tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16827430270952289582024-03-17T18:57:45.386-04:00John V's Eclectic AvenueA blog of reviews, thoughts & commentary on movies, music & books.John Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01663676176398174024noreply@blogger.comBlogger533125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682743027095228958.post-23641893339293886522024-03-09T17:15:00.005-05:002024-03-10T22:00:17.017-04:00Grey DeLisle's Remarkable "Driftless Girl"<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREnrd6VdUrOlVPywbAJ1SUTyXcJV4cCnPWdFJ6wSHZ8Fj_cbS2-y5bSWjgXMCRYr0YNgmZbAVXnvmIbb9EmYOflurIF79oZ7Zg23kIoC3vI3fKfmbbPwaIs6pPDGAD-qrLEd2Ot1K7xEHBBgT6gHIY5g3XugmqdldDLtK5BL3q4PHaD65AhLVOcPHSLE/s706/awe.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="706" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREnrd6VdUrOlVPywbAJ1SUTyXcJV4cCnPWdFJ6wSHZ8Fj_cbS2-y5bSWjgXMCRYr0YNgmZbAVXnvmIbb9EmYOflurIF79oZ7Zg23kIoC3vI3fKfmbbPwaIs6pPDGAD-qrLEd2Ot1K7xEHBBgT6gHIY5g3XugmqdldDLtK5BL3q4PHaD65AhLVOcPHSLE/s320/awe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">The prolific and supremely talented Grey
DeLisle is a singer, songwriter, voice actor </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">and stand-up comedian who's released some terrific music over the last few years, including the the marvelous covers record <b>Borrowed</b>, and <b>She's An Angel</b>, a superb collection of retro country originals. Her latest album, <b>Driftless Girl</b>, is another outstanding record. This magnificent collection of folk and country tinged songs may just be her best work yet. <b>Driftless Girl</b> opens with the low-key ballad "Where You're Coming From." That extraordinary track is followed by the terrific, country-rock flavored duet "My Two Feet," which includes vocals by Buck Meek.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">The poignant "Driftless Girl," is a beguiling tune (featuring guest artist Nikki Grossman) which contains one of DeLisle's strongest performances to date. She always manages to find the heart and emotional center of the characters in her songs, and "Driftless Girl" is a prime example of this innate talent. The impressive title song isn't the end of DeLisle's superb work on the album. There's also the affecting "The Ballad of Ella Mae," a stunning murder ballad, and the captivating "I Don't Wanna Want You," a tale we can all relate to, about that person you probably shouldn't love or want to be with, but still do.<br /><br />The spirited "Pretty Jolie" and the sly, tongue in cheek "Quick Draw" will win you over with their cool grooves and the energetic performances from DeLisle and her band. "In The Living Room," and "Mama's Little Rose" are chock full of old school country vibes, and "Down From Dover" (written by Dolly Parton) is a classic story song featuring another beautiful vocal by DeLisle. </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><b>Driftless Girl</b> is a truly magnificent record. DeLisle is an extraordinary, radiant performer and gifted songwriter, and she just keeps getting better with every release. <b>Driftless Girl</b>, with excellent production work by Jolie Holland, is most definitely on my list of the best albums of 2024. If you're not already listening to Grey DeLisle's music, this record is a great place to start. Here are links to "Driftless Girl," <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu5Si90bv3g">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu5Si90bv3g</a>, and "My Two Feet," <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MVV3XGPeBU">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MVV3XGPeBU</a>.<b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><br /></p><p></p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"></span>John Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01663676176398174024noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682743027095228958.post-27647127183305608052024-02-25T00:00:00.006-05:002024-02-25T12:07:26.537-05:00Retro Roddenberry: Genesis II & Planet Earth<p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Before the<i> Star Trek</i> franchise was reborn on the big screen in 1979 with the release of <b>Star</b> <b>Trek: The Motion Picture</b>, the creator of the show, Gene Roddenberry, was attempting to produce a new science-fiction adventure for television. He made several attempts to launch a new series during the 1970s, the first of which was the telefilm <i>Genesis II</i>. The movie, which originally aired on CBS in 1973, tells the story of Dylan Hunt, a 20th century scientist working on an experiment that will provide long term suspended animation for astronauts on deep space flights. </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">During an earthquake</span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> at a NASA facility in Carlsbad Caverns, Hunt becomes trapped in hibernation inside an underground bunker while testing the system.<br /><br />Hunt is discovered and revived by an organization called PAX in the year 2133. There’s been a nuclear war while Hunt has been asleep. He finds himself in a post-apocalyptic society where several groups are vying for control of the planet. PAX, much like the Federation in the original <i>Star Trek</i>, is a peaceful, multi-national organization trying to preserve the best attributes of mankind. When Hunt is misled by the traitorous Lyra-a, a mutant who has infiltrated PAX, he becomes embroiled in a conflict between PAX and Lyra-a’s people, the Tyranians, an evil collective who want him to repair their failing nuclear power systems, thus giving them an advantage in their conflict with PAX. Will Hunt help the villainous Tyranians, or return to aid PAX’s more Utopian society?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOGnnpayp2Sdr-jyzGgAZXL0b1tDtkmDWg4OLiMJoNalxluQcgGcOFAXipt66d0yg-nejvznC2EMXX5BBJQFK6lwWd1I2JoL6J9JtL3xo_kSwvzLAaG1mo556ZbztLzTNmGzMTANf981XPBJnF8D0eQ8QtJao-i1fKMTS8j9zOWc1zkT1tmMiPMIdx1g0/s1222/cord.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="946" data-original-width="1222" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOGnnpayp2Sdr-jyzGgAZXL0b1tDtkmDWg4OLiMJoNalxluQcgGcOFAXipt66d0yg-nejvznC2EMXX5BBJQFK6lwWd1I2JoL6J9JtL3xo_kSwvzLAaG1mo556ZbztLzTNmGzMTANf981XPBJnF8D0eQ8QtJao-i1fKMTS8j9zOWc1zkT1tmMiPMIdx1g0/s320/cord.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ted Cassidy & Alex Cord in <i>Genesis II</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><i>Genesis II</i> is an entertaining, old school style sci-fi adventure that mixes elements of <i>Star</i> <i>Trek</i>, the original Buck Rogers, and other post-apocalyptic tales like <b>Planet of the Apes</b>. Alex Cord plays Dylan Hunt, and he’s decent (if a bit stodgy at times) in the role, but it’s Mariette Hartley (who had appeared in the original <i>Star Trek</i> episode “All Our Yesterdays”) who steals the show as the duplicitous Lyra-a. The cast also includes familiar faces Ted Cassidy, Percy Rodrigues, Lynne Marta, Titos Vandis and Nurse Chapel herself, Majel Barrett, aka Mrs. Roddenberry, in a small role. The flavorful score for the film is by Harry Sukman, and the solid direction is by John Lllewellyn Moxey, best known to genre fans for helming the eerie <b>Horror Hotel (1960) </b>and the classic telefilm <i>The Night Stalker</i>.<br /><br />CBS passed on a weekly version of <i>Genesis II</i>, opting to go with a <i>Planet of the Apes</i> television series, which lasted only one season. Roddenberry took his Dylan Hunt ideas over to ABC, who produced <i>Planet Earth</i> in 1974. This sequel to/relaunch of the <i>Genesis II</i> saga features John Saxon (of <b>Enter The Dragon</b>) taking over the role of Dylan Hunt. After a brief recap of Dylan’s origin, we learn he’s now a PAX team leader. While on a mission, one of PAX’s council members is injured, and needs a type of surgery which can only be performed by a doctor who went missing while on a mission. When Hunt’s team goes in search of him, they learn he’s been captured by the Confederacy of Ruth, a society where women rule and men are subservient. Hunt ends up in the clutches of Marg, a leader of the female led group, and it’s a race against time to get the doctor back to PAX in time, as well as defeat the Kreegs, a militaristic band of mutants who have attacked both PAX and the Confederacy.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBlqYqfI6tHT0ta4ZjLStnJPXTJEbiJdAmFFsvjuzC5KE4fmmU0prgKsFb-dV0vbmMVNX7cMwszu5c3CIezczwQ0OIFiIImNhuhscyL6wxpgtCM9dThxCQCpkovsWZdpS4NTIOC12ectnChrw-fmkAyidGkslD3PPEbbKpMhshwCX3AuUQMaOnv0tJLnQ/s1488/Cre.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="1488" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBlqYqfI6tHT0ta4ZjLStnJPXTJEbiJdAmFFsvjuzC5KE4fmmU0prgKsFb-dV0vbmMVNX7cMwszu5c3CIezczwQ0OIFiIImNhuhscyL6wxpgtCM9dThxCQCpkovsWZdpS4NTIOC12ectnChrw-fmkAyidGkslD3PPEbbKpMhshwCX3AuUQMaOnv0tJLnQ/w320-h193/Cre.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Janet Margolin & John Saxon in <i>Planet Earth</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><i>Planet Earth</i> is a lot of fun, and is lighter in tone than <i>Genesis II</i>. It feels very much like an episode of the original <i>Trek</i> series, where the crew went on a mission engaging in fist fights, philosophizing and a dollop of sexual innuendo. John Saxon definitely plays Hunt in a more macho-oriented, Captain Kirk leaning style. The PAX team even record mission log entries, just as Kirk and his crew did on the TV series. The marvelous supporting cast features Ted Cassidy, returning in his <i>Genesis II</i> role as PAX agent Isiah, Janet Margolin, taking over from Lynne Marta as PAX’s Harper-Smythe, and Diana Muldaur, who guest-starred in two episodes of<i> Star Trek</i>, and later portrayed Dr. Katharine Pulaski for one season on <i>Star Trek: The Next Generation</i> as Marg. She eventually succumbs to Dylan Hunt’s Kirk-like charm. The script for <i>Planet Earth</i> was written by Roddenberry and Juanita Bartlett, who went on to become a writer for <i>The Rockford Files</i>. Behind the camera this time out was another Trek veteran, Marc Daniels, who helmed the classic episode “Mirror, Mirror.”<br /><br />Like CBS, ABC didn’t move forward with a series of weekly Dylan Hunt tales, though they re-tooled the concept once more (without Roddenberry) in 1975 as <i>Strange New</i> <i>World</i>, again starring John Saxon, as Anthony Vico, an astronaut lost in time. That third attempt also didn't lead to a weekly show. Roddenberry went on to produce pilot films for <i>The Questor Tapes</i>, about the adventures of an advanced android, and the supernatural thriller <i>Spectre</i>, neither of which went on to become a series. Some of the Dylan Hunt concepts later re-surfaced in the 1990s TV series <i>Andromeda</i>, which premiered after Roddenberry’s death. <i>Genesis II </i>and <i>Planet Earth</i> are now available together on a double-feature Blu-ray from <i>The Warner Archive Collection</i>, and these retro telefilms are worth a look for Roddenberry fans and devotees of 1970s sci-fi.</span></p>John Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01663676176398174024noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682743027095228958.post-23349439565421842432024-02-14T00:30:00.014-05:002024-02-14T17:03:10.745-05:00"Take A Good Look" at Paul Collins<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKXuszCaEULRv5jiZwJ1QYszHHICotDSYT_wbYIbwfgkIX7ZdlJWGnL3oqH3i-WzNJgEVfNcmy6UfGp295vJSr2X8z85aTblmULT5ZDwGuLbJNQfi28a_RpIUMzc8wIeqg91U2dPdZhkiKG_fnrDCT8USzvDahAhG0Jonalj5OP67L53Vgq7hbQCnI5s/s696/COL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="696" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKXuszCaEULRv5jiZwJ1QYszHHICotDSYT_wbYIbwfgkIX7ZdlJWGnL3oqH3i-WzNJgEVfNcmy6UfGp295vJSr2X8z85aTblmULT5ZDwGuLbJNQfi28a_RpIUMzc8wIeqg91U2dPdZhkiKG_fnrDCT8USzvDahAhG0Jonalj5OP67L53Vgq7hbQCnI5s/s320/COL.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">If you’re a power pop fan, then I’ve
got just the album to brighten up your day and chase away your winter blues. Paul Collins, best
known for his work with The Nerves, The Breakaways and The Beat, aka The Paul Collins Beat, is back with a marvelous new release, <i>Stand Back and Take a Good Look</i>, which comes out February 16 on JEM Records. This outstanding record is a power pop fans dream come true. The disc includes appearances by Shoes, 20/20, Richard X. Heyman, and the late Dwight Twilley, who appears on the fabulous "I'm The Only One for You."</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><i>Stand Back and Take a Good Look</i> features a superb collection of songs, including "Will You Come Through?" written by Paul's former bandmate Peter Case, "Another World," and "You Can't Go Back," co-written by Collins with Steven Huff, the bassist for The Beat, and even more melodic slices of pop perfection such as "How Will I Know," "Liverpool" and "That's When I Think of You." There's also the exuberant title track, which will almost certainly get stuck in your head and earworm its way onto your list of power pop favorites.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">It's clear from his marvelous work here that Collins, who took a break from the music world for a while, hasn't lost his ability to craft marvelous rock and roll tunes seasoned with a touch of New Wave and a dash of punk. The album offers a great overview of the signature sound of the man who's been dubbed the "King of Power Pop." The songs on <i>Stand Back and Take a Good Look </i>are sparkling, swirling, and scintillating examples of the genre at its finest. Collins sounds terrific throughout the record, providing top-notch vocals and masterful rhythm guitar. In addition to the guest stars mentioned earlier, the album also features solid work by Prairie Prince and Ronnie Barnett.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Paul Collins adds another great album to his much celebrated oeuvre with <i>Stand Back and Take a Good Look</i>. While it might seem a bit early to be talking about "best albums of the year," I think you'll find this phenomenal record landing on a lot of top ten lists at the end of 2024. For more on Paul and his music, you can visit <a href="https://thepaulcollinsbeat.com/">https://thepaulcollinsbeat.com/</a>. Follow this link to check out one of my favorite tracks from the disc, the extraordinary "I'm The Only One For You," <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L89KbKNtGR4">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L89KbKNtGR4</a>, which was recently dubbed a "Coolest Song In The World" by <i>Little Steven's Underground Garage</i> on Sirius XM Radio.<br /></span></p>
John Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01663676176398174024noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682743027095228958.post-74181570292360988382024-02-01T00:30:00.029-05:002024-02-01T00:30:00.143-05:00Marc Platt's Powerful "Sins of the Family"<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCaQL7bOYyaDx9TY65GMHslEHY_DF1cmHvmYoCcU-uX6jCHZqBQ6qsDcG162Fvcqk_ROSlKxFyUc0yLLwpBU8AM9jmEYZ3xXhhVvfGpGREpVu0NNWK3G0VBFz-4wITx3EF2V05iSiWIog7CRMmx9k-JZTUbi51iX72XIcXnuzHjPQ6dQA44xdGJBpjI0/s1200/noni.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCaQL7bOYyaDx9TY65GMHslEHY_DF1cmHvmYoCcU-uX6jCHZqBQ6qsDcG162Fvcqk_ROSlKxFyUc0yLLwpBU8AM9jmEYZ3xXhhVvfGpGREpVu0NNWK3G0VBFz-4wITx3EF2V05iSiWIog7CRMmx9k-JZTUbi51iX72XIcXnuzHjPQ6dQA44xdGJBpjI0/s320/noni.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">This week at Eclectic Avenue, I'd like to shine a light on the latest release from the uber-talented singer-songwriter Marc
Platt. I've reviewed several of his previous discs here, including <i>That Mid-Life
Crisis</i>,<i> The Golden Ticket, </i>and <i>No AI: Plattinum Approved</i>. Platt's new album, <i>Sins Of The Family</i>, just might be his best yet. </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">It's another superlative collection of heartfelt songs that will connect with listeners on an emotional level. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">The fantastic opening track, "The One That Got Away," details the aftermath of a troubled relationship. We've all had those intense connections which seemed great at the time, but in hindsight were better off left in the rearview mirror. That powerful song is followed by the more positive vibes of "When I Feel Alive" and "Waiting For The Sun To Rise" both of which celebrate the more joyful side of love. On </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><i>Sins Of The Family</i></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">, Platt enhances his love of the pop/rock music of the 1960s with a subtle touch of the 1970s and 1980s on several of the album's sublime and graceful songs.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Themes of family, friendship, and the fluid nature of memory reverberate throughout this reflective, powerful record. Just listen to introspective tracks such as "What's Become of Us Now" "Young Again" and "Lovers and Traitors." You'll instantly be able to empathize with Platt's thoughtful tales of love, loss, pain and redemption. We've all dealt with the types of situations that he deftly illustrates in the title track, </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">and "Battles Fought Battles Won." Despite the darker themes of some of the songs on the album, there's always a ray of hope on display in Platt's work, evidenced here in lovely tracks like "Settle My Mind" and "Live Every Day."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><i>Sins Of The Family </i>is </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">anchored by Platt's deeply personal lyrics, emotional vocals, impressive guitar work and outstanding production. From the terrific opening track right on through to the superb closing number, "The Secret," this is a phenomenal album that will absolutely resonate with you on repeated spins. </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">His innate talent for connecting with us through sharing personal experiences which echo our own puts him in the company </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">of singer-songwriters like Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Cat Stevens and Jim Croce. You can check out this magnificent record by heading over to <a href="https://marcplatt.bandcamp.com/album/sins-of-the-family">https://marcplatt.bandcamp.com/album/sins-of-the-family</a>, and here's a link to the video for "The One That Got Away" <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UpuEXCzs48">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UpuEXCzs48</a>.<br /></span></p>John Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01663676176398174024noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682743027095228958.post-4865731519477510102024-01-18T00:30:00.008-05:002024-01-18T00:30:00.128-05:00Let's Visit The Weeklings at "Raspberry Park"<p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbCSp5wZIwPl4zwPDqpU5FxAoFELdF03NemBV1dlhNgn6rsF7tPowjBXV3ySITzMW05RQfnuQBAq9iuhRk0msOFGJ6jEwuaPXJgIDFE-jf41dRY3qcb5mq0QD_moYxQZMV2RjpmzOf7h7BGcwBDjyJ-VUklEccsHltIaYnio91pyivefS_9zlZWjD32g/s1068/cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1046" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbCSp5wZIwPl4zwPDqpU5FxAoFELdF03NemBV1dlhNgn6rsF7tPowjBXV3ySITzMW05RQfnuQBAq9iuhRk0msOFGJ6jEwuaPXJgIDFE-jf41dRY3qcb5mq0QD_moYxQZMV2RjpmzOf7h7BGcwBDjyJ-VUklEccsHltIaYnio91pyivefS_9zlZWjD32g/s320/cover.jpg" width="313" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="font-family: times;">If you haven’t been listening to the music of New Jersey’s terrific power pop quartet, The Weeklings, then you’ve been missing out on something truly special. The group’s phenomenal songs are a remarkable blend of the sounds of the British Invasion and power pop, liberally sprinkled with a hint of modern rock. They’re also a superb live band, whose must see performances always win rave reviews from fans. Now is the perfect time to check out the band and their music, as their fabulous new album, <i>Raspberry Park</i>, is being released this Friday, January 19, on JEM Records. <i>Raspberry Park</i> is something of a concept album dedicated to the band’s home base in Asbury Park, an area which features a diverse collage of musical styles, including rock, pop, soul, R&B, and punk. <i> </i></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: times;"><i>Raspberry Park</i> kicks off with the title tune’s brief musical introduction, which segues into the fantastic “Like We Used To Do,” an energetic track which recalls an early Beatles number infused with the harder edged sound of bands like The Kinks. That’s followed up by the sensational “Brian Jones,” a tribute to the late co-founder of The Rolling Stones, featuring tasty harmonica licks, impressive vocals, and some very groovy guitar, bass and drum work. “Etude In E,” another interlude, comes up next, followed by the group’s stupendous version of The Beatles classic “I’ve Just Seen A Face.” The Weeklings are well-known for their unique interpretations of the music of The Fab Four, and their superlative cover of this beloved tune from Rubber Soul is yet another high-water mark in the band’s repertoire.<br /><br />The Weeklings’ marvelous potpourri of rock, pop and soul sounds is on display throughout <i>Raspberry Park</i>. The album is filled with magnificent songs, ranging from the 90s rock infused ”All the Cash in the World” and “Falling Down a Flight of Stairs,” to the New Wave-styled, punk-fueled “None of Your Business.” You’ll also dig the straight ahead rock and roll vibes of “April’s Fool” and the 1980s-esque gem “Angeline,” one of my favorite tracks on the record. Every song is imbued with the band’s passion, high energy, and top-notch musicianship, whether it’s on brief interludes like “Samson” and “Appalachian Revenge,” or the group’s truly inspired rockabilly re-vamp of Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m On Fire.” Another highlight of the disc is the brilliant intertwining of the music of Buffalo Springfield and The Rolling Stones on the extraordinary “Mr. Soul Satisfaction,” which features guest vocalist Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits.<br /><br />The Weeklings lineup consists of Zeek, aka Bob Burger, on lead vocals, harmonica, and guitar; Lefty aka Glen Burtnik, on bass and background vocals; Rocky, aka John Merjave, on guitar and background vocals, and Smokestack, aka Joe Bellia, on drums.The outstanding original tunes on the album were largely written by Lefty and Zeek, and several of these well-crafted songs feature a bit more of a bittersweet tone than the band has featured on previous records, which is perfectly fitting given the album’s theme as a tribute to the wide array of musical genres which abound in Asbury Park. By the time you’ve finished your visit to <i>Raspberry Park</i> with the group’s deeply soulful take on the <i>Sgt. Pepper</i> track “She’s Leaving Home,” you’ll understand why The Weeklings just keep getting better with every new release! <br /><br />For more info on The Weeklings and <i>Raspberry Park</i>, head over to <a href="http://www.jemrecordings.com">www.jemrecordings.com</a>. For a little taste of <i>Raspberry Park</i>, here are links to the videos for “Brian Jones” <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abAFKBANq0I">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abAFKBANq0I</a> and “I’ve Just Seen A Face” <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGlfZ6up7NI">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGlfZ6up7NI</a>. <br /></span></span></p>John Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01663676176398174024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682743027095228958.post-31152552805621658142024-01-09T00:30:00.041-05:002024-01-09T06:25:01.780-05:00Retro Movie: Don Siegel's "Charley Varrick"<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamlFCqBkHlg-EHFvV8aHLseH6G3H_2LjGr8gDuPQuF2Wd5bRsUZimVnR1QzAKfam4FUmGqfuOIMHp0CYWKFZZzK7aDsF81lXbH_lxre3Md9c1UV8N2278TcVuTYpdddEbUgy5UJ9tLzIX7W4rGJR6_9hjK2LSGxcBFVIk_8whIBKoh0j59kku_0DP9-g/s1734/Mom.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="1734" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamlFCqBkHlg-EHFvV8aHLseH6G3H_2LjGr8gDuPQuF2Wd5bRsUZimVnR1QzAKfam4FUmGqfuOIMHp0CYWKFZZzK7aDsF81lXbH_lxre3Md9c1UV8N2278TcVuTYpdddEbUgy5UJ9tLzIX7W4rGJR6_9hjK2LSGxcBFVIk_8whIBKoh0j59kku_0DP9-g/s320/Mom.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: times;">Sheree North & Walter Matthau in <i>Charley Varrick</i></span><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">1970s movie screens were filled with celebrated thrillers such as <i>The</i> <i>French Connection</i>, <i>Klute, The Parallax View, Chinatown</i>, and <i>Serpico</i>, but there were a number of other excellent genre films released during this period, including <i>The Friends of</i> <i>Eddie Coyle</i>, <i>The Outfit</i> and <i>Night Moves</i>, which are just as good as those well-remembered classics. One of these under the radar gems is Don Siegel's 1973 crime drama <i>Charley Varrick</i>. Siegel is best known for helming hard-edged crime films like <i>Riot in Cell Block 11</i>, <i>Private Hell 36</i>, the 1964 version of <i>The Killers</i>, <i>Dirty Harry</i>, and <i>Escape</i> <i>From Alcatraz</i>. He also directed the original <i>Invasion of the Body Snatchers</i>.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Walter Matthau plays the title character, Charley Varrick, a former stunt pilot and crop duster who masterminds the robbery of a small-town bank in New Mexico. Unfortunately, two members of the crew, including Charley's wife Nadine, are killed during the heist, leaving the world weary Charley and a younger man, Harman Sullivan, on the run. When Charley and Harman discover that they've gotten away with a lot more money than they expected, Charley figures out that the bank must be a drop that launders Mafia money, and that the mob will be after them to recover their cash.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Charley's theory turns out to be correct. The mob dispatches a lethal hit man named Molly to recover the money, and kill the two thieves. It's a race against time as Charley tries to stay one step ahead of both the cops and the mob, while dealing with the impatient Harman, who wants to start enjoying their unexpected windfall. <i>Charley Varrick</i> is a tense, well-acted thriller, featuring a terrific lead performance from Matthau, who during this period was also exercising his flair for fine dramatic work in films like <i>The</i> <i>Laughing Policeman</i> and the original version of <i>The Taking of Pelham One Two Three.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">The marvelous supporting cast is chock full of faces that will be familiar to fans of 1970s cinema and TV shows, including Joe Don Baker, Sheree North, William Schallert, Woodrow Parfey, Norman Fell, John Vernon, Benson Fong, and Andy Robinson (best known as the serial killer Scorpio in director Siegel's <i>Dirty Harry</i>, and later as the duplicitous Garak on <i>Star Trek; Deep Space Nine</i>) who does a good job as Harman. In addition to the taut direction by Siegel, the film also features some fine cinematography by Michael Butler, and a cool score by Lalo Schifrin. The well-crafted screenplay was written by Dean Reisner and Howard Reese, based on the novel <i>The Looters</i> by John Reese.