Joseph Baneth Allen's Blog, page 33
August 4, 2024
Native Heart
Just finished listening to "Native Heart" by David Arkenstone, released by Green Hill Music.
Arkenstone uses authentic Native American flutes with elements of modern musical technology and influences to create a Native American musical odyssey.
My favorite tracks on this CD are: "Drifting Sands," "Canyon Trail," "Wheeling Stars," "Raven Moon," "Tears of the Moon," and "Gentle Storm."
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Native-Heart-D...
Arkenstone uses authentic Native American flutes with elements of modern musical technology and influences to create a Native American musical odyssey.
My favorite tracks on this CD are: "Drifting Sands," "Canyon Trail," "Wheeling Stars," "Raven Moon," "Tears of the Moon," and "Gentle Storm."
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Native-Heart-D...
Wind Songs
Just finished listening to "Wind Songs - Native American Flute Solos" by John Two-Hawks, released by CD Baby.
In this GRAMMY nominated album, John Two-Hawks, a renowned Alternative, New Age, Native and World music innovator, delivers a masterpiece of Native American Flute solo improvisations. These stunning 'first-take' compositions not only showcase the effortless mastery Two-Hawks possesses with indigenous woodwinds, but the deeply sacred manner in which he calls these songs forth.
My favorite tracks on this CD are: "Songs From The Wood," "Rain Dancer," ""Sacred Paths," "Ceremony," "Ocean Soul," "Of Earth and Sky," "Laughing Waters," "Reflecting Embers," "Majestic Flight," and "Thunder Rider."
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Wind-Songs-Nat...
In this GRAMMY nominated album, John Two-Hawks, a renowned Alternative, New Age, Native and World music innovator, delivers a masterpiece of Native American Flute solo improvisations. These stunning 'first-take' compositions not only showcase the effortless mastery Two-Hawks possesses with indigenous woodwinds, but the deeply sacred manner in which he calls these songs forth.
My favorite tracks on this CD are: "Songs From The Wood," "Rain Dancer," ""Sacred Paths," "Ceremony," "Ocean Soul," "Of Earth and Sky," "Laughing Waters," "Reflecting Embers," "Majestic Flight," and "Thunder Rider."
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Wind-Songs-Nat...
Scavengers Reign
Just finished watching "Scavenger Reign," which originally aired on Max, but it was acquired by Netflix, who is probably not going to green light a second season of this stunningly visual animated series.
Now I'm not a Luddite, nor am I a neo-Luddite, but I do not subscribe to any online streaming services just for the simple reason that I really don't watch a lot of television. If I want to see a show, I'll simply pop in a blu-ray in my DVD player and watch it. So there are a lot of shows I simply don't see that I have an interest in seeing simply because I'm not willing to waste money on streaming service subscriptions. And with nearly 2,000 DVDs and blu-rays to choose from, I think I am more than capable of finding something to watch.
When I first read about "Scavengers Reign" on line, I wanted to see it, but I was waiting for the American blu-ray release, which to date, hasn't happened. So I turned to eBay to obtain the Region 0/Worldwide blu-ray release of "Scavengers Reign."
It's a leap of faith. I'm assuming that eBay will not allow bootleg copies of movies and television shows to be sold on the platform. And I do deal with a twine of guilt each time I buy a blu-ray from China because I used to get onto Dad about his habit of buying bootleg copies of recently released movies at the Beach Boulevard Flea Market. He justified it by saying that Mom wouldn't be able to see the movies unless he brought them home to her. I'm using somewhat of a similar justification, though I'm assuming I'm buying a legal product from eBay.
The animation in "Scavengers Reign" reminded me of Studio Ghibli and French/European animation. It was created by Joseph Bennett and Charles Huettner for Max, based on their 2016 short film Scavengers.
An interstellar cargo named the Demeter 227 traveling to planet Vesta is heavily damaged, with no chance of rescue. Several escape pods fly to the planet, most of which explode. A pair of survivors on planet Vesta, Sam and Ursula, are trying to contact the Demeter, but they need a battery from another pod and Ursula nearly dies from poisonous air collecting it. Elsewhere, survivor Azi has been growing crops with help from robot Levi, who is exhibiting perplexing behavior from a strange, yellow goo. Hostile wildlife destroy their homestead and heavily damage Levi. Another survivor, Kamen, is trapped and losing his mind after his escape pod becomes entangled in tree branches. He is freed by a creature with telekinetic and telepathic abilities named Hollow, and it guides him away using visions of his estranged wife, Fiona. Sam and Ursula remotely execute the Demeter 227's emergency landing protocol.
The survivors see it descending through the atmosphere as it lands on the planet far away from the survivors.
What follows is an intense journey of survival, discovery, and hope as the survivors seek out the Demeter 227 with the hopes of awakening the passengers from their cryosleep pods.
