Anchor Bay Entertainment Announces Home Release Date For The Walking Dead Season Five

Posted on March 31, 2015 by philspicks

Courtesy: Anchor Bay Entertainment/Starz

The end is almost here for AMC’s hit horror serial The Walking Dead.

The fifth season of The Walking Dead just wrapped this past Sunday. And as fans count down to the sixth (and supposedly last) season of the hit drama, Anchor Bay Entertainment has wasted no time announcing the home release date for the series’ fifth season. Anchor Bay Entertainment announced today that The Walking Dead: The Complete Fifth Season will be released in stores and online Tuesday, August 25th. It will be released on both DVD and Blu-ray + Digital HD combo pack.

Current details on pricing, bonus materials, specs, box art, and limited edition box sets are currently unavailable. They will be announced soon. All of that information will be available online along with all the latest updates on the series at:

Website: http://www.amctv.com/shows/the-walking-dead

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheWalkingDeadAMC

Twitter: http://twitter.com/WalkingDead_AMC

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Randy Bachman’s Latest LP Is A Whole Different And Enjoyable Kind Of Heavy

Posted on March 31, 2015 by philspicks

Courtesy: Linus Entertainment/Paquin Entertainment Group/Ontario Media Development Corporation

Veteran musician Randy Bachman has spent the better part of his adult life crafting songs that are known today as some of the rock realm’s greatest compositions. Whether as a member of Bachman Turner Overdrive, The Guess Who, or as a solo musician, Randy Bachman’s music is considered by rockers of all ages to be some of rock’s greatest even to this day. And with his latest solo effort Heavy Blues Bachman continues to justify that reputation even more. Heavy Blues will hit store shelves on Tuesday, April 14th. it is an aptly titled record considering the blues-based rock that makes up most of the album’s eleven total tracks. Perhaps the only exception to that rule is the album’s deeply emotional closer ‘We Need To Talk.’ That song aside, Heavy Blues still stands as a record that every rock purist should add to his or her own music library. From its straight forward, seemingly Steve Miller/The Who-inspired opener ‘The Edge,’ to the gospel and blues-infused ‘Oh My Lord’ to that much deeper, more moving closer, there is plenty for rock purists to appreciate in this album. That includes the pieces not noted here, either. All eleven tracks taken fully into consideration, Heavy Blues proves itself to be a record that is a full breath of fresh air and reminder of all that once made rock great and always will.

Randy Bachman’s latest full length effort Heavy Blues is, as already noted, a breath of fresh air in an age in which rock seems continually dominated by cookie cutter bands dominating mainstream rock radio stations and equally sound-alike acts dominating the heavier side of the rock realm; bands whose songs consist of indecipherable, cookie monster-like growls, machine-gun speed drumming, and crunching, down-tuned guitars. It is a reminder of all that once made rock great and always will regardless of which bands dominate the airwaves and the underground. This is exhibited right off the top in the album’s bombastic opener ‘The Edge.’ The song boasts quite the similarity to works from the likes of both The Who and The Steve Miller Band among others stylistically speaking. Whether or not that was intentional is known only by Bachman himself. Regardless, the combination of those influences in this song serve to make it the perfect choice for Heavy Blues’ opener and a great addition to the album overall. That bombastic style is an equally fitting match for the song’s lyrical side. Lyrically speaking, the song presents a figure that is looking at the world with eyes wide open and a bright spirit. He is someone that is ready to break out and explore the big, wide world with so much gusto. He sings to his mother, “Goodbye mama/I ain’t comin’ home/There’s a big world out there/I’m goin’ it alone/Leave behind the knockers/I just gotta chase the dream/I wanna be somebody and I gotta be free.” He goes on to sing in the song’s closing verse, “I might be wrong/But I’ll take that chance/Falling down and getting up/Is part of the dance/Wanderin’ in circles/Trying to find a place to be/I wanna be somebody and I gotta be free.” Whether male or female, such mindset and energy is something to which even today’s youths can relate. The song’s ability to reach across the generations with such lyrics and musical power makes it a great opener for Heavy Blues and just one of many examples of why every rock purist should have Heavy Blues in their music library.

‘The Edge’ is a great start for Randy Bachman’s new album. It is a song that stretches across generations both with its music and its equally positive and explosive lyrics. It isn’t the only positive boasted by Heavy Blues, either. The hybrid blues/gospel-infused ‘Oh My Lord’ is another great example of what makes this record such a standout opus. Fellow veteran musician Robert Randolph (Robert Randolph and the Family Band) joins Bachman on this song to make for a piece that is one of the highest of the album’s highs. While Randolph provides no vocals for the song, his added talents on the steel pedal add quite a bit of spice to the song. Lyrically, it offers just as much depth for listeners. It notes that for all the bad times in life, a person has to endure and push through, no matter what. As Bachman sings, “Young and restless, outta control/You gotta let the bad times roll/Be careful what you wish for, diamonds or gold/You gotta let the bad times roll/Life is just a gamble, you gotta take control/You gotta face the storm and let the four winds blow/When you roll the dice, it’s all about the throw/You gotta let the bad times roll.” Bachman comes across as saying that people have to take the bad with the good and just face it all rather than try to run and hide from it. Hiding from the bad times only makes things worse. Facing the bad times is tough, but it makes a person stronger for having done it. As with ‘The Edge,’ these are lyrics that cross generations. They are words that are just as relevant to today’s youths as to those that were youths when Bachman was himself younger. Once more, that combination of infectious blues and gospel-infused music coupled with equally substantive lyrics shows why Heavy Blues is such an enjoyable record for rock purists of every age and why it in whole proves to be potentially one of this year’s best new rock records.

