Review: Vinyl Original Series (HBO) - Blu Ray

Are you going without HBO to keep your cable bill down? Do you have HBO, but missed out on the first season of Vinyl? Or maybe you are a binge watcher and can’t watch a season of any show until all the episodes are available. Well, not to worry, because the hit show about the 70s record industry (produced by Martin Scorsesse and Mick Jaggar) is now available on Blu Ray and DVD.

Vinyl is a fantastic thrill ride through the world of the early seventies music industry. The hero of the story, Richie Finestra, is a complex and complicated individual who we don’t always know if we should root for. There are times when you want to see him fail just to see what actions are going to happen around him next. If nothing else, he is a lightning rod for events and twisted plotlines. And the twists are plenty. Once you’ve seen the pilot episode, you will be back for the rest of the series, and now that it’s on Blu Ray, you can binge until your new habit is satiated.  

The show follows the rise (and possible fall) of Richie Finestra, played by Bobby Cannavale and the tail end of his record empire, American Century Records. Season one is a detailed insider’s look into the record industry in the early 70s. The sex, the drugs, the backroom deals drawn up amongst the powdery white backdrop of cocaine fueled sessions, are all present and accounted for. Directed by Martin Scorsese and created by him alongside of Mick Jagger, Rich Cohen, and Terence Winter, Vinyl paints a poignant picture of how record deals were done back in the day. The story is encaptivating and I was hooked ten minutes into the pilot episode. 
 

The pilot is a two hour whirlwind of amazement that narrates how Richie Finestra became the record executive mogul of his time. His record label, American Century, is in deep financial distress due to a series of bad decisions, bad signings, and lots of cocaine. The company is on the verge of a deal selling American Century to a German label, which will make Richie and his partners very wealthy. The deal appears to hinge on the signing of a band that most people may have heard of, Led Zeppelin. And when Zebedee Row appears later in the episode as Robert Plant, he steals the scene. His acting as the most famous lead singer in rock and roll is brilliant.

The tale of how Richie came to be in the music industry is exquisite. It follows the first act Richie ever managed, Lester Grimes, and shows all of the good and bad that comes with the job of being a manager. You feel for his client, especially during one climatic scene, and you begin to understand why so many people may hate Richie Finestra. He is a complex and complicated character. But he is also extremely entertaining, especially when he is ranting about the dire situation of his record company. The line of the pilot episode has to be “This from the fucking sandwich girl!” made during a tense moment when none of the A&R team have any new talent scouted, but the girl bringing them lunch does.

The pilot ends with a nice unexpected twist and a cliffhanger that will have you tuning into episode two. My only complaint about Vinyl is that it has me hooked, and I really don’t have time to be addicted to another television show. Well directed, well acted, and well produced, Vinyl is just a terrific show and another hit for HBO originals. I am going to lose nine hours of my life over the next week binge watching the rest of this series, and that’s okay. The pilot episode has left me wanting more.

Vinyl stars Bobby Cannavale, Ray Romano, and Olivia Wilde. You can purchase Vinyl on ITunes, Amazon, Best Buy, or wherever DVDs are sold. Get some!

Ryo’s Rating: A

VINYL: The Complete First Season

VINYL: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON

Available now on Digital HD

Blu-ray™ with Digital HD & DVD with Digital HD on June 7, 2016   

Vinyl, created by Golden Globe winner and Emmy® nominee Mick Jagger (Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown), Academy Award® winner and Emmy® winner Martin Scorsese (The Departed, Boardwalk Empire) and acclaimed author Rich Cohen and Academy Award® nominee and multiple Emmy® winner Terence Winter (Boardwalk Empire), is made its Home Entertainment debut on Digital HD on May 23, 2016 and will be available on Blu-ray with Digital HD and DVD with Digital HD June 7, 2016. Regarded as “the first new must-see series of 2016” (New York Magazine) and “crazy brilliant” (San Francisco Chronicle), the hit new drama series explores the drug- and sex-fueled music business of the 1970s New York at the dawn of punk, disco and hip-hop. Vinyl: The Complete First Season includes ‘Making Vinyl: Recreating the 70s’ featurette and Inside the Episode briefs. Exclusive to DVD and Blu-ray are audio commentaries by Terence Winter, Bobby Cannavale, Olivia Wilde, and where available, the Digital HD will include ‘Behind the Groove’ pieces.

Richie Finestra (Bobby Cannavale, two-time Emmy® winner, Boardwalk Empire), the founder and president of American Century Records, is trying to save his company and soul without destroying everyone in his path. With his passion for music and discovering talent gone by the wayside, and American Century on the precipice of being sold, he has a life-altering event that reignites his love of music, but severely damages his personal life. The drama features an amazing all-star cast including SAG Award nominee Olivia Wilde (Doll and Em), and multiple Emmy® winner Ray Romano (Everybody Loves Raymond). Scorsese, Jagger and Winter executive produce along with Victoria Pearman, Rick Yorn, Emma Tillinger Koskoff, John Melfi, Allen Coulter and George Mastras. Executive music producer, Mick Jagger. Winter serves as showrunner.

New Fall Music Releases - 2011

Like it or not, autumn has arrived. And while the weather may not be warm and enjoyable, and the cold grip of winter may be closer than we would like, autumn does bring some enjoyable moments. There’s the changing color of the leaves, football, and of course, new music releases. Listed below are some of this autumn’s upcoming albums that I am most excited about.

