After a year away—a blessedly shorter time apart than what separated seasons one and two—the third season of High Maintenance returns in comfortably familiar fashion. While the prior two HBO season premieres have tried premises that are a little bigger…
The Romanoffs Finale Review: “The One That Holds Everything”
For this final installment of The Romanoffs, Matthew Weiner draws upon the key characteristics of the series and blends them into one story that, ironically, often feels far from the Romanoff shadow. Weiner is a storyteller and, through the anthology…
The Romanoffs 1×07 Review: “End of the Line”
After weeks of fumbles, over or under-baked premises and “good except for…” episodes, The Romanoffs team finally delivers some magic with “End of the Line.” Of course, in a perfectly Russian way, the best episode so far is also the…
The Romanoffs 1×06 Review: “Panorama”
“Panorama” is certainly a revitalizing follow-up to last week’s frustrating stumble, but it is also an interesting episode in its own right—if not exactly a satisfying one. Continuing to take full advantage of his blank check, Matthew Weiner takes us…
Album Review: Marianne Faithfull – “Negative Capability”
On her twenty-first studio album, the living legend Marianne Faithfull revisits a bit of the past, looks at the present, and imagines a future—all in the frank, slightly fatalistic manner of the best European artists. For most of her career,…
The Romanoffs 1×05 Review: “Bright and High Circle”
Watching the latest episode of The Romanoffs, “Bright and High Circle,” feels akin to touching a hot stove after weeks of letting your hand hover close to the coils. I didn’t want it, but here it is, Matthew Weiner addressing…
Album Review: Cloud Nothings – “Last Building Burning”
The sixth album from Cloud Nothings doesn’t so much wash over you as hit you like a drink in the face. It’s bracing and quick—but not rushed, or half-done, and not abrasive or unlistenable. The overall sensation of the album…
