Sunday Morning Tuneage & Weekly TV (9/8/13)

A better week than last for sure.  I didn't work as many hours and I'm getting a "real" weekend.  Caleb started his baseball season on Saturday with a loss in the heat.  Also, Thursday was Christian's 2nd start at QB for Little Elm. Not only did they get the first win of the season - 38-21, but Christian scored his first TD of the season on a run too.  Very proud Dad.  Good night of Michigan football over Notre Dame last night to top it off.  Anxious to have a "lazy" Sunday and watch some NFL today - including a Sunday night Cowboys game.  I'll head to the gym in a minute but until then, I'm reading up on the Fall TV season and listening to some tuneage . . .

SUNDAY MORNING TUNEAGE

SIMPLE MINDS - PROMISED YOU A MIRACLE.  That 1982 album "New Gold Dream" has some gems on it.  But none better than this tune.  While they'd have lots of singles over the decade - this is probably their best Dance song.  And the remix is one that needs to be played at bars all over the country.  Great memories of that Spring of 1983 when it played on MTV constantly.

"Slipping back on golden times

Breathing with sweet memories."

STRAY CATS - I WON'T STAND IN WAY.  This 1983 single is one of my favorite Stray Cats songs because it isn't Rockabilly as much as a straight up traditional early 1960s DoWop type of song that could easily have been lifted directly from the DINER or AMERICAN GRAFFITI soundtrack.  And it's about finally letting the "one" girl go.  Excellent stuff that most people don't recognize as Stray Cats.

SPLIT ENZ - STRANGER THAN FICTION.  This song is the title of their biography and it's the song that they build their concerts around.  It isn't a huge hit but it's pretty illustrative of the peak years when they were the hottest export from New Zealand.  The lyrics are literary and the sound is New Wave mixed with the Art Rock of classic Genesis.  I'm so glad to hear it again this morning.  More Split Enz, iTunes, please.

SOMETHING RANDOM . . . 

DEADLIGHTS OF 2013. . .   Tommy "The Duke" Morrison was a decent fighter in his day but most of you reading this only know him from his role in ROCKY V.  He did beat George Foreman and one point to get the title but was forced to retire with HIV. . . Sir David Frost was one of the last of the true TV journalists - quite an intellectual doing interviews.  He's best know for the Frost - Nixon  interviews but check out anything he's done in the 70s and 80s. . . William Froug produced some classic shows like "Gilligan's Island", "Bewitched" and "The Twilight Zone" but I'd recommend his screenwriting books - "Zen and the Art of Screenwriting I and II" . . . 

QUICK LIST (a random, uninformed list off the top of Shawn's head)

BEST UNFILMED STEPHEN KING STORIES AND NOVELS

10.  BLOCKADE BILLY.  Not sure how this short baseball story would play best - probably a made for HBO film.  It's a bit hokey but with the right director it could be a good supernatural film.

9.  INSOMNIA.  I think that even non-DARK TOWER fans could deal with this if done correctly.  It's more than just a movie - but less than series.  A multi-part mini-series maybe by the BBC would work.

8.  RAGE.  This book under the Richard Bachman pseudonym will probably never make it to film. It's essentially a school shooting story that hits very close to home with the headlines.  There might be a brave director that would try to pry it from him.

7.  THE GIRL WHO LOVED TOM GORDON.  Long short story or short novel. Not sure how to classify it but it could make a really creepy film in the tradition of BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, etc.  

6.  GERALDS GAME.  Not one of my favorite books.  It was much lesser than the other "strong women" novels.  It has a kinky angle that might make an interesting film.  If casted correctly - it could be a breakout role for a late 20s actress.

5.  THE TALISMAN.  It's such a great novel that I had to quickly look to make sure it hadn't been adapted already.  It's too long for a single film and would probably have the best tone for a miniseries.  You definitely need to read it first.

