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DANCING ABOUT ARCHITECTURE: DANCE CRITICISM

Program 10-04-18-B

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It's been said that "Writing about music is like dancing about architecture." But the rock critic Robert Palmer didn't have any trouble. Palmer wrote effortlessly about all kinds of music – rock and roll, blues, jazz and world music. The fact that Palmer was also a musician didn't hurt. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, Palmer's daughter, Augusta, and his fellow critic, Anthony DeCurtis, talk about what made Robert Palmer such a great critic. Also...John Mendelssohn on his double life as a music critic and a singer.

SEGMENT 1:

Manohla Dargis is co-chief film critic for the New York Times. She talks with Steve Paulson about the role of film criticism in contemporary society.

SEGMENT 2:

Robert Palmer was a music critic and musician. Yoko Ono said she, Palmer and John Lennon "touched each other's spirit." Palmer's fellow critic, Anthony DeCurtis, has edited a new book called "Blues and Chaos: The Music Writing of Robert Palmer." Palmer's daughter, Augusta Palmer, recently made a documentary about her father called "The Hand of Fatima." In a rare joint interview, DeCurtis and Palmer talk with Steve Paulson about Robert Palmer and his work. (also check out the complete and unedited web extra version below) Also, Geeta Dayal is the author of "Another Green World." It's a short book about Brian Eno's 1975 album of the same name. Eno used a deck of "Oblique Strategies" cards to create the album. He created these cards with his friend, the late artist Peter Schmidt. The cards contain phrases like "Honor thy error as a hidden intention." Dayal also used them to help write her book and talks about it with Jim Fleming.

SEGMENT 3:

In the early 1970s, John Mendelsohn wrote for "Rolling Stone" and the LA Times and recorded for Warner Brothers Records as a member of the band Christopher Milk. Now he has a new CD called "Sorry We're Open." Mendelsohn talks with Anne Strainchamps and we hear what he's up to now musically.

CD copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 10-04-18-B.

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Books & CDs:

Anthony DeCurtis, ed; Blues & Chaos: The Music Writing of Robert Palmer (Scribner)
Geeta Dayal, Another Green World (33-1/3 Series) (Continuum)

Websites:

• WEB EXTRA: Extended Interview with Palmer and DeCurtis
  DOWNLOAD
• -- Manohla Dargis Movie Reviews for The New York Times
  http://movies.nytimes.com/movies/critics/manohla-dargis/reviews
  
• -- "Blues & Chaos: The Music Writing of Robert Palmer" Edited by Anthony DeCurtis
  http://books.simonandschuster.com/Blues-Chaos/Robert-Palmer/9781416599746
  
• -- Anthony DeCurtis
  http://www.english.upenn.edu/People/Faculty/profile.php?pennkey=decurtis
  
• -- Augusta Palmer/"The Hand of Fatima"
  http://www.thehandoffatima.com/
  
• -- Geeta Dayal
  http://www.continuumbooks.com/books/detail.aspx?BookId=125657&SearchType=Bas
  http://www.theoriginalsoundtrack.com/
  
• -- John Mendels(s)ohn
  http://www.johnmendelsohn.com/

Clips:

• Music and sound bites heard in Anthony DeCurtis/Augusta Palmer interview:
  from Augusta Palmer's documentary film, "The Hand of Fatima"
  http://www.thehandoffatima.com/

Music:

• -- Music heard after Manohla Dargis interview:
  -- "Milano Cool"/Arling & Cameron
  from the CD, "Arling & Cameron Present Music for Imaginary Films" (Emperor Norton Records)
  http://www.myspace.com/arlingandcameron
  http://www.xs4all.nl/~drive/
  
• -- Music heard after Anthony DeCurtis & Augusta Palmer interview:
  -- "So Now Then"/Composed by Jon Brion
  from the CD, "Magnolia: Original Motion Picture Score" (Reprise Records)
  -- Music heard during Geeta Dayal/Brian Eno's "Another Green World" interview:
  -- "The Big Ship"/Brian Eno
  -- "Sky Saw"/Brian Eno
  -- "In Dark Trees"/Brian Eno
  -- "Everything Merges With The Night"/Brian Eno
  -- "Spirits Drifting"/Brian Eno
  All songs from the CD, "Another Green World: Original Recording Remastered" by Brian Eno (Astralwerks)
  http://www.astralwerks.com/
  
• -- Music heard after Geeta Dayal interview:
  -- "Magnolia"/Composed by Jon Brion
  from the CD, "Magnolia: Original Motion Picture Score" (Reprise Records)
  -- Music heard during John Mendels(s)ohn interview:
  -- "Dancing About Architecture"/John Mendels(s)ohn
  -- "My Country Tortured"/John Mendels(s)ohn
  Both songs from the CD, "Sorry We're Open"/John Mendels(s)ohn
  http://www.johnmendelsohn.com/swo/
  
• -- Music heard after John Mendels(s)ohn interview:
  -- "Hillbillies from Outerspace"/The Vaughan Brothers
  from the CD, "Family Style" (Epic Associated)

Distribution dates: week of 06/05/2011 - hour 1 week of 04/18/2010 - hour 2 click HERE for timings and cues

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