Last night the 19th annual Screen Actors Guild awards were handed out in Los Angeles. Daniel Day-Lewis and Tommy Lee Jones won the Best Actor and Supporting Actor respectively for their roles in "Lincoln." Jennifer Lawrence won Best Actress for her work in "Silver Linings Playbook," and the super boring (no offence) Anne Hathaway taking home Best Supporting Actress for her turn in "Les Miserables." Ben Affleck's "Argo" took home the award for Best Cast, and the latest James Bond film "Skyfall" won Best Stunt Ensemble. On the television side of things awards were given out to screen vets Kevin Costner and Julianne Moore after switching over to the cable miniseries game, Costner in "Hatfields & McCoys" and Moore in "Game Change." Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) and Claire Danes (Homeland) took home the acting awards in a drama series while 30 Rock stars and the King and Queen of New York Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey swept the comedy series awards. Awards season closes out on February 24th, hosted by Family Guy creator Seth McFarlane. "Lincoln" has 12 Oscar nominations, while "Les Miserable" and "Silver Linings Playbook" got 8 nods each. "Argo" received 7.
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What the hell happened to Sarah Palin? Not that she ever had all that much going for her once McCain lost out to Obama in 2008. Anyways, that kind of cute, intelligent looking woman without actually being too smart is not going to have her contract renewed by Fox news where she served as a correspondent. In 08, it seemed Sarah could do no wrong; she was lovingly mocked by Tiny Fey on SNL, she had her own reality show, and a best selling book out. Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes decided to scoop her up quick and even built a modern studio for her in her Wasilla, Alaska home. What is she going to do next? I don't think anyone cares.
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While director JJ Abrams has been attached to direct the new Star Wars film, it appears the 2015 release date that was circulating online could be premature. Abrams has a full plate (and then some) in front of him with his second film in the "Star Trek" reboot series hits theatres May 17, followed by the inevitable press commitments leading up to and once the film is released then is slated to produce "Mission: Impossible 5" and a third film Star Trek film. "You know, obviously, it's so early," Abrams said. "I can just say what I want to do: I want to do the fans proud. I want to make sure the story is something that touches people. And we're just getting started. I'm very excited." So start speculation on Episode VII's title (from google: The New Republic, Legacy Of the Shadows, Legacy Of the Sith, and Knights Of the New Republic) and get ready for Star Wars: Disney style.
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Well, this is just brill. A 20 year old prostitute from Portland, Oregon drove 50 miles to meet up with a john who had solicited her via text messages. The address she was given turned out to be the Salem Police Department. She walked up to the building, clearly marked 'Police Department,' entered the station, walked past several uniformed officers before coming to an unmarked door within the station where she tried to get ahold of her client. Once the officers stopped staring at her inappropriate attire they arrested the woman for prostitution and promoting prostitution. As it turns out, the messages were part of a sting operation by the Salem police department who first identified the woman online. Darshhh!
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Reunited and it feels so good… Actually it's a double Black Flag reunion. Punk rock pioneers Black Flag will have two versions of the outfit performing this year. Greg Ginn, the bands founder, guitarist and principle songwriter has put back together their 1978 with Ron Reyes on vocals to play this summers Hevy Fest in the UK. Another incarnation, this one know simply as "Flag" will include Circle Jerks/OFF! vocalist Keith Morris, Chuck Dukowski (who will play in both reunited units) on bass, Descedents/All drummer Bill Stevenson, as well as Stephen Egerton of the Descendents/All playing guitar. Egerton is the only member of the two acts that wasn't an actual member of Black Flag, but if you've ever seen Stephen play, you know he can hold his own with the best of 'em. Looking forward to seeing at least one Flag in 2013.
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Every Time I Die and Jose Canseco? Amazing.. I don't use twitter but gosh darnit, it makes friends of people who probably wouldn't be friends other wise, which is obviously hilarious. Don't know if this is serious, or a lampoon, but it is pretty funny either way. CHECK IT HERE.
