DAVID MAINE is a novelist and essayist. His books include The Preservationist (2004), Fallen (2005), The Book of Samson (2006) and Monster, 1959 (2008). He has contributed to The Washington Post, Publishers Weekly, Esquire.com and NPR.com, among other outlets. He is a lifelong music obsessive whose interests range from rock to folk to hip-hop to international to blues. He currently lives in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he teaches at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Catch up with his blog, The Party Never Stops, at davidmaine.blogspot.com, or become his buddy on Facebook (or better yet, Google+) to keep up with reviews and other developments.
Reviews
Friday, May 25 2012
The 'BBC High Definition Natural History Collection': A Cornucopia of Wonders
This is the definitive portrait of the natural world we live in, but rarely see.
Tuesday, May 22 2012
Stik Figa: Stik Figa As Himself
Putting the fun back in funky, at least for a while.
Tuesday, May 22 2012
Rose Cousins: We Have Made a Spark
A roomful of friends can't elevate this tepid set above the humdrum.
Monday, May 21 2012
'The Superhero Book' Makes for an Entertaining but Spotty Overview
This isn't a bad book. It's nicely designed and laid out, and there are plenty of full-color movie stills and comics covers. For a reader who can get over what isn't included, there are plenty of trivia nuggets to be had.
Monday, May 21 2012
The Ramblin' Ambassadors: Ramble On
Instrumental surf-rock gods from, um, Canada.
Amadou Diagne: Introducing Amadou Diagne [18.May.12]
A Well-Written Working Class Hero: 'Waterline' [11.May.12]
Studebaker John: Old School Rockin' [11.May.12]
'Commando: The Autobiography of Johnny Ramone by Johnny Ramone' Reads Something Like a Ramones Song [9.May.12]
Celine Moinet: Oboe Recital [9.May.12]
Virgin Forest: Easy Way Out [2.May.12]
Michael Rank and Stag: Kin [1.May.12]
Corny Fun: 'Golden Age Western Comic' [30.Apr.12]
Yair Yona: World Behind Curtains [30.Apr.12]
Whitejacket: Hollows and Rounds [27.Apr.12]
Amadou & Mariam: Folila [26.Apr.12]
Mad Buffalo: Red and Blue [24.Apr.12]
Junior Toots: A Little Bit of Love [18.Apr.12]
Janiva Magness: Stronger For It [12.Apr.12]
'The Book of Madness and Cures' Can Be a Bit Like Oliver Sacks, Transported to Renaissance Italy [11.Apr.12]
SOJA: Strength to Survive [9.Apr.12]
Mud Morganfield: Son of the Seventh Son [6.Apr.12]
Kidz In the Hall: Occasion [4.Apr.12]
Tony Rice: The Bill Monroe Collection [3.Apr.12]
A Mosaic of WWI: 'The Beauty and the Sorrow' [2.Apr.12]
The American Dream, Deferred: 'Bombay Beach' [26.Mar.12]
Jasmine Ash: Beneath the Noise [15.Mar.12]
Heritage Blues Orchestra: And Still I Rise [13.Mar.12]
Nearly Beloved: Where's Bob? [12.Mar.12]
The Lower 48: Where All Maps End [12.Mar.12]
Dead Fingers: Dead Fingers [9.Mar.12]
Saint Bernadette: The Nevers [7.Mar.12]
Soft Swells: Soft Swells [6.Mar.12]
Cornflower Blue: Run Down the Rails [2.Mar.12]
Capsula: In the Land of Silver Souls [1.Mar.12]
The Nova Saints: Newfoundland [1.Mar.12]
School of Seven Bells: Ghostory [27.Feb.12]
The Valery Trails: Ghosts and Gravity [27.Feb.12]
Grubstake: Anyhow [27.Feb.12]
Andre Williams and the Goldstars: Nightclub [24.Feb.12]
