Beatles-Freak's Reviews

September 12, 2011 · 8:42 am

Song Review: “Look to the One” by The Vals

I love this band.

Wait…that wasn’t strong enough…

I LOVE THE VALS!

Okay…that was much better.

Phew…now on with the review.

The Vals are from Belfast, Ireland and appeared in my inbox about 2 years ago when they told me what huge Beatles fans they were and how influenced their music has been by the Fab Four. At first, I thought they were just another band looking for attention, but I went to their site and gave their single “Yesterday Today” a listen. The song will give you chills! They soon released their first album “Sticks and Stones” in October 2009 which I had fully intended on reviewing but for some reason, I never found the time. The album is amazing for a debut album…there is no doubt it is on my list of favorite albums along with my Beatles collection. There is no mistaking that these guys too are Beatles freaks!

Now this band has released a new single, “Look to the One” and I’m not going to miss this opportunity to let the world know exactly how talented this group of musicians is. An upbeat song, with a sound reminiscent of John Lennon. I’ve embedded the video to this new song into this review, but I highly recommend taking a listen without the visual imagery if you want to truly get into this song. These are the types of songs you pop into your car stereo and all your friends ask, “Who’s this?!”

Did I say I love this band? I LOVE THE VALS! I just wish I could give them more support and bring them to the U.S.. The people at SXSW Festival in Austin, TX, actually turned The Vals down last year to appear at the festival. I think this was a huge mistake on their part and a big loss for the fans that attend the festival. Hey…SXSW! Get on the ball and bring The Vals to the U.S.A.!

You can become a fan of The Vals on Facebook.

I rate this song, this band and all their music: 4 out of 4 Beetles

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Filed under Beatles influence, Beatles-freak, music, reviews, Uncategorized

Tagged as Beatles Fan, Beatles influence, folk music, movie review, music review, The Vals

September 6, 2011 · 2:37 pm

Movie Review: The Love We Make (Documentary)

I have the honor of getting an advance copy of Paul McCartney’s 9/11 documentary’The Love We Make’. This movie will debut on Showtime on September 10th.

This film isn’t what I thought it was going to be. Done in black & white, the camera follows Paul in New York City in his travels from October 11, 2001 to October 23, 2001 and his day-to-day dealings to organize and prepare for The Concert for New York, a benefit concert that was held on October 20, 2001. If you were expecting a 90 minute film on Paul’s reaction to 9/11, then you will be truly disappointed. If you’re a McCartney fan that wants to see what it’s like to be Sir Paul, then this film is for you.

During TV and radio interviews leading up to the concert, Paul touches on issues dealing with how he’s dealt with grief in his life, how he deals with the conflict of being a pacifist after the devastation of 9/11 and how he came to the realization that he needed to do something while sitting in a plane on the tarmac watching the twin towers burn.

Mixed in with the interviews are Paul and his band rehearsing for The Concert for New York with many guest cameos as Paul discusses debuting his new song, “Freedom” for the first time at the show. Celebrities to watch for in this documentary: Ozzy Osbourne, Howard Stern, Barbara Walters, Pete Townsend, Bill Clinton, Harrison Ford, Leonardo DiCaprio and Jim Carey…along with many more.

There are moments when Paul reminisces about the days with the Beatles and is even asked at one point, “Wouldn’t this be a perfect opportunity for the remaining Beatles to get back together”. (Watch the movie for the answer!) And it was interesting to see Paul once again trying to outrun his fans in NYC.

Though not a true post 9/11 documentary, I believe this is a must see for more than just McCartney fans. There are moments that will just give you goosebumps.

Check the Showtime website for their multiple scheduled airtimes over the next week…you won’t want to miss this! This movie will also be available On-Demand starting September 11th.

On December 6, 2011, this documentary became available on DVD and Blu-Ray.

So how would I rate a documentary by an actual Beatle? You’d be crazy if you think I’d give it anything less than…

I rate this movie: 4 out of 4 Beetles

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Filed under movies, Paul McCartney, reviews, Uncategorized

Tagged as 9/11, Beatle concerts, beatles, concerts, movie, movie review, NYC, Paul McCartney, showtime, The Love We Make

August 19, 2011 · 3:30 pm

Music Review: ‘Tomorrow Never Knows’ by Shannon her B.A.M.F.s

: Shannon MacDonald

There aren’t too many people in this world that would have the nerve to cover a song by John Lennon. I’ve watched as contestants on various singing competition shows try it…and it can easily end any attempt at fame.

