Not a lot of details to add about many of these shows at this time. But I can say now looking back at the last decade, there have been a lot of good shows that are all-time favorites of mine like Breaking Bad, Psych and The Big Bang Theory. However the common coined term the current age of being "The Golden Age of Television" I really don't agree with at all.
At least in comparing it to other times like the 80's especially or even the 2000's.
I think it may be the most dramatic change in TV in terms of now having Streaming services and Internet shows/specials, etc.
And of course modern technology and what can be done with effects of course, that happens/improves with each era.
American Housewife
Better Call Saul
Black-ish
Breaking Bad
Burn Notice
Dead to Me
Doctor Who
Electric Dreams
Everything Sucks!
Fresh off the Boat
Ghosted
Gilmore Girls (A Year in the Life)
How I Met Your Mother
Lost
Marvel's Runaways
Mixed-ish
Party Down
Psych
Royal Pains
Rubicon
Schooled
Speechless
Stranger Things
Superstore
The Big Bang Theory
The End of the Fucking World
The Expanse
The Goldbergs
The Good Guys
The Orville
Torchwood
Veronica Mars (HULU Revival Series)
Westworld
White Collar
Young Sheldon
If I had to rank a top 10+?
1. Breaking Bad
2. The Big Bang Theory
3. Psych
4. The Goldbergs
5. Better Call Saul
6. Stranger Things
7. Rubicon
8. Westworld
9. The Orville
10. The Good Guys
11. Party Down
12. Superstore
13. Everything Sucks
14. The Expanse
15. Electric Dreams
Sunday, December 29, 2019
Monday, December 23, 2019
Favorite 2010-2019 Movies
No time, no blurbs, images, trailers, etc.
Hardly a complete list, not even ranked.
Someday if/when I ever do have time, I'll want to update this and find a lot of INDEPENDENT FILMS I'm missing (A24 THOUGH? SAVE FOR THE LOBSTER, NONE OF THEIR FILMS HAVE COMPARED TO MANY OF THE GREAT INDEPEDENT SCIFI OF THE 80'S, 90'S AND 2000'S)
The Ghost Writer
Exit Through the Gift Shop
Winter's Bone
Everything Must Go
Even the Rain
Sound of Noise
God Bless America
The Sessions
It's a Disaster
Wreck-It Ralph
Argo
The East
Begin Again
Short Term 12
Guardians of the Galaxy
Love and Mercy
The Lego Movie
Victoria/My Name is Victoria
The Lobster
Minions
Inside Out
Ant-Man
Anomalisa
Sing Street
Keanu
Deadpool
Hardly a complete list, not even ranked.
Someday if/when I ever do have time, I'll want to update this and find a lot of INDEPENDENT FILMS I'm missing (A24 THOUGH? SAVE FOR THE LOBSTER, NONE OF THEIR FILMS HAVE COMPARED TO MANY OF THE GREAT INDEPEDENT SCIFI OF THE 80'S, 90'S AND 2000'S)
The Ghost Writer
Exit Through the Gift Shop
Winter's Bone
Everything Must Go
Even the Rain
Sound of Noise
God Bless America
The Sessions
It's a Disaster
Wreck-It Ralph
Argo
The East
Begin Again
Short Term 12
Guardians of the Galaxy
Love and Mercy
The Lego Movie
Victoria/My Name is Victoria
The Lobster
Minions
Inside Out
Ant-Man
Anomalisa
Sing Street
Keanu
Deadpool
Thursday, December 19, 2019
REACT TO: Jordan Blum's Top 10 Progressive Rock Concept Albums
link
Jordan Blum is someone I interact with frequently on Social Media and he writes for an extensive list of webzines, which Consequence of Sound being one he's been writing for often of late.
And he posted something like 2 or 3 weeks ago about writing an article about the Top 10 Prog Concept Albums, which per the link above, he finally had published.
