Sunday, July 31, 2005
CD PRICE CHECK
Stephen Stills MAN ALIVE
As of the time and date of this post, here's some website prices for the above CD in United States Dollars ($).
Note: prices quoted do NOT include shipping/handling/other fees, and like all things in life are subject to the whim of the vendor. This is a CD worth buying by buzz alone!
bn.com --> $ 15.18 (or $ 13.66 if a "member")
cduniverse.com --> $ 13.29
circuitcity.com --> $ 13.99
bestbuy.com --> $ 14.99
deepdiscountcd.com --> $ 13.97
overstock.com --> $ 13.67
The only store I have no experience with is deepdiscountcd.com, but I have seen their ads in USA TODAY; so they have at least that going for them. All others I have personally found to be good places to shop for various products. Also, demand your local (ideally indie) music shop meet these prices, and keep that person in business if you can! That is where I am buying my copy.
Finally, the European import version of this CD seems very similar if not identical to the upcoming release in the USA, but goes for about ten dollars more than the above prices in the USA. Not worth it in my view; just wait a few more days.
Zeph, out
Stephen Stills MAN ALIVE
As of the time and date of this post, here's some website prices for the above CD in United States Dollars ($).
Note: prices quoted do NOT include shipping/handling/other fees, and like all things in life are subject to the whim of the vendor. This is a CD worth buying by buzz alone!
bn.com --> $ 15.18 (or $ 13.66 if a "member")
cduniverse.com --> $ 13.29
circuitcity.com --> $ 13.99
bestbuy.com --> $ 14.99
deepdiscountcd.com --> $ 13.97
overstock.com --> $ 13.67
The only store I have no experience with is deepdiscountcd.com, but I have seen their ads in USA TODAY; so they have at least that going for them. All others I have personally found to be good places to shop for various products. Also, demand your local (ideally indie) music shop meet these prices, and keep that person in business if you can! That is where I am buying my copy.
Finally, the European import version of this CD seems very similar if not identical to the upcoming release in the USA, but goes for about ten dollars more than the above prices in the USA. Not worth it in my view; just wait a few more days.
Zeph, out
MAN ALIVE Reviewed in TOLEDO BLADE
Check it out, and well done!
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050731/ART10/50731007
Zeph, out
Check it out, and well done!
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050731/ART10/50731007
Zeph, out
STEPHEN STILLS IN NEW YORK POST ON LINE!!!!!!!!
Here's a link to a nice story/interview from the Sunday NEW YORK POST (31 July 2005). Note: you may have to "join" to read the entire story. It's worth it. There's a nice wrap up of MAN ALIVE (his new CD, out in Europe for a while now) and a short interview and a nice photo of my all time favorite guitar player!
http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/51199.htm
Zeph, out...until 2 August, when I get MY copy of MAN ALIVE...stay tuned to my blog!
Here's a link to a nice story/interview from the Sunday NEW YORK POST (31 July 2005). Note: you may have to "join" to read the entire story. It's worth it. There's a nice wrap up of MAN ALIVE (his new CD, out in Europe for a while now) and a short interview and a nice photo of my all time favorite guitar player!
http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/51199.htm
Zeph, out...until 2 August, when I get MY copy of MAN ALIVE...stay tuned to my blog!
Thursday, July 28, 2005
ON LONDON:
Let me be honest...I love London. I have spent more than a few good weeks there, in fact I visit at least every two or three years; have done my entire life...nearly. I have been relatively near two terroist actions there over the last three decades in London, and am grateful to have not been personally injured.
The British are smart, the British are tough, the British are brave. They will remain so. They are friends to most and enemies only to the lowest of the low.
Can it be too much to ask the press (particularly in my beloved USA) to cut the British police, and in particular Scotland Yard some slack?
There have been too many tragic events by sub-human animals lately there and elsewhere. Please give the authorities in the UK and world-wide a bit of help and a bit less criticism (and liberal outcry), while they work on keeping their people safe and bringing the scum of the earth to justice, OK?
Here's to peace, sisters and brothers! It will only happen after a great deal of hard work, danger, and I suspect many mistakes and more tragedy. But it will indeed be worth it.
For those who need a clue, read the lyrics to Stephen Still's "Find the Cost of Freedom," it has never been more true.
Zeph, out
Let me be honest...I love London. I have spent more than a few good weeks there, in fact I visit at least every two or three years; have done my entire life...nearly. I have been relatively near two terroist actions there over the last three decades in London, and am grateful to have not been personally injured.
The British are smart, the British are tough, the British are brave. They will remain so. They are friends to most and enemies only to the lowest of the low.
Can it be too much to ask the press (particularly in my beloved USA) to cut the British police, and in particular Scotland Yard some slack?
