The funny thing about music in 1985: they would make an extended mix of anything. Even funnier, people would dance to it. Take this week”™s subject, the UK band Vitamin…
Dave Steed
1 Min Read
I’d bet that most people right now would say “Welcome back” to all of you. But I’m not, because the false “Welcome back” is just a little pet peeve of…
Zack Dennis
1 Min Read
Why is gold valuable? Why is it worth anything at all? Sure, it’s yellow and shiny. But so is brass. It’s scarce, but so is osmium, and you don’t see…
Ted Asregadoo
2 Min Read
The optimistic adage that a rising tide floats all boats is less sanguine when one contemplates the obverse. As the Great Recession of 2008 spills over to 2009 with what…
John C. Hughes
1 Min Read
After dipping his toe into the mainstream with his fourth album, Security, and its Top 40 hit, “Shock the Monkey,” it’s only natural that Peter Gabriel would continue to experiment…
Ted Asregadoo
1 Min Read
DOWNLOAD THE FULL MIX HERE Living where I do (the San Francisco Bay Area), the Napa Valley is quite close to my abode.Á‚ If you’ve ever been to a winery…
Scott Malchus
1 Min Read
You know you’re in for a long haul when you check the time counter on your DVD player, it tells you that only 29 minutes have elapsed and you exclaim,…
David Medsker
1 Min Read
Welcome back, Popdosers. Did you have a nice Mellowmas break? And is Alan O’Day the best sport in the world or what? I mean, he’s not quite as awesome as…
Scott Malchus
2 Min Read
Welcome back to The Three Strike Rule.Á‚ You’d think I could come up with a better title for this week’s column than that, huh?Á‚ Today is my daughter Sophie’s 10th…
Lance Berry
2 Min Read
Resident Evil: Degeneration (2008, Sony) purchase this DVD (Amazon) I have to say, I am pretty much the biggest fan of the Resident Evil games. From the moment I played…
Lance Berry
1 Min Read
The Duchess (2008, Paramount) purchase this DVD (Amazon) Period pieces have to fight an uphill battle, from the moment a studio decides to press forward and make them. They’re a…
Molly Marinik
1 Min Read
…Or at least for a little while. Beginning January 4, Planet Earth’s economic melt-down makes its way to Broadway. And not in the form of a snazzy new musical (which…
Kelly Stitzel
1 Min Read
Well, here we are in 2009. I hope everyone had a great holiday season and didn’t kick anyone in the face or anything. I know I was tempted a few…
Arend Anton
1 Min Read
What is the most important factor in the creation of a movie? Is it a good script, quality acting, or great visuals? Or is it something more? It is my…
Mojo Flucke
1 Min Read
Editor’s Note: This kicks off a new series where the Popdose staff reflects on memorable concerts they’ve witnessed. They’re not reviews, per se, but in places may exhibit review-like symptoms….
Lance Berry
1 Min Read
Transformers Animated: Season 2 (Hasbro, 2009) purchase this DVD (Amazon) I’ve never really been a big Transformers fan, even back in my childhood. I’ve never understood the cultural fascination with…
Dw. Dunphy
2 Min Read
It’s 2009, kids, and welcome back to another year of Popdose madness. So… How was your holiday season? Mine was pretty good. In fact, I would say mine was better…
Mojo Flucke
2 Min Read
Joachim Cooder produced his dad Ry’s new retrospective double disc The UFO Has Landed; he got to make the ultimate mixtape by picking which cuts would represent the elder Cooder’s…
Scott Malchus
2 Min Read
Cleveland in the wintertime can be a cruel, desolate town. The wind chill often drops temperatures below zero and gray slush mounds crowd the streets and seep onto the asphalt,…
Matchup Monkey
1 Min Read
Welcome to 2009!Á‚ I know this matchup isn’t entirely appropriate, seeing as we’re not hitting a new century, or even a new decade, but the editors would probably spank me…
Scott Malchus
2 Min Read
I could use this space to write a snarky column about the latest “Beethoven” film, Beethoven’s Big Break, which just came out on DVD, but what’s the point? If you’re…
Robert Cass
4 Min Read
The tagline for Matthew McConaughey’s latest film is “Love and waves, that’s what we need in these dark days.” A movie star who isn’t afraid to tackle the worst financial crisis…
Jeff Giles and Jason Hare
8 Min Read
Jason: Jeff, are you awake? Jeff: Ah, Mellowmas morn! Jason: Is it…is it…is it here? I’m a little groggy. Jeff: I put a little something extra in your eggnog last…
Jeff Giles
1 Min Read
John Carroll – The Existential Jesus (2009, Counterpoint) purchase this book (Amazon) You can’t claim to offer an interpretation of the Gospel of Mark that claims to offer up hitherto…
Jeff Giles and Jason Hare
6 Min Read
Smash Mouth – Zat You, Santa Claus? (download) From The Gift of Rock Amazon Jason: Oh, no. Who asked for this? Jeff: Izzat you, Sanna Claus? Jason: Who asked Smash…
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Scott Malchus
1 Min Read
Barbara Daly Baekland was an actress who married Brooks Baekland, heir to a Bakelite plastics company, and together they spent their lives living glamorously while doing not much of anything…
Jeff Giles and Jason Hare
5 Min Read
Liberace – Beauty of Holiness (download) From ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas Amazon iTunes Jason: Funny. This doesn’t SOUND gay. Jeff: It sounds like it was ripped from the vinyl….
Jeff Giles and Jason Hare
7 Min Read
Jason: So Jeff, the other day we gave our readers a double dose of Sedaka. Jeff: Yes, we did. Jason: We also gave them a double dose of Archies. Jeff:…
Jeff Giles and Jason Hare
4 Min Read
What would Christmas be without Neil Sedaka?Á‚ Other than a whole lot better?Á‚ Today, we do something especially cruel: we give you not one, but two songs from one of…
Jeff Giles and Jason Hare
3 Min Read
Jeff: You want to get German? Jason: Ja. Eisbrecher — Vergissmeinnicht (download) From Melodic Metal Dreams for Christmas Amazon iTunes Jason: !!!! What the fuck is this? Jeff: This doesn’t…