Blogcritics Author: Ryan Webster

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.

The Doors Celebrate Their Fortieth Anniversary With New Releases

Ryan Webster — Mon, 22 May 2006 08:43:25 EDT

It's been nearly forty-years since The Doors released their first album, and for the remaining members; they're going to make sure that it is a memorable anniversary. Later this year, The Doors will release a plethora of new goodies to keep the "legend" alive. First out of the gates in October, Rhino records will release a new box set. This new set will contain every studio album, a CD with new stereo mixes, alternative tracks, and a DVD with out-takes and video clips. Apple's iTunes will also offer "virtual box-sets" and rare tracks.In November, all the Morrison-philes will need to make room on their coffee tables.The Doors- By The Doors- a coffee table book, featuring never-before-seen photos and interviews will hit the shelves. Last but not least, Dick Wolf (Creator of Law & Order) is producing a feature length documentary-which will dig deep into the music/video archives of The Doors. This film will give fans the most intimate and detailed look into the true nature of Morrison and Co. With "lost" interviews with Jim Morrison and commentary by Jim's family, it is one film not to be missed by any Doors fan. It will hit theaters late '06/ early '07.It's seems that even after nearly forty-years, The Doors haven't closed just yet.

Currently attending school with a major in english. Writing consumes most of my time, if i'm not writing for this website, it's for school, or poetry. In my spare time I like to Kayake, Run and play a little bass(guitar).

Morgellons Disease: A New Illness That Really "Bugs" Sufferers

Ryan Webster — Mon, 15 May 2006 19:57:23 EDT

There seems to be a new disease that's causing a scare in parts of the US, and it's not the bird flu. Morgellons is the name of this new disease that seems to be surfacing, and everything about it seems to have come out of a bad horror movie.According to the Morgellons Research Foundation, those who have the disease develop rashes and non-healing skin lesions that cause a burning or itching sensation. They also claim to have the feeling that insects are crawling under their skin. When the rashes are treated with topical medications, the symptoms return within a few days and further treatment ends up being futile. Other symptoms from this strange disease include: sweat that is black and tarry, strange multi-colored fibers that come out of the skin lesions, and some sufferers have claimed that they saw small insects crawling/flying out of their skin (although no one who isn't infected with the disease has witnessed this).Most doctors have dismissed this as delusional parasitosis, a disease in which one falsely believes oneself to be infected by an organism, though there is something more to it. More than half of those infected with this disease also have Lyme disease. The disease also, seems to be isolated to California, Texas and Florida.The doctors who are researching this mysterious illness can't seem to find the actual cause. There is something to it though; with all those infected people reporting the same symptoms and having fibers pulled from their skin lesions, it simply can't be in their heads. What it is, though -- well, that's the mystery.

CD Review: The Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium

Ryan Webster — Fri, 12 May 2006 09:07:33 EDT

Back in the 70's, the music scene was infamous for the double-album. The self-indulgent result from overly-productive bands, many times resulting in epic crap.It's seems that history repeats itself; first the Foo Fighters and now the Red Hot Chili Peppers are doing the double-album dance. Unlike the albums of the seventies and sadly the Foo Fighters; the Chili Peppers pull it off (for the most part.)Stadium Arcadium is the name and "bringing back the funk" is the game; or at least that is what the Chili Peppers claim. The album is spread out on to two discs "Jupiter" and "Mars", and even though they are named after planets. There is no space theme, in fact, there is no theme at all.The album kick starts itself with the first track (and hit single) "Dani California." It is a feel good song that has a "southern" rock vibe which is climaxed by guitarist John Frusciante's trademark solo. Then, "Snow (Hey Oh)" hits, and the listener is brought into full By The Way mode. It's a good, but safe mid-tempo song that could have been better. Next up, we have "Charlie." The first "funk" song on this record, though instead of sounding like "old-school" Chili Peppers, it sounds more like 70's P-funk (which- isn't a bad thing.)After being teased with a little funk, the album mellows out again with the beautiful but melancholy title track. It then hits the funk gear again with "Hump de Bump." This track oozes vintage-Chili Peppers, from the nonsensical lyrics "Hump de bump doop bodu", to Flea's rapid bass- slapping, Chad's no bullshit drumming, and the percussive bridge. This song conjures up the soul of their album Freaky Styley.After the fun and funk of "Hump de Bump," we get the bizarre "She's only 18." The song starts out sounding like it came straight out of Blood Sugar Sex Magick. It does take a strange alt-metal sound with the chorus, which sounds a little out of place. The album then again mellows out with "Slow Cheetah", only to speed back up with the Joy-Divisionesque "Torture Me", only to mellow back out for "Strip My Mind" and "Especially In Michigan.""Warlocks" brings back the funk, though strangely comes off pretty casual and not as energetic as say "Hump de Bump." The first disc then ends on a very mellow note with "C'mon Girl," "Wet Sand," and ''Hey." "Wet Sand" is the standout with a very Hendrixesque sound.After the first disc held (though not as funky as I hoped), the second starts off even stronger. It starts with the epic ballad "Desecration Smile." It then goes into the funky "Tell Me Baby," with a killer verse and an even better chorus; which has a sound that's mildly reminiscent of New wave bands like New Order.The song "Hard to Concentrate" slows things down a little. With lyrics that are essentially a marriage proposal. (Singer, Anthony Kiedis, wrote them for Flea when he asked his girlfriend to marry him.), and some unique guitar lines that make this song very memorable.Unfortunately the next two tracks, "21st Century" and "She Looks To Me," aren't as memorable. Then things are kicked into high-gear with the hard-rock gem "Readymade." The intro and verse sound very similar to Jane's Addiction's "Mountain Song", but the chorus, screaming-guitar- solo and bridge make up for that.The next tracks "If," "Make You Feel Better," "Animal Bar," and "So Much I" all blend together with interchangeable verses, though the choruses on each song stand out to some degree. Then, out of nowhere, the Peppers bring back the nostalgia with "Storm In A Teacup". Which sounds like it could be a lost recording from the One Hot Minute era. Unfortunately, the following two tracks "We Believe" and "Turn It Again" suffer from the interchangeable verse problem. Then there is the final track "Death Of A Martian"; while the lyrics are touching (It's about Anthony Kiedis' dog who died.); it is the weakest track on the whole record. Not the best note to end on.The biggest weakness with this album is it's horribly disorganized. There is no continuity from track to track. Instead of separating the up-beat tracks from the ballads onto separate discs they're all jumbled together. which dramatically takes away from the listening experience. The other major weakness with the album is the filler. While there are no bad tracks, some tracks just don't really stand out on their own. The best tracks on this album are amazing and when compared to the lesser ones, it really hurts the quality of the entire album. The Peppers really should of cut an addition five songs from this album (originally there were 36 songs.). If there were only 22 or 23 tracks, it would have evened it out. Despite the negative aspects, there are many things to praise about this album. The arrangements and layers of sound that guitarist John Frusciante came up with for this album are amazing. He is truly a genius and the center of the Peppers creative force. Without him they would still be four guys with socks on their cocks.Songs like "Dani California" and "Stadium Arcadium" are this albums greatest strengths. When Stadium Arcadium is at its best, it's breathtaking. When it's at its worst, it's still good. Despite its flaws it's still a great album and when you compare it to the utter shit that is out now (like Fallout Boy or Greenday) this album is a masterpiece.If you don't have any Chili Pepper albums this is the album to buy. It is in a way a musical history of the band, and even though it has serious flaws I have no doubt that this album will one day become a classic. Rating: 8 out of 10.