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">The sharp, suspenseful <i>Charley Varrick</i> definitely earns its place among the pantheon of must-see (albeit lesser known by some viewers) 1970s films like <i>Thunderbolt and Lightfoot</i>, <i>The Yakuza</i>, <i>Rolling Thunder</i> and <i>The Driver</i>. If you're a fan of 1970s crime dramas with well-defined characters, a clever plot, and a touch of noir, you should definitely add <i>Charley Varrick</i> to your watch list. The film has been released on DVD and Blu-ray, and is also available on some streaming services. Here's a look at the trailer for the movie: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mqv1VwhWTv">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mqv1VwhWTv</a>. </span></p>John Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01663676176398174024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682743027095228958.post-29801189243395857012024-01-01T10:13:00.006-05:002024-01-01T16:49:50.363-05:00Monogroove's Extraordinary "The Flip Side"<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMP6TxXNiCsasFxWPyyQg1UhzdGQ5Ropef0HHBhH0XGTTO9IQjBnY0BJNRS42l1u0KDgE8u7tOcbHgABmPI2B2Ud9vWVWGIwU5_BleuD_Vq2ajWzhA17mUgiWnSRHj9S_n8_t21bQ4ZRLH552Jna99HdtcH9YMpXlm_Rn0rdppDienXjpthjVsIXzf1s4/s1415/Theflip.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="1415" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMP6TxXNiCsasFxWPyyQg1UhzdGQ5Ropef0HHBhH0XGTTO9IQjBnY0BJNRS42l1u0KDgE8u7tOcbHgABmPI2B2Ud9vWVWGIwU5_BleuD_Vq2ajWzhA17mUgiWnSRHj9S_n8_t21bQ4ZRLH552Jna99HdtcH9YMpXlm_Rn0rdppDienXjpthjVsIXzf1s4/s320/Theflip.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Monogroove, </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">the fantastic West Coast band led by the incomparable Rin Lennon, are back with their latest release, <i>The Flip Side. </i>Like the group's last two albums, <i>There's Something</i> <i>Here</i> and <i>Into The Sun</i>, </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><i>The Flip Side </i>is a fabulous record, filled with a terrific selection of rock, pop, folk, and punk flavored songs, which are steeped in the sounds of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, ranging </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">from
the ultra-cool, retro vibe of the opening track "Modern Day Romeo" to straight ahead rockers like "Brimstone" and the psychedelic-tinged "So Many Other Lives."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Lennon's extraordinary vocals, tender and angelic one moment, imbued with tough girl swagger the next, are passionate and filled with conviction. Just check out the phenomenal "I Am The Sun" and the 1960s pop-inspired "I Think Of You" and "I Don't Wanna Say" to see what I mean. Her guitar playing is also terrific, and is ably matched by the outstanding work of the band, which features Michael George on guitar and vocals, Jay Smith on drums and vocals, and Alias Wilde on bass. From the fabulous ballad "Let Me Know" to the modern rock flavored sound of "Mine All Mine," their top-notch musical chops, and superb vocals and harmonies, are clearly in evidence throughout the album.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><i>The Flip Side</i></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> also features a pair of very cool covers. The group's
high-energy take on "(I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone" (previously recorded by the likes
of Paul Revere & The Raiders, The Monkees and The Sex Pistols)
is a groovy delight, and their heartfelt rendering of Coven's "One Tin
Soldier" is a powerful version of a song whose themes are more topical than ever in these often
fractious times. It's not easy to re-do well-known songs like these and truly make them your own, but Monogroove succeeds admirably with their superb renditions of these classic, much loved tunes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Every track on <i>The Flip Side </i>(which will be released on Janaury 5) is worthy of multiple spins, from pop-flavored confections like "My Town" to guitar-infused rockers like "Tuff on Dirt" and "Dirty Dogs." </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">These brilliantly crafted songs are definitely going to become new favorites, and are absolutely worthy of being added to your personal playlists. </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">This
is an exceptional record, made with care and affection by musicians who like ourselves, are clearly fans of the rock, pop, punk and power pop of the classic era. You can find out more about Monogroove</span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> and their music by heading over to <i>bandcamp</i>. Here's a link to the page for the album: <a href="https://monogroove.bandcamp.com/album/the-flip-side">https://monogroove.bandcamp.com/album/the-flip-side</a>.</span></p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> </span>John Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01663676176398174024noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682743027095228958.post-57596161814321272672023-12-20T00:00:00.023-05:002023-12-23T14:05:44.172-05:00A Very "Merry" Batman Adventure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUB0xAhM86HzbDafqO-jDOlCIQhT2YAcxrQXhb6kBL_LVorN06reRPJuhsQIz_4gNZ4g5cNmBeJxcMwLOsJ_sukdjeZV1PPKpk3rG_v-PlvdrF_odBKpZFqGgvkjMlSdrtEW7C1VzKpJl7DiScWmDNVaUp9UYC_DX1O7nDA6MK4IqxUxk4zuMc3NeJoc/s940/Batman.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="940" data-original-width="714" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUB0xAhM86HzbDafqO-jDOlCIQhT2YAcxrQXhb6kBL_LVorN06reRPJuhsQIz_4gNZ4g5cNmBeJxcMwLOsJ_sukdjeZV1PPKpk3rG_v-PlvdrF_odBKpZFqGgvkjMlSdrtEW7C1VzKpJl7DiScWmDNVaUp9UYC_DX1O7nDA6MK4IqxUxk4zuMc3NeJoc/s320/Batman.png" width="243" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Batman has faced all kinds of threats throughout his long history, but this time the he's dealing with his greatest challenge yet; being the father of a rambunctious 8 year old! In the wonderful animated movie, <b>Merry Little Batman</b>, </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">after cleaning up all of the crime in Gotham City, </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">our hero has essentially retired to raise his son Damian. </span>The young lad idolizes his father, and wants to be a superhero just like Batman when he grows up. When the Dark Knight gets a call for help from the Justice League on Christmas Eve, he races off to deal with the emergency, leaving Alfred to watch over Damian. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">When Wayne Manor is threatened by a group of thieves who are stealing Christmas presents in Gotham, Damian swings into action, squaring off against The Joker, and several other members of his father's Rogue's Gallery, including the Penguin and Poison Ivy. What Damian ultimately discovers is that the devious Joker's got a more insidious plan in mind than just Grinch-swiping some presents, and our young hero will have to step up his game to save the city. Will Damian be able to show his father he's worthy of the utility belt that he was given for Christmas?<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><b>Merry Little Batman</b> is<b> </b>an engaging tale, which should appeal to Batman fans of all ages. It's a fast-paced, funny, and ultimately heart-warming holiday tale. The film is filled with in-jokes and references to the various incarnations TV and big-screen incarnations of Batman, which will delight long-time aficionados of the Dark Knight. Even if you're a casual fan, you should enjoy this Yuletide "little Batman" adventure. The animation is marvelous, and the film's old-fashioned look is influenced by the works of illustrator Ronald Searle. The voice cast is excellent, and the spirited performers include Luke Wilson as Batman, Yonas Kibreab as Damian, James Cromwell as Alfred, and David Hornsby as The Joker.<br /></span></p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">While the story loses a little bit of steam in its final act, <b>Merry Little Batman </b>is a terrific Christmas superhero adventure, made by a cast and crew who clearly have a lot of affection for the Dark Knight. The film's themes regarding family, growing up, and learning about the responsibilities of being a hero may bring to mind a couple of stories from that <i>other</i> major comics publisher<b>, </b>as well as several classic<b> </b>animated holiday tales, but <b>Merry Little Batman</b> is a a lot of fun on its own terms. It's a fabulous Christmas gift for Batman fans, and I think it's one of the best DC animated movies in a while. Here's a look at the trailer for the film, which is now streaming on Amazon Prime: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GSMmXz0bHA.">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GSMmXz0bHA.</a></span><br />John Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01663676176398174024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682743027095228958.post-26865399164631979732023-12-11T00:00:00.003-05:002023-12-11T06:25:57.174-05:00Grey DeLisle is a Retro Country "Angel"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03k3kOjrYxva1sR32w5gTeTp6dBxnuIJYpuIKI7NfFe4oR64CJlIqsDKthOA0OYL3zSM2SjmamutDwJEtXdIwgqBqbnN4buRJMBRzSzMmUzD6WPR1bisWadaF6jN8s2pLKoGqUNtU43O54w6P4Lew-mxvWaY4MRZGYnyAuxYddsv9QiUJ8j9D_gCfds8/s750/Grey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03k3kOjrYxva1sR32w5gTeTp6dBxnuIJYpuIKI7NfFe4oR64CJlIqsDKthOA0OYL3zSM2SjmamutDwJEtXdIwgqBqbnN4buRJMBRzSzMmUzD6WPR1bisWadaF6jN8s2pLKoGqUNtU43O54w6P4Lew-mxvWaY4MRZGYnyAuxYddsv9QiUJ8j9D_gCfds8/s320/Grey.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Is there anything the multi-talented Grey DeLisle can't do? She's a phenomenal singer, a gifted songwriter, a talented voice actor and a fantastic stand-up comedian. Her latest album, <i>She's An Angel</i>, is a valentine to old school country, and this record will warm your heart if you dig the sounds of artists like Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette and Loretta Lynn. DeLisle immediately declares her intentions on the sensational "I'll Go Back To Denver (And You Can Go To Hell)" a tale about a gal who hitched her wagon to a no good guy with a "greasy spray on tan." When he does her wrong, she lets him know in no uncertain terms just where he can move on to, and it's not back into her arms. That raucous opening number is the first of several tunes on the disc featuring tough as nails female characters, including "Everybody's Baby" and "I Missed You," a tongue in cheek number which will have you smiling and admiring DeLisle's gift for clever lyrics.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><i>She's An Angel</i> is filled with rollicking, guitar twangin' songs like "Quit Pickin' On Me," and "Shake That Thing" which are guaranteed to get you up and moving, and turning the volume way up. There's also the delightful "I Like The Way You Think I Think," the brassy
"Big Sister," and the darkly funny breakup duet, "The Dog" one of the standout tracks on an album filled with high points. The wistful "Wasted" wouldn't sound out of place on one of Linda Ronstadt's early records, and the terrific "Who Bought The Boots Beside Your Bed?" evokes classic country at its best. DeLisle's exquisite voice is showcased throughout the album, but it's particularly effective on the lovely title song, and her knockout cover of Billy Vera's "I Really Got The Feeling", which reminds us that she's a brilliant interpreter of the work of other songwriters, as she displayed on her wonderful covers album, <i>Borrowed</i>, released in 2022.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">DeLisle's magnificent voice melds perfectly with the masterful work of the talented musicians featured on <i>She's An Angel</i>. This outstanding group of players includes guitarists Deke Dickerson and Eddie Clendening, who produced the album, as well as Jonny Bowler and Lelah Simon on bass, DJ Bonebrake and Bernie Dresel on drums, Carl Sunny Leland on piano and Tammy Rogers on strings. Everyone featured on <i>She's An Angel</i> is at the top of their game, and contributes to the old school atmosphere and pure country sound which is deeply embedded in the DNA of these excellent songs. The passion and joy that this talented group has for performing this music is evident in every note.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><i>She's An Angel </i>is an outstanding, and it's a splendid showcase for Grey DeLisle's exceptional talents as a singer and songwriter. I've been a fan of her work for a while now, and I think <i>She's An Angel </i>is superb. If you're an old school or retro country fan, cue up this disc on
whatever platform or device you listen to, and get ready to be knocked