4.  THE EYES OF THE DRAGON.  I love this Science Fiction work.  It's the least Stephen King of the Stephen King novels.  I don't know how easy it would be to adapt.  I'm willing to go out on a limb and wonder if it wouldn't make a nice animated feature.

3.  CELL.  It's like a mashup of about 5 other King works.  But I'm a huge fan of the sheer fun of the zombies meet "The Stand" premise of the film.  Done right - this could be a film that resets the zombie craze back to movie levels.

2.  11/22/63.  I feel like this could work on many levels.  It's a huge book but it could be adapted down to a 2 hour film or maybe best as a two-part film the way that the last Harry Potter was handled.  I know it's only a matter of time on this one . . .

1.  THE DARK TOWER.  We'll see this in our lifetimes - I mean, we did see "Watchmen" - but how we see it is the key.  It cries out for a "Game of Thrones" type of multi-season adaptation.  Casting will be a non-winner.  Everyone has ideas in their heads - I can't see any known actor pulling it off.  The text of the novels would be a pretty easy adaptation as is.

He's the "pop storyteller" of our generation.  His works are accessible and pleasantly scary.  More often than not, they make good films and sometimes they make tremendous films - SHAWSHANK, STAND BY ME, CARRIE, etc.  The likelihood of 7-8 of these being made is pretty high.  What am I not waiting to see?  "Breathing Method" was a good shocking story but wouldn't work well in any format over 30 minutes.  "The Regulators" is a good story but I've yet to imagine that it would be a good mini-series.  Some of the other Bachman works just don't seem like they'll make good films like "The Long Walk".  Maybe soon we need a list of the ones that are most crying for a remake (it wouldn't include "Carrie").

NETFLIX PLAY NOW OF THE WEEK . . .OUR IDIOT BROTHER might not be award winning but you get Paul Rudd and Elizabeth Banks . . . the uplifting film THE ROAD is now available . . . The 4400 was one of those shows over 4 seasons that seemed to start as a copy of "Lost" but was one that took on a life of its own and I always wanted to indulge in.

Shawn's fave movies according to FLICKCHART

#105 - No Country For Old Men

#729 - Mr. Holland's Opus

#1045 - Frost/Nixon

RANDOM PROJECT UPDATE -   The BREAKING BAD project.  Yep, I'm not caught up.  I kinda tried over the Summer.  But it's nice to kinda keep going at it with a few episodes at a time and then a bit of a break to let it sink in.  I'm finished with the 2nd season.  It was quite a run that started with Tuco's death and greatly expanded the business plan.  I was growing tired of Jesse and Jane and I'm interested to see the fallout from that.  It's really good - I never said it would be anything but.  Now I'm at the point where the show took almost a 10 month break - I won't let it go so long before delving into Season 3.

SHAWN'S TOP ALBUMS OF ALL-TIME (a tribute to the art of the album)

#26  Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks (1975)

It's hard to narrow down my favorite Bob Dylan albums.  The issue is that most of his albums are only about 80% complete for me.  There's a run of 7-8 great songs and a few duds.  But this 1975 album is one of the few that's a home run from beginning to end.  This isn't the political and folky Dylan - these are songs of love and heartbreak.  This is an exploration of growing old and being angry and lonely.  These songs still hit on an emotional level that he doesn't always reach.  Even today - this album is timeless.  There are ten extraordinary songs that stand the test of time.  Songs like "Shelter From The Storm" tell the kind of story that I just long for from today's artists.

Shelter From The Storm

You're Going To Make Me Lonesome When You Go

You're A Big Girl Now

Previous Rankings

#27 - Paul Simon - Graceland (1986)

#28 - The Clash - London Calling (1979)

#29 - Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back (1988)

#30 - New Order - Power, Corruption, Lies (1983)

#31 - Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV (1971)

THIS WEEK IN TELEVISION

MONDAY
UNDER THE DOME (CBS)  The 1st season is winding down and you fair weather Stephen King fans abandoned this show a bit early.  It's still trying to find an identity, but as the supernatural takes more of a central stage - I've enjoyed the past few episodes a bit more.  Dean Norris as Big Jim has actually done a good job of escaping his "Breaking Bad" character.

