My thoughts on pop music and pop culture, plus the weekly playlists from THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO with Dana and Carl (Sunday nights 9 to Midnight Eastern, SPARK! WSPJ 103.3 and 93.7 FM in Syracuse, sparksyracuse.org). You can support this blog on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/user?u=2449453 Twitter @CafarelliCarl All editorial content on this blog Copyright Carl Cafarelli (except where noted). All images copyright the respective owners TIP JAR at https://www.paypal.me/CarlCafarelli
Sunday, November 26, 2017
Tonight On THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO
Our 899th show has an awful lot to cram into a mere three-hour program. We have new releases from Sex Clark Five, Pseudonym, Clockwork Flowers, The Morning Line, Chris Hillman, and Jonny Weathers and Cosmic Scream. We also have extended farewells to Tommy Keene and David Cassidy, and whatever other li'l delights we can squeeze in between. Intimidating? Man, if we couldn't do it, we wouldn't be on the threshold of TIRnRR # 900. Sunday night, 9 to Midnight Eastern, on the air in Syracuse at Spark WSPJ-LP 103.3 and 93.7 FM, and on the web at sparksyracuse.org
Saturday, November 25, 2017
Faces That Are Gone: A Tribute To The Fallen
I had already planned to write something like this even before I learned of the recent passing of musician Tommy Keene. David Cassidy's death was the specific impetus, but it's something I've thought about many times, as this finite world continues to claim so many of our musical favorites.
When Cassidy's death was confirmed, one of our loyal listeners suggested we do a tribute to Cassidy and The Partridge Family on this Sunday's edition of This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl. This isn't a bad idea, and I'm not opposed to it; I watched The Partridge Family TV series every Friday night when I was young, and there are two Partridge tracks--the single "I Woke Up In Love This Morning" and the LP track "Somebody Wants To Love You"--that I think are just plain fantastic. But I don't feel prepared to do a proper tribute to Cassidy. I have a decent representation of Partridge Family tracks handy, but really not much--hardly anything--of Cassidy's solo career. Would that be sufficient tribute? Maybe. I'm not sure.
The media had Cassidy on a death watch since last weekend; Tommy Keene's death was a shock. I feel like we should play a lot of Tommy Keene's music on this week's show, and I do own a lot of it. But Keene is one of those artists I always meant to get to know better, and I never quite got around to following through with that. Keene's "Places That Are Gone" is a classic; we'll certainly play that one, and probably a few more of Keene's many gems, too. I don't know that I'm prepared to do a proper tribute to Tommy Keene.
When Tom Petty died, Dana and I opened that week's show with a solid half hour of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. However, because I don't have anything Petty's done in the last couple of decades, I didn't feel like we could accomplish a larger tribute. This in spite of the fact that I've always adored Petty's music from the '70s and '80s. Judgement call.
Sometimes I feel that we can accomplish a fitting tribute, even for an artist I might not know all that well. For example, I really don't know much about The Tragically Hip, but another one of our regulars was a big fan, and she asked us to play some Hip when the group's leader Gord Downie died. I gave myself a crash course in Tragically Hip, bought a bunch of digital tracks, and we managed to pull off a show with The Tragically Hip as our Featured Act. (A "Featured Act" on TIRnRR requires that we play at least one track by the designated artist within each six-song set throughout that week's show.) When David Bowie, Prince, and Glen Campbell died, I felt compelled to pay tribute to each as a Featured Act, but didn't make the decision until showtime. (On the other hand, I cancelled a planned night off when Chuck Berry died; there was no way I could skip out on paying tribute to Chuck Berry!)
Middle-aged rock 'n' roll fans can't move an inch without bumping into some unwelcome reminder of our own mortality. It's a sad fact that we'll have an abundance of opportunities to pay tributes to fallen heroes. We'll do what we can. We're sincere. We're fans. And we always seek to strike the balance that feels right.
And seriously: The Partridge Family's "Somebody Wants To Love You" is a hell of a great song. Rest in peace, Mr. Cassidy. Rest in peace, Mr. Keene. These are places that are gone.