Both ‘The Edge’ and Oh My Lord’ serve in their own way as prime examples of why every rock purist should hear Heavy Blues if not have it in his or her own music library. Both songs present wholly different sounds yet sounds that will impress rock fans of all ages. The lyrical content of each song makes each one even more enjoyable and impactful. While both songs provide a certain amount of substance to the album in whole, they certainly are not all that make Heavy Blues so impressive. The album’s closer ‘We Need To Talk’ stands out completely from the rest of the album’s compositions. Yet it shows in its own way one more way that this album shines. Given it probably should not have served as the album’s closer considering the energy exuded by the rest of the album’s songs. But stylistically and lyrically speaking, it is a powerful and moving song in its own right. The song’s musical side presents a figure going through the sadness and uncertainty that comes with an impending breakup. The gentility in Bachman’s voice coupled with the song’s reserved sound set against its 3/4 time signature makes it a song that will tug at listeners’ heart strings like no other. The song’s lyrical side will tug at listeners’ emotions just as powerfully as Bachman sings, “I braced myself for the worst/Whenever you hear those words/Something don’t fit/Something went wrong/Something don’t work and something’s all gone/That’s just the way it is, we need to talk, she said.” Just as with ‘The Edge’ and ‘Oh My Lord,’ the lyrical content presented here is content that transcends generations. Bachman paints a vivid picture of a young woman trying not to hurt a man as she tells him that their relationship has come to its end. There are thousands of songs about breakups that have been crafted by acts across music’s many genres throughout the modern history of music. But few tell the actual story of the breakup. And just as few tell the story of that moment with such clarity and emotion. Because of that, ‘We Need To Talk’ proves itself to be one more of the most important moments of Heavy Blues even as much as it stands out from the rest of the album’s songs. It isn’t heavy in the traditional sense. But its combination of moving lyrics and music make it a heavy song in its own right. And it makes it one more great examples of what makes Heavy Blues such an important addition to any rock purist’s music collection regardless of said listeners’ age. Together with the likes of ‘The Edge’ and ‘Oh My Lord,’ the combination of all three songs( and those not noted here) shows exactly why this record could potentially be one of the year’s best new rock records.

Randy Bachman has proven time and again throughout his career why he remains one of the most respected figures in the rock community decades after he first rose to fame. And as the songs noted here show, he has proven yet again exactly why he is held on one of those pedestals of rock’s greatest icons. The songs not noted here prove that just as much, not to ignore them, either. The combination of those songs with the compositions noted here show Heavy Blues as an example of how rock can be heavy without being heavy metal. It shows why this record is one that every rock purist should have in his or her music library. And it shows why it is potentially one of the best new rock records of the year. Randy Bachman will tour in support of Heavy Blues beginning April 1st in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The tour includes a stint on the 2016 installment of the Rock Legends Cruise. His current tour schedule is available online now along with all of his latest news at:

Website: http://randybachman.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Randy-Bachman/186355994906457

Twitter: http://twitter.com/randysvinyltap

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.

Shout! Factory Kids’ New Littlest Pet Shop DVD Is Another Big Hit For Little Ladies

Posted on March 31, 2015 by philspicks

Courtesy: Shout! Factory Kids/Hasbro Studios/Discovery Family

Discovery Family’s hit animated series Littlest Pet Shop has proven to be one of the network’s top rated shows ever since it made its U.S. debut three years ago in 2012. Thanks to that popularity, the series has gone on to generate seven DVDs containing a handful of episodes from the series. Each of those compilations have themselves garnered their own positive results both in terms of reaction from audiences and in terms of sales. That success has continued this year as Shout! Factory Kids released the eighth compilation of episodes from the series earlier this month. Littlest Pet Shop: Pet Shop Pals was released in stores and online on Tuesday, March 17th. The newly released DVD is *ahem* more wild fun for the whole family. The most obvious reason for this continued enjoyment is the work of the show’s writers. The episodes collected for this latest compilation each exhibit their own solid writing that is sure to entertain any of the show’s target viewers. This is regardless of whether or not said viewers have seen the chosen episodes. This ties in directly to the second of the positives of the episodes. That second positive is the run time of each episode. Each episode runs roughly twenty-two minutes. Considering the average age of the show’s target audience that run time is just long enough to keep those viewers engaged. Add in the solid writing of each episode and this collection shows even more why any of the show’s key viewers will enjoy it. Last of note in regards to this latest compilation is the inclusion of a bonus sing-along. The sing-along is connected to the included episode “Lotsa Luck.” It runs just over the ninety-second mark. But it will entertain the show’s young viewers just as much as the episodes themselves thus rounding out this collection. The sing-along by itself will in fact achieve its goal of having young viewers singing and dancing along. Together with the episodes’ solid writing and their run times, Littlest Pet Shop: Pet Shop Pals proves in whole to be yet another welcome addition to any family’s home DVD library.

