Tim Kasher "The Game of Monogamy"

Tim Kasher is best known for his work in the prog/art punk band Cursive, and also some work in band called The Good Life. With "The Game of Monogamy" Kasher melds these two worlds together. The music sounds more like The Good Life than it does Cursive, but its not nearly as down tempo as most of what I've heard from The Good Life. Lyrically, Kasher is as bleak as ever, and that is most definitely when he's at his best. This album chronicles his life from the start of his "grown up" life through the beginnings of a new relationship, to the monotony of marriage, and the disillusionment of where his life has ended up. "Now all we wrestle with is indifference, 'til we both give in, did we both give in? I thought love was supposed to spill from our hearts." This line, for me summarizes the entire album, its Kasher with an image in his mind of the perfect life, and learning to deal with the fact that that never happens. Tim Kasher hasn't been more personal or more searingly honest than he is on this album. "Writers are selfish, writers are egotists. I'm afraid i'm as bad as it gets. I keep forgetting to censor the truth." Kasher declares in the beautiful "Strays". Musically this album is quite lovely, but once you start paying attention to the lyrics, you'll need a strong will to make it all the way through. This is a wonderful record, however, i think for some people the subject matter may be a bit heavy for repeated listens. But if you can make it through a few times, you'll find yourself falling in love, which if you pay attention to the lyrics of this album, is hard to come by.

The Human Centipede

The Human Centipede is marketed as a "midnight" movie because of its extreme subject matter. The movie is about a German surgeon, specializing in siamese twin separation, who retires and decides to basically do a reverse operation. He decides to connect three peoples gastric systems. And those of you who have seen "Clerks 2" know you never go ass to mouth, so of course this is an extreme taboo. At one point in the film, the doctor, (played by the super disturbing, Walken-esque Deiter Laser) explains what he plans to do to the three patients. Its the point in the movie where you realize, there is no plan for any sort of suspense, its just a gross out movie. The big payoff happens about halfway through the movie when you see the "human centipede" actually put together. After this happens the movie drags quite a bit. As disturbing as the premise is, the actual execution of it is a bit lacking. I may just be desensitized to so called "shocking" movies after having seen about 10 or so of Takashi Miike's films. (nobody does it better than Miike) Its a fun movie for people who are into extreme horror and strange movies, but its nothing too terribly exciting.

The Social Network

I cannot do this film justice. I don't have the experience nor the skills to review a movie like this, that cuts through the current social experience as this film does. The opening scene throws its hooks in you and just never lets up. There are quite a few instances in this film where you find yourself laughing... sometimes because its funny, other times because you've had these "facebook" conversations with other people before. Relationship status, "why does your relationship status say "single"?''...Arguing about the passive aggressive nature of posting a comment or blogging on something rather than saying it straight to someone's face. Even posting this blog after seeing this movie for a second time feels a bit trivial and somewhat inconsequential after seeing the massive impact "facebook" has had on our generation. Think about it, everyone you know is on it. People ask you, "did you see that thing i posted on facebook?" To paraphrase a line from the movie, "...you wrote it on the internet, its what the angry do nowadays." There are a number of lines like this in the film that really make you think about the importance or even the values we have in our society today. Its not necessarily a negative thing that we post things on the internet. We use it to keep in contact with people we otherwise would never speak to again. It seems i'm getting off topic. However i warned you that i could not do this movie justice. This movie cuts to the core of my generation. Its fucking brilliant.

"Wake Up" -John Legend and The Roots

I have to admit, my knowledge of old soul and R&B music is lacking, however, it is growing. So its hard for me to really compare this music to the original songs, but I can say this, John Legend and The Roots have put together a collection of updated R&B/Soul songs that is just amazing. The two entities alone are extremely talented in their own right. The Roots has got to be one of the best funk/hip hop bands on the planet... or just one of the best bands there is period regardless of genre. John Legend on the other hand, is one of the smoothest voiced R&B singers of the past decade or more. You'd be hard pressed to find a better singer these days. So what happens when they come together to jam out some old standards? Pure and simple greatness. Being of the generation I am from and not knowing the original songs, Its hard for me to imagine hearing them and feeling the same kind of excitement I experience when I hear these versions of the songs. "I can't write left handed" is probably the best example of all of these talents fusing together and, lets be honest, showing off a bit as well. But who cares?! The result is just mind blowing. On the other side of things, aside from the musicianship, is the lyrics of these songs, most of which are protest songs of some sort, that ring just as true today as they did in the '60's or '70's. Its music to make you think, but also something you could groove and dance to as well. ITs the best of both worlds really. So do yourself a favor and buy this album.

Devil

M. Night Shyamalan has gotten a somewhat bad reputation as of late. At least with moviegoers I've spoken to, and from viewers comments on sites like www.metacritic.com and so forth. I suppose these thoughts by the fans may have gotten to him, so he decided to give one of his stories to another director and see how they could do with it. Devil is a story about 5 people who get stuck in an elevator after a suicide, which has nothing to do with the people, it just allows the devil to enter this world. He punishes them for things they've done in their lives and tortures them, kills them, and then takes their soul to hell. At least this is the tale that is told at the beginning of the film, setting up what will happen later on. The movie is pretty solid as far as these types of movies go. There is never really a blatant "tell" if you will from any of the characters giving away any evil that may be lurking inside of them. The film makers did make a small mistake in giving away who may be the one torturing all these people, but it was very small and the person who saw it with me didn't notice it at all. I will say this though, they did keep me guessing up until the end when my suspicion was confirmed. All in all Devil is a pretty intriguing movie with a good bit of suspense. No real scares in the movie, a few jump out of your seat moments, but not much more. Its more a story of redemption and faith than it is about the devil just having his way with people on earth. ITs a fun movie, and it kept me quite interested. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a way to kick off the halloween season. Its got a great creepy feel to it, ominous and dark throughout. Go check it out if you've got a spare dime.

Southern Star Buried Hatchet Stout

Southern Star is not a brewery I'm very familiar with. However, this beer suggestion by my local beer guru will change that. Southern Star is a brewery that is based in Conroe, TX, which is about a half hour north of Houston for those who don't know. The Buried Hatchet Stout is the first beer I've had the pleasure of trying from this tiny brewery in south Texas. (They're still so small they don't have their own delivery trucks, they deliver in a rented Ryder truck) So getting to the beer; Stout is a very dark, usually very heavy and somewhat syrupy beer. The hops and malt are roasted, which gives it its dark color and roasted coffee and molasses flavors. This particular beer is a bit heavier on the carbonation that say a Guinness or Old Rasputin. I'm not sure whether this is natural or if its been added artificially. The flavor is still definitely there, coffee, molasses, toffee, and some other earthy flavors that some might find a bit off putting, but they aren't so strong that its undrinkable. This is a great beginners stout in my opinion. The excess carbonation dulls the flavor just a bit, but isn't overpowering. This brewery packages their beers in 4 packs of cans. At about $10 per 4 pack, its a bit pricey, but its worth a try if you're into good beer and supporting local businesses.

