Directors Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez spent $53 million to pay loving tribute to the vintage hundred-thousand-dollar exploitation fare that inspired Grindhouse’s two-movies-for-the-price-of-one thrill ride. Tarantino’s half of the exercise (which also includes Robert Rodriguez’s self-scored Planet Terror) features another effusive slice of the director’s eclectic musical sensibility to underscore its manic tale of stuntman/psycho-killer Kurt Russell and his muscle-car-fueled exploits. Tarantino works from a familiar formula that variously mixes evocative, semi-obscure Italian film cues from Morricone and Dinaggio, contrasting slices of ’60s catalog from the great Jack Nitzsche and Brit Invasion also-rans DDDBM&T and some ’70s fodder from both ends of the Top 40 via Smith and T. Rex, also stirring in a savory mid-disc run of R&B that stretches from PG&E’s upbeat read of “Stagger Lee” through more familiar fare from Joe Tex, Eddie Floyd, and the Coasters. The director also serves up a couple of those deliciously off-kilter obscurities that have come to be his musical trademark as a coda: Eddie Beram’s thumping “Riot in Thunder Alley” and April March’s infectious ditz-pop take on Serge Gainsbourg’s loopy “Chick Habit.” –Jerry McCulley Customer Review: Stuntman Mike would be proud! When I went to see Grindhouse last week and Tarantino’s offering to the genre began, I knew I was going to want this soundtrack the moment Jack Nitzsche’s “The Last Race” started to play. I would honestly give this disc a five star recommendation as it is just as good as any of QT’s other film soundtracks. There are some great songs that I had personally never heard before listening to the cd and Smith’s “Baby, It’s You” is a pleasant discovery. There’s really not much more to say other than this disc is a solid purchase and easily recommended.

Trailside: Family Camping in Virginia

Ireland: Western Ireland, Dublin and Belfast
Bicycle around the Dingle Peninsula, visiting ruined fortresses, ancient stone igloos, and pubs. Stay in a terrific Irish B&B. Savor Dublin’s Book of Kells, street musicians and Guinness beer. In high-spirited Belfast catch a glimpse of the troubles and a superb open-air folk museum. 1997 VHS 60 min. Wehman Video Cat. #0585 Customer Review: —Well Done— Travel the World - Ireland was a pleasure to watch and very enjoyable. This video covers Western Ireland and the cities of Dublin and Belfast. The narrator/host is Rick Stevens. I thought Stevens did a great job of showing the many possibilities that are available to travelers. He bicycled along beautiful scenery next to the ocean. He visited ruins of old castles, and churches. The sites and histories of the two major cities, Dublin and Belfast were well presented. Stevens also spent some time in several Irish pubs where he talked with people and discussed the Celtic culture and music.

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