Alessa Valentine

Massive Attack's Heligoland Is A Place You'll Want To Visit

2010-03-28T17:58:00.001-04:00

By Alessa Valentin

It's been seven years since the release of 100^th Window, the last studio album from British Trip-Hop pioneers, Massive Attack. With an impressive career spanning more than twenty two years, the former trio and current duo has not been one to recycle the same material with each of their four previous albums. Massive Attack is all about experimentation and risk taking which has resulted in a varied and unique catalog. Despite their ever changing musical style, the band's fifth album, Heligoland, manages to keep the mood and sex appeal that has kept fans coming back for the last two decades.

After working on 100^th Window alone, Robert “3D” Del Naja is once again joined by original member, Grant “Daddy G” Marshall. Though Massive Attack in its current state is definitely Del Naja and Marshall's brainchild, the band has always favored guest vocals and collaborations with other artists. Heligoland is no exception with guest spots from the likes of Tunde Adebimpe of TV On The Radio fame, Damon Albarn from Blur and Gorillaz, Hope Sandoval of The Warm Inventions and Mazzy Star and Guy Garvey of Elbow. Martina Topley-Bird, known for her solo work as a singer-songwriter as well as her work with Tricky, also makes an appearance, as does Massive Attack's favorite reggae singer, Horace Andy.

It's never an easy task to know what to expect from a band like Massive Attack. With their last three albums, they've moved from the super chill sounds of Protection to the harder and heavier sound of Mezzanine to the cold, sample-less style of 100^th Window. Despite their propensity to change in delivery, the band's work is always dark, sexy and atmospheric. With Massive Attack, you are truly seeing the work of two artists whose medium is sound. They know how to design mood with their instruments which makes it hard to not get sucked into their music. Heligoland is lush, dark, sexy and atmospheric like the rest of their work but is back to the more jazzy sound that was missing on 100^th Window.

With an album like Heligoland, it's not at all a hard task to find a standout track. “Babel” doesn't try hard to be cool but does so seemingly effortless. It's laid back and smooth with a bit of bite to it while Martina Topley-Bird's soft, almost childlike voice adds wonderfully to the texture and intense mood of the track. “Flat of the Blade” is by far, the creepiest track on the album but with Massive Attack, that's always a good thing. Guy Garvey's vocals are hypnotic and haunting while he sings, “I'm not good in a crowd/I got skills I can't speak of/Things I've seen will chase me to the grave.” Hope Sandoval's hushed, soothing vocals on “Paradise Circus” combined with it's sexy, relaxed sound make for another incredible track off of the album. The bass and drums are slinky against Sandoval's breathy words, “Love is like a sing, my love/For the ones that feel it the most.” The drum and guitar work of “Saturday Come Slow” is wrought with emotion and feeling, melts into Damon Albarn's thoughtful and unique vocals while he begs the question, “Do you love me?” It seems fairly safe to say that the answer will be yes for both existing fans as well as newcomers.

Though all in all, Heligoland is a fantastic album, the beginning can get a little rough initially. The album opener “Pray For Rain” features vocals from Tunde Adebimpe. It moves from it's piano heavy, gloomy and sparse beginning into a more tribal sounding section with much more emphasis on drums into a dreamy, synth driven breakdown and back to the beginning again. Though the drum and synth powered parts of the song are incredibly interesting and quite lovely, the piano powered parts can come off as a bit plain and repetitive in comparison. “Girl I Love You” is dreamy with its sparkling chimes and generally beautiful but there are a few breakdowns involving horns that can really try your patience with their intentional off-key cacophony. Horace Andy's vocals are always incredible though and if you can look past or fast forward through the painful bits, you are rewarded with a great track. Neither of the low points on the album are truly awful songs but rather could have been absolutely spectacular with minor changes to them. In fact after the first few listens, it might be easier to overlook the hard bits than it was at the start.

Heligoland is an incredibly interesting album that is definitely worth a listen and worth a purchase. It hits a great blend of the dreamy, dark, moodiness that Massive Attack fans know and love while adding in a few breaths of fresh air and inventiveness. With standout tracks like “Babel”, “Flat of the Blade”, “Paradise Circus” and “Saturday Come Slow”, the album is rich in its textures and sounds. The mark of a truly good album, though there aren't that low points present, even they have a great deal of artistic value and merit. Each of them could have easily been standout tracks in their own right had a few minor changes or omissions had been made. Though it took us seven years to get here, Massive Attack has created yet another gorgeous sound landscape with Heligoland and it's a place that both existing fans and newcomers will all be eager to visit.

This article was originally published in and edited by The Brooklyn College Excelsior and was re-edited for my blog.

The Wolfman: A Universal Monster of a Disappointment

2010-03-28T17:48:00.003-04:00

By Alessa Valentin

Though not the first movie (and definitely not the last) to bring lycanthropy to the big screen, Curt Siodmak and George Waggner's 1941 movie, The Wolf Man, has definitely been one of the most well known and well loved movies on the subject. With considerable popularity on its initial release combined with an already large but steadily growing number of fans nearly seventy years later, it is safe to say that the original Universal monster got it right the first time.

Unfortunately today's movie industry has lost its ability to leave well enough alone. Constantly wishing to cash in on remakes of the original movies of yesteryear, they've started recycling titles left and right. Clearly, with such a large amount of existing fans, The Wolf Man seemed like a great candidate for a movie makeover. And while many of those same fans were highly anticipating the 2010 release of the Joe Johnston directed remake, The Wolfman, many of those fans will be sorely disappointed with what they have been given.

The Wolfman stars Benicio del Toro as Lawrence Talbot, an actor living in America who returns to his estranged family's house in England upon hearing of his brother Ben's disappearance. His father, Sir John Talbot played by Anthony Hopkins, welcomes Lawrence home and informs him that his brother's body had already been found, torn up in a ditch. After meeting Ben's heartbroken fiancé, Emily Blunt as Gwen Conliffe, he resolves to not rest until he discovers what killed his brother. His quest for the truth leads him to become the very monster that sits at the center of the mystery and towards the love that may save him from the curse.

At first glance, this movie seems to have all the ingredients necessary for a great remake. You've got an interesting storyline to use as a blueprint, an extremely talented cast that includes the likes of Anthony Hopkins, Benicio del Toro and Hugo Weaving, a score by Danny Elfman and special effects that far surpass the yak hair covered, lap dissolve days of 1941. So where did this movie go wrong?

One of the major issues with the movie is its lack of character development. We don't get to know that much about any of the main characters aside from dialogue that tries desperately to throw in little facts to help curb our curiosity. Because of this, it makes it incredibly difficult to care all that much about anybody onscreen. If you can't make the audience care about the main people in the story, then you might not even bother telling the story at all, no matter how interesting or strong the rest of it might be. Sadly the rest of The Wolfman's storyline doesn't even begin to make up for the weakness in its characters.

While they certainly tried to add their own unique twists to the original storyline, the majority of the changes they made were not big or bold enough in order to be truly effective. It's more like they made a series of swaps for the roles of this character and that character with those swaps being incredibly predictable and formulaic. There seemed to have been little to no thinking about how they could expand on the legend of Wolf Man and where they did, they didn’t push the ideas far enough to make them a focal point of the movie.

As the remake of a classic horror film that was probably truly horrifying to the audience of its day, the movie doesn't succeed in what should be its main objective: terrifying viewers. That being said, it doesn't seem to really accomplish any of the goals it sets out for itself. While it has hints of romance, drama and horror intertwined, it doesn't take any of them far enough to elicit a reaction from the audience. It's not at all scary enough to shock, not dramatic enough to get a gasp and not romantic enough to summon tears. This, combined with the aforementioned lack of consistent character and plot development transforms the entire 102 minutes of the movie into one giant moment of, “Yeah, so?” It seems that we spend more time waiting for something to happen, rather than actually seeing something happen. There simply isn't enough action and movement within the movie and what is there seems lackluster, poorly executed and repetitive.

