NOT GAY FRIENDLY!!

Haven’t slept a wink? Well, that’s what happens when you watch your favorite team pick the player you felt since Day 1 would be the dream selection for them … and then watch them promptly trade him away. Yes, the Rockets picked Rudy Gay at #8, but they quickly packaged him, along with Stromile Swift, to the Grizzlies for Shane Battier. Clutch likes Battier, but didn’t like the price they paid nor the short-term thinking used. The pick-and-deal wasn’t the only activity for the Rockets, who drafted sharpshooting forward Steve Novak at #32 and struck a deal at #44 with the Orlando Magic in order to get Lior Eliyahu. Israeli NBA commentator Yaron Talpaz gives us the straight scoop on Eliyahu.

For more insight into the draft and other Rockets news, goto CLUTCHFANS!

SPIDERMAN 3 Trailer – New and Bootlegged!

SOME SHOW

Seasons of Life – The new CD from janita – -

First off, let me say that I’m a big jazz fan. There’s also something to be said for any music that comes across with a ’sexy’ feel to it. Well, after listening to this CD and knowing it pretty much inside and out, I’d say sexy is a pretty good descriptive. ‘Seasons of Life’ is Janita’s 6th CD but, I believe, her 2nd in the states. It’s a fantastically well-written and well constructed CD. She should start getting some good push from her new reps and that should allow for her to entrench herself into the jazz/soul charts. Once people get a listen to this CD, they’ll understand.

(From Soultracks.com) She moved to New York at age 18 and was signed by Sony Records. Sony had trouble figuring how to market her lone album for that label, 1998’s Janita, in the US — Was she Jazz? Was she Soul? Was she Adult Contemporary? Unfortunately, the result was that the disc never found its audience in America. Janita recorded again in 2001, independently releasing I’ll Be Fine to generally positive reviews and to a small but growing international audience for her brand of smooth, jazz-infused vocal music. Compared by some to India, Arie or Jill Scott, her music was much more reminiscent of talented smooth jazz artists such as Basia or Everything But the Girl. I’ll Be Fine also showed her growing talent as a songwriter. ‘Seasons’ takes things a step farther. ‘Too Late’, ‘I Miss You’ are two of the great tracks on the CD. However, there is the one track that gets ya. To me, that single is – ‘That’s How Life Goes.’ For a quick listen, click here. ‘THAT’S HOW LIFE GOES’ It gives you a real good look into the CD, where it’s coming from and where it’s heading. Trancy – I like it!

BTW – I’ll Be Fine is one of the better CDs that I’ve ever put into my player. It’s that good – as is ‘Seasons.’ Maybe we all find our style of music or maybe we just really support the person who represents it. From our conversations on email to the lyrics in the songs to the eyes on the cover
- either way, she’s something to behold…and she’s coming…

…patience. (www.janita.com)

Some reviews of Janita and her work –

AMAZON.COM

SOULTRACKS.COM

CDBABY.COM

247GAY.COM

LIGHTYEAR.COM

POPMATTERS.COM

SUPERMAN RETURNS…..2006

Well, let’s start off by saying this – every single published Superman Returns Review so far has been glowing. There are a few sites out there that are saying the old, “From what we hear….” Blah, blah, blah. The facts are there…for now. Superman opens on Tuesday night. I will be there on Tuesday night. I will have seen the movie on Wednesday morning.

For the time being, here are some of the Amazing Superman Returns Reviews:

Dark Horizons has just added themselves the massively positive reviews being given about Superman Returns. Here’s what they had to say:
“Superman is back and the wait for his return is finally over. Was it worth it? Absolutely and in every respect. This is a monumental classic of the genre, a true successor to the Richard Donner classic of the original. This time, audiences will once again believe a man can fly. Director Bryan Singer has crafted a visual tour-de-force, a movie that succeeds in balancing eye popping 21st century visuals, with the heart and soul of a story-driven epic.
Brandon Routh is the perfect successor to Chris Reeve, and shows us a character that has both strength and vulnerability, while Kate Bosworth’s Lois Lane is beautifully realised. Spacey is pure genus as Lex Luthor and Frank Langella is a wonderful Perry White. This is one Superman for the ages, a soaring, wondrous adventure that will leave audiences breathless, and a truly breathtaking ride of a movie.
In this crowded summer season, the return of the Man of Steel is the perfect summer movie for the child in all of us, and once we hear that classic John Williams score, one is reminded that movies like these are a rarity. Forget the hype, and enjoy the return of one of the most extraordinary comic book characters ever created”.Yes! Yes! Yes!

Are our expectations too high? We’ll know on Wednesday morning…

Bananarama – Oh, the DRAMA!!

Nearly 20 years after their last hit, Bananarama – the former trio now down to duo Sara Dullin and Keren Woodward – release their comeback CD. With “Drama”, they successfully update their Hi-NRG dance sound for the mid-2000s club scene, with shades of electro, post-disco and house thrown into the mix.

For those who have waited – - surprise surprise, the patience has paid off, because if you’re one of the people who have actually heard Drama, you realize that this is really a great pop CD. Thoroughly modern pop, complete with their standard catchy and breathless vocals, flirtations with the minor key and more hooks than a Vegas hotel bar makes this a comeback to be proud of. Stand out tracks include , Look on the Floor, Waterfall, and (Take a listen – courtesy of Thrillproductions) “Don’t Step on My Groove!” – reminiscent of many an original Bananarama hit – and the trancy Feel For You. Speaking of trance, that’s actually a great way to describe the overall feel of the CD.

Highlights for fans will also be the Marc Almond Hi NRG BAD ASS Remix of their 1986 hit, Venus.

Overall, this CD has come out of nowhere. Not a lot of people expected much but a great deal has been delivered. Much like, George Michael’s – Patience, this CD just keeps bringing it….Whether or not the girls took lead in the production part of the album, they took lead in writing this material. This album represents a great revival for Bananarama. If you are looking for some good listening music, it is definitely worth the money. If you are a Bananarama fan, you should already have it!

Check it out.

www.bananarama.co.uk

New Addition to the family?

I’ve recently had a new addition to the family. With much fervor and after great deliberation, I announce the new member…

…and her name is?

Sonoma Creek Pinot Noir Sonoma County 2000

Gold Medal (Best of Class)
Jerry Mead’s 2004 New World Wine Competition

Barrel-aging: 10-11 months in French oakProduction: –>
Winemaker: Steve Millier

Winemaker’s Notes: Pinot Noir grapes selected from vineyards in Kenwood and Sangiacomos in Carneros comprise 85% of this blend. Carneros is ideal for the noble Pinot Noir grapes with its coastal climate. The ripened grapes were handpicked and allowed to ferment naturally.

Tasting Notes:
The flavours are bold black cherry that highlight a rich, smokey and toasty wine that melts into a lingering spice and chocolate finish.

I haven’t opened it yet but will soon enough. Of course, if I’m waiting for that special girl to come along this 2000 bottle may not be opened until my grandkids get thirsty…..in the year 2057. Geez! This bottle comes highly recommended by a friend of mine in Houston. He’s been right so far so I’m guessing he strikes gold again.