Category: Features

Posted on: January 17, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

The Following The Complete First Season DVD Set

The Following is one of the hottest shows on TV, looking to reinvigorate the cat-and-mouse, criminal and lawman genre utilizing hints of crime fiction, police procedural, and mystery genres. The absolutely star-studded cast (Kevin Bacon, James Purefoy, Natalie Zea) took to the air early in 2013, and have captured a considerable viewer share throughout its initial 15-episode run. The dynamic that is present between the serial killer Joe Carroll (Purefoy)…

Posted on: January 17, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Abbey Dubbel Beer Review

The sweet notes that are presented to imbibers are moderated through the presence of a warming alcohol touch. The 9.1 IBUs of the Abbey Dubbel allow for an absolutely approachable effort that is much more meaty and fulfilling than more hop-heavy efforts. The fruit elements (banana, dark fruit, apricot) provide additional facets to the beer. The bold elements of the beer are refreshed through the presence of tart notes, raisins,…

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

Henrik Åstrom Interview

Can the music that you composed for Cowboys and Indians be enjoyed outside of the setting of the film? Does the context in which one listens to your music change based on how they experience the compositions? I always intend for the scores I write to stand on their own outside of the film. It is usually a challenge since most film scores need to be very subtle and can…

Posted on: January 14, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Sneak Attack Saison Beer Review

Effervescent without having some of the more dank and earthy notes typically present in the farmhouse ale format, Sneak Attack Saison has a tremendously easy flavor that dissipates quickly. The pour yields a very hazy, straw color with no head or lacing. 6.2% ABV is moderately perfectly by the warmer elements of the beer, while the 38 IBUs provide imbibers with additional complexity to the effort. Hints of pepper, spice,…

Posted on: January 14, 2014 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

The Art of Metal: Five Decades of Heavy Metal Album Covers Book Review

Metal may be the most maligned musical genre out there. But regardless of whether you think its rep is well-deserved or wholly unfair, there is no denying the powerful visual images that have been associated with it from the beginning, seen everywhere from album covers to black concert T’s. From the iconic Zombie-like figure of Eddie, Iron Maiden’s mascot, to the Misfits skull beaming from the front of t-shirts going…

Posted on: January 14, 2014 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

Cars Can Be Blue – Trace the Tension LP Review

Though best remembered for the beautifully raunchy, but oh so catchy tune “The Dirty Song,” Athens, GA’s duo Cars Can Be Blue are back with their strongest full length yet, Trace the Tension. Bringing to mind everyone from The Muffs to The Moldy Peaches, the band is still playful and still irreverent, but a tad more focused with this latest 14-song offering. From the pumped up album opener “You…

Posted on: January 14, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Amberfern AquaEssence: An Ocean of Calm CD Review

Dr. Clive Brooks is Amberfern, and AquaEssence is a collection of tracks that he has created to elicit the sounds and experiences that one has when they are on a beach. From Avon Beach to the disc’s final track, Calm Waters Home, Amberfern has deftly created a release that will elicit memories of days spent on the boardwalk, playing around a swimming hole, or bobbing around in the ocean. At…

Posted on: January 14, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Bernward Koch Day of Life CD Review

The Enchanted Path is the introductory effort on Day of Life. At four and a quarter minutes, the track still seems to go by like a flash. Each note created by Koch fits perfectly and sets the stage for the rest of the album. While Flowers on the Mountain barely reaches the three minute mark, the track is able to dovetail nicely into Morning Silence. The hopeful feelings that are…

Posted on: January 14, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Omar Akram Daytime Dreamer CD Review

Downpour opens up Daytime Dreamer, and it provides listeners with a tremendously dynamic and uptempo feel. While there are not vocals present, the piano line that Akram lays down provides a considerable amount of narrative. The track taps out at a hair over four minutes and leads into Dancing With the Wind. Dancing With the Wind is a softer and more introspective effort, where Akram delves into the corpus…

Posted on: January 14, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Cowboys and Indians Soundtrack by Henrik Åstrom

Cowboys and Indians is an independent film that benefits considerably through the presence of a set of compositions by Henrik Åstrom (who also created the score for 2011’s Jake and Jasper). While the visual component to the film is stellar and will draw viewers in, Åstrom’s 26 compositions for the film do more than highlight what is being shown on the screen. Rather, Åstrom’s work shines brilliantly on its own.…

