Bookended by Cats: 2023

Friday, June 9, 2023

Friday 80s Flashback for June 9, 2023

[Her Heart is Still Wild] -- Forty years ago this week, Stevie Nicks released The Wild Heart, her second solo studio album. It isn't an exact copy of her solo debut, 1981's Bella Donna, but it did follow in the same vein. That included featuring prominent guest musicians: Tom Petty, Toto's guitarist Steve Lukather, David Foster, and conductor Paul Buckmaster were among the record's personnel. Even Prince was involved (albeit uncredited).

Some might cue up the jokes about this safe approach – there's even a song titled, "Nothing Ever Changes." But, come on, there is very little harm in playing to one's strengths. Nicks does so quite admirably on this very listenable disc. She once again achieved commercial, and some critical, success, cementing her position as one of the leading acts of the early 1980s.

Hitting the charts on June 10, 1983, The Wild Heart climbed to #5 on the US Billboard 200, staying in that peak slot for almost two months. In total, the album spent a whole year on the Billboard 200, from June 1983 to June 1984. During its time on the charts, The Wild Heart spawned three hit singles. "Stand Back" peaked at #5, "If Anyone Falls" reached #14, and "Nightbird" came in at #33, all on the Billboard Hot 100. "Stand Back" spent 19 weeks on Billboard, six of them in the top 10, and it was also a global hit. It reached at least the top 40 in Australia (#20), Canada (#10), Germany (#32), and the Netherlands (#29).

Flashback: The Wild Heart (June 10, 1983)

That's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.

I'll see you in seven!

Tuesday, June 6, 2023

Shazam! Fury of the Gods

First of three movies of our Memorial Day Weekend.

Wow this was not as fun as I wanted it to be. I loved the first movie but I just could not get into this one. I had a difficult time with the characters all being older but they kept acting like the were the youngsters from the first movie when they went into superhero mode. It was very odd.

I also wasn't sold on the story for some reason. Although it was nice to have three incredible women as the main "villans" of the story: Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu and Rachel Zegler. They all looked like the enjoyed being supervillans and having powers.

Overall though, Steve and the unicorns were the best part of this movie.

1 paw

Friday, June 2, 2023

Friday 80s Flashback for June 2, 2023

[2▼ 4 0] -- Forty years ago this week – on May 30, 1983 – Elton John released his seventeenth studio album, Too Low For Zero. The album title was also stylized as 2▽4 0, which also appeared as the album cover graphics as shown in the preview image above. This album featured the triumphant return of lyricist Bernie Taupin, and he wrote all the album's lyrics, something he had not done for Elton John since 1976. Also of note, John reunited with many core members of his early1970s backing band.

That combination was particularly effective in sapping Elton John's critical and commercial stagnation that occurred with his prior four albums – Victim of Love (1979), 21 at 33 (1980), The Fox (1981), and Jump Up! (1982). All four of those records failed to provide his usual slate of international hit singles, and they also sold poorly compared to his early 1970s output. Fortunately, Too Low For Zero turned that around and became his second best selling album of the 1980s. It peaked at #7 and #25 on the UK Albums and US Billboard 200 charts respectively. And it reached the top 10 of several other country's charts: Australian (#2), Germany (#5), New Zealand #2, Norway (#6), and Spain (#7).

This album also yielded several hit singles. First up, "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues," possibly my fave track on the album, peaked at #4 and #2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary charts respectively, and also reached the top ten in several other countries. The second single, the rocking "I'm Still Standing," charted well all over the world, even hitting the top 40 or better on four different US charts. "Kiss the Bride" was released as the third single, and while it did not chart as well as the first two singles, it was still a top 40 hit in many countries. Regarding the last two singles – "Cold as Christmas (In the Middle of the Year)" and "Too Low for Zero" – Wikipedia does not have charting info, but I did find that "Cold as Christmas" did well in the UK, peaking at #33.

Too Low For Zero was a roaring success, and a return to form, for Elton John. Do you have a favorite track on this album?

Flashback: Too Low For Zero (May 30, 1983)

And that's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.

I'll see you in seven!

Wednesday, May 31, 2023

Inescapable: A Ghost Story by D.K. Stone

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book but now it is fully released and simply put, go out and get this book!

Here is my review I wrote on Goodreads and in order to not give anything away at all about the book, that is all I am going to post.

Wow wow wow!

I just finished Inescapable! I adore Danika’s writing so much. It’s just flows and it’s so easy to see.

Chapter Nine blew me away. The moving between the stories but never missing a beat.

My heart was racing, I was yelling, I was crying, I was smiling and laughing. Phew.

What a great book!

Friday, May 26, 2023

Friday 80s Flashback for May 26, 2023

[Holy Diving] -- Thirteen years ago this month – on May 16, 2010 – the heavy metal world lost an icon when Ronnie James Dio succumbed to stomach cancer. His 53-year career included stints with signature metal bands like Black Sabbath (mainly 1979–1982) and Rainbow (1975–1979), as well as Elf (1967-1975) and his eponymous band, Dio (1982–2010). And that latter band is the subject of this week's Flashback.

