College Countdown: CMJ Top 250 Songs, 1979 – 1989, 6
6. The Clash, “Rock the Casbah” In many respects, “Rock the Casbah” was the beginning of the end for the Clash. The third single off the of the album Combat Rock, which was released in 1982, “Rock the Casbah” first … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 250 Songs, 1979 – 1989, 6
From the Archive — Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
The only thing I’ll add to the below review is a revised version of the due-credit notification that original served as the opening line. It was a friend of mine — whose footprint on social media is stealthy enough that … Continue reading From the Archive — Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
One for Friday: The Triffids, “Holy Water”
In this space, I tend to venerate the music spun with vigor on college radio during my first year as a member of the brethren of left of the dial broadcasters. I think that’s fairly understandable. Most music fans cling … Continue reading One for Friday: The Triffids, “Holy Water”
Beers I Have Known: Stevens Point Brewery Smiley Blue Pils
This series of posts is dedicated to the many, many six packs, pony kegs and pints that have sauntered into my life at one point or another. I have the more treasured of places set aside in my heart for … Continue reading Beers I Have Known: Stevens Point Brewery Smiley Blue Pils
The New Releases Shelf: Dark Matter
In November, Randy Newman will turn seventy-four years old. Despite his advancing years, he sounds exactly the same as he always has in his latest full-length release, Dark Matter, his eleventh studio album. That’s not a testament to virile youthfulness … Continue reading The New Releases Shelf: Dark Matter
Playing Catch-Up — The Best Years of Our Lives; The B-Side: Elsa Dorfman’s Portrait Photography; Truth
The Best Years of Our Lives (William Wyler, 1946). My overwhelming reaction to this drama of post-war turmoil in the lives of U.S. fighting men and their families is a dumbstruck marveling that it was released just one year after … Continue reading Playing Catch-Up — The Best Years of Our Lives; The B-Side: Elsa Dorfman’s Portrait Photography; Truth
My Misspent Youth — The Fourth World saga by Jack Kirby
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. I hold a certain piece of comic book publishing in my … Continue reading My Misspent Youth — The Fourth World saga by Jack Kirby
College Countdown: CMJ Top 250 Songs, 1979 – 1989, 7
7. Siouxsie and the Banshees, “Peek-A-Boo” One of the biggest hits ever crafted by Siouxsie and the Banshees began as a mistake. Following a string of splendid studio efforts through the the late-nineteen-seventies and the first half of the eighties, … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 250 Songs, 1979 – 1989, 7
From the Archive — Me and You and Everyone We Know
Until very recently, I forgot I wrote a longer review on Miranda July’s feature directorial debut. Back when I first posted this, it was rare I went longer on films that weren’t actively playing in theaters, and I sadly didn’t … Continue reading From the Archive — Me and You and Everyone We Know
One for Friday — Brian Ritchie, “Religion Ruined My Life”
Some songs that arrived at my college radio station had a remarkable number of attributes, all converging to make it nearly irresistible to the eager young music fans that took turns on the airwaves. “Religion Ruined My Life,” from the … Continue reading One for Friday — Brian Ritchie, “Religion Ruined My Life”
Coffee for Two 