Tag Archive for 'Music'

T-Pain Wants You To Freeze (on the dance floor)

Published
by
neal
on January 7, 2009
in Music Videos
. 0 Comments

New year, new music videos. That’s what I say. Well, maybe not - but in this case it’s true. T-Pain just dropped his new video for Freeze featuring Chris Brown on MTV2, and I’ve already run it through my mindgrapes just for you. As a refresher, we will examine both the track and the video.

The Track: Remember Mario’s Just A Friend from 2002? Yeah, well Freeze sounds a lot like it. I mean a lot. The vocoder is always unwelcome, but I’m starting to accept that it is not going away anytime soon. And, all gratuitous pop, lock, and droppin aside, the song isn’t terrible. There aren’t any good punchlines or anything, so I doubt this will be popular with any real heads out there, but perhaps the b-boys will like it. I mean, it is hard to criticize someone for telling you to get your ass on the floor and move it. Also, this is one of very few T-Pain joints not about strippers/strip clubs. I see that as an improvement.

The Video: This half animation / rotoscoping, half live action technicolor thing has me making comparisons to T-Pain’s other recent videos Can’t Believe It and Good Life. Personally, I’d like to see a little more originality and a little less of this three ring circus/top hat crap. The video is all dancers on glass floors, pastel silhouettes, quick cuts, and that weird 60’s multiplier video effect. Of course, Chris Brown’s major appeal lies in his dancing skills, so his presence on this record is pretty understandable. Overall though, I am unimpressed.

The Bottomline: A weak beginning to the 2009 Music Video season.

Podcast Episode 062 - No More Teabags

Published
by
nick marino
on January 6, 2009
in Comics, Movies, Music and Podcast Episodes
. 3 Comments

Neal wants to see Black Snake Moan because he loves Christina Ricci, Teen Wolf is surprisingly subversive, The Spirit is filmed in Millervision, Peyton Reed and Craig Alpert make Yes Man a great movie, Neal thinks “Just Like Me” by Jamie Foxx and T.I. is just okay, War Machine #1 by Greg Pak and Leonardo Manco stars a different Rhodey than Nick is used to, and Neal wants to know if superheroes movies pull more from old comics or new comics.

 
 AudioShocker #62 [40:47m]: Play Now | Download

2008 YOU DON’T SUCK Awards for Music, Movies, Comics, and TV

Published
by
nick marino
on January 1, 2009
in Comics, Movies, Music and TV
. 0 Comments

Welcome to the 1st Annual AudioShocker YOU DON’T SUCK Awards for 2008, where we celebrate the few pieces of mass media that didn’t completely blow last year. In keeping with our “Music. Movies. Comic Books. Pop Culture. Media is kind of our thing.” credo, we’ve carefully evaluated offerings in the categories of Music (by Neal), Movies (by Pete), Comics (by Nick), and TV (by all of us). Here are the results:

Music (Arists, Singles, Videos, and Albums)

The nominees are:

  • Lil Wayne - A Milli / Ms. Officer / any of his collabos.
  • Pink - So What / Sober (both from Funhouse)
  • Vampire Weekend - Oxford Coma
  • The Ting Tings - We Started Nothing
  • The Cool Kids - The Bake Sale
  • Portishead - Third

The 2008 YOU DON’T SUCK Music Winner is: The Cool Kids

The Cool KidsNeal says: It’s always hard to decide with music. This is the most subjective category there is. Lil Wayne was stellar, but vocoders prevent us from giving him top honors. Pink returned to relevance with killer singles and Vampire Weekend brought us alternative music (and a video) that didn’t suck. New favorite The Ting Tings and Pete’s pick Portishead rounded out our noms. I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the nominees, but there can be only one winner. The fantastically hip Cool Kids know how to make a good record and their beats have ridiculous knock.

Movies (Films, Flicks, and Moving Pictures)

The nominees are:

  • WALL-E
  • In Bruges
  • Burn After Reading
  • Slumdog Millionaire
  • The Wrestler

The 2008 YOU DON’T SUCK Movies Winner is: In Bruges

In BrugesPete says: In Bruges was the best-written movie of the year and has incredible performances from its three main actors (Ralph Fiennes, Colin Farrell, and Brendan Gleeson). This is the first film from writer-director Martin McDonagh, and in that regard this strikes me as another reason to single out the film, since we can be optimistic about another strong filmic auteur (though the man is, apparently, a well-seasoned playwright) making the scene. Slumdog Millionaire and The Wrestler were excellent, but neither topples In Bruges as my pick for the all-caps not sucking distinction.

