Category: Features

Posted on: February 25, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 1

Hi-Res Beer Review

      Hi-Rest pours with absolutely nothing in the way of head, along with a very bronze / gold body. The beer is effervescent, and will immediately yield a nice alcohol burn. While there are notes of hops present here, the 111 IBU level of the Hi-Res will not overwhelm the balanced nature of the effort. Hints of caramel, spice, lemon, and sweet malts can all be discerned within…

Posted on: February 20, 2014 Posted by: L Rogers Comments: 0

Dodsferd The parasitic survival of the human race CD Review

The typical words I would associate with black metal of all kinds do not seem to fit when I attempt to describe Dodsferd’s 9th studio album, ‘The parasitic survival of the human race’.  A mix of sturdy riffing, clearly defined instrumentation and somehow structured vocal timings, make, truly gripping, exciting and sincerely different from anything I have heard before. Dodsferd have somehow managed to create a rebellious, ‘fuck you’ sounding…

Posted on: February 19, 2014 Posted by: Caitlin Comments: 0

Powerstar Golf Review

At times, Powerstar Golf feels a lot like playing its real-world counterpart. Like real golf, Powerstar is filled with frustration, botched shots, curse words muttered under your breath as your shot bounces into the bunker for the hundredth time, and promises that you’ll never play again. But then you hit that one shot, that one perfect shot, and it makes all the frustration worth it. Powerstar Golf is an arcade-style…

Posted on: February 19, 2014 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

Game of Thrones: The Complete Third Season DVD

  Shit got real in season three of Games of Thrones. You know those annoying friends who have already read the books and would not shut up about “The Red Wedding” scene. Well, turns out they didn’t over sell this story line, for once. In the second to last episode in season three, just out on DVD, hell was definitely unleased at the wedding of Edmure Tully and Roslin Frey,…

Posted on: February 19, 2014 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

Bob Dylan: American Troubadour by Donald Brown Book Review

Yes, there are bookshelves lined with bios about Bob Dylan – including a planned-three volume autobiography from the singer. But journalist Donald Brown approached American Troubadour, the latest Dylan book, in a completely original fashion, looking at the cultural landscape surrounding the release of each album. While many of the stories of Dylan’s life have been dissected ad nausea in just about every bit of medium imaginable, Brown’s approach is refreshing;…

Posted on: February 18, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 6

NASCAR ’14 Xbox 360 Video Game Review

NASCAR ’14 is one of the few sporting-based video games on the market that showcases the sheer difficulty of the activity.  The tweaks, paint schemes, and the variety of upgrades that are available to players allow the game to have considerable replay value, while the pain-staking amount of detail paid to the recreation of a number of the actual NASCAR tracks will appease die-hard and causal fans of racing alike.…

Posted on: February 18, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Helles Golden Lager

  The golden lager style is one that has been largely ignored by microbrewers. As the dominant style on the macro-brewery side of things, it makes sense that the beer style has fallen out of favor. However, Sly Fox has created a golden lager that is refreshing and tasty while providing a number of distinct twists and turns before the beer is finished. The sweetness of the beer is moderated…

Posted on: February 17, 2014 Posted by: Yousuf Ahmed Comments: 0

Blasterjaxx – Faith (The Remixes) Review

  The Blasterjaxx boys have been taking the music world by storm, leaving the likes of Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga in the dust. Owing to their huge success world-wide, Blasterjaxx pops out two new remixes of their new hit chart-topper Faith: the Lady Bee Remix as well as the Bassanova & Dirty Herz Remix. Shaping two distinct yet eerily similar tunes, Blasterjaxx brings in influences from trap, EDM, as well…

Posted on: February 15, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Lasse Passage Stop Making Sense and Start Making Success Volume 1 CD Review

Stop Making Sense and Start Making Success is an introspective and  deftly-designed composition that provides listeners with a complete introduction to Lasse Passage; the dense arrangements will take a number of listens before they yield every secret that Lasse Passage has placed into the effort. The darkly emotive arrangements that are present on tracks like Tanker Om Morningen are simply unparalleled. Hints of early oughts Deep Elm emotive rock can…

