434 of 1001 Albums: Marianne Faithfull's Broken English

Marianne Faithfull would release her most popular album Broken English to controversy and fame. It does have a very interesting sound, and for females you'll be hearing words spoken for what I know is the earliest I've heard a woman use as strong as language. I'm sure it occurred earlier, but the attitude you get on the cover art is the attitude you get inside the album.

History: The album would be welcomed by critics upon it's release, and hit charts as well. It would also cause controversy with it's lyrics, particularly in the song where a lover is caught in infidelity, and the singer depicts how she will punish him. The lyrics also go on to explore other themes such as those about a housewife who is Catholic, and most are a personal reflection of the singer.

Bookshelf: Stephen King's The Dead Zone

I'm a Stephen King.  I believe he is my favorite author. No one else really jumps first to my mind as his writing does. The Dead Zone is one of King's earlier works, wrote near the end of 70's, and one of my favorites that I've read from him. It veers off a bit from his usual horror that he is known for, and while maintaining an edge of the supernatural, it also dives a bit into the fantasy realm that King writes in as well. If you're not a fan of fantasy though this book is still very enjoyable. The only difficult parts for me to read through were the parts regarding all the politics.

Summary: Johnny Smith is a man who seems to have great luck. Since an accident as a child he has had hunches that sometimes lead to getting the right feeling so he can lots of money. After a car accident though, Johnny is left in coma. His coma will span enough time for his fiancee to meet another man and his career as a teacher to stall. When he wakes up though he finds himself with the ability to tell when a man is bad, and to see in the future. Either he can follow what maybe the chance to save a lot of lost lives from the evil of one human being, or he can deny it and try to live a normal life.

240 of 1001 Movies: Manhattan (1979)

Before Midnight in Paris, many said that Manhattan was the last great Woody Allen movie made, which is pretty sad considering Manhattan was made only a little over a decade after his directing career started. I wouldn't know though as I've never seen anything of Allen's between the 90's and up till 2011. I do know that I have liked everything I've watched of his. Perhaps it's just the humor, or the way he portrays everyone as always growing in some ways in his movies that makes it alluring. He never sets out to make his characters look like good people, and they are selfish, but yet they become likable. Manhattan is set against the romantic backdrop of the city as one man tries to figure out his love life.

Summary: Isaac is a divorced New Yorker attempting to stop his ex-wife, Jill, from publishing a book about their failed marriage, and dating a high schooler, Tracy. He isn't feeling very satisfied in his relationship with Tracy, mostly because she is seventeen and he is unsure whether anything real can come of it. Instead his friend's mistress, Mary, catches his eye, and he begins hanging out with her all the while falling for her as well.

405 of 1001 Albums: Elvis Costello and the Attractions' Armed Forces

It took me a really long time to finish this album. While Elvis Costello has a certain talent with his vocals and the instrumentals can be catchy, the music itself lacks a bit of that 50's rock charm that his other album I listened to had. His vocals just feel very different than the vibe of the tunes themselves. The music though this also features The Attractions, a backing band he commonly teamed up with to put together his album for this listen.

History: The reviews are mixed for the album. At the time of the release there was good feedback, but there were also some comments on how the production still wanted that pop charm. Over time the album has became more critically welcomed by recent critics. The album also has made a few pop culture references. This album would be the first that The Attractions were credited on the cover of the album for being apart of the music.

149 of 1001 Movies: Breaking Away (1979)

It's like the family film of the 70's except with tons of cursing. Peter Yates though does really somehow make this oddball story of a kid who needs to grow up somehow alluring even though you would be worried to if he was your kid. This movie also only shows one career that might have been launched by it, Dennis Quaid, and he wasn't even a huge part.

Summary: Dave loves cycling. After graduating high school he took a year off to spend with his friends and relax. Now that year is coming to a close and him and his friends are feeling a little pressure to actually grow up and stop being bums. Dave seems to aspire to live in Italy, but after an encounter with Italians and delving more into the biking world he seems little dented in his hopes. Mike seems to not feel any pressure to get a job though, and he prides himself on just driving around and torturing the college students that come through and have the belief they are better than the locals. Cyril is sort of a nerdy, but creative guy who seems like he has found an interest that lures him in, but it doesn't come without teasing from his friends. Then there is also Moocher. He has found love, and is getting married, but he also needs a job as well.