Friedman To Appear On VH1’s That Metal Show This Weekend

Courtesy: Prosthetic Records

Veteran guitarist Marty Friedman will appear on VH1 Classic’s That Metal Show this weekend.

Friedman will appear on That Metal Show Saturday, March 1^st at 11pm ET.  Friedman will join Mike Jones (Foreigner), Leslie West (Mountain), and Lita Ford (The Runaways) on this week’s edition of That Metal Show.  Friedman jokingly noted in an interview that while the main purpose of his appearance was to promote his upcoming album Inferno, he also even more excited about being on the show because he got to talk to one of his own favorite guitarists of all time.  “Of course I talked about my upcoming album, ‘Inferno,’” he said.  “But there was another guitarist on the show, and I just had to ask him what I wanted to know ever since I was a kid — just what the hell was he thinking when he laid down one of the most unorthodox (and cool) solos ever. Hope they don`t edit that part out!” Tune in tomorrow night to find out!”

Inferno is scheduled to be released via Prosthetic Records May 27^th in North America and May 26^th in the UK and Europe, May 23^rd in G/A/S and via Universal Records in Japan May 21^st.  It will be his first record of original material in four years and the first in over ten years that will be released simultaneously around the world.  The album was recorded in Los Angeles with engineer Chris Rakestraw (Danzig, Children of Bodom) and mixed by Jens Bogren (Opeth, Amon Amarth).  It will also include a number of A-list guest appearances from the likes of: Rodrigo y Gabriela, Alexi Laiho (Children of Bodom), Keshav Dhar (Skyharbor), and David Davidson (Revocation) among others.  The album’s track listing is included below.

“Inferno” Track Listing:

1. Inferno
2. Resin
3. Wicked Panacea (feat. Rodrigo y Gabriela)
4. Steroidhead (feat. Keshav Dhar) (STREAM)
5. I Can’t Relax (feat. Danko Jones)
6. Meat Hook (feat. Jørgen Munkeby)
7. Hyper Doom
8. Sociopaths (feat. David Davidson)
9. Lycanthrope (feat. Alexi Laiho & Danko Jones)
10. Undertow
11. Horrors (co-written by Jason Becker)
12. Inferno -reprise-

 Friedman will tour in support of his new album beginning May 1^st in Tampere, Finland.  He will serve as support act for Gus G. who is also set to release his new album this Spring.  Friedman’s current tour itinerary is listed below.

EUROPEAN TOUR DATES 
5/1       Tampere, FL – Klubi #
5/2       Helsinki, FL – Nosturi #
5/3       Stockholm, SW – Stockholm Rocks Festival #
5/5       Gothenburg, SW- Tradgarn #
5/6       Malmo, SW – KB #
5/9       Krakow, PL – Lizard King #
5/10      Warsaw, PL – Progreja #
5/12      Munich,DE – Backstage #
5/14      Hannover, DE – Musixzentrum #
5/15      Essen, DE – Turock #
5/16      Zoetermeer, NL – De Boerderij #
5/17      Hasselt, BE – Muziekodroom #
5/18      Uden, NL – De Pul #
5/20      Savigny Le Temple, FR – L’impriente #
5/21      London, UK – O2 Academy Islington #
5/22      Nuneaton, UK – Queens Hall #
# with Gus G

Tickets for Friedman’s upcoming tour dates, and all of the latest on his upcoming album and more is available via Friedman’s official website, http://www.martyfriedman.com.  To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Exmortus Debuts Video For Its Latest Single

Photo Credit: Stephanie Cabral

The members of Exmortus have debuted the vide for the band’s new single, ‘Foe Hammer.’  The old school style video, directed by Ron Thunderwood (9 Electric), sees the band performing in front of the camera in a pseudo live setting.  This style of making music videos was used quite a bit in the late 80s and early 90s by any number of directors and bands.  It gives the audience a feel for what they are in store for at a live Exmortus show.  The video can be viewed online now at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUD0gBG1TG8&feature=youtube_gdata_player.

Exmortus is currently touring in support of its new album Slave to the Sword now.  It will perform tonight at Diamond Pub & Billiards in Louisville, KY.  The band’s tour also includes a performance at The Milestone in Charlotte, North Carolina.  Ticket information and more for this and every show is available online at http://www.facebook.com/exmortusofficial.  The band’s current schedule of tour dates is listed below.

