★ xxxxxx
★ xxxxxx
reviews Music
By ANDRÉANNE SASSEVILLE / SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO
ALANis MOrisseTTe
Flavors of Entanglement – (Warner) MATT MAYs & eL TOrPeDO weeZer LiL’wAYNe
Terminal Romance – (Sonic Records) Weezer - (Geffen) Tha Carter III – (Universal)
For her seventh studio album, the singer/
producer/actress from Ottawa (Ontario) Produced by Chris Tsangarides (Ju- As a kid, he was a freestyle rapping prod-
This is Weezer’s third eponymous work
seduces us post break-up. What better das Priest and Depeche Mode), the igy. Some fifteen years later, Dwayne Mi-
referred to as ‘The Red Album’. The
inspirational subject than losing your four-piece rock band from Nova Scotia chael Carter Jr. aka Lil’Wayne is moving
vibe is familiar although a bit more
fiancé and going through life’s turmoil is back with a second album called and shaking the hip hop game by making
experimental than previous work. The
to regain your balance? And no, don’t Terminal Romance. Don’t be fooled some noise on the charts. Lil’Wayne isn’t
band worked, for the second time, with
for a minute think that this album is by the title: these ain’t no sappy love little anymore and has blossomed into
producer/label mogul and musician
filled with raging sarcasm like her chart songs! Just pure rock and roll! High a fruitful empire. His new album, Tha
Rick Rubin (he is the original DJ of the
topping Jagged Little Pill (1995). With energy, poignant guitar slides and a Carter III, has broken 50 Cent’s previous
Beastie Boys). The ten songs result
these eleven tracks, Alanis has found a voice that would make any man jeal- record (The Massacre in 2005) by selling
in some enhanced synthesizer noise
delightful way to express her feelings. ous, raspy enough and with a straight more than a million albums within the first
and wild pop anthems only they know
She offers up, yet again, some incred- pitch. The single Tall Trees is an unfor- two weeks of its release. The first single
how to throw (who doesn’t remember
ibly impressive songwriting skills. The gettable piece: a beautiful mix of Tom Lollipop hit n.1 on the U.S. Billboard 100
‘Buddy Holly’ and ‘Beverly Hills’?). The
ballads are a torn autobiography of her Petty’s sound and Neil Young’s social chart. A superficial album, self-centered,
story telling is at times deconstructed
relationships and life journey. Her new consciousness. Probably as much a hit dirty, filled with cussing and déjà vu?
and the arrangements are all over the
sound has more electronica beats as a as Cocaine Cowgirl, the 2006 Single Yes, a whole lot. Still, a majority of the
place. Still, the album finds its relevant
backdrop. She hasn’t sold over 60 mil- of the Year recipient at the East Coast tracks are consistently backed with some
path in being a strange conglomerate of
lion albums for no reason. Alongside an Music Awards. After a tour with none fresh arrangements and an interesting
pop, rap, folk, metal and rock. The first
experienced producer (Guy Sigsworth other than Kid Rock, the guys will be lyrical rapping ability. He aimed right;
single Pork and Beans is a testament to
who also worked with Seal), Alanis has more than ready for their own Cross he shot in the right direction; let’s see
their known funny lyrics. It’s unpredict-
been blessed with the ability to transform Canada headliner spot. if he scores…
able. It’s entertaining. It’s Weezer.
negative into creative.
wOLF PArADe
At Mount Zoomer - (Sub Pop) rON seXsMiTH
Exit Strategy Of The Soul – (Warner)
DeATH CAB FOr CUTie CrYsTAL CAsTLes
Capturing the true essence of this Mon- Crystal Castles - (Last Gang Records)
Narrow Stairs - (Atlantic Records)
treal band can be tricky. Nonetheless, If you are just a tiny bit familiar with
At Mount Zoomer feels like an exquisite the Canadian music circle, Ron Sex- Crystal Castles is the trashy electro
The American band has had some fusion of multi-instrumentalist Ethan
follow-up to their previous album Apolo- smith is no stranger. If you aren’t, no
extensive musician make-overs since
gies to The Queen Mary (2005). Two of worries; welcome to discovering one Kath and vocalist Alice Glass. They’ve
their debut some twelve years ago.
its members also have side projects that of Canada’s most gifted songwriters! endorsed hit mixes like Bloc Party’s
Some members left, some new ones
they’ve been working on in the past three He’s rubbed shoulders (and songs!) Hunting for Witches and are now
came. Their sound has been a stable
years (Sunset Rubdown and Handsome with Chris Martin from Coldplay, had showing off their very own eponymous
melancholic indie pop since their 2003
Furs) and all that sound experimenting his music covered by Paul McCartney, debut album. They seem to master
Transantlanticism. Some of its singles
has naturally yet not convincingly influ- Elvis Costello and Feist (Ron’s Secret the distortion gear and endorse a love
were featured in the hit TV series CSI
enced this new album. They have the Heart song is on Feist’s 2003 album for computer programmed beats. The
Miami and Six Feet Under. Narrow
look of a mysterious post-grunge band Let it Die) to name just a few. Exit formula is riveting. The vocals and
Stairs is Death Cab’s eighth opus.
