Albums:
Queens Of The Stone Age - Era Vulgaris - Queens of the Stone Age is one of the two best bands that are active at the moment (The White Stripes being the other and their album comes out next week) and the tracks I've heard off of this album are sensational. I'm going to buy this the first chance I get.
VERDICT - BUY IT ASAP
Instant Karma - Save Darfur - While a lot of the artists on this double album are pop acts that aren't to my taste, a John Lennon tribute album that features Green Day, R.E.M. and U2 and benefits a great cause is something I'll absolutely purchase.
VERDICT - BUY IT
DVDs:
Breach - A sadly overlooked film that is easily one of the best reviewed movies of 2007, Breach is a spy thriller that doesn't have a lot of action, but has a lot of tension instead.
VERDICT - RENT IT ASAP
Ghost Rider - It may be the second biggest DVD release of the week, but that doesn't mean Ghost Rider isn't a massive piece of crap. The story sucks, the acting is awful, the villains seem to be lifted from the Underworld franchise (which I despise) and the special effects are fairly lame.
VERDICT - Skip it
Daddy's Little Girls - I've never seen any of Tyler Perry's films or plays, but he always gets awful reviews, so I won't blindly recommend this one.
VERDICT - Skip it
Primeval - Ordinarily, this type of thing ends up as a Sci Fi Channel movie of the week, but for some reason they put it in theaters and fortunately no one showed up.
VERDICT - Skip it
Blood And Chocolate - More vampire and werewolf bullshit because for some reason some people like it. Those people should be ashamed of themselves. Crying in the shower in the fetal position ashamed.
VERDICT - Avoid it like the plague.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Modern Rock Monday
Modern Rock Archive
Mink - Talk To Me - B+
A very catchy beat highlights a solid debut single for the band. A fun song, but it lacks the extra factor to put it over the top.
Operator - Soulcrusher - B+
Another excellent metal sing, this one borrowing heavily from Soundgarden's style of early 90s metal.
Chris Cornell - No Such Thing - B+
Chris is the former lead singer of Soundgarden, but based on this excellent solo single, you'd think he had previously fronted Stone Temple Pilots.
Paramore - Misery Business - B+
This is the first song by the band and it's good enough to make me want their CD. The song itself is a mature pop punk song with a solid chorus, good vocals and decent lyrics.
Incubus - Oil And Water - B+
As Incubus singles go, it's not one of their best, but it is a big improvement over "Dig".
Army Of Me - Going Through Changes - B
A decent, but not particularly great debut single.
Ozzy Osbourne - I Don't Wanna Stop - B-
Ozzy's first comeback single is a far cry from where he left off in the days before he became a TV star. The song is too poppy for Ozzy's voice and borrows too many elements from Rob Zombie's music.
OK Go - Do What You Want - B-
A timid rehash of previous OK Go songs that is still better than a lot of what's on the radio these days.
Papa Roach - To Be Loved - B-
Papa Roach seems to be changing direction yet again. At least this one isn't as annoying or unpleasant as every other direction they've ever tried.
Panic At The Disco - Lying Is The Most Fun A Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off - B-
Yet another Panic song where the title is far more interesting than the song itself. This one has a fairly lame chorus that weighs it down as any pop song would be weighed down by a shitty chorus.
Pepper - No Control - B-
I'll give them credit. They're probably the first Chili Peppers rip-off I've heard on the radio. The song's not bad, but certainly nothing to write home about.
Blue October - She's My Ride Home - C+
They keep getting better with each single, but they still have a long way to go to be respectable.
Ozma - Eponine - C+
Poppy, but dull rock song that's too cutesy to be great.
Papa Roach - Forever - C
Not as abhorrent as the usual Papa Roach material, but still far from fun or entertaining.
12 Stones - Lie To Me - C-
A lousy, Hinderesque ballad with little going for it.
Mink - Talk To Me - B+
A very catchy beat highlights a solid debut single for the band. A fun song, but it lacks the extra factor to put it over the top.
Operator - Soulcrusher - B+
Another excellent metal sing, this one borrowing heavily from Soundgarden's style of early 90s metal.
Chris Cornell - No Such Thing - B+
Chris is the former lead singer of Soundgarden, but based on this excellent solo single, you'd think he had previously fronted Stone Temple Pilots.
