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Tuesday, August 5, 2025
TOP SHELF PRODUCTIONS shares two new works
Sunday, August 3, 2025
A Word
By Alex Ness
August 4, 2025
This isn't about should be, should have been or what is or is not. The suggestion is how powerful a word is that both positive use and negative use result in cancellations in media, culture and memory. Are there words like this that have such power? Some might point to the attitude towards the Jews that led to the Holocaust, but the term Juden is a legitimate word, meaning Jew in the language considered. We live in dangerous times, but hardly less dangerous when considering genocide and other political terms that have power, when used less surgically accurate.
The N word, used without mincing the full use to a letter, destroyed one white person's fame and reputation. It destroyed the future of a band, of different ethnicities who used it to demonstrate how it feels to be on the end of the use of that word. But it also then led to fear of more such instances, censorship and more. While Paula Deen honestly admitted to using the word in her past, and mentioned how the days she referred to were deeply different now over those days. Whether she used it beyond the past was generally why her honest response about the past wasn't used to forgive use in the near present. People even used this objection to her, when really not liking the food she cooked, or attitude towards healthy and unhealthy foods.
There are, of course, in both cases, people who find it convenient to blame the use of the word for not liking or agreeing with someone, when they already weren't fans. This blog tries to consider the media of our culture. The word in question is rightfully reviled. When racists and honorable users are both destroyed by the word, it means, a word was used that we still cannot understand the depths, and of the shame of it. The debate continues... but I don't expect things to get better, however much I think we become more aware of how it has lingered in the depths of our society's gut.
THE WORD
BLESSID UNION OF SOULS song I BELIEVE
Paula Deen Her Wikipedia page
Friday, August 1, 2025
INSPIRATIONS
By Alex Ness
August 2, 2025
PEOPLE
Ken St Andre is a friend. We have some shared interest and we shared works between us at times. He has created many games, adventures and settings. He is one creator who has heavily contributed to the world of gaming in general, and as a librarian for many years, he has helped his local region of Arizona in the pursuit of knowledge.
He has a heart of optimism, and has helped pick me up from the floor when I have been down on myself, or depressed over the health challenges I have had. He is someone who has counted steps and took on his own health challenges and few people who I know have been so regular in his efforts.
I am writing this to laud Ken's constant curiosity in life, his kindness, and how he has had an affect upon me. Here are some links:
2015 Interview
2022 Interview
Review and Commentary about Ken's Lord Dunsany tribute
ART
Art has inspired many different people. Some people, who believe in very limited governance, think that art is pointless and are offended by civilian government support of the arts. Some view art as having value beyond measure, as a message, as a symbol, and as an expression of human emotion and event. Jackson Pollock referred to modern art as being about emotional response to existential fears of the human race. Other artists presented works looking exactly like the scene they viewed.
But abstract expression and art showing every day life however great, are not working to inspire role playing gamers, and readers of fantasy. Some art is especially powerful and might link to a game, in the form of the characters on the scene, the world the art expresses inspires writers of such worlds, by seeing a directly vivid worlds the human eye had previously not viewed. I was going to present a much larger article, with works by Picasso, Munch, Dali and many more. However as we are chatting fantasy, I decided to limit this discussion to fantasy art, and as an excuse to post a large image showing some great fantasy art. Artists with work displayed are Emmanuel, Chris Achilléos, Peter Andrew Jones, Brom. All of these artists create works that are beautiful or highly successful showing monsters, heroes, battles, armies, magic, and far more. (All of them are shown in the manner of Fair use, and no copyright challenge is in any way asserted.)
In the US only, brand new books sent postage paid
Two books, newly released. One featuring Poetry, Prose and Images about Lost Kingdoms like Atlantis, with co contributor Peter Urkowitz. He did great work, and his poems are quite fun. The book goes for 12 dollars over on Amazon.
My next book is a collection of poems about the Viking world, using a term for the title, Sigr, which is an ancient term meaning Victory. It is a thick collection of poems, that goes for 8 dollars. It is only available through me.
Take both books $19 postage paid. Contact me at alexanderness63 at Gmail dot com.
