POPSURFING.COM

Popsurfing Radio Show Playlist: Thanks (11-27-09)

2009-11-28T01:18:00.003-05:00

Here's the playlist for my latest Popsurfing radio show. It airs weekly on WEFT Champaign 90.1 fm on Thursday night/Friday morning from 1 am to 3 am. You can stream it live online at weft.org.

You can download the episode on iTunes. Enjoy!

Wanna make a request? Here are some potential themes for upcoming shows. Feel free to email me with a request for one of your favorite songs that fits the theme and I'll try to fit it in.

POPSURFING -- THEMES FOR UPCOMING SHOWS

December 3 -- hard times
December 10 -- family (parents, kids, brothers and sisters, in-laws)
December 17 -- sleep, the night (because we'll be putting the year to rest soon)
December 24 -- holiday music
December 31 -- drinking

PLAYLIST FOR THANKS (airdate: 11-27-2009)

HOUR ONE

1. Solomon Burke “Thank You” from Like A Fire

2. Monologue -- Is it too late to say thanks? Quote from Edward Sandford Martin

3. Marion Williams “Lord I Thank You” from The Gospel Soul Of Marion Williams

4. Audio clip -- Car rental phone chat from Planes, Trains & Automobiles

5. The Beatles “Thank You Girl” from Mono Masters, Volume One

6. The Flatlanders “Thank God For The Road” from Hills and Valleys

7. Monologue -- How to say thanks in various languages

8. Peanut “Thank Goodness For The Rain” from One Kiss Can Lead To Another: Girl Group Sounds Lost & Found

9. Neil Diamond “Thank The Lord For The Night Time” from In My Lifetime

10. Angie Stone “I Wanna Thank Ya” from Stone Hits: The Very Best Of Angie Stone

11. Cadillac Sky “Thank You Esteban” from Gravity's Our Enemy

12. Monologue -- Public Service Announcement for Women In Transition

13. Alanis Morissette “Thank You” from Alanis Morissette -- The Collection

14. Buddy Jewell “I Wanna Thank Everyone” from Buddy Jewell

15. Janis Ian “Thankyous” from Best Of Janis Ian -- The Autobiography Collection

16. William DeVaughn “Be Thankful For What You Got” from Can You Dig It? The 70s Soul Experience

17. Monologue -- Buddy Jewel is one lucky son of a gun

18. Maysa “Grateful” from Metamorphosis

19. Teddy Thompson “Thanks A Lot” from Teddy Thompson

20. Audio clip -- picky eater at Thanksgiving dinner from Home For The Holidays

21. George Winston “Thanksgiving” from December

HOUR TWO

22. Bing Crosby “Thanks” from The Aviator Soundtrack

23. Monologue -- How to say thanks in more languages

24. Ray Davies “Thanksgiving Day” from Thanksgiving Day

25. John Denver “Thank God I'm A Country Boy” from Country Roads Collection

26. Audio clip -- Steve Martin says goodbye to John Candy in Planes, Trains & Automobiles

27. Maria McKee “Why Wasn't I More Grateful (When Life Was Sweet)” from You Gotta Sin To Be Saved

28. Ricky Nelson “Thank You Lord” from Ricky Nelson -- Legacy

29. John Hiatt “Thank You Girl” from Bring The Family

30. Audio clip -- Charles Durning gives Thanksgiving blessing in Home For The Holidays

31. Fairport Convention “Now Be Thankful” from Watching The Dark: The History Of Richard Thompson

32. Monologue -- Public Service Announcement for Homeless Shelter

33. Sinéad O'Connor “Thank You For Hearing Me” from Universal Mother

34. My Morning Jacket “Thank You Too!” from Evil Urges

35. Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart “Thanks For Sunday” from I Wonder What She's Doing Tonite: The Best Of Boyce & Hart

36. Monologue -- the brush off; reading of "No, Thank You John" by Christina Rossetti

37. Lizz Wright “Thank You” from The Orchard

38. Tito Puente “Lucky Dog” from The Best Of Tito Puente: El Rey de Timbal!

39. Sly & The Family Stone “Thankful N Thoughtful” from Fresh

40. Merle Haggard "Thanks To Uncle John" from If I Could Only Fly

HOUR THREE

41. Barbara Lewis “Thankful For What I Got” from Atlantic Unearthed: Soul Sisters

42. Monologue --

43. World Party “Thank You World” from Goodbye Jumbo\

44. Audio clip -- Gary Cooper as Lou Gehrig saying goodbye in Pride Of The Yankees

45. Mandy Patinkin “Sorry -- Grateful” from Dress Casual

46. Duke Ellington “I'm Just A Lucky So-And-So” from Black, Brown & Beige

47. Monologue -- have you thanked an animal yet? Plot description of scene from Lohengrin

48. Richard Wagner “Num Sei bedankt, mein lieber schwann” from Lohengrin

49. Monologue -- how to say thanks in still more languages

50. Jacqui Naylor “Thank You, Baby” from Smashed For The Holidays

51. Talking Heads “Thank You For Sending Me An Angel” from More Songs About Buildings And Food

52. Me'Shell Ndegeocello “Thankful” from Comfort Woman

53. Audio clip -- Charles Mingus calling himself lucky and blessed from Joni Mitchell's CD Mingus

54. Bob Hope & Shirley Ross “Thanks For The Memory” from Academy Award Winning Songs 1934-1993

55. Monologue -- what am I thankful for? A list

56. Candi Staton “The Thanks I Get For Loving You” from Candi Staton

57. The Swan Silvertones “Thank You Jesus And I Have A Friend” from When Gospel Was Gospel

58. The Hollow Men “Thanks To The Rolling Sea” from The Last Temptation Of Elvis

59. ABBA “Thank You For The Music” from ABBA Gold

60. Monologue -- show thanks by having fun; a reading of Ogden Nash's "No Doctors Today, Thank You"

61. John Mellencamp “Thank You” from Words & Music: John Mellencamp's Greatest Hits

62. Audio clip -- Nancy Lamott saying thanks at the end of her concert from the CD Live At Tavern On The Green

63. Kaiser Chiefs “Thank You Very Much” from Yours Truly, Angry Mob

North South East WEFT Playlist 11-27-09

2009-11-27T22:53:00.002-05:00

Here is the playlist for the world music show I hosted for John on WEFT.

