Illegitimate AuthorityFacing the Challenges of Our Timeby C.J Polychroniou Do I need to tell you who Noam Chomsky is? I don’t, right? If you don’t know who he is, you’d best Google him and learn about the stuff he’s written and said. Whether you agree with his viewpoints or not, Chomsky is always worth reading and his perspective always worth considering on topics. He’s our lifetime’s Bertrand Russell: always eloquent, informed, and sharp. His noggin holds the kind of information...

Superman I-IV5-Film Collection Boy did we forget the giant favor the Superman movies did for us in the 70s. The 70s! Can you believe that? Superhero movies had a life before they became the unstoppable monster they are now (even though they are showing signs of weakness as of late). Sure, you can say Mask of Zorro or movies like that were superhero movies, but not as we know them today. Superman was the grand daddy of them all. At...

Seeing Ted Leo play live is not something I take lightly. It’s deeply embedded in my DNA at this point. It’s something I started doing 20 years ago with people who would go on to become some of my closest friends. Seeing Ted Leo and listening to him is more than just the music: it’s a walk down memory lane. And as the man took a break from music, I took a break from that connection. Ted Leo has now...

Rocky: The Knockout Collection Growing up I was both a Schwarzenegger and Stallone fan. Maybe more a Schwarzenegger fan because he seemed tough, scary, and a lovable goof. Of course I loved Stallone in Rocky, Judge Dredd, and Demolition Man, but I think at the time I was most tuned into movies, Schwarzenegger was making the more bonkers stuff. Now, as a grown-up, I’ve learnt to appreciate Stallone more. He’s kind of in a class all by himself,...

WHO: Die Spitz WHAT: Teeth WHY: Is this an EP or a short full length? Who knows! Those riffs, man. Those riffs! Every song on this album is absolutely brutal and full of hooks. It’s punk with a heavy lean on metal and rocks from top to bottom. There’s nothing revolutionary about what this band is doing, but they stick to what they know and they do it well. Teeth is one of the must-hear albums of the year. Those...

What a mild Summer we’ve been having in New England, but what a FIERCE Back to School Guide we have in store for you this time. Ho, ho, you didn’t think we’d forget about you, did you? This year’s guide follows a familiar format including products you’re probably familiar with. We work with these companies because our love is deep and true, but we also have some newcomers to the guide that we think will put a sparkle in your...

The Hold SteadyThe Price of Progress I think I’ve said this before, but the Hold Steady are one of those bands that suffers from Monty Python syndrome, in the sense that it’s good, but the most annoying people in the world will not shut the fuck about it. Have you met a Hold Steady fan? If you’re not sure, then you haven’t. The real Hold Steady fans are annoying as hell. They think of themselves as some sort of ambassadors...

WHO: Frenzal Rhomb WHAT: The Cup of Pestilence WHY: Frenzal Rhomb seem to make a good album only every other time. It took a while to fully absorb, but for a fan like me, I am relieved that Cup of Pestilence is compiled of just better versions of what this band is known for: harmonies, riffs, and witty lyrics. It’s bizarre how punk rock that’s this fast can also sound so melodic. With 19 songs in just 32 minutes, this...

From Lenin to Stalinby Victor Serge There are great figures in the history of Soviet Russia (and by “great” I mean popular) and great journalists on the history of Soviet Russia. David Remnick isn’t one of them. Victor Serge maybe is one. I’ve read a lot on Soviet Russia and particularly the Lenin/Stalin years, but never Victor Serge. He’s important enough that people still speak of him, and even the New York Times covers his books but what about his...

The Venture Bros. Radiant is the Blood of the Baboon Heart I am a Venture Bros fan. I love this show. I take my review of Radiant is the Blood of the Baboon Heart seriously. How seriously? Let me tell you. In preparation for this movie I rewatched the entire series. One complaint of the show people have is that it has such long gaps between seasons that it’s hard to remember or follow what’s going on in a particular...