The Number of the Cousin of the Beast
by Ben Lambert, Culture Editor on February 11, 2009 in Culture
Rarely has an author blown up like Roberto Bolaño. This “rarely” applies not only to the speed of his ascent in the English-speaking world, but also to its sheer deservedness. After all, it is relatively common for this or that author to gain a quick and unmerited reputational bounce. What makes Bolaño special to us Anglophones is the fact that he created a solid, substantial body of work in another language, all completely under our radar. The body of work has now emerged, full-blown in a series of hammer-blow translations, coming one after another with a disorienting speed in the past few years. The effect is something like the second coming of Sandy Koufax – one second there was nothing, and the next – you realize the quality and skill of someone who you would have thought you’d have been hearing about since he started in the minors. Read more
An Appreciation of David Foster Wallace
by Ben Lambert, Culture Editor on October 1, 2008 in Culture
David Foster Wallace, a writer whose books were thought to be, by some (including me), among the best things produced in the past few decades, committed suicide two weeks ago. When an artist or other creative figure such as Wallace dies, the New York Times often prints an article with the header, “An Appreciation.” An appreciation appears to be a specific genre of newspaper article, similar to an obituary but more opinionated and, of course, laudatory. Read more
Citay
by Ben Lambert, Culture Editor on March 24, 2008 in Features
Last night I checked out San Francisco-based rock band Citay, who are a group of incredibly tight musicians seemingly dedicated to exploring the musical possibilities suggested by a single Led Zeppelin song, that song being “Battle of Evermore”. Wonder what “Battle of Evermore” would sound like slower? Or a little bit faster? Howabout with a xylophone? This may or may not strike you as a promising concept, but the show actually rocked. Check out Citay here, and make sure to listen to the standout track “Nice Cuffs”.
Onkyo
by Ben Lambert, Culture Editor on March 23, 2008 in Features
Onkyo is a Japanese genre of music that focuses on the texture of sound rather than the melody or harmony created by any particular combination of notes. Read more
Hi
by Ben Lambert, Culture Editor on March 22, 2008 in Features
I thought I’d write a quick note just to describe what kind of posts I hope to put on this blog.
Surfing Music
by Ben Lambert, Culture Editor on March 17, 2008 in Culture
The Citizen’s music guru on three places where you can broaden your listening without ever leaving home…or the library.
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Talking Poetry with Lloyd Schwartz
by Ben Lambert, Culture Editor on October 31, 2007 in Culture
Lloyd Schwartz is the author of three collections of poetry: These People; Goodnight, Gracie; and Cairo Traffic. His poems have appeared in the New Yorker, Atlantic Monthly and The Best American Poetry. He is also the classical music critic for the Boston Phoenix, and received the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism in 1994.
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Drone On (Part 2)
by Ben Lambert, Culture Editor on April 18, 2007 in Culture
This is part two of a two-part series on drone music. Part one covered some of the musical ideas behind drone music; this one’s more about the social side. Of drone music. You’d be surprised.
Drone On (Part 1)
by Ben Lambert, Culture Editor on March 21, 2007 in Culture
This is part one of a two-part article on drone music. I’m serious.