Buffy Saint-Marie -- “No No Keshagesh” from Running For The Drum

Cyril Pahinui -- “Hawaiian Cowboy” from Night Moon

Growling Tiger -- “Senorita Panchita” from Alan Lomax Collection Sampler

Cyprus Smith -- “Sambo Caesar (Caribbean)” from Alan Lomax Collection Sampler

Growling Tiger -- “War (Caribbean)” from Alan Lomax Collection Sampler

Augustus Pablo -- “Stop There Jah” from King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown

The Gaylads -- “Africa” from Studio One Selector

Jackie Mittoo -- “Champion In The Arena” from Champion In The Arena 1976-1977

Forro In the Dark -- “Anao de Jardim” from Light a Candle

Bebel Gilberto -- “Ela (On My Way)” from All In One

Manu Chao -- “Me Gustas Tu” from Proxima Estacion: Esperanza

Caetano Veloso -- “Terra” from Beleza Tropical: Brazil Classics 1

Jorge Ben -- “Ponta De Lanca Africano” from Beleza Tropical: Brazil Classics 1

Nahini Doumbia & Les Espoirs du Mali -- “Djembeka” from Percussion and Songs From Mali

Baaba Maal -- “Dakar Moon” from Television

Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba -- “I Speak Fula” from I Speak Fula

Udokotela Shange Namajaha -- “Awungilobolele” from Indestructible Beat Of Soweto Vol 1

Nelcy Sedibe -- “Holotelani” from The Indestructible Beat Of Soweto Volume One

Maitre Gazonga -- “Les Jaloux Saboteurs” from Golden Afrique Vol 1

Amadou & Mariam -- “M'bife (Balafon)” from Dimanche A Bamako

The Nigerian Police Force Band -- “Asiko Mi Ni” from Nigeria Special: 1970-1976

Bembeya Jazz National -- “Republique Guinee” from The Syliphone Years

Ragheb Alama -- “Ya Bo Ye” from Camelspotting

Amr Diab -- “Nour El Ain” from Camelspotting

Buffy Saint-Marie -- “America The Beautiful” from Running For The Drum

Popsurfing Radio Show Playlist: Rain (11-20-09)

2009-11-20T19:22:00.005-05:00

Here's the playlist for my latest Popsurfing radio show. It airs weekly on WEFT Champaign 90.1 fm on Thursday night/Friday morning from 1 am to 3 am. You can stream it live online at weft.org.

You can download the episode on iTunes. Enjoy!

Wanna make a request? Here are some potential themes for upcoming shows. Feel free to email me with a request for one of your favorite songs that fits the theme and I'll try to fit it in.

POPSURFING -- THEMES FOR UPCOMING SHOWS

November 26 -- songs about giving thanks (or songs that refuse to)
December 3 -- hard times
December 10 -- family (parents, kids, brothers and sisters, in-laws)
December 17 -- sleep, the night (because we'll be putting the year to rest soon)
December 24 -- holiday music
December 31 -- drinking

PLAYLIST FOR RAIN (airdate: 11-20-2009)

1. 12:00AM Ink Spots & Ella Fitzgerald “Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall” from The Singing Detective

2. 12:04AM Mayer Hawthorne “I Wish It Would Rain” from A Strange Arrangement

3. Monologue -- record rainfall in Champaign; wettest spot in the world

4. 12:07AM The Mavericks “Here Comes The Rain” from Music For All Occasions

5. audio clip from film "Rain Man" -- Tom Cruise discusses imaginary friend

6. 12:11AM Somi “If The Rains Come First” from If the Rains Come First

7. 12:14AM B.J. Thomas “Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head” from Burt Bacharach & Friends -- Gold

8. Monologue -- technical difficulties, ringing phone, origin of "raining cats and dogs"

9. 12:17AM Ron Sexsmith “Raindrops In My Coffee” from Sexsmith & Kerr: Destination Unknown

10. 12:20AM Alison Krauss & Union Station “Rain Please Go Away” from Lonely Runs Both Ways

11. audio clip from "Young Frenkenstein" - grave robbing is a dirty job

12. 12:24AM Big Maybelle “Rain Down Rain” from Big Maybelle The Complete OKeh Sessions

13. Monologue -- song cut off short so an MP3 must have been an MP2; upcoming shows

14. 12:28AM Brook Benton “Rainy Night In Georgia” from Can You Dig It? The 70s Soul Experience

13. Monologue naming cities all over the world where it's raining right now with music in background -- 12:31AM Peter, Paul and Mary “It's Raining” from Around The Campfire

13. 12:34AM Missy Elliott “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” from Supa Dupa Fly

14. 12:38AM Al Green “Standing In The Rain” from Lay It Down

15. 12:41AM Amy Lou Barnes, Sally Mueller “Little April Shower” from Bambi

16. 12:45AM Dinah Washington “Pennies From Heaven” from After Hours With Miss D

17. Monologue -- CCR songs about the rain, "Who'll Stop The Rain" -- PSA for local meetings for vets of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars

18. 12:50AM Ladysmith Black Mambazo “Rain, Rain, Beautiful Rain” from Shaka Zulu

19. 12:55AM Sondre Lerche “I Guess It's Gonna Rain Today” from Heartbeat Radio

20. Monologue -- pledge drive

21. 01:00AM Vashti Bunyan “Come Wind Come Rain” from Just Another Diamond Day

22. audio clip from "My Fair Lady"

