Ending 2009 with a cough and a sneeze...

One more full day of 2008, and (like lots of previous years!) its marked by "cold and flu-like symptoms"... Greg has an upper-respiratory infection, discovered after a trip to the emergency room Sunday, and is dosed up on inhalers and Prednisone... I'm not as bad, but have the next few days off to get back on track. In the meantime, I have been catching up on all the books I have been putting off for one reason or another... Fave authors like Janet Evanovich, James Patterson, Jeffery Deaver, and Sandra Brown all have new books out that I never got around to over the last six months, and some Christmas money came in handy to scoop them all up (Used) on Amazon.com (The BEST way to buy hardbacks, as they can often be snagged for $2-$3). So in just a few sittings, I banged out the latest Stephanie Plum book (FEARLESS FOURTEEN), 7TH HEAVEN (Patterson's latest installment in HIS numbered series), THE BODIES LEFT BEHIND (Jeffery Deaver's latest stand-alone), YOUR HEART BELONGS TO ME (Dean Koontz's latest), and have just started THE BROKEN WINDOW, Deaver's latest Lincoln Rhyme thriller...
So I have been keeping plenty busy non the book front.
DVD-wise, I snagged a few box sets. My love of 80s horror is covered with the 8-disc NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET series, and my classic film fix was satisfied with the 6-disc THIN MAN series. Screwball comedy meets sophisticated mystery with these films, the first installment based on the novel by Dashiell Hammett. Myrna Loy and William Powell were the ORIGINAL Jonathan and Jennifer Hart (Hows THAT for Tuesday Night/ ABC-TV 1970s flashback?), in these martini-soaked mysteries set in the fabulous Deco 30s and 40s...
Continuing to fill up my iPod (a new external hard drive was required to hold all that music!), as pretty much everything I own is now on my laptop. Those free/cheap Russian download sites have been awesome, too! I think I own everything now!
That pretty much covers the end of the year hijinks on my end. Not exciting, but no complaints.
Glad to see 2008 almost behind me, a crap year (on every level) I can objectively state. Here's to a better 2009!

Blog Changes/ Update!

Update for the FredsPICKS blog-- I have now chosen to keep this blog strictly "Fred's Picks", and separate the professional, real estate aspect that was present here before. That can now be found at www.marstonvossblog.blogspot.com So now, this site will pertain strictly to updates on things I have been up to, things to recommend (books, movies, music, etc), and anything else that comes up.

Be sure to check out the Marstonvossblog.blogspot.com for all news regarding the Boston real estate biz...

'tis the Season...

As we head into the throes of the winter (yes, that is just around the corner), it’s a nice time to reflect on the past year as part of a thriving business here on Beacon Hill. I started here at Marston Voss a year ago this past Fall, and so much has happened over the course of the ensuing sixteen months. I have met and worked with some incredible people, learned invaluable lessons both about both real estate and working in an office environment in general, and got to see another year come and go in my favorite place on earth, Beacon Hill.

Although I unfortunately have been a commuter these past two years, I love the neighborhood where I have been fortunate to both work and live over the course of nearly twenty years. It still feels like home to me, and it always will (despite that pesky Quincy zipcode I have had of late…). It’s a thrill to introduce potential new residents to this wonderful enclave, and love hearing feedback from clients I have placed here. It is truly a very special and unique place!

As the new year approaches, we can’t help but notice that although the trees that line our streets may now be bare, the wonderful old oil lamps are now decoratively wrapped in garland and bows, and the storefronts are festively decked out for the holidays as well. Because this office is located at the corner of Charles and Revere Streets, we are very lucky to have a front row seat to the holiday magic that transforms this picturesque community into a real slice of holiday Americana. Carolers dressed in the garb of a century ago emphasize the timelessness that is so apparent this time of year, and we are happy observers as well as participants during this one time of year that seems to unite everyone.

I would personally like to extend my own warmest holiday greetings to the residents of Beacon Hill, both new and old, as well as those yet to be. Beacon Hill is truly unique; a “small town” in a big city, unlike any other place I’ve known. Thank you for being such wonderful neighbors, as well as clients. Marston-Voss prides itself on being a thriving and integral part of this community, and on behalf of the office and my co-workers, we wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and ultimately a wonderful and rewarding 2009.

A Novel Idea...

Spent November on my first novel (WRITING one, that is...), and am happy to report I completed a first draft of nearly 60,000 words at this point. Am taking some time away from it for now, as it was a lot of work in a short time span, and then have plenty of rewrites and editing to do.
Participated in National Novel Writing Month (www.NaNoWriMo.org), which was a great motivator and online community that fostered high pressure writing, with deadlines, updateable wordcounts to chart progress and compare with other participating writers, discussion forums, etc etc. If you made it to 50,000 words, you were a winner! So that has been a lot of fun, and a lot of work...

The cool thing about a blog...

...is that sometimes people actually READ IT! Such was the case with the publisher of that Boston photography book I reviewed last month. That was actually sent to me unsolicited, with a request for a review on my site. It was terrific, so I was glad to do it. I may not have discovered that one on my own.
Last night, though, I was thrilled to get a "Thank You" email from Linwood Barclay, the particularly awesome writer who I also featured last month! So a big THANKS BACK from me, Mr Barclay-- you made my week! Now hurry up on that next novel!

Saturday

Back to work after having been out several days... Thrilled to death over the election/ we watched all night as the results came in... First time in forever that I have been this wrapped up in an election, or the voting process. Happy beyond happy, and despite starting out is a Hillary guy, I have to say that Obama adds something more. Probably not having the feel of being a part of a political machine that comes with the Clinton's (or the Bush administration), his youth, the vitality of his family... Not the color of his skin, although that alone is reason for celebration. Wouldnt it be great if this was the beginning of the end (or the END of the end) of racial tensions?
As a sidenote, I think its interesting and I am not at all surprised that Sarah Palin has apparently been thrown under the bus by her own party. Gotta have a scapegoat. I think between her star eclipsing that of her running mate, and the general ineptness and ill-preparedness that she displayed certainly made her an easy choice. Her downfall, if it can be called that yet, was totally an inside job...

GoBAMA!!

