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	Always Outnumbered
	"This movie just strikes a chord for me"	2005-10-31
I can certainly see how people could overlook this underpublicized gem. I can even see how some people just wouldn't identify with this film. I can't imagine, however, how anyone that has had any kind of serious struggle in their lives wouldn't be moved by this film and it incredible writing, acting, production, and HUMAN values. Socrates Fortlow is a brilliant symbol for something very special. Socrates Fortlow is a man, a human being, unwilling to abandon decency, compassion, and integrity in face of a life of overwhelming hardship. There is no doubt that much of Fortlow's tragic life is a byproduct of some of his own rash actions. There is also no doubt that the deck was and still is stacked against him. If anything, this movie reinforces my own personal belief that some people pay for their mistakes more than others. What really moves me about this movie and this characters, however, is Fortlow's unyielding quest to acknowledge his shortcomings, be his own man, and share his tremendous inner strength with others who may be a little short on what they need to make the right decisions themselves. Through his outreach, Fortlow places himself on a path to redemption, even though he scarely seems aware of this himself. Fortlow doesn't reach out as pennance, he does it because he genuinely seems to feel and care about those around him. He is driven by the kind of empathy and compassion that only someone that has suffered deeply can have. His kind actions are instinctive, not planned, and it underscores, in giant terms, the profound decency of the man: the kind of decency I only wish we could find among the "blameless." This is definitely one of my personal "top 10" movies and I can't see it being displaced anytime soon.
	Always Outnumbered
	"This movie just strikes a chord for me"	2005-10-31
I can certainly see how people could overlook this underpublicized gem. I can even see how some people just wouldn't identify with this film. I can't imagine, however, how anyone that has had any kind of serious struggle in their lives wouldn't be moved by this film and it incredible writing, acting, production, and HUMAN values. Socrates Fortlow is a brilliant symbol for something very special. Socrates Fortlow is a man, a human being, unwilling to abandon decency, compassion, and integrity in face of a life of overwhelming hardship. There is no doubt that much of Fortlow's tragic life is a byproduct of some of his own rash actions. There is also no doubt that the deck was and still is stacked against him. If anything, this movie reinforces my own personal belief that some people pay for their mistakes more than others. What really moves me about this movie and this characters, however, is Fortlow's unyielding quest to acknowledge his shortcomings, be his own man, and share his tremendous inner strength with others who may be a little short on what they need to make the right decisions themselves. Through his outreach, Fortlow places himself on a path to redemption, even though he scarely seems aware of this himself. Fortlow doesn't reach out as pennance, he does it because he genuinely seems to feel and care about those around him. He is driven by the kind of empathy and compassion that only someone that has suffered deeply can have. His kind actions are instinctive, not planned, and it underscores, in giant terms, the profound decency of the man: the kind of decency I only wish we could find among the "blameless." This is definitely one of my personal "top 10" movies and I can't see it being displaced anytime soon.
	Jimi Hendrix - Band of Gypsys
	"Tragic glimpse of what was to come"	2005-08-24
Let me start by saying that I consider this album a must have for not only Jimi Hendrix fans, but rock music lovers. Though you might still find a few people that will contest Jimi's creative greatness and influence, you won't find many and this remarkable album illustrates why. I have often believed that truly great artists exhibit a common quality. Not only do they create and introduce us to new sounds, sights, and feelings, but they do it again and again, evolving through one new paradigm after another. Jimi was this and more. He was the fountain head of so much of what we have found in music since the 1960's. If you listen to the unfortunately scant catalog of albums actually released during his life in chronological order, you will hear an incredible evolution of styles, each of which had never been heard before and each of which has been embraced and emulated by band after band ever since. Whole careers have been built around emulating just one of Jimi's many sounds (e.g., Robin Trower). Then, just as The Experience starts fades away, leaving us with a legacy that by any standard would still merit greatness, Jimi blasts his way through Woodstock with new band mates, finally landing on his feet with The Band of Gypsys. Thus we are introduced to yet another new and amazing sound, one that unfortunately did not have nearly enough time to grow and flourish. I believe The Band of Gypsys created a sound that has not been heard again since. I hear many reviewers talk about the "funk" of this album, and to be honest, I am a little mystified by this. To me characterizing this album as funk rock is like characterizing the Album Brothers as a garage band. The music on this album is beyond funk, beyond rock, beyond blues, and, in fact, beyond anything we had heard before or have heard since. 