Author: nzaino
What I Missed In 2016: Joe Henry and Billy Bragg’s Record on the Rails
Since I launched this blog in March, I have tried to write about as many wonderful things as I can, in essays, the...... Read More
What I Missed In 2016: Motorhead’s Parting Shot
Since I launched this blog in March, I have tried to write about as many wonderful things as I can, in essays, the...... Read More
What I Missed In 2016: Solange’s A Seat At the Table
Since I launched this blog in March, I have tried to write about as many wonderful things as I can, in essays, the...... Read More
Minicast: Interview Flashback – Nick Kroll and John Mulaney on “Oh, Hello”
Nick Kroll and John Mulaney are about to finish off their run on Broadway with Oh, Hello, on January 22. Since there are...... Read More
Chris Fleming’s New Holiday Tradition – Gigi the Christmas Snake
Have you been chill this Christmas season? Or have you been rank? If it’s rank, I hope you have a guest room and...... Read More
New Release Roundup: Classic Rock Sounds from The Wild Feathers, Arch Indie Folk from TAMMY
MUSIC 1. The Wild Feathers – Live At the Ryman The Wild Feathers released their second album, Lonely Is A Lifetime, in March...... Read More
DoT Podcast EP18 – Miles Hyman Celebrates Shirley Jackson’s Centennial
One hundred years ago today, horror and humor writer Shirley Jackson was born in San Francisco, California. To celebrate this centennial, I spoke...... Read More
Eight Essential Rock and Roll Christmas Songs
Christmas is about joy. Not mere happiness, but a jolt to your soul. Rock and roll gives that to me. So rock and...... Read More
New Release Roundup: Neil Young on the Peace Trail, Morphine Documentary on DVD
MUSIC 1. Neil Young – Peace Trail There is something both comforting and unsettling about Neil Young’s signature overdriven electric guitar sound, that...... Read More
DoT Podcast EP17 – Sam Phillips Talks New Music, New “La Las” for Gilmore Girls
Sam Phillips fans have reason to celebrate this fall. She has a new mini-album out, called Human Contact Is Never Easy, which includes...... Read More
Coming Up: The Rivergods Preview the “State of the Union” with “Dress Like A Poet”
I first met The Rivergods around fifteen years ago, when I wrote about them for No Depression in its first print incarnation. Sometimes,...... Read More
Viral Films UK Goes for a Short “Run”
“Run,” the new horror short from Viral Films UK, tells the kind of story you could imagine getting passed around in the wee...... Read More
New Release Roundup: Bob Dylan’s Real Royal Albert Hall, New EPs from Permit and The Adventures of the Silver Spaceman
1. Bob Dylan – The Real Royal Albert Hall 1966 Concert So you don’t have the money for the full 36-CD set of...... Read More
DoT Podcast EP16 – Alejandro Escovedo Burns Something Beautiful
When I interviewed Alejandro Escovedo for this episode, we were sitting in the green room upstairs at the Brighton Music Hall in Boston....... Read More
Department of Tangents Minicast: Colin Quinn on Unconstitutional and the National Divide
Colin Quinn has just released two new one-man shows — Unconstitutional on CD, and The New York Story on Netflix. We could use...... Read More
New Release Roundup: A Sparkling EP from Sam Phillips, a Lost Classic from Terry Dolan
1. Sam Phillips – Human Contact Is Never Easy Sam Phillips’s new EP, Human Contact Is Never Easy, is a gorgeous bridge between...... Read More
Record Store Day Highlights – Black Friday 2016
The throngs will be out in force for Black Friday sales today, along with some brave record nuts looking for some vinyl candy...... Read More
Happy Thanksgiving To-Do List of Tangents
Happy Thanksgiving from the Department of Tangents. Enjoy your friends and family. Watch Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. Make mashed potatoes with Paul McCartney....... Read More
Coming Up: A New Single, and a New Direction for Imelda May on “Call Me”
There is no title or firm release date for Imelda May’s new album yet, but it doesn’t take long to notice a change...... Read More
The Nutcracker for Novices
I don’t have the proper capacity to appreciate dance. Most public movement makes me self-conscious, and when I have been drunk enough to...... Read More
New Release Roundup: Offbeat blues from Churchwood, gentle folk from Cory Hanson
1. Churchwood – Hex City Churchwood’s fourth full-length album Hex City is the soundtrack for the best road house horror movie no one...... Read More
New Release Roundup: Man of the World – The Peter Green Story on DVD today
DVD – DOCUMENTARY Man of the World: The Peter Green Story About halfway through Man of the World: The Peter Green Story, Noel...... Read More
Coming Up: Lift To Experience reissue The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads
Lift To Experience released just one album before they imploded, and it was a doozy. In 2001, Andy Young, Josh T. Pearson, and...... Read More
Coming Up: New video from The Flaming Lips, new album in January
You want fireworks? Literally? The Flaming Lips have them for you, along with tight rubber suits, stuffed animals, motorcycles, flaming jump ropes, and...... Read More
Video: Luke Temple’s “Maryanne Was Quiet”
Luke Temple‘s “Maryanne Was Quiet” is a strange beast. It’s essentially a short story with a refrain, comparable to the more spoken-word-oriented stuff...... Read More
New Release Roundup: Mike Watt live, Pavo Pavo debut
MUSIC 1. Mike Watt – “Ring Spiel” Tour ‘95 I have very fond memories of ball-hog or tugboat?, Mike Watt’s first solo album,...... Read More
Video: The Molochs “No More Cryin'”
Last week, I got a press release touting the premiere of The Molochs’ new video for “No More Cryin'” on the Brooklyn Vegan...... Read More
Minicast: Interview Flashback with Reggie Watts
Anyone who has Reggie Watts spin beats and jokes onstage will tell you he is a comic, musical genius. With a microphone and...... Read More
New Release Roundup: Three New Ones from the Frank Zappa Vault
Frank Zappa – Meat Light, Chicago ’78, Little Dots Frank Zappa has been more prolific in death than most musicians could ever hope...... Read More