#24 of VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown: 'She Sells Sanctuary' by The Cult (1985)

Back with the Countdown! And At #24 of VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown the song is She Sells Sanctuary by 80's British rock band The Cult. The Cult formed out of Bradford, Yorkshire, England in 1983, and consisted of members Ian Astbury (vocalist) and Billy Duffy (guitar) amongst many others who came and went over the years, but those two are the primary members and incidentally also the song-writers. Ian Astbury was earlier a member of a band called Southern Death Cult in 1981 (named after a Native American site as well as centralization of power in Southern England. Then in 1983 he Billy Duffy joined up and the band was just called Death Cult, and then by 1984 they had changed the name to just The Cult in order to appeal to a broader audience. She Sells Sanctuary is truly a legendary and truly solid 80's rock song that most of you have at least heard, but may not know exactly who it is that performs the song (until now!). It was released in 1985, on their second studio album titled Love where it would then peak at #15 on the UK Singles chart. The album Love itself would reach #4 that year on the UK Albums chart. And there is #24, and we only have 23 left to go, and then what??

A Brief Movie Review for 'Cedar Rapids' (2011)

Movie = Cedar Rapids (2011)

Director = Miguel Arteta

Rating = 5/5 Stars *****

Great movie, funny and entertaining, and quite a cast as well! Tim Lippe (Ed Helms) is a small-town insurance agent sent to the annual Cedar Rapids Insurance convention by his boss, where he is supposed to do his best to win the coveted 2-Diamonds Insurance Award for his company after his predecessor dies in the bathtub. The conference for Lippe however turns into one wild ride as he and his new-found insurance buddies (Heche, Reilly, and Whitlock) let their hair down a little and attempt to break Lippe out of his small town shell, while at the same time shattering some of his illusions of the integrity of his own company and its practices. Definitely check this one out for a good laugh.

Today's Feature Song = 'Little By Little' by Radiohead (2011)

Today's feature song is Little By Little by British experimental rock Gods Radiohead.  Now Radiohead has been around just about forever, and we are all well aware of their work, but I had to post a song off their latest album titled King of Limbs, which was of course just released this month (February of 2011). Knowing Radiohead like we do, we also know that they never fail to disappoint, and this album, while a bit more mellow, is anything but disappointing. I had the luxury of actually seeing them live in Vancouver B.C. upon the release of their Hail To The Thief album, and to this day it is still the highest quality concert (in every way) that I have been to, and I believe it has something to do with the band's quality of presence and performance, and of course the beautiful natural setting their at Thunderbird Stadium. If you haven't yet bought their new album, do it, you won't be sorry, it is available at their website for purchase and download HERE. Everything in its right place...

A Brief Movie Review for 'Mr and Mrs Smith' (1941 version)

Movie: Mr. and Mrs. Smith (1941)

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Rating: 2/5 Stars **

A somewhat funny movie, and entertaining to say the least. I don't however really find the whole 'cutesy lover's quarrels' to be all that funny or cute, although I can tell that they are supposed to be, I guess I just don't get the humor there. For context, this film was shot during the great depression and WWII so perhaps people were just looking for pure escapist flicks which is understandable. I know they made a new version with Pitt and Jolie where they just add guns and lots of punching and kicking, but I doubt its much better. Not your typical Hitchcock flick, but check it out if you like the whole lover's quarrels bit.

Today's Feature Song = 'Solitude Is Bliss' by Tame Impala (2010)

Solitude Is Bliss, by Aussie psychedelic rock band Tame Impala. Tame Impala is made up of Kevin Parker (lead guitar and vocals), Dominic Simper (bass guitar) and Jay Watson (drums and backing vocals), and they come out of Perth, WA. Their name refers to the impala, a medium sized antelope. They've won a few awards, and are reminiscent of a few bands like the Doors, the Grateful Dead, the Association, etc. I like their style anyway, so be sure to check them out for yourself. Solitude Is Bliss is a single, which was released in April of 2010, and incidentally reached #33 on Triple J's Hottest 100 Songs of 2010. If you like their style then seek out their website HERE, and as always stay tuned para más. Solitude Is Bliss

Today's Feature Song = 'The Key' by Ou Est Le Swimming Pool (2010)

