Pop Diary: Brandon Eder Ensemble, Bogie and Bacall, St. Elsewhere

What I'm hearing, watching, reading, drinking, etc.


Brandon Eder Ensemble - Cape Cod Cottage (Bandcamp). Eder's work was a Spotify epiphany for me early in lockdown and I've been keeping up with him ever since. 

His compositions are unique - pastel-hued with lovely melodies set to precise, evolving rhythms. The pieces sound almost electronic, yet are played by live musicians on mainly acoustic instruments. Some of it reminds me of Zappa's lightest and most melodic instrumental compositions, but there also are elements of 1970s jazz and soundtrack music. Some of it sounds like something you might've heard backing one of those short films of birds or plants they included in early episodes of "Sesame Street." 

This latest release comes along with a backstory: It's supposedly made up of lost compositions by Edward Blankman, "a retired dentist who wrote elegant, minimalist jazz in obscurity circa 1970." But all the titles carry Eder's name, indicating that he's just having a little fun pretending to be someone else. It does sound minimal and elegant, though. Have a listen:



Bogie and Bacall (HBO Max). We've been enjoying old movie nights the past couple of weeks. Must be fall. Tucked away in the TCM area on HBO Max (which is really hard to find), we landed on first "Key Largo" and, the following week, "To Have and to Have Not." My wife and I'd seen these movies before, of course, but it was the first time for our daughter, who enjoyed both. Both are briskly paced, well directed (by John Houston and Howard Hawks, respectively) and sharply scripted. The chemistry between the leads is undeniable and, in the famed "whistle" scene in "To Have and To Have Not," smoldering. If you're looking for something classic to watch on a dark, crisp evening, either of the would be a great choice. 


St. Elsewhere (Hulu). Meanwhile, my wife and I went down another wormhole, binging this 80s classic. I was a big fan during the original run, but she'd never watched it. 

So edgy and innovative at the time, the show now can seem clunky, cheesy and sometimes laughably bad. But when you keep the context in mind - how different from, and more realistic than - this show and "Hill Street Blues" were from other series at the time, it's hard not, still, be impressed. 

The series did take risks, and did a lot of things differently from shows that had come before, paving the way for things with "E.R.," "N.Y.P.D. Blue" and "Homicide" and, ultimately, series like "The Sopranos," "The Wire" and "Breaking Bad," but it also frequently relied conventional, predictable TV plots. It was a creature of it time, standing on familiar ground, while also breaking it.

Going back to the source as been fun. Although there's some stiff acting here and there, the excellent performances of Ed Flanders, William Daniels (stealing every scene he's in as the acerbic Dr. Craig), David Morse, Ed Begley, Jr., and a young Denzel Washington all hold up. And, damn!, Howie Mandel was great as Wayne Fiscus - a completely natural and very funny actor. It's a pity he hasn't done more series work, apart from bad game shows and talent contests.

We're late in season 2 right now, I think, and it's addictive. We've been watching an episode most nights. Next up "Hill Street Blues"!

Drinking:



Pop Pic: Jimmy and Grace

Watch The Hollies play "On A Carousel," 1967

New music out today: James Bond, Ringo Starr, Shatner, Velvets tribute, more!

Our picks this week. Click the links to order from Amazon.






Pop Culture Roundup: Yoko, Bowie, Wonka, Falco and more!


ITEM! A look back at Yoko Ono's Fly album, which instrumental accompaniment from John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton among others.

ITEM! Netflix has obtained rights to create series and films based on Roald Dahl's stories and characters, including Willy Wonka and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

ITEM! The Stylophone, an early synthesizer dating from the 1960s, is in production again and now you can get a David Bowie-themed model.

ITEM! Edie Falco filmed a scene as Carmela Soprano in the upcoming "Sopranoes" prequel film, :The Many Saints of Newark," but it was cut.

ITEM! A guy on eBay is selling 100,000 (for real) sealed children's albums — including superhero adventures starring Superman and Batman — on the 1970s Power Records label. 

Pop Pic: Greg Morris

New comics collected editions out this week

Our picks this week. Click the links to order from Amazon.

Hulk takes a trip to Counter-Earth, where he confronts his most-hated enemy: Bruce Banner! Add in the Rhino and the Abomination, and the action and drama can’t be contained! Then, the Hulk heads north to Canada — where the X-Men’s Mimic returns, and the Wendigo makes its debut! And the drama continues when Betty Ross is mutated into the Harpy! Next, the green goliath sets out on a path of revenge against a murderer’s row of earth-shaking enemies — including Juggernaut, Cobalt Man and a second encounter with Rhino and Abomination! Finally, the Hulk lands in Attilan, where the Inhumans are forced to launch him into outer space to prevent the destruction of their home. But where the Hulk lands will surprise him — and a cosmic saga alongside the messianic Adam Warlock awaits!
    Collecting INCREDIBLE HULK (1968) #157-178.

