Talking Heads’ Fear of Music by Jonathan Lethem Continuum; 160 p. I am so glad I wasn’t born when Jonathan Lethem was born. Now that he is middle-aged and recounting his love of Fear of Music, the third full-length album by the Talking Heads, he has many albatrosses to contend with (nervously, mockingly). His friend, for instance, insists Jerry Harrison’s involvement before the recording of 77 signaled the end of “pure” Talking Heads. He sounds like a barrel of laughs. […]
Afternoon Bites: David Mitchell, Ellen Willis, 33 1/3 Live, Kate Bush, Tina Fey, and David Foster Wallace’s Self-Help Archives, and More
Tomorrow at Greenlight in Brooklyn: Christopher Weingarten, Daphne Carr, Bryan Charles, and Hank Shteamer discuss their contributions to the 33 1/3 series. Jesse Miller on novels by John Brandon and David Mitchell. Several months ago, we mentioned a conference on the music criticism of Ellen Willis, to take place at NYU. One can now pre-register for said conference here. And Robert Christgau provides some context here. After a twenty year legal pursuit, Kate Bush has been granted the rights to […]
Bites: NYU vs. Muppets for the best Woody imitation, Michael Greenberg, African books, teachers, and more
“Would You Rather See Woody Allen’s Manhattan Adapted by NYU Students or Muppets?” (thanks Flavorwire) The Rumpus talks with Beg, Borrow, Steal author, Michael Greenberg. Conversational Reading posted “99 Essential African Books“ Here is an article that combines Steampunk and Lolcats Jacket Copy on the “masterful 33 1/3 series“. (Okay, we think it’s good too) Gene Simmons, Stephen King, 2 presidents and eleven more famous people were teachers (Mental Floss) Black Moth Super Rainbow played the ICA in Boston. (Thanks […]