ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, DEC. 3, 2008 By Steve Newton No sooner had I replaced the stylus on my ancient Yamaha turntable than into my mail slot slid a review copy of The Song Remains the Same, a four-disc vinyl re-release recorded during three sold-out Led Zeppelin gigs at Madison Square Garden in 1973. Thanks … Continue reading Led Zeppelin’s The Song Remains the Same remains awesome on vinyl
The mighty KISS marketing machine pulls off another fast one with IKONS
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, DEC. 3, 2008 By Steve Newton I’ve always argued that KISS’s best album was its self-titled 1974 debut, and that musically the band went downhill from there. For those who disagree, there’s IKONS. In an obvious effort to squeeze a few more bucks out of the American glam-rock quartet’s extensive catalogue, … Continue reading The mighty KISS marketing machine pulls off another fast one with IKONS
The soul-destroying legacy of “Sussudio” puts damper on Genesis box
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM. DEC. 5, 2007 By Steve Newton For me, "Sussudio" was the last straw. Even though it was part of Phil Collins's solo career, that tune irritated me so much that it threw a pall over everything he'd done before as Genesis's lead singer. Never again could I listen to worthwhile Collins-era … Continue reading The soul-destroying legacy of “Sussudio” puts damper on Genesis box
The volume knob on the Heavy Metal Box goes past 11
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, DEC. 5, 2007 By Steve Newton This is one of the coolest-looking box sets ever. It's designed to resemble the head of a Marshall amp, and even features a volume knob that goes all the way to 11. How appropriate that Spinal Tap's "Big Bottom" is featured among the four-disc package's … Continue reading The volume knob on the Heavy Metal Box goes past 11
Reno 911!: Miami’s plot undermines the comical cops-versus-freaks action
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, FEB. 28, 2007 My wife hates it when I watch Cops. For some reason, she doesn't agree that the sight of macho lawmen busting down doors and tackling white-trash meth-head wife beaters is the pinnacle of entertainment. But we both love watching the Cops parody, Reno 911!, which revolves around the … Continue reading Reno 911!: Miami’s plot undermines the comical cops-versus-freaks action
Essentially John Mayall sees the British bluesman with a cavalcade of guitar heroes
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, DEC. 13, 2006 By Steve Newton The lineup of guitar slingers on this five-CD package is enough to make any blues-rock devotee start foaming at the mouth: Peter Green, Eric Clapton, Gary Moore, Mick Taylor, Billy Gibbons, Otis Rush, Steve Miller, Walter Trout, Jeff Healey, Steve Cropper, and Jonny Lang. Such … Continue reading Essentially John Mayall sees the British bluesman with a cavalcade of guitar heroes
Extravagant Doors box captures cosmic aspects of the Lizard King
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, DEC. 13, 2006 By Steve Newton Anyone put off by surviving Doors members Robbie Krieger and Ray Manzarek’s attempts to cash in on the band’s legacy by scooping up Jim Morrison look-alike Ian Astbury for last year’s Doors of the 21st Century tour can take solace in this extravagant package. Perception … Continue reading Extravagant Doors box captures cosmic aspects of the Lizard King
Nine Lives box set best suited for hardcore Robert Plant fans only
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, DEC. 13, 2006 By Steve Newton Only hard-core fans of Robert Plant’s post-Zeppelin output should invest in the 10-disc Nine Lives set, which includes his nine solo albums—from 1982’s Pictures of Eleven through last year’s Mighty Rearranger—plus bonus tracks and an hourlong DVD. Nine Lives isn’t Christmas music, obviously, but that … Continue reading Nine Lives box set best suited for hardcore Robert Plant fans only
Max von Sydow’s “odd upbringing” led to roles as Jesus and the devil
By Steve Newton Back in 1993 I covered the Vancouver-area filming of the Stephen King-based horror flick Needful Things for Fangoria. The movie ended up being crap, but I did get to interview everybody's favourite exorcist, Max von Sydow, so that was cool. Not many actors have the wide-ranging talent it takes to play both … Continue reading Max von Sydow’s “odd upbringing” led to roles as Jesus and the devil
Trailer Park Boys director Mike Clattenburg revels in Canuck rock
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 4, 2006 By Steve Newton Helix isn't normally a band that comes to mind as one of Canada’s finest musical exports. But as director Mike Clattenburg proved in Trailer Park Boys: The Movie, its song “Heavy Metal Love” is the ideal backdrop for slow-mo footage of a skanky … Continue reading Trailer Park Boys director Mike Clattenburg revels in Canuck rock
Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day could be the funniest Canadian movie ever made
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, SEPT. 23, 2009 By Steve Newton The last film I saw that made me laugh out loud numerous times was 2006’s Trailer Park Boys: The Movie. It was freakin’ hilarious. But the new Countdown to Liquor Day left the old ribs achin’ even more. It could be the funniest Canadian movie ever made. … Continue reading Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day could be the funniest Canadian movie ever made
The Trailer Park Boys: The Movie is freakin’ hilarious
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, OCT. 4, 2006 By Steve Newton When the Trailer Park Boys debuted on the Showcase channel in 2001, I couldn’t get enough of it. A mockumentary-style series about the day-to-day exploits of three pot-loving trailer-trash buddies and their assorted idiot friends and rivals, it was a raucous, taboo-blasting gas. The sight … Continue reading The Trailer Park Boys: The Movie is freakin’ hilarious
The Strat Pack DVD is a guitar freak’s dream come true
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, NOV. 24, 2005 By Steve Newton Last year, in celebration of the Fender Stratocaster's 50th anniversary, an impressive array of electric guitarists got together at London's Wembley Arena to see what kind of joyful noise they could all make with Leo Fender's masterpiece of metal, plastic, and wood. The result is … Continue reading The Strat Pack DVD is a guitar freak’s dream come true