POV: PING PONG (PBS)  This documentary covers the incredibly cool Over 80 Year Olds in their own World Table Tennis Championships.

TUESDAY
SONS OF ANARCHY (FX)  The 5th Season starts tonight.  I knew from the very beginning that I'd like this show.  Still sure that I'll love it when I finally get started.  Donal Logue won me over on "Copper" and he looks like a similar character here.

AMERICAN MASTERS: BILLIE JEAN KING (PBS)  I don't know if anybody younger than my generation even understands what she meant not just to women's tennis - but women's sports and the feminist movement in general.  A nice long look at her life tonight.

WEDNESDAY
THE HEART, SHE HOLLER (TOON)  Weird soap opera airing with short episodes every weeknight for 3 weeks - stars Patton Oswalt and Amy Sedaris - that should sell you.

BRAINS ON TRAIL w/ALAN ALDA (PBS)  Interesting look at what Science might do for our Justice System.  It's scary what kind of inner thoughts that Science might be able to discover.

THURSDAY
DEREK (NETFLIX)  It's been a dozen years since "The Office".  Then there's the excellent follow-ups like "Extras" and "Life's Too Short".  Ricky Gervais is back on Netflix this time and I'm anxious to see Karl Pilkington in the role of Dougie.

IMPRACTICAL JOKERS (TRU)  I was late to this show - finding it this Summer.  The practical joke show is hilarious and Rosie O'Donnell is along for the jokes tonight.

FRIDAY
HAVEN (SYFY)  This show is still around and I remember watching the initial episodes and thinking it seemed like a mini-series.  And years later it's still rolling along.  Any body watch?

SOYLENT GREEN (TCM)  There's probably no way that you don't know the secret of this film, right?  Don't let that stop you from enjoying an excellently written film starring Charlton Heston and Edward G. Robinson.

SATURDAY
LIFEBOAT (TCM)  I haven't seen this 1944 Hitchcock in years.  Wonderful story that plays out like a stage play.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL:  OHIO ST AT CALIFORNIA (ABC)  Do I need to say more than "Go Cal!!"

SUNDAY
BOARDWALK EMPIRE (HBO)  So, so excited for the return of this show.  It covers one of my favorite times in history and last season ended so spectacularly.

THE NEWSROOM (HBO)  An uneven 2nd season comes to an end.  The writing has been less than satisfactory.  But I still enjoy the characters and I'll be back for another season.

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR . . .  It's the time of year when we'll get a slew of Messin With Sasquatch ads.  The flaming bag is a good classic . . . 

Queen my dishes . . . 

The Puppy Brother ad is still on of the best of the year . . .

"We always did feel the same
We just saw it from a different point of view."  - Bob Dylan

Tangled up.  Stay hard.

sb

Sunday Morning Tuneage & Weekly TV (6/23/13)

Quite a weird week.  It was the last week of business for the UNT Bookstore.  We'll be working on Monday and Tuesday to inventory and send out the rest of the stock.  But it was a week to see lots of former employees stop by - even though there will be a store there - it won't be the same Follett Family that we've had for the past ten years.  And then Caleb was at his grandparents for a camp and having a great time.  It afforded me time to get out and have some fun watching the Spurs-Heat games even if the wrong team won.  The week ahead will be some transitions too as the family leaves to head North and I have some work to get done.  Today is a fun surprise going away party for our beloved boss, Rodney.  I'm going to hit the gym before heading out.  The weird week has interrupted my sleep and creativity and this is a rather unfinished tuneage I'm working on.  Until then, I'm hydrating and watching the kids play games and listening to some tuneage . . . 

