tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47190869094576950852024-03-18T20:22:49.517-07:00One Giant Clusterf*ckA blog dedicated to pretty much anything and everything.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger90125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719086909457695085.post-91097871116504333492011-01-12T13:19:00.000-08:002011-01-12T13:20:35.976-08:00New 'Battle: Los Angeles' Feature Trailer Impresses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/TS4VB7KqItI/AAAAAAAAAPY/8hnOENVkqGo/s1600/2011-1-12+BattleLAtrailer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/TS4VB7KqItI/AAAAAAAAAPY/8hnOENVkqGo/s1600/2011-1-12+BattleLAtrailer.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div>Who doesn't love a good alien flick? Sure, <i>Skyline</i> and the bastardized remake of <i>The Day The Earth Stood Still</i> haven't been helping out the genre's appeal in recent years but 2008's <i>District 9</i> was a surprise hit and was even nominated for a Best Picture award from the Oscars.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Well now it looks like aliens are getting even closer to Hollywood--literally.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Much like <i>District 9</i> commented on the South African Apartheid, <i>Battle: Los Angeles</i> is also using our own history to set the stage for a big action blockbuster. The film is set in modern day, but the film's premise stems from the 1942 Battle of Los Angeles incident in which U.S. anti-aircraft artillery were targeting an alleged Japanese enemy combatant shortly after the end of World War II, but the government claimed it was a 'false alarm'. Of course, since that incident occurred there have been <i>several</i> UFO and alien related theories but over time nothing has panned out. Well if you look carefully at one of the <a href="http://www.traileraddict.com/content/columbia-pictures/battlelosangeles-2.jpg"><i>Battle: Los Angeles </i>posters</a> and compare it to a <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/32/Battle_of_Los_Angeles_LATimes.jpg">similar photograph of the anti-aircraft artillery firing into the sky</a>, it looks like there's a small disc-shaped object on the right side that narrowly missed the fire.</div><div><br />
</div><div>None of the previous trailers have directly stated the film is using the same incident as a precursor to the plot, but the newest trailer embedded below does shed some more light on the Normandy-esque bombing on the Santa Monica coastline. Along with <i>Inception</i>-like<i> </i>booms<i> </i>(click <a href="http://inception.davepedu.com/">here</a> and push the button) and the same moody autotune song from the first trailer, we see new shots of what looks to be shots of Los Angeles torn apart and big action set pieces on crushed freeways. <i>Battle: Los Angeles</i> is one of the most highly anticipated movies of the Spring and it sure looks like it's not going to disappoint. In theaters March 11, 2011.</div><div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="270" width="450"><param name="movie" value="http://www.traileraddict.com/emd/32882"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.traileraddict.com/emd/32882" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="450" height="270"></embed></object></div><div><br />
</div><div>Missed the first trailer? Watch it on <a href="http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/battle-los-angeles/trailer">Trailer-Addict</a>.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719086909457695085.post-11377464381210959022010-07-29T23:51:00.002-07:002011-01-06T22:36:39.188-08:00Rick Ross - Teflon Don (Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/TSa0a3rQZ3I/AAAAAAAAAPQ/eBYTrn8vBKk/s1600/2010-7-10+-+RickRossReview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/TSa0a3rQZ3I/AAAAAAAAAPQ/eBYTrn8vBKk/s1600/2010-7-10+-+RickRossReview.jpg" /></a></div><br />
</div>As much fun as it is to tease THE BOSS about his early work, the imposing rapper has come a long way. 2008's <i>Deeper Than Rap </i>showed that Ross was a fascinating anomaly from the rap genre as he actually got <i>better </i>over time thanks to the stellar production values, variety of sounds, and notably improved lyricism. Rick Ross returns in 2010 with <i>Teflon Don</i> and the album is a guaranteed Summer blockbuster. But has Ross continued his ascent in quality or are things starting to slow down? Click on for the three point review!<br />
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<a name='more'></a><b>Smooth Listening:</b> It's odd to say that an album by Rick Ross is mellow, but <i>Teflon Don </i>is host to the most chilled out rap songs of the year. From the jazz-styled Ne-Yo collaboration "Super High" to the down tempo "Aston Martin Music" featuring a crooning Drake, the album deepens the 'fantasy rap' niche Ross has carved out for himself recently. This fantasy style was a potent idea developed in <i>Deeper Than Rap,</i> but has now been improved and is now more fluid and nuanced than before. Ross has also massaged his previously gruff, alpha male voice to accommodate these particular songs. <i>Teflon Don</i> stands out thanks to these tracks and Ross provides a comfortable, organic flow to go along with such decadent sounds.<br />
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<b>Features, Features, Features:</b> With the presence of quieter beats in some songs, one may assume the album is a snoozer but that is far from the truth. <i>Teflon Don</i> hosts a multitude of guest features just as eager as Ross to do their thing. Yet unlike the usual mainstream cash-in album, the presence of these artists never feels forced. "Free Mason" stands out thanks to the consistently great Jay-Z and some assistance from John Legend; "Tears Of Joy" features the superb Cee-Lo Green over a soulful beat; "Live Fast, Die Young" is the most unique song on the album thanks in no small part to its twitchy, rough, soul sampling electro beat from No I.D. and the playful guest verse from Kanye West. Along with others like Gucci Mane, Diddy, and T.I., <i>Teflon Don</i> is evidence that Ross has enough swagger to attract these big names and enough talent not to get overshadowed by them.<br />
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<b>Emotionally Deaf:</b> It's usually a good thing when rappers are more willing to express their personal feelings in their music. Yet whenever Ross tries to do so in <i>Teflon Don</i>, those songs are uncharacteristically weak. The intro "I'm Not A Star" is, essentially, the musings of a king about how he is not simply a celebrity rapper. While lyrically the song is good, the beat is narrow-minded and very uninspired compared to the great experiments found throughout the album. "All The Money In The World" is yet another example of a track with strong lyrical content (about his father) that helps the listener connect with the artist but sounds just plain bad. If "MC Hammer" or "Blowin Money Fast" were a bit more personal, I would have less to complain about. Yet, while Ross keeps things interesting and personal with his lyricism, he still disappoints in his attempts to differentiate these from his other work.<br />
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Just like the French rose wine he is nicknamed after, Ross has gotten better with time. Easily his best work to date, <i>Teflon Don </i>achieves a laudable balance between the luxurious sounds found on <i>Deeper Than Rap</i> with higher quality beats similar to previous work. While the album never really discovers anything new, it does cement Rick Ross's credibility as a great lyricist with a powerful ear for sounds.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Recommended!</span></span></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719086909457695085.post-88791677591186401852010-06-27T17:35:00.000-07:002010-06-27T17:35:33.290-07:00Quick Word: Apple and the iPhone 4 Have Failed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i48.tinypic.com/25pr08y.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i48.tinypic.com/25pr08y.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Apple had a <a href="http://onegiantcluster.blogspot.com/2010/06/iphone-4-kicking-ass-and-taking-names.html">perfect storm of hype</a>: a beautiful hardware redesign that left previous iterations in the dust, killer new software features brought together in a dead-simple package, and the same price tag as last year's model. This on top of Apple's sterling reputation since their snowballing ascent in consumer electronics and it is nearly impossible for anyone to halt that raging storm. <br />
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Anyone except for Apple itself, that is, and that is exactly what has happened.<br />
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Upon the launch of Cupertino's latest and greatest, a massive flaw was brought to light--if you touch the bottom left corner of the phone with the palm of your hand, the already mediocre cell reception <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/24/some-iphone-4-models-see-signals-drop-to-0-when-held-left-handed/">drops even more until there is none</a>. Apple claims that this is a software issue and that the phone is incorrectly displaying the signal drops, but one of the key features to the new design for the iPhone 4 is the metal band around the body which is actually two pieces of an antenna put together. There has been scientific studies proving that an external antenna system is hampered when in <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/26/iphone-4-antenna-problems-were-predicted-on-june-10-by-danish-pr/">contact with human skin</a>.<br />
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So this is a big issue and a company as large as Apple should take responsibility for its error, right? Well apparently, the company's CEO, Steve Jobs, didn't get that memo. In a reply to a customer's email complaining about the antenna, Jobs said, "Just avoid holding it that way". The media has twisted those words into the message, <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/24/apple-responds-over-iphone-4-reception-issues-youre-holding-th/">"You're holding it the wrong way"</a>, and to be honest they aren't too far off. Naturally this hate is <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/25/hey-apple-youre-holding-it-wrong/">spreading quickly</a>, yet Apple has only made an insignificant press statement citing that all cell phones have antenna issues when held in certain ways.<br />
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Apple had a perfect storm, but now it has become a horrifying PR nightmare. It is hard to tell if this will have any kind of long term effect on the company, but six months from now I wouldn't be surprised if people thought twice before going after the big fruit's newest goodies.<br />
