After putting it off for way too long, I’ve finally set up a way for readers to more easily make donations to support my work in creating this blog. The service is called Buy Me a Coffee, and here’s the link if you want to donate. It’s super easy to do and you don’t need … Continue reading Buy me a coffee
There were two things I noticed about the reactions to Tina Turner’s death last month. First, there was a general agreement that even though she was 83, it still felt tragically early, way too soon for her to go. She was one of those artists who seem so filled with life and energy and passion, … Continue reading Let’s talk about Tina Turner’s pivotal contributions to the Mad Max saga
This year I was once again tapped by Sydney Film Festival to write program notes for the upcoming 70th edition. Once again, along with the assortment of new films assigned to me, I was handed the enjoyable task of writing up a program of classic films from India. Last year it was the Satyajit Ray … Continue reading Sydney Film Festival preview: A deliriously good Amitabh Bachchan retro, plus other highlights
This is a revised and expanded version of an article I wrote for Tone Deaf in 2018 (and which was later republished by Classic Album Sundays) Boards of Canada’s Music Has the Right to Children is without question the album I’ve listened to the most in the past 21 years. I can’t think of what … Continue reading Boards of Canada’s Music Has the Right to Children: Cinematic psychedelia, dope beats and audio therapy
This defense of Meg White is something I’ve had in mind for ages, long before I started this blog. The White Stripes have been one of my favorite bands for 20 years. From the start I’ve always loved Meg’s drumming, always found her to be absolutely indispensable to their sound. And I’ve always been deeply … Continue reading Meg White’s greatness is not up for debate
This is an essay I wrote about my grandfather and posted on Facebook one year ago on the 100th anniversary of his birth. I’ve decided to publish it here, with a few updates and revisions, because I want it archived more properly; and because I’m proud of this piece of writing and proud of him. … Continue reading A tribute to my grandpa on what would have been his 101st birthday
It’s frustrating how long it takes me to get these best-of lists out. My best of 2021 was published in March of last year. I wanted this one up a lot earlier but my epic piece about Andor ended up taking a lot of time and energy at the start of the year (and no … Continue reading A (somewhat less) belated list of the best albums of 2022
ANOTHER UPDATE: My essay about season 2 is now up and you can read it here! UPDATE: A year and a half after I published this piece, I followed it up with another essay about rewatching Andor as a meditation on Palestine. If you enjoy this one you may like that one too! Note: It’s … Continue reading Andor is a refreshing change for Star Wars, and a thrilling and inspiring depiction of revolution
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the release of Peter Jackson’s The Return of the King, which completed his triumphant adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy. I recently watched the entire film trilogy for the first time in probably 15 years. As much as I know these films backwards and … Continue reading Peter Jackson’s Return of the King is a supreme classic, but here are some things that bug me about it
If you know me, you might have been surprised that I had to be talked into seeing Ride for the first time at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney early this month. The Oxford band are touring in (COVID-delayed) celebration of the 30th anniversary of Nowhere, their 1990 debut LP and their masterpiece; the first part … Continue reading Ride live in Sydney: A transcendent Nowhere retrospective rides a new wave of shoegaze
Under the Paving Stones 