What's better than 80 years of Archie Comics? Simple - 80 years of Archie's holiday hijinks! Celebrate eight decades of Christmas with Archie! With 250+ pages of classic holiday stories, this festive collection is a yuletide milestone that can't be missed! The Riverdale Gang have a hilarious history with the holidays, and you can see it all in this ultimate stocking-stuffer!

Pop Pic: Liz

Upcoming BBC TV series tells the story of the 1980s Two-Tone musical movement

Details from the news release.

2 Tone: The Sound Of Coventry has been commissioned by BBC England and is a co-production between Coventry UK City of Culture Trust and Full Fat Television, and is part of the BBC’s commitment to the cultural celebrations in Coventry this year.

It will air on BBC One across the West Midlands on Thursday 30 September and later in the year on BBC Two across the UK. The documentary tells the story of 2 Tone, the musical phenomenon that exploded out of Coventry onto the music charts around the world in 1979.

Fans of 2 Tone will have a chance to apply for an exclusive screening of the film ahead of the broadcast, which will take place on September 28 at the Assembly Festival Gardens in the city. Audiences can apply for tickets by visiting the BBC Shows and Tours website.

This special hour long documentary takes a deep dive into the history of the 2 Tone movement. It features a rare interview with Jerry Dammers, founder of 2 Tone, revealing why he launched this “DIY” independent record label from Coventry and how he came up with the ideas for the music and the style. It’s a programme celebrating the sense of hope and pride felt in the city of Coventry at a time when there was growing racial tension across the UK. It blends personal testimonies with photos and archive footage – revealing the social and cultural significance of the music as well as the energy and fun of the live gigs and the fashion.

In the film audiences also hear from The Specials’ Neville Staple; Pauline Black and Neol Davies of the Selecter as well as special interviews with proud Coventrian and music mogul Pete Waterman, writer, producer and performer Christine Sugary Staple and 2 Tone fan and film director Gurinder Chadha.

The film also charts the story of how 2 Tone went on to have a global impact and a unique place in popular music discovering bands and launching the careers of Madness and The Beat to name a few.

Aisling O’Connor, Head of TV Commissioning for BBC England says: “I grew up listening to The Specials and am a big fan of the vibrant music popularly known as 2 Tone. So I’m incredibly excited BBC England is part of telling this story. 2 Tone brought together black and white musicians and fans in a truly inspiring way. I’m proud that this programme allows us to play our part in supporting Coventry as it celebrates its multiculturalism, diversity and culture."

Chenine Bhathena, Creative Director for Coventry UK City of Culture Trust says: “2 Tone was created by a young Jerry Dammers, that gave birth to a global anti-racism movement. It was born in Coventry but was not just about music; this movement encompassed design, fashion, social justice and brought different racial communities together. 2 Tone stands for unity, peace and respect, joyful but with a strong social conscience. It successfully rallied to bring freedom for Nelson Mandela and to put an end to apartheid, and even today 2 Tone continues to inspire a new generation. We are proud of its Coventry roots and are delighted to be showcasing the music, the people and the social activism, during our year as UK City of Culture.”

Colette Foster, CEO of Full Fat Television says: “Being a lifelong fan of Ska, this documentary was a dream come true to make. The 2 Tone movement is an important part of Coventry’s history, and it’s so important to celebrate this movement and what it means to the city, in a time when Coventry is in the spotlight for its cultural diversity.”

You can watch 2 Tone: The Sound Of Coventry on BBC One in the West Midlands on 30 September at 8.00pm and nationally on BBC Two later in the year.

David Tennant is Phileas Fogg in a new "Around the World in 80 Days" adaptation


A new series coming to PBS and the BBC. 

Details from the news release:
The epic Jules Verne adaptation, "Around the World in 80 Days," features David Tennant as the intrepid explore Phileas Fogg, Ibrahim Koma as the mercurial Passepartout and Leonie Benesch as young journalist Abigail ‘Fix’ Fortescue.

Following an outrageous bet, Fogg and his valet, Passepartout, take on the legendary journey of circumnavigating the globe in just 80 days, swiftly joined by aspiring journalist Abigail Fix, who seizes the chance to report on this extraordinary story.

The series has been adapted by a team of renowned writers led by Ashley Pharoah (Life On Mars, Ashes To Ashes, The Living And The Dead) and Caleb Ranson (Child Of Mine, Heartless) and photographs were taken on location in Cape Town, South Africa and Romania.

Around the World in 80 Days is an 8x60' Slim Film + Television and Federation co-production for the European Alliance formed by France Télévisions, ZDF and RAI, with additional co-production partners, Masterpiece PBS (U.S), Peu Communications (South Africa), Be-Films and RTBF (Belgium), Daro Film Distribution (associate producer).

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