Well, its down to three more days until the election… In my 40 years, I can honestly say I can’t recall an election that was more eagerly anticipated, that I felt more connected to, and that was more important. Judging from the reports on early voter turnout (and the news video of people waiting several hours in line) I am obviously not in the minority… I wont miss the mudslinging and fear-mongering that is coming from the Repubs… The character attacks on Obama, the fake speculation on his background and his associations, and pushing his lack of experience in the face of John McCain, his Bush similarities, and the horrific stunt-casting of Sarah Palin that (thankfully) seems to be his undoing ALL have made these past few months so wearing. The upside to this, of course, is that it is mobilizing seemingly everyone to get out and vote. We can only hope that we will actually have a new President-Elect by Tuesday night. I cant imagine another “close” race that demands recounts and general shadiness. Here’s hoping for an Obama landslide…

Boston in Black & White...

Timothy Orwig's 2006 HISTORIC PHOTOS OF BOSTON is a treasure trove of images spanning two centuries, lavishly spread out over more than 200 pages, and richly deserving a place upon any Bostonian's coffee table. These kinds of books (and this one, specifically) make great gifts, as everyone loves a bit of history when it comes to a town or city they love (or grew up in...), and photographs of familiar settings in bygone eras never fail to fascinate. Orwig's compendium knows just what to show and what to tell, as the history of Boston from 1850 through the mid 20th century is brought to life through glorious, nearly full-page photos with just enough exposition to inform and entertain. Boston's burgeoning neighborhoods, inhabitants, and landmarks are all well-represented, and Orwig (and Turner Publishing) gives his subject matter the respect and reverence it deserves. A+ for content, and A+ for presentation!!

TOO CLOSE TO HOME

As if you were on the edge of your seat, but I scored on eBay (and Borders) and am now all booked up for the next several weeks (Woo-Hoo!!)... Still shouldnt keep me from grabbing the new Linwood Barclay book next Tuesday. He wrote a series of 4 novels that were sort of comic-thrillers that were great (reminded me of Janet Evanovich), and then came out with "No Time For Goodbye" last year, which was a FANTASTIC thriller that moved like a rocket-- very much like the Harlan Coben books (who preceeded HIS brilliant suspensers with the lighter, Myron Bolitar series). If you're a reader, and you like good genre fiction, then I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Linwood Barclay. The new one is called TOO CLOSE TO HOME, out 9/30...

What to read, what to read...

As someone who frequently has more than one book going, simultaneously, Ive just noticed that I only have one book left on my stack before Im all out (Yikes)... Big fan of thrillers/ Just finished the lastest John Lutz suspenser "In For the Kill", which was fantastic... Just started "Make Them Cry" by Kevin O'Brien (have read most of his stuff, and have emailed back and forth a few times with the writer), and that will do it!! There are a few series that I have yet to tackle-- Robert Crais' Elvis Cole series, and the Lee Child/ Jack Reacher books (both come highly recommended, and I think I'll be picking up the 1st in each of their repective string of novels. It is almost like when I was a smoker, and I got down to the last few menthols in the pack-- Gotta get more!! I have to say, eBay is a great place to buy books in lots, often by author, although it can be daunting to get a pile of 10 or 15 books at a pop> We'll see how I like the Crais and Child intro books...
Clearly, not a whole lot is going on with me right now :)

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler do Palin/Clinton on SNL!!

The full skit (as seen in bits and pieces on the news/ TODAY SHOW/ etc etc...
BRILLIANT


http://perezhilton.com/tv/?videoid=4a7351283919d

Next Tuesday sees the Double-DVD release of Gene Kelly's 1951 Best Picture winner AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, one of Hollywood's greatest musicals, and the perfect companion to Kelly's follow-up, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN. What sets this apart from "Rain" is its Gershwin score, and it's amazing cinematography (which took incredible advantage of the Technicolor process). Kelly is immensely likeable as Jerry, the "title character", an amiable artist falling for gamine Leslie Caron despite nearly being "kept" by benefactoress Nina Foch (happy to subsidize his art in exchange for companionship...). A wonderful supporting cast round out this deceptively little film that is HUGE on production numbers, namely the "American In Paris Ballet" that comprises the final 17 minutes of this film. Here, Jerry finds himself dancing within painted works of art. Naysayers call this pretentious, but the idea of artist becoming the art was groundbreaking, both thematically as well as artistically, and clearly elevated this film from the genre musicals of the time. A simple story amazingly presented. Finally getting the deluxe treatment on DVD with assorted featurettes, and a full-length bio on Gene Kelly. Brilliant.

She's 63??

I just had to post this/ Debbie Harry is looking more and more amazing. This is from last night's FASHION ROCKS show, where she performed, and was lauded as being a style-trendsetter as well.

More Campaign Silliness...

I LOVE it when this kind of thing happens: The Republicans "adopted" the classic 1977 HEART song "Barracuda" is a quasi-theme for Palin, and HEART responded with a lawsuit. Other rockers have been in similar situations, most famously when Ronald Reagan co-opted Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA", not even grasping the cynicism and anti-Reagan era theme that the song was all about. How embarrassing... Anyway, here is the article from the Boston Globe:



The rock group Heart has sent a message to John McCain and Sarah "Barracuda'' Palin: quit playing our 1977 hit ''Barracuda.''
Soon after the presidential nominee finished his acceptance speech late Thursday and running-mate Palin joined him on the Republican National Convention stage in St. Paul, the sound system pumped the throbbing introductory guitar licks to "Barracuda.''
It seemed the cleverest musical choice of both conventions. Heart's Ann and Nancy Wilson, like Alaska Governor Palin, are outspoken products of the Pacific Northwest, and the sisters's tune also could refer to Palin's Dazed-and-Confused-Era nickname of Sarah Barracuda, given for her intense high-school basketball play.
But the Wilsons condemned the usage then and earlier in the convention, adding that Universal Music Publishing and Sony BMG have sent a cease-and-desist notice to the McCain-Palin campaign, according to CNN.
UPDATE Friday morning: here's a statement by Ann and Nancy Wilson from EW.com:
"Sarah Palin's views and values in NO WAY represent us as American women. We ask that our song 'Barracuda' no longer be used to promote her image. The song 'Barracuda' was written in the late 70s as a scathing rant against the soulless, corporate nature of the music business, particularly for women. (The 'barracuda' represented the business.) While Heart did not and would not authorize the use of their song at the RNC, there's irony in Republican strategists' choice to make use of it there."
No word so far on whether the tune would be dropped from the GOP playlist. "If the real thing don't do the trick,'' Ann Wilson sang in "Barracuda,'' "You better make up something quick.''

