SUNDAY MORNING TUNEAGE
BADFINGER - BABY BLUE. I became a fan of Badfinger in the mid-80s. I think I always mistook their music for other bands - including the Beatles. This Todd Rundgren produced song sounds like one that he might have done on his own albums. Apple Records didn't have much to do with marketing the band at this point but the song has managed to find a semi-life on Classic Rock stations. Glad this ended up on my iTunes through some 70s compilations.
HERBIE HANCOCK - MAIDEN VOYAGE (LIVE) This jazz classic is from 1965. I'm not sure the source of this live version because it's off a lost copy of the Hancock Box Set. I won't embarrass myself by trying to say anything about the music. It's off one of my favorite jazz albums of the 60s - all about going to sea in a boat. This is the first track - so I'm assuming it's about the boat leaving port. And it's just cool.
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LITTLE RIVER BAND - YOU'RE DRIVING ME OUT OF MY MIND. This was the end of the line for LRB. It was late in 1983 and I barely remember this song but it was enough of a hit to appear on their "Greatest Hits" album. It is about rock bottom for their hits. Not sure I even remember it anymore - I had to look back at the iTunes to even remember what the title of the song is.
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SOMETHING RANDOM . . . Obama actually used the term "Jedi mind meld" in a press conference about the Sequestration and the new Facebook Timeline design for later this week is already in use in New Zealand
DEADLIGHTS OF 2013. . . C. Everett Koop might be the only Surgeon General I can name and that might only be because of his Civil War era beard . . . Paul McIlhenny was the CEO of Tabasco for a long time. You might think you wouldn't necessarily recognize the CEO of a tabasco sauce company but this guy was in their ads and I know I've seen him in at least 4 different food shows on the making of the sauce . . . Scott Clark was one of the steadier artists in the Wildstorm bullpen for a long time. Recently saw some new work of his in "Grifter" - still was plugging along at the time of his death . . . Raymond Cusick designed the awesomeness of the Daleks back in the mid 1960s. I don't know much else about him but what else did he need to do? . . .
QUICK LIST (a random, uninformed list off the top of Shawn's head)
BEST ZOMBIE MOVIES OF ALL-TIME (as of today)
10. DAWN OF THE DEAD (2004) Zack Snyder pulled off a great Romero tribute that kinda outdoes the original if only for the money spent on the effects. A promising start to Mr Snyder's career.
9. THE SERPENT AND THE RAINBOW (1988) Bill Pullman has actually been in a role or two where he wasn't the President. It's a good role for him and the zombies here aren't all over - they are more localized. Decent, forgotten film. Director Wes Craven doesn't get enough credit for coming through with a cool zombie flick here.
8. LAND OF THE DEAD (2005) Zombies or not, this film was going to be awesome because Dennis Hopper is in charge of the few remaining living folks.
7. VERSUS (2000) I'm fuzzy remembering this film - but I know I loved it and I think they were zombies and not just demons, right??? I have to give the Japanese some undead credit in this list.
6. RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD (1985) "They're back from the grave and ready to party". This is a time machine movie for 1985. It's definitely in the category of movies that I remember more fondly than they actually are upon reviewing. But as far as zombies go - you'd do worse.
5. PONTYPOOL (2009) This film makes the list because it's another film that takes a unique take on the zombie world. This is a scary world and even though the film gets out of whack towards the end - it's still on e of my favorites.
4. 28 DAYS LATER (2002) Danny Boyle is a great filmmaker. It doesn't matter what genre he's doing - he does it with panache. Great idea to finally do away with those old man slow zombies.
3. SHAUN OF THE DEAD (2004) Just what the genre needed was this kick in the pants - the start of the rom-com-zom film genre. Edgar Wright understands what we love about zombie films and didn't let us down. But this type of humor was just what was missing for decades.
2. NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968) This was my first and maybe a 1A instead of #2. This used to air on PBS on Saturday nights all through the year. It was one of the first films I taped on VHS and wore it out. Still just as creepy. "They're coming to get you, Barbara."
1. DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978) Not the first zombie film I ever watched but the one I've probably watched the most times. Romero has it all working here - the gore, the social commentary and the perfect setting of a Mall. I was so fascinated with this in my youth and it still holds my attention today. If you know someone just getting into the genre, point them in this direction. ASAP.
This list will have changed by tomorrow. I first recall being aware of the zombie film genre in about 1983 or 1984. It instantly became a top favorite of mine. There have been some lean times but now we are positively in the hey day of the undead films and TV shows. Who knew that a zombie tv show AND a show talking about the same zombie tv show would be among the highest rated shows on all of tv. Not included are medically reanimated folks like FRANKENSTEIN or REANIMATOR or demon possession like EVIL DEAD. Ones that didn't make it because I haven't seen them - DEAD SNOW, DIARY OF THE DEAD and the whole RESIDENT EVIL set. I would have loved to have included two TV shows - "The Walking Dead" (obviously) and the UK zombie spectacular "Dead Set". The worst? I AM LEGEND? and the remake of THE CRAZIES?
BEST ZOMBIE MOVIES OF ALL-TIME (as of today)
10. DAWN OF THE DEAD (2004) Zack Snyder pulled off a great Romero tribute that kinda outdoes the original if only for the money spent on the effects. A promising start to Mr Snyder's career.
9. THE SERPENT AND THE RAINBOW (1988) Bill Pullman has actually been in a role or two where he wasn't the President. It's a good role for him and the zombies here aren't all over - they are more localized. Decent, forgotten film. Director Wes Craven doesn't get enough credit for coming through with a cool zombie flick here.
8. LAND OF THE DEAD (2005) Zombies or not, this film was going to be awesome because Dennis Hopper is in charge of the few remaining living folks.
7. VERSUS (2000) I'm fuzzy remembering this film - but I know I loved it and I think they were zombies and not just demons, right??? I have to give the Japanese some undead credit in this list.
6. RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD (1985) "They're back from the grave and ready to party". This is a time machine movie for 1985. It's definitely in the category of movies that I remember more fondly than they actually are upon reviewing. But as far as zombies go - you'd do worse.
5. PONTYPOOL (2009) This film makes the list because it's another film that takes a unique take on the zombie world. This is a scary world and even though the film gets out of whack towards the end - it's still on e of my favorites.
4. 28 DAYS LATER (2002) Danny Boyle is a great filmmaker. It doesn't matter what genre he's doing - he does it with panache. Great idea to finally do away with those old man slow zombies.
3. SHAUN OF THE DEAD (2004) Just what the genre needed was this kick in the pants - the start of the rom-com-zom film genre. Edgar Wright understands what we love about zombie films and didn't let us down. But this type of humor was just what was missing for decades.
2. NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968) This was my first and maybe a 1A instead of #2. This used to air on PBS on Saturday nights all through the year. It was one of the first films I taped on VHS and wore it out. Still just as creepy. "They're coming to get you, Barbara."
1. DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978) Not the first zombie film I ever watched but the one I've probably watched the most times. Romero has it all working here - the gore, the social commentary and the perfect setting of a Mall. I was so fascinated with this in my youth and it still holds my attention today. If you know someone just getting into the genre, point them in this direction. ASAP.
This list will have changed by tomorrow. I first recall being aware of the zombie film genre in about 1983 or 1984. It instantly became a top favorite of mine. There have been some lean times but now we are positively in the hey day of the undead films and TV shows. Who knew that a zombie tv show AND a show talking about the same zombie tv show would be among the highest rated shows on all of tv. Not included are medically reanimated folks like FRANKENSTEIN or REANIMATOR or demon possession like EVIL DEAD. Ones that didn't make it because I haven't seen them - DEAD SNOW, DIARY OF THE DEAD and the whole RESIDENT EVIL set. I would have loved to have included two TV shows - "The Walking Dead" (obviously) and the UK zombie spectacular "Dead Set". The worst? I AM LEGEND? and the remake of THE CRAZIES?