To top it all off, there is nothing particularly aesthetically pleasing or at all memorable about the movie. The movie doesn't have its own unique visual style and there are very few truly memorable images. It looks like any other period piece would, holding nothing unique or interesting to help us suspend our disbelief and bring us into a world where Wolfman could exist. There's not a real sense of madness, complete horror or magic to any of the film's shots or set design which gives the movie a handicap in expressing any of these feelings to the audience. Just like a painter works to create a feeling of depth and mood in their artwork, the director should have paid more attention to these aspects when creating the world of The Wolfman.

Sadly, it seems that the studio and the director were more interested in making a simple, play it safe remake, rather than creating an artistic film based on the 1941 classic. Had the plot been given a little more innovation, had nearly every aspect of the film been kicked up a notch and had there been more attention paid to the overall artistry in terms of set design, plot and creating a world within, this movie could have been a beautiful homage to Lon Chaney Jr.'s original Wolf Man. Instead, this adaptation of the beloved Universal monster is totally uninspired and totally unworthy of a movie ticket. Sad to say, The Wolfman is all bark and no bite.

This article was originally published in and edited by The Brooklyn College Excelsior and was re-edited for my blog.

The Alternate Route to Love: Offbeat Romantic Comedies to Make You Swoon During Any Season

2010-03-28T11:45:00.002-04:00

By Alessa Valentine

For many girls, there's no better way to be unwind than with a romantic comedy that highlights the best parts of relationships while also helping you laugh at the more lacklustre ones. But when the big box office hits don't seem to blend in well with your outlook, it can be hard to find offbeat, quirky and cool indie romantic comedies. Never fear, we've got a few often overlooked indie movies that are just as sweet as their more mainstream counterparts. From the afterlife to the mental institution, we've picked out a few indie romantic comedies that take love to new and interesting heights.

Wristcutters: A Love Story
Directed by Goran Dukic
Starring Patrick Fugit, Shannyn Sossamon, Leslie Bibb and Eugene Hutz

Though undoubtedly not the most optimistic title for a romantic comedy, Wristcutters - A Love Story is surprisingly sweet and heartwarming. An adaptation of Etgar Keret's short story, "Kneller's Happy Campers", Wristcutters is set in a strange sort of afterlife specifically reserved for those who have committed suicide. It's a place where the people can't smile and the days are duller than they were on Earth.

After a bad breakup, a desperate young man named Zia takes his own life and finds himself in the afterlife. A few months later, Zia finds out that his girlfriend, Desiree, took her own life and has been looking for him ever since she got there. Zia and his friend Eugene set out on an epic journey to find Desiree and along the way, meet Mikal, a hitchhiker who says that she ended up in the afterlife by accident. The three go on in search and meet a host of other interesting characters including legendary singer Tom Waits as Kneller. Will Zia find Desiree and get her back or will he find something even more special that he had never even counted on?

The subject matter of this movie is obviously very dark and that goes for the humour too. If you can deal with the morbid nature of it throughout, you will be rewarded with a great love story that culminates in one of the sweetest endings you'll ever see. It'll not only serve to make you more appreciative of your honey, but also more appreciative of life itself.

Amelie
Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Starring Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz and Serge Merlin

Amelie is the story of a shy and reclusive young woman living in Paris. Kept inside for much of her childhood by neurotic parents, Amelie has grown to live inside of her head rather than in the real world. After finding an old time capsule and returning it to its original owner with fantastic results, Amelie decides that she is going to spend the rest of her life doing what she can to ensure the happiness of others.

This plan takes Amelie on a series of adventures, one of which leads her to a handsome man named Nino. After the two bump into each other at a train station, Amelie picks up a photo album that Nino accidentally left behind. She then begins staging elaborate but playful games that serve to intrigue and drawn Nino in. Will Amelie be able to come out of her shell and win the affections of Nino or will her reclusive nature work against her in getting what she wants?

This French film is full of memorable quirky whimsy. Since Amelie spends much of her time in her own head, we are treated to glimpses of her wonderfully wild imagination. And while Amelie's commitment to helping others is sweet in itself and oftentimes very comedic, the heart of the film is a beautiful message about taking chances for the things you really want in life and how a little bit of action can take us a long way, especially when it comes to love.

I'm A Cyborg, But That's Okay
Directed by Park Chan-wook
Starring Im Su-jeong and Rain

I'm A Cyborg, But That's Okay centres around Young-goon, a young woman who believes that she is not a human but a robot. After trying to "recharge" herself through electrocution and almost killing herself in the process, she is sent to a mental institution. While there, she meets another patient Il-Sun, a kleptomaniac who claims he can steal other people's talents, attributes or souls.

The two begin to develop a friendship that soon grows into something a little more complicated, to say the least. Can a relationship work between two people with so many of their own problems? Will true love help Young-goon and Il-Sun overcome them?

Utterly unique, this South Korean film (from the director of Oldboy and Lady Vengeance) is likely be the only romantic comedy that you will ever see set in a mental hospital. While the storyline mainly follows Young-goon and Il-Sun, we meet many other patients who all pitch in to create some incredibly hilarious moments throughout. The movie is guaranteed to have you laughing - but maybe it'll even help remind you that though we've all got our own issues and idiosyncrasies, love is one of the things that can help conquer it all.

Adam and Steve
Directed by Craig Chester
Starring Malcolm Gets, Craig Chester, Parker Posey and Chris Kattan

Adam And Steve is the story of two gay singles in New York City. Adam is a recovering drug addict and alcoholic that has spent too much time working on himself to have an active love life. Steve is Psychiatrist who uncovers other people's emotions by day while hiding his at night which leads to a very overactive love life. After a number of chance encounters, the two go out on a date and pursue a relationship, all the while feeling like they've known each other their whole lives.

While Adam and Steve's love blossoms, the two being to realize that the reason they feel like they've known each other their whole lives may date back to an embarrassing experience from their younger years. Will they be able to look past the past and move on together or does love between a Dazzle Dancer and a Goth never work out?

Whether you are straight, gay or in between, Adam and Steve is romantic comedy that everybody can enjoy. This movie is a perfect combination of great writing and great casting that together, create a hysterical and extremely relatable movie about the emotional baggage that can sometimes get in the way of true love, but only if we let it.

Lars and the Real Girl
Directed by Craig Gillespie
Starring Ryan Gosling, Kelli Garner, Emily Mortimer and Paul Schneider

Lars And The Real Girl is about Lars, a reclusive young man who finds it difficult to relate to and socialize with the people in his small town. Living with his brother and sister-in-law, Gus and Karin, Lars one day has an announcement to make: He met a girl over the Internet. Her name is Bianca and the two are starting a relationship. When Bianca arrives, however, she is not a real girl but rather an incredibly realistic doll that he ordered from a popular adult site.

Horrified, Gus and Karin rush Lars off to the doctor who says that Lars is delusional but must be given the time he needs to get over it on his own. She advises them to band together and go along with Lars and his delusion until he decides that he is ready to give it up. The town bands together and all try to make Lars and Bianca as comfortable as possible. But will Lars be able to get over the delusion that could be keeping him from a more real and longlasting love he may have overlooked?

Lars and the Real Girl is touching and funny in all the right places. The film is not only an example of adorable romantic love but also a moving tribute to the bond between family and community. It's a story about accepting the flaws and failings of those around you and still loving them despite it all.

Paper Heart
Directed by Nicholas Jasenovec
Starring Charlyne Yi, Michael Cera and Nicholas Jasenovec

Paper Heart is a curious blend of documentary and romantic comedy surrounding Charlyne Yi, a comedian and actress who doesn't believe in love. She maintains that she has never been in love, doesn't really understand the concept of it and is unsure of its existence, at least for her. In order to help her understanding of the subject, Charlyne travels across America to interview people that would like to prove her wrong.

Along her way she meets fellow actor, Michael Cera, who pursues Charlyne despite her pessimistic view on relationships. After persistent effort, the two form a bond that may be just the kind of instruction on love that Charlyne needs, but will her cynical side take over and ruin her chance of learning?