Today's Feature Song is The Key by British synth-pop group Ou Est Le Swimming Pool. Ou Est Le Swimming Pool (which means 'where is the swimming pool' in French) originate out of Camden, London UK and consisted of members Charles Haddon (ex-lead singer, is now deceased), Joe Hutchinson, and Caan Capan. This song was the 5th single by the group, and it was released in October of 2010 along with the release of their debut album titled The Golden Year. The release of that album was delayed from its original release date when the lead vocalist Charles Haddon tragically committed suicide on August 20th, 2010  following a performance in Belgium, and so I will dedicate this post in honor of his memory as well as to honor his friends and family. R.I.P. and thank you for the wonderful music.

Fashionable Frangrances: A Review for 'Dior Homme Cologne for Men' (Eau De Toilette)

Fragrance/Cologne = Dior Homme for Men (Eau De Toilette Spray)

Designer/Brand = Christian Dior

Rating = 5/5 Stars ***** 

Dior Homme cologne (for men) is delightfully pungent (in a good way) and it lasts all night long. This fragrance is not for those of you who want to have just a hint of scent, but rather for those wishing to turn heads (and noses) when you walk by, as well as getting asked what it is you are wearing? I highly recommend this cologne for those who want everyone to know you've entered the room. Be sure to store the container properly as this bottle tends to leak if on its side and it seems to evaporate relatively quickly(more so than my other colognes) as well, so use it. Also note that there is a sport version of this fragrance. Head over to the Christian Dior website HERE for more information and to order.

Today's Feature Song = 'Undercover Martyn' by Two Door Cinema Club (2010)

Today's feature song is Undercover Martyn, by Irish indie-pop-rock band Two Door Cinema Club. Two Door Cinema Club are from Bangor and Donaghadee in Northern Ireland, and they orginally formed back in 2007. The band consists of members Alex Trimble (vocals, guitar, synth), Kevin Baird (bass guitar and vocals), and Sam Halliday (guitar and drums). Undercover Martyn is the 3rd single to come off of their Tourist History album, and it was released in February of 2010 by by the French music label Kitsuné Music and Co-operative Music. Apparently this song has also since been featured on the the Playstation 3 game Gran Turismo 5. There have also been a few remixes of this song to also check out, so head over to their MySpace page HERE for music and band info. Bleh!

Feature Song of the Day = 'Just Got Started' by 360 feat Pez (2010)

Today's feature song is brand-spanking-new hip-hop treat Just Got Started by Melbourne-Australia based hip-hop artists 360 feat. Pez. 360 (Matt Colwell) is a renowned battle-rapper/comedian from Melbourne who is frequently associated with Seth Sentry and Pez. Pez (Perry Chapman) is also a rapper from Melbourne who has released a few solo-albums with guest starring artists as well. Just Got Started is a single release featuring these two rappers, and it was released in December of 2010. For more info and music by 360 check out his MySpace page HERE.

A Brief Movie Review for 'Welcome To The Rileys' (2010)

Movie = Welcome To The Rileys (2010)

Rating = 4/5 Stars ****

Kind of a crazy story about believable characters, although I don't reckon that the story is all that believable, but who knows...Great acting jobs Stewart, Leo, and of course Gandolfini (quite refreshing to see Gandolfini play a non-mobster/hitman role, and without that Long-Island accent too!). A middle-aged couple who have lost a daughter years ago are still struggling to find purpose and meaning in their lives, as well as finally starting to process some of their pain and grief. Another element of this film is the focus on how in some lives unlikely people/souls come together to help each other along their paths (especially when stuck in a rut) and then they part again. I know that I have had these kinds of brief but life-changing relationships in my own life and my life changed-track as a result, so that definitely is an element of realism there. I recommend checking this one out if you get the chance.

