Author: nzaino
New Release Roundup – Avett Brothers, Neil Young, Cerise, Ted C Fox
MUSIC 1. The Avett Brothers – True Sadness The Avetts’ eighth studio album since 2003 starts out a bit funky with “Ain’t No...... Read More
New Songs from Shovels & Rope, Drive-By Truckers
More reasons why 2016 is a great year for music. There were two surprise song previews Tuesday – Shovels & Rope premiered “I...... Read More
New Release Roundup June 17 – Sara Jarosz and Luke Bell
MUSIC 1. Sarah Jarosz – Undercurrent “Green lights and open roads and skies of endless blue/That’s the feeling I get when I’m with...... Read More
Department of Tangents Podcast Ep8 – Musician Robbie Fulks and a Song from Reformed Whores
There is nothing Robbie Fulks lacks as a musician. He is a talented flat picker as a guitarist, and a voice that can...... Read More
2016 Has Been A Great Year for Music (No, Really) Plus – The Jayhawks Live
Fretting about the future of music is the music fan’s national pastime. There will never be a time when someone isn’t saying, despairing...... Read More
New Release Roundup – Paul McCartney, Diarrhea Planet, Wesley Fuller
MUSIC 1. Paul McCartney – Pure McCartney With all of the live albums, compilations (All the Best, Wingspan), and expanded editions of solo...... Read More
Space Canadians and Ralph’s Tremendous Penis – How I Learned to Love and Hate Writing
I fell in love with writing in fourth grade when a writing instructor visiting my class read my letter to King George aloud....... Read More
New Release Roundup June 3 – The Claypool Lennon Delirium, Paul Simon, Huh, Eli “Paperboy” Reed
MUSIC 1. The Claypool Lennon Delirium – Monolith of Phobos The question that popped into my head when I heard that Les Claypool...... Read More
Preview: Quincy Jones – Burning the Light Tonight on HBO
“What do you do as a dying man when you’re already following your dreams?” That’s the question we hear Quincy Jones ask at...... Read More
Red Peters: Music for imMature Audiences
Red Peters has been immature for decades. It was true back in the 70s when he was opening for Frank Zappa and the...... Read More
Department of Tangents Podcast Ep7 – Comedian Steven Wright and Music from Robbie Fulks
I’ve interviewed Steven Wright for a couple of different publications over the years and always enjoyed the strange and wonderful twists in the...... Read More
Department of Tangents Minicast: Interview Flashback with Nathan Fillion 2010
When I spoke with Nathan Fillion in 2010 for a site called Culture Mob, Castle was still early in its run and there...... Read More
New Release Roundup 5 27 16 – Ruby Rose Fox and Melle Mel and Scorpio
MUSIC 1. Ruby Rose Fox – Domestic There are a lot of angles from which to appreciate Ruby Rose Fox’s debut full-length album....... Read More
Zombie Movie Colin Proves the Simple Tricks Are Still the Best
A few years back, I was searching Netflix for new horror movies and came across an ultra-low-budget film called Colin (2009). The description...... Read More
New Release Roundup May 20, 2016 – Mudcrutch, Bob Dylan, Ken Reid, Dan Soder
MUSIC 1. Mudcrutch – Mudcrutch 2 If you’re a Tom Petty fan, you’ve already previewed the first release form this album, “Trailer,” either...... Read More
Horror and Comedy: How Time Bandits Shaped My World View
No single film helped shape my world view more than Time Bandits. It showed my visions of good and evil, and blurred the...... Read More
The Department of Tangents Official 2016 Presidential Endorsement
After careful consideration, the editorial board here at the Department of Tangents have unanimously decided to throw our support behind “Nubbins” Sawyer in...... Read More
Department of Tangents Minicast Ep5: Interview Flashback with Carl Reiner
This was one of my favorite interviews for the Globe, not only because Carl Reiner had so much to say, but because he...... Read More
Department of Tangents Podcast Ep6 – Musician and Filmmaker Brendan Boogie
My guest for Episode 6 of the Department of Tangents Podcast is musician and filmmaker Brendan Boogie. When I sat down with Brendan...... Read More
New Release Roundup: Hard Working Americans, Al Scorch, Adia Victoria, Blind Boys of Alabama
MUSIC 1. Hard Working Americans – Rest In Chaos In his liner notes for the new album from Todd Snider’s Hard Working Americans,...... Read More
Perfect Poor Decision: “Reviewing the Situation” from Oliver!
It was somewhere around third grade when I fell in love with Oliver!, the musical made from the Dickens classic Oliver Twist. I’m...... Read More
Interview: Musician and Publicist Perry Serpa of The Sharp Things
I first came to know Perry Serpa as a publicist with Good Cop PR. He regularly sends me music to listen to and...... Read More
Department of Tangents Minicast Ep4: Interview Flashback with Margaret Cho
I interviewed Margaret Cho back in October when she was stopping through Boston on tour. At that point, she was still months away...... Read More
New Release Roundup May 6 2016 – Cyndi Lauper, Ryan Adams, and Dan Boulger
MUSIC 1. Cyndi Lauper Detour Lauper has always had one of the best voices in pop music, and here she changes up her...... Read More
Department of Tangents Podcast Ep5 – Filmmakers and Musicians Michael J Epstein and Sophia Cacciola
My guests for Episode 5 are filmmakers and musicians Michael J Epstein and Sophia Cacciola, who have been working at the hellish pace...... Read More
Perfect Musical Nonsense: Pink Floyd’s “Several Species of Small Furry Animals…”
One of the first Pink Floyd albums I ever owned was the Works compilation. It was a good primer for the early history...... Read More
Department of Tangents Minicast Ep3: Interview Flashback with Richard Lloyd
Some of my most enjoyable interviews have happened when I don’t ask too many questions. The subject has so much to say, it...... Read More
New Release Roundup: The Jayhawks and Rob Zombie
MUSIC 1. The Jayhawks Paging Mr. Proust This album makes 2011’s Mockingbird Time, which saw the band reunite with Mark Olson, seem like...... Read More
Perfect Horror Classic: The Original Texas Chainsaw Massacre
“Classic” is a temperamental designation. Often a work benefits from distance. A movie can seem like a classic because it belongs to a...... Read More