2000: CAVE IN - JUPITER. Ranks up there with my favourite albums of all time of any genre. This is perfect to have on at anytime, day or night. I put it on while doing stuff around the house, me and my sister must have played it a million times when we were playing NES. Where to start. I had just heard their first proper full length "Until Your Heart Stops" is was a great piece of metal with above average musicianship, all the stereotypical sayings apply. By the time the second half of the album rolled around they started showing where their next album was headed (parituclarily in the superb "Bottom Feeder"), and even more-so with the spacy "Creative Eclipses" EP. So, 2000 comes along and Cave In drops their second album (third if you count "Beyond Hypothermia"). Gone are the screamed vocals (omit about 8 words in "Big Riff"), the chugging riffs and the double kick drum. They make way for Steve Brodsky's much improved vocals, layers of effects laced guitar and a stunning musical landscape throughout. The opening title track is arguably as loud as the band gets on the disc, but the tracks two-six is the meat and potatoes of the album. "In the Stream of Commerce" and "Big Riff" are long spacy rockers and would not out of place anywhere in Failure catalog. "Innuendo and Out the Other" is an absolute classic, Brodsky has never sounded better. "Brain Candle" is a short little burst of Brit-pop, but make it uniquely their own. They follow it up with another long space rocker "Requiem" which builds for about 6 minutes before exploding, only to bring everything back to Earth in the haunting denouement. Recommended for any music fan of any age. Oh, and currently at the Hydra Head Records store on 180 gram vinyl!
Honourable Mention: Juliana Theory - Emotion Is Dead. Great Southern rock jams. Sometimes mellow, sometimes no so much. Got labelled as 'emo' but don't want to call it that since it would do it quite the disservice.
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2001: CONVERGE - JANE DOE. Furious! The opening 1-2 punch of "Concubine" and "Fault and Fracture" is the aural equivalent of having your jaw broken then your ribs broken one minute and nineteen seconds later. They calm it down on the next couple tracks, particularly "Hell To Pay" which has a repetitive bass riff that almost puts you in a trance. Those bass string sound loose. "Phoenix In Flight" and "Phoenix In Flames" are also a little mellower, sounding a little more like Neurosis or ISIS than themselves, omit Jacob Bannon's vocals. His vocals, by the way, are quite diverse. At times he sounds like a dog barking while other times he has pretty decent croon. While Bannon mellows out here and there… the band does not. "Phoenix In Flames" is followed up by one of the angriest songs on the record ("Concubine" still gets that honour) "Thaw" which sounds like a hellish nightmare, Bannon's bark is perfect (listen to the last 45 seconds of the song). By far my favourite Converge album, followed by "You Fail Me." Perfect mix of chaos and metal…
Honourable Mention: Saves the Day - Stay What You Are. Much more mature than "Through Being Cool," it is their best record. After they grew up a bit, but before "In Reverie," the record that made me tune out. Fast.
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2002: PIEBALD - WE ARE THE ONLY FRIENDS WE HAVE. Boston's Piebald had long been putting out great post-hardcore/indie rock by the time they put out "We Are the Only Friends That We Have." A continuation of their much more refined style first explored on their album prior, "If It Weren't For Venetian Blinds It Would Be Curtains For Us All." The band starts off with "King Of the Road," an excellent introduction to the album. Travis Shettel, vocalist/guitarist can really turn a phrase, and has a very distinctive voice. He also teaches young kids in some capacity and they help him lead into the single "(Just a) Simple Plan," not to be confused the with nightmare of a band from Quebec. They cleaned up the track "American Hearts," which was on their "Barely Legal/All Ages" b-side and compilation album, and it sounds much better than the original. One of my favourites on the record is "Fear & Loathing On Cape Cod" which chronicles the lyricist (Travis?) going on a camping adventure in Cape Cod, tripping on drugs and driving golf balls into the ocean like Kramer. "The Monkey Vs the Robot" is another single from the record and a lyrics from the song is used as the name of a documentary about the band. "Rich People Can Breed" is an oddball track, but works so well right on the last of the second half of the record. "The Stalker" sounds like a Cars song, and Piebald may actually do it better. The song even features a reference to a "crimper," maybe the worst hair abomination that ever entered the market. Really poppy stuff, but not appealing enough to a mass audience I suppose, even though I think they did at least one tour opening for the Foo Fighters.