<blockquote><i>Quick Word is a special editorial where current events are discussed. The contents of this article are pure opinion, except when stated as otherwise.</i></blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719086909457695085.post-77330234080375675712010-06-25T11:53:00.002-07:002010-06-25T11:57:32.489-07:00The A-Team [Movie Review]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i48.tinypic.com/alriwh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i48.tinypic.com/alriwh.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Who doesn't love <i>The A-Team</i>? The 80s cult-classic show featured over-the-top violence, totally corny dialogue, and a bad-but-weirdly-likable cast...<i>on a weekly basis</i>. That's impressive no matter how you look at it. Plus it had quite possibly the greatest <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MVonyVSQoM">opening for a TV show</a> ever. People loved <i>The A-Team</i>, but by its fourth season ratings were falling and by the fifth and final season no one cared anymore. Pop culture was maturing for the dull 90s and it left <i>The A-Team</i> behind.<br />
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But through network repeats and loads of pop culture references, the show managed to stay relevant long past its expiration date. 20th Century Fox thinks it's time for <i>The A-Team </i>to receive an overdue reboot. What did I think of their results? Read on to find out!<br />
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<a name='more'></a><b>Awesome Cast:</b> One of the best parts of the original show was its cast, thanks to their cartoonish energy on screen and their knack for cheesy one-liners. In this aspect, the film passed with flying colors. Liam Neeson (<i>Taken</i>) is superior as Hannibal by actually making him a realistic leader and Bradley Cooper (<i>The Hangover</i>) was a perfect fit for Face because the guy is ridiculously handsome and funny to boot. Casting a wrestler may seem like a weak decision, but B.A. was never quality-demanding material either and Quinton Jackson is impressively more likable as the iconic hothead. Finally, there's the most inspired choice of casting: Sharlto Copley (<a href="http://onegiantcluster.blogspot.com/2009/08/district-9-movie-review.html"><i>District 9</i></a>) as Murdock because when you think about it, it's <i>awesome</i>. Considering that this is only Copley's second Hollywood movie, the superb actor has a bright future ahead and shows off his potential here as the crazed, cartoony, gut-busting character. <i>The A-Team </i>has as perfect of a cast as you could possibly get and without the excellent chemistry of the group, the movie wouldn't have been nearly as enjoyable as it was.<br />
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<b>Absurd Action: </b>When I say absurd, I mean <i>stealing-a-military-plane-and-fighting-stealth-jets-with-a-parachuting-tank</i> absurd. The sequences are unrealistic, but not so much that it ruins the film. However, the movie firmly has its tongue in cheek, winking at the audience as it escalates from an upside down helicopter fight to the aforementioned flying tank scene. The kinetic, over the top action also include the best moments for the film's comedy as the characters react perfectly to each situation. The only part where they may have overdone it was when a docked freighter was tipped over and B.A. managed to escape the falling crates <i>without a single scratch</i>. But in the end, it's all in the name of good fun and if that's all you're looking for in a Summer blockbuster then <i>The A-Team </i>never disappoints.<br />
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<b>A Little Stupid:</b> Is it a surprise to learn that a remake of a show where one episode ended in a climactic action sequence featuring a cannon that shoots cabbage is a little stupid? Not really. What's more surprising is how the story is executed. It's nothing more than a big political cat-and-mouse game with our heroes caught in the middle of it, but there are a few nice twists and some great scenes that feed of the energetic story. That being said, most of the characters outside of the team are not even close to memorable. You have the CIA agent who's a douchebag, a black ops leader doing his best Batman impersonation who's gone rogue, and you have the evil mastermind behind the whole thing. To say the bad guys are paper thin would be a massive understatement. <i>The A-Team </i>does suffer from this issue, but it never reached a point where I felt the need to walk out of the theater. If you can tolerate a certain level of stupidity with your action movie, you shouldn't have any problems here.<br />
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<b>Overall - Recommended: </b><br />
This is not a movie that will<b> </b>change your life. This is not a movie that will redefine the Summer blockbuster. This is a move that is as epic as it is dumb. This is a movie that you go see with friends to have a fun time. People could complain that the story isn't very smart, the characters aren't realistic, and the action is equally as juvenile. But to them I would simply reply: 'what else do you expect from <i>The A-Team</i>'?<b></b><br />
<blockquote><i>How the OGCF* review system works: there is an introduction paragraph, the three main points of discussion, and a final conclusion paragraph where a movie is either <b>'Recommended' </b>or</i><b><i> 'Not Recommended'</i></b>.<b><br />
</b></blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719086909457695085.post-63288912196268728322010-06-20T03:45:00.000-07:002010-06-20T03:45:11.665-07:00Kid Cudi's "REVOFEV" Is More Of The Same<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i50.tinypic.com/2mwzd6r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i50.tinypic.com/2mwzd6r.jpg" /></a></div><br />
For better or worse, Kid Cudi will probably never change.<br />
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There are a lot of great qualities to the Cleveland rapper's music and his single best characteristic is featured prominently on his newest single "REVOFEV": his charm. Cudi oozes hipster charisma while gleefully mixing together pseudo-spoken word verses with a simplistic but catchy hook. Cudi's mellow but gruff voice is very appealing to the ears and the fact that he can sing is icing on the cake. In addition to that, Cudi also brings along another one of Plain Pat's unique beats featuring funk electric guitar riffs, thunderous drum claps, epic string work, and a creepy organ among other sounds. Kid Cudi is all about style and here it is unrelenting.<br />
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Yet despite any innovative designs for Cudi's songs, that same spark for creativity is missing in his lyrics and songs like "REVOFEV" almost always come across as superficial distractions. Some praise this simplicity and it makes Cudi's music very accessible, but his entire debut album succumbed to this same issue and only a few songs proved to be memorable. If this single is indicative of the direction for his second <i>Man On The Moon</i> chapter, Cudder's charm will only take him so far.<br />
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For better or worse, Kid Cudi will probably never change.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719086909457695085.post-4918252167627612182010-06-13T05:29:00.001-07:002010-06-13T05:32:15.276-07:00Is BP Really The One To Blame? (Quick Word)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i49.tinypic.com/20ue9a8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i49.tinypic.com/20ue9a8.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The British Petroleum Gulf of Mexico oil spill is a disaster. There's no denying that. Beginning on April 22nd, the spill has raged on for the past 8 weeks resulting in a total of <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/05/01/us/20100501-oil-spill-tracker.html"><i>86.6 million </i>gallons</a> of oil spilled to date. The handling of this situation has been completely horrendous by BP, becoming subject of scorn <a href="http://www.theatlanticwire.com/opinions/view/opinion/Are-Journalists-Being-Kept-From-the-Oil-Spill-3934">from the media</a>. The public has taken it upon themselves to accuse BP as well with parodies like the video seen below.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="250" width="450"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2AAa0gd7ClM&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2AAa0gd7ClM&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="450" height="250"></embed></object> </div><br />
...but does BP really deserve all of the blame? In my opinion, this oil spill should be taken as a massive wake up call to the public. The world, now more than ever, must free itself of its dependence on oil. Gas prices in the U.S. have been mostly spared by the oil spill, but if this were one of the America's top dogs (i.e. Exxon, Chevron, etc) things would be much more dire.<br />
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It's easy to point the finger at somebody to relinquish any guilt from ourselves. But BP is not the one to blame. Obama's administration should not be blamed either.<br />
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We are the ones who are responsible for this thanks to our addiction to this toxic black goo.<br />
<blockquote> <i>Quick Word is a weekly segment where current events are discussed. The contents of this article are pure opinion, except when stated as otherwise.</i></blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719086909457695085.post-88277210819939936432010-06-12T08:04:00.002-07:002010-06-13T06:50:08.231-07:00Nas and Damian Marley - Distant Relatives (Album Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i46.tinypic.com/mvotnd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i46.tinypic.com/mvotnd.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Peanut butter is great. Chocolate is great. Mix them together, and it's still great.<br />
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Nas is great. Damian Marley is good. Mix them together, and...well that's the big question behind <i>Distant Relatives</i>, the collaboration album between the two artists. Nas has proven himself time and again that he is one of the greatest lyrical rappers ever, but recently his career has become increasingly irrelevant and his presence is merely forgotten. Nasty Nas was unable to keep up with the times because most of his songs carry very little mainstream appeal. For some this is great because it shows that he is not willing to 'sell out' but on the other hand what's the point of being credible if it's not getting you anywhere. Damian Marley also has issues with living up to the past, but it is not <i>his own</i> past he's worried about. That's what being the youngest son of the most renowned reggae artist in the world gets you, and critics have always compared his efforts to that of his father's.<br />
