Press

Interviews

August 21, 2024 - Modern Silent Cinema in Vents Magazine.
May 25, 2024 - Cullen Gallagher (Demoted / Modern Silent Cinema / steve carface) in Asphyxium Zine.
April 11, 2024 - Modern Silent Cinema on Low Budget Visions with Matt Barry.
March 27, 2024 - Cullen Gallagher - (Demoted / steve carface) on Half 'n Hour Boots (Radio Bandito, Italy)

Press (Books)

September 23, 2024 - Looking for Lost Streets and High Fliers, Middleweights, and Lowlifes reviewed by Woody Haut. "No serious David Goodis reader should be without these two books of essential bibliographical info collated/authored by nonpareil pulp gum-shoe Cullen Gallagher. The  tracking down of every Goodis story constitutes a monumental feat in itself, but to contextualise them in terms of Goodis's evolution into a noirst of the highest quality is something else altogether."

August 28, 2024 - King Vidor in Focus- Reviewed by James L. Neibaur.  “This isn’t merely a breezy film-by-film look at a series of entertainments, it is a thorough discussion of a master filmmakers work from its very beginnings to the very end... Highly recommended for libraries, research centers, film students, and anyone interested in cinema’s rich history.”

August 1, 2024 - King Vidor in Focus- Reviewed at Booklist. “A first-rate book that should become the standard Vidor reference for years to come.”

July 1, 2024 - King Vidor in Focus- Reviewed at Library Journal. “Film aficionados and scholars will welcome this informative and sympathetic book-length Vidor study.”

Press (Music)

September 6, 2024 - Modern Silent Cinema - Aphonia reviewed by A Closer Listen: "The tracks share a rocking vibe that references classic films and their composers.  'Nosferatu Boogie' is a highlight, but the best turn of phrase is 'Fig Newton of the Imagination.'"

September 1, 2024 - Modern Silent Cinema - Aphonia reviewed by A3XN: "Very pleasant album where the sounds make synergy, create landscapes of yesteryear."

July 24, 2024 - Demoted - Shit for Brains reviewed at Music Sundays with Moe. "Undeniable energy that grabs you by the throat and throws you into the pit. Demoted is definitely a band to keep an eye on."

July 23, 2024 - Modern Silent Cinema - Anemic Music reviewed at Monolith Cocktail. "Anemic Music reverberates, resonates and shakes to a range of psychedelic, post-rock, krautrock, scuzz and fuzz influences across a myriad of soundtrack-like instrumentals."

July 17, 2024 - Demoted - Shit for Brains reviewed again at Razorcake. "Demoted are raw power and angst in the best possible way. I keep thinking of this record in the vein of a slightly more melodic My War-era Black Flag sound, and I hope that’s not too pigeonholing. And for the record, the closing track “Demoted” is the best angry punk rock song I’ve heard in a month of Sundays. All told, this is nifty little package that, once it sinks its fangs in you, will bring all your black-hearted anger and frustration burbling to the surface."—The Lord Kveldulfr

July 17, 2024 - Demoted - Shit for Brains reviewed at Razorcake. "Throws in some curveballs interesting enough to separate them from the rest of the basement hardcore pack."—Michael T. Fournier

July 10, 2024 - Modern Silent Cinema - Anemic Music reviewed at This Is Darkness. "With gorgeous dark ambient and drone undertones... this is an album that will definitely appeal to those listeners looking for something a little different from the usual dark ambient fare. This is dark and edgy stuff, with eerie soundscape elements that compliment the guitars perfectly. Fantastic stuff!"

July 9, 2024 - steve carface - Familiar Traps reviewed at Maximum Rocknroll. "A shambolic, wild sound. The sound of a punk band knocking over a dish rack."

July 8, 2024 - Modern Silent Cinema - The Cinema Detective reviewed at Minor 7th. "Unapologetically anti-virtuosic and sparse... Simultaneously thoughtful, weird and creative... Has a minimalist appeal as the recordings of John Fahey on the Takoma label in the 1970s."

