Joseph Baneth Allen's Blog, page 65
April 6, 2023
"Hergest Ridge" by Mike Oldfield
Just finished listening to "Hergest Ridge" by Mike Oldfield, released by Mercury Records.
Hergest Ridge is, for those who didn't know or realise, a large elongated hill which traverses the England-Welsh border. The cover from the album features scenery from the Ridge as well as an Itish Woolfhound (apparently called Bootleg) on the LP label cover.
"Hergest Ridge: is a terrific example of Oldfield's extraordinary compositional range, melding together elements of tone-poetry with rock, jazz, and orchestral influences. This is not as iconoclastic as "Tubular Bells," and is more similar to "Ommadawn" in that it demands close attention to appreciate its much more subtle aspects.
Excellent contemporary music instrumental album. Solidly written and performed.
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Hergest-Ridge-...
Hergest Ridge is, for those who didn't know or realise, a large elongated hill which traverses the England-Welsh border. The cover from the album features scenery from the Ridge as well as an Itish Woolfhound (apparently called Bootleg) on the LP label cover.
"Hergest Ridge: is a terrific example of Oldfield's extraordinary compositional range, melding together elements of tone-poetry with rock, jazz, and orchestral influences. This is not as iconoclastic as "Tubular Bells," and is more similar to "Ommadawn" in that it demands close attention to appreciate its much more subtle aspects.
Excellent contemporary music instrumental album. Solidly written and performed.
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Hergest-Ridge-...
"Doctor Who #253 - Memories Of A Tyrant"
Just finished listening to "Doctor Who #253 - Memories Of A Tyrant," released by Big Finish Productions.
Answering a plea from his old friend Varish, the Sixth Doctor and Peri arrive at the Memory Farm - a state of the art space station where forgotten and lost memories can be recovered to aid people. Only when the Doctor and Peri arrive, they find that the Memory Farm is under a quasi-military style locked down as the skeleton crew of the station's staff try to determine the identity of an unknown elderly man - who might just be Garius Moro - a dictator who was responsible for the death of untold billions of people.
Only one image of Garius Moro exists, but it is a fuzzy video that really didn't provide a clear image of the dictator.
Varish, a renowned lawyer, invited the Doctor to the Memory Farm because she wants to be sure that the elderly man is indeed Garius Moro before the galaxy passes judgement for his crimes.
Only not everyone on the Memory Farm is who they say they are and Garius Moro may indeed be on the space station, only his identity may prove to be shocking.
A very tense and fast moving story featuring the Sixth Doctor and Peri.
Highly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Doctor-Monthly...
Answering a plea from his old friend Varish, the Sixth Doctor and Peri arrive at the Memory Farm - a state of the art space station where forgotten and lost memories can be recovered to aid people. Only when the Doctor and Peri arrive, they find that the Memory Farm is under a quasi-military style locked down as the skeleton crew of the station's staff try to determine the identity of an unknown elderly man - who might just be Garius Moro - a dictator who was responsible for the death of untold billions of people.
Only one image of Garius Moro exists, but it is a fuzzy video that really didn't provide a clear image of the dictator.
Varish, a renowned lawyer, invited the Doctor to the Memory Farm because she wants to be sure that the elderly man is indeed Garius Moro before the galaxy passes judgement for his crimes.
Only not everyone on the Memory Farm is who they say they are and Garius Moro may indeed be on the space station, only his identity may prove to be shocking.
A very tense and fast moving story featuring the Sixth Doctor and Peri.
Highly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Doctor-Monthly...
"Deemo - Memorial Keys"
Just finished watching "Deemo - Memorial Keys" released by Shout! Factory.
Based on the popular computer game, "Deemo - Memorial Keys"is the story of a young girl named Alice, who is rescued from falling from the sky by a tall creature she names Deemo.
Alice has no memory of who she is and longs to return to world from where she came from. A way out may be possible for her through a tree that grows whenever Deemo plays a new song on his piano. Interspersed is the story of an older Alice who is struggling to find her place in the world where she still has repressed memories, and is struggling to remember a tune from a half-remembered song.