The Beautiful View: Life Is Beautiful [23.Feb.12]
Kiran Ahluwalia: Common Ground [23.Feb.12]
Swilson: Demonology [23.Feb.12]
Turf War: Years of Living Dangerously [20.Feb.12]
Penny Blacks: Harbour [17.Feb.12]
Vanaprasta: Healthy Geometry [16.Feb.12]
The Golden Awesome: The Golden Awesome [16.Feb.12]
American String Conspiracy: Help the Poor [15.Feb.12]
The Angelus: On a Dark & Barren Land [14.Feb.12]
Big Fresh: Moneychasers [13.Feb.12]
Toronzo Cannon: Leaving Mood [8.Feb.12]
Group Inerane: Guitars from Agadez Vol. 3 [8.Feb.12]
Skytone: Shining Over You [7.Feb.12]
C. Joynes: Congo [3.Feb.12]
JJ Grey and Mofro: Brighter Days [2.Feb.12]
Joe Louis Walker: Hellfire [1.Feb.12]
Sworn to Oath: Leave You for Dead [31.Jan.12]
Jah Youssouf and Bintou Coulibaly: Sababou [25.Jan.12]
SorryEverAfter: Meet Us When the Lights Go Low [23.Jan.12]
Happy Jawbone Family Band: OK Midnight You Win [23.Jan.12]
The Lijadu Sisters: Danger [17.Jan.12]
Sia Tolno: My Life [16.Jan.12]
Welcome to the Jungle: 'Island of Lost Souls' [13.Jan.12]
Iron & Wine: Morning Becomes Eclectic [12.Jan.12]
[The] Caseworker: Letters From the Coast [12.Jan.12]
No Bird Sing: Theft of the Commons [11.Jan.12]
Midnite: Kings Bell [10.Jan.12]
Rah Rah: Breaking Hearts [14.Dec.11]
Cobra Skulls: Agitations [9.Dec.11]
Wiretree: Make Up [8.Dec.11]
Imanaren: Imanaren [6.Dec.11]
Daniel Goodman: Cold Wind [5.Dec.11]
The Asteroid Shop: The Asteroid Shop [2.Dec.11]
The Blurries: Paper Cuts [2.Dec.11]
Mr Gnome: Madness in Miniature [30.Nov.11]
10 Ft Ganja Plant: Shake Up the Place [30.Nov.11]
The Windsor Player: The Windsor Player [28.Nov.11]
Sick Figures: Two Ghosts [23.Nov.11]
Blue Highway: Sounds of Home [18.Nov.11]
Zechs Marquise: Getting Paid [18.Nov.11]
Natacha Atlas: Mounqaliba - Rising: The Remixes [17.Nov.11]
Shimmering Stars: Violent Hearts [15.Nov.11]
Echorev: Find North [15.Nov.11]
'Sucker Punch': A Series of Fights, Confrontations, Fights, Arguments, Fights, and Fights [9.Nov.11]
'Habibi': Orientalism for Dummies [4.Nov.11]
'Shards': Trying to Piece It Together [4.Nov.11]
Bearfoot: American Story [2.Nov.11]
Celilo: Buoy Bell [31.Oct.11]
The New Mastersounds: Breaks From the Border [28.Oct.11]
That's All Right, I've Still Got My Guitar: 'Blue Wild Angel: Jimi Hendrix Live at the Isle of Wight [26.Oct.11]
Asa: Beautiful Imperfection [26.Oct.11]
The Features: Wilderness [25.Oct.11]
'Daybreak': Zombies, One More Time... [24.Oct.11]
The Civil Tones: City Stoopin' [12.Oct.11]
The Barr Brothers: The Barr Brothers [11.Oct.11]
The Blind Shake: Seriousness [7.Oct.11]
The Berrys: Fairmount Station [6.Oct.11]
Michael Powers: Revolutionary Boogie [5.Oct.11]
Baba Zula: Gecekondu [4.Oct.11]
Game Brothas: How the West Was Won [28.Sep.11]
'The Disappearing Spoon': The Elements of Style, and Everything Else, from a Born Storytellter [27.Sep.11]
Gel Roc: Beautiful Tragedy [27.Sep.11]
Turbine: Blue Light City [26.Sep.11]
Emily O'Halloran: Morphine and Cupcakes [22.Sep.11]
Dehlia Low: Ravens & Crows [21.Sep.11]
The Funk Ark: From the Rooftops [20.Sep.11]
Lostribe: Sophie [19.Sep.11]
Byron Janis: Liszt Piano Concertos No. 1 & 2 [16.Sep.11]
The Habit: Lincoln Has Won [7.Sep.11]
Various Artists: Nagore Sessions [2.Sep.11]
The Donkeys: Born With Stripes [2.Sep.11]
