Smithsonian Music The Definitive Visual History

Music has existed since the dawn of mankind.  Simple beats and rhythms first played with sticks, bones and stones and accompanied by guttural singing slowly evolved over the centuries to the sophisticated synthesized and plethora of music styles that exist today.

From its humble beginning music has grown to encompass every nation, people and style imaginable.  Each society has crafted its own unique music as has each century seen music instruments that have long vanished and evolved into the familiar percussion, string, brass and wood instrument prevalent today.

DK Publishing presents The Definitive Visual History of music starting with early man and leaping the centuries from the Middle Ages to the Modern Age.

Chapters not only cover the decades and century of music’s evolution but the musicians most responsible for its growth.

Photos and art illustrate that musical instruments, music, compositions, musician and cultures that personify the essence of music. Follow the history of music on a scale of time and explore the many faces sound and voice.

Marvel at the Middle Age, the Renaissance and Reformation, the Baroque Period, Nationalism, the Romantic Period and the Modern Age musical melody of time.  Learn about music from around the globe, the instruments used, the type of music played from Jazz to Tribal and discover the masters of Modern music and how they changed the face of music.

It’s a wonderful, melodic and harmonious rhapsody of music and you’re invited along for the ride.  To any one who loves music, plays music or just likes to sing along, Smithsonian Music The Definitive Visual History is the perfect book to read and enjoy.

As a teacher I can envision this book being a staple in any music department’s library of reference books.

LEGO Minifigure Year By Year A Visual History

Decades ago the manufacturer of LEGO bricks found itself in a conundrum.  LEGO sets were selling like hotcakes but while youngsters could create buildings, vehicles and the like a very important component was missing—people.

LEGO came up with a clever solution: simple one piece figures that snapped into place on LEGO bricks-problem solved-or was it?

LEGO fans loved the  figures and wanted more complex figures-figures that were articulated and depicted more than a generic one-size-fits-all.

LEGO took its customers’ advice and began creating small figures with more personality and variety.  Soon figures popped up that depicted families and occupations.  It wasn’t long before figures took on themes such as pirates, spacemen, superheroes, movie themes, fantasy and specifically designed genres exclusive to LEGO.

Hard to believe that from a simple beginning in the early 1970s that LEGO figures would branch out to cover such diverse genres as Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, Lord The Rings, Ninjas, Batman and DC Comics along with specialized LEGO playsets based around the same themes. 

Literally thousands of figures have been created since those early days, some are which are very rare and very valuable.

DK (Dorling Kindersley) Publishing and authors Gregory Farshtey and Daniel Lipkowitz present the oversize hardbound book: LEGO Minfigure Year By Year A Visual History.

In it readers and LEGO fans are given a year-by-year tour starting with the genesis of and continuing up to recent times of the LEGO Minifigures history.

Full color photos of figures are accompanied by insightful text explaining the evolution of LEGO Minifigures, and their slow transformation from simple block figures to extravagant sculpted and highly collectible figures.

To sweeten the deal the book comes with three LEGO Minifigures: a Stormtrooper, Townsperson and Robber.

This more than just a book about LEGO Minifigures, it’s a time capsule of the past 40 plus years as reflected by the trends and pop culture phenomenon of each decade.

Sports Illustrated Baseball’s Greatest

It’s been called ‘America’s Pastime.’  Kids from all over the United States play it in sandlots, vacant lots, backyards, fields and in Little Leagues.  All they need is a willingness to play, a bat, a ball, mitts and bases and they’re ready to play America’s sport: baseball.

 

Kids across America grow up dreaming to be a professional baseball player-some even make it.  Thousands of other baseball fans crowd stadiums and huddle in front of TV sets or listen by radio to nine innings of play-by-play action.  Baseball is America’s sport.  It’s ingrained into our culture subconscious like Mom and apple pie.

America’s pastime is infectious, so much so that it has spread across the globe popping up in countries all over the world.  More than a home town phenomenon, baseball has gone international.

Where’s there’s baseball there are baseball players.  Everyone has their favorite players, teams, management, stadiums, etc.  But, who and what are they greatest among these?

Fans will argue for hours about whom or what are the greatest.  It’s part of what makes baseball so endearing to fans.

Sports Illustrated seeks to pick out the ‘greatest’ in its new book called: Baseball’s Greatest. The oversize hardbound, coffee table book is jammed packed with photos and statistics about the ‘greatest’ in baseball.

Pitchers, basemen, outfielders, hitters, catchers, sluggers, managers, games, franchises, runners, lefties and ballparks:  they’re all covered in full detail accompanied by photos and articles. 

If you love baseball you need to read this book.  Grab some hotdogs, soda and peanuts, sit back, put your favorite team’s cap on and get ready to relive the greatest moments, locations, people and magic that are baseball.  “Batter up!”

Bandfuse

I can’t help but believe that my son, who is a professional musician, would be impressed by Realta Entertainment Group’s new Bandfuse Rock Legends video game for PS3. In fact, I plan on sharing the video game with him when we go to visit him in Tennessee. 

As for me I was pleasantly surprised on how easily I picked up the video game that incorporates guitar, bass and vocals.

