Blogcritics Author: DJ Freq

Announcement: Short-content feeds

Phillip Winn — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EDT

Sunday, August 26, 2007, marks the switch of all Blogcritics.org article feeds from full-content to short-content. This is the result of several converging factors, and is unfortunately a permanent decision (as permanent as any decision can be on the web, that is). We are aware of all of the reasons that this is a Bad Idea, and we are aware that some of you will be quite upset about having to click on something to read the free content, and we're sorry. Unfortunately, despite great effort, full-content feeds are not currently economically viable. Two other factors are involved: full-content feeds have resulted in an unprecedented level of content theft, with BC content appearing on many websites, usually spam sites, without attribution or permission. This duplicate content causes a cascading set of problems, not the least of which is that search engines generally aren't favorable to duplicate content, and don't always guess correctly. Finally, our RSS advertising partner is strongly in favor of short-content feeds. We hope that you'll continue to subscribe to BC via RSS, and when an article grabs your eye, it's only a click away, still free on the BC website. Thank you for your understanding.

When is a Music Video Not a Music Video? The Pack - "Vans"

DJ Freq — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 10:06:38 EDT

Apparently, according to their publicist, the video for The Pack's "Vans" has been banned from MTV airways and the group was even asked to change the name of the song. What, I wonder, could be so controversial as to get banned from MTV? Were there wanton acts of sexual perversion? Highly political imagery? Religious undertones that would enrage people at home and abroad? First, let’s look at some past banned videos. According to Wikipedia, the first music video banned from MTV was 1991’s "Girls on Film" by Duran Duran. The reason for this ban was pretty clear, frontal nudity. Later MTV would ban Cher for her song "If I Could Turn Back Time." Allegedly this was due to a revealing bodysuit and the sailors. Personally I think it was that no one wanted to see a then 43 year old Cher in said bodysuit. Michael Jackson and Madonna have had videos banned or portions thereof. For the King of Pop "They Don’t Care About Us" was banned for a purported anti-Semitic message, "Jew me, sue me, everybody do me / Kick me, kike me, don't you black or white me" as well as violent images in the back ground. More to Jackson’s style, 1991’s "Black or White" was cut to remove images of him touching himself. Which I guess, looking forward 15 years, is still better than him touching kids. For her part, Madonna has had a number of videos pushed to the side so that MTV wouldn’t offend anyone. The depictions of sadomasochism, homosexuality, cross-dressing, and group sex were enough to get both "Justify My Love" and "Erotica" pulled from the airways. "Erotica" was only played three times. In more recent history Madonna’s anti-war "American Life" was pulled due to its military images and the start of the second Iraq war. The list of banned music videos is extensive. Thanks to the majesty of YouTube, many of them live still. In a world where Dennis Franz’s hairy ass has paved the way for partial nudity, getting your video banned is like a badge of honor. You’ve pushed the limits and the censors or the good people at MTV want to make sure your videos are never seen. Of course there are no specific guidelines that run from channel to channel so what you may see on Much Music here in Canada will differ greatly from what is shown on VH1 or MTV. There are literally hundreds of videos from the UK and Europe that will never get played here simply because Europe’s more relaxed sexual policies produce more highly sexual videos. I can’t help but think that innovations such as YouTube and "user-generated content" will eventually circumvent the censors and media moguls at MTV. Any of the videos I’ve mentioned can already be seen online with little or no effort. By now you’re thinking I’ve forgotten about "The Pack" and their "Vans" video. Did it have any of those wanton acts of sexual perversion I was talking about? Was it highly political? Was the religious imagery too much for even the most liberal of viewers? Would it start riots at home and abroad? Well in a word, NO! It was in fact less controversial then this story. It’s a 3 minute commercial for Vans shoes. Obviously MTV felt that if Vans wanted advertising they should pay for it like everybody else. This song is no "My Adidas." Sample Lyrics:Got my vans on, but they look like sneakers Got my vans on, but they look like sneakers Got my vans on, but they look like sneakers U Wearin' coke whites cuz my vans look clean and Got my vans on, but they look like sneakers Got my vans on, but they look like sneakers Got my vans on, but they look like sneakers U Wearin' coke whites cuz my vans look clean This video wasn’t banned, it just wasn’t picked up. Saying it was banned is like saying radio banned the B-side of William Hung’s single. Marketers should realize by now we’re not going to fall for this. At least I hope no one will- then again some people think "My Humps" is a good song.

