Knack were never given their due as an album act. Normal As The Next Guy would ultimately serve as their final studio release—and it contained everything they’d worked on and perfected up to that point.
 
Touching on every genre they’d previously tackled, from the pop of “Disillusion Town” and “It’s Not Me,” to the Beach Boys-psychedelia of “The Man On The Beach” and a re-recording of Serious Fun’s should-have-been-huge “One Day At A Time” (which was climbing the charts as their then label folded), Normal As The Next Guy serves as a fitting bookend to where the band came from, and what they’d achieved. And, how musically powerfully they always were.
 
Supplemented with three of Doug Fieger’s songwriting demos, this expanded reissue presents the original’s 12 tracks in a new light, and helps extend the story started with Havin’ A Rave Up! Live In Los Angeles, 1978. Omnivore Recordings is proud to re-introduce this release, sadly under-valued at the time of its original release, but ready over a decade later to be presented to those who may have never had a chance to be Normal As The Next Guy…

After 6 studio albums and 3 decades of playing together, The Knack released their first official live album in 2002. The “soundtrack” to a performance on an imaginary 1960s television broadcast, Live At The Rock ‘n’ Roll Fun House was the culmination of the reason everyone “got” The Knack in the first place.
 
Omnivore Recordings was honored to release an early snapshot of the band on stage with Havin’ A Rave-Up! Live In Los Angeles, 1979, and is proud to complete the live picture with the final release from the band, remastered and expanded, and following in the footsteps of May’s reissue of Zoom and Normal As The Next Guy in June. All of the band’s history is represented—from the singles including “My Sharona,” “Good Girl’s Don’t,” and “Baby Talks Dirty” to album favorites like “Another Lousy Day In Paradise,” “Siamese Twins (The Monkey And Me),” and “(She’s So) Selfish.”
 
In addition to new artwork and liner notes, as well as remembrances from members of the band themselves, this version of Live From The Rock ‘n’ Roll Fun House contains two tracks recorded for the original CD/DVD, but never issued until now; Normal As The Next Guy’s “It’s Not Me” and “Seven Days Of Heaven.” The addition of those tracks now represents material from all of their studio releases.
 
Live From The Rock ‘n’ Roll Fun House offers fans everything they love about The Knack—stellar songs and a rocking performance. While this would be the last album released by the group before the passing of Doug Fieger, it represents why they maintained a rabid fan base. They were an incredible live band.
 
So, get your tickets for the Fun House! You’ll be glad you did.

For more information on all things Knack, visit: http://omnivorerecordings.com/.

Sights and sounds: Robert Plant, Joan Jett, The Knack, Conor Oberst

Good morning everybody! Here is the latest roundup of news to share...

Robert Plant's new album, lullaby and... The Ceaseless Roar, will be released September 9, 2014 on Nonesuch/ Warner Bros. Records. Produced by Plant, the album is his label debut and features 11 new recordings, nine of which are original songs written by Plant with his band, The Sensational Space Shifters-Justin Adams: bendirs, djembe, guitars, tehardant, background vocals; John Baggott: keyboards, loops, moog bass, piano, tabal, background vocals; Juldeh Camara: kologo, ritti, Fulani vocals; Billy Fuller: bass, drum programming, omnichord, upright bass; Dave Smith: drum set; and Liam "Skin" Tyson: banjo, guitar, background vocals. Pre-orders are available at robertplant.com and include a limited-edition print and an instant download of "Rainbow," which will be released as a digital single on June 24. The track is streaming now at NPR Music. A trailer for the album is available now.

You can get many more details on Plant and his upcoming project at George A. Paul's Music Minded blog here.

Say it ain't so! Joan Jett is really set to appear on a Lifetime network movie (Big Driver, based on based on Stephen King’s horror novella,). Read more here.

Can you believe The Knack's "My Sharona" is really 35 years old? The song ultimately took on far more significance than anyone would have realized back in 1979. Read the full story here.

Finally, watch Conor Oberst perform a Tiny Desk set courtesy of NPR here.