Music Reviews
Apollo

Apollo

Number 1 in Iran

Apollo Braunshtein Records

If you can get past the rather disturbing cover photo of Mr. Apollo Braunshtein in hot pants and a Yassar Arafat beard, you can begin the process of assimilating his rather disturbing brand of music. The opening cut kneecaps you with the juvenile refrain, “There’s a party in my pants and everyone’s coming.” It takes some courage to record something that stupid AND not show a sense of irony. If you get through that, the next cut, “Saddam Hussein is a Gay icon,” contains a a long list of his fantasy characters. Who would have guessed Donald Rumsfeld held any appeal for the Alternative Lifestyle set?

After the initial weirdness which makes SOME sort of a political statement there’s a variety of material ranging from ’90s dance to explicit directions for oral sex. While the music is catchy, the language is NOT Republican Approved with themes revolving around the most abusive forms of love. If you were writing Cabaret and casting Hedwig as Sally Bowles, this would be your soundtrack.

Apollo Braun: http://www.apollobraun.com


Recently on Ink 19...

Ani DiFranco

Ani DiFranco

Event Reviews

This fall, Ani DiFranco brought new Righteous Babe labelmate Kristen Ford to Iowa City, where Jeremy Glazier enjoyed an incredible evening of artistry.

Garage Sale Vinyl: Ian Hunter

Garage Sale Vinyl: Ian Hunter

Garage Sale Vinyl

This week Christopher Long grabs a bag of bargain vinyl from a flea market in Mount Dora, Florida — including You’re Never Alone with a Schizophrenic, the classic 1979 LP from Ian Hunter.

Archive Archaeology

Archive Archaeology

Archive Archaeology

Bob Pomeroy gets into four Radio Rarities from producer Zev Feldman for Record Store Day with great jazz recordings from Wes Montgomery, Les McCann, Cal Tjader, and Ahmad Jamal.

Archive Archaeology: Phil Alvin

Archive Archaeology: Phil Alvin

Archive Archaeology

Bob Pomeroy digs into Un “Sung Stories” (1986, Liberation Hall), Blasters’ frontman Phil Alvin’s American Roots collaboration with Sun Ra and his Arkestra, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and New Orleans saxman Lee Allen.

A Darker Shade of Noir

A Darker Shade of Noir

Print Reviews

Roi J. Tamkin reviews A Darker Shade of Noir, fifteen new stories from women writers completely familiar with the horrors of owning a body in a patriarchal society, edited by Joyce Carol Oates.

Garage Sale Vinyl: The Time

Garage Sale Vinyl: The Time

Garage Sale Vinyl

Feeling funky this week, Christopher Long gets his groove on while discovering a well-cared-for used vinyl copy of one of his all-time R&B faves: Ice Cream Castle, the classic 1984 LP from The Time, for just a couple of bucks.

Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir

Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir

Interviews

During AFI Fest 2023, Lily and Generoso interviewed director Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir, whose impressive debut feature, City of Wind, carefully examines the juxtaposition between the identity of place and tradition against the powers of modernity in contemporary Mongolia.

%d bloggers like this: