Calvin Johnson and Karl Blau

Calvin Johnson has never made a hit single, and unless "down" suddenly becomes "up," "wrong" changes to "right" and "injustice" and "justice" swap meanings, he never will -- despite the slew of music he's created by himself or as part of Beat Happening, Dub Narcotic Sound System or the Halo...

By Michael Roberts

October 19, 2006

Audio By Carbonatix

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Calvin Johnson has never made a hit single, and unless "down" suddenly becomes "up," "wrong" changes to "right" and "injustice" and "justice" swap meanings, he never will -- despite the slew of music he's created by himself or as part of Beat Happening, Dub Narcotic Sound System or the Halo Benders. Nevertheless, Johnson's put his mark on America's independent music scene by dint of K Records, which he founded. The label served as a temporary home for acts such as Beck, Modest Mouse, Built to Spill, Kimya Dawson and the late Elliott Smith, and while Nirvana signed elsewhere, Kurt Cobain was enough of a fan to have tattooed its logo on his arm. Moreover, K's river of talent continues to flow, if Karl Blau is any indication. Beneath Waves, Blau's solo debut for the imprint, includes "Into the Nada," an oddly catchy offering with a brass section that suggests a Salvation Army band on a bender. "Nada" will never be a hit, either -- but as Johnson knows, there are other ways to have an impact.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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