What follows is a haunting story of acceptance of loss and moving on.
Highly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Deemo-Memorial...
Based on the popular computer game, "Deemo - Memorial Keys"is the story of a young girl named Alice, who is rescued from falling from the sky by a tall creature she names Deemo.
Alice has no memory of who she is and longs to return to world from where she came from. A way out may be possible for her through a tree that grows whenever Deemo plays a new song on his piano. Interspersed is the story of an older Alice who is struggling to find her place in the world where she still has repressed memories, and is struggling to remember a tune from a half-remembered song.
What follows is a haunting story of acceptance of loss and moving on.
Highly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Deemo-Memorial...
"Remnants of Ancient Life - The New Science Of Old Fossils"
Just finished reading by Dale E. Greenwalt, released by Princeton University Press.
Dinosaurs were considered to be unknowable green and grey enigmas when I was a young child. Green and grey were the colors illustrators usually choose for editorial and even, back in the 1960s, scientific prejudices of the time.
The notion that paleo-biologists would be able to recover the pigmentation of dinosaurs and other extinct lifeforms was unthinkable decades ago.
Greenwalt, who is a Resident Research Associate at the Smithsonian Institution at the Smithsonian Institution's Natural Museum of Natural History, vividly brings how new insights into dinosaurs and other extinct ancient life have been brought about by technology that allows bio-molecules to be recovered, and in return provide new insights into the life-cycles of extinct animals, and even extinct plant life.
A very intriguing read.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Remnants-Ancie...
Dinosaurs were considered to be unknowable green and grey enigmas when I was a young child. Green and grey were the colors illustrators usually choose for editorial and even, back in the 1960s, scientific prejudices of the time.
The notion that paleo-biologists would be able to recover the pigmentation of dinosaurs and other extinct lifeforms was unthinkable decades ago.
Greenwalt, who is a Resident Research Associate at the Smithsonian Institution at the Smithsonian Institution's Natural Museum of Natural History, vividly brings how new insights into dinosaurs and other extinct ancient life have been brought about by technology that allows bio-molecules to be recovered, and in return provide new insights into the life-cycles of extinct animals, and even extinct plant life.
A very intriguing read.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Remnants-Ancie...
April 5, 2023
"Attack On Titan - Final Season - Part Two"
Just finished watching "Attack On Titan - Final Season - Part Two," released by Crunchyroll.
Multiple forces independently attempted to prevent Eren Jaeger to obtain the power of the Founding Titan, and failed, resulting in Eren unleashing the Rumbling causing the guardian Titans to begin marching out from the island of Paradis with the intent of destroying humanity worldwide. Yet the only way to stop the Rumbling is to kill Eren before time runs out.
What follows is an interesting story of hard choices not made any easier by former foes uniting for a common purpose.
The Final Season - Part Three will bring an end to this epic anime series.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Attack-Titan-F...
Multiple forces independently attempted to prevent Eren Jaeger to obtain the power of the Founding Titan, and failed, resulting in Eren unleashing the Rumbling causing the guardian Titans to begin marching out from the island of Paradis with the intent of destroying humanity worldwide. Yet the only way to stop the Rumbling is to kill Eren before time runs out.
What follows is an interesting story of hard choices not made any easier by former foes uniting for a common purpose.
The Final Season - Part Three will bring an end to this epic anime series.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Attack-Titan-F...
March 30, 2023
The Last Kingdom
Just finished reading "The Last Kingdom" by Steve Berry, published by Grand Central.
In his 17th Cotton Malone adventure, Steve Berry cleverly intertwines history and fiction to make the history fascinating and the fiction believable. This story in grounded in Bavaria and draws on the history of the royal Wittelsbach family. After helping his protege Luke Daniels on what should have been a routine mission, Cotton finds himself in a quest for a deed that King David Kalakaua gave to King Ludwig of Bavaria deeding the Hawaiian Islands to him. It’s existence and legitimacy threaten the status of Hawaii as a state with the potential of it becoming property of the Peoples Republic of China. Political intrigue, history and thrilling spy activities.