June 14, 2024 - Cullen Brian Gallagher - Self-titled reviewed at Bloggerhythms. "A country music newcomer from New York with a very pleasing voice whose eponymously named debut album sounds like it came from a seasoned veteran. It's an inspired collection loaded with substance."–​Charlie Ricci

June 10, 2024 - Modern Silent Cinema - The Cabinet of Modern Silent Cinema reviewed at Rosy Overdrive. "Weird and fascinating combination of dub sensibilities, whispering folky guitar, and ambient background noise."

June 7, 2024 - Modern Silent Cinema - Anemic Music featured at One Track at a Time. "Warped Americana vibes and shaded folk mastery"--Jacob Braybrooke, One Track at a Time

May 14, 2024 - Modern Silent Cinema - The Cabinet of Modern Silent Cinema reviewed at Arcane Candy. "From quiet, forlorn electric guitar and bass duets to solo heavy electric guitar riffs. From bluesy workouts to distorted yet melodic songs that strongly recall the likes of Roy Montgomery." 

May 1, 2024 - steve carface - Familiar Traps reviewed at Personal Punk. "Primitive, garage punk with basic riffs, harsh vocals, and pounding freneticism... Blessed with one of the vilest guitar sounds I’ve ever heard... Clanging, foundry production and white noise aspects are a breath of fresh air in an age of wiped-clean recordings. In between the thumping garage punk, there are mood changes and unsettling atmospheres to hold the interest of those into the lower budget end of DIY bedroom punk." 

April 28, 2024 - Modern Silent Cinema - The Cabinet of Modern Silent Cinema reviewed at Lost in a Sea of Sound. "Beautiful sounds, both raw and polished... Omnifarious sounds spraying from the fluidity of a long waterfall. The groove is raw, holding a warmth many listeners will most ebulliently absorb. The quality of recording harks back to early delta blues 78's with connective sonic gems sown throughout. Sometimes there is a feeling this is a lost Fahey or Basho recording, low-fi and a wanderer of tempos and styles. At other times there is the definitive resonance of a much more modern era. Rhythms built with multiple tracks as selections form with sonic sophistication and elegance. Then, back on the train to Chicago to get paid for another two sides of American roots." 

April 14, 2024 - Modern Silent Cinema - The Cinema Detective reviewed at Arcane Candy. "Mostly comprised of gentle, melodic acoustic guitar lines that sometimes lapse into a contemplative minor key. A few tracks feature solo synth workouts that proceed from repetitive stately melodies on into sparse notes and dissonant clouds. The final track offers up a surprise in the form of a full band sound complete with drums and multiple guitars, ending with a searing electric lead." 

April 12, 2024 - Demoted - Shit for Brains reviewed at Strange Reverb. "A tasteful mix of early and later-period hardcore tunes, everything from high powered sleaze-punk jams to sludged out droners are packed into this 9 song mini-LP, and it is not to be ignored... filled to the brim with dark infectious riffs accompanied by devilish shrieks."—CJ Robison

April 12, 2024 - Modern Silent Cinema  - Passages X-XXI (for Solo Piano) in "Weirdo Rippers #12" by Simon Kirk at Sun 13."All about the homespun warmth – the crackles you hear throughout these short compositions, courtesy of the lounge room fireplace." 

April 9, 2024 - Demoted - Shit for Brains fan art and review posted at InYourEyes. "Nice classic 'murrica hc album, beautiful because it's raw." ("Bel disco classic ‘murrica hc, bello perchè grezzo.")

April 8, 2024 - Demoted - Shit for Brains reviewed in Maximum Rocknroll. "Brooklyn’s Demoted has a rough and immediate DIY sound. Simple, but carefully composed."

April 4, 2024 - Demoted - Shit for Brains reviewed at Blood Makes Noise. "The garage rock solo and analog feel makes this feel like I'm back at a Sunday afternoon Hardcore matinee in NYC. For you punk hardcore fans the nostalgia of this one will make you right at home."

