By Jack Silbert on September 10, 2024
EPISODE #607: SISTERS
The Gentle Waves — “Sisterwoman” [ALTERNATE THEME]
Juliana Hatfield Three — “My Sister”
The Go-Betweens — “The Clarke Sisters”
Deena Shoskes — “Sisters”
Eurythmics w/ Aretha Franklin — “Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves”
Luna — “Hey Sister”
The Resonars — “Odd Sister”
The Black Keys — “Sister”
Jennifer O’Connor — “Sister”
Hank Ballard & the Midnighters — “Look at Little Sister”
Elvis Costello — “Big Sister’s Clothes”
Fleetwood Mac — “Sisters of the Moon”
European Sun — “A Song for Sisters”
First Responder — “Sister Song”
Sexy Kids — “Sisters Are Forever”
I Draw Slow — “Mama Don’t Cry” in memory of Charlie Birdwell’s sister Linda
U2 — “Where the Streets Have No Name” in memory of my dear friend Frances Murphy
Jack Silbert proudly records the Aquarium podcast in Hoboken, NJ.
Posted in internet radio playlists | Tagged Aretha Franklin, Deena Shoskes, Elvis Costello, European Sun, Eurythmics, First Responder, Fleetwood Mac, Hank Ballard & the Midnighters, I Draw Slow, Jennifer O'Connor, Juliana Hatfield, Luna, Sexy Kids, The Black Keys, The Cucumbers, The Gentle Waves, The Go-Betweens, The Resonars, U2
By Jack Silbert on September 4, 2024
3.5 stars out of 5
“A film by Nathan Silver.” That’s what the ads say. Who gives a crap?!? Who the hell is Nathan Silver? I looked him up, I still don’t know. Don’t you have to earn a credit like that? You know, on LinkedIn, I recently saw a current employee of the company where I worked at for a long time. And the person’s title was Associate Senior Editor. Well, which is it? Associate editor, or senior editor? You can’t be in-between! It’s title inflation and it can only lead to trouble, mark my words!!
I digress.
This is a cute little film, with some heavier content in it. (Suicidal ideation is heavy, yes? OK then.) A somewhat puffy Jason Schwartzman is the cantor at a suburban synagogue. (For you goys, that means he sings during the service.) He is no longer married and he is unhappy, and messing up at work. Jason’s two moms (come on Jack, don’t do a parenthetical here, it’s totally normal that he has two moms!) want him to be happy. The rabbi is cutting him a lot of slack. The rabbi is Robert Smigel, a.k.a. Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, a.k.a. Saturday TV Funhouse, a.k.a. every funny thing ever, I don’t know if they said “hey let’s ask Robert Smigel to play the role” or if he auditioned and won the part, but he is totally believable as a rabbi and I was very glad to see him.
Two women enter Jason’s life. Most prominently is Carol Kane, because her photo is on the poster, not far from Nathan Silver’s name. She’s older but wants a bat mitzvah, and wants Jason to instruct her! But that’s crazy, bat mitzvahs and Trix are for kids! Hey, it’s a cute little movie, what can I tell you, so these things happen. She is a free spirit and Jason is not!
There is also the rabbi’s daughter (Madeline Weinstein). Hey, she’s cute, she’s smart, she’s funny, we like her! She’d be a good match for Jason! What a nice couple you two make!
There is comedic family yelling and the movie is lightly comic, very lightly, just a bit of heavier stuff. I could’ve done without the pun title, but maybe that wasn’t Nathan Silver’s decision. An afternoon audience of older Jews at the Red Bank cinema seemed to enjoy the movie, and I did too. I also enjoyed being one of the younger Jews in the audience, which doesn’t happen much anymore.
Posted in movie reviews | Tagged 20s movies, Jason Schwartzman
By Jack Silbert on September 4, 2024
4 stars out of 5
I was 10 when the original Alien came out so didn’t see it at the time, but even the poster was scary. Since then I think I only skipped part 4, despite the presence of Winona Ryder. So it was no surprise on an overcast late summer afternoon to find myself at Alien: Romulus. I guess 86-year-old Ridley Scott was too busy with the Gladiator sequel to direct this one, but at least he and octogenarian pal Walter Hill were in producer chairs.
Taking over as director and cowriting is Fede Álvarez, who made the decent 2018 Girl in the Spider’s Web. While the cast lacks star power, they did wisely sign up Cailee Spaeny as the lead. She has impressed me as Priscilla and in Civil War, and on the smaller screen in Mare of Easttown and Devs (no spoilers, I’m only 2 episodes in). Spaeny may not possess the physicality of a young Sigourney Weaver, but she definitely has the spunk.
Storywise, I won’t give much away, except to say Romulus is cleverly slotted between Alien and Aliens. Spaeny and her robot pal (David Jonsson) are stuck working on a dismal mining planet. Seeing a chance to escape, they… in the words of Steve Winwood… take it. And maybe sort of run into some aliens.
Romulus is tense, action-filled, dark, and yes, scary. Pretty freaking scary, actually. So if you like these movies, go see it in a big dark movie theater while you still can. At home, no one can hear you stream.