SUNDAY MORNING TUNEAGE

MR MISTER - BROKEN WINGS   This is one of two or three songs that bring me directly back to the start of Freshman year at Univ of Michigan.  What a weird tune to remind me of Fall in Ann Arbor but it does.  I loved the song at the time but now it's become quite kitschy.  It's been sampled and covered so many times that it's become partially a symbol of lite rock of the mid80s.  It's still nice to hear it today.

SPLIT ENZ - HISTORY NEVER REPEATS.  When you say you like Split Enz - this is one of about three songs that you can mention that people will be like ' "Oh yeah, that's what that band was called?"  It helps if they are in their 40s and spent their formative years in front of MTV.  I can't claim to have known this song in 1981 when it was released - it was probably early 1983 when I saw the video and then became quite a huge fan, especially of Neil Finn to this day.

JOHN CAFFERTY & THE BEAVER BROWN BAND - ON THE DARK SIDE.  It starts with that piano and then "Dark side's coming now nothing is real . . ." I think that almost any of us alive in 1983 can stop you right there and identify the song and the movie.  But I'd bet that a fair share of them would tell you that it's by "Eddie and the Cruisers" - the bar band they played in the same titled film.  Poor John Cafferty - years of playing bars in New England and one catchy tune from a movie that played 19,432 times on HBO and you lose your identity.  I still love this song and their "Wild Summer Nights" and would probably be one of the better bar bands to run into.

SOMETHING RANDOM . . . next week.

DEADLIGHTS OF 2013. . . I know there were a couple - I'll hit them up next week.

QUICK LIST (a random, uninformed list off the top of Shawn's head)

TOP TEN PAUL MCCARTNEY POST-BEATLES SONGS OF ALL-TIME

11.  LIVE AND LET DIE (1973)  I wrote this Top Ten quickly and realized that I left this essential song off the list.  And then I looked for one to knock off the list and couldn't come up with one.  This is an essential song that I love even more because of the attachment to my first Bond film.  But I have a hard time today putting it any higher on the list.

10.  JET (1973)  I don't even have to defend this being on the list, maybe just that it isn't higher.  One of his more rocking tunes and still one of the ones on this list that gets a crowd going more than just about any other.

9.  MOMMA MISS AMERICA (1970)  I wouldn't typically refer to Paul's music as "funky" but this tune could have been lifted from some of the instrumental Beastie Boys albums of the 1990s.  It's catchy and I like to play it on the jukebox if they go that deep.

8.  EAT AT HOME (1971)  Off "The Ram" album - it came to my attention when Lennon referred to it as one of his favorite McCartney solo songs.  It has a solo Harrison feel or even better, it has a Travelling Wilbury feel.  It's grown on me to the point that it's one of my favorites.

7.  ON THE WAY (1980)  Paul shows off some classic guitar licks.  I love this McCartney II album (as you'll see).  This song is a perfect blend of Blues and a little of that Hendrix lyrical work.

6.  COMING UP (1980)  Especially the live Glasgow version.  But this is Paul at his best - blending the excitement for new synthesizers, electronic sounds and just fun lyrics.  I think he's laughing through much of it.

5.  MONKBERRY MOON DELIGHT (1971)  The "Ram" album delivered some clever tunes and this one is delightful - it's got a catchy, banging piano and ridiculous lyrics.  But Paul at his best is like your stoned friend just going a little fun crazy - just genius.

4.  LET ME ROLL IT (1973)  I love this song off the "Band On The Run" disc because I easily could imagine it as a leftover song from "The White Album".  It's another of his solo album songs that I like to just crank up.  I'm always surprised to hear that people don't know this minor hit.

3.  UNCLE ALBERT / ADMIRAL HALSEY  (1971)  "The Ram" gave us some wacked out songs and the fact that this was a huge hit is a testament to the fact that good music can overcome really weird lyrics.  This was a hit - I had to say that again as I imagine the lyrics.  It's so much fun.

