Since I rambled a bit about Centurion in this space, I thought it might be apt to talk a bit about a film I liked significantly more. In this case, it’s Winter’s Bone, which I saw at BAM a few weeks ago. It’s impressive: the acting is uniformly top-notch, from familiar faces (a couple of … Continue reading
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Me @ Volume 1- Afternoon Bites: Book art, Dusted and Fluxblog turn ten, Joyland on Greenpoint, and more
- There Is a Documentary About Linotype. We Think This Is Awesome.
- Afternoon Bites: Carl Wilson’s 2011, Emma Straub makes a mix, Justin Davidson on Philip Glass, and more
- Hillary Jordan’s “When She Woke”: A Discussion
- Afternoon Bites: Steve Erickson talks politics, Mikhail Bulgakov gets unreal, Pam Houston on mentoring, and more
December 3, 2009, Author: , Leave a comment
On Cometbus. (Kind of.) Twice.
Categories: UncategorizedTwo days, two Vol.1 pieces invoking Cometbus. Can’t go wrong with linking that, really. Most recently, Jason Diamond’s essay “A Kaddish for Jewish Zines.” And yesterday, my review of Jamie Iredell’s Prose. Poems. A novel. Which, I’d say, also serves as a reminder to myself that I really need to make it over to Book … Continue reading
June 30, 2009, Author: , Leave a comment
Recommended Music Writing: 30 June 2009
Categories: UncategorizedOne: Matthew Perpetua on Stuart Murdoch’s God Help the Girl project. Two: Stephen Rodrick on the same. Three: Jason Diamond on Morrissey and the upcoming anthology Heavy Rotation.
Following last week’s discussion of leaks and release dates, this Idolator piece on the reaction to Grizzly Bear’s new album leaking in a low-quality version makes for a surreal coda. Added bonus: it’s by Thursday Agitation interviewee Christopher Weingarten.
February 24, 2009, Author: , Leave a comment
Tags:: Idiocracy, media, publishing, Wall-E
notes on beloved films + shambolic futures
Categories: Books, Film, Live, People, Politics, Rocket Fuel, SXSW2008, Thursday, UncategorizedTags:: Idiocracy, media, publishing, Wall-E
Saw Idiocracy last week. I find myself thinking it would make a fine double bill with WALL-E: each depicts a future in which aspects of modern culture have spun out of control, leading to mammoth piles of garbage, an unholy fusion of big business with government, and an agriculturally barren landscape. One’s a cult classic, … Continue reading
December 3, 2008, Author: , 1 Comment
Tags:: Books, MobyLives, publishing
reading on reading: mobylives
Categories: Books, UncategorizedTags:: Books, MobyLives, publishing
Lately, I’ve been reading MobyLives, the recently revived blog run by the folks at Melville House. There’s a generally contrarian angle to some of the coverage of publishing — particularly on the impact of electronic readers — which makes for a valuable perspective. In particular, their post on Google’s agreement with the Author’s Guild and … Continue reading
November 13, 2008, Author: , Leave a comment
Tags:: Church of Sweden, Frida Hyvönen, live music, show review
Live: Frida Hyvönen; Church of Sweden, 11.12.08
Categories: Live, Music, NYC, Review, UncategorizedTags:: Church of Sweden, Frida Hyvönen, live music, show review
Attendance, the flyer said, would be capped at 90. I’d guess that the chapel in New York’s Church of Sweden — on 48th Street just off Fifth Avenue, unobtrusive among financial offices and gleaming glass hotels — seated 75 at most, and a few songs into her set, Frida Hyvönen suggested that those standing come … Continue reading
Coming very soon: a writeup on Ms. Hyvönen’s show tonight at the Swedish Church on 48th Street. For now: a live version of her song “Birds”.
November 5, 2008, Author: , Leave a comment
Tags:: Election 2008
election night + 1h 40
Categories: UncategorizedTags:: Election 2008
I’m feeling pretty good about America right now. [Postscript: this isn't something I say often: what Ross Douthat just said.]
October 28, 2008, Author: , Leave a comment
Tags:: music writing
music writing links for 10.29.08
Categories: Music, UncategorizedTags:: music writing
Amy Phillips on Iceland Airwaves. Molly Templeton on Twilight, and its soundtrack. Cause Co-Motion on, among other things, wings. No, seriously. Well, kind of.
October 26, 2008, Author: , Leave a comment
Tags:: albums, High Places, packaging, Sunny Day Real Estate
notes on album packaging
Categories: Music, UncategorizedTags:: albums, High Places, packaging, Sunny Day Real Estate
Picked up the debut full-length from High Places a few weekends ago. Both the CD and LP come in nifty gatefold packaging, which is definitely a plus. What threw me momentarily, though, was the lack of any sort of band information inside. I was reminded of picking up the second Sunny Day Real Estate album … Continue reading
Heading out of town for a wedding. Posting will become more steady upon my return on Tuesday. Until then, this may amuse you.
October 1, 2008, Author: , Leave a comment
Tags:: bookstore, Hannah Marcus, reading, rick moody, Word
live: rick moody; word, 09.24.08
Categories: Books, Readings, UncategorizedTags:: bookstore, Hannah Marcus, reading, rick moody, Word
Last Wednesday’s Rick Moody reading at Greenpoint’s Word Books was a fine example of the literary/musical intersection I’m fond of discussing. When he’s at his best, Moody’s work pulls off things that I can’t dream of doing: “The Carnival Tradition” (from Demonology) remains one of my favorite pieces of short fiction, and his essays on … Continue reading
September 15, 2008, Author: , Leave a comment
Tags:: air bombay, live show, pianos, pigeons, pretty & nice, show review
live: pigeons, air bombay, pretty & nice; pianos; 09.05.08
Categories: Live, Music, NYC, Review, UncategorizedTags:: air bombay, live show, pianos, pigeons, pretty & nice, show review
Pianos on a Friday night is a strange place to be. The bar portion, which one has to traverse in order to get to the venue in the back, was on this particular night full of well-dressed, well-off types making loud conversation. The actual performance space, which had added a bar since the last time … Continue reading
August 14, 2008, Author: , Leave a comment
Tags:: Alpinisms, Band of Horses, Copper Press, Ghostly International, Maria T, On Air Library, School of Seven Bells, Secret Machines
notes toward a potential review of school of seven bells’ ‘alpinisms’
Categories: UncategorizedTags:: Alpinisms, Band of Horses, Copper Press, Ghostly International, Maria T, On Air Library, School of Seven Bells, Secret Machines
Sitting on my desk right now is School of Seven Bells‘ debut full-length, Alpinisms. It’s a promotional copy, coated with black-and-white photographs of the band, contact information for relevant parties, and information that the album will be released on October 28th of this year. I’ve only had time to give the album an initial listen. … Continue reading