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Our new compilation CD This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 4 is now available from Kool Kat Musik! 29 tracks of irresistible rockin' pop, starring Pop Co-Op, Ray Paul, Circe Link & Christian Nesmith, Vegas With Randolph Featuring Lannie Flowers, The Slapbacks, P. Hux, Irene Peña, Michael Oliver & the Sacred Band Featuring Dave Merritt, The Rubinoos, Stepford Knives, The Grip Weeds, Popdudes, Ronnie Dark, The Flashcubes,Chris von Sneidern, The Bottle Kids, 1.4.5., The Smithereens, Paul Collins' Beat, The Hit Squad, The Rulers, The Legal Matters, Maura & the Bright Lights, Lisa Mychols, and Mr. Encrypto & the Cyphers. You gotta have it, so order it here.
Friday, November 24, 2017
Comics And LP Cover Cavalcade # 1
A lightly-annotated but otherwise random collection of images of comic book and rock 'n' roll album covers.
My sister Denise and I went to see the new Justice League movie Monday night. The day after, she mentioned how much she used to love DC's Metal Men comic book in the '60s. I specifically remember her reading Metal Men # 16 to me when I was a kid; I practically squealed with delight as The Metal Men battled an invasion of hostile robot insects, prompting the Metal Man Mercury to quip "You're not going to throw ME into an antipasto!"
Much later, Denise also gave me my first KISS album, Rock And Roll Over, as a high school graduation gift in 1977. I had seen my first KISS concert the previous December, but never got around to snappin' up any KISS records until Denise started me off. This album will eventually be the subject of further discussion in a future edition of my occasional series Groove Gratitude (A Gift Of Music).
I fell in love with the cover and concept of this 1941 comic book Daredevil Battles Hitler # 1 a few years before I had a chance to read it. I believe my first glimpse of the cover came via comics dealer Bill Thailing's mail order catalogue in 1972; I purchased a black and white reprint of the book around '75 or so.
I started hitting the flea market when I was a teenager in the '70s, on the hunt for comic books, paperbacks, pulps, girlie magazines, and rock 'n' roll records. I was a fan of The Monkees, but really only knew the group's first two prefab albums, plus whatever odd song might turn up on reruns of the TV series. I scored copies of The Monkees' Headquarters and The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees on one productive flea market visit around...'76, I think? It was the start of a grand expansion of my appreciation of a group I already adored.
I was a teenaged boy; of course the buxom, scantily-clad Vampirella caught my attention. I'll be writing more about our Vampi in the near future. Vampirella # 19 was either the first or second issue I owned, purchased as a cover-compromised discount item at World Of Books in North Syracuse.
My A-Z series The Everlasting First is a mere two entries away from the story of how I first discovered and fell madly in love with Suzi Quatro. After I'd already completed that swoon, Suzi's eponymous debut album was my first Quatro record, a cutout purchase rescued from the budget bin at Gerber Music in North Syracuse.
Was Judo Master # 96 my first Charlton Comics book? Possibly. I think I found it well after the fact at Sweethearts Corner grocery store in North Syracuse; it wasn't even on the spinner rack, but laying on top of something else displayed nearby. I may have bought an issue of Blue Beetle or Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt before this, but it's just as plausible to suggest my interest in Charlton began here.
I won a free copy of The James Montgomery Band from Utica's WOUR-FM on January 17th, 1977, the same day--fun fact!--that killer Gary Gilmore was executed. It was my 17th birthday, wintery weather had cancelled school, and this LP was my reward for being the first caller to correctly identify Cleveland as the first American city to have a traffic light. Then, as now, I knew so much useless crap. A cool story, I guess, but I never developed any interest in The James Montgomery Band.
