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Jon LangmeadFeatures
Clint, Michigan [Brooklyn, NY]After witnessing the genesis of Clint, Michigan's intimate music firsthand, the honesty of its translation to the recording studio has one PopMatters writer expanding his cherished memories. [26 May 2009] God as a Character: David Berman’s Journey Through IsraelSilver Jew follows David Berman with a camera during his first-ever trip to Israel in a documentary that covers not only the man and his music, but also his intensely personal spiritual journey. [14 May 2009] Tales of Mighty AntietamWith the release of their new epic double-album, rock stalwarts Antietam sit down with PopMatters' Jon Langmead to dissect their long, storied, and powerful past, pulling off shoestring-budget miracles in the hopes that just one song is all that is needed to change your life. [7 July 2008] Across the Great Divides One Last Time: An Interview with the Mendoza LineTimothy Braces gives the story behind the band's literal break-up album. [20 December 2007] Just Making Records: An Interview with PortastaticMac McCaughan creates string charts and listens to tropicalia while running Merge Records, and he doesn't mind if you haven't listened to Superchunk. [13 October 2006] The Way We Get ByStepping outside the romantic glory of rock and roll Jon Langmead stops and asks a group of seasoned musicians how they survive off stage and beyond the studio. [17 November 2004] Every Win on this Record Is Hard Won: The Wrens and their Own Private MeadowlandsAfter having suffered through the pressures and losses of the past seven years and labored on their album in practical anonymity, the Wrens have hit the ground running. [1 January 1995] This is Where We Are Now: An Interview with Low’s Zak SallyLow's bassist talks to PopMatters about the band's current sound and approach. Coast to Coast with a Camera and the WrensThe Wrens surmounted record-industry woes to finally achieve national recognition with The Meadowlands. Little Quill Productions set out with the New Jersey band on its ensuing tour to document how success is treating them. Here, the filmmakers tell us how the project is coming along. Wherever You Go, There You Are: An Interview with Jen Trynin'Nobody cares about what motivates me to make music. But what people are interested in are extreme situations. And that's what my book was about. That was my version of climbing a mountain.' Jen Trynin talks to Jon Langmead about Everything I'm Cracked Up to Be, a memoir detailing her almost-rise to rock stardom. ReviewsGeorge MichaelIt feels good to know, 25 years on, that George Michael has stuck around and found vindication, just like he always hoped he would. [11 August 2008] Mission of BurmaMission of Burma’s continued relevance, cemented by the two excellent albums released since their reunion, is just one thing that separates them from the current crop of groups reuniting around classic albums. Their music, and their performance, is much too timely to ever be confused with nostalgia. [10 July 2008] Ray DaviesA master songwriter and relentless showman, Davies has always had a knack for the chord change or lyrical turn that can snap you back into focus and cause you to rearrange your life. [29 April 2008] 
The Vixen Diaries by Karrine SteffansA masterwork in its complete lack of subtext and irony. [25 March 2008] 
Silent Pictures by Pat GrahamHaving come of an age in a scene known best remembered for howling guitars played in basement shows, Graham's work pays testament to those bands. [11 February 2008] 
Seinfeld: Season 9Seinfeld clearly struggled after Larry David's departure, trying to re-find its way back to a show about nothing. [29 January 2008] 
Charmed: The Final Season: (Season 8)In its final season Charmed, which had consistently wrung life out of otherwise mundane material, lost sight of exactly what it was that kept the moving parts interesting. [4 December 2007] 
Bruce Springsteen: Under Review-1978-82: Tale of the Working Man [DVD]While the subtitle, “Tales of the Workingman”, is hopelessly cliché, the DVD mostly dodges the expected pitfalls of the Springsteen story. [19 November 2007] 
Wrestling Babylon by Irvin MuchnickBy watching the events, by cheering them on, by purchasing the books and DVDs, what part are we playing in sending these people to early graves? [8 August 2007] 
Nirvana: Nirvana - In Utero, A Classic Album Under Review [DVD]Oft-repeated insights, well-understood points . . . little new to say, here. [20 December 2006] 
The Velvet Underground: Velvet Redux: Live MCMXCIII [DVD]That these concerts happened was an amazing thing and this is a fitting, worthwhile document. [1 March 2006] 
The Rough Guide Book of Playlists by Mark EllinghamI would have included 'Bags' Groove' on my Miles list, 'A Case of You' over 'California' on my Joni list, made room for 'Man Out of Time' and 'Oliver's Army' on my Elvis Costello list, found a place for Rush and Buddy Holly. [3 February 2006] 
Various: Doo Wop: Vocal Group Greats60-song companion set to PBS special that gives an entertaining, if not always educational, listen. [26 January 2006] 
Lou Reed: Live at Montreux 2000 [DVD]The strongest point of this collection may be that the song selection makes a strong case for his work from the past 20 years without putting it into contrast with his Velvet Underground and '70s solo work. [7 December 2005] 
Buddy Holly: GoldIt's probably impossible to overstate Buddy Holly's importance. [11 November 2005] 
Nada Surf: The Weight Is a GiftIt is a slim, focused effort that moves forward by cutting back on some of the musical bombast. [30 September 2005] 
The Pretenders: The Pretenders Greatest Hits [DVD]While the Pretenders admittedly aren't saving the world, in High Fidelity Nick Hornby suggested that some people might be able to extract the meaning of life from one of their chord changes. [28 July 2005] 
Badfinger: Live: Day After DayReissue of the disputed 'live' document from the troubled, tragic, and sometimes magnificent '70s band. [22 July 2005] 
The National: AlligatorPretentious, unimaginative and a complete waste of time, this Alligator should be put out of its misery and turned into a stylish wallet/belt combo immediately. [13 April 2005] Ida + Gloria DeluxeIda are much better singers than lyricists and on their best songs the strong suit helps you forget the weak one. Of course there are those others... [8 March 2005] 
I Am Kloot: self-titledAn American release for this sophomore album, by a band who live or die by the smallest things -- and the sheer quality of their songs. [22 February 2005] BlogsNotes from the Road: Under Mics with the Oranges Band #1 [24 March 2008] |
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