JAN
2006
27

Hooked on the Feeling

Manolo says, the Manolo he cannot tell you how many dozens of his internet friends have sent him links to this video. It is the very reason music and video and music videos were invented. Genius!

DEC
2005
18

Manolo’s Gift Music III

Manolo says, here are three more recommendations from the Manolo to help those who must find the gifts of the last minute. Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet On the face, the concept it is most simple: the minimalist composer Gavin Bryars found the audio loop of homeless street person singing the repetative jingle and to this he added the music. But this description, in no way does it fully convey the emotional power of this composition. It is, in the opinion of the Manolo, perhaps the single most affecting piece of music composed in the past fifty years. The…

DEC
2005
13

Manolo’s Gift Music II

Manolo says, here are four more recommendation from the music files of the Manolo, perfect for giving to those you love. Tanto Tempo The Babel, she has such the lovely voice, and the rhythms they are so smooth and warm, like the pieces of polished tropical wood. It is in the humble opinion of the Manolo the perfect Bossa Nova, something that would allow you to sit back, close your eyes, and pretend that you are elsewhere. Continental Drifter Every since he first heard the Stand Back, many of the years ago, the Manolo he has been the devotee of…

DEC
2005
12

Manolo’s Gift Music

Manolo says, the secret to giving the good music is to give something unexpected, something unusual, something astounding, but also something that you know the recepient cannot but love. Here are four albums that the Manolo believes meets these standards. Facing Future The late Israel Kamakawiwo’ole he had the voice of the angels, and when you hear him, with only the ukulele for the accompaniment , you will never hear the Hawai’ian music the same way. There is the sweetness and honesty to the voice that not the thousand Don Hos can replicate. Tholonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at…

MAY
2005
31

What the Manolo is…

Manolo says, it is the Tuesday, time for What the Manolo is… Reading… Listening to… Reading… Watching… Several of the internet friends of the Manolo they were surprised in the last week when the Manolo noted that he was listening to the Outkast. “Manolo,” they said, “how can such the cultured person as you listen to the music of the rap, and the hop and the hip?” To this the Manolo he cannot but reply that the Manolo likes what the Manolo likes, and that he has learned, over the years, to not fight himself with regard to his artistic…

MAY
2005
22

The Plague, Finis

Manolo says, and so it ends. Not with the bang, but with the big-haired Greek girl and her shaky-shaky doing the Zorba dance of victory. Now, the ravaged continent is at the last free to pick up the pieces and begin the process of the rebuilding. P.S. The Manolo’s internet friend the Texpatriate, she has blogged about the whole horrific event!

MAY
2005
20

The Ten Plagues, Part 3

Manolo says, Ayyyyyyy! The angry God he continues to punish his wayward children by visiting upon them the horrors of the Eurosvision Song Contest. Today’s carnage? …twirling skirts and pudgy backup dancers.. …the Turks… …Ukrainian rappers, who look like your grocer… …”artistic” Greek choreography… …Red Hot Granny and the Chili Peppers! *sob*

MAY
2005
19

The Ten Plagues of The Europe

Manolo says, ayyyyy! Day two of the Eurovision Song Contest and already it worse than the ten plagues that the angry Yahweh meted out to the unjust Pharoah and the Egyptians. Look at the comparison. First Plague…Danish pop doofuses Second plague…the vocal stylings of Croatia’s own Boris and the Belly Buttons. Third… Norwegian Village People glam rockers. Number four…Andorra? Five… caterwauling Portagees! Ayyyyy! What awaits us as we sink through the inky depths of Hell. The locusts, and the frogs, and the boils, they are nothing compared to this!

MAY
2005
18

The Plague!

Manolo says, Ayyyyyyy! The symptoms they are presenting… First the rash of the Scandanavian Abba-wanna-be’s… …then the itchy Austrian oompah-rockers… …followed by the painful Eastern European gypsy-accordian-rock ensembles… …next the Hungarians, always, and inexplicably, the Hungarians… And finally, the act that wowed them in Minsk! Manolo says, this it can only mean one thing! Live from Kiev! It is the loathsome pestilence known as the Eurovision Song Contest!

MAR
2005
30

Ayyyyy! The Astrid!

Manolo shouts, Ayyyyy! The Astrid Hadad! The humble name of the Manolo it is not even worthy of appearing in the same sentence with that of. The Astrid Hadad. She is the genius, the mad, funny, histrionic, blazing, beautiful genius, who is perhaps not looking her best in this picture.

MAR
2005
26

Trrill

Manolo says, the Manolo he has been for many of the weeks now intending to out shout to his internet friends at the Trrill, the best opera blog on the internets. It is the two parts of the opera news and reviews, the one part of the pop culture, combined with the heaping dash of the snark. It is indeed the most tasty confection.