Month: December 2015

Posted on: December 15, 2015 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

Scorpions – Forever and a Day (DVD)

The German hard rock mainstays, Scorpions, may not the most commonly name-checked band by young metal groups looking to up their street cred when citing musical influences, but the band has been rattling teeth longer than many and has turned in some great albums over the years. In the documentary “Scorpions Forever and a Day,” filmmakers document the band’s three-year long farewell global tour, which kicked off in 2010. As told…

Posted on: December 15, 2015 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

A Few Moments with Mundo

Today, we are speaking with Mundo, a performer that deftly weaves together birthright and his current living arrangement. As a polyglot, would you agree that language is powerful?  Music has a similar transformative ability. What does your mélange of the two say? (smiles) Well it’s my personal belief that it’s really very very difficult to understand a people if you don’t speak or at least know a little bit about…

Posted on: December 15, 2015 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Waring Pro SB10 Professional Immersion Blender

I am familiar with a great many of the different types of blenders that one can use, from food processors to the normal bowl ones, but I do not believe that I have ever had the chance to use an immersion blender. The immersion blender looks more like a power tool than something that would be in a kitchen, but the rugged styling that Waring puts on their SB10 is…

Posted on: December 15, 2015 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Pale Ale (Sugar Creek Brewing Company)

Charlotte, North Carolina’s Sugar Creek Brewing Company has crafted a unique and alluring Pale Ale that has a richness and fullness to the effort that separates it from other pale ales currently on the market. There is a good amount of off-wheat head that sits on top of the beer. The decent amount of malt that is included in this effort makes the beer stand up well; the sharpness of…

Posted on: December 15, 2015 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 1

Dubbel (Destihl Brewery)

Illinois’ own Destihl Brewery has created a dubbel that hits all of the high notes of the Belgian style without moving too far into the pruny tastes that sink many a dubbel. The beer pours with a brown to mahogany coloration and a small amount of off-white head that rapidly dissipates. The initial nose of this Dubbel is sweet, heavy with raisin. and concludes with a bit of malt at the…

Posted on: December 14, 2015 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Sean McMorris Elevated Man CD Review

Sean McMorris has released a new album, Elevated Man, that will take listeners through a number of styles and approaches before spinning to a close. The eponymous track is a sedate effort that ties together the easy-listening rock of the seventies with a more contemporary alternative style. The instrumental and vocal sides of the track create something that stands up to repeat spins. Bent Out of Shape is a bouncy track…

Posted on: December 13, 2015 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

R10T – Digital R10T EP

Death Pony Express is the opening track on Toronto’s R10T’s Digital R10T EP, and what listeners will immediately take from this track is that vocals are not required when attempting to tell a story. The rich narrative that is weaved through samples/arrangements in unparalleled. Hints of Plastikman, Prodigy, and “Pretty Hate Machine”-era Nine Inch Nails represent the bedrock upon which R10T creates his music. The dynamic sound of this opening salvo…

Posted on: December 13, 2015 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Run To Life – Can’t Write Love Songs CD

Nation of Winners is an emotive bit of rock from Run To Life on their latest, Can’t Write Love Songs, that blends together tremendous instrumentation with a haunting set of vocals. The dynamic allows each side to shine while creating something that is decidedly greater than the sum of the constituent parts. Is It for Good is a tender and touching composition that is sedate and soft before opening up…

Posted on: December 12, 2015 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Dessy Di Lauro – Go ‘Head D (Hi-D-Ho) / Say Hep Hep

Go ‘Head D (Hi-D-Ho) is a track that refreshes the timeless Minnie the Moocher by Cab Calloway into a pop/R&B blend that will dig its hooks deep into the minds and hearts of listeners.  Let Me Hear You Say Hep Hep blends together the work of performers like Blu Cantrell and Mary J. Blige with Harlem of the twenties and thirties.