"Midwestern Doxology" was originally published in Oxford Magazine in 2009. Combining the personal essay with politics, it was inspired by the presidential campaign of 2008 and the portrait of the Midwest being thrown around as this homogenous, conservative playground. Which it is not. Since this essay was published, some of my opinions have changed regarding… Continue reading From the Vault: Midwestern Doxology
Linked: John Cleese on Creativity
The mighty John Cleese on creativity. I had no idea he'd done this kind of research into the psychology of creativity. Sent to me by one of my students at CCAD. No matter how far along you are in a creative life, there's probably a check-up or two in here.
Marcus Review Forthcoming and More
I've got a review of Greil Marcus' new book, The History of Rock 'n' Roll in Ten Songs (Yale Univ.) forthcoming at Public Books, a gem of a site. It should be up sometime in early-mid September. Marcus' work is thought-provoking as usual, but something unique and, I think, important for my work clicked when… Continue reading Marcus Review Forthcoming and More
One-Song Review: “The Frontier Index” by Silver Jews
I've never figured out how I feel about Silver Jews, which is like saying I've never figured out how I feel about oranges. Oranges are oranges, the Silver Jews are what they are, and both get along fine without me. But all of that is horseshit because both are there to be consumed. A song… Continue reading One-Song Review: “The Frontier Index” by Silver Jews
One-Song Review: “Fancy” by Iggy Azalea
Adventures in brief music criticism. Off-the cuff-rambling. One song, one performance. Studio or live, it matters not. Probably on Mondays. "It's not the writer's job to tell us how somebody felt about something, it's to tell us how the world works." – Zadie Smith "Fancy," the jam of the summer by Iggy Azalea, tells us how… Continue reading One-Song Review: “Fancy” by Iggy Azalea
This One Summer: Floating
My review of Mariko and Jillian Tamaki's This One Summer is up at Heavy Feather Review. Here's an excerpt: This One Summer is also a master class in the use of breakdowns—panel compositions from page to page—to control the comic’s pace and emotional resonance. Readers of Jillian Tamaki’s SuperMutant Magic Academy, an online comic, might be… Continue reading This One Summer: Floating
One-Song Review: “Mutiny” by Prince, Live on Arsenio
Adventures in short music criticism. One song, one performance. Studio or live, it matters not. Probably on Mondays. If there's one thing you can count on from Prince, it's this: where there are horns, they will be arranged in a tight-ass fashion. This performance of "Mutiny," a song Prince wrote for The Family back in… Continue reading One-Song Review: “Mutiny” by Prince, Live on Arsenio
Two From the Vault
Posted two pieces from Ghettoblaster magazine in "From the Vault." One is a short feature on the Columbus, OH (by way of Delaware, OH) band Ugly Stick. I interviewed the guys behind Skully's for something like 3 hours and only used a fraction of it. I'm hoping to write more about them in the future.… Continue reading Two From the Vault
For All Intents and Purposes…
...the site is up and running with 90% of the content. Still need to upload some non-online writing samples, photos, and music.
Shipbuilding
Or site building, as the case may be. Stay tuned for updates.
Robert Loss 