White StripesGet Behind Me SatanPhoto: turntablelab.com The White Stripes’ Get Behind Me Satan is an important album both for me personally and in the wider scope of musical history as it gives good perspective on what was going on with music at the time.  For me personally it conjures up memories of driving through the redwoods for the first time, wondering how exactly Meg White manages to hit her drums so hard. It was also the first song we learnt...

It feels good being back at live shows after so long. My 4 month hiatus, instigated by a new baby, finally came to an end with my of my favorite artists playing one of my favorite venues. The Middle East has had a rough go of it these past few years, and even though this show got moved from the downstairs room, I think it can easily be argued that the upstairs, cozier room is one of the best places...

The Problem with Work: Feminism, Marxism, Antiwork Politics, and Postwork Imaginariesby Kathi Weeks The struggle of the proletariat against Capitalism is hard and real. So is the struggle against this book. I should know better than to commit to a book with such an enchanting title, because the subject matter sounds interesting and relevant. However, the reality is that The Problem with Work is damn-near unreadable for the entirety of its 230 pages. I’ve had a long academic career and...

The ParanoydsTalk Talk Talk One look at the cover for the Paranoyds’ Talk Talk Talk and you can tell something stands out from your usual Third Man Records release. It’s lo-fi, playful, and punk rock. Certainly a stark contrast from the rest of their catalog which has a recognizable lovable sheen to it. You can’t blame the label; they take their craft seriously. One listen to this record and you can tell it’s not your average Third Man Records release...

Horace Andy Midnight Scorchers What’s this? Two Horace Andy records in one year? Is this a typo? Not at all! 2022 brought us two stellar albums from the man Horace Andy. The thrilling Midnight Rockers, and its companion piece Midnight Scorchers. Fans of Midnight Rockers already knew that a dub, or reworked, version of Midnight Rockers was in the works. What might have been a surprise to all of us is that Midnight Scorchers is possibly better that Midnight Rockers....

Casablanca80th Anniversary Edition Look, I’m not going to sit here and try to convince on why you should watch Casablanca. Everyone should watch this movie. Everyone. Even if you don’t like it, you’re supposed to have the reference in your brain. This movie has been copied, recopied, stolen from, and referenced over and over and it’s because it’s damn near timeless. Everyone in this movie is mostly known for being in this movie as well, so that shows the...

WHO: The Paranoyds WHAT: Talk Talk Talk WHY: One look at the cover and it’s clear this isn’t your standard Third Man Records release. Never have I seen a sticker on a record that so perfectly encapsulates why a record matters. It says it’s for fans of Devo, Go-Go’s, Breeders, and X, and I’ll be damned if they’re not completely right. I would also throw Blondie in there. There’s an unmistakable buzz, rawness, and catchiness to these songs which sound...

Bam! We’re doing it again, dear readers. Things got off to a scary start this year, because honestly, the good albums weren’t coming. But what a cruel trick this year played on us, as all the good stuff was back-ended in 2022. Too many good albums to absorb too late in the year (I’m looking at YOU, White Lung!). But as always, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better year-end review. All the best albums, movies, and TV shows are...

Popstar: Never Stop Never StoppingOriginal Soundtrack 2XLP (Thriller Also variant cover) Like it or not, the Lonely Island are a comedic force and they’re here to stay. They’ve already proven their worth with the indie comedy masterpiece Hot Rod years ago and have been churning out the good stuff ever since. It makes perfect sense when your troupe is made up of gifted writers, an editor, a director, and a veritable comedic celebrity. It also doesn’t hurt that the Lonely...

Three Thousand Years of Longing What an odd movie for George Miller to follow up Mad Max Fury Road with. And what an odd thing to start a movie review with a sentence that ends in a preposition. But, there you have it. Let’s accept that. I went into this movie knowing nothing about it, but certain that I love Tilda Swinton and was indifferent to Idris Elba. Let’s be honest, he’s an OK actor at best and skates by...