Posts

Showing posts from October, 2007

Ramblings:-->Moon Martin - Paste Mag - The Avengers

Image
"And here I sit so patiently... waiting to find out what price you have to pay to get out of... going through all these things twice." Moon Martin/courtesy B. Dylan The highly respected music mag... "Paste" ...is trying something different for the next couple of weeks. They are offering a full year subcription for the price of... "whatever you are willing to pay.” Very nice. Following in the steps of...Radiohead... "Paste" is casting their line out to music fans...and seeing what they catch. Each issue also includes a tasty CD filled with a variety of tunes. Let your conscious be your guide, folks...and sign up. AND ANOTHER THING: Comic Corner: Another vintage comic book find...courtesy of Prairie Dog Comics . The Avengers #14 March 1965 (Marvel) The ever-changing lineup for "Earth’s Mightiest Heroes" known as The Avengers ...consists this time of Captain America , Thor , Iron Man , Wasp, and Giant Man. Wasp (has the ability t

Ramblings:-->The IM Force - and The Late Great "Z" Man

Image
"His comrades fought beside him... Van Owen and the rest. But of all the Thompson gunners... Roland was the best." Warren Zevon DVR MUST RECORD Recently I discovered a couple of TV shows that I've had to add to my DVR for those times when I need a boob-tube fix. If you haven't watched these yet...put them on your must record list. Mission Impossible - American Life ( ALN ) has begun running season one of this thoroughly cool b/w show. But don't expect to see Mr. Phelps choosing his team. He doesn't exist yet. Instead...the leader of the IM Force is... Mr Briggs. That makes little difference. It's Rollin Hand (Martin Landau ) who steals every scene and real-life wife Barbara Bain as Cinnamon isn't bad either. Martin Landau & Barbara Bain The premise :-->Our government (I think) assigns a very likely...impossible mission...to a trained covert team known as the IM Force . Their job usually involves other countries and politicians. And

Classic Pick:-->Rod Stewart - "Blondes Have More Fun" (1978)

Image
"Did you think I'd take it sitting down and let you walk all over me... Thought you knew me much better than that... I keep much better company." Rod Stewart I suppose this album has become known as the one where Rod Stewart ... "Jumps The Shark" . Turning off most rockers and lovers of FM music with equal aplomb. Considered a huge sell-out by many fans... Stewart's infamous fey disco track... "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy" ...went to number one anyway. This song has made the top-ten list for worst song...and for best disco song. So apparently what fans he lost in the rocking community...he equally gained from the dancing crowd. Sadly... Rod Stewart lost mucho respect and would never be completely forgiven by his FM compatriots...and unfairly...so it goes. However...if one cares to skip the opening disco track from "Blondes Have More Fun" ...you have a rock solid album full of tasty venom and horn dog hunting. Throw in a couple of trad

Track Four:-->"Monolith" - T.Rex - Electric Warrior

Image
"The throne of time is a kingly...a kingly thing from whence you know We all do begin." T.Rex Track 4: The fourth track on T Rex's 1971 album "Electric Warrior" is the gorgeous "Monolith". Rolling Stone Magazine has this album ranked #160 in their list of the "500 greatest albums of all time." One of Marc Bolan's best vocals is on the beautiful and rather cryptic poem-song... "Monolith" . It's set to a simple melody...with Bolan adding some gorgeous psychedelic wah-wah guitar. Bending and holding notes... Bolan snakes in and out with the perfect dosage of reverb. Bolan seems to be singing about how time is happening...and before we know it...it's gone. A great 4th track ...with a cocky guitar bite on intro to get our attention. Good stuff! AND ANOTHER THING: I enjoy picking up a vintage comic book every once in awhile at my favorite shop... Prairie Dog Comics ...and this is the one I stumbled upon last w

Book Buzz:-->"On The Road" by Jack Kerouac (1957)

Image
"I lived in no holy house, but the grand hotel. The back streets of this old town I know so well. And I drunk of no holy wine save muscatel... Now my friend, I've got to go." Poco NO SPOILERS: There is no plot in Jack Kerouac's classic novel. In fact, I find it a stretch to call it a novel at all. Not in the usual sense. And before I go any further...let me add a warning. If you judge your reading knowledge based on the latest John Grisham novel. Stay away. You just will not get it. But for those who enjoy a variety of flavors in their book genre intake, "On The Road" will be a pleasant diversion from the beaten path by a member of the Beat Generation . "On The Road" is an easy 320 page read...but not one to rush through. In fact, when I tackled this story...I read it softly...aloud. Taking my time to let the words carry me along...with no expectations. Much like listening to a nice jazz record for the first time. Soothing one

100th Post:-->Billy Joe Shaver

Image
"Nobody here will ever find me, But I will always be around. Just like the songs I leave behind me... I'm gonna live forever now." Billy Joe & Eddy Shaver My 100th post had to throw props to someone truly special. Like my first post with John Prine. Billy Joe Shaver is the real deal. A true "hoss" . A dues-paying country outlaw that sings what he lives. And an unjustly ignored songwriter (except by his peers) who writes and sings songs just made for sitting on the porch sharing a cold one with friends. Pick up anything by Billy Joe . He never disappoints. See below for my recommendation. AND ANOTHER THING: This is post 100 in my journey of blogging. It's come pretty fast and has been much more time consuming than I originally believed. For those who have reached this milestone...I throw props your direction...and I'm sure you understand how I'm feeling. Let me thank all my regular readers who find my jumble of words somewhat entertaining.

