Michelle Branch's solo hiatus results in EP
Michelle Branch rocks out where she left off with her newest solo work, Everything Comes and Goes. She recollects her Wreckers band past within the country genre, but the
inspired stand alone singer/songwriter is back.
Although not a complete album, this EP is certainly a
spoiler. (Her new CD, Different Kind of Country, is scheduled for release in the next few months). This upbeat and reflective collection of songs is sure to get Branch back on track with her solo career.
"Ready to Let You Go" and "Sooner or Later" are upbeat tracks focused on moving forward in life. "Crazy Ride" and "Everything Comes and Goes" are positively reminiscent as the singer reflects on what she's learned in her artistic career. The album contains a bit of good-natured twang, but Branch continues to cater to her pop music fans as well.
Michelle Branch may have introduced a new genre into her solo career, but her positive outlook as she takes on life through her music is ever present. Previous fans of this crazy-talented artist who writes, sings, and plays all her own songs will not be disappointed, and Branch is sure to inspire any new fans who come along, (but hopefully don’t go), as well.
— Bridget Baumgart
Stone Temple Pilots return with self-titled CD
Stone Temple Pilots are back. Their new, self-titled release is surprisingly good, but doesn’t stray from the band’s roots. The opening track, “Between the Lines”, sounds just like they have in the past. The only problem is it’s been played on the radio so much in the last few weeks that I’m already tired of it.
Other than that single, the album is quite decent. It’s as if they’d never broken up and spent years apart. It sounds like they’re still comfortable with each other. Notable tracks include “Huckleberry Crumble”, “Cinnamon”, and “Peacoat”. These songs span the same genres that their previous albums did, giving Stone Temple Pilots their unique mix of sounds.
I’m exited about this album. It marks the comeback of a great band. Stone Temple Pilots doesn’t deteriorate with age. Deluxe version with interviews and extra tracks on iTunes.
Stone Temple Pilots - Huckleberry Crumble 2010
— Alex Beaudin
Futureheads newest release on Dovecote Records
The Futureheads are at it again with their new CD, The Chaos. Similar to their previous work in the sense that they don’t sound much like anyone else but themselves.
It’s hard to pick standout songs on this CD because they’re all similar, though not in a bad way. The Futureheads have a way of taking punk music and making it something different, upbeat and peppy, post-punk if you will.
If I had to pick one song that I thought showcased the band, it would have to be “Heartbeat Song”. It feels just as absolutely British as the band or anything I’ve ever heard out of the UK..
This CD was fun, energetic and not very complicated. It’s just different from anything coming out of the States. Even though it sounded a lot like their last album, it was new. The sound was diverse enough, but it didn't detract from the sound cultivated. It definitely shows some maturity for the band. Overall, something quite enjoyable.
— Alex Beaudin
Russell Brand and Jonah Hill go Greek
Living in a world that is celebrity-obsessed, Get Him to the Greek gives us an exaggerated look at the life of pseudo-Bono-esque rocker Aldous Snow, played by English comedian/actor Russell Brand. We gawk at Snow thru the eyes of the average Jonah Hill, a record company employee who feels a bit neglected by his hospital working girlfriend.
Hill's character, Aaron, lives by a schedule, and his task to get Snow to the Today Show and later to the Greek Theater in Los Angeles constantly brings him stress.
Snow encourages him to relax and simply enjoy life while it happens, usually involving copious amounts of drugs and alcohol. What we find is that, even if you have everything and drug use is acceptable, it's still lonely at the top - it is the relationships that the two main characters neglect that drives them to be unhappy, and in the end the lavish lifestyle is rather unimportant.
What this film teaches us is that not only should we not plague ourselves with stress and misery, but that we should enjoy the small things in life. The ridiculous situations that the characters get into are so absurd and hilarious, giving us an escape from the everyday events that we’re used to.
The Hangover meets Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Him to the Greek is a satirical comedy with a hint of romance, although some of the humor is not very adolescent-appropriate, drug use being the main drawback.
However, its ultimate message in regards to the drugs is that they won’t necessarily bring happiness – even if the situations they do bring seem so outrageous and appealing. Get Him to the Greek is a similar story that we’ve seen before, but it stands out enough to not be considered unoriginal.
— Cari Ross
Iron Man 2 is one of 2010's best
Iron Man 2 could not have come out at a better time. Technology is expanding every day, in the hands of millions with smart phones and electronic gadgets. And on TV with crime-solving programs that make it all look easy.
There’s no debate that the military utilizes technology to its advantage, bringing up issues of reality in the Iron Man movies that makes it all look almost dream-like. Arguably a science fiction movie, Iron Man 2 uses CGI and a vision of technology to create a film that not only entertains, but also allows its audience to examine how the world is rapidly developing.
The sequel involves a constant battle between good and evil. This movie chronicles Tony Stark's struggle of peacemaker and entertainer, giving him multiple nemeses to fight against in the ultimate arms race.
With an all-star cast (Robert Downey, Jr., Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sam Rockwell, Mickey Rourke and Samuel L. Jackson), Iron Man 2 moves from scene to scene with aesthetically pleasing backdrops and action-packed conflicts. However, it does seem to fall short of its expectations; it lacks a steady conflict, introducing a multitude of characters and relationships that aren’t necessarily hard to follow, but nonetheless are distracting.
Either way, if you want to be entertained and not have to examine the plot to an extenuating degree, Iron Man 2 is a great flick.
— Cari Ross