'Bookends'

If someone were to create an All-Hangers On band, Ringo Starr would be the drummer adn Art Garfunkel would be vocalist.

I don't know what to think of Simon and Garfunkel. As a kid, I fell in love with some of their melodies as some of the most beautiful songs ever written. As I grew and listened to them more and more, I grew tired of them. I fell out of love.

Frankly, I listen to "Bookends" and all I think about is the scene in "Almost Famous" when Frances McDormand catches Zooey Deschanel with a copy of the record underneath her coat and declares both Simon and Garfunkel as "high."

"America" is almost a perfect song.

'The Slider'

I believe it's shocking how much cred T. Rex and Marc Bolan gets from legitimate musical artists.

To me, it's polished, corporate rock. It's fake raw. You can distort your guitars all you want, but in the end you're Boston with worse vocals.

'I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight'

I have a new favorite album.

After about two and a half listens, Richard and Linda Thompson's "I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight" has shot up into the top 20 records of all time in my book.

The melodies are fantastic, siding a bit more on the American folk and rock side than on the Fairport Convention-y British folk (although there's still some there). It's melodic without being sugary sweet. The vocals are sublime as both Thompsons know how to play to each other's registers and harmonize like mockingbirds.

It's a really honest, true record. It's easy to sink your teeth into and digest. It's something to invest in. It's not bankrupt.

'The Philadelphia Story'

It's amazing watching arguably the greatest actors in the world on one screen.

To me, Cary Grant plays Cary Grant. A lot like George Clooney seems to play himself in a lot of ways in terms of mannerisms, interacting with others, etc.

Katharine Hepburn is clearly fantastic and always exuded a certain class and dignity as a starlet.

But the real classic performances in "The Philadelphia Story" is Jimmy Stewart and Virginia Weidler.

Stewart, certainly, is one of the top 5 actors ever. He's funny and his physical attributes jump off the screen as he lopes around with that gangly frame. He overshadows Hepburn and Grant in this film despite getting third billing.

Weilder plays Hepburn's little sister, Dinah, who serves as some Cupid/imp trying to manipulate everybody. She's not cute, but considering she shares the screen with legends the entire film, she stakes her own claim as being very talented. A most enjoyable role in the film.

'2001: A Space Odyssey'

When you hear the word "filmmaking" one must consider "2001: A Space Odyssey." I believe it ot be one of the purest forms of film.

It's not about the writing or the actors or even the director or anything else. It's a story that is exemplified by some of the greatest visuals created by man.

It is nectar to the eye. The shots of the African wilderness to the beautiful space shots. As much as Beethoven's music was destined to be replayed and recorded billions of times, Stanley Kubrick's "2001" was meant to be recorded on film and mass produced for the big screen or television.

All of this without really mentioning the meaning behind the film. The ideas of evolution, thought, primal vs. rational, wrong vs. right. How all of this spanned four million years from a tribe of raw pre-human apes to a sophisticated super computer that essentially begged for its life and, as it died, almost whispered that it could "feel."

A mesmerizing film.

'Forever Changes'

Do you think the members of the band Love were idealists?

I don't think there's much to this album. It's extremely 1960s. I am of the mind that if your an artist the worst thing you can do is date your music. Of course, I also operate under the presumption that bands like the Beatles, Rolling Stones, et al. never dated their music and it sounds as fresh and good as it did 40 years ago.

My point is that "Forever Changes" doesn't sound as good as it did 40 years ago.

Some good songs, but I would argue it's easily forgettable within the genre and age.

'Beverly Hills Cop'

I hate what Eddie Murphy represents. He's a raw, scathing talent. Yet, Hollywood grabbed a hold of him and sapped out the talent and replaced it with bad writing, poor direction and money.

It's said that Murphy's downfall was more recent. In fact, it can be traced back to movies like "Beverly Hills Cop," which are just awful. He's not funny and he's a piss-poor actor. It is lacking any of the spark and vitality that Murphy had in his Saturday Night Live or stand-up days.

Or maybe Murphy was overrated to begin with and what he's become today was an inevitability.

Plus, the 1980s suck. Everything about it. Just bad.