Category: reviews

audio review : House Money ( EP ) … Max B

audio review : House Money ( EP ) ... Max B

I don’t know how Max B is recording what sounds like studio-quality vocals in prison, but you’d swear he made this EP in early 2009. That is to say the rapper hasn’t missed a beat.

The best songs are the ones he’s singing on, of course, as he should be doing on every one. When he just raps the hooks, as on Ride On Em and Super Bad, it just doesn’t sound as “wavy”.

Almost every song features a guest rapper. French Montana, Jadakiss and others drop by the Blackjack table, though the illusion is thrown off when one mentions him being in prison.

my rating : 3 of 5

2019

video review : Missing 411

video review : Missing 411

This documentary is unnecessary; the subject of people gone missing in the wilderness is better covered by David Paulides on Coast To Coast AM and other talk shows; but it’s an interesting watch. It focuses on a handful of the hundreds of cases he covers in his books, all involving kids.

My problem with the Missing 411 concept is how David Paulides suggests there’s something supernatural tying all the cases together instead of presenting them as individual mysteries. He surprisingly goes against that here by presenting some of the family/friends as possible killers.

my rating : 4 of 5

2016

video review : Missing 411 : The Hunted
video review : Missing 411 : The UFO Connection

Great Value Ice Cream [ Holiday ] : Egg Nog

Great Value Ice Cream [ Holiday ] : Egg Nog

There is artificial flavor added, but this Walmart Ice Cream includes all the basic ingredients of Egg Nog. The taste suggests it wouldn’t be good egg nog; think of that old adage of getting what you pay for; but it works as ice cream. My main gripe is Holiday being used as a euphemism for “Christmas”.

my rating : 4 of 5

audio review : Street Light [ First Edition ] ( album ) … KRS-One

audio review : Street Light [ First Edition ] ( album ) ... KRS-One

This seems more like a mixtape-like side project than a proper album. As far as I know, it could be. The First Edition subtitle certainly suggests so. If it isn’t, it’s the third KRS-One album in a row with the same song on it. Invader is included on Now Hear This from 2015 and The World Is Mind from 2017. The decision to include it here, albiet a 2019 version, is baffling.

It’s still one of the best songs though, thanks in part to a groovy Mad Lion beat, though I would’ve given it a Mexican vibe to fit the concept. Forever Hip Hop gets it right. The other best songs are the ones KRS-One’s wife G Simone sings the chorus on; Ride, Miracle and God. Perhaps he should’ve let her sing every hook. Most of the others are defective.

my rating : 3 of 5

2019

video review : The Irishman

video review : The Irishman

The Irishman is Frank Sheeran; a steak deliverer turned Mafia hitman. This is the story of that latter part of his life, which begins with him befriending crime boss Russell Bufalino. Russ eventually introduces him to Jimmy Hoffa, whose mysterious disappearance is explained in great detail.

The liberties director Martin Scorsese takes in regard to what really happened is part of what makes the plot thoroughly interesting for all of its three and a half hours. It’s his longest movie and one of his best; vintage Scorsese mob canon along with The Departed, Casino and Goodfellas.

my rating : 4 of 5

2019

Market Pantry Egg Nog

Market Pantry Egg Nog

This egg nog from Market Pantry, a Target brand, is good stuff. The carton has it right. There’s nothing like a cold glass on a snowy day.

The one drawback is that it isn’t as thick as it could and should be, especially if you mix it with rum, coffee or cocoa as suggested.

my rating : 4 of 5

video review : Michael Page versus Richard Kiely at Bellator 227

video review : Michael Page versus Richard Kiely at Bellator 227

Dan Miragliotta acts like a sensitive bitch here. He docks a point from Michael Page for taunting Richard Kiely; fighters are supposed to show “respect” while trying to knock each other unconscious; but that’s just Page’s style. It’s part of what makes his fights entertaining. Not that the point matters in the end. The bout doesn’t go pass the first round.

my rating : 3 of 5

2019

audio review : Songs For You ( album ) … Tinashe

audio review : Songs For You ( album ) ... Tinashe

Tinashe considers Janet Jackson one of her major influences; you can hear it in her music; so I guess the title of this album is in homage to All For You. Unlike that album, this one begins and ends with romantic dedications, so the You is apparently a boyfriend.

She croons for him on Remember When. Feelings is from the canceled Nashe project from last year, along with Link Up and Cash Race. She should’ve released that set, which focused on her ratchet side, before this one. Its cuts seem somewhat out of place here.

The chorus on Life’s Too Short irks, but Touch And Go sounds good, despite an early 6lack verse. The album needs more grooves like that. Nightride remains Tinashe’s best. That album is about on par with All For You. Songs For You is about on par with Joyride.

my rating : 3 of 5

2019

Country Delite Egg Nog

Country Delite Egg Nog

It’s not as thick as I prefer, probably because it’s made with nonfat milk, but the taste of this Egg Nog, produced at Country Delite Farms in Nashville (Tennessee) and distributed by Dean Foods Company, is somewhat of a Delite. That is to say it’s good enough to drink and enjoy.

my rating : 4 of 5

At The Ruthless Billionaire’s Command ( book ) … Carole Mortimer

At The Ruthless Billionaire's Command ( book ) ... Carole Mortimer

Neither Billionaire Gregorio De La Cruz nor the woman he’s enthralled with; a defiant beauty named Lia; are particularly likeable. He’s too pushy. He pursues her like a stalker even as his advances are angrily rejected. She’s too gullible. She eventually gives in and blames him for her caving to her own lustful temptations.

It’s up to the plot of the novel, Presented by Harlequin via Carole Mortimer, to keep the pages turning. That it does, if barely so, from the prologue, which takes place at Lia’s father’s burial; crime and corruption are underlining themes in this story; to the fairy tale epilogue, the latter bit of which is too mawkish for my tastes.

my rating : 3 of 5

2017

audio review : Courage ( album ) … Céline Dion

audio review : Courage ( album ) ... Céline Dion

She’s standing dangerously close to fire on the cover photo, but I don’t know what’s so Courageous about Céline Dion on this album. Perhaps it’s because she’s Flying On her Own to trancey house music. There are some uplifting vocals near the end of that song. She dabbles in other music styles here and there; How Did You Get Here may as well refer to the 1950s doo-wop era; but never sways far from her croon comfort zone.

my rating : 3 of 5

2019