Month: August 2010

Posted on: August 31, 2010 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

Secret Historian: The Life and Times of Samuel Steward, Professor, Tattoo Artist and Sexual Renegade by Justin Spring

Samuel Steward crammed more living into his 84 years, than most, juggling a handful of careers, often keeping each job a secret from his colleagues, meanwhile helping pioneer everything from tattooing to gay pornography. In the fascinating bio Secret Historian, Justin Spring paints a complete picture of a renegade and pioneer who was barely known outside of the world of gay erotica, despite being friends with everyone from Gertrude Stein…

Posted on: August 28, 2010 Posted by: Danica Comments: 0

Hennessy Privilege: Mexico 2010 Edition (Cognac)

The bicentennial of Mexican independence occurs on September 16th, 2010. The fine folks over at Moet Hennessy have created a limited edition run of their storied Privilege line in support of this, hand-numbering and providing imbibers with information about the cognac’s long history in Mexico. We were lucky enough to receive a bottle of Hennessy Privilege for review.

Posted on: August 27, 2010 Posted by: Jesse_Hayges Comments: 0

Awesome Note: A Review (iPhone App)

Appropriately named Awesome Note is probably my favorite iPhone App for taking notes with. It’s has a wonderful, and tastefully customizable, GUI that allows for you to take advantage of this Apps many features without thinking too hard about. Simple like simple note claims, but strikingly handsome like something that might have come from Apple themselves. It also features something closer to a filing system than most note taking Apps,…

Posted on: August 26, 2010 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Mastodon – Blood Mountain (CD)

Mastodon is not quite as hard as many individuals I’ve talked to would have me think. However, this does not mean that they are not intense or brutal, as “The Wolf Is Loose” is the perfect blend of speed metal, sludge rock, and acid rock. This means that the band is flying off the handle even as they call forth acts like Venom, Led Zeppelin, and Judas Priest. Even during…

Posted on: August 26, 2010 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Mass Movement of the Moth + The Catalyst – Two Thousand and 666 (CD)

Catalyst and Mass Movement of the Moth create this split album, and do it in an interesting way. Instead of having “sides” where each band is able to show their wares, the bands go one after another fr the entirety of the disc’s 11 tracks. The Catalyst thus start off the disc with “Panic Don’t Panic” with a track that is loud and boisterous, and it brings in a heavy…

Posted on: August 26, 2010 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Mass Movement of the Moth – Outer Space (CD)

Mass Movement of the Moth does not give their fans any time to get situated before they are assaulted by the noisy approach of the band. The disc’s first track is “Idle Minds Speak In Binary”, and perhaps Mass Movement of the Moth’s best addition to the repertoire of popular music is the turn on a dime style that allows the band to go forth and use hardcore, noise, metal,…

Posted on: August 25, 2010 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Maroon 5 – Makes Me Wonder (CD)

Maroon 5 made it big a few years back with their track “This Love”. Well, it is a few years after their last album “Songs About Jane” (5, actually), and the band is back with this, their first cut off of “It Won’t Be Soon Before Long”. As for the value of this single, there are only two tracks on the disc, and they represent the clean and album tracks…

Posted on: August 24, 2010 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

The Last Song (Blu-Ray + DVD)

Nicholas Sparks, who penned the original book that The Last Song was crafted on, is perhaps the best-known author at the current time. In much the same way, Miley Cyrus may just be the most well-known actress at this current moment. It is not surprising then that The Last Song is a title that is truly magnificent, with a storyline that anyone can identify with. The Last Song surrounds a…

Posted on: August 24, 2010 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Maroon – Endorsed By Hate (CD)

German, vegan, and straight-edge, Maroon comes out of the gate (after their minute introductory track, “Catharsis” finishes) furious and full of the Cookie Monster spirit. The double-bass comes out fast and furious on this disc, but seriously, just because you can hit them 200 times in a minute doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to do it. In fact, “The Worlds Havoc” just has Nick’s drums create the same sonic…

Posted on: August 24, 2010 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Cody Marks – In-Her-State (CD)

The opening of “The Hidden One” is something that would confuse listeners, as the track could also portend the opening of “Time Of Your Life (Good Riddance)” by Green Day. However, the country style of Cody Marks comes up heavily soon after this introduction, and “The Hidden One” assumes a style that is not quite unlike that of a blend of Joni Mitchell and Pete Seeger. The overall sound of…