S.O

s.o.b (Standard Operational BS)

Blake Edwards

Blake Edwards, Tony Adams

This is the famous film where Julie Andrews loses her good girl image by starring in what really is Wag The Dog about films, rather than politics. She stars in what is initially a flop, but turns into an erotic blockbuster, which makes the film hilarious. Polly Wolly Doodle is used to great effect.

The film seems a little tame by today’s standards. When I first saw it in 1981 in a theater, it was shocking. It still merits an R rating for the nude scene with Andrews. It still will leave you rolling in the aisles. So if you’re up for something completely crazy, this is the film to see.

Andrea Weiss

Big Believe

The Big Believe

Whatever

Self-Released

This song is a preview of their upcoming album. The lyrics are about the Tories, but it could also be someone telling their spouse to go to hell. The music sounds like early Let's Active, and I can imagine the late Faye Hunter, the bass player for Let's Active, singing this. It's a very good song, and if the whole album sounds like this, it’ll be a treat.

Andrea Weiss

Echo

Echo in the Canyon

Andy Sleater

Greenwich Pictures

This documentary about the Laurel Canyon music scene of the mid 60s, pre-psychedelia, but still hippie, is great, for many of those still alive were able to share their stories: everyone from David Crosby, who's lucky to be alive and comes off as one of the best storytellers in the film, to one of Tom Petty’s last interviews.

My favorite story is where Michelle Phillips of The Mamas and The Papas reveals that “Go Where You Want To Go” is about her, and anything but hippie. It is also nice to hear a Beach Boys tribute, with Brian Wilson saying his piece, that glorifies the music and not his disability.

What isn’t so great is the tribute concert. This is the first thing I’ve really liked from Jakob Dylan, not to mention Beck, as Beck and the others just sing without being affected, but the tributes are too reverential. The songs would’ve benefited from being a little looser and riskier. In that sense the soundtrack is better, as songs not included in the film are on it, some being the best of the bunch, like Love’s “No Matter What You Do,” and Dylan and Neil Young harmonizing on the Beach Boys' “I Guess I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times.”

But don’t let the concert stop you from seeing the film. Some of the best music of the 60s was made in that scene, and much of it’s enduring and influential. The Beatles wouldn't have sounded the way they did without that scene.

It also prefigured the Laurel Canyon scene of the 70s with Joni Mitchell and Carole King. So if you want some good rock history, and good fun, see this film.

Andrea Weiss

Simi

Simi Stone

The Rescue

Self-Released

Stone is new to me. I first heard her as a member of the New Pornographers when I saw them live in April of 2017. What I remember of her performance that night was how well she fitted in, and how well she sang, and played the violin and various percussion instruments.

This is her latest album. She has worked in other musical styles, most notably Afro-punk, as a member of the band Suffrajett. The Rescue is very folky R&B, almost folk music with a backbeat. It's very modern, very romantic, and very good. I like its effortless smoothness, its soulfulness, and how it blends current and traditional themes of love and life.

The Rescue is very worth your while. If she tours with TNP again, especially if she joins the band, catch her.

Andrea Weiss

Richard Nixon

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