There is no shortage of theories regarding the fever dreams of David Lynch. We have our own: He’s a walking clinical study of high-functioning autism, a man who lives—quite literally, by all appearances—in a private world that turns the everyday back on us in grotesquely refracted ways. All of Lynch’s most emblematic works (this movie, … Read more
A writer—a pulp novelist, a man who’s betrayed his own talent and, by his reckoning, every important relationship he’s ever known—lies in a hospital bed, delirious from disease. He can’t grip a pen; he can’t move at all without excruciating pain. To keep from going mad, he sets out to rewrite in his head The … Read more
We’ve made Canada the brunt of a few good jokes over the years, but they know it’s all in good fun. Besides, we Minnesotans are about as close to the Canadians as any American can legally be without renouncing citizenship. The problem isn’t so much that Canada doesn’t have a national identity separate from America’s … Read more
At the St. Paul Armory on a sunny Saturday in January, two goateed men wearing NASCAR-style shirts and hats lower their legendary combat robot onto an elevated metal stage surrounded by plexiglass panels. Son of Whyachi is a heavyweight competitor built by Team Whyachi. To fans of combat bot warfare, it represents brute strength and … Read more
Was Bob Dylan a genius in the rough when he arrived at the University of Minnesota in the late 50s? Did he show signs of incipient greatness to those who hung around with him in the streets and cafes of Dinkytown? The Rake dug up this ancient history and discovered a thriving community of people … Read more
What do Norm Coleman, Clem Haskins, and 70s soul man Billy Preston have in common? They all understand that “nothing from nothing leaves nothing—you gotta have something, if you want to be with me.” On first blush, it looks like both Norm and Clem are getting something for nothing. Clem got paid to leave a … Read more
It’s hard to believe, but Emmylou has had a career as full of twists, turns, and total self-reinvention as Madonna. No, wait, she’s had way more—and she’s been a national treasure for twice as long. Only in recent years have more people come to the realization that this woman is all that. Thanks to the … Read more
Hey, I’m luxury-minded. I understand the finer things in life. Pleasures can be simple, like a dish-soap bubble bath, for instance. Quiet time to read, perhaps. The fetal position.Life’s joy can be measured in things that cost big, too. Like telling someone what you really think, or buying produce at Lund’s in April. I understand … Read more
We can’t be too emphatic about it: This Australian is one of the best and sturdiest singer/songwriters around (and, for all you Entertainment Tonight devotees—Russell Crowe’s favorite pop star!), even if he has never managed more than the most meager cult status here in the states. Kelly’s songs have a sneaky, brooding force that grows … Read more
We’re going out on a limb here and recommending you skip Opening Day (April 12) and go to the second home game Saturday night. The best reason is this: You get to avoid all the dorks who know nothing about baseball and make it hard to get to the concession stands to get a beer … Read more