October 9th, 2020, would have been John Lennon’s 80th birthday. His too-brief solo career included several fine albums, but the one for which I believe he’ll be remembered was his second, Imagine. Imagine followed on the heels of John’s best … Continue reading Album Review: John Lennon—Imagine
SPOILER WARNING: I’m assuming in these reviews that readers have seen the show. Apparently Freaks and Geeks’ seventh episode was meant to serve as a “second pilot”, trying to catch the attention of people who might just be tuning in. … Continue reading Freaks and Geeks: S01E07 “Carded And Discarded”
Hello, poetry lovers! Well, it’s been over a year since I last posted this, so there goes my attempt to do it regularly. But I thought with all the time on our hands, I might resurrect it for today. What … Continue reading Poetry Corner
Some records are terrible from the first listen. Some take several hearings to assess. Very few are classics on the first time around. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is one of these. It’s a rock record which stands with the greats, such … Continue reading Album Review: Wilco—Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
SPOILER WARNING: I’m assuming in these reviews that readers have seen the show. This may be the hardest episode of F&G for me to watch, because I identify so strongly with Nick and his dream of being a drummer in … Continue reading Freaks And Geeks: S1E06 “I’m With The Band”
Because someone had to do it! Here’s a collection of threads about the winter solstice holidays (oh, all right, mostly Christmas) posted on the Avocado. I’m not including Day/Night Threads unless they’re specifically requested, at least for now. If anyone … Continue reading Holiday Threads On The Avocado
SPOILER WARNING: I’m assuming in these reviews that readers have seen the show. One of my favorite episodes, Tests And Breasts highlights two themes central to every high schooler’s existence: puberty and fear of examinations. That it manages to do … Continue reading Freaks And Geeks: S1E05 “Tests And Breasts”
For a review of the original album, see my post here: Album Spotlight: The Beatles—Abbey Road Abbey Road was the one Beatles album which needed no studio tinkering to improve its sound quality. It was the only album in their catalog … Continue reading Didn’t Anybody See?: Abbey Road Super Deluxe Edition Review
SPOILER WARNING: I’m assuming in these reviews that readers have seen the show. NBC initially refused to air this episode, saying it was too dark for the series. Watching it today, I completely understand this decision even if I don’t … Continue reading Freaks And Geeks: S01E04 “Kim Kelly Is My Friend”
Yoko Ono has always incited strong opinions. Put an album of hers on for friends, and most will turn white and flee the room before a minute has gone by. Many Beatles fans hate her with a gag reflex: she … Continue reading Album Spotlight: Yoko Ono—Plastic Ono Band
SPOILER WARNING: I’m assuming in these reviews that readers have seen the show. What makes Tricks And Treats such a great installment of Freaks And Geeks is not just the setting, which works because Halloween is such an iconic American … Continue reading Freaks And Geeks: S1E03 “Tricks And Treats”
If you’re related to a famous performer and have aspirations of your own, it must be extremely difficult. If you’re related to one of the most famous performers in the world–if you’re Paul McCartney’s younger brother, for instance–it must be … Continue reading Album Spotlight: Mike McGear—*McGear
SPOILER WARNING: I’m assuming in these reviews that readers have seen the show. If the pilot of Freaks And Geeks introduced us to a cast of characters who were realistic and ripe for potentially funny and dramatic situations, Beers And … Continue reading Freaks And Geeks: S1E02 “Beers And Weirs”
Hey, Avocadians! I would love your input on a story I just wrote. It’s a bit unusual in its form. Let me explain. My friend on the writing site I frequent is running a contest, and it’s all about using … Continue reading Ghost In The Machine: Avocado-Inspired Fiction
Freaks And Geeks, a comedy-drama about high school in 1980, premiered September 25th, 1999, on the NBC network, lasting a mere 12 episodes before being cancelled. An ardent fan campaign persuaded NBC to air three more episodes in July 2000, … Continue reading Freaks And Geeks: S01E01 “Pilot”
Of all of George Harrison’s solo albums, I think this eponymous one from 1979 is perhaps his best. His first solo record, All Things Must Pass, is broader in scope but is encumbered by Phil Spector’s everything-and-the-kitchen-sink production and a … Continue reading Album Spotlight: George Harrison—George Harrison
WEELLLLLLLLLLLL… You ever notice how many songs in the Fifties started with “Welllllllllll…”? There was bound to have been another word, but that’s the cleanest one we could use.—Carl Perkins ELVIS IS EVERYWHERE! ELVIS IS EVERYTHING! ELVIS IS EVERYBODY! ELVIS … Continue reading The Elvis Is Everywhere Day Thread
The Rutles. A legend that will last a lunchtime. An inspired parody of The Beatles, The Rutles, quite apart from their music and comedy, were notable for three reasons. They were the first “mockumentary”, several years before This Is Spinal … Continue reading The Rutles: Movie Review—All You Need Is Cash
The concert film Stop Making Sense with live performances by the Talking Heads, directed by the late Jonathan Demme, is the best rock concert film EVER, and it’s now showing on Amazon Prime. It’s even better than The Kids Are … Continue reading The 3/24 Day Thread Stops Making Sense
40 years ago today, Hair, one of acclaimed director Milos Forman’s most underrated films, was released. Forman (1932-2018) was born in Czechoslovakia, began his film career there, emigrated to New York in 1968 and is best-known for The Fireman’s Ball, One … Continue reading The Hair Day Thread
Hello, comrade poets and poetry lovers! Sam Barber/comicalArchitect came up with this thread originally, last year. If you’re out there, Sam, I’m not trying to steal your idea. But I thought I’d resurrect your idea of a spot where we … Continue reading Poetry Corner
