From the sounds of their self-titled debut in 1995, it was clear Ben Folds Five was going to more than a flash in the pan alt rock band. At the time a guitar-less trio with singer Ben Folds more than making up for the void with his piano, the group sounded both comfortably familiar (everything from Elton John to The Beatles) and shockingly original over the span of just a…
Wylie Overstreet’s The History of the World According to Facebook is likely not the only book to satirize the wildly popular social networking site and it certainly won’t be the last but, at least for now, it may be the wittiest. The germ for the book originated with an August 2010 online article by Overstreet (“If Historical Events Had Facebook Statuses”) and has evolved into a quick read paperback that…
Where a great deal of thrillers coming from Asian countries are tied with martial arts and are draped with only the smallest amount of plot, The Stool Pigeon is a film that looks back to directors like Hitchcock for influence. What results in this film is something that is tremendously compelling, action-filled, and unique enough to require a number of viewings. Viewers will get deep into the mind of Detective…
Miss Nobody is a film that I believe strays away from different conceptions about current cinema; this unique film ties together a strong cast and crew and tells an interesting story. Specifically, Miss Nobody ties together Leslie Bibb (as Sarah Jane McKinney) with Brandon Routh (Milo Beeber) in a cat-eat-dog type of tale. Where Bibb’s character’s chance at promotion is seemingly shattered by Routh’s upstart character, something has to be…
I believe that the different tracks on The Good Feeling allow The Christian McBride Big Band to stretch their collective limbs to the greatest possible degree. What results in this album is one of the largest collections of different influences and styles, created in a fashion that will have listeners of all age groups and styles listening along to every beat. The Good Feeling starts out with Shake ‘n Blake,…
The second season of HBO’s most underrated comedy is brought to you be the New Yorker and pot. I can’t prove it, but based on the number of mentions of the magazines and number of times someone flames up a joint, spread out over the eight episodes, there has to be some kind of product placement deal that was made. Regardless, the season is still extremely entertaining. The show follows…
It wasn’t too long ago that I considered becoming an English teacher. After being in school for two semesters, and getting used to the rituals of homework, lectures, and projects, I began to wonder what it would be like to actually have to plan and organize all of the things that my professors did every day. It soon came to pass that I also made friends with a graduate student…
It is always interesting to see a band like Eve To Adam on the upside of their move toward fame; I believe that Banquet For A Starving Dog will be where many listeners first can get in to the band. The title starts off with Run Your Mouth, an assertive track that will provide fans with a first look into the band’s unique take on rock music. Where modern radio…
There have been a number of games released for consoles that have tried to capitalize on the MMA crazy. Most of them, even those made by AAA game companies, have been flops. However, 505 Games have created in Supremacy MMA a title that has as much replay value as any of the WWE Smackdown Vs. Raw series of titles; even if the game is mired in violence, I believe that…
Based on Peter Pan, Jake and The Never Land Pirates may just be Disney’s hottest current property. There are twenty aired shows at this point, and this DVD set contains the first seven episodes. Children in the 5-10 age group will be able to easily identify with the characters – Izzy and Jake put forth solid values and will have viewers of all age groups focused on in. There is…
It seems that a great many of the supplements on the market that tout themselves to be stimulant-free fat burners do not have the sheer effectiveness of caffeine-containing supplements. However, we were able to receive and test a sample of John Scott’s Myto Charge, a blend of different compounds that will work perfectly in tandem with a pre-workout or other set of daily supplements. This is due to the different…
It is rare to receive a whiskey that differentiates itself from the status quo. Triple Smoke, one of Corsair’s newest offerings, does just that. This extremely small-run whiskey has such a unique taste and smoothness on one’s palette that any fan of spirits, whiskey or not, should search out a bottle at the earliest opportunity. This is because Triple Smoke has such an assertive nose and finish to it that…
By the time that a franchise makes it to their fourth film, there is a very good chance that the movie will be virtually unwatchable. I believe that the years that were taken between Scream 3 and 4 were enough to properly allow the writers to make up a great story and strong cast to make this film one of the strongest in the franchise. Scream 4 focuses in on…
Barbie Jet Set & Style will be one of the hottest games this winter. This is largely due to the fact that it is Barbie related and that it is on a current generation of console. However, THQ has made Barbie Jet Set & Style a great game instead of resting on their laurels. For those players that would wish to actually become a cosmetologist when they grow up, THQ…
Steve Jablonsky has done a tremendous job in creating the perfect environment for those that have picked up Gears of War 3. The different compositions here all feed into one another while maintaining some semblance of different stages or levels. Where the soundtrack differs from the scores that are typically created for different video games is that Jablonsky’s compositions all could conceivably exist on their own. While a proper understanding…
There are a number of different pre-workout supplements that do not contain creatine. For those individuals that still wish to get the energy from their pre-workout plus the recovery time increase and muscle growth of creatine, the All-Pro Science Pure Creatine is the perfect product. One just needs to take 5 grams of the stuff (which comes in a 2/3rd pound bottle) and they will gain the benefits that normally…
Bath salts can be a very inexpensive thing; I know of a number of dollar stores that have some sort of bath soak or salt. However, the quality of these products is incredibly low, and one would have a better time just sitting in lukewarm bath water. However, there are some companies that are creating bath salts that will ensure the most luxurious and fun baths out there. One of…
There sheer amount of time that Amberfern gives the different tracks on Quiescence is intriguing; with a number of the album’s cuts clocking in at the six or seven minute mark, one wonders before the CD begins whether listeners’ interests can be sated. It may take a few minutes of the album’s first track, “Misty Harbor”, but listeners will rapidly understand the unique and mature compositions as they truly are.…
Mill Creek has been on a tear as of late, releasing a number of seasons of classic shows like That 70’s Show and Roseanne. Even more than that, they do a valuable service for fans of the original show – they ensure that the DVD sets never make it out of print. Furthermore, they provide these sets at a price that individuals can actually afford. For example, both That 70’s…
While this product is described as a sweater, I feel that it can be used as a little jacket admirably. Mountain Khakis have put a tremendous amount of work into this product, ensuring that it will be able to last through countless rains, storms, and other inclement weather. Beyond that, they have created an incredibly fashionable sweater that is able to match any khakis, jeans, or other clothing that an…