The way the film blends interviews with real life people with the fake (though incredibly believable) relationship between Charlyne and Michael, which is a near-unique stortelling format that really works here. Many of the interviews have beautiful little stories that will uplift and amuse you, especially with their hilarious but adorable paper doll re-enactments. And if that's not enough, the soundtrack includes an incredibly sweet original song that Charlyne writes for Michael called "Magic Perfume". Overall, the movie is a great blend of realism and fantasy that carries a fine message about not being afraid of your feelings and taking a gamble on love.

Saved!
Directed by Brian Dannelly
Starring Jena Malone, Mandy Moore, Macaulay Culkin and Patrick Fugit

Saved! is the story of Mary, the picture-perfect Christian girl who seems to have everything going for her. She attends a Christian high school where she has popular and devout friends like Hillary Faye and even has a very handsome, very religious boyfriend named Dean. But Mary's Christian life is turned upside down when she learns that her boyfriend Dean might actually be gay. Determined to help bring him back to a "righteous" and straight path, Mary tries to do everything in her power to "cure" him. When nothing seems to be working, a desperate Mary decides to give up her virginity and have sex with Dean, thinking that this is exactly what will help him.

Unfortunately, this move leaves Mary pregnant while Dean is shipped off to a "degayification" retreat by his parents. Mary soon begins to question everything in her life and is pushed away by the intolerance of Hillary Faye and her cronies. Soon, Mary is ostracized from her former pals and instead befriends Cassandra, a wild Jewish girl attending her Christian highschool and Roland, Hillary Faye's paralyzed brother. She even meets Patrick, the religious, liberal, and very cute skateboarder son of her school's principal. It's with this band of "misfits" that Mary finds true friendship and maybe even true love.

The film is witty with a slight, biting satirical edge directed towards religion. If you are a religious alternative girl that is willing to take a joke, the movie can still be enjoyable and heartwarming despite it having views that may differ from your own. Saved! is a wonderful tale of tolerance and how the undying support and love from family, friends, and partners can help you overcome even the scariest of situations. Even more, it's a lovely reminder that sometimes the most important people to care about are those that wouldn't change you to fit their own image.

Zack and Miri Make A Porno
Directed by Kevin Smith
Starring Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Craig Robinson and Jason Mewes

Zack and Miri have been best friends forever. They live together. They drive to work together. Zack even helps Miri pick out what she should wear when she they go to their high school reunion together. It seems like the only thing they haven't done together is have sex.

But when times get rough and Zack and Miri are threatened with the idea of getting evicted, the two hatch a plot to write, direct and star in their own porno. Enlisting the help of various friends, the two believe that their platonic friendship won't be affected by sexual relations. Fortunately for them, things don't usually go the way we plan and there may be more between the two than they had ever thought.

Zack and Miri Make A Porno was directed by Kevin Smith, who also made Dogma, Chasing Amy and Clerks. So you know what you're getting - wisdom and human tenderness wrapped up in a whole lot of cheek.

Zack And Miri Make A Porno is incredibly raunchy, hugely amusing and delightfully sweet. Due to the very dirty humour and generally graphic sexual nature of most of the film, it's definitely not for the faint of heart. But if you're able to sit through the naughty bits, you're rewarded with a great movie about falling in love with the person you never thought you would - which turns out to be the person that knows you the best. Plus, you'll get to see the most romantic scene involving a toilet ever. Thanks, Mr. Smith.

Saving Face
Directed by Alice Wu
Starring Michelle Krusiec, Joan Chen and Lynn Chen

Wil is a successful Chinese American surgeon living in Manhattan who arrives home one day to discover that not only is her widowed mother pregnant but she's moving in. Since her mother is not married, she's been thrown out of her own parents' house in Queens. But Wil's got some of her own secrets as well and her mother's arrival isn't helping to make things any easier.

As it turns out, Wil is a lesbian that's falling for Vivian, the dancer daughter of the boss at the hospital she works at. Her mother is unaware of this, though it becomes increasingly hard to keep it that way. Knowing that the only way to get her mother out of her apartment and back with her grandparents, Wil tries to marry off her mother. Will she be able to help Ma find the man of her dreams? And will Wil be able to make it work with the woman of hers?

Saving Face is a story of forbidden loves wrapped into one extremely funny package. Though there is a lot of emphasis on Chinese culture, the very traditional nature of the family is something that many people can appreciate and relate to, regardless of their heritage. Wil, Vivian and Ma's abilities to overcome the cultural taboos that threaten their happiness become a refreshing reminder that your love for someone is never something you should be ashamed of, no matter what anybody else tells you.

Garden State
Directed by Zach Braff
Starring Zach Braff, Natalie Portman and Peter Sarsgaard

In Garden State, one of the most well known and well loved alternative romantic comedies, Andrew Largeman is a mildly successful yet troubled young actor who returns home upon the death of his mother. He returns home to mourn the loss of his mother, which turns out to be even more complicated than one might think.

Due to an unfortunate childhood incident that had serious repercussions for the entire family, Andrew has spent the last nine years away from home. In order to help Andrew cope with the event, his psychiatrist father has prescribed him pills that have numbed the pain but also made Andrew feel disconnected with his emotions and with the world around him. In the midst of all this, Andrew meets Sam: a beautiful free spirit whose reckless courage and zest for life is infectious. Can Sam help Andrew reconnect with himself and see the beauty in life or is he destined to miss out on it all?

Garden State is cool and laid back with a killer soundtrack (Iron and Wine, the Shins etc.). The chemistry between Andrew and Sam seems natural and sweet with some killer dialogue between the two. It's funny, touching and best of all, subtle. The characters have a quiet love that doesn't call for gigantic gestures of love or words of devotion being shouted across rooftops in order for it to seem beautiful. The way that the pair interact seems to tell it all without them really having to say a thing. It's an inspiring story about how somebody can change your life when you least expect it and how true love can help turn you into the better person you've always wanted to be.

So whether you're single or taken, gay or straight, mushy to your core or more on the cynical side, there's no need to wait until Valentine's Day to indulge in some comedy-sprinkled romance. With these wonderfully weird indie movie picks, you'll be glad you stayed in.

This article was originally posted on and edited by Mookychick and was re-edited for my blog.

Brody Dalle Writes A "Prescription for Mankind" With Spinnerette

2010-03-28T10:58:00.002-04:00

By Alessa Valentine

History shows us that artists tend to work in periods, becoming obsessed with one style or one technique, creating works that adhere to their desired format. Once they've sufficiently explored their obsession, they move forward, searching to experiment with something else in the favour of challenging themselves, reinventing themselves. Picasso had his Blue Period, his Rose Period before moving into Cubism. Former punk rock queen Brody Dalle is no exception to this rule.

Dalle spent eight years as frontwoman of The Distillers, writing songs with both hard grit and sickening beauty. Thousands of The Distillers fans were horrified when they heard about the band calling it quits in 2006. Some were even more horrified when Ms. Dalle announced that she was starting a new project -- one that would be very much different from the punk tunes that they were used to.

Working under the moniker Spinnerette and collaborating with formed Distillers bandmate Tony Bevilacqua, Alain Johannes of Queens of the Stone Age and Jack Irons (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Eleven and Pearl Jam), Dalle has adopted a fresh, new musical style on the self-titled debut album, Spinnerette. While Dale's new music may alienate some diehard fans, it's one that will surely win her quite a few new ones.

The album kick starts with "Ghetto Love", a delicate balance between a funkiness that forces you to move your hips with its drum work and the hard rocking that will keep you banging your head with its guitar work. On hearing this opening track, hardcore Dalle fans should feel that in spite of this punk beauty softening her sound, she definitely hasn't lost her edge.

"All Babes Are Wolves" is a thrashing plea for forgiveness and a declaration of devotion all wrapped into one. Likening herself to a wolf "born on a bad moon", Dalle apologizes for her past mistakes while aiming to do better the next time if offered one more chance. Dalle moves from steady singing and then sky rockets to screams in a chorus of, "Oh babe, I would die for you, woah. Oh babe, I would never stray." If you've gotten into a tiff with your significant other, this just might be the rock anthem you need to win them back. Play it on a dark night under a bad moon and they'll love you forever.