Posted on: February 13, 2014 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

Afternoon Delight DVD Review

  Despite what appears to be another “poor pitiful me, I’m rich but bored” comedy/drama, Afternoon Delight is surprisingly good.   Helmed by Jill Soloway (who snagged the 2013 Sundance Best Director award), the film follows Rachel (played by Step brothers’ Kathryn Hahn), a stay at home mom, married to a tech entrepreneur Jeff (How I met Your Mother’s Josh Radnor), living in LA;s trendy Silver Lake. Rachel has slew…

Posted on: February 13, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Michael Stosic S/T Album Review

  Michael Stosic has crafted a unique style of music that is fuelled by a number radio-friendly tracks. Before this album ends, fans of raw musicianship and of intelligent arrangements will find something that they can appreciate. The presence of Backstreet Dancer as the initial effort on this release ensures that listeners can be properly inspired to stick with Stosic’s music from beginning to end. The track deftly weaves together…

Posted on: February 12, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 1

G-Thing Beer Review

      Magic Hat is a brewery that attempts to shake up beer styles and includes some interesting twists and turns with their efforts. Their G-Thing seasonal is a nice blend between a porter and a winter warmer, with a curveball thrown into the mix – a substantial amount of ginger flavor. The initial earthy tones of the ginger are a mite bit off-putting for those that are expecting…

Posted on: February 10, 2014 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

A Case of You DVD Review

It’s a bit surprising this indie romantic comedy didn’t get bigger buzz on its initial outing. The leads (Justin Long and Evan Rachel Wood), while not exactly major box office draws are still pretty big names for a small budget film, and the story is quirky without being overly odd and sweetly romantic enough to have  broad appeal. Long (who also wrote the screenplay and produced) plays Sam, a young…

Posted on: February 10, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Alex Von Z Feature

Alex Von Z is a musician that is reaching out to his fans for assistance. The music that he creates speaks to a wide array of fans, and touches upon a considerable amount of genres and styles. The eclectic style which is present through tracks like Drawn, What It Should Be, and Chocolate Covered Karma is no doubt due to his upbringing, which brought him to two polar opposite cities…

Posted on: February 9, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 3

Smuttynose Durty Mud Season Hoppy Brown Ale

Durty is one of the best Brown Ales that we have reviewed. The beer pours with a very dark brown color, with hints of amber. The lacing of the beer remains long after each sip, while the beer itself has a very bold flavor. Malt begins the effort, while the hop bitterness pushes the effort into a whole other plateau. The 8.4% ABV  of the Durty is hidden well by…

Posted on: February 9, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Red Nose Winter Ale Review

      Red Nose is a winter warmer that does not get too sweet, while maintaining a little bit of a hop bite to keep things interesting. The beer pours with a dark brown / reddish coloration. The effervescence of the beer ensures that any head that is present dissipates quickly. There is a toasty side to this effort that will keep individuals warm through the coldest months of…

Posted on: February 9, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Jason Mark Yates Feature Article

Reachin Out is a heartfelt and softly-spoken track that will allow listeners ample opportunity to familiarize themselves with Jason Mark Yates. The drums really shine during this track to provide further gravitas to this recording, while Yates’ vocals are haunting. The ease of understanding what is going on during this single will endear fans to Yates’s music, while the smart instrumentation will ensure that they are on the edges of…

Posted on: February 8, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 1

Alex Von Z Implicate Order CD Review

The Implicate Order EP has 4 tracks which unite to provide a solid introduction to Alex Von Z.  Drawn is the initial offering, and it immediately provides listeners with a sense of camaraderie. The production allows listeners to be transported into the closest setting with Alex Von Z, while the Implicate Order CD provides two different ways to enjoy the track. What It Should Be is a complex track that…

Posted on: February 8, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Laurelle All The Way Single Review

Laurelle’s All The Way is a track that blends rap and dance music to create a high-energy track that will work equally well at dance clubs and bars. The infusion of synths and a quick tempo ensures that this track is tattooed deep into the mind of listeners.  The drop that is present between the two parts of the track keeps things current and provides further highlighting to Laurelle’s vocals.…