Paramore - Misery Business - B+
This is the first song by the band and it's good enough to make me want their CD. The song itself is a mature pop punk song with a solid chorus, good vocals and decent lyrics.
Incubus - Oil And Water - B+
As Incubus singles go, it's not one of their best, but it is a big improvement over "Dig".
Army Of Me - Going Through Changes - B
A decent, but not particularly great debut single.
Ozzy Osbourne - I Don't Wanna Stop - B-
Ozzy's first comeback single is a far cry from where he left off in the days before he became a TV star. The song is too poppy for Ozzy's voice and borrows too many elements from Rob Zombie's music.
OK Go - Do What You Want - B-
A timid rehash of previous OK Go songs that is still better than a lot of what's on the radio these days.
Papa Roach - To Be Loved - B-
Papa Roach seems to be changing direction yet again. At least this one isn't as annoying or unpleasant as every other direction they've ever tried.
Panic At The Disco - Lying Is The Most Fun A Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off - B-
Yet another Panic song where the title is far more interesting than the song itself. This one has a fairly lame chorus that weighs it down as any pop song would be weighed down by a shitty chorus.
Pepper - No Control - B-
I'll give them credit. They're probably the first Chili Peppers rip-off I've heard on the radio. The song's not bad, but certainly nothing to write home about.
Blue October - She's My Ride Home - C+
They keep getting better with each single, but they still have a long way to go to be respectable.
Ozma - Eponine - C+
Poppy, but dull rock song that's too cutesy to be great.
Papa Roach - Forever - C
Not as abhorrent as the usual Papa Roach material, but still far from fun or entertaining.
12 Stones - Lie To Me - C-
A lousy, Hinderesque ballad with little going for it.
Monday, June 11, 2007
New Movies This Week
Ocean's 13 - The first one was great, the second one sucked and this new one looks promising. There's definitely going to be a sequel fatigue setting in pretty soon, but this movie will undoubtedly be a hit and probably worth seeing. Oh, and the 13th person added to the gang? The ads make you think it's Andy Garcia, but based on role size, it's really Eddie Izzard, which for me at least is a VAST improvement.
VERDICT - See it.
Hostel: Part II - What does it say about this season that a sequel seems like a fresh new idea only because it isn't a threequel. The first movie was surprisingly good for it's genre and the buzz is that the sequel is just as good. Still, this type of film is an acquired taste and definitely not for everyone.
VERDICT - See it. Don't take the kids.
Surf's Up - A penguin movie? It's not a sequel, but it sure feels like it's either the sequel to Madagascar or Surf's Up. Still, Jeff Bridges virtually reprises his role as The Dude from The Big Lebowski, and in my book that alone makes the film worth a viewing... eventually.
VERDICT - See it, when it's convenient.
VERDICT - See it.
Hostel: Part II - What does it say about this season that a sequel seems like a fresh new idea only because it isn't a threequel. The first movie was surprisingly good for it's genre and the buzz is that the sequel is just as good. Still, this type of film is an acquired taste and definitely not for everyone.
VERDICT - See it. Don't take the kids.
Surf's Up - A penguin movie? It's not a sequel, but it sure feels like it's either the sequel to Madagascar or Surf's Up. Still, Jeff Bridges virtually reprises his role as The Dude from The Big Lebowski, and in my book that alone makes the film worth a viewing... eventually.
VERDICT - See it, when it's convenient.
Modern Rock Update
Albums:
In a lousy week for new rock releases, only Perry Farrell's Satellite Party's - Ultra Payload debuts at #91 and is the only new debut in the top 100 for the week.
Modern Rock:
Linkin Park - "What I've Done" is #1 again for the 9th week in a row. I think the record is 17 weeks, so keep an eye on that and just imagine how close the band could get to the record with a decent song.
Returning to the top 20 this week is Interpol with their new single "The Heinrich Maneuver" at #19.
Mainstream Rock:
Linkin Park is at #1 again this week.
Two bands return to the top 20 on Mainstream this week with Korn's new single "Evolution" at #17 and the unwelcome return of Puddle of Mudd at #18 with "Famous". Here's hoping that everyone enjoys poor lyrics and Cobain ripoffs as much as they did 4 years ago. See, ordinarily I would mock Korn, but A. I haven't heard the song yet and B. Fucking Puddle of Mudd is back. Let's see... Three Days Grace... check, Linkin Park... check, Puddle of Mudd... check, demons and eternal torment... check... let's just say I'm glad I have XM radio now.
