Fact: At 4:07, 4:19 and 5:55 (close-up) of the following video, Dwight Schrute from "The Office" is standing next to Harry Belafonte during Quincy Jones’ iconic "We Are the World" Super Group benefit video.
Music
Review: Mute Math Is Adventurous, Liberating
Refusing to be pigeonholed, Mute Math has chosen an innovative path. It will be a good thing if they stay on it, writes Robert Dean Lurie.
Jackson’s ‘This Is It’ Is It–Outside U.S.
The Michael Jackson film This Is It led at the U.S. movie box office during its first weekend, but its total North American receipts of $32.5 million for its first five days were well below industry expectations, which had pegged the film to draw in the $40 million range. For the weekend it brought in an unexciting $21.3 million. This Is It did well overseas, snagging $101 million in its first five days. The independent film Paranormal Activity finished second with $16.5 million in ticket sales, for a film that cost just a few thousand dollarst to make and which has been given a limited advertising budget by its studio. –S. T. Karnick
Glass Hammer Releases Video from Forthcoming Album
Here’s a video of “The Lure of Dreams,” an excellent song by Glass Hammer from their forthcoming album Three Cheers for the Broken-Hearted, which is set for release on November 3. I’m impressed by the bold funk bass guitar and strong drumming; superb vocal melody sung with real expressiveness; tasteful synthesizer fills and excellent organ solo by Fred Schendel; and a smart guitar solo that’s not at all self-indulgent.The band all appear to be having a good deal of fun in the performance.(Note: to keep the video from skipping, you may wish to pause it immediately after pressing the play button, until it loads completely.)–S. T. Karnick
Kansas’ Livgren Hospitalized
Kerry Livgren of the classic rock group Kansas has suffered a stroke and remains hospitalized.
New Trend in Music Criticism Should Prove Beneficial
The stranglehold of "rockist" critics on evaluation of popular music is loosening. That’s a good thing, even if what’s replacing it is by no means perfect, S. T. Karnick writes.
The Tragedy of Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson’s life was a tragedy, but not a particularly edifying one, S. T. Karnick writes.
Was Frank’s Way ‘My Way’?
A Wall Street Journal Article reveals the real Frank Sinatra wasn’t the “My Way” Sinatra.
New Green Day Disc Takes Strong Political Position, Solid Musical Approach
Speaking of "the class-warrior socialist elite of this nation to press their agenda to the point of national suicide," as we just were, it is notable that the alt-punk rock band Green Day is about to release another politically charged CD criticizing economic liberty, Christians, and a variety of other evils.
Honor for Elvis Sidemen Is Well-Deserved
This year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Sidemen inductees have well earned the honor, Joe Hedio writes.
Culture Note: Spinal Tap to Tour Unwigged, Unplugged
The aging geezer comedians who invented the hilarious send-up of hard rock and heavy metal in This Is Spinal Tap and several record albums, TV appearances, and concert tours is back at it. They’re going on thirty-city tour beginning April 17 in Vancouver, with tickets going on sale tomorrow (Friday, March 6). Instead of jogging around the stage fully costumed—which puts a strain on the old fellows’ hearts—the band members will perform without their customary wigs and absurd costumes, and they will use acoustic instruments only. The appearances are billed as the band’s "Unwigged and Unplugged" tour. I appreciate the humor in the band’s lyrics, but I like much of Spinal Tap’s music for its real musical values. It might be interesting, then, to see the band perform in this way, which would seem likely to afford an opportunity for an unusually direct appreciation of the melodies and harmonic textures. Comment here on Spinal Tap and the band’s musical value.
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