Boxing’s been good to me, Howard
Today is a good day to look elsewhere for my flowery words. Continue reading Boxing’s been good to me, Howard
College Countdown: 90FM’s Top 90 of 1989, 80 and 79
80. Flesh For Lulu, Plastic Fantastic Tim Burton directed Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson to unprecedented box office heights in 1989, but the caped crusader isn’t the only associated with The Batcave that can claim significant success in the calendar … Continue reading College Countdown: 90FM’s Top 90 of 1989, 80 and 79
Well it happened years ago when you lived on Stanhope Road
I’ve been waiting for quite some time for this to show up on the Interweb: Continue reading Well it happened years ago when you lived on Stanhope Road
One for Friday: The Darling Buds, “If”
My college radio career was filled with bands that were staples at the time only to fade into the mist in the years after. I suspect that’s fairly common. Even putting aside the artists that took their turn at the top of the CMJ charts and faced eternal indifference outside of the blissful bubble of noncommercial radio, each college radio station always seemed to have their own set of favorites with each new record by the performers in question treated with the same adoration usually reserved for the likes of R.E.M. and Sonic Youth. Often these were local (or at … Continue reading One for Friday: The Darling Buds, “If”
Armstrong, Brooks, Hodges, Laven, Lester
My Brilliant Career (Gillian Armstrong, 1979). It’s always fun to watch Judy Davis lead with her chin, and sharp, distinctive onscreen personality was basically in place from the beginning. She plays a young Australian woman in the late 19th century who is certain that greatness awaits her out in the big, bad world. Her headstrong nature is continually put to the test, and part of the pleasure of the movie is watching Davis emotionally endure the various indignities and challenges laid in her character’s path. Armstrong balances the storytelling nicely, evoking the period without letting the film become needlessly smothered … Continue reading Armstrong, Brooks, Hodges, Laven, Lester
I’m the living result of a man who’s been hurt a little too much
So today is one of those days that I must direct you elsewhere. Continue reading I’m the living result of a man who’s been hurt a little too much
My Misspent Youth: Marvel Fanfare by Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum and Paul Smith
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 don’t have strong, specific memories of most of my comic … Continue reading My Misspent Youth: Marvel Fanfare by Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum and Paul Smith
Top Fifty Films of the 90s — Number Eleven
#11 — The Player (Robert Altman, 1992) The Player is regularly described as Robert Altman’s poison pen letter to Hollywood. Hell, I’ve probably used that phrasing a few times myself. That sells it short, however, reducing the film’s artistry to an … Continue reading Top Fifty Films of the 90s — Number Eleven
College Countdown: 90FM’s Top 90 of 1989, 82 and 81
82. The Black Sorrows, Hold on to Me 1989 was a good time to embrace American roots music and get some airplay on college radio. It lends authenticity, you see, even if–actually, maybe especially if–the band absolutely requires an airplane … Continue reading College Countdown: 90FM’s Top 90 of 1989, 82 and 81
One for Friday: Pell Mell, “Mopping Up”
WWSP-90FM now concludes its broadcast day. The college radio station I worked at throughout my undergraduate years always signed off for the day at 2:00 a.m. We occasionally kicked around the idea of changing to a 24-hour schedule, but that was discouraged by our faculty advisor. Sometimes it’s a good idea, he’d explain, to shut down the station rather than worry about what DJs might be doing or saying when they’re fairly certain that the powers-that-be are asleep. I later worked a fair number of overnights in commercial radio, and I can attest to the wisdom of his statement. WWSP … Continue reading One for Friday: Pell Mell, “Mopping Up”
