I thought Kate Russell was a movie star? Maybe I’m just thinking of Kurt Russell and Kate Winslet? Anyways, that has nothing to do with what is present on Kate Russell’s album “Powerful Stuff”. The album cover does not immediately clue individuals in to what style of music that Russell would be creating for this album; current country is what individuals will get when “Powerful Stuff” is put on the…
Puscifer, the eclectic music-meets-comedy troupe helmed by Maynard James Keenan (Tool, A Perfect Circle), kick off their first North American tour in support of the band’s sophomore release, Conditions of My Parole (Oct. 18, Puscifer Entertainment), on Nov. 7 in Seattle. Additional dates will be announced shortly. Puscifer will make their television debut on Halloween with a performance on The Late Show with David Letterman. The band’s live performances are…
Italian bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni looks forward to a stellar 2011-2012 season, beginning with two starring turns at the Metropolitan Opera. Pisaroni plays Leporello under Fabio Luisi in the Met’s new production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni (October 13-November 11). Then he appears as Caliban alongside Plácido Domingo and Joyce DiDonato in The Enchanted Island, the Met’s freshly conceived Shakespearean tableaux of music by Handel, Vivaldi and Rameau, conducted by William Christie…
Virginia-based power metal heavyweights TWISTED TOWER DIRE perform as one of the main headliners of the NC Metalfest in Wilson, North Carolina. Scheduled to take place Saturday, October 8th, the full-day affair features three stages, with 30 bands from across the country performing, and showcasing TWISTED TOWER DIRE will headlining the festivities alongside Widow, Blatant Disarray and more. TWISTED TOWER DIRE features guitarists Scott Waldrop (While Heaven Wept) and Dave…
There are literally tens, if not hundreds, of spy movies that were created after the James Bond series of films really began to take off. While a number of these are unashamed ripoffs of the Bond franchise, Agent 8 3/4 is a title that has its own allure. Bouncing between humor and action, this film seems to have a lot in common with the spirit possessed by the Austin Powers…
The style of music that The Ruse plays is a more smoothed out version of U2 and Oasis; “Everything Comes With A Price” is a vocal-dominated track. This is not to say that the instrumentation is nothing less than impressive; the guitar lines on a song like “Everything Comes With A Price” is something that can be calm and collected even as they bristle with energy. The Ruse is a…
KILL DEVIL HILL, the new project featuring acclaimed drummer Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath, Heaven and Hell, Dio) and bassist Rex Brown (Pantera, Down) have signed with SPV/Steamhammer. The band is rounded out by guitar slinger Mark Savon and killer vocalist Dew Bragg. Their debut album is tentatively scheduled for a March 2012 release. Vinny Appice commented on signing to SPV and what people can expect from KILL DEVIL HILL: “We…
A little bit of Screeching Weasel, some Queers, Ramones and Misfits, and one has an idea what The Runs sound like on their “Wet Sounds”. The tracks run into each other, making the fourteen cut “Wet Sounds” blast through at a Flash-like speed (it ends before the twenty-seventh minute). The production of the disc is well above another achieved by the early Screeching Weasel albums, and tracks like “Rancho Slutadero”…
This is the first time that we have had the chance to review a company’s offering of Raspberry Ketones, and I feel that it should be seen as a required supplement for anyone that is looking to increase their general level of fitness. This is due to the fact that Raspberry Ketones aid in fat loss; lipase is brought in to decrease the amount of fatty acids that are stored…
The War On Drugs are on a roll! The first legs of their US and European tours in support of the widely raved about Slave Ambient (“Best New Music” on Pitchfork, “Best of 2011 So Far” on SPIN.com) have been exceptional, and they’ll be hitting the road again in October & November for another month of touring the United States. Things are going so well for these guys, they’ve decided…
After Conan O’Brien was jerked around by the powers that be, I feel that ey really let it affect eir. This is seen especially in eir current show; I believe that there has been a certain spark that is not usually present there. However, Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop is a release that showcases that speak and shows it to individuals that may not be too familiar with O’Brien’s earlier work…
Immediately reminiscent of The Postal Service, Phiadelphia’s Run Away From The Humans have created a strong sound and style for themselves only after a year of exist. Everything is sequenced and the first track “Wake Up, Wake Up” gains its energy for dreamy vocals and Aeffect-style synthesizers. The synthesizers, played by also-vocalist Jason, are crisp and clean, sounding at times like “Good News-era Modest Mouse, incorporated with a life act.…
“Kimmi in a Rice Field” marks the second video off Twin Sister’s debut full-length, In Heaven, which is out this week. Following up on their playful affair “Bad Street,” the band collaborated again with Dan Devine, this time with drummer Bryan Ujueta co-directing. The video is a powerful visual counterpart to the atmospheric track, based on a ghost story created and written by Andrea Estella (lead singer). The band have…
In conjunction with the new and timely Burns & Poe single release, “I Need A Job,” (Blue Steel Records), Keith Burns and Michelle Poe have announced the launch of the corresponding I Need A Job Contest. Addressing one of America’s hottest topics, both politically and socially, Burns & Poe are encouraging one and all to share their personal story or sentiment surrounding the unemployment issue. Contestants are asked to create…
Austin/Brooklyn-ite, Leslie Sisson, is the lead female vocalist and guitarist in The Wooden Birds while also moonlighting in Matt Pond PA. Her past includes time in Western Keys, Black Lipstick, Pavo, The Mona Jane, Tanworth-in-Arden, and Aero Wave on guitar, bass, keys, cello, flute, voice, as well as guest performances for American Analog Set, Windsor for the Derby, Rhythm of Black Lines, Mark Gardener of Ride, and recent cameos with…
Old Forester is one of those whiskies that are likely on the shelves at every single liquor store and a great deal of the bars that are currently operating. However, there is not the same publicity present for this spirit that there is for Jack Daniels or other similar types of efforts. What results is a spirit that is simply fantastic but that few actually order when they are looking…
Trying to come up with a shoegazer type of rock band that doesn’t sound pretentious or over-the-top is a hard thing to do, especially since the rapid rise of popularity of The Flaming Lips as a viable band with no talent. The Rum Diary does have talent, no questions about it, but there is virtually no soul behind this music. Take “Killed By The Cowboy President”, for example, a track…
This new Tim Hecker release is composed of sketch pieces recorded in 2010 in preparation for what would become the Ravedeath, 1972 album. All of the compositions are piano driven and minimal in nature. This is not a new Tim Hecker album, but rather a peek behind the curtains into the working process. That these pieces stand on their own as compelling soundworks is a testament to the fact that…
ATROCIOUS is a gruesome, mind-bending thriller shot in a style reminiscent of THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT. The horror film excerpts found footage from a film reel recovered by Spanish police, documenting a family of five discovering the truth behind a dangerous urban legend. The 37 hours of found footage follow Cristian and July Quintanilla passing time at their summer home by investigating a terrifying and mysterious urban legend. As their…
Adventure Time may just be the most fresh show that Cartoon Network has aired since Ed, Edd, ‘n Eddy was still in production. The sheer amount of pop-culture references present, tied to a fantasy backdrop, makes this into a show that can be enjoyed no matter whether the watcher is 8, 28, or 58. Along with Regular Show, Adventure Time is part of a major resurgence for Cartoon Network. My…