The Journal of Curious Letters (Book One of The 13th Reality Series)… by James Dashner
The Journal of Curious Letters
(Book One of The13th Reality Series)
By James Dashner
(Advanced Reader Copy)
What do Quantum Physics, the Bermuda Triangle and cemeteries have in common?
The 13th Realty holds the answer to that question…
Thirteen year old chess and science geek Atticus Higginbottom (Tick, to his friends) is drawn into a life and death struggle between the influences of good and evil among alternate universes. When twelve mysterious letters are delivered to Tick that will reveal a supernatural and secret ritual to “save the lives of many people” he sets out to unravel the mysteries hidden in the clues which will send him on a journey rife with peril. Along the way Tick meets and befriends three other teenagers who have also committed to the cause. An eight foot tall woman named Mothball and Rutger, a short, rotund man with a mischievous sense of humor serve as both tutor and vanguard to Tick and his friends. Guiding them all is the mysterious Master George.
The Journal of Curious Letters is a unique story for both children and adults young at heart and has all the markings of a strong series. It is full of high adventure and the pace quickens considerably once the initial plot and characters have been fleshed out. There is enough action interspersed throughout to balance the plot with the antagonists and protagonists and the last few chapters overflow with conflict and exploration. While I could complain about character development and exposition I won’t, simply because I’m absolutely sure most of us could not create and write what James Dashner has accomplished here.
After reading the back cover blurb I wanted to believe that this book could be the next “Harry Potter” or “His Dark Materials.” It isn’t, of course, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing since the distinctiveness of this tale makes me look forward to reading the next book in the series. In my humble estimation this book should rest on the same bookshelf next to the above named children’s books as an equal in its own tradition.
I look forward to learning more about Master George, Mistress Jane and “The 13th Realty” which is why I will put up my hard earned cash for the next installment when it becomes available.
Four stars for the legend and a half star for the exceptionally creative idea.
The Alternative One
Southeastern Wisconsin
Feb 14, 2008
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Book Review - Dies the Fire by S. M. Stirling
Dies the Fire (Roc Science Fiction) by S.M. Stirling
Alternate History at its best...
S. M. Stirling delivers an engrossing story of post-apocalyptic America, New Age witches and desperate cannibals. “Dies the Fire” recounts the back-to-the-earth hand-to-mouth conflict of civilization to survive "The Change," a global incident that alters the physical laws of the world to make all modern technology worthless.
The novel follows the civilization building actions of Mike Havel, a former Marine pilot, and Juniper Mackenzie, a New Age Wiccan priestess and Celtic songwriter as they build separate but cooperative communities in the American Northwest.
4 and ½ of 5 stars
Other Books of the Change
Island in the Sea of Time
1. Island in the Sea of Time (1997)
2. Against the Tide of Years (1998)
3. On the Oceans of Eternity (2000)
Dies the Fire
1. Dies the Fire (2004)
2. The Protector's War (2005)
3. A Meeting at Corvallis (2006)
Change
1. The Sunrise Lands (2007)
2. The Scourge of God (2008)
The Alternative One
Southeastern Wisconsin
April 6, 2008
Alternate History at its best...
S. M. Stirling delivers an engrossing story of post-apocalyptic America, New Age witches and desperate cannibals. “Dies the Fire” recounts the back-to-the-earth hand-to-mouth conflict of civilization to survive "The Change," a global incident that alters the physical laws of the world to make all modern technology worthless.
The novel follows the civilization building actions of Mike Havel, a former Marine pilot, and Juniper Mackenzie, a New Age Wiccan priestess and Celtic songwriter as they build separate but cooperative communities in the American Northwest.
4 and ½ of 5 stars
Other Books of the Change
Island in the Sea of Time
1. Island in the Sea of Time (1997)
2. Against the Tide of Years (1998)
3. On the Oceans of Eternity (2000)
Dies the Fire
1. Dies the Fire (2004)
2. The Protector's War (2005)
3. A Meeting at Corvallis (2006)
Change
1. The Sunrise Lands (2007)
2. The Scourge of God (2008)
The Alternative One
Southeastern Wisconsin
April 6, 2008
Book Review - The Last Oracle by James Rollins
The Last Oracle
by James Rollins
(Advance Reader’s Edition)
The Last Oracle is a Sigma Force adventure that combines elements of Theodore Sturgeon’s More Than Human (the gestalt of remarkable children), Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code (a mystery enveloped in adventure), autistic savants (empaths, sensitives and precognitives) and the history of the Oracle of Delphi.
This book relies slightly on the story that preceded it (Judas Strain) but reading the earlier books in the series is not required to enjoy this story.
A Russian agency has bred Gypsy children and manipulated their DNA for half a century in an effort to create modern day precognitives (or oracles.) They plan to murder a consortium of world leaders and destroy the earth in a “blaze of fire” and, with ten mind-controlled and -altered “oracle” pawns, rule what remains. One precognitive in particular, a little girl named Sasha with undreamed of abilities and potential, is abducted while traveling in the United States and the race to save the world begins.
Enter Sigma Force… Commander Gray Pierce is a seasoned veteran of this “elite team of ex-Special Forces soldiers who had been retrained in scientific fields…” Their quest to avert the apocalypse begins when Pierce witnesses a murder on the Mall in Washington, DC. In an effort to uncover the mystery surrounding the murder Pierce and a cadre of operatives move around the globe from Washington to the Punjab region of India to Chernobyl, Ukraine following clues left behind by the dead man. Sigma Force uncovers the plot and must work to prevent the annihilation of the world and destroy the Russian faction and its cohorts.
Monk, a member of the Sigma Force whose memory has been erased by the Russians, helps three of the “special” children and a chimpanzee escape from the compound known as The Warren in the Ukraine. Chased by soldiers, wolves and tigers the group must survive the radioactive fields and lakes of the Ural Mountains and the pursuit of their captors to help bring a stop to Armageddon.
In true Rollins fashion the many diverse characters, groups and sub-plots coalesce and combine together in an astonishing action-filled finale.
Inconsistencies in the story:
1. On page 330 we find the following sentence: “Archibald Polk had died of acute radiation poisoning, possibly exposed here.” but on page 21 we are told that Archibald was shot on the Mall in Washington, D.C. We later learn that the radiation levels in his body were so high that they would have killed him within weeks. But Archibald Polk died of gunshot wounds and not radiation. This is a minor inconsistency, but one that should be fixed prior to mass publication.
2. On page 335 when Gray is chasing Nicolas he gets pinned down by gunfire from Elena. Then… “Gray checked his watch. Ten minutes.” Since Gray is not part of the conspiracy and arrived on the scene late how would he know that there were ten minutes left? And ten minutes to what? He has no knowledge at this point that any event is going to happen yet he seems to know the time frame. I found these two sentences out of place and used probably only for dramatic purpose. Note: There are also a number of typographical errors in the ARC which usually get fixed before mass publication.
