Archive

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 060.5

One feature of the newsletter that will only be available to folks that pony up for a paid subscription is a weekly run down of things to watch, listen to, and read—as chosen by me. While this makes me feel a little bit like Bruno Kirby in When Harry Met Sally defending the existence of his stupid, wagon wheel, Roy Rogers, garage sale coffee table ("I have... good taste!"), I know there were some of you out there who enjoyed it when I was offering up suggestions of movies to stream. This is a way to bring that back with the added bonus of stuff worthy of your ears and eyes. I hope you get some use out of it.

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 060

Normally, I try to get these newsletters out on Friday. But as I was scurrying to put it together, the news from Wisconsin blinked onto my computer screen and it suddenly felt awful to be dropping this nonsense into the world. I don't know about you, but I struggle all the time with the necessity of my writing and my personal obsessions when there's so much work to be done on the front lines of social justice and climate change.

Later that day, another notice came across my desk from my friend Andrew Neerman who runs the incredible label Beacon Sound. His email was, in part, promoting the imprint's latest release by Lebanese artist Anthony Sahyoun, but it was also a philippic against the noise of popular culture over the past few weeks. As he put it in the intro:

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 059

Greetings, friends. Back at you with another edition of the newsletter on what looks to be another grey, rainy day here in Portland.

In the craziness of the fund drive for XRAY (thank you all for your donations to the cause, by the way... I owe you the world for that) and work (I just started doing some writing for a university and working up interviews for a bigger story not out until January), I dropped the ball on sharing mixes from my 500 Greatest Songs series over the past couple of newsletters. To catch you up, I have three (!!) mixes for you to download.

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 058

Greetings, friends. Hoping that this finds you in a good mood. I come to you from my cluttered office on a grey autumn day in Portland. Just how I like it.

Once again, I'm gonna bug you about supporting the XRAY fall fund drive. Some of you amazing people made donations soon after last week's newsletter went out, which blew my mind. But we still need more help. Our fundraising efforts are stagnating a bit. So, if you could head over here and donate on behalf of this newsletter, my show Double Bummer, or just me, I'd love you for it. If you donate $15 or more you'll be in the running for a prize package of vinyl records chosen by me. And for any donation, no matter the amount, I'll send you a code to download this EP by the amazing Patricia Wolf. The download is also an incentive to subscribe to this newsletter, but I have enough codes to spare that I can dangle them in front of you as a carrot to donate to XRAY.

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 057

Good day, friends. Coming to you from an overly hip hotel in San Francisco. I'm here covering the latest Other Minds festival, which I previewed for the nice folks at KQED. The opening night was fairly incredible with pianist Myra Melford and bassist Mark Dresser scratching and banging out sounds to support a butoh dancer; William Winant playing a balloon; and a breathtaking elegy to life and loss performed by Jen Shyu. Can't wait to see what happens next.

Monday marks the start of XRAY's fall fund drive. I know I've bugged many of you about supporting this newsletter with a subscription, but I would like you to first spare a few dollars for the noncommercial radio station where I produce my show Double Bummer every week, and where I serve on the board of directors. Over the past seven years, the station has become a vital force for good in Portland, whether its holding political candidates' feet to the fire or filling the airwaves with incredible sounds chosen by our dedicated volunteer DJs.

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 056

Greetings, my friends. I trust this finds you well.

Back once again with a fresh newsletter. This time around, you only get an interview as I was so swamped with work, I didn't have much time to spend listening to new music to review. That's the way it is, way it's gotta be.

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 055

Greetings, my wonderful subscribers. I trust that this finds you well.

Once again, I'm letting you know that I'm going to be doing paid subscriptions for the newsletter starting in November. (I was going to make it next month, but that feels too soon and I'm going to bugging many of you for donations to XRAY's fall membership drive.) This is a way for me to become an even more independent journalist and critic, covering the shit that I want to on a more regular basis and diving into deeper, weirder waters. If you can spare $5 a month for the cause, click here.

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 054

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 053

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 052

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 051

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 050

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 049

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 048

Greetings, friends and loved ones. I hope you are doing well on this day in late May. I’m once again at my desk in my overstuffed office in SE Portland, trying to wake up completely and start knocking some assignments off my to-do list.

