Nickelback "Rockstar" Video: A National Crisis...

Ok, time to make fun of some shit. Luckily, I don't have to write much as this video is its own bit. Maybe if video games like "Rock Band" (see prior post) existed when the members of Nickleback were growing up we wouldn't have to deal with these no talent ass clowns taking their "rockstar" dreams out on us innocent civilians.

Unfortunately for you and I, Nickleback is alive and well. The most appalling part of this debacle though is that as of 11/30/2007 their video for "Rockstar" is the top selling video on iTunes. That means fucktards around America and heaven knows where else spent actual money on this colossal piece of monkey turds!!! Who listens to this crap much less watches the video on their iPods even more than once? The only person who I could imagine remotely enjoying this video/song would have to be the illegitimate love child of Kid Rock and Pamela Anderson who was subsequently raised by Danny Bonaduce and a pack of wild dogs. If you bought this video and you don't call Danny Bonaduce "Pops", call me and I will come to your house and beat you with a rubber hose or whatever Milwaukee's beast bottles you have laying around!

Spencer Krug is a Musical Genius

Who wants to spearhead a Spencer Krug fanclub? I do, I do...

I woke up this morning to Spencer Krug and company performing "Stadiums and Shrines II" from the Sunset Rubdown album Shut Up I am Dreaming. I first heard this song about a year ago and it still gets to me every time I listen to it. The song just gives off such sincere emotion and passion one can't deny its power. The more I try to push Krug's projects aside to listen to newer music a Sunset Rubdown or Wolf Parade CD inevitably finds its way back into my CD changer (That's right, I buy CD's. I know, that's sooo 1990). I will stop gushing over Krug for the time being as I am starting to feel like some prepubescent girl who adorns her walls with NKOTB posters or NSYNC posters for you younger folks. Without further ado, here is "Stadiums and Shrines II". 0:18 seconds into the song is pure magic...

Sunset Rubdown - "Stadiums and Shrines II"

The Besnard Lakes - Are the Dark Horse and Charlie Day

In watching It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia I noticed that Charlie sometimes wears a shirt that resembles The Besnard Lakes album cover for Are the Dark Horse. They are not exactly the same but a fun observation nonetheless. Here is "For Agent 13" which is one of my favorite tracks from the Besnard Lakes album.

The Besnard Lakes - For Agent 13

Rock Band - Guitar Hero on Steroids

So you like Guitar Hero but wish more of your inebriated friends could join in... In comes Rock Band a new game from Electronic Arts/MTV. Rock Band goes to the next level by incorporating guitar, vocals, bass and drums. Rock Band is geared towards team play as the better everyone does within the group the higher the bonuses they will receive. The game costs $169.99 and includes 45 licensed tracks with additional tracks that can be downloaded. I am going to stick to playing real instruments but if I could not play the real thing I would definitely rock out in this game. Metacritic score: 9.5

Cowbell Hero

The Octopus Project - Hello, Avalanche

Hello, Avalanche, is The Octopus Project's third full length album and from what I have heard from it so far is full of all instrumental pop greatness. I had no prior knowledge of the band and have not listened to the full album yet but I am really liking these songs so far. Happy Friday!

The Octopus Project - "Bees Bein Strugglin"
The Octopus Project - "Truck"

Sigur Ros - Two Worlds Collide

For those of you that knew me in my high school days are aware that I was somewhat (wink) into Smashing Pumpkins at that time. Well my music past is colliding with my music present in that it is reported that Sigur Rós (one of my favorite current artists) is working on a new album with producer Mark "Flood" Ellis (Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness). I am looking forward to the combination but only time will tell with the results. Sigur Rós can make songs so beautiful your heart will cease beating so get out that defibrillator:

Sigur Rós - "Sæglópur"
Sigur Rós - "Untitled 4"

Wicked Scepter - The Greatest band you have never heard of...

...or not.

Led Zeppelin - How the West Was Won

My Dad sent me a youtube clip of a great live performance from Ten Years After and it made me yearn for great live classic rock. Then I remembered buying this CD several weeks back and figured I would share some of the tracks that I thought were highlights. This is Zeppelin at their best:

Led Zeppelin - "Over the Hills and Far Away"
Led Zeppelin - "Going to California"
Led Zeppelin - "Heartbreaker"

Dan Bejar

Dan Bejar wears many hats while being in such groups as the New Pornographers, Destroyer, Swan Lake and now Hello Blue Roses. Hello Blue Roses is a new project that includes Dan Bejar and his main squeeze Sydney Vermont. The new song by Hello Blue Roses is titled "My Shadow Falls" and is making its way around the blogosphere. The song is a good song in its own right, but is not one of my favorite works from the prolific Bejar. I mainly wanted to take this opportunity to highlight other great Bejar works:

Hello Blue Roses - "My Shadow Falls"
Destroyer - "Rubies"
Destroyer - "European Oils"
Destroyer - "Painter in Your Pocket"

Journey - "Seperate Ways"

My friend Michael and I were discussing the sheer genius behind ESPN Page 2 writer Bill Simmons' take on the Journey video provided below:

• "29. Journey - Seperate Ways: A recipe for bliss: Take one of the cheesiest-yet-enjoyable bands of that era (Journey), bring them to an empty shipyard, have them play invisible instruments and lip-synch the hell out of their best song, throw in some ridiculous slow-motion closeups and multi-picture edits, and have a hot girl with a bad haircut walking around for no reason whatsoever. And if that's not enough, lead singer Steve Perry gives one of the greatest performances of the last 35 years -- he throws himself into this thing like DeNiro or Pacino. It's incredible. Everything about this slays me. If somebody gave me five minutes to sum up the '80s, I would just show them this video and be done with it."
  

