By Jack Silbert on October 27, 2024
EPISODE #612: WISHES
The Who — “Happy Jack” [THEME]
A Flock of Seagulls — “Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)”
Faith NYC — “Love Is a Wish Away”
The Original Sins — “Wish I Was Here”
Laura Cantrell — “Wishful Thinking”
Ben Vaughn — “You’re Gonna Wish Love Was Never Invented”
Amy Rigby — “Wish That I Could Be in Your Shoes”
For Against — “I Wish”
Heavenly — “Wish Me Gone”
Jack Skuller — “I Wish You Lived Nearby”
Rogue’s March — “I Wish My Wife Was a Country Singer”
2nd Grade — “Wish You Were Here Tour”
Nap Eyes — “Though I Wish I Could”
Little Anthony & the Imperials — “When You Wish Upon a Star”
Jack Silbert proudly records the Aquarium podcast in Hoboken, NJ.
Posted in internet radio playlists | Tagged 2nd Grade, A Flock of Seagulls, Amy Rigby, Ben Vaughn, Faith, For Against, Heavenly, Jack Skuller, Laura Cantrell, Little Anthony & the Imperials, Nap Eyes, Original Sins, Rogue's March
By Jack Silbert on October 20, 2024
4 stars out of 5
If you’re really feeling Petty, take a deep dive into Peter Bogdanovich’s 4-hour, 19-min documentary from 2007, Runnin’ Down a Dream. But for a looser experience capturing Tom and band at the height of their powers, Cameron Crowe’s restored film Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party is the one for you. Produced to promote the album Long After Dark, the doc aired only once on MTV in 1983. Crowe has shined it up for a quick theatrical release and we’ll see what happens next.
Though it reached the top 10, Long After Dark was considered a bit of a letdown (go ahead and give it to me) after the monster platinum albums Damn the Torpedoes and Hard Promises. But you wouldn’t know it from watching this movie — the Heartbreakers seem only concerned with being a great rock and roll band, not topping the charts. The word “brothers” comes up more than once; these are dear friends dedicated to their pursuit, and loving it.
The then 25-year-old rock journalist Cameron Crowe was granted exclusive access, and it’s impossible to watch this without thinking of it as a continuation for Crowe’s stand-in character from Almost Famous. We’re on the bus, in the studio, onstage, backstage (I’m pretty sure the Spinal Tap guys saw this footage), in a limo (which Petty rented as a goof just so he could be filmed inside a limo), etc. Crowe’s innocence shines through — he wouldn’t write and direct Say Anything for another six years — but also his extreme love for the music and thrill to be hanging out with Tom and the guys.
The most memorable images from the Long After Dark album cycle are from the Mad Max-like “You Got Lucky” video, and the doc spends a decent amount of time in the desert with the band. Interestingly, this would be a turning point for Petty, focusing more energy on visuals as MTV reached greater and greater importance (such as with his classic “Don’t Come Around Here No More” video from the next album), while still being devoted to classic rock and roll. (We see the band do a completely sincere cover of “Wild Thing” in the studio.)
What a treat to open this time capsule, with the band still young and hungry but definitely not kids anymore — Tom was on the other side of his legal troubles with the record company over the pricing of Hard Promises. And it’s a pleasure to see Cameron Crowe at the start of his filmmaking career, having some real fun with the rock-doc format. Plus, in the more-things-change department, this time the documentary is promoting a remastered, bonus-tracks edition of Long After Dark. Maybe it will go platinum this time!
Posted in movie reviews | Tagged Cameron Crowe, Peter Bogdanovich, Tom Petty
By Jack Silbert on October 15, 2024
EPISODE #611: AUTUMN 2024
The Who — “Happy Jack” [THEME]
So-So Topic — “Autumn Leaves”
Kicker — “Now That Autumn Is Here”
David Christian — “Autumn’s Boy”
The Vines — “Autumn Shade”
The Ventures — “Lullaby of the Leaves”
Michael Shelley — “The Leaves Fell Off the Trees”
Iron & Wine — “Autumn Town Leaves”
Eric Ambel & Roscoe’s Gang — “Autumn Rose”
Figures — “Your Autumn Days”
The Cat’s Miaow — “Autumn”
Awful Din — “Fall” [unsolicited Silbert edit]
Gary Lewis & the Playboys — “Autumn”
Sun Ra & his Astro Infinity Arkestra — “October”
Robyn Hitchcock — “Autumn Sunglasses”
Blake Leyh — “The Fall”
Jack Silbert proudly records the Aquarium podcast in Hoboken, NJ.
