Music - Sketching Details

Tick: A Short Musical Sheet Music is Coming

“Trust (Nerves)” from Tick: A Short Musical is now available for purchase as sheet music for piano/vocal/bass. Details inside.

Music

Spotify Wrapped 2021

Spotify Wrapped 2021 is here. Let’s take a deep dive into my listening habits to explore how this algorithm really works.

Announcements

Haunted: Available Now

Haunted (A Slip Story), my interactive weird fiction collection game, is available to purchase now on itch.io [https://sketchingdetails.itch.io/haunted] with the original soundtrack and companion short story collection.

Music

63rd Annual Grammy Award Nominations

Here are my highlights from the 63rd Annual Grammy Award nominations.

Books/Print

Spookier Times Episode 4: Gothic versus Ghost Stories, the Gothic Epistolary, and The Turn of the Screw

In this episode of Spookier Times, we take a deep dive into Henry James' The Turn of the Screw. We look at its genre, its modern adaptations, the use of epistolary structure in Gothic Literature, and some of the best adaptations of James' classic Gothic/ghost story.

Announcements

Announcing Tick: A Short Musical

Introducing Tick: A Short Musical. This is an original short horror musical inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart.” It’s actually part of a longer anthology horror musical called The Sublime Method that I am trying to make available as soon as I can.

Film

Spookier Times Episode 3: Halloween 2020: Roger Corman's Poe Films, Murder (The Look in Your Eyes), and Decoding the Beauty of Terror with Edgar Allan Poe

In the Halloween special of Spookier Times, we take a look at the father of American horror Edgar Allan Poe. His work is captured to near perfection in Roger Corman's collaborations with Vincent Price and screenwriter Richard Matheson. From there, we get a sample of the upcoming short musical "Tick,

Announcements

Announcing: Spookier Times

Introducing Spookier Times. This is a new biweekly podcast about everything horror, Gothic, and weird fiction across media. I’m incredibly proud of the project and the opportunities it affords in media criticism.

Music

Brandi Carlile and the 2019 Grammy Awards

Brandi Carlile might be one of the most naturally gifted singer/songwriters to come around in a long time. That is not to say that she is a new artist; 2018’s By the Way, I Forgive You is her sixth studio album. Her breakthrough came in 2007 with the release of The Story and she has steadily been cr

Music

Mary Warren Knows Things Now (Concept Scoring for The Crucible)

This was perhaps my favorite demo from the original pass at scoring for The Crucible. Mary Warren's Theme was pulled straight from the Tituba Theme that didn't sit quite right with me. A nice low drone combined with those chiming bells would stay, but not nearly

Film

In Praise of "Manta Ray" from Racing Extinction

Despite what the Academy Awards would have you believe, original songs in films can have a profound impact on the cinematic experience. This is true even if the singer/songwriter is not an A-List celebrity. J. Ralph and Anohni's "Manta Ray" from Racing Extinction would be

Music

Hamilton Will Perform at the Grammy Awards

Suddenly, I'm willing to actually watch the Grammy Awards again. I'm not against the Grammy Awards like some. I believe they are legitimate and relevant to how the music industry works. The combination of nominees in open categories, such as Best New Artist or Song of

Music

"Genghis Khan" by Miike Snow

You know, I never thought about how much I want a superspy musical. There have been a few musicals featuring crime capers--such as Ira Levin's Drat! The Cat! and Michel Legrand's gorgeous Amour--but none that I can think of that are a big spy story. Miike

Music

Listen: Four Hours of Fiddler on the Roof Demos

People, this is pretty momentous. I'm not surprised it didn't get much press attention at first with the new revival announced around the time this was released. Basically, for $29, you can own four hours of demos (75 tracks) from the creation of the musical Fiddler

Music

Adele's "Hello" and the Power of the Hook

I return with a seemingly shameful confession that I will justify throughout this writing: I don't like Adele's "Hello." Specifically, I don't like the structure of the song and the melody of the verse. The build of the arrangement is quite dramatic,

Music

The Music of Geek (by Me)

Last time I updated you on the production of Geek! HS Edition by Crystal Skillman I was working on, I only had a scratch demo of the anime theme essential to the play. Now, with our first performance already behind us, I can share the finished mixes of a few

Books/Print

Watch: Bumps Gonna Goose Ya! feat. Jack Black #31DaysofHorror

I don't have high hopes for the new Goosebumps film. I like the property (I grew up reading the original series, plus all of Fear Street). I think Jack Black will be great in this R.L. Stine role. My concerns all come from trying to include too

Art

The 2015 MacArthur Fellows

The MacArthur Fellows, aka the recipients of the MacArthur Genius Grants, receive a no strings attached award of $625,000 spread out over the next five years. It is a tremendous honor limited to a select group of candidates from all walks of intellectual and creative pursuits. The award is

Music

Ryan Adams Reveals Taylor Swift Track-by-Track Cover Album 1989

Rock singer Ryan Adams is releasing an album of Taylor Swift cover songs. Specifically, he's reworked Swift's 1989 into his own style. The first single off the album is an acoustic version of "Bad Blood." It basically confirms what I've thought about

Art

Sally Field, Jhumpa Lahiri, Stephen King, and More Are National Medal of Arts and Humanities Honorees

Last week, the White House announced the artists who will receive the National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medals in a ceremony tomorrow. They are a diverse series of visual artists, performers, composers, and authors worth learning about. Sally Field is one of the actors being recognized this year

Film

Watch: M.I.A.'s "Broader than a Border"

New M.I.A. music is always worth celebrating. She's an amazing artist with a unique perspective on feminism, violence, and globalization. She refuses to shy away from the influence of her Sri Lankan Tamil heritage, instead using cultural influences to open her music up to a wider

Music

Imogen Heap and Motion Control Music

A few years ago, Imogen Heap seemed like she was going to take over the world of pop music. Her collaboration with Guy Sigsworth, Frou Frou, received a good bit of press. Then, the single "Hide and Seek" from her second solo album was used in the second

Music

Best Music Videos of 2014

I haven't quite finished up my best of the year coverage. Music videos and games are the last topics I'm covering. That means Game of the Year is going up Monday. Today is all about the best music videos, which should never be confused with the

Music

Watch: Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush

You be the judge of which version is scarier. The red dress is better known, but I like the otherworldly quality of the white dress version. Either way, what a creepy love song. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fk-4lXLM34g&w=640&h=360] [youtube https://www.

Music

Watch: Dragula by Rob Zombie

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqQuihD0hoI?rel=0&w=640&h=360]