I had no idea the Dutch were this funky. Try listening to this with good speakers and not nodding or dancing. This will be on June’s chart, and check out this sweet video.
Kraak & Smaak – Squeeze Me May 29, 2008
Funky Forest: The First Contact review May 27, 2008
Seriously mental party material; this aims to be one of the most bizarre, funny, and random movies you’ve seen and succeeds. Imagine Kentucky Fried Movie, but Japanese and more artistic, and with influences that include Monty Python, Lynch, and Cronenburg. The movie runs a little long at 2.5 hours though, and the anime sequences were pretty weak. Make sure you clear some room in front of your TV to dance along on the dance numbers! Rating: 8/10
Ratatat – Mirando May 24, 2008
Who knew there were so many dance moves in Predator? From Ratatat’s forthcoming LP3.
The Last Winter May 22, 2008
This Alaskan eco-horror film hardly made a whimper at the box office, but it’s better than The Mist and Diary of the Dead combined. It actually succeeds where Shyamalan’s The Happening is going to fall flat on its face. Ron Perlman and the cast, the score, and cinematography are all perfect. Probably has the best jump scare I’ve seen this year. The director Fessenden has made which seems like a tribute to The Shining, and it is his best yet. Rating: 8/10
Foals – Red Socks Pugie May 19, 2008
I had these guys up on last months chart. Behold the devastation of the a-bomb around the 2:50 mark. These heart swells, these wasps nests in your head…
Best DVDs of the month May 16, 2008
If you haven’t seen these, check ‘em out. Cloverfield and I am Legend are not included because you should have heard about those two…
1. Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead-
3 words: Philip Seymour Hoffman. The man rocks. But also great ensemble cast works too.
2. I’m Not There
Todd Haynes adds another dimension to the music biopic, but just go with it. Blanchett is truly great here too.
3. Teeth
If you know what this movie is about, well let’s just say it hits all the right buttons…
More Justice: Phantom pt. 2 May 15, 2008
Pretty cool viddie for this Goblin-sampled track. Kinda disappointed that the jello cubes weren’t used as magical weapons though.
Frontier(s) Review May 14, 2008
There is certainly no shortage of powertools, bloodbaths, or primal screams in this frenetic and entertaining horror flick. Apparently it is very popular right now to use the Texas Chainsaw Massacre formula in various locales in Europe. This one adds a neo-nazi twist. The movie is so chock full of gross-out moments you can never really catch your breath. I’m not sure if this pacing or similarities to at least 5 other movies (Is the director Xavier Gens a homie of Alexandre Aja?) lessened my experience, or perhaps it was my lack of empathy for any character including the main one. But there are plenty of chilling moments here to give this a recommendation. Rating: 7/10
Billy Ocean – Loverboy May 14, 2008
This guy HAS to be the new Rick Rolling. He’s even got aliens partying in a cave-ala Star Wars Cantina.
Congratulations, Matt and Laura! (Midnite – New Life) May 9, 2008
This video goes out to the 10 lb (whew) healthy boy just delivered to my good friends Matt and Laura. His name is Cameron Bertoli Cunningham. Congrats, guys!
The 5 best NIN tracks you haven’t heard May 9, 2008
You won’t hear these at a concert, and I actually prefer these over the hits/singles.
1. Ruiner – from The Downward Spiral
2. Burn – from the Natural Born Killers soundtrack
3. The Becoming - from The Downward Spiral
4. The Great Below – from The Fragile
5. Closer to God – from the Closer EP; awesome remix
The 5 best NIN albums/EPs May 9, 2008
Do you have these in the same order?
1. The Downward Spiral – that was easy
2. Broken – Reznor’s self-claimed “blast of destruction”.
3. The Fragile - More hits than misses on this sprawling double-CD album.
4. Closer - One of the best remix EPs ever. (halo 9)
5. Pretty hate machine – Can’t beat this debut.
Hon. mention: Further down the Spiral – Music as art, and Aphex Twin on 2 tracks.
A new, free, and proper NIN album? The Slip review May 6, 2008
NIN have exceeded all of my expectations by putting this proper album up for free download with a Creative Commons license. Not only that, but all the tracks are available for remixing, and unlike the last “album” Ghosts, this is some wicked remix material that might get me on board. So far I’m eating all of my words that NIN wouldn’t put out a real album the same way as Ghosts. You’ve really got to applaud Reznor and NIN for shaking things up in the music industry and internet, and making a great album while their at it.
Rating: 9/10
Get it here: http://theslip.nin.com/
Get the tracks for remixing: http://remix.nin.com/
May’s Made 15 May 1, 2008
Despite my disappointment for the new Portishead and Santogold albums they still managed to find their way on this chart. You won’t find Madonna however, even if I do like that new Timberlake-Timbaland jam.
1. Telemetrik – My Lightyear Act Two EP
This drum and bass producer isn’t waiting around for the future; he’s bringing it to ya. “Exit Civilization” is the choice here, but “Evil Exists” boasts a well-chosen Smashing Pumkins sample.
2. Ludovic Vendi – Limbo
This blurpy and wonky techno goes epic midway through and doesn’t look back.
3. Datassette – Datassette LP
Almost perfect electronic-tech album that was made for your inner robot.
4. The Roots – Rising Down
This is one of the better Roots albums(and they have 9 other albums), and it might make some Best of 2008 lists.
5. Benga – Diary of an Afro Warrior
This album could do for dubstep what Roni Size’s New Forms did for drum n’ bass.
6. Leila – Mettle
Warp artist Leila shows Portishead how trip-hop works now.
7. Foals – Antidotes
One of the better indie rock albums I’ve heard this year.
8. Christopher D. Ashley – We are Shining
Electro-pop for the new generation.
9. Justice – dance (Alan Braxe and Fred Falke mix)
I’m almost sick of these vocals, but this mix is like classy, neon lip gloss.
10. Santogold – You’ll Find a Way (Switch and Sinden mix)
The one saving grace from a disappointing debut album.
11. Logistics – Reality Checkpoint
This sophomore album for the drum n’ bass producer has plenty of quality tracks to put in your crate.
12. Cut Copy- In Ghost Colours
Charming if not predictable album of Australian sunshine.
13. Testament – Killing Season + More than Meets the Eye
Please put these songs on Rock Band so I can seriously thrash… Thanks Jason for the tip on these guys.
14. Sander van Doorn – Grasshopper
This tech/trance cut sounds incredible in the club; take my word for it-.
15. Portishead – Plastic + Hunter
The two salvageable songs off the otherwise forgetful new Portishead album.