Enjoy the video and enjoy the entire article found here.

Dexter -Sundays on Showtime 9/8c

For those who have never seen Dexter you really should check it out. Hopefully this post is not too cyriptic, but I don't want to reveal all those secrets that make this show so compelling but here it goes...

Dexter chronicles the life of a serial killer that works for the Miami Police Department as a blood spatter analyst. Dexter was orphaned at the age of three when his mother was brutally murdered right in front of him and was left in a pool of her blood for days before being found by the police. Harry Morgan was one of the first officers to arrive at the scene of the slaying of Dexter's mother and subsequently raises Dexter as his own. Harry quickly recognizes Dexter's sociopathic urges and raises him in a manner that helps Dexter exercise these urges through what is reffered to as the "code". The "code" is a set of rules which look like this:

1. Killing innocents is NEVER allowed
   


2. Always take time and make sure you have the right person-EVIDENCE
   


3. Be extremely careful with the killing and more importantly the PREPARATION!
   


4. Remember: YOU control your urges to kill, they don't control you.
   


5. Fake emotion and normalness to fit in.

Season 1 is basically an introduction to Dexter's character and how he uses the "code" to curb his sociopathic urges. This season also chronichles the "ice truck killer" which becomes an intense plot line late in the season and into the finale. Season 1 is availible now on DVD and is defenitely recommended.

Season 2 starts slow as the writers have to deal with the hangover of the "ice truck killer" plot line; however, Dexter is beginning to gain some serious momentum in the last couple of episodes. Fellow officer Sgt. Doakes of the Miami Police Department has always sensed something amiss about Dexter, but unlike last season the writers present a more proactive Sgt. Doakes this time around who is actively pursuing answers to these lingering suspicions. The Doakes and Dexter tension finally came to a head in this weeks episode (Episode 8) and is sure to be a very compelling plotline for the immediate future and remainder of the season.

Season 2 also shows the writers willingness to explore Dexter's vulnerabilities. The beginning of the season has Dexter on edge as the Miami Police have found the underwater graves of several dozen of Dexter's victims. The FBI is brought in and the hunt is on for what the media deems "The Bay Harbor Butcher" or unbenownst to authorities someone within the very police department trying to solve these crimes. With constant media pressure and an escalating investigation we begin to see a Dexter that is less confident and more vulnarable as he begins to feel emotions possibly stemming from his fear that if he is revealed for who he really is then Dexter will face his own mortaility. This vulnerability may not last long as Dexter is coming to grips with his emotions and is showing signs of returning to that perfect killer he was in season 1 which makes this season and this show truly great TV.

Mixtape 1

Band of Horses - Is There a Ghost?
Sunset Rubdown - The Meanding of the Gown
Kevin Drew - Safety Bricks
Les Savy Fav - What Would Wolves Do?
Yeasayer - 2080
Menomena - Wet and Rusting

Kevin Drew + J Mascis = Gold

Kevin Drew - "Backed Out on the Cause "

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia has to be the best comedy on TV right now...

Broken Social Scene Presents: Kevin Drew-Spirit If...

Kevin drew is one of the founders and chief songwriters of the Canadian supergroup Broken Social Scene (BSS). Spirit If... is the latest compilation of songs written by Kevin Drew as a solo album of sorts with the caveat that this offering is influenced by the appearance of BSS members. Thus, the album hints of BSS but one can tell that Kevin Drew is the captain of the ship this time around. Those familiar with BSS's works can discern the BSS's members influences, but in my opinion there is enough distance between BSS and Kevin Drew as a solo artist that makes these works refreshing and enjoyable in their own right. If you like BSS than give this album a whirl, you will be glad you did. (8.5/10)

Sunset Rubdown-Random Spirit Lover

Infectious, progressive and somewhat avant-garde Random Spirit Lover is not your father's "prog rock". Sunset Rubdown is yet another of indie darling Spencer Krug's (Wolf Parade, Frog Eyes, Swan Lake) side projects and with the release of their latest album Random Spirit Lover arguably his strongest work to date. Random Spirit Lover takes a while to sink in to your conscious but when it finally crawls into your head you will find yourself singing its melodies in your sleep. This album can only be described as the crowning achievement in the early, yet prolific career of Spencer Krug. I don't want to oversell this album but it is the most exciting music I have heard in years so buy yourself a copy and listen to it until your ears bleed. It will sink in eventually and you can thank me later. (10/10)