February 2008

Event Reviews

Angels & Airwaves

Angels & Airwaves soared into Orlando recently, with a slew of young bands in tow. Jen Cray gave them a shot, but was not quite convinced.

Daniel Johnston

Chris Catania braved Chicago's blizzarded streets to get a dose of Daniel Johnston's therapy.

After Disney refused to allow Dillinger Escape Plan to play their Orlando House of Blues date alongside metalcore heavyweights Killswitch Engage, the NJ band booked their own show at The Social. Jen Cray, and a few hundred other fans, eagerly came out to see them.

Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters ensured a buzz-worthy concert event when they brought along Jimmy Eat World and Against Me! for an evening of big rock in Orlando. Jen Cray was not about to miss this unforgettable night.

Marilyn Manson

Marilyn Manson kicked off their U.S. leg of the Rape of the World Tour in front of a sold out crowd at Orlando's Hard Rock Live. Jen Cray was in the middle of the madness.

The Dollyrots

The Dollyrots and Suffrajett conquer a small crowd in Orlando, Jen Cray included.

Uncle Earl

Are you ready for the country? Zep-approved bluegrass collective Uncle Earl stop Chris Catania in his tracks with a ferocious Chicago set.

Valencia & Armor for Sleep

Brittany Sturges can't recall the last time she saw an entire bill attract such a positive response from a Philadelphia crowd.

Ween

Ween dominates Orlando with a marathon set! Phillip Haire prostrates himself at the altar of brothers Dean and Gene.

Xavier Rudd

Austrailia's answer to Paul Simon and Jack Johnson, one man band folk artist Xavier Rudd, brought his melodic spin on world music to Orlando. Jen Cray was just one amongst many who packed into The Social to witness the event.

Interviews

An Interview with Brann Dailor of Mastodon

Metal drummer Dailor in Phil Collins fanboy shocker!?!? Stick around for what other revelations Gail Worley coaxes out of Mastodon's rhythmic anchor in the Ink 19 interview.

Bergraven

Matthew Moyer talks with atmospheric metal mastermind Per Gustaffssons, aka Bergraven about creating music in isolation, the genius of Lindsey Buckingham, and what makes metal an ideal form of expression.

Nire

Matthew Moyer gets quiet with boy/girl duo Nire, cracking the code from Portland.

Pete Murray of LO-PRO

Fresh off an acoustic tour supporting Aaron Lewis of Staind, Pete Murray sheds light on the shadowy world of the music industry, why Lo-Pro was suddenly and unexpectedly dropped from 413 Records (Geffen), and the group's plans for the future without a record label.

Music Reviews

Horrorpops

Kiss Kiss Kill Kill (Hellcat). Review by Jen Cray.

Music A

Aloha

Light Works (Polyvinyl). Review by Aaron Shaul.

Ankla

Steep Trails (Bieler Bros Records). Review by Matthew Moyer.

Arson Anthem

EP (Housecore). Review by Jen Cray.

Music B

Black Tie

Goodbye, Farewell (Socyermom Records). Review by Matthew Moyer.

Botch

American Nervoso (Hydra Head Records). Review by Andrew Coulon.

Bubblegum Lemonade

Ten Years Younger EP (Matinee). Review by Aaron Shaul.

Music C

Common

Finding Forever (Geffen Records). Review by Tim Wardyn.

Music D

Dead Confederate

Dead Confederate EP (The Artists Organization/Razor & Tie). Review by Jen Cray.

Music E

Ex-Members

Xoex_ep (Self-Released). Review by Jen Cray.

Existensminimum

Last Night My Head Tried to Explode and I Wrote Everything Down (Novoton). Review by Aaron Shaul.

Music G

Gary Reynolds and the Brides of Obscurity

Santiago's Vest (Electrokitty Records/In Music We Trust). Review by Tim Wardyn.

Genocide

Apocalyptic Visions (Vбn Records). Review by Matthew Moyer.

Ghost

Overture: Live in Nippon Yusen Soko 2006 (Drag City). Review by Aaron Shaul.

Guitar Bomb

Guitar Bomb (Crafty). Review by Jen Cray.

Music H

Trevor Hall

The Rascals Have Returned (Geffen Records).

Ham1

The Captain’s Table (Orange Twin). Review by Andrew Coulon.

The Hard Lessons

B & G Sides Volume 1 (Quack! Media). Review by Jen Cray.

Hymns

Brother/Sister (Blackland Records). Review by Matthew Moyer.

Music L

Patty Larkin

Watch the Sky (Vanguard Records). Review by Tim Wardyn.