Forty years ago this very week (May 25, 1983), Dio released their debut album, Holy Diver. The band's namesake was, of course, the vocalist and lyricist. For the most part, the music on this release was a collaboration between Ronnie James Dio and the other members of the band: Vinny Appice (drums), Jimmy Bain (bass, keyboards), and Vivian Campbell (guitar). Holy Diver charted well, but not great, reaching #13 on the UK Albums and #56 on US Billboard 200 charts. It also reached the top 50 or top 100 of some other countries, and it has been certified Gold (September 1984) and platinum (March 1989) in the US. The album also garnered positive critical acclaim, including being ranked at #8 on IGN's 2007 listing of the "Top 25 Metal Albums."

And while singles are not typically a hallmark of heavy metal success, we can include some of t .... The title track, "Holy Diver," peaked at #40 on the US Mainstream Rock (Billboard) chart. And it came in at #43 on VH1's Top 100 Hard Rock Songs (2009). What exactly is a Holy Diver? Well, Dio himself said the song is about a Christ-like figure working to redeem his people; this all takes place on some other planet, and when the people learn that the figure intends to leave them to save people on other planets, they try to get him to stay (source: this 2004 interview). The second single was "Rainbow in the Dark." This song peaked at #12 on US Billboard Album Rock Tracks and #14 on the US Mainstream Rock charts. "Rainbow," with its catchy hooks and dominant keyboard riff, is probably the closest Dio ever came to pop success. Both singles were featured on K-Tel compilations: "Rainbow in the Dark" was on Masters of Metal (1984), while "Holy Diver" appeared on White Hot: Masters of Metal (1987).

Holy Diver' s cover art, illustrated by Randy Berrett based on a concept by Dio's then-wife, Wendy, was somewhat controversial at the time. It depicts a devil-beast standing over a chained priest who appears to have either just landed in the waters or has been thrashing about to avoid drowning. The devil beast is known affectionately as Murray and he became something of a mascot for the band, appearing on subsequent album covers and merchandise. Now, in regards to this particular album cover: Is this a case of a monster drowning a priest, or a priest drowning a monster? This was, perhaps, the epitome of Ronnie James Dio urging us to not simply judge a book by its cover (2018 interview with Wendy Dio).

Ronnie James Dio was a consummate storyteller, and that comes through in a number of Dio's songs on this and later records. However, I'm not certain that always came across in the band's music videos. This week's embedded playlist does feature concept videos for "Holy Diver" and "Rainbow in the Dark," and ... well ... they are pretty much a product of their time and the genre. The music video for the lead-off track, "Stand Up and Shout," is remastered concert footage, in case you're curious what a Dio show was like.

So, tell me, music fans. Do you cry out for magic, and do your demons ever let you go? Let me know after you sample this week's Flashback.

Flashback: Holy Diver (May 25, 1983)

Once again, I remind you that the rule of three applies when doing Flashbacks. As I've made my three offerings, that's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.

I'll see you in seven!

Tuesday, May 23, 2023

The Umbrella Academy- Seasons 1, 2 and 3

Another series that I absolutely LOVE!!

And again a comic book series I know nothing about at all and it didn't hinder me from loving this 1000%!

I adored the cast, the story, the MUSIC, the special effects, the everything!

Brainwise filled me with the limited information he had but many times if we had just waited a little longer, the story told me what I was wondering about.

I am in awe of Aidan Gallagher who plays Five. His range was incredible. He had to do so much and it seemed to come so easily to him. I am very curious what he did to learn how to play old so well. Completely in awe of him.

Elliot Page as Vanya/Viktor was incredible. I love that his real life story was told through this series. So moving and an integral part of the story. The violin music used during the first season was so touching and moving. I saw that the episode titled The White Violin was up for quite a few awards and I can see (and hear) why.

Pogo! Oh my goodness Pogo. Whoever was responsible for his creation for the TV screen, they deserve all the awards and all the money. I wanted to hug Pogo so much. He was just incredible and at no time could I tell that he wasn't real. Simply incredible.

Justin H. Min as Ben broke my heart and Robert Sheehan as Klaus was perfection. Klaus was outrageous and I love him. David Castaneda as Diego and Ritu Arya as Lila were a lesson in love and conquering all things. Jordan Claire Robbins as Grace had an incredible arc and was integral to so many parts of the story.

Tom Hopper as Luther and Emmy Raver-Lampman as Allison were the most "normal" of all the cast and I would love to be their friends. Lastly, Colm Feore as Reginald Hargreeves was certainly the man you loved to hate and hated to love. Colm portrayed Reginald to perfection and everytime I see Colm's real life photo I can not believe he was Reginald - incredible acting, makeup and getting lost in a role.

I could go on and on about all the characters and actors who portrayed them from the three season, so let's just say there were no weak links and I think everyone was perfectly cast and brought their A games to their characters and the story.

I loved how all the episodes weaved in and out of each other, with everything having meaning and purpose. The music was perfection! Even the choice of covers over originals at times made all the difference in how the song hit and/or fit in a scene. Brainwise already said he wants to create a CD of all the music in order from the three seasons.

