Vinyl Recap. Season 1. Episode 6: "Cyclone"

It's only rock 'n' roll but Richie sometimes doesn't like it.  

What Worked, Vinyl, Episode 6: 

• The use of the Buddy Holly song (and Holly doppelgänger) "Rave On" in the opening and closing scenes.  Very effective and it highlights one of the strengths of the series: the imaginative threading of songs expertly edited into dramatic sequences.
• Mixed-gender full-front nudity.  The show isn't bush league when it comes to equality in nude scenes.  
• Zak's smackdown (verbal and physical) of Richie at his daughter's bat mitzvah.  It may have been the best scene so far in the series.  And Ray Romano has some serious acting chops.  He elevates almost every scene he's in.  
• Andrea Zito's first staff meeting.  Once again, scenes that show the inner workings of the music industry work best in "Vinyl." Her comments about some of the company's challenges -- "The logo looks like a toilet bowl" -- seemed exactly like dialogue that you'd expect to hear in a record label meeting presided over by a new senior executive.  It was a squirm-worthy meeting made all the worse by Richie's annoying presence (as bosses are prone to be).
• Zak listening to the bat mitzvah singer crooning Bowie's "Life on Mars." Whatever his mental state (in this case -- depressed), his ear is still tuned to great music.  Here's the big question of the night: was the singer a young Billy Joel?  It's Long Island.  It's the early 70s? He's a piano player.  Do the math people.
• Ernst.  Seriously degenerate dude with no moral compass.  But was he a figment of Richie's drug-addled imagination the whole episode?
• The car crash in Coney Island.  Beautifully staged.  

What Didn't Work, Vinyl Episode 6:

• Richie.  Hyper-active acting by Bobby Cannavale plus writing with zero nuance equals a lead character who is hard to watch much less love.  I've said this before: enough with the coke scenes.  It's killing the series.
• Sex in the company bathroom. Yes, I get it was meant to show how low Richie can sink (by doing "it" over the bathroom sink, I guess) but the scene veered into cringe-worthy territory.  Viewers understand that he's out of control.  We don't need to be smashed on the head every ten minutes with this message.
• Devon's scene with Ingrid.  Boring.

Overall Grade for Vinyl Episode 5: (C)  Tonight's episode had some powerful and hallucinogenic scenes like the  Coney Island car crash.  And the music was brilliantly woven into the entire hour.  However, the over-the-top Cannavale ranting and snorting detracted from the strengths of the episodes.  

Vinyl Recap. Season 1. Episode 5: "He's in Racist Fire"

Richie and Devon Finestra: Not-so-happy together.  

What Worked, Vinyl, Episode 5: 

• Clark's demotion to the mailroom. A bit over-the-top but let's face it....he was spotlighting some pretty crappy acts.  At least he's still in the game.
• The showdown between punk rocker Kip Stevens and Richie Finestra in the conference room.  This is where the show shines -- when it focuses on the nitty gritty of musicians versus the all-knowing, all-powerful record labels.  Stevens mouthed off to Richie and we thought he was going to take it.  But he came back hard at him: "Shut your big f-ing mouth." 
• Devon dancing with Hannibal in his hotel room while Richie and Cece watch.  Tense, uncomfortable, almost unwatchable -- but so interesting.  Was she going to head to the bedroom with him? Was Richie going to hit him? Was Richie going to sleep with Cece? Would Richie let Hannibal sleep with Devon to get the record contract?  Would Devon do that?  (Hannibal signs with Jackie Jervis later that evening and Jervis snorts Richie's coke.)

What Didn't Work, Vinyl Episode 5:

• Julie's scenes with Jamie.  His sexist rant is already old and thin  -- and the show is only in the fifth episode of season one.  
• Jamie.  Her character doesn't really work so far.  Is she supposed to be the hot girl in the office?  The young record executive with good ears? The rebel kid from a rich family? Compare her character to Peggy's character in "Mad Men" and you'll get my drift.  (Peggy was a clearly defined character with a fascinating character arc that hooked us every season.)
• Richie's scenes with PR maven Andrea Zito.  The setup was disjointed and not easy to follow.  And the scenes were too melodramatic.  
• Richie's alibi scene in his office with his dad.  Once again, too melodramatic.
• The Nasty Bits recording session.  Their music just isn't that good to make this scene even remotely interesting.  

