Ato Essandoh

HBO's 'Vinyl': Let's Just Say It - Pitchfork Was Wrong

Yesterday, HBO announced the cancellation of its show Vinyl.

Today, Pitchfork wrote an article congratulating HBO for cancelling the show (written by a nice fellow named Eric Harvey).

This is my response to that article.

Enjoy!

Vinyl (HBO): My Requiem

The sad news was released today that HBO cancelled it's 1970's music show Vinyl.

My thoughts on the cancellation (literally days after I released my Vinyl-based eBook).

Vinyl (HBO) Episode 10: Zelig, Carnac, or "Record Man"

This is my Episode 10 recap of Vinyl (HBO) - The Season One Finale

They call the episode "Alibi" and I call my recap: Zelig, Carnac, or "Record Man."

In this episode, Richie kind of wins, Zac definitely loses, and The Nasty Bits are fictionally amazing?

Vinyl (HBO Series)Joshua B. HoeApril 18, 2016Kill The Lights, Indigo, Nile Rodgers, Alex Newell, DJ Cassidy, Kick Out The Jams, Motor City 5, MC5, Vinyl, Vinyl (HBO), Vinyl Episode 10, Alibi, Richie Finestra, Bobby Cannavale, Zelig, Woody Allen, Forrest Gump, The Factory, Andy Warhol, Kool DJ Herc, Ingrid, The Velvet Underground, Velvet Underground, Hip-Hop, Rap, Mercer Art Center, New York Dolls, Hilly Kristal, CBGB, CBGB OMFUG, CBGIBs, CBGB's, Country, Bluegrass, Blues, Country Bluegrass Blues and Other Music For Uplifting Gormandizers, The Nasty Bits, Nasty Bits, Jamie Vine, Juno Temple, Devon Finestra, Olivia Wilde, Corrado Galasso, Armen Garo, Chuck Negron, Three Dog Night, Spinal Tap, Kip Stevens, James Jagger, American Century Records, Lester Grimes, Ato Essandoh, Pulp Fiction, Carnac the Magnificent, Terence Winter, Martin Scorcese, HBO, Mick Jagger, Joey Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone, The Stooges, Iggy + The Stooges, Ramones, Pixies, The Pixies, The Ramones, Nirvana, Richard Hell, Woman Like You, Johnny Thunders, That Thing You Do, Change The Channel, Alibi Records, Julie Silver, Max Castella, Max Casella, Tony Bennett, Boulevard of Broken Dreams, The Boulevard of Broken Dreams, Ray Romano, Zak Yankovich, The Godfather, Scott Leavitt, P.J Byrne, Xavier, Joe Corso, Bo Dietl, NYPD, FBI, Frank "Buck" Rogers, Andrew Dice Clay, Andrew "Dice" Clay, Clark Morelle, Jack Quaid, Booker T, Jimmy Castor, The Jimmy Castor Bunch, Aretha Franklin, Queen, Mr. Robot, Who Is Mr. Robot's LandlordComment

Vinyl (HBO) Episode 9: 2 + 2 = "Record Man"

This is my recap of Episode 9 of HBO's drama Vinyl. They called this episode "Rock and Roll Queen."

I am calling it 2 + 2 = "Record Man"

In this week's episode, Richie decides to come clean to some and becomes truly visible to others, Devon makes important choices, and The Nasty Bits get, well, Nasty.

Vinyl (HBO Series)Joshua B. HoeApril 10, 2016Lester Grimes, Ato Essandoh, Mr. Robot, USA, HBO, rock and roll, Rock and Roll Music, Punk Rock, Punk, Music, Vinyl (HBO), vinyl, Richie Finestra, Bobby Cannavale, Patti Smith, Hey Joe, Corrado Galasso, Armen Garo, Terence Winter, CeCe Matthews, Cece Matthews, Susan Heyward, Maury Gold, Paul Ben-Victor, Zak Yankovich, Ray Romano, Ann Powers, NPR, Andrea "Andy" Zito, Annie Parisse, Devon Finestra, Olivia Wilde, Billy McVicar, Richard Short, Eddie Cochran, C'mon Everybody, Skip Fontaine, J.C. MacKenzie, The Chelsea Hotel, American Century Records, Cyclone, Rock and Roll Queen, Frank "Buck" Rogers, Andrew Dice Clay, The Nasty Bits, Nasty Bits, Mercer Art Center, New York Dolls, Noel Murray, Vulture, Jamie Vine, Juno Temple, Hannibal, Mott The Hoople, Andy Warhol, Bruce Springsteen, Clark Morelle, Jack Quaid, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Bob MarleyComment

Vinyl (HBO) Episode 8: Music Lessons for the "Record Man"

This is my Episode 8 Recap of Vinyl (HBO). I call it Music Lessons for the "Record Man"

This week we learn about traditional chord progressions, Chuck Berry, Johnny Thunders, and Richard Hell. Meanwhile, Richie joins the cast of Goodfella's and Serpico while still fantasizing about Conway Twitty.

