Rushmoras

And yesterday completed the last part of the TV Movies about Maigret - Maigret at Montmartre (2016), wherein Maigret is investigating a murder of a showgirl. Was kinda meh. In general, 2 good films followed by 2 mediocre ones. Overall, I'd rate the movies a weak 6 out of 10.

Yesterday, watched the penultimate part of Maigret - Night at the Crossroads (2016). wherein, the police are investigating the murder of a Jewish jeweller, the body of whom was found inside the car located in a garage of an odd brother and sister family... It was a solid 7.

On a side note, decided to listen to local artists again, and picked Kardiofonas (an old, old band) on Spotify. And... well... let's just say that there is a reason why most people in my country only know one single from them (and even that was covered by much better bands). The album... most of it is pretty... awful for lack of better words lol. EDIT: maybe I was too harsh, because the second part of the album from 12 to 18 track is significantly better, but the overall quality of music is... yeah... Here's their best single "Kalėdinė eglutė" (Xmas tree) Approximate lyrics for anyone interested: Speckled cuckoos Sway on Christmas Tree. Who knows what they are cuckooing about, Who knows what they will cuckoo-out. Spider travels on the branches, While beeswax drips from candles On the table With unopened letters. Hang, oh, hang On the Christmas Tree A magical necklace Of Archibald's images: How mice run on ice, How eyes sinisterly glow. And moon shines over the window While the crater smokes. A dusty passerby Watches me from the window gap. And through telephone I hear the sea. Then, I hear a woman laugh, But suddenly all sounds become mute, And from the radio antenna A bullet will slowly increase speed. Hang, oh, hang A garland of restless quiet, A choking calm of fighter-jets Locked-up under ground. Hang, oh, hang A garland of restless quiet, A choking calm of fighter-jets Locked-up under ground.

And with Push and Shove (2012) completed No Doubt Discography. As always, subjective assessments of each album: 1. No Doubt (1992) - 6.4/10 2. The Beacon Street Collection (1995) - 6/10 3. Tragic Kingdom (1995) - 5.7/10 4. Return of Saturn (2000) - 8.7/10 5. Rock Steady [Expanded Edition] (2001) - 6.7/10 6. Push and Shove [Deluxe Edition] (2012) - 7.9/10 Average score: 6.9/10

Take me to your hear from Rick Astley definitely sounded better live over the music video.

Watched another part of Maigret - Maigret's Dead Man (2016). In it, Inspector Maigret gets a strange call from a man claiming that someone is going to kill him. Soon after, the police finds a badly beaten body, which was thrown on to a pavement from a moving car... Probably, not as good as the first one, did not hold my attention too much. Let's say 5.5/10

Well, started No Doubt discography. Gotta say, not a fan of Gwen Stefani's voice there, sound's like a sheep making baaa sounds (apologies for any No Doubt fans out there) most of the time. Though, the beat is nice.

I don't know whether it is unpopular or not, but I prefer dance/trance LinkinPark sound over nu-metal LinkinPark sound...

Basically, after completing Raimbow, for a couple of days have been listening to local artists' new materials. I guess, the biggest discovery for me was 2Kvėpavimas (SecondBreath in English) [kinda rock/kinda rap kinda thing] and Evgemya Redko (alternative music, I guess...). Currently, I'm listening to some revival collab between an old band (Antis) and a performer from another band from 2023. Basically, old Antis songs made to sound modernish (lot of techno, dance beats etc.). IIRC, there was also a concert back in 2023.

Well, flash forward a couple of months and now I'm in DC's 2007 era, just completed Amazons Attack event, and, oh boy, what a shit fest it was (pardon my French). If I understood what was happening correctly, This was the main premise, and while writing this summary down, it would have seemed that this could be a pretty decent story. But it wasn't. In fact, looking back at it, all I can say that it was a cavalcade of random events about characters that are acting seriously way off. I think, I actually liked only three issues in the entire event, and even that word "liked" is a strong one. I actually liked the ending portion of Amazons Attack (No. 6) due to how absurd it was - Also, I'm surprised that Jodi Picoult wrote a couple of issues for Wonder Woman. No disrespect or anything for her, I'm sure she's great novelist, but, um, everything she has written in Wonder Woman either seemed off character and/or random events that ultimately bear no substance whatsover. Will Pfeifer, while doing almost the same thing in Amazons Attack mini-series, managed to at least be more entertaining with his dialogues. That being said, it was probably the worst character assassination event that I have yet to read from DC.

And with Bent out of Shape (1983) completed the studio discography of Rainbow. Got to say that after Dio left the band, I did not much like neither the vocal nor artistic direction the band went (too much arena pop sound, if such a thing can be said about metal, metal sounding like pop, but in this case, it actually does). As always, subjective assessments: 1. Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow (1975) - 5.6/10 2. Rising (1976) - 5/10 3. Long Live Rock N'Roll (1978) - 6.3/10 4. Down to Earth (1979) - 7/10 5. Difficult to Cure (1981) - 5.6/10 6. Straight Between the Eyes (1982) - 5.6/10 7. Bent out of Shape (1983) - 6/10 Average score: 5.8/10

Don't know whether I should call it a movie or a TV film, or a limited series comprising four parts, but yesterday saw the first part of Maigret quadrology starring Rowan Atkinson. "Maigret Sets a Trap" (2016). In it, inspector Maigret finds himself a target from the press and his superiors for not having caught a killer who has been praying on Parisian women in five months period... It was an alright by the numbers detective procedural, if you like watching these kinds of movies. 7/10

Started Rainbow discography.

Alright, Guano Apes penultimate album Offline (2014) was their best even though since Bel Air (2011) their sound has become poppy, and Offline is no exception, but it is more pleasant to the ears in this case. Technically, they have another album on Spotify from 2017, but since it is just remixes, I'm not keen on listening to it. As always, subjective assessments: 1. Proud Like A God (1997) - 5/10 2. Don't Give Me Names (2000) - 6.7/10 3. Walking on a Thin Line (2003) - 7.9/10 4. The Lost Tapes (2006) - 5/10 5. Bel Air (2011) - 7.9/10 6. Offline (2014) - 8/10 Average score: 6.7.

Fourth Guano Apes album "The Lost Tapes" (2006). One half needed work, while the other half of the album was kinda good, but then again, this was album of unreleased demo songs.

Guano Apes third album "Walking on a Thin Line" (2003). Also good.

Second Guano Apes album Don't Give Me Names (2000). Pretty good, better than the first. Has more production quality.