I am happy there is a 4th season coming because I am not ready to say goodbye to my new friends but I am also extremely satisfied with how the story went, was told and "ended"(?).

4 paws and a tail of 7 cats ;)

Friday, May 19, 2023

Friday 80s Flashback for May 19, 2023

[40-Year Reach] -- The Fixx released their second studio album, Reach the Beach, on May 15, 1983. That was 40 years ago this week! With this album, The Fixx pretty much cemented their sound, sort of a compromise between experimentation and accessibility. The album alternates between danceable and atmospheric, with plenty of layered synthesizers and accent guitar. Perhaps surprisingly, while Reach the Beach is still the group's most successful album by virtue of reaching #8 on the Billboard 200 and being certified Platinum (January 5, 1984), it was not a critical darling. Smash Hits reviewer Deborah Steels rated the record as a 3, on a scale of 10, and called it "at worst...dull and depressing" [Archive.org]. Stephen Thomas Erlewine was kinder in his retro-review for AllMusic, and gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars while saying it is a "pleasant collection of immaculately produced and stylishly danceable new wave."

All three singles from this album were top 40 hits. The first single was "Saved By Zero." It hit US airwaves on May 12, just prior to the album release. It peaked at #20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #9 on the Top Rock Tracks chart. The second, and most successful single, was "One Thing Leads to Another," which hit US charts in September 1983. It climbed to #4 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and it also peaked within the Top 20 of two other US charts -- #14 on US Dance Club Songs and #2 on US Mainstream Rock -- as well as charting in the UK, Canada, and Australia. "One Thing Leads to Another" is still the most popular and successful song in The Fixx's catalog. The third single off Reach the Beach was released in 1984 and it peaked at #32 on the Billboard Hot 100.

I still have my vinyl copy, but I'm not certain when I purchased it. Did I really wait until after "One Thing Leads to Another" was on the radio and MTV? Or did George Underwood's album cover art catch my eye so that it was an impulse purchase earlier in 1983? I may never recall, and it's not like I kept the receipt. But I do know I spun this record pretty regularly on my turntable. In addition to the three singles, I have to rate my favorite tracks as "Opinions" (atmospheric and meditative), "Changing" (pleading: If I'm changing, oh won't you please let go), and "Privilege" (slightly funky and quietly disturbing).

Flashback Reach the Beach (May 1983)

So, that's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.

I'll see you in seven!

Friday, May 12, 2023

Friday 80s Flashback for May 12, 2023

[So Hard for the Money] -- On May 10, 1983*, Donna Summer released her 11th solo studio album, She Works Hard for the Money. It was her most commercially successful album of the 1980s -- the album peaked at #9 on the Billboard 200, and the title track reached the #3 spot on the Billboard Hot 100. It also reached the #1 position on the Billboard R&B singles chart, and #3 on the Dance Club Play chart. "She Works Hard for the Money" was one of the most popular songs of 1983, reaching the top 40 of charts around the world. But beyond the dance beats and Summer's excellent voice, this tune highlights the hard work and exhaustion that many a blue-collar woman still experiences to this day.

Summer's second single -- "Unconditional Love" with uncredited vocals by Musical Youth -- was a bit of a commercial disappointment. It placed just outside the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking #43, and just barely reached the Cashbox top 40 at #40. It did reach the top ten of the R&B chart, and was even a top 20 hit for her in the UK. Plus, although it was not released as a single, "He's a Rebel" earned a Grammy award for Best Inspirational Performance (1984). She kicked off that year's award show with a live performance of "She Works Hard for the Money."

She Works Hard for the Money also worked hard for sales: The album was certified Gold in Canada, France, the UK, and the US.

Flashback: She Works Hard For The Money (May 1983)

And... that's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.

I'll see you in seven!

* According to sources such as Album Of The Year, She Works Hard For The Money was released on May 10, 1983. Other sources, such as Wikipedia, list a June 1983 release date. Then again, Wikipedia seems to be hedging their calendar bet; they also list the May 10 date on their list of albums released in 1983. Either way, by the time summer 2023 really rolls around, this record will be 40 years old.

Tuesday, May 9, 2023

The Mandalorian - Season 3

By far one of my favorite shows of all time. I adore everything about this show: the characters, the stories, the music, the visuals. I don’t even know what else I can say to state how much I love this show.

I laugh, I cry, I yell, I scream and I just coo all over for Grogu.

I love how even the smallest parts of the episode mean something and ties things together, even things that may not have been shown yet. When you think “why are we seeing this now?” You realize an episode or so later “ooohhh that’s why.” It’s the long game sometimes when watching and I’m here for it.

Katee Sackhoff is perfect as Bo-Katan and as much as I love Giancarlo Esposito I am so over Moff Gideon. Lol

4 paws

Friday, May 5, 2023

Friday 80s Flashback for May 5, 2023

[40 Years of PC&L] -- In the shock and awe following the May 1980 death of their singer, Ian Curtis, the remaining members of Joy Division opted to carry on. They adopted a new name -- New Order -- and released a debut album of mostly new material in November 1981. I see that record, Movement, as sort of a pivot between Joy Division and New Order. Why? Because 40 years ago this week -- on May 2, 1983 -- New Order released their second, full-length studio LP, Power, Corruption & Lies, a recording that both heralded their new direction while still recognizing both their legacy and their lost bandmate.