2.  MAYBE I'M AMAZED (1970)  Once again, I prefer the live version but this is probably the one song that most people associate with Paul's non-Beatles work.  As much as it's an ode to new love, I have always felt that it trails off in a way to suggest that even this love might be doomed to fail.  "Maybe I'm afraid of the way I love you."

1.  BAND ON THE RUN (1973)  It's like three songs in one and it's the song that tied me to his solo career for years.  I wore this single out about three times.  I like the flipside "Helen Wheels" but this was my tune almost every morning for years, even into High School.  It defines those early 70s and I can't imagine his career afterwards without it.

Paul's solo work represents my third favorite solo Beatle work after George and John.  But when you look at the body of work - there are some really, really excellent songs.  I had to leave off favorites like "Waterfalls", "My Love", "Helen Wheels" and "Take It Away".  The worst?  He's had some clunkers, I won't lie.  Trying to pick some of the older ones instead of picking on his later works - "Spies Like Us", "Too Many People" (from the usually excellent "The Ram" album) and while I don't hate it - I can see that the Classic Rock channel repetition of "Silly Love Songs" is silly and can make you hate the song.

NETFLIX PLAY NOW OF THE WEEK . . . lazy.

Shawn's fave movies according to FLICKCHART

RANDOM PROJECT UPDATE -   no time.

SHAWN'S TOP ALBUMS OF ALL-TIME (a tribute to the art of the album)

#31  next week . . . 

Previous Rankings

#32 - Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)

#33 - Parliament - Mothership Connection (1975)

#34 - Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique (1989

#35 - U2 - The Joshua Tree (1987)

#36 - Elton John - Captain Fantastic and Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975)

THIS WEEK IN TELEVISION

MONDAY

DEON COLE'S BLACK BOX (TBS)  A former Conan writer does his take on Tosh.  There's room for multiple versions of the same show with viral videos on the television???

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW (PBS)  Call it an All-Star show as the crew reappraises (is that a word?) some famous finds from the past including some cool Disney art.

UNDER THE DOME (CBS)  Stephen King novel adapted to a 13 week event???  Yes, please.  I remember when this was going to be a Showtime series and I was really excited.  A little less so that it's on CBS - I kinda miss my King adaptations being on ABC.  But I'm still pretty jazzed for this.

TUESDAY

CATFISH (MTV)  The 2nd season starts and aren't people a little leery of this online dating stuff?  Manti Te'o anyone?  How does this show still work?

INSIDE AMY SCHUMER (COMEDY)  The ads make me feel like I'm missing out on a show that I'll wish I had watched.  Dave Attell guests tonight and Amy tries to get out of a charity event.

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE (FOX)  This is setting up to be the most awesome season in years.  Tonight the Top 20 dance and finally someone goes home.  My money on the Modern dancers and maybe the Tappers.

THE SHINING (IFC)  In case you didn't get enough Stephen King adaptations last night.  Kubrick hooks you up tonight.

WEDNESDAY
BIG BROTHER (CBS)  Season 15 starts.  I'm sorry.  I'm not even going to pretend I won't be watching.  I apologize for future posts on it now.

NATURE (PBS)  Black mamba snakes from Swaziland.

THE SONS OF KATIE ELDER (AMC)  The excellent 1965 film with Dean Martin and John Wayne.  I haven't seen it years - might have to tell Tivo for this.

THURSDAY
WILFRED (FX)  Wow, I love the ads for this show.  But does anyone actually like the show?  

PAWN STARS (HIST)  A first edition of Jules Verne's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea".  Yes!!!

FRIDAY
JOURNEY TO THE EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE (NAT GEO)  A look at the end of the Solar System and beyond with the world's largest telescope.  Always interested in Space.

AMERICAN PICKERS (HIST)  While in Texas, the guys find a building filled with coin-op games. Best of both worlds.

