One of the biggest unsolved crimes in music history is how criminally underrated The Jam has been among American audiences. Despite churning out two of the best albums to come out of London’s punk scene in the late 1970s (1977’s In the City and 1978’s All Mod Cons), the band is too often overlooked on their influence of today’s music, even by the same folks who have no problem remembering the contributions of…
From L’ambassadeur de Libertalia: (RandellYoung.com)… “In this crazy, mixed-up world where the alleged Land of the Free has the highest incarceration rate of any country, the inhabitants of Prison Planet cry out for some small corner of the earth where health, wealth and happiness might be pursued unburdened by the Dictates of Oligarchs or the Tyranny of the Masses.
On her new EP, Transfixed, Seattle’s Shelita Burke lets listeners in. Transfixed is a tender track that firmly places Burke into the singer-songwriter style, while adding hints of alternative and indie into the mix. The production of this introductory effort is tender, establishing a cozy sound to Burke’s music that will immediately draw listeners in. Pour allows the instrumental side of things to shine, with percussive and emotive guitar work…
Bad Girl Good is the debut single from Amity Rae, and this track works on all levels. Fans of pop, EDM, or reggae will have more than enough to sink their teeth into. Breathy vocals and a male/female dynamic makes this into a fun and alluring introductory effort for listeners.
Mr. Showbiz’ Showbiz Christmas is a high-energy track that hits on a variety of Christmas tropes while forging forth in a bold new direction. The track’s bells, hooky chorus, and smart repetition makes this into an earworm that will stick with listeners long after the season has came and went.
Episodes present on Elmo the Musical include Prince Elmo, Mountain Climber, Sea Captain, President, and the titular Elmo the Musical. The youngest set will appreciate the action which takes place in these episodes, while fans of Elmo will still be able to appreciate what is going on. The video quality of Elmo the Musical is absolutely stellar, ensuring that viewers will have an experience that parallels watching the original airing…
16-Bit DPA is a double pale ale from Manhattan, Kansas’ Tallgrass Brewing Company. The beer pours with a hazy dark-yellow to orange coloration and a small amount of persistent white head; lacing is spotty. There is a great blend of hoppy and wheaty that plays out as one continues to quaff. Toastier elements are present as the 16-Bit DPA continues to warm, while the floral and citrus elements remain considerably…
Based on the successes of their initial efforts in the Wild Sour Series, Bloomington, Illinois’ Destihl Brewery has continued to expand the line. We were fortunate enough to receive samples of their Lynnbrook, a Raspberry Berliner Weisse. The beer pours with a vibrant pink color and a complex nose that showcases the sharp bite of raspberries; Lynnbrook’s head sits on top of the effort for a short time before dissipating…
The quality in which The Halloween Tree was transferred over to the DVD format is absolutely stunning, making sure that viewers will be provided with an experience that is as near to the first time they watched the film. VHS editions of this title just pale in comparison to the Warner Archive edition. For those that have not had the opportunity to watch the film yet, it is framed around…
Bennigan’s has been a part of the American cultural landscape since 1976, and the company has taken it upon themselves to refresh and revitalize their offerings while keeping the same sort of friendly ambiance and authentic Irish fare. Along the way, Bennigan’s has included healthier options and have retooled others. We stopped in for a dinner at the Mt. Pleasant, Michigan location of Bennigan’s and were impressed at the overall…
2XIBA is the latest seasonal from Lakewood, NY’s Southern Tier Brewing Company. This india style black ale pours with a tremendously dark chocolate to midnight coloration and a fair amount of tannish head that creeps its way down a glass as one continues their journey. On the initial sip, imbibers will experience a blend of piney and fruity hops that are quickly followed up by a strong toasty, biscuity side…
A few months back, Teriyaki Madness opened in Akron. Any time we had driven out West Market Street, we always mused about stopping in. After a few months, we were ultimately able to visit. The restaurant is inviting without a hint of pretense, setting up the counter at the front of the location. When one puts in their order, they are greeted with a number of proteins (Spicy and normal…
Freeways of Time is a standout single from Morgan Washam’s latest album, Blood Moon. This track has a timeless feel to it that ensures that fans of the 1970s pop-country of John Denver and John Berry can appreciate.
Hobbsy have just released a single for their latest single, I Am. The track is a gritty, hard-edged rock track that has enough vocal harmony to keep listeners on the edges of their seats. The dynamic between the vocals and the drums, guitars and bass make for something that stands up to repeat listens.
There are a number of different BRAVO! Cucina Italiana locations scattered through our normal stomping grounds, but we had yet to visit the restaurant. We stopped into the BRAVO! Cucina Italiana location at the Summit Mall in Fairlawn, Ohio for dinner and had a memorable experience. The meal started with their inimitable herb bread and a spiced olive oil dip. The restaurant’s Calamari Fritti ($12.99) were succulent bites of calamari…
The major issue that we have experienced when it comes to pumpkin beers is the overwhelming tendency to make the efforts much too sweet to counteract some of the more sour and vegetal flavors of the aforementioned gourd. In doing so, brewers completely obfuscate what makes pumpkins so interesting. Idaho’s Tommyknocker brewery has created their Small Patch Pumpkin Ale, which is a well-balanced beer that allows the natural flavor of…
Rum King is an Imperial Stout from Minneapolis’ Indeed Brewing. The effort is aged in rum barrels, and pours with a dark brown to inky black coloration. A decent amount of mocha-colored head sits on the top of the pour. One can immediately smell the alcohol and rum burn issuing forth from a snifter; prepare to have your breath taken away with the first pull of Rum King. After this…
Death By Coconut is the latest seasonal brew from Oskar Blues, and it provides imbibers with a refreshing update to the porter style. The brewery has tagged this as an “irish porter”, meaning that it has a deep, dark coloration, a thick and fluffy amount of off-white to tannish head, and a set of flavors that are bold and front-forward. Death By Coconut is sweet with a little bit of…
Simply put, Le Meridien Columbus: The Joseph is one of the fanciest hotels in Columbus (it recently received the Four Diamond rating from AAA) and would rank in the top 10 across the state of Ohio. Clean lines, elegance, and careful planning of every aspect of the visit makes this into a must-visit for anyone that is making it to Ohio’s capitol for business, pleasure, or anything in between.
The shuffling, intense sound of the latest Bondurant (San Diego) single Crazy People will tattoo the track upon listeners’ minds. The falsetto that is weaved through this cut is catchy, building off of the trend of artists like Eric Nally (Foxy Shazam) and Adam Levine (Maroon 5). A clap-track and fuzzy guitar work give Crazy People a timeless sheen.