Metal : A Headbangers Journey

Leave it to a 30-something Canadian anthropologist to write, produce and direct what will eventually become one of the best documentaries on heavy metal music ever made. Hats off and hair down to Sam Dunn's 5 year labour of love that enlightens the world of all things metal. A must see for metal fans or even general music fans who want to see how the other half lives.

The Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not

God Save the Queen ..... and your neighbors when you listen to these fine Brit fellows turned completely up. The airplay these blokes are getting these days is insane with their lead single I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor playing seemingly every hour on any radio station that still has a pulse. The best part being my last name popping up in the end of their oh so catchy chorus " Lighting the fuse might result in a bang, b b bang-go". Elevator Muzak these boys are thankfully not and this major label release is indeed a delight to groove to as one races down the highway ( Yes, I do most of my listening while driving 120 kms to my crappy job 4 days a week ).
Short and sweet the tracks are on this debut effort with the longest track coming in at 5:31, the entire record finishing up in 38:16 but this one is best to be left on auto-repeat.
Notable tracks are When The Sun Goes Down, From the Ritz to the Rubble, The View From the Afternoon for the tight guitar licks and quick quips, but Perhaps Vampires is a Bit Strong But... stands out like a subtle middle finger in a grade school photo. After looking at the picture a million times you realize that you have to look really close to understand and appreciate the real reason for the smirk on that kids face.
These boys have cut their chops in many a smoke filled dingy underground pub with resistance and envy abound by their nature abilities. Like their labelmates Franz Ferdinand I see nothing but good things coming from these boys and I highly suggest you take a mere 38:16 out of your life and listen along. Their 2nd effort will be welcome review.

And that's my 2 sense worth, take it or leave it. Cheers.

Tool - 10 000 Days

If you're a fan of Tool, like me, then this is a welcome arrival at the local music shop. It has undoubtedly felt like nearly 10,000 years since Maynard and Company graced our eardrums with the sonic assault of Lateralus. It is safe to say that Tool has not lost their edge during Maynards almost lovey dovey like Perfect Circle days, but then again this is no Opiate.
The concept of "Album Artwork" is in high gear as usual with this new Tool offering and the limits are pushed again. The "stereoscopic lenses" convientantly attached to the actual CD are a genius idea especially when one is listening to tracks like Lipan Conjuring, Viginiti Tres or Lost Keys ( Blame Hofmann ). It is easy to get lost in the sound Tool creates effortlessly and now you can begin to become part of the visuals that they also create.
Vicarious, the lead track sets a pace that takes the listener all the way through a vast plethora of
stimuli, oral and aural. Rosetta Stoned is so chock full of sounds that one has no way to not feel a tad intoxicated upon listening and Right in Two pleads for you to drum along with whatever you can conjure a sound from.
For those rare few that are new to Tool and their ability to make ones heart race I would suggest listen to their previous outings like Undertow and AEnima before venturing into this wading pool of sonic pleasure. The sound that these 4 men create is unlike anything or anyone else can come up with on this planet, hands down. Hats off to the masterminds Maynard James Keenan, Adam Jones, Justin Chancellor and Danny Carey.

And that's my 2 sense worth, take it or leave it. Cheers.

The Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soldiers

Jack White has dumped his sister/cousin/wife/bandmate and has made good. I'm sure you've heard the lead off track "Steady As She Goes" a million times on the radio already and you better get used to it. I'm sure this track will end up being one of those songs that will linger in your mind as "that song that reminds you of that one summer".
It's a good track and appropriately catchy however as you tread further into The Raconteurs soundscape you begin to feel like you're listening to a dusty K-tel vinyl record that's missing the distinctive crackle and pop.
Once you travel into tracks such as Broken Boy Soldier, Intimate Secretary, Store Bought Bones, Blue Veins there's no way you can deny the Velvet Underground/Zepplin/Beatles/Doors-ish undertones. When was the last time you heard an organ on a recent rock disc? There's a little bit of everything on this debut effort from this sidedish ensemble. It's not a cruise down the highway, windows open, speeding like a demon, while singing your voice raw disc but it's a good soundtrack for sittin around the fire with friends on a warm summers eve.
It's short and sweet without a track going over 4:04, but it's time well spent either way you look at it. On first listen it may not be your cup of tea but it could definitely become a welcome warm cup of Earl Grey after a few listens. It has grown on me and will definitely become part of my regular rotation while writing into the wee hours of the morning.

All in all Jack White earns my respect and I still wait patiently for him to collaborate with Jack Black and make the ultimate rock record, a Tenacious D/White Stripes mash up that should be named "The Zebra Stripes"

That's my 2 sense worth, take it of leave it. Cheers

Well, I figured it's about time to start an official review page. Various personal reviews of new and old CD's, DVD's, Concerts, Games...basically anything I can writing about.
I remember filling out a survey in grade school that would assist me in a career direction. The aptitudes that were assessed listed a film critic as a possible prospect. I did the homework on the requirements of such a position and the list went on and on for the schooling and experience needed to succeed in said field. I was always on the opinion that all you needed to do was watch alot of movies, what do I know. However now with the advent of the internet and all the casual armchair publishers nowadays I figured when not join the ranks and add another page hardly anyone will ever read. So if this is your first time stopping by, greetings and salutaions. I hope you enjoy the time spent here and I hope you can make an educated choice when and if you decide to purchase or attend any of the things I write about in here.

That's my 2 sense worth. Cheers.