I should be taking this space to expound at length on the fascinating songwriting style of Sophie Allison, in particular the way her dreamy approach to a thick indie rock sound helps render direct emotional sentiments that are familiar of … Continue reading This Week’s Model — Soccer Mommy, “Lucy”
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. For many people, myself included, recognition … Continue reading Golden Words — The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, “Pilot”
These posts are about great acting performances sustained across the full run of a television series. Freddie Highmore as Norman Bates in Bates Motel (2013 – 2017) In direct opposition to the apparent certainty that it is easy to replicate … Continue reading The Long Haul — Freddie Highmore in Bates Motel
In its overarching narrative, Veep was designed to stay locked into place. Created by Armando Iannucci, who was essentially striving for the U.S. equivalent on his scathing satire of British politics The Thick of It, the new comedy series looked … Continue reading That Championship Season — Veep, Season Five
These posts celebrate the movie trailers, movie posters, commercials, print ads, and other promotional material that stand as their own works of art. The primacy of one particular periodical in my pop culture–obsessed youth can’t be overstated. There was a … Continue reading The Art of the Sell — TV Guide listings ads
652. The Call, Into the Woods (1987) After enduring some professional tumult, the Call were presumably feeling at least somewhat settled when they got down to recording Into the Woods, their fifth studio album. Its immediate predecessor, the prior year’s … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #652 to #649
Why I Love Kids’ Books in Translation by Rivka Galchen I recently listened to a podcast segment that was almost entirely comprised of the wonderful writers Rivka Galchen and Jia Tolentino chatting excitedly as they browsed through children’s’ section of a … Continue reading Outside Reading — No Room for the Baker edition
According to the promotional commentary accompanying the release of “Lark,” the new single from Angel Olsen, the song took years to complete. It sounds like it, not because of some evidence strain or a fussed-over meticulousness. Instead, the tracks carries … Continue reading This Week’s Model — Angel Olsen, “Lark”
This series of posts covers my long, beloved history interacting with the medium of radio, including the music that flowed through the airwaves. During my first foray into college broadcasting, one of my favorite tracks to play on the radio … Continue reading Radio Days — Speeding Motorcycle
This series of posts is dedicated to the many, many six packs, pony kegs and pints that have sauntered into my life at one point or another. It can be dangerous to visit breweries while traveling, especially with full knowledge … Continue reading Beers I Have Known — Burnt City Brewing Pterodactyl Deathscream
Coffee for Two 