Watch EXMORTUS shred live atone of these dates:
2/28    Louisville, KY – Diamond Pub & Billiards #
3/1      Pittsburgh, PA – Altar Bar #
3/2      Philadelphia, PA – Trocadero #
3/7      Queens, NY-  Blackthorn 51*
3/8      Trenton, NJ- Backstage at Champs*
3/9      Richmond, VA- Strange Matter*
3/10    Charlotte, NC- The Milestone*
3/11    Columbia, SC-  New Brookland Tavern*
3/12    Savannah, GA- Dollhouse Productions*
3/13    Jacksonville, FL- Atticus Bar*
3/14    Miami, FL- Churchill’s Pub*
3/15    Tampa, FL- The Brass Mug*
3/16    Atlanta, GA – Club Famous*
3/17    Johnson City,TN- The Hideaway *
3/18    Pittsburgh, PA – Howlers Coyote Cafe *
3/19    Columbus, OH- Ace of Cups*
3/20    Cleveland, OH- Now That’s Class*
3/21    Rochester, NY- The Bug Jar*
3/22    Florence,MA – JJ’s Tavern *
3/25    Austin, TX @ Infest ^
3/26    El Paso, TX @ Tricky Falls ^
3/27    Phoenix, AZ @ Joe’s Grotto ^
3/28    Las Vegas, NV @ Cheyenne Saloon ^
3/29    Anaheim, CA @ Mirror Image ^
3/30    W. Hollywood, CA @ Whisky-A-Go-Go ^
4/1      San Francisco, CA @ DNA Lounge ^
4/2      Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven ^
4/3      Portland, OR @ Tonic Lounge ^
4/4      Vancouver, BC @ The Venue ^
4/5      Edmonton, AB @ Pawn Shop ^
4/7      Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater ^
4/8      Kansas City, MO @ Riot Room ^
4/9      Des Moines, IA @ Wooly’s ^
4/10    Chicago, IL @ Reggies Rock Club ^
4/11    Rochester, NY @ Montage Music Hall ^
4/12    Toronto, ON @ Virgin Mobile Mod Club ^
4/13    Quebec, QC @ Complexe Meduse^
4/14    Montreal, QC @ Foufounes Electriques^
# with Dark Tranquility & Omnium Gatherum
* with Lich King
^ with Destruction & Krisiun

Fans can pick up Slave to the Sword now in stores or order it in a variety of formats via the Prosthetic Records online store at http://store.prostheticrecords.com/products/524528-exmortus-slave-to-the-sword-cd.

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Every Family Will Love The Latest DVD From Disney Junior’s Hit Series

Courtesy: Entertainment One

Entertainment One’s Guess How Much I Love You: The Adventures of Little Nutbrown Hare is a wonderful series for viewers of all ages.  And now thanks to Entertainment One, fans of the series can get their hands on yet another compilation DVD containing seven more shorts from the hit series.  Friendship Adventures, the latest compilation from the series offers audiences seven more episodes packed with family friendly stories.  Each of the stories boasts valuable life lessons that parents will appreciate and original animation that kids will love. Right from the compilation’s opening episode ‘Favorite Thing’, audiences are treated to not one, not two, but three valuable lessons. ‘I Promise’ is an invaluable addition to the set as it teaches its own important lesson.  This short teaches a lesson about keeping one’s word.  And ‘New Friend’ viewers are taught a lesson about making friends with new people.  These three episodes make up only part of what audiences will enjoy in this release.  There are four other episodes that along with these episodes make this latest release one that every family will enjoy.