The Moody Blues - Days of Future Passed (1967)
Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick (1972)
Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (1974)
Pink Floyd - The Wall (1979)
Dream Theater - Scenes from a Memory (1999)
Spock's Beard - Snow (2002)
Ayreon - The Human Equation (2004)
Gazpacho - Night (2007)
Phideaux - Doomsday Afternoon (2007)
The Dear Hunter - Act V: Hymns with the Devil in Confessional (2016)
I like many records on Jordan's list, namely the Tull, The Dear Hunter, Genesis and Dream Theater.
Phideaux I enjoy and would place still as my favorite record from him.
The Moodies record is a concept album? I guess I never realized that. It is probably their most well known (for "Nights in White Satin" alone), and often regarded as a favorite.
The Wall? said it many times before, it's overrated both musically and probably more so, the concept/story. I do still enjoy a lot of it, per I do love Floyd.
Ayreon and Gazpacho are not bands I've ever gotten into. I know many do though, but so be it. Jordan must love those albums a lot.
Now I sort of did a React To a similar list back in 2016 here, but I didn't compile 10 (or even 15), but just 4. And that list was just "Concept Albums" which the percent of concept albums that are not loosely considered progressive rock/metal is probably a small percentage.
Every record below I has a great flow and theme(s) that seem to give them something greater than the sum of their parts.
Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick (1972)
Epic flow, themes, riffs, and goose-bump moments to look forward to all are reasons I love this record to bits.
Pink Floyd - Animals (1977)
Floyd doing prog. Dark lyrically, but gorgeous harmonically and arrangement-wise. The piano, wah-wah guitar effects and atmosphere is like no other Floyd record. It's also a big fuck you to the different social sects society.
King's X - Gretchen Goes to Nebraska (1989)
Fantasy story with incredible dynamics and variations on styles. King's X never got more creative musically or even lyrically in a lot of ways.
Marillion - Brave (1994)
The saddest most dark-emotional charged music Marillion ever made. The story, while fictional, is unbelievably sympathetic. This is basically fetal-position music for every life-form on the planet.
Fates Warning - A Pleasant Shade of Gray (1997)
A telling of life's memories and regrets, trying to go through therapy by recalling what you did or could have done. It's a masterwork in composition of 1 extended piece that last as long as 10, but feels incomplete without all the parts.
Jim Matheos fuck you to the single/hit making music industry that they never were or should have needed to be a part of.
Pain of Salvation - The Perfect Element I (2000)
A child's mental health, brought in by an enormous range of emotions, darkness and beauty. Schizophrenic tones that work like clockwork.
Kevin Gilbert - The Shaming of the True (2000)
A fictional story that draws largely on Kevin Gilbert's experience at becoming, being, and dealing with the perils and downfalls of being a Rockstar.
A classic story arc that represents far too many experiences with the entertainment industry.
"15 minutes of fame" "Overnight Success."
Which in a lot of ways also represents LIFE's challenges.
dredg - El Cielo (2002)
A mesmerizing collection of stories of the trauma of sleep paralysis. The melancholy is so sympathetic throughout many of the moments on here, it's impossible not forget.
"Art" and "Artwork" find many layers and meanings here.
The Receiving End of Sirens - Between the Heart and the Synapse (2005)
An epic trip into a criminal's dream(s) escaping from incarceration, only to find it to be not their death, but transition/ascension to another plane.
Coheed and Cambria - Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness (2005)
A writer's experience going through therapy from crafting a story about the experiences from failed relationships.
Kaddisfly - Set Sail the Prairie (2007)
An adventure through the calendar year and present time (century(s)) of the planet's evolution.
The weather/climate months and seasons are represented with each track, one can only feel like the time frame on the calendar year, just noticing the differences (per "Snowflakes" in December vs "Campfire" in July).
Apes and Androids - Blood Moon (2008)
The River Empires - Epilogue (2010)
The Dear Hunter - The Color Spectrum (2011)
Pepe Deluxe - Queen of the Wave (2012)
Jordan Blum is someone I interact with frequently on Social Media and he writes for an extensive list of webzines, which Consequence of Sound being one he's been writing for often of late.
And he posted something like 2 or 3 weeks ago about writing an article about the Top 10 Prog Concept Albums, which per the link above, he finally had published.