Posted in internet radio playlists | Tagged Awful Din, Blake Leyh, Comet Gain, David Christian, Eric Ambel, Figures, Gary Lewis & the Playboys, Iron & Wine, Kicker, Michael Shelley, Robyn Hitchcock, So-So Topic, Sun Ra, The Cat’s Miaow, The Ventures, The Vines, The Wire
By Jack Silbert on October 10, 2024
4 stars out of 5
I was not planning on seeing The Wild Robot. I was set on Joker II. (I like watching Joaquin Phoenix go nuts.) But a little last-minute research turned up that the new Joker was not particularly good and also, a musical. WTF? Much like the Mean Girls reboot, Joker II was not marketed as a musical because modern audiences do not like musicals. OK, fair enough, but how far back were these movies greenlit (and let’s include In the Heights and the outstanding Spielberg West Side Story) so that film execs actually thought that crowds would flock to musicals??
I bought a ticket for The Wild Robot. That is, after googling “Is Wild Robot entertaining for adults,” and getting a positive enough response. This is a very lovingly animated film (except for a couple of blurry animals) and in some regards, an Iron Giant for a new generation. Roz the robot (warmly voiced by Lupita Nyong’o) is meant for some upper middle-class family (perhaps the Jetsons?) but the shipment crash-lands on an uninhabited island with incredibly amazing biodiversity. Roz is programmed to help and to complete tasks. Long-story short, she ends up needing to raise Brightbill, a gosling. (Golden-goose opportunity BLOWN — honk honk — to cast Ryan Gosling as a voice actor.)
Pedro Pascal is the requisite animated-movie sassy buddy, a fox named Fink. I found his voice grating at first but it grew on me as the character became more reliable. I enjoyed hearing Matt Berry as a compulsive beaver. Catherine O’Hara has some nice bits as a possum mama with a rotating litter. Mark Hamill doesn’t get much to do as a bear, but I’m glad he’s in this. Ving Rhames has the meats as an owl. Bill Nighy classes things up as a goose elder.
After the clever fish-out-of-water opening scenes, I started to think “uggh, this is a kids’ movie after all” — it even stops dead in its tracks for the requisite pop song. But as the drama ramps up, there’s actually some action, and I found myself more invested in the story. Meanwhile, nice messages about the importance of friendship and that family is where you find it seep in as well.
Here’s the crazy thing: This is a movie for adults — it’s for moms. The movie practically panders (ganders? pandas?) to moms. But it’s OK, because moms give and give and give and where is the appreciation, they’re like the freaking Giving Tree with all the giving till they’re so worn down and there’s no spa day when you’re a robot and moms deserve love damnit, is that so wrong? So bring Mom and Grandma and your knocked-up sister to a screening — oh, don’t forget to bring the kids too — was this DreamWorks’ sinister demographic plan all along? — and put a knowing smile on your mom’s face.
Posted in movie reviews | Tagged 20s movies, Catherine O'Hara, Lupita Nyong'o
By Jack Silbert on October 9, 2024
EPISODE #610: NO
The Human Beinz — “Nobody But Me” [ALTERNATE THEME]
They Might Be Giants — “No!”
Billy Ward & the Dominoes — “’Yes, My Darling’No!’ Says My Heart”
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart — “Say No to Love”
Laura Cantrell — “No Way There From Here”
Sonic Youth — “No Way”
The Resonars — “No Black Clouds Float By”
Ben Vaughn — “No Count”
The Just Joans — “No Longer Young Enough”
Joy Cleaner — “No Milk Today”
Gumball — “No More”
Luna — “No Regrets”
King Missile — “No Point”
The Special Pillow — “No Such Too Much”
Rolling Stones — “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” [radio session]
Talulah Gosh — “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction (Thank God)”
Jack Silbert proudly records the Aquarium podcast in Hoboken, NJ.
Posted in internet radio playlists | Tagged Ben Vaughn, Billy Ward & the Dominoes, Gumball, Human Beinz, Joy Cleaner, King Missile, Laura Cantrell, Luna, Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Rolling Stones, Sonic Youth, Special Pillow, Talulah Gosh, The Just Joans, The Resonars, They Might Be Giants
By Jack Silbert on October 4, 2024
4 stars out of 5
It’s not too often that an 85-year-old throws me off my game. But when the octogenarian in question is Francis Ford Coppola, perhaps I shouldn’t be too surprised. He has perhaps the greatest résumé of any filmmaker, living or otherwise: The Godfather, Godfather II, Apocalypse Now, The Conversation, and not far behind, Peggy Sue Got Married, Rumble Fish, The Outsiders, Tucker: The Man and His Dream, Godfather III,The Rain People, You’re a Big Boy Now, etc. And now, after much anticipation, speculation, and consternation, Coppola has delivered a movie unlike any I’ve seen before: Megalopolis.
Which I think has also thrown off many critics and audience members prone to snap decisions. For this is not a movie you can slip into like an old shoe or comfy sweater. It’s disconcerting. The dialogue does not follow familiar rhythms. It requires your continued attention. Am I in college watching alternative theater? No, I’m experiencing the prototype uncompromising writer/director leaving absolutely everything on the table.