out by the remarkable work of DeLisle and her fellow musicians. Need further convincing? Here are links to performances of "Shake That Thing," <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3mCPmOEF-E">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3mCPmOEF-E</a>, and "Quit Pickin' On Me" h<a href="ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW0zP9tpcsk">ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW0zP9tpcsk</a>. </span><br /></p>John Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01663676176398174024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682743027095228958.post-73726662862930489462023-12-01T17:14:00.002-05:002023-12-01T17:31:33.435-05:00Godzilla Minus One: A Powerful, Moving Tale<p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50Bzik5DGmCSychji4NBWbhhYM-UDJyIEj9x9dSXJPVqOu8JIBDhcGuYBign2V8f3gHe0AnCo1oTi-yu949WkDVcO1hVMrEjhoLHw1vuItwQmb_pIACu27sZ3awYRaPnW9x5o4NSbnPEf2oiX5JSNHett5IhGGSjhY3agi9ivkJX4bUWnjWCevOpBmIs/s1600/Mom.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1066" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50Bzik5DGmCSychji4NBWbhhYM-UDJyIEj9x9dSXJPVqOu8JIBDhcGuYBign2V8f3gHe0AnCo1oTi-yu949WkDVcO1hVMrEjhoLHw1vuItwQmb_pIACu27sZ3awYRaPnW9x5o4NSbnPEf2oiX5JSNHett5IhGGSjhY3agi9ivkJX4bUWnjWCevOpBmIs/s320/Mom.jpg" width="213" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Godzilla has been a cinematic icon for almost 70 years now. From the somber, anti-nuclear message of 1954's original <b>Gojira </b>(released in the US two years later as <b>Godzilla, King of the Monsters</b>, featuring additional footage with Raymond Burr as a reporter who witnesses Godzilla's rampage) to the enjoyable, light-hearted silliness of later entries like <b>Monster Zero (1965)</b> and <b>Son of Godzilla (1967)</b>, the Big G has remained a fan favorite through various sequels, reboots and re-imaginings. Both Toho Studios in Japan, who originated the series, and Legendary Pictures in the US have released Godzilla films in recent years, including Toho's <b>Shin Godzilla (2016)</b> and Legendary's <b>Godzilla, King of the Monsters (2019)</b>, and <b>Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)</b>.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><b>Godzilla Minus One</b>, the latest entry in the Toho series, returns to the somber tone of Ishiro Honda's <b>Gojira</b>, and it's a terrific movie, one of the best in the Godzilla canon. The story opens in the final days of World War II, and follows a kamikaze pilot named Koichi, who chooses to land at a repair base on Odo Island (a location familiar to long-time fans) rather than sacrifice himself in battle. When the base is attacked by a prehistoric monster the locals call Godzilla, all of the personnel are killed, except Koichi and the head mechanic, Tachibana, who blames Koichi for the deaths of the crew because the nervous pilot failed to fire his plane's guns at the creature. Due to his failure to act, Koichi suffers a spiritual crisis, and suffers nightmares about his experiences.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">When Koichi returns to Japan, he finds the country has been devastated due to the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States. He ends up sheltering a young woman named Noriko, as well as an orphaned child whose parents were killed in the bombings. Still haunted by guilt due to his inaction at Odo Island, Koichi gets a job on a ship that locates and detonates discarded mines from the war. While working on the minesweeper, he once again crosses paths with Godzilla, who has been mutated by postwar atom bomb tests conducted by the Unites States, and is stronger than ever. Godzilla attacks Japan, causing further death and destruction to an already broken and shattered country. When the governments of Japan and the US fail to act for fear of panicking the public, Koichi and a group of former military personnel come up with a unique plan to destroy Godzilla.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><b>Godzilla Minus One </b>is<b> </b>an exciting, powerful and moving tale. Because we see the story through Koichi's eyes, we share in his journey, and empathize with his feelings of doubt, guilt, fear and ultimately, redemption. The movie is the most character based entry in the Godzilla series since <b>Gojira</b>, and the human story is never overtaken by the monster action. This creature is not the friendly, Earth-defending Big G of the 1960s or 1970s films in the series. In <b>Godzilla Minus One</b>, the monster is a menacing, unstoppable force of nature that's symbolic of mankind's own destructive tendencies. The Godzilla attack sequences are visually striking, dramatic and well-staged by director Takashi Yamazaki, who also wrote the screenplay, and helped design and create the excellent special effects for the film.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: times;">In addition to the terrific work behind the scenes by Yamazaki and his talented crew, the cast is excellent. Ryunosake Kamiki as Koichi, Hidetaka Yoshioka as Kenji (a member of the minesweeper crew who's the architect of the plan to defeat Godzilla) and Munetaka Aoki as Tachibana, the Odo Island mechanic with a grudge against Koichi, are particular standouts. There are some nice callbacks to Akira Ifukube's classic Godzilla themes in the score for the film. If you're a long-time Godzilla fan, I highly recommended <b>Godzilla Minus One</b>. It's a fantastic movie, and it brings the story of Godzilla back to its darker origins as a cautionary tale, and also tells a compelling human story with a lot of heart. Here's a link to the trailer: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvSrHIX5a-0">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvSrHIX5a-0</a>.</span><br /></span></p>John Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01663676176398174024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682743027095228958.post-29582062917264924322023-11-24T02:00:00.000-05:002023-11-24T02:00:00.131-05:00A Psyche-Pop Christmas with The Grip Weeds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGbmdDeB3qkYdj0sdbdNsUTfzEP5H_oPe4O4S7yW6JMqSP7FQE9dTyOtIdfEqJOv-GhkokWWjVOQT4x3j0lh_k6l6nFPkttG7qOYzwMIPaDQ7fLA3QZu3ONImbR9FId59b79rlQl4JHwskeMP9G3F-Y5LWC3uvUX2bZLY-P6nYE4uRo_ALcKBngjOJ8c/s1164/Grip%20Weeds.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1044" data-original-width="1164" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGbmdDeB3qkYdj0sdbdNsUTfzEP5H_oPe4O4S7yW6JMqSP7FQE9dTyOtIdfEqJOv-GhkokWWjVOQT4x3j0lh_k6l6nFPkttG7qOYzwMIPaDQ7fLA3QZu3ONImbR9FId59b79rlQl4JHwskeMP9G3F-Y5LWC3uvUX2bZLY-P6nYE4uRo_ALcKBngjOJ8c/s320/Grip%20Weeds.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">I'm a big fan of New Jersey's psyche pop heroes The Grip Weeds. I've previously raved about their work both at this blog, and in my other writing gig over at <i>CultureSonar</i>, <a href="https://www.culturesonar.com/">https://www.culturesonar.com/</a>. If you haven't yet heard their music, which is a spectacular mix of psychedelia, power pop and garage rock, it's time to check out superb albums such as <i>How I Won The War</i>, <i>Trip Around The Sun</i>, and their wonderful covers record, <i>DiG</i>.<span color="rgb(20.000000%, 20.000000%, 20.000000%)"> The band's supremely talented lineup features Kurt Reil
on drums and vocals, Kristin Pinell Reil on lead guitar and vocals, Rick Reil on guitar and vocals and Dave DeSantis on bass.</span> With the holidays coming soon, you should also experience their musical brilliance on the recently released re-issue of their fabulous album, <i>Under The Influence of Christmas</i>, which is now available on JEM Records.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">There are a plethora of Christmas records out there, but how many of them offer you that perfect mix of rocking originals, inspired re-workings of traditional classics, and fantastic reinterpretations of some well-known rock and roll holiday tunes? The Grip Weeds' Christmas celebration kicks off with the guitar-driven original "Christmas Dream," a terrific selection that wouldn't sound out of place on 1960s pop/rock radio during the holiday season. That's followed by another Grip Weeds composition, the hard-rocking "Santa Make Me Good," which includes guest appearances by Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere and the Raiders, as well as Myke Scavone and Dar Francis of The Doughboys. This high-energy tune will have you playing air guitar and dancing around the room while you put up your holiday decorations. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">One of the best tracks on the album is an ethereal cover of one of my personal Yuletide favorites, "2000 Miles." The heartfelt rendition of this modern rock classic (originally recorded by The Pretenders) includes guest appearances by Jim Babjak and the late Pat DiNizio of The Smithereens<i>. </i>Vince Grogan of Buzzed Meg and Third of Never is featured on an acoustic-tinged version of Jethro Tull's "A Christmas Song" and The Left Banke's George Cameron checks in on "For The Holidays," another marvelous Grip Weeds original. Of course, no ultra cool holiday party would be complete without a psyche pop guest star, so Peter Horvath of The Anderson Council is along for the ride on a sensational garage rock run-through of "Welcome Christmas," from <i>How The Grinch Stole Christmas</i> which could turn even the Grinch himself into a power pop fan.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><i>Under The Influence of Christmas</i> also features<i> </i>The Grip Weeds<i>'</i> psychedelic flavored renditions of<i> </i>the holiday perennials "Hark The Herald Angels Sing<i>" </i>and<i> </i>"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen<i>" </i>which are infused with heavenly vocals and jangly Byrds-esque guitars, touched off with some brilliant production work by Kurt Reil. This must have holiday record also includes the band's cover of Greg Lake's "I Believe In Father Christmas," Vince Montana's "Merry Christmas All" and the magical, positive energy filled original "Christmas, Bring Us." <i>Under The Influence of Christmas </i>is<i> </i>an extraordinary album from a phenomenal band. If you don't enjoy this dazzling record, your rock and roll heart must be two sizes too small! <i>Under The Influence of Christmas </i>is out now on JEM Records. For more about The Grip Weeds, head over to <a href="https://www.jemrecordings.com/">https://www.jemrecordings.com/</a>, or <a href="https://www.gripweeds.com/">https://www.gripweeds.com/</a>. Here's a link to the promo video for the album release: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrMz_o0KFo4">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrMz_o0KFo4</a>.</span><br /></p>John Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01663676176398174024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682743027095228958.post-25671535980259517982023-11-15T00:00:00.070-05:002023-11-15T00:00:00.135-05:00Retro Movie: Occult Terror in "Equinox"<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFq7U_CdDebTs39Og36OQU02hkQr6Ie8M_Rznj83_U5wl0CVlpaqsr9hle0xSUA1FrucaRzKpOZrBUopzMEvFXEOvriXbCPXPu-7EwfVQn2yQE11FO6PfOue3u0V4X6f6VAwKgket1_gO7jvtTiFocBaMEUbwOfBpRDchGu9WcBZIqGzVRfRhE7WPYOSQ/s1742/Mom.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1078" data-original-width="1742" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFq7U_CdDebTs39Og36OQU02hkQr6Ie8M_Rznj83_U5wl0CVlpaqsr9hle0xSUA1FrucaRzKpOZrBUopzMEvFXEOvriXbCPXPu-7EwfVQn2yQE11FO6PfOue3u0V4X6f6VAwKgket1_gO7jvtTiFocBaMEUbwOfBpRDchGu9WcBZIqGzVRfRhE7WPYOSQ/s320/Mom.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: times;">Edward Connell and Barbara Hewitt in <i>Equinox</i></span><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">There are films that leave a lasting impression on you, especially if you first saw them as a young monster movie fan. Even if the film isn't considered a classic, like <b>King Kong</b> or <b>The Beast</b> <b>From 20,000 Fathoms</b>, there are movies that remain in your memory, because there's something about them that captures your imagination. For me, one such movie is <b>Equinox (1970)</b>, a frightening tale of the supernatural that began life as a short film directed by Dennis Muren, who later worked on the special effects for films like <b>Star Wars</b>, <b>The Abyss</b> and <b>Jurassic Park</b>. Along with his friends Jim Danforth and Dave Allen (both of whom also went on to produce effects work for a number of films and TV series), Muren created a film titled <b>The Equinox: A Journey Into The Supernatural (1967)</b>, which featured some excellent stop-motion animation, inspired by the celebrated work of Ray Harryhausen. The script for the film was penned by another member of Muren's circle, Mark Thomas McGee.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">After an independent film company showed interest in distributing the movie, producer Jack H. Harris (<b>The Blob</b>, <b>The 4D Man</b>) hired director Jack Woods to shoot additional footage to expand the short film to feature length. The cast includes Edward Connell, Barbara Hewitt, Robin Christopher, and Frank Boers, aka Frank Bonner, who later co-starred on <i>WKRP in Cincinnati</i>. Fantasy author Fritz Lieber and director Woods also appear in supporting roles. Released in 1970,<b> </b>and retitled simply <b>Equinox</b>, the film concerns two couples who have a frightening encounter with the supernatural. As the film opens, a reporter visits David Fielding, a patient at a psychiatric facility. The reporter wants to interview him about a series of events that took place a year earlier, which led to the deaths of David's three friends, and left him in a catatonic state.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">David's doctor plays the reporter a tape of an interview he conducted with the young man. David, his friend Jim Hudson, and their girlfriends Susan and Vicki, ventured into the woods to see Dr. Waterman, David's college professor. Waterman had asked David to visit, so he could share a discovery with him. The quartet don't find Dr. Waterman at first, but they do discover that his cabin is in ruins, and they find a mysterious book which seems to be able to conjure up dark, supernatural forces. There's a creepy park ranger named Asmodeus, who keeps following them around, and several monstrous creatures appear to terrorize our heroes. As a result of these chilling encounters, only David survives, and Asmodeus promises that, in a year and a day, David will also succumb to the forces of evil. It just so happens that the reporter is visiting David to talk about these experiences exactly one year and a day later!<b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><b>Equinox</b> displays its low-budget origins, and the cast sometimes shows its inexperience, but the film is eerie and atmospheric, and the effects sequences by Muren, Danforth and Allen are excellent. I first saw the movie in my younger days when it was shown on a late-night horror film showcase in the New York area. T</span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">he movie has gained a solid cult following in the ensuing