Eventually I will have something interesting for you to read here about the life of an urbanite stuck in the remote Canadian north. Untill then read my blog smalltownunderground.net

It's Official: The Black Eyed Peas Have Killed Hip-Hop! Or Did They Just Sell It?

DJ Freq — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 02:14:46 EDT

And they've done it by stabbing a Snickers bar right in its head. Don't worry, though they're making a quick getaway in their Honda Civic with XM satellite Radio. They'll still have time to stop by Best Buy and pick up a copy of Spanglish. Better pick up some Pepsi and Sprite since the Grey Cup is on. Maybe they'll be nice enough to call 911 on their new Nokia Cell phones to see if hip hop can be saved? Maybe...if they have time between games of the Urbz on their Apple. Since they got managed to kill hip-hop sooner then anyone expected, tomorrow they'll have time to down a few Molson and catch an NBA game. That's it -- I'm done with the Black Eyed Peas. I thought maybe they could be saved. "My Humps" wasn't a great sign of this possibility but the crap that is instantdef.com has pushed me over the edge. Hip-hop superheros who were saved by a bucket of Snickers bars. What are we, idiots??Honestly, my first reaction was "Wow, they really will sell anything!" I think what gets me most is that they charge for their fan club. Not that I'm a member or ever want to be, but haven't we put up with them enough? Shouldn't the Black Eyed Peas be paying me by now? Fergie, Will.I.am, Taboo, Apu your payments can be made at Smalltownunderground.netI've always heard about bands "selling out," but normally it's just long-haired grunge kids who haven't showered complaining that they can't listen to their favorite bands anymore because they got popular. No kids -- selling out doesn't just mean getting popular. Selling out is getting popular then attaching your name to every possible product and service known to man. "Excuse me sir, where can i find the Black Eyed Peas branded motor oil?" "Honey, run to the store and get me some Fergie Tampons." I know the music business is a business. Far be it for me to say people can't make money, but isn't there a limit? And some thought into what you're pushing? All pop artists are their own brand but the BEP really do seem like they'll put their name to anything. What I used to like about the BEP was their unique sound and the fact that it was intelligent, smart hip-hop. "My Humps"? Do I really need to say anything else?If you liked the jazzy style of the old BEP try checking out The Blue Scholars from Seattle. They're the real deal and might be zombies.

Eventually I will have something interesting for you to read here about the life of an urbanite stuck in the remote Canadian north. Untill then read my blog smalltownunderground.net

CD Review: GU 10

DJ Freq — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 00:58:53 EDT

What do Tel Aviv, Moscow, Reykjavik, and Toronto have in common? Over the past 10 years they’ve all played host to sets from the world's top DJs as part of the much-traveled series Global Underground. From its relatively humble beginnings with the first set by Tony de Vit, the Global Underground series has grown into a great example of dance music’s worldwide appeal. With the release of GU 10, the label is celebrating 10 years of parties. This three-disc set is impressive, to say the least. The first and second disc offer the best from 1996-2006. Opening with Underworld’s "Two Months Off," the mix on disc one includes club hits by Fatboy Slim, Felix Da Housecat and Layo & Bushwacka. Disc two brings back some Miss Kitten and Danny Tenaglia. The third disc is a mixture of songs from ’87 to ‘95. This is a pretty good primer for someone like myself who only got into house music in the past ten years or so. It’s pretty interesting to hear the progression of house music in one set of discs. If you’re into the scene you’ve probably heard all these songs before but having them together is convenient and a good listen back on the past 20 years of house music. If you’ve missed anything in these years or maybe were there but can’t remember, the first two discs alone make it a worthwhile purchase. In addition to the standard three-disc set there is also a four-disc limited edition and vinyl available.For a great introduction to the Global Underground sound visit Globalunderground or check out my personal favorite, Deep Dish Toronto #025.

