The Best Christmas Song of All Time

Video of the Day: Marvin Gaye "What's Going On"

Marvin Gaye's vocals are fantastic, but what really makes this song and many other Motown hits is the bassline of James Jamerson.

It's Only Talk

The Star Spangled Banner

My favorite was always Huey Lewis and the News.

Anvil! The Story of Anvil

Tony J. and I went to see the movie Anvil! The Story of Anvil this afternoon. It's a documentary about the Canadian heavy metal band that influenced (some say started) the speed metal movement carried on by Anthrax, Slayer, Metallica, and other huge names. Anvil did not get the commercial success that these other bands enjoyed, but are continuing to work to fulfill their dreams of becoming rock stars. It was directed by Sacha Gervasi, his directorial debut, but who co-wrote The Big Tease with Craig Ferguson and wrote The Terminal, directed by Steven Spielberg and starred Tom Hanks.

The film premièred at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2008 to a standing ovation, and won awards at a number of film festivals. The band is experiencing a resurgence of interest, and is currently working on a new album (their 14th) titled Juggernaut of Justice and will open for AC/DC at their first two summer Black Ice World Tour shows at Gillette Stadium and Giants Stadium.

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux.

Sounds Like Teen Spirit by Tim English

Sounds Like Teen Spirit by Tim English.

What to Listen for in Music by Aaron Copland

What to Listen for in Music by Aaron Copland.

Music, The Brain, And Ecstasy: How Music Captures Our Imagination by Robert Jourdain

Music, The Brain, And Ecstasy: How Music Captures Our Imagination by Robert Jourdain. Our topic is Music. Our next meeting is 8/14/08.

Mingus: A Critical Biography by Brian Priestley

Mingus: A Critical Biography by Brian Priestley. Our topic is Music. Our next meeting is 9/18/08.

Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo

Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo.

All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque

All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque.

Pride of America: The Letters of Grace Anderson U.S. Army Nurse Corps, World War I by Shari Lynn Wigle

Pride of America: The Letters of Grace Anderson U.S. Army Nurse Corps, World War I by Shari Lynn Wigle.

Birdsong: A Novel of Love and War by Sebastian Faulks

Birdsong: A Novel of Love and War by Sebastian Faulks.

Between the Sword and the Wall by Thomas De Angelo

Between the Sword and the Wall by Thomas De Angelo.

Good-Bye to All That by Robert Graves

Good-Bye to All That by Robert Graves.

Storm of Steel by Ernst Junger

Storm of Steel by Ernst Junger.

One Train Later: A Memoir by Andy Summers

One Train Later: A Memoir by Andy Summers.