poptransmission

Author: DSquared

  • Like a Rolling Stone: Jann Wenner’s Duly Titled Autobiography

    It’s almost cheesy, but he had to do it. It’s the only possible title for the autobiography of Jann Wenner; founder of Rolling Stone magazine. The man who voiced a generation and stole his magazine’s name from Dylan and Jagger. Like A Rolling Stone is a personal history of the magazine and his life. The…

  • The Fabelmans: Spielberg Tells Us How a Train Wreck Started It All

    It’s 1952 and eight-year-old Sammy Fabelman is heading to the big, dark movie theater with his parents. Cecil B Demille’s circus spectacle, “The Greatest Show on Earth,” is on the marquee. Sammy is mesmerized throughout the movie, but it’s the pile-up train crash done with miniatures that forever opens his eyes wide open. He asks…

  • Ten Bass Players That Made the Rest of the Band Sound Better

    I don’t play bass guitar, or any type of guitar for that matter. So, who am I to proclaim the greatest bass players of all time? That’s why I decided to make this more of a “my favorites” list. As a non-player, I tend to miss some of the subtle background technique while recognizing the…

  • Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2022 Induction Ceremony

    Dolly Parton and Judas Priest. Dave Grohl and Lionel Ritchie. Steven Tyler, Ed Sheeran and Eminem. The 37th annual inductees were probably the most diverse yet, as all these artists performed alongside each other. Once again, thanks to HBO for condensing the 5½ hour ceremony into the three-hour telecast (now streaming on HBO Max). The…

  • Moonage Daydream Review: A Chaotic Collage of Bowie’s Sound and Vision

    The documentary film, Moonage Daydream, begins with a Nietzche quote, followed by Bowie’s voice, then images of the moon. It’s a telling intro to the musical/visual mash-up that awaits you. You may find it a frustrating audio-visual sensory overload. Or a mesmerizing sound and vision experience. I land somewhere in the middle. I found the…

  • Jessica Chastain: What’s the Versatile Actress Been Up to Lately?

    An Oscar for The Eyes of Tammy Faye. Nominated for The Help and Zero Dark Thirty. Lead roles in Miss Sloane, Molly’s Game, A Most Violent Year, Interstellar, It: Chapter Two, and The Martian. What do they all have in common? Jessica Chastain. Versatile indeed, a wide range of roles portraying strong, flawed women often…

  • New Music Alert: Five Bands You May Not Have Heard of (and One You Have)

    As usual with my new music posts, these are some bands I checked out by listening to a song or two. First impressions were positive enough for me to recommend exploring them more. Also, you’ll hear the beautiful new single from a well-known NYC band announcing their new album after a long hiatus. “Jimmy Neutron”…

  • Derry Girls: More Than a Wee Bit of Fun

    Five teenagers navigate the final years of the troubles during the 1990s in Londonderry (“Derry”), Northern Ireland. Sounds interesting, intense, and sad, doesn’t it? Actually, the Netflix comedy is hilarious, raucous, and optimistic (three seasons of six, six, and seven 25-minute episodes). While the Troubles lurk in the background, the show focuses on the antics…

  • The 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time

    Time for another Best-of list courtesy of the latest Rolling Stone magazine (see previous such posts The Best of Netflix: Rolling Stone’s Top 20 and Rolling Stone’s 100 Best Sitcoms of All Time). They have updated their 2016 list of the greatest TV shows. Like I did before, I’ll provide some brief comments on the…

  • Academy of Motion Pictures Museum: Finally, a Shrine for Movies

    First, my October 7, 2022 weekend trip to L.A. celebrated a 100th anniversary (see previous post New Order & Pet Shop Boys: A Hollywood Bowl Synthsation) and then the next day a one-year birthday for what will become another L.A. cultural institution. After years of dreaming and planning, the Academy of Motion Pictures Museum opened…

  • New Order & Pet Shop Boys: A Hollywood Bowl Synthsation

    As a L.A. native, I’m ashamed to admit this. I had never been to the Hollywood Bowl until October 8, 2022. It’s celebrating its 100th birthday this summer. What a time to finally make it there. The L.A. Times recently printed a commemorative section honoring the milestone for “the grande dame of amphitheaters.” “What other…

  • Beck and Coldplay: Two Enchanting Albums 20 Years Ago

    2002. Bjork and Oasis headlined Coachella. U2 was the Super Bowl halftime performer. American Idol premiered on Fox (Kelly Clarkson would become the first winner). Joe Strummer and John Entwistle died. And Beck and Coldplay released career-defining, beautiful albums, Sea Change and A Rush of Blood to the Head, respectively. Beck: Sea Change Beck had…