ZEITGEIST: MOVING FORWARD (2011)

Feature Song of the Day = 'Down By The River' by Bliss N Eso (2010)

Today's feature song is Down By The River by Sydney-Australia-based hip-hop group Bliss N Eso. Bliss N Eso have been active on the Aussie hip-hop scene since the year 2000, and the trio consists of MC Bliss, MC Eso, and DJ Izm, and they can currently be found on the Illusive Sounds record label. Down By The River comes off of their 4th studio album which was released in July of 2010, and is titled Running On Air. You can check out their website HERE, or their MySpace page HERE for more info and music. Running on Air

Mentionable Mashup of the Week = 'Big Booty Bi*#$*hes In Miami (Explicit Version)' by DJ Schmolli

This weeks mentionable mashup is Big Booty Bi*#$* In Miami, by Mashup artist DJ Schmolli. This mashup involves 4 songs by 4 artists as follows:  Big Booty Bit#$**s by Bombs Away,  I'm In Miami Bi*#$! by LMFAO, I Love My Bi$%#* by Busta Rhymes, and of course we can't forget Baby Got Back by Sir Mix-A-Lot. Quite a good club mashup, and I might add brilliantly done. Do however ***Mind the Explicit Language Warning***. Also, check out more info and music by DJ Schmolli at his website HERE.

A Brief TV-Series Review for 'Around the World with Orson Welles' (1955)

TV series = Around The World With Orson Welles (1955)

Directed by and Starring = Orson Welles

4/5 Stars ****

An interesting British TV-series directed by, and starring the legendary Orson Welles, and maybe one of the first travel shows of its kind?? (anyone, anyone?) He visits and interviews interesting citizens in Paris, Basque-Spain, Britain, and Madrid in this series. Welles does a great job at making everyday interviews with the common people interesting and also humorous while at the same time teaching us a little about the character and culture of each region. If your looking for some entertainment involving travel in the 1950's then check this series out. Apparently some of them are up on youtube too?

Today's Feature Song = 'Way Back Home' by Bag Raiders (2010)

Today's feature song is Way Back Home by Sydney-based Australian house/electro duo Bag Raiders. Bag Raiders have been active out on the Sydney music scene since at least 2007, and the duo consists of DJs Chris Stracey and Jack Glass who most well known for their live-shows and of course their house-electro-remixes. Way Back Home comes off of their October 2010 self-titled debut full-studio album. If you fancy their work then don't hesitate to visit their website which can be found HERE, or naturally at their MySpace page HERE. Enjoy.

#25 of VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown: 'You Keep Me Hangin' On' by Kim Wilde (1986)

Here we are already, the final 25! Ranking at #25 of VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown and straight out of 1986 and now direct to you is You Keep Me Hangin' On by British singer/author/television presenter Kim Wilde. Kim Wilde was born on November 18th, 1960 in Chiswick, West London, England. She burst out onto the new wave music scene in 1981 with her chart-topping hit Kids In America (which incidentally was #85 on this countdown), but she didn't reach big success in the USA until the release of this song, which was a cover of the 1966 Supremes song You Keep Me Hangin' On. It was the second single released off of her 5th studio album released in 1986 and titled Another Step. After 1998 Kim Wilde continued on in music to some extent but took up an alternative career as a television gardener for 2 British TV programs called Better Gardens and Garden Invaders. She has also written 2 books on gardening for those who are interested. Getting back to the song, You Keep Me Hangin' On would prove to be her biggest hit peaking at #1 on the US, Canadian, Norwegian, and Australian charts. And so there is #25, and there are only 24 more to go before we are on to some other form of 80's countdown/party lists innit!

Fashionable Fragrances: 'DK Men (Leaded)' Men's Cologne (aka Fuel for Men)

Fragrance = DK Men Leaded Cologne (aka Fuel For Men)

5/5 Stars *****

Designer/Brand =  Donna Karan (now DKNY)

Circa 1994

This is the first official Men's cologne review to appear on this blog. So I am christening this first review with my top Men's colonge of all time, and it is....DK Men (Leaded) by the Donna Karan label. Now DK-Men Leaded (and Unleaded) have been discontinued in their original form since 2002 (when LVMH acquired the company that then owned Donna Karan). The good news is that in 2008 Donna Karan resurrected some of the previous fragrance collection, including this fragrance, and you can find it under the current brand name of Fuel for Men. This cologne is dark, handsome, and sensual, and yet distinguished, and for some trivia I've heard that the original container was shaped artistically to represent the gear shift of a sleek-sports car, so if you fancy yourself to be an undiscovered 007 then this cologne is for you. So, if you are keen you can still purchase this cologne under its new title as Fuel for Men at the Donna Karan Collection site HERE, just click the fragrances button once you get there. Also you can find this same review, as well as reviews for other Fragrances at the facebook Page HERE.

