Then Playing — Red-Headed Woman; The Sunshine Boys; Very Annie Mary
Red-Headed Woman (Jack Conway, 1932). Of all the pre-Code movies I’ve seen, Red-Headed Woman might be the pre-Codiest. The film’s protagonist, Lil Andrews (Jean Harlow), operates with a level of ruthless amorality that would give the gruffest nineteen-seventies antihero pause … Continue reading Then Playing — Red-Headed Woman; The Sunshine Boys; Very Annie Mary
College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #167 to #165
167. Ramones, End of the Century (1980) “This is the best album we’ve done,” Joey Ramone proclaimed of End of the Century on the eve of its release. “It’s so loud that flies were having heart attacks during the playbacks.” … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #167 to #165
Outside Reading — P.S. and By the Way edition
Reality Bit, but She Bit Back. by Jason Zinoman Writing for The New York Times, Jason Zinoman considers the defiantly iconoclastic career of Janeane Garofalo. Although he makes his point in part by conveniently eliding an acting career that’s remained … Continue reading Outside Reading — P.S. and By the Way edition
This Week’s Model — Robyn Hitchcock, “The Shuffle Man”
When Robyn Hitchcock burble blasted his new single, “The Shuffle Man,” in the ionosphere this week, most digital dispatches dutifully noted that it came with the announcement of a new album, the first full-length studio effort from the inner plane … Continue reading This Week’s Model — Robyn Hitchcock, “The Shuffle Man”
Laughing Matters — Jerrod Carmichael, “Rothaniel”
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. First of all, the … Continue reading Laughing Matters — Jerrod Carmichael, “Rothaniel”
Medium Rotation — Dropout Boogie; Diving Board, Ladder to the Sky
THE BLACK KEYS Dropout Boogie (Nonesuch) — On their eleventh album, Dropout Boogie, the Black Keys are still finding fresh ways to make meaty magic with an endless variety of blues licks, thumping rhythms, and lyrics that howl out about … Continue reading Medium Rotation — Dropout Boogie; Diving Board, Ladder to the Sky
The Art of the Sell — Drugstore Cowboy movie poster
These posts celebrate the movie trailers, movie posters, commercials, print ads, and other promotional material that stand as their own works of art. I sometimes complain about the last of imagination in movie posters, usually because I see missed opportunities … Continue reading The Art of the Sell — Drugstore Cowboy movie poster
Top 40 Smash Near Misses — “I’m Into You”
These posts are about the songs that fell just short of crossing the key line of chart success, entering the Billboard Top 40. Every song featured in this series peaked at number 41. The comeback wasn’t going well. Jennifer Lopez … Continue reading Top 40 Smash Near Misses — “I’m Into You”
College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #170 to #168
170. Psychedelic Furs, Midnight to Midnight (1987) The fall of 1986 would have been an opportune time for the Psychedelic Furs to release a new album. In the spring, they’d received the biggest boost of their career when the song … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #170 to #168
Outside Reading — Kind of Blue edition
THE PARTY OF NEGATIVE HOPE by Dan Brooks This essay by Dan Brooks perfectly puts words to an anger I feel towards the political party that I have consistently voted for my entire adult life. I believe I’m more willing … Continue reading Outside Reading — Kind of Blue edition
Coffee for Two 