On Chaos and Creation in the Backyard

About a month ago Sir Paul McCartney released his latest album, Chaos and Creation in the Backyard. I picked the album up that week, listened to it maybe twice, and then put it away and promptly forgot about it. Tonight, cleaning out the trunk I saw the CD lying there, and I decided to giveContinue reading “On Chaos and Creation in the Backyard”

On Stately Wayne Manor

As a kid I loved watching the Adam West Batman television series. In retrospect it wasn’t the best way to experience Batman–it didn’t take the character or his universe seriously. But it was loud, crass, and colorful, all of which appealed to this young child. And I loved how the show named things. Bruce WayneContinue reading “On Stately Wayne Manor”

The "Favorite Beatle" Question

I watched A Hard Day’s Night yesterday, the Miramax two-disc DVD version released a few years ago. I hadn’t watched one of the Beatles’ films in a while, and my VHS tapes are packed away, so I had little choice but to go with AHDN. It’s a great film. I can’t fault anything of it.Continue reading “The "Favorite Beatle" Question”

I am Spartacus!

I am writing a book. There’s a scene in That Thing You Do when the Wonders are about to perform on television, and Lenny asks Skitch, “How did we get here?” And Skitch Patterson, with his Spartacus fixation, says, “I have brought you here, sir, for I am Spartacus.” It’s that sense of unreality thatContinue reading “I am Spartacus!”