Megalopolis is a Roman epic set in modern times. It’s a Shakespearean tragedy and comedy. This is a science-fiction tale, mafia saga, The Fountainhead, tribute to the Golden Age of Hollywood, sweeping love story, and above all else, a satire — of politics, the media, popular culture, the upper class, these 21st century United States, and more.
Adam Driver, as visionary inventor/architect/philosopher Cesar, does the heavy lifting here. In a role that’s often absurd, Driver steers it away from becoming ridiculous. He is a dependable leading man. Cesar’s rival is the mayor of New Rome/The Man/the establishment Cicero (I never claimed the allegory was subtle), deftly played by Giancarlo Esposito, from Coppola’s Cotton Club in 1984 and my cousin Steve’s Sweet Lorraine in 1987. On Team Cicero are Noo Yawker Dustin Hoffman and Coppola nephew Jason Schwartzman. For Team Cesar we have Laurence Fishburne, Jon Voight, and Coppola sis/Jason’s mom/playing Cesar’s mom/”ADRIAN!!!” Talia Shire. Awwww!!!
Most impressive are two actors whose characters switch loyalties: Mayor’s daughter Julia who falls for Cesar Nathalie Emmanuel, probably the most flesh-and-blood person in the story, and also she is a knockout. And as Cesar’s conniving cousin, comeback player of the year Shia LaBeouf, having a blast as on-edge Clodio who ends up leading a MAGA-like crowd (several with red baseball caps). Shout-outs also to actual pop star Grace VanderWall as virginal pop star who pulls a JoJo Siwa, Vesta Sweetwater, and to my celebrity crush Chloe Fineman as a Julia hanger-on party girl.
This is not a perfect film by any measure. The effects, often impressive, are sometimes cheesy. And though I was entertained throughout, the movie didn’t elicit a real emotional response from me (a great risk of satire) until the very end, when I realized how much Francis Ford Coppola loves this country and, even this late in the game, still has hope for us. Megalopolis may not be a box-office smash, but when it’s rediscovered in 30 years as a gem, I’ll be the first 85-year-old to tell you — wait, come closer so you can hear — “I told you so.”
Posted in movie reviews | Tagged 20s movies, 70s movies, 80s movies, Adam Driver, Francis Ford Coppola, Jason Schwartzman, Nathalie Emmanuel
By Jack Silbert on October 1, 2024
EPISODE #609: YES
Yes — “Tempus Fugit” [ALTERNATE THEME]
Sweetie Darling — “Yes You Do”
Fats Domino — “Yes, My Darling”
John Prine — “Yes I Guess They Oughta Name a Drink After You”
Higgins — “Yes I Know”
Elliott Smith — “Say Yes”
Coriky — “Say Yes”
Gene Marshall — “Jimmy Carter Says Yes!”
Louis Jordan and Bing Crosby — “My Body Said Yes (Yip, Yip de Hootie)”
Barbara Mason — “Yes, I’m Ready”
The Mockers — “Yes World”
The Beatles — “Yes It Is”
Johnny Ace — “Yes, Baby”
Flamin’ Groovies — “Yes I Am”
Big Bill Broonzy — “Flat-Foot Susie With Flat Yes Yes”
Jad Fair and Norman Blake — “Yes”
Kris Kristofferson — “For the Good Times” r.i.p.
Jack Silbert proudly records the Aquarium podcast in Hoboken, NJ.
Posted in internet radio playlists | Tagged Barbara Mason, Beatles, Big Bill Broonzy, Bing Crosby, Coriky, Elliott Smith, Fats Domino, Flamin' Groovies, Gene Marshall, Higgins, Jad Fair, John Prine, Johnny Ace, Kris Kristofferson, Louis Jordan, Norman Blake, Sweetie Darling, The Mockers, Yes
By Jack Silbert on September 30, 2024
4.5 stars out of 5
When I first read the description of this documentary — Will Ferrell and a longtime friend who has recently transitioned take a cross-country road trip — I immediately wanted to see it. I figured Ferrell would be a gentle guide into questions about transgender life that many of us have. And especially with so many stories — and disinformation — focusing on young people transitioning, this seemed like a worthwhile different angle. Plus, I love a good road-trip movie.
Then, when I found out Will’s friend Harper had been a Saturday Night Live writer (and eventually head writer), I was even more interested! I felt like I already knew this person a little, or at least their work. This was probably someone I’d get along with very well.
A bonus of this backstory is some added star power for the movie, as Will and Harper encounter several old SNL pals along the way. Harper readily admits that Ferrell’s celebrity was making this trip more trouble-free for her. She loves dive bars, out-of-the-way diners, etc. (I like her more and more!) But now was worried if, as a trans woman, she could hang out in these same places. So of course having Will on-hand provides a friend’s support, while his fame (usually) puts everyone at ease. Harper knows the true test is entering these spots alone.
