A friend introduced me to Justice, and after checking out the video above and the one for D.A.N.C.E. I ran out and bought a copy of the album Cross, which I’ve been listening to nonstop ever since. It’s not my usual fare, but it’s fantastic! I feel like they’ve managed to strike the perfect balance between regular, thumping beats and more interesting (but less dance-able) aural adventures. As far as dancing goes, this music makes even a wallflower like me get into it - I’d have no qualms about throwing this entire disc on at a party. Songs like DVNO and D.A.N.C.E. are sure hits, broken up by more experimental tracks like my personal favorite, Stress. (Sorry, no awesome video for that one, just the album cover) I’m not sure what else to say about the disc, except go listen to it! You’ll love it!

Buy Cross from Amazon on CD or as MP3’s using this link and help us cover our hosting costs. It costs you nothing and we’ll love you forever. Promise!

Filed under: Media | Entertainment, Music — Max @ 7:24 am

I caught the second LA showing of the Kanye West Glow in the Dark tour tonight and was very impressed. I knew I would enjoy it because the lineup was solid and the venue nice and new. I was afraid that all the hype would ruin it, though. There’s been a lot of good reviews and I’ve been waiting to see this show since Prince was on Apollonia, since OJ had isotoners. Despite all the hype and having to wade through 17 year old hipsters to get to my seat, the show lives up to all the lofty reviews.

Continue reading Kanye West glows in the dark

Filed under: Music — Roy @ 1:10 am

I don’t think anyone familiar with their larger body of work is surprised, but the new Black Keys album is fantastic. I’ll keep this short because instead of listening to me you should be opening iTunes and buying it now. Or you could go to Amazon if you prefer those impossible-to-open jewel cases. And if it’s currently downloading, stick around, read something Max wrote, he’s usually pretty entertaining.

 
 
 
 
 
Highlights: Strange Times, Lies, Remember When (Side B), So He Won’t Break

Filed under: Music — Roy @ 9:50 pm

I wasn’t expecting much from Shine a Light, the new Rolling Stone’s concert movie. Why not you ask? Well, first of all when I pay for a concert I go to a concert hall, not a movie theater. Second, I go for the “live” musical experience that brings with it an energy that usually cannot be captured on tape.

I got over my snootiness pretty quickly when I realized the brilliance of concert movies: giving the audience an intimate look at a live performance. You are able to see things about a concert up-close and personal, which is something you can’t get unless you’re willing to shell out the big bucks for front row seats. The film was directed by Martin Scorsese, who does a great job in bringing the concert to life on film. Scorsese goes beyond simply putting a concert on the big screen and matches archival footage with specific musical scenes which gives some historical perspective to the Rolling Stones. I found the best use of this footage was in pairing an interview with a band member and then focusing on that member for the next song. This resulted in making that particular performance more interesting and fun.

Shine a Light, selected theaters and IMAX!

[image from Rolling Stones MySpace]

Filed under: Movies — Pilar @ 8:53 am

Jurassic 5 is one of my favorite hip hop groups and their recent break up saddens me greatly but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Two-fifths of the Los Angeles based group is working on a new project with a refreshing spin. The Dino 5 is a kid friendly hip hop group with reptilian alter egos like Tracy Triceratops, DJ Stegosaurus and MC T-Rex. The group consists of Chali 2na and Prince Paul from J5, Ladybug Mecca of Digable Planets, Wordsworth of eMC and Scratch of the Roots. The Roots are tied for being my favorite artist (great live show, make it a point to see it before you die) and all the other members belong to groups that will be remembered in hip hop.

Continue reading Rapping Dinosaurs = Awesome

Filed under: Music — Roy @ 12:45 am

Under the Same Moon (La Misma Luna) is a cute independent movie that premiered during Sundance 2007. The film tells an immigration story from two points of view: Mother and Child. It is an effort to introduce the public to the idea of Mexican-U.S. immigration and what it feels like to navigate this difficult lifestyle.

Continue reading Under the Same Moon (and introducing Eugenio Derbez)

Filed under: Movies — Pilar @ 5:58 pm

Confessions of an Economic Hitman reads like an indictment of “The Man”, complete with the familiar counterculture refrain: Think about the world. Read between the lines. And most important of all, question everything. It’s easy to see how this book has been labeled as a book focused on conspiracy theory; however the author is clear that it isn’t a cabal of plotters, but rather something else entirely - a warning about what our society is becoming. Though the message is common in fiction, this book insists it is fact.

Continue reading Question Everything: Confessions of an Economic Hitman

Filed under: Books — Max @ 6:25 pm

To promote the upcoming miniseries, John Adams, HBO & the Post Office are trying to get people to write more cards…even if this means doing it online! I visited the Power of the Letter website to check out. Sure enough, you can write a complimentary (that means one free) card via the cardstore. This time of year does have some holidays (Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Leap Year Day) so I’ll definitely be using this complementary card…but now, on who?

Link: USPS Power of the Letter and AdAge’s WriteUp (Membership Required)

Filed under: Media | Entertainment — Pilar @ 10:12 am

A buddy of mine told me I need to check out FreakAngels, a new webcomic by Warren Ellis (Writing, of Transmetropolitan Fame) and Paul Duffield (Illustration). It’s got a distinctly steampunk feel to it, but also shades of Mad Max and 28 Days Later - and it’s free! Needless to say, I was hooked instantly. Already I want them to release more than six pages a week!

Image from FreakAngels Issue One, Page One.

Filed under: Comics, Media | Entertainment — Max @ 6:09 pm

I got a chance to check out an advance screening of the new Harold and Kumar movie at ArcLight yesterday. Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay follows the hilarious duo right where they left off in 2004; full from an obscenely large order of tiny burgers and fries and chasing Harold’s beautiful love interest Maria on her way to Amsterdam. I’ll say this now, I loved this movie.

I don’t want to give away any plot, so don’t be afraid to read on. I generally stay away from sequels like this. By “like this” I mean smash hits that are basically guaranteed sequels for financial reasons. (Example). I don’t want to see a sequel because an accountant said it made sense, I want a sequel because there is a story that isn’t finished being told.
 

Continue reading Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay

Filed under: Movies — Roy @ 11:06 pm