Tinariwen: Tassili [1.Sep.11]
Other Lives: Tamer Animals [1.Sep.11]
Lightnin' Malcolm: Renegade [29.Aug.11]
The Giraffes: Rules [25.Aug.11]
Too Slim and the Taildraggers: Shiver [23.Aug.11]
The Mike Eldred Trio: 61 and 49 [23.Aug.11]
Steve Dawson: Nightshade [18.Aug.11]
Azam Ali: From Night to the Edge of Day [17.Aug.11]
Kate Maki: Moonshine [17.Aug.11]
The Mast: Wild Poppies [16.Aug.11]
Kindest Lines: Covered in Dust [16.Aug.11]
Lobi Traore: Bwati Kono [15.Aug.11]
Lauren Shera: Once I Was a Bird [12.Aug.11]
Soft Speaker: I'll Tend Your Garden [11.Aug.11]
Roxane Potvin: Play [10.Aug.11]
Monkeyjunk: To Behold [9.Aug.11]
Stranded Horse: Humbling Tides [9.Aug.11]
Drumlin: Paper Flowers [8.Aug.11]
Terakaft: Aratan N Azawad [3.Aug.11]
Keb Mo': The Reflection [1.Aug.11]
The Booze: At Maximum Volume [1.Aug.11]
Blame Sally: Speeding Ticket and a Valentine [25.Jul.11]
High Tension Wires: Welcome New Machine [21.Jul.11]
Radical Dads: Mega Rama [20.Jul.11]
Various Artists: No One Got Hurt [19.Jul.11]
Wobbler: Rites at Dawn [18.Jul.11]
Tara Nevins: Wood and Stone [15.Jul.11]
Demetria Taylor: Bad Girl [14.Jul.11]
Birds and Arrows: We're Gonna Run [13.Jul.11]
Rory Block: Shake 'Em on Down [12.Jul.11]
'Ferocious Planet': Don't Poke the Alien [12.Jul.11]
The Sewing Circle: I Saw Stars [12.Jul.11]
Co$$: Before I Awoke [11.Jul.11]
Lord Huron: Mighty/Into the Sun [11.Jul.11]
Fiery Blue: Our Secret [7.Jul.11]
Ray Charles: Live in Concert [1.Jul.11]
The Farewell Drifters: Echo Boom [30.Jun.11]
Breanne Duren: Sparks [29.Jun.11]
Tab Benoit: Medicine [24.Jun.11]
Amy Speace: Land Like a Bird [24.Jun.11]
Milos: Mediterraneo [22.Jun.11]
Viva Voce: The Future Will Destroy You [21.Jun.11]
Animal Farm: Culture Shock [21.Jun.11]
Femi Kuti: Africa for Africa [20.Jun.11]
Rebecca Pronsky: Viewfinder [16.Jun.11]
How Can You Make Radiohead Boring? Just Watch 'Radiohead Arms and Legs: The Story So Far' [14.Jun.11]
The Coathangers: Larceny and Old Lace [6.Jun.11]
Larry Sparks: Almost Home [6.Jun.11]
Cath and Phil Tyler: Dumb Supper [3.Jun.11]
The Gentleman's Bedside Companion' Is a Bit of This, a Bit of That, Peppered with Sardonic Humor [2.Jun.11]
Dave Goddess Group: Something New [31.May.11]
Iggy Pop: Roadkill Rising [27.May.11]
Sugarplum Fairies: The Images We Get [27.May.11]
Vieux Farka Touré: The Secret [25.May.11]
Ruth Gerson: Deceived [25.May.11]
The CUF: Caviar Vol. 1 [24.May.11]
Los Chicharrons: Roots of Life [23.May.11]
Lil Daggers: Lil Daggers [20.May.11]
Metal Mother: Bonfire Diaries [18.May.11]
Randi Russo: Fragile Animal [11.May.11]
Killing Mood: Just Another Love Song [9.May.11]
The Wailin' Jennys: Bright Morning Star [6.May.11]
Haroula Rose: These Open Roads [4.May.11]
'Apocalypse' World War II for Dummies [29.Apr.11]
Susan James: Highways Ghosts Hearts & Home [29.Apr.11]
Shotgun Jimmie: Transistor Sister [28.Apr.11]
Coyote Grace: Ear to the Ground [27.Apr.11]
Good Dog! Bad Dog! Morally Sophisticated Dog! and Other Thoughts on 'The Moral Lives of Animals' [25.Apr.11]
Various Artists: A Bluegrass Gospel Songbook [25.Apr.11]
Ivan Julian: The Naked Flame [22.Apr.11]
Jake Mann and the Upper Hand: Parallel South [21.Apr.11]
Cory Mon and the Starlight Gospel: Turncoats [18.Apr.11]
Sierra Hull: Daybreak [15.Apr.11]
