Category: Features

Posted on: September 28, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

The Empty Mirror – Abstracted Catholic (CD)

It has been over a year since the last time that we had the chance to review The Empty Mirror. Their last release, “Overwhelm”, was an impressive piece of work. Their latest album, “Abstracted Catholic”, builds upon some of the trends first heard during “Overwhelm” while further evolving their sound. The first track on “Abstracted Catholic” is “Stainglass”, and it sets the tone for the rest of the album. This…

Posted on: September 27, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

Ghost Pines 2006 Chardonnay (Wine)

With a very approachable price (one can purchase this for well under $15 at most online retailers), the 2006 Ghost Pines Chardonnay (enjoying a blend of grapes from Sonoma, Monterey, and Napa counties) represents another piece of evidence to back up the claim that wine does not have to be pricey to be eminently enjoyable. While there are bits and pieces of a more woodsy flavor (represented in a vanilla…

Posted on: September 26, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

Claire Lynch – Whatcha Gonna Do (CD)

Each of the twelve cuts on “Whatcha Gonna Do” is an additional piece of the beautiful puzzle that represents Lynch’s own unique skill set. Those that are in the know would be familiar with Lynch’s prior work, beginning with eir work in the underrated Front Porch String Band. Listeners are given a microcosm of what is to follow with the disc’s first track, “Great Day in the Mornin’”. “Great Day”…

Posted on: September 26, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

Black Mold – Snow Blindness is Crystal Antz (CD)

Black Mold is the electronic side of Chad VanGaalen, a Canadian artist that has rapidly becoming a force up north. This 19-track album may seem to some to be similar to what Conor Oberst attempted to do with “Digital Ash in a Digital Urn”, but I feel that there has been much more work done in crafting this effort by VanGaalen. The disc itself starts out with “Metal Spider Webs”,…

Posted on: September 25, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

Breaking The Bank (DVD)

This DVD may just be one of the most important that PBS has put out, as it looks to delve into the causes and explanations for why the banks rapidly spun out of control in the last few years of the oughts. Specifically, this documentary centers around the acquisition of Merrill Lynch by Bank of America. Where a set of facts about the banking crisis would have been essentially all…

Posted on: September 25, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

Wedlock – Continuity (CD)

After “Blameless?” is able to kick things in gear, the first track that really commanded my attention would have to be “World Machine”. In this track, a wide swath of the electronic genre is covered, whether it be “Pretty Hate Machine”-era Nine Inch Nails, Phil Collins, and New Order. While there is a decidedly eighties flair to the track, Wedlock is able to flex their muscles and make this into…

Posted on: September 24, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

Imagine: Soccer Captain (Nintendo DS)

In the last ten or fifteen years, it seems as if soccer has become a much larger phenomenon than it ever has in the United States. It stands to reason that there would have to be games released that showcase the United States’ new-found love for the sport, and while there are a number of different soccer sims on the market, Imagine: Soccer Captain is one of the few that…

Posted on: September 24, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

Samuel Adams Summer Ale (Beer)

Hey! It’s the first time here at NeuFutur that we have had the honor of reviewing a beer, so what better than giving some time to one of the most well-known independent brewers in the United States – Samuel Adams. This time around, we are giving their Summer Ale a spin. There is a complexity present to the Summer Ale that is simply not present with many beers that can…

Posted on: September 24, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

Safehouse (DVD)

Despite having a budget that would be dwarfed by any major Hollywood project, Safehouse is able to showcase every strength that is present, be it the cast, production, or scenery present. The film starts out focusing in on an island paradise that houses a fishing/tourist business headed up by Emily (Carolina Hoyos; Lethal Force, Golden Empire). To ensure that everything goes off without a hitch, Cooper (played here by Johnny…

Posted on: September 22, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 1

Alice in Chains Guitar Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Black Gives Way To Blue, Alice In Chains and neufutur.com are giving one lucky fan a chance to rock out with a brand new guitar. Enter now for your chance to win a G&L Rampage Jerry Cantrell Signature model signed by the band.

Posted on: September 21, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

Mason Daring – S/T (CD)

“Travelin’ Man” may be a cover of the Ricky Nelson classic, but I feel that the richness of Daring’s vocal and the gusto that he has in placing the cover at the beginning of the album turns it into his own song. The vocal quality of Daring here is great, in that he both keeps the sanctity of the original track, he adds his own flair, and is still able…

Posted on: September 19, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

Toy Story Mania! (Nintendo Wii)

It seems that there are some problems when titles are based off of real-life attractions. When we had our last crack at a title that was based off an amusement park, the title felt to constrained by the real life park and kept things buckled down a bit too much. However, I feel that Disney has a hit on their hands with Toy Story Mania!, a title that works off…

Posted on: September 19, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

Appleton Estate Extra 12 (86 Proof)

It has been a few days since the last time we’ve updated the alcohol review section, and felt that the Appleton Estate Extra (a deep-colored Jamaican rum) would be the perfect way to get back into the swing of things. The different rums that are used to create the Extra are the very least 12 years old, with some types actually making it up to the 30 year mark. When…

Posted on: September 17, 2009 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 2

Kill the Music by Michael G. Plumides, Jr. (Book)

Chances are, unless you were part of the early 90’s music scene in North Carolina, you have no idea who Michael Plumides, Jr. is. That doesn’t make his memoir Kill the Music any less interesting. The book is Plumides’ reflections on the late 80’s and early 90’s when he worked in South Carolina as a deejay at an influential college radio station and eventually moved on to become the owner…

Posted on: September 17, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

Huge NeuFutur Magazine Giveaway: DiRT 2 for the Wii and DS

Hey all NeuFutur Magazine / neufutur.com readers! Colin McRae’s DiRT 2 has just been released for all consoles (PSP, PS3, Wii, PC, and XBox 360) by Codemasters. For those that are familiar with the other titles in the Colin McRae Rally series, DiRT 2 represents the next evolutionary step forward in providing players with the most legit racing experience.

Posted on: September 16, 2009 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

In Cadeo – Making Our Graves (CD)

Yet another indie band from Brooklyn? Yup, only this one seems to have placed a stronger emphasis on the songs than their image. In a music scene as cluttered as Brooklyn, it takes a pretty amazing band to stand out above the fray, and In Cadeo just happen to have the songs to back up all the adulation that should be coming their way shortly.

Posted on: September 15, 2009 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

Fringe – The Complete First Season (DVD)

Like trying to live up to its extremely popular older brother, Fringe was unfairly being compared to Lost even before the first episode aired. Because of its co-creator – JJ Abrams – Fringe had the impossible task of having to live up to the cult built around that other Abram’s show. On its own, Fringe held up quite well, as the first season on DVD shows. Though it took a…

Posted on: September 12, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

Mojo Rising – Feel What You Feel (CD)

“She Woke Up To Me” has an utterly infectious sound, with a bit of synthesizers that will worm its way into listeners’ ears and reside there for months after listening to the track. The inclusion of a similarly-infectious drum line and jangly, disco-infused guitar line further elevate this track into something special. All of these pieces unite together to create the perfect foil for the soulful singing that links together…