I recently gave a talk on the concept of the ‘post-digital’ within music, which I’ve just posted to Substack. I’ve always been gently wary of the modern social media landscape, but am aware that ‘non-digital’ is not an option, so what are the options? Link below.
open.substack.com/pub/hallofno...
Mulholland Drive opened my eyes to film wider than ever before, but simply listening to David Lynch was enough to sense his magical energy.
Through his passing, we have lost not just a beautiful director, but a beautiful soul.
If we were all a little more like him, what a world it would be.
So I reckon that if you don’t know an awful lot about the discipline, it can be easy to assume that the criticism you read comes from someone who has deep technical knowledge - but perhaps it doesn’t.
I’ve always felt the opposite way round, likely down to being a musician. I’d love to write about film, but I feel a little like an imposter as I have no idea about shot types, film editing, etc.
When I read music critique, I don’t often notice what I’d consider technical insight.
Makes a lot of sense - I did wonder why it seemed a particularly common thing with Shaw. It’s great that they’re all available through the Arrow Player at the minute!
Hi Dylan, do you know if there are any plans for individual films from the collection to be made available for separate purchase?
I can’t justify the whole set, but I would love copies of Buddha’s Palm and Bastard Swordsman.
Sounds good. The setting itself is intriguing - reminds me of A Cure for Wellness, which is no bad thing.
This is high up my list! Seen a lot of positive chat about it.
Unfortunately these fears were not unfounded. The Netflix/WWE content is very limited indeed, with the vast majority of the old library not present.
No WCW, no ECW, limited archives for TV content. I’m sure we’ll be drip-fed more, but until today, we had a lot of this available, and now it’s gone.
Underrated for sure - a fun film! “More chilling than The Exorcist” is so wild though.
When are we having a critical reappraisal of Leo Sayer? Long overdue, and some of his albums are an absolute who’s who of session players - Jeff Porcaro, Steve Lukather, Lee Ritenour, Michael Omartian, Larry Carlton, Ross Kunkel, Leland Sklar, Waddy Wachtel…the list goes on.
It’s just a shame about Ghoulies 4 really.
Perfect. I think I might like Ghoulies II even better than the first.
Cheers Steve! Looking forward to catching you in the documentary.
Bruce Roberts - Cool Fool
Criminally under heard finger-snapper here, from the man who apparently ghost-vocaled a Danny Bonaduce album. Deserves to be held in high regard within the pantheon of Yacht.
Maxus - Keep a Light On
Michael Omartian produced smooth as silk ballad, featuring guitars from an early career Michael Landau. Absolute gem.
Marc Jordan - Margarita
Christopher Cross-esque work here from an artist perhaps best known for his writing. Also check out Jordan’s ‘Marina Del Rey’ for a track that is about as Yacht as it gets.
Robbie Dupree - Hot Rod Hearts
Similar stabbing central riff to Dupree’s Steal Away, this is a great jam from the same album - his 1980 debut. Probably my favourite Yacht album.
David Pack - I Just Can’t Let Go
Probably the best known tune on this list - lovely dense harmonies. From Pack’s first post-Ambrosia solo album, it retains some of the hallmarks of the band, updated for the mid-80s.
If you’re going to listen to someone who knows their onions about Yacht Rock, listen to Hollywood Steve.
However, if you’re looking for something less reliable, here are my top 5 underrated Yacht-adjacent tunes.
Went to see Conclave at the cinema yesterday - engrossing stuff. Even if the idea of a bunch of cardinals politicking over the papacy doesn’t immediately grab you, you may be surprised.
Excellent performances and a standout script. A little slow in places, but not dreadfully so.
Four more sleeps ‘til Krampus!
Reads like a fair-handed, well-written and thoughtful piece of criticism to me.
There are certainly film adaptations of books that I’ve seen where I can see the excellent craft of the director, but the core of the material was never going to work for me regardless.
Haven’t come across your Rawnboy channel before Ron - instant subscribe. Lovely to hear these songs in such an intimate fashion.
Will look forward to Christmas videos!
Have never heard of this crossover, and now desperate to read it.
If only it had been seen through to its natural conclusion - Alien vs Predator vs The Terminator vs Batman.
100%. I feel the same about mixing desks too.
The CR-78 also just sounds lovely.
4/ For reference, the Asimov article is taken from Newsweek, and entitled ‘A Cult of Ignorance’.
3/ If you care about something, it’s worth learning about, and it’s worthy of enquiry. It’s not ‘elitism’ to value this or celebrate the pursuit of education.
It’s ‘elitist’ to prevent others from engaging in that pursuit. Learning is for everyone.
2/ ‘We have a new buzzword, too, for anyone who admires competence, knowledge, learning and kills, and who wish to spread it around. People like that are called “elitists.”’
‘I believe that what we badly need is social approval of learning and social rewards for learning.’
1/ ‘The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that “my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.”’