My Writers: John Darnielle
Usually the image that accompanies one of these posts represents my first exposure to the work of the writer in question. Given the chronology of releases from the band the Mountain Goats, it’s likely that I was introduced to the … Continue reading My Writers: John Darnielle
Top 40 Smash Taps: “Can’t Leave ‘Em Alone”
These posts are about the songs that can accurately claim to crossed the key line of chart success, becoming Top 40 hits on Billboard, but just barely. Every song featured in this series peaked at number 40. The duly appointed First Lady of Crunk&B, Ciara scored a chart-topper with her very first solo single, “Goodies,” released in 2004. She then managed the runner-up slot with her next two releases, collaborations with Missy Elliott and Ludacris. All in all, not a bad way for an artist to establish herself right out of the gate. While she hasn’t quite reached those heights … Continue reading Top 40 Smash Taps: “Can’t Leave ‘Em Alone”
Chaplin, Chazelle, Kosinski, Lubitsch, Pressburger and Powell
The Great Dictator (Charlie Chaplin, 1940). The audaciousness of Chaplin making a comedy that mocks Adolf Hitler — predicated at least somewhat on the two men’s shared taste in mustache grooming choices — is undercut, though only slightly, by the fact that he eventually regretted it, openly stating that he wouldn’t have created The Great Dictator had he been aware of the full extent of the Nazis’ crimes against humanity. Delivered as World War II was still in the ramping up process, the film is a brilliantly scathing satire, not just of Hitler’s brutal ambitions but of war itself and … Continue reading Chaplin, Chazelle, Kosinski, Lubitsch, Pressburger and Powell
College Countdown: Rockpool’s Top 20 College Radio Albums, November 1988, 3
3. Jane’s Addiction, Nothing’s Shocking In the fall of 1988, prevailing opinion held that Perry Farrell was the next great artist emerging from the realm of off-center rock ‘n’ roll. His band Jane’s Addiction was just out with just its … Continue reading College Countdown: Rockpool’s Top 20 College Radio Albums, November 1988, 3
From the Archive: The Pursuit of Happyness
Since I started the week out with a sprinkling of unkind words for a Smith father-son collaboration, why not end by looking back to the first time they foisted family time on audiences in the name of art. It was … Continue reading From the Archive: The Pursuit of Happyness
One for Friday: The Posies, “Earlier Than Expected”
(picture) As I’ve recounted many times, by the time I got myself employed in commercial radio the airwaves were swamped with the vestiges of the early-nineties grunge explosion. Tragedy meant Nirvana was no longer around, and many of the other … Continue reading One for Friday: The Posies, “Earlier Than Expected”
Top Fifty Films of the 50s — Number Two
#2 — Some Like It Hot (Billy Wilder, 1959) Some Like It Hot, a film routinely cited as one of the greatest straight comedies Hollywood ever produced, begins with an act of mass murder. And it’s not some gently softened version … Continue reading Top Fifty Films of the 50s — Number Two
But nine nine nine for a lost god, and ten ten ten ten for….
Here’s a perplexing equation: nearly every individual element of The Theory of Everything that might be singled out for analysis is admirable, at least to a degree, and yet the long string of addition doesn’t lead to particularly satisfying film. … Continue reading But nine nine nine for a lost god, and ten ten ten ten for….
Beers I Have Known: Asheville Brewing Company Rocket Girl
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. (picture credit) Much as I’m an advocate for exploring the bevy of options … Continue reading Beers I Have Known: Asheville Brewing Company Rocket Girl
The Unwatchables: After Earth
It’s a testament to the toxic narcissistic nepotism of the Smith clan that I completely forgot After Earth is a directorial effort by the favorite whipping boy of modern cinema, M. Night Shyamalan. Under other circumstances, I might have immediately … Continue reading The Unwatchables: After Earth
Coffee for Two 