Dharni…

So logging into Youtube to get a tutorial to fix something on my car, I figured I’d get distracted for about 4 hours.     This little gem appeared on my homepage and I can’t help but be insanely impressed by this dude.  Check out his other vids he’s legit.

 

I Miss J Dilla…

Recently I started a play through of all 1500 songs on my MP3 player in order to revisit some old favs and delete some shit I didn’t even know was on it.  One of many artists that stood out in its personal timelessness is J Dilla.  As an ex hip hop fan and having worked in the Mix Tape/DJ retail business for two years, I’ve heard about everything there was to listen to.  I currently have very little hip hop left in my MP3 player due to its lack of actual instruments and redundant themes.  The Big Ls, Tupacs, and Biggies left a void in the genre that can never and will never be filled in my opinion.

Dilla however stands out as a musical super talent even with my own super critical view of hip hop.  Sadly he died prematurely but his body of work is amazing nonetheless.  Even though he’s gone, I smile and turn up the volume whenever he randomly pops on my playlist.  That’s about the best legacy anyone could ask for.

 

 

Volumes…

Easily my most listened to song of 2012, had to give Volumes some props.  They were my go to snowboard (and gym) soundtrack this season which saw some pretty spectacular powder days so I’ve definitely bonded with their last album VIA.

Caught them at 2011 and 2012 NE Metalfests, these guys show up live too and the ones I met are super cool guys.  If you’re already a fan go buy some merch and support these dudes.

 

2012 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

4,329 films were submitted to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. This blog had 48,000 views in 2012. If each view were a film, this blog would power 11 Film Festivals

Click here to see the complete report.

 

THE WALKING DEAD – Season Two Premiere Analysis: The Fuck Up List…

I wasn’t disappointed enough with Season 1 to write a review COUGH… scathing analysis. However after three minutes of the Season 2 Premiere I quickly changed my mind.

The Season starts off with a recap of how awful the 1st season was which I brought back fond memories of wasting hours of my life hoping the actors would suddenly learn how to act.

Then it kicks in with the main character Rick Grimes talking about his feelings over a walkie talkie to someone from the first or second episode thats been dead for weeks. It quickly moves to their caravan of survivors rolling out of ATL to Fort Bennett. They quickly become stuck on the highway due to overturned cars and gridlocked traffic. Oh and then their 30 year old RV surprisingly breaks down…

FUCK UP #1 – In the Zombie Apocalypse, invest in new whips and equipment and by INVEST I mean STEAL something new that isn’t 30 FUCKING YEARS OLD. Nobody gives a shit what you steal; EVERYONE IS FUCKING DEAD.

As the kids wander off in a sea of cars and they all meander away solo to reluctantly scavenge supplies, an old man on a roof keeping watch doesn’t see a pack of zombies walk up behind him from the direction they just came 10 minutes ago (somehow driving right past a pack of 200 zombies?). Finally, they notice they have company. They are 50 yards away… Officer Rick Grimes stands among the cars with his sniper rifle breaking all rules of having a fuckin sniper rifle in your hands.

FUCK UP #2 – Put someone with a SNIPER RIFLE and better vision than a 70 year old on fucking roof for look out detail.

 

Crush Em All Tour Review…

Just saw the Crush Em All Tour this past Monday at The Met in Pawtucket RI.  Co-headlined by Veil of Maya and After The Burial, the tour also included Misery Signals and Within the Ruins as well as Structures.  Originally I though Volumes was playing but they played select dates in order to join a different tour to promote their new album “VIA” which is sick.

I got there at the beginning of Within the Ruins set.  I saw them at Metal Fest this year, they are pretty solid. Singer seemed pissed the crowd was hardly moving but on a Monday at 7:30 in Pawtucket you aren’t gonna get much energy…  Kudos to him for trying though.

I was looking forward to Misery Signals the most as their album “Controller” is in steady rotation on my MP3 player.  They didn’t disappoint and the crowd was really into them; there were some die hard MS fans fucking shit up.  I figured they would be the best band of the night but I couldn’t even pick a favorite if I tried.

After The Burial really killed it.  Their lead guitarist Trent Hafdahl is a BEAST.  I haven’t been that impressed by a guitarist in a long time.  “Aspirations” is ridiculous live.  Both guitarists ripped on black-light 8 strings and the singer kept the energy super high.  He dedicated a song to his late mother which was so intense it gave me the chills.  The whole band was impressive.

Veil of Maya is a band I never really got into but live they were great, very technical. Sometimes it takes seeing a band live to get into them.

I would definitely HIGHLY recommend both this tour and seeing any of these bands perform outside the tour.
The Met is also a decent little venue.  Lots of pillars so I can’t see any great pits going on here (the circle pit attempt was interesting) but spacious with good sound and a nice deck for smokers.  Too bad Pawtucket is a fucking shithole!

 

Monday Night MTV: Death Valley & Ridiculousness…

Death Valley is MTVs latest show designed to phase out music videos entirely. Debuts tomorrow at 10:30 after the new Rob Dyrdek show Ridiculousness at 10:00.  Looks like a Reno 911 + a George Romero movie sprinkled with some True Blood.  I enjoy the Sean of the Deadesque treatment of the undead genre almost as much as I like 28 Weeks Later style flicks.  Also keep an eye out for the upcoming “World War Z” movie starring Brad Pitt.  If they got Brad for it, its gotta be a dope movie.  Might need to check out the book too.