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So what happens when you mix them together? <i>Distant Relatives </i>proves that the two have a powerful chemistry and that they bring out their best qualities from one another.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Those who are concerned that the unorthodox collaboration will sound 'weird' or 'off', feel free to put those concerns to rest. Damian Marley, while usually working the chorus, brings along his most compelling work to date. Nas also provides his most inspired rapping in <i>years</i> thanks to the flexible but sophisticated concept of <i>Distant Relatives</i>.<br />
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The two show off a powerful companionship throughout the album, but truly excel in a few special moments. "As We Enter", the first and best song on the album, shows off the two ferociously swapping deft verses over a hard hitting lo-fi beat. Immediately after there is "Tribal War", which also features a great K'Naan, is a highlight thanks to its unique and fantastic African-inspired instrumental of tribal drums. A potential summer hit comes in the form of "Count Your Blessings" with its upbeat guitar-led production and Marley providing a hypnotic rasp on the chorus. Speaking of hypnotic, ranking among the best from <i>Distant Relatives </i>is the oddly beautiful "Patience" where Damian leads the song with a deep introspective musing over human nature which Nas continues to great effect. The album ends with the perfect "Africa Must Wake Up" featuring a flawless chorus by Marley, impeccable rapping from Nas, and even K'Naan returns to rap in his native language Swahili. To top off an already great song, the slow drumming violin-led beat beautifully melts into a fantastic electric guitar beat and it is effortless for me to say that it is the single best instrumental, rap or reggae, I have ever heard. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="300" width="450"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OMGd3mAfl-0&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OMGd3mAfl-0&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="450" height="320"></embed></object></div><br />
No album is without its faults and, while <i>Distant Relatives</i> is also not impervious to mistakes, the ones it makes do little to detract from the whole. "Land of Promise" is disappointing due to its decidedly unappealing beat. The song with the heaviest amount of hype is "My Generation", which attempts to be the feel-good song of the album with Joss Stone singing on the hook and Lil Wayne to reinforce its buzz. Instead the song comes across as overwrought and just fails to be memorable in any real way. And those are the only real issues I have with <i>Distant Relatives </i>because it gets a lot right.<br />
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The album, despite being a charity effort for poverty in Africa and sharing a similar concept about the continent, seldom crosses into "charity case" quality. Nas and Damian Marley went to great lengths to make this album <i>sound </i>good while keeping things original and for the most part have achieved their goal of accessibility. Instead of being preachy, the duo has managed to make <i>Distant Relatives</i> one of the most insightful rap albums in recent history and extends its metaphor of Africa to symbolize the world.<br />
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Even if you only have a passing interest in reggae or rap, you really cannot go wrong with <i>Distant Relatives</i>. Fun, easy on the ears, and thought-provoking, the album is guaranteed to make the combination of peanut butter and chocolate seem revolting.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719086909457695085.post-49647846486806764242010-06-12T04:03:00.000-07:002010-06-12T04:03:04.772-07:00E3 2010 Is Going To Be Big<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/TBNpAqgKy0I/AAAAAAAAANw/5eudVgKIRPA/s1600/2010-6-12+-+E3+Post.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/TBNpAqgKy0I/AAAAAAAAANw/5eudVgKIRPA/s400/2010-6-12+-+E3+Post.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><br />
Every year in the Los Angeles Convention Center, there is a massive show dedicated to video games. From June 15th to the 17th, the Electronic Entertainment Expo (aka E3) returns to its annual vacation home, and along with it comes a colossal tidal wave of news about everything games.<br />
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While E3's past have been pretty epic in scale, this year could be a big turning point. Sony is bringing a huge arsenal of PS3 exclusive games and a brand new Wiimote-esque peripheral called the PlayStation Move. There are also heavy rumors going around that the PS3 will have a new premium online service like Xbox Live to compliment their current free service. Microsoft is expected to <i>finally</i> announce details of its new motion camera technology Project Natal that will make their Xbox 360 an almost entirely controller-free system. On top of that Microsoft is bringing some major games including this one little game you may have heard about....<i>Halo: Reach.</i> And finally we have Nintendo who is not only showcasing new <i>Legend of Zelda </i>and <i>Metroid </i>games for their popular Wii, but they are also announcing the first details of the successor to their massively popular DS system, dubbed the 3DS due to its touted 3D gaming abilities.<br />
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Both the PlayStation Move and the Xbox 360's Project Natal are big gambles from Sony and Microsoft's traditionally controller-only gaming systems. The Move is meant to mimic the Wii but allows for a much greater precision in movement (almost 1:1) while Natal is a completely hands-free approach to gaming that detects a person's body and translates their movements into controls for a game.<br />
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This year is going to be quite exciting, so head on over to <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/">Joystiq</a> on Monday for their comprehensive E3 2010 coverage!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719086909457695085.post-9505590172852195192010-06-11T12:29:00.001-07:002010-06-11T12:29:50.080-07:00iPhone 4: Kicking Ass and Taking Names<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/TBKNdcGA0bI/AAAAAAAAANo/BUYhFcgz1Lw/s1600/iphonesam403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/TBKNdcGA0bI/AAAAAAAAANo/BUYhFcgz1Lw/s320/iphonesam403.jpg" width="320" /></a>Blackberry. Android. Windows Phone 7. Palm WebOS. iPhone.<br />
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To say that the smartphone wars are heating up would be a pretty massive understatement. Back in 2007, Apple poured gasoline all over the phone industry and lit a match. That match was the iPhone, the first phone from Apple, the first touchscreen iPod, and the first in a lot of other things. Of course the ridiculous $600 sticker price was a tough pill to swallow but for those who did, they were treated to one of the bigger leaps in consumer technology in the past ten years. Fast forward to the present and everywhere you look, there is at least one person you see using a touchscreen phone. Apple had redefined the smartphone industry and today we all reap the benefits: web browsing in your pocket, limitless applications, powerful business tools, and more.<br />
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And now Apple is making a major comeback with the newly announced iPhone 4.<br />
<a name='more'></a>It features that same dead-simple touch interface you know and love, but has learned some pretty neat new tricks: multitasking between apps, iBooks virtual book reader, faster web browsing, and more customization than available before. On top of that, Apple has managed to throw that great software onto a fresh, delectable new piece of hardware: the front and the back are glass, the camera is higher quality and records HD video, a screen so high in quality it is almost like reading paper, and--here's the biggie--a front-facing camera for video chatting.<br />
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FaceTime is the software in charge of that major new feature, where you can video chat with friends and family over wireless internet. Seeing as how this is the big new killer feature, there is a pretty darn good chance that FaceTime may be the biggest new threat to BlackBerry's popular Messenger service.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="340" width="470"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FHngLJ0RlNg&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FHngLJ0RlNg&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="470" height="300"></embed></object></div><br />
What makes the iPhone 4 so great is that it combines everything Apple has accomplished in the past 4 years with mobile technology (and trust me, they've done a <i>lot</i>) with some fantastic new features and a killer new redesign. If there was ever a time to become an iPhone user, it's now.<br />
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Want to learn even more about the new iPhone 4? Head over to Engadget for their<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/08/iphone-4-guide-preview-pricing-availability-and-more/"> fantastic all-you-can-eat guide</a> to Apple's newest piece of tech.<br />
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<div style="text-align: right;"><i>Image courtesy of Engadget.com</i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719086909457695085.post-37561232298866537722010-06-11T11:56:00.001-07:002010-06-12T06:24:05.199-07:00Welcome to OGCF* Version 2.5!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/TBKDZaVoczI/AAAAAAAAANg/LTpQzniwvpg/s1600/OGCF+2.0+minibanner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/TBKDZaVoczI/AAAAAAAAANg/LTpQzniwvpg/s320/OGCF+2.0+minibanner.jpg" /></a>Phew. After working on this for the past 9 hours straight, I am here to reintroduce you to that person you thought was a little ugly but just got a makeover and looks <i>freaking amazing</i>. I went nuclear on that old layout (quite literally) and what you see before you now is the biggest refresh I've made in a while.<br />
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The reason this is getting only a measly 0.5 number bump is because I am a humanitarian and thus used a familiar eco-friendly method: recycling. Once you're done being distracted by the fresh coat of paint, you may notice that it is pretty much the same layout as before. But v2.5 has received some much needed flavor and a couple new features to boot.<br />
