Plugola: A Survey of Products Endorsed By MoltenThought
I'm a supply-sider. Conspicuous consumption is a good thing for America, and a better thing for Americans. Here are some of the good things in life we at MoltenThought have enjoyed.
The "Ray" DVD
- Jamie Foxx' performance is more brilliant than Academy voters are likely to recognize. Word Girl and I saw this at the theater, then picked up the DVD to find out how on Earth he did it. The movie's wonderful, the extras include deleted scenes, commentary, and a couple of "Making Of" short films, but the absolute best thing about this set is seeing Ray Charles teach Jamie Foxx to play "The Mess-Around". It's magical.
Ray Charles: Genius & Soul Box Set (CD)
- I'm a sucker for Ray Charles. His fusion of gospel and blues led to the birth of soul, but Brother Ray could play any musical genre he chose to. Genius is overused, particularly in the arts, but Ray Charles was a genuine genius whose work has stood the test of time. This Rhino collection pulls the best from all stages of the great man's career, from his Atlantic Records heyday through his groundbreaking ABC tenure to his later brilliance. Thus it's about the only place you can get "What'd I Say", "Drown In My Own Tears", "America the Beautiful", "Georgia on My Mind", and "Still Crazy After All These Years" in one package. And unlike a lot of boxed sets churned out these days, there simply isn't a mediocre song in the bunch.
"Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" DVD - We're very retro here at MoltenThought, as you might tell from the Art Deco touches here and there. Love this stuff. This movie is not just an amazing technical accomplishment, but it managed to launch an Art Deco revival that is very, very cool. Plus it's got Giant Freakin' Nazi Robots, and it just doesn't get much better than that.
"The Fifth Head of Cerberus" by Gene Wolfe - Wolfe is the modern master of the puzzle story, and this interlinked series of three science fiction novellas is his masterpiece. The central puzzle here involves the twin worlds of St. Croix and St. Anne and their legendary aboriginal shapeshifters, but Wolfe's really asking fundamental questions about colonialism, human nature, and identity. Every time I reread it, I learn (or think I learn, anyway) something new.
Apple iPod 20 GB U2 Special Edition - Word Girl received this as an early Valentine's Day gift and hopefully will post an in-depth review of it. I've been an iPod owner for a few years now, and have pretty literally loved my iPod to death. Upon seeing Word Girl's sleek, red-and-black 20 gigger with U2 bandmates' signatures etched into the back, though, I looked upon Old Pod as though it were an 8-track tape. This puppy is cool, and with the clickwheel a sleek improvement over the original iPod button configuration plus $50 off the complete U2 digital boxed set (with 446 songs!)...well, let's just say the second her back's turned it will be mine. Oh yes, it will be mine.
The "Ray" DVD
- Jamie Foxx' performance is more brilliant than Academy voters are likely to recognize. Word Girl and I saw this at the theater, then picked up the DVD to find out how on Earth he did it. The movie's wonderful, the extras include deleted scenes, commentary, and a couple of "Making Of" short films, but the absolute best thing about this set is seeing Ray Charles teach Jamie Foxx to play "The Mess-Around". It's magical.
Ray Charles: Genius & Soul Box Set (CD)
- I'm a sucker for Ray Charles. His fusion of gospel and blues led to the birth of soul, but Brother Ray could play any musical genre he chose to. Genius is overused, particularly in the arts, but Ray Charles was a genuine genius whose work has stood the test of time. This Rhino collection pulls the best from all stages of the great man's career, from his Atlantic Records heyday through his groundbreaking ABC tenure to his later brilliance. Thus it's about the only place you can get "What'd I Say", "Drown In My Own Tears", "America the Beautiful", "Georgia on My Mind", and "Still Crazy After All These Years" in one package. And unlike a lot of boxed sets churned out these days, there simply isn't a mediocre song in the bunch.
"Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" DVD - We're very retro here at MoltenThought, as you might tell from the Art Deco touches here and there. Love this stuff. This movie is not just an amazing technical accomplishment, but it managed to launch an Art Deco revival that is very, very cool. Plus it's got Giant Freakin' Nazi Robots, and it just doesn't get much better than that.
"The Fifth Head of Cerberus" by Gene Wolfe - Wolfe is the modern master of the puzzle story, and this interlinked series of three science fiction novellas is his masterpiece. The central puzzle here involves the twin worlds of St. Croix and St. Anne and their legendary aboriginal shapeshifters, but Wolfe's really asking fundamental questions about colonialism, human nature, and identity. Every time I reread it, I learn (or think I learn, anyway) something new.
Apple iPod 20 GB U2 Special Edition - Word Girl received this as an early Valentine's Day gift and hopefully will post an in-depth review of it. I've been an iPod owner for a few years now, and have pretty literally loved my iPod to death. Upon seeing Word Girl's sleek, red-and-black 20 gigger with U2 bandmates' signatures etched into the back, though, I looked upon Old Pod as though it were an 8-track tape. This puppy is cool, and with the clickwheel a sleek improvement over the original iPod button configuration plus $50 off the complete U2 digital boxed set (with 446 songs!)...well, let's just say the second her back's turned it will be mine. Oh yes, it will be mine.
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