It’s always nice getting some sort of personal email, especially when it’s in the form of a musical reunion between David Byrne and Brian Eno. Well, “personal” isn’t quite the right word, but I certainly took the message as a sincere and direct one: It’s with great pleasure we offer you a sneak peak by … [Read more…]
‘I’m a bit like a rubbish super-hero …” says Burial, shyly. So began Dan Hancox’s exclusive interview with the dubstep musician known as Burial. At least, it was exclusive when it was published last fall. Now, the chase is on to grab hold of this (formerly) elusive musical force. For all intents and purposes, Burial … [Read more…]
It’s taken 8 years, but I’ve finally picked up Michael Chabon’s The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. All I can say is I cannot believe it hadn’t found its way into my hands sooner. The writing is superb, the delicacy and attention to detail is amazing, and the narrative is vivid in ways that … [Read more…]
It was when I found myself staring at a nearby TV at Super 88 in Allston that I remembered a pretty reasonable realization: American television is at a creative low. Every moment I think it’s hit a nadir and then Wipeout gets an hour of airtime on ABC. It makes me pine a little for … [Read more…]
I can’t believe I missed this piece of news, but the Russian government has announced a bill trying to ban emo and goth music and culture. There’s not much to really say here, because the story really speaks for itself. A post-communist government that doesn’t quite understand a music-based culture that its youth are listening … [Read more…]
Last night I caught a great performance of Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring for the Landmarks Festival at the Hatch Shell. Although the show was an abbreviated, symphony-only version of Stravinsky’s opera, it was still a wonderful opportunity to hear the music played by a full symphony (and one filled with the best high … [Read more…]
In a slightly tangential continuation on from the previous post, I’ve stumbled upon even more riveting recent hip-hop releases. Or, in the case of The Streets, soon-to-be-released…. Mike Skinner, aka The Streets, was a huge surprise coming out of the UK. Back in high school when I picked up the Streets’ first release, 2002’s Original … [Read more…]
Sometimes life feels like a Kurt Vonnegut book, the way seemingly random events and lineages come together in unknown ways. It also helps when you checking out a heaping helping of Vonnegut novels from the library and his particular method of story-telling seeps into your life. Let me explain: Having recently graduated and awaiting the … [Read more…]
Not a day goes by that a handful of articles on rising gas prices are written by our trusted news sources (usually in conjunction with stories on the economy). It’s just one tale in a long line of “worst evers” that are plaguing our current society. I can’t say from personal experience if this is … [Read more…]
Boston’s Banditos Misteriosos announced a brand new event: a Revolutionary Water Gun Battle. The battle will take place on August 16th, but you should be able to sign up later today. Banditos have caused quite a ruckus (in the purely good sense) in just under a year since forming. They’ve gotten a good chunk of … [Read more…]