The Sigma Force Series
1. Sandstorm (2004)
2. Map of Bones (2005)
3. Black Order (2006)
4. Judas Strain (2007)
5. The Last Oracle (2008)
A word about James Rollins – After reading a number of his other novels (Subterranean, Excavation and Amazonia) I’ve come to respect Rollin’s work because of his ability to create stories that contain multiple layers and sub-plots that keep the reader interested in the story until the last word. He has that rare talent of orchestrating three or more story lines and characters that interweave together fluidly. His novels are quick reads – not because their simple but simply because you’ll relentlessly turn pages in an excited frenzy to find out what happens next. The highest compliment I could pay him is that if they ever made a movie of one of his stories I’d shell out the $8.00 to see that too (even though I know how it’d end.)
Four and a half stars of five
The Alternative
April 12th, 2008
Southeast Wisconsin
by James Rollins
(Advance Reader’s Edition)
The Last Oracle is a Sigma Force adventure that combines elements of Theodore Sturgeon’s More Than Human (the gestalt of remarkable children), Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code (a mystery enveloped in adventure), autistic savants (empaths, sensitives and precognitives) and the history of the Oracle of Delphi.
This book relies slightly on the story that preceded it (Judas Strain) but reading the earlier books in the series is not required to enjoy this story.
A Russian agency has bred Gypsy children and manipulated their DNA for half a century in an effort to create modern day precognitives (or oracles.) They plan to murder a consortium of world leaders and destroy the earth in a “blaze of fire” and, with ten mind-controlled and -altered “oracle” pawns, rule what remains. One precognitive in particular, a little girl named Sasha with undreamed of abilities and potential, is abducted while traveling in the United States and the race to save the world begins.
Enter Sigma Force… Commander Gray Pierce is a seasoned veteran of this “elite team of ex-Special Forces soldiers who had been retrained in scientific fields…” Their quest to avert the apocalypse begins when Pierce witnesses a murder on the Mall in Washington, DC. In an effort to uncover the mystery surrounding the murder Pierce and a cadre of operatives move around the globe from Washington to the Punjab region of India to Chernobyl, Ukraine following clues left behind by the dead man. Sigma Force uncovers the plot and must work to prevent the annihilation of the world and destroy the Russian faction and its cohorts.
Monk, a member of the Sigma Force whose memory has been erased by the Russians, helps three of the “special” children and a chimpanzee escape from the compound known as The Warren in the Ukraine. Chased by soldiers, wolves and tigers the group must survive the radioactive fields and lakes of the Ural Mountains and the pursuit of their captors to help bring a stop to Armageddon.
In true Rollins fashion the many diverse characters, groups and sub-plots coalesce and combine together in an astonishing action-filled finale.
Inconsistencies in the story:
1. On page 330 we find the following sentence: “Archibald Polk had died of acute radiation poisoning, possibly exposed here.” but on page 21 we are told that Archibald was shot on the Mall in Washington, D.C. We later learn that the radiation levels in his body were so high that they would have killed him within weeks. But Archibald Polk died of gunshot wounds and not radiation. This is a minor inconsistency, but one that should be fixed prior to mass publication.
2. On page 335 when Gray is chasing Nicolas he gets pinned down by gunfire from Elena. Then… “Gray checked his watch. Ten minutes.” Since Gray is not part of the conspiracy and arrived on the scene late how would he know that there were ten minutes left? And ten minutes to what? He has no knowledge at this point that any event is going to happen yet he seems to know the time frame. I found these two sentences out of place and used probably only for dramatic purpose. Note: There are also a number of typographical errors in the ARC which usually get fixed before mass publication.
The Sigma Force Series
1. Sandstorm (2004)
2. Map of Bones (2005)
3. Black Order (2006)
4. Judas Strain (2007)
5. The Last Oracle (2008)
A word about James Rollins – After reading a number of his other novels (Subterranean, Excavation and Amazonia) I’ve come to respect Rollin’s work because of his ability to create stories that contain multiple layers and sub-plots that keep the reader interested in the story until the last word. He has that rare talent of orchestrating three or more story lines and characters that interweave together fluidly. His novels are quick reads – not because their simple but simply because you’ll relentlessly turn pages in an excited frenzy to find out what happens next. The highest compliment I could pay him is that if they ever made a movie of one of his stories I’d shell out the $8.00 to see that too (even though I know how it’d end.)
Four and a half stars of five
The Alternative
April 12th, 2008
Southeast Wisconsin
Book Review - People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
People of the Book
by Geraldine Brooks
Pulitzer Prize winner Brooks has created an historical-based and insightful story that will both entertain and enlighten and integrates a thought-provoking and emotional plot with imperfect, yet very human, characters.
Reminiscent of The Red Violin, People of the Book takes us on a journey that trails an illuminated Haggadah, or Hebrew prayer book, throughout history and tells the stories of the people involved in its creation and protection. This voyage takes us into the dungeons of the Church during the Spanish Inquisition, through the seizure of art and the censorship and burning of books by the Nazis in World War II and then to the salvation of the book from destruction during the unrest in Sarajevo. Each of these stories, and others, gives the reader a glimpse into the history of the acts of construction and preservation of a humble yet significant book.
Hanna Heath, a manuscript conservationist, is asked to preserve a prayer book by the museum in Bosnia that holds it. In doing so she uncovers a number of mundane yet historical artifacts that have lain buried in the vellum and crevices of the pages for hundreds of years. Each found item reveals a significant portion of the complete story. A piece of a butterfly wing, tiny fragments of sea salt, wine and blood spots and an unidentified white hair provide flashbacks to historical times and places that unravel the mysteries of the painstaking art of manufacturing and the struggle to protect this ancient manuscript. Each item traces a few moments in the lives of people associated with the book and uncovers a piece of the puzzle explaining its existence and survival. (The story of Lola and the people in her life is an exceptionally emotional one which will bring you to tears.)
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a mystery, intrigue, history or just a great story.
For more information concerning this book see Brooks’ Readers Guide here: http://www.geraldinebrooks.com/people.html
Five out of five stars
The Alternative
April 30th, 2008
Southeast Wisconsin
by Geraldine Brooks
Pulitzer Prize winner Brooks has created an historical-based and insightful story that will both entertain and enlighten and integrates a thought-provoking and emotional plot with imperfect, yet very human, characters.
Reminiscent of The Red Violin, People of the Book takes us on a journey that trails an illuminated Haggadah, or Hebrew prayer book, throughout history and tells the stories of the people involved in its creation and protection. This voyage takes us into the dungeons of the Church during the Spanish Inquisition, through the seizure of art and the censorship and burning of books by the Nazis in World War II and then to the salvation of the book from destruction during the unrest in Sarajevo. Each of these stories, and others, gives the reader a glimpse into the history of the acts of construction and preservation of a humble yet significant book.
Hanna Heath, a manuscript conservationist, is asked to preserve a prayer book by the museum in Bosnia that holds it. In doing so she uncovers a number of mundane yet historical artifacts that have lain buried in the vellum and crevices of the pages for hundreds of years. Each found item reveals a significant portion of the complete story. A piece of a butterfly wing, tiny fragments of sea salt, wine and blood spots and an unidentified white hair provide flashbacks to historical times and places that unravel the mysteries of the painstaking art of manufacturing and the struggle to protect this ancient manuscript. Each item traces a few moments in the lives of people associated with the book and uncovers a piece of the puzzle explaining its existence and survival. (The story of Lola and the people in her life is an exceptionally emotional one which will bring you to tears.)