Overall Grade for Vinyl Episode 5: (B-)  The series is turning into slick melodrama, which isn't necessarily a good thing.  It's watchable and even compelling, but it's not especially memorable.  Bobby Cannavale's performance comes across as too much of everything.  He needs to be more coiled and restrained.  

Vinyl Recap: Season 1. Episode 4: The Racket

Hannibal delivers a "Sly" performance

What Worked, Vinyl, Episode 4: 

• American Century executives squabbling in the limo while returning from the funeral of Buck.  Realistic dialogue that shows the love-hate relationship amongst the men while revealing some of the harsh realities of the music business.
• Val's (Ray Romano) anger-filled  breakfast with mutton-chopped Val.  Once again, Romano steals every scene he's in.
• The use of music (natch).  Especially noteworthy in this episode: "Superfly" and Joplin's "Cry Baby."
• Lester Grimes becoming the manager for The Nasty Bits.  That transition really worked.  And Lester's contract negotiation with Richie was sharp, tense, and  felt like it was written by someone with direct music industry experience. 
• Detectives showing up at Richie's office to question him about the murder.  Those scenes are becoming increasingly anxiety-provoking.
• Devon Finestra at the divorce lawyer's office.  Perfectly played scene and the lawyer was beautifully written and was played as a cynical, tough-as-nails defender of women who ultimately wouldn't take Devon's case.  

What Didn't Work, Vinyl Episode 4:

• The opening scene in the marriage counselor's office with Richie hitting the pillow.
• The overstocking of Donny Osmond records.  It could have been a good bit but it was never explained adequately. 

Overall Grade for Vinyl Episode 4: (A-)  This series is starting to take off.  It's providing a fascinating glimpse into the 70s music scene featuring compelling characters, great music and tense situations.  

Vinyl Recap. Season 1. Episode 3: Whispered Secrets

The wife's dilemma: The agony of Richie Finestra's wife Devon
(as played winningly be Olivia Wilde, above) helped elevate  episode 3.  

What Worked, Vinyl, Episode 3: 

• Opening credits.  Gets better each time I see it.  
• The opening tribute dinner scene honoring record executive Maury Gold.  The below-the-belt cracks by comedian Jackie Jervis set the tone: funny, deadly, clever and dangerous.  It made me both laugh and squirm (this series needs more of the former).  
• Richie Finestra's meeting with his staff where they rate the acts on the label.  Sharp, crisp, rat-a-tat dialogue.  An incisive, cynical view of the record industry leavened by some good wise-cracking (thank you Ray Romano!)
• The argument between Richie and his wife Devon.  Once again, well written with sharp, pointed dialogue.  The battle didn't go over-the-top or last too long.  But it told viewers a lot we needed to know about their relationship and the pain of being his wife.
• Joe Corso's "Angela Davis" reference to the rockin' Afro sported by Richie's African-American assistant.  I was probably one of the only viewers who caught it.  
• The Andy Warhol "Do you want to sell it (the portrait of Devon)" scene.  I haven't been a fan of the few Warhol scenes in the series (the character comes across more like something in a "SNL" skit featuring Dana Carvey) but this one was tense and dramatic.
• Joe Corso putting the squeeze on Richie to get his lover a recording contract.  Yep...that's probably how it works.  

What Didn't Work, Vinyl Episode 3:

• Richie always rubbing his nose and sniffling.  Yep...we get it.  He uses coke.  Now please move on.
• Julie's rant about The Nasty Bits and his sexist comments about secretary Jamie Vine.  Too one-note and too harsh.  The character needs more dimension.
• Alice Cooper scenes.  It was clever how Alice strung along Clark but overall the bit went on too long and was too convoluted.  

Overall Grade for Vinyl Episode 3: (A-)  This was by far the best episode of the series.  Almost all scenes were interesting and well written.  Most of the acting was more nuanced and restrained.  Let's see if episode 4 can continue this trend.