years, and </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">both George
Lucas and the late Ray Harryhausen, among others, have declared themselves fans of
the film</span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">.</span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> In 2006, the movie was released on a two-disc special edition DVD as part of the prestigious <i>Criterion Collection</i>. </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">In addition to showcasing the early work of a group of modern masters of special effects, </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><b>Equinox</b></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> definitely feels like a precursor and spiritual forefather to the original <b>The Evil Dead (1981)</b>, directed by Sam Raimi. Here's a look at a vintage trailer for the film: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tctHCMAi8jw">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tctHCMAi8jw</a>.<br /></span></p>John Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01663676176398174024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682743027095228958.post-3955594054285057782023-11-05T00:00:00.004-04:002023-11-05T00:53:37.491-04:00"Hit The Main Drag" with The Gold Needles<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHbDuAYVPxItcDTAWed6cG6_BdS6XENVpOK0NQ30S1DNk1XS412a7T4T0d_JBVRFVoZDFnSTmN7A4lR4MqjVFAgt8wYr0Z1mBZXm9JQXPX4gPVU0u-DcWEpV8aHhTLF56I-dKft0DAwWewr5NNCvOUam6Ihw840wxmBQy-6XpiKbyCTPvCAGl1lDdpqLE/s1020/aer.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1020" data-original-width="1018" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHbDuAYVPxItcDTAWed6cG6_BdS6XENVpOK0NQ30S1DNk1XS412a7T4T0d_JBVRFVoZDFnSTmN7A4lR4MqjVFAgt8wYr0Z1mBZXm9JQXPX4gPVU0u-DcWEpV8aHhTLF56I-dKft0DAwWewr5NNCvOUam6Ihw840wxmBQy-6XpiKbyCTPvCAGl1lDdpqLE/s320/aer.jpg" width="319" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: times;">If you're missing
the warmer weather and the recently ended good times of summer, why not
cheer yourself up with a dose of rock and roll sunshine by listening to
"Hit The Main Drag," the new single from The Gold Needles, recently
released by JEM Records. This sparkling tune is a fantastic blast of
energetic rock/pop from the band who dazzled us with the wonderful album
<i>What's Tomorrow Ever Done</i> <i>For You? </i>back in 2021. This high
energy song is firmly entrenched in the sounds of 70s and 80s
power pop, entwined with the cool vibes of a classic rock and roll road tune. "Hit The Main Drag" is absolutely worth adding to your "cruising in the car"
playlist.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">The Gold Needles are based in England, and boast a talented lineup featuring Dave
Burbage on lead and rhythm guitars, Mark English on synthesizers, Simon Dowson, vocals and rhythm guitars, Carl Slaughter on bass, and Will Jones on drums. </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: times;">"Hit
The Main Drag," was penned by Burbage, Dowson and English, who came up
with the melody and the chorus for the infectious tune. Download this outstanding track to your favorite device, and turn it up. You'll find yourself in a
much brighter mood in no time! Check out the song by following this
link: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkAsoViAuws">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkAsoViAuws</a>. You can also head over to <a href="https://www.jemrecordings.com/">https://www.jemrecordings.com/</a> to find out more about the band, and learn about some of the other marvelous artists on JEM Records.</span></span>
</p>John Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01663676176398174024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682743027095228958.post-29249229462894156912023-10-31T00:00:00.001-04:002023-10-31T00:00:00.123-04:00Flanagan's Grand Guignol "House of Usher"<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSr2esI-eCrwLLngSwARPRKLjmFP8VBQ6vCqlsl0nTO_BLpwGJ-ulPxpr4HQQ6AJ2hD1KWH0rCpJdo9aUVC_Cl1gVcvrY_0DFSn_0S5TtwuRTEHWaLo-0Np8kM3gBaBw4dNPJeguQv7j5-yeLLPqJVmzKeYn7Q3TFT4WTYYpV3NeTzzgiip7kejdA6ScU/s2028/ush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1492" data-original-width="2028" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSr2esI-eCrwLLngSwARPRKLjmFP8VBQ6vCqlsl0nTO_BLpwGJ-ulPxpr4HQQ6AJ2hD1KWH0rCpJdo9aUVC_Cl1gVcvrY_0DFSn_0S5TtwuRTEHWaLo-0Np8kM3gBaBw4dNPJeguQv7j5-yeLLPqJVmzKeYn7Q3TFT4WTYYpV3NeTzzgiip7kejdA6ScU/s320/ush.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;">Bruce Greenwood in <i>The Fall of the House of Usher</i></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br />If you're a fan (as I am) of writer-director Mike Flanagan's previous work in the horror genre, which includes chilling series such as </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><b>The Haunting of Hill House</b>, <b>The Haunting of Bly Manor</b> and <b>Midnight Mass</b>, and eerie films like <b>Oculus</b>, <b>Gerald's Game</b> and <b>Doctor Sleep</b>, then have I got a Halloween treat for you. After providing us with superb re-imaginings of the literary tales of authors like Shirley Jackson, Henry James and Stephen King, Flanagan's latest project, <b>The Fall of the House of Usher</b>, takes a deep dive into the Gothic fiction of Edgar Allan Poe. It's a fantastic miniseries that proves once again that Flanagan is a modern master of the horror genre.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><b>The Fall of the House of Usher </b>centers on the Usher family, headed by siblings Roderick and Madeline. Roderick has built a financial empire based on the success of his company, Fortunato Pharmaceuticals. However, both he and Madeline share several secrets that have begun to tear their family, and their world, apart. Roderick's six children are being systematically killed by a supernatural force that appears to be taking revenge on him for his past misdeeds. The story of his family's downfall is told in flashback by Roderick to District Attorney C. Auguste Dupin, who's dedicated his life to exposing the corruption within Roderick's company. Dupin's name, is of course, just one of a myriad of references to Poe stories and characters throughout the series. The show is filled with easter eggs, nods and visual representations of Poe's work, both overt and more subtle in nature.<b><br /></b></span></p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">As he tells the tale of each of his children's grisly demise to Dupin, Roderick also relates stories of his and Madeline's younger years, and the questionable things the siblings did to achieve success. All of these flashbacks are skillfully tied together into a tapestry which features elements of many of Poe's classic short stories and poems, including <b>The Black Cat</b>, <b>The Raven</b>, and <b>The Masque of the Red Death</b>. To give too much away would spoil the many pleasures and surprises of this magnificently produced, well-crafted series. Let's just say if you're a fan of Gothic horror, and frightening set-pieces which include some memorable jump scares, and over the top terror, then <span><b>The Fall of the House of Usher </b>is definitely in your wheelhouse.<b><br /></b></span></span><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">The
cast is excellent, with many of Mike Flanagan's repertory company from previous productions returning in various roles for the series, including Henry Thomas, Kate Siegel, T'Nia Miller, Rahul Koli and Bruce Greenwood, who gives a great performance as Roderick. Carl Lumbly provides strong work as Dupin, Mary McDonnell is terrific as Madeline, and Michael Trucco is solid as a smarmy Fortunato executive who tangles with Roderick and Madeline, much to his eventual regret. Everyone is marvelous, but top honors for scene-stealing have to go to Mark Hamill as Arthur Pym, the Usher family's coldly efficient lawyer/fixer (whose character name is yet another tip of the hat to Poe), and Carla Gugino (also a Flanagan veteran) as Verna, a mysterious woman with deep ties to Roderick and Madeline's past, who appears to be something other than human, and who knows all of the Usher secrets.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">The writing on the series is superb, with great dialogue provided for the actors by Flanagan and his co-writers, including Emily Grinwis and Justina Ireland. The show is visually striking, and brilliantly directed by Flanagan and Michael Fimongari, who also provided the cinematography for the series. </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><b>The Fall of the House of Usher</b></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> is a bit more wild and over the top than some of Flanagan's previous efforts, like <b>The Haunting of Hill House</b>, which, while it had its share of jump scares, often utilized a slow and subtle build up to its more terrifying moments. This series is a bit more Grand Guignol (by design) but it's no less well-crafted, or less effective, than Flanagan's other work. If you've enjoyed his other shows, such as the recent series <b>The Midnight Club</b>, then I think you'll dig </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><b>The Fall of the House of Usher</b></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">, which is currently streaming on Netflix. Here's a look at the trailer: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvuAWVzP6wI.">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvuAWVzP6wI.</a></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /><span><br /><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> </span></p>John Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01663676176398174024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682743027095228958.post-80168337100055238082023-10-23T00:00:00.004-04:002023-10-23T00:00:00.172-04:00Retro Movie: A Different Side of Jekyll & Hyde<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMsSSpzNBDmGSpSFi5a9tfz4grrj0kMvlNuksSAd-mfyMiPCT2jkUVIqT3fcT1K9ZxD7mXx1LTF2eb46XUEEfrFgrb_hMygJ_sn_cK9aEK4DUqQuwG2weyZNSmZRcfwxsMjdyxFnhTjZR990fZzo9A8OzvZ18q54DgwLUOkJ7IRjNDGWyrlQHYkHmONk/s847/HO.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="847" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMsSSpzNBDmGSpSFi5a9tfz4grrj0kMvlNuksSAd-mfyMiPCT2jkUVIqT3fcT1K9ZxD7mXx1LTF2eb46XUEEfrFgrb_hMygJ_sn_cK9aEK4DUqQuwG2weyZNSmZRcfwxsMjdyxFnhTjZR990fZzo9A8OzvZ18q54DgwLUOkJ7IRjNDGWyrlQHYkHmONk/s320/HO.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Martine Beswick & Gerald Sim</i></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In the late 1950s and throughout the 1960s, England's Hammer Films made a name for themselves as one of the preeminent purveyors of horror tales. Hammer created their own versions of the classic Universal monsters of the 1930s and 1940s, releasing films featuring Dracula, Frankenstein's monster and The Mummy. During the 1970s, the studio had fallen on hard times, and tried amping up the sex and violence quotient with titles like <b>Countess Dracula</b> and <b>The Vampire Lovers</b> to bring audiences back into the theaters. The studio also issued some original takes on their tried and true horror formula, with films such as <b>Demons of the Mind</b>,<b> Captain Kronos, Vampire Hunter </b>and<b> Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde</b>.<b> </b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde </b>spins the story of Dr. Henry Jekyll, an intelligent and forward thinking researcher who's trying to find a universal cure for most of the illnesses suffered by mankind. His cavalier friend Professor Robertson thinks he should get out and enjoy life more. Jekyll''s new neighbor Susan Spencer has a romantic interest in him, but he's too obsessed with his studies to notice. Jekyll reaches a compelling breakthrough in his work, but not the one he expected. He turns from curing illness to creating an elixir of life, using female hormones, since it seems to him that women live longer than men. When Jekyll drinks his elixir, he transforms into a seductive female named Edwina Hyde.