College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #904 to #901
904. The Cure, Japanese Whispers (1983) Somewhat unexpectedly, 1983 ushered in an era in which the Cure could accurately be described as hitmakers, at least on their side of the Atlantic. The transformation began with the 1982 single “Let’s Go … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #904 to #901
From the Archive — The Orphanage
It appears director J.A. Bayona is on his way to a second straight week at the top of the box office. To a large degree, that’s attributable to being handed the keys to the right ongoing cinematic venture. I can’t … Continue reading From the Archive — The Orphanage
One for Friday — The Toll, “Jonathan Toledo”
Thirty years ago, in the fall of 1988, the Toll released The Price of Progression. It was the debut album for the Columbus, Ohio band, released on major label Geffen Records. Stirred partially by the advocacy of Psychedelic Furs bassist … Continue reading One for Friday — The Toll, “Jonathan Toledo”
Harlan Ellison, 1934 – 2018
When he was interviewed on British television in 1976, this is how Harlan Ellison was introduced by journalist Mavis Nicholson, after she said, “I will explain to viewers what your publicists have told me about you”: You were born in … Continue reading Harlan Ellison, 1934 – 2018
The Art of the Sell — “The Courage to Change”
These posts celebrate the movie trailers, movie posters, commercials, print ads, and other promotional material that stand as their own works of art. This has been a tough day for me and for anyone who has a political outlook roughly … Continue reading The Art of the Sell — “The Courage to Change”
My Misspent Youth — The X-Men Companion II
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. Once I locked into superhero comics as a youngster, my appetite … Continue reading My Misspent Youth — The X-Men Companion II
Laughing Matters — George Carlin, “The American Dream”
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. We recently slipped past … Continue reading Laughing Matters — George Carlin, “The American Dream”
College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #908 to #905
908. The Bears, Rise and Shine (1988) Rise and Shine was the second album from the Bears, a group guitarist Adrian Belew assembled when King Crimson went on hiatus. At the time, Belew had a reasonably healthy solo career and … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #908 to #905
From the Archive — Big
Since I’ve been on a little bit of a thirty-years-ago kick lately, why not take unearth a movie review of a film released in June 1988. I wish I could report I wrote about Big when it hit theaters, but … Continue reading From the Archive — Big
One for Friday — Voice of the Beehive, “Don’t Call Me Baby”
Thirty years ago, in the summer of 1988, Voice of the Beehive released the album Let It Bee. The band is best known as a showcase for sisters Tracey Bryn and Melissa Brooke Belland, transplants from California who settled in … Continue reading One for Friday — Voice of the Beehive, “Don’t Call Me Baby”
Coffee for Two 