No. 26: Criterion flicks, Jenny Lewis, lots o' release dates & more
It's spring, it's spring - a marvelous thing!*
At least I hope it's spring-ish in your part of the world; I'm still hiding under cardigans and comforters. When Jon Snow reemerges, SO WILL I.
Ready? Let's do it!
* Shout-out to the original AND the Ren & Stimpy version.
What am I into right now?
A few things bubbling my bathwater:
TV: THE OTHER TWO on Comedy Central is really worth watching/binging if you haven't already. I've mentioned this series before, but it kicks off with a 13-year-old boy becoming a viral pop sensation -- and his fame-obsessed older siblings trying to handle it all. Over 10 episodes, the characters and storylines evolve, and I'm thrilled it'll be back for another season. ... If you love Gregg Araki's weird, funny, apocalyptic films like THE DOOM GENERATION and NOWHERE, you'll love his new Starz series, NOW APOCALYPSE. It's full of sex and doom and great music. ... And oh, did you know an all-female performance of JULIUS CAESAR airs tonight on PBS? Hit record on that sucker.
MUSIC: Last week I took my daughter to see Little Nora Brown, a 13-year-old Brooklynite who plays old-time banjo with lots of heart and (a very old) soul. Some of her performances are on YouTube. If you like her on Facebook, tell her I sent ya. ... If you are/were a fan of '90s alterna-make-out band Portishead, you may be interested in hearing Beth Gibbons singing with the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra. A recording of the performance became available today. ... And finally, next time you need a mellow moment, put on Jess Cornelius' "No Difference." This track from the Australian-raised artist really grew on me.
WORDS: Jenn Pelly's profile of Jenny Lewis for Pitchfork is one of the best things I read this week, and if I still taught music journalism, I'd put it on the syllabus. Jenny's new record, ON THE LINE, just came out, and reviews have been stellar.
MOVIES: The Criterion Channel launches April 8, and here's its first month of programming. Highlights include a David Lynch spotlight, a night of movies about "Killer Couples," a screening of BUGSY MALONE ... basically, it's every movie you wanna see but can't find on any other streaming platform.
TRAILERS: NO ALTERNATIVE is a music-themed drama that takes place in 1994 about grunge-y teens who just wanna make real music, man. Harry Hamlin plays the stern father. ... And the documentary BREAKING HABITS tells the story of activist nuns who run a medical-marijuana empire.
FESTIVALS: The Ebertfest lineup is always outstanding, and this year the Illinois film fest will screen BOUND and have Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly attending as guests! Virginia Madsen will also attend a screening of SIDEWAYS, and opening night features a special event/screening of the new Aretha Franklin doc, AMAZING GRACE. (If you go, please report back to us.)
COMEDY: "Album Cover of the Month" belongs to comedian Kara Klenk, whose cover for her new album, UNDEFEATED, is inspired by SWEET VALLEY HIGH AND painted by the series' original cover artist, James Mathewuse.
KIDS' STUFF: My daughter adores First Second's MAKER COMICS, particularly the one about how to fix a car (and no, we don't have a car). Honestly, I could learn a lot from these books, too.
AND R.I.P.: Ranking Rodger from The English Beat and General Public died this week at the too-young age of 56. From to "Tenderness" to "Mirror in the Bathroom" to on and on, so many of his songs are part of the soundtrack to my youth.
And YOU recommend:
A few things you're watching/hearing/into right now:
MUSIC: Our friend Herman loves Jenny Lewis' ON THE LINE, particularly the songs "Red Bull & Hennessy," "Wasted Youth" and "Heads Gonna Roll." ... Longtime reader Mel saw Hudson, Wis., band Yam Haus last year and instantly fell in love with their "positive and infectious polished pop sound. ... In these days where the world is dark and full of terrors, I HIGHLY recommend listening to their album STARGAZER." ... Brad dusted off his Stone Roses records and still can't get over the magic of the UK band's first album. "Nearly every track is amazing, and if "This Is The One" doesn't get you going, then I need to check your pulse myself," he says.
YOUTUBE: "For anyone feeling conflicted about consuming/owning works by artists who have (allegedly) behaved badly, I recommend this video from PBS' The Art Assignment on YouTube," Slynn says. "Doesn't answer the question, but gives you a lot to consider!"
