I argue, with some regularity, that modern Hollywood horror films falter in large part because they don’t take their scenarios seriously. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It has me thinking I might be wrong about that. The new … Continue reading Now Playing — The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It
344. Graham Parker and the Shot, Steady Nerves (1985) For the erudite plentitude that touted Graham Parker of one of the great songwriters of his generation, and who rooted for the man to finally have a taste of the mass-market … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #344 to #342
On Chandler Bing’s Job by Megan Garber I’m not my cohort’s resident expert on the sitcom about a sextet of New Yorkers who will be there for one another when precipitations obeys the law gravity. So it with humility that … Continue reading Outside Reading — Transponster edition
“How I Can I Make It OK?” is one of those tracks that feels big and epic, constantly escalating to another level of sonic richness, while also standing as finely, expertly contained. It has the luxuriant sweep and exquisite precision … Continue reading This Week’s Model — Wolf Alice, “How Can I Make It OK?”
I read a lot of comic books as a kid. This series of posts is about the comics I read, and, occasionally, the comics that I should have read. Over the years of my comic book reading, I have been … Continue reading My Misspent Youth — Tales Designed to Thrizzle by Michael Kupperman
I suspect the Black Keys would be very happy if every one of their albums from here on in was simply a variation on their latest, Delta Kream. It makes sense. Why strain and struggle to write and record original … Continue reading The New Releases Shelf — Delta Kream
These posts celebrate the movie trailers, movie posters, commercials, print ads, and other promotional material that stand as their own works of art. One of the main things I miss about haunting my local movie theater is the procession of … Continue reading The Art of the Sell — Where the Wild Things Are trailer
For a long time, Clint Eastwood’s directorial career was seen as a lark, an indulgence to keep a movie star happy so he’d occasionally acquiesce to playing Harry Callahan again. Across his first twelve films as a director, Eastwood’s films … Continue reading Actors’ Director — Clint Eastwood
347. Guadalcanal Diary, 2×4 (1987) Guadalcanal Diary evidently sought to recapture something they felt they lost when they recorded their third album, 2 x 4. After an excursion with other collaborators, the band from Marietta, Georgia returned to the producer … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #347 to #345
‘Whoa, this is crazy’: L.A. teen punks the Linda Lindas on going viral (just before finals) by August Brown Playing at the L.A. Public Library is the new South by Southwest, it seems. The live set by youthful punk act … Continue reading Outside Reading — We Rebuild What You Destroy edition
Coffee for Two 