Director Ric Roman Waugh (Snitch, Felon) seems hellbent on making a career out of crime dramas that are every bit as generic as their titles would suggest. His entire cinematic ideology appears to be constructed around the idea that the…
From the Record Crate: Tom Waits – “Franks Wild Years” (1987)
Even those who have difficulty latching onto the work of Tom Waits are apt to admire the artist’s grandiose ambition. In each chapter of his diverse career, Waits ignores all of his previous efforts and stretches his music in order…
Album Review: Frankie Rose – “Cage Tropical”
After playing a role in a few enticing indie rock bands over the last decade – she was an original member of both Vivian Girls and Dum Dum Girls – Frankie Rose set out to establish her own distinct sound…
Movie Review: The Only Living Boy in New York
While he displayed flashes of inspired creativity with a slew of music videos and the clever, genre-bending (500) Days of Summer, it seems as though director Marc Webb’s inventive spark was only a fluke. After two less than spectacular Spider-Man…
From the Record Crate: Okkervil River – “The Stage Names” (2007)
The oral storytelling tradition has long been tied to folk tunes, but there was an explosion in the fascination of days of yore in the early years of the 21st Century as indie rock kept its eye firmly planted on…
Movie Review: Kidnap
Few performers have had quite the harsh post-Oscar win drop-off that has become as synonymous with Halle Berry as any of her performances. Since taking home the gold, Berry hasn’t exactly taken on roles that showcase her talents. Unfortunately, her…
From the Record Crate: Whiskeytown – “Strangers Almanac” (1997)
Ryan Adams’s chief asset as a songwriter is arguably his ability to mold his struggles in articulate chunks that the average listener can really take to heart. He certainly got the opportunity to flex this muscle during his Whiskeytown days,…