HOLIDAY WEEKEND!

Labor Day Weekend, and all is nuts on Beacon Hill... Everyone, it seems, is moving in or moving out... We have all been juggling key-fetching/ tenant-calling/ landlord-chasing/ etc etc all for the big turnover that is September 1 (complicated further by the fact that it is Labor Day). The is the first time in 3 years that I personally haven't moved, so its nice to just have to deal with everyone else's craziness. Its also the first time as a real estate agent that I was a part of this concentrated period (last year I started a week AFTER it all). So no big holiday weekend plans beyond a cookout at Ken and Brett's tonite> Will take Tuesday off... I imagine the rental-push will ease up a bit in September, but much of the month will be spent on the final condo sale that just went through (Woo-hoo!!)/ the closing is set for 9/30. Will try to solicit more sale properties, as this was my 3rd and last of the summer (and of my career in this so far...). Not too much else to report...

Random link, but too funny!

http://www.lovefred.com

Now why didnt I think of this??? I love the TShirts...

After 25 years, still feeling "Fascination"

Another blast from the past/ last night 4 of us headed over to the Pavilion to see the Regeneration Tour, with Naked Yes, A Flock of Seagulls, ABC, Belinda Carlisle, and the Human League. 10th Grade all over again, and not a bad thing. Once again we were moved up extra-close (3rd Row), and made friends with the people around us. This show, much moreso than the disco tour we saw a few weeks ago, showcased the actual bands (the previous concert featured the vocalists performing to prerecorded tracks). The Human League, as headliners, delivered a solid set of all the hits and near-hits (the highlights being 1982’s inescapable “Don’t You Want Me”, "(Keep Feeling) Fascination", and the encore “Together in Electric Dreams”). Belinda Carlisle drew from her solo catalog, and pleased the faithful with 3 Go-Gos hits as well, before closing with her biggest “Belinda” hit, “Heaven is a Place on Earth”. ABC scored as well, with “The Look of Love” and “Poison Arrow” among their biggest hits… Naked Eyes had the unenviable task of opening this show, which didn’t reach capacity until halfway through the concert. They opened with their signature “Always Something There to Remind Me”, which left the audience with nothing to look forward to. Five songs later, they finished with MTV near-staple “Promises Promises” before A Flock of Seagulls took to the stage. Lead singer Mike Score, looking paunchy and without his iconic/notorious 80’s hair, left pretty much everyone scratching their heads. By the time they closed with “I Ran”, all was forgiven, and the audience was back to going nuts…
Another great nostalgia trip, with perfect weather and that great waterfront location. The seat upgrades didn’t hurt, either!

TROPIC THUNDER

Last night we checked out TROPIC THUNDER, which turned out to be the funniest movie I have seen in forever. Have always like Robert Downey, Jack Black cracks me up and killed in SCHOOL OF ROCK (but kinda lost me with NACHO LIBRE), and Ben Stiller has been grating on me since Zoolander, so my enthusiasm level was only so-so for this. Needing a laugh, and the showtime was right, we found ourselveves plunking down our ticket money...

This movie is BRILLIANT. Hilarious satire of all things Hollywood, lampooning pretentious actors, genre filmmaking, Hollywood insiders and all the behind-the-scenes machinations that go into making a big budget film. I can’t really give anything away, unfortunately, because (not knowing much about this film until the credits rolled…) the best parts all come as surprises. From the opening moments, where we are introduced to the characters via “trailers” to their respective upcoming projects (and in one case, a product endorsement/ alternate “revenue stream”…), to the surprise cameos (The secret Tom Cruise appearance has already been revealed and lauded), TROPIC THUNDER is right up there with WAG THE DOG (1997’s political satire) as one of Hollywood’s smartest and most effective send-ups.

The gist of the plot centers around the film adaptation of a Vietnam War vet’s memoir, and what happens when the plan to shoot the film in a hyper realistic guerilla-style (drop the actors in the jungle with a vague script outline, hidden cameras and special-effects devices planted along the way) goes horribly awry unbeknownst to the actors involved… (To say any more wouldn't be fair to ya...)

Gleefully over-the-top, at times comically violent, and incredibly self-aware, TROPIC THUNDER is so much better than it even deserves to be. I laughed for 105 minutes straight...

DISCO

Last night we got free tickets (THANKS, Robert!!!) for the “Solid Gold Disco Party” concert on Boston’s waterfront, headlined by the Village People, along with various 70s one-offs and minor icons Evelyn “Champagne” King, Maxine Nightingale, the Hues Corporation, Musique, and emceed by Jimmy JJ Walker.

Totally fun, and totally worth the cost of the free ticket! It was basically Karaoke night up there, with the performers doing their signature hit/hits along with a bunch of disco-era numbers. So we got to hear Maxine Nightingale do “Right Back Where We Started From” along with other period tracks, Hues Corporation’s “Rock the Boat” alongside their renditions of similar chart-toppers, etc… It was cool, in that I think everyone was happy to see that, say, Maxine was still getting work!

Best surprise of the night was how strong a performer King was—She sounds better than ever, and really involved the crowd, one of the strangest cross-sections of an audience I have yet to come by—the gay contingent was obviously represented, but there were tons of suburban couples, a much older contingent, and plenty of 20-somethings… Pretty much everyone was on their feet the whole time, and by the time the Village People came out the show had already been going nearly 3 hours..

Okay, the Village People. How crazy is it that these guys have become beloved American icons??? Initially, they were a bunch of guys who responded to an ad to “perform” as gay cultural archetypes that would be the basic concept for this 70s version of the Boy Band; the "visuals" to session musicians... It was an “in-joke” that most of America didn’t even get, and they were all over the airwaves (and TV) in the late-70s, performing songs with double-and-triple-entendres that would never fly on pop radio today. Now, after 30 years and a few personnel changes, they are still performing to packed houses. They have become the Disco Beach Boys. Im sure none of them ever bet what probably sounded like a gag in 1977 would take them through the next 30+ years, essentially performing the same 6 or 7 songs!! To their credit, they were self-depracating and very hammy, and for what seemed like the ultimate guilty pleasure, it was encouraging to know that everyone was in on the joke!

