The "Monsters" Aren't From Outer Space

The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street

Recently, I've been doing a re-watch of some of my favorite episodes of the original Twilight Zone series. Rod Serling's groundbreaking television show thrilled and fascinated us with memorable tales of science-fiction, fantasy and horror. The Twilight Zone also taught us some important lessons about the human condition, and commented on the state of the world we live in through its fictional lens. "The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street” is one of the most powerful and enduring episodes of the series, and its central message remains relevant, especially in these troubling and uncertain times.

The story takes place on Maple Street, a quiet suburban neighborhood, where strange events, such as power outages and malfunctioning electronics, occur after the residents witness a flash of light and hear a loud noise in the sky. The people of the town believe an alien invasion is imminent, and suspect that there are aliens in disguise living among them. Suspicion, fear and paranoia begin to grip the neighborhood, leading to the residents accusing one another of collaborating with the aliens, turning against their friends, and ultimately ending in violence and death.

 

"The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street” illustrates how fear can turn ordinary people into their own worst enemies, and how negative emotions bring out the worst aspects of humanity. By the end of the story, the audience learns that the real “monsters” aren't the aliens, but the residents of Maple Street themselves. Spoiler Alert: The twist in the tale is that there really are aliens hiding outside of the town, manipulating events to show just how simple it is to turn human beings against one another, thus making our planet an easy target for conquest.

 

Written by Rod Serling and directed by Ronald Winston, the episode features a strong cast of familiar faces, including Jack Weston, Barry Atwater, Claude Akins and Mary Gregory. A re-imagined version of the story, entitled "The Monsters Are On Maple Street" was produced for the 2002 revival of The Twilight Zone, and starred Andrew McCarthy. "The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street” is widely acclaimed as one of the best episodes of the original series, and is certainly one of Serling's best efforts.

One of the episode’s greatest strengths is its powerful commentary on fear and mob mentality. Serling's fine script shows just how quickly kindness and empathy disappear when people feel threatened and paranoia reigns. The townspeople abandon logic and reason in favor of pointing the finger at their friends and neighbors, choosing fear over understanding. "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street,” which originally aired in 1960, is a bold and bracing commentary on the social and political situations of the Cold War era, but the themes present in this thought-provoking tale still feel very pertinent today.

The Cynz Rock Our World With "Confess"

The Cynz, the dynamic New Jersey rockers whose terrific version of David Bowie’s “Can’t Help Thinking About Me” was a highlight of last year’s JEM Records Celebrates David Bowie tribute disc, are about to blow your mind (and your speakers) with Confess, their fantastic new album, which will be released by JEM Records on January 24. If you’re not already a fan of this amazing band, you’re about to become one.

Confess includes ten tracks highlighted by hard-driving riffs, knockout vocals, shimmering melodies, and skillfully layered arrangements. Take a listen to the kinetic single “Love’s So Lovely” and the sharp-edged “My Father’s Gun” to see just what I mean. Cyndi Dawson’s evocative lead vocals and Henry Seiz’s masterful guitar work are the heart and soul of this incredible band, and they help bring tunes like the modern-rock flavored “Impossible Ending” and “Watching You” brilliantly to life.

What stands out on Confess is how the songs balance the band’s raw rock and roll energy with a real emotional core. The album includes a mix of gritty rockers like “Woman Child” and heartfelt tunes such as “Don’t Give Up.”  I also dig the picturesque “Ghost Rider” and the expressive “Light The Sky.” There’s also a knockout version of Tom Petty’s “You Wreck Me” which fits in nicely with the rest of the tracks on the disc, and has quickly become one of my favorite Petty covers.

The success of the album is firmly rooted in The Cynz’s deep commitment to their music, and their unparalleled talents, especially Cyndi Dawson’s passionate vocals and Henry Seiz’s powerhouse guitar. The excellent production work on Confess is by the one and only Kurt Reil of The Grip Weeds, and the disc features guest appearances by Reil, Tony Shanahan of The Patti Smith Group and Arno Hecht of The Uptown Horns.

Confess is definitely a statement of purpose by this exceptional group. The album is filled with heart, grit, and top notch songcraft. Whether you’re a longtime fan or are discovering The Cynz for the first time, Confess is a must listen and a must have. Here’s a link to check out “Love’s So Lovely,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W38G8XULMXU.

The Top Ten Posts: 2026 Edition

Happy New Year! Here's a list of the most visited posts from Eclectic Avenue for the last 12 months. There are some new entries and old favorites:

1. Dizzyfish: My review of a terrific concert by the amazing local band Dizzyfish is still in the top spot: https://jveclectic.blogspot.com/2024/06/dizzyfish-rocks-with-best-of-1970s.html.

2. Marvin Etzioni: My look at Marvin Etzioni's excellent 2020 release, What's The Mood of the Country Now? holds onto the number two spot: https://jveclectic.blogspot.com/2020/11/etzonis-whats-mood-is-exceptional.html.

