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Mothergamer (1511 KP) rated Artemis in Books
Jan 1, 2018
I was excited about this book since I enjoyed The Martian. This is a completely different story from The Martian, but it is quite good. I enjoyed the plot and I liked the main character Jazz a lot. The premise is interesting and I liked reading about how everything worked in the colony of Artemis. While it's not as good as The Martian, it's still an enjoyable read.
Julio Torres recommended Agua Viva in Books (curated)
Daniel Rossen recommended track The Children, Save the Children by Elvin Jones in It Don't Mean a Thing by Elvin Jones in Music (curated)
Lenard (726 KP) rated Soul (2020) in Movies
Dec 26, 2020
There is a saying that even though you can't achieve greatness you can still inspire someone else to be great. Joe Gardner is a sometime jazz pianist who works as a part time middle school band teacher. On the day the principal hires him as a full-time teacher with all the benefits, Joe is invited to join a jazz quartet for their nightly club gigs. In his dazed excitement, he falls down an open manhole (the city will face a major lawsuit for that). His soul is transported onto the conveyor belt for the Great Beyond, but Joe escapes into the Great Before. There, in order to stall his forever death, he becomes a mentor to a "new" soul so that the nonbinary entity named 22 finds a spark to live. 22 has been mentored by all the greats from Archimedes to Copernicus to Mother Teresa never finding a reason to exist. That is, until a trip to the land of the lost souls ends with both Joe's soul and 22 inside corporeal beings. Joe teaches 22 that life has value whether it is a pursuit of music, a dream deferred like a raisin in the sun, or observing a leaf falling from a tree. In fact, Joe has influenced the lives of many of his students, like Curley, a jazz drummer in the Dorothea William Quartet, or current student Sonia, a master trombonist, who he privately teaches outside of school. While some people can see his dreams may not be his meal ticket, Joe will always be a mentor to other struggling musicians who may one day be successful.
On the technical aspects of the film, there is a lot to praise. While a Michael Giacchino score may have worked, the score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross counterposes the jazz score throughout. Music soothes all souls. The animation is masterful as usual. The "Terry" sequence and some of the character designs in the afterlife will influence future animators much like Joe's students.
On the technical aspects of the film, there is a lot to praise. While a Michael Giacchino score may have worked, the score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross counterposes the jazz score throughout. Music soothes all souls. The animation is masterful as usual. The "Terry" sequence and some of the character designs in the afterlife will influence future animators much like Joe's students.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2063 KP) rated Knot What You Think in Books
Jan 12, 2022
Discovering a Dead Body is Complicated
Martha Rose is looking forward to a typical Tuesday quilting session with her friends until Jazz, the latest member of the group, shows up. As Jazz describes his morning, everyone begins to worry about the friend he was trying to see earlier in the morning. When they go to investigate, they find the body of Dolleen Doyle on her kitchen floor. Dolleen is the second wife of a man currently in jail for running a Ponzi scheme. With the police looking at Jazz as their prime suspect, Martha begins to investigate. Can she find the real killer?
Those familiar with the series will know what to expect here, and they won’t be disappointed. The plot is complex with several twists before Martha pieces the clues together. I do wish we hadn’t had the scenes with the psychic, but that’s a minor complaint. I enjoy the characters since they are different for a cozy series, and I appreciate how their lives are evolving as the series progresses. The suspects are just as sharp and interesting. While the Los Angeles setting is unusual for a cozy, as a native, I enjoy it, and the book still feels cozy. There’s a nice dose of humor as well, and I can’t wait to see how what happens next to Martha after the way this book ended. If you are looking for a fun cozy series, this is definitely one to check out.
Those familiar with the series will know what to expect here, and they won’t be disappointed. The plot is complex with several twists before Martha pieces the clues together. I do wish we hadn’t had the scenes with the psychic, but that’s a minor complaint. I enjoy the characters since they are different for a cozy series, and I appreciate how their lives are evolving as the series progresses. The suspects are just as sharp and interesting. While the Los Angeles setting is unusual for a cozy, as a native, I enjoy it, and the book still feels cozy. There’s a nice dose of humor as well, and I can’t wait to see how what happens next to Martha after the way this book ended. If you are looking for a fun cozy series, this is definitely one to check out.
Ben Watt recommended Alone at the Vanguard by Fred Hersch in Music (curated)
Julia Holter recommended Rock Bottom by Robert Wyatt in Music (curated)
Frank Black recommended Everybody Digs Bill Evans by Bill Evans / Bill Trio Evans in Music (curated)
Ross (3282 KP) rated Maggot Brain by Funkadelic in Music
May 2, 2020
Rolling Stone's 479th greatest album of all time
What a fantastic album. With a lot of similarities to Frank Zappa at his funk-laden jazz best, this is a short collection of brilliant 70s songs. Hints of Hendrix as well make this a really enjoybale and surprising listen. Definitely one I will listen to again, and reminded me why I am listening to Rolling Stone's top 500 albums. And then came the next one ...
Ross (3282 KP) rated London Calling by The Clash in Music
Jul 8, 2020
Rolling Stone's 8th greatest album of all time
Superb album. It is a bit of a shame that it is labelled as punk as that would put a lot of people off and make them miss out on such a wonderful masterpiece. This isn't "spit and middle finger" punk, it's political, thought-provoking and intelligent punk. For every London Calling, there is a Jimmy Jazz, for every Spanish Bombs there is a Train in Vain. Simply an awesome album.