Category Archives: Uncategorized

Classic Review: Free Drugs;-)

Band: Harlem
Release: 2008
Label: Female Fantasy

1. “Witchgreens” – A-
2. “Caroline” – A+
3. “South of France” – A
4. “Irresistible” – A
5. “Beautiful and Very Smart” – A++
6. “Psychedelic Tits” – A-
7. “Think I’m Thinkin’ Bout” – A-
8. “Disneyland” – A
9. “Little Black Cowboy” – A
10. “I’m on Drugs” – A-
11. “Red Herring” – A
12. “Hundred a Dollar a Night Man” – A

Comments: Not as great as Hippies, but still amazing. “Beautiful and Smart” is an instant favorite.

Grade: A

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Side note: Check out this video for “Friendly Ghost”

CD Review: Maniac Meat [2010]

Band: Tobacco
Release: 5/2010
Label: Anticon

1. “Constellation Dirtbike Head” – A
2. “Fresh Hex” – A
3. “Mexican Ice Cream” – B+
4. “Lick The Witch” – A-
5. “Sweatmother” – B+
6. “Motorlicker” – B-
7. “Unholy Demon Rhythms – C-
8. “Heavy Makeup” – B
9. “Grape Aerosmith” – C
10. “New Juices From The Hot Tub Freaks” – B
11. “Six Royal Vipers” – A-
12. “Overheater” – A-
13. “Creepy Phone Calls” – B
14. “TV All Greasy” – B-
15. “Stretch Your Face” – B
16. “Nuclear Waste Aerobics” – A-

Comments:
Tobacco, the thing I really like about your music is that it is fun. While every song may not be as fun as the next, there is always at least something embedded into the pits of every tune, that makes them, at the very least, a solid listen. So, definitely props there. It’s not reasonable to expect every song on here to be straight up gold. I mean, after all, we’re talking about a man uses a vocoder. I suggested this as party music, but a die-hard fan called it “making love music.” That’s believable. Due to noise constraints, I haven’t been able to blast this music non-headphones, but I do feel like that’d be an experience. A good majority of these songs clock in at under three minutes, so if you get even slightly distracted from the music, you may notice songs finishing before you even realized they started. Word.

Grade: B (85)

CD Review: Crystal Castles [2010]

Band: Crystal Castles
Release: 4/2010
Label: Fiction (Universal)

1. “Fainting Spells” – C
2. “Celestica” – B-
3. “Doe Deer” – C
4. “Baptism” – B-
5. “Year of Silence” – B-
6. “Empathy” – B+
7. “Suffocation” – B
8. “Violent Dreams” – C+
9. “Vietnam” – B
10. “Birds” – B
11. “Pap Smear” – C+
12. “Not in Love” – C
13. “Intimate” – B-
14. “I Am Made of Chalk” – D

Comments: Crystal Castles. I want some crazy catchy stuff from you. That’s a demand actually. I don’t want spotty dance/noise punk. You hear me? “Empathy” is the first song that accomplishes the kind of catchy that I was looking for, equipped with dreamy vocals and a strong rhythm. “Vietnam” has some streaks of greatness, but isn’t really a hit from start to finish. Unfortunately, most of the album is just average minutes of electronica. Maybe that’s your thing.

Grade: C+ (78)

CD Review: Forgiveness Rock Record [2010]

Band: Broken Social Scene
Release: 5/2010
Label: Arts & Crafts

1. “World Sick” – A-
2. “Chase Scene” – C+
3. “Texico Bitches” – A
4. “Forced to Love” – B
5. “All to All” – B
6. “Art House Director” –B+
7. “Highway Slip Jam” – B
8. “Ungrateful Little Father” – B+
9. “Meet Me in the Basement” – B-
10. “Sentimental X’s” – B+
11. “Sweetest Kill” – B
12. “Romance to the Grave” – B
13. “Water in Hell” – B-
14. “Me and My Hand” – B

Comments: I’ve always heard about Broken Social Scene, but I’ve never given them a proper listen. “World Sick” is a solid foray into the band’s discography. It’s one of those under-the-radar epic songs, similar to a Dan Boeckner-led Wolf Parade jam. “Texico Bitches” has an awesome rhythm, personally reminiscent of Uninhabitable Mansions. Another thing…I would be a little shocked if Here We Go Magic wasn’t at least a little inspired by these guys. And another thing: the band’s tempo is little bit slow or else a lot of these B/B+ tunes would be A-/A range. It makes them a bit forgettable.

Grade: B (85)

Belated Film Review: District 9

Full Title: District 9
Director: Neill Blomkamp
Year: 2009
Grade: B
Comments: To begin, why am I reviewing this now? Well, originally I planned on seeing this film in theaters, but I was unable to make it. Now, for my Cultural Studies course, we are discussing it and its various themes. Thus, I recently viewed the picture and as always whenever we read, hear, or see a new piece of art (or some piece of work that does not deserve such a flattering label) we review it. Ok, so not being a huge Sci-fi/Action fan, I am biased in my somewhat lack of enthusisasm, considering how much praise this film has received. I liked it very much and thought it was a decent flick with more meaning and substance to it than most films in its genre. Such heady themes as racism, immigration, and xenophobia, etc. are carefully layered in this sea of madness. The film itself is conceptually unique: the first half (the far superior half) resembling a documentary, reality TV show, Office esque set up. The second half, on the other hand, is your blow shit up and fire endless rounds of ammo action movie. The latter makes the film drag on increasingly and totally loses my interest in the story. At the very end, my interest is salvaged for its remaining minutes. I’d say, this piece is solid and worth a watch, but definitely overrated, at least for my taste.

Chris

Top Ten Albums of All Times

1) Lou Reed- Metal Machine Music (1975)
2) Neil Young- Trans (1982)
3) Beach Boys- Stars and Stripes Volume 1 (1996)
4) John and Yoko- Two Virgins (1968)
5) Neil Young- Everybody’s Rockin (1983)
6) Beastie Boys- The Mix-Up (2007)
7) William Shatner- The Transformed Man (1968)
8) Andrew W.K.- 55 Cadillac (2009)
9) Simpsons Christmas Boogie (?)
10) Tiny Tim- God Bless Tiny Tim (1968)

Chris

Classic CD Review: Love Visions

Band: Nobunny
Release: 2008
Label: Goner Records

1. “Nobunny Loves You” – A+
2. “I Know I Know” – A
3. “Mess Me Up” – A-
4. “I Am A Girlfriend” – A
5. “Tina Goes To Work” – A-
6. “Chuck Berry Holiday” – A+
7. “Boneyard”- A+
8. “Somewhere Near” – A-
9. “Church Mouse” – A
10. “It’s True” – B+
11. “Don’t Know, Don’t Care” – C-
12. “Not That Good” – A-

Comments: When you think of Nobunny, you think of a crazy guy decked out in minimal layers of clothing and a bunny mask. Just listening to him and his ever changing crew on this record is like watching a 3-D movie with a blindfold on. This is the kind of disc that probably works the best on vinyl and I’m as apathetic towards vinyl as the next guy. Though, I must admit the digital version on headphones has some entertaining odds and ends. “Chuck Berry Holiday” is so great. WHERE DID SHE GO? I DONT KNOW! The surf/Mika Miko qualities of “Boneyard” make for a great follow-up.

Grade: A-