Arts Fuse Editor

WATCH CLOSELY: “Killing Eve” Season 3 — Still Suspenseful, But More Muddled

April 12, 2020
Posted in , ,

Killing Eve is as exciting and compelling as ever. But its narrative structure is becoming somewhat fractured and increasingly odd.

Theater Commentary: Peering into the Post-Covid Future for the New Play Sector

April 12, 2020
Posted in , ,

I’m curious to see what happens next. I’ll keep writing plays, but I might need to hone my skills as a handyman just in case this whole theater thing doesn’t pan out.

Music Album Review: “Ghosts” — The Cowboy Junkies Confront Heartbreak and Sorrow

April 9, 2020
Posted in , , ,

Darkness is pervasive in this Cowboy Junkies album, but it is not all-encompassing.

Book Review: “The Heart: Frida Kahlo in Paris” — The Mystery of Art and Love

April 8, 2020
Posted in , ,

Marc Petitjean seamlessly moves from describing intimate scenes to discussing Frida Kahlo’s art and its significance.

Book Review: “The Mountains Sing” — The Power of Witnessing

April 6, 2020
Posted in , ,

This is a love letter, told honestly and poignantly, to the Vietnamese people, an homage to their dedication to remembrance, during and after a painful time.

Book Review: “Shakespeare in a Divided America” — Illuminating the Bard’s Influence on Our History

April 5, 2020
Posted in , ,

Shakespeare’s role in American history is not immediately apparent — at least it wasn’t to me. Part of the considerable pleasure of reading this book is seeing how James Shapiro draws the connections.

Jazz CD Reviews: Lakecia Benjamin & Dave Liebman Group — Rejuvenating the Past

April 5, 2020
Posted in , , ,

I’d have to give the edge to Dave Liebman in terms of innovative creative reach. But Lakecia Benjamin more than holds her own in how she gives re-vitalizing attention to some very important musical roots.

Music Review: Childish Gambino’s “3.15.20” — The Best (And Worst) of Both Worlds

April 4, 2020
Posted in , , ,

Childish Gambino is hamstrung by ambition, but 3.15.20 still contains a bevy of enjoyable songs, including one or two tracks that brush against brilliance.

Book Review: “August” — A Rewarding Curiosity in the Ordinary

April 4, 2020
Posted in , ,

August is funny in a way — over time its small scale rhythms and monosyllabic reactions generate a comforting beauty that settles in.

Arts Remembrance: The Three Funkiest Handclaps in Music History — An Appreciation of Bill Withers

April 3, 2020
Posted in , ,

When I think of Bill Withers I think of just three handclaps. It’s my favorite example in his music, or just about anyone else’s, of the power of restraint — not slamming and flailing about to shift a groove into overdrive.

Recent Posts

Popular Posts

Categories

Archives