Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: The Musical?

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has enthralled long-time fans throughout its first two seasons. This prequel series, featuring the adventures of Captain Pike and the crew of the USS Enterprise 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 Star Trek 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.

When the Enterprise 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.

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 The Flash and Supergirl ) does a superb job, integrating the musical aspects of the story with the ongoing development of the show's storylines.

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 Buffy The Vampire Slayer 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 Star Trek, and another genre which Strange New Worlds 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. I give the cast and crew credit for taking chances within the Star Trek format, while telling entertaining and enlightening stories that are firmly in Star Trek's thematic wheelhouse. "Subspace Rhapsody" is now streaming on Paramount+.

Grey DeLisle's Retro Country "Baby"

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 the Scooby Doo franchise and The Simpsons. 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 Eclectic Avenue, 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.

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. 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! 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.

"Everybody's Baby" is available now wherever you get your music fix, including Apple Music and Spotify. Check out the song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt9CgdGzvMo. Classic country fans, this tune is definitely in your wheelhouse, so load it onto the jukebox and get dancing!

The Subtle Terrors of "The Remaking"

I was really impressed by Clay McLeod Chapman's novel Ghost Eaters, which I reviewed recently on this blog. I dove right into his earlier work, The Remaking, and it's pretty fantastic as well. The Remaking 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.

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.

The Remaking 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.

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 The Blair Witch Project and Scream, than you'll find a lot to enjoy while reading The Remaking. McLeod Chapman is an innately talented author who knows how to tell an unsettling, eerie and atmospheric tale of terror. Along with Ghost Eaters, the other novel of Chapman's that I've recently read and reviewed, I highly recommend The Remaking to dedicated readers of expertly written tales of the supernatural. The Remaking is currently available in paperback. And please remember: "these woods whisper."

"Ghost Eaters" is a Haunting, Frightening Tale

What if you could reunite with the spirits of the people you've lost? Clay McLeod Chapman's eerie, terrifying novel Ghost Eaters imagines that this is possible through the use of a drug called Ghost, which allows you to see the ghosts of departed friends and family members, and interact with them. The problem is that this connection isn't quite what you bargained for, as madness and obsession are the result of using Ghost. This highly addictive drug turns its users into haunted versions of their former selves, converting them into hollowed out shells, aching for their next fix, who feel a strong need to remain connected with the spirit world.

The novel's main character, Erin, is part of a group of friends who met in college. Silas, the charismatic leader of their group, has always depended on Erin to help him when he runs into trouble, including his run-ins with the law. Their relationship is complicated, to say the least. When Silas dies of an apparent drug overdose, Tobias, another member of their circle, offers Erin a hit of a drug called Ghost, which allows you to be "haunted" by the ghosts of those you've lost, and connect with them from the other side. Erin is hoping to gain some closure, but her use of the drug leads her into a spiral of addiction, terror, and a series of frightening encounters with the spirit world (and other users of Ghost) that just might drive her mad.

There are a series of unsettling and disturbing sequences throughout the novel, and McLeod Chapman amps up the horror content as the story moves forward. You'll definitely want to keep the lights on while you read this one. Erin is a fascinating character, and her quest to reconcile her personal demons, while surviving her battles with the very real ones that Ghost conjures up, will keep you turning the pages. Just when you think the story has gotten as dark as it can get, McLeod Chapman comes up with yet another intense set-piece that will chill you to the bone.

As the novel draws to its dark, uncanny conclusion, you'll find there are no easy answers or neat resolutions for Erin, or the other haunted people featured in Ghost Eaters. This is one of the best horror novels I've read in recent months. The interesting and well-drawn characters, combined with a stark and powerful tale of addiction, infused with strong elements of horror and the supernatural, make for a compelling journey. This is the first work by McLeod Chapman that I've read, and I'm now working my way through his earlier novel, The Remaking, so a review of that will follow. Ghost Eaters is now available in paperback.

Retro TV Movie: Pray For The Wildcats

Robert Reed, Marjoe Gortner & William Shatner

The 1970s was definitely the golden age of the made for television movie, and many of these telefilms showcased all-star casts. One prime example is 1974's Pray For The Wildcats, which stars Andy Griffith, William Shatner and Robert Reed, and also features Angie Dickinson in a supporting role. That's right, Sheriff Andy Taylor, Captain Kirk, Mike Brady and "Police Woman" Pepper Anderson all in the same movie! Pray For The Wildcats tells the story of business executive Sam Farragut (Griffith), who cajoles three advertising agency employees (played by Shatner, Reed and 1970s B-movie star Marjoe Gortner) into joining him for a fateful motorcyle trip into the California desert.

Farragut is egotistical, manipulative and a borderline socipath. He leads the other three men on a nightmarish journey that will change their lives forever. The three men are dealing with issues in their personal lives. Warren Summerfield (Shatner) is about to be fired by the agency, and is considering suicide. Paul Mcllvain (Reed) is having trouble in his marriage, and Terry Maxon (Gortner) has just found out his girlfriend is pregnant, and they'll need to figure out what to do about the baby. The trio is at a crossroads, and Farragut's macho posturing is exactly what they don't want in their lives. However, they need him as a client for their company, and agree to go on the trip with him.

During the desert ride, things take a deadly turn after the group visits a cantina, and only Summerfield is willing to challenge Farragut regarding his bad behavior. Will the maniacal executive push the suicidal Summerfield (quite literally) over the edge? Pray For The Wildcats features a scenery chewing turn from Griffith as Farragut. At the time, he was still best known to TV audiences for his portrayal of the kindly Sheriff Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show, but following this film, he was cast in several other villainous roles, including that of a a murderous hunter in another telefilm, 1974's Savages, co-starring Sam Bottoms. It shouldn't be surprising that Griffith wanted to stretch his acting muscles a bit, as he'd given a chilling performance in the 1957 Elia Kazan film A Face In The Crowd.