Littlest Pet Shop: Pet Shop Pals is not the first collection of episodes from Discovery Family’s (formerly Hub) hit animated series to be released since the series’ debut back in 2012. It is in fact the series’ eighth compilation to be released to date. That aside, it is still another welcome addition to any family’s home DVD library regardless of how many of the previous collections families already own. One reason for this is the work of the series’ writers within each of the DVD’s five episodes. One example of the writers’ talents in this collection is the story presented in “Helicopter Dad.” It sees Blythe starting to break away from her dad. This results in her dad trying too hard to connect with her. The way that the writers present this change in the father/daughter dynamic is actually relatively realistic. It could apply just as much if it were a father/son relationship. Of course there are some moments that are a little bit over the top. But those moments help to keep the story lighthearted and in turn entertaining. “Lotsa Luck” is just as entertaining but for a completely different reason. The writers behind this episode present a story with two wholly different story lines. One story sees Blythe discover that Miss Anna T. has a long-held secret talent. The other sees Pepper the skunk trying to impress a famous comedic orangutan that she has looked up to for a long time. While they are two different stories, both have the same underlying plot. Because of that, the writers were able to easily connect them for one whole that is in turn simple to follow and thus fully entertaining. On another note, the subtle joke in Miss Anna T.’s flashback about the moon landing will have older audiences laughing in their own right. It’s just one pop culture reference that audiences will appreciate in these episodes, too. There is a blatant spoof of Mel Gibson’s 1995 drama Braveheart in the disc’s opener “Books and Covers.” This will have older audiences laughing just as much as the moon landing reference. Whether for these writing elements or for those not noted here, audiences will find plenty of ways that the writing in these episodes make them so enjoyable. In turn, audiences will agree that those many elements go a long way toward making Littlest Pet Shop: Pet Shop Pals such a welcome addition to any family’s home DVD library.

The writing that went into each of the episodes included in Littlest Pet Shop: Pet Shop Pals is in its own right quite important to the overall enjoyment of the DVD. It’s not all that makes these episodes work so well, either. The run time of each episode is equally important to the presentation in whole. Each episode presented here runs roughly twenty-two minutes. At five episodes, that equals to roughly 110 minutes. Considering that this series is aimed at audiences about 5 years old to perhaps 6 or 7 years old, that run time is just long enough to keep those intended audiences engaged without losing them along the way. This is just as much the case without commercials segmenting the episodes as with them. The solid writing of each episode coupled with that run time makes for even more reason to applaud these episodes. It is another tradition continued from the series’ previous DVD sets that audiences of all ages will applaud. Because it is a standard carried over from those previously released DVDs, it shows that continued dedication to entertaining audiences as best as possible. In the grand scheme of things it makes Littlest Pet Shop: Pet Shop Pals that much more worth the addition to any family’s home DVD library regardless of how many of the previously released DVDs families already own.

The writing behind each episode of Littlest Pet Shop included in this disc is just as important to the overall enjoyment of the presentation in whole as the run time. The two elements together make this latest collection of episodes well worth the purchase by any family with young ladies in the household. While both noted elements are of the utmost importance in the enjoyment of Littlest Pet Shop: Pet Shop Pals, one would be remiss to ignore the bonus sing-a-long included with the package. The bonus sing-a-long is part of the episode “Lotsa Luck.” It is actually part of the episode itself. The people at Shout! Factory Kids have simply taken it and lifted it from the episode to make it its own stand-alone entity of sorts. This allows the show’s young audiences to enjoy the song, singing and dancing along, without having to fast forward to it every time they want to do so. It’s one more way that Shout! Factory Kids has made this DVD more enjoyable for audiences. And together with the solidly written stories and smart run times, the package in whole proves without a doubt a great addition to any family’s home DVD library regardles of whether or not they already own any previously released Littlest Pet Shop DVDs.

Shout! Factory Kids’ newly released Littlest Pet Shop compilation DVD is another welcome addition to the home DVD library of any family with young ladies in the household. The episodes included on this disc each exhibit writing that is just as strong as in the series’ previously released compilation DVDs. Each episode’s twenty-minute plus run time works right in time (no pun intended) with the writing to keep audiences fully engaged and entertained. The bonus stand-alone sing-a-long rounds out the presentation, making it a fully enjoyable experience for audiences of all ages that is just as welcome in any family’s home DVD library as any of the series’ previously released compilation DVDs. Littlest Pet Shop: Pet Shop Pals is available now in stores and online. It can be ordered online direct from Shout! Factory’s online store a at https://www.shoutfactory.com/kids/kids-animation/littlest-pet-shop-pet-shop-pals. More information on this and other titles from Shout! Factory is available online at:

Website: http://www.shoutfactory.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/shoutfactoryofficial

Eagle Rock Entertainment Going Back To Ronnie Scott’s With Jeff Beck In June

Posted on March 30, 2015 by philspicks

Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment

Eagle Rock Entertainment will release another new archived performance from legendary guitarist Jeff Beck this summer.

Officials with Eagle Rock Entertainment announced today that the label will release Performing This Week…Live at Ronnnie Scott’s–Special Edition on Tuesday, June 2nd. The concert, originally recorded in 2007, comes on the heels of its 2009 release on DVD and Blu-ray, and the 2014 release of Live in Tokyo. It features some of Beck’s biggest hits including: ‘Beck’s Bolero,’ ‘Led Boots,’ ‘Scatterbrain,’ ‘Where Were You,’ ‘Angels (Footsteps),’ ‘Cause We Ended As Lovers,’ and what has become one of his most famous takes of ‘A Day in the Life’ among a number of others. Along wth the extensive set list, the appearance of guest musicians Imogen Heap, Eric Clapton, Joss Stone, and Big Town Playboys makes the show even greater. The Big Town Playboys make a special appearance for a 7-song set with Beck in the second of the recording’s two discs. The full track listing for the upcoming double-disc recording is noted below:

TRACK LISTING:

Disc One:

1) Beck’s Bolero

2) Eternity’s Breath

3) Stratus

4) Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers

5) Behind The Veil

6) You Never Know

7) Nadia

8) Blast From The East

9) Led Boots

10) Angels (Footsteps)