For all your printing needs, Matt at Speed Print Inc. is amazing.
My Poetry AlexNessPoetry.Blogspot.Com
This place Poplitiko.Blogspot.Com
My published WORKS
Social Media
https://bsky.app/profile/alexanderness63.bsky.social
https://x.com/alexnesspoetry
Tuesday, July 29, 2025
CURRENT READING EXPERIENCES
News and Thoughts
By Alex Ness
July 29, 2025
NEWS
I recently will have a lot of work removing my teeth, all of which died from radiation for cancer. In many ways this is a good thing, as rotted teeth contributes to poor heart health. It also is a doorway to poor esteem, and extraordinary measures to hide the damage. It is painful, but I am ready.
Life offers opportunities to work with people, and I wanted to say how grateful I am to the people who I work with who get bombarded with ideas and projects that will never start. When I am writing, I tend to let loose the restraints upon me, and some people get trampled by the runaway words and thoughts.
I remain working on a sister site to create a way to limit the media considered and by doing that, we cover more works. It will be a group blog, if I can get it to work as such. The effort won't launch until the work is done to present works on a regular basis.
An event with me reading my lyrics to orchestrated new music by friend Aaron Kerr will happen on August 21 read just one story back to see the press announcement.
RECENT BOOK READS
Imagine a world where a series of great empires functioned but never connected. Trade and exchange are a cultural inheritance. Without such actions, human society would be armed camps, with no way to share what each other excelled at creating. My choice of books was meant to explore how China was a reached by Rome, and what transpired thereafter.
This reading mission was almost all academia level reading, but all of the books had great information and readability, well more than most others. China had a positive policy, somewhat like when the French believed that speaking French ennobled one's being. That is, China didn't demand things, didn't destroy those who didn't want to be contacted, they left gifts, offered ways to grow, and said, call us when you realize the wisdom in this. Marco Polo experienced many things on his travels, and while his book might include mythic subject matter, it did tell a story accurate for opening Asia to European interest and trade. Japan had a different path, when they began trading it was with limits of how far it could go, none could visit Japan, and violence did occur. Japan did develop across the sea from a great empire, so they had a way that was more assertive, militant even. All of the books were fascinating.
WRITERS WHO ARE SIMILAR IN STYLE
Below is an image collecting Ernest Hemingway, Robert Heinlein, Truman Capote, and Denis Johnson. They all wrote similarly, with spartan prose, sharp, economic with words, and straight to the point. I include books they've done, and the reason I mention this all, as I find the writing brilliant, and fulfilling. But are1 these my most favorite authors? No. For a favorite lists I wouldn't choose a singular style. You'd be missing Yukio Mishima, Albert Camus, Lord Dunsany, Robert E. Howard, Clark Ashton Smith, Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe, Alan Dean Foster and so many more.
The reason I post this isn't just my enjoyment of the style, it is much more, it is wondering how many other groups of writers, according to style I appreciate. There are many authors I am drawn toward, but subject matter, style, depth of experience reading them, lead me to believe, there is more in each group than I know. Leading me to think about the list for other media perhaps too. I believe in areas of life, finding a partner who is different leads to dynamic personal growth, as one sharpens the other in debate. But it is a subject with more to learn within it.
FOR SALE
$29 dollars in cover price, plus post, would be a $35 purchase ordinarily. But if you live in America, I will offer the 5 books for $24 total, postage included. I have four sets of these I can sell, so write to alexanderness63 at gmail.com to order, paypal, check if I know you, and cash accepted.
For all your printing needs, Matt at Speed Print Inc is amazing.
My Poetry AlexNessPoetry.Blogspot.Com
My Archive of works published, FIND HERE
This place Poplitiko.Blogspot.Com
Social Media
https://bsky.app/profile/alexanderness63.bsky.social
https://x.com/alexnesspoetry
Sunday, July 27, 2025
A Reading of my Poetry and Music by
ANNOUNCING
By Alex Ness
July 28, 2025
I wrote many poems, perhaps a 100, I have memory loss and numbers are particularly hard to recall without something to connect to the question. My friend Aaron Kerr who is a familiar face on this site, with Swallows, Dissonant Creatures and many other works of his musical arts. We had discussions, and ideas, good ones, but I tended to be too pessimistic for his interest, however much he appreciated what I was thinking towards doing. But we traded books for CDs, and stuff, and he later said he loved the books of Ancient History and World History. I said, 10 poems per subject, about ancient people? He said that really sounds like a go.