You may or may not have noticed that I didn’t offer up a supplemental email this week with streaming suggestions. That was, in part, a decision based on the reality that movie theaters are now opening up again and folks are venturing out more. I welcome this, even as I urge you to make sure you’re still wearing a mask when you leave your home. Also, I have enough work and responsibilities right now that I can barely keep up putting this regular newsletter together, let alone a second one. And as I’m trying to stay committed to this project, I don’t need another reason to become overwhelmed and abandon it. Even if none of my subscribers are reading this every week, I’m still determined to pump these newsletters out on schedule.

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 047

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 046.5

A hopefully good day to you, my friends. In spite of it all, I’m in good spirits today. Back again with another batch of streaming suggestions for you to consider as you face another week of being mostly at home. At least I hope you’re still staying put in spite of the CDC’s recent shift in recommendations. My trust in my fellow citizens has been shattered over the past year so I ain’t gonna venture out much anymore until things feel truly safer. I’m sure you feel the same.

If you have questions or comments or suggestions, I’m happy to field them. Just shoot me a reply to this email.

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 046

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 045.5

Good day to you all. I write to you today from the lobby of my local Les Schwab as I wait to see what is causing one of my tires to slowly deflate. Annoying as that is, at least it gave me the time to sit here and breathe the fumes of many miles of rubber and listen to people yelling on ESPN and knock this week’s selection of streaming suggestions together. I hope you find it helpful or it opens your eyes to films you might have otherwise overlooked.

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 045

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 044.5

Hey there, friends. As you might have noticed, I didn’t get any newsletters out last week. That’s going to happen from time to time. Last week was particularly busy and emotional and weird and… So I saved myself a little bit of sanity and stress and didn’t bother with the newsletters.

I hope you enjoy this new supplemental edition with suggestions of films to watch this week. Almost all of them are part of TCM’s schedule, which is particularly strong at the first part of this month.

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 044

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 043.5

Back again, knocking on your door, saying, “Ay, yo, yo…” with another bunch of streaming picks for this week, focusing once again on films that are airing on TCM as part of their 31 Days of Oscar package. (All airtimes listed below are PT.)

As I mentioned on Friday, XRAY - the radio station where I do a show every week and serve as secretary for their Board of Directors - kicked off their Spring Fund Drive today. I’d love it if you’d be down to support the cause of independent media and noncommercial radio. , where I’m trying to hit a goal of $1,000. So I ask you, my loyal subscribers, to contribute $20 a piece. If only 30 of you heed the call, I will hit that goal and have bragging rights among the XRAY community like you wouldn’t believe. and help me make a little history, baby.

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 043

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 042.5

Apologies, again, for not getting the supplemental newsletter out last week. Lots going on leading up to my trip to the coast to care for my parents. But I’m back in business now with another week full of streaming suggestions for you.

This time around, the focus is on films airing on TCM. The cable network is in the midst of their month-long celebration of films nominated for Academy Awards, which they are quaintly running in alphabetical order. True to their noble cause, the programmers have organized an impressively diverse lineup that digs deep into cult favorites and little seen gems from Hollywood’s Golden Age.

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 042

The Voice of Energy Vol. 041

The Voice Of Energy Vol. 040.5

Good day, friends. Another Monday brings another selection of streaming picks for each day of this week.

As much as I’ve enjoyed putting these together recently, I’m really looking forward to putting my focus on movies in theaters and concerts and other events. Feels like that is becoming more and more possible with each passing day. I do my best to hedge my bets and plan for the worst to happen, but today… I’m feeling hopeful.

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 040

Another Friday brings another installment of the newsletter. I hope it finds you well. I’m a mess of emotions today. Elation that my first vaccine dose is done, rage at what is going on in Georgia, and generalized exhaustion as I find myself once again juggling a lot of projects and responsibilities. (And still no word on potential big deal major project… sigh)

I’m also feeling a lot inspired by the recent news of Secretly Group employees unionizing, and that the union members at one of my outlets, Pitchfork, have unanimously voted to strike in response to Condé Nast’s continued unwillingness to support their staff writers with a living wage. More of this, please.

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 039.5

Welcome to the new regime. The Voice Of Energy: The Buttondown Era.

Not much of anything is going to change with the newsletter - other than sending it from a new platform that is not actively amplifying voices that are dangerous to BIPOC and the LGBTQ+ community. And I love this site for being the project of one passionate guy. We need more people like that in the world.

We begin with another supplemental edition with suggestions of films and TV shows to stream while you’re still stuck at home waiting for the world to return to normal.