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a mystery, intrigue, history or just a great story.
For more information concerning this book see Brooks’ Readers Guide here: http://www.geraldinebrooks.com/people.html
Five out of five stars
The Alternative
April 30th, 2008
Southeast Wisconsin
Book Review - Time Bandit by Andy and Jonathan Hillstrand
Time Bandit
(Two Brothers, The Bearing Sea, and One of the World’s Deadliest Jobs)
By Andy and Jonathan Hillstrand, with Malcolm MacPherson
Ballantyne Books
Copyright 2008; 230 pages
Advance Uncorrected Proof
“Time Bandit” recounts the adventures of the Hillstrand Brothers, Andy and Jonathan, captains of the fishing vessel of the same name which is highlighted on the Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch.” Written as a memoir, the book chronicles in detail the adventures of the two brothers and their crew when they are not out fishing for crab in the Bering Sea. Not surprisingly, that includes more fishing, drinking, womanizing, fishing, a bit of ranching and a little more fishing. The most interesting thing about the book is, in fact, the two brothers. They are, without a doubt, characters which even the best fiction writers could not duplicate. They are real people with real faults doing the deadliest job on the planet and that is what appeals to me.
While not high literature “Time Bandit” does give us an insight into a vanishing way of life. This is a social commentary on a particular vanishing breed of men and their profession. While reading the book I was reminded of other professions that were lost in similar fashion. The small farms of one hundred years ago no longer exist today. Most have been swallowed up by vast conglomerate farming corporations. And tuna fishing has changed drastically, too. No more do muscular men wrangle and struggle to land huge tuna onto a boat with a pole and line. The difference here is that this lifestyle, which will someday disappear, has been documented and we are lucky enough to view it first hand.
In some ways I liked this book more for what it was not than what it was. It is not a glitzy Hollywood remake of the Perfect Storm or a recount of every fight and brawl experienced. It is about the brave men who work in the most dangerous of places, who love what they do and do not complain about their lot in life. Most of us could learn a lesson from that…
Three and a half stars out of five
The Alternative
Southeastern Wisconsin
May 17th, 2008
(Two Brothers, The Bearing Sea, and One of the World’s Deadliest Jobs)
By Andy and Jonathan Hillstrand, with Malcolm MacPherson
Ballantyne Books
Copyright 2008; 230 pages
Advance Uncorrected Proof
“Time Bandit” recounts the adventures of the Hillstrand Brothers, Andy and Jonathan, captains of the fishing vessel of the same name which is highlighted on the Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch.” Written as a memoir, the book chronicles in detail the adventures of the two brothers and their crew when they are not out fishing for crab in the Bering Sea. Not surprisingly, that includes more fishing, drinking, womanizing, fishing, a bit of ranching and a little more fishing. The most interesting thing about the book is, in fact, the two brothers. They are, without a doubt, characters which even the best fiction writers could not duplicate. They are real people with real faults doing the deadliest job on the planet and that is what appeals to me.
While not high literature “Time Bandit” does give us an insight into a vanishing way of life. This is a social commentary on a particular vanishing breed of men and their profession. While reading the book I was reminded of other professions that were lost in similar fashion. The small farms of one hundred years ago no longer exist today. Most have been swallowed up by vast conglomerate farming corporations. And tuna fishing has changed drastically, too. No more do muscular men wrangle and struggle to land huge tuna onto a boat with a pole and line. The difference here is that this lifestyle, which will someday disappear, has been documented and we are lucky enough to view it first hand.
In some ways I liked this book more for what it was not than what it was. It is not a glitzy Hollywood remake of the Perfect Storm or a recount of every fight and brawl experienced. It is about the brave men who work in the most dangerous of places, who love what they do and do not complain about their lot in life. Most of us could learn a lesson from that…
Three and a half stars out of five
The Alternative
Southeastern Wisconsin
May 17th, 2008
Book Review - Bikeman by Thomas F. Flynn
Bikeman (An Epic Poem)
By Thomas F. Flynn
Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC
Copyright 2008; 76 pages
LibraryThing.com Early Review
Close proximity to any event of historic significance must give one a more profound view and enhanced understanding of it than those outside its perimeter. I cannot imagine the sense of loss, disorientation, panic and grief suffered on that day in September when the World Trade buildings fell. I retain my own feelings regarding 911 but they cannot match the intensity of emotions of those living in New York at the time.
Through his poetry Thomas F. Flynn attempts to reveal a ground level glimpse of his actions, and more importantly his emotions, on that tragic day. His prose is both genuine and insightful and like any good writer he has the ability to turn a phrase that the reader will remember. It did not, however, have the impact I expected. It did not jar me to my knees in sorrow or bring me to tears as I thought it might. Rather, more subtle emotions were at play here. His poetry reports the swift changes that took place from the mundane of the day-to-day to extraordinary feats of bravery and sacrifice to destruction, incomprehension, and loss of life.
In my opinion, Flynn’s poetry fails to match the degree of magnitude and portray the intense and painful sorrow the events expressed. But, then again, few mortals, let alone poets, can. I imagine this work was in some ways as difficult to write as the experience itself. How many of us would be brave enough to dredge up those memories and re-live them for the entire world to see? For that reason alone this work demands our respect.
Bikeman is a fine epic poem of many dimensions with several different components. Save the first, which is a soliloquy of his emotional experience, each describes an event that Flynn endured on that fateful day. It is literally full of grit, and grief and raw emotion. While not my idea of exceptional poetry it should be read for its historic value and it’s first hand account of one of the most tragic episodes in American history. It is, in small measure, a single piece of the total chaotic story that none of us will ever forget and few of us could impart so well.
Three out of five stars
The Alternative
Southeastern Wisconsin
June 1st, 2008
By Thomas F. Flynn
Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC
Copyright 2008; 76 pages
LibraryThing.com Early Review
Close proximity to any event of historic significance must give one a more profound view and enhanced understanding of it than those outside its perimeter. I cannot imagine the sense of loss, disorientation, panic and grief suffered on that day in September when the World Trade buildings fell. I retain my own feelings regarding 911 but they cannot match the intensity of emotions of those living in New York at the time.
Through his poetry Thomas F. Flynn attempts to reveal a ground level glimpse of his actions, and more importantly his emotions, on that tragic day. His prose is both genuine and insightful and like any good writer he has the ability to turn a phrase that the reader will remember. It did not, however, have the impact I expected. It did not jar me to my knees in sorrow or bring me to tears as I thought it might. Rather, more subtle emotions were at play here. His poetry reports the swift changes that took place from the mundane of the day-to-day to extraordinary feats of bravery and sacrifice to destruction, incomprehension, and loss of life.
