Piece Comment

Review of An Angel-headed Hipster's Howl


This lively reflection on the origins of "Howl" manages to be both lyrical and analytical, and is a great way to commemorate the 10th year of Ginsberg's corporeal absence from the planet. Poets who knew and were inspired by Ginsberg remind us how powerfully his youthful rage at the constraints of the fifties resonates in our post-911 world. Stanzas of "Howl" flow throughout, read by Ginsberg and others, and the piece includes a heart-lifting chorale version, as well as a very musical blending of an international language "Howl." Ginsberg's courageous candor and compassion feel truly "good to eat a thousand years."