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Obviously the redesign adds a very professional look to OGCF* (thank you Photoshop!) while still keeping things loose and fun. There's also the addition of a brand-spanking new widget you may see above: Featured Articles. This widget is still in the beta stage for now (as you can see, it's not nearly as pretty as it should be) but throughout the next week I'll be working on that. There is another big new feature of OGCF* but it's invisible to the naked eye. I'll be doing a <i>lot</i> of under-the-hood tinkering over the next week so I can get things moving at a clean and efficient rate. Of course I'm going to actually have to learn a lot more CSS and HTML than I anticipated to do that, but I most certainly have the time for it right now. <b>UPDATE:</b> I've also built in Facebook support! Now you can 'Like' each post and you can see if your friends have liked any other posts from OGCF*!<br />
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Speaking of CSS and HTML, v2.5 of OGCF* would not be possible without the truly amazing Firefox add-on <a href="http://getfirebug.com/">Firebug</a>. This add-on has helped me immensely throughout the years and, as long as you have a decent knowledge of web coding, proves to be a valuable and powerful tool.<br />
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So that's pretty much it for now. Hopefully I'll be paying more attention to OGCF* than I have before and I'll finally be figuring out exactly what kind of content this blog will offer. This started out as a fun personal project but now I really do feel that this can become a great business over time, so expect a big and bright future of OGCF*.<br />
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Keep on reading and enjoy version 2.5!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719086909457695085.post-49541410584763074342010-06-10T15:45:00.003-07:002010-06-11T07:32:37.873-07:00Eminem - Recovery (Album Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/TBFZi8a5IbI/AAAAAAAAANQ/1mliuPYLBO0/s1600/cover-walk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/TBFZi8a5IbI/AAAAAAAAANQ/1mliuPYLBO0/s400/cover-walk.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
How do you make a second comeback after a failed first comeback? The answer to this question was clear to Eminem: experiment. One of the largest complaints against last year's aforementioned failure <i>Relapse</i> was that the whole thing sounded completely generic and was essentially a retread of the artist's earlier work. While that was great for diehard fans, for the public at large it just wasn't enough.<br />
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Now Mathers is back with a true comeback album accompanied by a clear vision and a clear mind. So how does <i>Recovery</i> stack up? Read on to find out.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>As odd as this may seem, I think one of the works this album has most in common with is actually <i>808s & Heartbreak</i>, Kanye West's polarizing last album. Sure, West didn't need a comeback and Eminem definitely does not use Auto-Tune on this record, but the way the two came into existence are similar: <i>808s</i> was born out of depression and features West experimenting with a classic sound, <i>Recovery</i> was born out of hope and features Eminem experimenting with his classic sound.<br />
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<i>Recovery</i> kicks off with "Cold Wind Blows" that is pretty much a perfect start: the song features a familiar beat but throws in a lot of new things that can catch a seasoned fan off guard, like Em singing at the start and a ferocious (albeit aimless) rap. The song is a great reminder of exactly what <i>Recovery</i> symbolizes for the veteran rapper: to bridge the gap between his past and the present to create something completely new.<br />
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And when that happens, there is a good chance you'll hear some pretty fantastic songs. "Talkin 2 Myself" is a prime example of reaching this new goal by featuring a stellar, gritty beat and extremely memorable lyrics as B-Rabbit breaks down his recent, unspoken of issues such as planning to attack other rappers out of jealousy (he names both West and Lil Wayne) as well as his self-destructive behavior in light of his best friend Proof's death. But the song ascends as things become more hopeful and Eminem further cements the fact that this album is his true comeback. Mathers commonly uses this kind of introspection on the album, most notably in the excellent song "Going Through Changes" where the rapper admits to himself he is not entirely sure of where he is in his life but he will choose to make the most of it.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/j5-yKhDd64s&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/j5-yKhDd64s&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="470" height="300"></embed></object></div><br />
<i>Recovery</i> stands out in another, notably different way too: unorthodox collaborations. The album features Kobe, Rihanna, Pink, and Lil Wayne and luckily all of them contribute to the most memorable songs on the album. The Pink collab, "Won't Back Down" is the best song on the album, thanks to DJ Khalil's great claustrophobic rock beat, Eminem's most brutal rapping of the entire album, and Pink's fantastic job on the hook. Kobe was on the aforementioned "Talkin 2 Myself" and did a terrific job characterizing the 'cry for help' concept of the song. "Love The Way You Lie" features Rihanna and is the most radio-friendly song due to her addictive singing on the chorus and a monstrous beat (similar in structure to B.o.B's "Airplanes"). Finally there is the absolutely killer Lil' Wayne collab, "No Love" which is guaranteed to become the fan favorite from <i>Recovery</i>. Lil Wayne <i>finally</i> manages to kick out a near-flawless verse after going south in recent months and is the first time I've actually missed the eccentric rapper. Then there's the innovative beat from Just Blaze which samples the Haddaway song "What Is Love" (made famous by <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hllTWhZPIzg">SNL's numerous parodies</a>) to provide a fun and refreshing concept for Eminem to completely slay.<br />
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While the majority of <i>Recovery </i>is great, as with many emotionally-driven wildcard albums there are some duds. Probably the worst of the bunch is "Space Bound" with its stupid, screeching, ear-obliterating chorus. Seriously, it is that terrible and I have no idea how this ended up on the album but luckily it wasn't a complete disaster thanks to Eminem keeping up some good consistency. "On Fire" is yet another disappointment just because it is exactly the same kind of generic song from <i>Relapse</i> that should have been avoided. Then there's the just plain odd "Seduction" which, aside from a great R&B-styled sample, sounded disorganized and lazy. Finally, "You're Never Over" is the 'last' song (there is a hidden track later) but, despite a decent beat and good lyrics, features cringe-worthy singing from the rapper and is just a weak way to end the album.<br />
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Besides that song and the single "Not Afraid", Eminem singing is actually not as dire as critics were making it out to be, mostly because he just goes along with the beat by including some bridges. Another note on <i>Recovery</i> is that it is a <b>long<i> </i></b>album, clocking in at 1 hour and 17 minutes, and this inflated runtime resulted in a lot of filler songs. Yet one major compliment I can give to the album is that, despite the filler, Eminem's lyrics and rapping were very consistent and I can easily say this is his best lyrical work since 2002's <i>The Eminem Show</i>.<br />
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<i>Recovery </i>may not be a perfect album, but once we look back upon it from the future, it should stand as a pivotal moment in Eminem's career. The success and reception of this album will make or break the rapper's career and will also determine if Eminem can finally ascend the ranks to become one of the all-time 'greats' of the genre. <i>Recovery</i> is an emotional rollercoaster of engaging lyrics, creative beats, and fresh style. Making this kind of an album at this point in his career can only be a good sign of things to come from the veteran rapper.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719086909457695085.post-40292230130536400762010-05-26T15:19:00.005-07:002010-05-26T15:29:31.502-07:00Is Community The Next Great TV Comedy?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/S_2gaRxvIII/AAAAAAAAANA/LJOHvsg6JnE/s1600/Community_title.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/S_2gaRxvIII/AAAAAAAAANA/LJOHvsg6JnE/s400/Community_title.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div>When was the last time you saw an episode of a sitcom where a community college is torn apart by a massive paintball free-for-all deathmatch and parodied some of the greatest action movies of all time while simultaneously addressing a "will they/won't they" sexual tension between two lead characters within the span of 22 minutes?<br />
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If you're a fan of <i>Community</i>, one of the best new comedies on television, you saw "Modern Warfare" three weeks ago and you were treated to a nearly flawless half hour of comedy. And that is exactly why this show is going to become <i>huge</i>.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>If you didn't catch exactly what proof I have that the show will soon become a hit, I'll give you the short of it: <i>Community</i> is extremely in touch with pop culture, made up of a diverse and very likable cast, and manages to make some compelling drama while keeping the laughs rolling.<br />
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<i>Community</i>'s total self-awareness in pop culture is thanks to the character Abed. He truly is a child of this generation and his obsession with TV shows and movies provides a very fun dynamic for the show. Throughout the first season, Abed would constantly point out the genre cliches the show was close to following and thanks to his critiques, the show can also completely avoid said cliches and reach new ground. The result is a familiar but very fresh take to comedy that hasn't been seen since <i>30 Rock</i> premiered in 2006.<br />