3. The Tearaways: My review of a wonderful album by The Tearaways moves into the number three spot: https://jveclectic.blogspot.com/2023/03/a-fabulous-trick-from-tearaways.html.

4. Escape In The Fog: My look back at the 1945 thriller Escape In The Fog makes its debut in the top ten at number 4: https://jveclectic.blogspot.com/2018/12/will-otto-kruger-escape-in-fog.html.

5. The Magnificent Seven: A long-time resident of the top ten, this look at the 1960 Western classic takes the number five spot on the list once again this year: https://jveclectic.blogspot.com/2017/04/eli-wallach-vs-magnificent-seven.html.

6. Jacques Tourneur: A look at the work of a celebrated film director moves into the number six slot: https://jveclectic.blogspot.com/2017/05/jacques-tourneurs-world-of-shadows.html.

7. Nick Piunti: My review of Nick Piunti & The Complicated Men's 2024 disc, Up and Out of It, takes the number seven spot: https://jveclectic.blogspot.com/2024/10/piuntis-latest-shines-with-power-pop.html.

8. Miracle Mile: A retrospective review of the 1988 film Miracle Mile makes its debut at the number eight spot on the list: https://jveclectic.blogspot.com/2020/06/miracle-mile-fate-love-apocalypse.html.

 9. The Invisible Ray: Another debut in the top ten is my retrospective review on the Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi thriler, The Invisible Ray: https://jveclectic.blogspot.com/2017/09/what-is-secret-of-invisible-ray.html.

 10. The Pit and the Pendulum: The fourth post to make its debut in the Top Ten is this review of the classic Roger Corman directed thriller, The Pit and The Pendulum, starring Vincent Price: https://jveclectic.blogspot.com/2020/04/price-poe-and-pit-and-pendulum.html.

This past year, the list of most visited posts leaned a little bit more towards movies, and also towards older posts as well. Bubbling just outside the Top Ten were my review of Popsicle Drivethru, a fabulous album by Monogroove, a concert review of a terrific live show from Early Elton, and a look at the classic Burt Lancaster film The Crimson Pirate. Thanks for reading, as always!

Lez Zeppelin Rocks Out at The Kate

The music of Led Zeppelin continues to enthrall, excite and enchant music fans all over the world. There are several fine Zeppelin tribute bands out there, but one of the absolute best is Lez Zeppelin. This dynamic all female group brought their amazing talents to The Kate in Old Saybrook on Sunday, December 28, and they tore the roof off the place, performing the full set list from one of Zeppelin’s celebrated Earls Court concerts from 1975. To call these fabulous musicians a tribute band does them something of a disservice. Lez Zeppelin doesn’t just play the songs of Led Zeppelin, they inhabit them.

The group’s lineup consists of Dana Athens on vocals, Steph Paynes on guitar, mandolin and theremin, Joan Chew on bass, keyboards and mandolin, and Hillary Blaze on drums and percussion. Throughout the almost three-hour show, each of these incredibly talented women had moments of sheer musical brilliance, and their undeniable chemistry and non-stop energy literally lit up the room. The band breathed new life into tunes like “Kashmir,” “Going To California,” and “That’s The Way,” while retaining the essence that made these songs classics in the first place. 

 

photo by John V

 

Dana Athens channeled the soulful qualities of Robert Plant, while bringing a generous helping of rock goddess energy to her performances, and Steph Paynes proved she could hold her own with Jimmy Page with her incredible guitar work. Joan Chew anchored the band with her terrific bass and keyboard playing, and Hillary Blaze electrified the audience with her epic drumming. Every one of the evening’s knockout performances were infused with raw passion, power, and an ethereal quality that deeply enriched the music. Zeppelin's music features a lot of subtle nuances and intricacies that only the best performers can bring out in a live setting. Lez Zeppelin manages to capture the passion and soul inherent in Zeppelin’s oeuvre, while adding a bit of their own compelling spirit to these remarkable songs. 

 

This unforgettable show was a spectacular reminder of the enduring power of Led Zeppelin’s discography, and a showcase for the phenomenal talents of the members of Lez Zeppelin, whose absolute joy at performing these songs was inherent in every note. The band will be touring in 2026 with shows celebrating the music from The Song Remains The Same, Led Zeppelin’s concert film from 1976. If you'd like to hear some high-energy classic rock, performed with a healthy dose of girl power, I highly recommend checking out Lez Zeppelin. For more info on the band, head over to their website at https://lezzeppelin.com/. 

"Jay Kelly" Looks Back at His Life

George Clooney & Adam Sandler in Jay Kelly

Noah Baumbach's Jay Kelly is the memory-driven story of the title character, an old school movie actor portrayed by George Clooney. Jay is working on his latest film, but suddenly abandons the project in order to follow his daughter Daisy to Italy, where he plans to spend time with her, and also attend a retrospective event devoted to his film career. While traveling, Jay begins to recall incidents from throughout his life, and examines his relationships with the people around him, including his friend and long-time manager, Ron, played by Adam Sandler.

