DOCTOR WHO is more than just science fiction. It's science magic. It's fun, it's nuts and - most importantly - it goes on forever.
Yes, I'm a big proponent of knowing when to call it quits. But the fact that the character can regenerate and change means that the show can, too. It has a chance to recharge, reimagine and reemerge into something new and old and better than before.
Once again, I'm late to the party. I caught the occasional episode as a kid on PBS, the ones that starred that guy who looked like Bob Dylan on the BLONDE ON BLONDE cover (Tom Baker). I didn't realize how good it was.
English nuttiness on a budget, time/dimensional traveling police call boxes and Freema Agyeman - it's magic, all right.
'H' is for High Fidelity. High Fidelity is Nick Hornby's finest novel to date. Thirtysomething Rob finds himself at the end of a longterm relationship. In order to figure out who he is and why it all went wrong, he revisits past ex-girlfriends while trying to win back his last one, Laura. And it happens to be one my favorite all-time books. Top five, I swear. It's probably the one book out of my collection that I never keep long. I give them out like Halloween candy.
Also, it was adapted into a pretty good movie, too.
"T" is for "Tonight I Can Write the Saddest Lines" Argentian poet, Pablo Neruda, wrote some of the best poetry of the 20th century. I write this as a person who typically associates the "poetry" with "bad" and "13 year old overweight Goth girls." But this one's different. Judge for yourself and read along with Andy Garcia as he recites the poem.
"Tonight I Can Write the Saddest Lines" Tonight I can write the saddest lines. Write, for example,'The night is shattered and the blue stars shiver in the distance.'
The night wind revolves in the sky and sings.
Tonight I can write the saddest lines. I loved her, and sometimes she loved me too. Through nights like this one I held her in my arms I kissed her again and again under the endless sky.
She loved me sometimes, and I loved her too. How could one not have loved her great still eyes.
Tonight I can write the saddest lines. To think that I do not have her. To feel that I have lost her. To hear the immense night, still more immense without her. And the verse falls to the soul like dew to the pasture.
What does it matter that my love could not keep her. The night is shattered and she is not with me.
This is all. In the distance someone is singing. In the distance. My soul is not satisfied that it has lost her. My sight searches for her as though to go to her. My heart looks for her, and she is not with me.
The same night whitening the same trees. We, of that time, are no longer the same.
I no longer love her, that's certain, but how I loved her. My voice tried to find the wind to touch her hearing.
Another's. She will be another's. Like my kisses before. Her voide. Her bright body. Her inifinite eyes.
I no longer love her, that's certain, but maybe I love her. Love is so short, forgetting is so long. Because through nights like this one I held her in my arms my sould is not satisfied that it has lost her.
Though this be the last pain that she makes me suffer and these the last verses that I write for her.
Look at that. The Smithereens are doing a second all-Beatles cover album. While they're last album, "Meet The Smithereens" certainly didn't sound like Beatles, it had the right feel. Covers are tricky. While a band or performer wants to put their own stamp on a song, they certainly shouldn't mimic. The Smithereens were smart enough to invoke the feel of the Fab Four and retain their own distinct Smithereens sound. Here. Give a listen and have a look:
I have high hopes for this one. See you Sept. 2, "B-Sides the Beatles."
And while I'm on the topic of great covers by the Smithereens, here's a gem from the past -- "Time Won't Let Me" from "Timecop." I reckon their manager broke the news like this: "Good news, bad news, boys. Good news, your song's going to be in a movie. Bad news, you're shooting the video with a coked up Jean-Claude Van Damme."
'B' is for 'British Spy Movies and TV Shows of the 60's' Kind of a long one, I know. But who couldn't love all the creative and cool swinging spyware of the 60's? From "The Avengers" to "Danger Man" (AKA "Secret Agent Man") to "The Saint" to James Bond, Britain exported an unrivaled world of intrigue, wonder and excitement. Eventually, it died down, but not before influencing how the world perceived the intelligence community. And yes, it's partially to blame for "Austin Powers."