William Shatner, Robert Reed and Marjoe Gortner are all solid in this entertaining film. Shatner dials back his usual Shatner-isms a bit, and it's fun to see Reed in a role other than Mike Brady. The cast also includes Lorraine Gary (best known as Chief Brody's wife Ellen in Jaws), the late Janet Margolin (who co-starred with John Saxon in the Gene Roddenberry telefilm Planet Earth) and Robert Burton, who appeared in the Dan Curtis classic Trilogy of Terror. Pray For The Wildcats was written by Jack Turley and directed by Robert Michael Lewis. The film is available on DVD and Blu-ray, and can also be found on YouTube. If you're looking to see several actors best known for iconic television roles ride dirt bikes around the California desert, wax philosophic, and deal with a homicidal Andy Griffith, then check out Pray For The Wildcats.

The Weeklings Inspired Take on "I'm On Fire"

The Weeklings are a terrific New Jersey based band who are well-known for their sterling interpretations and re-imaginings of the music of The Beatles. The group also creates fantastic original power pop music in the spirit of their British Invasion heroes. Their album 3 is one of the best power pop records of the last decade. They released a video for their marvelous rendition of The Fab Four's “I’ve Just Seen A Face” earlier this year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGlfZ6up7NI. 

The band’s latest single (on JEM Records) is a superb re-invention of a memorable Bruce Springsteen song. “I’m On Fire,” a classic track from the album Born in the USA, rose to number 6 on the charts in 1985. The Weeklings take this brooding, intense number and re-imagine it as an all out rockabilly rave up. Yes, you read that right. The band reworks “I’m On Fire” into an old school rocker, complete with James Burton-esque guitar and vocals that recall early rock and roll heroes like Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran. This splendiferous, electrifying revamp of a much revered tune from The Boss is one of the most electrifying covers I've heard in a very long time.

The Weeklings "I'm On Fire" is a brilliant version of an iconic song that takes it in an entirely different, but tremendously exciting and compelling direction. I think it’ll get stuck in your head, and you’ll find yourself wondering why no one's ever thought of this idea before. Kudos to Glen Burtnik, aka Lefty Weekling, on bass and vocals, Bob Burger, aka Zeek Weekling, on rhythm guitar and vocals, John Merjave, aka Rocky Weekling on lead guitar and vocals, and Joe Bellia, aka Smokestack Weekling, on drums and vocals, for making this left field (but truly inspired) cover of "I'm On Fire" work so well. Check out the video for for the song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rO43E2LFc8o.
 

A High Energy "Rattled Humming Heart"

When I reviewed Red Letter Glow, the debut album from The Midnight Callers back in 2020, I waxed rhapsodically about the band, their well-crafted songs, and their fantastic sound, a perfect fusion of classic rock and power pop, featuring a touch of punk. The band is back with their sophomore release, Rattled Humming Heart, which will be released June 23rd on JEM Records. I’m here to tell you that Red Letter Glow was no fluke. Rattled Humming Heart is one of the best rock and roll records I’ve heard this year.

“New York Tramp,” the album’s opening salvo, explodes with a hard-driving guitar and drum attack, amplified with some terrific vocals, wrapped up in a song that will remind you of vintage Cheap Trick. Rattled Humming Heart is positively drenched in the sounds of classic rock and power pop, with a bit of glam added to the mix. If you’re a fan of T-Rex, The Raspberries, Badfinger, Big Star, Queen, Dwight Twilley and Tom Petty, you’ll find tunes such as “Closer” and “Without Ya” absolutely hitting your sweet spot. Songs like “Step!” and “Baby Let Me Be” will warm the hearts of power pop fans everywhere, and have them quickly reaching for the replay button.

The Midnight Callers also know how to rock out, as evidenced by the boisterous “What Goes Around,” and the high-energy “Little Runaround.” In addition to the classic rock influences which permeate this must-have release, there’s a modern rock vibe on songs like “Girl On The Run” and “Colors," which has a bit of an Alarm-like feel to it. It’s hard to pick favorites on an album filled with such splendid tunes, but I really dig the synergy of wonderful lyrics, vocals and instrumental work on “The Plan,” and the acoustic-laced “Maggie,” a pair of love songs that have a lot of heart, and amply display the versatility of this outstanding band.

The group may wear their influences on their sleeves, but they’re not a copycat act. Their passion for creating extraordinary music is evident throughout Rattled Humming Heart, illustrated by their top-notch playing, as well as their superb songwriting skills. The band’s stellar lineup consists of Chris Paine on rhythm guitar and vocals, Marley Myrianthopoulos on bass and vocals, Martin Stubbs on lead guitar and vocals, and Julien Budrino on drums and vocals. The album was produced and mixed by the uber-talented Kurt Reil (of Grip Weeds fame), who did a phenomenal job working with the band, helping them craft a disc that’s even better than their impressive debut.

The Midnight Callers aren’t jaded rockers going through the motions, they’re excellent musicians at the peak of their powers, both as players and songwriters. This band is clearly dedicated to crafting first class rock and roll. Rattled Humming Heart fulfills the promise of Red Letter Glow, and shows us that the best is yet to come from these New York City based rockers. For more on The Midnight Callers and Rattled Humming Heart, head over to JEM Records: https://www.jemrecordings.com/.