and the appeal of a new indie pop band Strategy of the Soul is Sexsmith’s the beats work in tandem and com-
This new project is somewhat darker
waiting to be discovered. But not too ninth album and radiates his signature plete each other. They’ve managed
and more linear. It’s tightly mixed and
quickly! In that fashion, they could very voice and folk ballads. He has that to turn what could have been just a
has that hip roughness around the
well be the next Arcade Fire. They neatly classic style and orchestrated aura. lab experiment into a scientific break-
edges when the tail end of the songs
manage to polish off some interesting He willingly keeps his creativity alive through. The only downfall to all this
(or the intros) turns into long jamming
pop harmonies. Their fresh and edgy in order to share his emotional mes- positive energy is that once you’ve
sessions. You need to be in the right
musicality is worth shaking a couple of sages. Watch for a tour this fall and listened to the album while prepping
mood, ready to receive that overload for your night of fun, you are likely to
times to gracefully appreciate it. When be assured that if the time (or curios-
of synth/guitar slurs. This can be your
you shake a soda can long enough and ity) takes you down the cozy Sexsmith put it aside until next week’s party.
cloudy Sunday afternoon treat. Unless you’re a daily partygoer!
open it, it pops! Murphy’s Law. route, you shall not regret it!
reviews
xxxxxx ★
DvDs
By Mohit Rajhans
risky Business entourage - The Com- The Godfather:
(Deluxe Edition) plete Fourth season The Coppola
run Fat Boy run Before anyone talked
Warner Home restoration
Alliance Home Entertainment Paramount
about getting their groove
Entertainment back, Tom Cruise’s break- The fourth season of En- For some reason every time
It’s a border line tragedy that out film created a groove tourage, which overlapped I think of Coppola, I won-
this film came and went so Bible for a generation which with the second half of the der if he truly knew how
fast in the theatre. It might was begging for a bridge third season, gave all of these three films would
be that first-time director from that 80’s uncertain- us Vinnie Chase addicts be praised as one of the
David Schwimmer hasn’t ty. Now, 25 years later, while some of the best episodes greatest trilogies ever pro-
yet broken away from his there has been a lot to cel- we have seen to date, duced. Then, other times,
‘friends’ stigma. It’s a feel- ebrate in the life and career without the eight-month I think he just sits in his
of Cruise, it is not necessarily wait. This show is perfect vineyard and counts his
Matrix
good film about a man who
is down and out on luck and the movie itself. In fact, if you for DVD because you can money, laughing. This
life and just wants to win liked Risky Business, then go catch all of the industry is another Blu Ray suc- Ultimate Collection
his family back by running to a garage sale and buy the nuances by watching each cess complete with a Warner
a marathon. The laughs VHS version for $0.25, as it episode back to back few extra perks that make This set is probably one of the most important HD
are plenty and the movie provides plenty of excuses and more than once. Be- this set a must-have for the sets to have come out in a long, LONG while. You
showcases Hank Azaria in for bringing back that good tween Ari’s one liners and fans and possibly a side see, before anyone realized The Matrix would
another scene-stealing film. ole eighties glory, even if only the envious life of Vincent step for those who already be the phenomenon that it was, the Wachowski
Enjoy it on a date. to see Tommy Boy dancing Chase and his boys, you enjoy the collection’s stan- brothers looked into the future and what they
around in his tighty-whiteys. have all the insight needed dard definition release. saw was a need for a whole new level of action/
We need this re-release like to look into the under- sci-fi flicks and voilà, Keanu Reeves’ return to
we are going to need a 25th belly of young Hollywood the A-list. If you can figure out a way to afford
anniversary of The Love and come out laughing. it, you will love every moment of it (even if you
Guru. BTW is Rebecca don’t really understand it).
DeMornay still alive?
street Kings
Fox Home Entertainment
what Happens in vegas
Hey, remember when Keanu played the Fox
stoner cop in that Patrick Swayze movie?
So I really wanted to like this
Since then, let’s be honest, it has pretty
flick. Mainly because every time
much been the ‘Neo’ show. However, Street
I’ve been to Vegas I’ve thought, ‘I
Kings is a great example of a really good
can’t believe this place exists’. The
action rental. It has all the right plot twists
problem with this film is simple:
to keep you guessing and Reeves finally
you already know the premise,
manages to pull off an action role in a big
you’ve seen all the funny parts in
way. The only problem is that it’s really that
the trailer and Cameron Diaz is not
same ‘dirty cop’ story line that Hollywood
as hot as she used to be. So, I’d
has been recycling for the past decade or so
wait to watch this on a plane or as
(Training Day anyone?). So, rent it for some
part of those ‘late great movies’
good old fashioned ‘who’s screwing who’
on cable.
plot twists, but don’t expect to be blown
away by this new twist on a tried and true
formula. i GOT THe FeeLiN’
JAMes BrOwN iN THe ‘60s:
8/5/2008 - sHOUT!
