The GuestBook Corner of Only Solitaire
Hello there. If you fell upon this blog from out of nowhere (for instance, having just typed "aretha franklin runnin' out of luck blogspot" in hopes of a free illegal download) and feel like learning more, the real place to go first is the regular Only Solitaire site.
If you do not feel like going anyplace else, then, in brief: this blog has been set up for the purposes of reviewing complete catalogs of pop music artists from the dawn of time (say, 1920 or whichever was the next year right after the world's creation) to the present day - for the purpose of entertaining myself and, through this, (occasionally) entertaining others.
If you feel like you have something to say in general, rather than comment on any of the reviews in particular, this is the right place to do it. From the "thank you for the music" bit to the "who do you think you are" bit, feel free to unload your heart.
If you do not feel like going anyplace else, then, in brief: this blog has been set up for the purposes of reviewing complete catalogs of pop music artists from the dawn of time (say, 1920 or whichever was the next year right after the world's creation) to the present day - for the purpose of entertaining myself and, through this, (occasionally) entertaining others.
If you feel like you have something to say in general, rather than comment on any of the reviews in particular, this is the right place to do it. From the "thank you for the music" bit to the "who do you think you are" bit, feel free to unload your heart.
Please note that, although this blog used to run on a daily schedule for quite a few years, these days I am finding it barely possible to continue to uphold such a schedule (middle age may not bring about the gout, but it does bring about lots of extra responsibilities that take precedence). Therefore, expect a new review, on average, every 2-3 days, unless I'm on a happy break (in which case the pace may accelerate) or in conference (in which case it might slow down even further).
Notes on current schedule:
In earlier and happier days, the average schedule would be to separate the chronospace from the 1920s to 2010s into seven different sub-epochs and review an album from each once per week, with a bunch of great, good, or just historically noticeable artists selected according to personal preferences and reviewed in alphabetic order (hence the huge proliferance of A/B/C artists on the site).
Today, the average schedule refrains from the alphabetic order (surprisingly, life is too short) and runs along the following lines (liable to further readjustment in the future):
1) Md/Td: Re-write and complete reviews for the catalogs of 1962-1975 ("Golden Age") artists that had previously been featured on my old Only Solitaire site. Currently working on: The Beatles and all their solo offshoots (John / Paul / George / Ringo).
2) Wd/Th: Re-write and complete reviews for the catalogs of 1976-2000 ("Silver Age") artists that had previously been featured on my old Only Solitaire site. Currently working on: Talking Heads and all their solo offshoots (Byrne / Harrison / Tom Tom Club etc.).
3) Fd/St: Select and review one artist that has not been previously covered on the old site or on the new blog in any way. The artist has to be both historically important and personally liked (or at least respected). Currently working on: My Bloody Valentine.
4) Sd: Catching up - one review of a recent release (2017-19) by an artist that has already been previously reviewed on this blog. Currently working on: Monitoring recent releases by A/B/C artists on this blog (the artist, naturally, changes every week).
In addition, some time each week is also spent on polishing reviews that were posted on the blog earlier and converting them into full-fledged artist pages, available for view and download in HTML / PDF format on the old Only Solitaire site. The results are viewable, in table form, at this page:
http://starling.rinet.ru/music/new/List.htm
(currently, only the Arcade Fire page has been completed, but more to come soon).
Yours sincerelyNotes on current schedule:
In earlier and happier days, the average schedule would be to separate the chronospace from the 1920s to 2010s into seven different sub-epochs and review an album from each once per week, with a bunch of great, good, or just historically noticeable artists selected according to personal preferences and reviewed in alphabetic order (hence the huge proliferance of A/B/C artists on the site).
Today, the average schedule refrains from the alphabetic order (surprisingly, life is too short) and runs along the following lines (liable to further readjustment in the future):
1) Md/Td: Re-write and complete reviews for the catalogs of 1962-1975 ("Golden Age") artists that had previously been featured on my old Only Solitaire site. Currently working on: The Beatles and all their solo offshoots (John / Paul / George / Ringo).
2) Wd/Th: Re-write and complete reviews for the catalogs of 1976-2000 ("Silver Age") artists that had previously been featured on my old Only Solitaire site. Currently working on: Talking Heads and all their solo offshoots (Byrne / Harrison / Tom Tom Club etc.).
3) Fd/St: Select and review one artist that has not been previously covered on the old site or on the new blog in any way. The artist has to be both historically important and personally liked (or at least respected). Currently working on: My Bloody Valentine.
4) Sd: Catching up - one review of a recent release (2017-19) by an artist that has already been previously reviewed on this blog. Currently working on: Monitoring recent releases by A/B/C artists on this blog (the artist, naturally, changes every week).
In addition, some time each week is also spent on polishing reviews that were posted on the blog earlier and converting them into full-fledged artist pages, available for view and download in HTML / PDF format on the old Only Solitaire site. The results are viewable, in table form, at this page:
http://starling.rinet.ru/music/new/List.htm
(currently, only the Arcade Fire page has been completed, but more to come soon).
George Starostin