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And just like that show and other NBC comedies, <i>Community</i> consists of an A-list cast playing as certified idiots. Jeff Winger, the main character of the show, is also refreshingly aware of his role in pop culture like Abed but to a much less extreme degree. Joel McHale doesn't pull back as Winger and I would be surprised if he was overlooked come Emmy season. Another notable cast member includes the legendary Chevy Chase as Pierce, the dimwitted multimillionaire who is, for some unknown reason, at a community college. Chase always manages to steal the show with his completely absurd behavior and his belief that most of what he does is right even though it is clearly proven as otherwise. Then there's Donald Glover as Troy, the former high school hotshot who blew a full-ride football scholarship by injuring himself before graduation. Troy and Abed are a truly phenomenal comedic bromance and their relationship is yet another highlight of the show (just watch some of the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEJiOVbr03U">quirky</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HduVKxdBMu0">tags</a> at the end of the episodes). Gillian Jacobs portrays Britta, the misguided girl who supports random causes in an attempt to find her own identity. Britta is widely considered to be "the buzzkill" of the show as she tends to be sort of uninteresting and completely down to earth as the rest of her friends are wacky and absurd. Yvette Nicole Brown plays Shirley, the stereotypical black Chrisitan housewife with a sassy attitude. Of course the show is not racist because it is completely aware of how generic Shirley's character is and tends to build her comedy based on the assumptions of the audience. Finally there is Alison Brie who plays Annie, the naive high-strung teen who flunked high school due to accidental abuse of drugs.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/S_2gl35jGeI/AAAAAAAAANI/EjJyd7Oi1MM/s1600/nup_134422_0358--.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/S_2gl35jGeI/AAAAAAAAANI/EjJyd7Oi1MM/s400/nup_134422_0358--.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />
As you can see, <i>Community</i> has a very rich cast of misfits. Over the past year, this great amount of variation has led to some stunning and unique comedic situations. And what better way to bring these people together than a community college? But despite the quality of its actors and actresses, the cast of <i>Community</i> could also prove to be quite the secret weapon for mainstream success. All of the major types of gender and ethnicity are represented here and this allows the audience to empathize more with certain characters. Every character can appeal to all kinds of people and if <i>Community</i> gets a strong buzz going over this Summer, the show could become NBC's biggest comedy hit.<br />
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The final major attribute <i>Community</i> has is its strength as a mix of comedy and drama. Most of the show has been well known for its wacky antics, but many fans like myself know that <i>Community</i> can also be quite the sweet little drama about relationships. That is the moral of <i>Community</i>'s story: relationships are essential in life and no one can do it alone.<br />
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Do I think <i>Community </i>will light the world on fire by the second season's premiere? Nope. But there is a little comedy on NBC called <i>The Office</i> and, if I remember correctly, that show had become a cultural phenomenon by third season.<br />
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So do I think <i>Community</i> will light the world on fire by the second season's finale? Yes.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719086909457695085.post-87763845843795109692010-05-08T04:07:00.003-07:002010-05-08T04:28:28.723-07:00The Latest 'Inception' Trailer Will Blow Your Mind<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/S-VFrURwV5I/AAAAAAAAAMc/TcFnxrx0Qqg/s1600/inception-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/S-VFrURwV5I/AAAAAAAAAMc/TcFnxrx0Qqg/s640/inception-3.jpg" width="432" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Well you all know <a href="http://onegiantcluster.blogspot.com/2009/08/inception-teaser-trailer-wtf.html">how excited</a> <a href="http://onegiantcluster.blogspot.com/2010/01/whats-most-resillient-parasite-new.html">I am</a> for <i>Inception</i>. Who wouldn't be? It's director Christopher Nolan's first movie since <i>The Dark Knight</i> forged itself into pop culture history. The movie is also boasting a huge AAA cast, featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordin-Levitt, Ellen Page, Michael Caine, and more. <i>Inception </i>looks like a return to Nolan's pre-Batman thriller/mystery roots. One of my favorite movies happens to be the Nolan-directed <i>Memento</i> and the fact that he is returning to the genre that made him what he is today is exhilirating.<br />
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But <i>Inception</i> has had one thing going against of all its pro's: how little is known about the actual movie. The first two trailers were beautiful and mind-bendy, but you pretty much had no idea what was going on. All of that changes today.<br />
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Running in front of screenings for <i>Iron Man 2</i> this weekend, <i>Inception </i>just got a brand spankin' new trailer and it definitely kicks the hype train into high gear. No words can explain the trailer, so feast your eyes below:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="257" width="450"><param name="movie" value="http://www.traileraddict.com/emd/21788"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.traileraddict.com/emd/21788" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="450" height="257"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Mark your calendars:<i> Inception</i> is in theaters everywhere July 16th.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719086909457695085.post-12111239282254776002010-05-02T02:58:00.013-07:002010-05-02T03:31:40.791-07:00Summer at the Movies 2010: May & June<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/S91TSCrBi4I/AAAAAAAAAMU/LUy_I8yagak/s1600/summer2010mayjune.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="390" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/S91TSCrBi4I/AAAAAAAAAMU/LUy_I8yagak/s400/summer2010mayjune.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Summer is a sign of many things: the end of an era for students, the pleasant release from warm to hot, and, of course, <i>big ass explosions</i>. Ladies and gentlemen, prepare your credit cards!<i> </i><br />
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Here's Part 1 of <b>Summer at the Movies 2010</b>.<br />
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<div style="color: #990000; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>May</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Iron Man 2 </i>[May 7th]</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Easily the most anticipated movie of the Summer, <i>Iron Man 2</i> picks up where the original left off. Promising even more electrifying action, unrelenting special effects, and the fantastic Robert Downey Jr. returning as the man in a walking tank, <i>Iron Man 2</i> looks like the perfect way to get in the mood for the rest of the Summer season.<br />
(If you want to know more about my impressions of the movie, check out my <a href="http://onegiantcluster.blogspot.com/2010/05/iron-man-2-movie-review.html">full review</a>). </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Robin Hood</b> </i><b>[May 14th]</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="247" width="450"><param name="movie" value="http://www.traileraddict.com/emd/19526"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.traileraddict.com/emd/19526" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="450" height="247"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Epic battles in an older time that the world has moved away from always make for some great movies. When you take that idea and mix in the macho directing-acting team of Ridley Scott and Russel Crowe, you're bound to get fireworks. <i>Robin Hood</i> is taking a look at the grittier side of the folk rebel and looks to do so with some truly stunning battle sequences.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>MacGruber</b></i><b> [May 21st]</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="314" width="450"><param name="movie" value="http://www.traileraddict.com/emd/20341"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.traileraddict.com/emd/20341" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="450" height="314"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: center;">[Warning! Trailer above is Red-Band!]</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">When I first heard that <i>Saturday Night Live </i>was translating their hit series of MacGyver spoofs into a full length feature film, I was perplexed. How can those 30-second <i>MacGruber</i> skits become a coherent 90+ minute movie? Well <a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/macGruber/">early reviews</a> are looking very positive for the SNL movie and who doesn't have a soft spot for those utterly silly and over-the-top summer action comedies?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Shrek Forever After</i> [May 21st]</b> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">I was originally planning to exclude this from my list after the immensely disappointing third movie, but it is supposed to be the final <i>Shrek</i> movie in the franchise and I have to at least appreciate this once memorable franchise. Then again, there's plenty of buzz going around that the fourth timeis better than the third and will make for a fitting conclusion. With or without good reviews, the kids will drag their parents along to watch the movie no matter what.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="color: #990000; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>June</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The A-Team</i> [June 11th]</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Not only does the movie look completely absurd, it looks even more absurd than the original show. And trust me, that is a <i>very </i>hard feat to accomplish. Launching balls of salad to defeat the bad guys, or using a tank in mid-air to blast away battle planes? Yup, the movie wins. Another big win for the movie is the nearly perfect casting job, especially Mad Dog Murdoch played by Sharlto Copley, leading man of last year's Oscar nominated <i>District 9</i>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Toy Story 3 </b></i><b>[June 18th]</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">The sequel to the fantastic sequel of the spectacular original? Pixar has done little wrong throughout their critically acclaimed legacy and the fact that they have chosen to make a sequel to their original mega hit (and <b>the </b>first CG-animated feature film) is a guarantee of a good time at the theaters.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The Twilight Saga: Eclipse</b></i><b> [June 30th]</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">This movie will make boatloads of money. That is all.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Knight and Day</b></i><b> [June 23rd]</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Tom Cruise as a spy on the run who is borderline <i>insane</i>? Yeah, I like the concept too. The trailer doesn't give me much to look forward to, but there is a decent amount of buzz building up for <i>Knight and Day</i>'s release so we'll see how well Cruise fares a week after CG cartoons and a week before teen vampires.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719086909457695085.post-70213424180354126112010-05-01T14:02:00.005-07:002010-05-01T17:25:03.198-07:00Iron Man 2 [Movie Review]<div align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/S9yWsLWFIqI/AAAAAAAAAL0/_HqR1YJev78/s1600-h/iron_man2-6%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="iron_man2-6" height="575" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/S9yWtWRZtGI/AAAAAAAAAL4/zofwsQwPNbo/iron_man2-6_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline;" title="iron_man2-6" width="394" /></a> </div><br />
