finding cain

My first apartment was in Malate, and calling it “small” would be generous. I lived there with two girls and one guy, and to this day, I genuinely don’t know how we all fit. It felt like a magic trick. Or a health hazard. We were a musical mess. One roommate lived and breathed ’70s classics. Another was permanently blasting Korn and Slipknot. One survived solely on cheesy love songs. And me? I was floating somewhere between new wave and folk rock, pretending that made sense. Somehow, despite the noise and the chaos, we all lived together in this weird, mismatched harmony. No murders. No lawsuits. A win, honestly. My music taste now is nothing like it was in my twenties. Not even close. But I’ll always be grateful to Jacqueline for introducing me to this song in particular. It was playing when I woke up from a very memorable sleep in 2002. I was 21, half-awake, probably confused about life, and that song stuck. It still hasn’t let go.

I was watching a replay of The Graham Norton Show the other night when this singer I’d never heard of completely grabbed my attention. Her name’s RAYE, and yes, I know I’m embarrassingly late to the party. I only discovered her a couple days ago, and now I’m a full-on fan. Her funk-soaked anthem hooked me right away. Her vocals are rapid-fire and confident, with just enough rasp to give the whole thing a playful, gritty kick.

Some pop songs are built to last. Boy Meets Girl's 1988 single, Waiting for a Star to Fall , is one of them. But here's the entertaining twist: no one wanted it. Songwriters Shannon Rubicam and George Merrill were already successful, having penned massive hits for Whitney Houston. Naturally, they offered the song to her, but in a famously baffling moment, her label boss, Clive Davis, said no. The song then floated to Belinda Carlisle, who even cut a demo, but she passed. Instead of shelving the track, Rubicam and Merrill made an act of quiet defiance: they recorded it themselves. That leap of faith changed everything. Their own version became a global smash and their one unforgettable entry into pop immortality.

Happy 30th birthday to The Smashing Pumpkins' monumental double album, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness ! I was a fresh-faced 15-year-old in 1995, deep in my grunge phase—right before Boyz II Men swept me off my feet. Let's be real: when they announced this two-disc, 28-track opus, it felt less like a new album and more like an act of war against the listener. A double album from an alt-rock band in '95? That was commercial suicide on an epic scale, a towering self-regard previously reserved for the likes of Pink Floyd or Led Zeppelin. Billy Corgan, fresh off the success of Siamese Dream , cashed in all his artistic capital for this two-hour obligation. This wasn't a creative endeavor; it was a doctoral dissertation on Gen X angst. Listening to it felt like being forced to read a particularly dense biography of Pablo Picasso—you admire the person, but you desperately want it to end. Take Porcelina of the Vast Oceans . Nine minutes. Nine minutes! It drags you from ...

Ezra Collective's No One's Watching Me with Olivia Dean has really grabbed my attention, even though it was released a year ago. I've been playing it at least twice a day for a straight week. Maybe it's the tune, the rhythm, or the words—I just know it's a total earworm. This song is a rare blend of mellow and energetic. The secret is that killer horn opening, which immediately establishes a contagious, upbeat vibe that carries through the entire track. Olivia's smoky, soulful vocals then glide over the music, adding a touch of pure sultry goodness. The track is held together by a fantastic, steady backbeat that never lets up, even during the impressive trumpet solo. The London quintet's Afrobeat-infused style really shines here, propelled by a funky bassline and gentle synth keys. The interplay between the intermittent horn flourishes and Dean's voice is absolutely perfect. It's a truly masterful and vibrant arrangement.

It's a week late, but I wanted to wish a Happy Birthday to Faith Hill. My wife has been a fan of her music for years, and honestly, who can blame her? On the zillion-to-one chance that Mrs. McGraw ever sees this blog, I'd like to remind her that the world abounds in people who know her songs by heart, and can and will sing them at the slightest provocation.

   A number of interesting things happened in 1979, the year I was born. For instance, on November 4, 1979, the Iran hostage crisis began. Have you seen Argo starring Ben Affleck? That movie is pretty much about it. The next month, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. Also in 1979, the first Sony Walkman was released in Japan. Margaret Thatcher became the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and Skylab made a dramatic return to Earth. The year also saw the release of a number of iconic movies, including Alien , Apocalypse Now , and Mad Max . That year, Dire Straits unleashed Sultans of Swing . The four-minute track wasn't just a song; it was a revolution. The musicianship is impeccable, the lyrics engrossing, and the entire song doesn't sound dated. It transcends genres and eras, proving that true artistry never fades. In high school, I’d sit on a couch and listen endlessly to Mark Knopfler’s intricate guitar solo and pretended I understood what “blowing Dixie,...

