Riffs.

Slop is made of people

AI made low-quality content easier to produce, but people built the slop economy. A call to take responsibility and make better work.

Back to the Beginning, one year later

One year after Black Sabbath's farewell at Villa Park, Mark Dauner remembers Ozzy, the fans, and a day that showed why live music matters.

Five years

Five years after leaving corporate life, Mark Dauner reflects on Bowie, reclaimed wood, AI, and building an independent home on the open internet.

Elvis Presley and the human performance filter

Elvis made other people's songs unmistakably his own. What his performances in EPiC reveal about personal voice, creative influence, and AI.

Creativity, AI, Brian Eno…and farming?

What do Brian Eno, Nebraska farming, and generative AI have in common? Better creative work grows from context, care, and continued refinement.

Loving the alien

David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust shows how simple ideas leave room for imagination, and why creators using AI still need to own their stories.

GNOME, Bowie, and why your creative sausage needs a recipe

GNOME's AI code rules and David Bowie's creative process offer a lesson: know your ingredients, understand your tools, and take ownership of your work.

Rock & Roll Outkasts

Outkast belongs in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. A look at the shared roots of rock and hip-hop, creative rebellion, and a musical culture open to all.

Dreams turn to nightmares

A Halloween rock playlist of dreams, dread, and heavy riffs, featuring Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Mastodon, The Warning, and Dream Theater.

Reflecting on MAICON 2025 and Ace Frehley

MAICON 2025 and Ace Frehley's legacy spark a reflection on AI, creative personality, and the human imperfections worth keeping in our work.

Ace Frehley, Lead Guitar!

Remembering Ace Frehley's sound, swagger, and spirit with a playlist spanning more than 50 years of music, from classic KISS to his solo work.

Creative evolution: exploring Led Zeppelin's "Houses of the Holy"

Led Zeppelin's Houses of the Holy offers lessons in creative risk, musical influence, and using new tools without losing the voice that makes you unique.

Led Zeppelin's Houses of the Holy (1973)

Revisit Led Zeppelin's Houses of the Holy, an adventurous mix of heavy rock, funk, reggae, and atmosphere, with favorite tracks and listening links.

Hip-hop and human creativity

Hip-hop's history of sampling, remixing, and inventive tool use offers a lens on generative AI and the human choices that make creative work matter.

Going back to the beginning: a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath

A firsthand tribute to Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath's final show, reflecting on their legacy and the human stories that AI music cannot replace.

Listen up!!! Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath

Explore 40 favorite Ozzy Osbourne tracks, plus a closer listen to Black Sabbath's Sabbath Bloody Sabbath and Ozzy's solo classic Diary of a Madman.

Finding genius in the process: remembering Brian Wilson

Brian Wilson's studio experiments, Pet Sounds, and Smile reveal why creative process, persistence, and human vision still matter in the age of AI.