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Edwina is a predatory, powerful woman and her strong persona overwhelms the weaker Jekyll, who ends up committing murder<b> </b>to obtain more<b> </b>hormones for his elixir. Ms. Hyde starts to gain control for longer periods, and she wants to become the dominant personality, eliminating Jekyll. <b>Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde </b>is an entertaining variation on the Jekyll/Hyde tale, featuring a good performance by Ralph Bates as Jekyll, and a dark, sensual one from former Bond girl and Hammer veteran Martine Beswick as Ms. Hyde. The clever script by Brian Clemens (who also penned </span></span><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Captain Kronos, Vampire Hunter</b>)</span></span> manages to insert real life corpse snatchers Burke and Hare, as well as the Jack the Ripper killings, into the story of Jekyll and Hyde, and toss a murderous female alter ego for Jekyll into the proceedings as well.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Roy Ward Baker's strong direction, the evocative score by David Whitaker, and the atmospheric</span></span><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> cinematography of Norman Warwick combine to make the film one of one of the better variations on Robert Louis Stevenson's classic tale. The solid supporting cast includes Gerald Sim, Lewis Fiander and Virginia Wetherall. <b>Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde</b> is an intriguing, offbeat entry in the latter day Hammer horror cycle, and it's worth checking out. The film is available on Blu-ray from Scream Factory, and is currently available for streaming on Peacock. Here's a look at the trailer for the film: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylWRtdfcMLk">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylWRtdfcMLk</a>.</span></span><br /><br /></p><p><br /><b></b></p>John Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01663676176398174024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682743027095228958.post-59505644043177324972023-10-13T05:52:00.004-04:002024-01-13T15:52:19.046-05:00The Weeklings Salute "Brian Jones"<p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-P28xyGfkjHpuaZt6i1QXufbPQOd9EMI7A7UAAyucEDGWUZuv_WImtLOO7kuz5OaYVwJjlDeJ9BR0kN2h3ZnWrUhq0cyqvN01ah0_6OjSqXj4gErRpIi02aItqWDmBmM5Ff2W50JGLdmwWJy2FLLDis-9gzbZ_uO0u_g5TPKW0iLPEV3G5D74Ixvmu2I/s952/hou.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="952" data-original-width="940" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-P28xyGfkjHpuaZt6i1QXufbPQOd9EMI7A7UAAyucEDGWUZuv_WImtLOO7kuz5OaYVwJjlDeJ9BR0kN2h3ZnWrUhq0cyqvN01ah0_6OjSqXj4gErRpIi02aItqWDmBmM5Ff2W50JGLdmwWJy2FLLDis-9gzbZ_uO0u_g5TPKW0iLPEV3G5D74Ixvmu2I/s320/hou.jpg" width="316" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">The Weeklings, those New Jersey based power pop maestros, have already given us a pair of excellent releases during the past year. Their magnificent version of the Beatles classic "I've Just Seen A Face," and its accompanying music video became fan favorites during the winter months, and the group's brilliant re-imagining of Bruce Springsteen's "I'm On Fire" as a rockabilly rave-up wowed us all this past summer. But if you thought The Weeklings were done dazzling us after that dynamic one-two punch, you
couldn't be more wrong. The band has just released a terrific new single saluting the late Brian Jones, one of the founding members of The Rolling Stones.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">"Brian Jones" is a bluesy, harmonica infused tune paying tribute to Jones, who for many longtime Stones fans was the heart, soul and driving force of the band's early years. The song, co-written by Bob Burger and Glen Burtnik, aka Zeek and Lefty Weekling, also features the exquisite harmonies that are a hallmark of The Weeklings sound, as well as some groovy guitar, bass and drum work by the group. With the Stones releasing a new album this month, interest in the band is high, so The Weeklings couldn't have picked a better time to release this fantastic tune, their third fabulous release in a row this year!</span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">The phenomenal lineup of The Weeklings consists of Zeek, aka Bob Burger, on lead vocals, harmonica, and guitar; Lefty aka Glen Burtnik, on bass and background vocals; Rocky, aka John Merjave, on guitar and background vocals, and
Smokestack, aka Joe Bellia, on drums. If you dig "I've Just Seen A Face," "I'm On Fire" and the rest of the splendiferous music of The Weeklings, then you'll absolutely love "Brian Jones." It's an outstanding tribute to a rock and roll icon from a top-notch band. Here's a link to the fabulous video for the song: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abAFKBANq0I">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abAFKBANq0I.</a></span></p><p>
</p>
John Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01663676176398174024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682743027095228958.post-35894579447505425342023-10-02T00:00:00.015-04:002023-10-02T06:24:49.577-04:00Songs & Stories at BFVCC with Thomas Walsh<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaLhuNJcmfHxBeGYx5oR9lNT9XOFi_iSigflhrbHT1cdi-orxtZzuEWdTgN6Xj3fDYUbqrRQzMxQKLUIDgpLViKm8lju8J-HN14SKoJ79YilvDSZKC4_9LxIZJflLoF9r69Ppsk3iDA-tN5cKJNF-AtVSCasEEPV81tgh2LlfNdVPPBLjeDuYBMNT3iJE/s320/IMG_7171.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="259" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaLhuNJcmfHxBeGYx5oR9lNT9XOFi_iSigflhrbHT1cdi-orxtZzuEWdTgN6Xj3fDYUbqrRQzMxQKLUIDgpLViKm8lju8J-HN14SKoJ79YilvDSZKC4_9LxIZJflLoF9r69Ppsk3iDA-tN5cKJNF-AtVSCasEEPV81tgh2LlfNdVPPBLjeDuYBMNT3iJE/s1600/IMG_7171.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Thomas Walsh at Best Video </i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thomas Walsh is a tremendously talented singer and songwriter who, since the 1990s, has created wonderful music as the founder of Pugwash, an Irish band whose songs have echoes of XTC, ELO, The Beatles and The Beach Boys. While Pugwash's music does indeed recall the sound of those much beloved bands, their music also stands on its own, showcasing Thomas' knack for crafting marvelous pop/rock songs combining enchanting music with memorable lyrics. This month, Walsh is releasing his first solo disc, <i>The Rest Is History</i>. On Sunday, October 1st, he performed a show at the <i>Best Video Film & Cultural Center</i> in Hamden, Connecticut, to promote the album.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The show was outstanding, featuring a generous helping of tunes from Pugwash, a couple of selections from The Duckworth Lewis Method, his cricket themed band (with Neil Hannon), and some terrific covers including songs by The Bee Gees, The Move, The Kinks and Michael Penn. He also previewed several tracks from <i>The Rest Is History</i>, including the fantastic "A Good Day For Me" and the lovely "We Knew." Thomas is a phenomenal performer, whose affable personality, playful sense of humor and positive energy shone through not only in his singing and playing, but in the stories he shared about the origin of his songs, and his encounters with the likes of Jeff Lynne and Brian Wilson.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thomas was in excellent voice, offering us glorious versions of Pugwash gems such as "Take Me Away", "Fall Down" and "The Perfect Summer," as well as heartfelt renditions of songs he loves, such as The Bee Gees "Birdie Told Me," and Michael Penn's "Coal." It was a special treat to hear these wonderful songs performed "unplugged"style, and Walsh's expert guitar playing perfectly matched his heartfelt vocals. From the emotional "Here" to the light-hearted Duckworth Lewis Method track "Meeting Mr. Miandad," His joy in performing these tunes was palpable. The intimate nature of the space at <i>Best Video</i> and the enthusiastic audience also added to the show's positive vibe.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Another delightful thing about Thomas is that like ourselves, he's a music <i>fan</i>. His unabashed affection for the artists and bands he loves, such as XTC was evident when he would break into an impromptu rendition of their song "Grass," The Kinks tune "Animal Farm" or a snippet of George Harrison's "Blow Away." Thomas Walsh creates magnificent pop/rock music, and performs it with wit, heart and passion. As a long time fan of his work, I feel very lucky to have seen him perform at a venue like <i>Best Video Film & Cultural Center,</i> which is the home of so many great music and film related events in this area. If you're fan of pop, power pop and melodic rock, I strongly recommend checking out Thomas' fantastic music, and if you get the chance, head out to see him perform live.</span><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggI6v9JlRSg73VK3u63u6RPQLUtffIAXolWNM6aP245UAd6wDwtQwiQl2WDrVl07OUx7DPi485qJlFVpR_K7g18HCrSYpafw-6AXHjwlq-boVQgo8XMm3IzueZ_0BlT3pfwIgweZFbUvCXAMUs_BPwLxVbEBeXkPJcQs0QkTyiHiT_W1KW2EWr99YwYmY/s640/IMG_7177.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggI6v9JlRSg73VK3u63u6RPQLUtffIAXolWNM6aP245UAd6wDwtQwiQl2WDrVl07OUx7DPi485qJlFVpR_K7g18HCrSYpafw-6AXHjwlq-boVQgo8XMm3IzueZ_0BlT3pfwIgweZFbUvCXAMUs_BPwLxVbEBeXkPJcQs0QkTyiHiT_W1KW2EWr99YwYmY/s320/IMG_7177.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>With Thomas after the show</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><br /><p></p>John Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01663676176398174024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682743027095228958.post-19335225471362808212023-09-28T17:21:00.006-04:002023-09-28T18:55:07.515-04:00Retro Movie: The Watcher in the Woods<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: times;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSWUWkE35dNBDNWA4awLt_H-yiE4v04a3cwb3UhYbNFZtgfpH7bdqif5n2bQRtyQ1BDJEg-fMuFZLEJyRnNyKivLH6YtVR-VAFT1ee-hG3bOXvdXyLDizY3ApUDjv9A8AeWe1MBXd2ZoEJ_jFZxuVlZxkPK6CkSx-rmxc4Jr-SaG6MKbxcqWQsUNZoz-Y/s2366/watch.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="2366" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSWUWkE35dNBDNWA4awLt_H-yiE4v04a3cwb3UhYbNFZtgfpH7bdqif5n2bQRtyQ1BDJEg-fMuFZLEJyRnNyKivLH6YtVR-VAFT1ee-hG3bOXvdXyLDizY3ApUDjv9A8AeWe1MBXd2ZoEJ_jFZxuVlZxkPK6CkSx-rmxc4Jr-SaG6MKbxcqWQsUNZoz-Y/s320/watch.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Kyle Richards, Lynn Holly-Johnson and Bette Davis</span></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span>In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Walt Disney Pictures was experimenting with releasing live-action films that appealed to slightly older audiences than the ones that viewed G-rated family oriented fare like <b>The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes</b> or <b>The Apple Dumpling Gang</b>. Instead, Disney offered movies such as the science-fiction epic <b>The Black Hole</b>, an adaptation of Ray Bradbury's classic novel<b> Something Wicked This Way Comes</b>, and a big-screen version of Florence Engel Randall's thriller <b>A Watcher In The Woods</b>. Originally released in 1980, <b>The Watcher In The Woods</b> had a troubled production history, which included the film being pulled from theaters shortly after it opened, having some scenes cut, and a completely new ending added before it was later re-issued. </span></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span>There are some fans who remember being frightened by the movie when they saw it back in the day, and its worth taking a look back at the film.<br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span><b>The Watcher In The Woods </b>tells the story of the Curtis family: Paul, Helen, and their daughters Jan and Ellie, who move into a home in rural England, while Paul, a musician, works on a project. The house they're staying in is owned by Mrs. Aylwood, a woman whose daughter Karen mysteriously vanished years ago. Both Jan and Ellie begin to experience strange events, and it appears there's a supernatural presence in the house, as well as the woods nearby. Jan investigates the circumstances behind Karen's disappearance, discovering a decades old secret about the night Karen went missing. Mrs. Aylwood warns Jan not to look too deeply into the past, but she persists, working with Karen's friends to recreate the events of that fateful night, which leads to a surprising revelation about the missing girl.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span>The cast includes Carroll Baker, David McCallum, Ian Bannen, Kyle Richards as Ellie and Bette Davis as Mrs. Aylwood. Lynn Holly-Johnson, a former figure skater who had scored a hit with the romantic drama <b>Ice Castles</b> (and would later be featured in the James Bond film <b>For Your Eyes Only</b>)
stars as Jan. She gives a good performance in the role, projecting the
right balance between the character's wide-eyed innocence and Nancy Drew style determination to find out the truth about what happened to Karen, but it's the veteran performers
like Davis, Bannen and Baker who provide the film with some old fashioned star power. The movie has an offbeat tone and some eerie atmosphere, courtesy of
director John Hough, who had previously helmed the well-received haunted house
tale <b>The Legend of Hell House</b>. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span>Based on the cast and the behind the scenes personnel, it seemed like <b>The Watcher In The Woods </b>would be a big hit...but there was trouble afoot in these woods.<b> </b>The script for the film went through several revisions, with
the original version penned by Brian Clemens (a veteran of the British
TV series <i>The Avengers</i>, and films like <b>Captain Kronos, Vampire Hunter</b>)<b> </b>reportedly rejected as too intense<b> </b>for the film's<b> </b>intended young adult audience.<b> </b>The studio hired Rosemary Anne Sisson, and later Gerry Day, to rework the screenplay.
