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  • From the Stacks: Nazareth – The Fool Circle

    This is one of my favorite album covers, and its one of the many records in my stacks with a personal story behind it.

  • Why It Matters to Artist Alan Schmidt

    The cover art for Nazareth’s The Fool Circle remains one of my all time favorites.  During my years in art school a common criticism leveled at my work was that it was “too narrative.”  I took the news hard, never considering the fact that I loved work like you see to your left: paintings that…

  • One From My Vacation Home: Ah Yeah, Beautiful Girls

    Long time readers will recognize this one as a reworked Why It Matters piece, but really its better suited for my vacation home.  Because that location is an AOL property I had to clean up my potty mouth, and I think the sentiments are improved as a result. The gist of this piece?  Enough with…

  • Deep Cuts, Reader’s Choice Edition: Laura B.

    Laura B. is the kind of reader who writers dream about: enthusiastic, supportive, engaged.  Maybe that’s because her career involves books, or maybe it’s simply that she’s a bright and interesting human being. Laura is also the author of one of my favorite weekly past times, “Choose and Defend Wednesday,”  wherein our host asks us…

  • WIM Contest: Win Your Own Black Book

    Listen, writing isn’t magic.  It isn’t some kind of innate talent that one either has or doesn’t — it’s just routine and ritual, habit and work.  At least for me.  I’m an infinite number of Borges monkeys, which makes it hard to find pants. But you’re here for the free stuff, so here’s the deal:

  • 126. The Eyes That Just Stare, and the Glance at the Clock

    Tuesday didn’t work out.  In high school I would have considered her an Untouchable, one of those girls who remains off limits to guys like me.  But this wasn’t high school it was college, so I took a shot and I learned that Untouchables remain eternally untouchable.

  • From the Stacks: Vera Lynn – “Forget Me Not” b/w “What A Day We’ll Have”

    Should I go ahead and say it?  Does anybody here remember Vera Lynn?  That’s Dame Vera Lynn to you, and unless you’re of the World War II generation then like me you’re probably familiar with The Force’s Sweetheart by way of Pink Floyd’s “Vera.”

  • From the Stacks: The Rolling Stones – Through the Past Darkly

    You’re probably wondering why I’m bothering with a greatest hits package, and that’s a valid question.  First of all, there have been more Stones compilations released over the last fifty years than studio albums, so there’s that.  But really it comes down to what a lot of “From the Stacks” pieces come down to:  the…

  • Deep Cuts, Reader’s Choice Edition: Anne-Marie Schiefer

    Annie is a true friend of Why It Matters — always quick on the draw for a like or a retweet from her @AnnieSchief Twitter account, a frequent commenter, and damned if she didn’t even come out to hear me read once.  She’s also a budding writer, and I’m very much enjoying watching her blog…

  • Scott Miller Family Memorial Fund Needs Your Help

    Musician Scott Miller passed away last week, leaving behind a wife, two daughters, and countless friends and fans.