Author: Kurt B. Reighley
Column from web archive February 12, 2009
The healing powers of K.D. Lang
Everyone has their own safeguards during cold and flu season. Me? I stock up on pickled jalapeno peppers and make sure Billy Wilder’s 1961 Cold War comedy One, Two, Three is close at hand. The former have an insanely high concentration of vitamin C; the latter makes me laugh hard enough to loosen any congestion. [...]
Column from web archive January 8, 2009
Photographic memories
During a recent snowstorm, I slipped and fell into a deep chasm. I believe the natives call it Facebook. My experience there has been mixed. I don’t necessarily care what former classmates and co-workers think about what I’m cooking for supper, but I sure appreciate being able to gawk at all those old photographs those [...]
Column from web archive December 18, 2008
None more Mississippi
The end of my year is always fraught with peril. Not because of the holidays. My bete noire is much more insidious: year-end critics’ polls and best-of lists. In late autumn, when the call goes out from my editors to compile these beasts, my heart stops – and my mind starts racing: “What did I [...]
Record Review from web archive December 8, 2008
Cat Power
With her second set of cover songs, Chan Marshall (a.k.a. Cat Power) made a classic album. And not just in the sense that the performances and material will stand the test of time. Jukebox feels like an album that could have been made 30 or 40 years ago, and treasured by several generations of listeners. [...]
Column from web archive December 4, 2008
Kickin’ Chanukah music,
old-school style
Without Jews, there would be no Christmas music. Well, that’s an exaggeration. But the Chosen People have done much to advance the cause. The best-selling single of all time, Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas”, was composed by Irving Berlin. Over the years, Bette Midler, Barbra Streisand, Neil Diamond, and Barry Manilow have all cashed in on [...]
Column from web archive November 20, 2008
Why do we marry?
People take inspiration from unexpected sources: Tales of burning shrubbery that spouts prophecy; those ridiculous “Hang In There, Baby” posters of endangered kittens. So I suppose I should not be flabbergasted that right now I am fired up by a Lucinda Williams song – even though her music has failed to resonate profoundly with me [...]
Column from web archive November 6, 2008
Imagine, if you will, Arthur Russell
I’d like to tell you about my Imaginary Friend. His name is Arthur Russell. Now, Arthur’s status as my Imaginary Friend is not meant to imply he is not – or, rather, was not – real. Charles Arthur Russell Jr. was born in 1952, and died 40 years later. As anyone who has seen Matt [...]
Record Review from web archive October 27, 2008
Rodriguez
Collectors be damned: Many sought-after “rare groove” albums are obscure for good reason. Either the performances or the material simply aren’t up to snuff, or the finished product lacked mainstream appeal. Yet Cold Fact, the 1970 debut by Motor City artist Sixto Rodriguez, suffers none of these handicaps. His originals compelled the great soul guitarist [...]
Column from web archive October 23, 2008
Judy Henske: Queen of the Beatniks
I’m gay. I knew it before I hit puberty. It’s no big deal: I’m just wired to dig guys. But my lizard brain, the part that handles truly vital decisions – like “fight or flight” – responds powerfully to women. Especially oddball female musicians who exude confidence. “Tough broads,” they called them in pre-PC days. [...]
Column from web archive October 9, 2008
Black and white, then and now
Last week, a dear friend of mine was fired from the Friday night DJ gig he has held at a popular nightclub for the past four years. The reason? Management wanted to hear more pop and top-40, and less hip-hop and R&B. My colleague, who is black, was flabbergasted. Hip-hop and R&B is top-40 these [...]
Shop Amazon by clicking through this logo to support NoDepression.com. We get a percentage of every purchase you make!
