Music: Silversun Pickups - Swoon: C

I totally enjoyed their previous album - Carnavas. It was a great mix of shoegazer, pop, and rock. Very similar to the Smashing Pumpkins. Unfortunately Swoon completely disappointed me. Sure, it opens great with the driving "There's No Secrets This Year". And "Substitution" is easily the best on the album with a great live guitar. It's a great rock/pop song that hooks into you. But the hit song "Panic Switch" middling at best and has completely useless lyrics. The rest of the album gets too brooding and somber. The whole album sounds very over produced. I can't imagine the band playing this stuff live. It's too mechanical, overdubbed, and completely perfectly on the beat. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if much of the bass lines were actually a synth and sequenced.

The one shining person in the band is the drummer. His beats are live and at times raucus. Too bad he's playing infront of robots. Hopefully the band gets back a bit to a more lively sound with less studio magicry. Otherwise Silversun Pickups should be "waiting and fading and floating away."

Movie: Let the Right One In: A

Out of Norway comes a fantastic little vampire movie. Centered around a outcast 12 year old, he befriends a 12 year old vampiric girl. Most of the movie is a very close and personal movie about the boy and his struggles with bullies, divorced parents, and having no friends. In between are scenes of the vampire, the building friendship, and ultimate resolution. The story is rather predictable, but it's done so well that you don't mind. It's more suspenseful than horror, but there are a few bloody scenes that keep the pacing. Not often can a vampire horror movie be considered charming. And that's what makes this movie special.

There is a bit of controvesy over the subtitles. Apparently the distributor dumbed down the dialog for the US release. But they are releasing a new version with the original subtitles. Without seeing the new version, I can say that the current subtitles are servicable and don't detract from the movie at all. And stay away from the dubbing. It is horrible.

Music: American Princes - Other People: B

American Princes - Other People, remind me of 80s pop with more of an edge. Their opening track "Auditorium" has a great Spy Hunter-eque riff that really gets its hooks into you. "Watch as the Go" reminds of me of A-Ha! Many of the other tracks are catchy and fun. What I don't like are the poor lyrics sung unclearly. The actual vocals lines are good but what he is saying is from forgettable to just bad. If the American Princes can sharpen their pencil a bit, this band would deserve some mainstream attention.

Music: AC Newman - Get Guilty: D

AC Newman from New Pornographer fame releases another solo album. Unfortunately, he stays very close to his source NP material but without the collaboration of other extremely talented musicians. So instead of greatness, AC gives us pop without substance. Music without interest. Pretty much every song is forgettable. AC should really look to exploring other areas of his musical abilities and interests and therefore won't compare himself to his much better side in the New Pornographers.

Steffen Schackinger - ElectriGuitartristry: C+

Steffen is no doubt a master at the guitar as he deftly shows in his debut instrumental album. Watching a video of him playing guitar is something to behold. He borrows a bit from Satriani to Stanley Jordan in a mix of rock to jazz. But playing great guitar doesn't make you a great songwriter. And that's where Steffen falls short. He's got a few good tunes on here that are solid from start to finish. But the rest are mind numbing tunes that are void of hooks or melodies to sink your brain into. The album is best when playing in the background. Otherwise it generally is hard to follow. There is one outstanding song "The Dixieland" which is electric guitar and fiddle duet with Jane Clark. Jane and Steffen mimic and exhange riffs in a fabulous piece of music. That song alone is worth the album. Otherwise, let's hope Steffen practices a bit more songwriting before his next venture.

Movie: 28 Weeks Later: A+

The prequel 28 Days Later was a horror masterpiece. Being a "small" movie in close quarters with limited "infected", it excelled at keeping the suspense up and frights absolutely terrifying. With 28 Weeks Later, the set is much larger expanding to all of London with at times thousands of infected. I was worried that this larger scale would turn this movie into more of an action horror and not living up to the first. I was totally wrong. This movie put a vice around me and held me down for the entire duration. Every scene is masterfully done. At times the suspense is in the background where I could see maybe something going wrong, but usually doesn't. At other times I had my fists and jaw clenched tightly as the horror unfolded. I often wanted the movie to end so I could get the hell out of there. The intensity is unbelievable. The gore is usually brief but brutal. And the "oh god don't go into the dark subway" made me want to scream. But what else can you with the Army right behind you trying to exterminate you? I'd put this in the top 10 of horror movies of all time. Really. Perfection.