So you’re wondering how on Earth I managed to see the movie a week ahead of its North American release. Well luckily the Middle-East got first dibs on the highly anticipated sequel and because of my current residence in Bahrain, I took advantage of it!<br />
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So how does this year’s model handle around the track? Does it live up to the daunting level of hype? Well the best way I can describe <i>Iron Man 2</i> in a sentence is this: it lived up to the hype but failed to reach its potential. Why? Read on to find out…(Warning! Light spoilers ahead!)<br />
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<b>Same Great Action:</b> If you enjoyed the first flick’s superb action sequences, you certainly won’t be disappointed with the sequel. From a memorable clash on a Formula 1 race track to a 20-on-2 matchup near the end, <i>Iron Man 2 </i>has a lot of fun when its blowing stuff up. There is just one little issue with the action, especially in the race track scene: it’s not very realistic. While the original heavily factored in reality to create action that was very exciting, the sequel is much more lenient. It is certainly fun while you’re watching it, and that will certainly be enough for most moviegoers, until you think back and think of how ridiculous it is at times.<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/S9yWuWk-04I/AAAAAAAAAL8/jR6mIK_DGUI/s1600-h/1169L%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="1169L" height="188" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/S9yWvMrGiuI/AAAAAAAAAMA/0Iq2sIlES0k/1169L_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="1169L" width="428" /></a><b></b><br />
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<b>Clunky Script = Mixed Acting: </b>Another great part of the original movie was the truly excellent script. Every line of dialogue was nearly perfect and all of the actors benefitted as a result. It seems that with <i>Iron Man 2</i>, the script may have been a little rushed. While Tony Stark, Pepper Potts, and Lieutenant Rhodes are all still pretty great, the new characters suffer the most. Mickey Rourke gives an excellent performance, but the character of Ivan Vanko (aka Whiplash) is a little disappointing. Stark’s business-nemesis, Justin Hammer, was also played very well by Sam Rockwell yet the character just came off as juvenile. And then there’s Scarlett Johansson as the mysterious Natalie Rushman. Johansson did a pretty good job, but her character was almost unbearable for me; if Justin Hammer was as immature as an episode of <i>Family Guy</i>, Natalie Rushman is as exciting as a statue. The <i>Iron Man 2</i> script could have used a little more time in the oven, but the final product is still pretty good thanks to the chemistry between its lead characters. (Also wanted to quickly mention how fantastic Jon Favreau was as the bodyguard “Happy” in the sequel as he gets much more screen time. Easily my favorite character of the movie.)<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/S9yWvwvX0dI/AAAAAAAAAME/1yfKc5U7kvI/s1600-h/1172L%5B6%5D.jpg"><img alt="1172L" height="191" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/S9yWwvwlqrI/AAAAAAAAAMI/4dl_tMjgzdQ/1172L_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="1172L" width="425" /></a><b></b><br />
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<b>Wasted Potential:</b> Those two words say it all: <i>Iron Man 2</i> could have easily destroyed the first movie and elevated into the pop culture echelon of where <i>The Dark Knight</i> stands today. The story was surprisingly much more focused on Stark’s father issues and his mysterious past, yet the movie failed to explain the point of it besides setting up <i>The Avengers </i>mythology. Another wrinkle with the story was its globe-trotting tendency; while this led to a wide variety of moments in the film it also did a number on the story’s consistency. In simple words, the movie jumped around a lot and did a lot of things without explaining exactly why and it resulted in a bit of confusion here and there. Another big no-no was the under-utilized new characters. Justin Hammer could have been equally as likable as Stark but ended up being a generic mustache-curler; Whiplash could have served as an excellent foil towards Stark/Iron Man; and Natalie Rushman could have also worked as a possible foreshadowing of an <i>Avengers</i> Iron Man. Despite these criticisms, the story still could have been <i>much </i>worse (think <i>Spider-Man 3</i>) and the fact that it avoided such deep potholes associated with going “bigger and better” should be commended. Also, the onslaught of marketing this film has received has been absurd, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much of the story was left unspoiled. Yet it is always disheartening to see a movie and be focused on what it <i>could </i>have been rather than just what it is.<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/S9yWxkblwPI/AAAAAAAAAMM/PCCCzrSNa7I/s1600-h/1150L%5B9%5D.jpg"><img alt="1150L" height="188" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/S9yWyfj2XQI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/COiF-9i1DPQ/1150L_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="1150L" width="424" /></a><b></b><br />
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<b>Overall – Recommended:</b><br />
Sure, I may have laid it on thick up there but I undoubtedly enjoyed my time with <i>Iron Man 2</i>. But with a little more time under the hood, I could have replaced all of those instances of “great” with “superb” and “excellent”. My advice to you is this: when you enter the theater, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and wipe away all of the hype leading up to the movie. If you do that you will be rewarded with a fun blockbuster to kick off the Summer season and a movie with a completely justified price of admission.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719086909457695085.post-1222440703214082652010-04-29T14:24:00.007-07:002010-04-29T14:43:35.710-07:00Eminem’s Recovery, “Not Afraid” Promises a New Beginning<div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/S9n5CCbilEI/AAAAAAAAALs/MX4B1_KXb04/s1600-h/eminem-recovery%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="eminem-recovery" height="464" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/S9n5DHATFFI/AAAAAAAAALw/lA3zlUJJkVA/eminem-recovery_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline;" title="eminem-recovery" width="464" /></a></i></div><br />
<i>Relapse</i> was a pretty big disappointment for a lot of people. Despite the album topping the charts, the record was criticized for retreading familiar territory for the artist. The album was great on paper—an album heavily focused on Shady’s recent issues with drugs and the death of his close friend and colleague, the rapper Proof—but it was really lacking in execution. And even though I didn’t find them so annoying, others weren’t so forgiving of Eminem’s experiment with different accents.<br />
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Nearly a year later and Eminem has announced plans for his <i>second </i>big comeback. Earlier today he unleashed his new single “Not Afraid” and if the song is any indication of the quality of <i>Recovery, </i>I think we have a winner on our hands.<br />
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As Mr. Mathers raps over a bare but surprisingly effective beat from Canadian freshman Boi-1da, he seems to realize the mistakes he’s made recently: “<i>And to the fans, I’ll never let you down again, I’m back I promise to never go back on that promise, in fact Let’s be honest, that last Relapse CD was ‘ehhhh’</i>”. The song as a whole is good, but not great. The chorus is pretty unoriginal and there’s some really uneven singing from Em himself.<br />
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However, to say “Not Afraid” isn’t a step up from most of <i>Relapse </i>would be a bold-faced lie. Even though the song could’ve been better, it has achieved what newbie Drake’s debut single “Over” could not: to get fans excited. There’s a good chance that this time, Slim Shady’s reboot just might stick.<br />
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<i>Recovery </i>is unleashed June 22, 2010.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719086909457695085.post-20210002747169653672010-04-24T04:05:00.003-07:002010-04-24T04:14:36.292-07:00The Losers Gives a Certain Team a Run For Their Money<div style="text-align: right;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.traileraddict.com/content/warner-bros-pictures/thelosers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://www.traileraddict.com/content/warner-bros-pictures/thelosers.jpg" width="411" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Up for release in theaters is.....<i>another action movie? </i>Well, this one isn't quite like the others.<br />
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<i>The Losers</i> is an adaptation of the comic book by the same name, and from what I've heard about the comic the movie doesn't look to disappoint. Not only does the action look completely <i>awesome</i>, but it looks pretty hilarious too. Come on, who wouldn't laugh at "BlaGyver?"<br />
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Apparently critics, as can be seen by the pretty harsh score on <a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1226860-losers/">RottenTomatoes</a>. While the critics cry foul for the weak story, even they can't deny the appeal of a great mix between action and comedy.<br />