Honourable Mention: No Warning - Ill Blood. Angry, tough as nails New York style hardcore done by Toronto's own No Warning. One of the best hardcore records from Toronto.
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2003: EVERY TIME I DIE - HOT DAMN!. The band's debut "Last Night In Town" was pretty solid but I didn't get into it as much until I heard "Hot Damn!" Ten songs delivered in about a half hour finds the band on top of their game (or as on top as five booze cans from Buffalo can get). Keith Buckley toned down his scream a touch and shows some great glam style (or cock rock) Southern tinged album. Great mixture of sing alongs and screams, chugging riffs and breakdowns. "Romeo-a-Go-Go" is a furious anger but they always seem to end songs much better than they start them.. songs starting off so chaotic you can't catch your breath. "Off Broadway," "She's My Rushmore," "Floater," all are gems. "Godspeed Us To Sea" is my favourite ETID track off all time. Music doesn't get music catchier/heavier than that. "Ebolarama" is the only single/video from the album and the video is filmed at a roller skate, something none of the band members appeared to practice before the shoot. Too much singing on their new albums to make them essential.. I listen to them sometimes, but they just make me want to put on this album.
Honourable Mention: Lucero - That Much Further West. Just a solid band all around. I'm not even sure anything bad can be said about them. Let Ben Nichols' gruff voice take you home...
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2004: MASTODON - LEVIATHAN. Definitely the best record the New Yorker magazine has ever given a four star rating to. Mastodon started turning heads in 2002 with the release and ridiculous amount of touring in support of their album "Remission." I saw them play at the Rockit in Toronto on that tour with Daughters and Ion Dissonance. While the opening bands may be heavier and more chaotic, they didn't get the crowd going like Mastodon. "Blood and Thunder" starts off with a menacing guitar riff before the drums come in and vocalist (one of three members who contribute vocals) Brent Hinds growls "I think that someone is trying to kill me. Infecting my blood and destroying my mind.." Pretty stellar opening track. Another standout is "Seabeast," mellower in vocals but certainly not in axework! Outstanding drumming, triply guitars and great scream/sing dynamic throughout. The album is based on the story of Moby Dick, and while the story can be indecipherable at times, when the lead riff for "Iron Tusk" kicks in you feel like you are ripping through a storm in the middle of the ocean at the mercy of the powers that be. Much better than that other concept record that was such a huge hit in 2004, "American Idiot" or something like that. Although the story gets lost in the musical shuffle sometimes, the songwriting and musicianship is there in spades.
Honourable Mention: Descendents - Cool To Be You. Last Descendents record to date ranks up with their best. The inventors of the genre come back to show the kids how it's done.
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2005: PROPAGANDHI - POTEMKIN CITY LIMITS. Propagandhi have been a favourite of mine of a long time. And they seem to grow up with you. When I was 14, I swore "How To Clean Everything" was one of the greatest records ever made. There was lots of swear words, it was really fast and, despite the perceived vulgarity was fairly intelligent. Like me? Their second album 1996's "Less Talk, More Rock" was a significant step-up from their debut. Great songs, and despite a little light on the length (26 minutes), the band seemed to slow everything down. Then, bassist John K Samson leaves, and forms the Weakerthans and tours the world ten times over. How do Propagandhi respond? By releasing their most brilliant album to date, 2001's "Today's Empires, Tomorrow's Ashes." I was floored when it came out and did think they would become so good while getting angrier. "Potemkin City Limits" continues in the tradition of "Today Empires…" with the strongest collection of songs their have put out. "A Speculative Fiction" opens the album and is arguably the best Propagandhi song ever recorded. It deals with a war between the US and Canada that hasn't happened yet. But could… bonus points for the reference to the laser puck. "Cut Into the Earth" is one of bassist Todd Kowalski's best offerings as a vocalist, and the only song on the album that isn't at a blistering speed. "Rock For Sustainable Capitalism" is a poke at every over coiffed, black make up wearing punk kid out there, quite poignantly I might add. "Name and Address Withheld" has a killer break right in the middle and gets even more bonus points for referencing Star Wars: A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back in the same song. The following album "Supporting Caste" is great, as is the newly released "Failed States" but this might be THE Propagandhi record.
