bill wood
art | illustration | design
One Night Only
Another Night Only
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Standing Room Only
MLS MATCHDAY | ONE NIGHT ONLY | ANOTHER NIGHT ONLY | SOLD OUT | STANDING ROOM ONLY | MONDAY NIGHT MADNESS | HELLBILLY JOKER
SATURDAY NIGHT SLAM | A HOLIDAY IN HELL | BORN IN 1974 | THE TRUE NORTH | FISTFUL OF CELLUOID | SUBTITLES OPTIONAL | SHADOW & SUBSTANCE
BLACK BELT THEATER | THE QUIET ROOM | GUTS & GLORY | SPIRIT OF '79 | WOOD VS. LEATHER | DIGITAL GUMBO | PEACE & BLOOD | ROUND MIDNIGHT
BLOGS
Blog Web Archive
I like a lot of things. I also like to write about those things.
Exile on First Avenue: Dead Man's Pop
Another Replacements retrospective?!? I think I'd rather smother!
The Clone Warrior: A Review of 1983's Metalstorm
Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn is not Gone With The Wind. It's not even any of the films it sets out to copy. But is there still fun to be found in a long-lost sci-fi disaster from the '80s? Let's find out!
Left of the Charts: Revisiting Tim
By far my favorite band of the '80s, the Replacements classic LP Tim has been remixed and remastered for a new generation of music fans. Here we revisit the band and the LP circa 1985.
Onibaba-Kuroneko Retrospective
Decades before supernatural thrillers such as Ringu and Ju-on (The Grudge) wowed American viewers, Japanese director Kaneto Shindo set the stage with two all-time J-horror classics. How do they stand up?
Mystery of the Fading Guillotine
Master of the Flying Guillotine is considered by many to be the absolute pinnacle of 1970s kung fu grindhouse cinema. So why has the movie been MIA for the past two decades? I attempt to find out.
Sherlock Pt. 2 - The Case of the Digital Detective
The Frogwares series of Sherlock Holmes detective games does an admirable job of putting you in the shoes of the legendary detective. Here's my shortlist of Sherlockian gaming recommendations.
Sherlock Pt. 1 - A Study In Sherlock
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary detective arrived on the scene 136 years ago, and he remains compelling and relevant to this very day. If you were ever curious, here's my list of recommendations.
What’s the dumbest thing an American can do when visiting England? I’m not exactly sure, but assuming you can purchase tickets to a topflight football match is definitely one of them. Read on to learn why why lower league football is the place to be!
It was a bitter feud between two of the UK’s most popular bands, Blur and Oasis. Journalists labeled it “The Battle of Britpop,” and it produced some of the decade’s best music. But which band produced the better LP? It turns out I have an opinion!
Thanks to the runaway success of Street Fighter II, the early '90s saw a flood of awesome fighting games. Unfortunately I was awesome at none of them.
15 Delicious Spaghetti Westerns
Leone's classic A Fistful Of Dollars hit the screens in 1964, over 700 Italian Westerns were produced in the decade that followed. I aim to separate the wheat from the chaff, if that's a thing.
It's weird. It's quirky. It's cringe-worthy in countless ways. And yet, Atlus' Persona 4 may endure as the greatest J-RPG ever created.
A rose-tinted look back at the pugilistic glory of the National Hockey League in the early '90s, and how a modern video game can perfectly capture that bygone era.
Earlier I proclaimed Arrow Video's Shawscope Vol. 1 to be my favorite Blu-ray box set of all time. How does this kung-fu-fightin' sequel measure up?
Imagine a video game that takes you on a psychedelic trip through a nightmarish version of '60s Swinging London. Melancholy and ultimately unfulfilling, We Happy Few nonetheless deserves merit for going boldly where no video game has gone before.
In the late '70s, the Rolling Stones had their backs against the wall. Punks hated them and their legal woes were mounting. But like all great musical acts, the band came back swinging with one of their very best LPs.
In 1999, Sega produced the most expensively lavish video game ever made. The problem is they produced it for a failing console. Despite the game's many shortcomings, the quirky charm and lasting influence of Shenmue is undeniable.
Train simulators. You either love them or... well, I'm not sure exactly. Here's another one for the review pile!
The Monday Night Wars between WWF and WCW created a new type of wrestling fan; the well-informed intellectual (a.k.a "smart mark"). Those who played wrestling games typically shunned American offerings in favor of this much-beloved Japanese indie classic.