Marvel Comics expanded its line dramatically in 1968, as books that had previously co-starred two different characters--Iron Man and Captain America in Tales Of Suspense, Sub-Mariner and The Incredible Hulk in Tales To Astonish, and Dr. Strange and Nick Fury, Agent Of S.H.I.E.L.D. in Strange Tales--split into solo titles. But Iron Man and Sub-Mariner got held back a month before graduating, with the one-shot Iron Man And Sub-Mariner # 1 using up what would have been the half-length Shellhead and Subby tales originally intended for the cancelled final issues of Suspense and Astonish respectively. I've always been fascinated by this book and its cover, but not sufficiently fascinated to cough up the twelve cents necessary to buy it at the time. It now sells for a little bit more than cover price, leaving this poor boy behind, empty-handed.
In Phonograph Record Magazine, writer Mark Shipper described Blondie's look as "Marilyn Monroe backed by The Dave Clark Five." Sold! My teenage crush on Debbie Harry remains undimmed.
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You can support this blog by becoming a patron on Patreon: Fund me, baby!
Our new compilation CD This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 4 is now available from Kool Kat Musik! 29 tracks of irresistible rockin' pop, starring Pop Co-Op, Ray Paul, Circe Link & Christian Nesmith, Vegas With Randolph Featuring Lannie Flowers, The Slapbacks, P. Hux, Irene Peña, Michael Oliver & the Sacred Band Featuring Dave Merritt, The Rubinoos, Stepford Knives, The Grip Weeds, Popdudes, Ronnie Dark, The Flashcubes,Chris von Sneidern, The Bottle Kids, 1.4.5., The Smithereens, Paul Collins' Beat, The Hit Squad, The Rulers, The Legal Matters, Maura & the Bright Lights, Lisa Mychols, and Mr. Encrypto & the Cyphers. You gotta have it, so order it here.
My sister Denise and I went to see the new Justice League movie Monday night. The day after, she mentioned how much she used to love DC's Metal Men comic book in the '60s. I specifically remember her reading Metal Men # 16 to me when I was a kid; I practically squealed with delight as The Metal Men battled an invasion of hostile robot insects, prompting the Metal Man Mercury to quip "You're not going to throw ME into an antipasto!"
Much later, Denise also gave me my first KISS album, Rock And Roll Over, as a high school graduation gift in 1977. I had seen my first KISS concert the previous December, but never got around to snappin' up any KISS records until Denise started me off. This album will eventually be the subject of further discussion in a future edition of my occasional series Groove Gratitude (A Gift Of Music).
I fell in love with the cover and concept of this 1941 comic book Daredevil Battles Hitler # 1 a few years before I had a chance to read it. I believe my first glimpse of the cover came via comics dealer Bill Thailing's mail order catalogue in 1972; I purchased a black and white reprint of the book around '75 or so.
I started hitting the flea market when I was a teenager in the '70s, on the hunt for comic books, paperbacks, pulps, girlie magazines, and rock 'n' roll records. I was a fan of The Monkees, but really only knew the group's first two prefab albums, plus whatever odd song might turn up on reruns of the TV series. I scored copies of The Monkees' Headquarters and The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees on one productive flea market visit around...'76, I think? It was the start of a grand expansion of my appreciation of a group I already adored.
I was a teenaged boy; of course the buxom, scantily-clad Vampirella caught my attention. I'll be writing more about our Vampi in the near future. Vampirella # 19 was either the first or second issue I owned, purchased as a cover-compromised discount item at World Of Books in North Syracuse.
My A-Z series The Everlasting First is a mere two entries away from the story of how I first discovered and fell madly in love with Suzi Quatro. After I'd already completed that swoon, Suzi's eponymous debut album was my first Quatro record, a cutout purchase rescued from the budget bin at Gerber Music in North Syracuse.
Was Judo Master # 96 my first Charlton Comics book? Possibly. I think I found it well after the fact at Sweethearts Corner grocery store in North Syracuse; it wasn't even on the spinner rack, but laying on top of something else displayed nearby. I may have bought an issue of Blue Beetle or Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt before this, but it's just as plausible to suggest my interest in Charlton began here.
I won a free copy of The James Montgomery Band from Utica's WOUR-FM on January 17th, 1977, the same day--fun fact!--that killer Gary Gilmore was executed. It was my 17th birthday, wintery weather had cancelled school, and this LP was my reward for being the first caller to correctly identify Cleveland as the first American city to have a traffic light. Then, as now, I knew so much useless crap. A cool story, I guess, but I never developed any interest in The James Montgomery Band.