speed racer Factory
Warner Home Entertainment
3 discs of James Brown good-
If there was ever a doubt of what Blu ness punctuated by some rare
Ray could do for you, then I suggest footage from legendary concerts
you put this magazine down, borrow in Boston, to a behind-the-scenes
your nephew’s PS3 and throw in Speed look at one of the highest points
Racer. Not only will you thank me, you’ll in his career. Shout! Factory has
provide redemption to one of the most their finger on the pulse when it
underrated films of the year. People comes to classic music on DVD
expected something different from this and what you’ll love most about
film, but in its simplest form the story, the this collection is that it is a classic
acting and the jaw dropping visual effects collection of James Brown which
combine for a great rental and a true HD you can just as easily have playing
experience. in the background at a party or
use it to study the legend he was.
Mohit is a freelance film reviewer with Flow 935 and Omni TV and works with
Breakfast Television. Read about him at www.mohitsmovies.com
fall 2008 | 81
★ reviews
★ xxxxxx
reviews
GAMes
By Chad Sapieha
Gears of war 2 star wars: The Force
The game that for many has Unleashed
defined the Xbox 360 experi- The light side of the Force is for
ence is finally getting a sequel pantywaists. Sure, Jedi can play
this November. Gears of War mind tricks and use telekinesis
2’s rock star-esque master- to lift spaceships, but they’re not
mind Cliff Bleszinski (who goes allowed to do any of the really fun
by the nickname Cliffy B and stuff, like use lightning to fry their
tools around North Carolina in foes, or choke people simply by
a quarter-million-dollar Lam- looking at them. And that’s the
borghini when not designing premise of the latest Star Wars
games), sums up his latest sci- game. Players take on the role of
fi shooter with just four words: Darth Vader’s secret apprentice,
“Bigger. Better. More badass.”
sOCOM: U.s. Navy seALs Confrontation Judging by the opening level
going on missions with a mandate
Sony’s SOCOM franchise doesn’t get as much buzz as other big budget military shooters, but to leave no witnesses behind.
of this soon-to-be released That means throwing, blasting,
it has a fiercely devout collective of fans that has followed the series over three platforms and
game, in which players ride electrocuting, and otherwise mur-
eight games. SOCOM’s debut on PlayStation 3 focuses on online play, allowing us to wage
atop house-sized tanks before dering pretty much everyone who
war on enormous 32-player maps. The series’ trademark terrorists have been supplanted by
boring down into the centre crosses your path, good or bad.
mercenaries, and a new point system allows players to customize and upgrade their soldiers’
of the planet to take the fight As the Emperor might say, “Let
duds and weapons as they gain experience—hopefully providing guys like us with some ad-
to the enemy’s homeland, he the hate flow through you.”
vantage over the 12-year-old wunderkinds that usually dominate these games.
could be right.
Afro samurai
Based on the popular series featuring the voice of Samuel L. Jackson, this beautifully animated and wonder-
fully gory action game for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 puts players in the shoes of a devastatingly powerful
warrior seeking revenge for the murder of his father. All of Afro’s fighting tricks are here, including his quick
and graceful swordplay and gorgeous acrobatics. What’s more, enemies can be hewn in half wherever sword
happens to meet skin, which makes for some fantastically bloody battles. To help retain the show’s look and
feel, the game appears hand drawn and features a bottom-heavy hip-hop score.
resistance 2
The much-anticipated sequel to PlayStation 3’s flagship launch title, Resistance 2 once more sets players
in the role of World War II era American soldier Nathan Hale as he does battle against alien invaders while
simultaneously fighting off an otherworldly virus infecting his body. The major news here is an eight-player
class-based co-operative campaign mode and epic 60-player online battles; both big steps for console gam-
ing. Also prepare to be floored by the game’s photorealistic graphics, which by all accounts will be among the
most jaw-dropping of any game released this fall.
Motorstorm: Pacific rift
The second game in Sony’s graphically sumptuous car crunching franchise, MotorStorm: Pacific Rift continues
to push the bar for over-the-top, off-road fantasy racing. The game has shifted locales from the desert to a
remote island, but the tracks, which snake through jungles, over mountains, and around beaches are as brutal
as ever. There are plenty of new vehicles to smash up, including monster trucks, and all 18 tracks from the
single-player career are available for 20-player online endurance races. The icing on the cake: players can now
create their own racing soundtracks from their PlayStation 3 music libraries.
Fallout 3
From Bethesda Softworks, makers of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, one of the most critically acclaimed role-
playing games in recent memory, comes Fallout 3, sequel to a pair of post-apocalyptic PC games released
more than a decade ago. Under production for years, this sci-fi tinged RPG sets players in the shoes of a
survivor wandering a vast, freely explorable North American wasteland. It looks to have all the dark humour and
role-playing elements of the original games paired with the production values enabled by modern hardware. In
other words, this is the RPG to occupy your non-working hours when the snow starts falling.
82 | fall 2008