11) Scatterbrain

12) Medley: Goodbye Pork Pie Hat / Brush With The Blues

13) Space Boogie

14) Big Block

15) Day In The Life

16) Where Were You

Disc Two:

1) People Get Ready (w/ Joss Stone)

2) Blanket (w/ Imogen Heap)

3) Little Brown Bird (w/ Eric Clapton)

4) You Need Love (w/ Eric Clapton)

5) Rollin’ And Tumblin’ (w/ Imogen Heap)

Jeff Beck & The Big Town Playboys Set:

6) Race With The Devil

7) Crazy Legs

8) Train Kept A Rollin’

9) My Baby Left Me

10) Matchbox

11) Baby Blue

12) Honky Tonk

The Jeff Beck Band will hit the road next month ahead of the release of Performing This Week…Live at Ronnnie Scott’s–Special Edition beginning with a performance at The Capitol Theater in Port Chester, NY on Monday, April 13th. From there the band will hit ten other cities on its own tour before joining up with ZZ Top in Cedar Park, Texas on Thursday, April 30th. The bands’ joint tour includes a total of eight dates and winds down on Sunday, May 10th in Alpharetta, Georgia. The Jeff Beck Band’s full upcoming spring tour schedule is listed below:

Tour Dates:

The Jeff Beck Band:

April 13 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theater

April 15 – Huntington, NY – The Paramount

April 16 – Huntington, NY – The Paramount

April 17 – Huntington, NY – The Paramount

April 18 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theater

April 19 – Boston, MA – Orpheum Theatre

April 21 – Kingston, NY – Ulster Performing Arts Center

April 22 – Englewood, NJ – Bergen Performing Arts Center

April 24 – Red Bank, NJ – Count Basie Theatre

April 25 – York, PA – The Strand – Capital Performing Arts Center

April 26 – Greensburg, PA – The Palace Theatre

with ZZ Top:

April 30 – Cedar Park, TX – Cedar Park Center

May 1 – Thackerville, OK – Winstar Casino

May 2 – The Woodlands, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

May 3 – Corpus Christi, TX – Concrete Street

May 7 – Tampa, FL – MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheater

May 8 – West Palm Beach, FL – Cruzan Amphitheater

May 9 – St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre

May 10 – Alpharetta, GA – Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre

Performing This Week…Live at Ronnnie Scott’s–Special Edition will be released on Tuesday, June 2nd via Eagle Rock Entertainment. It will retail for MSRP of $17.98. A special three-LP is expected to follow soon after the concert’s double-disc CD release. More information on this and other titles from Eagle Rock Entertainment is available online at:

Website: http://www.eagle-rock.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EagleRockEnt

Twitter: http://twitter.com/EagleRockNews

Paramount Comes Up Short With Its New Peanuts Re-Issue

Posted on March 30, 2015 by philspicks

Courtesy: Paramount

This past February, Paramount released to DVD for the first time the 1977 Peanuts “movie” Race For You Life, Charlie Brown. Its recent release marks the first time ever that it has seen the light of day on DVD. It wasn’t even included on either of the Peanuts 1970s Collections released by Warner Home Video in 2009 and 2010 respectively. As long as audiences have waited for this movie to finally be released, its release back in February of this year proved to be anything but outstanding. Interestingly enough, WHV didn’t handle Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown. It was actually handled solely by Paramount, one of Hollywood’s Big 5 Studios. Considering this one would have thought that Paramount would have taken more pride in its product than WHV. Alas, that wasn’t the case with this release. It is a bare bones presentation lacking any bonus material for audiences. That will be discussed later. The movie itself presents an enjoyable story. And the overall presentation looks and sounds great. But that glaring lack of ANY bonus material hurts the overall product in a big way. The end result is a DVD that any Peanuts fans will welcome in their home library, but will do so very begrudgingly. It proves to be a DVD that Paramount should have handled far better than it did especially after making audiences wait nearly four decades for it to receive a DVD release albeit a DVD release that could have been far better.

Audiences have waited nearly forty-years for Paramount’s recent release of Race For You Life, Charlie Brown on DVD. Considering the wait, it goes without saying that the wait was not entirely worth it, going through this DVD. That will be discussed shortly. It isn’t all bad, though. The movie itself presents a fun story that takes both the Peanuts gang and audiences out of the typical world created by the Peanuts TV specials. Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz’s story takes Charlie Brown and company out of the comfort of their own neighborhood and puts them into the wilderness racing for not just camp pride but in fact for their own lives. Because it is such a foreign setting for the Peanuts gang, it also forces Charlie Brown and the rest of the Peanuts gang to band together in order to survive. As ominous as it sounds, it is all entirely family friendly. Even more interesting to note is that the adventure forces Charlie Brown to show a side that was otherwise very rarely put on display in any of the Peanuts special before or after. Schultz even allowed Charlie Brown to end up on top for once. While there were some instances in which he came out on top in other Peanuts specials, those moments are rare. This being one of those rare instances, it makes the story all the more special. And together with the rest of the story, it makes the whole of the script behind Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown the key element that makes this DVD worth the purchase by any Peanuts fan.