While the film is centered on Jay Kelly, it's definitely the story of the people in his orbit, who have all been affected by the choices he's made. He often chose his career over his personal life, and those choices have had reprecussions in his professional and personal life. In some ways, the real Jay is a mystery, while his public persona, driven by his natural charm, is perceived by his fans to be his real self. The fateful journey to Italy also prompts those around Jay to share some hard truths with him, as they provide some hard truths, and even resentments regarding what they've sacrificed to work for him. His publicist Liz, portrayed by Laura Dern, quits midway though the trip, after an incident with a friend from the early days of Jay's career comes back to haunt him.

Clooney brings his considerable star power and charisma to the role of Jay, but there's a deliberate mystery about the character. We don't delve too deeply into what drives him until the climax of the film. Some of the strongest moments in the movie belong to the supporting characters, especially Adam Sandler's Roy, whose presence serves as a catalyst to Jay, prompting moments of conflict, confession, humor and finally, love and understanding between the two men. Sandler has never been better, and the rest of the cast, including Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, Riley Keogh and Stacy Keach, also offer superb performances.

Noah Baumbach's direction is strong, as usual, and the screenplay, which he co-wrote with actress Emily Mortimer, does offer some trenchant observations about movie stars and the cult of celebrity. Jay Kelly is entertaining, well acted and produced, but like its central character, its utlimate truths remain a bit elusive. The film is currently streaming on Netflix. Here's a look at the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8GbcVkqZwQ.

Let Me Drive The Van: Cool Power Punk Vibes

I recently posted about this fantastic record elsewhere, but I wanted to share this info here on my blog as well. If there's a music fan in your life, and you're looking for the perfect holiday gift, or if you're a music buff, and you'd like to listen to some awesome tunes, as well as support a good cause, please check out Decade by Let Me Drive The Van. Decade is an album of fabulous songs and demos from the talented Elaine DiMasi and Tom Spademan, a duo whose power pop meets post-punk sound radiates some very cool vibes. You'll dig great tunes like "Stars Already Gone" and "Little Lanterns," which are just two of the 30 tracks included on this fabulous release.

The album is available from bandcamp, and all proceeds from individual track and album sales will be donated to Open Medicine Foundation, a group which supports ME/CFS Research in their work to find a cure for ME/CFS and Long COVID, which are life-altering illnesses. Check out Let Me Drive The Van and Decade by following this link: https://letmedrivethevan.bandcamp.com/album/let-me-drive-the-van-decade.

Life, Love, Loss and Memorable Mix Tapes

If you've ever made a mix tape for someone you care about, or connected with that person through a shared love of music, then Rob Sheffield's Love Is A Mix Tape: Life and Loss, One Song at a Time will definitely resonate with you. The book tells the story of Sheffield's relationship, with his wife, Renée, how music brought them together, and also how music helped him cope with losing her, after her sudden death from a pulmonary embolism.

Each section of the book is preceded by a list of the songs from a mix tape that was an integral part of their time together. As Sheffield details the story of his and Renée's time as a couple, the music on those tapes becomes a soundtrack to their courtship and marriage, and deeply illustrates the integral part music played in their lives. Reading Love Is A Mix Tape makes you feel like you're having an intimate conversation with Sheffield about life, love, loss, memories, music and of course, creating the perfect mix tape.

The book resonates with me because of my own experiences with my late wife, as music and mix tapes played a large part in our lives as well. I met Gloria when she was the roommate of a colleague of mine. My heart was mending after a bad breakup, and she made me laugh with dead on barbs aimed at my ex, who had unceremoniously dumped me. We also bonded over our musical favorites, including The Beatles and Bruce Springsteen. I later made her a mix tape featuring songs from her George Harrison (her favorite Beatle) and some other music I knew she'd like on the opposite side. That was the first of many mix tapes I made her, and soon after, we started dating. As it did for Rob and Renée, music became an integral part of our life together, and like Rob, I lost my spouse far too soon.

Sheffield writes about how a song on a mix tape can carry a memory, a moment, or define a person, and I know exactly what he means. I can’t hear “Here Comes the Sun” or “Thunder Road” without feeling my wife’s love for, or connection to, those songs. Sheffield's mixes for Renée, like mine for Gloria, were love letters disguised as playlists. Love Is A Mix Tape: Life and Loss, One Song at a Time is a moving, powerful, and emotional memoir, which captures the joys of love, and charts the uneven rhythms of grief. Sheffield deftly moves from humor to heartbreak to nostalgia, because that’s how memory works when you think about someone you love.

A contributing editor at Rolling Stone, Sheffield has written several excellent books, including Dreaming The Beatles: The Love Story of One Band and The Whole World, but I think the powerful, moving, bittersweet, yet ultimately hopeful Love Is A Mix Tape is perhaps his best work. There is a sequel to Love Is A Mix Tape, entitled Turn Around Bright Eyes, about how singing karaoke helped Rob heal again, how he started a new chapter in life, and found new love. I look forward to reading that one soon. But if you want to read a compelling story about how music becomes embedded into our lives, and is deeply woven into the fabric of our relationships, seek out Love Is A Mix Tape.