Comics (Ongoings, Minis, One-Shots, and OGNs)

The nominees are:

  • Avengers: The Initiative #14-19 (Marvel Comics)
  • Kill All Parents! (Image Comics)
  • Terra #1-4 (DC Comics)
  • War Machine: Weapon of SHIELD #33-35 (Marvel Comics)
  • Water Baby (Minx / DC Comics)

The 2008 YOU DON’T SUCK Comics Winner is: War Machine: Weapon of SHIELD #33-35

War Machine by Adi GranovNick says: I’m obsessed with War Machine thanks to this story arc. These issues (a.k.a. Iron Man: Director of SHIELD #33-35) follow Jim Rhodes after an electronic recording of Tony Stark prompts him to prepare for an impending crisis (Secret Invasion). Christos Gage, Sean Chen, Sandu Florea, Jay David Ramos, Joe Caramagna, Adi Granov, and Bill Rosemann are all in top form as they deliver the best comics of 2008. (This goes without says that I’ve been nursing an addiction to Marvel vs. Capcom lately and Rhodey happens to be my fighter of choice.)

Television (Shows, Finales, and Premiers)

The nominees are:

  • Chuck
  • Avatar
  • Metalocalypse
  • Mad Men
  • The Spectacular Spider-Man

The 2008 YOU DON’T SUCK Television Winner is: Avatar: The Last Airbender

AvatarWe say: Honestly, was there ever really a doubt? Avatar has been an AudioShocker favorite since before there was an AudioShocker.com! This Nickelodeon original made us sit up and take notice with its tremendous visuals, compelling story, and surprisingly mature themes. We’re sad we couldn’t give Chuck and Mad Men higher marks, but Buster Bluth and Don Draper would want it this way. Now we’re keeping our eyes peeled for new episodes of Big Love, BSG, Entourage, and Spectacular Spidey!

Neal’s New Year’s Eve Playlist

Published
by
neal
on December 31, 2008
in Music
. 13 Comments

Well fellow shockers, (and that is how I will address you guys from now on), we made it through 2008 and it’s time to party like a worn-out Prince cliche. In case you didn’t catch it on yesterday’s ‘quadcast’, Pete and Nick will hosting their own Pittsburgh getdown, while Kirsten and I explore New Haven nightlife.

New Year’s pretty much demands a good playlist. After 364 days of b.s. ClearChannel, NPR, and shitty club music - I want to pre-party and get hype to some outrageous self-indulgent jams. Here is a sample of what is on my playlist for this evening. What’s on yours?

1. 99 Problems - Jay Z
2. Ghetto Supastar - Pras ft. Mya and ODB
3. Shut Up And Let Me Go - The Ting Tings
4. Are You Gonna Go My Way - Lenny Kravitz
5. Ride Wit Me - Nelly
6. What I Got - Sublime
7. Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong - The Spin Doctors
8. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
9. Basket Case - Greenday
10. Fly - Sugar Ray

Bars, Brews, and Bullshit - AKA The Great Debate

Published
by
neal
on December 24, 2008
in Misc and Music
. 5 Comments

So I’m at home for the holidays, and one of the rituals is going to Archie Moore’s (the local neighborhood bar) with my sister and her husband for beers and dessert.

During the course of our round table, we found ourselves with a lot of conflicting views: who looks better (in US Weekly and onscreen), Aniston or Jolie?, is Beyonce going to have a baby in 2009 –  or is Lil Wayne going to fall off?, who rocks harder, U2 or Journey?, neighborhoods vs. subdivisions, Eliza Dushku vs. Elisha Cuthbert, Pittsburgh vs. Harrisburg (S T E E L  C I T Y baby), and even blondes vs. brunettes (I think you all know where I stand).

Of course, I was drinking and my voice rings loud, so I dominated the discussion. But I’m never sure how my opinion sits with you readers. That said, I’d like conduct an informal poll regarding the most heated of our discussions:

U2 Vs. Journey

(when it comes to the ultimate test: karaoke, are you going to pick Don’t Stop Believin’ or Sunday Bloody Sunday?)

U2Journey

Leave a comment and tell us who you are rooting for.