Charlies Schulz’s script for Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown is one of the key elements that makes this movie worth the purchase by any Peanuts fan. It is not the only reason that audiences will enjoy it, either in its new DVD release. The movie’s overall look and sound is just as worth noting. And it will be discussed shortly. For now the focus will turn to the movie’s one glaring negative.That negative is the fac that the movie’s presentation is a bare bones presentation. There is no bonus TV special. There is no feature offering any background on what led to the story’s creation or any other bonuses. All audiences get aside from the movie is the movie’s original trailer. Had this piece been released like this from say Warner Home Video, that would have been expected. That’s because of WHV’s track record in recent years with both releases for families and grown-ups alike. But having been released by Paramount, one of “Hollywood’s Power 5 Studios,”it comes as something as a disappointing surprise. The movie comes in at a little more than an hour. So that had to have left some room for some extras. For whatever reason though, someone at Paramount decided not to include anything extra with the movie other than its trailer. One can only hope that when and if Paramount releases another Peanuts movie or TV special on stand-alone Peanuts movie and/or feature it will include at least a little more than what this one has offered audiences.

The fact that Paramount has offered audiences very little other than the original trailer for Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown as a bonus to the presentation is somewhat disheartening. It is disheartening considering the fact that every previously released Peanuts feature has included at the very least a bonus TV special and a little bonus featurette offering insight into the given presentations. As much as the overall lack of any bonus material hurts Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown’s overall presentation, at least audiences can look to the overall look and sound of the movie in its first-ever DVD presentation. It is presented in full 16:9 format instead of the standard 4:3 with the black bars on either side. What’s more it looks and sounds just as good as it did in its debut roughly thirty-eight years ago. This is something especially important to note. It is important to note because in comparison to some re-issues out there, said re-issues show that very little effort was taken to properly restore them. They look scratchy and sound just as bad. But as in the case with every previously released Peanuts feature, this one looks and sounds just as great as it did in its debut. Nothing was lost along the way in terms of updating the soundtrack and footage. That continued dedication to properly presenting Charles Schulz’s beloved Peanuts features coupled with the “movie’s” original script makes Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown well worth the purchase even despite its glaring lack of any extras. This being noted, Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown may not be the year’s best new DVD for children and families. But it is at least one of the year’s best.

Looking at Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown in whole, it offers audiences its own share of positives. Its script presents a wholly original story in comparison to the other features that make up the Peanuts universe. It also looks and sounds just as good as in its original debut some thirty-eight years ago. That is thanks to the efforts of those charged with resurrecting the movie. For all of its positives, it suffers just as greatly from its overall lack of extras. The only extra–if one wants to call it an extra–that the DVD boasts is the movie’s original trailer. That’s all. There is no bonus TV special. There is no extra feature offering any insight on the movie’s creation, etc. Because of this, major points are taken away. As troublesome as that lack of extras proves itself to be to the overall presentation of Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown, it still doesn’t hurt it enough to keep it from being added to any family’s home movie collection. It is available now in stores and online. All of the latest information on this movie and all of the latest Peanuts news is available online now at:

Website: http://www.peanuts.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/snoopy

Twitter: http://twitter.com/snoopy

Lamb of God’s Chris Adler Tapped For Megadeth’s New Album

Posted on March 30, 2015 by philspicks

Courtesy: Adrenaline PR

The rumors have finally been confirmed and one piece of the puzzle is now in place for Megadeth’s album.

Lamb of God drummer Chris Adler has officially confirmed as the drummer for Megadeth’s next album. The confirmation comes after rumors swirled around whether or not Adler would take the place of recently departed drummer Shawn Drover. This is not the first time that Adler has been the center of some major rumors. His name was recently thrown into the mix after former Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison was replaced by a then-unnamed drummer. It was widely speculated that Adler was the man responsible for the drums on Slipknot’s new album .5 The Gray Chapter. But it was later revealed that drummer Max Weinberg’s son Jay Weinberg had taken over drumming duties for the band.

Megadeth front man and founder Dave Mustaine released a statement in regards to the announcement noting his outlook for the new album with Adler on board even in a studio-only position saying, “Chris is a tremendous talent, and an amazing person. He is going to bring a new level of excitement and energy to MEGADETH that the fans are going to lose their minds over.” He also noted his respect for Megadeth’s former drummers in the grand scheme of things saying, “I have nothing but respect for my previous drummers, but this is going to absolutely KILL! Along with these sentiments, Mustaine also gave a big thanks to Adler’s band mates in Lamb of God for allowing Adler to lend his talents to Megedeth’s new album noting, “I want to thank the other members of Lamb Of God for allowing this opportunity to take place for all of us in the metal community.”

Mustaine’s band mate, bassist David Ellefson, added his own thoughts on the announcement of Adler helping the band record its next new album saying, “Chris has been an endearing friend to us in MEGADETH for many years now, and he truly appreciates our music and its legacy. His drumming has forged such an innovative and ferocious path for metal music and I’m very proud that he is anchoring our rhythm section with us on this new album. I can clearly see a new dawn of ‘utmost heaviness’ unfolding in MEGADETH’s next chapter.”

In speaking with the media about the announcement, Adler explained Megadeth’s influence on his own decision to follow a path in the music industry. “MEGADETH was the game changer for me. Growing up, there was no other band that meant as much to my musical interest and direction,” he said. “There is no doubt I would not be doing what I have been doing for the past three decades had I not stumbled across ‘Killing Is My Business’ and the bible of all metal, ‘Peace Sells’ in my formative years.” He went on to explain how a tour between Lamb of God and Megadeth roughly a decade ago is what initially might have gotten the wheels rolling on this partnership. “About 10 years ago, LAMB OF GOD toured with MEGADETH and I was able to share that story with Dave and David, and we have kept in touch ever since,” he said. “When Dave called me a while ago and asked if I was interested in making a thrash metal album with him, I felt like I must’ve been on a hidden camera show. “I was trying to play it cool, but I was speechless other than YES! Once I called my wife and my band guys to let everyone know, I had some time to really think about it and how I can best fit into this situation. I’m coming into this on fire. There is an incredible amount of respect, but the goal here is to make the very best thrash album we can. Together, I believe we can do something very special! Get ready for a very exciting chapter in the MEGADETH legacy.”

