I’m a bit of a sleeper fan of Motion City Soundtrack. I had their albums available to me for over a year before I listened to them. The only reason I really gave them a chance was because I was driving through a snow storm and the radio couldn’t pick up anything. I was really shocked when I went through both albums that I had of theirs (Commit this to Memory and I Am the Movie) and was craving more. Their bouncy, feelgood sound had me totally hooked. I listened through them all again, and I realized that in contrast to their sound, much of what was said bordered on major depressing.
I recently got around to reading The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. I remember picking up the book a long time ago and only putting it back because I didn’t have the money to purchase it right then and there.
The next time I find the book, it’s a best seller across the world, and Mark Haddon has already written another novel. I could have been there in the beginning! Ah well, I picked it up, and once I started reading, I found it hard to put down.
I very recently came across Ben’s Brother due to Dentynes newest commercial. I like many, many others were drawn in by the addicting song selected. ‘Stuttering’ is the name of the track, and it’s performed by Ben’s Brother. I’m sure this track alone will launch them into new realms of stardom. As I tend to give bands the benefit of the doubt, I decided to get my hands on their latest (and only) album “Beta Make Fairytales”. As it turns out, they are not a one-hit-wonder. They are, in fact, a rather talented band that reminds me faintly of Coldplay, Maroon 5, and even Snow Patrol.
I was recently at the El Mocambo with Theresa to watch Ingrid Michaelson, and one of the opening acts was David Ford. As soon as this guy hit the stage, he won my heart with his shear moxy at having many instruments that could record and repeat audio. He played them all, which involved him dashing around the stage singing into a microphone, or mashing the piano, or playing the guitar, or the maracas, etc.. He easily won top marks for the technical portion of the night. He was actually fantastically funny, and very, very English. Complete with the swanky accent and a wit so dry that you could start a fire with it, he won over the crowd with his banter and his craft.
Last night I had the fortune to watch I Am Legend staring Will Smith. The premise of the movie is that Robert Neville (Will Smith) is the last man alive, after a deadly super-virus lays waste to 90% of the worlds population. 1% of man kind had a natural immunity to it, and 9%… well that’s something else.
Finally! A new series that actually has a little body to it. I was honestly starting to lose hope in the new adventures. The Last Dodo puts a little bit of that darkness, that deep reflection of the Doctors that has been until now has been sorely lacking from the new books. Though there is only a small moment of it (part of which is quoted in this review) it demonstrates what I’ve been talking about over he past couple books. I know that the authors were probably told that they need to ease into it all, what with trying to nail such a wide demographic and so many new readers, but have a little compassion for those who’ve stuck with the series all these years.
Ice Station Santa is the first installment for the second “season” of Telltales expansion of the Sam & Max universe. I grew up with the original Sam & Max, and so when I heard tell of a new company taking over the title - since LucasArts is run by morons and discontinued the title - I was a little worried. Hell I remember the short-lived cartoon, which though enjoyable had screwed with my young sensibilities. The voices weren’t the same and it really bugged me.
No Really, I’m Fine is the third fourth (it pays to do research) official album (I don’t count EPs as albums) by The Spill Canvas, and I’ve noticed two things. They’ve become more mainstream sounding, and they’ve really tightened up their sound. I don’t want to make conclusions that one of those points begets the other, it’s merely an observation.