Nov

27

No Country For Me Either

Filed Under Film Box | 4 Comments

No Country For Old Men

Onesheet

A Coen Bros. Picture

Pip here, and I got me another review, boy howdie I do!

What a cold and menacing film this is, and it’s a welcome home to a pair of my favorite filmmakers. I say welcome home because they’ve strayed from the ranch a bit. Not to say that they can only do one kind of film, because I think they could probably do any kind of film, but this film and those that are somewhat similar in their catalogue of perfection are what they call Decidedly Coen. There’s just something about them… something… strange.

This sinister mother licker ain’t for the faint of heart. In fact I was about plumb tuckered out by the end, my back was tensed up more than the time I green-broke my first horse. Many have written about the villain, the likes of which we have never seen… well maybe Jaws. Many have written about what happens at the climax and how disappointing or spot-on it was. I’m going to write about none of that, mind you. I’m just going to put out a general word of warning.

No Country For Old Men is adapted from a book, beautifully written though it may be, and suffers and benefits from this fact. As all adaptations do in the end. I always like to look beyond the fact that it was adapted and just sit on the film by itself. I’ll take the book on the same measure. For those that don’t know of (as in have read) the book, for those that do not absolutely love the Coen’s past work (except for Ladykillers… we shall, for sake of argument, pretend that film does not exist and while we’re at it Intolerable Cruelty… funny and witty it was, but it was no Coen Bros. film), for those that do not love stories on the independent (read: not predictable) side, then I simply recommend steering clear of this film.

I do this from time to time and I suppose this is why I’m not a professional critic (that and I don’t know what deadline means). Some films most people either just wouldn’t like, aren’t ready for, would be offended by, et al, and there’s nothing wrong with that. This doesn’t make me superior, in fact it simply labels me as a dork extraordinaire. If you answered “but I do!” to any of the exceptions I placed before my warning, then please do see this film at your earliest convenience. If you don’t love it to pieces, as I do, then you’ll at least walk away with an appreciation for what you witnessed, which is one of the greatest films I’ve seen in a long while, to hell with all those that were jolted out of the ending.

Nov

26

Rock Band

Filed Under Music Mix Up | 12 Comments

Glad to hear everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving here in the States, I am sad it is all over.

But as for my fine feathered gamer friends Rock Band has finally arrived and man is it fun to play! You have a choice to play either drums, guitar, bass/rhythm or you can sing! I have to say that the drums are freaking hard to play but they are fun, a lot of fun. The singing is another story… On an Easy level of difficulty you can pull it off but even for someone who has had some singing experience it can be difficult to get the right pitch on a Medium difficulty level. Either way no matter what I must say they have out done themselves with this game, no matter what your age or gender this is a blast to play with family and friends.

Check out the set list in no particular order:

  1. “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” – Jet
  2. “Ballroom Blitz” – Sweet
  3. “Black Hole Sun” – Soundgarden
  4. “Blitzkrieg Bop” – Ramones
  5. “Celebrity Skin” – Hole
  6. “Cherub Rock” – Smashing Pumpkins
  7. “Creep” – Radiohead
  8. “Dani California” – Red Hot Chili Peppers
  9. “Dead on Arrival” – Fall Out Boy
  10. “Detroit Rock City” – Kiss
  11. “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” – Blue Öyster Cult
  12. “The Electric Version” – The New Pornographers
  13. “Enter Sandman” – Metallica
  14. “Epic” – Faith No More
  15. “Flirtin’ with Disaster” – Molly Hatchet
  16. “Foreplay/Long Time” – Boston
  17. “Gimme Shelter” – The Rolling Stones
  18. “Go with the Flow” – Queens of the Stone Age
  19. “Green Grass and High Tides” – The Outlaws
  20. “The Hand That Feeds” – Nine Inch Nails
  21. “Here It Goes Again” – OK Go
  22. “Highway Star” – Deep Purple
  23. “I Think I’m Paranoid” – Garbage
  24. “In Bloom” – Nirvana
  25. “Learn to Fly” – Foo Fighters
  26. “Main Offender” – The Hives
  27. “Maps” – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
  28. “Mississippi Queen” – Mountain
  29. “Next to You” – The Police
  30. “Orange Crush” – R.E.M.
  31. “Paranoid” – Black Sabbath
  32. “Reptilia” – The Strokes
  33. “Run to the Hills” – Iron Maiden
  34. “Sabotage” – Beastie Boys
  35. “Say It Ain’t So” – Weezer
  36. “Should I Stay or Should I Go” – The Clash
  37. “Suffragette City” – David Bowie
  38. “Tom Sawyer” – Rush
  39. “Train Kept A-Rollin” – Aerosmith
  40. “Vasoline” – Stone Temple Pilots
  41. “Wanted Dead or Alive” – Bon Jovi
  42. “Wave of Mutilation” – Pixies
  43. “Welcome Home” – Coheed and Cambria
  44. “When You Were Young” – The Killers
  45. “Won’t Get Fooled Again” – The Who