SATURDAY
DOCTOR WHO: THE DOCTORS REVISITED (BBC)  The 6th Doctor, Colin Baker, is one that I know little about.  But I'll watch 2 1/2 hours of him tonight.

DOCTOR WHO: THE COMPANIONS (BBC)  I love these little specials and I love companions.  Naturally.

AUNTIE MAME (TCM)  I love the bio of Mame and Rosalind Russel is beautiful and inspiring.

SUNDAY
DEXTER (SHOW)  The new season starts and I'm still only finishing Season One.  By the time this season ends the show I'll likely be one Season Two.  I know me.

RAY DONOVAN (SHOW)  I like Liev Scrieber.  Liev is starring in a new drama on Showtime as a "fixer" to the rich and powerful in Los Angeles.  I'm on it.

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR . . .  no sponsors.

You right me when I'm wrong.  Stay hard.

sb

Sunday Morning Tuneage & Weekly TV (5/5/13)

The week ahead is long at best - a full week of buyback, working late, three baseball games and two Graduations.  By the time we get back here next week I'll have a good 50-60 hours of work and very little sleep.  Today is the last day to "relax" .  By that I mean, time to workout, go see IRON MAN 3, eat some lunch and celebrate some Cinco De Mayo!!!  The week past was decent - Caleb lost a soccer game, won his baseball game yesterday with some good pitching and Christian is excited about the start of Spring Football Practice.  And the great thing about May is that I got to see Dee dance twice - at her school and for her dance studio.  As I get ready for the upcoming week, I'm sitting here trying to figure out the lunch options and listening to some tuneage . . .

SUNDAY MORNING TUNEAGE

VAN MORRISON - WILD CHILDREN.  This is from the wildly underrated "Hard Nose The Highway" album from 1973.  And it's an awesome song on an album full of them - "Warm Love" and "Bein' Green" among them.  It's a simple song about children going up in Post WWII in other countries and there's a list of American icons they would get their identity from.  But like most Van songs - it's the melody and his voice that make the song.  I have been too removed from Van this year - might be time for this album again.

BRYAN ADAMS - THIS TIME.  This was a pretty decent hit in the Fall of 1983.  I had just developed my Bryan Adams awareness with the arrival of MTV in my home in early 1983.  I knew the other songs on this album like "Cuts Like a Knife" and "Straight From The Heart" but this song was one of my favorites at the time.  I knew from these three songs that he would have a decent career.  Always wanted to see him opening for either Supertramp or The Police (both of which he did in 1983 and 1984).

SPLIT ENZ - TAKE A WALK.  This is a Split Enz song that shows up on my copy of their "Spellbound" greatest hits album.  I don't know too much of the song and it certainly isn't one of their hits.  Neil Finn lyrics are usually interesting but as far as I can tell this feels like a song about taking a walk in New Zealand and not much else.

SOMETHING RANDOM . . . 7th Graders have Anne Frank removed from reading list in Northville, Michigan . . .  the headline tells it all - Twerking Youtube video leads to SD students' suspensions

DEADLIGHTS OF 2013. . . I left off George Jones last week because I was just getting my thoughts together when the week ended.  He's one of the major Country players - and another member of Country Music's Mt Rushmore is gone.  Stay hard, Willie.  I discovered George way late in life but then went on a binge of his music from the 60s and 70s.  Brilliant man that stuck to singing about what he knew - hard drinking and hard loving. . . Rick Camp was a pitcher for the Braves that I remember from my Summer days watching TBS all day and night . . . Mike Gray wrote some classic screen plays including THE CHINA SYNDROME and the TV show "Starman" . . . Chris "Mac Daddy" Kelly, a part of the Kris Kross duo, passed away from a drug overdose last week . . . I was amazed that Deanna Durbin had been alive when I heard she passed away last week.  This beauty starred in two great films - CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY and the excellent murder mystery, LADY ON A TRAIN . . . 