Eventually I will have something interesting for you to read here about the life of an urbanite stuck in the remote Canadian north. Untill then read my blog smalltownunderground.net

Tech Review: Griffin TuneBuds for iPod Nano

DJ Freq — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 15:56:56 EDT

Lanyards for the iPod Nano make me look stupid. This may or may not be the case with you but it's fair to say the look isn't for everyone. Wearing the Nano out there for all to see makes me feel like people are looking at me and judging my music collection. What if they can seen my secret collection of vintage Madonna or my unhealthy fascination with all things BadBoy? My image of being on the cutting edge of music would be ruined. Whether or not you find the lanyard accessories for the Nano fashionable there is no denying their usefulness. While Griffin's new TuneBuds for the Nano are simple (there's really not too much you can do with headphones), the quality is there and that's enough for me to hide it under my shirt. The lanyard connects to your Nano with the dock connector providing a firm connection that makes you feel confident with your tiny Nano hanging around your neck. Where the TuneBuds excel is the headphones themself. Coming with three different sizes of ear pads, the headphones offer a tight but comfortable fit that provides exceptional blocking of outside sounds. They are a definite upgrade from the iconic white headphones that come with the iPod. There are only two small things I would change with the TuneBuds. First the lanyard isn't adjustable for length. While the size will be fine for most people, the ability to adjust would be a welcome feature for those of us with fat heads. Secondly, and probably more relevant to most people, the dock connector does not have a release button. Because of this, disconnecting the TuneBuds feels like a more hazardous experience than it should be. The Nanos are tough but because of their size you almost always feel like you're going to break it. The Tunebuds require a small amount of force to remove when it should be a simple click. Despite this, the TuneBuds are worth every penny. The sound upgrade alone is worth the purchase. Whether or not the lanyard is a good fashion accessory is up to you.

Eventually I will have something interesting for you to read here about the life of an urbanite stuck in the remote Canadian north. Untill then read my blog smalltownunderground.net

CD Review: Paul Oakenfold - A Lively Mind

DJ Freq — Sat, 3 Jun 2006 03:14:23 EDT

On June 6th, 2006 Paul Oakenfold releases A Lively Mind, his sophomore artist album and the follow up to 2002’s Bunkka. Like Bunkka, A Lively Mind features a cornucopia of guest appearances from the likes of Pharrell Williams of the Neptunes, Grand Master Flash, and of course there’s Brittany Murphy. Yeah, Brittany Murphy from 8 mile and Sin City.I’d like to say this is a great album. Oakenfold has probably done more for electronic music than anyone, but it’s hard to listen to this album and find anything approaching greatness. At its best, it’s dated and uninspired; at its worst, it's just short of painful.Without a doubt this album will be a commercial success, and by that I mean that you will hear it on every beer, car, and soft drink ad for the next year and a half. I think that’s essentially what rubs me the wrong way about this album. It just seems to be manufactured to appeal to advertisers more than the traditional trance audience that bought up Paul Oakenfold. Leaning toward the pop side of trance/dance music isn’t a bad thing. "Starry Eyed Surprise" and "Ready Steady Go" were both poppy tracks off the Bunkka album and played well. The tracks here seem forced and with overly simplistic lyrics (even for trance); the album simply never gathers enough steam to make a solid effortThe album is not all bad. Despite the odd paring of Oakenfold and Murphy, "Faster Kill Pussycat" is easily the best track on the album. It’s a good electro/pop tune that will get a heavy rotation in the clubs and will spawn numerous remixes. As much as the pairing of seems like yet another Hollywood-type thinking they should break into the music biz, Murphy’s vocal performance is suitably reserved. She doesn’t push herself too far out of her comfort zone and the “you turn me on“ hook is memorable and catchy.Maybe it was an attempt to make a catchy into, maybe it was a lack of time, and maybe it was a marketing vision gone totally wrong, but "Set It Off" featuring Grandmaster Flash is the largest misstep of the album. It’s not that the beats are especially bad, it’s that the intro is straight out of a ’92 hip-hop video. · Paul: Hey Flash· GMF: Yo Paul what up?And it continues like that for what seems like an eternity. GMF was a pioneer in scratching and hip-hop and I would have expected more than this.Other tracks to note include "Praise the Lord", where Oakenfold seems to be channeling the ghost of James Bond more than any godly being. The disc closes with "Feed Your Mind" that will most likely hold the honor of being the first song to travel to a commercial.If you’re a fan of Paul Oakenfold pick up one of his DJ mixed albums or catch him on the “A Lively Mind Tour,” but sadly buying this album will leave you disappointed.Track Listing1. Faster Kill Pussycat -- Featuring Brittany Murphy2. No Compromise -- Featuring Spitfire3. Sex 'N' Money -- Featuring Pharrell Williams4. Switch On -- Featuring Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic Amsterdam5. Set It Off -- Featuring Grandmaster Flash6. The Way I Feel -- Featuring Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic7. Praise The Lord8. Save The Last Trance For Me9. Not Over -- Featuring Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic10. Vulnerable -- Featuring Bad Apples11. Feed Your Mind -- Featuring Spitfire