The new album was a critical and commercial success. In his review for Rolling Stone review, Steve Pond called it a "remarkable declaration of independence" and a "quantum leap" over Movement. Writing for AllMusic, John Bush says the album "cemented New Order's place as the most exciting dance-rock hybrid in music." While Power, Corruption & Lies did not chart in the US, it was a top 40 album in several countries, notably Australia (#38), The Netherlands (#14), Germany (#18), New Zealand Albums (#3), Sweden (#16), and the UK (#4). It was also ranked as the #23 album in The Village Voice's 1983 Pazz & Jop critics' poll. And all that was without the initial inclusion of the "Blue Monday" single, also released in May 1983.

"Age of Consent," the lead-off track, is a monster. Shimmering synths, danceable beats, and chunky guitar dress up bleak lines like "These words lie inside, they hurt me so." This song holds an amazing tension between human emotion and emotionless technology. Sure, you could turn off your mind and just dance to the layered sounds, but that would close you off to half the experience, which is pretty much the hallmark of the best New Order songs. Other standouts on this album include "Leave Me Alone," "Your Silent Face," and "Ecstasy."

This week's embedded YouTube playlist features the eight tracks of the original vinyl release (albeit from the 2015 re-release). So, like that initial release, "Blue Monday," is not included in the track listing. Due to its popularity, the song was added to later cassette and CD versions. If you're missing that song, you can pop over to a March 1983 performance of it here.

Flashback: Power, Corruption & Lies (May 2, 1983)

I'll see you in seven!

Friday, April 28, 2023

Friday 80s Flashback for April 28, 2023

[Cargo] -- I kind of had an embarrassment of riches when it came to albums that were released 40 years ago this week. We have The Isley Brothers offering their latest collection of slow ballads (Between the Sheets | April 23, 1983), a surprisingly popular album from Krokus (Headhunter | April 25, 1983), the fourth release from The B-52's (Whammy! | April 27, 1983), and the second album by The Replacements (Hootenanny | April 29, 1983).

But for my post this week, I've chosen a record that I nearly wore out back in 1983. And by "wore out," I do mean that the vinyl record, which is still in my collection, was in heavy rotation on my simple stereo setup. That album in question was released on April 29, 1983, which was 40 years ago this weekend. In case you haven't figured it out from this post's preview image, I am talking about Cargo, the sophomore effort from Men At Work. As second album go, it was pretty successful. For example, it peaked at #3 and ended the year at #39 on the US Billboard 200. And, for the most part, it received positive critical attention, too.

But what about hits?

I imagine most music fans recall Men At Work's 1983 single, "Overkill." And I could possibly wager that there are many people who would mistake "Overkill" for the only single from Cargo. Those folks would, however, be in error. "Overkill" was the second of four singles from that album. And it was the most successful of the four. "Overkill" was an international top 10 hit in Canada, Ireland, Norway, and the US Billboard Hot 100 where it peaked at #3.

Of the the other three singles – "Dr. Heckyll & Mr. Jive" (released in advance of the album, in October 1982), "It's a Mistake," and "High Wire" – only "It's a Mistake" joined "Overkill" in the US Billboard Hot 100's top 10 (it peaked at #6). But even the other two were top 40 hits. I think the anti-war, and specifically anti-nuclear, "It's a Mistake" is my favorite single from Cargo. Unfortunately, it also remains completely relevant.

All four singles received the music video treatment, and this week's embedded playlist includes those official videos.

Oh, and my favorite non-single tracks are "Upstairs In My House," "I Like To," and "No Sign Of Yesterday."

Flashback: Cargo (April 29, 1983)

I'll see you in seven!

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Dune - 2021 movie

So I know absolutely nothing about Dune except it is about a desert. Yup, that's all, that's it. But when Brainwise stated I wasn't interested in watching the 2021 movie, I stopped him and said I was actually interested. A friend of mine thought I would like it, so we watched it. All 2 hours and 30+ minutes of it. Here are some of my reviews:

1) The music is OUTSTANDING!!!

2) The visuals are UNBELIEVABLE!!!

3) The cast is INCREDIBLE!!!

4) The story ... wellll ... I am not really sure...

I must say I am definitely looking forward to Part 2, so hopefully I can come back to this post and talk about #4 :)

I thought Timothee Chalamet and Rebecca Ferguson were perfect in their roles. There are so many recognizable faces in this movie it was almost a distraction but everyone played their parts perfectly.

Hans Zimmer was brilliant with his music. It was a whole other character in the movie.

I say definitely check it out and then read the trivia on IMDB after you watch it to see all the crazy tidbits there are about the movie and the cast.