QUICK LIST (a random, uninformed list off the top of Shawn's head)

BEST POP TARTS EVER

10.  FROSTED BROWN SUGAR CINNAMON.  Decent.  But some people think it's the best.

9.  BLUEBERRY UNFROSTED.  Reminds me of my Nana Bourdo's house - always a pack in the cupboard.

8.  FROSTED VANILLA.  Around for a short period of time - I really miss them and should have stocked up.

7.  FROSTED RASPBERRY.  Always love a good raspberry flavor.

6.  FROSTED APPLE CINNAMON.  They have an Apple Strudel now.  But this one was even better.  And it one ups the Brown Sugar as a tasty dessert style pastry.

5.  FROSTED STRAWBERRY.  A classic flavor.  One of the originals.

4.  FROSTED CHERRY.  I remember when this one came along -  a welcome addition and i

3.  COOKIES N CREME.  I think it's just the chocolate pop tart with vanilla icing.  But it looks great and tastes awesome.

2.  FROSTED CHOCOLATE FUDGE.  What better than chocolate frosting on chocolate pastry for breakfast?  This is like a dessert.  But good anytime of day.

1.  FROSTED BLUEBERRY.  Good cold but they move to #1 when toasted properly.  There's something about that blueberry filling that stays molten hot for an hour after heating.  It's the one that's been in my pantries since the 1970s and still rules.

This request came down from West Coast Strikeforce this week.  I'm pretty okay with coming up with the best tasting toaster pastries.  They've been a staple of my diet since my early years and quite the actual diet for me in college and now something I've passed down to my own children.  Remember as you read the list - I'm an Old School Tart fan.  Just off the list - S'Mores, Unfrosted Strawberry and Frosted Chocolate Chip.  The worst flavors?  Most of the recent additions are the worst - many I haven't even tried like . . . Hello Kitty Meow Berry and Songe Bob Wild Bubble Berry (what is that even?) . . . 

NETFLIX PLAY NOW OF THE WEEK . . .  with all the talk of movies that have left Netflix Streaming  - there are some great ones that have been added including PULP FICTION (the favorite film of some people I know) . . . HOOSIERS is one of the best sports films of all-time, no lie . . .  and if you're looking for the best of the Disaster Film genre - look no further than AIRPORT and AIRPORT '75 . . . 

Shawn's fave movies according to FLICKCHART

#376  - Evil Dead II
#1402 - Rise Of The Planet of the Apes
#1609 - Stop Making Sense

RANDOM PROJECT UPDATE -  The HUNGER GAMES project.  Watched the first movie again recently (thank you Netflix, even though I have the Blu-ray), listened to the audio version of "Catching Fire" and I'm back again reading a few more chapters of "Mockingjay".  I'm still widely enthusiastic about the series - anxious for the 2nd film.  And like all my other series, I have an issue as I get towards the end of a trilogy of wanting to extend the end.  What does that say about me?  I'm afraid to even ask.  Until then, I'm not ready to find out how this ends for Katniss just yet.

SHAWN'S TOP ALBUMS OF ALL-TIME (a tribute to the art of the album)

#37  Nirvana - Nevermind (1991)


There are very few times in my lifetime when an album has marked such a sea change in my musical landscape.  Late in 1991, was one of those times.  I had spent the better part of the previous 4 years fully involved in the Hip Hop movement, discovering Jazz and old Funk, and even revisiting some classic rock bands of the 1970s.  But then I heard "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and it made me love rock all over again.  It may have been called Grunge but it was more than a movement it was a throwback to music that had been ignored except in smaller city bars for years.  I think I would rank this higher if I felt that the quality of all the songs lived up to the best songs - "Come As You Are". "In Bloom" and "Lithium".  After "Polly" I can take a break for a few songs until I get to "On A Plain".  I think if I had been a teenager at the time this came out, it would be in my Top Ten.  Still I recognize how awesome this is as far as a game changer.  A great album that everyone should know from top to bottom.