The Moody Blues - Days of Future Passed (1967)
Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick (1972)
Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (1974)
Pink Floyd - The Wall (1979)
Dream Theater - Scenes from a Memory (1999)
Spock's Beard - Snow (2002)
Ayreon - The Human Equation (2004)
Gazpacho - Night (2007)
Phideaux - Doomsday Afternoon (2007)
The Dear Hunter - Act V: Hymns with the Devil in Confessional (2016)
I like many records on Jordan's list, namely the Tull, The Dear Hunter, Genesis and Dream Theater.
Phideaux I enjoy and would place still as my favorite record from him.
The Moodies record is a concept album? I guess I never realized that. It is probably their most well known (for "Nights in White Satin" alone), and often regarded as a favorite.
The Wall? said it many times before, it's overrated both musically and probably more so, the concept/story. I do still enjoy a lot of it, per I do love Floyd.
Ayreon and Gazpacho are not bands I've ever gotten into. I know many do though, but so be it. Jordan must love those albums a lot.
Now I sort of did a React To a similar list back in 2016 here, but I didn't compile 10 (or even 15), but just 4. And that list was just "Concept Albums" which the percent of concept albums that are not loosely considered progressive rock/metal is probably a small percentage.
Every record below I has a great flow and theme(s) that seem to give them something greater than the sum of their parts.
Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick (1972)
Epic flow, themes, riffs, and goose-bump moments to look forward to all are reasons I love this record to bits.
Pink Floyd - Animals (1977)
Floyd doing prog. Dark lyrically, but gorgeous harmonically and arrangement-wise. The piano, wah-wah guitar effects and atmosphere is like no other Floyd record. It's also a big fuck you to the different social sects society.
King's X - Gretchen Goes to Nebraska (1989)
Fantasy story with incredible dynamics and variations on styles. King's X never got more creative musically or even lyrically in a lot of ways.
Marillion - Brave (1994)
The saddest most dark-emotional charged music Marillion ever made. The story, while fictional, is unbelievably sympathetic. This is basically fetal-position music for every life-form on the planet.
Fates Warning - A Pleasant Shade of Gray (1997)
A telling of life's memories and regrets, trying to go through therapy by recalling what you did or could have done. It's a masterwork in composition of 1 extended piece that last as long as 10, but feels incomplete without all the parts.
Jim Matheos fuck you to the single/hit making music industry that they never were or should have needed to be a part of.
Pain of Salvation - The Perfect Element I (2000)
A child's mental health, brought in by an enormous range of emotions, darkness and beauty. Schizophrenic tones that work like clockwork.
Kevin Gilbert - The Shaming of the True (2000)
A fictional story that draws largely on Kevin Gilbert's experience at becoming, being, and dealing with the perils and downfalls of being a Rockstar.
A classic story arc that represents far too many experiences with the entertainment industry.
"15 minutes of fame" "Overnight Success."
Which in a lot of ways also represents LIFE's challenges.
dredg - El Cielo (2002)
A mesmerizing collection of stories of the trauma of sleep paralysis. The melancholy is so sympathetic throughout many of the moments on here, it's impossible not forget.
"Art" and "Artwork" find many layers and meanings here.
The Receiving End of Sirens - Between the Heart and the Synapse (2005)
An epic trip into a criminal's dream(s) escaping from incarceration, only to find it to be not their death, but transition/ascension to another plane.
Coheed and Cambria - Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness (2005)
A writer's experience going through therapy from crafting a story about the experiences from failed relationships.
Kaddisfly - Set Sail the Prairie (2007)
An adventure through the calendar year and present time (century(s)) of the planet's evolution.
The weather/climate months and seasons are represented with each track, one can only feel like the time frame on the calendar year, just noticing the differences (per "Snowflakes" in December vs "Campfire" in July).