30 seconds of "Who Knows" and you will know what I am talking about. What this music represented was the next great step in the evolution of rock music, taking elements of blues, acid rock, jazz, and funk (with less funk than any other element I would say), mixing them with something that was uniquely Jimi, and fusing all this into a new art form. Yes, for me this album is THAT powerful. Band of Gypsys represents a path in musical evolution that was hijacked by the music industry so they could return us to to the pre-packaged, demographically driven crap that filled the void between the great era of the swing band and the emergence of true rock and roll, when the studios told the musicians what to play and how to play it. With the light of Jimi and a few other key artists gone, the music industry took us right back into the abyss courtesy of the the plastic world of disco. Then they led us by our wallets right into into the modern era of the "focus-group-tested" pablum of the Back Street Boys and Brittany Spears. Once again, the "suits" and not the artists control the content which means creativity is dead. Long live AOR. (Hip hop was a brief exception to this, but, honestly, I am not a hip hop fan and even hip hop is losing it's luster as a creative art form as the studios package it more and more). Band of Gypsys was the evolutionary path music SHOULD have followed but didn't because the strain of trying to carry us to better place ultimately destroyed it's leaders. I hope you are in a better place now, Jimi, because every time I listen to your music, I know I am. If you really love creative music and freedom of musical expression buy this album. You will not regret it. What you will regret is that no one is making this kind of music anymore.
	John McLaughlin & Mahavishnu Orchestra, Mahavishnu Orchestra - Inner Mounting Flame
	"A Must Have for Serious Fusion Fans"	2000-04-15
I love this album. Ever since its release, I find myself coming back over and over again. At first listen, many of the cuts may come across as frenetic jam sessions. But that is the extraodrinary nature of this album. It may sound raw as first listen (Birds of Fire, an album that is almost as good, has a much more polished sound if you prefer), but that is because the Mahavishnu Orchestra was creating something radically new with this album. Each of the band members has a distinct, powerful, and often contrasting style and yet they have somehow manged to combine all of this energy to great effect. I agree with those who say Cobham's drumming glues many of the cuts together and I can't imagine anyone else doing it so defly. Give a listen to Vital Transformation in particular and you will be truly amazed. Goodman and Hammer show unbelievable style and expressiveness on both acoustic and electric tracks and McLaughlin is astonishing throughout. They all shine on Noonward Race, in particular, with McLaughlin taking his solo into musical dimensions that I had never before entered. McLaughlin has a reputation as a musical force with a resume of innovation that is incredible. This album reinforces that reputation in spades.
	Vinnie Moore - Maze
	"This Maze is a pleasure to get lost in."	2000-04-13
Once upon a time I was a young guitarist and all around music lover. I spent all my time listening to every hot player and style I could get my hands on from the way-ahead-of-its-time swing of Django Reinhardt to the extraordinary classical riffs of Manuel Barrueco to the unbelievable jazz-rock fusion and acoustic soul music of John McLaughlin. 20 years later, after dedicating my life to the cold hard reality of earning a living, my appetite for music has welled up again and I so I had to get back into the game. My somewhat more comtemporary friends gave me the "A" list of guitarists of more recent vintage and Mr. Moore's name came up more than a few times. So I started with the highly touted "Maze" and ... well ... how should I say this ... uh ... how about ... Wow! I really like the sounds coming out of this CD. I'm still working my way through the list (Macalpine, Malmsteen, Imepellitteri, etc) and I like a lot of the sounds I have heard, but this CD really stands out so far. Vinnie Moore has just done a great job of blending the rapid fire technique of the Malmsteen lightning-riff era with some solid composition. This CD is an absolute pleasure to listen to as both a musician and a music lover. I particularly like the interesting transitions and contrasts in style of "The Maze" and the acoustic sweetness of "Never Been to Barcelona". Whether you are an old timer coming back to the fold, a newcomer looking for some guitar skills worth imitating, or simply an aficionado looking for some solid jazz-funk-rock flavored instrumental tunes to keep your spirits up while you are on the freeway or hunkered over your keyboard, I heartily recommend this album.