Breed

In Bloom

Something In The Way

Previous Rankings

#38 - Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On (1973)#39 - Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982)

#40 - Peter Gabriel - So (1986)
#41 - Beatles - Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
#42 - Prince - 1999 (1982)

THIS WEEK IN TELEVISION

MONDAY

CASTLE (ABC)  What a roller coaster ride.  There were actually two good episodes (the Rear Window one and the jealous Castle one) and then the "clips" episode that was the worst they've ever thrown out there.  Only two left - which way are we going to finish?  Military drones are the subject of this one.

HAWAII FIVE-O (CBS)  Never watched, sure I won't watch but I'm curious when I read that the guest star this week is Henry Rollins.  Do they usually have guests like that?

TUESDAY

NEW GIRL (FOX)  I'm bordering on dropping this show for next season.  But then I see that Rob Reiner is back again this episode as Jess's dad.  We need much more Meathead.

CONSTITUTION USA (PBS)  Leave it up to PBS to break down the Constitution.  I'm pretty sure that it isn't really like either party portrays it.  Curious if there is any political leanings to be seen.

WEDNESDAY

ARROW (CW)  Only two episodes left in this one too.  I've mentioned in the past few weeks that I've grown to like this show after wanting to hate it so much.  But now I can see that there is at least one more good season in this show.  More John Barrowman please.  They just have to be careful not to break the rule of too many superhero shows - that too many people know his identity.

DON'T SAY NO UNTIL I'M FINISHED TALKING (TCM)  So many of the movies I loved in my youth had this one thing in common - produced by Richard D. Zanuck.  This doc is about the man who produced JAWS, DRIVING MISS DAISY and THE SOUND OF MUSIC just for starters.

THURSDAY

HANNIBAL (NBC)  Jeremy loves this show.  I have such suspicion of any NBC show that I never started.  But my crush, Gillian Anderson debuts tonight as Hannibal's therapist.  Rethinking my doubts.

AMERICAN IDOL (FOX)  I've cruised through most of the episodes just out of curiosity.  But there's no one this season that I find amazing.  The final few ladies are all good but unremarkable.  Tonight we figure out who's going to be in our Final Two.

FRIDAY
GOOD EATS (COOKING)  Until the new episodes come along - this marathon is a good way to spend a Friday night!

THE HORN BLOWS AT MIDNIGHT (TCM) Jack Benny isn't an actor - he's a musician - so he stars as himself.  Well, he plays himself as an angel sent to mess up the Earth.

SATURDAY
AUSTIN CITY LIMITS (PBS)  I've always enjoyed The Shins - they perform songs from their "Port of Morrow" album tonight.

HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY (TCM)  A film I came into when in college - I didn't appreciate it then but it's grown on me as I age.  Mostly the beauty of the Welsh countryside and the acting of Walter Pidgeon, Roddy McDowall and Maureen O'Hara.

SUNDAY
THE CLEVELAND SHOW (FOX)  I meant to stop watching this show a few months ago.  But as it looks, this will be the final episode of the series tonight, so I've kept up with it - only missing an episode or two maybe over the course of its run.  Not a terrible show, I've actually had more laughs from it recently than "Family Guy".  Sad to see it go because of the enjoyment I've had from its panels at Comic Con.

SURVIVOR (CBS)  Another season comes to an end.  This one certainly featured some of the craziest Tribal Councils I've ever seen.  This is easily still one of the best three reality shows on TV and it's amazing that no one (except you Millers and Geises) talks about it anymore.  

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR . . .  a classic Skittles ad that I love . . . 

This Skittles ad with the walrus is disturbing on so many levels . . .

And more Trale please . . . 

"Take you time, hurry up
The choice is yours, don't be late
Take a rest, as a friend, as an old memory."  - Nirvana


Come as you are.  Stay hard.

sb