Posts by author
Max Gray
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Weekend Rumpus Roundup
First, Grant Snider’s “Inferiority Complex” explores the inner recesses of consciousness. Then, Louise Fabiani reviews Scarlett Johansson’s scary sci-fi film, Under the Skin, which “weasels its way into your reptilian brain from its first baffling frames.” Director Jonathan Glazer does a nice…
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Song of the Day: “Zombie”
The genre known as “afrobeat” has a long history, thanks mostly to the visionary multi-instrumentalist Fela Kuti. When the Nigerian composer first came up with the name for his unique sound in the early ’70s, his music was moving thematically…
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Weekend Rumpus Roundup
In the Saturday essay, “Broken Bird: Reflections on The Upside of Anger,” Kathryn Buckley notes similarities between the film, starring Keri Russell, and her own experiences—both she and Russell’s character struggled with anorexia. When Buckley finds herself in an MFA…
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Song of the Day: “The Prayer”
Black Messiah is an apt title for the long-awaited follow-up to contemporary soul master D’Angelo’s 2000 record, Voodoo. Fourteen years allows for plenty of anticipation. At times, the news from industry insiders made it seem like Black Messiah would never…
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Weekend Rumpus Roundup
First, Grant Snider considers New Year’s resolutions in his inimitable way. Then, Barbara Berman draws a connection between two recent poetry collections—famous German playwright Bertold Brecht’s posthumous Love Poems and The Book of Scented Things: 100 Contemporary Poems About Perfume, edited by Jehanne…
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Song of the Day: “Colours”
Producer/songwriter duos depend on so many factors for their success, so when a great one comes along, we seize it and refuse to let go. Grab hold of “Colours,” by the San Francisco-based electronic music group Colour Theory. “You make…
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Weekend Rumpus Roundup
First, Julie Marie Wade reviews the “solar system” of Kimberly Burwick’s poetry collection, Good Night Brother. The son—or “sun”—in the title “burns everyone and everything it touches.” He/it “has gone the way of the supernova.” This lovable, yet hard-to-love character…
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Song of the Day: What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?
The warm swing-era horn section and tasteful piano vamps are just a few reasons to listen to jazz icon Ella Fitzgerald, but today there’s a more obvious reason to cue up her silky ballad, “What Are You Doing New Year’s…
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Weekend Rumpus Roundup
First, what if your Christmas tree ornaments could tweet. Then, in the Saturday film review of Wild—the film adaptation of Dear Sugar columnist Cheryl Strayed’s eponymous novel—Kenny Ng praises Strayed’s “realness” and “punk aesthetic” while tempering expectations for the film.…
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Weekend Rumpus Roundup
In the Saturday Essay, Devin O’Neill considers the dual nature of the male feminist, looking back not-so-fondly on the desire to “lash out” against an unforgiving world during high school and junior high. O’Neill used “nerd” and “goth” identities to…
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Song of the Day: “Merry Christmas Baby”
Merry Christmas baby You sure do treat me nice Soul icon Otis Redding’s short career was remarkably prolific. The highlights from his electrifying catalog are varied and buoyant, even in an area of pop music that has traditionally suffered from…
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Weekend Rumpus Roundup
First, say hello to our new Saturday media editor, Arielle Bernstein! Then, in “All The World’s A Stage,” Grant Snider neatly illustrates our inner performer. Poet Kent Shaw marvels at the “glandular muscularity” of water as a theme in Harmony…