On the Scene is the introductory track on this album, and it provides listeners with a very taut and alluring set of arrangements. The music ties together smooth jazz with a hint of funk to establish a timeless quality to Hagen’s music. Midnight Drive contains a tremendous amount of rhythm, crafting an interesting dynamic between the organic and electronic instrumentation. The narrative that is created during this self-titled release far…
Pontus Gunve (who performs as PHWG) has just released his latest album, The Observer. Gunve has had countless compositions utilized for art installations, performances, and commercials. The Observer is a title that will showcase the sheer multitude of styles, approaches, and overall feelings present in Gunve’s career. Aside from acting as a retrospective, what The Observer feels like is an evolutionary step forward. With each track on The Observer,…
For those individuals that have been living under a rock for the last five years, Ruben Studdard was one of the American Idol finalists. This is actually eir second album; eir first album, “Soulful” had the catchy song “Sorry 2004”. However, this album starts out very weakly. The first track on “The Return” is the title track, which has the unfortunate tag line of “Of The Velvet Teddy Bear”. I…
I have had some major time spent with the heavy-ABV 24 ounce cans. Whether it was Steel Reserve or Camo Black Ice, there was much value to be had with one of these big boys. Four Loko has provided individuals with a heavy amount of alcohol and an ample amount of flavor to hide the alcohol bite. Phusion Projects, the company behind Four Loko, has created “Loko Margarita”. This means…
Usually, I would stay away from live recordings from smaller labels like TKO just for the fact that many of these bands really don’t have the equipment necessarily to make their live performance not sound like shit. Take for example the Leftover Crack live show from Reading, PA in which it is virtually impossible for an individual listening to the disc to actually figure out which lyrics are being sung,…
Nobody Walks concerns the relationship that Martine (Olivia Thirlby) and a Los Angeles couple, Peter and Julie (Rosemary DeWitt and John Krasinski); Peter has offered to do audio work on Martine’s initial film as a favor to one of Julie’s collegiate friends. The addition of Martine to Peter and Julie’s family is enough of a catalyst to get the whole family in a tizzy. Ry Russo-Young (The Color Wheel, Hannah…
Give Me Everything is a smooth track that could easily be played on rock radio rotation, where it succeeds tying in late nineties rock (311, Saliva) with a more contemporary feel. Where Do We Go has an absolutely furious instrumental arrangement that highlights the soaring vocals on the track. Hints of Foo Fighters and Maroon 5 can be heard in the vocals, with the track’s production tying together the…
When I was a child, one of my favorite books was a reference guide to all of the monsters and otherworldly creatures in H.P. Lovecraft’s massive bibliography. It didn’t matter that I had never actually read one of Lovecraft’s stories, the illustrations and descriptions of each oddity captivated my ten-year-old self in a way that few other books could. My fascination with animals both real and fictitious has continued to…
Cosmic Suckerpunch have just released their Breathe EP, a collection of five tracks that provide listeners with a sense of the band, their influences, and where they may ultimately go in the years to come. That Voice is a straight-forward rock track that succeeds because it blends hints of alt-rock and psychedelic into the overall Ramones / Cure / Strokes vibe that is established. The Breathe EP succeeds because…
Strike Fire Fall is an absolutely perfect emo-rock that hails from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The style of tracks like “Stay Awake” mixes acts like Amber Pacific with The Starting Line to create something that is emotionally deep but still holding of a musical intensity that can never be quenched. Each of the tracks on “Still Life” are just perfect for video games, music videos, or radio; another track that really…
“To Live in Discontent” is a collection of Strike Anywhere’s out of print EP and other 7 inch work – when the disc starts off with “Asleep”, one can hear the intense sounds of the band even if the mastering and recording is not necessarily up to “Exit English”-standards. Something that is immediately recognizable is the cohesion of sound that Strike Anywhere has created over the course of their post-Inquisition…
Mix the Blue Man Group with The Avalanches and Kid Koala, and one will have a good idea of what the Street Drum Corps sound like. The disc starts off with “Wrecks”, a track that really does not need to be three and a half minutes. The use of sampling during the track gets a little repetitive by the two-two and a half minute mark, and is only saved…
You can’t help but catch a strong “Me too!” vibe off of Stephen Pearcy’s memory of his time as Ratt’s founder and frontman (ironically, Ratt always had a “me too” vibe attached to their music as well, being seen as a carbon copy of Motley Crue, despite coming up from the same scene around the same time). Sex, Drugs, Ratt & Roll is Pearcy’s attempt to one up or at…
When we received a Halo V headband for review, we were a little skeptical about how well sweat would be shunted from our faces. The headband is incredibly fashionable and thin, consisting of a shiny fabric (Dryline) that looks too sheer to hold any moisture. After completing an exercise in the Halo V, we were absolutely astounded at how well the company’s headbands work. The SweatBlock Seal (patented by…
Highlander Honey is a new addition to the Dewar’s line, and it provides imbibers with a considerably different flavor than has been present in Dewar’s bottles up to this point. There is a greater sweetness to Highlander Honey that matches well the inimitable Dewar’s bite; the Dewar’s White Label is mixed with honey created from honeybees in the Scottish heather. By keeping the proof high, what Dewar’s has done with…
The Colombian Connection is a film that is set in 1976 and features a framed cop looking to get eir revenge after being convicted of a crime that ey did not commit. The individual that was involved with Jack Hooks’ (Robert Thorne, Poker Run and The Majestic) time in prison is eir ex-partner Frank Rossi (Tom Sizemore), who is in cahoots with major marijuana dealers. Along with dispatching Rossi,…
Princess Twilight Sparkle contains five episodes – Lesson Zero, Magic Duel, Mmmystery on the Friendship Express, Magical Mystery Cure, and Games Ponies Play. Shout! Kids has also included two bonuses in this release; a coloring sheet makes this DVD multimedia, while there is a singalong that will further increase the value of this DVD (which can be found at online retailers for around $10 and shipping). The Princess Twilight Sparkle…
The ATH-ANC29 Headphones should be seen as the go-to for anyone that plays music in a crowded or otherwise loud setting. The noise-cancelling aspect of the headphones ensures that the tunes that you would like to hear can be heard (Audio-Technica claims that 87% of noise is cancelled out). The padded headphones provide additional comfort, meaning that one could easily keep the headphones on for the entirety of a workout…
Wok Oil is an integral ingredient for a number of dishes throughout Asian cuisine, and the type of wok oil that is utilized has much to do with how the dish ultimately turns out. In many American grocery stores, there simply are not many wok oils with which one can choose. La Tourangelle has created their Thai Wok Oil, and look to change what chefs and consumers expect in…
Stone Beads & Silver begins with Muskingum River, an effort that will immediately draw listeners in. Carroll’s inimitable style may be built on the folk and rock genres, but the tested and focused effort that issues forth is something utterly unique. The Fool Disguised In Beggar’s Clothes is full of outward pomp and inward reflection, allowing Carroll to place eir emotions on the table. You Can Never Go Home…