Dalle is a woman that's suffered the sting of the Roman Godlike ambassador of love quite a few times and it shows on "Cupid". The track is a little more downtempo than those that precede it, mixing in a few unexpected chimes and tinkers with the guitar - a juxtaposition that further illustrates the theme of Cupid not being nearly as nice as we all wish he'd be. Deeply singing, "Cupid's a heartless angel with cruel composure," Dalle's words are poetic, but easy to relate to. When Dalle points out that Cupid doesn't "aim to please," they are words that we've all thought once or twice before.

"Geeking" is summer mischief's anthem. With lines like, "You and I got a reason to live. Now that I'm drunk, I don't know what is," it's easy to see why. It's equal parts rebel and feelgood with a hint of restlessness as Dalle sings, "Nowhere, going nowhere, going nowhere. Nowhere fast. Lightning fast." Wasting time has never sounded better.

The next track,"Baptized By Fire", was picked as one of the three singles released from the album. The track has a wonderful message to it with lines like, "Pick your heart up off the floor, hold it gently now and go to the place you were meant to know." It has somewhat introspective, slower verses and a more upbeat, dance-oriented feel which helps bring to life the message of redemption, even after years of pain.

"A Spectral Suspension" is a haunting lullaby with steady drums and guitar work that explode at the chorus. The track speaks volumes of desperation and guilt as Brody scream-sings, "I've gone mad, kissed insane. Where do you go when you leave this place? I've made my bed. Don't have to lie in it." It's ethereal and slightly gothic in its dark but delicate and dreamy vibe. It's easy to feel the influence of Johannes' work with Queens of the Stone Age in its composition, while Dalle's voice and lyrical stylings help to make the sound all her own.

"Distorting A Code" is the second song from the Ghetto Love EP that made it onto the album (the first being the EP's title track) and for good reason. Dalle wonders dreamily on the track, "How do I find my back home?" Later on in the track, the music moves into a frantic breakdown only to find its way back to its softer pace in the end, working beautifully with the idea of finding your way back home through difficult situations.

"Sex Bomb" and "The Impaler" are two of the more diverse tracks off the album. Both tracks sound like a rocker's way of approaching world music which makes for an unexpected but highly enjoyable pair of tracks. "Sex Bomb" takes a sexier approach as Dalle pleads, "Be my daddy, love you only. No other daddy can tell me what to do." Though the usage of nickname can seem a bit creepy to some, all in all the track is raunchy good danceable fun. "The Impaler" drops a little bit of the sexy and opts for scary as Dalle sings, "I'll take your head off tonight, Vlad Impaler style." It's a track that will get you pumped for any of your own battles.

"Driving Song" is a rocking lament that hits you in the heart as Dalle asks, "If all the love in this world isn't enough, where do you go, who do you trust?" At its core, the track is about having to leave behind somebody that you once loved. A bad breakup or a falling out with a friend is a truly shaking moment that most will do anything to avoid. Dalle captures the essence of that awful period after it doesn't work out and serves it up in a way that won't have you running for the tissue box.

"Rebellious Palpitations" is loud, good fun. With talk of cheap sex and excessive drinking, the song lives up to its title and then some. It bursts into life like a bat out of hell and keeps on rocking all the way through. This track was made to be blasted from a convertible while driving seventy miles an hour down a desert highway.

"The Walking Dead" has a title that will deceive you. No, it's not an ode to everybody's favourite undead creatures, the zombies. The track's aim is to make you think about how you live your own life. "I won't believe in dying to live," Dalle sings as you can feel the sincerity in her words. It's a fabulous track that will help you think about how you deal with the daily grind and rat race that so many seem to get trapped in.

"A Prescription for Mankind" is the album's closer and it's eight minutes of the sexiest rock and roll you'll hear from any modern band. It ends the album on a high note and will leave have you wanting to get your prescription refilled over and over.

It's difficult to find an album anywhere else that will contain such raw emotion, tackling a host of tough topics with such expert songwriting while still remaining as uptempo and catchy as Spinnerette manages to be. Between the rocking beats and the relatable circumstances of each track, every song begs to be put on repeat and it'll be difficult to stop yourself from answering that plea. Instead of opting to do The Distillers 2.0 after the split, Dalle took a risk and developed a new sound that has definitely paid off. Though Dalle's new sound may turn off some of her old fans, the band's debut self-titled album is brilliant in its own right - infusing Dalle's edge with a more playful, less intense sound that is sure to bring Brody Dalle to a whole new audience.

This article was originally posted on and edited by Mookychick and was re-edited for my blog.

The Dead Weather Create A Monster Of An Album With Horehound

2010-03-28T00:20:00.002-04:00

By Alessa Valentine

Take a whisk of rock, a syrup spoon of country and a sprinkle of The Kills and The Raconteurs and what do you get? The Dead Weather. But can they live up to their supergroup status?

From Broken Social Scene to Heaven and Hell to Audioslave, we're getting supergroup bands comprised solely of well-known musicians. The word "supergroup" has larger than life connotations, so it's time to see if The Dead Weather can live up to the promise.

The Dead Weather is the latest band to test their hand at supergroup success with their debut album, Horehound. Formed in Nashville, Tennessee and comprised of Alison Mosshart, Jack White, Jack Lawrence and Dean Fertita, The Dead Weather is bringing together musicians from some of the most talented bands in music today. Mixing members of The Kills, The White Stripes, The Raconteurs, The Greenhornes and Queens of the Stone Age respectively, The Dead Weather's lineup alone makes it the quintessential supergroup of our time.

As the debut album of a band that's generated a substantial buzz since forming earlier this year, Horehound could have easily failed to live up to the hype created by both fans and critics alike. Fortunately, The Dead Weather manages to soar above and beyond anybody's expectations.

Instead of starting the album off with a bang, The Dead Weather opts for a more subtle, bluesy buildup with "60 Feet Tall". The track introduces us to itself with a simple but intriguing little tune that builds both suspense and anxiety as to where The Dead Weather plan on taking us for the individual track and the album as a whole. After sufficiently teasing the listener, the song moves into a brief pinch of feedback before it settles into a funky minimalist sound - that gets shattered towards the end of the track when The Dead Weather finally builds up to the big bang we were expecting. Crashing drums mingle with soulful guitar work that envelops your ears and will have you begging the band for more. This is an excellent track to lead into their debut album as it proves that this group has a killer set of skills but makes sure that the audience knows they're only getting started.

Punchier than "60 Feet Tall", the lyrics to "Hang You Up From The Heavens" deal with the uncertainty surrounding a decision to leave someone who isn't the best choice for them. The song is fuelled by anger rather than cliched sorrow and lament - there's no Debbie Downer, Negative Nancy approach to weigh the album down. This is a funky, hard-rocking and oddly empowering track that might even help some fans to make a few decisions of their own.

"I Cut Like A Buffalo" adds organ to the band's already eclectic funk, country and rock influences to give the track an off-kilter carnival feel. The use of instruments like organs, violins, accordions and even banjos in rock music could scream "gimmick" but the song manages to feel cool, modern and effortlessly light on its feet in spite of its vintage edge.

Slowing down just a bit for "So Far From Your Weapon", the tracks starts off with a much more subdued Mosshart singing, "There's a bullet in my pocket burning a hole." As the song builds into the chorus, backing vocals add emphasis to Mosshart's soft but seemingly sinister statements. The track has a beautiful ambiance to it, ripe with darkly addictive moodiness.

"Treat Me Like Your Mother" is the first single off of the album and does a good job encapsulating the sound of The Dead Weather. It's loud and in your face with a definite quirk and edge. The track's highest point is a deliciously frenzied breakdown midway as White and Mosshart scream-spell, "M-a-n-i-p-ulate." The video for the single, directed by Jonathan Glazer, features the pair in a gunfight to the death. The concept works well with the confrontational tone of the track, and it has a strangely modern western feel that mirrors the "old but new" signature sound crafted by the band.

With the next track, "Rocking Horse", the band creates a sultry sound that will have you wanting to sway your hips and scream out "Cowabunga." It sounds like a bad girl/boy surfer's theme song and thus it's the perfect track to blast while you drive through the hot summer air on your way to the beach.

