My July column, "Algiers and the Political Structures of Noise," is up at PopMatters: read it here. I've been a fan of the band Algiers since their debut self-titled album. Nobody else sounds like they do: a bucketful of warm soul and cold techno-punk...or is it cold soul and warm techno-punk? Their fusion is utterly… Continue reading The Latest: Algiers at PopMatters
Catching Up Again
One of these days I'll get this thing right. Anyway, updates:My latest post at PopMatters, this one concerning the new album by Chastity Belt, I Used to Spend So Much Time Alone. This calls back to a piece I wrote last year about the Felice Brothers and "termite art."My book is being finished up. One… Continue reading Catching Up Again
Power Play: Brian Williams, Leonard Cohen, and “First We Take Manhattan”
My new column is up at PopMatters. Read it here. One of the more interesting discoveries in researching this piece was finding the videotaped interview from Toronto 1988 from which the prominent quote about "First We Take Manhattan" is taken. The quote from Part I of the interview that I included sheds a little light… Continue reading Power Play: Brian Williams, Leonard Cohen, and “First We Take Manhattan”
Lana Del Rey’s “Love” In a Time of Trump
My new music column is up at PopMatters today. It concerns pop chanteuse Lana Del Rey's recent single "Love" and listening to her use of nostalgia in a time of Trumpism. In many ways, this is a catching-up-with-things essay, and also very personal since it concerns, in part, my students at CCAD.I should be back… Continue reading Lana Del Rey’s “Love” In a Time of Trump
April Is for Updates
I've emerged from my burrow after a busy fall and winter. Apparently, the last time I posted was August 24th. Since then I have:1) gotten married. Best day of my life.2) finished my manuscript for Nothing Has Been Done Before and sent it to Bloomsbury.3) become addicted to political news again.4) tried to buy a… Continue reading April Is for Updates
Nothing Has Been Done Before To Be Published by Bloomsbury
So I can finally announce the big news I've been keeping hush-hush: Next fall, Bloomsbury will publish my book of music criticism! The working title is NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE. The book explores the concept of the "new" in American popular music since 2000 and argues for a different way of engaging with that… Continue reading Nothing Has Been Done Before To Be Published by Bloomsbury
Back On It
The Blind Engineer EP is out, today is Aug. 12, CCAD awaits, so I'm shifting back into non-summer mode. Boombox is playing some Times New Viking, Mark Lanegan and Isobel Campbell, Rae Sremmurd, and Frank Hutchison. My latest column is up at PopMatters re: Protomartyr's "The Devil in His Youth" and how it now seems… Continue reading Back On It
Blind Engineer EP Update
My band Blind Engineer's new EP is now available for online streaming, download, and hard-copy purchase (CD only). Two choices: Bandcamp or Mingo Town Music.Our release show is Friday July 29 at Ace of Cups with Sin Shouters and Betsy Ross, two great local bands.Also, we'll be playing live in-studio at WCBE 90.5 on Wednesday,… Continue reading Blind Engineer EP Update
My Short Story “Ring Around the Moon” in 2 Bridges Review
My short story "Ring Around the Moon" is in the new issue of 2 Bridges Review. The online issue hasn't been uploaded yet, but I understand it should be shortly. Hard copy in photo below (next to cat card for my birthday from my fiancee). Demand that your bookseller carry 2 Bridges!"Ring Around the Moon"… Continue reading My Short Story “Ring Around the Moon” in 2 Bridges Review
Summer of ’16: Fantastic Negrito’s “Working Poor”
My new column is up at PopMatters. It's one of those survey-the-land kinds of pieces, reflecting on where we're at as a country. Specifically it considers Fantastic Negrito's song "Working Poor" from his new album The Last Days of Oakland and what the song does--not just what it's about.I want to clarify that my interest… Continue reading Summer of ’16: Fantastic Negrito’s “Working Poor”
Robert Loss 