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THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 068

Good day to you, dear subscribers. Another grey wet winter's day here in Portland. The Voice of Energy is here, slopping through the muck once again.

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 067

The COVID scare lockdown we undertook this week after the kid was exposed has been lifted. Meaning I can get out into the world again. Do I want to though? Kind of. Will I be able to do anything considering all the shows I had tickets to/plans on seeing that have been cancelled over the past week? Doubtful. Am I concerned? Every moment of every day.

The last live event I was able to attend was Tool's tour kickoff in Eugene, OR, which I covered for Heavy Consequence. It was my first time seeing the band since I caught them performing to complete indifference here in Portland as opening act for Rollins Band back in 1992. As you'd expect, and as I hint at in the piece, people were far more cavalier about wearing masks than I would have liked. My reference to it being a potential superspreader event was edited out of my review.

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 066

Greetings, friends. I come to you on day three of our self-imposed COVID lockdown. The kid was exposed to someone who had contracted the virus at school last week. Rather than take any chances, no matter how mostly fine we're all feeling, we quarantined ourselves for a few days. It's not as though I have anything I'm missing necessarily. All the concerts I've wanted to go to have been postponed or cancelled due to the omicron spread. Besides there's a new season of All Creatures Great and Small to catch up with.

Just as I was putting this edition of the newsletter together, I learned of the death of Madlaina Peer, a legend of the Swiss punk scene and one-third of the fantastic combo ONETWOTHREE, which released its debut album last year. I am honored that she was willing to answer some questions about the development of this project and her musical history for this newsletter. Click here if you'd like to revisit that conversation. She will be missed.

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 065

Gonna keep this short and sweet this week as it's already late as I write this and exhaustion is setting in. Gonna have a busy start to the week as well. I wanted to make sure and get this done for you, my lovelies. Then I can go to bed.

Once again, this edition is only going out to paid subscribers and, once again, I'm giving you a little something extra. As you'll see in the To Hear entry, there's a download link. That will get you the full audio of the compilation I wrote about. That will be happening on the regular. Free up some hard drive space for this and future freebies. This is music you'll want to hold on to. Trust me.

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 064

Hello once again, my lovely subscribers. Welcome to the first edition of The Voice of Energy for 2022.

I say "first," but those of you lucky paid subscribers already received a missive from me earlier this week with some free music in it and more words from me. If you don't want to miss out on future exclusives, etc., sign up for premium subscription. It ain't much money and it helps pay for my Pocky habit.

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 063

Hello and happy new year to my lovely group of paid subscribers. Thank you for your ongoing support of my work as we slide into 2022. Below you'll find some recommendations of visual and recorded art, and some fine journalistic work, to enjoy. And the first paid subscriber exclusive! (By the way, if I have yet to get you a code to the music that Patricia Wolf offered up as an incentive for your paid subscription, let me know. I fell behind on that.)

Been thinking a lot about silence lately. In part because I'm starting to see a small wave of cancellations in the local concert calendar and worried what that means for the rest of the year. But also thinking about how powerful it is when used in film and TV, two forms of media that seem to demand a constant stream of sound whether that's ambient noise or incidental music or dialogue. When everything drops out, it's so disorienting and often beautiful. That happens occasionally through the running time of one of my film suggestions below, The Inheritance, but I notice it every time I rewatch A Charlie Brown Christmas. There's a three second (or so) moment of pure silence right after Linus gives his soliloquy on the birth of Christ ("Lights, please") and right before he drops the devastating line, "That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown." No matter your stand on the reason for the season, there's no denying how much that silence adds to the impact of the moment. Or consider one of the most powerful moments at the end of series two of The Office when Tim finally lays his heart on the line to Dawn but decides to turn off the lapel mic he's been wearing for the documentary film crew. Again, it trebles the power of that final blow when he turns the microphone back on: "She said no, by the way." As obnoxious as I continue to find Ricky Gervais these days, some small part of me will always love him for that choice.

One last missive before the clock strikes midnight and 2021 comes to a close. It's been another long, weird year, but I was still able to get a lot done. Wrote a lot. Watched a lot of films. Didn't read enough books, but that's something to work on in '22.

Below you'll find a run down of some of the writing from 2021 I'm proudest of, and then a list of all the films I watched this year. Do with this information what you will.