NETFLIX PLAY NOW OF THE WEEK . . . LOUIS C.K.: LIVE AT THE BEACON THEATRE is all new material. Well, it was new in 2011. But it's still Louis material - not all of which made it into his show . . . AMELIE is great on so many levels - it looks great (the cinematography) and the actors (Audrey Tautou) and you can watch all the time now . . . HARDWARE is a really cool robot film with Dylan McDermott and Iggy Pop and it's very stylish and if you think you like "different" films this belongs in your vocabulary.
Shawn's fave movies according to FLICKCHART
#455 - X-Men (2000)
#799 - The Spy Who Loved Me
#800 - Broken Arrow
#455 - X-Men (2000)
#799 - The Spy Who Loved Me
#800 - Broken Arrow
RANDOM PROJECT UPDATE - The SAMURAI 7 project. It took a new friend pointing me in the direction of this 2004 anime series to realize it's based on Kurosawa's SEVEN SAMURAI. Of course it is (insert head slap) and I have no idea why that didn't kick in before. I started the 26 episode this last week and after some late nights, I've just passed the halfway point. It started out a little weird but now that we're back in the village and the battle is just starting - I'm way into it. I like the different take on the Kurosawa film yet keeping the same themes. Favorite characters so far - Katsushiro, Kikuchiyo (the cyborg), and the lovely Kirara. So glad this was brought to my attention.
SHAWN'S TOP ALBUMS OF ALL-TIME (a tribute to the art of the album)
#46 Pink Floyd - The Wall (1979) I gave some press to this album when I did my double album list a few weeks ago. It's been a road trip staple for many years - especially in the long road voyages of the 1980s on cassette. So many of the last few albums have consisted of only 8-10 songs, really strong songs. This double album has 26 songs. I can't tell you that all 26 are the strongest. But this album is about the story. It's got one of the more coherent stories of any rock opera that you'll hear. The building of the Wall and the tormented feelings inside the Wall you've built are palpable. I love the Syd Barrett references throughout and yet the story goes beyond just telling his bio. This band is at its best when Roger Waters is writing inspired music and lyrics and David Gilmour is playing guitar with material that he believes in. This might be the last moments when these two truly worked together. Tempted to get in the car for a two hour drive just to make my way through it again tonight.
Previous Rankings
#47 - Billy Joel - The Stranger (1977)
#48 - Dr. Dre - The Chronic (1992)
#49 - Beastie Boys - Licensed To Ill (1986)
#50 - Funkadelic - One Nation Under A Groove (1978)
#51 - Steely Dan - Aja (1977)
#51 - Steely Dan - Aja (1977)
THIS WEEK IN TELEVISION
MONDAY
THE BIGGEST LOSER (NBC) It's makeover week with Tim Gunn. It used to be my favorite week of the season. But it's hard to come up with new ways to surprise their families. Everyone knows it's coming - like the "meet the family" episodes on "Survivor".
LA SHRINKS (BRAVO) When's the last time you stopped on this channel? This new reality show takes you into the offices of four LA therapists - of all the places with crazy people, this might be the best.
TUESDAY
WILD THINGS w/DOMINIC MONAGHAN (BBC) For all the times that the description of this show has tickled me, you'd think I'd have watched it. But nope. This week - giant honeybees. Woo!
GOOD NEWS (TCM) Never seen this 1947 film but I like the description of "A college comedy with a football hero, a librarian, a vamp and a cutup." A cutup!!!
WEDNESDAY
KIM NOVAK: LIVE FROM THE TCM CLASSIC FILM FESTIVAL (TCM) Robert Osborn has a one hour interview with one of my all-time crushes. And you get a four pack of her best films afterwards including PICNIC and THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN.
THE AMERICANS (FX) Now after a few weeks, everyone wants to step up and say this is a good show. Where were you when I could still have DVR'd the first episode???
THURSDAY
COMMUNITY (NBC) The Dad Of The Year? It's James Brolin again, this time as Jeff Winger's dad in this slightly delayed Thanksgiving episode.
FREAKSHOW (AMC) At first I just knew this as the show after COMIC BOOK MEN. But I'm extra curious about these folks and I think it's time to watch this week with fire-eaters and tattooed Marcus reconnecting with his daughter.
