This Week’s Model — Wild Nothing, “Foyer”
Jack Tatum recently passed his ten-year anniversary creating dream pop music under the moniker Wild Nothing, a span that included four full-length studio albums, one live album, two EPs, and slew of singles, remixes, and collaborations, according to his own tally. Perhaps to help commemorate, he closed out 2019 by releasing a new single. Culled from the upcoming EP Laughing Glass, “Foyer” is built on tinny synths and moves with a cascading rhythm. It’s pop that shimmers and seduces. Another decade’s worth of music at this level would be a very welcome development. Continue reading This Week’s Model — Wild Nothing, “Foyer”
Then Playing — Love, Simon; Ad Astra; The Testament of Dr. Mabuse
Love, Simon (Greg Berlanti, 2018). In adapting Becky Albertalli’s young adult novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda to the screen, director Greg Berlanti and his collaborators honor the story of a gay teenager coming into his own by structuring … Continue reading Then Playing — Love, Simon; Ad Astra; The Testament of Dr. Mabuse
Five Songs from 2019
Around these the digital parts, tradition holds that the tolling of a new year means a quick look back at the old. As accompaniment to yesterday’s listing of favored albums, I present a quintet of songs that spun me around … Continue reading Five Songs from 2019
Top Ten Albums of 2019
There are years when my yearly exercise in ranking albums is fairly easy. That was decidedly not the case this time around. Maybe I can attribute the added challenge to the high number of releases that spoke directly to me, … Continue reading Top Ten Albums of 2019
Now Playing — Uncut Gems
It is an odd, daring experiment to build a film around a protagonist who unfailingly does the wrong thing. In Uncut Gems, Adam Sandler plays Howard Ratner, a New York City jewelry store proprietor whose skill at garish hucksterism is … Continue reading Now Playing — Uncut Gems
College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #592 to #589
592. That Petrol Emotion, End of the Millennium Psychosis Blues (1988) That Petrol Emotion recorded their third album knowing that a major change was looming. At the outset of their time in the studio, guitarist and co-founder John O’Neill announced … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #592 to #589
Outside Reading — America’s Press Conference of the Air edition
The Christmas Eve Confessions of Chuck Todd by Jay Rosen Earlier this week, Rolling Stone gave a platform to Meet the Press host Chuck Todd, interviewing him about an upcoming special edition of his venerable program. Todd and his producers … Continue reading Outside Reading — America’s Press Conference of the Air edition
This Week’s Model — Burna Boy, “Money Play”
For those still trying to settle on that perfect resolution to launch themselves into the new year, perhaps Burna Boy can help. About six months after the Nigerian performer’s fourth album, African Giant, was released, he’s brought out a new … Continue reading This Week’s Model — Burna Boy, “Money Play”
Now Playing — Little Women
In breaking down Greta Gerwig’s new film version of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women to its individual components, the natural starting point for evaluation is the faithfulness of the adaptation. Alcott’s novel made its bow a few decades before there … Continue reading Now Playing — Little Women
Now Playing — Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
It’s difficult to weigh in on Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker without rhapsodizing on the entirety of the intergalactic saga George Lucas launched over four decades ago, seemingly with a guilelessness that would quickly be eradicated by unexpected merchandising … Continue reading Now Playing — Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Coffee for Two 