Category: reviews

audio review : a song from Pretty Woman : He Sleeps

This is the music playing as Pretty Woman Julia Roberts (Vivian) discovers Richard Gere (Edward) sitting asleep on the bed. She kisses him, which leads not just to sex but the metaphorical making of “love”. It’s a nice scene and a good movie. The song is even better.

It, a homestyle orchestral ballad composed by James Newton Howard, in fact deserves a more timeless presentation. The visuals of director Garry Marshall and cinematographer Charles Minsky will become dated, but this beautiful; forget Pretty; music will remain exquisite.

my rating : 5 of 5

1990

video review : Pretty Woman

Sunny Creek Broccoli Sprouts

Sunny Creek Broccoli Sprouts

Broccoli Sprouts, or baby broccoli, are a so-called Super Food, meaning they’re one of the healthiest you can eat. They’re “nature’s best source of” Sulforaphane, perhaps the safest way to fight or prevent cancer.

What I like about Sunny Creek’s, which you can find at North Carolina grocery stores, is that it’s ready to eat; no cooking or prepping. The taste is also tolerable; probably the best I can say for any plant sprout.

my rating : 3 of 5

audio review : Every Loser ( album ) … Iggy Pop

audio review : Every Loser ( album ) ... Iggy Pop

The song that best fits the title theme also happens to be the best song. Strung Out Johnny, on which Iggy Pop plays the familiar role of a hapless drug addict, rocks. Morning Show, Comments and New Atlantis are also decent. The rest is basically trash.

Pop, whose vocal range goes from Weird Al to Johnny Cash where applicable, revels in raunch like the rock legend he is, but here he comes across as mostly corny. Neo Punk, on which he sings of old ladies cumming; gag; is particularly atrocious.

my rating : 2 of 5

2023

audio review : Strung Out Johnny ( song ) … Iggy Pop

Iggy Pop stumbles between the first and second person perspective on this grunge anthem. It’s about a man named Johnny who happens to be Strung Out on drugs. “You can’t get enough,” he reflects, “Then your life gets all fucked up.” That bridge is the one bad part of the song. Every other part rocks, especially near the end when the chorus goes into full swing over 1980s power synths.

my rating : 4 of 5

2022

audio review : Every Loser ( album ) ... Iggy Pop

Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes Ice Cream

Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes Ice Cream

Christmas Tree Cakes may look like nothing more than glorified Twinkies, but they sure make good ice cream. This is actually both a Little Debbie and Hudsonville product. Whether or not it tastes the same as crumbling Tree Cakes in Vanilla ice cream is the question, but I’d guess not because I can’t really detect vanilla here. It’s just sweet and tasty.

my rating : 4 of 5

Jack Link’s Tender Style Beef Steaks : Original

Jack Link's Tender Style Beef Steaks : Original

I appreciate the Tender Style; tough jerky can be a nuisance to eat; and smoke (barbecuesque) flavor. Still these Beef Steaks, which may as well be belt steaks by the looks of them, are nothing to write home about. That’s perhaps unless you’re stranded on an island or lost at sea, in which I imagine they’d be a godsend.

my rating : 3 of 5

audio review : Science Of Life ( album ) … Sadat X

audio review : Science Of Life ( album ) ... Sadat X

Sadat X apparently considers this an official album, but it comes across as a mixtape of sorts in celebration of “the world opened back up” from the (ridiculous) hoopla of Covid-19. Though I certainly disagree with his boneheaded views on race and religion; he compares Niggas To Gods; I remain a fan of his odd word-emphasizing rap style, especially over raw soul-bap beats like these.

my rating : 3 of 5

2022

audio review : Da Good Da Bad And Da Ugly ( album ) … Geto Boys

audio review : Da Good Da Bad And Da Ugly ( album ) ... Geto Boys

The 1996 Resurrection of the Geto Boys didn’t last long. Bushwick Bill, the only member there since the beginning, is nowhere to be found. As far as this album is concerned, the group is down to just Willie D and Scarface backed with a gang of guest rappers, including, randomly enough, Caine from Menace To Society.

Dawn 2 Dusk, which also features DMG and Yukmouth, is one of Da Good songs. Others include Eye 4 An Eye, on which Willie D goes off on an angry and epic rant against racist white people, Gangsta and Thugg Niggaz. I also like Bitches And Hoes. None of the rest is particularly Bad nor Ugly, but most is middling.

my rating : 3 of 5

1998

Mrs Smith’s Original Flaky Crust Pumpkin Pie

Mrs Smith's Original Flaky Crust Pumpkin Pie

Though I question the addition of corn syrup and dextrose over just plain sugar, the ingredients list looks impressively simple. It’s apparently based on Amanda Smith’s Original recipe from a century ago. This Pie also tastes homemade; you have to bake it yourself; for whatever that’s worth.

The flavor isn’t what you might expect if you’re used to eating sweet potato; Pumpkin Pie isn’t quite on the same level; and follow the bit on the box about it being “best when freshly baked”. It actually tastes significantly better when you wait for it to fully cool and thicken in the fridge.

my rating : 4 of 5

Velveeta Shells And Cheese : Bacon

Velveeta Shells And Cheese : Bacon

Bacon can improve the taste of damn near anything. Macaroni (Shells) And Cheese is no exception. They refer to Velveeta as Liquid Gold, but that’s just promotional hyperbole. It is good though, especially with Bacon. Ignore the directions on the box and sprinkle the bits over the top instead of mixing them in for the full effect.

my rating : 4 of 5

audio review : Sunset On Rio ( song ) … Kingston Coalition

People who aren’t fortunate enough to watch the Sunset On Rio De Janeiro in Brazil can listen to this song and imagine. That’s if they aren’t too busy dancing to the beat; a deep house groove marked with pretty synth sounds where applicable. I don’t know what the girls are saying; I assume they’re speaking Portuguese; but their chants add a nice touch.

my rating : 4 of 5

1996

audio review : a DM Records compilation : Deep House LA [ Volume 1 ]