Feature Song of the Day = 'Bright Lit Blue Skies' by Ariel Pinks Haunted Graffiti (2010)

Today's feature song is Bright Lit Blue Skies, by Los Angeles based recording artists/psychedlic-indie-pop collaboration Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti. Ariel Pink (Ariel Marcus Rosenberg) is a recording artist who is the primary member of the band, which has had various other musicians and personnel do bits and pieces of work under the band name, and their are about 17 of them in total so I won't name them all here.  Rosenberg has been active on the music scene in L.A. since 1996. Bright Lit Blue Skies is the second track off of the lastest album titled Before Today, which was released on June, 8th 2010. If you like what you hear you can find this album on ITunes, or you can head over Ariel Pink's website HERE.

A Brief Book Review: Hermann Hesse's 'Steppenwolf' (1927)

Book: Steppenwolf (1927)

Author: Hermann Hesse

5/5 Stars *****

Today's brief book review is on an extraordinary piece of German literature that you may or may not have heard of, and that I personally consider to be a classic. The book is Steppenwolf (originally published in German in 1927, and translated to its English-publication first in 1929), and its author was German-born Swiss poet/novelist/painter Hermann Hesse. Now I wasn't around pre-1980's but I have heard from my elders that this book quickly became a staple in many personal-libraries following its publication in 1927. The Steppenwolf is one of Hesse's alter-ego's (so to speak), and we discover the tale of a man who is past his prime, single, and struggling to find a reason to keep living in Germany as it is clearly ramping up for World War II. Hesse explores his animalistic side, his spiritual side (although if you read the book you know that is a gross over-simplification) where he is gripped by a constant internal struggle as his consciousness awakens and the dying egoic self becomes more and more dysfunctional with its approaching collapse. I can relate to Hesse's writing as it becomes clear to me, as the reader, that much of his story comes out of personal-spiritual-psychosomatic experiences. If I go into it too much it starts to become abstract, and so I will tell you now that if you enjoy the writings of Aldous Huxley or Carlos Castaneda, then you will find that Hesse and Steppenwolf come from a similar exploration of existential-existence and experience that somehow connects the trans-personal to the personal in a brilliant manner. Also, Hesse's biographic is quite interesting but I will keep it brief. Now I am just trying to be a fancy-pants here, but seriously, check out this book, and if you are confused after reading it, do not fret, because you are not alone in that experience...it is after all exquisitely existential!

Feature Song of the Day = 'Need You Now' by Cut Copy (2011)

Today's feature song is...Need You Now, by Australian indie-synth-pop group Cut Copy. Cut Copy are fresh out of Melbourne, Victoria (Australia) and consists of members Dan Whitford (vocals, keyboards, and guitar), Tim Hoey (bass guitar and sampler), and Mitchell Scott (drums). It all began with Dan Whitford who is both a DJ and a graphic designer, and in fact Whitford released the first single and EP on his own before he recruited the other band members that comprise the band today. I have had the privilege of seen Cut Copy live on two occasions, and I highly recommend checking them out live if you ever get this chance, a very good show. Need You Now comes off of their recently released (February 8th, 2011) Zonoscope album. If you like what you hear from these lads then head on over to their MySpace page HERE, or head on over to the band website and get yourself a free mp3 download when you sign up for their mailing list HERE.
Cut Copy – Need You Now found on Pop

Feature Song of the Day = 'The Show Goes On' by Lupe Fiasco (2011)

Today's feature song is The Show Goes On by Chicago based rapper/hip-hop artist/producer/CEO Lupe Fiasco. Lupe Fiasco has been active out on the rap-pop music scene since 2000 and he was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois USA. He started off by recording songs in his father's basement and then became a member of a group called Da Pak, which would disband a short time following its inception. A little later on he met rapper/producer Jay-Z who helped get a record deal with Atlantic Records. By 2006 he had released his debut album, followed up by a second album in 2007 and charted hits as well. Its amazing how much a person's life can change or not change in the short span of just a year or two, which never ceases to amaze me. The Show Goes On is the first single release off of his upcoming third studio album titled LASERS. This single was released in the USA on November 9th, 2010 and it peaked at #57 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and at #23 on the US Rap Songs (Billboard). Check out his website HERE for more info and songs by Lupe Fiasco.

