Under the Covers Volume 2

Artist:  Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs
Title:  Under the Covers Vol. 2 [Deluxe Edition]
Label:  Shout! Factory

Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs are back with this sequel to their 2006 album Under the Covers Volume 1.  Matthew Sweet has a long career as a pop-alternative artist and is probably best known for a couple of Anime filled music videos from his breakthrough album Girlfriend.  Susanna Hoffs was a member of the 80’s group the Bangles.  Both of them worked together on the soundtrack for ‘Austin Powers‘ as part of the band Ming Tea.  Under the Covers Volume 1 was a light, fun album that covered a diverse mix of music from the 60’s.  On the new album the have moved forward a decade to cover their favorite hits from the 70’s, again covering a diverse mix of artists and styles.

Volume 1 was a favorite of mine when it was released and I’ve been hungry for more ever since.  Does Volume 2 live up to its predecessor or does it fall into the dreaded sophomore slump?

My review after the break.

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The cover is sheer elegance in its simplicity...

Last summer, some of you might have missed The MiddleMan while it was showing on ABC Family. This year, you have a chance to correct that oversight. On July 28th, Shout! Factory is releasing this instant cult favorite on DVD. Based on the comics by Javier Grillo-Marxuach (the show’s executive producer) and Les McClaine, this show should be required viewing for any comics or science-fiction fan. Parallel universes, talking gorillas, zombie fish and evil luchadores are but some of the threats faced by the titular hero (Matt Keeslar), his protege, Wendy Watson (Natalie Morales), and their robotic “assistant” Ida (Mary Pat Gleason).

The show had so many strengths. First and foremost is the creative vision of Grillo-Marxuach, whose boundless enthusiasm and optimism is omnipresent throughout this series. Each episode was full to the brim with byzantine plots, over-the-top concepts and pop-culture references. The cast of telegenic and talented actors admittedly needed a few episodes to really find their characters, but the chemistry between all of the leads was evident from the first scene. Keeslar does an excellent job bouncing between playing a tough guy, a nice guy and the straight man. Morales shines as the Audience Surrogate who grows more and more accustomed to the increasingly bizarre situations she is put into each week. And Gleason was the first of the actors to really “get” what kind of show she was on, and as a consequence, steals every scene she’s in.  Special mention should also be given to Brit Morgan, who plays Lacey, Wendy’s best friend and roommate. Her character remains oblivious to the insanity, but she is not depicted as stupid, a credit to both Ms. Morgan and the writing staff of this show.

Since this is a Shout! Factory release, one can expect a lot of special features. A few of the episodes feature commentary, in which Grillo-Marxuach’s good cheer is both obvious and infectious. My personal favorite extra is a collection of every scene in which the “Wilhelm Scream” is used. Table readings, podcasts, and gag reels are also included in the box set.

And should you enjoy this series, you will soon be able to pick up “The Doomsday Apocalypse Armageddon”, the graphic novel adaptation of the unfilmed season finale, at comic shops everywhere.

And if you’re one of the lucky few who made it into Comic-Con this year, you can pick the DVDs up at the Shout! Factory booth (#3749), and the comic should be available at the Viper Comics booth (#1903).

Recommended for: comic-book fans; fans of Men In Black, The Tick, or the old Batman TV series with Adam West.