In my opinion, Flynn’s poetry fails to match the degree of magnitude and portray the intense and painful sorrow the events expressed. But, then again, few mortals, let alone poets, can. I imagine this work was in some ways as difficult to write as the experience itself. How many of us would be brave enough to dredge up those memories and re-live them for the entire world to see? For that reason alone this work demands our respect.
Bikeman is a fine epic poem of many dimensions with several different components. Save the first, which is a soliloquy of his emotional experience, each describes an event that Flynn endured on that fateful day. It is literally full of grit, and grief and raw emotion. While not my idea of exceptional poetry it should be read for its historic value and it’s first hand account of one of the most tragic episodes in American history. It is, in small measure, a single piece of the total chaotic story that none of us will ever forget and few of us could impart so well.
Three out of five stars
The Alternative
Southeastern Wisconsin
June 1st, 2008
Book Review - The Charlemagne Pursuit by Steve Berry
The Charlemagne Pursuit
Steve Berry
Ballantine Books
Copyright 2008; 509 pages
Advance Reader’s Edition
Cotton Malone’s most personal adventure to date pits him in league and at odds with sisters Dorothea and Christl Oberhauser. In 1971 a nameless, super-secret United States nuclear submarine is lost in Antarctica. Aboard is Cotton’s father, Forrest, Officer-in-Charge, and Dietz Oberhauser, mission Field Specialist and the patriarch of the Oberhauser fortune. The assignment and the submarine are so secret that its existence and the incident are hidden from the public for over 40 years. When Cotton is approached by the sisters, who search for answers concerning the death of their father and that ill-fated mysterious journey, he reluctantly joins them in their quest which parallels his investigation of his father’s disappearance.
The mystery grows when secrets from the reign of the Emperor Charlemagne are revealed and the plot then entwines elements of rogue foreign intelligence officers, a corrupt Navy officer bent on becoming the next Vice-President, deranged racial Nazi philosophy, a strange manuscript from Charlemagne’s tomb and the mystery of an ancient hidden civilization. The manuscript, which has never been translated, the architecture of Charlemagne’s Chapel, historical characters from the Holy Roman Empire and the hint of a pre-historic advanced civilization deepen the mystery and provide an intriguing thriller filled with unforgettable characters and an exciting sense of action.
Yes, Berry finds a way to bring all these elements together in a satisfactory and entertaining climax.
Cotton Malone is a very interesting and memorable character. Part Doc Savage, part Indiana Jones mixed with a bit of Mack Bolan he is the epitome of the macho secret agent; intelligent enough to crack difficult puzzles, ruthless enough to kill when necessary and, as a rare book dealer, has an extremely erudite grasp of world history. All of which make him a difficult and formidable opponent.
This is the third Cotton Malone novel I’ve had the pleasure to read and Berry never fails to keep my interest.
Note: The mysterious manuscript used throughout the book is known as the Voynich Manuscript which is an actual illustrated book of unknown origin written in an indecipherable text between 1450 and 1520 AD. It plays a pivotal role in the book and I was very excited to see it used as a plot device. The author, script, and language of the manuscript remain unknown to this day. Not a single word from this document has ever been deciphered.
Four out of five stars.
Books in the Cotton Malone Series:
1. The Templar Legacy (2006)
2. The Alexandria Link (2007)
3. The Venetian Betrayal (2007)
4. The Charlemagne Pursuit (2008)
Steve Berry
Ballantine Books
Copyright 2008; 509 pages
Advance Reader’s Edition
Cotton Malone’s most personal adventure to date pits him in league and at odds with sisters Dorothea and Christl Oberhauser. In 1971 a nameless, super-secret United States nuclear submarine is lost in Antarctica. Aboard is Cotton’s father, Forrest, Officer-in-Charge, and Dietz Oberhauser, mission Field Specialist and the patriarch of the Oberhauser fortune. The assignment and the submarine are so secret that its existence and the incident are hidden from the public for over 40 years. When Cotton is approached by the sisters, who search for answers concerning the death of their father and that ill-fated mysterious journey, he reluctantly joins them in their quest which parallels his investigation of his father’s disappearance.
The mystery grows when secrets from the reign of the Emperor Charlemagne are revealed and the plot then entwines elements of rogue foreign intelligence officers, a corrupt Navy officer bent on becoming the next Vice-President, deranged racial Nazi philosophy, a strange manuscript from Charlemagne’s tomb and the mystery of an ancient hidden civilization. The manuscript, which has never been translated, the architecture of Charlemagne’s Chapel, historical characters from the Holy Roman Empire and the hint of a pre-historic advanced civilization deepen the mystery and provide an intriguing thriller filled with unforgettable characters and an exciting sense of action.
Yes, Berry finds a way to bring all these elements together in a satisfactory and entertaining climax.
Cotton Malone is a very interesting and memorable character. Part Doc Savage, part Indiana Jones mixed with a bit of Mack Bolan he is the epitome of the macho secret agent; intelligent enough to crack difficult puzzles, ruthless enough to kill when necessary and, as a rare book dealer, has an extremely erudite grasp of world history. All of which make him a difficult and formidable opponent.
This is the third Cotton Malone novel I’ve had the pleasure to read and Berry never fails to keep my interest.
Note: The mysterious manuscript used throughout the book is known as the Voynich Manuscript which is an actual illustrated book of unknown origin written in an indecipherable text between 1450 and 1520 AD. It plays a pivotal role in the book and I was very excited to see it used as a plot device. The author, script, and language of the manuscript remain unknown to this day. Not a single word from this document has ever been deciphered.
Four out of five stars.
Books in the Cotton Malone Series:
1. The Templar Legacy (2006)
2. The Alexandria Link (2007)
3. The Venetian Betrayal (2007)
4. The Charlemagne Pursuit (2008)
Monday, January 01, 2007
50 Most Significant Science Fiction Books
According to the Science Fiction Book Club, below is a list of the fifty most significant SF Books from 1953-2002. Those I've read are in red ink. How many have you read?