Mentionable Mashups: 'Shorty Shutup' by DJ BC

Today's mentionable mashup is Shorty Shutup by DJ BC. It is a mashup of Shut Up and Let Me Go by The Ting Tings with Shorty (Put It On The Floor) by Busta Rhymes (feat. Chingy), as well as Time Of The Season by The Zombies and snippets of Sexual Healing by Marvin Gaye. I have heard a few mashups involving that particular Ting Tings song, which does have a great sample to it, and DJ BC has done another brilliant job of mixing/mashing these tracks. If you like what you hear then be sure to head on over to his website HERE.

Feature Song of the Day = 'King of the Stars' by Dr Don Don (2011)

Today's feature song is Australian mid-summer dance hit King Of The Stars, by Dr Don Don. Dr Don Don is actually the dance alter-ego of Sydney-based hip-hop producer Chasm (Chris Hamer-Smith). King of the Stars is his second single, which was released in Australia on January 15th, 2011. If you want to check out some of his other works you can head on over to his website HERE, or his MySpace page HERE, or even to his Facebook page HERE. He also has this song up for listening on a Soundcloud page HERE. Enjoy peeps!

A Brief Movie Review for 'The Girl Who Played with Fire (Flickan som lekte med elden)' (2009)

Movie  = The Girl Who Played with Fire (Flickan som lekte med elden) (2009)
Writer = Stieg Larsson
3/5 Stars ***

This is part 2 of the Millennium Series by Swedish author and journalist Stieg Larsson. While part 2 still keeps you a bit on your seat it doesn't quite live up to the quality of the The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Part 1) but I have often found that this is how trilogies most often seem to be. The father of computer hacker Lisbeth re-emerges to wreak some havoc and as we uncover more of her past and family ties. The plot isn't quite as strong as the first story was, but it seems to all tie together in the end. Apparently Hollywood is re-making this movie already (despite the real-versions being made in 2009), although I doubt I will even bother to watch it as the Independent Swedish-versions are surely better than a Hollywood version could be. If you liked the first story you will probably like this one, and their is a third part to this series as well, so keep an eye out for that one too.

#26 of VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown: 'Shake Your Foundations' by ACDC (1985)

G'day 80's Fans! Its time now to present #26 of Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown, and the song is....wait for it.....Shake Your Foundations by Australian hard-rock-legends ACDC. It was about time that ACDC appeared on the list, and none to late either as this song is one of my ACDC favorites of all time. Now, for some background ACDC...They come from Sydney, Australia and it all started there for them in 1973 when brothers Malcolm and Angus Young formed the band. In fact these 2 brothers were actually born in Glasgow, Scotland before their family moved to Sydney in 1963. A 3rd brother (George Young) was the first musician in the family as he learned to play guitar and joined up with The Easybeats, who were a successful Aussie band in the 1960's. According to their Wikipedia page, their sister Margaret Young gave them the idea of naming their band ACDC after noting having seeing the AC/DC symbol on a sewing machine. In 1974 the band was joined by lead vocalist Ronald Belford "Bon" Scott, who would lead the band to super-stardom in Australia and internationally. After Bon Scott died in 1980, he was replaced by Brian Johnson, who is the lead vocalist of the band to this day. As of 2010, ACDC sold more than 200 million records worldwide, and somewhere around 71 million in the USA alone. Back in Black (their most successful album from 1980) is estimated to have sold 49 million units worldwide making it highest-selling album by any band, and making it the second highest selling album in history behind the Michael Jackson's 1982 Thriller album which holds the throne at #1. Shake Your Foundations was released in 1985 on ACDC's 10th studio album titled Fly On the Wall. In 1986 the song was remixed by Harry Vanda and George Young and that version was released on the Who Made Who album, and then featured on the film soundtrack for Stephen King's classic action-horror film Maximum Overdrive (which I would highly recommend watching even just for the ACDC songs). And there was #26!