Resident Evil: Afterlife 3D/Imax 3D

For those who don't know already, the Resident Evil movies are based off of the capcom video game saga. Having not played any of the games all the way through, I can't comment on the films continuity with the games. Having said that, the stories in the films flow nicely into each other. This addition to the saga picks up just about where the third movie, Extinction left off. The story starts off quite slow, and is pretty much just shots of Alice, Milla Jovovich's character, walking slowly through abandoned landscapes and narrating with very poorly written dialogue. Luckily the movie picks up about halfway through, and ends with tons of mindless action and slow motion scenes shot specifically for the 3D cameras that were used to film it. There is very little story here, and the action seems to have very little to do with what the original story was. The villain in this movie is only present for about 5 total minutes of screen time. ON the positive side, the film looks amazing. The 3D is wonderful. It was actually shot specifically to be in 3D, unlike so many movies lately that have been shot, and then turned into a 3D film just to cash in on the 3D craze. On the whole, this movie is really just aimed at fans of the franchise. It definitely won't win over any new fans, but people who enjoyed the first three should be sufficiently entertained.

The Arcade Fire "Suburbs"

"The Cops shone their lights on the reflectors of our bikes and said 'Do you kids know what time it is?' ...'well sir its the first time i've felt like something is mine, like i have something to give'" Win Butler proclaims this to the fictitious suburban cop that pulls he and his friend over on their bikes. To me this speaks volumes about the mindset of the band on this record. This is an album that is perfect for the times in which it has been released, and perfect for the 20 something young adults that are buying this album. It can be interpreted in many ways, as can any art, but in my interpretation, its an album about that time in your life where you feel like a kid still, but you know you aren't, and you are coming to terms with growing up. This album illustrates these feelings in profound and fun ways, and actually never manages to feel pretentious of contrived. Even though this album clocks in at over an hour, it feels brief and concise, and makes you want to play it back over and over because you feel like you've missed something. Or maybe you feel like you already miss the music, like new lovers who miss each other the second they're apart. Either way, you want to hear more of the music, and the only way to do that is to play it over again. The music is so beautifully layered, that every time its played back, you discover new things, whether it be a theme lyrically or a textured sound that unveils itself like a sunrise over a suburban neighborhood. This is the type of music that will stand the test of time and only become better over the years. This is the music that in a few years will make you feel nostalgic for the time we're in now. Definitely buy this album.

Dangermouse & Sparklehorse with David Lynch "Dark Night of the Soul"

Dangermouse has been responsible for some of the best music over the past few years. Gnarls Barkely, Broken Bells, work with the Gorillaz, and now this album with the late Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse, and film auteur David Lynch. Dangermouse has collected a group of singers/songwriters to come in and sing and write lyrics for this new album which he and Mark Linkous did the music for. Linkous does sing on a few tracks of his own, as does David Lynch who is mainly responsible for the visuals presented in the album artwork. Guest artists include James Mercer of the Shins, The Flaming Lips, Julian Casablancas, Iggy Pop, and Vic Chestnutt just to name a few. The albums name "Dark Night of the Soul" is absolutely a fitting title for this album. Every song on this album is a dark, dreamy landscape where some pretty sinister and creepy things tend to appear. Especially in the title track on which David Lynch sings. These songs were all written by different people, yet they come together in a way that is just about as eerie as the music itself. One thing Dangermouse is particularly good at is producing music that will absolutely showcase the artists talents, he lets them be themselves, and on this album he adds a bit of himself to the mix as well, creating something wholly original and absolutely rewarding. Don't download this album, buy it in the store so you can experience the haunting visuals first hand.

Shiner Oktoberfest

Shiner has begun to reissue, if you will, some of their anniversary beers over the past year. Shiner Black Lager was Shiner 97, and now they're re-releasing Shiner 96, which is their version of a traditional Marzen-Style seasonal ale. When poured into a glass, this beer has a beautiful golden amber color, which is very appropriate for an Oktoberfest beer, since they're released just before fall. The aroma of this ale is actually quite weak, but does offer up a malty somewhat musty smell but is not off putting in the least. The bitterness is very low, there is no IBU (international bitterness unit) rating on this beer, which usually means that its less than 50 IBU. The caramelized malt in this beer give it a bit of a sweet flavor and add a spice not to the beer that is not too overpowering. In fact, unless you wanted to notice it, you probably wont. Like most other shiner beers, the flavors are all pretty mild, but very pleasant. I happened to get a pack of this beer a bit early, so you probably won't see it in stores for about a month or so, but when you do, be sure to try it out. Its a great warming beer for cool fall nights. Which depending on where you are, might not happen for a while.

The Notorious XX "wait what?"

When you hear what this album is, a mashup of Notorious B.I.G. songs and the new album by British indie band The XX, you can't help but immediately compare it to the grey album the Dangermouse did a few years ago where he mixed Jay-Z's Black album with the Beatles white album. The Notorious XX is quite different once you get past the initial similarities of simply being mixed with a different album. Dangermouse was a bit more creative with the gray album because he fused two genre's and era's that really wouldn't normally go together. The Notorious B.I.G and The XX aren't really that far removed from each other. That being said, the Notorious XX works much better in some places than the grey album did. The intro song "dead wrong intro" is one of the most disarming songs on the album. IT sets up a mood that is not normally associated with rap music in general. There is no big beat, or over the top hook. Its a sedate, and in parts, because of the backing music by the xx a sorrowful sound. This may sound a bit unusual because of the style of music Notorious B.I.G. is known for, but this mix actually really works. The DJ who made this mix used certain lyrics from the XX album and incorporated them quite well into specific parts of these other songs and completely changes the mood of these songs. This album is a free download from a few different sites and is most definitely worth the download.

The XX "xx"

The XX is a British indie electronic group who formed in 2008. They have a sound somewhere between massive attack or tricky and other somewhat "dream-pop" bands like Beach House. This being their debut album, one doesn't really know what to expect, however, this band focuses heavily on mood and atmosphere rather than building to an exciting and ultimately fulfilling climax. Its like all foreplay with no sex. I'm not sure if this is what they were going for, but it really works on some levels. Their music isn't as layered and ominous as bands like massive attack or portishead, but they lay down some pretty good beats, and have fallen into a groove, or sound if you will, much sooner than most bands do. "XX" is an album that will definitely take you a few spins to fully absorb, but once you do, it'll have you and your ears aroused. Check it out.