Did I write lyrics? I wrote words to evoke a period, a people and the events of their existence. If it was left as printed poems in the album notes, that was cool, but he framed music around the lyrics, and I'll appear on stage, to read what I've written, accompanied by amazing music.
It is an ongoing work and I am fortunate to have Aaron and the Swallows gang in my life. Along with my bestie Russ, each of the members of Swallows are bright, positive thinking and devoted to craft and their creative life. I tend to become fatalistic because the chronic pain makes me know, I am upon a temporary passage, and death might interrupt plans. With this group of people, I have reasons to hope, and they remind me often, inviting me to linger in hope, happiness and creative joy.
Click the image for a larger version.
Questions about the event...
"Is it free?" No.
"Will you have CDs or Vinyl to sell?" Not me, this is the first public appearance of our project and I will have many of my books to sell, and I will bring most of them, but I have nothing for sale in the music world.
I include this because it was stupid and funny... "If I attend and become so moved and throw my undergarments at you, will you dedicate a poem to me?" Oh HELL no. (The person sending that is an old, fat, male, good friend. He was being silly.)
If you are on my social media and attending from news shared there, let me know, and I will give you a discount on the book or books you may be buying.
For all your printing needs, Matt at Speed Print Inc is amazing.
My Poetry AlexNessPoetry.Blogspot.Com
This place Poplitiko.Blogspot.Com
Social Media
https://bsky.app/profile/alexanderness63.bsky.social
https://x.com/alexnesspoetry
Monday, July 21, 2025
When Music broke Racism
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"Strange Fruit
by Lewis Allen (pseudonym)
Southern trees bear strange fruit,
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root,
Black bodies swinging in the Southern breeze,
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.
Pastoral scene of the gallant South,
The bulging eyes and twisted mouth,
The scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh,
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh.
Here is a fruit for the crows to pluck,
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck,
For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop,
Here is a strange and bitter crop."
(copyright unknown and used as fair use, no assertions of ownership implied)
This was sung by Billie Holiday in 1939, about lynchings in the south, and outraged those who proudly clung to segregation as well as those in the North unaware of the numerous African Americans slain by such practices. It was not a legal entity nor was it a maker of great amounts of money. But it stands in America as one of the first great challenges of what is true but unspoken, in mass entertainment.
Billie Holiday had an incredible voice, was a woman of grace and intelligence, and is a hero to many for many reasons. For me she shines in being willing to make people notice something they'd rather ignore, but should in fact stare upon.
This link may change, as things do on Youtube, but it should never be unavailable. It is a cultural gem.
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
REVIEWS and some books adapted badly into film
THREE CD REVIEWS & bad movies made from better books
By Alex Ness
July 18, 2025
Easy to Enjoy! Edith Piaf, Anderson Charles
"EDITH PIAF The Platinum Edition" represents a large collection of a French singer, who was very popular, had fans across the globe, and who was at times controversial. Her two biggest international songs, I've been told are La Vie en Rose meaning to live seeing through a rose colored tint, and Non, je ne regrette rien, a song expressing a solidarity with certain factions, and not regretting anything done during that time. It was taken as a slogan and song to represent 1er Régiment Etranger de Parachutistes, 1er REP An elite unit of the French Foreign Legion who had refused orders and essentially mutinied, due to their disagreement with a French referendum regarding the Algerian war of Independence. The songs in this collection are very much well chosen, have good quality of sound, and have for 60 or more years since being made, are of a technically good quality. Do I think you would like it? It depends of course on where on the timeline your musical interest falls, but I definitely love it. The Non, je ne regrette rien is a favorite all time song of mine, and I often cry upon hearing it. But if it is French language and old, most Americans won't dig it.
