Author: Dan Seeger

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One for Friday: The Feelies, “Waiting”

Dan Seeger

Though there have been many, many editions of “One for Friday” by now, my goal when selecting the weekly song is to stick with artists that haven’t yet been represented in this digital space. On occasion, however, I just wake up on the last day of the traditional work week with a certain band rattling around in my head. As I’m sure anyone who is reading this has already ascertained, that’s exactly what happened today. There are certainly far worse things than waking up with the Feelies jittering through my mind. I have a special fondness for the Haledon, New … Continue reading One for Friday: The Feelies, “Waiting”

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Top Ten Albums of 2013

Dan Seeger

I don’t know that I actually reviewed appreciably more albums for Spectrum Culture this year than the previous one, but it was enough that I sometimes felt I had a difficult time keeping up with my “outside listening.” I offer that as humble acknowledgement that my list is heavy with material that I specifically sat down and gave a close listen to in order to bang out a few hundred words extolling virtues and identifying flaws. (This may also be the spot where I acknowledge that I really don’t hear the supposed genius of Kanye West, no matter how hard … Continue reading Top Ten Albums of 2013

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Top Fifty Films of the 60s — Number One

Dan Seeger

#1 — Dr Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (Stanley Kubrick, 1964) It may be that true cinematic genius stems less from an ability to fulfill a particular vision to the letter and more from a knack for pulling together all the unwieldy challenges that beset any production into a coherent, satisfying finished product. When pieces threaten to go flinging off the rig while it’s moving at top speed is when a director’s talent is truly tested. Compromises can always be transformed into advantages, but it takes someone with the intellect, patience, creativity and … Continue reading Top Fifty Films of the 60s — Number One

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Here comes the song I love so much

Dan Seeger

In each of the past three years, I’ve followed up on the Spectrum list of the year’s top songs by offering my modest addendum. Specifically, I’ve noted the highest-ranking songs on my personal list of the best of the year, cobbled together from the one hundred that were nominated by the various music writers for the site. My clear pick for the best song of the year was the same one we collectively selected, so I certainly have no major complaints. Still, I would have liked to see these songs get a little more love from my peers. Cults, “I … Continue reading Here comes the song I love so much

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I awoke and I imagined the hard things that pulled us apart will never again, sir, tear us from each other’s hearts

Dan Seeger

There is a slender but focused plot to the latest comedy by Alexander Payne, Nebraska. But it seems fairly clear that the story is ultimately a means to an end. That’s not to imply that Payne is indifferent to the … Continue reading I awoke and I imagined the hard things that pulled us apart will never again, sir, tear us from each other’s hearts