A MILD SPOILER - While "Scavengers Regin" does end on a path towards a second season, it doesn't need one. It did end with all the plot lines resolved.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/305696738261...
Now I'm not a Luddite, nor am I a neo-Luddite, but I do not subscribe to any online streaming services just for the simple reason that I really don't watch a lot of television. If I want to see a show, I'll simply pop in a blu-ray in my DVD player and watch it. So there are a lot of shows I simply don't see that I have an interest in seeing simply because I'm not willing to waste money on streaming service subscriptions. And with nearly 2,000 DVDs and blu-rays to choose from, I think I am more than capable of finding something to watch.
When I first read about "Scavengers Reign" on line, I wanted to see it, but I was waiting for the American blu-ray release, which to date, hasn't happened. So I turned to eBay to obtain the Region 0/Worldwide blu-ray release of "Scavengers Reign."
It's a leap of faith. I'm assuming that eBay will not allow bootleg copies of movies and television shows to be sold on the platform. And I do deal with a twine of guilt each time I buy a blu-ray from China because I used to get onto Dad about his habit of buying bootleg copies of recently released movies at the Beach Boulevard Flea Market. He justified it by saying that Mom wouldn't be able to see the movies unless he brought them home to her. I'm using somewhat of a similar justification, though I'm assuming I'm buying a legal product from eBay.
The animation in "Scavengers Reign" reminded me of Studio Ghibli and French/European animation. It was created by Joseph Bennett and Charles Huettner for Max, based on their 2016 short film Scavengers.
An interstellar cargo named the Demeter 227 traveling to planet Vesta is heavily damaged, with no chance of rescue. Several escape pods fly to the planet, most of which explode. A pair of survivors on planet Vesta, Sam and Ursula, are trying to contact the Demeter, but they need a battery from another pod and Ursula nearly dies from poisonous air collecting it. Elsewhere, survivor Azi has been growing crops with help from robot Levi, who is exhibiting perplexing behavior from a strange, yellow goo. Hostile wildlife destroy their homestead and heavily damage Levi. Another survivor, Kamen, is trapped and losing his mind after his escape pod becomes entangled in tree branches. He is freed by a creature with telekinetic and telepathic abilities named Hollow, and it guides him away using visions of his estranged wife, Fiona. Sam and Ursula remotely execute the Demeter 227's emergency landing protocol.
The survivors see it descending through the atmosphere as it lands on the planet far away from the survivors.
What follows is an intense journey of survival, discovery, and hope as the survivors seek out the Demeter 227 with the hopes of awakening the passengers from their cryosleep pods.
A MILD SPOILER - While "Scavengers Regin" does end on a path towards a second season, it doesn't need one. It did end with all the plot lines resolved.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/305696738261...
July 30, 2024
Death Note - Light Up The New World
Just finished watching "Death Note - Light Up The New World"released by Funimation back in 2019.
Ryuk is bored again.
When Light Yagami found the Death Note and took up the mantle of Kira, he had found some relief from his unending boredom. So Ryuk seeks new entertainment by ordering his reapers to drop six Death Notes throughout the world to see what happens and the world does take notice and police world wide race to find who has control of the new Death Notes. Only a madman believes that if all six Death Notes can be united in one place the original Kira will be resurrected and return.
This movie is an intriguing attempt to launch a new Death Note movie franchise, and the twist at the end is intriguing, but it wasn't enough to green-light another movie, though I do understand that there is a live-action Death Note television series in the works.
Strongly Recommend for die hard Death Note fans who can't get enough.
Three and a half stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Death-Note-Lig...
Ryuk is bored again.
When Light Yagami found the Death Note and took up the mantle of Kira, he had found some relief from his unending boredom. So Ryuk seeks new entertainment by ordering his reapers to drop six Death Notes throughout the world to see what happens and the world does take notice and police world wide race to find who has control of the new Death Notes. Only a madman believes that if all six Death Notes can be united in one place the original Kira will be resurrected and return.
This movie is an intriguing attempt to launch a new Death Note movie franchise, and the twist at the end is intriguing, but it wasn't enough to green-light another movie, though I do understand that there is a live-action Death Note television series in the works.
Strongly Recommend for die hard Death Note fans who can't get enough.
Three and a half stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Death-Note-Lig...
July 29, 2024
Death Note: L - Change The World - The Unwritten Chapter of Death Note
Just finished watching "Death Note: L - Change The World - The Unwritten Chapter of Death Note" released by VIZ Pictures and Warner Brothers.
The previous two live action movie adaptations of the popular "Death Note" manga series altered certain key moments of the story and left L alive, but with only 23 days left to live after he outwitted Kira, Light.