And so that brings me to the latest attempt – Shannon MacDonald’s Tomorrow Never Knows. Most people know Shannon as ‘The World’s Greatest Beatles Artist’, a title given to her by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool. So one has to wonder, why would her first attempt to make her mark in the music industry be covering a Beatles’ song?

The first thing I noticed when I set out to hear this song for the first time is that it’s 7 mins 38 sec in length. The original version of the song was just 2 mins 57 sec. But that initial feeling of ‘I’m going to fall asleep before I hear the end…” quickly went away as I found that the song has the magical ability of wrapping around you like a comfortable blanket and taking you to your happy place. There is an absolutely peace about this cover that gives you that inner reconciliation like meditating on a high mountain top in the warmth of the sun and a gentle breeze gliding across your cheek.

Absolutely, everyone should take a chance and give this song a listen…and come back here to let me know the feeling that it inspired in you. I think it will truly be a grand experience for anyone.

Shannon‘s cover of ‘Tomorrow Never Knows’ is currently doing a rapid climb up the charts on ReverbNation and is being noticed by many Beatles’ experts and DJ’s across the U.S..

For those inquiring minds – BAMFs = Bad A** Mother F***ers.

The song is available for download on iTunes and Amazon.

The Lennon Examiner – Shelley Germeaux recently interviewed Shannon about her music and this song. The article is here.

The history behind the writing of the original Beatles version, can be found here.

I rate this song: 4 out of 4 Beetles

CD Review: In This One Cold Blink of Time by Such As Us

: In This One Cold Blink of Time by Such As Us

Just as a refresher on who Such As Us is: I reviewed this band’s Priming The Pride EP this past June. They’re managed by Maureen Shames, who is also the publicist for Sid Bernstein – the man that brought the Beatles to America.

I really like this band and I would love to see them perform live! I’m hoping they start doing summer music festivals. This album inspires images of spreading out a blanket at a folk festival and just chilling to the music. Filled with songs with real meaning, it gives you something to think about…or you can just tap your toes and bob your head.

The four songs that were on their EP seem to have been fined tuned and join eleven other songs with beautiful harmonies (“Tall Town”) and some wonderful violin and flute solos.

Two new members have been added to the line-up, both of them percussionist and one providing back-up vocals. Michael and Joni seem to have provided more depth to Such As Us.

For more information on how to get this album and Such As Us’ upcoming shows, go to their Facebook page or find them on ReverbNation.

Such As Us will be having a CD Release Party this week and I truly wish I could be there to have the LIVE experience. If you’re in the NJ/NY area, here’s the info on the party:

Thursday, August 18, 2011

7:30 pm

Patsy’s Pizzeria

2287-91 First Ave. (near 118th St.)

New York, NY

I rate this album: 3.5 out of 4 Beetles

Book Review: A Date With A Beatle by Judith Kristen

A Date With A Beatle by Judith Kristen

This was my second attempt at reading A Date With A Beatle. I had bought the book at the Fest for Beatles Fans in NJ in 2010. The first time through, I managed to get to page 61 of this 171 page book about a young girl’s attempt to meet George Harrison. I’ll give my first impression report and in the end…I’ll give my overall impression after actually finishing this book.

I picked up this book after meetin Judith Kristen and her husband at The Fest. Knowing that the first editions of Jude Southerland Kessler‘s self-published novel on John Lennon now sell for up to $1000, I figured I’d pick up a 1st edition copy of ‘A Date With A Beatle‘ as an investment. After reading the first 19 very short chapters of this book, I just cringed. Something just didn’t sit right with me about how a woman could remember such detail after 45 years. It was then I saw in the front of the book, “This book is partially fictionalized”. Then it made sense to me that I wasn’t quite sure how much was made up and I felt duped! I put the book down for over a year.

Last week, I decided to pick this book up again and finally review it, knowing full well that this could turn out really bad for any future dealings with Ms. Kristen or her husband since we’ve been known to be seen in the came circles.

Once again…I struggled. After only 1o chapters, I felt like this was work, but I championed on…determined to finish and review it. I tried to anaylize why I was struggling with the way the story was being presented and then it hit me that Judith Kristen is also a children’s book author and I believe that in her own way…she dumbed down this book a bit much. Or maybe it’s the attempt to write it in her voice as it was when she was 16. Or maybe it was the over-the-top conversations between her and her friends and police officers. Finally, I can say I finished it.