Eventually I will have something interesting for you to read here about the life of an urbanite stuck in the remote Canadian north. Untill then read my blog smalltownunderground.net

Preview: Numark's iDJ2 iPod Mixing Console

DJ Freq — Mon, 15 May 2006 18:25:31 EDT

Last year Numark produced the must-have for every wannabe superstar DJ with an iPod. The iDJ was an iPod based mixing console with cross fader and some rudimentary controls for the iPod. This was a good first try but there were some problems that limited its popularity. First, you needed two iPods to use the console to its full potential. While you could hook it up to other turntables or CD players, that would kind of defeat the purpose of buying an iPod console. Secondly, this unit didn't come close to meeting the needs of the DJ. While the "wannabes" might have been happy with the simple mixer, the lack of pitch control was a deal breaker for even the most novice of DJs. To their credit Numark has listened to the concerns and come back with a product that very simply looks awesome. The iDJ2 may be exactly what bedroom DJs everywhere have been looking for. There have been so many upgrades from the first iDJ it's almost unfair to call this the iDJ2 as this really is a completely different unit. It has as much in common with the original as a Model T does with a Prius.The first thing that strikes you is the styling. Numark has broken away from the iPod white aesthetic that seemed to plague everything a few years ago. These new units boast a black and blue motif that's reminiscent of Numark's own TTX turntable. More importantly there's plenty of room on the unit for mixing as the footprint of the iDJ2 got significantly larger. Part of the reason for this was the inclusion of a large LCD screen in the middle which displays what Numark calls a "revolutionary user interface." This screen will show track information and wave forms.A major attraction of this new unit is the ability to play two songs off the same iPod at the same time. I don't know how many people have multiple iPods but using only one will undoubtedly make things simpler for managing the music library. In addition to iPods, the unit also has a number of USB ports that can be hooked up to USB memory keys, or hard drives. These external drives can be used to access more music or can be used to record your mixes. Numark has also been wise enough to keep the line-in function to allow hooking up of mics or other turntables. This function coupled with the easy recording may make this unit very popular among podcasters.Finally the feature we've all been waiting for since the iPod launched, pitch control, is coming to the iDJ2. As the pitch control isn't a native function of the iPod it's still up in the air as to how well this will function. This may be the make or break function of the iDJ2. If Numark has managed to get this right they should have a popular product on their hands.Sadly we won't know until August how it actually works out or how much it will cost. Its predecessor ran for about $250 but this is a significant upgrade of functionality from the first iDJ.When the unit does get released in August I'll have a full hands-on review of the iDJ2.Features:� Integrated iPod slot with adjustable mount � Seamless looping � Pitch control � Large backlit display with revolutionary user interface � Ability to scratch music � Real-time visuals include Track Profiles and Waveforms � Record to an iPod or other connected USB media � Facilitates mixing with three or more USB Hard Drives or Apple iPod's with USB hub � Many USB ports to plug in iPods, memory keys and hard drives � Play music off two iPods simultaneously, play two songs off same iPod � Formats supported: mp3, ogg vorbis, FLAC � Pitch control with multiple ranges up to +/- 100% � Beatkeeper� technology with TAP override function � Scratch and search ability via two large jog wheels � XML playlist support � USB Keyboard support

