Stu’s Reviews – Page 65

Stu’s Reviews- #201- Album- “Messenger”- Mokoto

Stu’s Reviews

Genre: Album

Grade: A
Notable People: Mokoto
Title: Messenger

Review – Full disclosure…unlimited bias here as this is Max’s band, so you can disregard my opinion if you wish….but this is a really fine album of music. I have listened to it for 2 weeks non-stop in my car and am amazed at the quality. Sound and production are top notch. The singer is wonderful, the rhythm section really tight and lots of very well thought out arrangements. This is African music and sung in native tongues for the most part, so lyrically a bit beyond me. But what sweet melodies. And did I mention, the guitar player is extraordinarily tasteful on riffs ranging from reggae influenced, to classic African to traditional R&B influenced….where did this kid come from (yes- you can guess). This is a fine, fine piece of music. You can find a link to the album at http://mokoto.bandcamp.com/releases That’s’ my boy………

#201- Album-Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams

Stu’s Reviews

Genre: Album

Grade: B
Notable People: Larry Campbell and Theresa Williams
Title: Larry Campbell and Theresa Williams

Review – Long overdue first album from this husband and wife team. Larry was Dylan’s’ longtime guitarist, a very noted session player and the leader of Levon Helm’s band for the past ten years or so. A mainstay along with Theresa of the Midnight Rambles band that Levon had featured at his long time barn concerts. This is a pretty album, but neither of them is a particularly striking lead vocalist, and the songs just don’t really shine. Some great guest appearances including Amy Helm, member of the Levon band and Levon himself on one of his last recordings. And Larry is the king all things stringed. I love these folks live , with Levon, with the Dead, with just about anyone…but this album did not move me unfortunately.

THE BIG #200- Novel- ” The Whites”- Harry Brandt (Richard Price)

Stu’s Reviews

Genre: Novel

Grade: A+
Notable People: Harry Brandt (Richard Price)
Title: Whites

Review – I have no idea why Price is writing under a pseudonym-especially since his real name is one the cover…but who cares. This guy is a master of his genre…..or any other. A truly great, great writer of dark, urban stories. “Whites” is the name for the kind pf perp who plagues a cop for his entire career- someone who gets away with some heinous act but cannot be brought to justice. This is the underlay for this amazing story set in NYC. Lots of demons, lots of underbelly, lots of characters. This is a real keeper.

Novel Review- Girl on the Train

Stu’s Reviews

Genre: Novel

Grade: A-
Notable People: Paula Hawkins
Title: Girl on the Train

Review – Well written first novel form this British journalist. Quite the suspenseful ride- with a few too many red herrings for my taste. Not very likeable charters, but believable and compelling. Took me a while to warm to the cadence of this one- told in diary style from several characters. This either is or will be really good movie. (Trying not to give much away her- as my friend, the Nave, was just visiting and is in mid-book)

Special Edition- TV Review- Trailer Park Boys

Genre: TV Series

Grade: A-
Notable People: Who knows- a bunch of Canadian B actors
Title: Trailer Park Boys

Review – So, I am truly embarrassed to admit I love this CBC show available on Netflix- apparently a cult phenomenon in the far recesses of Canada. This is low brow humor and it’s most low brow, slapstick schlock at its most endearing. There have been 12 seasons, it is so popular, and I imagine a required activity for stoners…but…it is hard not to laugh all the way through this one. A “mockumentary” that has camera crew following the astounding Julian and Ricky from their annual release form Nova Scotia prison and their return to their beloved trailer park life. The characters are beyond astounding and the acting…well these guys are either a bunch or world class morons or damn good actors….not sure which. “Bubbles” deserves an Emmy of some sort, or whatever you get for bad Canadian television. Watch three episodes and you will be hooked. Best watched in bed at night.

Novel Review- Dear American Airlines

Genre: Novel

Grade: B+
Notable People: Jonathan Miles
Title: Dear American Airlines

Review – Interesting first novel given to me as gift…with some personal connection…wonder what. Generally the book is one massive complaint letter to American from a guy stranded in Chicago trying to get to his estranged (since birth- never seen her) daughter’s wedding to walk her down the aisle. The complaint runs into a life story, mostly amusing, at times bit over the top…and fully blended in with a wacked out story from a lost Polish masterpiece novel. Well written- maybe a bit too cute, but worth the read.

Book Review: The Dinner

Author: Herman Koch

This book is intense! Koch is a Dutch write an the book is translated from the Dutch. The entire book (pretty short) takes place over the course of an exotic dinner in an upscale Amsterdam restaurant, between the protagonist and his brother who is about to be elected prime minister (with their wives). It starts out like an interesting treatise on family life and fraternal competition, but takes some wild twists via flashback. A totally unexpected story-and not all that pleasant a one; well written, not that easy to like. Lots of surprising violence.

Grade: B+

Genre: Novel

Title: The Dinner

Book Review: Days of Rage

This is an exhaustive account of the American violent underground movement of the 60s and 70s …which actually lasted well into the 80s. An extremely well researched and vivid portrait of the Weathermen, The Black Panthers, the Symbionese Liberation Army and more (see Patty run!)- it is a fascinating look at a truly unbelievable period in our history (45 bombs were set off in one month in the early 70s in New York city alone). It’s a really long book and you have to really want to know this stuff to get through it . Very detailed with good portraits of some of the famous players: Bernadine Dohrn, Jeff Jones, Mark Rudd) but pretty dry and probably too much for most casual readers. Fascinating though.

Notable People: Bryan Burrough

Grade: B+

Film Review: Trainwreck

Frankly, I am a little embarrassed to say I went to see this move…for God’s sake, I AM an avowed movie snob. But I was on a date night with my daughter Tess and trying to find something I thought she would like. So….I liked it. This is not an American film classic, but Schumer is a really funny person in a slutty, filthy, over the top sort of way. Hader is an excellent foil for her and Quinn, my god…the opining scene is worth five times the price of admission as he explains in a flashback to his very young daughters why he and his wife are getting divorced. The man is a gem. The movie has all the usual Apatow touches and Lebron James is actually quite good as Hader’s good friend and confidant. Schumer wrote the script…good for her. Ok- I did go see this movie AND I did like it-so shoot me.

Notable People: Amy Schumer, Bill Hader, Colin Quinn, Lebron James, Directed by Judd Apatow

Grade: B+

Book Review: Bridge of Sighs

Russo is a really good writer- he won the Pulitzer Prize for his 2001 novel Empire Falls-which was well deserved. His books all take place in fictional NY state Adirondack area towns and are sweeping chronicles of life in that area and culture. This one follow two generations and three families over a 50 year period in both upstate NY and Venice (the bridge of sighs is a Venice landmark). Russo writing is pretty heady with a lot of metaphor and symbolism. His story is sweeping and ambitious. This is a long read and not a very quick one- but worth it if you have the time and patience.

Genre: Novel
Author: Richar Russo
Grade: A-