Check out the color intro to "The Avengers," starring Patrick MacNee as John Steed and Diana Rigg as Mrs. Emma Peel:
'A' is for 'All Things Must Pass' The triple-LP from George Harrison was his first work after leaving the Beatles. I don't know what sort of creative plug he felt or was imposed upon him while in the Beatles, but whatever it was, his music was poured in to this album. Produced by Phil Spector, the original version of "AMTP" featured the famous title track, "My Sweet Lord", a song co-written by Bob Dylan, and a backing band including Eric Clapton, Jim Keltner, Ringo Starr, Alan White, and members of Yes and Badfinger.
Nothing's left to say about this album except it will change your life, show you what music's about and give you glimpse in the wonderful mind of George Harrison.
Over thirty years later, and we're still talking about this one.
You may not think you've heard of Dave Bullock, but you know his work. He directed "Justice League: The New Frontier," -- a great damn flick, upcoming episodes of "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" and has storyboarded shows from "Superman" to "Kim Possible" to "Teen Titans."
Here's an illustration he did that I purchased through an auction for the HERO Initiative.
Enjoy. I think it's the bee's knees. And while your at it, look for his book. It's incredible.
This was done for some charity, I forget which, sponsored by the Comics Artists Guild. I scripted "The Three Bears" for one of their anthologies, ultimately drawn by Rikki Niehaus.
I make no excuses, but it was done in about 3 minutes -- and it shows.
People who know me know I love very few things. But the things I love, I LOVE. I love the Flash. Hell, I made a short career off writing/podcasting about the 1991 TV Show -- but that's a post for another day.
Here's a purchase I made super-cheep off eBay from the old Filmation DC Heroes animated shorts. I have no idea what episode it's from, but there you have it, an original layout drawing of my favorite speedster and his sidekick, the Kid Flash. Check out an episode of from the series below:
You know whose work I love? This guy, Daniel Simon.
Damn incredible. His concept cars make me ache for a future that will never come. Simon has created a possible world of high speed concept. The models are real; the cars, sadly, aren't. It's amazing what this guy can do with a few pixels and loads of imagination.
Remember when the word "Def" meant something was about to rock and didn't refer to a comedy jam? I sure as hell do. Def Leppard has been a bit of a not-so-guilty pleasure for a while now. Revisit "Euphoria" or "Hysteria" to find out why. When they're not bringing on the heartache or telling you why all they've got is a photograph, the best band with 9 arms and 10 legs shows you how they can they can rock for ages.
And for the best version of "No Matter What" EVER, check out their version off their "Yeah!" album.
*No iTunes playlist for these guys since iTunes only carries two of their albums. That's a travesty.
Here are a pair of Supergirl commissions I've received over the last few years. "Supergirl" by Todd Nauck I think this one is from a Wizard World LA from a years back. This is the Linda Danvers version made popular by Peter David, but using a Bruce Timm design from "Superman: The Animated Series."
"'Elseworld's Finest' Supergirl" by Matt Haley This one was from Comic-Con three years ago, which led to me commissioning Haley for a Batgirl. This version of Supergirl is from the "Elseworld's Finest" one-shot.
I think George Harrison has always been my favorite Beatle. He wasn't the strongest vocalist in the world. While a great guitarist, he's still ranked below Clapton and Hendrix.
I like George because he didn't give a damn. He made the music he wanted to make. He was surly, he didn't like attention, he was funny and he still inspires after his passing. And he made one the best albums of all time, "All Things Must Pass."
Here's my list of music by George. Hope you love it like I do.
Thus concludes "Beyond the Beatles" week. Hope you all enjoyed it.
Since Lennon made music from 1970 to 1975, then took a five year break until completing a pair of albums before his death in 1980, his musical output wasn't as great as Paul McCartney or George Harrison's. Still, Lennon had a pair of near-perfect albums in "Imagine" and "John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band."
Here's my list of songs, some better known than others, that made my final cut. Hope you enjoy them.*
*I also included some demos and other posthumous releases.
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