Throwback Video - Eagle-Eye Cherry - Save Tonight

Published
by
neal
on December 10, 2008
in Music Videos
. 0 Comments

Last week I took you back to Monterrey, Mexico circa 2006 and told you all about Julietta Venegas. I enjoyed that so much that this week I’m throwing it back even further, back to 1998 and one of my shitty weather favorites: Eagle-Eye Cherry’s Save Tonight. This is just one of those great 90s videos that didn’t take itself too seriously and came out moderately funny. Granted, none of us have heard much from Eagle-Eye ever since, but at least we have this gem to remember him by. (Yes, it is a busy week at work, and no, I do not have time to review Britney Spear’s new video Circus)

Podcast Episode 059 - Chocolate Rain Body Doubles

Published
by
nick marino
on December 9, 2008
in Comics, Movies, Music, Podcast Episodes and Video Games
. 0 Comments

Dark Reign is at Marvel Comics as Secret Invasion ends, Nick wonders if Bucky is the emo Captain America, Neal is creeped out by the cover to Wolverine: First Class #12, Punisher: War Zone is a great date movie, Elisha Cuthbert uses a body double in He Was a Quiet Man, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa is awesome, and GrandCentral sucks for turning off invites.

 
 AudioShocker #59 [37:54m]: Play Now | Download

Julietta Venegas Reminds Me of a Richer Time

Published
by
neal
on December 3, 2008
in Music Videos
. 0 Comments

Let me take you back a few months - 24 to be exact. Back to a time when the Tequila flowed down my gullet and coming in to work on Saturday was de rigeur. My five months in Monterrey, Mexico were the most gluttonous period in my life. I boozed, ate out, and ran wild pretty much every night with no regard for personal safety or well… anything. I lived richly since I was on the company dime for everything but food - and all I ate were tacos and Pollo Loco. It was also a period of time in which I was forced to discover new media and could not rely on such steady standbys such as MTV, VH1, Fox, or even streaming video sites! The cable at my abode was pretty crappy by any standards (except for UK hotel cable, talk about shitty!).

So, I branched out. I listened to the radio in the beat up company Jetta we drove to work. I spent time watching the D99FM music video channel. I’ve already told you about Belanova and how much I dig their track Rosa Pastel and Calle 13 / Nelly Furtado’s cloyingly sweet yet saucy No Hay Igual. I discovered how much people in Monterrey love the Strokes and Robbie William’s Rudebox. I also discovered Julieta Venegas.

Venegas’ new album Limón y Sal was burning up the charts when I arrived. She doesn’t really fall into the CFV category, as she is more pop than that. But her music is listenable, she makes a watchable music video - the eponymous lead single had one of those early 90s / REM style videos, and it kept me afloat in a sea of Shakira.

Venegas recently, (as in, 6 months ago) recorded an Unplugged session for MTVTr3s and I think it is worth a listen. The first clip is the lead single Limón y Sal and the even more catchy Eres Para Mi. This isn’t mindblowing the way that Shakira’s Unplugged performance was mindblowing (seriously, it was probably the best thing she ever did) - but neither is it ‘world music’ a la Toto. Just watch:

San Pedro Garza Garcia - the neighborhood I lived in was full of rich things: expensive cars, expensive houses, expensive restaurants, expensive shopping, expensive nightclubs (that threw me out once), expensive stripclubs (that I never went to), expensive bars that served you drinks by the liter, hookah lounges, etc. It is the richest municipality in Mexico — if not all of Latin America, and I’ll always assosciate Venegas (and unfortunately Robbie Williams) with those images and months. So today, as I sit around depressed by the economy and my shrinking bank account balances, I plan on firing up some Venegas and pretending it’s still Dec 3rd 2006 and that mom just hung up on me again for telling her how sunburned I was getting at the pool.

Busta Rhymes Makes Arab Money - Makes Neal Puke

Published
by
neal
on November 26, 2008
in Music Videos
. 4 Comments

Usually, I don’t bring my work life to the AS - but this economic crisis is really effin stuff up. Suffice it to say, things just went a little pearshaped for me and I’m not in the mood to write a music video review. (Ed. note: no, I did not get fired) However, while I was driving to work last night to print out some documents, I stumbled upon a little turd of a track by one Mr. Busta Rhymes. Am I the only one who hasn’t heard Busta’s new joint Arab Money?

I can’t even begin to tell you how offended I am by this - both from a musical and cultural perspective - and I’m not even Muslim. I can’t seem to find an ‘official’ video, so this YouTube ‘video remix’ will have to do. Seriously, autotuned Arabic? (it’s not actually Arabic either btw) As if my day wasn’t bad enough, I have to deal with this shit.

The dance instruction video is a bit apologetic and tries to explain it all away, but what the fuck? How do you even begin to reconcile this without going all Van Gogh? I’m sorry Busta, but if I am offended - something is wrong. Am I being overly sensitive? Is this not a big deal so much as a poorly conceived song? Either way, you need to get your act together Mr. Rhymes, because this is not acceptable.