Yeasayer "Odd Blood"

Yeasayer's sophomore album "Odd Blood" is a strange mix of european dance and some of the best indie rock of the U.S. Sometimes sounding like Daft Punk, sometimes sounding like Vampire Weekend, and occasionally throwing in some Oingo Boingo, you can't help but love the retro vibe of this album. "Ambling Alp" is the first single from the record and delivers some wonderful hooks, and sublimely electronic riffs. Most of the album follows a very 80's dance pattern, but there are a couple of tracks, like "I remember" and "Madder Red" which take back the upbeat dance mood and are shockingly emotional ballads. "Mondegreen" is probably one of the best songs on the album and i dare you not to at least tap your foot while that song is on. Pick this album up, its definitely a fun listen. But the more you delve into it, the more the songs will reveal. They're layered and focused, and damn good!

Jonah Hex

Jonah Hex is apparently based on a few short graphic novels. From what i understand, this movie tries to incorporate a bit of them all. After seeing the preview for this movie, it looked like a really fun movie, possibly in the same style as Planet Terror or Death Proof. However, when i got into the movie, most of the time was spent leading up to the exciting parts you see in the preview. When you see the preview, just add about an hour of walking to and from places, with very minimal dialogue and there you have it. The full length movie! Ta Da! Really the parts you see in the preview are pretty fun to watch when they're drawn out a couple more minutes, but they aren't much different. With such great actors as John Malkovich and Josh Brolin, you'd expect a little more, even from a movie like this. One plus though, was the fact that the movie was only about an hour and fifteen minutes long. Something i found a bit strange, since most comic book movies these days tend to lean more towards the three hour mark (i.e.- Watchmen) So bottom line, if you liked the preview, i'd leave it to that and not waste the $10 it costs to see this in the theater. Rent it on DVD in a few months, because i guarantee it won't be in theaters long.

Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale

The Stone Brewery in San Diego is known for making powerfully flavored beers, with a bit of an attitude. They have every right to have this attitude, because their beers aren't for the casual beer drinker. Every beer they make is a behemoth of flavor. This Sublimely Self-Righteous beer of theirs is no exception. Upon pouring, one may think this is a porter because of the black color and the malty roasted scent. Upon further investigation of the bouquet, you get hints of spice, chocolate, a bit of a floral aroma, and just at the back, a bit of a pineapple odor. This pineapple scent is by no means present in the taste. The texture is light and smooth and surprisingly thin compared to the look of it. It does drink like a porter, however, the strong roasted flavor you normally get with a porter isn't quite as prominent. Compared to Stone's other beers this one has a more subtle taste initially. It actually hits you in just the opposite way their Ruination beer does. The Ruination lets it all hang out front, and you get all the flavor immediately. The Sublimely Self-Righteous is a little more devious, saving its kick for the finish. There is a somewhat piney flavor to the finish that is a little uncommon with beers this dark. The finish is very long and sustained, i found myself discovering new flavors in it about a minute after my first sip without taking a second. Yes its that complex. It does have the roasted flavor as most beers this dark do, however, its quite understated. Oddly enough, this beer was quite refreshing, and i'd recommend it to any serious beer drinker looking for a more quirky eccentric beer to drink during these hot summer months. Stone never disappoints with their beer, and this is probably one of their best. Not quite as pleasing as the Ruination, but its a very very close second.

Grace Potter and The Nocturnals

If you haven't yet heard of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, you're in for a real treat. The band and their wonderfully talented lead woman, singer/songwriter Grace Potter spin off some great vintage style americana rock and soul, with a bit of southern rock thrown in every now and then for good measure. Ms. Potter's voice lies somewhere between Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley and Janis Joplin, but the music definitely leans more toward the latter. Very similar to Janis Joplin with Big Brother and the Holding Company, any fans of that soul r&b style rock will love this new updated version of a classic sound. "Tiny light" is a great song that builds and builds to a screaming climax by Potter and some wild guitar work by her backing band. "Only Love" has an "Edge of Seventeen" by Stevie Nicks feel to it. Potter's songwriting is most definitely a woman's perspective on life and love. This may sound strange, because of course she's a woman, but so many women today tend to emulate the more dominant, and lets face it, more successful male style of songwriting. But its very refreshing to hear a woman, holding onto her femininity and sexuality, while still sounding like a strong woman who will fight for what she wants, but isn't afraid to admit when she gets her heart broken. She's the musical equivalent of Deborah Morgan from the show Dexter. Strange reference i know, but anyone who's followed the show will know what i mean, and if not, just ignore that comparison. All in all, this album has about 9 very strong songs, and a few that are passable, but on the whole, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals new self titled album is a home run. Go check it out for sure!

Shiner Hefeweizen

I've yet to try everything Shiner has to offer, but recently i decided to make an effort to try everything they had available. Since i'm in Texas and Shiner comes from Texas, its pretty readily available. They make some of the most pleasant every day beers around in my opinion. None of them are mind blowing in a good or bad way, but most are decent and easy to drink. Their contribution to the Hefeweizen style is no different. This beer initially has a stronger flavor than most beers shiner produces, which is a welcome change. This flavor becomes less pronounced as you drink however. The beer is brewed with citrus, i.e. orange and lemon. The citrus is not very evident on its own, but add a wedge of lemon or orange and they become quite a bit more pronounced. Hefeweizen beers contain a good deal more yeast than most other beers, which tends to settle at the bottom of the bottle. This requires a certain pouring technique which some people may overlook. You should pour about half of the beer in a glass, swirl the other half in the bottle a few times to disturb the yeast and then pour the rest into the glass. This makes sure you don't end up with sediment in your beer and also ensures all the flavors are present. Shiner Hefeweizen is a great beer to drink on a warm summer day. Its refreshing and not too heavy. The flavors don't linger very long, but the flavor you get with each sip is pretty good.

Shiner Smokehaus Sommer Bier

Shiner isn't known for making strange, powerfully flavored beers by any means. They do make a lot of fun, easy drinking beers though. The Smokehaus Summer beer is one that may be a bit strange for some people. The hops in this beer are smoked over mesquite wood chips for a while before the beer is brewed, which gives the beer a smoky flavor that some people might find off putting. However, if you're out grilling with smoke flowing into your nostrils anyway, you may not even notice the smoke flavor. Its not an overpowering flavor, but it is no doubt there. Aside from the smoke flavor you'll find a nice, pleasant light pilsner style beer underneath. This beer goes well with pretty much anything you might cook on the grill. I had it with bratwurts and also with steak grilled on a charcoal fire, and it was a perfect compliment. So if you're feeling a little adventurous, but aren't up for trying a full fledged German Smoke bier, give this shiner smokehaus a try.