"ANDERSON CHARLES: It's getting late" The genre of this CD is authentic Americana, with truly lovely songs, meanings and emotions. An opening song, Hillbilly Cats go to Mardi Gras is a delightful work with spunk and knowing, of happiness and youth. I liked it very much. As such it is emblematic of the whole of the work, intelligent, new while being reminiscent of past vibes. This entire work has a collection of good music and interesting lyrics. The song "A Gorgeous Mess" is a reminder of days when the worst part of life was paying taxes and feeling stalled for a future, but living in a moment of gilded youth. A voice reminds us of a woman he fancies, and every time she visits the bar he sees her coming in with a new beau, and he desires that she changes the beau, if it could be him. The work here is truly worth listening to, it is good. I am grateful for the review copy, and it lives up to the lovely art that appears on the cover.
It can be heard on various digital platforms, but if you like what you hear, buy it to support the artist in future endeavors.
You can contact Chuck here
Powerful Sounds!
CASSINI ECHOES: the only way out is through
Begun as the Sleeper Pins, moved to Layers and Layers at last, Cassini Echoes are the latest phase of evolution in the life of some truly beautiful and moving music.
Tyson Allison is a special voice and music writer, however loud the music, how apt the lyric, how painful the emotion or deep the love, there is nothing out of place, or imperfect. This CD takes at least two songs that were in earlier CDs, and has made both better. Black Swans is one, I'm Gonna Write a Song if it Kills me is two. The myriad of fantastically personal lyrics meets cellos, piano, drums and guitars, is good throughout. Too loud for folk, too quiet for rock, it defies labels, and when listening to the whole work, if you haven't felt your heart rise, raise your hands in grace and thanks, or smile, you might need a defibrillator. That is surely hyperbole, but in this case, however outrageous it seems, I think it is true. There is not a song that didn't move me.
https://www.cassiniechoes.com/
Good or Really Good Books interpreted in film poorly
EXIT TO EDEN Anne Rice in book form is about naughty lifestyles and characters seeking hedonistic activities. The movie of the same title is a badly played buddy comedy with a badly rewritten take on the world and setting, and characters of the novel. I'd read it since a friend said it was well written and not a romance, despite outward appearances. While still not my taste area, I really do like Anne Rice's words. I watched the movie since I thought it could be an interesting premise and expanded to the original premise jewelry theft. But it wasn't anything good. It was poorly acted, poorly interpreted and not at all funny, it was used as an excuse to see nearly nude people making stupid comments. Think 50 Shades of Gray with the two main characters played by Phyllis Diller, and Bobcat Goldthwait.
The book PROPHECY features a work by David Seltzer but it is a novelization of the film. However, Seltzer was the the creator of the concept and movie, so, it was way better than most novels that are adaptations. He knew his own story and wrote a good one in prose. But the movie, this is not cheese, it is crap. Poor effects, a wandering plot, and mostly bad acting, Talia Shire was the exception, I would not recommend this. The creature is a mutant from all the toxic pollution in the region's wood industry. And as monsters go, it should be a scary one, but it was a bear with jiggly flesh trying to kill, hurt, or scare humans. It was miserable.
FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC is a work written by VC Andrews, an author who was rather popular. But it looks different from a distance. It isn't a (healthy) romance. It isn't a mystery. It approaches horror, but it goes about things in a way that draw the reader in further, as a subtle horror movie would. Was the tragedy followed about an accident but innocent event, or was it murder? Was it romantic love? Was it greed? You go find out I am not spoiling things. But the 1987 movie was a crap fest. It managed to not tell the whole story, ignores the hiccups of plot holes due to self censoring, and missing out on why the book had a major focus but this movie skirts around the weird dynamic. VC Andrews wasn't my favorite writer. But if you going to tell her story, try following the work you are adapting.
CUJO by Stephen King and about a dog that becomes a killer due to being infected by a bat bite in the outdoors. Initially the dog is mentally slow, and sluggish, but ultimately, he is overtaken by the virus, and he is shown to have become rabid. The book itself is a well told, but less so than King's other works. Perhaps I don't find myself moved by what is a story about a dog killing people. The movie was worse however, in that it doesn't express fear, but violence and blood. It might be close to true to the novel, with one or two small changes. But, since it is a movie, one may be of the opinion that a movie might be expected to be more action oriented, and still able to reflect that characters in the book. In this film, I can't even remember the human characters. And I only saw the movie in the last two years...
