
James Lileks’ The Ramble returns. No Politics, no punditry — just palaver. Source
Nov 13, 2021
42 sec

You might not be watching the new Twin Peaks, or care that it ever existed. But it changed TV, and one of the reasons that made it so unique was the music. Let’s go beyond the theme and explore the compositions of Angelo Badalamenti. Source
May 30, 2017
31 min

What do you do in Reno? Yes, yes, besides that. But here’s the more pressing issue for modern times: what does Reno do with Reno? Source
May 5, 2017
33 min

What makes a city or a country sound familiar? When the music sounds like we think it’s supposed to sound like. But what if our preconceptions are wrong? (Hint: they’re probably not)... Source
Aug 2, 2016
38 min

What does monophonic sound have to do with the moral turpitude of electric shavers? Let’s find out. James Lileks’ The Ramble is brought to you by Harry’s Shave. For a great shave at an even greater price, go to Harrys.com and enter the coupon code RAMBLE... Source
Jun 11, 2016
38 min

As another anniversary of the Titanic’s sinking draws nigh, Lileks wonders: are we finished with this story? Perhaps. But even if we’ve exhausted Titanic nostalgia, we can still consider how other eras looked at the catastrophe. The Ramble examines five Titanic movies – not so much for their storytelling, but their backstories and musical contributions. Bonus: Nazis. Double bonus: A Star Trek... Source
Apr 12, 2016
31 min

A trip to Sin City prompts thoughts of the one thing people usually don’t think about when they think of Games, but something absolutely essential: sound. Music. Melody. The burbles of the casinos to the chimes of pinball to the soundtracks of computer games – it’s an essential part of losing yourself in another world. Source
Apr 5, 2016
29 min

Did you ever think you believed the innocence of the subject of “Making a Murderer” because the theme music said you should? The Ramble takes a look at documentary soundtracks, and veers off into something you might not have considered: the Golden Age of Objective News Fanfares. Source
Jan 27, 2016
26 min

How much Fargo was in the TV show “Fargo”? Let’s listen to a true Fargoan explain. Don’t worry – it’s not a recap of a show you didn’t see. It’s something quite different. How did eminent domain affect the Mary Tyler Moore show? Why did a one-hit-wonder rocker end up dead in his car smelling of gasoline? Why do I think of the seven hills of Rome when someone mentions Wild Bill Hickok? Source
Jan 6, 2016
31 min
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