Splice

Splice is one of those movies that can be taken one of two ways. IT can either be another stupid monster movie. Or you could take it as a fun way to get a conversations started. The movie has a strong ethical dilemma at its core. Human gene splicing. OF course this is a very serious topic in the real world, but movies like this make the discussion more fun. They do for me anyway. The ethical issues don't overpower the entertainment value though. Splice is still a monster movie with plenty of gross out and weird moments. May very well make some people a bit squeemish. This is more of a sci-fi movie than a horror film, so don't go in expecting to be terrified. But if you're looking for a fun monster movie, this is definitely a good one.

Get Him to the Greek

Jason Segel created one of the most memorable characters of the past decade when he wrote Aldous Snow into the script of "Forgetting Sarah Marshall". People loved the character so much, a spin-off movie was created with Aldous as the main character. By now you've seen commercials for "Get Him To The Greek", which show off the movies more ridiculous, funny moments. But at the heart of this movie is, well, a heart. Under all the ridiculous humor and excess that is portrayed in this movie is really a story that is centered on its characters and their issues with themselves and others. And who knew Russel Brand could be serious long enough to get some real acting done! Get him to the greek definitely provides plenty of laughs, but don't write it off as just another stupid fun movie, which it is. But don't forget to pay attention, because you'll probably find yourself actually caring about these characters. Plus the soundtrack by "Infant Sorrow", Aldous' band in the film, is pretty kick ass.

Chuck Ragan "Feast or Famine"

Chuck Ragan is best known as the raspy voiced singer of a band called Hot Water Music, who are named after a book by Charles Bukowski. Ragan's solo music is not nearly as aggressive, or influenced by punk music much in general. Feast or Famine sounds more like an American singing old Irish folk songs, with a little protest music thrown in for good measure. The songs are all very well written, and they feel familiar, yet fresh and new at the same time. Thats a fine line to walk upon, but Ragan does it with what seems like such ease, you can't help but feel like you're in the presence of music thats destined to be a classic one day. Ragan is by no means a household name, but if you take the time to give it a chance, you may find yourself falling in love with one of the most overlooked and under appreciated musicians alive today. Key tracks "California Burritos", "Symmetry", "the Boat"

Gogol Bordello "Trans-Continental Hustle"

Gogol Bordello is one hell of a fun band to listen to. I've heard they're pretty amazing live as well, however, i've not had the pleasure to see them. Trans-Continental Hustle tends to lean more toward their folksy gypsy roots than their punk roots, but its no less entertaining. Eugene Huts has one of the most recognizable voices in the industry. These songs are full of bouncy rhythms and fun sing along choruses, and lets face it, you can't sing along in a normal american accent, you've got to put on the Russian voice that everyone has hidden deep in their soul. So if you're looking for some fun folk punk that will get your body moving in all of its vodka soaked glory, this may just be the album for you. Or any of Gogol Bordello's albums so far.

MInus the Bear "Omni"

I'm a bit too close to this band to give an objective review. I love this new album. They've moved forward with their sound in a great way, by incorporating more synthesized sounds and beats, while at the same time moving toward more traditional sounding guitar solos. The guitar tapping is still there, but not quite as much as their earlier albums. The songs however are catchier and very well produced, which some fans have complained about, but if you've listened to them progress as a band, this album only sounds like the logical next step. The lyrics are blatantly sexual in most songs, including "My Time" which is their current "single" if they get played on any station near you. "Into the Mirror" and "Backwards Animal" share the same beat and key part, however, on "Backwards Animal" the beat is reversed and almost gives a "Paul Revere" (beastie boys" feel to the song. This album, to me, seemed to be more about sustaining a mood, or feel throughout the entire album, rather than a certain mood in each song. The subject matter they choose to deal with isn't much different than in previous albums, sex, alcohol, drugs, good times etc. I love the fact that they've stayed true to themselves in that regard, and still been able to progress their sound to where its gotten. This is a really fun album to listen to. Going along with their theme of basically a fun night out, the album sort of peaks and wanes along those lines. The first few songs are upbeat and get you in the mood to go out, the climax would of course be "Into the Mirror", and then the 4 songs afterwards are like the party winding down, they get progressively more sedate and relaxed, which could be a downfall to some fans, but given the proper mood, it could fit in perfectly, if only the album were long enough to last all night.

Deftones "Diamond Eyes"

The Deftones have always been somewhat wrongly pigeonholed as a nu-metal bad, with the likes of Korn, Limp Bizkit, and Godsmack and bands of that ilk. They are, however, a much more artfully and existential band than any of the previous bands mentioned. They've always pushed the genre they were in to new corners and new sonic realms, giving you an equally brutal and beautiful sound that not many, if any, could replicate. With the absence of Chi Cheng, their longtime bassist, one might wonder where their sound would go, since in several interviews, Chi seemed to be the one pushing them to stay heavier, and Chino was the one who wanted to move in an artier direction. The sound however, is very reminiscent of their 2000 album "White Pony", which is probably their most critically acclaimed album. As a fan, i was glad to hear them still pushing themselves, even through the tragedy that befell their longtime bass player. (www.oneloveforchi.com for more info) The album is a bit more focused than their 2006 effort "Saturday Night Wrist", which makes for a much more enjoyable listen. Although possibly a bit too brief. The single, and title track, along with "sextape" were amongst my favorites on the album. Bottom line, this is a solid album from a great band, and most likely won't disappoint longtime fans. But its not necessarily something you haven't heard from these guys before.

Coheed and Cambria "Year of the Black Rainbow"

Coheed and Cambria "finished" their epic, really Claudio Sanchez's, sci fi story with their previous album. So what does this have to do with their new album? Year of the Black Rainbow is the origins story to their massive concept album that spans 5 full lenght albums. This album is deceptive upon first listen. It sounds like a band that may have just phoned in the next album since they finished their long story, who cares about the beginning right? Wrong! Coheed and Cambria have perfected their sound and come up with an album that will both satisfy old fans and could possibly get them an even broader audience. The songs are tightly wound, no more 8 minute epics (aside from the title track which clocks in around 7 minutes). Coheed have figured out how to do what they've been trying to do all along. They've got a full album worth of great songs here instead of a third of an albums worth. On their first two albums, they had maybe 3 or 4 songs you wanted to listen to over and over... the rest you just listened to for the story. Now they've honed their songwriting skills and musicianship to a sharp point. The album sounds almost too simple at first, but thats just because they're very good at what they do, and they make it sound easy. Upon further listening, multiple layers will begin to unveil themselves. If you're a fan of Coheeds previous albums, you'll no doubt like this one... if you've never heard them before... this may be a great place to start.