The Paperhead: The Paperhead [14.Apr.11]
Guitaro: JJ's Crystal Palace [12.Apr.11]
La Resistance: Philosophy [8.Apr.11]
The Droves: Out of Herself [7.Apr.11]
John Brodeur: Tiger Pop Ten [6.Apr.11]
The Morgansterns: No Talking [6.Apr.11]
Elephant Revival: Break in the Clouds [1.Apr.11]
'Stuntman!': He's the Coolest Guy in the Room [30.Mar.11]
Ralph Covert and the Bad Examples: Smash Record [25.Mar.11]
The Builders and the Butchers: Dead Reckoning [24.Mar.11]
The Jolly Boys: Great Expectation [23.Mar.11]
Stockholm Syndrome: Apollo [23.Mar.11]
Rahim Alhaj: Little Earth [21.Mar.11]
Roomful of Blues: Hook Line and Sinker [18.Mar.11]
Various Artists: The Rounder Records Story [16.Mar.11]
Eagle and Talon: In Manila [15.Mar.11]
Religious to Damn: Glass Prayer [14.Mar.11]
Quiet Life: Big Green [10.Mar.11]
Vanity Theft: Get What You Came For [7.Mar.11]
John-Alex Mason: Jook Joint Thunderclap [3.Mar.11]
Also: Music Belongs in the Background [1.Mar.11]
Underminers: Heart Part of Your Mind [24.Feb.11]
Royaume des Morts: Royaume des Morts [22.Feb.11]
Black Pistol Fire: Black Pistol Fire [18.Feb.11]
Mamadou Diabate: Courage [17.Feb.11]
'Psychiatric Tales': A Guided Tour of Disorders [16.Feb.11]
Various Artists: The Womeximizer 10 [16.Feb.11]
Rachel Timberlake: Rachel Timberlake [14.Feb.11]
Rockin' Acoustic Circus: Lonestar Lullabye [10.Feb.11]
Seven That Spells: Future Retro Spasm [9.Feb.11]
Sidi Toure: Sahel Folk [8.Feb.11]
Corinne Bailey Rae: The Love EP [8.Feb.11]
Tina Sparkle: Welcome to the No Fun House [7.Feb.11]
Sharron Kraus: The Woody Nightshade [31.Jan.11]
James Kinds: Love You From the Top [28.Jan.11]
False Positive: False Positive [25.Jan.11]
'Star Guitars': For the Six-String Fiend [24.Jan.11]
D.S. Yancey: Salt the Earth and Fill Your Hands [24.Jan.11]
Hello=Fire: Hello=Fire [21.Jan.11]
Susan McKeown: Singing in the Dark [18.Jan.11]
Solvents: Forgive Yr Blood [17.Jan.11]
Zion I: Atomic Clock [13.Jan.11]
Matterhorn: Vol 1 The World Began Without Man... [12.Jan.11]
Copal: In the Shadow Garden [3.Jan.11]
The Gurus: Closing Circles [10.Dec.10]
Terrapin Pond: Hello All Stations [8.Dec.10]
Cap D: PolyMath [7.Dec.10]
Weep: Worn Thin [3.Dec.10]
Bad Books: Bad Books [2.Dec.10]
'The Adventures of Unemployed Man' Is a Painfully On-Target Satire of Economics and Comics [2.Dec.10]
The Winterlings: The Animal Groom [2.Dec.10]
Bronze Radio Return: Old Time Speaker [30.Nov.10]
Galeet Dardashti: Naming [29.Nov.10]
Wait. Think. Fast: Luces del Sur [23.Nov.10]
Mic Harrison and the High Score: Great Commotion [23.Nov.10]
Masonic: Live Like a Millionaire [22.Nov.10]
Various Artists: The Rough Guide to Desert Blues [19.Nov.10]
Cabinessence: Naked Friends [17.Nov.10]
Lachi: Lachi [15.Nov.10]
Chad's Tree: Crossing Off the Miles [11.Nov.10]
Air Conditioning School: General Mountain Time [11.Nov.10]
Bambara: Dog Ear Days [10.Nov.10]
Azure Ray: Drawing Down the Moon [9.Nov.10]
Solaram: Love & The Sweet Divine [4.Nov.10]
Imaginary Johnny: Only Chimneys [3.Nov.10]
Claude Hay: Deep Fried Satisfied [29.Oct.10]
Yair Yona: Remember [29.Oct.10]
Handful of Luvin': Life in Between [26.Oct.10]
SMOD: SMOD [25.Oct.10]
Afro Celt Sound System: Capture [21.Oct.10]
Fabulous Diamonds: Fabulous Diamonds II [21.Oct.10]
The Globes: Sinter Songs [21.Oct.10]