NIGHTWING by Martin Cruz Smith I enjoyed the book, but never saw it as horror. So, if I was to judge it based on did it succeed in horror? No. Was it interesting and new for me? Yes. A shaman of sorts tells his foster son he wove a spell for the world to die that night. But there have been waves of bats from the nearby caverns, who have killed others. Setting a choice of believing the curse was real, and happening, or a natural event. It wasn't natural, but you can read and find out what it was. The film was horror, but did not do it well. The feeling of horror and setting failed. The special effects in all areas were flimsy. I watched on first run of the film, and fell asleep. As a much older man I watched and thought, I missed my nap. Nonetheless, the book was far better, horror or not.
For all your printing needs, Matt at Speed Print Inc. is amazing.
My Poetry AlexNessPoetry.Blogspot.Com
This place Poplitiko.Blogspot.Com
My published WORKS
Social Media
https://bsky.app/profile/alexanderness63.bsky.social
https://x.com/alexnesspoetry
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Recent Media Consumed and News
Movies and Stuff
By Alex Ness
July 16, 2025
NEWS
I had written this article weeks ago, but when Trump authorized bombing Iran, I delayed posting it. The reason being, I thought it possible far more serious events would be going on, making my post even more meaningless than the worst outlooks could perceive my work as being. Life, is not a predictable thing. I have done a lot of written works under a pseudonym, for non profit organizations, for grass roots political organizations, and others. I try to be an unbiased voice to help groups I think deserve to have the voice made greater. I did watch a great many movies in the last two months, I've begun covering music in shows, CDs, and enjoyment. It has changed my outlook in many ways, as I used to see more shows, in one summer saw the Replacements, Hüsker Du and many more, and worked many summer hours. It was in between college semesters and I was energetic, hopeful, and I didn't want to miss out on life.
With cancer in 2013, broken neck in 2019 and surgery for it in 2020, I'd retreated in life, from dealing with others. With five surgeries since 2020, lost the ability to move, sleep, or be active changed my being. If you saw my previous music show reviews, I feel as if I am being restored. If by music alone, that is worth noting, if I'm healing in body from other sources, that's cool too. I can't promise the path that the future offers, but it will have me moving forward.
When I am not watching, reading or listening to media, I write and have written over 6000 poems and poetry on AlexNessPoetry.Blogspot.Com and have many books published, both in fiction and non fiction, poetry, prose & comics. If you'd like to support my work, contact alexanderness63@gmail.com.
FIND MY PUBLISHED WORKS HERE
The change over to two focused sites over just one covering depends on opportunity and effort. I hope to change in late Summer.
MOVIES WATCHED IN RECENT VIEWINGS
I was interested in
watching numerous films with the Cold War as the setting, and focal
point. There was an alternative purpose for this, as I was invited to
help someone creating a one shot comic book with a political global
stalemate, that led to an arms race that includes giant robots. That is,
it went into the deeper future. However, the creative talent interested
in my participation looked to a real foundation for the situation, so
that when violence occurs, it would feel real, and it would have an
impact worth the attention given to it all.
FAIL SAFE is a
taut thriller where the action is only shown to illustrate the ongoing
human dialogue and considerations of the consequences of the p.o.v. of
enemies using nuclear weapons with little ability to fix mistakes once
made. The world is therefore kept in a terminal face off, with few means
to alter the forward path. This work is one that delivers a blow of
enormous power, it kills almost no warriors, only civilians, and most
with no knowledge of the war being carried out.
THE BEDFORD INCIDENT
is a work about a direct cat and mouse chase and acts of war in a war
that isn't active, declared or truly ongoing. It is a battle in
modernity that demonstrates that no matter how the wars are fought, it
is the perceived field of play that demands of the warriors a certain
kind of mind, and heart. In Bedford Incident the two antagonists are not
warriors locked in battle, it is the differences between two men
deciphering each man's view towards the ongoing "war" in a Cold War.