30 Seconds To Mars "This Is War"

James Cameron must have produced this album for 30 Seconds to Mars because it sounds like the musical equivilent to Avatar. Every song sounds incomprehensibly huge! With all the child group choruses and tribal drumming going on, it even sounds similar to some of the music in Avatar. 30STM was shooting for the stars on this album because they just pulled out all the stops. Its like they decided, "Okay, this album is going to make us bigger than U2 and the Beatles combined". They just went all out and the result is a massive sounding album that is hard to critique because of the sheer size of it. Size in sound not in depth or time mind you. Most of the music is fairly simple, but it has been double or quadruple tracked to give it a full powerful sound. This style of production is quite effective. Its very moving sounding music. Lyrically, its somewhat mundane, life is war type imagery, not too creative of course. But you can't fault Leto and crew for doing something they really wanted to do. Their last album was on the top 200 charts for more than 2 years so naturally they needed to up the ante. Its a bold record and the sheer girth of its sound almost puts it in a class of its own. If the production quality was a little more rough around the edges, you'd be able to see all the faults the music has... it can be somewhat boring at times. But the way in which it was recorded more than makes up for its faults. 30STM has brought back "arena" rock, whether it was gone or not... it sounds as if the whole world was brought in to play little pieces on this album.. Check it out, but don't be shocked if in a month or two you really just couldn't care less about this album.

Clash of the Titans(2010)

Clash of the Titans originally was a quirky epic done quite impressively with live action and stop motion animation. Yes it looks funny by todays standards of what special effects should be, but in the eighty's it was top notch. Today's version of Clash of the Titans updates the special effects by leaps and bounds to please todays movie goer. However, thats about all they've updated. The story is basically the same, the action is all basically the same. Its definitely an enjoyable movie, however, all the creatures you see in the movie are revealed in the preview, which kind of takes away from drawn out "reveal" scenes for each monster. You already know whats coming, so throw any suspense out the window. This movie is no better and no worse than its predecessor. Its simply a re-do with different effects and different actors. There's no new story really, except for the addition of Hades, who is evil incarnate and travels around much like the "evil incarnate" un-Locke(smoke monster) from Lost. Apparently we've discovered how evil travels, black pillars of smoke. But I digress. The 3D in this movie was most definitely disappointing. I didn't really notice it at all. I came out of the theater feeling cheated on the 3D aspects of the movie. All in all this is a fun action packed adventure thats worth a look if you're a fan of the original. If you've never seen the original, you may enjoy this version even more, but i wouldn't shell out the extra 4 or 5 dollars for the 3D showtimes, its just not worth it.

Precious: Based on the novel "Push" by Sapphire

I've finally seen Precious: Based on the novel "Push" by Sapphire or Precious: BOTNPBS as a friend and i call it. Coming off of awards season, and hearing so much about this movie (and so many people saying the full utterly obnoxious title), i was a bit reluctant to see it, just to spite everyone. However, having a lack of entertainment last night drove me to break my previous boycott. I have to say, i'm glad i broke down and finally saw this movie. ITs as uplifting as it is heartbreaking. Gabouray Sidibay and Monique did fantastic jobs in each of their roles. This is a movie that definitely can and most likely will move you to tears at least a few times. Depending on your mood, you may take away a sense of joy from this movie, or severe depression. Just about everything horrible you can think of, short of being murdered, happens to Precious in this film. Somehow she gets through it all with a huge lovable smile on her face. This is powerful filmmaking and it most definitely deserved all the hype. If you haven't seen this yet, you should make it a point to rent it. Its the type of film that could change you.

An Education

An Education is a wonderfully written story about becoming someone new, falling in love, and being hurt. Carey Mulligan plays Jenny, a girl of only 16 who happens to meet an older suave man who takes an interest in her, played by Peter Sarsgaard. Jenny becomes swept off her feet by his charm and the things they go and do. But her naivety gets the best of her in the end. One scene in particular i thought was so perfectly subtle you probably wouldn't notice it unless someone pointed it out to you. It shows just how young and wonderfully gullible this girl Jenny is. In this scene Jenny's father is going on a rampage about money and education, and begins shouting that money doesn't grow on trees, and they don't have a tree in the yard for this and for that, and at one point Jenny turns her head to look out the window and check. Its a perfectly innocent subtle split second, but i think it speaks volumes about the character Carey Mulligan plays. This movie is immaculately written by Nick Hornsby (author of about a boy, high fidelity, a long way down). This movie is most likely destined to be a classic.

Greenberg

If you've seen any of Noah Baumbach's previous movies(Margot at the Wedding, The Squid and the Whale), you know he tends to write very realistic characters in very familiar territory for viewers. This can sometimes be uncomfortable to watch on screen and sometimes uncomfortable to face with others. Baumbach deals, generally, with the real parts of the human experience that make us who we are and give us character. Greenberg is no different. Ben Stiller in the lead role as (the main) Greenberg is generally unlikable. He's rude, self centered and just doesn't seem like a good person. However, this doesn't detract from the interest the viewer has in the movie. As Greta Gerwig's character says in the movie, there's just something about him that you like. This is possibly because Ben Stiller usually plays a likable guy in his movies. Towards the end of the movie more of his character is revealed, and you start to see things from his perspective. But he's still a jerk, you just now know why, and you can't really blame him, however, you don't have to like him. That being said, this movie is one that will stay with you after you leave the theater. It can make you look at the faults you have and confront some of your own demons. And to me, anytime a movie can make you do that, they've done their job as filmmakers. Whether the reaction is pleased, or disgusted, if an emotion is evoked, it was a success. I'd definitely go see this if you have the chance.

Cold Souls

Paul Giamatti stars as "Paul Giamatti" in the movie Cold Souls. Its a movie about an actor who is playing a part in a play that he gets uncomfortably emotionally involved with. Not being able to take the weight of the material he is performing, he decides to take advantage of a service he saw an ad for in the New Yorker. Soul Extraction. The idea is they extract your soul to lift the weight and stress off of you, and store it for a while, then when you've gotten through the troublesome part of your life, you can have your soul put back in. However, after Giamatti has his soul removed, he finds he's turned into quite the terrible actor. But a very funny actor at that. They offer him a rental soul, because upon his return to retrieve his soul, and fix his acting, he finds out they've misplaced his chickpea sized soul. Laughter does ensue quite frequently, but this movie is deceptively marketed as a big laughs comedy. It has some very funny parts, yes, but the heart (or soul if you will) of this movie is a drama, and a subversive story about life really. It becomes heartbreakingly fun to watch, and only an actor of Giamatti's caliber could really pull off such a challenging role. I found this movie to be very enjoyable for all the wrong reasons apparently. I was told it was a hilarious movie, and nothing more. But there is so much more lying under the surface of this movie. Watch it twice.

Florence and the Machine "Lungs"

"I never wanted anything from you except everything you have and then what's left after that too". Florence Mary Leontine Welch sings this line in such a sweet voice at the break of the opening track "Dog Days Are Over" on her debut album "Lungs". This makes you wonder what kind of tricks she has up her sleeve. She's got quite a few indeed. Sounding similar to Fiona Apple, or Ani DiFranco, or even Bjork at times, she has come up with a unique style that sounds different and familiar all at the same time. All of her songs are wonderfully constructed with lyrics that seem sometimes uncomfortably vulnerable, and at other times quite confident and sexy. Florence has quite a powerful voice and knows when to hold back and when to let her soul shine through. This is one of those albums that you need to hear at least once or you'll be kicking yourself later when you find out what you've been missing.