There have been too many tragic events by sub-human animals lately there and elsewhere. Please give the authorities in the UK and world-wide a bit of help and a bit less criticism (and liberal outcry), while they work on keeping their people safe and bringing the scum of the earth to justice, OK?
Here's to peace, sisters and brothers! It will only happen after a great deal of hard work, danger, and I suspect many mistakes and more tragedy. But it will indeed be worth it.
For those who need a clue, read the lyrics to Stephen Still's "Find the Cost of Freedom," it has never been more true.
Zeph, out
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
On TV:
In the USA, comedian (and fabulous babe) Chelsea Handler is the best thing on THE TONIGHT SHOW starring Jay Leno, period.
Jay, if you are reading, please bring this edgy and very very funny (in a sexy, self- conscious sort of way) W.O.M.A.N. back more often!
See her at chelsea-handler.com
Zeph, out
In the USA, comedian (and fabulous babe) Chelsea Handler is the best thing on THE TONIGHT SHOW starring Jay Leno, period.
Jay, if you are reading, please bring this edgy and very very funny (in a sexy, self- conscious sort of way) W.O.M.A.N. back more often!
See her at chelsea-handler.com
Zeph, out
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
PAUL McCARTNEY LIVE IN RED SQUARE DVD
Sir Paul has had his way way way ups, and a few downs. His voice had lost much of the magic he had enjoyed most of his career of late. In fact the performance for New York City was a great moment, but not great singing.
In fact I as a life-long fan enjoyed but only played once or twice his "Back In the USSA" double live CD set. It was uneven at best, and at point sung worse than a not-quite-runner-up "Idol" performance.
Well, I don't know how he (or THEY) did it, but the Live performances (there are two) on the aformentioned DVD are great; you heard me GREAT.
I like the daylight show from St. Petersburg the best, less flash and all payoff.
If you have ideas of plopping down a few hundred dollars (or half as many pounds) to see the man live on his latest tour, knowing the uneven nature of his voice, I'd keep the (huge) change and purchase this DVD.
And rock on, Sir Paul. Can't wait to hear your new studio album (due in the fall).
BOTTOM LINE: (for age) 5/5 stars!
Zeph, out
Sir Paul has had his way way way ups, and a few downs. His voice had lost much of the magic he had enjoyed most of his career of late. In fact the performance for New York City was a great moment, but not great singing.
In fact I as a life-long fan enjoyed but only played once or twice his "Back In the USSA" double live CD set. It was uneven at best, and at point sung worse than a not-quite-runner-up "Idol" performance.
Well, I don't know how he (or THEY) did it, but the Live performances (there are two) on the aformentioned DVD are great; you heard me GREAT.
I like the daylight show from St. Petersburg the best, less flash and all payoff.
If you have ideas of plopping down a few hundred dollars (or half as many pounds) to see the man live on his latest tour, knowing the uneven nature of his voice, I'd keep the (huge) change and purchase this DVD.
And rock on, Sir Paul. Can't wait to hear your new studio album (due in the fall).
BOTTOM LINE: (for age) 5/5 stars!
Zeph, out
Saturday, July 02, 2005
LIVE 8 ABC TV (USA) BROADCAST...the short version:
Just finished the ABC TV version of Live 8. A few thoughts:
First, the original member reunion of Pink Floyd, however monumental (given the reported personal problems among band members) did NOT sound particularly tight...I guess the decades of selling "greatest hits" packages did not keep their musical chops up.
Second, Dave Matthews Band ROCKED and did sound amazingly tight, and I am not a particular fan...I know this is unusual for a healthy living adult.
Third, I am a huge Beatles and McCartney fan...there are still flashes of brilliance in Sir Paul, but he has lost much of his formerly smooth vocal power, sadly.
Finally, it was by any measure an extraordinary event and show. Any ONE of the sites brought together world-class music; the combo was stunning. And everyone's heart seemed in the right place.
That having been said, I doubt much if anything of the stated agenda will be accomplished. The irony of (he has to be) Billionaire Sir Paul McCartney, among Decca-millionaires (and higher) like Bono and Sting and Madonna (and much much younger), singing to "remind" us of the tragedy of world poverty is at best bizarre; at worst classic limousine-liberalism.
You DO realize that if the "G8" did attempt what was asked of them today at these shows, that the first world would simply have to be taxed well into bankruptcy, don't you? You do realize that the intellectual scam being pulled off here is for you to convince your "government" to "end poverty." You do realize your government (in the G8 at least) is largely if not completely running on YOUR money (hard-earned or otherwise), don't you?