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Critics also say the flick features an excellent cast which includes Jeffrey Dean Morgan ("Grey's Anatomy<i>", </i>Supernatural), Zoe Saldana (<i>Star Trek</i>), Chris Evans (<i>Fantastic Four</i>), Idris Elba, and more.<br />
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Not convinced? See <i>The Losers</i> in action in the trailer below.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="247" width="450"><param name="movie" value="http://www.traileraddict.com/emd/20614"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.traileraddict.com/emd/20614" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="450" height="247"></embed></object></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719086909457695085.post-68359691903691886792010-04-23T10:30:00.008-07:002010-04-24T04:13:56.511-07:00The National - High Violet [Review]<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/S9HZIcZ1wrI/AAAAAAAAALg/cWBv3XQU5BA/s1600-h/The%20National%20-%20High%20Violet%5B11%5D.jpg"><img alt="The National - High Violet" height="376" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/S9HZJyhqwmI/AAAAAAAAALk/BCmL3wiGvRo/The%20National%20-%20High%20Violet_thumb%5B9%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="The National - High Violet" width="376" /></a> <br />
<b>UPDATE: </b>You can now stream <i>High Violet</i> from <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/25/magazine/25national-t.html">The New York Times website</a>. Hurry, it's only there until April 27th!<br />
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It is winter. It is night. You are walking around in a vast metropolitan city. Snow is falling. You are wrapped up in a wool sweater. You flinch at every piercing cold gust of wind. The lights of the city surround you. The stores are open, but you see no one. The traffic lights are green, but you see no one. You’re in New York City, but you see no one.<br />
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This scene is the powerful image I see every time I listen to <i>Boxer</i>, The National’s 2007 album. Now imagine that same scene, but suddenly the lights switch off and the darkness becomes alive. Almost like a horrific nightmare, where the darkness shows the traits of a colossal kraken. The darkness swirls around you and the only thing you can think of is the fact that you are alone.<br />
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<i>That</i> scene is the powerful image I see every time I listen to <i>High Violet</i>, The National’s newest album. Not every song on the album is one of such terrifying nature, but an edgy and disturbing darkness is a key characteristic to this record.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>“Terrible Love”, the opening track of <i>High Violet</i>, serves as a prophecy of the main plot and can even be considered as separate from rest of the album. Things begin marred and hazy from the darkness, just as the song begins with a low-fi grainy guitar riff. Gradually light becomes stronger and shines upon you and the gleeful piano achieves a similar feat. The light moves faster, hope grows by the second. The light of hope becomes so powerful that any thoughts of the darkness you thought surrounded you are immediately gone. The song ends, you are left with silence, and you have a beautiful, sinking feeling in your heart.<br />
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The aforementioned haziness stems from early tracks like “Anyone’s Ghost” and “Little Faith”. Both are very dark and break tradition from the band’s previous work. The two are oddly seductive—you feel compelled to give in and taste the corruptive power of the wild darkness as it tightens its grip. Disembodied echoing, a sharp bass riff, and the depth of Berninger’s unique baritone voice all add to this sensation. Even the lyrics contribute as one of the opening lines of the latter song is “I set a fire, just to see what it kills”.<br />
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Suddenly, a stream of light pierces through the black as “Bloodbuzz Ohio” signals the end of the sinister Act I. The echoes are gone, an eager piano replaces the bass, and suddenly Berninger’s voice has become angelic. The second act builds upon the momentum with excellent tracks like the peculiar “Lemonworld” and the acoustic “Runaway”. The darkness begins to thin and you can see the glow of the light behind it.<br />
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“Conversation 16” is the final attempt to remove your hope completely—the night’s darkest moments before dawn. By the song’s inspiring finale, the light has broken through, the darkness has dissolved, and pieces float towards the ground. Act III continues this infectious hope with the triumphant “England” and the sentimental “Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks”.<br />
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<i>High Violet</i> teaches us the value of hope by first engulfing us in despair. Even if the end is familiar in its joy, the journey through the dark is nothing short of exhilarating. Welcome back, The National.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719086909457695085.post-72363106113754440062010-04-18T14:56:00.004-07:002010-04-18T15:02:33.650-07:00B.o.B Attacks the Charts with "Nothin' On You", "Airplanes"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/S8t86b8GIqI/AAAAAAAAALQ/lZ98e_2xhmA/s1600/20091125-BOB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/S8t86b8GIqI/AAAAAAAAALQ/lZ98e_2xhmA/s400/20091125-BOB.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I have to be honest: when I made <a href="http://onegiantcluster.blogspot.com/2009/06/kid-cudi-and-importance-of-new-school.html">this post</a> about the importance of the newest generation of rap and hip-hop, I had absolutely no clue who Bobby "B.o.B" Ray was.<br />
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Shortly after that post, I heard a lot of hype around his mixtape <a href="http://www.2dopeboyz.com/2010/02/01/b-o-b-may-25th-mixtape/"><i>May 25th</i></a> but when I listened to it I felt it was lacking a lot of the pop edge needed for any rising star of hip hop to find a place in the industry. So I soon forgot all about B.o.B and moved on with my life.<br />
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Now he has the second most popular song in the United States.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>At spot <a href="http://www.billboard.com/#/charts/hot-100?tag=chscr1">number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100</a> is B.o.B's undeniably great song "Nothin' On You". Featuring a great hook from Bruno Mars, this song is exactly the hit Bobby Ray needed to prove that he was a newcomer who wasn't going to be ignored. And I definitely got his message.<br />
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So then I decided to look up details about his debut <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B.o.B_Presents:_The_Adventures_of_Bobby_Ray"><i>B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray</i></a> and I was shocked with what I saw. Under the tracklisting it said there would be a collaboration with Hayley Williams.......of Paramore. I had to check about 15 other sites before I believed it. So the guy who rapped <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=mFXF14mWKlM">this</a> was going to do a collaboration with the girl who did <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=aCyGvGEtOwc">this</a>. And <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=RvnkAtWcKYg">this</a>. AND <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=A63VwWz1ij0">this</a>?!<br />
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I was skeptical...until I heard the song <a href="http://www.2dopeboyz.com/2010/04/12/b-o-b-%E2%80%93-airplanes-f-hayley-williams/">last week</a> and was absolutely floored. "Airplanes" is yet another powerhouse hip hop song with a pop hook that will become <b>huge</b>. Couple that pop hook with the singer of a chart-topping rock band and things are looking up for B.o.B.<br />
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<i>The Adventures of Bobby Ray</i> has quickly escalated into a must-have album for me and it will definitely be one of the most intriguing debut albums this year.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719086909457695085.post-2815188518025330562010-03-22T07:04:00.003-07:002010-03-22T07:06:06.814-07:00The National Returns with "Terrible Love" from Upcoming Album High Violet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/S6d4pqUSC-I/AAAAAAAAALI/FSvPWArmGb8/s1600-h/Highviolet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/S6d4pqUSC-I/AAAAAAAAALI/FSvPWArmGb8/s400/Highviolet.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>With albums like 2005's <i>Alligator</i> and 2007's <i>Boxer</i>, The National very quickly became one of my favorite indie bands from the last decade. Lead singer Matt Berninger has a uniquely deep and powerful voice that brings all of The National's songs to vivid life. Well it's not just his voice doing all the work; all of the band's music feature stunning lyrics to boot.<br />
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And now in 2010, The National are set to return with <i>High Violet</i> due for release May 11th. The band recently debuted their new song "Terrible Love" on Jimmy Fallon and it is nothing short of breathtaking. If the studio recording of the song has even half the energy of this live version, The National will surely have another classic on their hands.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="344" width="470"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-GdlsaQH6ao&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-GdlsaQH6ao&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="470" height="344"></embed></object></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719086909457695085.post-79381206339098943852010-03-18T14:25:00.001-07:002010-03-18T14:27:00.131-07:00Drake Unleashes First Single From 'Thank Me Later' [Quick Word]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/S6KYUu5oCpI/AAAAAAAAALA/ZLw0Doe-cxk/s1600-h/Drake.over.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/S6KYUu5oCpI/AAAAAAAAALA/ZLw0Doe-cxk/s400/Drake.over.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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I have always been confused about why people <a href="http://www.youngmoneyhq.com/2009/08/23/jay-sean-calls-drake-the-next-kanye-west/">compare newcomer Drake to fellow rapper Kanye West</a>. There is a whole laundry list of differences I see between the two. Kanye West is a rapper <i>and</i> a producer which figures hugely into his music; Drake is a rapper with a bit of singing talent that adds a zest of pop to his songs. Kanye West matches his flow and delivery with the beats he raps over; Drake usually remains monotone throughout most of his songs and it works.<br />