23. 01:04AM Richard Robbins “The Storm” from A Room With A View

24. 01:07AM Mahalia Jackson “Didn't It Rain” from The World's Greatest Gospel Singer

25. 01:10AM The Beatles “Rain” from Abbey Road

26. Monologue -- story about my insisting George Harrison wrote "Rain" when in fact it was John Lennon

27. 01:12AM George Buck, Red-jacket & Group "Rain Dance (Canada)" from Alan Lomax Collection Sampler

28. 01:13AM Audra McDonald, Steve Kazee “The Rain Song” from 110 In The Shade

29. 01:17AM Duke Ellington “Raincheck” from Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band

30. audio clip from "Rain Man"

31. 01:20AM Jeffrey Foskett “Laughter in The Rain” from Stars In The Sand

32. Monologue -- drive more carefully when it's rainingl PSA about car repairs, insurance and your rights

33. 01:23AM Justin Currie “In The Rain” from What Is Love For

34. 01:26AM Sonny Terry, Brownie ^McGhee “Rainy Day” from Backwater Blues

35. 01:29AM Jimi Hendrix “Rainy Day, Dream Away” from Electric Ladyland

36. audio clip from "Hannah and Her Sisters" of ee cumming poem

37. 01:33AM Melody Gardot “The Rain” from My One And Only Thrill

38. Monologue -- leaky roof in my house; PSA about home improvement loans for Urbana residents; pledge drive

39. 01:37AM John Mellencamp “Rain On The Scarecrow” from Words & Music: John Mellencamp's Greatest Hits

40. 01:40AM The Flatlanders “After The Storm” from Hills and Valleys

41. 01:43AM Sterling Holloway “Little Black Rain Cloud” from The Many Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh

42. 01:47AM Freddy Cole “Rain Is Such A Lonesome Sound” from Waiter, Ask The Man To Play The Blues

43. 01:51AM Tom Waits “Rain Dogs” from Rain Dogs

44. 01:54AM Alan Lomax “Ain't Gonna Rain No More” from Deep River Of Song: Alabama

45. 01:56AM Bing Crosby “Let A Smile Be Your Umbrella” from Bing With A Beat

46. 02:00AM The Serendipity Singers “Don't Let The Rain Come Down” from The Folk Years: Blowin' In The Wind

47. Monologue about leaky roof; PSA about help for homeless men

48. 02:03AM Gary Allan “Songs About Rain” from See If I Care

49. audio clip from "My Fair Lady"

50. 02:08AM Adele “Right As Rain” from 19

51. 02:12AM Kaiser Chiefs “Tomato In The Rain” from Off With Their Heads

52. Monologue -- a reading of Richard Brautigan's "It's Raining In Love"

53. 02:16AM Karen Dalton “Little Bit Of Rain” from It's So Hard To Tell Who's Going To Love You The Best

54. 02:19AM Delois Barrett Campbell “The Storm Is Passing Over” from Say Amen Somebody

55. 02:24AM The Jayhawks “Save It For A Rainy Day” from Rainy Day Music

56. audio clip from "Psycho"

57. 02:27AM Eva Cassidy “Blues Eyes Crying In The Rain” from Somewhere

58. Monologue -- pledge drive

58. 02:30AM The Beta Band “Dry The Rain” from The Three E.P.s

59. 02:37AM Catherine Deneuve “Chez Tante Elise” from The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg

60. 02:40AM Paul Weller “Early Morning Rain” from Studio 150

61. 02:44AM Robert Wyatt “Raining In My Heart” from Cuckooland

62. Monologue -- a reading of "Souls and Rain Drops" by Sidney Lanier; PSA for downloading audio books from library

63. 02:49AM Everything But The Girl “My Head Is Only House Unless It Rains” from Like The Deserts Miss The Rain

64. audio clip from "Taxi Driver"

65. 02:55AM Randy Newman “I Think It's Going To Rain Today” from Guilty: 30 Years Of Randy Newman

Get Your Redhot Podcasts!

2009-11-20T18:28:00.002-05:00

Two new episodes are up for your perusal for free at iTunes. Showbiz Sandbox is my weekly rundown of pop culture that I co-host with Sperling Reich and Karen Woodward. And Popsurfing, my weekly radio show on WEFT Champaign 90.1 (which airs live Thursday night/Friday morning from 1 am to 3 am+) is built around a new topic every episode. This week's theme: rain. Enjoy. And if you get a chance, we're making a push to get people to rate and review Showbiz Sandbox. Take a moment and click on that five star rating if you've ever downloaded it (and even if you haven't)! Thanks.

