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Every month, Cosmik Debris brings you many CD and record reviews, but the writers manage to find a little time for other pursuits, like reading, going to movies and watching videos. That's where Everything Else In Review comes in.
Book: Stand And Be Counted
Authors: David Crosby & David Bender
Publisher: Harper
Reviewed by Shaun Dale
Subtitled Making Music, Making History, this book examines the role of musicians in the history of social and political change, primarily during the period from the 1960s onward during which Crosby was a first hand observer and active participant.
From the early efforts of the folk music community on behalf of the civil rights movement of the sixties, through the anti-Vietnam war rallies and up to recent efforts as large as the Free Tibet festivals or as intimate as Neil Young's Bridge School Benefits, Crosby has been there, done that, and survived to tell a remarkable tale. He takes little credit for his personal involvement, though. If anyone comes across as the hero of the book, it may be Crosby's longtime colleague, Graham Nash, who has not only been there, but has been personally responsible for the organization of some of the most significant benefit actions during the last three decades.
There are interesting looks at the conflicting views musicians hold regarding giving support to particular candidates versus general issues, and of course some behind the scenes stories that only David Crosby could tell. Those stories come across as informed and informative, though, rather than gossipy. This is no show biz kiss and tell, but an appreciative look at the best side of some of the better people in the entertainment world.
(C) 2000 - Shaun Dale
Movie: Fantasia 2000
Imax touring version
From: Walt Disney Films
Reviewed by Rusty Pipes
Tremendous. The original 1939 Fantasia was a triumph, a milestone in film; 40 years later the second is easily as good, even better because of the Imax format with multi-channel sound. Each sequence was a delight.The showing I attended in Los Angeles was actually in a mobile Imax theater. A huge arrangements of tents had been erected, big enough to house a lobby area for snacks, souvenirs and displays, besides the 40 foot high screen and 600 seats. The multiphonic sound came from all sides and was stunning. Even for the Rolling Stones Imax concert film the sound was never this good.
F2K didn't deviate from the original format--short animated sequences set to gorgeous symphonic music. It began with a short abstract intro set to Beethoven, featuring geometric shapes that acted like flocks of butterflies, opposed by other polygons that appeared to be bats. After that Steve Martin and Itzak Perlman introduced the next piece (Trivia question, who was the original host of Fantasia?), Respigi's The Pines of Rome but the visual sequence concerned humpback whales-whales that could fly. More comical and very short was a bit featuring Flamingoes and Yo-yos (yes!) set to Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saens.
Mickey Mouse gets his Sorcerer's Apprentice sequence reprised in full. In the Imax format it was pretty grainy, but still a hit with the younger members of the audience. This time Donald Duck gets a turn too, appearing in a Noah's Ark sequence (who knew he was Jewish?) set to Edward Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance. My favorite piece was the New York piece, set to Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue and drawn in the style of Jules Fieffer, but perhaps more classically pleasing was the Steadfast Tin Soldier sequence set to Shotakovich and introduced by Bette Midler. The Firebird Suite sequence ending the movie was analogous to a Night on Bald Mountain but not nearly as dark and threatening, so I haven't any reservations about taking the very young to a showing of the new Fantasia.
Expectations naturally would run high for a film with Fantasia's pedigree, but Disney was completely up to it. Fantasia 2000 fulfills and exceeds in a big way, proving again that nobody does feature animation better than Disney.
Trivia answer: Deems Taylor
(C) 2000 - Rusty Pipes
Books: James Joyce by Edna O'Brien / Mozart by Peter Gay
From the Penguin Lives series
Publisher: Lipper/Viking
Reviewed by Shaun Dale
Viking Press has introduced a new series of popular biographies under the heading Penguin Lives, and from the looks of the two volumes I've had the opportunity to examine, they'll be finding their way onto a lot of bookshelves in the coming months.
The choices for the initial subjects are an eclectic collection of people from politics, the arts, popular culture and both US and world history. From Joan of Arc to Elvis Presley, from Andy Warhol to Winston Churchill, there's an impressive range that will pique the interest of almost anyone.
The writers contracted for the books are equally wide ranging and impressive. The two I've read are by notable biographers who came to the project with strong and relevant credentials. Scanning the list of forthcoming titles, it appears that that will be generally true.
The books are brief, about 160 pages in a small format, but remarkably thorough. They are well designed, and the package is reminiscient of the popular Modern Library series. If there's anything that will hold back the widespread distribution of these titles it may be the price. While the content certainly justifies the $19.95 list price, the packaging hints of a better bargain.
Still, I enjoyed reading each of the ones I have, and can spot at least a couple titles on the list I'll be dropping a twenty on, now that I know what I'm likely to get for the money.
(C) 2000 - Shaun Dale
Books: Captain Trips - A Biography Of Jerry Garcia
Author: Sandy Troy
Publisher: Thunder's Mouth Press, 1995
Reviewed by Shaun Dale
Captain Trips was released to general acclaim by the book press and no less disdain among hardcore Deadheads a few years ago. It's not a bad time for a reappraisal, since interest in the guitarist and the band he was part of for some 30 years has proven to be undiminished by his death. A necessary disclaimer - I'm one of those hardcore Deadheads myself, first show 9/2/68, subsequent shows in four states, two continents and either way too many or not nearly enough hours of recorded concerts, depending on whether you're talking to my wife or myself. And I like the book quite a bit.
As with any "unauthorized" biography, there's less direct participation by the subject than some might wish for, though Troy did speak to Garcia and many key figures in the Dead sphere during the years preceding publication. But if you're looking for a reasonably complete and fairly affectionate outline of the life of Jerry Garcia, this is a good place to start. It's also full of tangential stories about the band and the scenes the band attracted and operated in over the years.
It is worth noting that Jerry Garcia did indeed hate the nickname "Captain Trips," and some of his critics have chosen that as the peg on which to hang some of their dismay. Deservedly so, maybe, to the inside crowd, but like it or not, that's the way many people looked upon this complex and talented man. At least the book will broaden their view beyond that simple, cartoonish impression. If so, well, that's more than enough to make it a worthwhile read.
(C) 2000 - Shaun Dale