For all of the optimism and openness in these statements, there was also a slightly cryptic comment in regards to departed Megadeth guitarist Chris Broderick from Mustaine. Mustaine noted subtly in his comments that “Back in 1989, MEGADETH originally worked as a three piece – guitar, bass and drums – when we laid down the framework to our GRAMMY® nominated platinum album Rust In Peace.” Whether or not this was meant to leave some discussion, it leaves a question mark as to whether or not there are plans to replace Broderick or keep Megadeth a three-piece. When and if an update on this happens, it will be announced online along with other Megadeth news at:

Website: http://www.megadeth.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Megadeth

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Megadeth

PBS Announces Release Date, Specs For Grantchester Home Release

Posted on March 28, 2015 by philspicks

Courtesy: PBS

PBS’ hit series Masterpiece brings to audiences another gripping murder mystery this spring when it releases Grantchester on DVD and Blu-ray.

Grantchester will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on Tuesday, April 7th. The story is based on author James Runcie’s novel Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death. It picks up just after the end of World War II. Elizabeth II had just become queen. And Grantchester’s local priest was one of the town’s most respected figures. A lawyer in nearby Cambridge is found dead. A suicide note, a gun, and alcohol point directly to an open and shut case. But confessions to local priest Sidney Chambers reveals much more than Inspector Geordie Keating had thought. The confessions lead the pair to team up solve what turns out to be a murder. Audiences can check out a trailer for Grantchester online now via YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3tzFp5CeAU.

Grantchester stars James Norton (Rush, Death Comes to Pemberly, Mr. Turner) as Sidney Chambers. He is joined by Robson Green (Being Human, Mount Pleasant, Strike Back) as Inspector Geordie Keating. Also on board for this mystery are: Morven Christie (The Young Victoria, Death in Paradise, Sirens) as Amanda Kendall, Tessa Peake-Jones (Only Fools and Horses, Casualty, Doctors) as Mrs. Maguire, Al Weaver (Sherlock, Me and Orson Welles, Doom) as Leonard Finch, and Pheline Roggan (Soul Kitchen, Chiko, Kebab Connection) as the widow of lawyer Stephen Staunton, the series’ first victim.

Grantchester will be available Tuesday, April 7th on DVD and Blu-ray. The series is spread across six episodes for a total run time of 360 minutes. It is spread across two discs on both its DVD and Blu-ray release. The DVD set will retail for MSRP of $34.99 and the Blu-ray set for $39.99. Both can be ordered online along with a DVD/Book combo and Blu-ray book combo via PBS’ online store at http://www.shoppbs.org/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=grantchester&origkw=grantchester&sr=1.

More information on this and other titles from PBS is available online at:

Website: http://www.pbs.org

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pbs

PBS Bringing British Murder Mystery To American Audiences This Spring

Posted on March 28, 2015 by philspicks

Courtesy: PBS Distribution/PBS/Starz/BBC/BBC Two

This spring, PBS distribution will release a gripping new miniseries for all the mystery lovers out there.

Dancing on the Edge will be release on DVD an Blu-ray on Tuesday, May 5th. The story focuses on a group of black jazz musicians living and performing in London in the 1930s. The group, known as The Louis Lester Band is becoming increasingly popular all around London, even being asked to perform for the royal family. Along the way, American businessman Walter Masterson and his employee Julian catch the group and become very interested in it. It seems that everything is coming up roses for The Louis Lester Band. But then tragedy strikes. A series of challenges follows that threatens to end the group’s rise to stardom. The story was written by famed writer and director Stephen Poliakoff (The Lost Prince). It stars Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave, American Gangster, Children of Men), John Goodman (Monsters, Inc., Monsters U, Argo) Matthew Goode (The Imitation Game, Watchmen, The Good Wife), Jacqueline Bisset (Bullitt, Murder on the Orient Express, The Deep), Tom Hughes (Page Eight, About Time, Cemetery Junction), Angel Coulby (Merlin, Imagine Me and You, Magicians), Wummi Mosaku (Philomena, Citadel, I Am Slave) and many others.

The mini-series’ six episodes bring its total run-time to roughly seven hours. Those episodes are spread across three discs both in its DVD and Blu-ray presentation. Audiences can check out a trailer for the mini-series online now via YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcqnCz5chXs. The DVD set will retail for MSRP of $34.99 and the Blu-ray for $39.99.
The Blu-ray can be ordered online at: http://www.shoppbs.org/product/index.jsp?productId=58647396&cp=&sr=1&kw=dancing+on+the+edge&origkw=dancing+on+the+edge&parentPage=search#AdditionalInfo.

The DVD can be ordered online at: http://www.shoppbs.org/product/index.jsp?productId=58647376&cp=&sr=1&kw=dancing+on+the+edge&origkw=dancing+on+the+edge&parentPage=search.

More information on this and other titles from PBS is available online at:

Website: http://www.pbs.org

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pbs

Otherwise Announces Spring Tour Schedule With Nonpoint, Scare Don’t Fear

Posted on March 27, 2015 by philspicks

Courtesy: Street Smart Marketing

Fans of the Las Vegas-based hard rock band Otherwise are going to get more chances to see the band live this spring.