I got teary quite a bit watching this film, certainly early on when we meet Harper’s two children. They’ve all decided that the kids will still call her Dad — because she’s their dad. It’s a really sweet scene.
It is not a non-stop joyride across this country of ours. Harper and Will run into people who are less understanding of someone who has transitioned, and encounter some real ugliness. And Harper just revisiting different moments in her life, and in her personal journey, obviously raises a wide variety of emotions.
You do not get the sense that Will Ferrell is trying to show the world what a good guy he is, but nonetheless it comes through. Because this is also very much a film about friendship. In theory, this was a change that could’ve shattered their bond. But that’s the thing about true friendship — it can weather any challenge.
Posted in movie reviews | Tagged 20s movies, Andrew Steele, documentaries, Harper Steele, transgender life, Will Ferrell
By Jack Silbert on September 17, 2024
4.5 stars out of 5
Pee-wee put Tim Burton on the map, but it was 1988’s Beetlejuice that really established his reputation as a master macabre mischief-maker. Yes, he’s occasionally strayed from the darkness since — Big Fish, Big Eyes, Dumbo, etc. — but like the band Garbage, Burton is really only happy when it rains. I’m glad to report that with Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, it’s raining, it’s pouring, the older Tim is scoring.
Well, it’s actually regular collaborator Danny Elfman who does the scoring, just one of the reuniting class of ’88. Catherine O’Hara, repopularized by Schitt’s Creek, returns as the art-damaged mom. Winona Ryder, who I’ll always recall from the cover of the 1991 Rolling Stone Hot Issue, is the goth daughter all grown up. And Michael Keaton — who powered the original film with his manic comic performance and a decade ago earned a Best Actor nomination — is back as Betelgeuse, and the ’Juice is loose!
Notably and understandably absent is dad Jeffrey Jones, who was canceled before it was fashionable. But the writers cleverly use his character’s untimely demise as a jumping-off point for the story. Screenwriters Alfred Gough and Miles Millar previously worked with Burton on Wednesday. That series clearly reinvigorated the director’s spooky specialty, and he smartly plucks lead Jenna Ortega to play Winona’s gloomy offspring.
Joining the cast are Justin Theroux as Winona’s overly-woke boyfriend, Willem Dafoe as a (dead) TV actor who doesn’t always remember he was just playing a cop, and Burton’s girlfriend Monica Bellucci as a literally soul-sucking femme fatale fatality. (I miss you, Helena Bonham Carter!)
Much of the action centers around the Deetz family’s Psycho-like house in Winter River. The lack of Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis happily haunting the attic is quickly explained away. However, not mentioned is the disappearance of O’Hara’s very-80s “addition” to the house; I guess it just didn’t fit the mood.
Gough and Millar load the script with various mini-plots — all fun — and only a director as skillful as Burton could weave them all together, building the comic intensity, doubling down on hilarious special effects, and adding just enough mother/daughter sweetness. Everyone, especially Keaton, seems to be really enjoying themselves, and I just found the movie totally satisfying. If they want to do another sequel and add one more He Who Must Not Be Named to the title (no not that dope Voldemort; the original Bad Boy of ’88!), I will gladly hang out in the afterworld waiting room till it happens.
Posted in movie reviews | Tagged 20s movies, 80s movies, Catherine O'Hara, Danny Elfman, Michael Keaton, Tim Burton, Winona Ryder
By Jack Silbert on September 17, 2024
EPISODE #608: BROTHERS
Isley Brothers — “Brother, Brother” [ALTERNATE THEME]
Lucinda Williams — “Little Angel, Little Brother”
Lady Lamb the Beekeeper — “Little Brother”
Mickey and Kitty — “The Kid Brother”
Young Fresh Fellows — “Two Brothers”
Former Babies — “Growing Up With Two Brothers”
John Doe — “Twin Brothers”
Filthy Friends — “Brother”
The Gotobeds — “Wimpy Garcia (Brotherfucker)”
The Last — “Hitler’s Brother”
Bruce Springsteen — “Highway Patrolman”
Trøn & DVD — “My Brothers & Me”
Annuals — “Brother”
Real Estate — “Brother”
The Jackson 5 — “Never Can Say Goodbye” r.i.p. Tito Jackson
Jack Silbert proudly records the Aquarium podcast in Hoboken, NJ.
Posted in internet radio playlists | Tagged Annuals, Bruce Springsteen, Filthy Friends, Former Babies, Isley Brothers, John Doe, Lady Lamb the Beekeeper, Lucinda Williams, Mickey and Kitty, real estate, The Gotobeds, The Jackson 5, The Last, Tito Jackson, Trøn & DVD, Young Fresh Fellows
Jack Silbert, curator