Outside Reading — Songs Are Like Tattoos edition
50 Reasons to Love Joni Mitchell’s ‘Blue’ On the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the release of Joni Mitchell’s fourth studio album, The New York Times provides a colossal retrospective with commentary from fellow musicians, some who participated and … Continue reading Outside Reading — Songs Are Like Tattoos edition
This Week’s Model — Colleen Green, “I Wanna Be a Dog”
Me, too, Colleen. Me, too. Cool, the new album from Colleen Green, is scheduled for release in September. Continue reading This Week’s Model — Colleen Green, “I Wanna Be a Dog”
Laughing Matters — Conan O’Brien, “Kids Got the Blues”
When a former writer for Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons, an individual with practically no professional background in performing, was given the task of succeeding David Letterman, the consensus opinion was that this new fellow with the distinctive name … Continue reading Laughing Matters — Conan O’Brien, “Kids Got the Blues”
My Misspent Youth — Uncanny X-Men Annual #5 by Chris Claremont and Brent Anderson
I read a lot of comic books as a kid. This series of posts is about the comics I read, and, occasionally, the comics that I should have read. Summer months meant more time for reading comics. Without the burden … Continue reading My Misspent Youth — Uncanny X-Men Annual #5 by Chris Claremont and Brent Anderson
The New Releases Shelf — Jubilee
After a set of years that have been marked by misery — not only the global pandemic, but also the rampant corruption and malfeasance of the interlopers in the White House during the latter portion of the twenty-teens — I … Continue reading The New Releases Shelf — Jubilee
Then Playing — Blithe Spirit; Layer Cake; Algiers
Blithe Spirit (David Lean, 1945). Adapted from Noël Coward’s 1941 play of the same name, Blithe Spirit is a mere wisp of a movie comedy that generates domestic drama from supernatural falderal. Writer Charles Condomine (Rex Harrison) invites a daffy … Continue reading Then Playing — Blithe Spirit; Layer Cake; Algiers
College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #338 to #336
338. The Mission UK, Gods Own Medicine (1987) “I was sat at home one night, up very late, listening to records, and I’ve got Mission speakers,” Wayne Hussey explained when asked about the inspiration behind the name he chose for … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #338 to #336
Outside Reading — Being Verda Tetteh edition
A High School Senior Won a $40,000 Scholarship. Then She Gave It Up. by Maria Cramer To my dismay, I tend to focus on the individuals and institutions that are causing the most untoward disruption, sowing chaos with their ineptness … Continue reading Outside Reading — Being Verda Tetteh edition
This Week’s Model — The Go! Team, “A Bee Without Its Sting”
A sunshiny pop number that’s just so clearly made for summer, “A Bee Without Its Sting” is an advance single from the forthcoming album by The Go! Team. More crucial to its gleaming appeal is the presence of Detroit students … Continue reading This Week’s Model — The Go! Team, “A Bee Without Its Sting”
Now Playing — In the Heights
Years before Lin-Manuel Miranda cemented his place in the pantheon of musical theater by creating an unlikely sensation with the adaptation of a weighty historical biography, he worked with playwright Quiara Alegría Hudes to tell a story that took place … Continue reading Now Playing — In the Heights