Music M

Magik Markers

Boss (Ecstatic Peace!). Review by Aaron Shaul.

Music N

North Elementary

Berandals (Pox World Empire). Review by Andrew Coulon.

Music O

OM

Pilgrimage (Southern Lord). Review by Matthew Moyer.

One Win Choice

Never Suspend Disbelief (Jump Start). Review by Jen Cray.

The Out_Circuit

Pierce the Empire With a Sound (Lujo). Review by Jen Cray.

Music P

Part Timer

Blue (Flau). Review by Aaron Shaul.

Psyopus

Our Puzzling Encounters Considered (Metal Blade Records). Review by Matthew Moyer.

Music R

R. Kelly

Double Up (Jive). Review by Bob Ham.

Theo Ross

Cut The Chord (Voice Waves). Review by Bob Ham.

The Runs

Wet Sounds (Urban Cheese). Review by Jen Cray.

Music S

Sally Shapiro

Disco Romance (Paper Bag). Review by Aaron Shaul.

Shellito

Benevolent Laser (How About Rabbits Records). Review by Matthew Moyer.

Shotgun Honeymoon

Forgone Conclusion... (Broken Halo Records/In Music We Trust). Review by Tim Wardyn.

SOL

Let There Be A Massacre (Vбn Records). Review by Matthew Moyer.

Soul Merchants

1985-1987 (Smooch Records). Review by Matthew Moyer.

Sounds of the Blue Heart

Beauty?... (Hollow Hills Sound Recordings). Review by Matthew Moyer.

Stranded in Stereo

Volume 6 (Planetary Group LLC). Review by Tim Wardyn.

Strawberry Whiplash

Who's in Your Dreams EP (Matinee). Review by Aaron Shaul.

The Sunny Street

They Hurt You Everyday (Lavender). Review by Aaron Shaul.

Music T

Fred Thomas

Flood (Magic Marker). Review by Aaron Shaul.

Time Again

Darker Days (Hellcat). Review by Jen Cray.

Music Z

Zelienople

His/Hers (Type). Review by Matthew Moyer.

Print Reviews

Essex County Vol. 2: Ghost Stories

Andrew Coulon follows Jeff Lemire back to Essex County in this second volume of Lemire's graphic novel series, and finds it a sad but very beautiful place to be.

Heavy Metal Fun Time Activity Book

Have you ever been listening to Pantera and thought to yourself, "I wish my demon seed could know more about the bands that they will soon worship as I do now?" If you have, then you're a friggin' lunatic. If you haven't, then you're just a little more sane. Either way, Tim Wardyn explains that this book is either the first step on your journey or just a kick ass good time.

Lower Regions

Andrew Coulon figures that it might be best to keep your twelve-sided dice on hand, just in case, when reading through Alex Robinson's freewheeling homage to Red Sonja and Dungeons & Dragons.

Sandrine's Letters to Tomorrow

Carl F Gauze finds that Dedra Johnson's new book is not a children's book, but a book about children in the worst possible world in America. He couldn't put it down.

Super Spy

Matt Kindt's new graphic novel recaptures the shadowy espionage of World War II. Carl F Gauze knows thirteen ways to kill you if you happen to glance at him talking into his shoe.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Runnin' Down a Dream

Rosalie Petralia doesn't care if you don't dig Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, she thinks they're dreamy.

Yearbook Stories: 1976-1978

Unlike most yearbooks, Matthew Moyer finds that this minicomic collection of Chris Staros' high school recollections is one that can be read again and again fondly.

Screen Reviews

Iron Maiden: Live After Death

To coincide with their Somewhere Back In Time World Tour, Iron Maiden has released a double DVD that delivers a live concert from 1984 for the fans, and three hours of behind the scenes documentaries for the historians. Jen Cray has a marathon viewing of all things Maiden to better understand why the band is so important.

Johnny Thunders: Who's Been Talking?

Johnny Thunders' last concert has been preserved for posterity in this new concert DVD. Then why does it look like a Barbara Walters special? Matthew Moyer explains.

Roxy Music : The Thrill Of It All

Stoking the buzz-fires for their upcoming studio album, New Romantic forerunners Roxy Music have finally released a definitive video history on DVD. Steve Stav, who gave up trying to emulate Bryan Ferry's hairstyle 20 years ago, immerses himself in The Thrill of It All.

The Sun

Fifteen videos are the feature attraction of this powerpop band's new DVD-album release. Carl F. Gauze knows what happened to the radio star.