"New Pony" is an incredible cover of the Bob Dylan original that rocks hard. I once heard that bad artists imitate, while the good ones steal. This is most definitely The Dead Weather's case as they truly stole Dylan's track and made it their own. The band's twisted vision, heavy sound and sonic mastery combine with Dylan's provocative lyrics to make for a stellar cover that does not disappoint - which is just as well, as there are a lot of fiercely protective Dylan fans out there.

"Bone House" features Ms. Mosshart proudly letting her listeners know that she always gets what she wants. With lyrics like "I put your heart in a vault, that's how I get the things I want," this track is an anthem for the femme fatales of the world. If you're one of those wonderfully bad women, you couldn't ask for a sexier, more evil-sounding track to relate to.

The only instrumental on the album, "3 Birds", sounds like classic fifties horror movie music for the new millenium. The absence of words isn't a hindrance - it truly allows the listener to hear all of the intricacies present in this track and the rest of the album without the beautiful distraction of lyrics. "3 Birds" will definitely make sure that you get to grips with the incredibly complex and odd yet totally harmonious sound that the band works together to create.

"No Hassle Night" is one of three tracks that were released as downloadable content for the ever-popular Rock Band video game. The drumming moves from fast and hard to a slow, steady pace and back into quick bursts of faster beats that keeps the song interesting and should make for some fun gamplay in the game.

The last track off of the album, "Will There Be Enough Water?", is slow, smooth and gorgeous example of the heavy music heritage that the band has been influenced by from its birthplace in Tennessee. The strong Southern flavours hold true to what country and folk are all about - soul and emotion.

Where living up to supergroup status might be hard for other bands, The Dead Weather makes it look incredibly easy. Mosshart, White, Fertita and Lawrence work together incredibly well, and treat the listeners with a sound that is fresh, raw and rocking all the way through. Horehound takes the attitude of rock, the palpable emotion of country and the sound of each of their previous bands to create a powerful sound that has earned them the moniker of supergroup in more ways than one.

This article was originally posted on and edited by Mookychick and was re-edited for my blog.

Paramore Talks Risk, Religion, Relationships and Success on Brand New Eyes

2010-03-27T22:54:00.004-04:00

By Alessa Valentine

Since the release of 2005's All We Know Is Falling, the members of Paramore have been hard at work carving a name for themselves into the pop punk scene of today. Formed in 2004 in Tennessee, the band has spent the last four years and three albums making sure that they reach their goal and so far, so good. From the big hit that made them a household name, "Misery Business" (off their second album, Riot!), to their work on the ever popular Twilight soundtrack with "Decode", the band already has a formidable number of hits on their hands and with their latest album, they're looking to add some more to the list.

With Hayley Williams on lead vocals, Josh Farro on lead guitar, Zac Farro on drums, Jeremy Davis on bass and new addition, Taylor York on rhythm guitar, the band has yet again created a deliciously catchy brand of pop punk that stands out from that of their peers. With Brand New Eyes, the band has matured as musicians with better playing, stronger vocals and deeper lyrics.

"Careful" and "Feeling Sorry" blend some advice in between crunching guitar. "You can't be too careful anymore when all that is waiting for you won't come any closer; you've got to reach a little more," sings Williams in the catchy call to action that is "Careful". As the opening song of the album, it hints at the risks that the band's new album aims to take. According to "Feeling Sorry", Williams doesn't have any time for sympathy. She's moving forward, away from the people in her past that chose to play it safe and make all the wrong decisions. She sings, "I tried not to think of what might happen when your reality, it finally cuts through. Well, as for me, I got out and I'm on the road; the worst part is that this, this could be you." It's a pop rock reminder that if you want a big life, you need to take the big actions necessary to get there. Worked out well for these five, didn't it?

"Ignorance", the first single off the album, channels Canadian punk rock band Billy Talent with a sound that is loud, energetic, rebellious and has attitude to spare. In this track, Williams fires back at those she's parted ways with in the past with lots of rage and little to no regrets. It's an infectious song that gets you in fight mode.

With songs like "Playing God" and "Turn It Off", Williams seems to be questioning the very things she used to believe in. Lyrics like, "Next time you point a finger, I might have to bend it back or break it, break it off. Next time you point a finger, I'll point you to a mirror," and "I scraped my knees when I was praying and found a demon in my safest haven" seem to highlight her frustration with the religion she once held so dear. "Playing God" seems to express her views regarding the hypocrisy of some fundamentalists who are quick to judge others while engaging in behaviour less than holy themselves. "Turn It Off" is a more personal account of what losing her faith has left her feeling. It's a stance that is sure to alienate some of the band's more devout fans but it's a brave move that pays off, creating moody, beautifully thought-provoking songs that will get people thinking a bit more about exactly what it is that they believe in.

Williams seeks to attack the fairy tales of old with "Brick By Boring Brick". It's a pop song with a slight feminist edge about refusing to believe in the old stories of Prince Charming saving the helpless Princess. "Go get your shovel and we'll dig a deep hole to bury the castle, bury the castle," Williams sings loudly. It's a refreshing and empowering track for the young girls that listen to the band and look up to Williams.

With "The Only Exception", the band crafts a cynic's love song. Having believed that love was a hoax for years, Williams now thinks differently after find "the only exception" to her romantic rules. Its honesty and light airy feeling make it a dreamy track that can soften even the hardest skeptic's edges and will have you feeling lovesick in no time.

"Looking Up" lets the music world know plainly that Paramore is just getting started on their journey and they are definitely not giving up without a fight. "It's not a dream anymore, it's worth fighting for," Williams sings. "Where The Lines Overlap" follows alone the same lines with lyrics like, "No one is as lucky as us, we're not at the end but, oh, we already won." The band clearly has a lot to be thankful for and a lot more ambition for the future.

"Misguided Ghosts" is hauntingly gorgeous, soft and sorrowful with some great acoustic guitar work and a beautiful little melody that will get stuck in your head all day. This sounds a lot more like a female-fronted Kings of Convenience than classic Paramore. It's a different sound for sure, but it's one that definitely does suit them and a risk that pays off, as this track is easily the best off of the album.

The closer, "All I Wanted", has Williams feeling a little bit wistful. "I could follow you to the beginning just to relive the start." Its verses are slow while the chorus gets louder and more frenzied like pent up frustration finally let out. When the chorus builds, she treats us to some intense vocals, with a scream envied even by hair metal bands.

All in all, Brand New Eyes is a great album from a band that is pushing itself artistically with every new release, a rarity for most bands considered to be in the realm of pop music today. They have grown more, adding better musicianship along with mature lyrics that cover difficult topics and give them a clear point of view as a band. Whether they are talking about more intense topics like religion, relationships - romantic or otherwise - or about taking the necessary risks to get where you want to be and getting the sweet success you deserve, Paramore packs their latest album with some of the most infectious pop punk tunes you'll hear and will keep you coming back for more. Brand New Eyes makes it clear that Paramore is here to stay and that little truth should give all fans a reason to rejoice.

This article was originally posted on and edited by Mookychick and was re-edited for my blog.

Big, Blue and Badass: A Review of Watchmen

2010-03-27T22:07:00.003-04:00

By Alessa Valentine

In September of 1986, DC Comics released a series that would forever change the face of the comic book industry: Watchmen, one of the most well-known and well-loved comic books ever. Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons and John Higgins worked together as writer, artist and colourist to create this stunning, illustrated masterpiece. To to this day, Watchmen is one of the biggest-selling graphic novels of all time - and for once, biggest-selling really does mean best.

The twelve issue series told the story of an alternate United States in which the Americans had won the Vietnam War and were sitting dangerously close to nuclear war with the Soviet Union in the 1980s. In Moore's alternate history, superheroes fought crime freely and openly, with much support from the public and the government until 1977, when an act was passed to outlaw them. Any exceptions were either government sanctioned or operating against the law.

The story followed an investigation of one well known government hired superhero, The Comedian. As two fellow superheroes, Nite Owl II and Rorschach, learn more and more about the strange circumstances surrounding The Comedian's death, they uncover a disturbing plot that could end the threat of the nuclear war but only at the cost of millions of lives.