Apes and Androids - Blood Moon (2008)
The River Empires - Epilogue (2010)
The Dear Hunter - The Color Spectrum (2011)
Pepe Deluxe - Queen of the Wave (2012)
Sunday, December 8, 2019
2010-2019: 2010 Favorite Tracks (Prelims)
Here's 2010
1 track per release from my-then End of Year list. I didn't pick a track from every album though.
This is just a CURATED SAMPLING.
With more time of course I would add links and maybe artwork (perhaps for the final list?)
2010
The River Empires - Three Tigers
Lehto and Wright - Betsy Bell and Mary Gray
Janelle Monae - BaBopByeYa
Cloud Cult - Room Full of People In Your Head
Sufjan Stevens - Impossible Soul
Menomena - Killemall
Warpaint - Undertow
Foals - Spanish Sahara
Emanuel and the Fear - Jimme's Song
Jazzkamikaze - Music is My Heroin
Oceansize - Silent/Transparent
Pure Reason Revolution - Open Insurrection
Everything Everything - MY KZ, UR BF
The Reign of Kindo - Out of Sight, Out of Mind
22- Gotodo
Anathema - Angels Walk Among Us
Timmy Sean - Can't Stop the World
Timbre - I Will Go Plant Little Flowers
The Apples in Stereo - No Vacation
Distrails - My Child
The Gloomcatcher - The Rising Cain
Dead Letter Circus - The Drum
Annuals - Loxstep
Saturday, December 7, 2019
A-Z: Clann Zú
Clann Zú an Australian band who I 1st was told about on the dredg fans forum "Traversing" around 2007 when some discussion about Kiss Kiss was happening and there was a comparison.
I also discovered the American band Murder By Death per that discussion if i recall correctly.
Clann Zú were a band who had this very unique vocalist named Declan de Barra and combined Western folk tones with dynamics really well.
They only released 2 full length albums, Rua and Black Coates and Bandages. I waiver which one I prefer, as they are both pretty close to equally good. Rua the debut album (2002? or 2000? RYM and Wiki show different years) I suppose would be my choice if I had to pick.
"'Zu" as they have been called, use of piano violin really standout to me at times. And I would call it "Post Rock" of a kind, but with much emphasis on the vocals as the atmospheric instrumentation.
Declan de Barra has done solo music I know of, and I recall liking, but never loving. But the last time I listened to it was probably close to 10 years ago or more. I guess he resides in Los Angeles and he may be involved in other music that I probably should look into soon.
edit: Declan de Barra is a SCREENWRITER in Hollywood per Wiki, he's written for some TV like The Vampire Diaries and The Originals among others. Weird.
a bit of an Andy Sturmer thing there (Jellyfish had 2 albums like Clann Zú), although Andy I guess does music? in Hollywood.
I also discovered the American band Murder By Death per that discussion if i recall correctly.
Clann Zú were a band who had this very unique vocalist named Declan de Barra and combined Western folk tones with dynamics really well.
They only released 2 full length albums, Rua and Black Coates and Bandages. I waiver which one I prefer, as they are both pretty close to equally good. Rua the debut album (2002? or 2000? RYM and Wiki show different years) I suppose would be my choice if I had to pick.
"'Zu" as they have been called, use of piano violin really standout to me at times. And I would call it "Post Rock" of a kind, but with much emphasis on the vocals as the atmospheric instrumentation.
Declan de Barra has done solo music I know of, and I recall liking, but never loving. But the last time I listened to it was probably close to 10 years ago or more. I guess he resides in Los Angeles and he may be involved in other music that I probably should look into soon.
edit: Declan de Barra is a SCREENWRITER in Hollywood per Wiki, he's written for some TV like The Vampire Diaries and The Originals among others. Weird.
a bit of an Andy Sturmer thing there (Jellyfish had 2 albums like Clann Zú), although Andy I guess does music? in Hollywood.
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Ours - From Where You Are
omg this song is unbelievably good!
This is what I would assume is a tune from Spectacular Sight III which an updated entry I posted last year would suggest otherwise, however that was when it was only going to be a single disc. SS is likely to be a double and that along with waiting to release it may now have had Jimmy add/edit/reconfigure the track list.