Posted in movie reviews | Tagged 10s movies, 20s movies, 70s movies, 80s movies, 90s movies, Cailee Spaeny, Fede Álvarez, Ridley Scott
By Jack Silbert on September 3, 2024
EPISODE #606: SALUTING FLAGS
The Who — “Happy Jack” [THEME]
The Feelies — “Flag Days”
Roe Knows Best — “Capture the Flag”
The Long Ryders — “Capturing the Flag”
Broken Social Scene — “Capture the Flag”
K’Naan — “Wavin’ the Flag”
The Smile — “Waving a White Flag”
Dido — “White Flag”
Jack Silbert — “Red Flag U.S.A.” [spoken word]
U2 — “Red Flag Day”
Tuns — “Flags for Curtains”
Stiff Little Fingers — “Fly the Flag”
Elvis Costello — “No Flag”
British Sea Power — “Waving Flags”
Guided by Voices — “Exit Flagger”
Jack Silbert proudly records the Aquarium podcast in Hoboken, NJ.
Posted in internet radio playlists | Tagged British Sea Power, Broken Social Scene, Dido, Elvis Costello, Feelies, Guided by Voices, Jack Silbert, K'naan, Long Ryders, Roe Knows Best, Stiff Little Fingers, The Smile, U2
By Jack Silbert on August 27, 2024
EPISODE #605: LIPSTICK
The Who — “Happy Jack” [THEME]
The Buzzcocks — “Lipstick”
Psych-o-Positive — “Lipstick”
Elvis Costello — “Lipstick Vogue”
Jimmy Hughes — “Lollypops, Lace, and Lipstick”
Bobby Bare Jr. — “Liz Taylor’s Lipstick Gun”
Early Riser — “Wallflower in Red Lipstick”
Colin Clary — “Half a Cookie (a.k.a. Your Houseguest Tried My New Lipstick)”
The Saints — “Lipstick on Your Collar”
American Trappist — “Lipstick”
Dressy Bessy — “Lipstick”
Imperial Teen — “Lipstick” [live at Maxwell’s, 10/30/02]
Adult Mom — “What’s Another Lipstick Mark?”
The Cordova Academy Glee Club — “Atomic Lipstick”
Benny Spellman — “Lipstick Traces (on a Cigarette)”
Jay Som — “Lipstick Stains”
John Hiatt — “Lipstick Sunset”
Jack Silbert proudly records the Aquarium podcast in Hoboken, NJ.
Posted in internet radio playlists | Tagged Adult Mom, American Trappist, Benny Spellman, Bobby Bare Jr., Buzzcocks, Colin Clary, Cordova Academy Glee Club, Dressy Bessy, Early Riser, Elvis Costello, Imperial Teen, Jay Som, Jimmy Hughes, John Hiatt, psych-O-positive, The Saints
By Jack Silbert on August 20, 2024
EPISODE #604: CATS IX
The Who — “Happy Jack” [THEME]
Lee Dorsey — “The Kitty Cat Song”
King Missile — “How To Remember Your Dreams”
Colleen Green — “Big Surprise”
The Wind-Ups — “Cat in the Hat Hat”
Cupid and the Cowboy — “Alley Kat”
Prince — “Velvet Kitty Cat”
Dana Gillespie — “Cat’s Meow”
Joe Montgomery — “Cool Cat”
Allyson Seconds — “Bag of Kittens”
Stray Cats — “Stray Cat Strut” [live, 2004]
Howard Chandler — “Wampus Cat”
Swingin’ Neckbreakers — “Little Miss Copycat”
The Monochrome Set — “Hip Kitten Spinning Chrome” [BBC radio session]
Blushing — “Lost Cat”
The Doors — “Dead Cats, Dead Rats” [live]
This Is the Part Where You Help Me — “Just Let the Cat Sleep”
Greg Kihn Band — “The Breakup Song (They Don’t Write ‘Em)” r.i.p.
Jack Silbert proudly records the Aquarium podcast in Hoboken, NJ.
Posted in internet radio playlists | Tagged 1981 Greg Kihn albums, Allyson Seconds, Blushing, Colleen Green, Cupid and the Cowboy, Dana Gillespie, Greg Kihn, Howard Chandler, Joe Montgomery, King Missile, Lee Dorsey, Monochrome Set, Stray Cats, Swingin' Neckbreakers, The Doors, The Wind-Ups, This Is the Part Where You Help Me
By Jack Silbert on August 13, 2024
EPISODE #603: DOG DAYS OF SUMMER IX
The Who — “Happy Jack” [THEME]
Rolling Stones feat. Paul McCartney — “Bite My Head Off”
Motorists — “Barking at the Gates”
Kynsy — “Dog Videos”
Huey “Piano” Smith & the Clowns — “Scald-Dog”
Savak — “Leash Biter”
Grandaddy — “Stray Dog and the Chocolate Shake”
Juliana Hatfield — “Dirty Dog”
Cliff Johnson — “Go Away Hound Dog”
Dwight Twilley — “Wild Dogs”
Pynkie — “Dog in the Sun”
Tom Waits w/ Sparklehorse — “Dog Door”
Jackal Onasis — “Runty Little Puppy”
Young Fresh Fellows — “Teenage Dogs in Trouble” [live]
The Courtneys — “Dead Dog”
Tobin Sprout — “Ghost Dog”
Jack Silbert proudly records the Aquarium podcast in Hoboken, NJ.
