552. Various Artists, Lonely is an Eyesore (1987) The 4AD record label launched in 1980, and quickly developed a reputation for haunting, esoteric pop music, the ethereal quality of the various acts’ creative enhanced by the striking cover art provided … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #552 to #549
America Punished Elizabeth Warren for Her Competence by Megan Garber Given the harsh realities of the political landscape, Elizabeth Warren’s withdrawal from the presidential race was the right choice and the right time. But it still stings, and Megan Garber, … Continue reading Outside Reading — You’re Better Than All These Fuckers edition
Burn it all down, Chicks. Burn it. All. Down. Continue reading This Week’s Model — Dixie Chicks, “Gaslighter”
These posts are about the songs that just barely failed to cross the key line of chart success, entering the Billboard Top 40. Every song featured in this series peaked at number 41. There were many clearly identifiable results of … Continue reading Top 40 Smash Near Misses — “Wide Open Spaces”
The first time Frances Quinlan released recorded music for the listening pleasure of a larger community, she did so under the guise of a band. I suppose the curious might have considered the moniker Hop Along, Queen Ansleis to belong … Continue reading The New Releases Shelf — Likewise
#46 — Eighth Grade (Bo Burnham, 2018) Crafting a poignant, painful seriocomic film about the travails of middle school isn’t that novel of a feat any longer. The time-tested subgenre of coming of age films has long since expanded from … Continue reading Top Fifty Films of the 10s — Number Forty-Six
Since great television comedy always begins with the script, this series of posts considers the individual episodes that have claimed the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series over the years. Ahead of its debut season, 30 … Continue reading Golden Words — 30 Rock, “Cooter”
556. Guadalcanal Diary, Walking in the Shadow of the Big Man (1984) The members of Guadalcanal Diary claimed that the title of their debut album derived from some misheard lyrics from a gospel groups performance at a street festival. The … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #556 to #553
Garbage Language by Molly Young Ever-wonderful Molly Young wittily, wisely addresses the scourge of the modern workplace: communication twisted into a buzzy abomination meant to confer seriousness and impenetrable expertise. The most tellingly obtuse words and phrasing are brought out … Continue reading Outside Reading — Parallel Path edition
“Describe,” the new single from Perfume Genius, opens with the lush, thunderous, bass-heavy wall of sound once glowed down a possible pathway, Emerald City–like, viewed by alternative music after the haze of grunge lifted. In these tones, power and beauty … Continue reading This Week’s Model — Perfume Genius, “Describe”
