Author Archive
February 26, 2021 by Simon Sweetman
Ian Nathan: Stephen King at the Movies
Stephen King at the Movies: A Complete History of the Film and Television Adaptations from The Master of Horror Ian Nathan Palazzo Editions; None Edition I’ve been calling myself a lapsed fan. It’s a Forgive Me, Father scenario. It’s been years since I’ve read anything by Stephen King (well, that’s not quite true, I recently […]
February 26, 2021 by Simon Sweetman
Poem: Raindance
It starts to rain and it feels so good – safe inside and the smell of the concrete but that’s only easy to say from the comfort of a seat, no leaks. Warm clothes and food and then, within an hour you are over it and ready for the sun to shine. Such privilege and […]
February 25, 2021 by Simon Sweetman
Force of Nature: DVD
Force of Nature Director: Michael Polish Lionsgate / Madman There are bad films where you leave them on and you start to laugh at how bad they are. They are unintentionally hilarious and then – somehow – spontaneously enjoyable. They are the type of entertainment they could have never planned to be. Then there are […]
February 25, 2021 by Simon Sweetman
Willie Nelson: That’s Life
Willie Nelson That’s Life SMG Just last year, Willie Nelson released one of his greatest records in some time. Just lovely. At 87 he didn’t sound a day over 85, the way he’s sounded since at least 1985. And in true love ‘em and leave ‘em style here is, just a few months later, with […]
February 25, 2021 by Simon Sweetman
Poem: Dropping Bombs
if you didn’t bomb you couldn’t ever know what it is like to truly nail it; this is true of yourself and in the work of others so last night I was sure to tell the guy at the door as I left after seeing his band that he was great; that the group was […]
February 24, 2021 by Simon Sweetman
Joel Ross: Who Are You?
Joel Ross Who Are You? Blue Note Joel Ross was just 23 when he released KingMaker – a hell of an album, his debut as a leader. Not much more than a year on he’s back with this second album leading the band (a killer-good band) and making a case for himself, already, as a […]
February 24, 2021 by Simon Sweetman
Sweetman Podcast # 247: Talia Marshall
Welcome to Sweetman Podcast. It’s 2021. But I started this year with conversations recorded at the very end of 2020. Now we’re into fresh conversations recorded in 2021. And this is episode 247 of Sweetman Podcast with support from our sponsors – T Leaf T and Yeastie Boys Now – as you probably know, as […]
February 24, 2021 by Simon Sweetman
Poem: Coming Third
I second-guessed myself which I shouldn’t have done in the first place
February 24, 2021 by Simon Sweetman
R.I.P. Lawrence Ferlinghetti
Lawrence Ferlinghetti has died. He was 101, a month off turning 102 in fact. What a life. The poet and publisher would have been important had he never written a word himself – he was a founder and co-owner of the legendary San Francisco bookstore and imprint City Lights and as a publisher he was […]
February 23, 2021 by Simon Sweetman
Leo Kottke & Mike Gordon
Leo Kottke & Mike Gordon Noon Megaplum / ATO Records What a wonderful anomaly Leo Kottke is – a folk guitarist, but also a jazz guitarist and there’s classical in there, it’s just an absolute stew. He also doesn’t seem to have ever gone too far down the eccentric path (Bill Orcutt, Sir Richard Bishop) […]
February 23, 2021 by Simon Sweetman
Poem: Good Sports
all the books you’ll never read cannot help you. They sit like subs on the bench, awaiting a turn to impress the coach with no idea that it is the waterboy that collects up the jerseys, cuts the oranges, attempts to clean the dirty laundry
February 23, 2021 by Simon Sweetman