During production, Ron Miller, who was the CEO of Disney at the time, clashed with director Hough and the crew, advising them to dial back the intensity of some of the more frightening scenes in the film.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span>When the movie premiered in April 1980, both audiences and critics were underwhelmed by the ending of the film, which many viewers felt provided an abrupt and incomplete conclusion to the suspenseful story. The climax of the movie shown during the initial release of the film included some effects work that had been rushed in order to get it completed on time. Due to the negative response to the film, Disney actually pulled it from theaters, and had special effects wizard Harrison Ellenshaw develop a new ending. The studio also hired director Vincent McEveety to shoot several new scenes for the movie, and the eerie original opening sequence was cut from the film.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span><b>The Watcher In The Woods </b>was re-released in October 1981, and was marketed by Disney as an intense thriller that would have you spending "ninety minutes on the edge of your seat." The new version of the film was only moderately successful, and along with other highly touted Disney productions like <b>The Black Hole, </b>didn't live up to the studio's box-office expectations. For many years, the movie was hard to see, as it was rarely screened on TV, and after an initial release on VHS in the 1980s, was unavailable until some recent DVD and Blu-ray re-issues. In 2017, there was a new (non-Disney) remake of the film produced for Lifetime Television, starring Anjelica Huston, and directed by Melissa Joan Hart.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span>Part of the problem with the film is that it's never sure whether it wants to be an old school supernatural thriller or a science-fiction tale, as the plot features elements of both genres. This is especially evident in the original ending for the film, which is available for viewing on the DVD and Blu-ray editions. I think it's an interesting movie, which is worth a look for Disney fans, as well as genre devotees who are curious about the studio's attempts to try something different when they were primarily releasing family fare in theaters. While the <b>The Watcher In The Woods</b> isn't available for streaming on Disney+, you can find DVD and Blu-ray releases of the film online, and there are some YouTube videos of the various endings. Here's a look at the trailer for the film: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DFacqQp8uw">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DFacqQp8uw</a>.</span></span><br /></p>John Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01663676176398174024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682743027095228958.post-52106266088476132612023-09-19T18:05:00.002-04:002024-01-29T16:31:58.427-05:00Marc Platt's "No AI: Plattinum Approved"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGclfsjSKR14F-mXW2Px8nHwPIGQURo2LyRs7xpf82gBCgX672bK3CdC29mrwQMBTWMktohERj7ryGR1p40zvxLajTvsXF5t2RHqaQHPUQeCWsNr0fXimJqp-4rSpr6N9gski08M4vJ6IUan_lqyczNaUfbbSwLbsPbl_ZlOoLXDp78nObGqOiv4aymY/s3000/No%20AI%20Plattinum%20Approved_Artwork_3000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGclfsjSKR14F-mXW2Px8nHwPIGQURo2LyRs7xpf82gBCgX672bK3CdC29mrwQMBTWMktohERj7ryGR1p40zvxLajTvsXF5t2RHqaQHPUQeCWsNr0fXimJqp-4rSpr6N9gski08M4vJ6IUan_lqyczNaUfbbSwLbsPbl_ZlOoLXDp78nObGqOiv4aymY/s320/No%20AI%20Plattinum%20Approved_Artwork_3000.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Here at <i>Eclectic Avenue</i>, I've regularly covered the exceptional music of singer-songwriter Marc Platt. He consistently knocks it out of the park on his stellar albums; his previous work includes such terrific releases as <i>Colors of the Universe</i>, <i>That Mid-Life
Crisis</i>, and <i>The Golden Ticket</i>. Following the excellent <i>Runaway Train</i>, which was issued earlier this year, his latest album, <i>No AI: Plattinum Approved</i>, is yet another impressive record.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Platt's music is reflective, thought-provoking and powerful. As listeners, the insightful lyrics of "No Way To Live" "Dark Clouds," and "Sad Thought of Being Alone," allow us to both connect with and empathize with Marc as a person, and an artist. We've all experienced feelings of love, loss, joy and sadness, and I think you'll deeply feel the soul-baring emotion inherent in songs like "It's Father's Day Again" and "Those Shades of Grey."<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">The production (also by Platt) on <i>No AI: Plattinum Approved </i>is low-key, which is a perfect fit for these poignant, folk-inflected songs, from the austere "The Giving" to the contemplative "Sad About A Girl." Speaking of folk, the album also includes a cover of "Very Last Day," a tune composed by Paul Stookey, originally recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary, and later covered by none other than The Hollies. Platt's top-notch version of this remarkable song deftly illustrates his fondness for 1960s pop, rock and folk. </span></p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><i>No AI: Plattinum Approved</i> is a fantastic record, featuring Platt's masterful, acoustic flavored guitar work, emotion-infused vocals, and superb songwriting. It's an album that will definitely grow on you with subsequent spins. I think it will quickly become one of your favorites. You should definitely visit <a href="https://marcplatt.bandcamp.com/album/no-ai-plattinum-approved">https://marcplatt.bandcamp.com/album/no-ai-plattinum-approved</a>, to check out and purchase the album. You'll also find several of his previous releases at bandcamp as well. I highly recommend taking a deep dive into the wonderful music of Marc Platt.</span><br /><p></p>John Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01663676176398174024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682743027095228958.post-52987043992853530962023-09-09T22:37:00.003-04:002023-09-09T22:44:52.784-04:00Sutliff's Shimmering "Only Ghosts Remain"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJgRPI48yvjp2iynzlKrnoTwAs3B1nZd48JrB97PI2z3ZRakF16NRLRJ18TCqZZTAJmDbGSddnjttJc6UA1cisUgComuN8FSwBn3JjYysaKixKz-65gXfOtlmOzFG3QTdehjFooDPq-ZPf65Ex4AvLFcuICW8th_GVgRJAKqwDG-feVEg9_i2AT7r7kQ/s328/MOM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="328" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJgRPI48yvjp2iynzlKrnoTwAs3B1nZd48JrB97PI2z3ZRakF16NRLRJ18TCqZZTAJmDbGSddnjttJc6UA1cisUgComuN8FSwBn3JjYysaKixKz-65gXfOtlmOzFG3QTdehjFooDPq-ZPf65Ex4AvLFcuICW8th_GVgRJAKqwDG-feVEg9_i2AT7r7kQ/s320/MOM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Power pop fans are absolutely passionate about the artists they love. If you ask a dyed in the wool power pop loyalist to rattle off some of their favorites, you'll probably get answers that include the likes of the Raspberries, Big Star, Jellyfish, Shoes, The Rubinoos, and a host of others. One of the shining lights of the Southern power pop movement was Bobby Sutliff, who co-founded (with Tim Lee) cult favorites The Windbreakers, a Mississippi based band that released several well-regarded albums during the 1980s and 1990s, with the help of such luminaries as producer Mitch Easter and guest star Richard Barone, of Bongos fame. Bobby also released several solo projects, including the remarkable <i>Perfect Dream (2003)</i>.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sadly, Bobby passed away last year. To commemorate his musical legacy, JEM Records is releasing a special edition of one of Sutliff's finest albums, 1987's <i>Only Ghosts Remain</i>. This special edition, entitled <i>Only Ghosts Remain Plus, </i>will<i> </i>include all 11 tracks from the original disc, as well as 11 bonus tracks from throughout his career, selected by Bobby's family and friends. Produced by power pop luminary Mitch Easter, <i>Only Ghosts Remain </i>is full of melodic, introspective songs that will not only get stuck in your head, but will make you smile, touch your heart and have your reflecting on your own brushes with the ups and downs of life and the often thorny pathways of love.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Bobby's phenomenal guitar work, excellent vocals and sharp lyrical gifts
shine through on emotionally resonant tracks such as "Second Choice,"
"Couldn't Help Myself" and "Same Way Tomorrow."<i> Only Ghosts Remain Plus </i>will delight, astound and thrill power pop fans. In it's original form, <i>Only Ghosts Remain </i>is simply one of the best power pop releases of the 1980s. But the <i>Plus</i> on this fantastic re-issue is the sensational bonus tracks, which include songs from several of Bobby's other solo albums, including <i>Perfect Dream</i>, <i>On A Ladder</i> and <i>Bitter Fruit</i>. These extraordinary tunes include "Change The Way," "The Color of Your Eyes" and "One Way Ticket."<br /><br />If you're a fan of Bobby's work, these remarkable songs will remind you why he's beloved by power pop fans and fellow musicians alike. If you're new to Bobby's music, listening to the shimmering melodies of <i>Only Ghosts Remain Plus </i>will hopefully inspire you to check out his oeuvre with The Windbreakers, and the rest of his solo catalog. <i>Only Ghosts Remain Plus </i>will be released on September 22nd on JEM Records. Here are links to "Same Way Tomorrow" <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kwm0fovT-g">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kwm0fovT-g</a>, and "Couldn't Help Myself" <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtSG8EZvauU">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtSG8EZvauU</a>. Kudos to JEM Records for keeping Bobby's work alive in the hearts and minds of the power pop faithful, and hopefully introducing his work to a new generation of fans.<br /></span></span></p><p><br /><i></i></p>John Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01663676176398174024noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682743027095228958.post-45913103379963763672023-08-28T18:22:00.013-04:002023-08-29T17:26:48.711-04:00Springsteen's Transformative Musical Power<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElvTyppBRJ_8V-imV4zaZB4Vrw0jlQg3fJDaKAaIFpN-2ix0cZ2p3v1T-Yo3UuY-at5BQKjsqLYJus_ScFR2kAaDQKj55J-b3DpHCEzIyQukRhr1qtVpmRV1MJaeJ1fricT_BM-lNouiAN5c9xxoF_EyhFORcLJ6dF5xFYIiW6PdI3XiAWV_cbwauefY/s499/bruce.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="499" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElvTyppBRJ_8V-imV4zaZB4Vrw0jlQg3fJDaKAaIFpN-2ix0cZ2p3v1T-Yo3UuY-at5BQKjsqLYJus_ScFR2kAaDQKj55J-b3DpHCEzIyQukRhr1qtVpmRV1MJaeJ1fricT_BM-lNouiAN5c9xxoF_EyhFORcLJ6dF5xFYIiW6PdI3XiAWV_cbwauefY/s320/bruce.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band took the stage this past Saturday for the second of a pair of shows at Gillette Stadium. Bruce and the band provided the crowd with a serious blast of high energy rock and roll, performed with all the heart, soul and boundless energy fans have come to expect from a Springsteen concert. Throughout the three hour show, we were treated to a favorites heavy set featuring much loved tunes like "Prove It All Night," "The Promised Land," "Backstreets," "Badlands," and "Because The Night." Also sprinkled throughout the show were some were some well chosen deep cuts, including a terrific version of "Kitty's Back," and a rough and ready, badass run through of "Johnny 99."<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Boss and the rest of the group were in fine form, with Nils Lofgren and "Little Stevie" Van Zandt providing explosive guitar work, Jake Clemons offering up some red hot saxophone, and multi-instrumentalist Soozie Tyrell and backing vocalists Curtis King and Michelle Moore also giving the audience some memorable moments. The E Street Band is a well-oiled machine at this point, and Springsteen is such a generous leader, that every member of the ensemble had a chance to shine throughout the night. For fans, it's a truly communal experience attending an E Street show, where everyone in the audience sings, shouts and chants along in joyful unison.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">While there wasn't as much between song chat as there often is at a Springsteen show, he did take some time out to talk about, love, life, friendship and loss. During the concert, he performed several songs from the album <b>Letter To You</b>, including "Last Man Standing" and "Ghosts," which recall his friend and former bandmate George Theiss, who died in 2018. Springsteen and Theiss were both in the New Jersey based band The Castiles in their younger days. With the passing of Theiss, Bruce is the last surviving member of the group. His touching renditions of the selections from <b>Letter To You</b>, including the title track, and the evening's final song, the acoustic "I'll See You In My Dreams," were reminders of the emotionally resonant power of his music. Bruce hasn't lost one iota of his near-mystical skills to enthrall, thrill and captivate an audience.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Springsteen has always interacted with his fans on a deeply personal level. It's not just about the incredible songs, the insightful and thoughtful lyrics, or the incendiary live performances. There's a transformative power to his music that sparks a powerful response. The emotions and feelings he explores in his work are things we can all relate to, and that sense of empathy and understanding allows us to form a unique bond with him. My late wife Gloria was a passionate Springsteen fan. She felt a powerful connection to him through his songs that elevated her love of his music, and sharing her transcendent experience made me even more of a Springsteen fan. I don't know how many more large scale tours Bruce will be doing at this point, but if you get the chance to see him live, don't miss out. It's truly a one of a kind rock and roll experience. <br /><br /><i>Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band Setlist 8/26/23 </i><br />Lonesome Day </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">No Surrender </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ghosts <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Prove It All Night </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Letter To You </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Promised Land </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Out in the Street</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Candy's Room</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Kitty's Back </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Nightshift</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Atlantic City</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Johnny 99</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Mary's Place</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Last Man Standing</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Backstreets</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Because The Night</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">She's The One</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Wrecking Ball</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Rising</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Badlands</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thunder Road</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Encore 1:</i> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Born To Run</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Seven Nights To Rock</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Glory Days</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dancing In The Dark</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Tenth Avenue Freeze Out</span></span></p><p><i><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Encore 2:</span></span></i></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'll See You In My Dreams<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span>John Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01663676176398174024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682743027095228958.post-32826883307099754492023-08-18T00:30:00.000-04:002023-08-18T00:30:00.139-04:00Ron Shelton Visits "The Church of Baseball"<p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijPvpQfURaT9j6Ungd4-e4IlZf4CM0qHakdkFuOBv3ZhNwGGdDyYltaM6LUwO0JhFD9x9SPraWtxJnx4P1Kg7tNxaHYtUMbC7PYxooHE7GvTH85mrh0W9V9bxAOt9PaFYFb5QC5s5nDVX855Z7vm_0mntmhIoAeWSFDl1Wg0gKn5fZD1TDSVs0yDzugPY/s2400/mom.