Then Playing — Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget; American Symphony; I Wouldn’t Be in Your Shoes
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (Sam Fell, 2023). The first Chicken Run, which was also the first feature-length outing for Aardman Animation, was released almost a quarter-century ago. Of course, clay doesn’t really age, so, sure, why not circle … Continue reading Then Playing — Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget; American Symphony; I Wouldn’t Be in Your Shoes
Five Songs from 2023
In handing out plaudits around these here digital parts, the rundown of favored albums is typically followed by a set of similarly beloved tracks from the year just past. Unlike yesterday’s top ten assemblage, what follows here is not ranked, … Continue reading Five Songs from 2023
Top Ten Albums of 2023
Taking one calendar off the wall to replace it with a new stapled-together procession of gridded-off months brings us back to this annual venture. I have no overarching observations about the year in music to tap out in this cursory … Continue reading Top Ten Albums of 2023
Outside Reading — Six from 2023
For the past few years, I come every Saturday to my little corner of the digital world to celebrate the pieces written by other people that most deeply burrowed into my brain when I read them during the preceding week. … Continue reading Outside Reading — Six from 2023
Countdown’s End
For the past thirteen years or so, I’ve known with certainty what would pop up in my little corner of the digital world every Sunday. It started when I stumbled upon a CMJ Radio Top Cuts chart that was published … Continue reading Countdown’s End
College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #1
1. Go-Go’s, Beauty and the Beat (1981) The rejection letter was breathtaking in its condescension. By the time the Go-Go’s were sending their demo around to labels, they had already proved themselves and developing a growing following within their local … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #1
Outside Reading — The Spinning Spinner Rack edition
Comics aren’t dying, but they are changing – and that’s got people scared by Heidi MacDonald There are no kerfuffles quite as tedious and toxic as those that churn up around the culture of comic books, at least when they … Continue reading Outside Reading — The Spinning Spinner Rack edition
This Week’s Model — PACKS, “Paige Machine”
There are a lot of complimentary superlatives that can be heaped on the new song from PACKS, the project that serves as the main creative outlet for Toronto-based indie rock whiz Madeline Link. Rather than wind my way to any … Continue reading This Week’s Model — PACKS, “Paige Machine”
Then Playing — The Main Event; A Thousand and One; Black Angel
The Main Event (Howard Zieff, 1979). Barbra Streisand stars as Hillary Kramer, the owner of a major perfume corporation who goes bust after her accountant embezzles all of her money and absconds to South America. One of the only assets … Continue reading Then Playing — The Main Event; A Thousand and One; Black Angel
Andre Braugher, 1962 – 2023
In the summer of 1996, Andre Braugher took advantage of the hiatus between seasons of Homicide: Life on the Street to star in a New York production of Henry V. The occasion prompted The New Yorker to include a blurb … Continue reading Andre Braugher, 1962 – 2023
Coffee for Two 