Recent FeaturesFriday, November 20 2009
Masters of Horror Manga: Kazuo Umezu and Hideshi HinoPerhaps more so than any other artists, Kazuo Umezu and Hideshi Hino defined the genre of horror comics in Japan, an influence that extends to the West, and also to the world of J-horror films. Thursday, November 19 2009
Reuben Butchart [New York]The former pianist for Antony & the Johnsons "awakens" with his most elaborate solo work yet.... and it features a plastic bag! Here's the story behind Reuben Butchart's boundless creativity. Wednesday, November 18 2009
The Gospel According to Butch: Part 2—The PerformerThe ever-prolific producer/songwriter Butch Walker notes how live shows lack a genuine mystique these days, his secret for surviving a tour, and why he'll probably never see Third Eye Blind in concert again ... Tuesday, November 17 2009
Alison Brie and Donald Glover of ‘Community’Alison Brie, who plays Trudy on Mad Men and Donald Glover, who wrote for 30 Rock before joining the Community cast, indulge in a friendly, teasing, tête à tête of sorts, as they consider PopMatters 20 Questions. Friday, November 13 2009
We Few, We Happy Few, We Bandaged Brothers: Jeff Lemire’s The Nobody and the Quest for SelfA touching, heartfelt meditation on identity and isolation in a small town, Jeff Lemire is able to redress an H.G. Wells classic and make it as timely and disturbing as ever. Wednesday, November 11 2009
The Gospel According to Butch: Part 1—The ProducerButch Walker talks with PopMatters about the music industry, the problems that young bands frequently succumb to in the studio, and why it's more important to write songs than design T-shirts. Tuesday, November 10 2009
A Working Class Family: Ed and Edie FalcoPopMatters talks with Ed Falco and his niece, actor Edie Falco, about their life in the arts and Ed's gritty new novel, Saint John of the Five Boroughs. Monday, November 9 2009
Ayn Rand and the World She MadeAyn Rand set out to remake reality as if it were an ill-fitting dress: by sheer will, she tried to fashion a Balenciaga gown from a housedress. Friday, November 6 2009
Fast Food TVThe Next Iron Chef is not a show about cooking. It is a show about people freaking out; cooking just happens to be what they’re doing while they’re freaking out.
Eclipse Series 17: Nikkatsu NoirThese five films from the golden-era of the legendary Nikkatsu studio shows off the never-ending ways Japanese filmmakers were able to combine the best elements of pulp and epic Japanese storytelling. Thursday, November 5 2009
Nirvana: BleachStarting with Nevermind, Kurt Cobain intentionally simplified his compositions in order to emphasize their pop components. Less song-focused than later Nirvana works, Bleach acts as an interesting showcase of the band’s musical chops. Wednesday, November 4 2009
Leaving Las Vegas and Leaving for GoodUsing Ben in Leaving Las Vegas as a gauge to measure myself against, my life wasn’t anywhere close to as bad as it could be, but people who thought they had better control of their drinking than me still fuck their lives right up, so....
Nicholson Baker’s Enthusiasms and Passionate ObsessionsNicholson Baker writes from his enthusiasms, which are many and ever changing. Among other things, his books have focused on sex, John Updike, public libraries, and pacifism and World War II. His latest, The Anthologist, is his love letter to poetry. Tuesday, November 3 2009
Celebrating the Death of the Dark Knight – and His RebirthWith the recent passing of Bruce Wayne, can the Batman character escape the tragedy of Bruce Wayne's life that originally birthed it?
Get Holy: An Interview With John Darnielle of the Mountain GoatsUpon the release of the Mountain Goats' latest album, the band's founder and songwriter talks about the literary influences on his prolific output and the biblical theme of his latest opus. Monday, November 2 2009
10 Rules on How to Sink or Swim at CMJThough several bands demanded double-takes, and many impressed, there were no obvious standouts at this year's CMJ. Instead, our writers found bands that exemplified standards for success, and failure, putting together ten rules on how to sink or swim at CMJ.
How Far Is Too Far?: Navigating the World of Young Adult FictionIn the world of "edgy" young adult fiction, there's a tendency to either bury real world consequences, or exploit the darker material for all it's worth. But where does that leave the young readers grappling with the content? Sunday, November 1 2009
Old CanesStealing Kurt Vonnegut books? Getting choked up during M*A*S*H? Appleseed Cast frontman Chris Crisci talks about all of these things and more as his folk-affected side-project releases their second album. Friday, October 30 2009
Agonies of an ‘Antichrist’: Lars von Trier in the Forest of UnreasonDespite the efforts of some to dismiss it as a prank, Antichrist is a serious film and its disturbing extremes speak of broad and deeply felt moral, social, and ultimately, political anxieties. Thursday, October 29 2009
Syfy ‘Ghost Hunters’: Living Normally Within Paranormal Pop CultureJason Hawes and Grant Wilson of Ghost Hunters have transcended the paranormal entertainment niche, become lasting pop-culture mainstays, and are busiest men in the ghost business. |
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