Since the series was such an incredible success, it's no surprise that there have many attempts to turn it into a feature film but none of them had been successful until 2005, when 300 director Zack Snyder was approached to direct the film. Snyder took on quite a challenge and succeeded in bringing the movie to the big screen. The 2009 release of Watchmen has given us a film adaptation that's a solid blend of authenticity and accessibility - a blend that should keep both newbies and diehard fans happy.

The movie is engrossing from the onset. I've heard more than one person say that the opening credits of Watchmen are among the best opening credits of any film, and I agree wholeheartedly. The choice of song for the opening credits as well as for many of the other key scenes in the film was brilliantly atmospheric and added much to the feel of the movie.

When adapting a comic book like Watchmen, dialogue is one of the most important parts to get right. Moore is one of the most critically-acclaimed writers in the industry and he filled his work with many well-known lines that are frequently quoted by die-hard fans. While one key portion of dialogue from the comic got a rather unfortunate makeover, the movie is on the whole, jam-packed with scenes and words ripped straight from the pages of the comics. The overall faithfulness to the text makes up for the minor missteps here and there. Moore's already stellar concepts and ideas are beautifully done justice in the film and will have even those who've never heard of Watchmen in awe of the larger than life scenes and effortlessly cool dialogue. Combining Alan Moore's original writing with stunning special effects and visuals throughout, the film manages to keep the spirit of the original Watchmen alive.

A testament to the incredible special effects is the manifestation of Dr. Manhattan (played by Billy Crudup), the only hero in the story who actually has superhuman abilities. He's blue, he's naked and he has the ability to change matter at will. Such an out of this world character definitely ran the risk of looking cheesy if not done correctly, but they managed to make Dr. Manhattan look amazingly realistic throughout the film thanks to stunning computer graphics.

Watchmen's characters are among the most-loved characters in any comic book - which made casting integral to the film's success. Thankfully, the casting was done well with a few exceptions. Both Billy Crudup as Dr. Manhattan and Matthew Goode as Ozymandias fell just slightly behind their fellow actors. Neither went above and beyond in their portrayal - which is especially disappointing when you consider that Crudup plays a superhuman and Goode plays a retired superhero who is the smartest man in the world. Their characters are among the most powerful in the entire story and yet their performances were entirely ordinary. Though a few actors missed the mark, Patrick Wilson as Nite Owl II, Jeffrey Dean Morgan as The Comedian and Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach were all cast perfectly. Each really captured the essence of their characters and sold their performances beautifully with nuance and conviction.

Though Snyder opted to keep the movie set in the 80s and not update the time period, he did make a few updates to the film. The costumes of a few of our heroes got a much-needed makeover, breathing new life into the persona of each character. Many of the film's fight scenes were extended or changed to highlight the action and inevitable gore of the original comic.

One of the biggest changes (and, I'm sure, one of the most controversial among Watchmen fans) was the nature of the plot uncovered by Rorschach and Nite Owl II. Although many Watchmen purists might believe otherwise, any changes made to the original storyline of the comic book were necessary in order for the film to work. Snyder truly tried to keep the movie as true to the comics as he could and made changes sparingly and thoughtfully to give us a slightly more realistic take on the plot, given that he was cutting out much of the sidestory that gave the original endgame plot its depth and moral residue.

Though they've clearly tried to make the film as accessible as possible for those who are totally unfamiliar with Watchmen, the movie can at times be a bit confusing. While watching the film I occasionally heard a few of my fellow audience members question what was going on. Though some of them did seem like they were having some trouble keeping up, the majority of the theatre seemed to enjoy the twists, turns and standout moments of the film and there were plenty to keep them occupied. Though it's a very different viewing experience for those who've never read the comics, it's still an enjoyable one worth checking out.

All in all, Watchmen's film counterpart is an incredibly faithful adaptation that manages to keep the spirit of the story and its characters intact while making important changes that make the movie more accessible and believable for the everyday movie goer. Although the movie is clearly not perfect, it's as close to a perfect adaptation of the groundbreaking comic as humanly or, perhaps more appropriately, superhumanly possible.

This article was originally posted on and edited by Mookychick and was re-edited for this blog.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs Take On Disco With It's Blitz!

2010-03-27T20:18:00.003-04:00

By Alessa Valentine

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs have spent the last decade creating a playful, dirty sound that has made them one of the foremost rock and roll bands today. 2003's first full-length studio album Fever to Tell gave us '"Maps", a major hit single that launched the Yeah Yeah Yeahs to becoming one of the most well respected and critically acclaimed bands of their generation.

Thought "Maps" might be the band's biggest hit, it's just one in an ocean of great tracks. This band is the gift that keeps on giving, an organically-grown, non-plastic band that has its own sound and mission. Fever to Tell received an avalanche of critical praise and was even featured in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. That's a big deal when you consider how many albums are floating around in the ether.

Their followup album, Show Your Bones, was released in 2006. Fortunately, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs managed to sail through the potential pitfalls of the traditionally 'difficult second album'. Show Your Bones was equally well-received by the critics, getting the same 9/10 from PopMatters and 4/5 from Rolling Stone as Fever to Tell. NME named it the second best album of 2006 and it also ranked 44th and 31st on Rolling Stone and Spin's annual album lists respectively, which certainly isn't too shabby.

As a band that has been unfailingly consistent in the quality of music they've put out, it surely seemed like whatever the Yeah Yeah Yeahs touched would turn to gold. With their newest release, 2009's It's Blitz!, the band has taken what they've got and injected it with a heavy dose of disco. Is this new approach going to work for their regular fans? And is it going to gain them any new ones?

YYY have always had a distinct sound: Fun, brassy and direct, with a little bit of grit (Karen O has no problem doing harsh and sexy vocals against a driving force of guitars and heavy drums) and a whole lot of artistry. You can see why the idea of a YYY dance album would seem a harmonious melding. The album should, in theory, be a great one - and it might be a grower - but initially it seems to fall a bit short of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' former glory.

The album starts off with "Zero" and "Heads Will Roll". Playful and spunky, these two tracks are the most disco-inspired but a slightly misleading representation of the rest of the album. Tracks like "Skeletons" and "Runway" are slower and lighter in pace, missing out on the energetic, upbeat nature that is present in the beginning of the album.

"Soft Shock" is the third track off of the album and as the title might imply, one of the softer ones - though still one of the best. It's got a great melody that can be addictive from first listen while the other tracks might need a little more time to grow on you.

"Dull Life" starts off slow and teases us until it grows into something a bit more epic. It builds and gets us back to the banging beats and killer breakdowns that Fever To Tell taught us the band could masterfully create. "Shame and Fortune" offers us a piece of gritty, hip, streetwise sound that is thoroughly enjoyable.

"Dragon Queen" is the weakest track on the album, simply lacking the definitive YYY quality to it. It sounds like a dance song that you could hear from virtually any band - and definitely not a good representation of a band that has been known to experiment and try hard to ensure their music is interesting.

The albums ends with "Hysteric" and "Little Shadow" which seem to be the complete opposites of the how the album started out. Both have a slow dreamlike pace which ends the album nicely.

It's Blitz! is not so much the is the "difficult third album". It sounds like the record of a successful band trying to figure out a way to challenge themselves and try something new.

The good news is that, yes, there are a few standout tracks ("Soft Shock", "Dull Life" and "Shame and Fortune" stay true to the sound that the band is known for while adding a few new twists). "Hysteric" and "Little Shadow" are ethereal, soft and soothing. "Zero" and "Heads Will Roll" are heavy on disco (so you can take or leave them depending on your musical preferences) and, unfortunately, "Dragon Queen" - while having one of the best titles - is simply leave it.

If you're into dance or willing to not compare too heavily with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' earlier work, you'll be in for a fun, though slightly uppy-downy ride with It's Blitz!. Some might love the album straight off, some might need a period of adjustment while others might simply be put off by the new vibe that the band has adopted for the album. For existing fans of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, it's worth a listen just to see which side of the coin you'll land on.