March 26, 2024 - Demoted - Shit for Brains reviewed in In Your Eyes Zine. "Un ottimo disco hardcore punk con degli ottimi pezzi, impregnato di una potenza grezza difficile da trovare oggi, al punto che sembra catapultato nel 2024 da un’altra epoca....I pezzi sono abbastanza vari e non disdegnano qualche rallentamento e cambio di tempo di blackflagghiana memoria, cosa che apprezzo molto." (“An excellent hardcore punk record with some great songs, imbued with a raw power that is difficult to find today, to the point that it seems catapulted into 2024 from another era....The pieces are quite varied and unafraid of slowdowns and tempo changes reminiscent of Black Flag, which I really appreciate.")—Marco Borgatti

March 25, 2024 - Demoted - Shit for Brains reviewed at Keep Track of the Time. "Keeping the old school hardcore sound alive."—Paul Silver

March 25, 2024 - Modern Silent Cinema - The Cinema Detective at The Tinnitist, "Modern Silent Cinema Solves The Case Of The Cinema Detective" by Darryl Sterdan. "For his 27th Modern Silent Cinema release in 20 years, the Brooklyn multi-instrumentalist and composer artfully unspools lo-fi, deliberately paced instrumental rock."

March 14, 2024 - Modern Silent Cinema - Passages X–XXI reviewed at Arcane Candy. "The perfect lo-fi rainy day disc."

March 13, 2024 - Demoted - Shit for Brains reviewed in Razorblades & Aspirin. "Snotty punk that sounds like it could have come off the Killed By Death Hardcore comps."

March 11, 2024 - Demoted - Shit for Brains reviewed in mptyzine. "Punk to the bone. Really fast, short and angry. In the mix of hardcore and punk that will remind you of Minor Threat. This is true DIY."

March 7, 2024 - Demoted - Shit for Brains reviewed in The Switchblade New Wave. "Really cool that a band like this exists in 2024. This band from Brooklyn, NY could have easily been playing shows in the 80's with L.A. bands like Modern Warfare, Secret Hate & Rhino 39. Skewed as fukk Punk Rock with completely angular & twisted guitar lines."—Ralph J. Rivera

March 1, 2024 - Demoted - Shit for Brains reviewed in Punk Rock Mag. "Hits you like a punch to the gut, drawing clear inspiration from the likes of Minor Threat. With lightning-fast riffs, loads of guitar distortion, and abrupt changes that’ll have you catching your breath one moment and then diving headfirst into a wave of adrenaline... Unmistakable New York grit, honed in basement shows and dive bars, that permeates every riff and lyric. “Demoted” isn’t holding anything back—they’re throwing themselves into the fray with all the ferocity of a Brooklyn street brawl."

February 25, 2024 - Demoted - Shit for Brains reviewed in Crossed Letters. "Shit, after listening to this new album I have to listen to the band's other stuff too. Here you'll get raw, raucous old school hardcore like Minor Threat! I'll tear the place apart for something like this! Fuzzy guitars, driving drums, raw anger and lots of power! I like it!" ("Scheiße, nachdem ich dieses neue Album gehört habe, muss ich mir auch noch das andere Zeugs der Band reinpfeifen. Hier gibt’s rohen, räudigen oldschool-Hardcore der Marke Minor Threat auf die Ohren! Ich zerleg die Bude für sowas! Fuzzy Gitarren, nach vorne treibendes Schlagzeug, rohe Wut und jede Menge Power! Ich steh drauf!") —Steff

February 13, 2024 - Demoted - Shit for Brains reviewed in Rock Attitude Facezine. "Raw punk rock, sometimes more garage and other times more punk. Our favorite cut is the one that bears the name of the band, 'Demoted.'" ("Nueve temas de crudo punk rock, que a ratos nos parece más garagero y otras más punk. Nuestro corte favorito es para el que lleva el nombre de la banda, 'Demoted.'")

January 12, 2024 - Modern Silent Cinema - Passages I-IX (for Solo Piano) : "A superb mixture of the ambient and the noir. Contemplative, melancholy, the album's perfect writing music."Joseph Goodirch, author (The Paris Manuscript and Blood Relations: The Selected Letters of Ellery Queen, 19471950).