Monthly Archives: December 2018

Music Video of the Day: Sexual Vibe by Stephen Puth (2018, dir by Ally Pankiw)

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

I picked this video because it reminded me of middle school, high school, and St. Monica’s Catholic School, as well.  Actually, it also reminded me of my first two years of college.  And my last two years of college, as well.  It also reminded me of my old apartment complex in Garland.  Also, it made me think of a New Year’s Eve Party that I attended in 2010.  And 2013, as well.  The 2016 and 2017 New Year’s Parties weren’t anywhere near as fun as the ones in the past, largely because everyone got political.  But, from 2001 to 2015, I attended some interesting parties.

So yeah, chalk this one up to nostalgia.

Parties are always a lot more fun in music videos.  Have you noticed that?  I think that’s because only really attractive, really cool people ever show up for music video parties.  Whereas, in real life, there’s always like that one rando who shows up and kinda brings everyone down with their presence.  It’s like that one dude who shows up at the party and no one knows who he is but he keeps standing by the fireplace and pointing at you and nodding whenever you acknowledge his stare.

Anyway, am I rambling?  Well, then you better just ignore me and….

….Enjoy!

In Memorian 2018: Pro Wrestling

Posted on by gary loggins

gary loggins's avatarcracked rear viewer

The squared circle tolled ten bells for “The Living Legend” Bruno Sammartino , probably the most popular wrestler of his generation, who died at age 82. Bruno held the WWWF/WWF (now WWE) world title longer than anyone, 11 years in two title reigns (1963-71, 1973-77), took on and defeated all comers, and sold out New York’s fabled Madison Square Garden a record 188 times. Sammartino was a legit tough guy who once held the record in the bench press (565 pounds), and had a no-nonsense rep backstage. You just didn’t mess with Bruno! He appeared at the first WRESTLEMANIA, in the movie BODY SLAM, and was indicted into numerous Halls of Fame celebrating his almost thirty year career. A hero to millions of grappling fans (including Yours Truly), there will never be another Bruno Sammartino.

Many of Bruno’s in-ring foes also took the three-count in 2018. Pittsburgh native ‘Luscious’ Johnny…

View original post 602 more words

In Memoriam 2018: Pop Culture

Posted on by gary loggins

gary loggins's avatarcracked rear viewer


There’s no doubt Stan Lee (95) had the biggest influence on today’s pop culture. Getting his start at age 17 working for his uncle Martin Goodman’s Timely Comics in 1941, the young Stan was appointed editor after the departure of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, creators of Captain America. Stan spent the next two decades writing thousands of words for superhero, humor, crime, horror, western, and other comics (whatever the market dictated) until he reteamed with Kirby on something daringly different. That something was The Fantastic Four, a quartet of all-too-human superhumans that set the comic world on it’s ear. Now renamed Marvel Comics, Stan co-created with Jack and artist Steve Ditko a line-up of heroes with human foibles: Spider-Man, The Hulk, Dr. Strange, Iron Man, Black Panther, Silver Surfer, and other names you all now know. Stan promoted Marvel incessantly, giving his artists nicknames, writing a monthly column (Stan’s…

View original post 964 more words

Song of the Day: As If It’s Your Last (by Blackpink)

Posted on by Arleigh

Blackpink

It would be impossible to talk about K-pop without putting up as a “Song of the Day” a track by one of the most popular K-pop girl group of the last couple years. I am talking about YG Entertainment’s quartet known as Blackpink.

The group made their debut on the K-pop scene on August of 2016. The quartet are seen as taking up the YG Entertainment K-pop legacy with the disbandment of the ultra-popular quartet girl group 2NE1. Even their stylistic choices have been compared to their predecessors who were able to combine both the cutesy image seen by many as K-pop with the edgier sound of hip-hop and R&B.

For the most part, most of their singles since their debut in 2016 have what the group itself call as their “Black” concept which leans heavily on hip-hop, drum and bass and R&B influences. The choice for today’s Song of the Day is the group’s first foray into introducing their “Pink” side.

“As If It’s Your Last” still retains the highly-energetic beats and tempo of their previous releases, but also incorporates the more traditional dancepop influence in K-pop. While it helps showcase their cute side both in their vocal deliveries and the music video, the song still manages to mix in some reggae and moombahton influences.

This gives “As If It’s Your Last” not just a dance house edge but the familiar catchy hooks of traditional bubblepop K-pop.

Music Video of the Day: Stay by Cat Power (2018, dir by Greg Hunt)

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Sometimes, it’s best to keep things simple.  That’s what I’ve been doing this week.  It’s a new experience for me, as I usually like to keep things as complicated as exhausting as possible.  That’s also what this video does, quite effectively I think.

Enjoy!

Taking A Long, Deep Slurp Of Liz Suburbia’s “Egg Cream” (Advance Review)

Posted on by Ryan C. (fourcolorapocalypse)

Ryan C. (fourcolorapocalypse)'s avatarRyan C.'s Four Color Apocalypse

Like the punk subculture she emerged from, you can’t keep Liz Suburbia down. It’s been awhile, sure, but you knew she’d be back — and you also probably suspected that the story she chronicled in the pages of Sacred Heart was far from over, as well.

Happily, both things are true, and in a manner of weeks, Suburbia will be marking her return to the “alternative” comics “A” list with the release of Egg Cream #1, the first book-sized installment in what promises to be an annual “solo anthology” title published under the joint auspices of Czap Books and Silver Sprocket. I was fortunate enough to get my grubby paws on a copy prior to launch, and eagerly consumed its contents in one sitting, amazed as always by Suburbia’s deft characterization, intricate long-form plotting, and raw, involving illustration. Time hasn’t mellowed her in the least, and for that, we should…

View original post 477 more words

In Memoriam 2018: Music

Posted on by gary loggins

gary loggins's avatarcracked rear viewer

There was no bigger loss in the music world than the death of ‘Queen of Soul’ Aretha Franklin at age 76. Born in Memphis and raised in Detroit, Aretha originally sang Gospel at her father Rev. C.L. Franklin’s revivals. She signed on with Columbia Records, who tried to pigeonhole her with safe Easy Listening standards. Moving over to Atlantic Records in 1966, Aretha began recording at Muscle Shoals for producer Jerry Wexler, and belted out R&B hit after hit: the raucous “Respect”, “Baby I Love You”, “Natural Woman”, “Chain of Fools”, “Since You’ve Been Gone”, “Think”, “Spanish Harlem”, “Until You Come Back to Me”. Hitting a slump in the mid-70’s, Aretha came back strong with 80’s successes “Jump To It”, “Freeway of Love”, “Who’s Zoomin’ Who”, and duets with Eurythmics (“Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves”) and George Michael (‘I Knew You Were Waiting for Me”). The word “icon” gets…

View original post 1,286 more words