Eno

I love Brian Eno's music. I have from the first time I heard "Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks" back in the early 80's. Then I heard "Another Green World" and knew that he was a genius. He was ambient decades before anyone else. And can carve a pop hook with the best of them, as his collaboration with John Cale, "Wrong Way Up," shows. Enigmatic, haunting, intense, sparse and yet dense...these are some of the words I would use to describe Eno's music.

Yes

The band with the shortest name, but the most complex music, spinning prog-rock jams of epic proportions: John Anderson's spacey, soaring vocals over virtuoso rock instrumentation. Not to everyone's taste, but one of the best at what they do.

I Am Legend

When I was younger, I loved "The Omega Man" and even Vincent Price in "The Last Man On Earth." I mean, come on, Vincent Price as the last human fighting against vampires...what's not to love? But they are all film versions of Richard Matheson's novel, "I Am Legend." The Will Smith movie is pretty good, basically an updated Omega Man, with few aspects of the novel or the first film.

Night of the Living Dead, 28 Weeks, et. al. all owe to this story. Will Smith is very good, and the special effects are good. Everything is CG, which is fairly obvious and makes it a bit less realistic. But still scary enough.

Gladiator

Happened to catch the Ridley Scott film again the other day.  Really a well-made film, despite its historical inaccuracies.  I'm realizing that he has made some excellent films, including Alien, Blade Runner, Black Hawk Down, The Duelists, and so on.  Just a very well-made film, with good acting from Russel Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix.

The Decemberists

Wonderful band from Portland OR, with songs that tell great stories. Generally classified as "Indie" or "Alternative", but with their own unique style that evokes Jethro Tull and Steeleye Span. Their songs often have historical settings.

Their latest album, The Crane Wife, is really amazing.

Horton Hears a Who

Very entertaining 3D animated kids movie, based on the Dr. Seuss classic. Well voiced by Steve Carrel and Jim Carrey. Fun for the whole family, as they say...Juliet loved it and so did Candice and I.

Ken Peel

Just heard "Ashes and Snow" from Ken Peel's self-proclaimed lounge electronica album, "Marginal."  Very nice indeed.  On Groove Salad internet radio, an old favorite.