A really fun (and FREE!!) show that brought me back to my elementary school days. In two weeks we have the "Regeneration Tour", with a bunch of 80s acts that will take me back to the 10th grade...The cool thing is that I think these shows are as much fun for the audience as they are for the performers.

SOLD!

Just closed on the first deal, which had hit numerous snags (I already closed my 2nd condo)! Still one listing on the market, on which we just dropped the price>> This one should go pretty quickly now that we have hit August...

August 1

August already. The non-Summer is hitting its final stretch. This time last year I was wrapped up in the closing of my business (and all that entails), had just moved to the South Shore, and had yet to sign on at my current employers. The past year has proven to be the longest (and, at times, the fastest) 12 months I’ve yet to experience. A lot has happened, some good (and some very bad). Have grown apart from some people, and gotten closer with others, and have seen people at their best and at their worst…
I know this isn’t the calendar year, but to me it feels like the beginning of Book Two/ Chapter Two. Not sure how this book is gonna end yet, but there were twists along the way that I didn’t see coming, a few heroes, some villains, and plenty of drama. (Should make for a fairly quick beach read, regardless)
:)

Best Movie of the last 20 years gets the special treatment!

Finally!!

Amazon has it for pre-order at $14.99...

(from dvdfanatic.com)

It's been a long time coming, but on September 23, 2008, Warner Brothers Home Entertainment will release a new 2-disc Special Edition of the Oscar-winning, L.A. Confidential. Retailing at $20.97, this Widescreen only release will include:Audio Commentary by Critic Andrew SarrisMusic Only Track"Whatever You Desire: Making L.A. Confidential" Featurette"Sunlight and Shadow: The Visual Style of L.A. Confidential" Featurette "A True Ensemble: The Cast of L.A. Confidential" Featurette "L.A. Confidential: From Book to Screen" Featurette "Off the Record" Feature "Photo Pitch" Feature "L.A. Confidential" 2000 TV-Series Pilot Deleted ScenesTrailers and TV Spots And More! It will also be available on Blu-ray Disc (in 1-disc form) for $28.99. Features remain the same.

Facebook...

Finally got around to setting up a Facebook profile after much reluctance! I have a MySpace which I barely check, and (after some prodding in the office) decided to give Facebook a shot. Within an hour of setting up the account, I have heard from dozens of people-- mostly from high school, but a few from college, work, and assorted contacts along the way... Very cool, although I wonder how much it will impact my communications with people- Beyond a few emails catching up with old acquaintances, and the always fun that goes with seeing recent pictures of people after 20 years... It seems that some people are really hooked into the whole Facebook subculture. Not sure if its entirely for me, but Im still at the "intrigued" stage, so the novelty hasnt yet worn off. There were a handful of people on there who I have genuinely thought about over the last few decades (!!), so it has been cool to touch base. My nieces are on there too, and after doing the whole "friend request" thing, I had to laugh (If I were in MY early 20s, would I really want to be online buddies with my aunts or uncles??). On the occasions that I am in my hometown where I grew up, I still get that "I hope I dont run into anyone I know" feeling whenever I hit the mall, etc... So I am not too convinced... Hmmmmmmm...

...from the FRED'S PICKS racks!

... here are some "Fred's Picks"/ Fave DVDs, and all an excellent rent!

http://www.imdb.com/ for any info on the following:

ON THE WATERFRONT
L.A. CONFIDENTIAL
JAWS
SOME LIKE IT HOT
DOUBLE INDEMNITY
HALLOWEEN
AN AMERICAN IN PARIS
FROM HERE TO ETERNITY
TOOTSIE
POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE
BROADCAST NEWS
WORKING GIRL
BOUND
9 TO 5
CINDERELLA MAN
LANTANA
BLOOD SIMPLE
ACE IN THE HOLE
OUT OF THE PAST
FASTER PUSSYCAT, KILL, KILL
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
GLADIATOR
A PLACE IN THE SUN
ALIEN

Fortune's Favour

New this week: "Fortunes's Favour", the latest from newfoundland's best export GREAT BIG SEA! I got hooked on this group about three years ago, and have been lucky enough to see them live 3X in that interim. A winning mix of traditional Newfoundland and Irish folk with more straight ahead rock and pop, GBS has a hugely devoted and loyal following, and they are incredible live performers. This latest CD features some of the guys' best tracks, some of which were introduced last summer on their previous tour. Standouts include "Here and Now", "Straight to Hell", and the single "Walk on the Moon"...

July 4th

July 4th weekend, here again... No plans beyond working (most of the office is out in some capacity over the course of the rest of the week, so I will either reap the rewards or twiddle my thumbs! Friends from NY are up in Ogunquit, but unfortunately I wont be able to make it up there. I used to spend a week or two up there every year for the 4th, and these past few years I made it up even if just for lunch or something (to reconnect with old friends)... Easier when I was self-employed!! Instead I will be trotting around a client in town for the holiday, who will be moving here in September. Hooky will be played next week, with hopes of hitting Six Flags and Water Country. The second half of the month ends with a bang, as my two condo closings finally happen (the 18th and the 30th). A nice reprieve...