Regardless, this sounds like an Ours classic. The melody or theme is maybe a little repetitive, but the emotion in it is so rich, it only helps bring out its power and beauty.
This is what I would assume is a tune from Spectacular Sight III which an updated entry I posted last year would suggest otherwise, however that was when it was only going to be a single disc. SS is likely to be a double and that along with waiting to release it may now have had Jimmy add/edit/reconfigure the track list.
Regardless, this sounds like an Ours classic. The melody or theme is maybe a little repetitive, but the emotion in it is so rich, it only helps bring out its power and beauty.
Monday, December 2, 2019
Black Friday Record Store Day 2019 + Others
Mostly about Black Friday Record Store Day 2019, and mostly the Wife's stuff. But some cool stuff and a bit of a story/commentary.
um, yeah the weight I lost looks almost creepy in this video, but it makes sense I suppose given what I am going through right now.
Given i am on PTO this week, I may make some more videos depending on time.
The Monkees - Christmas Party Plus! Tuxedo - Get the Money! feat. Ceelo Green / Own Thang feat. Toni! Tony! Tone Lizzo - Coconut Oil Janet Jackson - Control the Remixes The Family Crest 2/13/20 (ticket) (Mentioned: Dirt Poor Robins - The Raven Locks CD) (Mentioned: The Family Crest - The War: Act II) Foals - Everything Saved will Not Be Lost Part 2 Typhoon - White Lighter Diablo Swing Orchestra - Pacifisticuffs
um, yeah the weight I lost looks almost creepy in this video, but it makes sense I suppose given what I am going through right now.
Given i am on PTO this week, I may make some more videos depending on time.
The Monkees - Christmas Party Plus! Tuxedo - Get the Money! feat. Ceelo Green / Own Thang feat. Toni! Tony! Tone Lizzo - Coconut Oil Janet Jackson - Control the Remixes The Family Crest 2/13/20 (ticket) (Mentioned: Dirt Poor Robins - The Raven Locks CD) (Mentioned: The Family Crest - The War: Act II) Foals - Everything Saved will Not Be Lost Part 2 Typhoon - White Lighter Diablo Swing Orchestra - Pacifisticuffs
Sunday, December 1, 2019
A-Z: Mullmuzzler
This song (and album) I find better than anything LaBrie has done in his solo albums.
Really sounds like a Dream Theater track from Falling Into Infinity in a lot of ways.
The entire Keep it to Yourself album is kind of a forgotten gem.
The 2nd album MullMuzzler 2 is album I recall listening to, maybe even buying, but not enjoying as much. I know many people prefer it.
Oh the nostalgia of 1999/2000/2001...
Really sounds like a Dream Theater track from Falling Into Infinity in a lot of ways.
The entire Keep it to Yourself album is kind of a forgotten gem.
The 2nd album MullMuzzler 2 is album I recall listening to, maybe even buying, but not enjoying as much. I know many people prefer it.
Oh the nostalgia of 1999/2000/2001...
OT: Life Projects List
-Long Term Relationship (2011-)
-Get and learn new Jobs (2011-2013)
-Getting a Handle on Back Issues and Kidney Stones, and Hemorrhoids incl 2 Colonscopies (2012-2018)
-Get GF in-to and then finish Grad School (2011-2015)
-Plan, Pay-For and then Have Wedding (2015-2016)
-Move Out, Move things into Storage and then Find New Housing/A House (Townhouse) and get settled (2017-2020+)
-Getting a Handle on Physical, Side Effects and Lifestyle changes from having DIABETES
(2019-)
-Get and learn new Jobs (2011-2013)
-Getting a Handle on Back Issues and Kidney Stones, and Hemorrhoids incl 2 Colonscopies (2012-2018)
-Get GF in-to and then finish Grad School (2011-2015)
-Plan, Pay-For and then Have Wedding (2015-2016)
-Move Out, Move things into Storage and then Find New Housing/A House (Townhouse) and get settled (2017-2020+)
-Getting a Handle on Physical, Side Effects and Lifestyle changes from having DIABETES
(2019-)
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)