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Nov
21stDoctor Who: Prisoners of Time
IDW’s Doctor Who “Prisoners of Time” is the 12-part multi-Doctor crossover book that does it’s best to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who. I was immediately drawn to the book because of the premise. I was however let down a little bit by the format. I assumed that the 12 issues would all be part of one long story with different incarnations of the Doctor overlapping each other. One of my favorite bits from the TV program is seeing Patrick Throughton (Doctor 2) argue with Jon Pertwee (Doctor 3). The first issue (sporting a fantastic cover by artist Francesco Francavilla) runs a little slow and feels a little wooden. It took me a while to get into it. I thought I’ll give the second issue a chance and see how it does. It was a much better installment. It occurred to me that each issue was going to do it’s best to mimic the tone and type of stories that would be associated with each Doctor. By the third issue I could hear the actors voices in my head. I was very pleased with the series and was enthusiastic about collecting the whole set. However the series started to bog down when the pattern became very clear as to what was happening. Each issue would begin with the Doctor and his companions on a new adventure. Something during the issue (usually at the end) a mysterious hooded villain would suddenly pop up and abduct the Doctor’s companions. This […]
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Jun
3rdDaft Punk : Random Access MemoriesI started writing this review well before actually hearing Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories. In fact my enthusiasm for this record spins from a 15 second SNL clip popularized in a 10 minute loop on YouTube. I simply could not get enough of the infectious single’s “Get Lucky” loop. Then when the Coachella ad became available it was quickly remixed with the original clip and passed off as the complete song. The clip introduced us to Pharell’s gorgeous harmonies, which propelled Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky” into an unforgettable track. Yeah—a track of which I had heard one minute and couldn’t get enough of. This same kind of thing happened in 2010 when the Tron: Legacy soundtrack sprouted up. People were clamoring for new Daft Punk and creating their own versions of songs based around snippets of music featured in the trailers. Daft Punk has a reputation of bringing their work to a whole other level with each release. Fans react so enthusiastically to their music because of this. In fact when Human After All, the bands third full length record, leaked in 2005 fans suspected that the new Daft Punk wasn’t really Daft Punk at all but in actuality an elaborate hoax. In comparison to their second album, Discovery, these new songs sounded haphazard, lazy, and too repetitive. That reputation was latter put to rest when these new songs were effortlessly blended with their older material during their 2007 concerts, featured on the album Alive 2007. So, it’s been 8 […]
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Apr
6thEvil Dead (2013)The Evil Dead 2013 Remake is an endurance test. I think it’s good to mention that if you have seen the red band trailer then just expect that kind of intensity through the whole film. Beat for beat it’s almost exactly what you’d expect if you mixed the original Evil Dead with the gritty style of the red band trailer. The film inhibits a grim world and that relentless terror that permeates the film maybe it’s greatest weakness. What makes Evil Dead 2 really sing is that knowing wink to the audience. The idea that we’re going to be taken on an unexpected thrill ride. By contrast Evil Dead 2013 is a joyless affair. There’s a lot to like about the new film, especially the intervention subplot, but the sense of wonder is saturated in dread. The film starts to run on it’s own towards the end. Due to subtle manipulations throughout the course of the film we understand the purpose of the Deadites, which has never been really clear up to this point in the franchise. The Necronomicon acts as both a warning to it’s readers and as a detailed recipe for unleashing it’s terror. When things go terribly wrong we understand how deep the consequences of failure are. I wish this aspect of the film was played up. It’s one thing to show people being butchered one by one on a small scale. It’s another thing to see how their actions could endanger other lives. When the problem […]
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Dec
28thThink Indy ReviewsMy first video review for Michael Neno’s the Signifiers
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Dec
28thBest films of 20122012 saw the release of many great films. When I started thinking about which one was my “favorite” I had a lot of difficulty arriving to that decision. One film would excel at something entirely different from the next. In the end it boils it all boils down to personal taste. 1. Django Unchained I saw this movie a few days ago and by far it’s the clear leader for best picture in my mind. While many of the entries on this list had qualities about them that took me out of the picture this film delivered on so many levels. It’s definitely not for the squimish (as any Tarantino picture). There was just so much to like about this movie. Great actors, great characters, unbelievable drama, gut wrenching comedy, shocks and awes. This movie will keep you thinking well after you leave the theater. 2. Skyfall Not only is Skyfall a good Bond movie, it’s a great movie altogether. I really didn’t know what to expect before watching this. I heard that Javier Bardem was a great villain. I heard that Judi Dench was more than a supporting character. I wasn’t prepared for how well all the characters meshed together to form one strong narrative. A good Bond movie needs a good villain and this movie delivers in spades. What’s surprising is the touching character development that is honest and believable. Where Casino Royale was shocking in it’s departure from the typical Bond film, Skyfall is able to blend […]
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Dec
27thCat Power “Sun” reviewCat Power | Sun (originally published on thefiddleback.com) Label: Matador by David Branstetter My only previous Cat Power listening experience, prior to this record, was the elegant “Sea of Love” cover from the Juno soundtrack. I’ve paid attention to her career with wavering interest, promising myself to dedicate time to listen to her work. When the opportunity came to review Cat Power’s new album, Sun, I could only assume that I would have the same kind of experience as before. Much to my surprise (and I’m sure Cat Power’s dedicated fan base) the album is nothing like Chan Marshall’s previous records. Sun’s opening track “Cherokee” begins beautifully. Its bright echoey guitar, its deep thudding drum track coupled with swelling piano arpeggios, and its heavily processed vocals try to strike a moody balance between the new “bold direction” and the old. After plodding along for a few seconds the track explodes with the upbeat “Bury me to the sky” hook and establishes the tone for the rest of the record. There’s a telling moment on the track that underscores some of the fundamental problems with the record. As the dance rhythms come to a climax there’s an odd moment when the track is suddenly punctuated by a hilarious bird squawk. I suppose thematically it’s trying to say “Look I’m still soulful, despite the way this may sound.” There’s no need to apologize, people and tastes always change. “Ruin” was the first track to really grab my attention. The bright circular piano […]
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Dec
27thSmashing Pumpkins “Oceania” ReviewThe Smashing Pumpkins | Oceania (originally published on thefiddleback.com) Label: Caroline/EMI/Martha’s Music by David Branstetter Whether or not you like Oceania, the new Smashing Pumpkins album, depends squarely upon how much you bought into the hype surrounding the band at the height of their popularity. If you can get past the fact that Corgan is the only original member of the band and can listen to the album with an open mind you might find yourself happy that you did. Smashing Pumpkins as a band has always been about defying expectations, looking left but often turning right. Where the band could have been trying to duplicate their hits with “sound-a-like” singles and endless greatest hit tours, the Pumpkins have taken the high road and have always put artistic integrity first. Corgan could have treated his new band as “hired guns” but instead he is forging ahead with them and creating a new legacy. Oceania never raises to the heights of the Pumpkins’ best work but it never sinks to the lows of material from ’98 on. In a bold move, the album doesn’t contain any obvious singles and was conceived to be listened to as a singular unit. Yet songs like the “Celestials” bubble out of the frame work looking for a home on the radio. One of best things about this album is the contributions from the other band members. There are moments on the record where you can feel the band solidify and take big steps together as […]