Sloan - Parallel Play: B+

Music: 9/10 Vocal: 4/5 Lyrics: 4/5 Production: 4/5
Total: 21/25 = B+

Sloan is a blast from the 70's pop past with a hint of early punk. Many songs sound familiar but alas are not derivatives of earlier music. Instead Parallel Play is refreshing and great on the ears. It will keep you humming, clapping, and singing along. Personally, I felt guilty enjoying such power pop fare especially such infectious songs like "Witch's Wand" and "I'm not a Kid Anymore". But I know I'll keep listening.

The Duke Spirit - Neptune: C-

An odd English band that blends a bit of Blondie, lots of Momas and Papas, and a dash of Sonic Youth. At times it all gels and is pretty good (Lassoo). But more often than not it sounds like some deranged cover band (Dog Roses). So, mostly pass on this band.

Land of Talk - Some Are Lakes: B

Music: 8/10 Vocals: 4/5 Lyrics: 4/5 Production: 4/5
Total: 20/25: B

After a very good but someone jumbled first album, Land of Talk comes back with "Some Are Lakes". This entry is much stronger than the first. Elizabeth Powell sticks with mostly double tracking her voice which appears to be her signature sound. It for the most part works. When it doesn't it usually is because the recording gets a bit too sharp on the ears. The music is much tighter this time around with only a few moments where they get too loose and meander a bit too long before coming back together. Mostly, the music leans on post-punk and rock. One standout is easily the opening track "Yuppie Flu" which has an infectious beat and stabbing guitar. The slow song, "It's Okay" is a haunting song of love lost. Every other song is good with no fillers. I wish other bands could put out a whole album of quality tracks. If they can lean a bit more towards mainstream songwriting such as the title track, "Land of Talk" could easily see some commercial success. Overall I can easily recommend Land of Talk.

Lo Bianco New American Cuisine: A

We had our holiday party at Lo Bianco in Collingswood, NJ. It is a fantastic new restaurant that should have much success in this hot location for great food. We started with roasted portabella covered in cheese, onions, and spinich. Each serving was a great bit or two. Next we went to the mussells which were in a delicous garlic and saffron sauce. The bread was also very good with a great crust and just chewy enough.

The main meals were all fantastic. The braised beef shortrib was easily a standout. A huge rib with meat that melted in your mouth served over mashed potatoes and some grilled scallions. The scallops and steak au poivre was also great. Several people raved about the scallops. But the portion was a little small. But overall everyone was very pleased with their various meals.

For the food, the only disappointment was the dessert. We got the chocolate tort which was fair at best. I recommend the restaurant perhaps outsource their desserts to a local bakery.

The service was relatively prompt but a little unpolished. The waitresses did not adequately describe the food in detail. Also one was chewing gum.

Overall, a fantastic new place in Collingwood. I wish them many successes.

Eagles of Death Metal - Heart On: D

Music: 4/10 Vocals: 3/5 Lyrics: 2/5 Production: 2/5
Total: 11/25: D

The singer/guitarist from "Queens of the Stone Age" also fronts this band on his off days. EoDM is more stripped down band that explores different influences than the hard rock QotSA. Unfortunately, even though I can hear the makings of some great songs here, they are all under polished and poorly recorded. The entire album sounds like a few mics were set up in a room and the vocals overdubbed on that. The guitars sound very tiny and tinny. The songwriting sounds rushed. Many of the songs needed more time to fully flesh out. Instead they meander a bit or good hooks are paired with foddor.

