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.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Saturday, December 6, 2008
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.
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.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
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.
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 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.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
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.
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.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
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.
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.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
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.
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.
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