retroBlog

Well, it looks like Cooking Vinyl is on the ball in terms of promoting the upcoming release of Todd Rundgren’s latest album, Arena. After recently announcing that they’ll be releasing the CD over in the U.K., they now have promo copies ready to be sent out to radio stations and the press. Pretty impressive. Check out some photos of the new promo CDs.


It’s definitely great to see that the U.K. record label is excited about Rundgren’s new album. U.K. fans can even pre-order the CD right on their website.

But here on the other side of the Atlantic, there hasn’t been any noticeable activity from U.S. record label - HiFi Recordings. Well, actually, that’s not TOTALLY true. The lawyers representing the record company recently banned Todd fans from trading all Rundgren related live recordings on the popular online website - Dime-a-Dozen. For some odd reason, they believe that trading fan-made live recordings will negatively affect the sales of official studio releases. Obviously they’ve been mis-informed.

But other than that, we haven’t seen any type of promotion from the record label as of yet. And it’s less than a month away from the U.S. release date!! Thankfully Rundgren has a great network of fans online where the latest info can still be disseminated in a timely and efficient manner. and that definitely helps when HiFi Recordings won’t step up to the plate. …well, .. they still have some time left to turn it around…

Let’s get the promotion/marketing team up and running, HiFi!! Let’s see some action! and while I’ve got your ear, how about showing the fans a bit more respect?

as always, check out TR Connection for the latest news on all things Todd.

And if you haven’t read it yet, check out my track by track review of Rundgren’s Arena album

Also, catch Rundgren live on tour:
Wed 10/01/08 Seattle, WA Triple Door
Sat 10/04/08 Glen Ellen, CA Cohn Charity Music Festival
Mon 10/06/08 Chicago, IL Park West
Thu 10/09/08 Morristown, NJ Community Theatre
Fri 10/10/08 Pittsburgh, PA The Rex
Sat 10/11/08 Tarrytown, NY Music Hall
Mon 10/13/08 Knoxville, TN Bijou Theatre
Wed 10/15/08 Asheville, NC Orange Peel
Thu 11/06/08 Manchester, UK Academy 2
Fri 11/07/08 Edinburgh, UK The Picture House
Sun 11/09/08 Copenhagen, Denmark Amager Bio
Mon 11/10/08 Helsinki, Finland House of Culture
Wed 11/12/08 Gothenburg, Sweden Traddgaard
Thu 11/13/08 Malmo, Sweden Kulturbolaget
Sat 11/15/08 Eindhoven, Netherlands TROMP International Music Festival
Sun 11/16/08 Bonn, Germany Harmonie
Tue 11/18/08 Milan, Italy Rolling Stone
Thu 11/20/08 Paris, France Trabendo
Sat 11/22/08 Norwich, UK Waterfront
Sun 11/23/08 London, UK The Forum
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my old friend, Craig recently got divorced and is now out on the dating scene again. so, uummm, ladies, you’ve been warned. just kidding. After being married for so long, I can’t imagine going through that whole process again. I’m sure it’s tough finding a compatible person who will accept you for who you are, warts and all. Just think about it, when you’re dating, you put on your best game face but is that actually being fair to the other person? They need to see the real you: the you with bits of spaghetti stuck on the sides of your mouth, the you that whines endlessly when sick, the you that looks like death the morning after a night of heavy drinking. I suppose your partner will find out in due time but why give them a false impression from the very get go. You know, if I was out on the market again, I’d do things a bit differently. Forget the traditional dating dance of making a great first impression. Why not just be daring and present yourself as exactly who you are? I know that’s going against the usual protocol in meeting someone new but take a cue from George Costanza in “the Opposite” episode from the show Seinfield. Remember the episode where he notices an attractive woman at their local hangout and his immediate impulse was to NOT go up to talk to her?
George : So what? What am I supposed to do?
Elaine : Go talk to her.
George : Elaine, bald men, with no jobs, and no money, who live with their parents, don’t approach strange women.
Jerry : Well here’s your chance to try the opposite. Instead of tuna salad and being intimidated by women, chicken salad and going right up to them.
George : Yeah, I should do the opposite, I should.
Jerry : If every instinct you have is wrong, then the opposite would have to be right.
George : Yes, I will do the opposite. I used to sit here and do nothing, and regret it for the rest of the day, so now I will do the opposite, and I will do something!
( He goes over to the woman )
George : Excuse me, I couldn’t help but notice that you were looking in my direction.
Victoria : Oh, yes I was, you just ordered the same exact lunch as me.
( George takes a deep breath )
George : My name is George. I’m unemployed and I live with my parents.
And he ends up getting the girl!! So, I say, go against the grain the next time you meet a “new someone”. Be honest from the very get-go and let the person accept you for exactly who you are. In fact, use George’s line from the Seinfeld episode - “My name is George. I’m unemployed and I live with my parents”. If she’s still interested in you after that opening line, you are in like Flynn. As a matter of fact, I tested my theory out in the virtual world with Ultimate Flirting Championship game on the Extreme Style by VO5 website. I put together my own virtual character online and chatted up with the ladies. It’s a fun game but unfortunately none of them took to my George Costanza opening line. But I still stand by my theory and I think the “painfully honest” approach is still the way to go.