The members of Otherwise announed this week that the band will continue its current tour into the spring. The band will join Scare Don’t Fear as a support act for veteran rock bad Nonpoint on its current tour. The new slate of tour dates are in support of Otherwise’s latest full-length studio effort Peace at All Costs (Century Media). Front man Adrian Patrick spoke on behalf of the band noting that it Nonpoint was one of the first bands to offer support to Otherwise, so it’s just fair to repay the favor. He expanded explaining that Nonpoint’s willingness to take chances and set itself apart from all of the mainstream acts out there, which is another reason that the members of Otherwise have always admired Nonpoint. “The Wise Guys are excited to go out on the road with Nonpoint for this new tour,” he said. “They were one of the first bands to support us and they’ve continued to find success for as long as they have by doing something unique in this Active Rock genre which we strive to set ourselves apart in as well. Add in the fact that they’re cool cats and we can’t wait to hang out!”

‘Coming for the Throne,’ the latest single from Peace at all Costs, is currently making waves at radio stations across the country. As Patrick explains, the song is self-explanatory. “Our latest single has been at radio for a few weeks now and has been doing very well; getting picked up by stations all over the country,” he said. “The message of the song is crystal clear: we are here to take the crown… the world needs to know that. And now with my son here in this life, it holds a deeper meaning in what I want to share with him. I want him to always believe in himself, just as my parents taught my brother & I to do.” The video for ‘Coming for the Throne’ can be viewed online now via YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eu6MfEMVtdo&feature=youtu.be.

The dates for Otherwise’s dates with Scare Don’t Fear and Nonpoint are listed below:

OTHERWISE Dates on Nonpoint Tour

4/20: Fat Cat’s Music Lounge – Modesto, CA *

4/28: Hard Times – Hagerstown, MD

4/29: Schmitt’s Saloon – Morgantown, WV

5/1: Altar Bar – Pittsburgh, PA

5/3: Hard Times – Fredericksburg, VA

5/6: Rockpile West – Toronto, ON

5/7: Lost Horizon – Syracuse, NY

5.8: Jewel Nightclub – Manchester, NH

5/12: Bullshooters – Philadelphia, PA

5/13: The Broadberry – Richmond, VA

5/16: Music Factory – Battle Creek

5/18: Green Bay Distillery – Ashwaubenon, WI

5/19: Q & Z Expo Center – Ringle, WI

5/20: Spicoli’s Grill – Waterloo, IA

5/30: Rock Fest – Kansas City #

* – w/We Are Harlot (no Nonpoint)

# – Radio Festival (no Nonpoint)

All of the latest updates on Otherwise’s tour schedule are available online along with all of the band’s latest news at:

Website: http://www.weareotherwise.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/otherwiseofficial

Twitter: http://twitter.com/weareotherwise

Hall And Oates Impress Again In Their First Time Together In Dublin

Posted on March 27, 2015 by philspicks

Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment

Next Tuesday, Eagle Rock Entertainment will release its latest live recording Daryl Hall & John Oates Live in Dublin. The concert, recorded live at Dublin’s Olympia Theatre on July 15th, 2014, is yet another example of why to this day Eagle Rock Entertainment remains the leader in live recordings. For a number of years, Eagle Rock Entertainment has released some of the best live recordings out there for audiences. From rock (Stone Temple Pilots, BTO, Slipknot) to rap (Cee Lo Green) to jazz (Stan Getz) and points in-between, Eagle Rock has spanned the musical globe bringing some of the biggest names and best quality concerts to audiences right in their own living rooms. Now early in 2015 it continues to hold its reputation strong with the upcoming release of Hall & Oates’ new live recording. Being the very first time that the duo had ever performed together live in Dublin, the concert instantly becomes something special for long-time fans of this hugely popular pop duo. While not necessarily what one might call a career-defining concert, the show’s set list covers a healthy range of the duo’s seventeen albums. It even pulls from the pair’s 1977 compilation record No Goodbyes. Keeping that in consideration, the set list chosen for this first-ever concert for Hall & Oates becomes the first key element of its success. The stage presence not only of Hall & Oates, but also of the pair’s backing band is just as important to the whole experience. Audiences will not be disappointed in that avenue, either. And last but hardly least worth noting of the recording is its production values (I.E. the audio and video mix). Considering what looks like a relatively small venue in the Olympia Theatre, the camera crew and audio operators must have faced quite the challenge in setting up the cameras and setting audio levels. Their efforts paid off in spades as the concert looks and sounds just as impressive as any previously released live recording from Eagle Rock Entertainment. By itself, the concert’s production values are what make the concert worth the experience. What’s the use of taking in a concert whose production values are muddy and rough? Exactly. That being the case, it shows why this show’s production values are as important as with any concert. Together with the show’s set list and the band’s stage presence, all three elements prove why Hall & Oates fans will enjoy this concert. It also shows once more why Eagle Rock Entertainment remains the leader in live recordings.

Eagle Rock Entertainment’s new Hall & Oates live recording is a piece that any of the duo’s long-time fans will appreciate. It also proves itself in the long run to be another example of why Eagle Rock Entertainment is the leader in live recordings. One key reason for this is the concert’s set list. While not necessarily what would be dubbed a career-defining set list, fans will be impressed with the mix of material chosen for the first-ever concert. The show’s set list goes all the way back to Hall & Oates’ sophomore album Abandoned Luncheonette (1973) and as recent as its 1984 album Big Bam Boom. pulling some of the duo’s biggest hits along the way. There is even one number included in the set that was released only on the duo’s 1977 compilation record No Goodbyes in the form of ‘It’s Uncanny’ and another taken from the 1983 compilation Rock ‘n Soul Part 1 in the form of ‘Say It Isn’t So.’ It all starts with a pair of the duo’s more recent hits in ‘Maneater’ and ‘Out of Touch,’taken from H2O and Big Bam Boom respectively. From there, H&O and company start going back in time beginning with that 1983 hit single ‘Say It Isn’t So.’ From there, the show’s set list hits on some of the biggest hits of Hall & Oates’ career including the likes of ‘Family Man,’ ‘Las Vegas Turnaround’ and perhaps the group’s biggest hit of all time, ‘You Make My Dreams’ among a number of others. The set list reaches fifteen songs, the last two of which are encores. The total run time (trt) comes in at just under the two-hour mark. And while it comes in at just under that mark, it doesn’t feel the least bit short. The concert keeps audiences engaged, singing and dancing along in their own living rooms from start to finish. And the reason for that is also the second reason that this concert will impress any long-time H&O fan, the band’s stage presence.

