May 2008
Event Reviews
Duran Duran
Jen Cray finds herself at a Duran Duran concert in 2008, and missing the AquaNet smell of a zillion emotional teenaged girls.
Kid Koala
Kid Koala has two hands, four turntables, and one awesome show. S D Green endures the weird dancing for a trip down Moon River.
Kimya Dawson
Kimya Dawson mothers the Chicago kids with her folkish punk rock lullabies. Chris Catania digs.
Langhorne Slim
Very few musicians can stun Jen Cray stupid with the simple inflections of their voices and the subtle strumming of their guitars. Langhorne Slim and the War Eagles did just that when they gifted a very intimate gathering of us at The Social in Orlando with a performance to be envied by those who missed it.
Megadeth
Dave Mustaine and his once trailblazing Megadeth seem to be facing the quandary of many "classic" acts, an audience that wants you frozen in time and the creeping realization that your best songs are behind you. Nostalgia may sell, but Chris Catania ain't buying.
Tapes 'n Tapes
Tapes 'n Tapes proves to Jen Cray that no matter how great a band's songs are, if the crowd is uninspired, the band shall be as well.
The A.K.A.s
The A.K.A.s finally win over the hearts of a Florida audience. Jen Cray congratulates the band on its success.
The Bamboozle Roadshow
Saves the Day and Armor for Sleep bring The Bamboozle Roadshow to Philly, where Brittany Sturges once again captures the play-by-play between arguments over the setlist.
Thrice
With the second half of their ambitious conceptual double album finally in the hands of fans, Thrice continues its ascension into greatness. The show they put on in Orlando was enough to secure their place in Jen Cray's heart for life.
Interviews
Daniel Johnston
Chris Catania has a candid talk with Daniel Johnston, musician, artist, and most recently, the inspiration behind Infernal Bridegroom's rock opera, Speeding Motorcycle.
Music Reviews
Bon Iver
For Emma, Forever Ago (JagJaguar). Review by Matthew Moyer.
Music A
Amelia
A Long, Lovely List of Repairs (Slow Down Records/ In Music We Trust). Review by Tim Wardyn.
Music B
The Black Angels
Directions to See a Ghost (Light in the Attic). Review by Jen Cray.
Music C
The Cherry Poppin' Daddies
Susquehanna (Space Age Bachelor Pad Records/In Music We Trust). Review by Tim Wardyn.
The Child Readers
Music Heard Far Off (Soft Abuse). Review by Aaron Shaul.
Music D
Duran Duran
Red Carpet Massacre (Epic). Review by Jen Cray.
Music E
The Electric Pop Group
Sunrise EP (Matinee). Review by Aaron Shaul.
Electric Wizard
Witchcult Today (Candlelight Records). Review by Matthew Moyer.
Experimental Dental School
Jane Doe Loves Me (Cochon). Review by Jen Cray.
Music G
Gibson Brothers
Iron & Diamonds (Sugar Hill). Review by Chris Catania.
Music H
The Heavy
Great Vengeance and Furious Fire (Counter). Review by Jen Cray.
History
Ghosts in the City (24 Hour Service Station). Review by Jen Cray.
Music I
Ill Niño
Engima (Cement Shoes). Review by Jen Cray.
Music L
Langhorne Slim
Langhorne Slim (Kemado). Review by Jen Cray.
Greg Laswell
How the Day Sounds (Vanguard Records). Review by Tim Wardyn.
W. W. Lowman
Plain Songs (Arbouse). Review by Aaron Shaul.
Music M
Mystechs
Escape From Planet Love (Omega Point Records). Review by Carl F Gauze.
Music N
The New Bloods
The Secret Life (Kill Rock Stars). Review by Jen Cray.
Music O
The Old Haunts
Poisonous Times (Kill Rock Stars). Review by Jen Cray.
Music P
pacific UV
longplay 2 (Warm). Review by Matthew Moyer.
Maceo Parker
Roots and Grooves (Heads Up International). Review by Cindy Barrymore.
Pattern is Movement
All Together (Home Tapes). Review by Tim Wardyn.
Pistol Disco
Radiation (Celebrity Lifestyle). Review by Aaron Shaul.
Ponieheart/Crane Orchard
Touch To Love/Spread Your Lies Wholeheartedly (Now Here Records). Review by Matthew Moyer.
Music R
Kitty Rose
Kitty Rose: Live at the Ryman (Wild Affair Productions). Review by Carl F Gauze.
Music S
Ed Sanders
Sanders' Truckstop and Beer Cans On The Moon (Collectors' Choice Music). Review by Matthew Moyer.
Science For Girls
Science For Girls (Self-released). Review by Chris Catania.
Scotland Barr and the Slow Drags
All the Great Aviators Agree (Monkey Barr Music/In Music We Trust). Review by Tim Wardyn.
Sleepercar
West Texas (Civil Defense League). Review by Jen Cray.
Sol Invictus
Sol Veritas Lux (Tursa/Strange Fortune). Review by Matthew Moyer.
Music T
Thee Merry Widows
The Devil's Outlaw (I Used to Fuck People Like You in Prison Records). Review by Jen Cray.
Thrice
The Alchemy Index Vols. III & IV Air and Earth (Vagrant). Review by Jen Cray.
Music X
Xasthur
Defective Epitaph (Hydra Head). Review by Matthew Moyer.
Print Reviews
33 1/3 - Pink Moon
Nick Drake's third and final album is one of the most heart-wrenching in musical history, Linda Tate finds out why and how it's inspired some of today's influential artists.
Dizzying Heights
New money and old values clash in Aspen as land developers fight over the last pristine lots high in the Rocky Mountains. And there's sex...
Mortarville
A young man, born in a test tube and raised in an ominous underground bunker, grows up to be head of security at a dying shopping mall in a dying city. Carl F Gauze has seen the future, and there isn't a single flying car on the horizon.
Screen Reviews
Decompositions
Carl F Gauze takes an armchair tour through old Atlanta, courtesy of Zeus Henderson's super-8 camera.
Flipper: Live
Legendary proto-grunge nihilists in "having fun" shock! Scott Adams wouldn't have believed it either. The proof is in the pudding with this archival release of vintage Flipper concerts.
Iron Man
X-ray vision is pretty useful, and the Batmobile is one sweet ride, but there's something about a high-flying, heavily-armored man with a drinking problem that really captures Steve Stav's imagination.
Life is Worth Losing
Did you know that George Carlin is the world's greatest rapper? Tim Wardyn found out on Carlin's latest DVD, Life is Worth Losing. He also discovered three dirty words people don't use enough and why The All-Suicide Channel would actually work.
School of Senses (Érzékek iskolája)
An illicit romance goes horribly wrong in this Hungarian film, but the sex scenes are great. For lovers, enthuses Carl F Gauze.
The Gay Deceivers
Two friends avoid the draft in Vietnam by pretending to be gay, all while fending off the advances of their landlord and a nosy Mr. Furleyesque draft board member, in this late 60s comedy. Scott Adams is drafted into watching this for us. Sadly, no deferments here!
Tragic Ceremony
Carl F Gauze wanted atmospheric horror, instead he got a straight-faced version of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. When faced with this, does he moan about the truncated gore, or compliment the pre-disco fashions? Read on...
Vera
A Mayan villager is killed in a mining accident and enters a surreal journey thorough the afterlife, ultimately resolving his life and death. Carl F Gauze finds here that Francisco Athié has revitalized the art of the surrealist film.