Berry is in his usual top form with Cotton Malone in this adventure. I am eagerly waiting for the next Cotton Malone outing.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Kingdom-S...
In his 17th Cotton Malone adventure, Steve Berry cleverly intertwines history and fiction to make the history fascinating and the fiction believable. This story in grounded in Bavaria and draws on the history of the royal Wittelsbach family. After helping his protege Luke Daniels on what should have been a routine mission, Cotton finds himself in a quest for a deed that King David Kalakaua gave to King Ludwig of Bavaria deeding the Hawaiian Islands to him. It’s existence and legitimacy threaten the status of Hawaii as a state with the potential of it becoming property of the Peoples Republic of China. Political intrigue, history and thrilling spy activities.
Berry is in his usual top form with Cotton Malone in this adventure. I am eagerly waiting for the next Cotton Malone outing.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Kingdom-S...
Rick And Morty - Season 6
Just finished watching "Rick And Morty - Season 6" released by Adult Swim.
Now it might come as a surprise that I like "Rick And Morty' for it's outrageous, in-your-face humor that goes out with guns a-blazing.
Deftly picking up with the destruction of the Citadel of Ricks and the breaking of Portal Travel, Rick and Morty are rescued by Space Beth and starts of a series of interconnected adventures that find find Rick Sanchez and the Smith family being tested to their breaking points along with a weird relationship between Space Beth, Beth, and Jerry, and dare I say it, even some personal growth for Rick as he redeems the legacy of a dead villain and tries to zero on the whereabouts of Rick Prime - the Rick who killed his wife and child. Morty also learns the truth behind his relationship with Rick and why his grandfather so values him. The saga of Evil Morty is still unresolved.
GREAT RICK AND MORTY FUN!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Rick-Morty-Com...
Now it might come as a surprise that I like "Rick And Morty' for it's outrageous, in-your-face humor that goes out with guns a-blazing.
Deftly picking up with the destruction of the Citadel of Ricks and the breaking of Portal Travel, Rick and Morty are rescued by Space Beth and starts of a series of interconnected adventures that find find Rick Sanchez and the Smith family being tested to their breaking points along with a weird relationship between Space Beth, Beth, and Jerry, and dare I say it, even some personal growth for Rick as he redeems the legacy of a dead villain and tries to zero on the whereabouts of Rick Prime - the Rick who killed his wife and child. Morty also learns the truth behind his relationship with Rick and why his grandfather so values him. The saga of Evil Morty is still unresolved.
GREAT RICK AND MORTY FUN!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Rick-Morty-Com...
Batman - The Doom That Came In Gotham
Just finished watching "Batman - The Doom That Came In Gotham" released by Warner Brothers.
Hopefully James Gunn who is now in charge of the DC-Cineverse is keenly aware of the fact that if you stay true to the source material and provide fans what they want and expect from a movie, you will be rewarded with success. Although for some strange reason, DC and Warner Brothers' couldn't quite bring themselves to say that this animated adaptation of the graphic novel by the same name, is inspired by the Cthulhu Mythos and stories created by H.P. Lovecraft - instead opting for saying "classic cosmic horror fiction."
Okay, let's address the 900-pound elephant in the room. Yes, Lovecraft, who was a product of his generation's era in the early 1900s was a racist whose views abound a plenty in his fiction. So if you can't handle the idea of a Batman story, a work of fiction, based on a long dead racists writer's fictional works, then I'd wouldn't watch this animated movie. I may be many things to many people, but being "Woke" isn't one of them.
Searching for Professor Cobblepot's lost Antarctica expedition, Bruce Wayne and his wards, along with Alfred come upon a horrifying discovery that they unwittingly bring back to Gotham that unleashes a chain of horrifying circumstances that open the way for the return of an ancient being who, to look upon him, drives men insane, and Bruce will have to sacrifice his humanity and his life if he wants to save Gotham and redeem his family from the horrifying deal made centuries ago.
A HIGHLY RECOMMENDED mashup of genres.
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Batman-Doom-Go...