Honourable Mention: Cursed - II. Heavy. Where crust punk and metal meet.
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2006: YOUNG WIDOWS - SETTLE DOWN CITY. Louisville, Kentucky's Breather Resist weren't for everyone. I wasn't a big fan. The bands singer left the group so guitarist Evan Patterson and bassist Nick Thieneman took over vocal duties and found their sound had changed so much that they felt a name change was in order. Not sure how they settled on Young Widows but no matter… Their debut as Young Widows sounds somewhere between their old band and the Jesus Lizard (the song "Gladiator" is almost a direct lift from the song "Gladiator" by the Lizard). "Small Talk" starts off calmly enough with a great bass and drum line, in fact, bass and drums are the predominant instruments throughout the record, not unlike Big Business. "Mirrorfucker" is a song that was released on a 7" as Breather Resist, and stands out as one of the albums best tracks in its revamped form. "The Charmers" is the first song I heard from the album. It was a pre-release on their myspace page and I probably played it fifty times. Great song overall, but does lose it's momentum in the middle a bit.. but it was the song that turned me onto the band so I can't help but love it.
Honourable Mention: Daughters - Hell Songs. Daughters' start singing (kind of) and put out one of the most challenging and gratifying albums in a while.
Last night the 19th annual Screen Actors Guild awards were handed out in Los Angeles. Daniel Day-Lewis and Tommy Lee Jones won the Best Actor and Supporting Actor respectively for their roles in "Lincoln." Jennifer Lawrence won Best Actress for her work in "Silver Linings Playbook," and the super boring (no offence) Anne Hathaway taking home Best Supporting Actress for her turn in "Les Miserables." Ben Affleck's "Argo" took home the award for Best Cast, and the latest James Bond film "Skyfall" won Best Stunt Ensemble. On the television side of things awards were given out to screen vets Kevin Costner and Julianne Moore after switching over to the cable miniseries game, Costner in "Hatfields & McCoys" and Moore in "Game Change." Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) and Claire Danes (Homeland) took home the acting awards in a drama series while 30 Rock stars and the King and Queen of New York Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey swept the comedy series awards. Awards season closes out on February 24th, hosted by Family Guy creator Seth McFarlane. "Lincoln" has 12 Oscar nominations, while "Les Miserable" and "Silver Linings Playbook" got 8 nods each. "Argo" received 7. 
What the hell happened to Sarah Palin? Not that she ever had all that much going for her once McCain lost out to Obama in 2008. Anyways, that kind of cute, intelligent looking woman without actually being too smart is not going to have her contract renewed by Fox news where she served as a correspondent. In 08, it seemed Sarah could do no wrong; she was lovingly mocked by Tiny Fey on SNL, she had her own reality show, and a best selling book out. Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes decided to scoop her up quick and even built a modern studio for her in her Wasilla, Alaska home. What is she going to do next? I don't think anyone cares.
While director JJ Abrams has been attached to direct the new Star Wars film, it appears the 2015 release date that was circulating online could be premature. Abrams has a full plate (and then some) in front of him with his second film in the "Star Trek" reboot series hits theatres May 17, followed by the inevitable press commitments leading up to and once the film is released then is slated to produce "Mission: Impossible 5" and a third film Star Trek film. "You know, obviously, it's so early," Abrams said. "I can just say what I want to do: I want to do the fans proud. I want to make sure the story is something that touches people. And we're just getting started. I'm very excited." So start speculation on Episode VII's title (from google: The New Republic, Legacy Of the Shadows, Legacy Of the Sith, and Knights Of the New Republic) and get ready for Star Wars: Disney style.
Well, this is just brill. A 20 year old prostitute from Portland, Oregon drove 50 miles to meet up with a john who had solicited her via text messages. The address she was given turned out to be the Salem Police Department. She walked up to the building, clearly marked 'Police Department,' entered the station, walked past several uniformed officers before coming to an unmarked door within the station where she tried to get ahold of her client. Once the officers stopped staring at her inappropriate attire they arrested the woman for prostitution and promoting prostitution. As it turns out, the messages were part of a sting operation by the Salem police department who first identified the woman online. Darshhh!