The acting, set, concept and story are truly exquisite.
The film THREADS
is not political work through analyses of politics leading to the
event. Rather, by showing the war as a disaster and creator of human
despair, all failed policies are illustrated. Despite this not being a
war film, as in constant fighting or the results and consequences of
showing effects of bombs falling, is war and shows combat, death, and
the consequences of the war's violence. Mostly, this is a documentary of
sorts showing what it doesn't fictionalize. It is a chilling work, as
it shows the results of failed policies leading to active war, and
consequences of using weapons that have no nuance, no way to use them
without complete disaster. The human suffering is enormous, and the
choices people make aren't by their own agency, but choices from limited
choices available. Human reproduction, hunger, suffering, and despair
are all greatly effected, in ways one might not have understood prior to
the event. I've heard people say this is a great film, and I don't,
necessarily, think it is a great work. But it was a work with a legacy
of having shown an unimaginable event, in very clear vision.
All three films belie common story telling, there are no easy concepts, lastly, if jingoistic language was used, it was not meant to express the film maker's voice. It was the background noise of humans dealing with a world that has stopped making sense.
KINSKI/HERZOG
I watched a great many films through my early to late 20s. In university I invested a great amount of time finding and watching film from Director Werner Herzog and actor Klaus Kinski. While I would not have thought, from simply viewing their works, they were said to greatly have disliked working with one another. The two were visionaries, and despite their issues with the other, the end results proved to be brilliant, even if by tortures they were achieved. Their collaborations, seem to have been achieved in service to a muse of frustration and pain. Their joint works, AGUIRRE: THE WRATH OF GOD, NOSFERATU THE VAMPYRE, FITZCARRALDO, WOYZECK, were masterworks. Aguirre and Nosferatu were both brilliant, dark and horrifying. And yet, I don't wish to view them again. The interplay between the characters of the cast, including Klaus Kinski evocatively shared the fears and hopes, drama of human hearts at war, and darkness.
THOSE STINKING NAZI BASTARDS! MOVIES WITH NAZI BAD GUYS
I usually watch history documentaries and films, regarding the subject of war, disaster, exploration and human behavior. But when I watch film that isn't about research or comfort, but just stuff to play in the background, recently I've chosen to watch six films that featured Nazis and a variety of ways in which they tried to win the war by alternative means, or were placed in a situation where they'd not normally be the protagonist, but it rarely turned out to be just that.
FRANKENSTEIN'S ARMY 2013
This is a story of Russian recon troops discovering a hidden and secret German lab. Within the lab the project is about former humans and now patchwork humans, sewed back together amidst the wounds. It is ok, didn't thrill or scare me, but ok.
SHOCK WAVES 1977
At the end of the Second World War, the Germans were desperate, and created beings who could fight in any environment, and at the end of the war, Allies assumed this group were created by the Nazi science. They disappeared from Europe and escaped the war's end... only to be found elsewhere. I first saw this a long time ago, and it scared me shitless, so even though it isn't great, it created a mood, a look, and had Peter Cushing in it, and John Carradine, as well as Brooke Adams... who I didn't necessarily watch the movie for her acting... Recent watching did not reward in horror or jump scares. But it was fun. This might be so bad it is good, but I liked it for more reasons than being cheesy.
THE BOYS FROM BRAZIL1978
This is not a film similar to the others on this list, it is a true horror that in ways could in fact happen. It is fiction, written by Ira Levin, author of Rosemary's Baby, but it anticipates DNA use, and a secret underground of Nazi science, and secret plans. A brilliant work and a scary one too.
THE KEEP 1983
In a backwater region of the 3rd Reich's territories an ancient tower, once used for ancient wars, now, is seen as cursed, and avoided. Until a passing Wehrmacht unit makes plans to use this tower as an area to make camp, and perhaps use in defense of the region. But the unit isn't going to fight Russians or partisans. It is a good enough film, but the book was substantially better. It was interesting in ways, and was made with quality. I think an honest remake using the original material would truly play well.
