Shiny Objects — No. 8

1. Deutschland83

Sundance TV is the place to see this terrific German-language series set in Cold War 1983. Jonas Nay is the charming star of this multi-layered spy story set in East and West Germany amid intense threat of nuclear war. There are all kinds of plot twists and switchbacks that will keep you guessing. The series — which Grantland’s Andy Greenwald has proclaimed the best TV series of the summer — is five episodes into an eight-episode run (at least for the first season).Underlying the storylines is the penetration of synthpop into pop culture at that time, and listeners my age will fondly remember some of those songs (including “99 Luftballons”). There’s a great scene where Nay’s character — who grew up insulated from progress in East Germany — discovers the joys of

Click to read more ...

Shiny Objects — No. 7

Once again, long time between installments. All I can say is I have never been busier with family, work and school. But here are a few things that have caught my attention since our last visit -- and you shouldn’t be surprised that music is the constant that keeps me going in these long periods between posts.

1. “Play On: Power Pop Heroes, Vol. 1 and 2”

Author/musician Ken Sharp has released the first two installments of a planned three-volume history of power pop music. I’ve finished the 520-page Volume 1, which covers the mid-1960s to 1974 and am a third through the beastly 772-page Volume 2, which covers the golden age of power pop, from the mid-1970s through mid-1980s. For afficionados of power pop, this is heaven.

Click to read more ...

Shiny Objects -- No. 6

Yeah, I know I've been lax in posting. Life has just been crazy busy. All apologies. Here's just a taste of all that's been consuming me. 

1. Snizl

TBC Media and The Bakersfield Californian is partnering with British app maker Snizl to offer Bakersfield real-time deals and events listings.

The Snizl app (details on how to download for iOS and Android here) allows you to take advantage of last-minute deals on the go. And if you’re a business owner or event organizer, you can publicize you event for as little as $10.

2. “High Stakes & Dangerous Men: The UFO Story”

Click to read more ...