3 paws But only because I need the rest of the story 🙂

Friday, April 21, 2023

Friday 80s Flashback for April 21, 2023

[Too Shy] -- 1983 was the year of Kajagoogoo. At the very least, it was the year people around the world heard how "Kajagoogoo" was pronounced. That is because their debut album, White Feathers, was released on April 18, 1983. 40 years ago this week! Let me back up a bit. This band was originally founded in 1979 as Art Nouveau, but they could not get a record deal with that moniker. After adding Christopher Hamill, who used the stage name Limahl, as their lead singer in 1981, they changed their name to Kajagoogoo. According to the "Official Kajagoogoo History Page," the name was coined by phonetically writing out a baby's first sounds. I do not know if it was this new name or the new singer that tilted the odds, but Kajagoogoo scored a record deal one year later, their 1983 debut, White Feathers.

And that debut included the band's very first single "Too Shy," which became a worldwide phenomenon. It charted in the top 25 in many countries, even reaching #1 on the UK Singles Chart, #1 in Germany, and #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. The bass playing of Nick Beggs was part of what made "Too Shy" so iconic. Don't believe me? Check out this video in which Paul Thompson does a deep dive into that bass line.

Although bassist Beggs wrote or cowrote six of the 10 tracks on the original release of White Feathers, "Too Shy" feels and sounds like it was written and performed by an entirely different band from the rest of the album, at least to me. And while White Feathers' other two singles -- "Ooh to Be Ah" and "Hang on Now" -- were also hits in the UK, they performed only marginally outside the country. So, Kajagoogoo is best known for one mega-hit: "Too Shy." I believe that qualifies them as a one-hit wonder, particularly as Kajagoogoo started to implode as a band toward the end of 1983 and called it quits in 1985 after their third album, released as a relaunched trio named Kaja, failed to chart.

Anyway, here is "Too Shy" and the rest of the debut album -- including all the bonus tracks from the 2004 rerelease -- in all their hair-sprayed glory.

Flashback: White Feathers (April 18, 1983)

That's all for this week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.

I'll see you in seven!

Friday, April 14, 2023

Friday 80s Flashback for April 14, 2023

[Murmur] -- 40 years ago this week – on April 12, 1983 – R.E.M. released their debut album, Murmur, on I.R.S. Records. Looking back on that last sentence, I am struck by how much those four boys from Athens, GA, must have liked abbreviations that use punctuation.

I did not know about this album until a few years letter when, in the first semester of my freshman year at Penn State, I discovered R.E.M. and their first four studio albums. Yeah, I'm one of the reasons R.E.M. is considered a vanguard of "college radio." The band was a huge part of my college experience as well as my first several post-college years. And it all starts with this record.

Given vocalist Michael Stipe's vague elocutions, "Murmur" is probably the best name for this particular record (and a great descriptor for many R.E.M.'s recordings). Those cryptic vocals, and Peter Buck's jangly guitar, certainly were part of the album's allure. Murmur peaked at #36 on the Billboard album chart, but didn't have much radio success. The first single, "Radio Free Europe," dented the US Billboard Hot 100 by peaking at #78, but fared much better on the US Mainstream Rock where it peaked at #25. The second single, "Talk About the Passion," however, failed to chart at all. Still, Murmur was a critical, if not commercial, success. Rolling Stone gave the album four out of five stars. And it has garnered an impressive list of accolades.

Let me talk about a few of my favorite, non single, tracks. "Catapult" is the opening track of side B (or the seventh track on the CD). I like to think this is a song about a group of kids building -- or wanting to build -- a trebuchet. Gods above know I wanted to build one, or at least play with one, when I was twelve or so. Who doesn't like the idea of laughing in tune? At least, I think that's the gist of "Laughing," the third track (on side A, or just overall). And, finally, there is the song claims it is always more attractive inside the moral kiosk. But where does one find a moral kiosk? Are there really morals in a kiosk? Although none of those questions are answered, you might enjoy reading some of R.E.M.'s own memories of Murmur.

Or you could, you know, listen to the album again (or for the first time), and let me know your favorite tracks.

Flashback: Murmur (April 12, 1983)

I'll see you in seven!

Friday, April 7, 2023

Friday 80s Flashback for April 7, 2023

[Outside Inside] -- On April 4, 1983, The Tubes released their sixth studio album, Outside Inside. That was forty years ago this week! Early releases of the album had embossed lettering for the eye chart-esque title on the front cover, but it was difficult to read; you can see it on Discogs. A later version of the cover printed the eye chart, and the artist and title info, in red and blue, and that's the version that graces this week's post.

Outside Inside peaked at #18 on the US Billboard Albums chart. Of the three singles, only "She's a Beauty" made it into the top ten, peaking at #10 on Pop Singles and actually topping the Mainstream Rock chart. That was their biggest radio hit. "Tip of My Tongue" has serious power-funk vibes, almost evoking Earth Wind & Fire, but it couldn't crack the top 40. And this record's final single, a cover of "The Monkey Time," is interesting because there are two recorded versions: One features Martha Davis (of The Motels fame), and the other features Michelle Gray, who was one of the band's principal dancers from 1983–1985. I guess you have to check your album's liner notes to determine which version you have. Oh, and I'm pretty sure it's Gray who appears in this video of the song.

Non-single standouts for me include "No Not Again," "Fantastic Delusion," and "Drums," that third one being less radio friendly, but certainly wacky and fun.

Flashback: Outside Inside (April 4, 1983)

And ... that's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.

