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CD Review: Crystal Castles [2010]

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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, Entertainment, Music, Uncategorized

CD Review: Forgiveness Rock Record [2010]

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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)

Art, Entertainment, Film, pictures, reviews, Uncategorized

Belated Film Review: District 9

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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

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Top Ten Albums of All Times

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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

CD Review, Entertainment, Music, Uncategorized

Classic CD Review: Love Visions

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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-

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Film Review: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

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I went to the movies to go see “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.” And I was not disappointed. I will go so far as to say this is the best film of the year….. no one will see. “Imaginarium” tells the story of Doctor Parnassus (a phenomenal Christopher Plummer) as he struggles to save his daughter Valentina (Lily Cole) from The Devil (Tom Waits) as Parnassus made a deal for eternal life that any child he fathers will become property of The Devil when they turn sixteen. The whole plot of the movie is Parnassus makes another deal that if he can get 5 souls before the Devil, then he will save Valentina. Parnassus and his merry band, Valentina, Anton (Andrew Garfield) and Percy (Verne Troyer) try to get these souls by having them go through the Imaginarium, which projects your imagination. They don’t start out so hot. That is until they find Tony (Heath Ledger) hanging from the side of a bridge. If your a Monty Python fan, you will see traces of it as it was directed by Terry Gilliam. The worlds portrayed in the Imaginarium are colorful and gorgeous and amazingly creative. Now, you probably know that Ledger died while making this film. However, Ledger’s buddies stepped in to finish the project. Now this transition isn’t one frame its Heath Ledger and next its Johnny Depp. No. They put in as whenever Tony goes into the Imaginarium, he transforms. These different transformations are portrayed by Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell. It is done very stylistically and very cleanly. An overall phenomenal film that no enough people will see cause you know it has… thoughts and ideas to it. Bravo Mr Gilliam. Bravo.

Overall Grade: A+