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There’s no denying that Paul McCartney is a rock legend. He has written countless of songs that will continue to be played and enjoyed for generations to come. Having said that, I also have to point out that he has released some utter crap as well. No one can really say if it’s because of some sort of lack of motivation on his part or sheer vanity in thinking he could shit gold, but the fact remains that he has written just as many duds as there are classics in his catalog. so, for today’s RetroBlog mix tape, I thought I’d highlight some of Sir Macca’s lowlights. enjoy.

1) Rockestra Theme - OK, this is actually Duane Eddy’s remake of the Wings song from 1979 with Paul McCartney producing as well as playing on the track. The original song really didn’t merit a remake. It’s a mind-numbingly simple instrumental with the inexplicable vocal line - “Why didn’t I have any dinner?” huh?

2) Press (the Hugh Padgham mix) - McCartney’s 1986 album Press to Play holds a special place in my heart but really, did he actually think this song would be a successful single? come on - “Oklahoma was never like this? oh it was never like this!” groan. Is this really the man that wrote “Yesterday”?

3) Vanilla Sky - this is Macca just being lazy. He ripped off his own minor chord progression from his 1993 single “Biker Like an Icon”. Biker was just plain horrid. and so is this song. I guess Cameron Crowe didn’t have the balls to tell Macca that this song was shit.

4) Spies like Us (the Art of Noise Mix) - ouch. The record label commissioned numerous remixes for this song. obviously they were hoping one of the remixers would know what to do with this song. I think the Art of Noise did a pretty good job considering the source material.

5) Freedom - It was great seeing Macca being so supportive with the rebuilding/healing efforts after 9/11 but he should have spent more time on this song before releasing it. He probably spent less than five minutes writing this lil’ ditty. it’s painful to listen to now.

6) P.S. Love Me Do - yeah, you know dance music and Macca go so well together. not. So recording a dance version of “P.S. I Love You” and “Love Me Do” was an obvious choice, right? right? Bueller? Bueller?

as always, all tracks are hosted on savefile.com. they will only be available for a limited time. so, grab ‘em while you can.
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my father’s birthday is coming up and I was think of getting him a nice watch this year. Not just any old timex but one of those substantial wristwatches that just exude luxury. Right now, I’m leaning toward Cartier watches. the Cartier name is synonymous with all that is elegant, stylish and outstanding. So why not give the best to those that you love? They don’t deserve anything less. Their designer watches are timeless classics that definitely make a grand statement when worn. I was looking at the Cartier Roadster Chronograph watch over at The Watchery.
They’re currently offering discount prices on the whole line of Cartier watches that they have in stock. These timepieces are simply top of the line. You have to see one to really get a feel of the expert craftmanship that went into these luxury watches. It’s high class all the way with the two tone wristband, the screw down bezel for water resistance and the hidden folding clasp for extra comfort. And you can rest assure knowing that these are 100% authentic by the unique serial numbers on each and every watch. In addition, the Watchery is also an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau. So, there’s no excuse for not purchasing a luxury watch from the Watchery. I’m sure my dad will love his.

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Album: Traffic
Artist: ABC
label: Borough Music
issued: 2008
review by: retroBlog.net

It’s hard to believe that it has been 11 years since ABC’s last studio release but Martin Fry is indeed back with a brand new album titled, Traffic. I’m one of those fans that faithfully followed them throughout the 80’s but lost track of them after their lackluster album Up back in 1989. So, it’s great to hear that Fry is keeping the flame alive with the new record along with a busy touring schedule to promote it.
Listening to the new album, I was pleased to hear that Fry and company have retained much of the classic sound that the group was known for back in their heyday. The record starts out strong with some well-produced material but by the second half, the songs unfortunately become non-descript with nothing memorable beyond the seventh track. But I have to give Fry, David Palmer and producer/co-writer Chuck Kentis credit for coming up with half an album’s worth of strong material. “Sixteen Seconds to Choose” kicks off Traffic with muscular drum playing and a fun distorted guitar riff. The song sort of harks back to the “That was then, This is Now” -era of the band. “The Very First Time” was wisely chosen as the first single off the album and it sounds very much like an updated reconstruction of “When Smokey Sings” (from the album Alphabet City) with its string arrangements and laidback motown groove. Other notable songs include “Love is Strong”, “Caroline” and “Ride”. The title track, “One Way Traffic”, is my personal favorite off the album. It’s got a Niles Rodgers/Chic-style groove complete with funky rhythm guitar licks and intricate hi-hat work. As a matter of fact, the song reminds me of Duran Duran’s “Notorious” which isn’t that surprising since Nile Rodgers was all over that song as producer and guitar player. But unfortunately Fry and company aren’t able to sustain that high level of songwriting throughout the whole record. as I mentioned earlier, the latter half of the record is pretty lackluster. but that being said, it’s still great to see new material from this ol’ 80’s band. I’m a bit sad that I couldn’t make it to see the Regeneration Tour last night but hopefully Martin Fry/ABC will be back touring the U.S. next summer.