I'll see you in seven!

Tuesday, April 4, 2023

Everything Everywhere All at Once

What in the heck did I just watch?

Why am I crying so hard?

It deserved every award it received.

I love my Mom Everything Everywhere All at Once

4 paws and a tail

Friday, March 31, 2023

Friday 80s Flashback for March 31, 2023

[Introducing: Aztec Camera] -- This week's Flashback was released in April 1983 -- maybe on the first of the month, maybe on the 19th. But whether it is this week or in a few weeks, Aztec Camera's debut album turns 40 this very month. A new wave, jangle pop band out of Scotland, Aztec Camera was pretty much a critic's darling in the 80s. They didn't generate many radio hits outside of college stations, but they did have a devoted fanbase. And that devoted fanbase started right here with this album, High Land, Hard Rain. Speaking of devoted fans, AllMusic's Ned Raggett calls this record "a flat-out must-have."

Of the four singles – "Just Like Gold," "Pillar to Post," "Oblivious," and "Walk Out to Winter" – only "Oblivious" got significant chart attention, peaking at #47 on the UK Singles chart. And despite critical acclaim, the album peaked at only #129 on the Billboard 200. Still, there's plenty to like here, particularly if you are fond of jangly guitars and keen turns of a phrase. In particular, I'm fond of "Walk Out to Winter" which, while it has never been released as a Christmas single, and it hasn't appeared on any holiday albums, certainly highlights the hope of the Yule season. A hope, as I've written before, that transcends any one religion's viewpoint.

Flashback: High Land, Hard Rain (April, 1983)

That's all I have for you until next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.

I'll see you in seven!

Friday, March 24, 2023

Friday 80s Flashback for March 24, 2023

[New Wave Blues-Rock] -- ZZ Top, that little ol' band from Texas (which was the title of a 2019 documentary about said band), had been doing the little ol' band thing since their debut in 1969. And their thing was mainly blues rock, but they included enough boogie rock to keep it interesting. And 1983 was certainly interesting for ZZ Top. Eliminator, the band's eighth studio album, was released 40 years ago this week, on March 23, 1983. But it was not their 1980s debut. That distinction goes to 1981's El Loco, which was a fine record with some respectable charting action; it even went Gold. But El Loco didn't have any of the impact of Eliminator.

Eliminator was very much a product of its time, and it surprisingly launched ZZ Top into hip and cool status with the MTV generation. Their music videos, coupled with the polished synth grooves on this record, made the Texas trio popular with a capital "P." And those hits carried the album into top ten status in the US and around the world (Australia, Canada, The Netherlands, New Zealand, and the UK). It was even a top 25 record in Germany, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland.

All four singles -- "Gimme All Your Lovin,'" "Sharp Dressed Man," "TV Dinners," and "Legs" -- were pretty much international hits. Even "TV Dinners," the lowest charting single, still managed to peak in Billboard's top 40. The music videos featured guitarist Billy Gibbons' then newly customized 1933 Ford coupe, which also graced the album cover. That car is known as the "Eliminator" coupe, but the album name came first, and it's a reference to a drag racing term. Oh, and the "Legs" video featured the debut of the band's patented spinning guitars (I think they're patented, or trademarked maybe; they're just very recognizable)

I love all facets of ZZ Top's catalog. I was kind of raised on some of their older stuff through AOR radio and my Dad's love of 1960s and 1970s rock music. But this record holds some great memories for me. It's like they made it for my generation. So, for at least a short while in the early 1980s, these old boys from Texas shed their status as old-fogeys from the local radio station's glory days, and MTV's audience embraced them. At least, like I said, for a while.

Flashback: Eliminator (March 23, 1983)

That's all for the Flashback till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.

I'll see you in seven!

Friday, March 17, 2023

Friday 80s Flashback for March 17, 2023

[...to Remind Me] -- March 16, 1983. Forty years ago this week. The British New Wave duo known as Naked Eyes released their debut album. In the UK and Europe, this album was titled Burning Bridges (see this post's preview image above). For North America and Japan, the album was released eponymously in April 1983, and it had a different album cover (see below) with a rearranged track listing. Naked Eyes' first single off their debut, on either side of the Atlantic, was a cover of "Always Something There to Remind Me."

You're probably humming the opening notes of the song right now, aren't you? Or, maybe, you're recalling the music video, which featured singer Pete Byrne and keyboardist Rob Fisher as journalists, or some other kind of investigators, keeping tabs on a famous woman, a woman Byrne seems to have a past with and still loves. "Always Something There to Remind Me" was penned by Burt Bacharach and Hal David in the early 1960s. Byrne always loved the song. So, nearly two decades later, Naked Eyes recorded it and their version peaked at #8 on the US Billboard Hot 100. While it also reached the top ten in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, the Naked Eyes single missed the top 40 in their native UK, where it peaked at #59.