This article was originally posted on and edited by Mookychick and was re-edited for this blog.

Does If Offend You, Yeah?: Alternative Dance Music Not Fit For The Faint of Ears

2010-03-27T19:30:00.006-04:00

By Alessa Valentine

Have you ever stopped to wonder what it would be like if space aliens came down to Earth, were taught human ways by punk rockers, learned how to play music then gained popularity as a band? If so, the answer to that seemingly absurd hypothetical just might be found in the British electronic rock band, Does It Offend You, Yeah?.

Hailing from Reading, this quartet has managed to combine heavy guitar with even heavier synth to create an extremely unique and danceable album. Their debut album, You Have No Idea What You're Getting Yourself Into, was released on March 24th, 2008. Though the record only reached #48 on the UK charts, it's definitely an album worth giving a listen.

From the start, the album lets you know that it's here with "Battle Royale". The track is an intergalactic instrumental that reads as space battle epic with just a pinch of disco and it definitely sets the mood for the rest of the album.

'With A Heavy Heart (I Regret To Inform You)' is a more intense blend of song on the album, starting off with a funky feel and moving into something much heavier. The band is one that doesn't seem to take themselves too seriously which is quite refreshing and can make for some entertaining surprises throughout the album when done properly. This is quite evident in the heavy breathing that permeates the build up in the song, along with Rushent screaming out, "Oh God," in an almost obscene fashion. And if obscene doesn't make for one hell of a dance party, I don't know what does.

It's also the first song off the album where we hear the lead singer, James Rushent's voice. Though the vocals are really nothing out of the ordinary, they don't necessarily need to be because the band carefully crafts their music to be the most important part of the song. In many cases, the distortion and filters are so heavy and robotic that you wouldn't be able to make out Rushent's singing voice at all.

A smoking blend of hard rock and electro, "We Are Rockstars" will get stuck in your head for long after you hear it. If it sounds familiar to you, it might be because it's been used in trailer for The Fast and the Furious.

The first single that I heard from DIOYY? and the fourth song off of the album is "Dawn of the Dead". The song is much more accessible than the rest of the album with a lot less distortion, heaviness and yelling. That being said, it is still one of the best tracks off the album and helps to provide a rest from the frantic electronic rock that permeates the other tracks.

"Attack of the 60ft Lesbian Octopus" definitely wins the award for best song title off the album and believe it or not, that title is absolutely fitting. If Hollywood ever decides to make a B-movie about a gigantic sapphic squid, this will most definitely be the theme song. It's an awesome blend of science-fiction and punk, filled fit to burst your bra with whining synth and crunching guitars.

Putting forth a sort of invitation with their next standout track, "Let's Make Out" is a just little bit raunchy, but a lot of fun. The track has an upbeat though slightly sinister sound that works well with the hot but thoroughly PG-13 feel of the song. It's definitely a great song to play at a party to get people dancing, singing along to and maybe even acting out the lyrics.

According to DIOYY?, "Being Bad Feels Pretty Good", and by the sound of it, I'd say they are right. It has a bit of an eighties vibe and is incredibly catchy while the backing vocals during the bridge are rich and add an extra punch.

The last track off the album, "Epic Last Song" offers a slightly softer side to the band. The song lives up to its title - like "Dawn of the Dead" it's not so heavy on the distortion but builds to create the larger than life, "epic" feeling the band was surely going for.

The album is generally very good with a few superb standout tracks. It is fun and funky throughout though with only ten songs, three of which are instrumentals, the album is short and can leave you wanting more if you are really enjoying their unique sound. But that is if you are enjoying it.

Aside from "Dawn of the Dead" and "Epic Last Song", the band's sound could come off as being overly experimental and put some listeners off. The filters and strange sounds that the band chooses to incorporate into their music can be overwhelming at times, so it's not an album for the faint of ears. The band seems to have paid so much attention to the music that they sometimes lose track of the vocals - which can result in Rushent sounding like he's drowning in the rest of the music.

Though the album is by no means perfect, it's interesting, playful and puts a refreshing alternative spin on your everyday dance music. If you are just looking for a good time, fancy a dance and like to get a daily dose of musical quirk, you will be more than satisfied with what DIOYY? has to offer.

This article was originally posted on and edited by Mookychick and was re-edited for this blog.

Invisible Monsters: A Unexpectedly Beautiful Tale of Unexpected Beauty

2010-03-27T16:39:00.009-04:00

By Alessa Valentine

Transsexualism. Models. Riches. Shotguns. Makeup. Drugs. Disfigurement. Fire. Sexually transmitted disease. Estrogen. Real Estate. Weddings. Homosexuality. High Fashion. There's only one book that has it all from practically the first page - and that's Chuck Palahniuk's Invisible Monsters.

Invisible Monsters was published in 1999 by the well-known author of Fight Club and Choke, both of which have been adapted for film. In his biography, Palahniuk let slip that Invisible Monsters was supposed to be his first published novel but publishers backed out on the grounds that it was too disturbing.

In retaliation, Palahniuk sat down and wrote Fight Club in an effort to come up with something even more disturbing. To his surprise, the publishers loved Fight Club and published it almost immediately. Though the novel didn't do well initially, the success of the movie adaptation gained Palahniuk a devoted fan base. Once that happened, the publishers grew some balls and put a revised edition of Invisible Monsters into print.

Upon reading the aforementioned trivia snippet, it was hard for me to imagine how much more unsettling than Fight Club Palahniuk's first book could have possibly been. Well, that was until I considered that 35 people are said to have fainted at a reading of one of his short stories, titled "Guts". If there's one thing Palahniuk seems to have a knack for, it's writing beautifully perturbing stories.

The plot of Invisible Monsters revolves around a fashion model crippled by a horrific accident that leaves her horribly disfigured and unable to speak. Depressed by her post-accident disability, she finds solace in the company of Brandy Alexander, a pre-op transsexual who teaches her about redemption, recovery, rebirth, rescue and the very unlikely forms they may take.

Palahniuk makes sure that readers will understand what they are in for from the very first page. Hold your breath - you'll be thrust into wild action that'll put you on edge from the start. The ensuing chain of events will keep you guessing, and so enthralled you won't be able to stop turning the pages. I finished the book in half a day, not even taking breaks for meals.

It's also worth mentioning that the second chapter starts with a warning. "Don't expect this to be the kind of story that goes: and then, and then, and then." Actually, as Palahniuk himself points out, the novel runs more like a fashion magazine. We're reminded of VOGUE, with article interrupted by advertisement after advertisement and constant jumps from one story to the next. Though other authors might not be able to it pull off, Palahniuk does it beautifully - he's a man fully at home with structured chaos. Fast-paced and exciting, Invisible Monsters never becomes confusing.

Palahniuk is often cited as being a 'burn the system down' cynic and nihilist. So what's the overall tone and message of Invisible Monsters? I found it hugely inspiring - and in such a different and off-beat way. The plot may be morbid, but it has real beauty to it. Palahniuk simply loves people and details, and every page throws up insights not only to into the inner workings of the characaters (and you'd be hard-pushed to find a more profound yet fashionable bunch) but also to life itself. And his poetically sculpted descriptions of even the smallest aspects of the tale shine through.

In fact, Palahniuk has such a way with words that you won't just be reading Invisible Monsters, you'll be seeing it unfold in vivid pictures before you, like a film - which, depending on the scene, can be an incredibly good thing or an incredibly scary one.

And you know how novels have an unfortunate tendency to be amazing reads - right until you get to the disappointing end? Not so with Invisible Monsters. What a shocking, touching finale! After finishing it, I felt both exhausted and incredibly stimulated and inspired, something that I really wouldn't have expected a book to be able to achieve.

Invisible Monsters in an incredibly fast-paced, profound and moving novel. From the first couple of pages you'll be mesmerised by complex characters, motives and plot twists. It'll do what all good art should accomplish: it'll make you think.

And if cinema is more your thing, a film adaptation is supposedly in development now. Let's hope it will do this inspiring and morbidly beautiful novel justice.