‘Favorite Thing’ is a wonderful opener for this second brand new home release from Disney Junior’s family favorite series.  This episode is an important addition to this DVD because of its many lessons.  It teaches not one, not two, but three different valuable lessons.  The first of those lessons is an important lesson about sharing.  The show’s writers incorporate this lesson into the episode by having Little Nutbrown Hare ask Little Field Mouse if he could borrow her flower to show to Big Nutbrown Hare.  Little Field Mouse wasn’t sure at first because she said it was her “favorite thing.”  Despite this, Little Field Mouse agrees to share and let Little Nutbrown Hare show it to Big Nutbrown Hare.  When Little Nutbrown Hare accidentally loses the flower, he has to be honest about it with Little Field Mouse.  This lesson about being honest with people is the second lesson taught in this episode.  In being honest with Little Field Mouse, Little Field Mouse tells him that it’s okay and that they could look for it together.  She goes on to say that her other favorite thing was being friends with him.  It was Little Nutbrown Hare’s way of trying to make things right, which is the episode’s third lesson; if one makes a mistake, one should try to make things right, especially if friendship is on the line.  All three of the lessons shared in this short are equally important to the whole piece.  The fact that the show’s writers were able to incorporate each lesson without one stepping on the other makes the short all the more enjoyable.  In turn, it becomes that much more an invaluable addition to this new DVD compilation.

‘Favorite Things’ teaches an invaluable lesson about being honest and keeping one’s word with others as part of its whole.  In the same vein, ‘I Promise’ teaches a similar lesson as Little Nutbrown Hare ends up promising to spend time with both Little Field Mouse and Little Red Wood Fox.  The problem is that he promised to spend time with both of them at the same time.  So this leaves him in a predicament of sorts.  When Little Nutbrown Hare admits to his error, the trio works things out so that they all can all have fun together.  So not only are young audiences taught the lesson of keeping one’s word and being honest, but as with ‘Favorite Things’ it teaches yet again that people should try to make things right when they know they have erred.  It’s one more aspect of this short that makes it one more invaluable addition to the DVD as a whole.

The lessons about manners taught through the previously noted shorts are equally important for any family.  They both teach similar lessons.  The DVD’s penultimate short, ‘New Friend’, teaches an equally important lesson. It teaches a lesson about friendship’s ups and downs.  When Little Spotted Deer comes to the forest for the first time and makes friends with the other animals of the forest, Little Nutbrown Hare thinks he’ll be friends with Little Spotted Deer forever, only to discover that Little Spotted Deer has to go away.  This upsets her new friends at first.  But in learning that she would be back the following winter, it makes seeing her leave less painful.  In the process it gave them something to look forward to and appreciate one another even more.  Once more, audiences are given an episode that is well worth the watch not just once but any time.  Along with the previously noted episodes and those not noted, it is one more part of the whole that makes this single DVD well worth purchasing now that it is available in stores and online.

More information on Guess How Much I Love You:  The Adventures of Little Nutbrown Hare is available online at http://www.disney.com.au/disneyjunior/guess-how-much-i-love-you/.  Families can also print out pages to color, watch videos and play a special game at that website. To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

ESPN’s Baseball Tonight Goodyear Express Tour Winds Down This Weekend

Courtesy: ESPN

ESPN winds down its Baseball Tonight Goodyear Express Tour this weekend.

The tour finishes off this weekend beginning this morning at 9am ET.  ESPN’s SportsCenter will feature live reports from the Cincinnati Reds’ training camp in Goodyear, Arizona.  Baseball Tonight host Karl Ravech and analyst Jon Kruk will be joined by ESPN MLB Insider Tim Kurkjian for all the latest from the Reds’ training camp.

Tomorrow—Saturday, March 1^st—Kurkjian will have live SportsCenter updates from the Seattle Mariners’ training camp in Peoria, Arizona.  Coverage of both teams’ training camps includes in-depth analysis of each team and interviews with both players and managers.

ESPN’s MLB coverage picks back up on March 17^th as the Worldwide Leader in Sports kicks off Spring Training telecasts that day.  Spring Training coverage kicks off with a matchup between the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox.  Coverage is scheduled to begin at 1pm ET. ESPN’s complete Spring Training coverage schedule is listed below.