Today's Feature Song = 'Not In Love' by Crystal Castles (feat. Robert Smith) (2010)

Today's feature song is Not In Love (feat. Robert Smith) by Toronto-based Canadian electronica-band Crystal Castles. The song featured here involves guest vocals by Robert Smith, who is the lead-singer for a little band called The Cure. Crystal Castles have been active on the electronica music scene since 2004 and consists of producer Ethan Kath and vocalist Alice Glass. They have released 2 studio albums, and Not In Love (feat. Robert Smith) appears on their Crystal Castles II album, which was released in April of 2010. It is the 3rd single release, and a remix version at that, that comes off of that album. Be sure to check out their website HERE, or their MySpace page HERE for more band and music information. Snap!

Feature Song of the Day = 'Pumped Up Kicks' by Foster the People (2011)

Today's feature song is Pumped Up Kicks, by Los Angeles-based indie-rock band Foster the People. The band has been active on the American rock scene since 2009, and it consists of members Mark Foster (vocals, keyboards, guitar), Zach “Reazon” Heiligman (MPC), Mark Pontius (drums), and Cubbie Fink (bass guitar, vocals). I was noticing the inspiring news coming out of Egypt this morning, and thinking that the people had finally won quite a big and symbolic battle that will no doubt resonate the world-round, and then I saw the song on my IPod came up was a Foster the People song (this one actually), and I thought, "how fitting for today's feature song!" Global Politics and social movements aside, Pumped Up Kicks comes off of the January 18th-release-self-titled EP, which can now be found and purchased on ITunes and Amazon.  So check out the band's website HERE if you like what you hear, or head to their facebook page HERE. Here's to a New-World!

#27 of VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown: 'To Cut a Long Story Short' by Spandau Ballet (1980)

VJ Samsonite here, and we are back presenting #27 of VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown, and the song is the 1980 release  To Cut a Long Story Short by British 80's synth-pop/new-wave band Spandau Ballet. Spandau Ballet formed back in the 1970's in Islington-London, UK (originally the band was called The Cut). The band came together as they were inspired by the arising of the New Romantic fashion/genre, and at that time they consisted of band members Gary Kemp (guitars), Steve Norman (guitars, saxophone, percussion), John Keeble (drums), Tony Hadley (vocals), and Martin Kemp (bass guitar). To Cut a Long Story Short was the first track and hit single off of their debut studio album titled Journeys to Glory, and was released in March 1981 (the single was released in November 1980). It would peak at #5 on the UK Singles chart, and at #15 on the Australian Singles chart that year. According to their Wikipedia Page the Journeys to Glory album was considered quite cutting-edge/avant garde upon its release in 1981. More recently the band reformed in 2009 and released a new album that year that won Best Comeback of 2009 in the Virgin Media Awards. And there it is, #27 in all its glory. Check back next week for #26!

Feature Song of the Day = 'I Can Show You' by Tim and Jean (2010)

Today's Feature Song is I Can Show You, by Australian indie-electro-pop duo Tim and Jean. Tim and Jean are Tim Ayre and Jean Capotorto who come out of Perth, Western Australia. They started up a MySpace page and ended up entering Triple J's Unearthed High School competition for unsigned bands, in which they made it to the finals with their song Come Around. They were later then selected to by that radio station to play at the Parklife Festival. They have not yet released an official album or EP, but they have played internationally and in America when they were a supporting act for Moby. If you like what you hear on this post then go check out their MySpace page HERE for more songs and band info, or you can also check out their Unearthed page HERE which includes a free and legal 128kbps-mp3 download of their song Come Around (which is also available for purchase at HQ in the ITunes store. They do sound a bit like Passion Pit, especially the keyboard style they play in this song, so if you are a Passion Pit fan you will probably dig the musical styles of Tim and Jean. Check it!

Today's Feature Song = 'Crazy For You' by Best Coast (2010)

Today's feature song is Crazy for You by American indie-garage-pop trio Best Coast. Best Coast are based in Los Angeles, California and its members are Bethany Cosentino ( songwriter/lead vocals), Bobb Bruno (multiple-instruments) and Ali Koehler (drums). This song appears as the second track of of their Crazy for You album, which was released in July, 2010 on the Mexican Summer Record Label. The album peaked at #36 on the US Album Charts upon its release. If you like what you hear and you want some more band info and songs to listen to then come off it and check out the Best Coast MySpace page HERE. Something tells me they like cats...