1. The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien
2. The Foundation Trilogy, Isaac Asimov
3. Dune, Frank Herbert
4. Stranger in a Strange Land, Robert A. Heinlein
5. A Wizard of Earthsea, Ursula K. Le Guin
6. Neuromancer, William Gibson
7. Childhood’s End, Arthur C. Clarke
8. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Philip K. Dick
9. The Mists of Avalon, Marion Zimmer Bradley
10. Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury
11. The Book of the New Sun, Gene Wolfe
12. A Canticle for Leibowitz, Walter M. Miller, Jr.
13. The Caves of Steel, Isaac Asimov
14. Children of the Atom, Wilmar Shiras
15. Cities in Flight, James Blish
16. The Colour of Magic, Terry Pratchett
17. Dangerous Visions, edited by Harlan Ellison
18. Deathbird Stories, Harlan Ellison
19. The Demolished Man, Alfred Bester
20. Dhalgren, Samuel R. Delany
21. Dragonflight, Anne McCaffrey
22. Ender’s Game, Orson Scott Card
23. The First Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever, Stephen R. Donaldson
24. The Forever War, Joe Haldeman
25. Gateway, Frederik Pohl
26. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, J.K. Rowling
27. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams
28. I Am Legend, Richard Matheson
29. Interview with the Vampire, Anne Rice
30. The Left Hand of Darkness, Ursula K. Le Guin
31. Little, Big, John Crowley
32. Lord of Light, Roger Zelazny
33. The Man in the High Castle, Philip K. Dick
34. Mission of Gravity, Hal Clement
35. More Than Human, Theodore Sturgeon
36. The Rediscovery of Man, Cordwainer Smith
37. On the Beach, Nevil Shute
38. Rendezvous with Rama, Arthur C. Clarke
39. Ringworld, Larry Niven
40. Rogue Moon, Algis Budrys
41. The Silmarillion, J.R.R. Tolkien
42. Slaughterhouse-5, Kurt Vonnegut
43. Snow Crash, Neal Stephenson
44. Stand on Zanzibar, John Brunner
45. The Stars My Destination, Alfred Bester
46. Starship Troopers, Robert A. Heinlein
47. Stormbringer, Michael Moorcock
48. The Sword of Shannara, Terry Brooks
49. Timescape, Gregory Benford
50. To Your Scattered Bodies Go, Philip Jose Farmer
1. The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien
2. The Foundation Trilogy, Isaac Asimov
3. Dune, Frank Herbert
4. Stranger in a Strange Land, Robert A. Heinlein
5. A Wizard of Earthsea, Ursula K. Le Guin
6. Neuromancer, William Gibson
7. Childhood’s End, Arthur C. Clarke
8. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Philip K. Dick
9. The Mists of Avalon, Marion Zimmer Bradley
10. Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury
11. The Book of the New Sun, Gene Wolfe
12. A Canticle for Leibowitz, Walter M. Miller, Jr.
13. The Caves of Steel, Isaac Asimov
14. Children of the Atom, Wilmar Shiras
15. Cities in Flight, James Blish
16. The Colour of Magic, Terry Pratchett
17. Dangerous Visions, edited by Harlan Ellison
18. Deathbird Stories, Harlan Ellison
19. The Demolished Man, Alfred Bester
20. Dhalgren, Samuel R. Delany
21. Dragonflight, Anne McCaffrey
22. Ender’s Game, Orson Scott Card
23. The First Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever, Stephen R. Donaldson
24. The Forever War, Joe Haldeman
25. Gateway, Frederik Pohl
26. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, J.K. Rowling
27. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams
28. I Am Legend, Richard Matheson
29. Interview with the Vampire, Anne Rice
30. The Left Hand of Darkness, Ursula K. Le Guin
31. Little, Big, John Crowley
32. Lord of Light, Roger Zelazny
33. The Man in the High Castle, Philip K. Dick
34. Mission of Gravity, Hal Clement
35. More Than Human, Theodore Sturgeon
36. The Rediscovery of Man, Cordwainer Smith
37. On the Beach, Nevil Shute
38. Rendezvous with Rama, Arthur C. Clarke
39. Ringworld, Larry Niven
40. Rogue Moon, Algis Budrys
41. The Silmarillion, J.R.R. Tolkien
42. Slaughterhouse-5, Kurt Vonnegut
43. Snow Crash, Neal Stephenson
44. Stand on Zanzibar, John Brunner
45. The Stars My Destination, Alfred Bester
46. Starship Troopers, Robert A. Heinlein
47. Stormbringer, Michael Moorcock
48. The Sword of Shannara, Terry Brooks
49. Timescape, Gregory Benford
50. To Your Scattered Bodies Go, Philip Jose Farmer
Friday, April 28, 2006
Music Review – "Pop" – Unknown Boy
File under: Electronica meets speed thrash with a catchy spin/alternative/cola rock pop
Adam Daniels, vocals; Chad Gunderson, Guitars; Manuel Baldanza, Drums; and Isaac Laskin, Guitars… With One from Los Angeles, two from Wisconsin, and one from Switzerland some may understand why Unknown Boy sounds so different from so many other bands. They are interesting in a fuzzy chord crunching, perplexing and howling, captivating and charismatic way with coarse, shrewd, pop sounds that manhandle the conformists' view without loosing that attention grabbing hook that makes rock ‘n’ roll so captivating. Unknown Boy is, to me, that rare hidden diamond in the rough.
Oh, and the song "Pop"... does!!!
Unknown Boy
* The Alternative One
Adam Daniels, vocals; Chad Gunderson, Guitars; Manuel Baldanza, Drums; and Isaac Laskin, Guitars… With One from Los Angeles, two from Wisconsin, and one from Switzerland some may understand why Unknown Boy sounds so different from so many other bands. They are interesting in a fuzzy chord crunching, perplexing and howling, captivating and charismatic way with coarse, shrewd, pop sounds that manhandle the conformists' view without loosing that attention grabbing hook that makes rock ‘n’ roll so captivating. Unknown Boy is, to me, that rare hidden diamond in the rough.
Oh, and the song "Pop"... does!!!
* The Alternative One
Album Review – “Oh No, It’s An EP!”– The Westminster Abbey
Sounds like: Late John Lennon, Beatles – White Album, Beach Boys, Kinks, David Bowie, Donovan, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Mommas and the Papas, the Yardbirds, Blind Faith, the Shins, the Thrills and even Mozart, etc.
File as: Retro low-fi rock n’ roll
At first I wanted to call this a tribute album to the nostalgic sounds of the Beatles, the Kinks, the Beach Boys and Led Zeppelin all blended into one but after a second listening realized that they were not intentionally or deliberately trying to sound like any of the aforementioned bands and that made them very unique and on their way to genius status. This EP is light-hearted good-natured fun full of classic instrumentation and elegant harmonies and the music is insanely catchy.
There seems to be a lot of comparison by reviewers to many of the early great bands but the real reason to compare them is not their sound but the fact that these guys are great musicians and songwriters. I repeat… they are exceptional musicians, songwriters and lyricists! There is no doubt that this music if filled with old school feelings, emotions and sounds but once you listen to this EP you don’t much care about that. If these guys were 40 years older we’d be comparing the great bands of the past to them!
The songs:
1. “Oh, No” – very reminiscent of The Kinks, Beach Boys, Mommas and Papas
2. “Went to Bed” – Beatles fronting for the Beach Boys
3. “Interlude 1” – 34 seconds of Classical Mozart mixed with Paul McCartney piano
4. “Hangin’ On” – The Kinks, Beatles, Donovan all playing the same song together
5. “Don’t Say Goodbye” – sounds like the Beatles “Birthday” with elements of the White Album
6. “Interlude 2” – just over half a minute of Henri Mancini meets Mozart
7. “What She Does” – Led Zeppelin vocals and guitar riffs with a Kinks influence (made me think of Zeppelin’s “The Immigrant Song”)
8. “On Sunny Days” – Queen, Beatles, Kinks
Running time - 20:47, Tracks: 8
Label: I-Surrender Records
The Band: Christophe Mudget: Lead Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Drums and Brett Nolan: Bass, Piano, Vocals, Keyboard (Yep! Two guys and a bunch of instruments!)