Spring Training game schedule:

Date	Time (ET)	Game/Commentators	Networks
Mon, March 17	1 p.m.	St. Louis Cardinals at Boston Red Sox Karl Ravech, Barry Larkin, Tim Kurkjian	ESPN, WatchESPN, ESPN Deportes +
Tue, March 18	1 p.m.	Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees Dan Shulman, John Kruk, Buster Olney	ESPN, WatchESPN
Thu, March 20	7 p.m.	New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox Dan Shulman, John Kruk, Buster Olney	ESPN, WatchESPN, ESPN Deportes +
Mon, March 24	1 p.m.	Detroit Tigers at Pittsburgh Pirates Adnan Virk, Doug Glanville, Tim Kurkjian	ESPN, WatchESPN, ESPN Deportes +
Tue, March  25	1 p.m.	Atlanta Braves at Detroit Tigers Adnan Virk, Doug Glanville, Tim Kurkjian	ESPN, WatchESPN, ESPN Deportes +
Wed, March 26	1 p.m.	Washington Nationals at St. Louis Cardinals Steve Levy, Eduardo Perez, Doug Glanville	ESPN, WatchESPN, ESPN Deportes +
Thu, March 27	12 p.m.	Washington Nationals at New York Mets Steve Levy, Eduardo Perez, Doug Glanville	ESPN, WatchESPN, ESPN Deportes +

 

More information on ESPN’s MLB coverage is available online at http://espn.go.com/mlb.  To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Jon Gruden’s Quarterback Camp Returns This Spring

Courtesy: ESPN

Jon Gruden’s “Quarterback Camp” will return this Spring.

Gruden’s series of SportsCenter specials will return this spring for its fifth season.  Gruden mentors a handful of college football’s top quarterbacks in the series, as they prepare to take the next step in their careers.  This year’s installment of Gruden’s “Quarterback Camp” will see nine of college football’s top quarterback prospects.  Those names include the likes of 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel of Texas A&M, two-time BCS National Champion A.J. McCarron of Alabama, and Teddy Bridgewater of Louisville.  The complete list of this year’s “QB Camp” participants is noted below.

2014 Gruden’s QB Camp participants:

Quarterback	School
Blake Bortles	Central Florida
Tajh Boyd	Clemson
Teddy Bridgewater	Louisville
Derek Carr	Fresno
Jimmy Garoppolo	Eastern Illinois
Jordan Lynch	Northern Illinois
A.J. McCarron	Alabama
Johnny Manziel	Texas A&M
Aaron Murray	Georgia

 

Gruden prepares a specialized lesson plan of sorts for each of the participants in his “QB Camp.”  Through his specialized plan, he points out to each prospect, a balanced look at both their strengths and weaknesses, allowing them to see where they need to improve in order to be successful NFL talent.  Over the past four seasons of his “QB Camp” Gruden has mentored no fewer than twenty-nine quarterbacks from twenty-seven schools.  Fourteen of those QBs went on to be NFL regular season starters.  Among the names that Gruden has mentored through his series are: Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Cam Newton and current NFL Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson, of the Seattle Seahawks.

Gruden’s “QB Camp” moves this year to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Arena at Walt Disney World Resort outside Orlando.  It replaces Gruden’s Tampa office, where the “QB Camp” was previously held.  The new set will replicate his Tampa office, playfully dubbed the “Fired Football Coaches Association.”  The 220-acre facility also includes athletic fields, which will be used for quarterback workouts.

More information on Jon Gruden’s “Quarterback Camp” and all things NFL is available online now at http://espn.go.com/nfl and http://www.facebook.com/NFLonESPN.  To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Joshua Scott Jones Debuts Video For New Single

Courtesy: MSO PR

Joshua Scott Jones, one half of the country duo Steel Magnolias, officially debuted the video for his new single ‘Honk (If You’re Tonky)’ this week.

The video is the companion piece to the lead single from Jones’ debut solo album The Healing, which is due out later this year.  It can be viewed online now via YouTube and Vevo at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqdJRcJF7Qk and http://www.vevo.com/watch/joshua-scott-jones/honk-if-youre-tonky/QMGR31400913 respectively.  Fans can download Jones’ new single now via iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/honk-if-youre-tonky-single/id789803809.

Jones shared his rather surprising inspiration for the video in a recent interview saying it was actually inspired by a well-known pop star.  “I had the idea for the video from Beyonce’s ‘Single Ladies,’ he said.  “I wanted to make a dance video, but a honky tonk style video, so we shot half of it in black and white, and the other half in color. It was me, and two dancers…It’s edgy, cool, and upbeat. I think it’s something people won’t want to take their eyes off of.”