Eventually I will have something interesting for you to read here about the life of an urbanite stuck in the remote Canadian north. Untill then read my blog smalltownunderground.net

2006 NBA Playoff Preview

DJ Freq — Fri, 21 Apr 2006 08:58:33 EDT

It's time for the dance. The real season starts now. This is where legends are born (random sport cliché #25). Yup, it's the favorite time for women everywhere, it's playoff time. Personally I refuse to pay attention to the NHL playoffs since no one should be playing hockey in May let alone June. Therefore it's a roundball recap. The regular season was interesting if predictable for the most part. Kobe's 81 and the Clips not being a pushover stand out as highlights. But this article is forward looking so on with the playoff preview.EASTERN CONFERENCESomehow over the past 5-7 years the eastern conference has gone from powerhouse to the NBA equivalent of a JV squad. I know it sounds harsh but Indiana (.500), Chicago (.500), and Washington (.512) all needed to end the season on winning streaks to get to .500 ball. Milwaukee is in at the 8 spot with a losing record. I trace it back to the demise of true big man center in the east but that's a different story for a different time. (1) Detroit vs. (8) Milwaukee With best record in the NBA there's no reason to expect that the Pistons will be anything but dominate over the Bucks. Winning the season series 3-1, it should be noted that the loss came with Detroit sitting 2 of their top 3 scorers. Milwaukee is also the only team that made the playoffs with a losing record. The only real danger here is Detroit looking ahead to the conference finals where they'll meet their first real challenge (no offense to LBJ and the Cavs). Prediction - Pistons in four without breaking a sweat. (4) Cleveland vs. (5) WashingtonThere's been talk of an MVP trophy for LeBron James this season and with numbers of 31.5 ppg, 6.6 apg, and an even 7 RPG I'm not going to argue. In fact I'm a little scared at the thought that he's only going to get better. The Wizards have had the Cavs number taking the season series 3-1, but I wouldn't count of the desire of King James to pull his team into the 2nd round. This match up is basically a battle to see who will be the next sacrifice to the Piston war machine. It'll be an interesting match-up complete with the drama (?) of Larry Hughes going against his former team but I wouldn't put money on either of these teams getting past Detroit.Prediction - Cavs in seven - LBJ breaks out of his shell. (3) New Jersey (6) IndianaNew Jersey struggled a bit at the end of the season after pulling off a franchise high 15 game winning streak. When the Nets are hot they are simply dangerous with one of the most talented starting 5 in the league. With the triumvirate of Olympians on the floor the possibility of an interesting game is always there but lets not forget that this is the team that brought us the most boring finals in recent history (vs. the Spurs). The Pacers are in shambles and have been since the Artest trade. I love Peja but he's not going to be enough. With a record of 41-41 if they were in the western conference they would be headed for the lottery instead of a first round loss. Steve Kerr sums this series as the first to 85 wins. He may have something there.Prediction - Nets in five. (2) Miami vs. (7) ChicagoWinners of 6 in a row and 9 of the last 10 the Bulls haven't been this hot since Jordan was hogging the ball and the world was pretending Pippen was an all-star. Peaking at the right time is important and the Bulls are defiantly peaking. The addition of Kirk Hinrich a few years ago added a measure of stability to the team what was in desperate need of some leadership. Unfortunately for Hinrich and the Bulls, they're facing Shaq and the Heat. After a season of his lowest production ever this may be the