Color Them Your Color, Baby... BLONDIE's back

Musically, the ultimate "Fred's Pick" has been Blondie, for over three decades now... The band emerged from New York's grimy downtown punk scene (along with the Ramones and Talking Heads), and paired a flawless AM radio pop sensibility with the energy and attitude of the new music movement that they helped create. Led by Deborah Harry, already on the plus-side of 30 and an icon herself as a female front-person in a basically All Guys business, Harry brought glamour and sex to punk, yet also brought to the table an icy detachment that never let you feel that she could be yours, unlike more traditional female sex symbols. Her ironic take on sexuality combined with the band's love of Pop Art made her, and them, media darlings and global superstars, and reigned as rock's hottest act of the late 1970s into the early 80s. Now, a reenergized Blondie is touring behind the 30th anniversary of the watershed album PARALLEL LINES, that spawned 6 Global smashes, and finally broke the band in the United States with the first "New Wave" #1 single, disco-hybrid "Heart of Glass". Blondie was and is cool because they were style-setters and trailblazers, thumbing their noses at what was the status quo in popular music, and scored hits that defied genre classification. They scored with "Rapture", the 1st "rap" #1, (and the first rap most radio listeners ever even heard). "The Tide is High" brought reggae to the top of the US charts, and "Call Me" and "Atomic" merged disco with power pop. Excursions into both 60s girl-group territory as well as the "punk" that they were initially identified with were merged seamlessly to create some of the rock era's most perfect pop singles. Their influence is still being felt today, and they are finally reaping the accolades of their place in music history, with last year's induction in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame sealing the deal. Now (amazingly) 63 years old, the seemingly ageless Harry is still prowling the global stage with Blondie, and is also producing new music herself. (Her solo NECESSARY EVIL was released this past year, propelled by club hit "Two Times Blue"). As for Blondie, and PARALLEL LINES, both sound as fresh today as they did in 1978...

"This Was Not A Boat Accident..."

This weekend is Memorial Day weekend, the official kickoff to the summer "Blockbuster" movie season. Its hard to believe that 1975 saw the birth of this phenomenon, with the ultimate summer smash JAWS. What better way to celebrate the start of summer than with some ruminations about this definitive moment in popular culture...

The JAWS phenomenon kicked off after the massive success of Peter Benchley's novel, and it was still riding high on the bestsellers list when the film (already notorious for an extremely difficult, and budget-busting, shoot) opened on June 20, 1975... Lines stretched around city blocks for weeks, as this extremely well-marketed film ingrained itself in our collective consciousness, and came to define Event Cinema. By tapping into our primal fears of the unknown, coupled with well-defined and masterfully played characters that we could all identify with, JAWS managed to both thrill and terrify, and still make us chuckle here and there. With a grizzled old sea-salt with a vendetta, a book-smart marine biologist who finds himself out of his league, and a hero who hated the water joining forces to topple the ultimate boogeyman, JAWS resonated with its global audience, and managed to transcend its genre and become a modern classic.

Abetted by John Williams' classic score, Steven Spielberg's breakout film becomes a swashbuckler as well as a monster movie, with action sequences that rival (and surpass) much of what followed in its wake. It is Hitchcockian in its approach to terror, in that what is implied actually scares more than what is shown onscreen, and the shark doesn't make its debut onscreen until well into the film (a not-exactly-bargained-for benefit of the near-impossibility of working with the laboriously constructed mechanical shark...).

Though it spawned 3 sequels (the serviceable JAWS 2, and the wretched JAWS 3D and JAWS: THE REVENGE), nothing before or since has surpassed the original in sheer terror. Naysayers (and revisionist thinkers) blame this film for the shameless commercialization of the film industry, for placing boffo box-office biz before all else, and for the breakdown of American cinema's artistic aspirations. JAWS lit the fuse, perhaps, but the fact that this ultimate underdog (It barely managed to complete production) went on to become the first film to crack the coveted -but-never-quite-reached $100 Million mark only adds to its cache. And it has gone on to define Summer Cinema, both financially and thematically.

And it defined my life in 1975. But that's another essay...

On The Radio... Again!

This past Tuesday saw the release of Donna Summer's first full-length release since 1991. CRAYONS finds disco's first (and biggest) superstar effortlessly spanning the generations with a surprisingly fresh CD that is her most consistent work since her heyday. While nothing will ever come close to the double-LP BAD GIRLS that defined radio in 1979, the 2008 version of Donna sounds like she has never left us, with a dozen tracks that are all strong and radio-and club- ready. The two standouts are "Fame (The Game)", and "Be Myself Again". The former a blistering, guitar-driven track that echoes her hit "Hot Stuff", a scathing indictment of what it is that defines "Celebrity" in this new milennium. The latter, an autobiographical ballad that finds Summer accompanied by only a piano as she reflects on the ultimate cost of her own stardom, stands as one of this icon's finest moments. Ironically, the record's low point is "I'm A Fire" (which has already hit #1 on the dance charts...). It is hard to believe it's been nearly 35 years since she first hit with "Love to Love You". CRAYONS sits comfortably among her best work.

Monday blurb

After a deal that fell through, and several setbacks, the condo sale finally went through today! The Purchase and Sale, that is... A delayed closing means no $$ until July 30, but at least its DONE (for the most part...). So thats good news...
The majority of today was spent writing my father's eulogy, that I will deliver Saturday at his "Celebration of Life". It is a very surreal experience, because it forced me to think in the past tense; of something that has ended. It also changed my perspective, and I found myself writing from a child's perspective. Foraging through pictures and boxes of memories made me see my Dad again as I saw him when I was young, and it gave me a new appreciation for his role in my life... Feeling inspired, for Mothers Day we made a photo montage of all the wacky pics of Mom from my bar & DJ/VJ days. Figured, why not do a tribute to someone while they are still around to enjoy it?

MADONNA: Four Minutes To Save Her Stature?

This past week, Madonna released her 11th studio album (and her last for long-time label, Warner): HARD CANDY closes this chapter in her career, and preceeds her new association with LiveNation-- her latest lucrative alliance. So, 2008 finds Madonna topping the global charts once again with her Justin Timberlake collaboration "Four Minutes to Save the World", from this new CD that also includes work with Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, and Timbaland. The Reinvention Queen has reinvented herself as marketable (once again) to US radio. That is basically what this project boils down to, in my opinion... How shrewd to show up, right out of the gates at LiveNation, with a global smash? While Madonna has never really lost her dominion over our popular culture, her grasp of her American audience has managed to lessen over the past ten years. She scored with "Music" and "Hung Up", and a few lesser hits since 2001, and her spectacular and smart disco extravaganza CONFESSIONS ON A DANCEFLOOR CD regained her some clout here, but since the US charts have been predominantly urban-leaning she has lost some of her audience . So what does she do? She reinvents herself as disposable and IRRELEVANT... And what happens? The smashing success of HARD CANDY! Its ironic, because (as a longtime fan and listener/ "spectator"), Madonna seems to have sold out for the first time. Instead of blazing trails (or legitimizing lesser-known trails...), she finds herself in the company of Fergie and Nelly Furtado: Smart, shrewd, and disconcerting. If Madonna has chosen intentionally to be generic, than she is even more of a whiz than anyone ever gave her credit for. While the CD does have its high points (It is, after all, still a Madonna record...), only a few tracks would sit comfortably with the rest of her catalog. Its very "today". It wont be very "tomorrow"... At worst, this will find her sitting very pretty with industry execs at LiveNation once she kicks off her next phase. At best, we have a mediocre new CD from Madonna, with a few singles we'll be humming all summer. Hmmmmmmmm... Well played.