The set list chosen for Hall & Oates’ first-ever performance together in Dublin is itself reason enough for long-time fans to pick up this new live recording. As with any live performance, a set list is just that without a quality show on the part of the performer(s). In the case of Hall & Oates (and the duo’s backing band), the performance put on by the group makes the set list all the more enjoyable. One of the most memorable of moments that defines that stage presence is a very simple moment in which drummer Brian Dunne is introduced to the audience in attendance. He is apparently wearing a soccer jersey that the audience recognizes. As soon as he stands up in his introduction, the crowd starts chanting and Dunne smiles, pointing to his jersey. Who would have thought such a simple moment would be so memorable and powerful? Yet it helped the band make a connection with the crowd. On the musical side of things, the band in whole exudes such energy in its performance of ‘Family Man.’ While it holds the original song in the performance, the band has noticeably stepped up in this performance. And the funky vibes of ‘It’s Uncanny’ will take audiences back to another age as the band launches into this piece. The band’s live take of ‘It’s Uncanny’ is just as good as its original studio recording if not better than said composition. And the band’s performance of its biggest hit of all, ‘You Make My Dreams,’ is a solid performance in its own right. Interestingly enough, one would think the band’s performance of one of its biggest singles of all would be a big production. But the band opts instead for a performance that while not subdued per se is not the massive production that one would expect. Interestingly enough, because the band saves its energy for the last bars of the song, it makes this moment all the more special and memorable. Whether for that memorable moment or for the band’s performances of ‘Family Man,’ ‘It’s Uncanny’ or any of the moments not noted here, it can be said with ease that the stage presence of Daryl Hall, John Oates, and the duo’s fellow musicians throughout the concert presented here makes the set list and in turn the performance in whole all the more enjoyable for fans.

The set list and performance of said set list in Hall & Oates’ new live recording go hand in hand in making this yet another impressive recording from Eagle Rock Entertainment. Of course without quality production values none of that would matter. But being another Eagle Rock release, it goes without saying that the production values incorporated into this concert are of the highest quality. This is especially important to note considering the fact that the Olympia Theatre doesn’t exactly look like the largest venue out there. Being a seemingly quaint venue, it had to have presented quite the challenge for the show’s camera crew and those handling the show’s audio. The challenge for the camera crew would include placement of the cameras for the best angles and shots without risking damaging any equipment. In terms of the audio management, such a seemingly small venue means having to work even harder to handle every single little nuance of the concert’s sound. The smaller the venue, the easier it is for sound to bounce everywhere and in turn make the overall quality of the audio rather muddled. Luckily, everyone involved was obviously more than up to the challenges put before them. The end result is a concert that sounds just as good as it looks, making the concert in whole even more another proverbial feather in the cap of Eagle Rock Entertainment.

The production values incorporated into Daryl Hall & John Oates Live in Dublin by themselves make this recording well worth the watch by any Hall & Oates fan. If not for the high quality of the production values, neither the show’s set list nor the band’s performance of said set list would be worth anything. Luckily, the audio and video mix proves in the long run to be of the highest quality,which is of course the standard for Eagle Rock’s releases. And because of those high quality production values, the set list and the band’s performance manage to prove their importance to the presentation overall. All three elements taken into consideration, Daryl Hall & John Oates Live in Dublin shows exactly why in the end every Hall & Oates fan will enjoy this recording and why Eagle Rock Entertainment remains to this day the leader in live recordings. Daryl Hall & John Oates Live in Dublin will be available next Tuesday, March 31st in stores and online. Fans may even be able to purchase it at the duo’s upcoming live dates. Speaking of those dates, Hall & Oates’ latest tour dates and news are available online now at:

Website: http://www.hallandoates.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hallandoates

Twitter: http://twitter.com/halloates

More information on Daryl Hall & John Oates Live in Dublin and other titles from Eagle Rock Entertainment is available online at:

Website: http://www.eagle-rock.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EagleRockEnt

Twitter: http://twitter.com/EagleRockNews

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Monthly Archives: March 2015

Anchor Bay Entertainment Announces Home Release Date For The Walking Dead Season Five

Randy Bachman’s Latest LP Is A Whole Different And Enjoyable Kind Of Heavy

Shout! Factory Kids’ New Littlest Pet Shop DVD Is Another Big Hit For Little Ladies

Eagle Rock Entertainment Going Back To Ronnie Scott’s With Jeff Beck In June

Paramount Comes Up Short With Its New Peanuts Re-Issue

Lamb of God’s Chris Adler Tapped For Megadeth’s New Album

PBS Announces Release Date, Specs For Grantchester Home Release

PBS Bringing British Murder Mystery To American Audiences This Spring

Otherwise Announces Spring Tour Schedule With Nonpoint, Scare Don’t Fear

Hall And Oates Impress Again In Their First Time Together In Dublin