Marvel Comics expanded its line dramatically in 1968, as books that had previously co-starred two different characters--Iron Man and Captain America in Tales Of Suspense, Sub-Mariner and The Incredible Hulk in Tales To Astonish, and Dr. Strange and Nick Fury, Agent Of S.H.I.E.L.D. in Strange Tales--split into solo titles. But Iron Man and Sub-Mariner got held back a month before graduating, with the one-shot Iron Man And Sub-Mariner # 1 using up what would have been the half-length Shellhead and Subby tales originally intended for the cancelled final issues of Suspense and Astonish respectively. I've always been fascinated by this book and its cover, but not sufficiently fascinated to cough up the twelve cents necessary to buy it at the time. It now sells for a little bit more than cover price, leaving this poor boy behind, empty-handed.
In Phonograph Record Magazine, writer Mark Shipper described Blondie's look as "Marilyn Monroe backed by The Dave Clark Five." Sold! My teenage crush on Debbie Harry remains undimmed.
TIP THE BLOGGER: CC's Tip Jar!
You can support this blog by becoming a patron on Patreon: Fund me, baby!
Our new compilation CD This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 4 is now available from Kool Kat Musik! 29 tracks of irresistible rockin' pop, starring Pop Co-Op, Ray Paul, Circe Link & Christian Nesmith, Vegas With Randolph Featuring Lannie Flowers, The Slapbacks, P. Hux, Irene Peña, Michael Oliver & the Sacred Band Featuring Dave Merritt, The Rubinoos, Stepford Knives, The Grip Weeds, Popdudes, Ronnie Dark, The Flashcubes,Chris von Sneidern, The Bottle Kids, 1.4.5., The Smithereens, Paul Collins' Beat, The Hit Squad, The Rulers, The Legal Matters, Maura & the Bright Lights, Lisa Mychols, and Mr. Encrypto & the Cyphers. You gotta have it, so order it here.
Thursday, November 23, 2017
Dell's SUPER HEROES # 3
Here's the third and next-to-last issue of Super Heroes, Dell Comics' short-lived 1967 attempt to cash in on the similarly short-lived superhero boom inspired by Batman's TV success. I imagine one could dive in here without reading the two previous issues, but why would anyone do that? Go! Read Super Heroes # 1! Then go read Super Heroes # 2. Then read all the four-color wonder reprised below.
The Fab Four is believed to be an orphaned property, no longer under copyright. The Fab Four appear in new adventures in the pages of Popular Comics, published by InDELLible Comics. You can see El, Hy, Polly, and Crispy (among others) right on the cover.
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You can support this blog by becoming a patron on Patreon: Fund me, baby!
Our new compilation CD This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 4 is now available from Kool Kat Musik! 29 tracks of irresistible rockin' pop, starring Pop Co-Op, Ray Paul, Circe Link & Christian Nesmith, Vegas With Randolph Featuring Lannie Flowers, The Slapbacks, P. Hux, Irene Peña, Michael Oliver & the Sacred Band Featuring Dave Merritt, The Rubinoos, Stepford Knives, The Grip Weeds, Popdudes, Ronnie Dark, The Flashcubes,Chris von Sneidern, The Bottle Kids, 1.4.5., The Smithereens, Paul Collins' Beat, The Hit Squad, The Rulers, The Legal Matters, Maura & the Bright Lights, Lisa Mychols, and Mr. Encrypto & the Cyphers. You gotta have it, so order it here.
And now: Super Heroes # 3!
Wednesday, November 22, 2017
THE GREATEST RECORD EVER MADE: "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker"
An infinite number of rockin' pop records can be the greatest record ever made, as long as they take turns. Today, this is THE GREATEST RECORD EVER MADE!
THE RAMONES: "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker"
Dangerous. Deplorable. Degenerate. The Ramones were supposed to be dirty, filthy punks, likely to slit your throat for spare change, or just for kicks. They were loud. They were sloppy. They were beneath contempt.