In regards to the song itself, Jones says it is a song for all the men out there.  “‘Honk (If You’re Tonky)’ spoke very loudly to me right off the bat as an anthem for guys,” he says.  “It speaks to the misunderstood side of men, that makes us rough around the edges while carrying the burden of a big heart and just wanting to live in harmony with yourself. What better than an ‘anthem’ for a first single?”

Jones self-produced his new upcoming solo debut record as well as handling many of the instrumental duties, too.  He went on in his interview to explain the meaning behind his new album in whole and what the album means to him as an artist.  “I feel like it’s really a chance for my voice to be heard. It’s really a personal record that reflects on my head space over the past few years and what I’ve been through,” he said.  “I’m excited about it because I think it will translate well to all the fans we had as a duo in Steel Magnolia. I tried to take them with me for the ride, and gain a few more. It means a lot to me.”

Jones already has a small handful of live dates scheduled in support of his new single and upcoming album. He will perform next Monday, March 7^th at the Warehouse in East Battle Creek, Michigan.  The following night, he will be at the Diesel Lounge in Chesterfield, Michigan.  From there, he will make his way to dates in Pennsylvania and Florida.  Jones’ most current list of tour dates is available below.

DATE	CITY	VENUE
3/7	East Battle Creek, MI	Warehouse
3/8	Chesterfield, MI	Diesel Lounge
3/15	Uniondale, PA	Herrick Ski Lodge
3/21	St. Augustine, FL	Cafe Eleven
*3/22	Englewood, FL	Englewood Event Center

*Supporting Chris Cagle

More information on Joshua Scott Jones, his tour, single, and upcoming album is available online now at http://www.joshuascottjones.com, http://www.facebook.com/JoshuaScottJonesMusic, and http://twitter.com/JoshScottJones.  To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Pixies To Appear On NPR’s World Cafe Today

Photo Credit: Michael Halsband

Pixies will be on NPR’s World Café with David Dye today.

Members of the band will be on the show today at 2pm ET/11am PT for an exclusive interview and acoustic session.  The acoustic session was recently recorded for WXPN/Philadelphia’s “Free at Noon” series.  It will be broadcast over 200 public radio stations across the country and can be streamed online at http://www.xpn.org.

More information on today’s performance is available online at http://myredmusic.com/pixies.  More information on the band’s tour dates and more is available online via the official Pixies Facebook page and website at http://www.facebook.com/pixiesofficial and http://www.pixiesmusic.com.  To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Raise The Titanic Is Unsinkable In Its New Re-Issue

Courtesy: itv Studios/Shout! Factory

The sinking of the R.M.S. Titanic is one of the most talked about tragedies in the history of transportation.  The ship, said to be unsinkable, went down on its maiden voyage in 1912.  Over a century after that doomed cruise, that tragic event remains at the forefront of so many people’s minds.  That is thanks in large part to the countless documentaries and movies that have been churned out by movie studios and television networks over the past half century, the least of which being 1997’s story of a doomed romance, Titanic.  Thankfully there have been more enjoyable stories such as the famous The Band Played On and the 1980 drama that was Raise The Titanic.  Now twenty-four years after that movie debuted, it has been resurrected for the masses by itv Studios and Shout! Factory.  The movie, based on author Clive Cussler’s novel by the same name, uses the Cold War as a backdrop for its plot.  It’s just part of the writing that makes this movie worth watching at least once.  The movie’s script is just part of what makes Raise The Titanic worth at least one watch.  The movie’s soundtrack is another important aspect of the overall presentation.  John Williams’ score captures and creates so much emotion throughout the story.  And the special effects used throughout the movie are minimalist at best.  It actually makes the movie that much better.  It’s discussed in the bonus “Making of” featurette that’s included in this re-issue.  Each of the noted factors plays a role in the success of Raise The Titanic especially now in its new life.  Together, they make this a movie that any classic movie buff will want to check out at least once.