Joshua James "Build Me This"

“I find solace and beauty in darkness and depression,” says James of his lyrical style. Joshua James melds together quite nicely styles of folk, bluegrass at times, rock and country. His nearly whisper of a voice can quite quickly turn into a quivering passionate weapon which spews out lines like "If the Lord loves his children like your good book does teach, well He’d burn these here bastards and out shoes on my feet." James uses quite a bit of religious imagery in his lyrics, which coincide with his folksy heartland sound. There is foreboding in his music that is hard to find in much of the music i hear today. James is one of the better songwriters and musicians i've heard in quite a while, and at only 25 years of age, i can't wait to see how he matures and grows and expands his sound. If you're a fan of Conor Oberst, Damien Rice, or Joe Purdy... this may be your new favorite artist.

Breckenridge Avalanche

Breckenridge Brewery is located in Denver, CO. Not in Breckenridge, CO as one might assume. Yes they began in the town of their namesake, but have since moved to Denver where there is more of a market. The Avalanche is another amber beer. It has nice color but the bouquet leaves a little to be desired. Taste however is light and has quite good flavor. Its not a beer that shoves flavor in your face and screams "TASTE THIS!". Its just a good mellow flavor, somewhat similar to shiner bock, but a tad less malty. I'd recommend this beer to just about any casual beer drinker. But if you're looking for something a bit more flavorful and complex, you might want to look elsewhere.

Saint Arnold Spring Bock

This beer initially has quite pleasing color when held up to the light. It has deep and rich amber hues that promise a wonderful experience for your taste buds. However, upon first sip, there seems to be little flavor or carbonation. This is a bit deceptive. The flavor is quite subtle. Beer is made in much the same way whiskey is, up to a certain point, where hops and carbonation are added. This beer seems, (this is speculation only) to have been left to cook or ferment for a longer period of time before the yeast yielded any CO2. This gives this beer a very similar flavor as whiskey, which for some might be a pleasant surprise, and others might find it off-putting. Initially, i was fairly disappointed with this beer. Being a native Texan, i want to support Texas brewers. But after a few more sips, this beer really grew on me. I wouldn't say i loved it, but it wasn't as disappointing as i initially thought. Give it a try and see for yourself.

The Dillinger Escape Plan- Option Paralysis

The Dillinger Escape Plan is one of the most creative bands on the face of the earth. Not just in terms of metal or extreme music, they incorporate so many different styles and they do it masterfully. Option Paralysis is no less brutal than any of their previous albums, but they've finally written songs that are easily distinguishable from one another, which in turn makes them more memorable. This album isn't as big a leap forward from Ire Works, as Ire Works was from Miss Machine, but they do still push the bar yet another few notches higher. Standout tracks would be Widower, I Wouldn't If You Didn't, Parasitic Twins and Farewell, Mona Lisa. Greg Puciato, the vocalist, has developed his voice quite a bit since Ire works, and has put together some frightfully haunting combinations of eardrum shattering screams, and subdued crooner style singing. Dillinger has put to use all of their strong points and left behind nearly all (if indeed they had any) faults. Option Paralysis is most definitely a contender for the best metal album of the year (and its only march) and possible one of the best albums of the year period. Go have a listen!

She's Out of My League

She's Out of My League is a funny movie. The story has been done before. Its your typical geeky charming guy, meets hot girl, date, relationship, fight, get back together, happy ending story. Think Knocked Up without the baby stuff. The cast is quite humorous and i found myself laughing out loud on quite a few occasions. Bottom line is, its a fun movie that'll give you a few good laughs, but doesn't re-invent the romantic raunchy comedy at all. But it's worth the price of a matinee ticket for sure.

Animals As Leaders

Animals as Leaders initially began as a solo project for Tosin Abasi from the now defunct band Reflux out of Washington D.C. Abasi now has two other band members he performs with live, but on the recording he plays all the guitar and bass parts. Listening to the album for the first time, you'd think Abasi has about 20 fingers on each hand and plays two different guitars with two sets of arms. This isn't the case, he only has five fingers on each hand and one set of arms. Although his guitars have at least 7 or 8 strings apiece. Abasi is quite fleet fingered and flies through notes at an amazingly fast pace. He is however, extremely precise and quite creative with the sound he's created, fusing metal style riffing and solo's with more progressive jazz fusion and even bossa nova grooves. Its nearly impossible to describe just how technically proficient and creative Abasi is without actually hearing the music. Seeing him perform these songs live is even more mind blowing. Having heard his music live before hearing it on cd, i was just blown away, my jaw literally dropped more than once. I found myself laughing, (because i didn't know how else to react), when he looped an unbelievably fast set of sweeps and then proceeded to add yet another quite complicated riff on top. There is really no way to understand the awesome power of Abasi's music without hearing it, or if you're lucky enough, seeing him perform live. Take a listen and have your eyes melted from their sockets... its definitely worth it.

Avery Brewery

Avery Brewing is located in Boulder, CO in a small shopping center. The brewery itself is quite small compared to other breweries in Colorado (i.e. Coors in Golden, Co). However, Avery just stepped up in scale from a microbrewery to a craft brewer. They have quite good distribution for such a small brewery, and you've most likely seen their beer in your local liquor store if you've ever browsed the beer section. Their most popular beers are Ellie's Brown Ale, their IPA, and the White Rascal which is a beer brewed with orange and coriander, much like the more well known Blue Moon beer. Avery churns out some of the most complex and flavorful beers in America. Their menu offers about 15 beers at any given point. I happened to try about 10 of them the day of the tour. Tours are free, and beers are reasonably priced in their taproom at about $4 a pint, and if you pay an extra $1 during the tour, they'll give you a glass to take home with you. If you happen to find yourself in the Denver/Boulder are of CO. I'd highly recommend looking this place up. They won me over with their interesting beer and witty Scottish tour-guide.
All of their beers i tasted were quite flavorful and I wasn't disappointed with any of them. I'd recommend the dry hopped IPA and the salvation to start off with, but like i said, they're all quite tasty.

