michael 👽
@americanwatr.bsky.social
music educator
steak and oysters enjoyer
fan of Brian Eno, Silver Jews, Martin Scorsese, Kelly Reichardt, Beethoven, and others…
VHS Village. pittsburgh pa to boston ma
https://boxd.it/2Tmot
steak and oysters enjoyer
fan of Brian Eno, Silver Jews, Martin Scorsese, Kelly Reichardt, Beethoven, and others…
VHS Village. pittsburgh pa to boston ma
https://boxd.it/2Tmot
highly recommend picking up @filmsradiance.bsky.social release of Hal Ashby’s “The Landlord”- a simmering, tense look at racial politics through dark comedy and complex characters. There’s a great essay by @judysquirrels.bsky.social included- check it out if you can play Region B discs
December 15, 2024 at 3:19 PM
highly recommend picking up @filmsradiance.bsky.social release of Hal Ashby’s “The Landlord”- a simmering, tense look at racial politics through dark comedy and complex characters. There’s a great essay by @judysquirrels.bsky.social included- check it out if you can play Region B discs
watched Gladiator for the first time today and had a great time
November 24, 2024 at 8:40 PM
watched Gladiator for the first time today and had a great time
holding space with these sponges
November 24, 2024 at 5:41 PM
holding space with these sponges
Listened to a nifty record this morning- two versions of “Mack the Knife” and “Summertime” performed by Ella Fitzgerald in Berlin. However, they’re both etched into the record in the same area so that it’s up to chance which version you’ll get!
November 24, 2024 at 3:25 PM
Listened to a nifty record this morning- two versions of “Mack the Knife” and “Summertime” performed by Ella Fitzgerald in Berlin. However, they’re both etched into the record in the same area so that it’s up to chance which version you’ll get!
Spent a lovely Saturday evening updating my Discogs and listening to one of my favorite Bowie albums
November 23, 2024 at 11:39 PM
Spent a lovely Saturday evening updating my Discogs and listening to one of my favorite Bowie albums
recent disk hauls. always feel a little guilty for this much consumerism but i’m excited to watch these
October 26, 2024 at 9:08 PM
recent disk hauls. always feel a little guilty for this much consumerism but i’m excited to watch these
It’s laughable just how fantastic Andris Nelson’s Shostakovich recordings are when compared with his pathetic Beethoven- I haven’t bothered with his Bruckner. But then I have to ask- why has he only focused on 3 composers in the last decade?
September 22, 2024 at 3:39 PM
It’s laughable just how fantastic Andris Nelson’s Shostakovich recordings are when compared with his pathetic Beethoven- I haven’t bothered with his Bruckner. But then I have to ask- why has he only focused on 3 composers in the last decade?
Here’s a great disc of English music conducted by a master of this repertoire- all the music here is sweet and light, almost reminiscent of French music but quite compact. Beautiful playing, lovingly interpreted.
August 7, 2024 at 2:25 PM
Here’s a great disc of English music conducted by a master of this repertoire- all the music here is sweet and light, almost reminiscent of French music but quite compact. Beautiful playing, lovingly interpreted.
Spent some of this morning working on my Musician of the Month unit on Swamp Dogg! Super excited to introduce my students to this zany, gem who is not only a brilliant soul musician but also a one-of-a-kind creative force. I wonder what they’ll think of him.
August 7, 2024 at 1:52 PM
Spent some of this morning working on my Musician of the Month unit on Swamp Dogg! Super excited to introduce my students to this zany, gem who is not only a brilliant soul musician but also a one-of-a-kind creative force. I wonder what they’ll think of him.
Nagano’s performance of Mahler 8 made me really enjoy a piece that I don’t generally love to listen to! The balance between orchestra and vocals is delicately handled so that the details of the score are clear without sounding micro-managed. A beautiful performance that highlights the right things.
November 26, 2023 at 5:24 PM
Nagano’s performance of Mahler 8 made me really enjoy a piece that I don’t generally love to listen to! The balance between orchestra and vocals is delicately handled so that the details of the score are clear without sounding micro-managed. A beautiful performance that highlights the right things.
This is one of my favorite recordings of Mahler 1. Boulez’s straightforward, precise approach works very well for this symphony which, for me, works best when a conductor gets the orchestra to really dig into creating a detailed, precise, dynamic performance while not being cold or hyper accurate.
November 25, 2023 at 2:01 AM
This is one of my favorite recordings of Mahler 1. Boulez’s straightforward, precise approach works very well for this symphony which, for me, works best when a conductor gets the orchestra to really dig into creating a detailed, precise, dynamic performance while not being cold or hyper accurate.
Two of my favorite artistic experiences this year have been reading Franz Kafka’s “The Trial” and watching Orson Welles’ magnificent film companion to the novel. Wonderful, frightening meditations on systematic power, the fragility of the individual, and the fickle natures of those with influence.
November 19, 2023 at 3:04 PM
Two of my favorite artistic experiences this year have been reading Franz Kafka’s “The Trial” and watching Orson Welles’ magnificent film companion to the novel. Wonderful, frightening meditations on systematic power, the fragility of the individual, and the fickle natures of those with influence.
I watched Orson Welles' dizzying and gripping adaption of Kafka's "The Trial" and was most struck by his portrayal of the modern, corporate office drones. While not a Star Wars obsessor, the thing that came to mind was how Imperial, mindless office workers came to a similar workspace- inspiration?
November 19, 2023 at 2:37 PM
I watched Orson Welles' dizzying and gripping adaption of Kafka's "The Trial" and was most struck by his portrayal of the modern, corporate office drones. While not a Star Wars obsessor, the thing that came to mind was how Imperial, mindless office workers came to a similar workspace- inspiration?
listening to the new Beatles compilations and, while I know it has nothing to do with those involved today, I just still will never understand what made them choose this vocal take for the official release over the one used in the “Naked” album
November 14, 2023 at 12:06 AM
listening to the new Beatles compilations and, while I know it has nothing to do with those involved today, I just still will never understand what made them choose this vocal take for the official release over the one used in the “Naked” album
Never been super into Toscanini's recordings (maybe born too late and spoiled by modern recordings?), but this Beethoven 7 is undeniably great.
September 25, 2023 at 8:46 PM
Never been super into Toscanini's recordings (maybe born too late and spoiled by modern recordings?), but this Beethoven 7 is undeniably great.
Beginning my Crumb Complete Edition today with this fabulous first volume. By far the highlight is his “Apparition”, a haunting, mysterious, and beautiful setting of Walt Whitman’s poetry for soprano and amplified piano. this is such an important recording project, and such beautiful music.
September 22, 2023 at 9:32 PM
Beginning my Crumb Complete Edition today with this fabulous first volume. By far the highlight is his “Apparition”, a haunting, mysterious, and beautiful setting of Walt Whitman’s poetry for soprano and amplified piano. this is such an important recording project, and such beautiful music.
Kletzi’s Beethoven cycle has such a refreshing sound, alongside focused and forward thinking performances.
September 16, 2023 at 11:24 PM
Kletzi’s Beethoven cycle has such a refreshing sound, alongside focused and forward thinking performances.