After destroying the Death Notes in front of Ryuk, L goes about closing out his case load, when his attention is brought to bear on a deadly group of bio-terrorists who have unleashed a plague that threatens all of humanity and the only cure exists inside two children who are seemingly immune to the disease. L must race to protect the children, while outwitting the terrorists, once who is agent K, and finding the once scientist who can produce a cure.
L gets a more fitting send off here than he did in the original manga.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Death-Note-L-c...
The previous two live action movie adaptations of the popular "Death Note" manga series altered certain key moments of the story and left L alive, but with only 23 days left to live after he outwitted Kira, Light.
After destroying the Death Notes in front of Ryuk, L goes about closing out his case load, when his attention is brought to bear on a deadly group of bio-terrorists who have unleashed a plague that threatens all of humanity and the only cure exists inside two children who are seemingly immune to the disease. L must race to protect the children, while outwitting the terrorists, once who is agent K, and finding the once scientist who can produce a cure.
L gets a more fitting send off here than he did in the original manga.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Death-Note-L-c...
Justice League Crisis On Infinite Earths Part Three
Just finished watching "Justice League Crisis On Infinite Earths Part Three" released by Warner Brothers.
After Supergirl was tricked by the Psycho Pirate into killing the Monitor, the surviving worlds of the multi-verse are placed in immediate peril by the Anti-Monitor who is sending wave after wave of anti-matter to destroy all the various versions of Earth. As he dies, the Monitor's last act is to send his life force into his ship to enable it to transport the remaining Earths into the Bleed - a dimensional safe place outside of the multi-space. Only time is running out as the Anti-Monitor discovers where the remaining Earths are hiding thanks to Lex Luthor who contacts the Anti-Monitor in an attempt to learn more about him to defeat him.
And when the Anti-Monitor is defeated by Supergirl's sacrifice, a new devastating threat is revealed as the reason why an army of Anti-Monitors has emerged to destroy the remaining worlds - only a miracle can save everyone.
"Justice League Crisis On Infinite Earths Part Three" has been referred to as the end of the DC animated universe and it does hint that the next animated movie may take place in the "Rebirth" universe of DC comics. But you should take into consideration the James Gunn is now at the helm of the DCEU and the next animated release seems to be the Creature Commandos series.
Only time will tell.
Strongly Recommended.
Four Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0D...
After Supergirl was tricked by the Psycho Pirate into killing the Monitor, the surviving worlds of the multi-verse are placed in immediate peril by the Anti-Monitor who is sending wave after wave of anti-matter to destroy all the various versions of Earth. As he dies, the Monitor's last act is to send his life force into his ship to enable it to transport the remaining Earths into the Bleed - a dimensional safe place outside of the multi-space. Only time is running out as the Anti-Monitor discovers where the remaining Earths are hiding thanks to Lex Luthor who contacts the Anti-Monitor in an attempt to learn more about him to defeat him.
And when the Anti-Monitor is defeated by Supergirl's sacrifice, a new devastating threat is revealed as the reason why an army of Anti-Monitors has emerged to destroy the remaining worlds - only a miracle can save everyone.
"Justice League Crisis On Infinite Earths Part Three" has been referred to as the end of the DC animated universe and it does hint that the next animated movie may take place in the "Rebirth" universe of DC comics. But you should take into consideration the James Gunn is now at the helm of the DCEU and the next animated release seems to be the Creature Commandos series.
Only time will tell.
Strongly Recommended.
Four Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0D...
July 27, 2024
Duffy's Tavern - Archie's Song
Just finished listening to "Duffy's Tavern - Archie's Song" released by Radio Spirits.
Unlike most popular comedy radio shows from Radio's Golden Age the featured married actors as the headline performers of the show, the marriage of Ed Gardner, who played Archie, and Shirley Booth, who played Miss Duffy, ended a few years before the show's final episode, ended amicably, she ultimately left the show and the character she originated went on to be played by multiple actresses.
"Duffy's Tavern" featured A list guest stars who visited the dive and the main cast of regulars were usually involved in some scheme of the week that Archie dreamed up.
My favorite episodes from this collection are: "Archie Needs Finnegan to Marry Billie Burke," "Rudy Valiee Does His Show From The Tavern," "Archie's Investments," "Archie Hires Madame Zooma," "Jimmie Durante and Ann Sothern Act in Archie's Play," and "Fashio Show with Esther Williams."
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!
FIVE STARS!
https://store.radiospirits.com/duffys...
Unlike most popular comedy radio shows from Radio's Golden Age the featured married actors as the headline performers of the show, the marriage of Ed Gardner, who played Archie, and Shirley Booth, who played Miss Duffy, ended a few years before the show's final episode, ended amicably, she ultimately left the show and the character she originated went on to be played by multiple actresses.
