56. Neil Young, Freedom Through most of the nineteen-eighties, every Neil Young album was a surprise. He played with electronic weirdness on 1982’s Trans, dipped into retro rockabilly with 1983’s Everybody’s Rockin’, went with pure country on 1985’s Old Ways … Continue reading College Countdown: 90FM’s Top 90 of 1989, 56 and 55
This week at Spectrum Culture, I reviewed a new documentary about Phil Ochs, who I honestly first heard about when Billy Bragg released a song about him. Appropriately enough, Bragg is one of the people offerings his opinions on the late folk singer in the film. I also reviewed a new documentary about the way plastic has become an overwhelming presence, and potentially dangerous presence, in modern society. Continue reading Spectrum Check
When I was at the college radio station, there were several bands I loved, those that seemed to sing my thoughts with every song. Then there were those bands that I admired. They didn’t necessarily hit me in my gut in the same way, but something about their passion, their intensity, their readily apparent ethic in each and every one of their songs stirred me differently. I didn’t become devoted to them in the same way, but I was always glad–even oddly proud–to play their music on the radio. Buffalo Tom was one of tho It’s hardly an unorthodox choice, … Continue reading One for Friday: Buffalo Tom, “Taillights Fade”
#49 — Coal Miner’s Daughter (Michael Apted, 1980) Film biographies of famed musicians follow the same trajectory with such unwavering rigor that they’ve practically become a cliche unto themselves. The humble beginnings are traced. Then the rise to notoriety begins, … Continue reading Top Fifty Films of the 80s — Number Forty-Nine
Mary and Max (Adam Elliot, 2009). A beautifully downbeat stop-motion animation feature about unlikely penpals on the opposite side of the Atlantic who correspond over a number of years, developing a moving, warm, fragile and occasionally fractured relationship. Despite the distance–or, arguably, because of it–they drawn strength and even courage from one another, muddling through the unique challenges of their respective lives in part because they’ve got a lifeline out there somewhere in the world, someone who may not understand them, but at least takes the time to try. Max, voiced by Philip Seymour Hoffman, is an especially wonderful creation, … Continue reading Audiard, Curtiz, Elliot, Polanski, Vaughn
Back issues are expensive. The cover to The Amazing Spider-Man #91 from 1970 may have a price of 15 cents on it, but trying to procure this item from your local comic book shop proprietor will require an outlay of … Continue reading Mighty Marvel Checklist HyperboleCheck: The Amazing Spider-Man #91
Though I haven’t linked to them yet, I’ve contributed a few words to Spectrum Culture over the course of the past week. First, there was a consideration of The New Pornographers album Twin Cinema for a “Five Years Later” feature on the best music of 2005. When the “Five Years Later” feature turned its attention to film, I got the chance to take another crack at a movie I’ve written about a couple times previously. Today, I contribute to our inaugural List Inconsequential feature, Great Musicians Who Haven’t Made a Great Album in At Least 10 Years. If my friend … Continue reading Meanwhile…
58. Fire Town, The Good Life For most bands, getting that sweet major label deal is the dream. It’s theoretically the leap from dirty vans prone to breakdown and sleeping on the floors of new fans to tricked-out tour buses … Continue reading College Countdown: 90FM’s Top 90 of 1989, 58 and 57
The following is presented as part of the 5th Annual Supporting Actress Blogathon hosted by StinkyLulu #6 — Patricia Clarkson as “Rachel Solando” in Shutter Island (Martin Scorsese, 2010) Sticklers about such things might insist that Patricia Clarkson’s performance in … Continue reading Greatish Performances #6
I’ve probably seen Ani Difranco live more than any other performer. Basically, it’s built right into the terms of my marriage. Ani came with the package, like a stepchild or a beloved feline. The affection may have faded somewhat over the years–new albums are no longer automatic purchases for our household–but seeing Ani perform live remains an obligatory outing. This isn’t a problem, by the way. She’s a helluva songwriter and a terrific performer, equal parts fierce and adorable with a charisma that amazingly plays best to the back seats and moves forward. She brings herself unguarded to the stage, … Continue reading One for Friday: Ani Difranco, “Most of the Time”
Coffee for Two 