The Westminster Abbey
* The Alternative One
File as: Retro low-fi rock n’ roll
At first I wanted to call this a tribute album to the nostalgic sounds of the Beatles, the Kinks, the Beach Boys and Led Zeppelin all blended into one but after a second listening realized that they were not intentionally or deliberately trying to sound like any of the aforementioned bands and that made them very unique and on their way to genius status. This EP is light-hearted good-natured fun full of classic instrumentation and elegant harmonies and the music is insanely catchy.
There seems to be a lot of comparison by reviewers to many of the early great bands but the real reason to compare them is not their sound but the fact that these guys are great musicians and songwriters. I repeat… they are exceptional musicians, songwriters and lyricists! There is no doubt that this music if filled with old school feelings, emotions and sounds but once you listen to this EP you don’t much care about that. If these guys were 40 years older we’d be comparing the great bands of the past to them!
The songs:
1. “Oh, No” – very reminiscent of The Kinks, Beach Boys, Mommas and Papas
2. “Went to Bed” – Beatles fronting for the Beach Boys
3. “Interlude 1” – 34 seconds of Classical Mozart mixed with Paul McCartney piano
4. “Hangin’ On” – The Kinks, Beatles, Donovan all playing the same song together
5. “Don’t Say Goodbye” – sounds like the Beatles “Birthday” with elements of the White Album
6. “Interlude 2” – just over half a minute of Henri Mancini meets Mozart
7. “What She Does” – Led Zeppelin vocals and guitar riffs with a Kinks influence (made me think of Zeppelin’s “The Immigrant Song”)
8. “On Sunny Days” – Queen, Beatles, Kinks
Running time - 20:47, Tracks: 8
Label: I-Surrender Records
The Band: Christophe Mudget: Lead Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Drums and Brett Nolan: Bass, Piano, Vocals, Keyboard (Yep! Two guys and a bunch of instruments!)
* The Alternative One
Music Review - “Empty Boat”- The Birdwatcher
From the album “Afternoon Tales The Morning Never Knew”
It’s not every rock band that makes me progress towards poetry but everything about The Birdwatcher, including their name, whispered haiku!??! So I wrote one… and then another… And before long a full-fledged song review was born…
“The Empty Boat” Haiku 1
Ghostly hushed vocals
Gliding through the soft journey
Crash over whispers
WHRIII
“Afternoon Tales the Morning Never Knew” is the second in a trilogy of albums following “The Darkest Hour Is Just Before the Dawn”. Unreleased to date; the third album will apparently be concerned with the subject of nightfall and darkness. The Birdwatcher reminds me of Radiohead with less punch and bear all the best qualities of music produced by singer/songwriters: inspired arrangements, “watchful” enhancement, and a coherent environment of sound. The entire album is filled with folksy ballads surrounded by thought-provoking lyricism and pop sensibilities.
"Empty Boat" begins by descending into a light, rhythmic humming of synthesizers that sound like woodwinds and then light acoustic guitars provide the mood for the remainder of the song. Anna Neighbor backs up Dan Matz with a wonderfully sweet voice on the verses. The opening lyrics are easily suggestive: "Flying now, over top o’ me/ I'm grafted to the floor/ An empty boat, there's no stopping me/ On the trusting sea, I'm sunken on your shore." Along with a hot cup of coffee, this album with its soft, easy-going nature and its heartening spontaneity is all you’ll need for that relaxing Sunday morning.
“The Empty Boat” Haiku 2
Layered atmospheres
Enchanting and mystical
Warm Sunday morning
WHRIII
The Birdwatcher
* The Alternative One
It’s not every rock band that makes me progress towards poetry but everything about The Birdwatcher, including their name, whispered haiku!??! So I wrote one… and then another… And before long a full-fledged song review was born…
“The Empty Boat” Haiku 1
Ghostly hushed vocals
Gliding through the soft journey
Crash over whispers
WHRIII
“Afternoon Tales the Morning Never Knew” is the second in a trilogy of albums following “The Darkest Hour Is Just Before the Dawn”. Unreleased to date; the third album will apparently be concerned with the subject of nightfall and darkness. The Birdwatcher reminds me of Radiohead with less punch and bear all the best qualities of music produced by singer/songwriters: inspired arrangements, “watchful” enhancement, and a coherent environment of sound. The entire album is filled with folksy ballads surrounded by thought-provoking lyricism and pop sensibilities.
"Empty Boat" begins by descending into a light, rhythmic humming of synthesizers that sound like woodwinds and then light acoustic guitars provide the mood for the remainder of the song. Anna Neighbor backs up Dan Matz with a wonderfully sweet voice on the verses. The opening lyrics are easily suggestive: "Flying now, over top o’ me/ I'm grafted to the floor/ An empty boat, there's no stopping me/ On the trusting sea, I'm sunken on your shore." Along with a hot cup of coffee, this album with its soft, easy-going nature and its heartening spontaneity is all you’ll need for that relaxing Sunday morning.
“The Empty Boat” Haiku 2
Layered atmospheres
Enchanting and mystical
Warm Sunday morning
WHRIII
* The Alternative One
Monday, April 24, 2006
Music Review – “Crown of Love” - Arcade Fire
Let me be the first to label this music as hymnotic!! “Crown of Love” is a work-of-art combining a Roy Orbison revival with the Honeydrippers fronting for an early Roxy Music. Musically brilliant with a hauntingly stunning arrangement of piano and strings, this song is truly an intense epic. The ballad spills over with soothing waves of violin in an expression of remorse that continually builds until the song bursts into a whirling dance sequence, which fairly oozes despair. The Arcade Fire is a very unusual band with a curious, beautiful sound. There are 15 musicians listed as contributors and the instruments include violins, cello, accordion, xylophone and even a recorder. Yes, the normal equipment is here too, but the supplementary instruments add fullness to the song, so that you almost cross into the music rather than just listen to it. Win Butler and Régine Chassagne provide some of the most pure and sincere vocals that I have ever heard. Butler has that vocal quality that even David Byrne and Bryan Ferry might envy. These days it’s hard to find a band that means what it sings. I’m glad I found this one. You can wake up from that hymnotic trance now!
Arcade Fire
* The Alternative One
* The Alternative One
Monday, April 17, 2006
Music Review – “Ultimatum” - The Long Winters
Twenty-eight years ago I wrote an article for my College newspaper about a new young musician named Elvis Costello and his band the Attractions and their first album. My original response then was that he would survive that very long list of new wave bands and would be creating great music for an exceedingly long time to come. This prediction was based on the talent and unique sound that I heard in every song. This was my very first accurate forecasting of the future. I’m going to make a prediction again… Twenty years from now The Long Winters (in whatever incarnation survives) will be around to entertain us and will be performing great music.
I’ve never been known to use the word pretty when describing the music that I listen to. However, the song “Ultimatum” by The Long Winters may just be the prettiest and most appealing song that I’ve heard in the past few years. When you hear the lyrics “My arms miss you, my hands miss you, the stars sing I’ve got their song in my head” you know he means every word of it. My first thought was, “Wow, great poetry!” and my second was “Damn, I wish I’d written that!”