The Movies, Books, Theater, Concerts, CDs I've Seen So Far In 2009

2009-11-15T09:49:00.000-05:00

Updated November 15, 2009

MOVIES MOVIES MOVIES MOVIES MOVIES MOVIES MOVIES MOVIES MOVIES MOVIES MOVIES MOVIES

1. The Counterfeiters ***
2. Tell No One ** 1/2
3. Holiday Affair (1949 w Robert Mitchum and Janet Leigh) ***
4. Frozen River (at MoMa) ***/
5. Revolutionary Road **
6. Drums (1938 w Sabu) *
7. The Wrestler ***/
8. Doubt *
9. I Loved You So Long **
10. Trouble The Waters **
11. The Complete Horatio Hornblower TV Series ****
12. The Complete Lord Peter Wimsey w Ian Carmichael from 1970s ** 1/2
13. Lord Peter Wimsey w Edward Petherbridge and Harriet Walter from 1980s *** 1/2
14. Billy The Kid (2007 docu) *** (extras zero stars for cluelessness)
15. Academy Award Shorts: Lavatory Love Story ***; Octopodi **; House Of Small Boxes *** 1/2 (the eventual winner); Undertaker **; Presto ** 1/2; German shoplift short ***; New Boy ***; Toyland Holocaust *; The Pig ***; French dying girl short **
16. Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian * 1/2
17. The Edge Of Heaven *** 1/2
18. Chris and Don: A Love Story ***
19. Leave Her To Heaven ** 1/2
20. Watchmen **
21. Bolt ***
22. Schoolhouse Rock: Earth ** 1/2
23. Follow That Bird * 1/2
24. Never Say Never Again * 1/2
25. Monsters Vs. Aliens (in 2-D) **
26. The Spirit -- no stars
27. Seven Pounds ** 1/2
28. Woodstock Director's Cut (1970 )(at EbertFest) ****
29. Chop Shop (at EbertFest) ***
30. Begging Naked ** (at EbertFest)
31. The Last Command (1928) (at EbertFest w new score performed by Alloy) *** 1/2
32. The Fall (at EbertFest) ** 1/2
33. Sita Sings The Blues (at EbertFest) ***
34. Nothing But The Truth (at EbertFest) ** 1/2
35. Let The Right One In (at EbertFest) *** 1/2
36. Mulligans *
37. Caprica (TV preview on DVD) **
38. Role Models ** 1/2
39. Observe And Report ** 1/2
40. Duplicity *** 1/2
41. The Inglorious Bastards (1978) ** 1/2
42. Star Trek ***/ (on second viewing *** 1/2)

AT CANNES:

43. Up *** 1/2
44. Fish Tank ***
45. My Neighbor My Killer ** 1/2
46. Thirst **
47. Precious ** 1/2
48. Bright Star **
49. Police, Adjective *** 1/2
50. Taking Woodstock ** 1/2
51. A Prophet ****
52. Jaffa **
53. Mother ** 1/2
54. Samson & Delilah ***
55. Kinatay * 1/2
56. Vengeance ** 1/2
57. The Army Of Crime **
58. Le Pere De Mes Enfants *
59. Anti-Christ *
60. Looking For Eric ***
61. Irene * 1/2
62. Daniel Y Ana ** 1/2
63. Vincere * 1/2
64. Broken Embraces **
65. Les Herbes Folles * 1/2
66. I Love You, Phillip Morris **
67. Inglourius Basterds *** 1/2
68. Eyes Wide Open ***
69. Sister Smile (in market; biopic of Singing Nun) **
70. The White Ribbon * 1/2
71. I Killed My Mother ***/
72. The Time That Remains *** 1/2
73. A Town Called Panic **
74. The Imaginarium Of Dr. Parnassus * 1/2
75. The Silent Army *
76. Enter The Void * 1/2
77. Map Of The Sounds Of Tokyo -- no stars
78. To Die Like A Man *
79. Montparnasse *
80. The King Of Escape **
81. Spring Fever **
82. in The Beginning **
83. Visages **
84. Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky * 1/2

END OF CANNES FILMS

85. Moon (w Sam Rockwell) **
86. Dodge City (1939) ***
87. Zenobia (1939 Laurel & Hardy) no stars
88. The Hangover ** 1/2
89. Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen *
90. The Taking Of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009 version) **
91. Public Enemies **
92. Bruno no stars
93. For All Mankind *** 1/2
94. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ** 1/2
95. Remember The Night (1940) ***
96. The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn (1939) ** 1/2
97. Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever (1939) **
98. The Hurt Locker ***/
99. Funny People **/
100. Firefly: The Complete Series ****
101. G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra *
102. The Undercover Man (1949) ** 1/2
103. The Rounders (1965) **
104. Watch On The Rhine (1943) * 1/2
105. Ride With The Devil: Director's Cut ***
106. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon ****
107. Julie & Julia ** 1/2
108. (500) Days Of Summer ****
109. The Goods -- no stars
110. The Time-Traveler's Wife * 1/2
111. I Love You, Man ** 1/2
112. District 9 ***
113. Ponyo ***/
114. Andy Hardy Meets Debutante (1940) ***
115. Dragonball: Evolution *
116. Richard Pryor: Live and Smokin' ** 1/2 but final third ****
117. X-Games 3-D **
118. Katyn ***
119. Tezuka Osamu Collection on DVD *** 1/2
120. Newcastle * 1/2
121. I'm Still Waiting (1957) Japanese noir *** 1/2
122. Rusty Knife (1958) Japanese noir ***
123. 17 Again *
124. Hannah Montana: The Movie **
125. Bandslam ***
126. The Clock (1945) ***
127. The Window ***
128. The Last Days Of Disco ***
129. Post-Grad * 1/2
130. The Final Destination 3-D *
131. Gamer no stars
132. It Might Get Loud *** 1/2
133. Extract ***/
134. Taken ** 1/2

AT TORONTO INTL FILM FESTIVAL:

135. Huacho ** 1/2
136. Dogtooth ***
137. A Serious Man *** 1/2
138. Up In The Air *** 1/2
139. Vahalla Rising **
140. Waking Sleeping Beauty ***
141. Dorian Gray *
142. Capitalism: A Love Story ** 1/2
143. The Trotsky **
144. A Brand New Life ***
145. Phantom Pain * 1/2
146. Youth In Revolt * 1/2
147. The Private Lives Of Pippa Lee ** 1/2
148. Soul Kitchen ***
149. Bitch Slap *
150. Life During Wartime ** 1/2
151. A Simple Man ***\
152. Max Manus ** 1/2
153. Lebanon **
154. Northless ***
155. I Am Love ** 1/2
156. Solomon Kane **
157. Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel ** 1/2
158. Cole **

