TCP/IP

A. O. Scott on The Lorax.  An extremely satisfying review.

David Denby on Alec Guinness as George Smiley.  I concur!  But I also credit the full cast of the BBC adaptation of Tinker Tailor.  The first and utterly incredible scene lacks Guinness. (YouTube.)  Alex Ross loves Ian Richardson, but my man is Bernard Hepton. 

Jeff Turrentine on Paul McCartney and other rock stars singing standards.  I'll be looking for more from Turrentine's byline after reading this great piece. 

I listened to Kisses on the Bottom a little bit:  it's harmless but disappointing. "Jazz greats, including vocalists, have always understood that a standard is simply a vessel into which an artist pours her unique essence," writes Turrentine, and the essence of the very great McCartney is not to be found on Kisses on the Bottom.  The production of "My Valentine," McCartney's new song written in an older style, is amazingly bland.  Diana Krall's vague piano clavé is particularly inexplicable.  (I would have unhesitatingly put a backbeat in there, myself.) 

03/03/2012

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