Also today, we have a quick bit of news for Disney’s upcoming (and TBD) Blu-ray release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Director J.J. Abrams has revealed that the Blu-ray will probably include some deleted scenes (there’s reportedly as much as 20 minutes worth of deleted material in all), but it will not feature an extended cut of the film. You can read more on that here at EW.
Finally, we wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the passing of the legendary artist and musician David Bowie over the weekend (you can read more here at The New York Times). He was 69. Bowie died on Sunday, after losing a private battle with cancer and just two days after releasing his final album, Blackstar. I’ve been listening to the album all weekend in lossless quality from HD Tracks. As I said in a Facebook post late last night, really the only consolation of losing Bowie is that his last gift to us is one his most daring, innovative, and interesting albums yet. Think about that a moment. Bowie fought an 18-month battle with cancer, which means he recorded this album and then released it knowing it would be his final bow. That’s an epic mic drop. We should all be so lucky as to leave this life on such a high note. My dear friend Matt Rowe, of MusicTAP.com, has posted a very good remembrance of Bowie here on his website and I would encourage all of you to give it a read. Blackstar is available now and you really owe it to yourselves to give it a listen as well. It’s simply extraordinary. For my own part, I’ve dedicated my review of The Martian in Bowie’s memory. The impact of his music on my life is profound, and I’m forever grateful to him for it.
Back tomorrow. Stay tuned...
- Bill Hunt