I can honestly say that by the her last attempt to meet George Harrison in the story in this book, she had me hooked. The ending is whitty and will make you smile. I am glad I read it…and the latest edition has a beautiful new cover from Beatles artist Eric Cash. I’ve also read that Ms. Kristen has been invited to Beatles Week in Liverpool later this month and then will start a book tour of German where her book has now been published in German. Best of luck to her!

You can buy her book on Amazon.

I can believe I’m about to say this….but…

I rate this book: 3 out of 4 Beetles

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Filed under Beatles books, Beatles-freak, George Harrison, music, reviews

Tagged as Beatle concerts, beatles, beatles books., Beatles Fan, beatles reviews, books, Ed Sullivan, George Harrison, Judith Kristen

July 27, 2011 · 7:21 pm

Book Review: We’re Going to See the Beatles! by Garry Berman

Once again, I’ve fallen behind on my reading. This book has been on my shelf for over 2 years now and it was published in 2008. Hopefully, I’ll eventually catch up with all the Beatles books in my collection.

I’m not sure why I waited so long to read this book. We’re Going to See the Beatles! by Garry Berman was a very enjoyable read and is written in a format that makes it easy to pick up, read a couple pages and put it back down until you have another moment or two (I’m refraining to from calling it a bathroom book, but truth be known, it’s perfect for the ‘library’ in the throne room!).

As someone who was born in the summer of ’64, I missed Beatlemania. I admit to not really giving them the time of day until I was in my late teens. Yeah, we sang the songs in elementrary school…and yeah, ‘Live and Let Die’ was my first Bond movie…but becoming a hardcore fan didn’t happen until I was in my senior year of high school. But that’s another story for another day.

It was delightful to read what happened during Beatlemania from the fans perspective. Reading about being crazed by the sight of the Beatles in concert or on the Ed Sullivan show, along with the feelings of anticipation of all their albums is something that I’ve never witnessed in my lifetime. And believe me…I attended a Jonas Brothers concert 2 years ago at a stadium in Utah and they are NO Beatles!

This book is a must read for anyone like myself who missed the sixties due to being born too late or any Beatles fan that had parents that forbade them to listen to ‘that noise’ or attend their concerts. We’re Going to See the Beatles! will bring the story to you in a way that no other book or documentary can. It will take you inside the minds of fellow Beatles-freaks who were actually there.

You can read a great interview with Garry about the writing of this book at: Forgotten Hits.

We’re Going to See the Beatles! is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

I rate this book: 4 out of 4 Beetles

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Book Review: Paul McCartney’s Solo Music Career by John Cherry

Unfortunately, I can’t remember when I was offered the opportunity to review this book…it was either late last year or early this year. Anyway, my apologies to the author and publisher for the delay.

Getting straight to the point, I believe the author of this book set the tone for me of the entire book in the book’s Foreword when he proceeds to spend too much time criticising the critics of his first book and then refers to McCartney’s movie “Give My Regards to Broad Street” as shallow and self-centered. I personally loved the movie.

John Cherry (the author) seems incredibly shallow and self-centered in his presentation of the facts of McCartney’s solo career. I’m not sure exactly what I was reading. This book is not a guide…since there is no indexing of songs. I guess it could be a biography, but there is so much missing…including song titles!

Several times throughout the book, the author spends entire paragraphs detailing a song…but fails to mention the song title. “Mull of Kintyre” was a standout example.

The reader is also introduced to much of Mr. Cherry’s private life as he continually mentions his personal life events and how they related to McCartney’s music. Sorry…but I considered this TMI!

I could go on, but what’s the point? Exactly! What’s the point to this book? Either too much info or not enough info…and the straw that broke the camels back and made me lose faith is this writing was the typo “Paula”. Seriously? Someone didn’t catch that?!

For more information or to order this book, go to Amazon.com.

I rate this book: 1 out of 4 Beetles

4 Comments

Filed under Beatles books, music, Paul McCartney, reviews

June 1, 2011 · 9:47 am

EP Review: ‘Priming the Pride’ by Such As Us

Early last month, I got an interesting email in my inbox from Maureen Shames, Sid Bernstein’s former publicist (Sid Bernstein is the promoter that brought the Beatles to America). She emailed me a promotion package on a new band, Such As Us, that she’s representing along with Sid. This neo-folk-rock band made my spidey-senses tingle so I offered to review their new EP if she’d send me a copy.