When asked about the meaning of this song songwriter John Roderick pointed out that it was mostly about “being with someone” and that during the process of getting to know someone new, the words, I love you, somehow transforms the passion in a relationship to something else entirely.
Enveloped in string ambiance, synthesizers and acoustic and electric fingerpicking “Ultimatum” is filled with the verse of naked confessions and intense and mischievous suggestion given to us in absolute crisp crystal-clear voices. The harmonizing reveals an astonishing vocal precision and is, quite simply, beautifully mixed with a touch of bitter-sweetness that is almost impossible to find in rock music today. Is this a sign of remarkable (and pretty) things to come? Again, I predict that it is!
Current band members include: John Roderick, songwriter and guitarist; Eric Corson, bass and harmony vocals; Mike Squires, guitar and keyboards; and Nabil Ayers, drums.
P.S. I still have the original music review from my school newspaper… I keep it neatly tucked into the slipcover of the first Elvis Costello vinyl recording in my collection.
The Long Winters
* The Alternative One
I’ve never been known to use the word pretty when describing the music that I listen to. However, the song “Ultimatum” by The Long Winters may just be the prettiest and most appealing song that I’ve heard in the past few years. When you hear the lyrics “My arms miss you, my hands miss you, the stars sing I’ve got their song in my head” you know he means every word of it. My first thought was, “Wow, great poetry!” and my second was “Damn, I wish I’d written that!”
When asked about the meaning of this song songwriter John Roderick pointed out that it was mostly about “being with someone” and that during the process of getting to know someone new, the words, I love you, somehow transforms the passion in a relationship to something else entirely.
Enveloped in string ambiance, synthesizers and acoustic and electric fingerpicking “Ultimatum” is filled with the verse of naked confessions and intense and mischievous suggestion given to us in absolute crisp crystal-clear voices. The harmonizing reveals an astonishing vocal precision and is, quite simply, beautifully mixed with a touch of bitter-sweetness that is almost impossible to find in rock music today. Is this a sign of remarkable (and pretty) things to come? Again, I predict that it is!
Current band members include: John Roderick, songwriter and guitarist; Eric Corson, bass and harmony vocals; Mike Squires, guitar and keyboards; and Nabil Ayers, drums.
P.S. I still have the original music review from my school newspaper… I keep it neatly tucked into the slipcover of the first Elvis Costello vinyl recording in my collection.
* The Alternative One
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Coming Soon
Music Review - The Long Winters - "Ultimatum"
Music Review - Pilate - "Alone"
Music Review - Animal Collective - "Grass"
Music Review - Arcade Fire - "Crown of Love"
Book Review - The Templar Legacy - Steve Berry
* The Alternative One
Music Review - Pilate - "Alone"
Music Review - Animal Collective - "Grass"
Music Review - Arcade Fire - "Crown of Love"
Book Review - The Templar Legacy - Steve Berry
* The Alternative One
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Graphic Novel Review - "V For Vendetta"
“V For Vendetta” is set in an alternate-reality future Britain in which a radical fascist state has surfaced. This regime retains control of the country through the supply of all provisions, government-proscribed media, secret police, a planned economic infrastructure, and internment camps for ethnic, political, and sexual minorities. All aspects are controlled by a supercomputer known as Fate, which is, in turn, controlled by the government. Political conflict has ended, the camps have completed their dark work and have been closed, and the public is, for the most part, complacent. That is until “V”, an anarchist terrorist dressed as Guy Fawkes, theatrical mask and all, with an incredible range of talents and resources begins a complicated, vicious, and dramatic operation to bring down the administration.
V for Vendetta is a groundbreaking graphic novel. It is an intelligent, perceptive in its view of politics (if somewhat paranoid), and complex comic book for adults. The story develops slowly but once we see all the separate pieces they reveal a disturbing future that-could-have-been. This is one story that you will reflect on for days after reading especially given the political climate of the world today. The original series was created in black and white and that added to the grittiness and darkness of the political atmosphere it portrays. Skillfully plotted and crafted, V is an essential read for all those who love comics (or graphic novels for those of us afraid to entertain our childhoods). I give it a 4 out of 5 stars.
And because of my fondness for useless trivia and for those of you who love trivia there are many references to the letter V (Roman numeral 5) and the number 5 in the graphic novel:
* The character V is seen reading and quoting from Thomas Pynchon’s novel, V.
* V is listening to Beethoven’s fifth symphony (the first four notes can be represented as the letter V in Morse code.)
* V always introduces himself with a five-syllable phrase: “You can call me V.”
* The phrase “Remember, remember, the fifth of November” is also referenced; it is the first line of a nursery rhyme detailing the exploits of Guy Fawkes.
* The name of every chapter begins with the letter V.
* Another link to that letter comes from his past as the “Prisoner of Room Five”, as later revealed in the series.
V For Vendetta Tribute Page
Note: Since I am going to see the movie this afternoon I'll most likely have a movie review in the near future.
* The Alternative One
V for Vendetta is a groundbreaking graphic novel. It is an intelligent, perceptive in its view of politics (if somewhat paranoid), and complex comic book for adults. The story develops slowly but once we see all the separate pieces they reveal a disturbing future that-could-have-been. This is one story that you will reflect on for days after reading especially given the political climate of the world today. The original series was created in black and white and that added to the grittiness and darkness of the political atmosphere it portrays. Skillfully plotted and crafted, V is an essential read for all those who love comics (or graphic novels for those of us afraid to entertain our childhoods). I give it a 4 out of 5 stars.
And because of my fondness for useless trivia and for those of you who love trivia there are many references to the letter V (Roman numeral 5) and the number 5 in the graphic novel:
* The character V is seen reading and quoting from Thomas Pynchon’s novel, V.
* V is listening to Beethoven’s fifth symphony (the first four notes can be represented as the letter V in Morse code.)
* V always introduces himself with a five-syllable phrase: “You can call me V.”
* The phrase “Remember, remember, the fifth of November” is also referenced; it is the first line of a nursery rhyme detailing the exploits of Guy Fawkes.
* The name of every chapter begins with the letter V.
* Another link to that letter comes from his past as the “Prisoner of Room Five”, as later revealed in the series.
Note: Since I am going to see the movie this afternoon I'll most likely have a movie review in the near future.
* The Alternative One
Friday, April 14, 2006
Music review – “Very Loud” - Shout Out Louds
From Stockholm, Sweden come the “Shout Out Louds” and their first album “Howl Howl Gaff Gaff”. After listening to this album, and especially the song “Very Loud”, you’ll come to know that there truly is a rock-pop garage-band machine alive and well and procreating in Sweden. This five-piece band performs a dazzling style of graceful melodic music in the tradition of Ace of Base and the Cardigans. Theirs is an impressive sound of a subtle, yet confident optimism. This is a band of broken hearts attempting to communicate a tender idealistic outlook on love. “Very Loud” is beautifully executed song, which reminds me of a mix between Material Issue and The Flaming Lips meet the Proclaimers. They merge raw emotion with garage-guitar passion in painful, sometimes crushing longing that now and then borders on the saccharine.