"Duffy's Tavern" featured A list guest stars who visited the dive and the main cast of regulars were usually involved in some scheme of the week that Archie dreamed up.
My favorite episodes from this collection are: "Archie Needs Finnegan to Marry Billie Burke," "Rudy Valiee Does His Show From The Tavern," "Archie's Investments," "Archie Hires Madame Zooma," "Jimmie Durante and Ann Sothern Act in Archie's Play," and "Fashio Show with Esther Williams."
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!
FIVE STARS!
https://store.radiospirits.com/duffys...
July 24, 2024
Grand Eagle
Just finished listening to "Grand Eagle" by Ed Van Fleet, released by Elfin Music Company.
Ed Van Fleet is a music composer with 25 albums to date. His recordings have sold over two million copies, with his disc “Grand Eagle” selling over 500,000 units. Ed’s early musical roots were with heavy rock and funk. Before embarking on his solo career, he was a bassist & guitarist in rock bands in the Southwestern US. After opening Synchestra Studios in Phoenix, AZ he was introduced to gentler and therapeutic forms of music. Ed soon found himself creating musical landscapes with ambient atmospheres and lush orchestrations.
My favorite tracks on this CD are: "The Fire Of Joy," "Early Summer," "Butterfly Stream," "Children Of The Clouds," and "Sunderwater."
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!
FIVE STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Grand-Eagle-Ed...
Ed Van Fleet is a music composer with 25 albums to date. His recordings have sold over two million copies, with his disc “Grand Eagle” selling over 500,000 units. Ed’s early musical roots were with heavy rock and funk. Before embarking on his solo career, he was a bassist & guitarist in rock bands in the Southwestern US. After opening Synchestra Studios in Phoenix, AZ he was introduced to gentler and therapeutic forms of music. Ed soon found himself creating musical landscapes with ambient atmospheres and lush orchestrations.
My favorite tracks on this CD are: "The Fire Of Joy," "Early Summer," "Butterfly Stream," "Children Of The Clouds," and "Sunderwater."
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!
FIVE STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Grand-Eagle-Ed...
In A Distant Place
Just finished listening to "In A Distant Place" by R. Carlos Nakai, Nawang Khechog, William Eaton, and Will Clipman, released by Canyon Records.
"In A Distant Place" is a unique blend of Native American and Tibetan music. R. Carlos Nakai, Newang Khechog, William Eaton , and Will Clipman unite together forming a cultural masterpiece. Every instrument from the Native American flute (performed by Nakai) to the spiral clef guitar (performed be Eaton) flows fluidly and vividly.
My favorite tracks are: "A Gathering of Eagles," "Tibetan Turquoise," "Dream Catcher," "In a Distant Place," and "As Long As the Grass Grows."
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!
FIVE STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000050HY1/...
"In A Distant Place" is a unique blend of Native American and Tibetan music. R. Carlos Nakai, Newang Khechog, William Eaton , and Will Clipman unite together forming a cultural masterpiece. Every instrument from the Native American flute (performed by Nakai) to the spiral clef guitar (performed be Eaton) flows fluidly and vividly.
My favorite tracks are: "A Gathering of Eagles," "Tibetan Turquoise," "Dream Catcher," "In a Distant Place," and "As Long As the Grass Grows."
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!
FIVE STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000050HY1/...
Feather, Stone & Light
Just finished listening to "Feather, Stone & Light" by R. Carlos Nakai, William Eaton, and William Clipman, released by Canyon Records.
Native American flutist, R. Carlos Nakai, draws on his Navajo-Ute heritage in this fourth collaboration with guitarist William Eaton who adds the unique sounds of his hyraharp guitar, o'ele'n strings and spiral clef guitar to Nakai's cedar flutes. In this outing Nakai and Eaton are joined by percussionist Will Clipman they bring fourth a music born in the Sonoran desert and colored by sounds of the world.
My favorite tracks on this CD are: "The Lake Inside the Flower," "Midnight in the Sacred Grove," "Sonoran Raga," "Three Worlds," "Last Wild River," and "Runes."
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!
FIVE STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Feather-Stone-...
Native American flutist, R. Carlos Nakai, draws on his Navajo-Ute heritage in this fourth collaboration with guitarist William Eaton who adds the unique sounds of his hyraharp guitar, o'ele'n strings and spiral clef guitar to Nakai's cedar flutes. In this outing Nakai and Eaton are joined by percussionist Will Clipman they bring fourth a music born in the Sonoran desert and colored by sounds of the world.
My favorite tracks on this CD are: "The Lake Inside the Flower," "Midnight in the Sacred Grove," "Sonoran Raga," "Three Worlds," "Last Wild River," and "Runes."
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!
FIVE STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Feather-Stone-...