Classic Pick:-->Fleetwood Mac - "Mystery To Me (1973)

Image
"Now there's too much Warhol hanging off the wall. And the mystery that there used to be is gone." ~ Fleetwood Mac ~ Many are not familiar with Fleetwood Mac prior to the Buckingham/Nicks era...and that's a real shame. After all... Fleetwood Mac have been together since 1967. Drummer Mick Fleetwood and bassist John McVie have been with the band from conception. And keyboardist...songwriter...and vocals Christie McVie has been on all but 2 albums. McVie & Fleetwood I'm not going to retell the member history of the band...except to say they went through a number of really good lead guitarists...most notably Peter Green . But it is important to note the musical evolution of Fleetwood Mac ...from blues (early years) jazzy rock (mid years) and pop rock (present). And they were good at what they tried to do...all along the way. Quite respected by peers. But the album that should have broke the band wide open...filled with one great song af

Ramblings:-->Top 4 James - With a Slice of Bolin

Image
" Bittersweet and starlit dreams... Come from blood red wine. Save yours, it seems from another time." James Gang My Top 4 James: James Dean - I like to think I have a touch of Dean attitude myself. James Bond - The greatest fictional character in novels...created by Ian Fleming . James At 15 - Underrated ( Lance Kerwin). Great in "Salem's Lot" too. James at 15 James Gang - I'm fascinated in the Tommy Bolin era. Good stuff! AND ANOTHER THING: There is an interesting site - The 20x200 Blog - and it offers art lovers a chance to own a piece of work on the down-low. The idea is great...and maybe you'll see something you like. AND ANOTHER THING: A blog I visit daily is - Keep The Coffee Coming . Kat is a model of consistency, offering a variety of interesting artists to check out. Along with old black-n-white photos and an occasional short well-written memory. Highly recommended . Take a look over at - Some Velvet Blog . Another cool blog...

Book Buzz:-->"Map Of Bones" by James Rollins (2005)

Image
"There’s a crisis in the kitchen, But that don’t stop you bitchin’... You’re a bastard. You got that yellow jacket touch, With the stings that hurt so much... You’re such a bastard. Ian Hunter NO SPOILERS: "Map Of Bones" is an out-of-the-gate...non-stop action thriller by one of the best... James Rollins . And he allows for very little downtime in this tour-de-force. In this winner...a crime involving the theft of priceless religious antiquities and a mass murder by unidentified monks during a Catholic mass...has the Vatican on edge. As well as a top-secret U.S agency called..."Sigma". Filled with facts...and a lot of hypothesis...we learn of the Dragon Court ...a secret society dating back to the Middle Ages . And they may be close to solving ancient mysteries hidden by the Catholic Church. Mysteries that could lead to Armageddon. There is plenty of symbolism and strange codes that must be solved...which should please the numerous religious conspiracy th

Track 4:-->Steve Miller CD -- (The Joker)

Image
"I heard him shout... As he cut out. Well you ain't lost nothin' What you cryin' about?" Steve Miller TRACK 4: On Steve Miller's classic 1973 album... "The Joker" ...track 4 is the silly/good time song... "Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash" . One of four songs released as a single from "The Joker" , Steve Miller was obviously having some fun recording this number...adding police whistles, car horns and street sounds. Not to mention Miller reminding the listener... "Yeah, you may have heard about the Gangster of Love and the Space Cowboy...but I'm gonna whip a cat on you right now..." . The vintage... "Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash"... was a remake of The Clovers 1954 recording. And props must go to the author...Charles Calhoun (aka, Jesse Stone )...who is most famous for writing the classic... "Shake, Rattle & Roll" . Good stuff! Casey Steve Miller :--> "Your

Ramblings:-->Star Trek:TNG Guilty Pleasure Episodes -&- Track Four

Image
" Tea. Earl Grey. Hot." ~ Captain Picard ~ Ten Guilty Pleasure ST:TNG Episodes (No 2-Parters) 1. The Game (Season 5) Riker brings back a game so addictive...it threatens the safety of the Enterprise. (Go Wes). 2. The Most Toys (Season 3) -------Data becomes a nutty collector's newest artifact and is on his own to escape. 3. Conspiracy (Season 1) ------ Captain Picard is sent to check-out a few Starfleet Admirals and finds they are being controlled by bug-like parasites. Not good! 4. Justice (Season 1) -----Wesley mistakenly breaks a law on a "Pleasure Planet". And all laws broken...are punished by death. Wesley spoils the fun. 5. A Matter Of Honor (Season 2) ----- First Officers from the Enterprise and the Klingon ship switch places for purposes of better understanding the other's culture. 6. A Fistful Of Datas (Season 6) ----- Worf and Alexander spend a day in the holodeck (old west style) with disastrous results. 7. The Royale (Seaso