The glass bottom boat of the cultural press
This week Christopher Long takes another cozy stroll down memory lane, reflecting fondly on first being exposed to the music of Detroit rocker Bob Seger, circa ‘76. Fast forward a couple of lifetimes, and Chris scores a reportedly hard-to-find used LP copy of Night Moves at a local thrift joint for just a couple of bucks. “Come to Poppa,” indeed!
This week, cuddly curmudgeon Christopher Long finds himself feeling even older as he hobbles through a Florida flea market in pursuit of vinyl copies of the four infamous KISS solo albums — just in time to commemorate the set’s milestone 45th anniversary.
Origins, Vol. 2 (Entertainment One (eOne)). Review by Christopher Long.
Once upon a time, long ago, KISS was a rock band. This story recounts how four unlikely guys from New York first came together during the early 1970s and literally changed the face of rock and roll.
After forty years, Kiss proved they are still the Hottest Band in the Land, as they blew the ever-living crap out of Christopher Long at a Tampa show.
For those in need of a concert that’s a little more theatrical than most, there’s Meat Loaf, served up with a side of Pearl. Jen Cray caught the Orlando date of the legendary rocker’s Hang Cool Teddy Bear Tour.
Displaying obvious old-school influences, Michigan’s own Pop Evil proves that the true cock-rock spirit of rock and roll is alive and well. Christopher Long reads the medical chart.
Anomaly (Bronx Born Records). Review by Christopher Long.
Beware the wrath of a KISS superfan scorned! Christopher Long reviews the 10th anniversary edition of Dale Sherman’s biography of the Creatures of the Night.
Vol. 6 (Devil Doll). Review by Brian Kruger.
A.J. Croce celebrates the 50th anniversary of his father, Jim Croce’s, three ground breaking albums, with a nationwide tour of Croce Plays Croce.
High Above Harlesden 1978 - 2023 from On-U Sound collects 60 dub and reggae tracks from Creation Rebel, an astounding set of musicians.
Gerta O. Egy’s beautifully drawn fungi almost eclipse their fairyland habitats in her Mushroom Daydream Coloring Book.
One of the last of the classic wuxia swordplay films stands as a fitting coda to the grand period of the genre. Phil Bailey reviews a new Blu-ray release of the 1975 film The Valiant Ones.
The Complete Friends of Old-Time Music Concert (Smithsonian Folkways Records). Review by Bob Pomeroy.
Smash Mouth takes us back to The Brady Bunch circa 1973, with “Sunshine Day,” featuring Barry Williams, the original Greg Brady.
Not everyone can be excited by blocks spinning on a screen, but if you are, Ian Koss recommends you pay attention to Best of Five.
The final two films in the bonkers Hong Kong action comedy series The Inspector Wears Skirts hit Blu-ray from 88 Films.
A pair of early “girls with guns” action films from superstars Michelle Yeoh and Cynthia Rothrock have arrived from 88 Films.