Regarding Rambo

When we were walking out of Rambo on Friday night, my friend Mike said, with his eyes still wide from the carnage we’d just witnessed, “There was a lot of bad in that movie … but it was really good!”

I think that just about says it, but I’ll say a little more.

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Sylvester Stallone has once again proven that he knows exactly what his audience wants — and needs, for that matter — and that he knows exactly how to deliver it with precision and efficiency.

Rambo is rough and tumble. It’s sickeningly brutal and impossibly violent, but in a realistic way that brings attention to the terrible, terrible things that really are going on in the world.

But as lean and as mean as it is, Stallone ups his already capable game in the final act to bring it all home with a beautiful, moving and lovingly appropriate ending.

Well done, sir.

And thank you.

Let's all move to Camp Lisa

One of my favorite musicians, the infinitely talented Lisa Loeb, has posted some new information about her upcoming children’s album, Camp Lisa, right here.

She’ll be getting help on the album from two of her favorite musical moms, Kay Hanley and Nina Gordon, who just happen to be two more of my own favorite artists.

Kay, of course, was the singer for Letters to Cleo and has released some amazing solo stuff that you can read about here.

Nina was the sweet that made Vercuca less Salty before going out on her own and releasing two of my all-time favorite albums, Tonight and the Rest of My Life and Bleeding Heart Graffiti. More on Nina here.

The album will also feature some awesome ukulele action courtesy of …

… wait for it …

… wait for it …

STEVE MARTIN!

This makes me wish that Camp Lisa was a real place, and that we could all live there and have a big musical BBQ, and Steve Martin could be our funny uncle and regale us with thoughtful stories of great hilarity (to the tune of some sweet ukulele).

Who’s with me?