tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82875795991842182052009-06-23T16:32:30.598-05:00A weblog of mixed media + cultural criticism with a literary bent.Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919363791988246029noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287579599184218205.post-19437507721672901492008-06-24T20:04:00.004-05:002008-06-24T20:21:00.502-05:002008-06-24T20:21:00.502-05:00

Mayra Calvani, author of The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing, recently interviewed me as part of her Slippery Art of Book Reviewing series at Blogcritics.org. The interview mainly focused on the ins and outs of what makes a good book review, but I did get a chance to plug There There Kid along the way: You also keep a blog, There There Kid. Tell us about it.There There Kid is a new experiment of

Kevin Eaganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16858170474498337647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287579599184218205.post-71525120542366174592008-06-21T22:25:00.002-05:002008-06-24T20:05:46.231-05:002008-06-24T20:05:46.231-05:00

by Kevin EaganI have to be honest, it came as a big shock to me when I first read that Nine Inch Nails would be leaving Interscope records, opting instead to release their albums independently. Don't get me wrong, Nine Inch Nails has always been a band willing to try new things and branch out into new experiments, but they never struck me as the type of band that would leave behind the marketing

Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919363791988246029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287579599184218205.post-66753502733461986662008-06-07T14:55:00.001-05:002008-06-07T14:58:30.820-05:002008-06-07T14:58:30.820-05:00

Mix Bag is a regular feature that brings together a random collection of media and highlights why it all matters to you.I can't begin this week's Mix Bag without mentioning a very important and historic moment in American history: the Democratic party electing the first African-American presidential candidate. It's not only significant because of its symbolism -- after all, we've struggled for

Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919363791988246029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287579599184218205.post-24974248575142451682008-06-03T19:21:00.009-05:002008-12-09T19:22:23.119-06:002008-12-09T19:22:23.119-06:00

by Matthew RyanNaughty words have an unmistakable demoralizing toll on an uptight culture. But shocking a (comparatively) puritanical society sometimes has another point, such as George Carlin’s “Seven Dirty Words” monologue in 1972. He was trying to say that an irrational fear of naughty words gets in the way of healthy human discourse. To illustrate the point, he used a lot of naughty words.

Matthew Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04474100249651230501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287579599184218205.post-25666647790326307232008-05-31T14:17:00.007-05:002008-06-06T10:55:46.093-05:002008-06-06T10:55:46.093-05:00

by Kevin EaganIt is an inevitability that with every generational change, the older generation will complain about the new generation and reminisce on the past - the "good ol' days," if you will. It's not a surprise when the new fashions and trends of youth culture get misunderstood by the adults who say they know better, and as those fashions and trends become the accepted norms, those youth

Kevin Eaganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16858170474498337647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287579599184218205.post-76836796621509463552008-05-19T21:32:00.005-05:002008-06-06T10:56:52.891-05:002008-06-06T10:56:52.891-05:00

by Matthew RyanBefore it even got off the ground, it was obvious that the show was to be taken seriously. On the left side of the stage were rows of banks of crates, arranged in store-esque aisles. One of these crates bore the spray-stenciled name: RADIOHEAD. An arsenal of 20-ish guitars lined one of the aisles, ready for battle. Wires stuck out of metal crates like a network of nerves from a

Matthew Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04474100249651230501noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287579599184218205.post-81249300747200619432008-05-19T21:29:00.002-05:002008-06-06T10:55:05.297-05:002008-06-06T10:55:05.297-05:00

by Kevin EaganThe indie underground has always thrived upon borrowing from the past to create something new, discovering new styles that can't be easily defined and have not yet been exploited by the mainstream. In music, as well as in art, indie artists try to reject modern approaches by tearing apart the sounds and actions that make up the current pop culture. It's an approach that is not new

Kevin Eaganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16858170474498337647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287579599184218205.post-61631028040353830282008-05-19T21:06:00.004-05:002008-06-06T10:54:40.918-05:002008-06-06T10:54:40.918-05:00

by Kevin EaganGrowing up in middle class suburbia has become the height of American comfort, but it's also true that it breeds a certain level of eccentricity - at least, for those who came of age in all of its pre-packaged glory. Blame it on the lack of originality; the strip malls, the four-lane divided highways, and the big box retailers all start to look the same after a while, and those

