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
OUR LADY PEACE IN COMPLICATED TIMES BY JAY S. JACOBS It’s not a religious reference. Honest. They know, they know, the name Our Lady Peace sounds like it could be a designation for a Christian rock band. It could, however, that’s not what it’s all about at all. “I think people sometimes get fooled by … Continue reading
The Ed Sullivan Show Four Complete Historic Episodes featuring the Beatles (SOFA Entertainment-2003) Ironically, the Beatles’ impact on modern popular culture has been diluted and diminished thanks to the very thing they themselves hath wrought: their successors, wanna-be’s and imitators, wearing us down with forty years of excessive noise. These trashy new neighbors have brought … Continue reading
Elijah Wood, Liev Schreiber and Eugene Hutz Illuminate Us by Jay S. Jacobs Everything Is Illuminated is the debut writing and directing project by respected New York-based actor Liev Schreiber (The Manchurian Candidate, Scream, Kate and Leopold.) The film is based on a portion of the fanciful and yet disturbing best-selling novel of the same name by Jonathan Safran … Continue reading
Bryan Adams This Side of Paradise by Deborah Wagner Copyright ©2005 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved. Posted: August 10, 2005. Since 1980, a voice has consistently come blasting across the airways. The voice is strong, raspy and unmistakably Bryan Adams. This Canadian born singer/songwriter has proven time and again that he can rock and roll with … 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
MINT CONDITION AS GOOD AS NEW BY ABRAHAM KURANGA Fear not! There has been a Mint Condition sighting. The multi-talented band is made up of lead singer/drummer, Stokley Williams, guitarist O’Dell (né Homer O’Dell), Ricky Kinchen on lead guitar and bass, keyboardist Larry Waddell and saxophonist/keyboardist Jeffery Allen. Known for their break-out hit, “(Breaking My Heart) Pretty Brown Eyes,” from … 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
