Alec Hanley Bemis's blog
Complexity Works Too
By Alec Hanley Bemis 11.25.2009
A few weeks back I posted a video which benefited from the art of simplicity. But sometimes complexity is alright. Even if that complexity comes in the form of signs & symbols without a clear referent.
Leonard Cohen: Poet, in a younger prime
By Alec Hanley Bemis 11.21.2009
The documentary is called Ladies & Gentlemen, Mr. Leonard Cohen.
This will expire soon -- as will we -- so watch. That's the point, isn't it?
Brief thoughts about length
By Alec Hanley Bemis 11.13.2009
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In this morning's paper I came across this quote from novelist Cormac McCarthy:
A: The director had the notion that he could put the entire book up on the screen. Well, you can't do that.
Sometimes a poem's just a poem
By Alec Hanley Bemis 11.12.2009
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This morning a poet friend IM'd me a poem. That was a first for me. (And, actually, it was a Gchat message but you get the idea.)
Soon, she will be going to Brazil for a long time, a place I've had reason to think about a fair bit, of late. The poet's status message led me to this video. I wonder if it means something.
Julian Casablancas, before & after
By Alec Hanley Bemis 11.05.2009
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In their not-so-complimentary review of Julian Casablancas' solo debut, Pitchfork pointed to this fierce 2002 performance from the David Letterman show by his band The Strokes.
What’s happened to Robert Hilburn’s rock’n’roll heroes?
By Alec Hanley Bemis 11.02.2009
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I have a soft spot in my heart for Los Angeles Times emeritus pop critic Robert Hilburn. Back when I spent more time writing about music than enabling its makers to make a career at it, Bob was kind enough to invite me to the newspaper's dining hall for a pep talk.
Quoting Morton Feldman
By Alec Hanley Bemis 10.20.2009
I'm going to be out of town the next few days, enjoying the Maine foliage. I'll let this tip of the hat to Morton Feldman serve as space filler.
Moby on Moby: "I sometimes ramble a little bit."
By Alec Hanley Bemis 10.16.2009
Eminem released a new album this past May called Relapse. It sold over 600,000 copies in its first week of release. A month later Moby released his new album Wait for Me and, well, let's just put it this way, it did not sell 600,000 copies.
Too much, too much, too much: A short attention span essay about Sufjan Stevens & Liberace
By Alec Hanley Bemis 10.14.2009
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I. THE SURFACE
Maybe you heard about Sufjan Stevens' recent US tour. Maybe you read my braggadocious post about the (tiny) role I had in kicking off this latest round of shows.
Canadians are never alone
By Alec Hanley Bemis 10.08.2009
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Did you read the title of this post? That's one argument made in "Letter from Canada: The Return of the Native," Adam Gopnik's recent New Yorker profile about Canadian academic-cum-politician Michael Ignatieff.
I am going to find a way to tie this notion to independent rock'n'roll, just you wait.