last chance for Shaq to make a run for a title. If Shaq can stay healthy and take pressure off Wade they should be able to pull this one out. If Shaq goes down, look for the upset. Prediction- Bulls in seven. WESTERN CONFERENCEThe western conference has been the best for a while. It's got more interesting teams, a faster style, and the best players in the league. It's like the big brother of the NBA with the fast car and fast women. With the sole exception of Detroit, the east offers little in the way of challenges for the top western squads. (1) San Antonio vs. (8) Sacramento I'd like to go into some long diatribe about how the rejuvenated Kings with the defensive minded Ron Artest are going to surprise everyone and give the Spurs a run for their money but let's be realistic. Since 1999, only the Spurs, Lakers and Pistons have won the championship. While not the flashiest team in the world to watch the defending champion Spurs are easily the toughest team to beat in a 7-game series. They only lost 10 games to conference foes all season. The Kings will get a win or two but the consistency of Tim Duncan and company will prevail.Prediction - Spurs in six. (4) Dallas vs. (5) MemphisMark Cuban is pissed and rightfully so. Thanks to the new divisions and rules giving division winners' top seeds, Cuban's Mavs bring their 2nd place conference finish straight to the 4th seed. The first round here isn't the problem. If Dallas gets past Memphis, which I expect they will, they'll run straight into the Spurs in the semis. While Cuban thinks this is a bad idea for me it means that we'll have at least two rounds of great basketball. Now the Spurs have to go thru Dallas and the Suns (most likely) to get to the Finals rather than the other way around. Not a huge difference for the viewer but I can see where Cuban would rather his team face the Spurs later rather than sooner. Drama aside, Memphis should put up a little bit of a show but don't expect Pau Gasol and friends to continue this much improved season past the first round. Prediction- Dallas in five.(3) Denver vs. (6) LA ClippersProof that the new seeding system is flawed. The Nuggets (44-38) have a better seeding than the Clippers (47-35). Luckily the court is the great equalizer. With Corey Maggette back in the line up the Clips have a chance to do something no LA Clipper team has ever done... win a playoff series. Elton Brand has matured into a leader that the Clippers needed and the solid base of Sam Cassell only helps. This team could go places in a few years. From laughing stock to Cinderella team.As for the Nuggets, they suck. They shouldn't even be in the playoffs and if they hadn't won a division they'd have been in a battle for 8th and on the losing end of a tiebreaker with Sacramento. They've been inconsistent throughout the season and if Kenyon Martin doesn't stay healthy the Clips are going to be all over them. Hey the Clips aren't the best team in LA by chancePrediction - Clippers in five (I believe!!!). (2) Phoenix vs. (7) LA LakersKid Canada and Mike D'Antoni have done a fantastic job with this team. Way back in September I was in a bar with a friend just after Amare Stoudemire went down for the season. He didn't believe me when I said the Suns would run and gun their way to the playoffs. Scoring an average of 108 points a game I wasn't wrong. As a longtime Laker fan it's been hard for me to see Kobe destroy my team. 81 points in a game is nice but pass the ball. The Lakers don't have much depth and have been relying on Kobe scoring 40 a game to get them through. As much as it pains me Chris Mihm isn't Shaq and Phil Jackson can only work magic if there's some talent to work with. Prediction - Phoenix in six, but Kobe goes for 50 in at least one game.All in all this looks like it'll be a good year for some NBA playoff action with some possible surprises.

