Month: June 2013

Posted on: June 30, 2013 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Seconds Before Landing The Great Deception CD Review

What Could It Be? is the initial track on The Great Deception, and it provides ample background for listeners. Touching upon the Roswell alien crash, What Could It Be? links organic and human elements with a more tranc-y, out of this world instrumentation. Instructions immediately brings listeners into a style that fans of Styx and Utopia would appreciate. Seconds Before Landing touch upon a wide array of influences from the…

Posted on: June 30, 2013 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Great Northern Porter Review

      While there seems to be a desire for individuals to want the lighter and more fruit-flavored beers during the summer months, I feel that porters provide a perfect counter-point to a big meal or long day of work. Summit’s Great Northern Porter is a rich brew that pours with an intimidatingly dark head and body. The lacing that remains stands in stark opposition to the dark coloration…

Posted on: June 30, 2013 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

The Producers Blu-Ray and DVD Combo Pack Review

  The original 1968 film of The Producers is a classic title, showcasing Mel Brooks, Gene Wilder, and Zero Mostel in a deliriously funny and off-the-wall look into the Broadway of the 1960s. When Max Bialystock (Mostel) and eir accountant (Wilder) learn that making an unsuccessful Broadway show is more financially lucrative than dealing with a long-haul release, Springtime For Hitler is born. The machinations of Bialystock and Bloom are…

Posted on: June 30, 2013 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Newland Volume 3 Mixtape CD Review

There is a high amount of energy that is present on this mixtape, and a considerable portion of that comes from the work of DJ Malone. Where the most common mixtapes around have DJs touting themselves at the expense of the songs that listeners want to hear, there is a much more organic feel to the compilation of cuts here. What DJ Malone Productions does here is blend the hottest…

Posted on: June 27, 2013 Posted by: Cameron Comments: 0

State of Decay Xbox Live Arcade Review

Over the last few years, the genre of survival horror has taken a marked turn towards action horror. Later installments of series like Dead Space and Resident Evil play like Michael Bay blockbusters, and it’s rare to have an actual sense of dread for the monsters that you’re mowing down. That’s what makes State of Decay, the ambitious new XBLA offering from Undead Labs and Microsoft Game Studios, so refreshing.…

Posted on: June 27, 2013 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Kelsea Little Personal Myth CD Review

Kelsea Little begins Personal Myth with Blue Feather, a track that has a delightful sound. Little allows the instrumentation on this introductory effort to keep up with her effervescent and bubbly style. What results with the beginning of Personal Myth is nothing less than impressive – It Hasn’t Gone Away looks back into fifties rock just as much as it touches upon a current and contemporary singer-songwriter sound. Little’s vocals…

Posted on: June 27, 2013 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

Knife Fight DVD Review

This indie movie about U.S. politics may have relied on B-list celebrities, but most bring their A game in this surprisingly solid light drama. Rob Lowe is great as Paul Turner a Democratic fixer, the guy you call when your politician is about to get caught screwing around or… well let’s just go with screwing around, because that seems to be the go-to vice for male politicians in Knife Fight. …

Posted on: June 26, 2013 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Ayron Michael Unleashed CD Review

Have It Your Way is a track that touches upon the work of Akon, Ne*yo, and Chris Brown. There is a certain twinkling nature to the track that will appease any fans of R&B. Michael’s vocals here could easily make it onto pop rotation, while the production pushes his vocals into an entirely separate realm from the average R&B fodder. One Night brings things back to a more time-tested tradition,…

Posted on: June 26, 2013 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 18

Cayman Jack Hand Crafted Margarita Review

There have not been any bottled margaritas that been wowed me. Every time that I have purchased one, there just seems to be something off about the effort. This means that some efforts go overboard on the lime flavoring, while others just miss the mark entirely. We were lucky enough to receive a sample of the Cayman Jack Hand Crafted Margarita (which is available at places like Spirit Smuggler), and…

Posted on: June 26, 2013 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Brownstone Beer Review

Brownstone is an amazing brown ale, blending sweetness with a bite. Sixpoint is pegged at 6.0%, a shade higher than most brown ales. I feel that the additional alcohol works nicely with hints of fruit and bitterness provided by the hops. There is a decidedly more creamy feel to Brownstone that makes the beer eminently drinkable, a hint to the complexity that is present. As one begins on the second…