Posted in internet radio playlists | Tagged Cliff Johnson, Dwight Twilley, Grandaddy, Huey “Piano” Smith, Jackal Onasis, Kynsy, Motorists, Paul McCartney, Pynkie, Rolling Stones, Savak, Sparklehorse, The Courtneys, Tobin Sprout, Tom Waits, Young Fresh Fellows
By Jack Silbert on August 6, 2024
EPISODE #602: 2024 SUMMER OLYMPICS, WEEK 2 (COUNTRIES II)
Lemonheads — “Two Weeks in Another Town” [ALTERNATE THEME]
France Gall — “Made in France”
Wilco — “Impossible Germany”
Amanda X — “Guatelmala”
Robyn Hitchcock & the Egyptians — “Egyptian Cream”
Katrina & the Waves — “Mexico”
Jack Silbert — “O Switzerland!”
The Exbats — “Hey New Zealand”
Van Halen — “Panama”
Vic Chesnutt — “Thailand” [early version]
Kisses — “Bermuda” (Active Child remix)
The Smittens — “Prince of Sweden”
John Grant — “Queen of Denmark”
Chuck Berry — “Back in the USA”
Jack Silbert proudly records the Aquarium podcast in Hoboken, NJ.
Posted in internet radio playlists | Tagged 2024 Summer Olympics, Amanda X, Chuck Berry, France Gall, Jack Silbert, John Grant, Katrina & the Waves, Kisses, Lemonheads, Robyn Hitchcock, Smittens, The Exbats, Van Halen, Vic Chesnutt, Wilco
By Jack Silbert on July 30, 2024
3.5 stars out of 5
Hmm, 3.5, what’s that on the Fujita scale? Seeing this movie was sort of a perfect storm for me: I dig weather porn, I have fond memories of Twister from back in 1996, plus I’m one of the countless throngs who fell in love with Daisy Edgar-Jones in Normal People. (Crimminy, in 1996, I was still older than Daisy is now.) And I was interested to see what director Lee Isaac Chung, whose 2021 Minari was a thinking person’s film, would do with what’s really a popcorn movie.
We meet former college tornado chaser Kate (Edgar-Jones). Just when she thought she was out — moved from Oklahoma to New York, working for The Man — they pull her back in. An old Okie pal (who I hoped was High School Musical’s Corbin Bleu but alas, is not) lures her with new tech that should save lives in her hometown and throughout Tornado Alley, which is experiencing a troubling uptick in twister activity.
Ah, but a raucous band of tornado chasers who only care about “likes” and “going viral” also arrive, led by Glen Powell. (I still need to see Hit Man, I’m proud of myself for still not seeing Anyone But You, and I didn’t mention Powell in my review of the very likable Everybody Wants Some!!) And these two groups of chasers do not like each other. You might say a rivalry develops!
This is the worst, slowest part of the movie, and it goes on too long. (Pacing, Chung, pacing!) Ah, but then the drama… and the tornadoes… ramp up (plot twisters??), and now we’ve got a movie! But if only these two very attractive leads would look beneath the surface of each other, and see that perhaps their assumptions were off-base! Well, you’ll just have see for yourself, in the theater, or streaming soon on the Weather Channel.
Posted in movie reviews | Tagged 20s movies, 90s movies, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, Lee Isaac Chung
By Jack Silbert on July 30, 2024
EPISODE #601: 2024 SUMMER OLYMPICS (GAMES II)
John Williams — “Bugler’s Dream and Olympic Fanfare Medley” [ALTERNATE THEME]
Rugby World Cup 2007 Stade de France crowd — “La Marseillaise”
The Original Sins — “Sunshine Games”
Curt Boettcher — “Keeper of the Games” [demo]
Peter Gabriel — “Games Without Frontiers”
Cadallaca — “Pocket Games”
Rain Recordings — “Eye Games”
John Lennon — “Mind Games”
Devo — “Mind Games”
Snoop Doggy Dogg — “What’s My Name”
The Connells — “Fun & Games”
Forth Wanderers — “Tired Games”
Beach Boys — “Games Two Can Play”
Veronica Bianqui — “Aah, Paris…”
The Chills — “Look for the Good in Others and They’ll See the Good in You” r.i.p. Martin Phillipps
Jack Silbert proudly records the Aquarium podcast in Hoboken, NJ.
Posted in internet radio playlists | Tagged 2024 Summer Olympics, Beach Boys, Cadallaca, Curt Boettcher, Devo, Forth Wanderers, John Lennon, John Williams, Martin Phillipps, Original Sins, Peter Gabriel, Rain Recordings, Snoop Doggy Dogg, The Chills, The Connells, Veronica Bianqui
Jack Silbert, curator