And they were one of the greatest pop bands in the world.
That seeming incongruity has never quite resolved itself. In certain circles, one risks immediate scorn for the sin of considering The Ramones a power pop band. But it was never a sin. It was a revelation.
Perhaps it shouldn't have been such a surprise. If we hadn't been so distracted by the noise, the sheer velocity, and the off-putting lyrics about recreational glue-sniffing and chainsaw massacrees, we would have noticed that even The Ramones' earliest records carried influences beyond the obvious sturm und drang of The Stooges; many (if not most) of The Ramones' short 'n' sharp album tracks believed they were 45s. Definitely most. Maybe all. A few of them were released as singles--"Blitzkrieg Bop," "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend,""I Remember You," "Swallow My Pride"--but if records could talk, the bulk of their LP track brethren would have likewise self-identified as 7" slabs o' vinyl destined for playback at 45 rpm.
45s.
It's not about the format; it's the spirit, the attitude, what's in the grooves even if there aren't any literal grooves, from mp3 air to compact disc to cassette, eight-track, and of course vinyl. If we had listened more deliberately to The Ramones, even as they declared their preference for huffing Carbona Spot Remover rather than glue, we would have heard singles. Pop singles. Fodder for jukeboxes and transistor radio, meant to be played alongside girl-group 45s and British Invasion 45s and bubblegum 45s and Motown, The Monkees, and Jan and Dean. The Ramones specialized in 45s; most of those 45s just happened to be album tracks instead.
So the pristine pop of "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker" shouldn't really have been any kind of shock. Nonetheless: in 1977, no one was prepared for it. No one.
When Joey Ramone first demoed the song for Sire Records boss Seymour Stein, Stein freakin' flipped out. We have to record this song NOW!!! Stein knew a hit when he heard it. The Ramones were dispatched to the studio, and the "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker" 45 was rush-released in July of '77. Its seemingly effortless evocation of an urban East Coast version of The Beach Boys was indescribably catchy, effervescent, and fun. Its real-world Billboard chart peak of # 81 was probably a disappointment to Stein--it certainly sounded like a Top 40 smash, or better--but it did chart. No previous Ramones record had done that, nor had any other previous punk or new wave or label du jour artist managed it either. One suspects the perceived image of those dangerous, degenerate punks scared away the superstitious and cowardly lot we know as radio programmers. It was a missed opportunity to reclaim the glory of rock 'n' roll radio at its very best. It wasn't the slick corporate product against which punk rebelled, nor was it the angry nihilism that punk was known for; it was something else altogether: it was pure joy.
For those who heard "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker" with open ears in 1977, it was a magical communique from a brighter, better pop world. It was for me, anyway. Forty years ago this week, home from college for Thanksgiving break, I played my new "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker" 45 for the first time. No other single song, before or since, ever had such an immediate and durable impact on me. Nothing else ever came close.
The other day, I heard someone on the radio refer to "I Wanna Be Sedated" as the definitive Ramones track. Some would argue passionately on behalf of "Blitzkrieg Bop" instead, and either would present a compelling, convincing case. But only one record changed my life. The Greatest Record Ever Made? Oh yes. The kids are all hopped and ready to go. New York City really has it all. And Sheena is the queen of the urban jungle. Pop music conquers all.
TIP THE BLOGGER: CC's Tip Jar!
You can support this blog by becoming a patron on Patreon: Fund me, baby!
Our new compilation CD This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 4 is now available from Kool Kat Musik! 29 tracks of irresistible rockin' pop, starring Pop Co-Op, Ray Paul, Circe Link & Christian Nesmith, Vegas With Randolph Featuring Lannie Flowers, The Slapbacks, P. Hux, Irene Peña, Michael Oliver & the Sacred Band Featuring Dave Merritt, The Rubinoos, Stepford Knives, The Grip Weeds, Popdudes, Ronnie Dark, The Flashcubes,Chris von Sneidern, The Bottle Kids, 1.4.5., The Smithereens, Paul Collins' Beat, The Hit Squad, The Rulers, The Legal Matters, Maura & the Bright Lights, Lisa Mychols, and Mr. Encrypto & the Cyphers. You gotta have it, so order it here.
