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Showing posts from June, 2007

Classic Pick:-->Kula Shaker - K (1996)

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"Acintya Bheda Bheda Tattva At The Moment That You Wake From Sleeping And You Know Its All A Dream, Well The Truth May Come In Strange Disguises Never Knowing What It Means." Kula Shaker The outcome from making blind CD purchases are often met with mixed results usually leaving the buyer in a state of apathy (and soon heading for CD Tradepost for some quick tit-for-tat) rather than musical euphoria. However, when one does take a rock-n-roll risk on a band entirely foreign to their ears and is greeted with a congeries of songs nothing short of awesome, it becomes a rock moment not soon forgotten. This was my way of introduction to the overlooked and fantastic 1996 offering “K” by the rock band Kula Shaker , which I picked up simply because I enjoyed looking at the CD cover. And, to this day, is still an album I return to when in need of shaking the accumulated cobwebs of everyday life. Founded by Crispian Mills (lead

Ramblings:-->The Master David Bowie...& Global Warming

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"Pushing thru the market square, so many mothers crying. News had just come over, we had five years left to sigh in. News guy wept and told us, earth was really dying. Cried so much his face was wet, then I knew he was not lying." David Bowie My favorite song by the chameleon David Bowie is "5 Years" . I still get chills hearing the drums walking in...and then being startled by the piano/guitar. From the first moment there is a sound of importance. Urgency. Urgency and maybe desperation. And of course ...at the end of the song...those same drums walking...fading away. Perfect. A song about our Earth dying and only 5 years left to experience life. Leading off Bowie's acclaimed album...the 1972... "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust" ... track one/side one. "5 Years" Track One/Side One The prophecy of the song did not materialize. However...sooner...or later...this song... "5 Years" ...is going to be right on. An

Book Buzz:-->"Pillars Of The Earth" by Ken Follett (1989)

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"So the world keeps on turning. Through the years that lie ahead. From it's pages we're learning. From it's wisdom we are led. It's gonna be something good. And you should understand So it was...and so it is Since time began." Robin Trower NO SPOILERS: This is the only Ken Follett novel I've ever read...so it might be a little presumptuous of me to make the following claim. But "Pillars Of The Earth" is so good... Follett has probably created his ... "Sgt Pepper' ...of the book world...with this offering. Known for his spy-genre/thriller books... Follett throws us a 'looey" with this 976 page historical novel revolving around a master stone mason striving to get his chance to put his skills to work building a grand cathedral during 12th century England. Awesome 12th century cathedral The premise of this novel may seem dry...but Follett creates so many vivid characters whose lives are fi

DVD Pick:-->"The Pit and the Pendulum" (1961)

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"Now wakes the hour. Now sleeps the swan. Behold the dream. The dream is gone. Green fields are calling It's falling, in a golden door." Pink Floyd NO SPOILERS: There's something magical, almost mystical happening when you bring Edgar Allan Poe and Vincent Price together. They seem to connect on a whole other level as if they are transcending their ideas through waves of space. Price is just that...cool. Add Director Roger Corman ...(who has adapted a slew of Edgar Allan Poe stories)...to the mix...and "The Pit and the Pendulum" (1961) becomes quite a thrilling dessert. And though the rest of the cardboard cast doesn't seem to be able to dip into the proverbial Poe pie...they do add an unintentional macabre flavor to the frosting. Set in the 16th century, the film revolves around Nicholas Medina ( Vincent Price ) who has just lost his wife and shockingly discovers she may have been buried alive. Vincent Price los

Classic Pick:-->Keith Richards - Talk Is Cheap (1988)

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"It's no longer funny. It's bigger than money. You don't move me anymore." Keith Richards Occasionally, a member of a rock band will release an album of their own material. This isn’t too unusual. But when everyone in the same band decides to put out a solo record without breaking up the original group…then it becomes a little more uncommon. Members of The Who might of performed this feat. Certainly the band mates of KISS did. But surprisingly, not The Beatles , The Byrds , Led Zeppelin , ad nauseam.. It happens...just doesn’t happen very often. When it does occur, I feel fairly certain music moguls are simply trying to massage egos and hopefully keep everyone happy until the band can go into the studio to record their next platinum album. Enter The Rolling Stones . Believe it or not, everyone in the band has recorded their own solo album. Some more than others. Mick Jagger . Keith Richards . Ron Wood . Bill Wyman (no longer a member, of course). Cha

