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
This Week’s Model — The Beths, “Expert in a Dying Field”
Pop songs have piled up clever metaphors for dashed romances and heartbreak since the first time Elvis Aron Presley swiveled his hips. Some are better than others, to be sure. To alight on a new metaphor that borders on genius? … Continue reading This Week’s Model — The Beths, “Expert in a Dying Field”
Then Playing — My American Cousin; The Trouble with Harry; Zero Motivation
My American Cousin (Sandy Wilson, 1985). This amusing, small-scale coming-of-age drama from Canadian writer-director Sandy Wilson draws on her own childhood to tell the story of a girl on the cusp of her teenaged years (Margaret Langrick) whose drowsy summer … Continue reading Then Playing — My American Cousin; The Trouble with Harry; Zero Motivation
Now Playing — Thor: Love and Thunder
I want to review the new film Thor: Love and Thunder without feeling obligated to contextualize it against the whole Marvel moviemaking machine, but I’m not sure that’s possible. Well, it’s likely possible. Maybe it’s not advisable. It is officially … Continue reading Now Playing — Thor: Love and Thunder
Coffee for Two 