The Frank Sinatra Show High Hopes (MVD-2005) The old and true adage that “it’s Frank Sinatra’s world – we just live in it” is best illustrated during his Rat Pack years, from the very late fifties until the early sixties. Here you see the Chairman of the Board in his glorious, power-pipe action, during one … Continue reading
Various Artists-So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross (J Records) After the tragic death earlier this year of one of the greatest soul voices of his generation, it is nice to see a tribute to this consummate artist and spine-tingly good singer who pretty much defined the quiet storm and smooth jazz genres. The lineup … Continue reading
Tristan Prettyman – Twentythree (Virgin) Who knew? It turns out that there is a burgeoning folk and rock subgenre coming out of the Southern California surf scene. First there was Jewel (who, granted, was a transplant), then Switchfoot, a group that values hanging ten as much as Christian Rock. Then came the surprise success of pro … Continue reading
NEW ORDER – ITEM (A COLLECTION and NEW ORDER STORY) (2005) Starring Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, Gillian Gilbert, Stephen Morris, Ian Curtis, Tony Wilson, Bono, Arthur Baker, John Barnes, Rob Gretton, Quincy Jones, John Robie, Jon Savage, Peter Saville, Neil Tennant, Pete Tong and the voice of Jenny Seagrove. Screenplay by Pascal Laugier. Directed by … Continue reading
NEW YORK DOLL (2005) Starring Arthur “Killer” Kane, David Johansen, Sylvain Sylvain, Johnny Thunders, Rick Rivets, Jerry Nolan, Billy Murcia, Steve Conte, Gary Powell, Morrissey, Chrissy Hynde, Sir Bob Geldof, Iggy Pop, Mick Jones, Chris Stein, Frank Infante, Bob Gruen, Sam Yaffa, Don Letts, Sky Saxon, Nina Antonia, Mark Bragg and Mac McGregor. Directed by … Continue reading
Michael McDonald – The Ultimate Collection (Warner Brothers/Rhino) It makes perfect sense, somehow, that the cover of this album has a near black and white closeup of Michael McDonald. The only color that really grabs you in the shockingly limpid blue pool of the singer’s eyes (and I type that with a staunch record of heterosexuality, to … Continue reading
Carole King – The Living Room Tour (Sanctuary) Living room shows are a phenomenon in the folk-music world where groups of fans put together money to hire folk singers to do personal concerts for small audiences in people’s homes. It’s a charming, old-fashioned idea and a fantastic way to get to see an artist in a … Continue reading
Sugar Ray – The Best of Sugar Ray (Lava/Atlantic) When Sugar Ray’s single “Fly” caught onto radio in the 1997, the band looked like the epitome of being a future one-hit-wonder. Here was a bunch of California surf punks doing a ska rocker (complete with legit reggae toasting by the legendary Super Cat) that was so … Continue reading
EAGLES – FAREWELL I TOUR: LIVE IN MELBOURNE (2005) Starring Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, Timothy B. Schmit, Steuart Smith, Will Hollis, Greg Smith, Billy Armstrong, Chris Mosert, Al Garth, Scott Crago, Michael Thompson and David Wild. Directed by Carol Dodd. Distributed by Warner Strategic Marketing. minutes. Not Rated. It seems like the Eagles … Continue reading
PETER GABRIEL – PLAY: THE VIDEOS (2004) Starring Peter Gabriel. Distributed by Warner Strategic Marketing. 141 minutes. Not Rated. Pretty much all of the superstar acts of the 1980s took advantage of video and the explosion of MTV (back in the days when Music Television still played music…). However, very few artists expanded the medium … Continue reading
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