Norman's Rockwell

Quick heads-up: My video for A Talent For Loving has been added to the rotation of the videos playing on the Astrovision on Universal CityWalk. It was very exciting to get a call from a friend who was at the food court last night. When was the last time that happened?

Sad news today from Hollywoodland . Paul Newman passed away. He was born in Cleveland, like myself and was the first celebrity that I understood was from my hometown. Newman's Sporting Goods was still open when I was very little. He attended the same high school as my mother (albeit a generation or 2 ahead) and I always thought that was a big deal. My favorite movie of his is Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid . In fact, I'd reckon it's one of the 20 best films of all time. How cool was Butch? Way cool. I'm not well versed in Newman's classic films (pre-1968), but I'd like to give a shout to his performances in Hudsucker Proxy , Road To Perdition and especially the greatest movie ever about hockey, Slap Shot . Can I get a witness? But go back to Butch Cassidy and he and Redford make the prototypical action-movie buddy team, complete with witty banter and sterling chemistry. I can remember the earliest occasions of seeing Newman's Own salad dressing at t...

Hey y'all. I had a double dose of super-quality entertainment this week. On Monday night, I went to see Cirque Du Soleil's LOVE , featuring the music of the Beatles. It was spectacular. I had the soundtrack, but it was simply listening to remixes without the mind-bending visuals that the Cirque's performers provide. The whole event was a highlight, from the instrumentals played as an overture with which my friend Mikey and I sang along. Within the show, though, I thought they hit their stride with the pieces that accompanied Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite/I Want You (She's So Heavy), Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds and Come Together . I don't think it's a coincidence that those are some of John's most visually stimulating compositions. Mr. Kite/I Want You featured the most terrifying, gravity defying high stage trick I've ever seen and samples of Helter Skelter's vocals. Lucy featured some awesome aerial ballet to go along with a bit of sensory d...

My fellow Americans, I've been around the world and I've met wonderful people everywhere. I've seen amazing and eye-popping sights. Experienced an array of cultures. Tasted exotic foods and sampled delicious delicacies. But, I'm still proud to be an American. I present exhibit A: Peace and Fife and Drums p.s. Happy Birthday, Dad!

Here it is a snippet of Jack White's kick-butt theme song for Quantum of Solace . It appeared yesterday in the new ad for Coke Zero. That mean guitar and the horns mesh nicely. This may make two Bonds and two theme songs in a row worthy of the title. I can't wait. Casino Royale was brilliant, as was Chris Cornell's You Know My Name . Peace & Disco Beats. Shaken, not stirred.

Artists are clearly tapping into tried and true styles from yesteryear. I raved about Fleet Foxes in my previous blog. Well, now I offer up a new exhibit: Nicole Atkins. If Mama Cass and Roy Orbison had a love child, she's it. Imagine that genetic combo backed by the Pretenders. The songs on her record Neptune City are all over the place, but she's got an operatic vocal quality that is as every bit mesmerizing as Amy Winehouse's blues snarl. Difference? Seems like Nicole's having fun with her noir-ish tunes. Plus it's nice to hear an American voice singing with gusto, not burpling like a vocodered teen queen (my own word, burpling). Check out Ms. Atkins on le video: Maybe Tonight Neptune City (original version) I expect her to make a decent run at Best New Artist (along with Fleet Foxes) at the Grammys. Hope her label makes the push. Her record came out last October, making it eligible for this year's awards. It's quickly joining my favorites of the past 1...

This is a two part blog. It contains today's thoughts and a blog I didn't finish from a week ago. Let's start with the present. I've been discovering lots of music the past few days. After discussing the track All Summer Long with my brother Nate, I picked up the new Kid Rock. I'm still wary of his raps (a little coarse for my taste, now), but his rock & roll moments are super. Then there's Jimmy Needham's Not Without Love . Jimmy is a Christian artist who reminds me of Elliot Yamin and Orson, for those who can dig that. I'm still listening to Bruce's Magic in heavy rotation, along with the recent Blind Boys of Alabama release. In "catalog," I found Elton John's Honky Chateau , featuring Honky Cat and Rocket Man . It is a really solid set of songs. As for the most amazing thing I've heard this week? I've discovered the joys of Fleet Foxes . Their self-titled debut is a pastoral, choral masterwork. It evokes memories an...