-One freak’s commentary on one song (or decade) each week-
If you read my column, you know that it’s built on a foundation of reminiscence. I peddle nostalgia. Why? I guess in part it’s because I’m prematurely becoming a grumpy old man when it comes to music—heralding “the good ole’ days” and rebuking a number of [...]
Category Archives: freak book
The Formative Years, A Review (2000-2003)
Partied Out…
-One freak’s commentary on one song (or party) each week-
We was up in the club so hard this weekend I’m having a hard time finding the strength to type. Hope y’all made it for GlassesGlasses’s inaugural bash at Royal Oak. As you can see from these pictures, it ‘twas off da hook/chain. So I’m just [...]
Crazy Rhythms
-One freak’s commentary on one song (or album) a week-
Now I claim to know a thing or two about music, but a great man—I believe, perhaps, Mr. Miyagi—once said, “True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing.” During my life I’ve discovered that these words ring clear, these words ring true—cuz I [...]
A Minha Menina
-One freak’s commentary on one song a week-
As I progress in my semi-professional-totally-unprofessional DJing career, I have begun to learn the woes of the “request.” During my first few gigs I loved requests. I relished the opportunity to please the crowd while filling up a few minutes of my set. I didn’t understand [...]
Shine Blockas
-One freak’s commentary on one song a week-
Does anyone else feel like this week needs a little injection of life-juice? Yes? Well, leave it to Big Boi.
Way back whenwhoknows I wrote a column about my entry point into the world of hip-hop. The story went something like this: I was melting in the back seat [...]
Spike Jonze Makes a Movie; People Freak.
-One freak’s commentary on one song (or human) a week-
Everyone is having a baby over the upcoming release of Where The Wild Things Are. Some are having twins. I myself am a victim of this excitement. In fact, if I loved Karen O, this film would be the ultimate culmination of all the mainstream art [...]
Monotonix
-One freak’s commentary on one song a week-
This one’s easy.
As a much younger man I moved to Brooklyn to become an English teacher. Aye, but it was the bright lights of the city that attracted me westward at each week’s end. Here, I was immersed in sights, sounds, culture, history and adventure. Here, I was [...]
Woody’s New York Jazz
-One freak’s commentary on one song (or filmmaker) a week-
I’m a sucker for Autumn. If you don’t believe me, check out my previous entry about this season. I’m particularly a sucker for Autumn in New York—the crisp air, the lingering sunshine, the changing leaves and the scent of a new year ahead. I was fortunate [...]
Solo Lennon
-One freak’s commentary on one song (or artist) each week-
I have been drinking with my new coworkers on Fridays, and drinking a lot. This is always a dangerous situation. I’m the new guy and it would be smart to play my cards close to my chest. However, I love drinking—and so do they. The result [...]
How bout a lil’ Fleetwood?!
-One freak’s commentary on song (or artist) a week-
Growing up is an interesting phenomenon, and one I think many of us shove into some dusty back corner of our consciousness. A great deal of growing up happens during two incredibly strange years of our lives—of course I’m referring to middle school.
We all lived it, but [...]
Who Did It Best?
-One freak’s commentary on one song a week-
Welcome to something a bit different from freakbook this week, y’all. Allow me to present to you a brand new, semi-regular theme for this column, entitled: “Who Did It Best?” Aren’t you just tingling with excitement?! I know I am!
The idea is quite simple. Several songs [...]
FREAK BOOK: Live Forever
-One freak’s commentary on one song a week-
You may want to be seated for this news folks… It’s official. Oasis has broken up. A moment, please…
Now I know what your first reaction was: “What? They were still a band?” Apparently so. To most of us, including myself, this news is pretty underwhelming. Oasis [...]
FREAK BOOK: Autumnal Soul
-One freak’s commentary on one song (or in this case, one season) a week-
Perhaps it’s the dog days of August that have spurred within me this premature feeling; or perhaps it’s because that pit has returned to my stomach that tells me I have to go back to teaching in just two weeks; then again, [...]
FREAK BOOK: Pump Up the Jam
-One freak’s commentary on one song a week-
I was looking for an excuse to bring up this song since before I even had the idea to write this column. It’s a song that has haunted me since ESPN’s Jock Jams, Volume 1 and my first ever community-youth-center dance. It’s a song that I can’t help [...]
FREAK BOOK: Waterfalls
-One freak’s commentary on one song a week-
I’ll be frank—I’m still hung over from our party Saturday. We drank, we danced, and we jumped on couches until the wee hours of the morning. It was so good, I think some people had sex in the hidden corridor like seven feet away from me [...]