Kevin Eaganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16858170474498337647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287579599184218205.post-60202911435529919592008-05-10T13:22:00.002-05:002008-06-06T10:54:05.285-05:002008-06-06T10:54:05.285-05:00

by Kevin EaganJonathan Lethem's fiction has never been the type to conform to genre restrictions. If anything, Lethem has become the master of exploiting the trappings and clichés of genre to great effect, and given his track record so far, he's not afraid to use these clichés as an artful indictment of our consumer society. Subsequently, Lethem also shows that literature and art thrive on

Kevin Eaganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16858170474498337647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287579599184218205.post-11548118449181628802008-05-10T13:19:00.003-05:002008-06-06T10:53:36.205-05:002008-06-06T10:53:36.205-05:00

by Kevin EaganThe idea of "making it" in the world, to come from nothing to something through hard work and persistence, is such a deeply held American principle that we don't give it a second thought. When a child declares he will grow up to be an astronaut or top-forty musician, we encourage it — hell, it might come true. When he does grow up and he's struggling to make manager at McDonald's,

Kevin Eaganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16858170474498337647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287579599184218205.post-41134545309753941082008-05-10T13:14:00.004-05:002008-06-06T10:53:06.915-05:002008-06-06T10:53:06.915-05:00

by Kevin EaganOut of all the critically successful new albums coming out this year, a theme seems to be emerging: many of the best albums have come from side projects and supergroups. From The Gutter Twins' Saturnalia and The Raconteurs' Consolers of the Lonely to Destroyer's Trouble in Dreams, the supergroups and solo projects have reigned supreme, and there appears to be many more of these

Kevin Eaganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16858170474498337647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287579599184218205.post-69340103463372803222008-05-02T15:54:00.002-05:002008-05-02T16:02:37.598-05:002008-05-02T16:02:37.598-05:00

So I know I don't usually blog about personal stuff here, but I am happily blogging away on my brand new Asus Eee PC 4g. I love this thing; it's tiny, and I'm still getting used to the keyboard setup (very small!) but it's what I expected it to be (excuse any typos while I get the hang of this thing).I know this blog has been on hiatus recently. I plan to get back to blogging on important and

Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919363791988246029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287579599184218205.post-60715293520478125072008-04-17T11:59:00.003-05:002008-06-06T10:52:02.275-05:002008-06-06T10:52:02.275-05:00

by Kevin Eagan There's something to be said about experimentation and noise. Even the most simplistic rock band can transform themselves into something much more complex by adding a few guitar effects and background clamor; just look at The Beatles or The Rolling Stones -- both bands pulled it off well, and their songs have become legendary.Anton Newcombe's The Brian Jonestown Massacre, an odd

Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919363791988246029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287579599184218205.post-16923157148432915342008-04-17T11:56:00.002-05:002008-04-17T12:23:08.275-05:002008-04-17T12:23:08.275-05:00

Sonic Youth have always been a band shrouded in mystery. Spanning a career that's about to finish off its third decade, the band have carried with them both the avant garde and experimentation of the indie underground, as well as the commercial excess of the 1990s "Alt-rock" scene. With over 15 studio albums and countless EP's, solo, and side projects, the band is still strong today -- and not

Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919363791988246029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287579599184218205.post-88248456748978226452008-04-09T20:32:00.002-05:002008-04-09T20:37:54.629-05:002008-04-09T20:37:54.629-05:00

Mix Bag is a weekly feature that brings together a random collection of media and highlights why it all matters to you. After an extended weekend off and a handful of other things to write, I haven't had too much time to peruse what's interesting out there this week. Usually, I'd say it's disappointing to put off a feature for a few days, but then I remind myself that with only a handful of

Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919363791988246029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287579599184218205.post-77442715382927391932008-04-03T17:22:00.003-05:002008-04-03T17:28:54.163-05:002008-04-03T17:28:54.163-05:00

Nick Vayenas is a jazz musician who, at first listen, sounds straightforward and conventional. A closer listen, however, reveals some intricate and complex compositions, and Vayenas is anything but another jazz musician; he's a musician that's willing to cross bridges into new musical territory, and doesn't hold anything back.Vayenas' debut album Synesthesia offers a mix of synthesizers, horns

Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919363791988246029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287579599184218205.post-15532318933740986282008-04-03T16:12:00.003-05:002008-04-04T11:37:08.042-05:002008-04-04T11:37:08.042-05:00

