To bad I'm not talking about the movie! So I recently bought a Zune... actually not recently but around the time I took a long break from posting is when I bought it and it has pretty much consumed every aspect of my life. Regardless I got the soundtrack off of the Zune Marketplace which I had to pay for even though I had a Zune pass, but to my delight it was a very good soundtrack. By good I mean the songs were actually in the movie rather than a soundtrack filled with new music from the latest bands or just the musical score *cough* I Am Legend *cough* what the hell were they thinking *cough* *cough* sorry that last one was real. But I did enjoy the movie and the soundtrack is just enjoyable as well. I do wish I that there were more people in my age group in attendance to the flix since it was mostly old people that didn't understand what Thundercats GO! meant. Ah it's so wonderful when a movie can sell tickets based on critic's opinions and by comparison to the last indie comedy that came before it... ah Hollywood, will your writers ever be invited back? Hurry up I've got a script to sell!
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Juno - Yeah I Saw It!
Friday, August 24, 2007
Rilo Kiley - The Blacklight (2007)
I have been waiting for a new Rilo Kiley CD since the disappointment that was Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins, and I have to say... sometimes it's hard when a band grows up. What I mean by this is that the sound and songs that made me fall in love with Rilo Kiley are no longer the same. Sure the core is still there, and even some of the song structure is the same. But that indie feel, that experimental feel... is no longer there. They've traded those handful of songs that you would skip to hear on the CD, for an album that you can easily and enjoyably listen to in one setting. In fact my drive to work is so long, and the CD so short that I can actually start it again before hitting the parking lot.
The band has a heavy electronic influence on this album, it works very well with the CD but
again don't expect the same old Rilo Kiley. Lyrically there's many changes too, trading in songs with no chorus' for songs that repeat the same lyric again and again. That might put some people off and I can even see how some long time fans might be put off by this album. Myself, I have gotten past the point of hoping a band will never change and try to come into each album with no expectations otherwise all you'll get is disappointment. The CD definitely has a studio feel to it, losing that gritty basement recording sound the previous albums had; and pretty much sounds like the band is ready for radio adventures. Hopefully they'll continue making enjoyable music and not get lost in the hustle and shuffle of corporate radio. Like I said before it's hard when a band grows up, but at least from the sounds of it they're growing up right.
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Now playing: "Breakin' Up" by Rilo Kiley
via FoxyTunes
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
The Black Diamond - From Ait Planetlar
The Black Diamond
Issue One
Shake Hands With Danger
Created and Written by
Larry Young
Art by
Jon Proctor
From AIT-PLANETLAR
Released Date
06-13-07
This is as Indie as it gets. I had never heard or seen anything from this company before randomly picking up this book. I'll tell you one thing this company is it's best self promoter. Black Diamond is about a highway that has no rules, anything goes, no speed limit, no laws. It was designed to keep the dredge of society away from everyone else. The problem with keeping everyone on the road that's dangerous is that occasionally they fly off the side harming the people that are meant to be safe. Unfortunately to get the whole story you'll have to read the Zero Issue titled 'On Ramp' but they do a great job of printing a review of that issue in the first issue. Cleaver huh? It's a great review from ComicTreadmill.com.
They too have a review of the first issue which is unfortunate for me since they probably have a bigger reader base, but they come off a little biased loving the Author and Company just a little too much. So on with my review!
I would give this book an 9.5, it wasn't perfect but it was really freaking good. It had a little too much 'Car Jargon' to the point that I didn't know if the car had really existed outside the world of comics, but I liked the fact that I stopped paying attention around the time the Main Character did too. Basically this Orthodontist's wife gets kidnapped because her Father designed the Black Diamond. The Army is taking control of the road again using excessive force to get the job done. The part that doesn't really make since is that the Wife's brother is a cop and he gives the car to the Husband and sends him to get her back... Yes it's a more interesting story for the boring guy to go see what he's made of, but its kinda hard to swallow at the same time. The Art is amazing and the Team chooses interesting angles and panel designs that really fit and make the book stand out. Honestly the quality of this book, was not independent. It far surpassed the norm of Indie comics, if it had been printed on better paper (which may have been intentional as a throw back to early comics) I wouldn't be able to tell it apart from Marvel Icon's Criminal in comparison to quality. It will be hard to find this book and Online is probably your best option unless you have a local shop that takes a gamble on Indie's. I was able to find both Issue 0 and 1 at MidtownComics for a decent price plus shipping making it a little harder to swallow but trust me this is a book you won't want to miss. This is one of those books people will be talking about how good it is a few years when they released the seventh printing of the Trade Paper Back. I'm glad I found this book before it became the next 30 Days of Night, where the first issue sells for 80 to 120 bucks due to it's popularity and low print numbers. Check this book out, and see the potential that not only this book has but more than likely the company too.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Straylight Run - The Needles The Space (2007)
This week Straylight Run's second CD came out. I'm not going to bore you will all the band's history, if you want something about that I would check wikipedia I'm sure they have every boring detail written down in even more detail then really needed. What I can say is that this album is leaps and bounds better than their first CD. The first CD's only good songs were the songs from the internet EP/Demo that the band released to get everyone interested in their sound. As for the second CD throw out everything you know about the band and start expecting Indie, light rock singing. After the first two songs I was instantly comparing it to Headlights, Rilo Kiley and several other bands that I still can't come up with. The CD is strong but not without it's weaknesses.
The first five songs stand out and yell "Single, Play me on the radio now!" I really could not choose which one I would send to the stations first. The sixth song is good but it's political and frankly no one's saying anything new. Everyone wants to criticized the president but no ones saying anything we haven't heard before and probably done better. I'd rather there be a political song taking personal responsibility about letting GW in the White House rather than bagging on what an idiot he is. Unfortunately it's still a good song and I found myself just ignoring the message the second time around and just really enjoying the hook and music. This is another CD that has a strong begin but a weak end. Like I said the first six are great, but the next five felt like filler and didn't stand out like the start of the CD did. Thankfully tracks 11 to 13 saved the CD from being another lack luster attempt from the band. Something I did enjoy was that there were move female vocals on this CD and that they were good songs. The last CD didn't have much of her vocals even as background and when she did sing it was like she didn't care about what she was singing. This CD however she had some catchy lyrics and interesting songs to go with them. A major weakness for this disc though, is the fact that it alternates from Male to Female vocal songs, literally going Male then Female and back to Male. I understand that they were probably trying not to establish either as a dominate voice on the CD and frankly her voice is so good that any record exec looking for the next Rilo Kiley or what not would probably make her the lead in a heart beat, but that would ruin the band. So the alternated when really they could have done One Male, a couple Female, then maybe alternate and finish with some Male Vocals. I sat there wondering how long they were going to keep it up and it finally brakes at track 7.
I would give this CD a strong 8.5, like I said it's not without it's weaknesses, but it has a lot of strength's that help it stay afloat in the overpowering Music scene today. Another great thing about this CD is that you can buy it for $8.50 on Smartpunk which is where I purchased my copy. I know a new CD that doesn't suck for under 10 dollars? Heck I bet other places might even have it as cheap without the shipping but hey it's still a heck of a deal. If you enjoyed the first album tread lightly with this one. Do not go and listen to the first album and then think the new one is going to be riding the same boat because it won't be, but hey even then I think you'll probably still really enjoy this CD.