And now a couple of my favorite songs from Rock Band, Maps is so much fun to sing and Here I Go Again is such a blast to play on the drums even if I do suck. ENJOY! :-P

mp3: Maps – Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Fever To Tell 2003 (Interscope Records) Get It

mp3: Here I Go Again – OK Go

Oh No 2005 (Capitol) Get It

 

Nov

21

Thanksgiving

Filed Under News & Info. | 8 Comments

Hey everyone just wanted you to know that I am a little busy getting ready for Thanksgiving dinner at my mom’s house and I have also been preoccupied playing Rock Band but later on this evening I will have a new Rock Band post for you so check back later. Right now I am gearing up to have an all day bake fest: I am making 2 cheese cakes and 1 pumpkin pie. Yummy! :)

Nov

16

All Time Favorite #18

Filed Under All Time Favorite | 8 Comments

Yeah! I know it has been far too long since I posted my last All Time Favorite but I thought now is a better time than ever to resurrect this feature.

Stranger Than Fiction really surprised me, I thoroughly enjoyed this film. The chemistry between Will Ferrell and Maggie Gyllenhaal was electric and at the same time sweet and innocent. And I could definitely relate to the rebellious nature of Maggie Gyllenhaal‘s character. If you have yet to see this film I highly recommend checking it out, I don’t think you will be disappointed.

And not only is this a cute and funny flick it also has a kick ass soundtrack, which makes this film my All Time Favorite #17.

mp3: The Book I Write – Spoon

mp3: Bottles and Bones (Shade and Sympathy) – Califone

Stranger Than Fiction Soundtrack 2006

Album available HERE

Nov

15

The Sleeping Years

Filed Under Album Picks | 3 Comments

The Sleeping Years is the solo project of Dale Grundle. A singer songwriter from Coleraine in Northern Ireland. The Sleeping Years have released three 5 track EP’s: You and Me Against The World, Setting fire to sleepy towns and Clocks and Clones all released this year. Gentle melodies and hushed vocals fill these EP’s and I love every second of it.

In other news it has been hot and dry here, yuck! And my keyboard seems to be working fine now, of course after I order new keyboard. Is that not just the way of things? Cheers!

Hope you enjoy the music of The Sleeping Years!

mp3:  Clocks and Clones

mp3:  Untroubled

Clocks and Clones EP 2007

Available HERE and HERE 

The Sleeping Years on myspace

Nov

12

A Cover Eases PC Woes

Filed Under Music Mix Up | 6 Comments

On Saturday I was preparing a post when suddenly my keyboard became possessed and started repeatedly and mysteriously pressing the letter “M” even though I was not touching the keyboard at all. Then when I did press the letter “M” nothing happened…First the letter “A” now I have a new laptop keyboard that is only a few months old and I have to get another one. *Profanities* Anyways needless to say I think it might be time to give my laptop the necessary tender loving care it deserves by updating the memory and wiping it clean…Of course this will only happen after I back everything up. Good times.

Today is Veteran’s Day here in the States and yet I still have to be at work, which sucks to say the least. And after The Decemberists canceled the rest of their tour I thought why not post this lovely cover they did of Bjork. What the hell!

mp3:  Human Behavior – Bjork covered by The Decemberists

Read: Interpreting Bjork 2004   GET IT

Nov

9

Priscilla Ahn On Grey’s Anatomy

Filed Under Music Mix Up | 10 Comments

Photo by Henry Diltz

Priscilla Ahn was on Grey’s Anatomy last night her song Rain was featured on the popular TV show. I have featured her a few times on Untitled you can check those out HERE and HERE and also I highly recommend checking out the song Lost below it is beautiful and one of my favorite songs by her…I will keep you posted on this song bird hopefully we can look forward to a full length album from her sometime in the near future. :)

Happy Friday everyone!

mp3:  Rain

Priscilla Ahn EP

mp3:  Lost

Demo Better Than Any From A Record Label

Priscilla Ahn on myspace

Nov

6

Mercy Arms, Kept Low EP

Filed Under Album Picks | 5 Comments

Mercy Arms is a four member band that hail from Australia their debut EP was just released in September and I am just really liking their sound. A little rough but they are still a very young band and I look forward to hearing more from them indeed.