In a lousy week for new rock releases, only Perry Farrell's Satellite Party's - Ultra Payload debuts at #91 and is the only new debut in the top 100 for the week.
Modern Rock:
Linkin Park - "What I've Done" is #1 again for the 9th week in a row. I think the record is 17 weeks, so keep an eye on that and just imagine how close the band could get to the record with a decent song.
Returning to the top 20 this week is Interpol with their new single "The Heinrich Maneuver" at #19.
Mainstream Rock:
Linkin Park is at #1 again this week.
Two bands return to the top 20 on Mainstream this week with Korn's new single "Evolution" at #17 and the unwelcome return of Puddle of Mudd at #18 with "Famous". Here's hoping that everyone enjoys poor lyrics and Cobain ripoffs as much as they did 4 years ago. See, ordinarily I would mock Korn, but A. I haven't heard the song yet and B. Fucking Puddle of Mudd is back. Let's see... Three Days Grace... check, Linkin Park... check, Puddle of Mudd... check, demons and eternal torment... check... let's just say I'm glad I have XM radio now.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
June 2007 Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame Inductees
New inductees for June 2007:
For more information, click here.
| The Velvet Underground |
| Bruce Springsteen |
| Tool |
| Aerosmith |
| Radiohead |
For more information, click here.
New Shit Tuesday
DVDs:
The Messengers: This is the highlight of the past two weeks for DVDs... a shitty horror movie that's been forgotten already even though it was only released a few months ago.
VERDICT: Skip it.
Norbit: A nasty, ugly, stupid, racist piece of crap that nearly made 100 dollars. What's wrong with you, America?
VERDICT: Avoid it.
CDs:
Chris Cornell - Carry On - The former lead singer of Soundgarden and Audioslave releases his second solo album. What I've heard of it has been good, but not great, but I still plan to purchase it.
VERDICT: Buy it.
Marilyn Manson - Eat Me, Drink Me - Manson's been pretty bad lately and I honestly believe that the first single off of this album "Heart Shaped Glasses" is the worst song he's ever produced. Still, it's worth a listen.
VERDICT: Borrow it.
Paul McCartney - Memory Almost Full - Starbucks' first album on it's new album is Paul's follow-up to the surprisingly solid Chaos And Creation... from a few years back.
VERDICT: Borrow it.
The Messengers: This is the highlight of the past two weeks for DVDs... a shitty horror movie that's been forgotten already even though it was only released a few months ago.
VERDICT: Skip it.
Norbit: A nasty, ugly, stupid, racist piece of crap that nearly made 100 dollars. What's wrong with you, America?
VERDICT: Avoid it.
CDs:
Chris Cornell - Carry On - The former lead singer of Soundgarden and Audioslave releases his second solo album. What I've heard of it has been good, but not great, but I still plan to purchase it.
VERDICT: Buy it.
Marilyn Manson - Eat Me, Drink Me - Manson's been pretty bad lately and I honestly believe that the first single off of this album "Heart Shaped Glasses" is the worst song he's ever produced. Still, it's worth a listen.
VERDICT: Borrow it.
Paul McCartney - Memory Almost Full - Starbucks' first album on it's new album is Paul's follow-up to the surprisingly solid Chaos And Creation... from a few years back.
VERDICT: Borrow it.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Battle Of The Bands - Round 1, Bracket B, Part 2
#17 The Pink Spiders 3 - #48 Depeche Mode 0 - What can I say, this group doesn't exactly fit into Depeche Mode's fanbase.
#18 Jet 3 - #47 H.I.M. 0 - There's really no reason why Jet should be ranked this low, but at least they won easily in the first round.
#19 Kings Of Leon 3 - #46 Blue October 0 - All things considered, Blue October may be one of the worst non-metal bands around these days and Kings Of Leon isn't the best, but they're up there.
#20 The Music 3 - #45 The Kooks 0 - Given time, The Kooks might become one of the best bands around, but they're definitely not at that point yet.
#21 Aimee Mann 3 - #44 Rilo Kiley 0 - Two fantastic but underrated bands square off and Aimee Mann emerges victorious.
#22 The Drive-By Truckers 3 - #43 NOFX 0 - On the downside, many bands are ranked below NOFX that shouldn't be, but on the bright side no one voted for NOFX, so it's pretty much equal.
