WTF Ear Candy

Law and Order
by Lindsey Buckingham
Barnes & Noble link

Special note: this was reviewed using the 1981 vinyl release.

Much like his New Wave compatriot from Wisconsin, Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsey Buckingham set forth on the journey to Solo Career Town in 1981 with the release of Law and Order. To the surprise of absolutely no one, it wasn't an enormous success. You know, because there was another album out that was catching everyone's attentions. It didn't stop the album's second song "Trouble" from becoming his first Top Ten hit. When you finish spinning the album for the first time, it leaves you feeling something, mostly the feeling of "what the eff did I just listen to".

Book Review: 12 of 24 (Richard Matheson is A Ninja)

Other Kingdoms
By Richard Matheson
Barnes & Noble link

Imagine my surprise when I happened upon a random slice of information one late February day: Richard Matheson, the man who brought the world What Dreams May Come and one of the most popular Twilight Zone episodes (also a short story), had released a new book. New book. In 2011. You bet I ordered it before you could say "Bob's your uncle and he makes cheese of the finest variety". Too bad it was a sore disappointment.

Book Review: 11 of 24 (Nail-Biting Nonfiction)

Shockwave: Countdown to Hiroshima
By Stephen Walker
Barnes & Noble link

As the narrator of Fallout 3 best put it: "War never changes". Years have passed since the U.S. dropped two atomic bombs on two cities in Japan, citing the end of World War II and the beginning of the Cold War. But, what if the bombs weren't dropped? Well, there would've been a land battle between Americans and Japanese. Many deaths were foreshadowed, possibly more than the total overall of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. But, some had to die in order for more not to die? Those, among many more questions you will ask yourself as you read Walker's Shockwave: Countdown to Hiroshima.

Best of 2010: Movie Edition

While this list ended up being longer than I expected, it still isn't as substantial as I wanted it to be. To be fair, I'm extremely picky with newer films. Plus, all the stuff I usually go for are released around this time. And so, on this final day of the year, I conclude this series. Until this time next year... here are my choices for this year's best films:

Best of 2010: Book Edition

I regret to say that this list was unfortunately small to put together. I have read more older books this time 'round, I suppose.

Best of 2010: Album Edition

It's baaaaaaack!

Here we are folks, near the end of 2010. What a year! So much has gone on and things are only getting more intense. Let's break from the news for a moment to discuss music. It's been a very interesting year for the ear candy. For once, I actually listened to quite a bit of the new releases (egads!) so my list will actually be a bit bigger. Let's make it a top twelve!

Book Review: 10 of 24 (Ballard Rides Again)

High Rise
By J.G. Ballard
Wikipedia link (click here to buy it from England!)

(Fun fact: this book was my solitary goal in my book-searching quest over in the British Isles earlier this year. It was this book or bust. Found it in the Foyles on Charing Cross. Excellent store, six floors of book heaven.)

A long time ago, I cracked open a copy of Stephen King's Danse Macabre (which I sorta recommend, but that's a whole other kettle of fish) and went to the far back to read the recommended books list. The tome of horror's long-ass history listed High Rise and Concrete Island alongside The Exorcist and The Haunting of Hill House. After finding High Rise, and just now finishing it, of this trilogy that Ballard had (Crash, Concrete Island, and High Rise; all which hilariously enough I read in order) this one is definitely the most likely to represent future real life.