New Belgium Mighty Arrow 8/10

New Belgium Mighty Arrow

This beer happened to be on sale for only about $6.50 which greatly influenced my purchase. New Belgium makes quite a few top notch brews that usually run about $8 per 6 pack. This is a seasonal beer of the Pale Ale variety. This Pale Ale is not an India Pale Ale style brew which means nothing more than its brewed slightly differently and uses different types of the same ingredients. Certain types of malts and yeast and that sort of thing. However, the power of the flavor is still there. Many people find pale ales to be a bit too bitter, however, they are among the most flavorful of beers. If you enjoy your beer to have a flavor that is not subtle in the least, drink a pale ale. The flavors just explode on your tounge with ferocity. The Mighty Arrow is named after a dog that belonged to one of the people that ran the brewery for a time. (possibly still does, i didn't fact check) The flavors are all there, and what you would expect from a pale ale. The bouquet is flowery and smells of citrus. There is a tiny hint of honey in the finish, but it is not a "sweet" beer by any means. If you're looking for a bargain, this is definitely they way to go. Its comparable to a Stone IPA, but for a few dollars less. Being slightly less powerful than classic IPA's this beer may be a good starting point for someone who is looking to get in to more interesting beers. 8/10

Alice in Wonderland (2010)

Tim Burton directed this remake of a classic story and disney film, Alice IN Wonderland. We all know the story, Alice falls down a rabbit hole, thinks she is in a dream, and goes on a fantastical journey through wonderland. In this re-make, Alice is a bit older, nearly 20 in fact, and this is apparently her second tour through wonderland, or Underland as the residents call it. The animation is top notch, and the 3-D is well, Wonderful. Nothing in this movie is new territory, aside from the fact that its a somewhat live action version of the classic animated Disney story. Its all been done before, many times, and this fact causes some of the movie to become a bit stagnant for my tastes. There didn't seem to be any re-vamping of themes or much inventiveness on the part of the director. Of course everything looks beautiful and the sets are wonderfully decorated, after all it is a Tim Burton movie. But i found myself longing for his signature style, that gothic weirdness that typically surrounds his movies. I didn't feel much of that here. It was an enjoyable movie, i just found certain parts a bit tedious. So, it definitely is a movie worth seeing, especially if you're a fan of the new amazing 3D movies. However, if you want a story thats new and exciting, you might look elsewhere.

The Crazies 7/10

(I haven't seen the original '71 version of this movie, I've ordered it and its on the way)
The Crazies, having not seen the original, is a very classic style zombie conspiracy horror movie. Luckily the director didn't opt to add super gore and violence to this film and "modernize" aka ruin it. There is plenty of violence, however, what you mainly see is the aftermath of what happens. Bodies laying around, wounds that are implied rather than shown in unnecessary detail. I enjoyed seeing a horror movie that stuck to a more old school formula. Simplicity. Since there was already a story there, it seems that the director wanted to keep the original feel. Again, i haven't seen the original yet, but i will, and may possibly revise some of this blog. The only thing really lacking for me was emotion. The situation these actors find themselves in would be extremely emotional if it were really happening, yet somehow the filmmakers didn't quite capture it. Even with great actors like Rhada Mitchell. All in all this was a quite enjoyable little horror remake with plenty of blood and guts to keep gore hounds satisfied, while staying true to a '70's style movie. I'd give it a look.

Grace 8/10

Grace is absolutely the most inventive original vampire story ever! I realize this is quite a lofty claim, but if you get the chance to see this movie, i doubt you will disagree. This film oozes with tension from the first frame until the wonderful last. This is not a film for anyone with a tender stomach. The movie starts as a pretty typical drama between a couple and their parents (or the mans parents), in the process of a pregnancy. This however get much more complicated after an ill fated car accident, takes the life of the husband. Supposedly the baby has died inside the mother, but she carries to term and delivers what is thought to be a stillborn. This couldn't be farther from the truth. Tension mounts and the ride couldn't me more enjoyable. I found myself with my jaw dropped multiple times. I won't spoil the surprise for you, but this is definitely worth a watch. Its been on dvd for a few months. I haven't seen a more original movie in years honestly. As a self proclaimed horror movie buff, i highly recommend this movie. I absolutely loved it. 8/10

Murphy's Red Beer 7/10

Murphy's Red Beer is an Irish beer that has been brewed with to the specifications of the original recipe since 1856. The experience shows. This beer has a very deep amber complexion. Poured into a pint glass, it has little to no head, which honestly, if you just want a drink, is not much of a problem. The smell, or bouquet if you will, if fairy mild, however you can smell the mild roast of the hops. Initially, it has a fairly mild flavor. The finish is quite pleasant though. This isn't a life changing beer, and it most likely won't blow your mind, but if you want to impress your buddies at your local bar, order this drink, and they'll marvel at the fact that its from Europe and has a bulging neck. Good beer, nothing amazing though. 7/10

Alkaline Trio "This Addiction" 8.5/10

"This Addiction" was being hailed as a "return to their roots" album for Alkaline Trio. Physically this may be true, they recorded in Chicago with their old producer from their "Goddammit" days on Asian Man Records. However, musically, this album is more of a return to the gloomy pop punk of "Crimson". The hooks are just about nonstop, but its not in a negative way. Lyrically, they stick to their tried and true formula of gloom and doom, drunken relationship themes. Which for any alkaline trio fan, you couldn't be happier with. Of course I'm biased, so this review is extremely skewed in their favor, but nonetheless, this album is an extremely enjoyable trip back to a time when Alkaline Trio seemed like they were having fun wallowing in their misery. Its no doubt a fun ride for the listener as well. They even bring in a horn section on the song "lead poisoning". Alkaline Trio fans really couldn't ask for more, speaking as one of their biggest fans, i feel justified in saying this.
The deluxe edition contains 6 extra songs, 2 new and 4 acoustic versions of songs you'll hear on the album. Plus it comes with a full concert performance of 18 songs from their Agony and Irony tour. And for only 10 bucks this week, its well worth it.
I can't stop listening to this album so i suggest you go buy it now!

Alberta Cross and Mumford & Sons

Well here we go!
Alberta Cross is a band from New York who's new album "Broken Side of Time" blends indie rock moods with a bit of prog rock experimentalism. They've got a sound similar to Band of Horses, and a bit of My Morning Jacket. The vocalist even gets into a bit of Wolfmother territory. The Songs are all solid and enjoyable. If you're looking for something new and exciting, here you go! Best songs: "Old Man Chicago" and "Ghost of City Life"

Mumford & Sons is a band hailing from London. They blend 60's british folk rock with a bit of Americana, to give their band something fairly unique. The songs are for the most part bouncy and fun, with lyrics that are more heavy handed. They're definitely a breath of fresh air to what may have become somewhat stagnant in their genre. Best songs: "Blank White Page" and "Sigh No More"

Shiner 101 Czech Style Pilsner 6/10

Shiner has been making beer for 101 years. Thus, their 101st anniversary beer, a Czech style pilsner. This beer was a sort of mission for me. I saw a billboard advertising it about a month ago and have been searching for it ever since. I finally found it at Target of all places. Now a search of that magnitude usually tends to lean toward disappointment, however, I do have to say that Shiner 101 is probably my favorite beer Shiner has made other than its flagship, Shiner Bock. This beer is a very familiar beer to most casual beer drinkers. This style has been copied time and time again, however, Shiner has chosen to brew this beer the "craft" brew way, with only four ingredients, just barley, hops, water, and yeast. This may seem like an easy way out, but on the contrary, simplicity is one of the hardest things to pull of and make work. Initially, the beer has quite a strong flavor, with a somewhat disappointing finish (aka lingering flavor). That being said, the flavor that it does have is wonderful. Its subtle and strong at the same time. As far as smell goes, it leans toward citrus. And color is of course the classic golden yellow color. This beer is definitely not a mind blowingly flavorful beer, but it does deliver. Hopefully Shiner keeps this beer around for a while, because as an everyday drinker, beer couldn't get much more enjoyable than this. 6/10

Shutter Island 6/10

Just saw Shutter Island today... here's what I thought....