Photo Montage/ Memorial...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8b3VohBQ1Fk

Memorial/ Celebration of Life May 17

My Dad...
Song "Even Now" by Linda Eder

Fave Book-of-the-Moment..

Jeff Povey's THE SERIAL KILLERS CLUB has quickly become my favorite book of the last six months, easily... Deftly straddling both the thriller and the satire genres, SKC concerns a lonely guy who assumes the identity of a serial killer who very nearly took his life, had our hero not killed him in self defense. Lured by a mysterious ad for a top-secret social organization of serial killers, our narrator annoints himself "Douglas Fairbanks, Jr." and insinuates himself amongst his not-quite-peers (each nicknamed after a famous celebrity)... Soon enough, he finds himself thriving on the twisted sense of community the group offers him, but not before FBI agent Wade shows up, who may or may not have proof that our hero did, indeed, kill his attacker and got away with it. (Think "Desperately Seeking Susan" meets "The Silence of the Lambs"). Now, "Dougie" must bump off his "fellow" serial killers, or find his own future in jeopardy. But as he finds himself falling for "Betty Grable", he wonders if Detective Wade is really who he claims to be, and just what Wade's motivations truly are.

There are moments in THE SERIAL KILLER'S CLUB that are laugh out loud funny, thanks to the unique voice Povey gave "Dougie", and the sheer absurdity of Burt Lancaster and Cher comparing notes on their hideous deeds, and a "Carole Lombard" who will not let his gender be defined by his chosen screenstar nickname...

SKC is both gruesome and hysterical, and (much like the series of DEXTER novels) manages to fill its own niche in popular fiction. A DEFINITE "Fred's Pick"!!

DESTINATION MOON!

Dance/ R&B Diva Deborah Cox somehow managed to emerge from her late-90s heyday ("Things Just Aint the Same"/ "Nobody's Supposed to be Here"), when her urban-flavored album tracks were transformed by remixer Hex Hector into massive big-room club stompers that virtually defined the 1998 club landscape, to find herself planted squarely in 2008, via 1956. DESTINATION MOON is her homage to vocalist extraordinaire Dinah Washington, and is a sultry and swinging collection of a dozen key tracks from Washington's impressive canon. Its easy to be a cynic when familiar voices from the past who have become less- and less-familair as the years go by find themselves exploiting the classics to make themselves relevant again. Linda Ronstadt, most notably, paved the way with her Nelson Riddle trilogy more than 2 decades ago. Rod Stewart has gone back to the well 4 times with his "Songbook" series, each one more successful than the last. Cox certainly doesnt have the name recognition of a Stewart or Ronstadt, so I was more inclined to give her a pass and allow for the possibility that this effort wasnt purely motivated by easy sales. Plus, she's got a great voice-- I was excited to give it a listen, and the gamble paid off! Washington's songs are standards, yes, but ones that were ready to be revisited, and ready to be reinterpreted. These are not the same old handful of tracks that turn up on every nostalgia collection, and Cox's vocal chops more than rise to the occasion. She swings, she belts the blues, and she croons. Best (and title) track: her thrilling take on Dinah's signature "Destination Moon"... A definite Fred's Pick!

HOLD TIGHT

http://www.amazon.com/gp/mpd/permalink/mCZOPTT7O5EI:mAZRABQKO9P4R

Just finished this one yesterday afternoon-- HIGHLY RECOMMENDED/ Harlan Coben's books are the best>> (Link, above, for a preview)...

Listening to the FUTURE of my PAST...

After getting a link to a great (and CHEAP) site for music downloads I have been going nuts filling up my iTunes library, figuring I should take advantage because nothing this good ever lasts... So, I have been filling up my back catalog of artists that I wouldnt necessarily spring full price for. Therefore, for example,I am no longer content to own the CHANGESBOWIE David Bowie compilation, but now feel I must own every Bowie album I owned as a kid. (Bowie was my obsession as a kid, along with Charlie's Angels and JAWS. I wanted to be him for Halloween- see the posted pic of the "Aladdin Sane" LP cover for my inspiration- but my mother wouldn't let me shave my eyebrows off... I have since forgiven her...) Same with Alice Cooper records. Greatest Hits CDs may be essential, but replacing stuff I owned on vinyl in elementary school is like a bizarre trip down memory lane... Aside from the obvious nostalgia of hearing the more obscure tracks after 25+ years, I find that I really miss holding the record; the 12" square LP record jacket with the pictures and the liner notes, etc etc... So much for a format that was made obscure by cassettes (Ahhhhhhh, the 80s...), which in turn were eclipsed by CDs (Ahhhhhhh, the LATE 80s...), the rapidly vanishing format of a tangible medium. So, now we are all digital. And its all still good, and brings me up to speed. I am completely modern and of -the- moment, and am happily able to live in my past. With just a few clicks!

Duran Duran? 23 years was a long time to wait to own the SEVEN AND THE RAGGED TIGER record, but I held out, and now it's mine. And under a buck, complete with album artwork! And no embarrassment on the checkout line at Sound Odyssey!!

What? Someone else has a blog??