The first aspect of Raise The Titanic that audiences will agree to be a positive is the movie’s script.  Theories about what led to the Titanic’s sinking and how to potentially raise the ship have run rampant for ages.  However author Clive Cussler’s book based on those theories was the first of its kind to gain major success.  The same can be said of the final product crafted by screenwriter Adam Kennedy and his writing partner Eric Hughes.  To that extent, it can be argued that both the book and the script that it spawned were both quite original in their own right.  In hindsight, it’s interesting to see how prophetic this story turned out to be, even if it did change some things from Cussler’s original book.  Not that many years ago, the Costa Concordia wrecked off the Italian coast.  It sat there until recently when means were undertaken to lift the half-sunken ship and get it away from its crash site.  In the same way that many of the theories on how to raise the Titanic were deemed impossible (among other words), the method ultimately used to raise the Costa Concordia seemed impossible until one of those theories worked.  Having seen the Costa Concordia raised from its wreck site, one can’t help but wonder if it could be the foundation of a way to raise other ships as impossible as it might seem.

Raise The Titanic’s script is an important piece of the whole that is the movie’s success.  Just as important to the movie’s overal enjoyment is its music.  Legendary composer and maestro John Williams created a score for the movie that captures and creates so much emotion.  Nowhere is this truer than the scene in which the Titanic finally breaks the surface of the North Atlantic waters.  The moments as it makes its way into New York’s harbor are just as emotional, musically speaking.  Williams more than exhibits his ability to interpret any scene with these moments alone.  They are but a pair of moments that show how important the movie’s score is to the whole presentation.  There are far more moments throughout the movie’s near two-hour run time that exhibit just as much of Williams’ talent and that of the musicians that bring the movie’s soundtrack to life.  Audiences will find their own favorite moments when they buy or order the movie’s new Blu-ray/DVD combo pack re-issue from Shout! Factory.

The script and the soundtrack of Raise The Titanic both play pivotal roles in the movie’s success.  There is one more aspect of this movie that could be argued to trump those previously noted aspects.  That aspect is the movie’s special effects.  Watching this movie, one can’t help but make a quick comparison to the likes of The Hunt for Red October, Crimson Tide, and to a lesser degree, The Abyss.  The latter of that trio is perhaps the closest comparison.  The difference is that where James Cameron went completely overboard with his special effects, Raise The Titanic used minimalist special effects for even its biggest scene.  A couple prime examples of this less-is-more approach are the subs used to find the Titanic and the ship itself.  It turns out that the subs used in the movie were actually r/c subs.  The mock-up of the Titanic, it turns out, was actually a fifty-five foot “model” that weighed roughly ten tons.  And the methods used to raise the ship were just as interesting.  That minimalist approach to its special effects actually made the movie even more enjoyable because it forced its writers to focus on story development.  The end result was a movie that is just as rich in its special effects as it is in its story.  It makes Raise The Titanic a movie worth at least one watch by anyone that has never seen it before.

The special effects used throughout Raise The Titanic played a big role in the movie’s success thanks to the less-is-more approach taken by those behind the special effects.   There is much more worth noting, including the in-depth commentary on the movie shared in its bonus “Making of” featurette.  The commentary includes a rather damning statement regarding the over use of special effects in today’s major motion pictures.  The statement in question is made by one of the individuals that helped bring the movie’s special effects to life.  Fans can check out this statement and more when they purchase or order the movie now from Shout! Factory’s online store at http://www.shoutfactory.com/node/218884.  More information on this and other releases from Shout! Factory is available online at http://www.shoutfactory.com and http://www.facebook.com/shoutfactoryofficial.  To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Lamar Odom Takes To The Hardwood Again This Afternoon

Courtesy: ESPN

Former NBA star Lamar Odom will hit the hardwood again.

Odom will attempt to reboot his basketball career as he takes to the basketball court once again today.  The former NBA standout won’t be playing in the NBA in his return to the game though.  He will make his debut with the Euroleague’s Spanish club Laboral Kutxa this afternoon when the team takes on Unicaja Malaga.  Tipoff is scheduled for 2:45pm ET.  Fans can catch the game live online via ESPN3, which is accessible via WatchESPN on all mobile internet platforms.

Odom host recently played for the Los Angeles Clippers.  He is a two-time NBA champion and former Sixth Man of the Year.