THE RAMONES: "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker"
Dangerous. Deplorable. Degenerate. The Ramones were supposed to be dirty, filthy punks, likely to slit your throat for spare change, or just for kicks. They were loud. They were sloppy. They were beneath contempt.
And they were one of the greatest pop bands in the world.
That seeming incongruity has never quite resolved itself. In certain circles, one risks immediate scorn for the sin of considering The Ramones a power pop band. But it was never a sin. It was a revelation.
Perhaps it shouldn't have been such a surprise. If we hadn't been so distracted by the noise, the sheer velocity, and the off-putting lyrics about recreational glue-sniffing and chainsaw massacrees, we would have noticed that even The Ramones' earliest records carried influences beyond the obvious sturm und drang of The Stooges; many (if not most) of The Ramones' short 'n' sharp album tracks believed they were 45s. Definitely most. Maybe all. A few of them were released as singles--"Blitzkrieg Bop," "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend,""I Remember You," "Swallow My Pride"--but if records could talk, the bulk of their LP track brethren would have likewise self-identified as 7" slabs o' vinyl destined for playback at 45 rpm.
45s.
It's not about the format; it's the spirit, the attitude, what's in the grooves even if there aren't any literal grooves, from mp3 air to compact disc to cassette, eight-track, and of course vinyl. If we had listened more deliberately to The Ramones, even as they declared their preference for huffing Carbona Spot Remover rather than glue, we would have heard singles. Pop singles. Fodder for jukeboxes and transistor radio, meant to be played alongside girl-group 45s and British Invasion 45s and bubblegum 45s and Motown, The Monkees, and Jan and Dean. The Ramones specialized in 45s; most of those 45s just happened to be album tracks instead.
So the pristine pop of "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker" shouldn't really have been any kind of shock. Nonetheless: in 1977, no one was prepared for it. No one.
When Joey Ramone first demoed the song for Sire Records boss Seymour Stein, Stein freakin' flipped out. We have to record this song NOW!!! Stein knew a hit when he heard it. The Ramones were dispatched to the studio, and the "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker" 45 was rush-released in July of '77. Its seemingly effortless evocation of an urban East Coast version of The Beach Boys was indescribably catchy, effervescent, and fun. Its real-world Billboard chart peak of # 81 was probably a disappointment to Stein--it certainly sounded like a Top 40 smash, or better--but it did chart. No previous Ramones record had done that, nor had any other previous punk or new wave or label du jour artist managed it either. One suspects the perceived image of those dangerous, degenerate punks scared away the superstitious and cowardly lot we know as radio programmers. It was a missed opportunity to reclaim the glory of rock 'n' roll radio at its very best. It wasn't the slick corporate product against which punk rebelled, nor was it the angry nihilism that punk was known for; it was something else altogether: it was pure joy.
For those who heard "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker" with open ears in 1977, it was a magical communique from a brighter, better pop world. It was for me, anyway. Forty years ago this week, home from college for Thanksgiving break, I played my new "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker" 45 for the first time. No other single song, before or since, ever had such an immediate and durable impact on me. Nothing else ever came close.
The other day, I heard someone on the radio refer to "I Wanna Be Sedated" as the definitive Ramones track. Some would argue passionately on behalf of "Blitzkrieg Bop" instead, and either would present a compelling, convincing case. But only one record changed my life. The Greatest Record Ever Made? Oh yes. The kids are all hopped and ready to go. New York City really has it all. And Sheena is the queen of the urban jungle. Pop music conquers all.
TIP THE BLOGGER: CC's Tip Jar!
You can support this blog by becoming a patron on Patreon: Fund me, baby!
