Category Archives: Music

On the Fiery Edge of Oblivion

Posted on April 15, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

Just when I managed to pull myself away from obsessively checking in on the Fagradalsfjall volcanic eruption in Iceland, the local band Kaleo released this astonishing music video. The performance video for Skinny was filmed live during a volcanic eruption … Continue reading →

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Was Mordor actually in Siberia

Posted on April 11, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

I haven’t watched much classic Soviet-era Russian television, but I imagine that little of the content was as weird as the recently rediscovered version of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. Embedded below are parts 1 and 2 of the … Continue reading →

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Down the Glen

Posted on February 25, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

Nearly a year ago, Irish musician Patrick Dexter began posting online videos of himself playing the cello. Since then, his open-air recitals, shot outside his picturesque cottage in Mayo on the rural west coast, have been viewed millions of times. The video … Continue reading →

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Happy Public Domain Day Eve

Posted on December 31, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Way back in 1998 Congress passed the Copyright Term Extension Act extending US copyrights by 20 years to life-plus-70 for human authors and 95 years total for corporate authors. The extension was retrospective, so works in the public domain went … Continue reading →

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the gods wait to delight in you

Posted on December 11, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

It should come as no surprise to any one that the poet Charles Bukowski was an inspiration and muse for the great Tom Waits. I am always moved by the short Bukowski poem “The Laughing Heart” so I love the … Continue reading →

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…but then you read

Posted on November 10, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Inspired by James Baldwin’s powerful 1963 book The Fire Next Time, musician and poet Meshell Ndegeocello created this intriguing short film based on Baldwin’s writing.

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Born to Read

Posted on October 17, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Tonight, you can celebrate the poetic genius of Bruce Springsteen and  also support the Book Industry Charitable Foundation by attending a the Crowdcast event “Born to Read–Booksellers Talk Bruce Springsteen. Through five decades, Springsteen has been as a cultural touchstone … Continue reading →

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Pulp Fiction Fictions

Posted on September 19, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Screenwriter Todd Alcott, creates these wonderful digital mashups  that combine the language of pop music and the visual language of 20th century pulp fiction paperbacks. While Alcott finds many of his vintage book covers online, he still discovers a few … Continue reading →

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These songs of freedom

Posted on September 16, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Paris-based Mathematic Studio produced this wonderful animation for Bob Marley’s timeless “Redemption Song.” Directed by Octave Marsal and Théo de Gueltzl, the video draws heavily on imagery and iconography surrounding the Rastafarian movement.

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Lowdown in Sweden

Posted on August 22, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Perspicacious followers of TBTP may recall a short story from a while back about the World’s Smallest Bookstore. Now the folks from the aptly named AnonyMouse street art collective have returned with the World’s Smallest Record Shop. Located in the … Continue reading →

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