END OF TORONTO FILM FESTIVAL

159. 35 Shots Of Rum **
160. Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 3-D ***/
161. The Informant *** (great score)
162. 9 (animated film) ** 1/2
163. Surrogates (Bruce Willis sci-fier) * 1/2
164. Fame (2009) *
165. My One and Only (Renee Zellwegger) ** 1/2
166. I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell * 1/2
167. Zombieland ***
168. Whip It (Drew Barrymore roller derby) **
169. Toy Story and Toy Story 2 in 3-D ****
170. Where The Wild Things Are *** 1/2
171. Amelia *
171. Bronson * 1/2
172. This Is It **
173. The Maid ***
174. Paranormal Activity **
175. A Christmas Carol 3-D (2009) **
176. 2012 **
177. Pirate Radio * 1/2

BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS

1. Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell *** for story/* for ugliness
2. Gaudy Nights (Lord Peter Wimsey) by Dorothy L. Sayers ****
3. Busman's Honeymoon (Lord Peter Wimsey) by Dorothy L. Sayers ****
4. Lincoln by James M McPherson ** 1/2
5. Ackroyd's Brief Lives: Newton by Peter Ackroyd ** 1/2
6. Anne Of The Island by L.M. Montgomery ** 1/2
7. The Torre Years by Joe Torre and Tom Verducci ** 1/2
8. Anne Of Windy Poplars by L.M. Montgomery ** 1/2
9. Anne's House Of Dreams by L.M. Montgomery ** 1/2
10. Anne Of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery ***
11. No. 1 Ladies Detctive Agency by Alexander McCall Smih ***
12. Dreadnought by Robert K. Massie ****
13. The Vast Fields Of Ordinary by Nck Burd (teen gay) **
14. The First Wave (Billy Boyle WW II mystery) by James R Benn ** 1/2
15. Dangerous Laughter by Stephen Millhauser ****
16. The Siege by Ismail Kadare ***
17. Drown by Junot Diaz *** 1/2
18. The Underdogs by Mariano Azuela *** 1/2
19. Death Of A Red Heroine (Inspector Chen mystery) by Qiu Xialong ***
20. The Forever War by Joe Haldeman **
21. The Shooting Party by Isabel Colegate ***
22. We Wish To Inform You... by Philip Gourevitch ****
23. Push by Sapphire ** 1/2
24. Taking Woodstock by Eliot Tiber with Tom Monte ** 1/2
25. Hypatia of Alexandria by Maria Dzielska ** 1/2
26. Mussolini by Denis Mack Smith ***
27. Keats by Andrew Motion ***
28. Seven Rivers West by Edward Hoagland ***
29. My Family And Other Animals by Gerald Durrell ****
30. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov ****
31. West With The Night by Beryl Markham *** 1/2
32. Farm Boy by Michael Morpurgo * 1/2
33. The Assassination Of Jesse James by The Coward Robert Ford by Ron Hansen *** 1/2
34. The French Admiral (Alan Lewrie series) by Dewey Lambdin ***
35. A-Rod: The Many Lives Of Alex Rodriguez by Selena Roberts **
36. The Awakening by Kate Chopin *** 1/2
37. Rainbow Valley by L.M. Montgomery *** 1/2
38. Rilla Of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery ***
39. The Member Of The Wedding by Carson McCullers *** 1/2
40. Night Flight by Antoine de Saint-Exupery ****
41. From The Mixed-Up Files Of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg ***
42. Hans Brinker, Or The Silver Skates by Mary Mapes Dodge ***\
43. A Passionate Prodigality by Guy Chapman *** 1/2
44. The King's Privateer by Dewey Lambdin, an Alan Lewrie adventure ***
45. Night Flight by Antoine de Saint-Exupery ****
46. The Ground Truth by John Farmer ** 1/2
47. Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead *** 1/2
48. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins ***
49. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins ***
50. The Vampire Diaries: Awakening by L.J. Smith *
51. Up In The Air by Walter Kirn ** 1/2
52. A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood ***
53. The Deep Blue Goodby by John D. MacDonald *** 1/2
54. The Virginian by Owen Wister ****
55. The Interrogative Mood by Padgett Powell *** 1/2
56. The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg ** 1/2
57. Blood Alone by James Benn ***
58. The Complete Bone by Jeff Smith *** 1/2
59. The Siege Of Krishnapur by JG Farrell *** 1/2
60. Ragtime by EL Doctorow ****
61. Born Standing Up by Steve Martin *** 1/2
62. Butcher's Crossing by John Williams *** 1/2
62. Go Saddle The Sea by Joan Aiken ** 1/2
63. Bridle The Wind by Joan Aiken **
64. The Teeth Of The Gale by Joan Aiken ***
65. Crazy Heart by Thomas Cobb *** 1/2
66. No Tomorrow by Vivant Denon ***
67. The Good Thief by Hannah Tinti *** 1/2
68. Stupid, Stupid Rat Tales by Jeff Smith et al **
69. 21 by Patrick O'Brian ***