Listened to in the background it sounds like a very good album. But when you pay attention you realize it all doesn't gel and it's a very poor outing.

Happy Hollows - Imaginary: C-

Music: 6/10 Vocals: 3/5 Lyrics: 2/5 Production: 3/5
Total: 14/25 = C-

I loved the Happy Hollows first album, even with a C rating. It was raw. Energetic. Immature. And fun. "Imaginary" shows some maturity in the music writing but somehow misses the mark on the energy they brought the first time. Lieutenant, which clocks in at 5:06, is a rambling mess. It has probably 4 songs in it all mashed together. Tambourine tries to be clever but instead is just kind of dumb. Fortunately, Labyrinth and Colors return to their roots with fun music and nonsensical lyrics. The lyrics in Colors are just the band members yelling out colors. No message. Just fun. But I'm disappointed by their second EP and hope they do better on their third outing.

La Posata Ristorante: A

User Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

by Tom

11/22/2008

I just hosted an office party of 20 people at La Posata.They handled it perfectly. Service was spot on. And they kept things moving smoothly. The food was fantastic. We started with a simple antipasto. I've never had the cheese that was included but it was simply one of the best cheeses I've had. My main entree was crab cakes with two grilled shrimp. The shrimp was perfectly flavorful. The crab cakes were very interesting. They were very light and airy. It wasn't from too much filler. They were very good. My wife ordered the swordfish covered in sauteed scallions. It was amazingly good. For dessert the tiiramisu was homemade, light, and yet rich. Everyone else at the dinner party enjoyed their meals.

La Possata sits perfectly between mass produced Italian food and the top tier restaurants in the area. And it's priced perfectly. Dinner including appetizer, soup/salad, entree, and dessert ran $90 a couple. It is BYOB. I highly recommend this place.

Metallica - Death Magnetic: B-

Music: 7/10 Vocals: 4/5 Lyrics: 3/5 Production: 4/5
Total: 18/25: B-

Metallica returns after their horrible "St. Anger" which angered many fans. Luckily, "Death Magnetic" delivers. This album essentially erases the past 20 years of hard rock music and firmly places them back into metal. This album would fit perfectly after "and Justice for All". In fact, I'd say it's a tad better. But even though the shredding is back and blistering solos take their place front and center, it still is lacking compared to "Master of Puppets" and "Ride the Lightning". And this isn't pining for the past. None of the songs have the instantly memorable beginning like "Master of Puppets". There is no classic solo. But overall it's a terrific effort but it shows a bit of their age. The lyrics just don't bite the same way coming out of a 40+ year old. But it rocks and shreds and heck, that's what we've been wait for, for about 20 years.

Dinosaur Jr. - Beyond: C+

Music: 8/10 Vocals: 3/5 Lyrics: 4/5 Production: 1/5
Total: 16/25: C+

J. Mascis and the band reunite to produce Beyond. It is a mostly enjoyable romp down memory lane of '90s rock music. It stays true to its roots and produces great music with bad singing. One thing that can't be disputed is J can play the guitar. Not only are the rhythm parts excellent, but he can wail on lead guitar. This album features several 2+ minute solos that are melodic and ripping at the same time. It makes me remember that great guitarists are so few and far between in the 2000s.

Unfortunately, J continues to sing his barely legible lyrics. He's never been good and continues the streak. Yeah, if your a fan you love his quirky voice, but he'll never win over a main stream audience. It's a shame because this band behind a great singer could be extremely successful.

The worst part of the album is the production. There is no excuse to the quality of sound. I feel there is gauze in my ears and haze over the band's sound. Almost any decent home studio can produce a better sounding album. As with the recent Meat Puppets album, I'm astonished that studios can even produce something of this low quality.

If you liked Dinosaur Jr. 15 years ago, you'll love this album. And if you love great guitar solos, pick this up immediately. Everyone else should probably stay away.

