I mean it with complete sincerity and accompanying appreciation when I insist that the Rainmakers were the perfect band for the student-run radio station where I spent my collegiate years. While I and my cohorts were committed to the rebellion … Continue reading One for Friday: The Rainmakers, “Spend It on Love”
Dominant as Marvel Studios have been on the movie landscape the past decade or so — without a doubt, the success of their model of narrative interconnectivity has completely transformed how most of commercial filmmaking works — their ride has … Continue reading That Championship Season: Agent Carter, Season Two
I’m glad there’s a place in the pop universe for the music made by Haim. There is no claim being made here that the trio of sisters from Los Angeles are delivering something wildly transgressive or otherwise deviously edgy in its … Continue reading The New Releases Shelf — Something to Tell You
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. For reasons that are … Continue reading Laughing Matters: The Ben Stiller Show, “A Few Good Scouts”
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. I probably haven’t given quite enough credit to Asheville for giving me back … Continue reading Beers I Have Known: Asheville Brewing Company Perfect Day IPA
16. The Sugarcubes, “Birthday” In the destitute era before Kickstarter, bands needed to employ a little more creativity in their fundraising efforts. When Iceland’s the Sugarcubes were trying to scrape together the kronor for their debut single, they looked to … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 250 Songs, 1979 – 1989, 16 – 14
Here is another of the short reviews I wrote for the “Movies That Shoulda Been Summer Blockbusters” episode of The Reel Thing, aired during the sweltering season of 1991. Looking at this review now, I’m struck by how little I … Continue reading From the Archive: Real Genius
So, in my digital collection, I have a couple versions of Christina Aguilera’s “Genie in a Bottle.” Sort of, anyway. I’m not sure if mash-up artists have an abiding weakness for the first chart-topper from the young woman who would … Continue reading One for Friday: Freelance Hellraiser, “A Stroke of Genius”
When I write out Judd Apatow’s name in this space, it’s usually in conjunction with some grousing about his creative shortcomings, which have spread across the field of cinematic comedy like spilled Fresca. Apatow is a rambunctiously creative filmmaker, but … Continue reading Now Playing: The Big Sick
These posts celebrate the movie trailers, movie posters, commercials, print ads, and other promotional material that stand as their own works of art. I’m planning to get to my review of The Big Sick tomorrow. As a precursor, I want … Continue reading The Art of the Sell: The Big Sick
Coffee for Two 