September

Pearl Jam – 20 Soundtrack – September 20th
While not really a new release, Pearl Jam is going to put out an album in September that coincides with the Cameron Crowe documentary being released in theaters that same month. The album contains notable live tracks recorded during Pearl Jam’s twenty year history. Rare tracks and B-sides are also included. This two disc set will be available on September 20th and is highly recommended for die-hard fans and newcomers alike.

Superheavy – Superheavy – September 20th
Mick Jagger. Dave Stewart. Joss Stone. One great super group. Their debut album drops on September 20th and fans can expect an incredible collection of beautiful sound. What started in 2009 as a bunch of friends jamming in the studio, eventually led to this debut release. Dave Stewart and Mick Jagger have worked together before and have great chemistry. With the addition of other famous band members, expectations are high. The world will know in September if Superheavy can live up to the hype. My money says that they can.

Blink 182 – Neighborhoods – September 27th
With their first release of new music in over eight years, Blink 182 is marking their triumphant comeback. After a long reunion tour last year, the band got together and went into the studio to record Neighborhoods. First single, “Up All Night,” has been gotten a lot of airplay in anticipation of the disc. The song is all right, but I am hopeful that the rest of the record will have more of that classic Blink 182 sound that made me fall in love with the band.

Nirvana – Nevermind 20th Anniversary Edition – September 27th
Getting the much deserved anniversary treatment is Nirvana’s smash success, Nevermind. With unreleased tracks and a boatload of extras, the Anniversary Edition of Nevermind promises to be a real treat for Nirvana fans. I was surprised to hear about the inclusion of unreleased tracks. I thought they had all been picked clean and added to the box set With The Light’s Out. Apparently there were still a few more treats in the Nirvana vault.

Wilco – The Whole Love – September 27th
As the follow up to one of Wilco’s strongest releases (Wilco (the album)), Wilco will be releasing The Whole Love on September 27th. Anytime a new Wilco album is released, it’s an exciting time for music. Wilco is one of those prolific bands that never quite pushed into the upper stratosphere of fame, yet continually release exceptional albums that music fans will love. If The Whole Love is even half as good as Wilco (The Album) was, then the music world will have a real treat on their hands.

ChickenFoot – ChickenFoot III – September 27th
Another super group has a major release in September. However, this one is the band’s second release. Chickenfoot (consisting of members Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, Joe Satriani, and Chad Smith) will be releasing their sophomore effort and the rock world is excited to hear what this excellent band has come up with. Their debut album went Gold, and if they continue to build off the success of their debut, Chickenfoot III has a great chance to go platinum. I personally cannot wait to hear this record. I am sure that it will be amazing.

October

Feist – Metals – October 4th
Feist is a band (singer) that I don’t pay enough attention to. It’s not because they aren’t good, it’s just that some bands slip through the cracks, and Feist is one of them. Their new disc, Metals, will be available on October 4th and I hope to be able to spend some time with it and post a review. Metals will be Feist’s first release since 2007’s The Reminder, which contained the huge hit “1,2,3,4.” Hopefully the new disc will continue in that superb trend and have some exceptional music for all of us to enjoy.

Jane’s Addiction – The Great Escape Artist – October 4th
For their first album in eight years, Jane’s Addiction went through several bass players before finally meshing with Dave Stiek. The Great Escape Artist is an album that fans have waited a while to hear. After the tour behind 2003’s Strays, Jane’s Addiction broke up again and reunited in 2008 with no new record to support. Instead, they went on tour with Nine Inch Nails, to the delight of fans. At the end of that tour, original bassist, Eric Avery, decided that the reunion was enough for him and it was time to move on. Jane’s subsequently drafted Duff McKagan to join the band, but after a few recording sessions, there was a mutual breakup. It will be interesting to hear what this new music from Jane’s Addiction is all about. With Perry Farrell at the helm, you know it’s going to be good.

Ryan Adams – Ashes & Fire – October 11th
After announcing his retirement from music, Ryan Adams took some time off and everyone thought that it may be the last he was ever heard from. Fortunately, music lovers everywhere can rejoice, because Ryan Adams ventured into the studio and will be releasing his first solo album in years, Ashes & Fire. While it’s only been four years since the release of his last Cardinals record (Cardinology), it has been quite a long time since the last solo Adams record was released. It will be interesting to learn what direction his music has moved toward.

Evanescence - Evanescence – October 11th
Evanescence is another band that I enjoy but do not pay nearly enough attention to. Their self titled latest release hits stores on October 11th and if it’s anywhere near as good as their last album (2006’s The Open Door) then fans can rejoice. Evanescence has been silent for a while and I’m curious to know if that time off has helped or hurt the band. Five years is a long time between releases, but sometimes that helps a band come back stronger than ever.

November

The Beach Boys – The SMILE Sessions – November 1st
Still around after many years of making music, The Beach Boys are releasing a highly anticipated box set of unreleased material, The Smile Sessions. This set includes tracks that were recorded between 1966 and 1967, when the band was at their peak. This set contains the songs that were meant to be the original Smile album as well as unreleased demos, mixes, and more. This is an album that fans have been eager to hear for more than 40 years, and on November 1st, their patience will finally be rewarded. The only question that remains is whether a 50 year anniversary reunion tour will happen.

Lou Reed and Metallica – LuLu – November 1st
Lou Reed. Metallica. Together they recorded an album. It will be released on November 1st. Do I really need to say anymore? I am extremely curious to see what fruit this collaboration will bear. Metallica has done some ground breaking and risky things during their career, but this latest move is the strangest, yet most alluring, of them all. This could be the most anticipated and interesting record of all the fall releases.

New autumn releases…You rock!