Naked Eyes is best known for their synth-pop cover of "Always Something There to Remind Me," but the duo (and additional credited musicians) are not a one-hit wonder. Their second single, "Promises, Promises," peaked at #11 on the US Billboard Hot 100; it also reached #13 in Canada, #15 in New Zealand, #29 in South Africa, and #95 in the UK. Sometimes, I think I prefer "Promises, Promises" to "Always," but only because "Promises" is their first single that was also 100% their own composition. Oh, and there was a third single, "When The Lights Go Out," which just barely reached the top ten in the US.

But what about the rest of the album? I'm glad you asked.

AllMusic critic Chris Woodstra considers this debut album to be the duo's finest moment. That might be hyperbole considering the duo released only one other record together in the 1980s, and keyboardist Rob Fisher died in 1999, well before singer Pete Byrne put together a new lineup of Naked Eyes to play shows starting in 2005. So, we don't have much of a catalog to consider. However, having made those caveats, I will confess that I do consider this debut to be a masterpiece of early 1980s New Wave and studio wizardry. You can tell which songs received the most attention in the studio, but that doesn't mean the rest of the tracks are filler. Consider "Emotion in Motion," "A Very Hard Act to Follow," and "Could Be." They didn't receive any airplay, but any one of them could have -- maybe should have -- supported a TV show or appeared on a movie soundtrack. I'm just saying they deserve a wider audience.

The Eponymous US release on EMI America (April 1983)

This post's embedded YouTube playlist follows the song order found on the March 1983 UK release of Burning Bridges. If you're curious about the North American track listing for Naked Eyes, check out this video, which not only rearranges the song order, but also drops two UK tracks (the aforementioned "A Very Hard Act to Follow" and "The Time Is Now," which might have been the weakest entry, but it wasn't bad).

Flashback: Burning Bridges (March 16, 1983)

I'll see you in seven!

Friday, March 10, 2023

Friday 80s Flashback for March 10, 2023

[Introducing Bananarama] -- Before "Cruel Summer" (1984) and a cover of "Venus" (1986) put them in the top ten of the US Billboard Hot 100, Bananarama released a fully fleshed out pop debut. And by "fully fleshed out," I mean it wasn't just a record of filler songs sandwiched between singles. It did well in their native UK, earning them a top ten album (#7 on the UK Albums chart), as well as three top ten singles. "He Was Really Sayin' Somethin,'" "Shy Boy," and a cover of Steam's "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" all peaked within the top five of the UK Singles chart. They all fared less well in the US, barely breaking into the Billboard Hot 100, but this record still paved the way for Bananarama's later success.

AllMusic Stewart Mason considers Deap Sea Skiving to be the trio's best record. He points to their being "hip enough for their first single to be produced by ex-Sex Pistol Paul Cook," their collaboration with mentors Fun Boy Three ("Shy Boy"), and their funky cover of Paul Weller's "Doctor Love" as evidence of his assessment. And he might be correct: At least, I agree that the four British chart hits still sound great 40 years later. In addition to the singles, my favorite track is "Boy Trouble" -- The production and instrumentation, particularly the percussion, are just top notch. I also feel the entire album has a subtle, yet strong, fun factor at its core, and that sense of pop fun helps give this collection of songs an undeniable danceability.

Give this under-appreciated gem a spin.

Flashback: Deep Sea Skiving (March 7, 1983)

I'll see you in seven!

Friday, March 3, 2023

Friday 80s Flashback for March 3, 2023

[Still True] -- Depending on the source, this weekend's Flashback album was released on either February 28 or March 4 of 1983. Either way, it is 40 years old as of this week. I'm talking about True, the third studio release by the English new wave band, Spandau Ballet. They already had something of following in their native UK, but the release of True, and in particular the album's title track, brought Spandau Ballet international acclaim and success.

It certainly grabbed my attention around the spring of 1983, when "True" was released as the album's third single. I still have my copy on 45-rpm.

As an album, True ushered in a new sound and style for Spandau Ballet. While they had previously pursued the night club and dance audiences associated with early new wave efforts, audiences which the band starting losing after their second album, songwriter/guitarist Gary Kemp decided to focus on soul and R&B influences, notably Marvin Gaye and Al Green. Kemp's new songs were more lounge oriented and leaned heavily on the sound of Steve Norman's saxophone and singer Tony Hadley's expressive range, but overall were still infused with a New Romantics flair.

"True" peaked at #1 and #4 on the UK Singles and US Billboard Hot 100 respectively, and it enjoyed global chart success. Much of that success was likely due to a music "video that cast singer Tony Hadley as a young Frank Sinatra, crooning about the sound of his soul" [AllMusic]. Spandau Ballet's next single, "Gold," also performed well, though it did not reach the mega-hit status of its predecessor: It peaked at #2 in the UK, but reached only the top 30 on US charts (#29 on both US Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box charts, and #17 on the US Adult Contemporary chart). As much as "True" is the better known single, and I do still love it, I might prefer "Gold" just a little because of its "Always believe in your soul" message. Maybe. Let me know what you think.

True reached the #1 position on the UK Albums chart while peaking at #19 on the US Billboard 200. It was also a top ten album in Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. Spandau Ballet continued to release albums throughout the 1980s, and they enjoyed success in Europe, Canada, and Oceania. But they never again reached those dizzying heights to which they had soared with True.

Flashback: True (March 4, 1983)

Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.