FRIDAY
GRIMM (NBC) It's back. I guess I didn't want to watch it that bad if I didn't know it's been off the air for a while.
GREAT PERFORMANCES (PBS) First hour is on the making of The Beatles' MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR and the second hour is the restored version of the film.
SATURDAY
RIPPER STREET (BBC) I know, I know. The Tivo is yelling at me. I'm going to start it this week.
WILD HEARTS (HALLMARK) How old am I? Rick (not Ricky) Schroder stars and directs his daughter in a Western. I'm old.
SUNDAY
GIRLS (HBO) Started out slow - thought it picked up - not I'm not sure I even like the show anymore. Uneven season that's been good for Lena Dunham but bad for the supporting cast.
SHAMELESS (SHOW) The show seemed like it was running out of gas to start this season. But unlike "Girls" it go going and now it's back in the "totally wrong" groove. Enjoying all the wrongness in the middle of this season.
THE BIGGEST LOSER (NBC) It's makeover week with Tim Gunn. It used to be my favorite week of the season. But it's hard to come up with new ways to surprise their families. Everyone knows it's coming - like the "meet the family" episodes on "Survivor".
LA SHRINKS (BRAVO) When's the last time you stopped on this channel? This new reality show takes you into the offices of four LA therapists - of all the places with crazy people, this might be the best.
TUESDAY
WILD THINGS w/DOMINIC MONAGHAN (BBC) For all the times that the description of this show has tickled me, you'd think I'd have watched it. But nope. This week - giant honeybees. Woo!
GOOD NEWS (TCM) Never seen this 1947 film but I like the description of "A college comedy with a football hero, a librarian, a vamp and a cutup." A cutup!!!
WEDNESDAY
KIM NOVAK: LIVE FROM THE TCM CLASSIC FILM FESTIVAL (TCM) Robert Osborn has a one hour interview with one of my all-time crushes. And you get a four pack of her best films afterwards including PICNIC and THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN.
THE AMERICANS (FX) Now after a few weeks, everyone wants to step up and say this is a good show. Where were you when I could still have DVR'd the first episode???
THURSDAY
COMMUNITY (NBC) The Dad Of The Year? It's James Brolin again, this time as Jeff Winger's dad in this slightly delayed Thanksgiving episode.
FREAKSHOW (AMC) At first I just knew this as the show after COMIC BOOK MEN. But I'm extra curious about these folks and I think it's time to watch this week with fire-eaters and tattooed Marcus reconnecting with his daughter.
FRIDAY
GRIMM (NBC) It's back. I guess I didn't want to watch it that bad if I didn't know it's been off the air for a while.
GREAT PERFORMANCES (PBS) First hour is on the making of The Beatles' MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR and the second hour is the restored version of the film.
SATURDAY
RIPPER STREET (BBC) I know, I know. The Tivo is yelling at me. I'm going to start it this week.
WILD HEARTS (HALLMARK) How old am I? Rick (not Ricky) Schroder stars and directs his daughter in a Western. I'm old.
SUNDAY
GIRLS (HBO) Started out slow - thought it picked up - not I'm not sure I even like the show anymore. Uneven season that's been good for Lena Dunham but bad for the supporting cast.
SHAMELESS (SHOW) The show seemed like it was running out of gas to start this season. But unlike "Girls" it go going and now it's back in the "totally wrong" groove. Enjoying all the wrongness in the middle of this season.
AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR . . . who's going out for Taco Bell with me on Thursday??? Hola!!!
Been fascinated with robots lately a little more than normal. I was reminded of this Adobe ad from a while ago. Too good.
And Geico is back at it again with this hilarious happier than Dikembe blocking a shot ad (check out the great shot of the kid getting his cereal blocked) . . .
Been fascinated with robots lately a little more than normal. I was reminded of this Adobe ad from a while ago. Too good.
And Geico is back at it again with this hilarious happier than Dikembe blocking a shot ad (check out the great shot of the kid getting his cereal blocked) . . .
Getting lonely, getting old, can you feel me
Hey you! standing in the aisles
With itchy feet and fading smiles, can you feel me." - Pink Floyd
Don't give in without a fight. Stay hard.
sb
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