ART: Brannon highly recommends the Amy Sherald exhibit at the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art in Atlanta. "If you don't know Amy Sherald, she is best known for painting the official portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama," Brannon says. "Her exhibit will be on view through May 18. If you are unable to come see it, you can see her paintings, along with her other photographs, on her Instagram."
BOOKS: Leanne loved MY YEAR OF REST AND RELAXATION by Ottessa Moshfegh. It follows "a young woman (who) takes a lot of pills so she can sleep as much as possible for a year," she says. "It sounds like a thin plot, but it's really interesting how much there is to it. It's about the daily and corporate grind, the art world, friendship, trying to find meaning in life. The very last bit of it will make you think about it for awhile."
FESTIVALS: Chris is thrilled with the lineup for the Burger Records festival in Oakland, Calif. Hosted by John Waters (!), Burger Boogaloo features The Jesus & Mary Chain (!!!) and Dead Boys (?!?), among others.
SPEAKING OF 'ON THE LINE' ... Tell us what you're into via email or text/voicemail at 929-515-1988, and I'll share your recs in a future newsletter. (And to the reader whose wife got upset when she saw my hotline number on your phone last week, well, I hope everything is cool now.)
The week ahead: Release dates & more
A few notable releases/events to put on your calendar:
TV/STREAMING:
- Season 3 of "Zombie Drew Barrymore" series SANTA CLARITA DIET drops on Netflix (March 29);
- Futuristic French series OSMOSIS also pops up on Netflix (March 29);
- HARLOTS returns to Hulu (March 29);
- BARRY and VEEP return to HBO (March 31);
- PBS debuts the miniseries MRS. WILSON, which stars Ruth Wilson (March 31);
- CBS ALL ACCESS debuts Jordan Peele's star-studded revival of THE TWILIGHT ZONE (April 1);
- Tracy Morgan's THE LAST O.G. returns to TBS (April 2);
- IFC brings us another season of BROCKMIRE (April 3);
- CW premieres IN THE DARK, the drama about a young blind woman with Ben Stiller as an EP and Michael Showalter as a director. (April 4).
IN THEATERS:
- Harmony Korine's amazing-looking THE BEACH BUM with Matthew McConaughey lands (March 29);
- Acclaimed indie DIANE starring Mary Kay Place emerges in select cities (March 29)
- Tim Burton returns with his live-action "I refuse to look at the Rotten Tomatoes score for this" version of DUMBO (March 29).
MUSIC:
- Brit post-punk legends Gang of Four return with a new record, HAPPY NOW (March 29);
- Another legendary Brit band, The Mekons, release DESERTED (March 29).
BOOKS:
- Author/creativity expert Austin Kleon tells us to KEEP GOING with his new book (April 2);
- Music writer David Browne delivers CROSBY, STILLS, NASH AND YOUNG: THE WILD, DEFINITIVE SAGA OF ROCK'S GREATEST SUPERGROUP (April 2);
- Cartoonist Box Brown explores CANNABIS: THE ILLEGALIZATION OF WEED IN AMERICA (April 2);
- Beloved webcomic creator Alex Norris brings us hits and new work in OH NO (April 2).
MISCELLANY:
- Chances are, you know someone who wants this GOLDEN GIRLS magnet set ... or maybe it's YOU? (on sale April 2).
AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ...
Yayoi Kusama (March 29), Bud Cort (March 29), Amy Sedaris (March 29 - and pictured above), Perry Farrell (March 29), Tracy Chapman (March 30), Vincent Van Gogh (March 30), Christopher Walken (March 31), my super-rad husband (March 31), Emmylou Harris (April 2), Doris Day (April 3), Mike Ness (April 3), Adam Scott (April 3), Robert Downey Jr. (April 4)
* By the way, what do you think of this new feature? Wanna see it again next week? Let me know!
It's not goodbye, it's "see you later" ...
Have a fantastic week! As always, you can peruse the archive and/or subscribe here. Get in touch via email (just hit reply) or text/call 929-515-1988. And if you like this newsletter, please spread the word far and wide!
Birthday party/cheesecake/jellybean/boom,
Dinky Bossetti
"The grunge scene is not what I'm interested in."
- Frances Bean Cobain
"I'm the mold that grunge was grown in."
- Townes Van Zandt