Andrew William Smith's blog

Sean Penn's film Into the Wild rekindled the debate surrounding Christopher McCandless's dramatic departure from mainstream culture, and his tragic demise. It forces us to ask: how can we preserve “human community” without “returning to civilization?” (more)

The visionary Vancouver quintet Black Mountain achieves the transcendent communal bliss that great rock has always aspired to. With their defiantly and ironically titled sophomore release, In the Future, the band reclaims the project pioneered and lost by progressive rock: album as quest. (more)