Our new compilation CD This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 4 is now available from Kool Kat Musik! 29 tracks of irresistible rockin' pop, starring Pop Co-Op, Ray Paul, Circe Link & Christian Nesmith, Vegas With Randolph Featuring Lannie Flowers, The Slapbacks, P. Hux, Irene Peña, Michael Oliver & the Sacred Band Featuring Dave Merritt, The Rubinoos, Stepford Knives, The Grip Weeds, Popdudes, Ronnie Dark, The Flashcubes,Chris von Sneidern, The Bottle Kids, 1.4.5., The Smithereens, Paul Collins' Beat, The Hit Squad, The Rulers, The Legal Matters, Maura & the Bright Lights, Lisa Mychols, and Mr. Encrypto & the Cyphers. You gotta have it, so order it here.
Tuesday, November 21, 2017
Lights! Camera! REACTION! My Life At The Movies Sidebar: Justice League
I don't want to think very much about this right now; I just want to get my first impressions down as quickly as I can.
I saw the new Justice League movie Monday night, a few nights later than I originally planned. And I loved it, loved it so much more than I would have thought likely. It struck all the right chords, maintained an agreeable balance of action and humor, executed the character interplay that prevents this sort of thing from devolving into a two-hour video game, and just soared from start to finish with the ease of a beloved hero leaping over tall buildings in a single bound. I won't spoil any of it for those still wishing to see it. But I do have a few quick points:
Although Justice League is a sequel, it is most definitely not another Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice, a film which a lot of people despised. I was okay with BvS and its predecessor Man Of Steel, but I understand why so many seemed to hate them both; they were dark and somber, with far too little light, and far too eager to follow the tone of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy and writer/artist Frank Miller's scowling epic The Dark Knight Returns. They weren't...fun.
Well, Justice League is fun. Yet it doesn't seem frothy. It takes itself seriously enough to lend gravitas, but not so seriously that it gets in its own way. For all the perceived faults of Man Of Steel and Batman V Superman, I don't think Justice League would be able to hit its heights without having those films as a foundation upon which to build something...grand. And it also wouldn't work if this year's superb Wonder Woman movie hadn't already begun the task of bringing all the threads together. (It does work best if we ignore Suicide Squad, though; God, that movie was terrible.)
 |
| "Terrible?" You're so negative! |
If you hate superhero movies, this probably won't convert you. If you love superhero movies, Justice League is about as good as they get, nearly on a par with Wonder Woman. It has what you expect in the genre. Explosions! Super fight scenes! Cataclysmic threat! Petty squabbling among the good guys! It also has the one not-so-secret ingredient essential in making these flights of fancy sustain themselves: heart. Justice League believes in itself, and that inspires the audience to believe as well. To believe a man can fly. To believe that criminals are a superstitious and cowardly lot. To believe that strength comes from love, and that love is strong enough to conquer hate. To believe in justice. To believe in hope.
I believe. I've believed since I was a kid, watching and reading Batman, and my occasional flirtations with cynicism have never come close to robbing me of my sense of wonder. Justice League is a tale of redemption and heroism, humans rising to be whatever best thing they can be as gods battle and cities crumble. There is one specific moment in the film where I almost teared up, as an emotional scene on the screen achieved a moving, affecting jolt of sentimental catharsis. There were many, many moments throughout the film that made me smile, blissful and content, as comic books came to life before my eyes. I went into this film with my expectations managed. It was so much better than I anticipated, so much better than its commercials and trailers made it seem. This is the stuff my dreams are made of.
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You can support this blog by becoming a patron on Patreon: Fund me, baby!
Our new compilation CD This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 4 is now available from Kool Kat Musik! 29 tracks of irresistible rockin' pop, starring Pop Co-Op, Ray Paul, Circe Link & Christian Nesmith, Vegas With Randolph Featuring Lannie Flowers, The Slapbacks, P. Hux, Irene Peña, Michael Oliver & the Sacred Band Featuring Dave Merritt, The Rubinoos, Stepford Knives, The Grip Weeds, Popdudes, Ronnie Dark, The Flashcubes,Chris von Sneidern, The Bottle Kids, 1.4.5., The Smithereens, Paul Collins' Beat, The Hit Squad, The Rulers, The Legal Matters, Maura & the Bright Lights, Lisa Mychols, and Mr. Encrypto & the Cyphers. You gotta have it, so order it here.
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