Posted on: January 11, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Red to Violet Via delle Grazie CD Review

Via delle Grazie is the latest effort from the Netherlands’ Red to Violet. Waiting for the Sun is a carefully-crafted piece of indie rock. The band is able to open up into a post-modern type of rock that is influenced by 90s alternative rock (Sean Lennon, Hedley) and the more emotive acts of the 00s (Brand New, Dashboard Confessional). The band’s instrumentation is smart, while they maintain an intensity to…

Posted on: January 11, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Big Sur DVD Review

Jack Kerouac is a difficult author to transfer to the big screen, but Big Sur is a title that imbues the silver screen with the inimitable Kerouac style. The title benefits from accurate scenery, language, and overall zeitgeist captured during the feature. Big Sur focuses on Kerouac’s life in the months immediately following the success of On the Road. Rather than bask in his success, Kerouac attempts…

Posted on: January 11, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Rewind This! DVD Review

Rewind This! Is a title that looks to showcase the unique qualities of the history behind video cassettes. While home entertainment has moved past the VHS and DVD formats, there is a specific allure to the era that allowed smaller film companies and those with a passion for film the ability to cheaply and easily get their titles to a wider audience. Rewind This! focuses on interviews with those that…

Posted on: January 7, 2014 Posted by: Cameron Comments: 0

Max: The Curse of Brotherhood Xbox One Review

Max: The Curse of Brotherhood is a sequel to 2010’s Max & the Magic Marker that released across the Wii, Playstation Network and a variety of touchscreen devices. Developer Press Play has gone exclusively to the Xbox One for their 2013 sequel (with an Xbox 360 version reportedly in the works for 2014), and their outing represents one of the few post-launch downloadable titles available on the Xbox One to…

Posted on: January 7, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Madame Freak & The Funky Fever “Follow The Crack” CD Review

Funky Bouriel has a funk meets New Jack Swing flair that immediately draws listeners in; Madame Freak’s vocals pull double duty in the furtherance of the narrative and in the creation of the overall flair of this track. Ow!!! brings Follow The Crack into a bold new direction; a small amount of scat-like singing opens up into an eclectic mélange of early-nineties dance and Chic-like pop. Ride It straddles…

Posted on: January 6, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Man of Tai Chi Review

The film reinvigorates both the fight club and the young virtuoso gains valuable skills from the master genres, with Keanu’s role as Donaka providing an anchor that allows individuals to moor themselves on. Keanu’s Donaka pays Tiger Chen (Chen Hu) for eir skills, erupting into chaos when Tiger Chen learns that ey is a pawn in an underground fighting league. The action is fast-paced and realistic, while the grimy scenery…

Posted on: January 6, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Sweetwater DVD Review

Sweetwater is set in the last years of the 1800s, in an America that is still incredibly rough and tumble. Ed Harris and January Jones are put up against a considerable foe in Jason Isaacs, who has a delightfully evil turn as a fundamentalist leader. The costuming and set design make it incredibly easy for viewers to immerse themselves in Sweetwater, while the dialogue fits the period without confusing viewers.…

Posted on: January 5, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

JetFuel Superburn Review

One of the first supplements that we had the chance to review when we first began our health and fitness section was JetFuel Pyro. The supplement provided us with some of the longest-lasting and cleanest energy that we have had when supplementing. When we first had the chance to check out TeamGAT’s latest, JetFuel Superburn. This supplement provides a number of benefits, including a boost to overall alertness, breaking down…

Posted on: January 5, 2014 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Engel Weisse Beer Review

Engel Weisse is a Berliner Weiss beer, which means that Elevation has crafted an effort that has a considerable fruit side. An initial pour has a considerable white head and a grape meets citrus head, while an initial sip yields hints of apples, grapes, lemons, and hints of tannins. With each subsequent drink, imbibers will be impressed with the effervescence of the beer – the effort is quaffed easily, granting…

Posted on: January 3, 2014 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 1

Casting Me DVD Review

It’s pretty clear that South African writer/director Quinton Lavery is a big fan of Kevin Smith. From the black and white DIY aesthetics of Clerks to the more emotional (yet still raunchy and very funny) core of Chasing Amy, Smith’s style is all over Lavery’s hilarious indie Casting Me. The semi-autobiographical movie centers around Paul, a funny, but average looking casting director who never got around to…