Brief Book Review for 'A Course in Miracles' by Dr. Helen Schucman (1976)

Book = A Course in Miracles (1976)

Author = Dr. Helen Schucman

5/5 Stars *****

Today I am briefly reviewing a course/curriculum (just one part of a Universal Curriculum) called A Course In Miracles (ACIM) (first published in 1976), which includes not only the preface and text, but also the workbook for students, manual for teachers, clarification of terms, and supplements. This book/course is for those seeking a structured path and curriculum to find inner-peace in their daily life. I just finished the entire course, which took me over a year, as the workbook has 365 exercises, to be completed one a day over the course of a year. This book has helped me tremendously and in ways that are hard to describe with words or mental concepts. The course is really geared towards those of a judeo-christian background, and much of the language in the book is written in judeo-christian terms, however, you don't have to be of this background to benefit from this course. I was better able to understand the course after watching Eckhart Tolle's review and introduction to the book on the January 2011 issue of Eckart Tolle TV, which I would recommend watching first if you are considering doing this course. There really isn't that much else to say other than the course really speaks for itself and is one of the many pathways to discovering at least a few first inklings of stillness within yourself, although if it doesn't work for you then it doesn't work for you, and vice-versa. That all being said, the course is also available in digital formats etc, so head on over to the ACIM website HERE if you fancy more information. I highly recommend this course and give it 5/5 Stars!! Enjoy!

#28 of VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown: 'How Will I Know' by Whitney Houston (1985)

Now, at #28 of VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown is How Will I Know by American recording artist/legendary vocalist/former fashion model/actress Whitney Houston. Now it is kind of interesting that when I think of Whitney Houston I don't generally associate her with the 1980's but I do more so with the 1990's, but the fact is that How Will I Know what a #1 in 1985 on the US Billboard Hot 100, the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, the US Adult Contemporary chart, and the Canadian Singles chart; while it reached #5 on the UK Singles chart, #3 on the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart, and #2 on both the Norway and Sweden Singles charts. So, essentially this song was quite big and it would be the 3rd single from her debut album titled Whitney Houston, which was also released in 1985. Whitney Houston was born in Newark, New Jersey USA in 1963, and she was actually the relative of many prominent soul-singers including her mother Cissy Houston, her cousins Dione and Dee Dee Warwick, and her God-mother Aretha Franklin (a.k.a. the Queen of Soul). Houston's 2nd album titled Whitney (1987) became the first by a female artist to debut at #1 on the Billboard Hot 200 albums chart. She also appeared in a few Hollywood films, her first one being The Bodyguard in 1992 co-starring with Kevin Costner, the soundtrack of which would win a Grammy Award for Album of the Year and contained her song I Will Always Love You, which would become the best-selling single by a female artist of all time.  All of that said Whitney Houston is also the most-awarded female artist of all-time according to the Guinness Book of World Records, holding 16 Billboard Music Awards, 2 Emmy Awards, 6 Grammy Awards, 22 American Music Awards, which are amongst a total of 411 career awards as of 2006. She has sold somewhere around 170 million albums and singles worldwide. There is quite a bit more of this sort of awards-trivia knowledge, so if you really want to know more go to her Wikipedia page HERE. Now, can you see why I simply could not leave her off of this countdown? So there it is, and now we are onwards and downwards to #27 next....

A Brief Review for 'Paths of Glory' (1957)

Movie = Paths of Glory (1957)

Director = Stanley Kubrick

5/5 Stars *****

This movie is one to watch, although it is not for the light-hearted as it is a war-movie. Kubrick does a brilliant job showing us another side of war not often talked about or shown in movies, and by that I mean the internal politics that ravages the very structure of the military itself. Like all human organizations, when the big egos clash their is a price to pay and it is usually in the form of sacrifice by the lower-ranking infantry. Of course the powerful do this all in the petty search of their own egoic and short-lived personal glory. I must disagree to those critics (most of them) who say it is an anti-war film, it is a war-film, and it depicts situations of war that are not uncommon, so if having a hint of realism means a war-movie is anti-war then maybe they are right. I won't say any more here, other than that Kirk Douglas and George Macready both do an excellent job in their roles and so cheers to them both. Good one to watch for sure.