The funny thing about a blog... you never know who has one, and what you may find! The following (below) was discovered by my boss at work, who came upon it completely by accident when Googling for some information on Beacon Hill. Granted, the following blog was posted by someone from last summer-- shortly following the announcement that I was closing my shop--- not exactly breaking news these days...I am re-posting it not just because it is a bit "newsworthy" to me, but also because it touches upon themes of loss, and of taking things for granted, and regret... (i.e. how Ive spent the last few weeks, coping with the loss of my father).So, here goes:



Friday, July 20, 2007

So Yesterday: Running a Video Store

For a while, my Grandfather Rogers was a blacksmith. He chose this profession because it was improvement over life on the farm, and because in the early 1900's he didn't realize that, career-wise, he was beating a dead horse. Sure, there were still horses around for a good long while, but, "Hey, pal, get a car," which is how my father and his buddies would taunt the few remaining horse drawn travelers still around during the 1920's.My grandfather's next career had more long run staying power, that's for sure.With his brother, Jim, he opened a tavern, grandly and quite imaginatively named The Rogers Brothers Saloon. (None of this Roscommon Pub, or Thirsty Druid, or Tir na Og for yer man in those days. I grew up in the same part of Worcester where The Saloon was, and the area was full of equally imaginatively named bars and taverns: McGuire's Breen's, Mulcahy's, Moynahan's, Donahue's, and Hennessey's.) The Rogers Brothers Saloon did have its own theme song, however, sung to the tune of "Back Home Again in Indiana:"Back home again, in Rogers' bar roomThat's the place I long to be...Unfortunately, bar-keeping went tempoarily the way of the buggy whip and blacksmith, and Rogers Bros. was closed down by Prohibition.Neither one of the Rogers Bros. had to spend much time worry about a next career move. They both died - still in their forties, Jim perhaps even younger than that - in the early 1920's, leaving my grandmother and Great Aunt Annie with young kids and little money.Careers come. Careers go. And, technology being what it is, the pace at which they go grows ever more accelerated. (Clerk-typist: does this job category even exist anymore?)I was thinking about all this when I saw in our little neighborhood newspaper, the wonderful Beacon Hill Times, that Fred's Video on Charles Street is closing.Not that I can even begin to feign surprise.When was the last time I checked anything out at Fred's?Not since we got Comcast On Demand, thank you. (Sorry, NetFlicks is just too much pressure to decide in advance. Everything comes around to On Demand eventually.)No more making reservations at Fred's. No more browsing the stacks on Saturday evenings, trying to decide whether we were up for two flicks - or even three. No more pouncing on a video that someone had just returned. No more shoving my returns into the slot early on Sunday morning, only to find that the receptacle was so fillled that you had to prod other returns out of the way.No more Fred.He is shutting down ...Fred Rose has been a neighborhood fixture for so many years, going from Emerson College kid in 1990, when he started working at the store he bought in 1996, to nicely graying before our very eyes.According to the article in the BH Times, he hasn't yet decided what he's doing next. He is personable, hardworking, entrepreneurial, and business-savvy enough to know when to call it quits. (Wish I'd had that good sense a few stops along the way.) I wish him the best of luck. I'm sure he'll do just fine.For now, I'll have to wonder what will go into the spot that Fred's Video is vacating.We absolutely have enough realtors in the neighborhood. We're good on restaurants, coffee shops, grocery/convenience, and liquor stores. We've got a local, unchained drugstore and hardware store. A shoe repair shop. Upscale gift shops, funky "stuff" shops, and shops that cater to rich kiddos, skinny young things, prepsters who buy cumberbunds with lobsters on them, and folks who pay lots of money for handbags. We have our very own Post Office - plus a UPS store. Antique stores we've got.It would be nice to have a bookstore.I know, I know. The ones we've had here haven't been able to make a go of it. There are two Borders and B&N a short walk away.Still, if some rich Beacon Hiller wanted to open bookstore... Someone who, unlike Fred, does not need to earn a living...The space that Fred's Video occupies is not very large. It would have to be a teensie, tiny little bookstore. Perhaps it could just carry poetry. Or children's books. Mysteries. Travel guides. Or books that I like to read. (I'd be happy to supply a list.)I know that we're told that books, like videos, are so yesterday.Still, wouldn't it be nice to have our very own little book boutique? Hopefully owned and operated by someone as nice and good for the neighborhood as Fred was for all these many years.

Puppini Sisters: Must-have download!!!

Sounds like it could be a novelty/ throwaway, but I would call them less of a gimmick than a curiousity that you need to check out... These are serious vocalists, with a tremendous amount of respect for their musical inspirations...Here is a trio, "sisters" a la 40s-era Andrews, complete with vintage hair and outfits BRILLIANTLY covering some of WWII's best-loved swing standards ("In the Mood", "It Don't Mean a Thing if it Aint Got That Swing", etc), yet places these homages alongside cover versions of relatively current hits by such disparate artists as Kate Bush, Blondie, the Bangles, and even Beyonce. So "Crazy In Love" sounds like it BELONGS with a standard like "Sway", and totally kicks it 40s-style... Of course, you will need to have a bit of an open mind if this music is completely alien to you, but if you can allow for that you will be rewarded...

The Puppini Sisters have 2 CDs out now, and a fiercely devoted following. If this were to inspire a revival of Roosevelt-era vocals a tenth of the magnitude that the film SWINGERS did for vintage and new swing, we could all be very lucky. Their version of "Boogie-Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B" gives Bette Midler's definitive take a run for its money.

...and you have never heard Disco stompers "I WIll Survive" or "Heart of Glass" as you will on the Sisters 2 available CDs. Highly Recommended!!!!

As good as the book?

This book ROCKED... Completely creepy, claustrophobic, and freaky. I have put off seeing this film, though, I gotta say. A brilliant horror novel often translates into crap once its adapted. Granted, the writer (who penned the incredible A SIMPLE PLAN, as well as its Oscar-winning screenplay that starred Billy Bob Thornton) also wrote THIS film adaptation. I dunno, the trailers look a bit lame. There arent too many decent thrillers out there, I still may check it out. Id tell you the plot, but then you'd think I was nuts to love the book...

More PICKS! (Or "Picks-To-Be", hopefully...)

As I just finished TURNING ANGEL, the book I blogged about last week, I am now in the market for my next book, which will most likely be the new thriller by Mary Higgins Clark. I find her consistently reliable, a quick and easy read, and her fiction to happily be not overly dense. She's about all I can take right now! (WHERE ARE YOU NOW/ Released Today...)

Next week sees the release of Harlan Coben's new thriller HOLD TIGHT. He is definitely me favorite author of the moment, and Ive read everything he has ever written, often in one or two sittings. Intricately plotted, rollercoaster-ride suspense with twists upon twists-- Im hoping this is as good as his previous ones. Again, that comes out next Tuesday...

