Every time I say I’m not going to write and focus on music, I end up coming back to writing about horror. My first almost-publication was a Halloween edition of my sixth grade school paper. I wrote movie reviews and drew pumpkins for a rating system. They got printed (on orange paper!) but were never … Continue reading Black Lodge Review Over at HorrorDNA
I’ve been rereading M.R. James’s stories. He’s most associated with ghost stories and quiet horror, but as an influence on Lovecraft there are plenty of creepy crawlies for those kinds of fans. I get why they seem archaic to some contemporary readers. Jacobi’s readings are perfect in the audiobooks. Puppets and animation in a serious … Continue reading Marginalia #8
More interesting and insightful than I thought it was going to be. Australian folk horror from the early 80s. A precursor to Hereditary, maybe? Genuinely bad, but possibly fun for those with a penchant and the patience for horror on a low budget in the 80s. Takes on apartment horror/possession. Some hilarious dialogue hilariously delivered. … Continue reading Marginalia #5
An annotated discography for sound and sound art at the fringes. You could probably get all Benjamin and Adorno on these genres and ideas, but Tau keeps the critical machinery to a minimum and often approaches the pieces and artists very practically. What draws us toward or away from these sounds? What does one get … Continue reading Marginalia #3
An epic about change and organized around the history of the world. I can’t imagine any reader not knowing some of these stories. I had been meaning to read the whole thing for years, especially after coming across Samuel Beckett’s enthusiasm for it. I can only remember offhand Beckett celebrating Proust, Joyce, and Ovid. Beckett’s … Continue reading Marginalia #2
A recent read that gives insight into before and after the folk explosion of the 1960s, referred to here as The Great Folk Scare. Great stories with a personal perspective on an era considered so important because of its connection to songwriters like Bob Dylan and Joan Baez. Van Ronk’s relationship with and stories about … Continue reading Marginalia #1
I recently interviewed Jad Fair and knowing so many of his songs talk about monsters and that he grew up in Michigan, I had to ask him about Channel 50. Sure enough, he watched a lot of early monster movies there and was lucky enough to grow up with various movie hosts, including Sgt. Sacto. … Continue reading Lost in Arkham: The Creeping Flesh (1973)
Revisiting the only fragment I have of a zombie book. Originally posted to The Terror Test after George Romero’s death and now resurrected on his birthday. Continue reading From the Archives: The Terror Test: Test Prep #18
Kelly is my guitar and bass teacher. I started taking lessons in March as a way to get through lockdown. I had always wanted to take lessons, but either always said I didn’t have the money or didn’t deserve them. Getting back into playing music has helped get me through this year. I’m studying walking … Continue reading New Video: Kelly Coyle’s “Traveling, Sitting Quite Still”
Stephen McClurg 