• Blog,  Movie Reviews

    The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Movie Review

    As I’ve said in previous blogs, I was not a horror movie fan growing up.

    It was not until 2022 that I finally watched all of the Freddy Krueger and Jason movies.

    As of November 26 of 2023, I can say that I finally saw The Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie.

    I watched the 40th anniversary (the movie is now 50 years old as of this writing) DVD with 4 commentary tracks.

    Director/Producer/Co-Writer Tobe Hooper made this movie in 1973.

    It eventually spawned several sequels and remakes, but this is the original.

    I can definitely say it is a scary movie, but not a very bloody/gory movie like I thought it would be.

    It’s way more of a psychological horror movie.

    It’s about a group of people on a road trip that goes very wrong, in which (spoiler alert) most of them are killed by a cannibal named Leatherface, who uses a chainsaw to cut up their bodies and he and his two brothers eat them and their other victims.

    Most of this is not shown, again this is not a blood and guts movie by any means, but if you watch it, you get the point.

    Very effective story, and it still holds up.

    It’s always been heralded as one of the scariest movies (it was not shown in UK theaters for 28 years because it was deemed unacceptable viewing to the general public) , and even though it’s not very bloody, I’ll agree it’s definitely scary.

    And even though it was a very low budget movie, it was well done, and again, still holds up 50 years later.

  • Album Reviews,  Blog

    Dirty Honey Can’t Find The Brakes!! Album Review

    Dirty Honey continue to amaze me.

    They are a newer rock band that just check all the boxes for me.

    They have great songs, the band is tight, great musicians (John Notto on guitar, Justin Smolian on bass, and new drummer Jaydon Bean), and the singer (Marc LaBelle) is amazing.

    Their latest album, Can’t Find The Brakes!!, released on November 3rd of 2023, is one of my favorite albums of the year.

    It’s perfect from start to finish.  No skipping of songs on this album.

    They are one of the newer bands that I have high hopes for the future.

    The legends are going to eventually be gone, so we rock fans/music fans need newer bands to keep on rocking.

    Dirty Honey is one of them, in my opinion.

    Great band!!!!!

  • Album Reviews,  Blog

    Mark Farner Rock ‘N Roll Soul Live 1989 CD/DVD Review

    Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad singer/songwriter/guitarist) performed at a show in 1989 celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Woodstock festival.

    This was filmed and recorded, but was never released until 2023.

    This is the video and audio of Mark’s set.

    Mark and his band at the time played several Grand Funk Railroad songs, as well as some of Mark’s solo songs.

    Great, rocking, really live show.

    Thanks Mark for signing this too.

    Keep on rocking sir!!

  • Blog,  Book Reviews

    Todd Rundgren The Individualist: Digressions, Dreams & Dissertations Book Review

    Todd Rundgren is a singer/songwriter/musician/producer.

    He is also an author.

    His book, The Individualist:  Digressions, Dreams, & Dissertations, is an autobiography, but unlike any I’ve ever read.

    It’s formatted like a diary.

    Each page documents a time in his life, but yet, each page goes in sequence.

    I consider Todd a musical genius, having made so much music, can play so many instruments, has produced hit albums by other people, and also got into the computer industry earlier on too, coming up with software, which I did not know.

    I have nothing but respect for this man and what he has accomplished.

    If you’re a fan or am interested in learning more about Todd Rundgren, check out this book.