#23 Chevelle 2 - #42 Travis 1 - The Tool-wannabes get the victory over the Brit-pop never-wases.
#41 The Eels 2 - #24 Tori Amos 1 - The first seeded upset of Bracket B sees Tori Amos getting knocked out by the under appreciated Eels.
#25 Stone Sour 2 - #40 Clutch 1 - My vote for Clutch wasn't enough for the throwback-metal band to overcome the Slipknot side project.
#26 The Arcade Fire 3 - #39 The Kaiser Chiefs 0 - Why the hell these two bands are each so lowly-ranked is beyond me, but Arcade Fire gets the win.
#38 Thursday 2 - #27 OutKast 1 - Why was OutKast ranked so low? Because Ryan hates them. Why did OutKast lose in the first round? Because Ryan hates them. Why does Ryan hate them? Beats me.
#28 Slipknot 2 - #37 Okkervil River 1 - The shine has come off of Slipknot's only good album, but not to that extent yet.
#36 Kid Rock 2 - #29 Meat Loaf 1 - Wait, Meat Loaf was a 29 seed? What the fuck? And someone voted for him? Why? He was only included in the tournament based on his most recent album, which none of the judges have heard. I just don't get it sometimes.
#35 Wilco 2 - #30 Porcupine Tree 1 - No, really, Porcupine Tree was the favorite. Stop laughing, it's true!
#34 My Morning Jacket 3 - #31 Slayer 0 - Slayer hasn't done anything notable in years, so it's only appropriate that they get knocked out right away, especially against a top-shelf indie band like MMJ.
#32 Sum 41 2 - #33 John Mayer 1 - The top-shelf pop-punk band knocks off the wannabe blues rocker. That's enough, John Mayer. More Than Enough.
#18 Jet 3 - #47 H.I.M. 0 - There's really no reason why Jet should be ranked this low, but at least they won easily in the first round.
#19 Kings Of Leon 3 - #46 Blue October 0 - All things considered, Blue October may be one of the worst non-metal bands around these days and Kings Of Leon isn't the best, but they're up there.
#20 The Music 3 - #45 The Kooks 0 - Given time, The Kooks might become one of the best bands around, but they're definitely not at that point yet.
#21 Aimee Mann 3 - #44 Rilo Kiley 0 - Two fantastic but underrated bands square off and Aimee Mann emerges victorious.
#22 The Drive-By Truckers 3 - #43 NOFX 0 - On the downside, many bands are ranked below NOFX that shouldn't be, but on the bright side no one voted for NOFX, so it's pretty much equal.
#23 Chevelle 2 - #42 Travis 1 - The Tool-wannabes get the victory over the Brit-pop never-wases.
#41 The Eels 2 - #24 Tori Amos 1 - The first seeded upset of Bracket B sees Tori Amos getting knocked out by the under appreciated Eels.
#25 Stone Sour 2 - #40 Clutch 1 - My vote for Clutch wasn't enough for the throwback-metal band to overcome the Slipknot side project.
#26 The Arcade Fire 3 - #39 The Kaiser Chiefs 0 - Why the hell these two bands are each so lowly-ranked is beyond me, but Arcade Fire gets the win.
#38 Thursday 2 - #27 OutKast 1 - Why was OutKast ranked so low? Because Ryan hates them. Why did OutKast lose in the first round? Because Ryan hates them. Why does Ryan hate them? Beats me.
#28 Slipknot 2 - #37 Okkervil River 1 - The shine has come off of Slipknot's only good album, but not to that extent yet.
#36 Kid Rock 2 - #29 Meat Loaf 1 - Wait, Meat Loaf was a 29 seed? What the fuck? And someone voted for him? Why? He was only included in the tournament based on his most recent album, which none of the judges have heard. I just don't get it sometimes.
#35 Wilco 2 - #30 Porcupine Tree 1 - No, really, Porcupine Tree was the favorite. Stop laughing, it's true!
#34 My Morning Jacket 3 - #31 Slayer 0 - Slayer hasn't done anything notable in years, so it's only appropriate that they get knocked out right away, especially against a top-shelf indie band like MMJ.
#32 Sum 41 2 - #33 John Mayer 1 - The top-shelf pop-punk band knocks off the wannabe blues rocker. That's enough, John Mayer. More Than Enough.
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