alan@ongoinghistory.com

The Ongoing History of New Music can be heard on stations across Canada. Read more at ongoinghistory.com and exploremusic.com

Useless information to impress your friends

February 03, 2012

Reading this column will be far from useless. In fact, it’s full of useless information.

The Important Role of Campus Radio

February 03, 2012

Reading this column will be far from useless. In fact, it’s full of useless information.

Songs for that long, long ride

January 27, 2012

It used to be that the length of a song was limited by the maximum capacity of the recording media.

Albums to watch for

January 20, 2012

The winter release season is finally upon us. 

Music predictions for 2012

January 13, 2012

Indie music’s impact will be greater than ever.

What to Buy With the Christmas Money

December 23, 2011

With two days to go, what do you get the music fan on your list?

Last minute gift ideas for your audiophile

December 16, 2011

With a week to go, what do you get the music fan on your list?

2011’s Musicians who deserve another look

December 09, 2011

There’s just too much music these days. No wonder that so much great stuff — a disturbing amount — slips through the cracks.

An alternative to those yuletide carols

December 01, 2011

There are better choices than Winter Wonderland. Let us help you find a few for the season. 

Record Store Nostalgia

November 24, 2011

Naturally, some of us grow misty at what record store shopping used to be like, like the 45 section and midnight record sales.

Bono's other nickname, the song Britney passed up and other random music facts

November 17, 2011

Here’s some stuff I’ve uncovered so far. I am not be responsible for how you use this material, so be careful.

Honouring fallen soldiers

November 09, 2011

The solemnity of Nov. 11 should never be forgotten. Our thoughts turn to the fallen and to the families they left behind. Here’s a playlist of songs that commemorate this day beyond the traditional playing of The Last Post.

The make or break time of year for music

November 03, 2011

With Thanksgiving and Halloween receding in the rear view mirror and with Christmas displays everywhere, it’s time to look ahead to the final weeks of new releases for 2011.

Rocket man looking to lift off once again

October 28, 2011

Before you ask, William Shatner knows that he has a, uh, distinctive singing style.

Recycling music will only go so far

October 21, 2011

I’m working my way through Retromania by Simon Reynolds, a book that explores why we seem so fascinated with fetishizing music of the recent past.

Salute the Unsung Heroes of rock ’n’ roll

October 14, 2011

If anyone asked you to list some of the great heroes of rock ’n’ roll, you’d probably come back with names like Elvis, Lennon and Cobain.

The Joys of Pink Floyd

October 07, 2011

I fear for the future of high fidelity. With every passing month, we seem to be satisfied with sound that is merely good enough. Blame it on a decade of listening to squished MP3s through cheap ear buds.

Coming up with a band name is no easy task

September 29, 2011

One of the most hideous tasks of being in a band is coming up with a name.  Consider these tips.

Finding a new hook for shows

September 23, 2011

Peter Hook was on the phone from Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam awaiting a connection to China where he was booked to DJ in Beijing and Shanghai.

I Have Questions ... with myself

September 16, 2011

BEIJING, China — When you’re deep in the bowels of economy class, a 12-hour flight across the Pacific is not pleasant.

The best rock documentaries ever made

September 08, 2011

Is a documentary to start the 36th annual Toronto International Film Festival? And a rock doc?  Makes sense, really, given that the festival and the band involved pretty much share the exact same birth date.

The hard life of rockstars

August 26, 2011

Back on the 19th, Bono felt unwell. Decompressing from the massive 360 Tour at his villa in Eze-sur-Mer in the south of France, his heart began rattling around in his chest like a drum machine gone insane.

What music does 'the ride' remind you of?

August 19, 2011

Here in Southern Ontario, the End Times for summer is heralded by the opening of the Canadian National Exhibition. For me, the CNE works much better in nostalgic terms than actually going again. I’d rather preserve those memories as they are rather than risk having them corrupted forever.

So what is bandomynology, anyway?

August 05, 2011

It’s not exactly a beach read, but I just finished a fascinating book called Reading the OED by Ammon Shea, who spent a year reading all 21,730 pages of the Oxford English Dictionary.  

The hit of the summer is up to you

July 29, 2011

It used to be every summer had its song.

Dolly Parton is worth how much?!

July 22, 2011

As you may have heard elsewhere, I, er, have some extra time on my hands. 

Will U2 ever be able to top U2?

July 15, 2011

As I stood watching U2 play the 105th of 111 shows on their 360 Tour, all I kept thinking was “Now what?”

The very best of ’11 (so far)

June 30, 2011

If you’re reading this, chances are you still care about buying albums and CDs. And as we pass into the second half of 2011, here are my picks for the best albums of the year (so far) in alphabetical order.

The power of secretive marketing

June 24, 2011

Usually, the route to fame requires help: Publicists, pluggers, and plenty of public appearances (cf. Lady Gaga). But in the ultra-short attention span world of today’s music, I’ve noticed that an increasing number of performers are becoming famous by staying anonymous.  

A brief history of the format wars

June 10, 2011

All throughout history, an established technology never had a chance if something more convenient came along. Just look at what we’ve seen with music over the past 140 years or so.