More “Fuckin A!” Moments in Action Movie Music (A Bio-Mechanical Examination of the AMS-80)

Illustration of a DX9 synthesizer against a laser-like blast of yellow, purple, and orange light.

|Matthew Tchepikova-Treon| For the inaugural 1980s Action Extravaganza, three years ago now, I wrote an ode to a few particular moments from action movie soundtracks that, by sheer musical force, can compel moviegoers to exclaim aloud, “Fuckin A!” This year, inspired by… Continue reading

Shake a Tailfeather: Abdullah Ibrahim and the Music of No Fear, No Die

|Courtney Kowalke| Recently, I’ve been getting into jazz. This exploration is born of necessity: I work third shifts. I want to listen to music on the job, so I need workplace-appropriate tunes. I also get annoyed by incessant ad breaks, overly chatty DJs, and radio stations… Continue reading

Four “Fuckin A!” Moments in Action Movie Music

A fire-filled background with human silhouettes flying through the air. The middle of the image holds "'80s Action Extravaganza" in red bold letters.

| Matthew Tchepikova-Treon | Beyond the hardbody brass hits, kettle drums, soaring guitars, and motoric basslines (that nowadays punctuate every last over-edited theatrical trailer to death), action movie music comes in many forms. In the 1970s, performers like J.J. Johnson (Across 110th Street), Johnny Pate… Continue reading