Month: October 2012

Posted on: October 22, 2012 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

Streets of Fire: Bruce Springsteen in Photographs and Lyrics 1977-1979 by Eric Meola (Book)

There are shelves bulging under the weight of Springsteen coffee table books, so was there really a need for one more? Well, as Streets of Fire proves, absolutely. This book of beautiful black and white photos and accompanying essays, were all taken by Eric Meola at the tail end of Springsteen’s legal battle with his former manager – keeping the singer out of the studio for a year – through…

Posted on: October 22, 2012 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Starkweather – Croatoan (CD)

  Starkweather is a cult band for a reason. The music that they commit to disc when “Croatoan” starts out is nothing less than furious. The track is about seven minutes long, and it shows Starkweather’s trek through a number of different genres and sounds. This means that there is a ton of death and thrash metal, but that there are breakdowns present that would make both Pantera and Black…

Posted on: October 22, 2012 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Staring Back – The Mean Streets of Goleta (CD)

  Much more driven than the two albums that followed it, Staring Back’s “The Mean Streets of Goleta” has an urgency about it, a sense of youthfulness indicative of a time in which those feelings were still allowed. Now, bands are pretty much forced to be individuals reminiscing about this past, while assuming the part of an old sage – The Atari’s “In this Diary” really is a track that…

Posted on: October 21, 2012 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Ramo Dajaneiro – Feature and Running All Muthafuckas Over Review (CD)

If You Don’t Know is the first track on Running All Muthafuckas Over, and it immediately showcases that Ramo Dajaneiro is a substantially different rapper than what is currently popular. There is an urgency to each of the cuts here that showcases that he has actually lived what he’s rapping about. The production is crisp and fits the flow, ensuring a rough and ready track that will have listeners focused…

Posted on: October 19, 2012 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Staring Back – On (CD)

  Where the individuals from Kids in the Hall may have released Brain Candy on an unassuming populace, it is Staring Back that puts out Ear Candy. Speed-addicted punk that is still galloping while others might be resting. The wall of sound created by Staring Back is one that has innumerable wires and guns sticking out of it, providing ways for countless other innocent listeners to fall victim to each…

Posted on: October 19, 2012 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Staring Back – Many Will Play (CD)

  Hey, you know all those bands out there like The All-American Rejects, Mest, and Die Trying? Well, each of those bands that are in the same mold gaining all sort of success should really give a share of their money to Staring Back. This disc, as was listed earlier, was created in 2000. The only reason why I am even going and reviewing this disc, after so many years…

Posted on: October 19, 2012 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Paul Stanley – Live To Win (CD)

  “Live To Win” was a track that Stanley licensed to for the Warcraft-specific episode of South Park, and while the track is around three minutes long, the clips used during South Park gave the track even more intensity. The song does start off the album in a solid way, with a high amount of energy and solid instrumentation. The track does not feel as if Stanley is trying to…

Posted on: October 19, 2012 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Return to Ravnica

The original Ravnica block was one of the most beloved and powerful efforts present in the pantheon of Magic: the Gathering expansions. The amount of hype that was surrounding this set was incredible, but this first look back at Ravnica lives up to the hype. For those that were not playing during the original Ravnica block, the plane is one massive city, replete with a set of 10 guilds that…

Posted on: October 19, 2012 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

BENNY BENASSI Launches “Rough Road” North American Bus Tour;

World-renowned, Grammy Award-winning producer/DJ BENNY BENASSI launched his Rough Road North American bus tour this week. Set to cross the U.S. and Canada with 16 dates, marking his largest string of consecutive shows on a single tour in his career, BENASSI will be joined by Pink Is Punk, Krewella and Congorock on various dates. BENASSI will perform to an estimated 45,000+ people in just over two weeks, blazing a trail…

Posted on: October 18, 2012 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

MATTHEW KOMA DEBUT HIS NEW VIDEO FOR “PARACHUTE”

New York-bred singer and songwriter Matthew Koma debuts his new video for the track “Parachute” today from his four song debut Parachute EP  out now.  Having already made a splash co-writing the hook on Sebastian Ingrosso and Alesso’s smash single “Calling (Lose My Mind)” featuring Ryan Tedder, Matthew also co-wrote and is featured on “Sparks” with rising DJs Nicky Romero and Fedde LeGrand.  In addition Matthew Koma co-wrote and features…