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Category Archives: Essays
My Kingdom for a Good Piece of Bubblegum
If you have visited YouTube in the past few weeks, you have probably seen the video of twelve-year old Greyson Chance performing Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi.” Like most internet video sensations, Chance was invited on the Ellen show. The Ellen show … Continue reading
Posted in Essays, Music
Tagged Brill Building, bubblegum, Eleveneleven, Ellen DeGeneres, Greyson Chance, Justin Beiber, Lady Gaga, Paparrazi
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I Just Wanna Go to Staples
I usually don’t write about personal matters on this blog, but I felt compelled to write about my dealings with a certain state-run organization. So if you are looking for snarky comments about music, wrestling or popular culture, please read … Continue reading
Posted in Essays
Tagged cerebral palsy, chair lift, Corky, cripple, Diff'Rent Strokes, Facts of Life, Handicappable, Handicapped, Life Goes On, MTA, MTA Mobility, Power Tiger, Staples, Very Special Episode
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Listening Booth: We’ve Only Just Begun
There is something inherently corny about the Carpenters. Many of their easy listening peers have been reappraised by critics, but the ornate arrangements of Richard Carpenter and his sister Karen rarely get mentioned. Perhaps because you couldn’t go to a … Continue reading
Posted in Essays, Music
Tagged A&M, Burt Bacharach, Close to You, Hal David, Karen Carpenter, Leon Russell, Richard Carpenter, soft-rock, Superstar, The Carpenters, We've Only Just Begun
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Criticism
There are many reasons to become a critic. You get free records, you go to shows for free, you meet rock stars, and attractive women line up to have sex with you. The perks are great, but they aren’t the … Continue reading
Posted in Essays, Music
Tagged Chuck Berry, Creem, Elvis, Elvis Presley, Griel Marcus, Lester Bangs, Little Richard, Michael Jackson, Mojo, Peter Guralnick, Rock Criticism, Rolling Stone, the Beatles, Uncut
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Cracking the Code of Ke$ha
Thirty years ago, an English philosopher named Robin Scott made waves around the world with a simple lyric, “New York, London, Paris, Munich/Everybody talks about pop music.” The most profound lyrics are the ones that speak simple truths. Even as … Continue reading
WrestleMania
As if you couldn’t tell from my series of incredibly bitchy essays, professional wrestling has been frustrating me as of late. I don’t like the family friendly direction, or the scripted promos or the series of bland white guys they … Continue reading
Posted in Essays
Tagged Batista, John Cena, Loafers, Shawn Michaels, sports entertainment, Undertaker, WrestleMania 26
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Thoughts and Meditations: WWE NXT
Two weeks ago, Vince McMahon mercifully pulled the plug on his vision of Extreme Championship Wrestling. The show would be replaced by WWE NXT, which would pair eight rookies with eight established stars. At the end of the run, one … Continue reading