And that song legitimately Swings. Not that Ellington would have done it, but maybe Gene Krupa would have—especially given that it's a real showcase for the drummer (lots of changes in pattern and tempo, lots of bombastic dynamics). I don't know if that's Dolenz playing on it, I sort of doubt it, but its alright…

Keeping my job, sir, in these insecure times.

More evidence for why they have been inducted in the Vocal Group Hall of Fame (and keeping good company: http://www.vocalgroup.org/i… )—even while those at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will likely never let 'em in.

Oh, we're doing fun facts now?

"it's a relevant issue" as part of their biography but it's also largely beside the point where the music itself is concerned. (On the other hand, I've always found it hypocritical that Milli Vanilli had their Grammy taken away—that is, if they really won it for the music and not their snappy bicycle shorts)

"they didn't just live it, they owned it."

It sure don't smell like cornsilk.

There are good tracks on the first two albums, they just happen to be the ones that you may have already heard/dismissed/sickened of thanks to their having been played so much on the show or on the radio. The Gateway is (rightly, I think) making the case that it's possible to listen with fresher ears to the albums…

…

Dolenz was one of the most expressive vocalists of the era, and well-suited to the Psychedelic Pop they put out, and Nesmith was perfect for the Country Rock—in fact, the only real downside was the mannered MerseyLite of Davey Jones, and even that was alright in small doses. Just give the guy some maracas and stick…

Okay—before the usual accusations surface, I'm going to throw out the refutations.

I just rewatched the final episode of 'The Monkees' (the one Mickey directed—'The Frodis Caper') and while it was not as great as I remembered from its airing on MTV way back when, it does have a very subversive ant-television subtext and a whole lot of pro-marijuana content.

It's almost incorrect to characterize Mills' vocals as mere harmonizing, especially during the IRS years (when I would have called them my favorite band ever) since Stipe's voice was so low in the mix. It made Mills responsible for so much of the melody and that signature R.E.M. tone color (slightly flattened, a…

Does this mean we can finally get a second Hindu Love Gods album? Warren Zevon's what? Goddammit.

In other news: Despite overall downcast economy, the price of shares in cosmetic companies who produce white theatrical pancake makeup has risen dramatically for some reason.

You may have whatever legitimate opinions you want of Ebert's taste or his
tendencies, but it's hardly fair to cherry-pick only those reviews that
support those opinions.  For every instance of him "not getting" a great film the first time around, you can also find one where he was an early champion of a film that was…

I consider silent films a huge gap in my knowledge of films, and have
usually assumed that a lack of access was a suitable excuse but now one of the best things about Netflix streaming is that they have loads of silent films available. Along with the ones I'd occasionally run into in video stores and art house…

"the Pink Floyd-Wizard of Oz thing" is problematic though—It works well enough, but what do you put on after the record ends and the movie's just getting started? I've long wanted to try ELO's 'ElDorado' for what may be obvious reasons, but I don't do those drugs anymore, or rather, I don't have ready access to them.

That's what I don't get—Since the American version is so different in style, tone, and complexity (all of which one figures is why it was in the works for so many years—from network notes to an overall underestimation of the American audience that loved the original in the first place), why didn't they just call it…

Have you seen 'Green Acres' lately? 'Mr. Ed' is a totally different animal, as it were—to wit, the joke of Arnold the pig was that everyone but Mr. Douglas treated him like a regular human citizen. It's actually emblematic of the show as a whole that everyone takes whatever goes on, however surreal, as run of the…