Hopefully James Gunn who is now in charge of the DC-Cineverse is keenly aware of the fact that if you stay true to the source material and provide fans what they want and expect from a movie, you will be rewarded with success. Although for some strange reason, DC and Warner Brothers' couldn't quite bring themselves to say that this animated adaptation of the graphic novel by the same name, is inspired by the Cthulhu Mythos and stories created by H.P. Lovecraft - instead opting for saying "classic cosmic horror fiction."
Okay, let's address the 900-pound elephant in the room. Yes, Lovecraft, who was a product of his generation's era in the early 1900s was a racist whose views abound a plenty in his fiction. So if you can't handle the idea of a Batman story, a work of fiction, based on a long dead racists writer's fictional works, then I'd wouldn't watch this animated movie. I may be many things to many people, but being "Woke" isn't one of them.
Searching for Professor Cobblepot's lost Antarctica expedition, Bruce Wayne and his wards, along with Alfred come upon a horrifying discovery that they unwittingly bring back to Gotham that unleashes a chain of horrifying circumstances that open the way for the return of an ancient being who, to look upon him, drives men insane, and Bruce will have to sacrifice his humanity and his life if he wants to save Gotham and redeem his family from the horrifying deal made centuries ago.
A HIGHLY RECOMMENDED mashup of genres.
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Batman-Doom-Go...
Dragon Ball Super - Super Hero
Just finished watching "Dragon Ball Super - Super Hero" released by Crunchyroll.
While you don't need to have extensive knowledge of the Dragon Ball Anime Universe, it wouldn't hurt to be at least familiar with the characters and story lines.
Evil always finds a way to new ways to re-emerge from the ashes of defeat, and descendants of the Red Ribbon Army have hired a recently released genius to build an army to defeat Commander Red's son recruits Dr. Geros' genius grandson to build him new, more powerful androids so he can get revenge on the people who thwarted his father and take control of the world The only hope for humanity is Piccolo and Gohan and they just might not be enough to fight against androids who have the ability to absorb other people's powers.
Another great addition to the ongoing Dragon Ball Saga.
Highly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Ball-Su...
While you don't need to have extensive knowledge of the Dragon Ball Anime Universe, it wouldn't hurt to be at least familiar with the characters and story lines.
Evil always finds a way to new ways to re-emerge from the ashes of defeat, and descendants of the Red Ribbon Army have hired a recently released genius to build an army to defeat Commander Red's son recruits Dr. Geros' genius grandson to build him new, more powerful androids so he can get revenge on the people who thwarted his father and take control of the world The only hope for humanity is Piccolo and Gohan and they just might not be enough to fight against androids who have the ability to absorb other people's powers.
Another great addition to the ongoing Dragon Ball Saga.
Highly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Ball-Su...
Dragon Ball Super - Super Hero
Just finished watching "Dragon Ball Super - Super Hero" released by Crunchyroll.
While you don't need to have extensive knowledge of the Dragon Ball Anime Universe, it wouldn't hurt to be at least familiar with the characters and story lines.
Evil always finds a way to new ways to re-emerge from the ashes of defeat, and descendants of the Red Ribbon Army have hired a recently released genius to build an army to defeat Commander Red's son recruits Dr. Geros' genius grandson to build him new, more powerful androids so he can get revenge on the people who thwarted his father and take control of the world The only hope for humanity is Piccolo and Gohan and they just might not be enough to fight against androids who have the ability to absorb other people's powers.
Another great addition to the ongoing Dragon Ball Saga.
Highly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Ball-Su...
While you don't need to have extensive knowledge of the Dragon Ball Anime Universe, it wouldn't hurt to be at least familiar with the characters and story lines.
Evil always finds a way to new ways to re-emerge from the ashes of defeat, and descendants of the Red Ribbon Army have hired a recently released genius to build an army to defeat Commander Red's son recruits Dr. Geros' genius grandson to build him new, more powerful androids so he can get revenge on the people who thwarted his father and take control of the world The only hope for humanity is Piccolo and Gohan and they just might not be enough to fight against androids who have the ability to absorb other people's powers.
Another great addition to the ongoing Dragon Ball Saga.
Highly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Ball-Su...