WRITTEN

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 062

It's that time of year when all the cultural critics of the world start cobbling together their lists of the best art of the previous 12 months. Not an easy task if you try to pay attention to as much of it as I do. And I've given up trying to participate in tossing my personal picks to the outlets I've written for in the past because my selections don't tend to end up in the finished listicles. I say that with no pride or frustration. I'm just listening to different stuff.

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 061.5

Good day, friends. I trust this finds you well. I'd like to welcome the new subscribers to the fold - and encourage you to consider upgrading to a paid subscription. For $5/month, you'll get bonus newsletters, free stuff, and my undying love. Might even open it up for questions from you all or audio or some other components to make it worth your while.

Even if you don't join the paying ranks, I'm going to need your help in the future sharing these newsletters far and wide. As you may or may not know, I'm deleting my main Twitter account. For my mental health. Was getting way too wrapped up in trying to keep up with everything being fired at me every minute and could feel a desperate desire for engagement and likes growing within. Been staying away for the most part this past week and feel immensely better already. That may mean less eyes on my writing work, but it's a fair tradeoff for my overall sanity.

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 061

Hello friends. Thanks for taking some time to look this over.

This time around, an interview with Robert Görl, an early voice in industrial/EBM via his work with D.A.F., and reviews of three new films.

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 060.75

Greetings, young lovers. Back with another supplemental email for you, featuring suggestions of things to look at and listen to. I hope you get some use out of this. And if you have suggestions, or things to share of your own making, reply to this message and let me know.

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

Greetings once more, friends. Back in your inboxes with a new installment of the newsletter. I hope this finds you well.

It's exciting and a little weird to feel things opening up again here in the city. I didn't wear a mask to a couple of outdoor estate sales today. And a little bit ago, I got to see some live music - a hip-hop showcase at Kelly's Olympian. The catharsis that was in the room that night was intoxicating and certainly helped smooth over the rougher aspects of the performances. I'm seeing movies in theaters on the regular again (don't miss Zola). I'm also starting to take on some DJ gigs. My first one is going down tomorrow night: spinning records for an hour before an outdoor screening of Nomadland that the NW Film Center is hosting. (See below if you wanna win tickets to attend this screening.)

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 050

Would you look at that? The 50th installment of this here venture. I have to admit I didn't think I had it in me to keep up with it. I found extra fuel for this self-publishing fire trying to get away from the corporate entities that I've been writing for, as well as getting some inspiration from my colleague Gary Suarez's decision to walk away from freelancing and only write for himself.

I haven't quite given up on freelance writing yet. That's why I didn't publish a newsletter last week; I was too damn busy. Much of my time over the past two weeks has been taken up with covering the Tribeca Film Festival for PopMatters. But in and around it I found some time to file a review of the wonderful new album by FACS and write about a powerful soundwalk that local jazz legend Darrell Grant created. If you live in Portland and want to celebrate Juneteenth, I seriously recommend doing the latter walk/listen.

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

Good day, friends and loved ones. I hope this finds you well - and well on your way to being fully vaccinated. My two weeks post-shot #2 happened this past Sunday and though the world hasn't exactly opened its doors wide to me, I'm still feeling a lot better about the future. So long as I avoid reading the news.

Today, as you likely already know, is another Bandcamp Day, that wonderful 24 hour stretch when the music retailer waives the fees it takes from every transaction so all the money winds up in the bank account of your favorite artists. If it's Portland music you're after, I have some suggestions in my monthly Oregon Arts Watch column.

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. I've set up a fundraising page, 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. Go right here and help me make a little history, baby.

And now... on with the show...

THE VOICE OF ENERGY VOL. 043

Good day, friends. Thanks for opening this email and reading this newsletter. It feels weird to be doing this and writing about art when the rest of the world seems to be constantly on fire. But hopefully it is bringing some small measure of joy to your day.

This week, I bring you an interview with Nightshift, a Scottish post-punk group that made one of my favorite albums of this year, and reviews of three new films. Two are worth your while. The other should be avoided at all costs.

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

Coming to you this week from my parents' home in Ilwaco, WA. Spent about eight years of my life here, many of them straining to find a way out. So coming back is always marked by a strange discomfort and itchiness. But luckily that's being tempered by having the job of taking care of my ailing mother (nothing that serious...she broke her ankle and just needs some help getting stuff done around the house and given regular infusions of sweet tea).

The controlled chaos of being here also meant I was unable to give you my supplemental streaming picks email this week. And that my ambitions toward watching some screeners and adding reviews to the mix fell by the wayside. I'm sure you are seething with disappointment.

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.

Also feel like I'm repeating myself.

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.