What I love about the Malaysian-born singer-songwriter is her knack for crafting those sad/happy songs – music that makes you want to cry and hit the dance floor at the same time. Chloe writes about love, anxiety, and self-acceptance with such wit and honesty. Her beauty is also undeniable – a perfect blend of modern allure and timeless Asian elegance. Her looks shine through with such grace and an effortlessly cool confidence. Here is my favorite.

Damon Albarn is a genius. He constantly reinvents himself, pushes his boundaries, and challenges his listeners. From the raw energy of Blur to the diverse soundscapes of Gorillaz, his solo work, and his collaborations with other artists, Damon has proven himself to be one of the most talented and unpredictable musicians alive.

Six strings attached to a wooden frame, capable of producing simple tunes and intricate melodies. But before a guitar reaches the Royal Albert Hall or the dark corners of your bedroom, it undergoes a fascinating transformation at the hands of skilled craftspeople like Nick Branwell. Guitar making is more than just assembling pieces of wood and strings; it's about understanding the connection between materials, design, and sound. It's a craft that requires years of dedication and a deep passion for music. The result is an instrument that is not only beautiful to look at but also capable of producing music that can move and inspire.

Reggie Pearl deserves more recognition. I really like her music and I struggled to pick a song to recommend if you somehow only have the time to listen to one. But “Moldavite” blew me away the first time I heard it, and I hope you will love it too.

Here's a good song to turn up the volume on while you attempt to have an argument with your spouse but will fail at keeping it private, eventually, because nowadays nothing is truly private.

This is from the 1995 CMA Awards. I'm not a huge fan of country music and I wasn't a huge fan of that show…but I couldn't resist Shania Twain singing Any Man of Mine.

If you wanted to be considered uncool in the '90s admit that you were a Take That fan. Luckily, I have always been uncool so there was no lowering of my reputation whenever I told that I love Gary Barlow's voice (and his chuwariwaps) and didn't give a f*ck who knew it.

Todd Haynes' first documentary feature offers a fresh take on the influential 60s group. Critics call it " as radical, daring and brilliant as the band itself ."

Today I was creeping out on Behance and I came across the work of Anthony Ventura . There are so many talented illustrators out there, and it's always refreshing when I find someone who's work pretty much makes my day, for a bunch of reasons. It's easy to get lost in his world, and I could spend hours looking at all of the posters, magazine artworks, and digital drawings that he created. The images of Chris Cornell and Nick Cave are quite ominous, and George Harrison looks somewhat sublime. The portrait of Ginger Wildheart for Planet Rock really amuses me and puts me in the mood to eat cannabis-laced sweets for dessert. If you like what you see (and why wouldn't you?), you can get signed prints from Anthony's Big Cartel store or T-shirts from Threadless .

I'm going to do something I love doing here on Finding Cain — taking you back to the early 90s when everything was cool. Today's time machine post concerns English group and sort of one-hit-wonders, Stereo MC's. Perhaps this will distract you, however briefly.

Because it's that kind of day, and because why not, and because, actually, it's kind of awesome, here is the album cover for Stone Temple Pilots' debut album Core , recreated in LEGO by Adnan Lotia . Did you know Core is actually 29 years old now? I bet if you turned on your radio you'd be able to hear it playing somewhere. "I wanna run through your wicked garden heard that's the place to find you/ 'Cause I'm alive so alive now, I know the darkness blinds you." Is it really just Wednesday? Anyway, enjoy. Stone Temple Pilots' Debut 'Core' Turns 25

I have a confession to make: I love this track. I remember sitting on the grass of Puerta del Parian in Intramuros listening to my friend shout the song's "I'm not sick but I'm not well. And I'm so hot 'cause I'm in hell" line as loud as he did and louder than I could. 24 years have passed since Flagpole Sitta's release. Its online popularity, relative to every other song from the 90s, is a sound indication for whether it will be remembered by our children's children.

If you're interested in serious Carnatic music, then the veena player and vocalist Ramana Balachandhran is absolutely outstanding. Just sit back, listen, and take in your emotional response.