THEATER CONCERTS THEATER CONCERTS THEATER CONCERTS THEATER CONCERTS THEATER CONCERTS

1. Pal Joey at Roundabout w Stockard Channing **
2. England (two-hander in art museum) ** 1/2
3. Shipment *** (great cast)
4. The Cherry Orchard at BAM ***
5. The Third Story (w Kathleen Turner and Charles Busch) ** 1/2
6. Disfarmer at St. Ann's Warehouse **
7. Othello (off Bway on 42md St. -- solid, but convincing which it rarely is) ***
8. A Winter's Tale at BAM *** 1/2 (nearly perfect)
9. Hedda Gabler with Mary Stuart Masterson and Michael Cerveris -- no stars
10. Joe Turner's Come and Gone (Bway revival) ** (but Roger Robinson ****)
11. Hamlet (w Christian Camargo; TFANA off bway) ***
12. The Norman Conquests *** (sterling cast)
13. Ruined (at City Center) *** 1/2
14. The Good Negro (at Public) ***
15. Mary Stuart (w Janet McTeer and Harriet Walter/Vane) ***
16. Next To Normal (at Booth) **
17. The Singing Forest (Craig Lucas at Public) * 1/2
18. West Side Story (Bway revival) ***
19. The Who's Tommy (at Gallery Players) *
20. War Horse (in the West End) ***
21. A Little Night Music (Chocolate Factory revival on West End Garrick) *** 1/2
22. Peter Pan (outdoor under tent in Kensington Gardens) * 1/2
23. England People Very Nice (at National) ***
24. On The Beach (one of two-part The Contingency Plan at Bush on global warming) ***
25. Death and the King's Horseman (revival at National) *** 1/2
26. Goran Bregovic and His Weddings & Funerals Orchestra in Prospect Park in Brookly with thousands of Serbs and Croats ****
27. Things With Dry Hours ** 1/2 (but strong cast incl Delroy Lindo)
28. Othello w Philip Seymour Hoffman, directed by Peter Sellars *
29. Hamlet with Jude Law ** 1/2
30. The New Electric Ballroom ***
31. Finian's Rainbow (Bway revival) *
32. Emperor Jones (Off bway revival) ***
33. BBQ In Kansas City: Arthur Bryant's *** (great decor, burnt tips, fries); Gates (poor decor but solid food all around) *** 1/2; Oklahoma Joe's (funky gas station but food unremarkable) **; LC's (best all-around, funky space, great food)
34. Negro League Baseball Museum *** (great stories but mostly just a lot of text); Jazz Museum ** 1/2 (poorly set-up and not nearly as fun as it should be
35. Ragtime ** 1/2 (Bway revival; liked everything but the score)
36. Kronos Quartet Wu Man at Zankel Hall of Carnegie *** (lots of technical problems)

CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS (Only the Cds I've listened to thoroughly and with a strong emphasis on the ones I like, so don't think I love everything I listen to -- I just don't bother really listening to the ones I don't like more than once and don't think it's fair to rate on a cursory listen)

1. Fleet Foxes -- Fleet Foxes ****
2. Elvin Bishop -- The Blues Rolls On ** 1/2
3. David Vandervelde -- Waiting For The Sunrise **
4. Lindsey Buckingham -- Gift Of Screws ** 1/2
5. Adele -- 19 ** 1/2
6. Various Artists -- The Baseball Project ** 1/2
7. King Wilkie -- Low Country Suite **
8. Mercury Rev -- Snowflake Midnight **
9. Various Artists -- New Orleans Funk Vol. 2 *** 1/2
10. The Wood Brothers -- Loaded **
11. British Sea Power -- Do You Like Rock Music? **
12. Brendan James -- The Day Is Brave *** (especially song "Green")
13. Sigur Ros -- Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endaluast ** 1/2
14. Wynton Marsalis and Willie Nelson -- Two Men With The Blues ****
15. Corey Chisel -- Cabin Ghosts EP ***
16. Bill Henderson -- Beautiful Memory: Live At The Vic *** 1/2
17. The Hush Sound -- Goodbye Blues ** 1/2
18. Catfish Haven -- Devastator **
19. Sierra Hull -- Secrets ** 1/2
20. Rhonda Vincent -- Good Thing Going ***
21. 10cc -- Sheet Music ** 1/2
22. Lizz Wright -- The Orchard ***
23. Rodney Crowell -- Sex and Gasoline *** 1/2
24. Van Dyke Parks -- Discover America ***
25. Bob Dylan -- New Morning ** 1/2
26. Bob Dylan -- Before The Flood *** 1/2
27. Bob Dylan -- Through This Life ***
28. Nanci Griffith -- The Loving Kind **
29. Charles Mingus -- Tijuana Moods ***
30. Neil Young -- After The Goldrush (remastered) ****
31. Regina Spektor -- Far *** 1/2
32. Rosanne Cash -- The List ***/
33. Ben Kweller -- Changing Horses ***
34. Neil Young-- Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere *** 1/2
35. Willie Nelson -- Naked ** 1/2
36. Willie Nelson -- Willie and The Wheel ***
37. Willie Nelson -- American Classic *** 1/2
38. Whiskeytown -- Strangers Almanac *** 1/2
39. Madeleine Peyroux -- Bare Bones *** 1/2
40. Joni Mitchell -- The Hissing Of Summer Lawns *** 1/2
41. Pearl Jam -- Ten remastered ***
42. Kelly Clarkson -- All I Ever Wanted **
43. M. Ward -- Hold Time *** 1/2
44. Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs -- Under The Covers Vol. 2 *** 1/2
45. Randy Travis -- Ultimate Hits ** 1/2
46. Conor Oberst -- Conor Oberst ***/
47. Diana Jones -- Better Times Will Come ** 1/2
48. Dean Martin -- Country Style/Rides Again two-fer **
49. Neil Young -- Neil Young (remastered) *** 1/2
50. The Beatles Mono Boxed Set **** out of **** (but really *************!!)
51. Bobby Long -- Dirty Pond Songs **
52. The Dells Sing Dionne Warwick **
53. Prefab Sprout -- Let's Change The World With Music *** 1/2
54. Peggy Lee -- The Man I Love ***
55. The Duke and the King -- Duke and the King *
56. Elvis Costello -- Sugar Cane ***
57. Assembly Of Dust -- Some Assembly Required ** 1/2
58. Bobby Long -- Dirty Pond Songs *
59. Sondra Lerche -- Heartbeat Radio ** 1/2
60. M'shell Ndegeocello -- Devil's Halo ***
61. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band -- Speed Of Life ** 1/2
62. Paolo Nutini -- Sunny Side Up **
63. Patrick Watson -- Wooden Arms **
64. Pentangle -- Basket Of Light ***/
65. Phoenix -- Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix ***
66. Steep Canyon Rangers -- Deep In The Shade ***
67. 7 Worlds Collide -- The Sun Came Out ***
68. Willis Alan Ramsey -- Willis Alan Ramsey *** 1/2
69. Vicki Emerson -- Long Ride **
70. Black Hollies -- Softly Towards The Light ***/
71. Frankie Negron -- Independence Day * 1/2

Updated November 15, 2009.