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1556" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijPvpQfURaT9j6Ungd4-e4IlZf4CM0qHakdkFuOBv3ZhNwGGdDyYltaM6LUwO0JhFD9x9SPraWtxJnx4P1Kg7tNxaHYtUMbC7PYxooHE7GvTH85mrh0W9V9bxAOt9PaFYFb5QC5s5nDVX855Z7vm_0mntmhIoAeWSFDl1Wg0gKn5fZD1TDSVs0yDzugPY/s320/mom.jpg" width="207" /></a></span></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span>As both a baseball fan and a movie aficionado, <b>Bull Durham</b> is one of my favorites. The 1988 film, written and directed by Ron Shelton, and starring Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins, is a delightful comedy set in the world of minor league baseball. In addition to the talented star trio, there's a wonderful supporting cast, including Robert Wuhl and Trey Wilson. The movie was Shelton's directorial debut, and its success was followed by several more sports themed films, including <b>Cobb</b>, <b>White Men Can't Jump</b> and 1996's <b>Tin Cup</b>, which also starred Costner. But it all started with a small-budgeted film about a romantic triangle, with baseball as the backdrop to the story.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span>Shelton has written an in-depth account of the production of <b>Bull Durham</b>, entitled <i>The Church of Baseball: The Making of Bull Durham</i>, and it's a fascinating read. Shelton actually played in the minor leagues, and used his real life experiences to add depth to his colorful tale about life, love <i>and</i> the love of baseball. He'd previously written the screenplays for a couple of films that didn't catch fire at the box office, but he really wanted to get his baseball film produced by a Hollywood studio. <i>The Church of Baseball </i>is the fascinating story of Shelton's often challenging journey to get the film made.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span>The process of getting <b>Bull Durham</b> produced and ultimately released was a journey littered with the usual Hollywood roadblocks, including thick-headed studio executives, financial issues and casting problems. One executive wanted Anthony Michael Hall to play the Tim Robbins role, despite the fact that Shelton's experience with Hall's audition was less than positive. At various times during the filming, studio personnel wanted to re-shoot portions of the film, cut important scenes from the script, and even replace Shelton with another director.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span>Shelton's retelling of the film's pre-production, production and completion is an absorbing story, related in a low-key, conversational style, almost as if you're sitting at the bar with him listening to the story. It's a compelling tale that's as much about Shelton himself as it is about his adventures dealing with the Hollywood machine. There's a lot of great inside information on the making of </span></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span><b>Bull Durham</b></span></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span>, but there are also some funny, moving and illuminating autobiographical reminisces about Shelton's own life experiences, which informed his work on the movie. If you're a fan of <b>Bull Durham</b>, or Shelton's other films, </span></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span><i>The Church of Baseball: The Making of Bull Durham</i> is a must read.<i><br /></i></span></span></p>John Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01663676176398174024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682743027095228958.post-58785604011083207792023-08-08T06:30:00.000-04:002023-08-08T06:30:00.150-04:00Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: The Musical?<p><span face="sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8X7DhjA98BRvTELbffccKKmVYdSVbHcVR_xDq8qRuMBItp3nNSkPxi6CAQ1G8I022dMwbrawLl5FJNdNwkgTN1CBFuh5PQzkaeyC2xfrzFF4IplvIIrVPoxYuf2vdw9_XjkBiyqjoS9skNzyKgfT6YolSuvGUM1TcHlDiTQInRD5j05UNlnfqUl7fuRA/s1164/mom.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="1164" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8X7DhjA98BRvTELbffccKKmVYdSVbHcVR_xDq8qRuMBItp3nNSkPxi6CAQ1G8I022dMwbrawLl5FJNdNwkgTN1CBFuh5PQzkaeyC2xfrzFF4IplvIIrVPoxYuf2vdw9_XjkBiyqjoS9skNzyKgfT6YolSuvGUM1TcHlDiTQInRD5j05UNlnfqUl7fuRA/s320/mom.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span face="sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><i></i></span><p></p><p><span face="sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><i>Star
Trek: Strange New Worlds</i> has enthralled long-time fans throughout its
first two seasons. This prequel series, featuring the adventures of
Captain Pike and
the crew of the <i>USS Enterprise</i> prior to the era of Captain Kirk, has
successfully captured the flavor of classic Trek, utilizing a more
episodic format akin to the original show. This fresh approach to modern
Trek storytelling has allowed the series to showcase
a variety of genres in individual episodes, including body-switch
comedy, intense war stories, time travel adventures, and in one of the
wildest stylistic swings in <i>Star Trek</i> history: a musical. “Subspace
Rhapsody,” the penultimate entry of the series’ sophomore
season, is a full on Broadway extravaganza, featuring original songs performed by
the actors in character.</span>
</p><p class="yiv0019336140MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span face="sans-serif" style="color: black;">When
the <i>Enterprise</i> investigates a subspace anomaly which has the
potential to significantly boost communication signals, Uhura and
Spock decided to use music, when their experiments to obtain a reaction
from the anomaly are unsuccessful. They definitely get a reaction: a
wave washes
over the crew, and suddenly everyone is compelled to sing about their
feelings. Things start off with an ensemble number, followed by Captain
Pike warbling about his relationship with fellow Captain Batel, in full
view of the bridge crew. Spock and Nurse Chapel
emote about their difficult relationship in separate songs, and both
Number One and security chief La'an (Christina Chong) get to sing cool tunes
as well. But its Celia Rose Gooding (who portrays Uhura) who gets to
belt a show-stopping number toward the episode's climax.</span></span></p><p class="yiv0019336140MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span face="sans-serif" style="color: black;">The
songs (composed by Kay Hanley and Tom Polce of alternative rockers
Letters To Cleo) are well placed within the story, move things
forward, and define the characters, just like the tunes in a traditional Broadway musical. The cast is clearly having a lot of fun, and they give it their all, though
Tony nominee Gooding and musical theatre veteran Chong (who plays La'an)
absolutely get to show off their top-notch musical chops. "Subspace
Rhapsody" is a wonderful episode, one that could have easily gone off
the rails, but director Dermott Downs (who also helmed a musical
crossover between the CW's <i>The Flash</i> and <i>Supergirl</i> ) does a superb job, integrating the musical aspects of the story with the ongoing development of the show's storylines.<br /></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">There
are some nice Easter eggs contained in the episode, including a not-too
surprising romantic revelation from Lt Kirk, and a career change for
Nurse Chapel that will delight and intrigue Trek fans. There's also
a nod to "Once More, With Feeling" the 2001 musical episode
of <i>Buffy The Vampire Slayer</i> that's kind of the standard bearer
for shows like this one. Even if musicals are not your cup of tea, I
encourage you to give "Subspace Rhapsody" a try. It's a delightful
change of pace for <i>Star</i> <i>Trek</i>, and another genre which <i>Strange New Worlds</i>
has adeptly pulled off during its run. The show isn't afraid to switch
gears from a dark-themed war story to a musical, and the upcoming season finale looks to be another stylistic
shift.<span>
I give the cast and crew credit for taking chances within the
<i>Star Trek</i> format, while telling entertaining and enlightening
stories that are firmly in <i>Star Trek's</i> thematic wheelhouse. "Subspace Rhapsody" is now streaming on <i>Paramount+</i>.<br /></span></span>John Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01663676176398174024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682743027095228958.post-76114498037203817192023-08-01T00:30:00.003-04:002023-08-01T06:23:17.260-04:00Grey DeLisle's Retro Country "Baby"<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1qA8EWrOlQEKw0bJLhOd2aT8YjEuaeLV6H4rc7NCvrm6STAdu2Gc-LXzbJFQeJzN4lMiKT24bii7Z80FiDEBbPxHzAQpcZCnLVuDgpr_ju8C_Tfpwc1jO4T0F6NoCy6ilr7M5oE0J7mIKOBENFrX3PgmizmYeY1KkF4qrv0ywDENi4zUkElkRrL_cqM/s996/Mom.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="996" data-original-width="990" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1qA8EWrOlQEKw0bJLhOd2aT8YjEuaeLV6H4rc7NCvrm6STAdu2Gc-LXzbJFQeJzN4lMiKT24bii7Z80FiDEBbPxHzAQpcZCnLVuDgpr_ju8C_Tfpwc1jO4T0F6NoCy6ilr7M5oE0J7mIKOBENFrX3PgmizmYeY1KkF4qrv0ywDENi4zUkElkRrL_cqM/s320/Mom.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Grey DeLisle is a wonderful singer and songwriter, and a veteran voice actor who's been featured in a plethora of animated TV series and films, including </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">the <i>Scooby Doo</i> franchise<i> </i>and<i> </i></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><i>The Simpsons</i><i>. </i>She's also performed stand up-comedy, and released several acclaimed albums, working in multiple musical genres, including country, folk and children's music. I've written about some of her recent singles here at <i>Eclectic Avenue</i>, and DeLisle's latest release is one of her best. "Everybody's Baby," produced by the talented duo of Eddie Clendening and Deke Dickerson, is a refreshing blast of old-school country.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">DeLisle's dynamic vocal performance anchors this retro country tune, and she's supported by the terrific work of Lelah Simon on stand-up bass, Bernie Dressel II on drums, and Dave Berzansky on pedal steel guitar. </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">If you dig sassy and strong country ladies like Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn and Tanya Tucker, then "Everybody's Baby" will absolutely be your cup of tea, or perhaps a shot of something stronger! </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">This honky tonk tale about a gal showing her no good cheatin' guy the door is country music like it ought to be! DeLisle once again illustrates that she's a virtuoso in any musical genre she takes on, and I'm looking forward to her forthcoming album, which will be released later this year.</span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /><span><br />"Everybody's Baby" is available now wherever you get your music fix, including Apple Music and Spotify. Check out the song here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt9CgdGzvMo">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt9CgdGzvMo</a>. Classic country fans, this tune is definitely in your wheelhouse, so load it onto the jukebox and get dancing!<br /></span></span></p>John Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01663676176398174024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682743027095228958.post-12831124614616714822023-07-23T15:19:00.004-04:002023-07-24T06:47:50.186-04:00The Subtle Terrors of "The Remaking"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTgLxq3UpNE1nUN8wBi2lr74iE_c-C1flwUci-veK83zfiHKK8BNSGSv7hehLd1hQwfZOGUVJWe8kAAwOPT86J7ay_hKeYotOsLdMKEU-9qKY4EqvlKXmEwJKASfLluzWz9aINEBzfQBtenrMcPEzFbjAS6y7HamIQMnnQ77wYkoI97fDe1YkoKmfA10/s1080/tol.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="708" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTgLxq3UpNE1nUN8wBi2lr74iE_c-C1flwUci-veK83zfiHKK8BNSGSv7hehLd1hQwfZOGUVJWe8kAAwOPT86J7ay_hKeYotOsLdMKEU-9qKY4EqvlKXmEwJKASfLluzWz9aINEBzfQBtenrMcPEzFbjAS6y7HamIQMnnQ77wYkoI97fDe1YkoKmfA10/s320/tol.jpg" width="210" /></a><br /></span></span></div><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I was really impressed by Clay McLeod Chapman's novel <i>Ghost Eaters</i>, which I reviewed recently on this blog. I dived right into his earlier work, <i>The Remaking</i>, and it's pretty fantastic as well. <i>The Remaking</i> tells the story of Ella Louise Ford, and her daughter Jessica, who are burned as witches in a small Virginia town in the early 20th century. In the 1970s, a low-budget horror movie based on their story is filmed at the actual location where they were put to death. Strange things happen, and Amber Pendleton, the young actress playing the daughter, has a horrifying experience that scars her for years afterward. The film becomes a cult classic, and the terrifying events that occurred during its production only add to its legend.<br /><br />Years later, in the 1990s, a hotshot young director wants to remake the film in the modern era, and he tries to convince Amber to play the mother this time around. Amber reluctantly agrees, as she's been haunted by her earlier experience. She hasn't been able to maintain an acting career, due to her struggles with alcohol and drug addiction. Amber makes money by appearing at horror conventions and signing photos for fans of the original movie. But what Amber and the rest of the cast and crew don't know is that the spirits of Ella Louise and Jessica aren't done with their ghostly vengeance, and their need to put their spirits at rest once and for all.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The Remaking </i>is a very meta-infused novel, and if you're a horror fan, you'll enjoy all the self-referential nods to classic horror film franchises, and the knowing references to the tropes of the genre. It's a well-developed tale of how stories can gain a life of their own across the generations, and that things beyond our understanding really do exist. McLeod Chapman's insightful portrayal of Amber, and her haunted existence, is central to the success of the novel. There are some truly terrifying sequences that will make your hair stand on end. Many of the most frightening moments in the novel are of the subtle variety, but that doesn't make them any less horrifying.<br /><br />If you're a fan of the works of Stephen King and Peter Straub, and a true horror film aficionado, who enjoys meta-inspired works like <i>The Blair Witch Project </i>and <i>Scream</i>, than you'll find a lot to enjoy while reading <i>The Remaking</i>. McLeod Chapman is an innately talented author who knows how to tell an unsettling, eerie and atmospheric tale of terror. Along with <i>Ghost</i> Eaters, the other novel of Chapman's that I've recently read and reviewed, I highly recommend <i>The Remaking</i> to dedicated readers of expertly written tales of the supernatural. <i>The Remaking</i> is currently available in paperback. And please remember: "<i>these woods</i> <i>whisper</i>."<br /></span></span></p>John Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01663676176398174024noreply@blogger.com0