THEY SAVED HITLER'S BRAIN 1968
Imagine keeping der Fuhrer's brain alive, so that he might rule in the future. Would this be a seed to grow into the future, and the 4th Reich? If it had quality, it might have been ok, but it is pure cheese. I am not saying so bad it is good. It is so bad, it is bad.
DEAD SNOW 2009
This was not a fun film, despite calling itself a satire and comedy of horror films. A team of med students visit the Arctic for a ski vacation. And one by one, they discover who was there before them. (Hint, it was Nazis.) A zombie film that easily could have been better with a different focus.
CD Holy Blood Genre:
Unblack Metal
From: Ukraine
I am turning to doing more in the area of music as I blog. This was a subject I avoided in the past since I am mostly not a deep thinker in how music is made or what its roots and links are. My moods or intuition are what informs with music, and as such, it feels to me like I am saying, ummm I like it. But aside from how that is insufficient, I think most music, creative products, work that way at one level. One must build an understanding and enjoyment of what they write about.
In this case, I was a friend of Ukraine since long before the tragic wars with the tyrannical neighbor Russia. As such, I indulged in the food, the hockey team in the Donbass region. I listened to their speakers on World band Radio. And I was invited to listen to a Ukrainian band, of a genre of metal. Holy Blood is a Christian band, and utilizes the genre Black Metal (called Unblack Metal by the band in a lovely juxtaposition). It is loud, but rhythmic, with death metal growls, but it balances with that, Celtic and Nordic sounds and themes. I like it a great deal, and I especially appreciate that when the 2nd Ukraine War in 2022 began, they created a song called, We Know Who We Are, and it featured vast panoramic views of the country, waving of flags and you need not wonder their allegiances in the war. It moves me and plays into my sympathies as much as is the music to which I enjoy listening.
I know this is an acquired taste for many, and non starter for many people I know who claim Metal as a genre they enjoy, due to the language difference. I read the lyrics and eventually, I imagine the words, as there is no secret, they print them in English.
For all your printing needs, Matt at Speed Print Inc is amazing.
My Poetry AlexNessPoetry.Blogspot.Com
This place Poplitiko.Blogspot.Com
Social Media
https://bsky.app/profile/alexanderness63.bsky.social
https://x.com/alexnesspoetry
Sunday, June 29, 2025
Writer, Artist, Editor, Publisher Jim Shooter passes at age 73
SHOOTER's BLOG
SHOOTER'S Life
Jim Shooter
Born September 27, 1951
In Pittsburgh Pa, U.S.A.
Died June 30, 2025 Cause of death: Cancer
Jim Shooter was an active part of the comic book industry starting at 13/14 years old. He had new ideas, a desire to bring comics into a modern professional industry. In doing so, and beyond, he gained allies and he also had many enemies. As such I'm not saying anything about him in this, other than he was a creative talent, understood the administrative part of the industry and was memorable for many reasons.
His work was featured at DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Acclaim/Valiant Comics, Defiant Comics, Broadway Comics, Dark Horse Comics, and more.
Condolences to his family, friends and fans of his work.
Below find a sample of comics created by Jim Shooter and others... all images are asserted as fair use. No copyright asserted.
Friday, June 13, 2025
AARON KERR's DISSONANT CREATURES... Live Show Review MAY 4th performance, Uptown Minneapolis, Minnesota
AARON KERR's DISSONANT CREATURES
May 4, 2025 ELK's Club #34
A REVIEW
By Alex Ness
June 16, 2025
Aaron Kerr & Dissonant Creatures play live from their new album.
The band Swallows are a highly talented group of musicians, accompanying Jeff Crandall lead vocal, as well as creating songs, in both lyrics and musical composition. The band is lovely, powerful and it is an organism all its own. Vast areas of fusion, genres, and dedication to their craft they are an invader into our calm, passive world.
Over time the group expanded their footprint in music by creating individual splinter groups. The character of each group is an expression of the Swallows member, as lead creative force. Last week I covered Jeff Crandall's J.Briozo imprint, and Brett Hansen's band Side Effects. Both are very different in result but J.Briozo's studio presence reveals members from Swallows in various roles. Side Effects is a three instrument punk band, so I've no idea how they'd incorporate members of the collective.