Enjoy!

Vinyl (HBO Series)Joshua B. HoeApril 4, 2016Lester Grimes, Ato Essandoh, Kip Stevens, James Jagger, Chuck Berry, Maybelline, Chubby Checker, The Twist, Travelling Band, Credence Clearwater Revival, Frank "Buck" Rogers, Andrew Dice Clay, Rock, Rock and Roll, Rock and Roll Music, Blues, Punk Rock, Punk, Johnny Thunders, Richard Hell, James Chance, Goodfellas, Martin Scorcese, Armen Garo, Corrado Galasso, Paul Ben-Victor, Maury Gold, Ray Romano, Zak Yankovich, Alice Cooper, Johnny Rotten, John Lydon, Richie Finestra, Bobby Cannavale, Joe Corso, Bo Dietl, Conway Twitty, Only Make Believe, Devon Finestra, Olivia Wilde, Ingrid, Birgitte Horst Sorensen, Hal, Jay Klaitz, Andrea "Andy" Zito, American Century Records, Julie Silver, Max Castella, Billy McVicar, Richard Short, Bob Marley and the Wailers, May Pang, John Lennon, Clark Morelle, Jack Quaid, John Denver, Take Me Home Country Roads, Jorge, Christian NavarroComment

Vinyl (HBO), Unicorns, and the NYT

Vinyl has not been universally loved by critics. I am taking this opportunity to answer some of the most prominent and consistent criticisms of the show.

In particular, I am defending Richie's character arc, the treatment of female characters, and the criticism that the writers have made the female characters stereotypically "shrill." I also criticise the New York Times' coverage.

Vinyl (HBO) Episode 6: A "Record Man" Of Wealth And Taste

This is my Episode 6 recap for Vinyl (HBO). I am calling the recap - A "Record Man" of Wealth and Taste.

On this episode of Vinyl (HBO), Richie Finestra is plagued by a devil, haunted by a skinny four-eyed ghost, and loses his Ziggy Stardust to the planet Mars.

Vinyl (HBO) Episode 5 Recap: "Record Man" Shows His True Colors

This is my recap of Episode 5 of Vinyl (HBO, "He Is Racist Fire")

I am calling my recap "Record Man" shows his true colors (again)

This week Richie shows that he is a racist, a sexist, and almost exposes that he is a murderer. So, basically, more of the same.

Vinyl (HBO) Episode Four: "Record Man's" Christmas Goulet

Okay folks, this was one of those "busy" episodes. The kind of episodes where writers realize that they are already at episode 4 and have yet to develop like 10 of the plot points that they have already introduced in the first three episodes.

This episode (called "The Racket") opens with not one but two ghosts, Otis Blackwell and Richie himself (My suggestion is that "The Racket" in the episode is the game Richie is running on himself).

Vinyl (HBO) Episode 3: "Record Man" vs. Music Man

This is the recap for Episode 3 of Vinyl (HBO, "Whispered Secrets")I call it "Record Man vs. Music Man."

Every Monday throughout the season, you will find my recaps here early on Monday Morning. This weeks Richie remains in a drug-induced haze while everything continues to fall apart around him. You know...The usual!

5 Reasons Why Vinyl (HBO) is Awesome

Not sure you want to dive in and start binge watching Vinyl (HBO)?

Here are five strong reasons you should take that plunge and start loving Vinyl!

"Record Man" On Fire: Vinyl Episode 2 Recap

This is my Episode 2 recap for the series Vinyl (HBO, "Mugged By God").

I called my recap "Record Man on Fire." In this episode Devon meets Karen Carpenter and Richie tries to decide between Bruce Lee and Jerry Lee (Lewis).

You can usually find my recaps here very early on Monday mornings after an episode has aired.

Vinyl Episode 1 - Darkness at the Heart of "Record Man"

This is my recap of Episode 1 of Vinyl (HBO, "Pilot").

I call my recap "Darkness At The Heart Of Record Man."

In this, the first, episode Record Mogul Richie Finestra considers selling his label American Century Records + discovering hip-hop and punk all while inhaling large amounts of cocaine.