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But the biggest difference? If Kanye West had this much hype leading up to his album, he would never release a song as mediocre as the Canadian rapper's newly unveiled "Over".<br />
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Featuring production from a fellow canuck, Boi-1-da (yeah, the name is pretty stupid), I can say that the beat is pretty good with great sounding strings a pretty epic instrumental. The main issue with the song is how completely off the song feels and that can be entirely blamed upon Drake. The chorus isn't his best, but the rapper has said previously that he was not going to repeat his pop tendencies on upcoming debut <i>Thank Me Later</i> and is instead creating a more 'classic' rap album. The main problem is this: the transition between chorus and verse is disjointed. It is so obvious that once you hear it, you simply cannot ignore it.<br />
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"Over" is definitely not a complete disaster and features a sense of wit along with some razor sharp punchlines. When a rapper with only moderate success manages to make <a href="http://2dopeboyz.okayplayer.com/2010/03/07/royce-da-59-over-freestyle/">a freestyle much better than the original</a> only <i>hours after the song has released</i>, you should begin to get worried.<br />
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There is a very real possibility that Drake could miss the ball with <i>Thank Me Later</i> and that is always a severe risk with debut albums. But there's also a chance Drake could be kicking my ass this time next year. The answer is pretty clear: wait for more.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719086909457695085.post-2875351437333809492010-03-14T00:30:00.000-08:002010-03-14T00:30:14.377-08:00T.I. Is "Back" and More Ferocious Than Ever [Quick Word]<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/S5yeUSusvSI/AAAAAAAAAK4/kgozwLKt7iI/s1600-h/ti-im-back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/S5yeUSusvSI/AAAAAAAAAK4/kgozwLKt7iI/s400/ti-im-back.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>T.I. proudly proclaims "I'm Back" with the intense new single in celebration of his release from prison and a tease for what to expect from his upcoming album. I have always enjoyed T.I.'s work (just don't bring up <i>T.I. vs T.I.P.</i>) but this new single is just jaw-dropping. I would argue it's on the same level of quality as his mega-hit <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxHd3tuovgI">"What You Know"</a> off the classic 2006 album <i>King</i>.</div><div><br />
</div><div>T.I. demands your attention on this track and argues his point that rap really has failed to move forward that much since his 2008 release <i>Paper Trail</i>. All of this happens over a catchy, monstrous instrumental while the chorus is basically non-existent as T.I. continues a rapid fire flow filled to the brim with wit and a hunger for more. </div><div><br />
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</div><div>The southern rapper has enjoyed a huge amount of success after an uphill battle in his life, but now he has more to prove than ever. Not just because he was released from prison (no one really cares if <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2010/02/03/lil-wayne-goes-to-jail-the-new-issue-of-rolling-stone/">rappers go</a> <a href="http://www.yorapper.com/gucci-mane-in-jail-for-one-year/">to prison</a> anymore) but because people want to know if he can keep the pace up.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Well...so far so good, T.I.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719086909457695085.post-81769076006677166532010-03-11T13:37:00.002-08:002010-03-11T13:38:57.968-08:00Spoon - "Transference" [Album Review]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/S5lgFTOUfcI/AAAAAAAAAKw/o1w3AR0vU2c/s1600-h/Cov.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fVU-IWIBZMY/S5lgFTOUfcI/AAAAAAAAAKw/o1w3AR0vU2c/s400/Cov.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>When I first listened to <i>Transference</i> from beginning to end, I was perplexed and pissed off. What had happened to all of the catchy songs from 2008's critical and commercial success <i>Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga</i>? Everything about Spoon's seventh album seemed to ignore all of the great strides that 2008 album took to reach mainstream audiences while keeping the band's sound intact.<br />
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...but then I listened to the album one more time. Then again. Throughout the week I would continuously listen to it. Before I knew it, <i>Transference</i> grew on me and I realized just how immensely clever the Texas band truly was.<br />
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Just because I learned to love <i>Transference</i> doesn't mean I didn't miss the upbeat fun of <i>Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga</i>. The majestic marching-band-on-every-track album was just too epic to ignore and made Spoon a force to be reckoned with in the indie scene. The large amount of success that album enjoyed makes this new direction seem even more peculiar.<br />
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<i>Transference</i> is scaled down, gritty, and works as the antithesis to the aforementioned 2008 album. Actually this album could probably be considered more as alternative garage rock rather than indie for a good chunk of the tracks. Songs like "Written In Reverse" and "Got Nuffin" are stripped down with only a few odd editing tricks thrown in at random.<br />
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Then there is the indie side of the record: "Trouble Comes Running" is a fantastic upbeat song that is clearly very indie (despite a prominent true-to-sound guitar). Another thoroughly indie track is "Out Go The Lights", a beautiful song that has the best delivery by frontman Britt Daniel of the entire album. "Is Love Forever?" is yet another catchy and odd indie song that helps maintain the balance of the record.<br />
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This part is where things went from frustrating to fascinating: there is indeed a third type of music found in <i>Transference</i> which could be called many things but what I would simply label as 'alternative'. Opening track "Before Destruction" is a strong foreshadowing of the variety of music found, featuring heavy echoes and a sprawling instrumental section that switches abruptly between the high tops of drums to a down tempo acoustic guitar until the two are brought together for the end. A few songs later and you find "Who Makes Your Money?" which has an odd reverb-based chorus and likens the song to many 70s-era psychedelic records. "I Saw The Light" starts out as an indie song but slowly deteriorates into a sinister piano melody that rebuilds itself into yet another funky experimentation with guitars and reverb.<br />
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Throughout all of these 'alternative' songs there is one common characteristic: "unfinished" editing. Layers on top of songs stop abruptly, effects only appear on one speaker side or erratically jump between the two, and the aforementioned use of random reverb. When I had heard these songs and linked it with the news that the band had self-produced this album, I thought <i>Transference</i> was just poorly put together. But as <i>Transference</i> begins to tighten its grip on you, the editing begins to become rational and, in a way, organic; the band wanted to trigger an instinctual response from the listener.<br />
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After I realized that I was pretty much being messed around with by the album, I learned to appreciate this cool little gimmick. <i>Transference </i>essentially teaches you to ignore your instincts and that even the seemingly out of place are actually completely natural. And that is how I feel about the album: it's weird, vaguely familiar but completely off and yet I have somehow grown accustomed to it.<br />
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Spoon is easily one of the most intelligent bands working in the industry today and while the album definitely takes more than one listen to appreciate, <i>Transference</i> is a mysterious and unapologetic triumphUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719086909457695085.post-86701329106031980072010-03-11T10:17:00.002-08:002010-03-11T13:41:09.568-08:00New 'Iron Man 2' Trailer Shows The Fun Side of Superheroes<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="295" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FNQowwwwYa0&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FNQowwwwYa0&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, X-Men, X-Men 2</i>; all great superhero movies but all wayyyyy too serious. <i>Iron Man </i>was heralded for just how different it was from those films. The sequel looks just as fun with <b>10 times more badass</b> thrown into the mix. See the trailer up above.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4719086909457695085.post-4086358262163831202010-02-28T04:24:00.000-08:002010-02-28T04:24:35.980-08:00'A Nightmare On Elm Street' Returns With A Vicious New Trailer<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="295" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/luFkSVJmobA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/luFkSVJmobA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object> </div><br />
I have never seen the original <i>A Nightmare On Elm Street</i>. I have seen a few clips here and there as well as the ending scene, but I have never actually sat down and watched it from start to end.<br />
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So I suppose that this new remake is aimed towards people like me who are aware of the twisted tale of Elm Street, but haven't actually seen it. Well after watching this new trailer, I can honestly say I'm ready for Freddy. The remake features some pretty decent young actors (recognizable from TV shows) and what looks to be a super freaky Jackie Earle Haley doing the hack 'n slash this go around.<br />
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First of all, the timing of Freddy's attacks look absolutely spot on and totally caught me off guard. Then there was also that really slick scene where the girl was having the so-called 'micro naps' and was being attacked in the grocery store. It looks like the team behind this reboot are definitely having fun with the dream mechanic and applying some cutting-edge (pun intended) effects into it.<br />
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I'm up for a trip to theaters on April 30th, anyone else?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0