Red Fox Grey Fox - From the Land of Bears, Ice and Rock: C-

Music: 8/10 Vocals: 1/5 Lyrics: 1/5 Production: 4/5
Total: 14 of 25: C-

This band totally confuses me. They sound like a female Irish woman singing in a very lush rhythmic band. In reality, it's a man singing in falsetto and their from Minnesota. Definitely changes the perception of what this band is about.

First the good side. The music is great. The drummer easily carries the band producing excellent rhythms and in many ways the direction of the music. The guitarist adds another depth of dimension by mostly complementing or amplifying the drums. There are keyboards to fill in the holes. The weakest link is the bass player who mostly fills in the root. Musically it's great. Part shoegazer, part rock.

The singer is where it all falls apart. When he sings melodically it's not too bad. Especially the songs and moments that leave the listener awash in sounds and musical movement. Unfortunately even then his voice warbles too much especially at the end of phrases. Where it really goes bad is when he tries to sing forcefully. Instead it comes out blaring and harsh. It becomes grating very quickly.

The lyrics also terrible. A chorus of "you are so strange" sung 50 times in a row is very annoying. And no song should start , "Billions of years ago, volcanoes and dinosaurs, creatures of that sort, were creeping and crawling and dying on the planet's floor." Not only is it factually wrong (millions not billions, and volcanoes are definitely not creatures), it's is just dumb lyrics. Who wants to listen to that?

Get rid of the singer, add a vocally talented female singer, and you've got a great band. Otherwise run very far away from Red Fox Grey Fox.

Toadies - No Deliverance: B

Music: 7/10 Vocals: 4/5 Lyrics: 4/5 Production: 4/5
Total: 19/25 = B

Toadies reunite after many years to put one more album out. They've always been a macabre band singing songs about serial killers, murders, ghosts, and plane crashes. But it's masked behind good but somewhat vague lyrics. Their new album is no different. Perhaps the best track is "One More" which states "she turns the lock on her bedroom door/she finds the answer/she takes one more/and one more". One more what? Pill? Is she a cutter? Who cares, it's absolutely haunting.

The album has many highs but unfortunately as more than a few plodders that don't have the same punch. It takes the energy out of an otherwise good album. It's around a 50/50 mix of good to fair.

Vaden Todd Lewis' voice is as strong and angry as ever. One the good tracks the guitars are loud and bite often. The rhythm section booms and keeps it all driving.

Overall, it's well worth the price of admission. I just wish they culled a couple more off the album and replaced them with better tunes.

The Gutter Twins - Saturnalia: A

Music: 8/10 Vocals: 5/5 Lyrics: 5/5 Production: 4/5
Total: 22/25 = A

The Gutter Twins is a collaboration of the singers from Screaming Trees and The Afghan Whigs. I'm a huge Mark Lanegan fan so I was eager to get this. And it did not disappoint.

One thing is for certain. God is coming for these two. And from the sounds of it, God may not be pleased! This makes Saturnalia a very dark and heavy album. But redemption requires facing one's demons and perhaps that's what this is all about. Certainly not to be missed is the Eastern-influenced Idle Hands which is perhaps one of the best songs of the year. Get this and repent.

The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America: C

Music: 7/10 Vocals: 3/5 Lyrics: 2/5 Production: 4/5
Total: 16/25 = C

The Hold Steady is a mix of Southern pop and Bruce Hornsby. The singer is a blend of Bruce Springsteen and Michael Stipe. It all kind of works well except for the lyrics. The singer is too busy talking about partying and getting high that it taints the other good songs on the album. Hopefully this band will mature since a lot of it is actually pretty catchy.

Adam Franklin - Bolts of Melody: D

The singer/guitarist from the under-appreciated Swervedriver delivers a solo album. Upon several listens, the seeds of that classic Swervedriver sound is there. Unfortunately, it just doesn't deliver. The songs are thin and meandering. They lack the hooks of his former band but also the depth. There are a few worthy songs such as "Seize the Day" and the great instrumental "Theme From LSD". But mostly Adam provides the seeds to what should be greater songs if only he had a more capable collaboration of musicians.