Author: James McNally

Rip It Up and Start Again

Rip It Up and Start Again [cover]

I’m very excited about the release of Simon Reynolds’ book Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978-1984. This is exactly the period I’ve considered writing about before, though only about the local Toronto scene. This was not only an incredibly fertile period for music in general, but it corresponded with the exact years I was most receptive to it (13-19). There’s a good review in the NYT today (free registration required). Check it out. And if you’re coming to SXSW, make sure you get one of my annual Compilation Champs CDs. I guarantee several tracks of postpunk goodness!

Bonus points to anyone who can tell me where the title of the book comes from.

UPDATE: I just found Simon Reynolds’ blog! Via the excellent Silence Is A Rhythm Too, which has been featuring MP3 downloads of various postpunk classics. Reynolds also has an author site with more info on the book, and recently hosted a panel discussion which included Steven Daly of Orange Juice and No Wave pioneer James Chance (of James Chance and the Contortions). It’s a big download but looks to be worthwhile.

Bush Disapproval At Record Levels

CNN has published the results of a new poll showing President George W. Bush’s approval rating at 38% and the number of people who actively disapprove of his leadership is at 60%.

The most interesting part of the poll is the downloadable PDF which tracks his ratings all the way back to February 2001. Did you know that the week before 9/11, his approval rating was at a lukewarm 51% and the week after it jumped to 86%? Thousands dead and it gave him a 35% shot in the arm. You wonder if he’s become addicted to crises to help dig himself out of his lacklustre performance.

Feedblitz

I’ve switched to the Feedblitz RSS subscription service. If you have been reading this site in an RSS reader, and can no longer read this except by visiting the site, please resubscribe using the form in the sidebar. Thanks! You can now go back to ignoring the lack of a redesign! Perhaps when I get back from Austin…

UPDATE: Ok, I realized that Feedblitz allows people to subscribe to email updates and that you can still use FeedBurner to subscribe to the actual RSS feed. Sort of confusing, but if you were subscribed before, there is now a choice of regular RSS for your reader (click the FeedBurner box in the sidebar) or updates by email (click the FeedBlitz box or enter your email address in the Subscribe box in the sidebar). Thanks for your understanding!

SXSW #6

James Invites You!

James Invites You! (image by Kristin)

I can’t believe how fast SXSW has crept up on me. In less than two weeks, I’ll be in sunny Austin for the sixth year in a row. I remember how excited I was back in the fall of 2000 when I had already decided to attend my first time. I blogged for months and months and Nikolai joked that he’d have to create a new Bloggie Award for “Most Blogging About SXSW”. I’m older and more jaded now, not the hot up-and-comer that I was back in the pioneer days, but I’m still crazy excited to be going. Meeting up with old friends and making new ones, staying out very very late and talking geek talk. It’s going to be a much-needed shot of warmth, both meteorological and sociological. For a second year, I’ll be rooming with my buddy Neil Lee, even though he told me I snored last year.