Linthead Stomp: The Creation of Country Music in the Piedmont South by Patrick Huber (North Carolina) A new, canny take on Old, Weird America, this colorful, contrarian book does much to dispel a spate of antediluvian tropes, musical and otherwise. The myth holds that prewar country music was a … [Read more...]
Archives for March 2009
EIGHT ARMS TO HOLD YOU
Also: random … [Read more...]
Jon Berkeley via Steinberg
COVER OF THE MONTH Jon Berkeley for the Economist … [Read more...]
Sarah Vaughan, Interrupted
...It was nearly noon, and since I was nearby, I decided to go to Langer's Delicatessen, renowned for its pastrami sandwich. I was about to turn off my car when a song came on the radio that grabbed me. I recognized the lyrics: "Just a little lovin', early in the morning." I'd heard the famous Dusty … [Read more...]
Thomson on Phoenix in the Guardian
Last night we finished watching Tropic Thunder, which was too brilliant for comment. Made me think of Ben Stiller's Oscar beard, and then I saw Thomson praise Phoenix's "awesomely nasty Commodus in Gladiator, one of the best villains of modern times - creepy, depraved, lethal and smart with it; his … [Read more...]
MARIA BAMFORD CAN’T FEEL HER HANDS
Why isn't she a huge star yet? Yo Tina! And from this same podcast, Jeffrey Tambor: The Sound of Young America … [Read more...]
FAIREY BIGGER THAN CHRIST
For my birthday, family took me to this show at the Boston ICA, where I marveled at the detail, twists on Warhol and Ono, and all manner of originalities. So where does Schjeldahl get off? Oh right, it's pop not art, that's a pretty clear distinction, no problem there. (Whatever happened to … [Read more...]
CELEBRITY VINYL
You'll come for the camp, you'll stay for the yucks: "What nerds listen to on prom night as they cry themselves to sleep..." (Don't forget the wallpapers.) … [Read more...]
BRIAN JONES OVER-COMPENSATING
Conduit your proctor if your election lasts wronger than four trousers. … [Read more...]
WAY MORE THAN 15
(adapted from the hit facebook meme, expanded and enlarged) BLONDE ON BLONDE, DYLAN PLASTIC ONO BAND, LENNON MCCARTNEY, MCCARTNEY GET HAPPY and/or KING OF AMERICA, COSTELLO SMALL MIRACLES, DRONGOS VERY GREASY, DAVID LINDLEY EL RAYO-X PINKER PROUDER PREVIOUS and/or LABOUR OF LUST, NICK LOWE LEFTY … [Read more...]