Popsurfing Radio Show Playlist: Colors (11-12-09)

2009-11-14T17:07:00.005-05:00

Here's the playlist for my latest Popsurfing radio show. It airs weekly on WEFT Champaign 90.1 fm on Thursday night/Friday morning from 1 am to 3 am. You can stream it live online at weft.org.

You can download the episode on iTunes. Enjoy!

PLAYLIST FOR COLORS (airdate: 11-12-2009)

01. The Wellingtons -- "Wonderful World Of Color"
02. Opener -- fall leaves; lipstick color monologue
03. 7 Worlds Collide -- "Too Blue"
04. Joni Mitchell -- "Big Yellow Taxi"
05. Madness -- "Rainbows"
06. Mayer Hawthorne -- "Green Eyed Love"
07. Monologue -- Paint Chips
08. Ray Davies -- "Village Green Medley"
09. Rosanne Cash -- "Long Black Veil"
10. audio clip from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"
11. Monsters Of Folk -- "Magic Marker"
12. Monologue -- cream; Ol Dirty Bastard
13. Wu Tang Clan -- "C.R.E.A.M."
14. Grandmaster Flash -- "White Lines"
15. Ann Sexton -- "Color My World Blue"
16. Mildred Bailey -- "I Used To Be Color Blind"
17. Monologue -- color blindness; John Dalton and his pickled eyeball
18. Dolly Parton -- "God's Coloring Book"
19. audio clip from "Casablanca"
20. Nat King Cole -- "Orange Colored Sky"
21. Monologue -- donate now
17. 7 Worlds Collide -- "Hazel Black"
18. Loretta Lynn -- "Mrs. Leroy Brown"
19. Monologue -- Why is Johnny Cash the Man In Black?
20. Linda Lewis -- "Red Light Ladies"
21. Maxwell -- "Love You"
22. Leonard Cohen -- "Famous Blue Raincoat"
23. Jamey Johnson -- "In Color"
24. Monologue -- white; Goethe's Theory Of Color
25. Black Hollies -- "Run With Me Run"
26. audio clip from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"
27. Arctic Monkeys -- "Old Yellow Bricks"
28. Gene Autry -- "Yellow Rose Of Texas"
29. Monologue -- red gold and green
30. Brian Eno -- "Another Green World"
31. Eric Dolphy -- "On Green Dolphin Street"
32. Tom Waits -- "All The World Is Green"
33. Monologue -- Isaac Newton, prisms, Marvel comics villain Prism
34. Charles Mingus -- "Self Portrait In 3 Colors"
35. Kermit The Frog -- "Being Green"
36. Monologue -- color montage
37. Sun Ra -- "Pink Elephants On Parade"/Harry Nilsson -- "Zip A Dee Doo Dah"
38. Suzanne Vega -- "Song In Red And Gray"
39. Monologue -- black and white
40. The Flatlanders -- "Wishing For A Rainbow"
41. Kings Of Leon -- "Red Morning Light"
42. Monologue -- "The Jumblies" by Edward Lear
43. The Soul Of John Black -- "Black John"
44. Monologue -- color montage fade out

An Interview With Padgett Powell

2009-11-11T17:06:00.002-05:00

My latest HuffPo feature is an interview with author Padgett Powell, whose new book is composed entirely of a series of questions.

Also the latest episode of Showbiz Sandbox -- my weekly pop culture podcast with Sperling Reich and Karen Woodward -- is up now.

Latest HuffPo DVD Column Is Up

2009-10-30T18:03:00.001-04:00

I cover Il Divo, The Prisoner, Chinatown, Fawlty Towers, Tinker Bell and more. Enjoy!

Nellie McKay Podcast is Up

2009-10-18T21:42:00.001-04:00

I turned my interview with the very fun Nellie McKay into a podcast. Enjoy.

Cory Chisel and Nellie McKay Profiles Up Now

2009-10-14T16:30:00.001-04:00

Check out two new stories I've posted on Huffington. One is a profile of major label debut artist Cory Chisel. The other is a chat with Nellie McKay, who just released a charming tribute album to Doris Day. Both are among the best CDs of the year.

Popsurfing Radio Show Playlist #1: Born Again

2009-10-09T03:52:00.003-04:00

Just did my first radio show from 1 to 3 am EST. Since I was just figuring things out, I failed to properly record the show, so my debut will have to remain legendary rather than actually heard by anyone other than the lucky few who listened in live. Here's the playlist from that electrifying first show:

The theme of the show was "Born Again"