In other news? I don’t really have any besides the fact that I am bored as hell at work and I despertaely need to find another job. I just can’t seem to find a job that makes me happy nor have I been able to find a place where I can thrive. This job pays well but I am not doing anything creative and I am not gaining any real experience for the field I want to work in, the only plus side of this job is that it pays well but even that doesn’t seem to get me out of bed in the morning. So once again I am back to the drawing board while I am working at this job…Good times right? Well at least I have good music. :-)

mp3:  Kept Low

mp3:  Ending To Begin

Mercy Arms 0n myspace

Kept Low 2007  (Levity)

EP available HERE and HERE

Nov

3

Guitar Hero III

Filed Under Music Mix Up | 7 Comments

Last weekend Guitar Hero III finally came out…Weee! I was quite excited to say the least, new songs, wireless guitar and the ability to play online against others? I was sold. The graphics have a bit more bite to them as well…All in all I am pretty happy with this version and basically the ability to play online against others definitely makes this version an improvement.

The set list (single player career mode):

1. Starting Out Small

* “Slow Ride” – Foghat
* “Talk Dirty to Me” – Poison
* “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” – Pat Benatar
* “Story of My Life” – Social Distortion
* “Rock and Roll All Nite” – Kiss (Encore)

2. Your First Real Gig

* “Mississippi Queen” – Mountain
* “School’s Out” – Alice Cooper
* “Sunshine of Your Love” – Cream
* “Barracuda” – Heart
*  Guitar Battle vs. Tom Morello (Original Composition)
* “Bulls on Parade” – Rage Against the Machine (Encore played with Tom Morello)

3. Making the Video

* “When You Were Young” – The Killers
* “Miss Murder” – AFI
* “The Seeker” – The Who
* “Lay Down” – Priestess
* “Paint It, Black” – The Rolling Stones (Encore)

4. European Invasion

* “Paranoid” – Black Sabbath
* “Anarchy in the U.K.” – Sex Pistols
* “Kool Thing” – Sonic Youth
* “My Name Is Jonas” – Weezer
* “Even Flow” – Pearl Jam (Encore)

5. Bighouse Blues

* “Holiday in Cambodia” – Dead Kennedys
* “Rock You Like a Hurricane” – Scorpions
* “Same Old Song and Dance” – Aerosmith
* “La Grange” – ZZ Top
*  Guitar Battle vs. Slash (Original Composition)
* “Welcome to the Jungle” – Guns N’ Roses (Encore played with Slash)

6. The Hottest Band on Earth

* “Black Magic Woman” – Santana
* “Cherub Rock” – The Smashing Pumpkins
* “Black Sunshine” – White Zombie
* “The Metal” – Tenacious D
* “Pride and Joy” – Stevie Ray Vaughan (Encore)

7. Live in Japan

* “Before I Forget” – Slipknot
* “Stricken” – Disturbed
* “3’s & 7’s” – Queens of the Stone Age
* “Knights of Cydonia” – Muse
* “Cult of Personality” – Living Colour (Encore)

8. Battle for Your Soul

* “Raining Blood” – Slayer
* “Cliffs of Dover” – Eric Johnson
* “The Number of the Beast” – Iron Maiden
* “One” – Metallica
*  Guitar Battle vs. Lou (The Devil Went Down to Georgia – Steve Ouimette)
* “Through the Fire and Flames” – Dragonforce

___________________________________________

 I thought I would post a couple of my favorite songs that are loads of fun to play…And I highly recommend checking out this game yourself either at your local Best Buy or a friend’s house…You will be hooked in no time. Happy Saturday!

mp3:  My Name Is Jonas – Weezer

Weezer (Blue) 1994  (Geffen Records)  GET IT

mp3:  Paint It, Black – The Rolling Stones

Aftermath 1966 (Abkco) GET IT

Nov

2

The Buzz

Filed Under News & Info. | 3 Comments

Paste Magazine has decided to follow suit by starting a “pay what you want” campaign for a subscription, the min limit is a $1.00. I have to say this is well worth it, I already have a subscription to Paste thanks to Tara but I am planning on renewing so that I can take advantage of this awesome deal. Check it

In other news one of my favorite online mags Stylus Magazine closes it’s doors and I am terribly depressed as I was a big fan. R.I.P.

I will be back later on today with a new music post so check back soon. Till then everyone have a lovely Friday.

  • Disclaimer

    Music found on this blog is for sampling only. If you like what you hear then support the artist. Buy their music, attend a show and spread the word. If you own the rights to any of the music featured here and you would like me to remove it contact me and I will remove the link immediately.

    Click the tag to listen, right click the song title to save. If you find that an mp3 is not playing chances are it has expired.

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