There is no accounting for taste.
JA

MOVIES
FINALLY! After many years of holding back, CLEOPATRA, the early 1960's version with Liz Taylor, Burton and Rex Harrison has been released. This was particularly good timing coming on the heels of reviewing the two seasons of the HBO series ROME.

ROME has better production values and perhaps the same 80% attempt at historical accuracy, but to see 45 years difference in filming the same subject matter is fascinating. Burton and Taylor were an item that cannot be duplicated on or off screen so just see it for that reason alone. Available on Netflix. Neither Rome nor Cleopatra for the kids despite the good history lessons.


MUSIC
Last installment had the lilting Classical / Popera voice of Haley Wistenra, and the Electronic Classical treatments by Tomita, with the Pandora.com internet radio source. This time exposes my truly schizophrenic musical taste. I confess. None of the following are ever likely to be played on an American Radio Station. Maybe except Johnny Mathis. iTunes is the way I found most of them.

Classic Jazz
Jane Monheit has a new one out "The Lovers, The Dreamers and Me." Check out "I'm Glad there is You." While I like Dianna Krall, Jane I think has a better voice. OK shoot me.

Classic 60's Vocal
I admit it, I finally downloaded Johnny Mathis version of Misty. Probably one of the best songs of all time.

Progressive Rock / Alternative / Metal
Listening to the Internet station MORROW.com on iTunes has produced many additions to my collection inexpensively. So much great new music in the genera that the Beatles spawned: Progressive Rock.

MORROW.com is the French Progressive / Metal / Alternative station that will not be to everyone's taste. Narrowcasting in English, I have found the following bands that deserve exploration on iTunes by Progressive Rock devotees:

VOTEM
Start with the Acoustic Guitar & Piano intro that leads into The Hunt is On. Starting off quietly, it will grow to remind you of the best of Symphony X or Queensreich.

SIEGES EVEN
Start with Eyes Wide Open. These guys remind me of Staind.

FROST
Start with the title cut to the Experiments in Mass Appeal collection.

MASTODON
Start with Oblivion. A great, typically despondent, Metal title. More Pure Metal for your inner headbanger that knows Progressive. Put on your late night, highway "Keep me awake" playlist.

M83
Start with "Kim & Jessie" (Actually found in the NY Times music review section, not Morrow. Not the WSJ ether. M83 is truly a mixed genera band of Electronic / Rock / Alternative and Dance. Interesting stuff with a long history given popular music. Being hard to classify, they make for lot of "oh-need to hear that again."