In my humble opinion, we will never end poverty if we continue to be capitalist nations in the civilized world. We could make poverty proliferate by giving away nearly all our worldly goods and possessions, of course I expect Sir Paul and Bono to be the very first to do that and live on the minimum wage for the rest of their lives LONG before anyone else elects to do so. I won't hold my breath. By the way so-called "sharing" was tried in our recent past; it was called Communism. And it still does NOT work. All you share in a Communist country is the poverty, to quote my dear friend Eric (God rest his soul). Eric knew all about it by the way; he grew up in communism and came to the USA to work hard and enjoy the fruits of his labor...and did!
We could further end poverty by forsaking our freedom and civilized government(s), since the war-lords or whomever was left standing to dominate and torment us would most certainly assure THEY would control the wealth and means of productions while everyone else subsisted in the dirt.
So...
What can we do, and what can we learn from Live 8?
We CAN take the rational position that we must share what we can. The single best thing to share with the rest of the world friends, is freedom (economic and otherwise). It is freedom, hard work, and the rewards thereof that have turned an atomically bombed Japan into an economic powerhouse. Similarly China, India, South Korea and even Viet Nam are in varying stages of becoming (forgive me Sir Bob) "rich" countries. And you will note China despite it's Communism is getting closer to freedom decade by decade; believe me...I have been there to witness it. The more freedom people are given there (or anywhere) the better their businesses grow and the overall happier they are.
I say we can export our love of freedom, our work-hard and get-paid-well-capitalism, and our compassion to share some of our personal wealth with the less fortunate.
This July 4th in the USA, let us let freedom really ring...around the world!
May God bless and protect those brave men and women who are doing so right now, all over the world.
Zeph, out
Just finished the ABC TV version of Live 8. A few thoughts:
First, the original member reunion of Pink Floyd, however monumental (given the reported personal problems among band members) did NOT sound particularly tight...I guess the decades of selling "greatest hits" packages did not keep their musical chops up.
Second, Dave Matthews Band ROCKED and did sound amazingly tight, and I am not a particular fan...I know this is unusual for a healthy living adult.
Third, I am a huge Beatles and McCartney fan...there are still flashes of brilliance in Sir Paul, but he has lost much of his formerly smooth vocal power, sadly.
Finally, it was by any measure an extraordinary event and show. Any ONE of the sites brought together world-class music; the combo was stunning. And everyone's heart seemed in the right place.
That having been said, I doubt much if anything of the stated agenda will be accomplished. The irony of (he has to be) Billionaire Sir Paul McCartney, among Decca-millionaires (and higher) like Bono and Sting and Madonna (and much much younger), singing to "remind" us of the tragedy of world poverty is at best bizarre; at worst classic limousine-liberalism.
You DO realize that if the "G8" did attempt what was asked of them today at these shows, that the first world would simply have to be taxed well into bankruptcy, don't you? You do realize that the intellectual scam being pulled off here is for you to convince your "government" to "end poverty." You do realize your government (in the G8 at least) is largely if not completely running on YOUR money (hard-earned or otherwise), don't you?
In my humble opinion, we will never end poverty if we continue to be capitalist nations in the civilized world. We could make poverty proliferate by giving away nearly all our worldly goods and possessions, of course I expect Sir Paul and Bono to be the very first to do that and live on the minimum wage for the rest of their lives LONG before anyone else elects to do so. I won't hold my breath. By the way so-called "sharing" was tried in our recent past; it was called Communism. And it still does NOT work. All you share in a Communist country is the poverty, to quote my dear friend Eric (God rest his soul). Eric knew all about it by the way; he grew up in communism and came to the USA to work hard and enjoy the fruits of his labor...and did!
We could further end poverty by forsaking our freedom and civilized government(s), since the war-lords or whomever was left standing to dominate and torment us would most certainly assure THEY would control the wealth and means of productions while everyone else subsisted in the dirt.
So...
What can we do, and what can we learn from Live 8?
We CAN take the rational position that we must share what we can. The single best thing to share with the rest of the world friends, is freedom (economic and otherwise). It is freedom, hard work, and the rewards thereof that have turned an atomically bombed Japan into an economic powerhouse. Similarly China, India, South Korea and even Viet Nam are in varying stages of becoming (forgive me Sir Bob) "rich" countries. And you will note China despite it's Communism is getting closer to freedom decade by decade; believe me...I have been there to witness it. The more freedom people are given there (or anywhere) the better their businesses grow and the overall happier they are.
I say we can export our love of freedom, our work-hard and get-paid-well-capitalism, and our compassion to share some of our personal wealth with the less fortunate.
This July 4th in the USA, let us let freedom really ring...around the world!
May God bless and protect those brave men and women who are doing so right now, all over the world.
Zeph, out