Shutter Island 6/10

First of all, I was happy that most of what you see in the preview gets onscreen about 5 minutes into the movie. So you don't have to worry about any spoilers from the preview. However, this type of thriller/mystery has been so overdone, you can see the twist coming from a mile away. The movie is made well, of course, its a Martin Scorsese film. None of his movies are really disappointing. However, like i said, you can see the "twist" coming from a mile away. I won't give details, however, there is a telling sign about 3 or 4 minutes into the movie that you most likely won't catch, but it could clue you in to what happens later. I do have to say though that, very rarely does the last line of a movie redeem the previous 2 hours of a film. This movie does that! I found myself somewhat irritated that I knew what was going on about halfway in, but at the end, I enjoyed the secondary twist that gets thrown at the audience. No real new ground is being broken with this movie, but if you want to see a decent mystery movie, go see Shutter Island. Its not bad, but i'd go for the matinee, maybe not worth a full $10 ticket. 6/10

Oscar Best Picture

As I've said before, I'm not a professional, so the things I review or suggest are just what I've had the time and money to experience. That being said, I wanted to comment on the oscars nods for best picture this year and give a sort of prediction.

If I had my way (which i don't), the close competition would be between Inglorious Basterds, District 9, and UP in the Air. However, I don't believe any of these will win best picture. Inglorious Basterds probably has the best chance out of those three, however, Avatar will most likely win. Inglorious Basterds was one of the most original movies I've seen in years. And one of the only American movies ever, that didn't "Americanize" all the other countries it portrayed. It truly was an international film. Germans spoke German. The French spoke French. English and Americans spoke English. Its definitely a fantasy of a different sort than Avatar. And yes Avatar may have its merits, and its underlying themes but what's so wrong with a movie being purely entertaining? Does entertainment mean that its unworthy of an award? There was definitely no shortage of compelling dialogue, or interesting plot twists. Yes, Avatar is a huge movie in every way. Gorgeous landscapes, beautiful ideas, and of course underlying themes. But, as fantastical as Avatar is, it seems somehow prosaic compared to the creativity that went into creating a fictional world, inside of a period in history that we all know.

District 9 was not initially as impressive as it was after buying the dvd and seeing that all the dialogue was all improv. I don't think this movie has a chance in hell. I'm pleasantly surprised that its nominated, just because of the type of movie it is. I think the oscars are taking a step in the right direction.

Up in the Air is a very close contender for my favorite movie of the year. Its a great story that is extremely relevant and touching all at the same time. George Clooney is amazing. His performance was probably too subtle to be noticed as a "best actor'' performance, however, there is no shortage of emotion spilling out of his eyes in every scene. This movie is wonderfully acted, and written, but I just don't think it has the pull to edge out the other movies in this category.

SO which movie do I think will win? After this long diatribe about my preferred movies, here's who I think it will be between...

Avatar

The Hurt Locker

Inglorious Basterds

and possibly Precious

Its a tough call, Precious could pull a Crash and come out over the big obvious choices, but I doubt it. Though I haven't had the chance to see that movie yet. Or about 2 or 3 of the other choices. (as i said, i don't get paid to see movies, so i'm slightly limited)

Avatar will most likely win (dammit)

Its just disappointing when you can almost tell who will win before the show even takes place.

Massive Attack "Heligoland" 8/10

So lets try a music review shall we? Music is a passion of mine, I love all genres. However, when you are as passionate about a subject like this as I am, its hard to be critical. So the music reviews will most likely be suggestions rather than critical reviews... Plus I'm not a professional and don't receive promotional copies of albums for free so its limited to what I can afford to buy myself. That being said.....

Massive Attack "Heligoland" 8/10

This is massive attack's first album since 2003's "100th window". Massive attack, if you don't already know, are one of the bands that pioneered the trip-hop movement. Trip-hop uses much of the same elements as hip-hop and rap/r&b and slows them down, and makes them "trippy" if you will. This slower beat, and odd sounds, make for a much deeper, sometimes creepy sound. Massive Attack are masters at layering sounds and generally, you never can quite absorb one of their albums on the first try. "Heligoland" is no different. Each song is a sexy, slow burner, full of tension, suspense, and foreboding, that builds to an inevitable, albeit mild, climax. These songs can take some getting used to if you're new to the genre. But Massive Attack have somewhat gone back to their roots on this album without sounding dated, or like they're recycling their old tricks. "Girl I love You" is possibly the best song on the album, with powerful emotive vocals that definitely affect you in ways few singers can. Horace Andy provides the vocals for this song, as he has on several other Massive Attack albums.

I think people are overly critical of Massive Attack because of how groundbreaking and original they were in the early 90's. Their music is still heads and shoulders above most of their peers. The only band I can think of that may have trumped them as of late would be TV on the Radio.

"Heligoland" is no step forward, but is definitely not a step back. Its a great album that just takes a few listens to absorb, but once you do, you'll be in for a real treat. Eight out of Ten.

Why Beer?

If you see the title of this blog, you may be wondering, why beer? And more so, why beer and movies? Well to tell the truth, I intended to write about beer and all things involving entertainment that I come across that is worth talking about. (i.e.- music, video games, books etc.) But why not wine you say? Well, in my opinion, beer is just as complex, if not more complex, with as many, or more varieties than wine. Plus, beer is much less pretentious and i think it's more fun in general. When's the last time you had a wine with a name like Arrogant Bastard? (great beer by the way)

Beer is something I enjoy drinking, movies are something I love watching, music is my life... and I have hundreds of thousands of opinions on all these subjects. Yes I'm an amateur, however, my tastes are diverse in each subject, and I branch out and try new things more so than the average human. I wanted a way to tell a broader audience my suggestions and my opinions. If you like it and find it entertaining great! Maybe you'll even find a new favorite drink, movie or band. If you don't like it, well then keep your mouth shut! HA! No I encourage all types of critiques and compliments. Just don't be a douche just to be a douche. Thanks!