Released on April 17, 1981, The Cure’s third studio album, “Faith,” serves as a pivotal moment in the band’s career, marking the transition from their post-punk roots to a more atmospheric and introspective sound. The album, characterized by its haunting melodies, somber lyrics, and lush arrangements, has withstood the test of time, continuing to captivate …
Category: Featured
Mar 15 2023
Soviet Film Wednesday: Tale of Tales
Tales of Tales (Сказка сказок), also titled The Little Grey Wolf Will Come, was the first Soviet animation that I ever remember seeing, and for years I would return to this mysterious film, intermittently, in awe and wonder, taking in the magic and trying to piece together the different parts. Then I watched more Yuri …
Mar 14 2023
The Peculiar and Wonderful World of Tiki Animals
Many animals have come to be associated with tiki over the years, and here are some of the most prominent ones, how they became part of tiki culture, and a look at some of Hawaii’s most interesting animals. The Toucan When we think of the Toucan bird, we think of Tiki. In fact, these birds …
Jan 22 2023
Uncovering the Legacy of the Mother Road: Top Route 66 Museums to Explore
Route 66, often referred to as the Mother Road or the Main Street of America, is a historic highway that stretches from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California. Established in 1926, this iconic road played a significant role in the development of the United States, particularly during the Great Depression and the post-World War II …
Dec 21 2022
Soviet Film Wednesday: The Night Before Christmas
The Night Before Christmas (1951) was directed by the prolific Soviet animation duo of Valentina Brumberg and Zinaida Brumberg, who were also known as the “Brumberg sisters” as well as the “grandmothers of Russian animation.” Some of their most well known films are Little Red Riding Hood and Ivashka and Baba-Yaga. Not your typical Christmas story, it begins …
Nov 16 2022
Soviet Film Wednesday: Samoyed Boy
Made in 1928, Samoyed Boy was one of the first films directed by the Brumberg sisters, along with directors Nikolai Khodataev and Olga Chodatajewa. It is the story of a boy who fights corruption in his village, then goes on to study in Moscow. It may be best known for its innovative animation; the mesmerizing waves are stunning …
Nov 12 2022
On This Day in 2004: The Funeral of DJ John Peel
DJ and radio host John Peel’s funeral was held on this day, November 12, 2004, at St Edmundsbury Cathedral in the town of Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, England. Among the 1000-plus attendees were many artists, including Pulp’s Jarvis Cocker, The White Stripes, and Undertones singer Feargal Sharkey. His brother Alan Ravenscroft read a eulogy …
Sep 18 2022
The Inspiration Behind “Hey Jude”
On this day September 18, 1996, Julian Lennon made the winning bid of just over $39,000 (£21,000) at Sotheby’s in London for the recording notes for the song “Hey Jude,” which Paul McCartney wrote for young Julian to comfort and encourage him during his parents’ divorce. Originally titled “Hey Jules,” Paul McCartney comments on the song’s …
Sep 14 2022
Soviet Film Wednesday: War and Peace
Between 1966 and1967, writer and director Sergei Bondarchuk’s War and Peace (Война и мир) was released in four parts; a seven-hour-plus long adaptation of Tolstoy’s epic novel depicting the lives of several aristocratic families during the time of Napoleon’s invasion of Russia. The stunningly beautiful film skillfully portrays personal stories amidst the political backdrop. Highly …