Svanfridur: What's Hidden There? [20.Oct.10]
Nice Purse: Black Medal [18.Oct.10]
Tara Linda: Tortilla Western Serenade [15.Oct.10]
Agent Ribbons: Chateau Crone [10.Oct.10]
The Stone Foxes: Bears & Bulls [7.Oct.10]
Nadja Ovo: The Life and Death of a Wasp [6.Oct.10]
Little Fish: Baffled and Beat [29.Sep.10]
Gurumaniax: Psy Valley Hill [27.Sep.10]
Dirty Tactics: It Is What It Is [27.Sep.10]
The Literary Greats: Ocean, Meet the Valley [23.Sep.10]
Various Artists: Egypt Noir [16.Sep.10]
Angel Eyes: Midwestern [16.Sep.10]
Nora Jane Struthers: Nora Jane Struthers [16.Sep.10]
Walter Trout: Common Ground [15.Sep.10]
Futurebirds: Hampton's Lullaby [14.Sep.10]
Kopek: White Collar Lies [10.Sep.10]
Jerry Castle: Don't Even Ask [9.Sep.10]
Various Artists: Afro-Beat Airways [8.Sep.10]
Audra Mae: The Happiest Lamb [7.Sep.10]
'The Finger' Is, Well, a Rather Handy Book [3.Sep.10]
J. Shogren: Bird Bones and Muscle [3.Sep.10]
Boxharp: The Green [2.Sep.10]
Mississippi Heat: Let's Live It Up! [2.Sep.10]
Toy Soldiers: Whisper Down the Lane [1.Sep.10]
The Streets on Fire: This Is Fancy [1.Sep.10]
Sea of Bees: Songs for the Ravens [1.Sep.10]
Quest for Fire: Lights from Paradise [31.Aug.10]
New Orleans Is Sinking: 'A.D.' and 'Dark Rain' [30.Aug.10]
Sweethead: Sweethead [30.Aug.10]
Kira: Run Where No One Goes [30.Aug.10]
Vigilante Anti-Hero Explores Family Values. Violence Ensues in 'Jonah Hex: No Way Back ' [13.Aug.10]
Felonious: Live City [11.Aug.10]
'Watching YouTube' Is Terribly Highbrow For a Subject That Is the Very Antithesis of Highbrow [9.Aug.10]
Bill Kirchen: Word to the Wise [3.Aug.10]
The Interiors: Teeth [3.Aug.10]
The Tamborines: Camera and Tremor [2.Aug.10]
Sasha Dobson: Burn [30.Jul.10]
Son of the Sun: "The Happy Loss" [29.Jul.10]
Noun: Holy Hell [27.Jul.10]
'Blackest Night' -- Crash! Bang! Pow! [27.Jul.10]
Adventure Goes Awry in 'The Lost Cyclist' [22.Jul.10]
Vieux Farka Touré: Live [19.Jul.10]
The Pineapple Thief: Someone Here Is Missing [13.Jul.10]
Johnny Winter: Live at the Fillmore East 10/3/70 [13.Jul.10]
Leela James: My Soul [8.Jul.10]
Coconuts: Coconuts [30.Jun.10]
Walking Sleep: Measures [29.Jun.10]
Janiva Magness: The Devil Is an Angel Too [29.Jun.10]
Brother Dege: Folksongs of the American Longhair [28.Jun.10]
Anders Osborne: American Patchwork [24.Jun.10]
The Chapmans: Grown Up (A Revisionist History) [19.Jun.10]
Shakura S'Aida: Brown Sugar [17.Jun.10]
Nathan Xander: The Fear [16.Jun.10]
Anne McCue: Broken Promise Land [14.Jun.10]
'The Secret Speech': Paranoia, Revisited [4.Jun.10]
Radar Brothers: The Illuminated Garden [28.May.10]
Crooked Still: Some Strange Country [20.May.10]
A Murder Mystery From the Early Days of Cinema [19.May.10]
I Don't Doubt that E.O. Wilson is a Brilliant Man, a Dedicated Scientist, and a Terrific Guy [14.May.10]
Papa and Fidel is an Intriguing Alternate History Complete with Booze, Rebels and Literature [13.May.10]
Various Artists: Lagos Disco Inferno [11.May.10]
Becoming Jane Eyre by Sheila Kohler [19.Apr.10]
Crow Planet by Lyanda Lynn Haupt [15.Apr.10]
Blogs
Thursday, May 13 2010
An Innovative Graphic Novel Tackles Big Issues
Readers who wish to discover something unique in the comics medium would be well advised to explore Sturm’s work.
