Bill Cooper

Bobby Watson: Perpetual Groove - Spectrum Culture Watson and his quartet put on a technically impressive show, but listeners may yearn for more memorable jazz.

"Watson and his quartet put on a technically impressive show, but listeners may yearn for more memorable jazz."

Today on @spectrumculture.bsky.social, I review Bobby Watson's Perpetual Groove reissue via Red Records:
spectrumculture.com/2025/10/27/b...

Wrote on Substack about Pitchfork's upcoming controversial decision to allow audience ratings and comments, my thoughts, and how I think it might impact music criticism.

Link here: open.substack.com/pub/billstak...

Concert Review: Esther Rose/Jobi Riccio - Spectrum Culture Imposing, angry clouds gathered on the outskirts of Burlington, VT, but by the time Santa Fe-based Esther Rose took the stage with her band, rain was likely the last thing on the audience’s mind.

On @spectrumculture.bsky.social, I wrote about Esther Rose, Jobi Riccio, and Higher Ground in Burlington, VT, in my latest concert review.

spectrumculture.com/2025/10/26/c...

Paix by Catherine Ribeiro + Alpes (1972) - The Third Eye Discover Paix (1972), the groundbreaking psychedelic masterpiece by Catherine Ribeiro + Alpes that blends French chanson, folk, and prog.

"Psychedelic, brilliant, and even sometimes frightening, it connects a nexus of French traditions and culture within its music with cutting-edge folk, psychedelia, and prog rock."

On Third Eye Psych Rock, I revisited Catherine Ribeiro + Alpes' Paix:
thirdeyepsychrock.blog/2025/10/18/p...

More Hours Doesn't Mean Better Work "The 996" and Other Outdated Work Culture Myths

"The idea that Musk and many tech companies are proposing isn’t just flawed. It’s backwards. Aren’t these companies the ones that typically push progress?"

On Substack, I wrote about the Silicon Valley push for the 996 schedule, work culture, and burnout:
billstakes.substack.com/p/more-hours...

I responded to a message just like this one a year ago and writing for Spectrum Culture has been a deeply rewarding experience ever since.

Over 18 months and more than 100 pieces later, I can say working for this site has been an overwhelmingly positive experience and has put me in touch with some really cool people.

Worth reaching out...even if you're only just a little curious.

100 Meters - Spectrum Culture 100 Meters sidelines a compelling narrative in favor of a disconnected web of philosophical motivations, losing sight of why people connect to sports, and particularly sports anime.

Wrote on @spectrumculture.bsky.social about 100 Meters, a sports anime film I wanted to like more than I did:
spectrumculture.com/2025/10/13/1...

Thank god I was worried it was fake

Mobley in the mornin'

Are We Good? - Spectrum Culture The comedian and podcaster Marc Maron may be at the heart of Feinartz’s documentary, but its themes are universal and wholly relatable.

Are We Good? No, really, are we?

Steven Feinartz's latest documentary about comedian and podcaster Marc Maron consists of themes of grief and self-doubt that are universal and wholly relatable.

Read more at @spectrumculture.bsky.social:
share.google/shWfvh9VcDWf...

Gee, they ain't lyin', huh?

The Monks: Black Monk Time - Spectrum Culture Most influential albums aren’t as enjoyable six decades later, but the Monks’ Black Monk Time is as engaging as it was back then, akin to an extraterrestrial discovery existing outside ‘60s nostalgia.

"Let's go, it's beat time, it's hop time, it's monk time!"

Today on @spectrumculture.bsky.social , I review the Munster Records reissue of one of the strangest yet essential '60s albums...The Monks' Black Monk Time:
spectrumculture.com/2025/09/30/t...

It's Okay If You Don't Like Geese. The Hidden Costs of Hype Trains

It's hard not to feel left out if you don't enjoy every "groundbreaking" album.

In my latest Substack post, I argue the hidden costs of these hype trains by highlighting a particular band: Geese
billstakes.substack.com/p/its-okay-i...

Thoughts that share the same energy:

"You have to watch the first two seasons before it gets good"

"You have to listen to the album over ten times before you can say if you like it or not"

Doctor I trust more than RFK Jr

Tonight's watch: Kurosawa's Scandal

It's so frustrating because there are several times when I want to contribute, but it seems like others on the site only want to put others in their place to feel superior.

Debby Friday - The Starrr Of The Queen Of Life

This album slaps so hard. Electronic, pulsating grooves, head-nod inducing beats, great vox. Hard not to want to dance. So glad I picked this one up.

Rediscover: Josie and the Pussycats - Spectrum Culture Like David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest, Josie and the Pussycats has become an unintentional prophecy of our current reality.

"Though Josie and the Pussycats is a thoroughly enjoyable film that should be known beyond its small cult circles, the film’s themes should also be revisited, as they have become more relevant..."
Read more on @spectrumculture.bsky.social here:
spectrumculture.com/2025/09/15/r...

Holy Hell! All the Right Reasons Turns 20 - Spectrum Culture Those who have liked Nickelback despite popular opinion can now do so with less fear. Online spaces exist for them, just as they exist for any like-minded grouping of people to gather.

Wrote on @spectrumculture.bsky.social about Nickelback, why they were so originally hated and why some are enjoying them years later.
Hint: Nostalgia plays a large role.
share.google/cvrt2nYqgaEl...

It's not October yet, but this LP feels right this morning.

Pic related: At work, writing a very long, in-depth feature that dozens of people may read.

Brad Mehldau: Ride into the Sun - Spectrum Culture Brad Mehldau crafts a thoughtful, purposeful Elliott Smith-inspired album that, though fascinating and endearing, sometimes fails to capture the essence of the musician himself.

"Brad Mehldau crafts a thoughtful, purposeful Elliott Smith-inspired album that, though fascinating and endearing, sometimes fails to capture the essence of the musician himself."

On @spectrumculture.bsky.social, I wrote about the latest Brad Mehldau album here:
spectrumculture.com/2025/09/04/b...

Every U2 Song Ranked: Part Twenty-Six: “One” (#10–1) - Spectrum Culture Let’s focus on the good news: U2’s strongest material holds up.

We did it! We ranked all 259 U2 songs from worst to best. Thanks for taking this journey with us. Here is the final part:

spectrumculture.com/2025/09/04/e...

Damn, Metheny is throwing some serious shade on Kenny G in this here graf.

All Directions by The Temptations (1972) - The Third Eye The Temptations’ All Directions turned internal resistance into triumph, with “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” redefining psychedelic soul.

Wrote about "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone," along with one of the greatest psychedelic soul albums of all time on Third Eye Psych Rock.

thirdeyepsychrock.blog/2025/08/26/a...

Getting funky with one of the Temptations' best albums.

Notice how I said "one," as there are several bangers in their psychedelic soul section of their discography...

However, if you're looking for a more reasonable and easier to find power pop book, I recommend: Go All the Way: A Literary Appreciation of Power Pop by Paul Myers, S.W. Lauden

Devoured it in two sittings, lots of great recs of records I've never heard of.

Jon Borack's Shake Some Action. It came out in 2007.
It's very cool, but incredibly rare because it had such a small print. I got it for a steep but reasonable price, but it's typically outrageous (75-100$), but if you keep an eye out you might find it for a decent price like me.