Similar to Swallows, Dissonant Creatures is a band of many genres, and all have aspects of something greater, perhaps even unexpected. They create new music, in doing so capture bountiful moments of awe in the listener. They work in the genres of rock, jazz, classical, opera and more. Aaron Kerr is an enormously talented composer, cellist, and more. His work is as much an individual statement of style and character, while using many instruments and genres. Band's members include those from other bands, especially that of including Swallows, as well as J. Briozo and Side Effects. Watching him direct the orchestra is fun, but when he plays as one of the collective, the project gains deeper veins of power, unique cello sounds and a direction that is joyful, building upon hope and beauty. There is in this music a tribal verve, a thunder in bass and drums, and despite a lack of lyrics, one perceives the impact and power.
There was not a single moment that the music didn't enthrall my mind, and it led to a feeling of hope and beauty, but also, a sense of a great moment composed by a creator. How was I so fortunate to be in that moment, at that time, hearing that music? I daresay, being grateful was the highest feeling that I came away from with. It isn't to lessen any other feeling or thought, but it felt like unique sounds, a unique talent collective, and a moment of exceptional gravity.
Jazz is often thought to be smooth jazz, oriented towards groovy vibes and relaxation. Or it is thought entirely experimental, but it is not that in this case. Dissonant Creatures might well like being thought of in false genres, they tend to both exalt in rebellion, and come together in pure brilliance. This power jazz but I have no idea if that is used term. But I will say, it is the tough guy on the block, it is going to eat your lunch, and take your lunch money. If you could fall asleep to this, you have sleep deprivation and issues. I speak from having sleep deprivation, and I promise, it is not possible to sleep with this on. It is Rock, hard or otherwise, mostly yes. But if it was released to radio and had no editorial description prior to beginning, most people would call it Rock, even as they'd be wrong in that there also. This is a group of talented creative minds and bodies who create here a powerful moment of expression. I discuss the genre, in fact, because as I am writing this because I've tried to slap a label on it, and cannot.
Two songs were amazing, equally to the rest, but stood out for me. They were Unstoppable, and Bag of Metal. Unstoppable was a moment of deep drum and bass going before the rest joined in, and it had an unique way of telling of the approach of an experience. The song itself featured each player, but more so, it demonstrated the way of composition, as Kerr no doubt used this song to send a message, of the message it said, follow and listen. Mike Norby is a very talented creator of music, in percussion and mandolin. But the song Bag of Metal featured him striking metal, with metal, and that aesthetic led to a song that was dramatic, epic, and beautiful. As the last point of this discussion suggests, it led me to creating the story of it, in poetic form. I am uncertain if I have ever been so moved in a concert. But ... I have now been so moved.
Playlist for the show
Unstoppable (not found on the album)
Zen and Alchemy
Scorpio Rising
Head Down, Slowly Onward
Born Bad
This is Going to Hurt a Little
Sick Fusion
Giants in the Earth
Floor of the Sky
Find More at DISSONANT CREATURES
This is the poem that arose in my heart and mind during and after Bag of Metal was performed.
STEEL STRIKING STEEL
In a land of vast potential, a true people rose
Bearing the blood of explorers, and warriors
Striving to provide a land that was their own
This great nation of miners and steelworkers
Would be crushed for expressing a solidarity
Though great in numbers, endings were cruel
And in the echo of time, you will hear sounds
Of steel being bent to the needs of the people
Of coal being harvested, as well as the wheat
With a booming sound of steel striking stones
Of the scythe sweeping grain to feed the land
They'd rise as one, together, hearing the call
But a high ideal is often too far away to reach
The Czar's secret police made Siberia a cage
As did the Commissars and KGB in the time
The inevitable rise of this people occurred
Despite the sound of steel on steel, a cruelty
Shaking the people again, and a lead to war
The land had purpose, one that steel defines
It will call to the future, in ways to progress
It will always include the true sound of steel
Striking steel, scythe cutting grains, in hope
Alex Ness ©2025
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Thursday, June 12, 2025
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