Godzilla: The Showa Era Collection
Or Gojira, whichever you prefer. Either way, Criterion's stunning box set is a total celebration of all things kaiju eiga. Here I've ranked all 15 movies included in this set, from worst to first.
What can be said about The Cramps that hasn't been said a thousand times before? Probably nothing, but that won't stop me from trying.
More than 20, actually. Once I got started I couldn't help myself. Tons of obscure gems (many in the public domain) rated for your perusal, with custom poster art to boot!
There two varieties of classic kung fu fan; those who live for Shaw Brothers Studios and those who don't. If you're the former, get ready to have your socks knocked off by Arrow Video's terrific box set.
An epic Hong Kong crime drama brought to digitized life, there may never be another video game quite like Sleeping Dogs. Sadly, this also includes a well-deserved remake/remaster.
And when I say "classic," I mean it in every sense of the word. The Japanese film genre known as chanbara has spawned many of the most beloved movies worldwide. Here are just a few of the very best.
It wasn't long ago that pro wrestling was regarded as low-rent carny trash. That has changed for the most part with the evolution of the modern wrestler as performance artist, but it won't stop me from making a case anyway.
Now we're getting into some serious geeky stuff! If standard train sims aren't enough to quench your appetite (and for me they're not), there are several excellent alternatives in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Duran Duran's second LP did the impossible; it turned this former metalhead into a New Romantic. Well, aspiring New Romantic anyway.
Of the thousands of video games in my collection, this Japanese live-action detective sim may be one of the weirdest, and one of the most enjoyable.
The Beastie Boys' sophomore LP seemed like an eternity in the making. When Paul's Boutique was finally released it left a lot of folks scratching their heads, except those of us who totally got it.
Junji Ito... wow. If you're looking to get started with the horror-manga genre, this is the perfect place to start.
Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night
Yes, it 's one of the greatest video games ever produced. That's certainly not a hot take, so instead I provide insight on what the gaming scene was like around the release date, and why Symphony was as special then as it is now.
This blog is aimed specifically at collectors of my Twilight Zone poster series, with info about art updates and how to keep their collections going as-is.
Lancaster JetHawks: Gone With The Wind
The Lancaster JetHawks were the last Minor League baseball team in Los Angeles County. Despite solid attendance numbers and strong ties to the region, they were unceremoniously booted from existence. Why? The answer may surprise you.
Throughout their all-too-brief career, The Clash had a history of challenging everything in sight; their fans, their record label, and ultimately themselves. Find out why Sandinista! was their biggest challenge ever, as well as their strongest statement.
The film noir genre requires no introduction or explanation. I've certainly watched my share, here are some personal faves.
Yep, this one's about train games too.
One of my favorite blogs, chronicling the albums I loved as an indie/alt rock superfan in the '90s. In fact, I get all misty-eyed just thinking about it (not really, that's just alt-rock sarcasm creeping in).
Otaku culture is so common these days that it's practically synonymous with popular culture. We used to have in the '70s as well, we just didn't have a fancy-pants name for it.
Extreme Championship Wrestling: A Requiem
With its penchant for ultraviolence and its diehard fanbase, ECW changed the face of professional wrestling forever. Read on to find out why there will never be another wrestling promotion quite like it.
His name may be unknown to most, but Bob Wilkins was the best late-night TV horror movie show host that ever lived, in one impressionable young man's mind. Thanks for the nightmares Bob!
The Vine That Ate The South: Review
J.D. Wilkes does a lot of things, and he does them well. Read on to discover why his novel The Vine That Ate The South may very well be the best Southern gothic read of our generation.
It's a century old, and still First In Show.
Creeped Out With The Creepy Creeps
A low-key evening of surf rock in sunny Ventura. What could possibly lead us astray? Well, let's start with the ape masks...
A repost of a very old review of mine. I once considered Dark Souls the best video game ever made, back when I kept lists of such things.
Major League Soccer In On The Rise
A bit pointless in retrospect, but what can I say? I love some MLS.
A rare personal blog, paying homage to the legendary punk artist who showed me the ropes way back when.
Let's all go the lobby! Wait, just how old are those hot dogs?!?!
If there's anything more challenging than taking on the role of a professional farmer, it's pretending to be one on the comfort of your own couch.
Cuddly folk troubadour makes angst-y garage rock record. Blogger's mind is blown.
©2023 Bill Wood.