This article was originally posted on and edited by Mookychick and was re-edited for this blog.

Nightmares Revisited Make For A Dream of an Album

2010-03-27T15:52:00.013-04:00

By Alessa Valentine

'The Nightmare Before Christmas' was special. Before its 1993 release there'd been nothing quite like it... and there's been nothing quite like it since. It's not everyday that you come upon a dark but whimsical stop motion animation musical by a major director. More than ten years later, the movie has amassed a large and loyal fan base that is unflinching in their obsession and I am one of the many that make up their ranks.

When I heard about the new digitally remastered DVD and Blu-Ray coming out with never-before-seen special features, I was ridiculously excited. When I heard about Nightmare Revisted, an entire album of covers of the well-known and loved songs from the original soundtrack, I was incredibly apprehensive. Fortunately, the album turned out to be much better than I had expected - though I'd have to add my standards were pretty damn low.

The album has twenty tracks - and fortunately only two true nightmares. Sorry, I simply couldn't resist that one. Keeping with a gruesome Halloween-y theme, All American Rejects bloodily butchered one of my favorite songs from the original movie, "Jack's Lament". Tyson Ritter's vocals on this track are at best, mediocre and at worst, grating. His delivery lacks the emotion necessary for a song that is all about despair. Musically, the band did absolutely nothing unexpected or interesting to save the song from the shameful vocals. Awful. Awful. Awful. Easily the album's worst track.

Coming in at a close second for auditory misery is Flyleaf. They covered "What's This?" and I couldn't agree more. As a fan of Flyleaf, this sad attempt was all the more painful for me. Lacey Mosley sounds almost unrecognizable. You can tell the strain of screaming onstage is taking its toll on her voice. She starts the song sounding inappropriately bored rather than bedazzled and the track only gets slightly better as we go on. However, vocals aside, Flyleaf struck an interesting balance between their signature sound and the original sound of the song. Thematically it was a good song choice for Flyleaf as it is all about coming from a place of ugliness and finding beauty; it's all about being saved. Though the track had major potential, they missed the mark with this one.

The majority of the songs on the album are good though just missing the mark on being truly spectacular. Though they may not be as mind-blowing as we would have liked, they are definitely interesting and ambitious covers with very varied results. DeVotchKa brings a Gogol Bordello vibe to "Overture" while the Yoshida Brothers manage to blend a traditional Japanese sound with jazz and a touch of hip hop in "Nabbed". Shiny Toy Guns offer a slightly creepy, very dreamy, deconstructed take on "Finale/Reprise". Sparklehorse, a band whose sound is as offbeat and trippy as its name, provide a unique take on "Jack's Obsession". Whether I mean that in a good or a bad way, even I'm not sure yet.

If nothing more, the album will provoke nostalgia for the movie and works well as a teaser showcase for the artists involved. In many cases my interest was piqued in hearing more of their original work, where they wouldn't feel constrained by doing cover versions.

So I don't leave fellow Nightmare fans in too much distress, I've saved the standout tracks for last. The first is from Rodrigo y Gabriella, a wonderful Mexican duo who play beautiful acoustic guitar. Their take on "Oogie Boogie's Song" is fresh and original and my favourite song on the album.

Coming in at a very close second is "Sally's Song" as performed by Amy Lee of Evanescence. Though I'm not the biggest fan of her original music, her vocals are beautiful and haunting, with the music following suit. The music has a light quality which transforms as Amy goes towards a deep, dark sound in the choruses and gets even more intense in the breakdown. Great job on her part. For even more beautiful "Sally's Song" renditions, check out Fiona Apple's cover that came out with the re-release of the soundtrack in 2006.

Manson's cover of "This Is Halloween", also off of the 2006 re-release, was recycled for this compilation and for good reason. It synchs perfectly with Manson's style as well as with the playful but dangerous feeling of the original and though it's slightly less heavy than some of his original work, it's great nonetheless.

KoRn also makes an appearance on the album, pumping their nu-metal magic into "Kidnap the Sandy Claws" and making the song totally their own. I've always felt that the band's strength lies in their breakdowns and this song is no exception. It was difficult for me to refrain from breaking into a headbang during various parts of the song. All in all, an awesome track.

Last but definitely not least is The Polyphonic Spree. Sounding epic as ever, their cover of "Town Meeting Song" is larger than life and the longest track on the album at a somewhat insane nine minutes and forty nine seconds. They altered the melody a bit but it works well for their sound. The song unfolds like a story would, and it's mesmerizing 'till the end. Harps, horns, guitars and a children's choir provide interest, and as The Polyphonic Spree move from soft to loud, slow to fast, they constantly keep us guessing. Fun!

Despite its low points, Nightmare Revisited is an interesting, essential and canny addition to the Nightmare franchise, packed with a few unmissable tracks. If you loved the movie, you owe it to yourself to give it a listen.

This article was originally posted on and edited by Mookychick and was re-edited for this blog.

SocialVibe: Social Networking With A Cause

2010-03-26T18:18:00.002-04:00

By Alessa Valentine

MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Friendster, Flickr. It's hard to believe that there is any member of our generation who hasn't at least heard of one of these popular sites, if not used one first hand. Social networking sites on the Internet, aimed at connecting people with similar interests, have become some of the most popular sites anywhere on the web with millions of people participating.

One such site saw an incredible amount of potential for good within an idea with such popularity. SocialVibe.com is a social networking site dedicated to harnessing the power of the Internet and social networking to raise money for various charities and spread awareness for important issues.

SocialVibe allows users to choose a charity for a cause they feel passionate about, along with two sponsors. They have an extensive list of both charities and sponsors to choose from. Whether you're for suicide prevention, clean water programs or LGBTQ rights and sponsored by Converse, Adobe or Zune, SocialVibe has you covered. Through being active on the site, recruiting other friends, as well as posting a widget known as a SocialVibe badge on your other social networking pages, you gain points. The more points that you gain, the more money gets donated to the cause of your choice.

With more than 300,000 users, SocialVibe has, as of December 2008, helped to donate over $200,000 to the charities featured on the site. And with the number of users, as well as the money raised grows larger each day, many celebrities have noticed the increasing popularity of the site and used it to generate publicity and money for causes that they find important.

Hayden Panettiere is well known for her role on the hit television series, Heroes but less known as an advocate for The Whaleman Foundation. The foundation is dedicated to protecting and preserving ocean wildlife and their habitats. Through SocialVibe and Panettiere's help, the foundation has raised more than $30,000 for it's cause. Popular rock band, Linkin Park has also gotten into the SocialVibe craze. Their charity, Music For Relief, is among the SocialVibe partner charities. So far, they've managed to raise $11,365 for clean water, food and restoration to help Haiti after a hurricane has left the country heavily damaged.

Another popular charity on SocialVibe is the well known, To Write Love On Her Arms. To Write Love On Her Arms or TWLOHA, as it's abbreviated by many, is a foundation aimed at helping those with issues of depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. It started in 2006 with an essay by founder Jamie Tworkowski, written in an effort to spread the word and raise money for the treatment of a friend who dealt with all of the above issues. The essay soon caught the attention of many people with similar stories and has turned from an essay aimed at helping one to a foundation that has helped thousands of kids. Tworkowski has found a unique way of spreading word about these problems that affect millions of people everyday. He's turned to rock concerts. Music is a powerful way to reach people all over the world, especially today's youth. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among people ages 18 to 24 and concerts are one of the best places that you could possibly find and reach out to people in that age group. Tworkowski has speaks at many concerts and music festivals, including this year's South by Southwest festival.

SocialVibe is one of the easiest ways that you could possibly make a stand for a cause that you believe in. Just by doing a simple thing like adding a badge to your MySpace or Facebook or telling your friends about the site, you make a direct impact on helping change the world, one dollar at a time. Gandhi once said that we should be the change that we wish to see in the world. Now you can do just that, all from the comfort of your own computer.

For more information on SocialVibe, please check them out by clicking here.

This article was originally published in and edited by The Brooklyn College Excelsior and was re-edited for my blog. This article was written in Spring of 2009, before SocialVibe changed the badge and point system.