1988

    Truth and Soul

    Fishbone: Truth and Soul

    There was a hecticness to Los Angeles music in the late 80s. It’s a distinction without a definition,...
    Nothing's Shocking

    Jane’s Addiction: Nothing’s Shocking

    Looking back at 1988 when this album came out, rock ‘n’ roll was mainly a wasteland. Like non-college-radio radio rock ‘n’ roll was atrocious. And Jane’s Addiction were
    Dance Dance Dance

    Dance Dance Dance

    Murakami is like the big dork’s Raymond Carver. In fact, I’m a giant dork for just making that...
    Surfer Rosa

    Pixies: Surfer Rosa

    From the opening downbeat of “Bone Machine,” Surfer Rosa’s first track, you know this album is gonna kick...
    The Mezzanine

    The Mezzanine

    In college we did some pretty nerdy stuff. For instance, we named all of the rooms in our...
    Danzig

    Danzig: Danzig

    Mother! No, seriously, Glen Danzig’s mother must have been some woman to inspire this wonderful song. I remember...
    Coming to America

    Coming to America

    No matter which way you slice it, this thing is a classic. The plot is weak and formulaic. The direction is lame and amateurish. The acting is one step above community
    The Twenty-Seventh City

    The Twenty-Seventh City

    This is one of those books that I resisted for a while. I’m not sure exactly why, other...
    The Mysteries of Pittsburgh

    The Mysteries of Pittsburgh

    Michael Chabon likes themes. He likes the outsider surrounded by outsiders. I read Wonder Boys a while ago,...