It's not Idol, technically, but America's Got Talent and its dentally-impaired overseas cousin are still franchises helmed by Simon Cowell, who I think we can all agree has become somewhat of a figurehead for shitty pop music and general asshattery. You'll be rewarded here, sort of, with a perfectly passable aw-shucks-diva cover of the Stones' "Wild Horses" if you stick around long enough, but first you'll have to watch in absolute horror as the big stateside premiere of charmingly fish-outta-water blog-n-Twitter sensation Susan Boyle from the September 16 episode of the American programme majestically botches literally every harmonic transition in the requisite sappy introductory montage. That is, at no point does the background music align in any sensible way with the sample fragments of Boyle's singing, nor, during cuts and transitions, with whatever musical material follows. Granted, we're probably talking about idiot television producers here (or their interns, even) and not idiot music producers, but still, sign of the times grumble grumble.
Tape Op is a bi-monthly magazine devoted to the art of record making.
Or Learn More
MORE ENTRIES
BLOG
Remembering Greg Brown of CAKE
By John Baccigaluppi
February 9, 2026
I just found out that Greg Brown, the guitarist for the band CAKE, passed away this weekend. I had not talked to Greg in many years, but knew him...
BLOG
NYC Studio Photo Essay: Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?
By Geoff Stanfield
February 8, 2026
Photographer Stephen Jess has created an in-depth project of images and overview histories of historic New York City recording studios titled...
BLOG
Rose Colored Moon: An Evening Tribute to Elliott Smith in Film and Music
By Larry Crane - editor
February 5, 2026
March 19th in Portland, Oregon, at The Tomorrow Theater, this event is sponsored by Tape Op editor/founder Larry Crane's Jackpot! Recording...
BLOG
New Harry Styles song and video, “Aperture”
By John Baccigaluppi
February 7, 2026
Harry Styles has a new album, Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally, coming out March 6, and has released the first track and an accompanying video...
BLOG
Remembering Bob Weir
By Geoff Stanfield
February 4, 2026
My first listen to the Grateful Dead was a cassette of Reckoning that I got from the Columbia House Record Club. I thought the cover that had the...
BLOG
Talk Talk: Spirit of Eden Vinyl Reissue
By Geoff Stanfield
February 2, 2026
At any given party or get-together we've all been asked "What's your favorite album?" For me it's an impossible question, but...
BLOG
The 2026 Resonator Awards from We Are Moving the Needle
By Meredith Hobbs Coons
January 31, 2026
When I first heard about the Resonator Awards in 2024, I had recently interviewed artist/producer SASAMI [Tape Op#157] and production great Jennifer...
BLOG
New song, video, and album from Moby
By John Baccigaluppi
January 23, 2026
I’ve been following Moby for several decades now as he’s moved between different styles and phases of his career. I can’t say I love everything he’s...
BLOG
Sleaford Mods: The Demise Of Planet X
By Geoff Stanfield
January 16, 2026
England's post-punk duo Sleaford Mods, who we interviewed for Ep. 82 of the Tape Op Podcast, are perhaps the most punk band I have heard in...