1. Richard and Linda Thompson -- "Dimming Of The Day/Dargai"
2. Beatles -- "Rocky Racoon"
3. Cory Chisel -- "Born Again"
4. A reading from Billy Graham's book "The Journey"
5. Wilco -- "Airline To Heaven"
6. The The -- "I Saw The Light"
7. Hank Williams -- "I'll Have A New Body"
8. Talking Heads -- "Take Me To The River"
9. A reading from the nonfiction book "Waking Giants" by David S Reynolds on the Great Awakening
10. Ray Charles -- "Hallelujah, I Love Her So"
11. The Staples Singers -- "I'll Take You There"
12. Rebirth Brass Band -- "Just A Little While To Stay Here"
13. monologue on being reborn again artistically
14. David Bowie -- "It Ain't Easy"
15. Cat Stevens -- "If You Wanna Sing Out, Sing Out"
16. Phoenix -- "Lisztomania"
17. A stanza from William Butler Yeats' "His Phoenix"
18. Cassandra Wilson -- "Resurrection Blues (Tutu)"
19. Bruce Springsteen -- "Thunder Road (live)"
20. U2 -- "Gloria"
21. monologue about Johnny Cash's burst of music at the end of his life
22. Johnny Cash -- "You Are My Sunshine"
23. Paul Simon -- "Born At The Right Time"
24. Ben Lee -- "Surrender"
25. Monologue about proposed film in which lovers are reincarnated and meet again, and cue the song that will play...
26. Frank Sinatra -- "Where Or When"
27. Jimmie Dale Gilmore -- "Just A Wave"
28. Steely Dan -- "Bodhisatva"
29. monologue on the meaning of Bodhisatva, then another selection from "Waking Giant" about revival meetings
30. Rev. Benny Canpbell -- "You Must Be Born Again"
31. Patty Loveless -- "Rise Up, Lazarus"
32. Nick Cave -- "Dig! Lazarus, Dig!"
33. monologue about Lazarus, reincarnation and the most famous reincarnated hero in history, the Doctor
34. Theme from "Doctor Who"
35. John Coltrane -- "Acknowledgement"
36. Jimi Hendrix -- "The Star Spangled Banner"

Rosanne Cash Profile on Huffington Post

2009-10-06T15:24:00.003-04:00

Read my latest Huffington Post piece, a profile of Grammy-winning artist Rosanne Cash talking about her new album The List.

You can listen to my podcast of the entire interview on iTunes via my Popsurfing podcast. (Note: there are two gaps of about 20 seconds during the 34 minute piece because I'm a fool and just learning how to do the technical stuff. My apologies, but happily none of the missing moments involve quotes from Cash.

Cory Chisel on MPR

2009-10-01T15:10:00.001-04:00

Listen here.

The Latest Showbiz Sandbox Podcast is Up!

2009-09-30T15:37:00.001-04:00

Check it out. Guests include top Hollywood producers Ted Hope and Christine Vachon, as well as lawyer Jonathan Handel to give us the skinny on the latest SAG elections.

Toronto Finale!

2009-09-21T13:20:00.001-04:00

Here's my coverage of Days 7 & 8 of the Toronto International Film Festival.

And here is my wrap-up of the fest, including capsule reviews of 24 films.

Toronto Film Fest Day 4: Two Documentaries and a Little Girl

2009-09-14T02:50:00.002-04:00

Here's Day 4 of my Toronto International Film Festival coverage on Huffington Post. Enjoy!

Toronto Film Fest Day 3: Cartoons, Cads and Commies (post- and pre-)

2009-09-12T22:42:00.001-04:00

My complete coverage is up on Huffington Post.

Toronto Film Fest Day 1: Peasants, Cats, Goats, Nymphs and War

2009-09-11T02:58:00.001-04:00

Here's my complete coverage of Day One for Huffington Post.

Japanese Noir? Hai!

2009-09-08T22:23:00.001-04:00

My latest Huffington Post DVD column is up. Check it out.

My Very First Solo Podcast Is Now Up! Interview With Matthew Sweet

2009-09-07T16:26:00.005-04:00

My very first solo podcast is now up on iTunes. This link takes you right to iTunes where you can download the podcast for free. I chat with Matthew Sweet, the acclaimed musician who has just put out his second album of duets with Susanna Hoffs of The Bangles. They perform hits from the Seventies by the likes of Fleetwood Mac, Mott The Hoople, Todd Rundgren, Big Star and Yes. It's a lot of fun and Sweet was great to talk with. Don't forget to subscribe and rate it.

And here's a link to my in-depth interview with Richard Thompson.

Follow me on Twitter.

Join me on Facebook.

Friend me on Netflix and get easy access to thousands of ratings and reviews.

Richard Thompson Is God

2009-09-01T17:12:00.001-04:00

My latest interview is up on Huffington Post. It's a profile of legendary guitarist, singer and songwriter Richard Thompson, one of my favorite musical artists of all time. Check it out.

Don't Get Conned: Check Out "Duplicity"

2009-08-28T22:49:00.001-04:00

My latest Huffington Post DVD column is out and includes a lead review raving about the smart caper film Duplicity, starring Julia Roberts and Clive Owen. Check it out.

Willie Nelson's New Album Of Standards

2009-08-27T16:46:00.001-04:00

My full review of Willie Nelson's American Classic -- his "official" follow-up to Stardust - is up now on Huffington Post. Check it out.

New Showbiz Sandbox Episode Is Now Up!

2009-08-26T13:39:00.003-04:00

Check out the free weekly podcast I co-host. Called Showbiz Sandbox, it's a pop culture show hosted by industry insiders Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward and myself. The show features Anne Thompson of indiewire.com as our guest and covers everything from Twitter's (over-stated) effect on the box office of Inglorious Basterds to the Beatles. Go directly to Showbiz Sandbox on iTunes here.

Also, here are some recent columns I've posted on Huffington:

My DVD column pegged to the release of the UK Life On Mars.

My DVD column on the new Miss Marple and the heated debate it inspired.

My DVD column on beloved cult hit Firefly.

My DVD column on an imaginary battle between Hannah Montana and Dragonball: Evolution.

Willie Nelson is following me on Twitter. Why aren't you?

Are you on Netflix? Friend me and get easy access to thousands of ratings and reviews and my Top Movies of the Year lists from the 20s to the Present.

Here's another link to Showbiz Sandbox.

Tilda Swinton's Film Festival

2009-08-12T12:14:00.002-04:00

Tilda Swinton is one of my favorite actresses -- I still remember being stunned by how lovely she looked when I interviewed her at Cannes, with the seashore in the background and Swinton and her red hair and bewitching looks just inches away. Always intriguing on camera, she's a beauty in person. And of course she has bold, unconventional taste as borne out by film after film...and now by a film festival she's begun.

Peter Knegt has the sweet story on indiewire. Check it out.