“Priming the Pride” is a four song EP that took me back to the folk songs of the 60’s…seriously! This band conjured up images of Woodstock and folk festivals old and new. This is the music that makes you want to spread out a blanket on the lawn and mellow out. And to stay true to the form of the 60’s folk era, these songs come along with a messages.

The only thing I believe is lacking, is that these songs could probably use a little more producing…but would it really be a folk album if all the edges were smoothed over?

I gotta say…I honestly look forward to hearing this band’s upcoming CD release – to be release Summer 2011. Their music relaxes me…in the way that Peter, Paul and Mary’s Puff the Magic Dragon did when I was a child.

For anyone in the NYC area, you’ll have the opportunity to see this band live tonight (June 1, 2011) at Patsy’s Restaurant (see image to the left).

For more information on Such As US or to listen to their EP, go to www.facebook.com/SuchAsUs.

I rate this EP: 3 out of 4 Beetles

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Filed under Beatles influence, music, reviews, Sid Bernstein

Tagged as beatles, folk music, music review

April 4, 2011 · 10:26 am

CD Review – Beatlesque Three by Alan Bernhoft

Beatlesque Three is the third CD by musician/actor Alan Bernhoft. Alan also works part time as a John Lennon impersonator.

Before breaking into my review of this most recent release, I’ll touch upon my opinions of Alan’s first two attempts at recreating the sound of The Beatles.

Beatlesque One (which for some reason is missing from my CD collection) was/is an amazing collection of songs that if you’re not paying close enough attention, will make you look up and wonder if you’re listening to some previously unreleased songs from the early days of the Fab Four. Alan recreates the sound so well, that six of his songs were featured in the mock-umentary “Desperately Seeking Paul McCartney”. The movie’s director/producer, Marc Cushman remarked about his choice of songwriters, “We couldn’t afford The Beatles’ music, so we got the next best thing- Alan Bernhoft”

Beatlesque Two was a bit of a disappointment. The album starts out great, but soon becomes tedious and monotone. The lyrics are predictable and one song seems to blend right into the next with no diversity within the album. It almost seems as if Mr. Bernhoft rushed to make this one.

This brings us back to Beatleseque Three. Alan Bernhoft seems to have gotten his groove back with this album. It’s a fun album with a great opening song “Sunny Sky”. Other standout songs are “Bored” and “Chun Li”. This entire collection of songs once again highlights Alan’s ability to write a full/complete album of great tunes that brings its listener back to a bygone era of fun, peace and love. And the production is superb! My fingers are crossed that he will be able to keep up the good work from this and his first album to write Beatlesque Four.

I rate this CD: 3 out of 4 Beetles

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Tagged as beatles, beatles reviews, beatlesque, music review

November 19, 2010 · 2:47 pm

Movie Review: Lennon Naked

Several weeks ago I received and email from WGBH/PBS in Boston asking if I would take the time to mention their upcoming release of Lennon Naked on my website. They also asked if I would like a preview copy of the movie prior to writing about it. It only made sense since this is a review website.

It would seem that 90% of this film is about John Lennon’s anger management abilities. It’s as if the people behind the making of the movie researched every moment and every issue Lennon had and put it on film without regard for the happy or joyful times in his life. According to Lennon Naked all John Lennon did was walk around angry and I believe they should rename this film to “Lennon Pissed-Off”.

My personal message to Robert Jones (writer): Dude….Give Peace a Chance! ☮

The one good point I found is the acting in the film is wonderful. And though I’m not a Yoko Ono fan, I did find Naoko Mori‘s portrayal ofYoko to be excellent!

I don’t know that I can criticize the details that they present in this movie. I didn’t walk away with the impression that they took too many liberties with the truth, though they do have a disclaimer before the movie started saying that some parts have been fictionalized.

Lennon Naked will debut on PBS on Sunday, November 21, 2010. You can go to PBS.org and check your zip code for dates and times that Lennon Naked will be playing on your local station.

As always, I look forward to my readers responses and opinions.

I rate this movie: 1 out of 4 Beetles

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Filed under John Lennon, movies, reviews

Tagged as beatles, John Lennon, Lennon Naked, movie, movie review, PBS, yoko ono