Tracklist:
1 Sixteen Seconds to Choose 3:11
2 The Very First Time 3:38
3 Ride 3:37
4 Love Is Strong 4:06
5 Caroline 4:45
6 Life Shapes You 3:49
7 One Way Traffic 3:44
8 Way Back When 4:12
9 Validation 3:57
10 Lose Yourself 4:02
11 Fugitives 4:02
12 Minus Love 4:07
all tracks composed by Martin Fry, Chuck Kentis and David Palmer

listen to an excerpt of ABC’s “The Very First Time”:

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for more info, check out the official ABC website.
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the forecast calls for rain on wednesday which means that I probably won’t go see the Regeneration Tour at the local amphitheater. The outdoor venue isn’t covered so if it rains, the audience WILL most definitely get soaked. and even though I was looking forward to seeing all those retro 80’s bands- ABC, Human League, Belinda Carlisle, Naked Eyes and Flock of Seagulls, they’re not really worth the trouble of standing out in the pouring rain for four hours. ABC and the Human League are the main reasons why I’d want to see the show. Hopefully I’ll get another chance to see them live sometime in the near future.

ABC performing Poison Arrow at the NEC 17May08

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Wearing costumes has always been associated with halloween but it doesn’t necessarily have to be. I’m sure my kids would love the idea of regularly wearing costumes out and about all throughout the year. You should see the kids’ faces whenever they put on their favorite Disney Costumes. My four year old literally seems to be transformed into “Buzz Lightyear” whenever he’s got that spacesuit on. It’s a hoot seeing the lil’ kid running around the house believing he could fly. and I don’t know about you but I DO believe wearing interesting and well made costumes changes things up and can definitely put an extra spring in your step. and who DOESN’T want to shake things up a bit in their dull, boring humdrum lives? I mean, can’t you just imagine wearing vibrantly colored costumes to work each day to brighten up our mundane office environment? that would most definitely make the work week a little more interesting. oh, if only…
well, incidentally, halloween will be upon us soon and so it’s time to decide on your family’s halloween costumes. It’s always better to shop early to get a hold of the better designs. You can even use Coupon code: PPP05BLOG2008 over at halloweenadventure.com to get a 5% discount on your next purchase. oh, and to read up on the latest in the world of costumes, check out the blog on halloweenadventure.com.

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Took the kids to watch the new Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie this weekend. I wasn’t expecting much since the overall rotten tomatoes score for the movie is at a lowly 4%. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the “tomatometer” that low before!! Anyway, my kids wanted to see the movie no matter what the critics said so we went. And not surprisingly, the kids ended up liking it and I was left wondering if there was anything noteworthy to write about in the flick. and that’s just it. all I felt about it was: “meh”. The battle scenes were pretty cool I must say but the story and character interactions weren’t all that memorable. I still can’t recall what went on in the story except for some deception by Count Dooku and some kidnapped slimy Hutt baby. Oh and I can confirm that the character animation in the film definitely has an eerie “Thunderbirds” marionettes feel to them. I’m not sure if it was a knowing “wink” to the old 60’s TV show but it made the characters a bit stiff and odd looking. It’s sad to see that George Lucas has to continue to milk this cash cow but … hey, my kids don’t seem to mind..

Star Wars: The Clone Wars trailer

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To celebrate the end of summer (well, for the kids anyway) and to do something fun before school starts, I took the kids to Morey’s Piers to spend the day at one of the best New Jersey water parks around. The kids had an absolute blast at the Raging Waters theme park. I love the fact that the place is family-friendly with an abundant amount of activities for a wide range of age groups. That definitely helps when you have both the younger set along with older boys in your group. The bigger kids get to hang out around the “rope swing” and “shotgun falls” area. and the lil’ ones are happy to scamper about at “Camp KidTastrophe” where there are water sprayers and waterguns galore. and for us parents, the “endless river” offers a nice relaxing inner tube ride down a long, lazy waterway. and for lil’ bit of fun, I thought the “Sky Pond Journey”, with it’s 4 elevated pools, was pretty cool. It was also a pleasant surprise to find that the staff were helpful and very friendly. At most amusement parks you find teens just working their summer job with attitudes to spare. But we didn’t encounter that here. It’s all the more reason to make Morey’s Piers a “must-see” on your next family beach vacation. All in all, a great time was had by all. For more info and operating hours, be sure to check out their website.

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