Eventually I will have something interesting for you to read here about the life of an urbanite stuck in the remote Canadian north. Untill then read my blog smalltownunderground.net

Movie Review: V for Vendetta

DJ Freq — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 05:53:44 EST

Once in a lifetime a movie comes along that makes you want to change the world around you. Makes you stand up and scream. Makes you burn the mother down. V for Vendetta is not that movie. It could have been that movie and but instead settles for a more apathetic response; less "let's burn shit" and more "I'm going to blog this." It's a call to arms for the lethargic and disaffected generation. There will be no masses of disenfranchised youths storming the White House in Guy Fawkes masks; but it's sure going to make Technorati buzz.The near-future world, created by director James McTeigue and producers the Wachowski brothers, is scary as hell. It's post-apocalyptic but not in the traditional sense. There are no monsters, ghosts, or zombies. Instead, those clichés are replaced by London, quarantined and under totalitarian rule. It is the remains of a social apocalypse, if you would. Basic human rights and diversity replaced in the name of security. Is it a tale of the future or a history of the present?The telling is quite simple. V, played by the seemingly ever present Hugo Weaving, is out for revenge against the government that took everything from him. He is mysterious, aloof, and driven in his quest. Joined by an introverted subversive Evey, V seeks to release the world from its bonds of oppression through violence, vengeance, and alliteration.This film will draw attention. Opposition and condemnation from the far right as a pro-terrorist piece of left-wing smut and will be hailed as a tour de force from the left as a call to action. Political commentators and TV producers will love it, as it will be another example of how the anti-Bush, anti-American elite controls Hollywood. I give it three days 'til Ann Coulter talks about how the 2020 London of the film looks like a Utopia where being Muslim or homosexual is a crime punishable by death.The day after I saw this film, I was sitting in a greasy spoon restaurant having breakfast. The TV was running CNN and coverage of the Belarus elections were the topic of the day. State controlled media, protestors being labeled as security threats, rigged elections. I couldn't help but think I had just seen that movie the night before.This film raises many questions about the nature of government, the role of security, and intolerance, while making bold statements on homosexuality and the necessity of truth. For me, the dichotomy of freedom and security was the most interesting discussion of the film. Can you truly be free in a society that monitors your every move? The answer of course is no. The way the general population is portrayed in the film mirrors our own western society. The images of families gathered around the JVC TV expressing disbelief at the news being fed them while at the same time doing nothing. Everyone talks about the weather but no one does anything about it.The most intriguing character is undoubtedly Evey, portrayed by Natalie Portman. From the outset, there is a small fire of discontent within her. She's been directly affected by the brutal regime but still accepts it and even works in the media that promotes the regime. In a way, the film is really about the awakening of Evey to the realities of her world and forcing her to deal with her fear. She is the lost child battling against an overpowering organization who is given power by overcoming her fear. For all you in film class, compare and contrast the roles of Evey and Neo.My complaints about this film are few and far between but are probably what stopped me from burning down my city hall in a moment of rebellion against my unjust parking ticket. The declaration of love at the end of the film between Evey and V is distracting and detracts from the V character's seemingly steadfast conviction. The V character is more effective as a symbol and attempts to humanize him only reminds us that his actions were motivated by a personal vendetta rather than a social conscience. That the two happen to coincide is the fact that makes this bearable. My other complaint is the lack of support for the Overlord figure. The public and government seem to realize that the big boss is overbearing but there's no indication that he retains support beyond a Bill O'Reilly clone.Overall this movie is worth the price of admission but don't expect to have an epiphany about your government. This movie is preaching to the converted.

Eventually I will have something interesting for you to read here about the life of an urbanite stuck in the remote Canadian north. Untill then read my blog smalltownunderground.net

CD Review: R�yksopp's Night Out (Live EP)

DJ Freq — Tue, 21 Mar 2006 06:11:03 EST

Let me preface this review by saying one thing. I hate "Poor Leno". With every bone in my body that song drives me freakn' batty. The annoying vocals, that synth progression and its inclusion on every other mix CD from 2002 on made it a quick way to piss me off and give me a headache to boot. So when I got the live CD from the band whose name cannot be spoken, I wasn't really prepared for what I got. Ok to be fair the name R�yksopp can be spoken; I just can never remember how to pronounce it. It's kind of like that guy you run into at the pub all the time who annoys the fuck out of you but you put up with because you're with other people and it would be polite. So thinking that I should have passed on the R�yksopp live album and reviewed a Kelly Clarkson album instead, I put the album in the old player. What came next was totally unexpected. R�yksopp Torbj�rn Brundtland and Svein Berge of Norway put together an album that is at once haunting and moving. Reminiscent of the French Cassius and a lesser-known band called Lake Trout, R�yksopp succeeds in bending the inspiration of a live show with the almost jazz feel of some of the tunes. As much as it pains me to say so "Poor Leno (Istanbul Forever Take)" is one of the best electro songs I've ever heard. It's like the bastard child of Electro-Clash and the Cantina band from Star Wars. This take brings a grinding and celestial sound to the familiar "Poor Leno" riff and removes outright the vocals.This EP is packed full of 40 minutes of goodness. It's one of those albums that sneak up on you. You'll be quietly listening to it in your car and suddenly find yourself tapping out the beats on your dashboard while you run over innocent old women who just happen to get in the way of your groove. "It's not my fault officer. This album is funky!"Night Out as a whole wasn't annoying at all. In fact lots of it was down right good. Fun even. More importantly it reminds me about the side of electronic music that most people have never seen or have never known. This album encompasses everything you expect in a live album, some improvisation, a cover (of a Queens Of The Stone Age "Go with the Flow"), and just a little bit of cowbell.My only complaint about the album is that it comes in a little short and leaves me wanting a full live album. Drop the 20 bones down at Championship Vinyl on the Japanese import for the coolness factor. The album gets released stateside March 21st on Astralwerks and rates a definite buy from me. Track Listing 1. What Else Is There? 2. Only This Moment 3. Remind Me 4. Sparks 5. Poor Leno (Istanbul Forever Take) 6. Go Away 7. Alpha Male 8. Go With The Flow 9. Teppefall (Studio)

