Samurai Jack
Ever wish you could watch Kill Bill with your 6-year-old son without traumatizing him? Samurai Jack is the answer, and the first season is streaming on Netflix right now. Genndy Tartakovsky (creator of The Powerpuff Girls and Dexter's Laboratory) is responsible for this masterpiece which lasted from 2001-2004. The style is simple and shape-based similar to old school Hanna Barbera cartoons, but reaches much higher levels of artistry and captures 70's-style samurai movie action unbelievably well. Jack is a mighty samurai who is thrust into a dystopian future by his evil nemesis, Aku. The main plot is that he's trying to get "back in time" but most episodes focus on how Jack helps others along his journey. The futuristic setting also allows for "robot" enemies which means huge battle scenes with no blood.
Ever wish you could watch Kill Bill with your 6-year-old son without traumatizing him? Samurai Jack is the answer, and the first season is streaming on Netflix right now. Genndy Tartakovsky (creator of The Powerpuff Girls and Dexter's Laboratory) is responsible for this masterpiece which lasted from 2001-2004. The style is simple and shape-based similar to old school Hanna Barbera cartoons, but reaches much higher levels of artistry and captures 70's-style samurai movie action unbelievably well. Jack is a mighty samurai who is thrust into a dystopian future by his evil nemesis, Aku. The main plot is that he's trying to get "back in time" but most episodes focus on how Jack helps others along his journey. The futuristic setting also allows for "robot" enemies which means huge battle scenes with no blood.
Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings
Here's where every vintage retro soul/funk outfit got their sound: Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings. Various members of the Dap-Kings were featured on Amy Winehouse's hit tunes (yes, THAT Amy Winehouse). Sharon Jones is still alive, still touring, still killin'. "Dap-Dippin'" is a great album to start with as it has a really strong James Brown style opening and a great cover of "What Have You Done for Me Lately?" I never noticed how great the lyrics to that song are, and Jones OWNS it here
Here's where every vintage retro soul/funk outfit got their sound: Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings. Various members of the Dap-Kings were featured on Amy Winehouse's hit tunes (yes, THAT Amy Winehouse). Sharon Jones is still alive, still touring, still killin'. "Dap-Dippin'" is a great album to start with as it has a really strong James Brown style opening and a great cover of "What Have You Done for Me Lately?" I never noticed how great the lyrics to that song are, and Jones OWNS it here
RSS Feed
