Remembering Éliane Radigue: Godmother of Drone
People say that there are four oceans, but one could reasonably argue that there’s a fifth: the one created by Éliane Radigue and her legion of cosmic drones.
tribute
Bob Weir Rides Into the Sunset for the Last Time
The Grateful Dead co-founder Bob Weir’s passing away at age 78 is a significant loss for the music world, but his immense legacy will live on.
Rob Reiner Was the Creator of Unassuming Masterpieces
The celebrated writer, actor, director, and activist Rob Reiner had a broad appeal and a political conscience, making his untimely passing all the more tragic.
Remembering D’Angelo: Revolutionary Funk-Soul Luminary
D’Angelo’s presence loomed large over the neo-soul in the 1990s and 2000s, but his music stood out for its lightness, its subtlety, sparseness, and deftness of touch.
Diane Keaton Was All Loveliness and Light
The incredible power in Diane Keaton’s genius is that she was all loveliness and light. She didn’t need a comedy bit to be funny or appealing. She was enough.
Tom Robbins’ Crazy Wisdom
An undercurrent of seriousness prevails in Tom Robbins’ comedic expressions, occasionally bubbling to the surface to convey profundities on the nature of the universe, the human condition, et al.
A Tribute to Teri Garr: A Comic Genius
Comic film actress Teri Garr flourished in the 1970s and 1980s, bringing an innate likability and charm to her roles and giving the characters dignity.
Kris Kristofferson and the Myth of American Freedom
If, as Kris Kristofferson wrote, “freedom’s just another word”, questioning dominant ideas of American freedom is a potently important endeavor.
In Memory of Maggie Smith, the Stealth Comedy Queen
Maggie Smith had the most expressive face. She could say and do more with a roll of an eye or purse of her lips than most of her peers with pages of dialogue.
Why Steve Albini Mattered So Much to Music
The death of artist and recording engineer Steve Albini leaves popular music bereft of one of its staunchest defenders against corporatized greed and conformity.
Pub Rock Guitarist Wilko Johnson Was an Inspiration to a Generation of “Twitchy Dorks”
Guitarist Wilko Johnson of pub rock band Dr. Feelgood created a polyrhythmic down-and-up chop on open chords that inspired Paul Weller (the Jam), Hugh Cornwell (the Stranglers), and Jon King (Gang of Four) – and many more.
Warm and Cool: Thoughts on Television’s Tom Verlaine (1949-2023)
Tom Verlaine’s death symbolizes the continued denouement of a certain period of New York City history, a time when the word “bohemian” still held some meaning.