Sometimes comedy illuminates hard truths with a pointed urgency that other means can’t quite achieve. Sometimes comedy is just funny. This series of posts is mostly about the former instances, but the latter is valuable, too. “Oh, you got Lewis? … Continue reading Laughing Matters — Gary Gulman, “Scholastic Role Play”
40. Stray Cats, Built for Speed (1982) “Crowds around the world are receptive,” declared Brian Setzer, frontman of Stray Cats, shortly after the release of Built for Speed. “The kids were ready for us, but the record companies weren’t. Now … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #40 and #39
Texas Tortures Pregnant Women Who Need Care by Michelle Goldberg Writing for The New York Times, Michelle Goldberg recounts the experience of several Texas women whose medical emergencies were made more dire by the deliberately vague and proudly cruel anti-abortion … Continue reading Outside Reading — States of Disgrace edition
Jess Williamson is no newcomer. She’s been an admirably prolific singer-songwriter for at least ten years, releasing four proper studio albums and a couple EPs as a solo artist. Even so, I suspect that I’m not the only one who … Continue reading This Week’s Model — Jess Williamson, “Time Ain’t Accidental”
These posts celebrate the movie trailers, movie posters, commercials, print ads, and other promotional material that stand as their own works of art. Realistically, this is as plausible an origin story for the superheroic talent Tina Turner as any. Other … Continue reading The Art of the Sell — Pepsi-Cola, “Creation” with David Bowie & Tina Turner
I believe it’s largely forgotten that the ending of What’s Love Got to Do with It, the 1993 drama in which Angela Bassett portrayed music icon Tina Turner, was controversial at the time of the film’s release. Following nearly two … Continue reading Tina Turner, 1939 – 2023
DEATH VALLEY GIRLS Islands in the Sky (Suicide Squeeze Records) — Melancholy intertwines with hopefulness on Islands in the Sky, the fourth long-playing outing from Los Angeles’s grand conjurers of grindy, gnarly anthems. Frontwoman Bonnie Bloomgarden says the foundational inspiration … Continue reading Medium Rotation — Islands in the Sky; Good Luck
GINA BIRCH I Play My Bass Loud (Third Man) — In certain circles, Gina Birch is a legend. As bassist and vocalist for post-punk icons the Raincoats, Birch helped create music that was foundational to all manner of off-kilter, independently … Continue reading Medium Rotation — I Play My Bass Loud; Shook
42. The Psychedelic Furs, Forever Now (1982) “I enjoy surprising,” explained Richard Butler, the frontman of the Psychedelic Furs, while making the rounds to promote the band’s third album, Forever Now. “We have many hardcore fans, fans of the first … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #42 and #41
The Epic Return of Lucinda Williams by Bronwen Dickey Bronwen Dickey’s profile of Lucinda Williams is utterly splendid. It helps, of course, that the musician has lived a colorful life. In the article, Dickey demonstrates a flair for identifying the … Continue reading Outside Reading — Gravel Roads edition
Coffee for Two 