"We're half-awake, in a fake empire."So declares singer Matt Berninger of The National in "Fake Empire," the song that kicks off their latest album Boxer. The entire album continues in this vein, suggesting that American life has become a life "half-awake," one of suburban efficiency and catchy marketing. And that's essentially where the members of The National are coming from, having endured the

Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919363791988246029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287579599184218205.post-45865556621860134282008-04-03T12:15:00.003-05:002008-04-03T12:39:12.427-05:002008-04-03T12:39:12.427-05:00

I wouldn't usually advocate not purchasing an album that has Radiohead on it, but this is too much.Radiohead's former record label, Parlophone/EMI, plans to release a greatest hits compilation to coincide with Radiohead's upcoming world tour.Now, this wouldn't be a problem, except that it reflects the ongoing rivalry between Radiohead and its former label. Radiohead left Parlophone/EMI after the

Kevin Eaganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16858170474498337647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287579599184218205.post-7558626248847356082008-03-31T20:17:00.001-05:002008-03-31T20:19:07.782-05:002008-03-31T20:19:07.782-05:00

Mix Bag is a weekly feature that brings together a random collection of media and highlights why it all matters to you.Mix Bag #1: Elbow, Books on the Music Industry, and Games to Waste Time and Sharpen Your MindSince this is our very first Mix Bag here at There There Kid, we'd like to explain the purpose for this weekly feature. As you may know, There There Kid distinguishes itself from other

Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919363791988246029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287579599184218205.post-13006228329412909022008-03-29T21:51:00.002-05:002008-03-30T10:48:35.845-05:002008-03-30T10:48:35.845-05:00

Out of all the major upsets, tragedies, and failures America has experienced in this new century, none will be as damaging to American morale as our current war in Iraq. We've just marked two major milestones in Iraq--five years of direct conflict and war, and four thousand troop deaths--and yet, the powers that be, those taking on the unenviable task of trying to fix this mess, have not improved

Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919363791988246029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287579599184218205.post-74232316402605892652008-03-27T05:58:00.009-05:002008-03-28T15:33:57.861-05:002008-03-28T15:33:57.861-05:00

Of all the great thinkers of the 20th Century, Sigmund Freud's theories on the inner workings of the mind have affected our perceptions of reality the most. Freud's psychoanalytic theories have become such a prominent aspect of culture--both pop culture as well as critical theory and analysis--that it has shaped how we view our world, and we've all become a little more self-conscious as a result.

Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919363791988246029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287579599184218205.post-13345968795639378962008-03-25T14:56:00.000-05:002008-03-25T14:59:43.301-05:002008-03-25T14:59:43.301-05:00

I've added a few older articles up here to give you readers a perspective on what we're looking for on this site. It's a start, but still not fully what we'll be doing here.In the next week, I'll have some original articles up here that will give more perspective.For now, send me an e-mail if you'd like to make a suggestion or want more information.Also, check out our submission guidelines.

Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919363791988246029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287579599184218205.post-27563642152184017562008-03-25T12:20:00.000-05:002008-03-25T12:32:19.102-05:002008-03-25T12:32:19.102-05:00

Yesterday, I kicked off this blog with a brief introduction and statement explaining what I hope to do with this thing. Now comes the fun part: getting started.I've posted a submissions guidelines page because we'd like to get more writers on board. I don't think this thing will work the way I want it to without some varying perspectives on the world.Right now, I'm leaving this thing open to all

Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919363791988246029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287579599184218205.post-3217738334474633452008-03-24T13:35:00.000-05:002008-03-24T13:52:13.171-05:002008-03-24T13:52:13.171-05:00

Welcome to There There Kid. Obviously, this is our first post, and we won't be up and running for a month or so as we sort out the format, etc.However, this blog will be a mixed media blog that brings together many different forms of art, placing the works within their cultural contexts. After all, art doesn't occur within a vacuum, and we hope to reveal the undercurrents of culture that shape

Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919363791988246029noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287579599184218205.post-5490568486374839012008-03-11T14:53:00.001-05:002008-03-27T06:44:33.422-05:002008-03-27T06:44:33.422-05:00

Before you even open the disc or listen to a single second of the album, The Gutter Twins' debut release Saturnalia speaks to you through its striking album cover. The cover is a photo showing classic urban prairie, an abandoned lot between two shotgun houses, where the greenery only grows as weeds between the cracks of a neglected sidewalk and life seems to have gone underground. Two chairs sit

Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10919363791988246029noreply@blogger.com0