Category Archives: Music

What Do Lou Reed and Agatha Christie Have in Common

Posted on May 20, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

What Lou Reed and Agatha Christie have in common is the American-born, but British-raised illustrator Tom Adams. When Reed was searching for an artist to design his self-titled album for the UK market in 1972, he chose Adams. Ironically, although … Continue reading →

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Bookstock 2020

Posted on May 15, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Bookstock 2020, is an online books and music festival spearheaded by Eddy Nix, musician and owner of Driftless Books and Music in Viroqua, Wis.. The special event will run this  weekend, May 15-17, with the goal of celebrating musicians and … Continue reading →

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A Social Distance

Posted on April 23, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

I found this simple film of everyday people from 30 countries most impacted by COVID-19 who filmed themselves in isolation to be surprisingly moving. This touching three-minute short was directed by Ivan Cash and Jacob Jonas, and it is accompanied … Continue reading →

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Hermitage

Posted on March 25, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

I was very fortunate to spend an entire day in the world renowned Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg, Russia a few years ago. It’s almost overwhelming to try and take in the immense institution in one visit. To save our … Continue reading →

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Unreal City

Posted on March 15, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

I rarely post music videos, but I’m a fan of M.Ward, Clémence Poésy (ever since her role as Elise Wasserman in “The Tunnel”), and of course Paris. Filmed on the streets of Paris, the Beatrice Pegard-directed video for M. Ward’s … Continue reading →

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We Are The People

Posted on March 10, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Iggy Pop’s video “We Are the People” is based on a poem written in 1970 by the late, great Lou Reed. Of the poem, Pop told the BBC last year, “My God, this is the country today as I understand … Continue reading →

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Because the Night

Posted on January 19, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

h/t Todd Alcott  

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Happy Public Domain Day

Posted on January 1, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

On January 1, 2020, works from 1924 will enter the US public domain, where they will be free for all to use and build upon, without permission or fee. These works include George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, silent films by … Continue reading →

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London Calling

Posted on December 2, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

The British design studio Dorothy has created a map of the United Kingdom incorporating  the titles of more than 1,400 pop songs. The map places the names of tracks in the precise location that the music references, imagining a musical … Continue reading →

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Every day I write the book

Posted on November 25, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

h/t Todd Alcott & Elvis          

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