Wednesday

Today I am on auto-pilot. My father is being cremated this afternoon, and I feel completely isolated and disconnected. The memorial and "Celebration of Life" will be held in mid-May, but today is a dark day for me.. Here is a great pic of Dad and me from one of those Woolworths photobooth things/ I think Im about 3 years old here>>

<<

...and here is a great pic of my father in his Navy days, posing here with his buddies and Eva Gabor..

...his last words to me were "I Love You, and You Take Care". Im trying. I will be glad when this week is over

On a happier note...

...and a much-needed distraction, it looks like that condo deal is going through after all! I hope so, because I am running out of Snoopy pics! The inspection is set for this Thursday at 4pm...

My Dad...

This past Friday my father passed away. The reality is just beginning to settle in, as this was a man who battled (and beat) cancer 25 years ago, and after a 1997 quadruple bypass managed to outlive his expected 5-6 years by double that amount. We often joked that 20 years from now we would still have him around defying the odds, sitting outside, having a smoke and greeting the neighbors who all knew and loved him... Now, flowers mark the place where he once held court...

This is my first experience with someone so close to me passing away. I was close with my grandmother, sure, but the generational disparity there alone assured me some distance when the inevitable happened there, thirteen months ago. I had lost a good friend very unexpectedly in an automobile accident during the Christmas season, 2002. But a familial loss is different.

Suddenly, all the little nuances and attributes of my relationship with my father took on greater resonance. Things that I had long forgotten about resurfaced. The personality traits of his that were less than spectacular took a backseat to memories of him taking my friends and me to drive-in movies and rides to the mall or the skating rink on weekend nights. Of he and I doing the dishes in the kitchen while I blared records from the den, enlightening him to the Stray Cats, Blondie, the Ramones, and Culture Club. "What's Blondie been up to these days?" he would often ask, as recently as a few years ago... He was proud of my owning my former business, and was very inquisitive about my new job in real estate. He was also happy and supportive of my personal relationships, and got to meet Greg and his parents-- That I am particularly happy about!

I was also happy to have been a relatively frequent visitor to Hawaii, where I got to see him on a somewhat recurring basis over the years. We weren't HUGE communicators, to be honest, but we always talked about my friends that he remembered from when I was growing up, about books that he had been reading, and about my nieces (his grandchildren) who were his pride and joy. Dad was happy to keep to himself, was happy to lose himself in a good spy novel, and to keep me updated on any hijinks involving Yasmin, Jihan, or his other buddies (the cats!).

The fact that he wasnt overly forthcoming about any mysteries surrounding his own upbringing and family life, nor were any insights shed about a few unanswered questions about things that went on when he was raising us, leaves us with a father who was a flawed guy with a big heart; a simple man on many levels, yet enigmatic to the end...

I love him, and I miss him...

IN MEMORIUM...

Charles E Rose (8/21/30- 4/4/08)

BOOOOOOOOOOOO..

Red tape!! Deal stalled for now... All is not lost/ more showings lined up, and another open house this Sunday. Why did I assume everything would just go smoothly??? LOL...

HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Condo offer was finally accepted!! Let the paperwork begin...

A literary "Fred's Pick" in the making!

I'm one-third of the way through TURNING ANGEL, another of author Greg Iles' Mississippi-based thrillers. I have read several of his novels (including the recent TRUE EVIL), and I have to say that he's got to be one of my fave writers. His fiction is dense and literate, and deals with difficult issues of morality and ethics against a backdrop of smalltown seaminess, murder, and more. His protagonists never fail to draw you in, and this one is no exception. Its too soon to delve into plot (as his plots are never what they seem), but rarely has a book grabbed me this quickly. This one is a few back in his catalog/ I think he has written two since TURNING ANGEL, but any of his books are a good launching point. The tension tightens like a vise as the chapters fly by. For those who like their thrills on a DVD player, seek out TRAPPED, based on Iles' novel 24 HOURS...

A bit downbeat...

Has been a bit of a crazy month with me, here... Have been incredibly sidetracked with the unexpected failing health of my father (which seems to be changing on a daily basis). The fact that he lives in Hawaii with my sister and her family makes it that much more difficult. I flew out 2 weeks ago to see him in the hospital (where he remains...), and his condition seems to have improved (COPD/ Emphysema, which lead to a dizziness/lightheadedness and a resulting fall. 20 stitches above his eye, and massive cerebral bleeding... It looks as though he will be requiring care 24/7 once he is released. He has had more than one very close call in the past (cancer, quadruple bypass, etc) so its safe to say there is room for some cautious optimism... My sister has gone above and beyond the call, and Im grateful that she is there for him (even though, as a patient, he can be a pain in the ass!) Thats her in the picture with me, taken last summer...As for me, I am okay. I find Im a bit flightier than usual these days, and prone to bouts of moodiness and distractedness...

And SPEAKING of moodiness (terrible segue), we just rented THE BRAVE ONE starring Jodie Foster as a mugging victim (that took the life of her fiancee), and the sense of alienation and dislocation that consumes her as a result. She becomes a vigilante of sorts, and attempts to reclaim her life, only to find that she remains a shell of what she once was. It works as a thrilling genre film, in that there is a fair amount of action and gore, but all of that takes a back sense to the reflective drama that is ultimately this film's essential hallmark. It is a dark and brooding drama, and perhaps the most "human" revenge flick you will see in a long time. Highly Recommended, and definitely a "Fred's Pick"! The ending is unforgettable...

WOO-HOOOO!!!

New B-52's out this week!! First new CD in over 15 years!!

...Expect Summer appearances by Hall of Famer's Blondie (South Shore Music Circus, 6/21), and George Michael (TD Banknorth Garden, 7/27): Both shows go on sale to the general public next Friday, April 4... I saw GM in Philadelphia during his FAITH Tour-- First time driving in the city, and I made a right turn the wrong way on a 5 lane highway/ 5 lanes of cars headed right at me... Thats my main memory of the show (and of city driving) : 5 friends crammed into my dad's LeBaron, all SCREAMING at me... Now I'll take the T. Or let Greg drive :)