More information on this afternoon’s coverage and all basketball coverage across the ESPN family of networks is available online at http://espn.go.com and http://www.facebook.com/ESPN.  To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

UB40 Live At Montreux ’02 Another Enjoyable Addition To Eagle Rock’s Montreux Concert Series

Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment/Montreux Sounds

UB40’s recently released live recording UB40 Live at Montreux 2002 is another enjoyable addition to the ongoing series of releases from Eagle Rock Entertainment and Montreux Sounds.  This addition to the companies’ Live at Montreux recordings will impress anyone that is a long-time fan of UB40.  Fans will be impressed first and foremost by the extensive set list chosen for this concert.  The set list boasts a grand total of twenty-one songs.  Among those songs are some of the band’s biggest hits and some that are only slightly less familiar to audiences.  The band deserves credit for its extensive set list chosen or this show.  It also deserves a certain amount of credit for its on-stage performance in general.  Eagle Rock Entertainment deserves just as much credit for continuing to present recordings boasting such high quality audio and video standards.  Those high standards and the equally impressive set list collectively show why this is yet another enjoyable addition to Eagle Rock and Montreux Sounds’ Live at Montreux series of recordings.

The Montreux Jazz Festival is one of the biggest music festivals in the world.  For any artist, group or band to be invited to perform at this elite festival is an honor.  It means that said artists, groups and bands must bring their A-game.  Fans of UB40 will be glad to know that the band has done just that with this recording.  The band’s set list runs twenty-one songs deep, two of which are encores at the show’s very end.  The show’s set list includes major hits such as ‘Red Red Wine’, ‘The Way You Do The Things You Do’ and even the band’s famous cover of Elvis’ ‘(I Can’t Help’ Falling In Love With You’ as well as plenty of others.  The entire twenty-one song set list runs just over ninety-minutes.  Considering that length, it makes twenty-one songs quite the mass of music.  And it’s a mass of music that the band’s long-time fans will enjoy every time they put on this recording.

The extensive set list chosen for UB40’s 2002 Montreux performance will impress the band’s long-time fans.  That goes without saying.  Anyone that has ever attended or watched a live concert will agree that the show’s set list is only one part of the equation.  Just as important to the show is the stage presence of the artist, group or band in question.  It can be said will full certainty about UB40 that the band’s stage presence in its performance definitely enhanced the show.  The whole band kept the energy flowing from beginning to end.  Even in its rare slower moments, such as in its two biggest hits, there was still a certain amount of energy exuded by the band.  There was so much energy in fact, that even audiences watching this recording for the first time might find themselves getting up off their couches, love seats, beds, or whatever else and moving to the music.  It shows that while this show is roughly twelve years old now, the band still had what it took to entertain audiences back then just as it does even now.  That stage presence alongside the show’s chosen set list makes the performance all the more enjoyable for anyone that is now or has ever been a UB40 fan.  Of course, what would the band’s stage presence and set list be without the show being recorded?  That is the last part of what makes this recording enjoyable for the band’s fans.

Audiences today take for granted that every live show ever recorded for public consumption will turn out to be a perfect ten.  Sadly, not every live recording ever released is like that.  There are those that have shown to have poor quality audio and video mixes.  Again though, UB40 is not in that mass with this recording. And neither is Eagle Rock Entertainment.  The video and audio mix are quite well balanced throughout the show.  Even at the show’s most energetic moments, no one member of the band overpowers the other.  And that is thanks to the work of Jean Ristori with MTX Mastering Studio Montreux Sounds.  Audiences with home theater systems will equally agree on just how impressive her work was in terms of the recording’s post-production work.  Of course, one would be remiss to ignore the work of Eric Glardon for putting the final touch on the work done by the show’s camera crew and director.  Glardon wonderfully captured the full experience from both the vantage point of the band and the audience that was in attendance.  The transitions from shot to shot and the choice of shots in general add so much depth and feeling to the recording.  Audiences will see and hear just how much work was put in by both he and Jean Ristori (and those that originally recorded the concert) to make this recording a reality and all the more worth adding to their own personal libraries.

UB40 Live at Montreux 2002 is available now in stores and online.  More information on this and other releases in the Live at Montreux series from Eagle Rock Entertainment and Montreux Sounds is available online at http://www.eagle-rock.com and http://www.facebook.com/EagleRockEnt.  To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.