I'll see you in seven!

Friday, February 24, 2023

Friday 80s Flashback for February 24, 2023

[Where's Kilroy Now?] -- In 1982, the classic lineup of Styx – Dennis DeYoung (keyboards), Tommy Shaw (guitar), James Young (guitar), John Panozzo (drums), and Chuck Panozzo (bass) – probably had no idea they were recording their last album of original material together. There are plenty of stories out there about the creative tensions that arose during the recording of Kilroy Was Here, the band's 11th studio album. And the theatrical tour to support the record, as well as that tour's sheer expense, probably did not help.

Still, this week is the 40th anniversary of Kilroy's release. And I'm celebrating it.

Kilroy Was Here was released on February 22, 1983. It is a concept album built around a rock opera that imagines a dystopia in which rock music is outlawed. The minifilm that accompanied the tour, and the album's song lyrics, reveal a heavy-handed mocking of anti-rock activists (primarily of the Christian variety) who were protesting backmasking. Although the PMRC came later in 1983, there are similarities between them and Kilroy's primary antagonists: the theo-fascistic MMM (Majority for Musical Morality).

Kilroy Was Here debuted at #10, and peaked at #3, on the Billboard 200. It sold somewhere between 1 and 2.5 million copies (depending on the source), and yielded two top ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100: "Mr. Roboto" peaked at #3 and "Don't Let It End" peaked at #6.

But Kilroy Was Here has divided critics and fans just as much as, if not more than, the band. And Kilroy broke the band's streak of consecutive multiplatinum albums. So, regarding the divide in the band, upon completing the Kilroy tour, Styx disbanded for a while. The band reformed without guitarist Tommy Shaw in 1990, but disbanded again in 1991. Shaw returned to the fold when Styx again reformed in 1995. But a few years later, in 1999, Shaw and Young pretty much forced DeYoung out of the band.

You can easily find reviews that pan Kilroy Was Here [for example: Rolling Stone and AllMusic], or even the show. But maybe the record was ahead of its time. Along with the themes of anti-music and over-zealous religious control in government, there is a narrative that bemoans the overuse, and over dependence upon, technology. There is even the replacement of humans with machines: The Roboto units of "Mr. Roboto" are automatons that guard prisoners and carry out the MMM's orders, and yet Kilroy (as played by DeYoung) must disguise himself as a Roboto to enact his prison escape and connect with members of a resistance.

OK, yes, the album is somewhat cheesy, and possibly even bloated. Of course, a few songs are just there to advance the narrative, but isn't that what always happens in a musical? And, if we're honest, filler tracks have always been a thing, so it's kind of weird to call out Styx for having a few of them. And even though this record uses more synths than prior outings, it's still a very enjoyable, and rocking, record.

And as much as Tommy Shaw and James Young complained about "Mr. Roboto" (either back in the day, or in retrospect), they brought the song back to their live show setlist starting in 2018. That was a mere ten years after it appeared in a VW commercial. So, even if Shaw, Young, and DeYoung still don't see eye to eye, or even each other, at least both factions (DeYoung and Styx) agree that the song has fans.

And, after all these years, I'm still one of those fans.

Flashback: Kilroy Was Here (February 22, 1983)

And ... that's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.

I'll see you in seven!

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Black Panther - Wakanda Forever

Dangrdafne review

What a wonderful tribute to Chadwick Boseman. So many tears. It truly was a wonderful story that included the loss of Chadwick and made it all work. I truly hope that the ceremony in the movie helped the actors deal with the loss. I felt that it helped me and felt that it allowed the public to be a part of the funeral.

I absolutely adored all the woman power in this movie. During the scene on the bridge I even said "there are three women of color as the main heroes in this movie!" I was blown away by the action and their stories. The actresses are excellent at their jobs and I am grateful for their portrayal of these incredible superheroes.

The costuming for this movie was beyond spectacular. Angel Bassett's outfits were out of this world beautiful and added even more to her beauty. I want to cosplay every outfit she wore. The white ceremony outfits were also simply beautiful and angelic. It was pure glorious beauty on the screen. I hope the costumers win the Academy Award for this movie.

I loved the music in this movie too. I feel like I don't recall lyrics in past Marvel movies, but I could just be misremembering, but each song really fit into the scenes and I definitely will seek out the soundtrack for this movie. I was a little thrown by the new Panther music but it does work very well. I do miss the tribal sound that was in the first movie but I understand why it wouldn't be in this one without Chadwick.

Namor was well done and the special effects for him were seamless and I was very impressed with how realistic he was. I did mention during the one underwater scene that even though I liked Aquaman, that this was the Aquaman movie that one was trying to be ;) Again I have no history with any of these characters, so I had no issues as some do and I liked the story and the portrayals.

I am grateful that some how I was not spoiled on anything in this movie and I will not spoil anything here now. I did figure out one thing while the movie progressed but I am ok with that. It is best if you can just watch and let everything unfold. I think it was an excellent story, told very well.

I do definitely wish we saw this movie in the theater, as I think it would have been all encompassing and hit even harder for the action but I am also so glad I was at home to cry throughout this movie.

Another excellent addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

4 paws