To be honest when it comes to music I’m lucky I can play the radio.  After playing Bandfuse I feel like hitting the road and cranking out some good old Rock and Roll!  And Rock and Roll it has-in spades!  Legendary bands like Blue Oyster cult. Kansas and dozens more make up the mix along with hot new groups and artists such as Coldplay, Red Fang and Sublime.  Whatever your Rock and Roll fantasy you’ll find the perfect mix.

WOW!  Where do I start?  The main thing that impressed me about Bandfuse is that it uses real instruments.  Bass or guitar, whatever your instrument, you play along with Bandfuse.  This ain’t no pretend guitar video game!  You learn as you go and just like when you take guitar lessons you start out slow, build your skill and add licks and chords as you go.

Choose your mode be it Concert or otherwise.  Tune up using a wide range of tuning tools just like in s real session.  Make adjustments to your pedals, amp, and guitar and even select the type of song you want to play by genre.  Soft or Hard Rock, Blues-you name it-you can play it.  All it takes is patience, practice, concentration and Bandfuse.

Sing along, choose your music era, read the liner notes, listen to the professionals and pick your Career Mode.  This is what playing music is all about.  Forget the fancy lessons; forget shelling out big bucks for very little results.  Listen, learn and play as Bandfuse takes your from novice to Rock God.  

Jam with the legends like Slash, Bootsy Collins, Zack Wild.  Up to four players can jam out.  Are you ready to Rock an Roll!?  Plug in and pump out the music!  You’ll feel as if you’re in a real concert or studio.  Bandfuse is what other Rock and Roll video games wish they were.  Time to take home the real thing.

AH-1S Cobra Chopper ‘Kisarazu Special 2013’

Hasegawa Hobby Kits’ new AH-1S Cobra Chopper ‘Kisarazu Special 2013’ is a chopper with some serious chops.  Just one look and you’ll soon come to realize that is one whirly bird that has some serious ordinance and firepower that you don’t want to mess with

It may be decorated and painted up to look innocent enough but behind those bright colors, flashy type and adorable Manga/Anime figures is enough firepower to take out any opposition.

The Limited Edition, 1:72 Scale Chopper takes some serious chops to put together.  This ain’t no novice model maker model!  A steady hand and an eye for detail are required when it comes to gluing, painting and decaling this baby.

The AH-1S Cobra Chopper was developed for the Japanese during the Vietnam War. It’s a ground-weapon helicopter with front-end modifications where the pilot and front gunner sit in tandem.  

Side wing stabilizers, door hinge rotor and Emerson turret with machine gun or cannon make it true predator of the sky.  Heavy armor and a more powerful engine allow the Cobra to withstand light firepower attacks and maintain higher speeds and carry a heavier payload. All this and it looks great too!

Nine part trees come in the model box along with a full sheet of colorful decals.  Assembly, paint and decal instructions make putting the model together easy when strictly adherred to.

Parts detach easily from the part trees with little or no flashing, decals apply smoothly with little fuss and gluing is made more precise when instructions are followed.
Isn’t it time you got some ‘chops’?  

Alter Ego #122, January

The big news story this issue of Alter Ego, from TwoMorrows Publishing, is celebrating the now defunct magazine Comics Buyer’s Guide with lots of commentaries by former CBG writers and contributors.  Other articles include the following list including photos and art.

 

Editorial: A Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Buyer’s Guide(s)

Comic Fandom Archive: Fandom Before TBG

Bill Schelly’s brief overview of comics adzines prior to the dawn’s early Alan Light.

TBG/CBG: A Pocket History

An overview of the Buyer’s Guide, 1971-2013, by Brent Frankenhoff & John Jackson Miller.

The Buyer’s Guide For Comics Fandom

Alan Light on how he created, built, and eventually sold fandom’s most successful adzine.

Remembering The Buyer’s Guide

Murray Bishoff illuminates his time as Alan Light’s go-to guy on TBG.

“Beautiful Balloons,” Volume 3, #1

Maggie Thompson recalls her and Don’s days as co-editors of CBG—and way before!

Bountiful If Brief Reminisces of TBG & CBG

15 short memoirs by Brent Frankenhoff, Terry Beatty, Stephan Friedt, Russ Maheras, Fred

Hembeck, John Lustig, Bob Ingersoll, Batton Lash, Mark Evanier, Cliff Biggers, Ward Batty,

Andrew (“Captain Comics”) Smith, Charles R. Rutledge, R.C. Harvey, & Johnny Lowe.

Mr. Monster’s Comic Crypt Buyer’s Guide Scrapbook

Michael T. Gilbert relates his own sojourn with both incarnations of the long-lived adzine.

Four Easy Pieces Created for CBG #1700

Regular columnists Tony Isabella, Michelle Nolan, Craig (“Mr. Silver Age”) Shutt, & Peter

David present material that would’ve been in CBG #1700—if they’d had the chance!

FCA [Fawcett Collectors Of America] #173

P.C. Hamerlinck presents tributes to—and a hilarious story by—TBG‘s Alan Jim Hanley.