Eventually I will have something interesting for you to read here about the life of an urbanite stuck in the remote Canadian north. Untill then read my blog smalltownunderground.net

DVD Review: Walk The Line

DJ Freq — Thu, 16 Mar 2006 08:09:59 EST

A lot of things have been said about Walk the Line, which is to be expected since it was one of the most talked about movies of the year. My fellow Blogcritics were among those offering their input: The movie was designed to destroy the man. Cash's humanly faults become the movie, and the movie exaggerates those faults. After watching Ray I had a better understanding, respect, and empathy for Ray Charles. This movie leaves me no such feelings for Johnny Cash. It fails as a biography, and it fails as a film. It belongs to the "Made for TV" movie genre, not the silver screen. Save your Cash and go elsewhere. Marty AndradeMore serious fans looking for a biography of the man's life are sure to be disappointed. The film ends with Carter accepting Cash's wedding proposal. Before the credits roll, the audience is informed that they continued in the music business for 35 years until their deaths in 2003, leaving too many threads of Cash's life left untouched, which is to be expected when skipping half the man's life. El BichoI enjoyed the movie and, not knowing anything about the man in black myself, I wasn't burdened by the glaring omissions mentioned in some of the other reviews. Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon seemed to embrace their characters, but throughout the film we are always aware that it is Joaquin and Reese, not Johnny Cash and June Carter. This is more of an issue with Phoenix, who seems to only mimic Cash at times. This was a good movie with great moments. Seeing Pa Carter going after Johnny's drug dealer with a shotgun was a classic moment, but I really wish they could have explored the darker side of Johnny's addiction and problems. Overall I felt the same way I did when I saw Ghostbusters for the fifteenth time. It's good, but I think I've seen enough. As Hollywood looks for more ways for us to waste our hard earned money, should we be expecting more bio-pics? When is the slated release for Art Clokey: The Gumby Story? I'm just wondering. The marketing for that one is already done! Hollywood complains that thier profits are shrinking and pirates are stealing. But most of the movies coming out of Hollywood these days aren't even worth stealing. It's like when I rented Godzilla for ninety-nine cents and felt ripped off. Walk the Line isn't that bad, but it's going to get there eventually if Hollywood doesn't start getting back to telling good stories. Sorry for the rant.Getting back to the film at hand, for the DVD content itself the packaging was straightforward and included the standard director's commentary and deleted scenes. While the deleted scenes were good to include, I couldn't help feeling that there deserved to be much more included in this. While the collector's edition does feature a second special features disc, it's disheartening that the standard edition didn't come with at least a mini-documentary on Cash's life after the period covered in the movie. I understand that it's all about the marketing, but sometimes including a little extra would be nice. And maybe that's what i wanted out of Walk the Line? More Behind The Music, less glossy Hollywood love.My recommendation is that if you liked the movie, get the standard edition; if you love Johnny Cash, spring for the collector's edition. DVD Features:Available Subtitles: English, Spanish Available Audio Tracks: English (DTS 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 2.1 Surround), Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.1 Surround) Commentary by co-writer and director James Mangold 10 Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary by James Mangold Trailers: Love Me Tender Special Edition Theatrical Trailer

Eventually I will have something interesting for you to read here about the life of an urbanite stuck in the remote Canadian north. Untill then read my blog smalltownunderground.net