There is a tongue-in-cheek irony that is both wistful and entertaining about this band. They never shout, the track “Very Loud” isn’t, very, and “Howl Howl Gaff Gaff” is not the celebration of noise that the title suggests. But there is a playful focus and simplicity in the music that makes all their naked emotions believable. Comprised of Adam Olenius (vocal, guitarist), Ted Malmros (bass), Carl von Arbin (guitar), Eric Edman (drums) and Bebban Stenborg (keyboards), Shout Out Louds write songs that are passionate and sinister, poignant and thoughtful, blissful and gloomy, clever, elemental but above all delivered from the soul.
While certainly not the Next Big Thing, this remarkable debut is the next excellent thing!
“…everything about the record is brilliantly clear and brilliant in the true definition of the word -- that is, glittering, striking, and distinctive.”
-Tim Sendra, All Music Guide
…Swedish rock factory… perfectly formed, retro-rock quintet bustles with handclaps, keyboard-driven pop melodies and a potent new-wave punch…
- Mundane Sounds.
Shout Out Louds
* The Alternative One
There is a tongue-in-cheek irony that is both wistful and entertaining about this band. They never shout, the track “Very Loud” isn’t, very, and “Howl Howl Gaff Gaff” is not the celebration of noise that the title suggests. But there is a playful focus and simplicity in the music that makes all their naked emotions believable. Comprised of Adam Olenius (vocal, guitarist), Ted Malmros (bass), Carl von Arbin (guitar), Eric Edman (drums) and Bebban Stenborg (keyboards), Shout Out Louds write songs that are passionate and sinister, poignant and thoughtful, blissful and gloomy, clever, elemental but above all delivered from the soul.
While certainly not the Next Big Thing, this remarkable debut is the next excellent thing!
“…everything about the record is brilliantly clear and brilliant in the true definition of the word -- that is, glittering, striking, and distinctive.”
-Tim Sendra, All Music Guide
…Swedish rock factory… perfectly formed, retro-rock quintet bustles with handclaps, keyboard-driven pop melodies and a potent new-wave punch…
- Mundane Sounds.
* The Alternative One
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Album Review -"New Dawn Breaking" - The Walls
The Walls “New Dawn Breaking” is a genuinely gratifying album that is well formed and appealing and has a brilliant and emotional necessity surrounding it. More like an aura of quality than an actual visible light. But there is plenty of radiance here!! This whole album proves infectious. If you like the Replacements you’ll like this music. The more I listened to this the more I liked it and I loved it the first time through. I still have trouble deciding which is my favorite song but “To the Bright and Shining Sun” gets a lot of air time on my iPod.
Song titles: Open Road, Passing Through, To The Bright and Shining Sun, Black and Blue, Romantic Ireland's Dead and Gone, Know Your Love, Ghosts, Out of the Fog,
Drowning Pool, Highwire, Birthday Girl, New Dawn Breaking
If you have windows media player or Real Player loaded on your computer you can hear the songs on this album by clicking on the “Music & Video” control knob on “The Walls” home page at:
The Walls
* The Alternative One
Song titles: Open Road, Passing Through, To The Bright and Shining Sun, Black and Blue, Romantic Ireland's Dead and Gone, Know Your Love, Ghosts, Out of the Fog,
Drowning Pool, Highwire, Birthday Girl, New Dawn Breaking
If you have windows media player or Real Player loaded on your computer you can hear the songs on this album by clicking on the “Music & Video” control knob on “The Walls” home page at:
* The Alternative One
Music Review - "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" - K. T. Tunstall
From the “Eye to the Telescope” album.
K.T. Tunstall is that rare solo artist who sounds like a four piece band. Heavy with Midi work and a floor full of guitar petals she uses cool jazzy-blues style vocals in a catchy world-beat way to drag you in kicking and screaming. There is a compelling sound to her silky-blues Scottish voice that sounds like it’s right off the streets of New York City. Look out every other pop star in America, here comes K.T. Tunstall. This song can be previewed atiTunes
This song demands a rating of 5 out of 5 stars.
* The Alternative One
K.T. Tunstall is that rare solo artist who sounds like a four piece band. Heavy with Midi work and a floor full of guitar petals she uses cool jazzy-blues style vocals in a catchy world-beat way to drag you in kicking and screaming. There is a compelling sound to her silky-blues Scottish voice that sounds like it’s right off the streets of New York City. Look out every other pop star in America, here comes K.T. Tunstall. This song can be previewed at
This song demands a rating of 5 out of 5 stars.
* The Alternative One
Monday, April 10, 2006
Music Review “Las Cruces Jail” - Two Gallants.
This song, which has a Spaghetti Western beginning (complete with wind sound effect), quickly turns into a song that displays elements of rockabilly, blues and folk. The vocals are cigarette harsh and the lyrics tell an epic story of the old (and the new) west. “Well, a restless wind is whistlin’/Through my window through my head/Through all the strife that I’ve survived/And in my hour of darkness/I keep counsel with the dead/Just enough to remind me I’m alive.” The band is evidently named after a short story by James Joyce and is comprised of a very young guitar-and-drums alt-country duo from San Francisco named Adam Stephens and Tyson Vogel, both not yet 20. This song can be found on the CMJ – College Music Journal website Issue 138 New Music Journal or at the band's website.
"Las Cruces Jail" deserves 4 and a half out of 5 stars.
CMJ
Two Gallants
* The Alternative One
"Las Cruces Jail" deserves 4 and a half out of 5 stars.
* The Alternative One
Music Review - "A Chi Sa Dove Sara" - Tarantella
This song, like most of their album "Esqueletos", is haunting, moody and emotional. It’s brimming with violins and acoustic guitars but the most stunning, extraordinary and mesmerizing instrument you hear is the voice of lead singer and songwriter, Kal Cahoone. When Kal sings, "You’re as sweet as hon-ey/or least you used to be" you’re happy she isn't singing to you.
Marquee Magazine
16 Horsepower
Alternative Tentacles Records
* The Alternative One
Tarantella draws its personality from a mixture of different locales and cultures, which include the streets of Denver, the tarantella dance and traditions of Italy and the passion and flamboyance of Argentina. The music is very similar to the Western-traditional-American-folk-rock (i.e. unclassifiable) now coming out of Colorado. Their distinctive arrangements are a consequence of Kal Cahoone’s experiences. She grew up in California and Colorado and while living in Argentina, married a well-known instrumentalist and composer in Buenos Aires.
The remainder of the band is made up of guitarist John Rumley, violin player Kelly O’Dea, bass fiddle player Dan Jon Grandbois, drummer Chad Johnson, and guitarist and recording engineer ‘Big Bad Bob’ Ferbrache. The disc was released on former Dead Kennedy’s front-man Jello Biafra’s Alternative Tentacles Records.
* The Alternative One
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