Book Buzz:-->"Gone South" by Robert McCammon (1993)

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"I dig a hole 'cause I got no soul Into the night. I hear a phone then began to moan Into the night. I couldn't lose w hen I was on top, I couldn't lose b ut now it's all stopped." Sweet NO SPOILERS: In "Gone South" , author Robert McCammon offers up 400 pages of a terrific "chase" novel. Filled with kick-A original characters and plot twists that will catch the reader off-guard. Two side characters that quickly come to mind from this adventure are the "straight out of left field" bounty hunters...One, with an extra arm and an added head appendage extending from the chest. The other is a struggling Elvis impersonator. However, they are not in this story for a laugh... McCammon keeps these two on the real. "Gone South" revolves around an ex vet, Dan Lambert, who goes to the bank in hopes of convincing the loan officer to forgo repossession of his work truck. An

DVD Pick:-->“Thunder Road” (1958)

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"He's gettin' old and it's showin'. When I asked him how it's goin' He said "I've seen better I guess. I've been rained on, I've been frozen, but this here's the life I've chosen... If it just wasn't for the loneliness." Steve Earle NO SPOILERS: “Thunder Road” (although directed by Arthur Ripley ) was written and produced by the rebel, Robert Mitchum . He also had the starring role and even wrote the theme song for the film. (The song charted...but I have never heard the entire version). This was Mitchum's puppy, to be sure!. Supposedly based on actual events, Robert Mitchum offers us a glimpse into a small part of what Appalachian Americana was like for a hard-working, law-breaking, moon shining family. A moon shining family who believes it is their right...to do on their land...what they please. And Mitchum is obviously sympathetic with the moon shiners...showing them as

Interview:--> John Prine

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"Many years later we found ourselves in Canada trying to save our marriage and perhaps catch a few fish... Whatever came first." ~ John Prine ~ When I began this blog, I made sure to start out by reviewing the terrific "Fair & Square" by my favorite musical artist... John Prine. My family owns every CD recorded by the legend...I can honestly say I've been listening to John Prine's music since I was given my first rattle. (I'm 23 now). His music has been so much a part of my growing up...that he has long become my pretend big brother. An honorary member of my family. On Feb. 2, 2007, two-time Grammy Award winner, John Prine , agreed to sit down with me for a short interview after his performance at the Orpheum in Wichita, KS. The following is an excerpt. Casey Chambers:   In 1976, you appeared on Saturday Night Live … John Prine :   Yeah…that was mainly due to John Belush i …He was a friend of mine from Chicago. When Steve Goodman and I used to

Ramblings:-->Seatbelt Laws & Truckstop Honeymoon

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"And you say you don't see it when a grown man starts to cry, You turn your face away and you walk on by." Steve Forbert Finally, a state has gotten it right (New Hampshire) by stepping up and defeating the ridiculous and extremely over-stepping "Mandatory Seatbelt Law'. It is the only state to do so. Here, in Kansas, politicians and media are hard at work trying to convince everyone that the "Mandatory Seatbelt Law" is a much-needed benefit to our society. And how could anyone be against this law. It's for out own protection! (sarcasm). Heaven forbid, we American citizens be allowed to think for ourselves. Bush/No seatbelt So concerned for our safety, our government (for our own good) will assess a fine of $80 to be levied on anyone breaking this law. After all...it's all about human safety (not the money) and a sane person can not be against that! (sarcasm). Oh yea...and while they pull you over for

Book Buzz:-->"Timeline" by Michael Crichton (1999)

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"If you don't stay with me, darlin', If you don't stay with me, baby, I'll be right there in your mirror when you get old... And we all get old." Ron Wood NO SPOILERS: There has been a fascination with time travel that I've held for as long as I can remember. String theories. Quantum physics. Dimension cracks. Worm holes. Coffee shop convos about what the time travel rules would entail have been bantered...argued...debated...hypothesized...ad nauseum into many early hours of my mornings with friends and strangers, alike. The possibilities have made for many good...and not so good stories. I've sampled both. The subject of time travel is given a different spin with Michael Crichton's 1999 adventure... "Timeline" . For those virgins who have not tasted a Crichton style novel...be prepared to have facts thrown your direction. This author loves to do his homework...And then toss well thought out possiblities at the reader. His enth