Wednesday, November 7, 2012

PORCUPINE TREE: Octane Twisted coming Nov. 19th! (video)


My favorite band (and future subject for my "I love this band" feature), Porcupine Tree, is about to release a new double live album, Octane Twisted.  I have been a fan for more than a decade and they continue to grow and expand their musical vision. If you have not seen them live...you are missing out.

From their official site:

"Octane Twisted" the new double CD live album including bonus DVD will be released on Kscope Records on November 19th. A regular 2 cd only version will be available at a later date.


CD 1 comprises the whole of "The Incident" recorded at the Riviera, Chicago 2010.
CD 2 track listing is as follows - with tracks 5 to 7 recorded at the Royal Albert Hall.

1. Hatesong (9.57)
2. Russia on Ice / The Pills I'm Taking (15.02)
3. Stars Die (5.57)
4. Bonnie the Cat (6.11)
5. Even Less (14.28)
6. Dislocated Day (7.05)
7. Arriving Somewhere But Not Here (12.59)

The bonus DVD, which is a 6 camera shoot production, was never intended to be a standalone DVD release but nicely documents the live performance of "The Incident" in front of a typically lively Chicago audience.




Richard Barbieri and Gavin Harrison discuss the new live album:




A track from the Bonus DVD:




Start here and work your way back, the entire Porcupine Tree catalog is still in "heavy rotation" during my personal listening. Upcoming posts will highlight their individual releases and members.

Rock your day!



Friday, November 2, 2012

MASS EFFECT: The Best Game Trilogy Ever! (video)

Really! I have never been more emotionally invested in any game series. The stories are top notch and the execution is very "cinematic". November 6th you can play the complete, epic story, with over 75 hours of content. This marks the first time Mass Effect 1 has been available for the PS3.






visit http://www.masseffect.com/about/trilogy/




The Disney Star Wars Brouhaha (video)

 
Like most people, the Disney acquisition of Lucasfilm (Star Wars/Indiana Jones) this week gave me a moment of pause. Unlike most people, I like both Star Wars and Star Trek. Each satisfies portions of my sci-fi entertainment needs. I appreciate what George Lucas and Gene Roddenberry created and I have received much enjoyment from both and their sometimes creative, sometimes crappy, offshoots.  No one is perfect.  I overlook the flaws to enjoy the vision of the greater wholes.


I am also not thrilled with a few giant corporate entities owning all of my favorite brands.  As someone who supports art and music on local levels, it is scary to think a few companies will control most of what we see and hear. But, if Star Wars had to get bought by any corporate giant, I am glad it was Disney.  Let's look at recent history:

-Disney bought The Muppets in 2004 and we got:




-Disney bought Pixar in 2006 and we got WALL-E (2008), Up (2009), Toy Story 3 (2010) and Brave (2012). (Cars 2 (2011), too, but everyone needs to make $.)


-Disney bought Marvel in 2009 and we got:



It seems Disney has a history of picking the right "fan boys" (and girls) for the jobs of continuing these huge brands.  Disney now owns Lucasfilm. George Lucas stays on as creative consultant and his partner, producer Kathleen Kennedy becomes the President and Brand Manager. Disney is also leaving ILM to continue as it is.




Although we have no choice but to wait and see, I am kind of looking forward to what this merger brings.  Whatever comes in the future, we still have the originals... in slightly altered and updated forms. (-']






P.S. I liked J.J. Abrams' Star Trek (2009) and I am looking forward to the new one next year!





Monday, October 29, 2012

Politics is Bullsh*t

Those who crave money and power above all else are a**holes, that has always been my opinion.  Working in the media for 28 years, I have never met a politician that I trusted any farther than I could throw him or her.  The false outrage over a politician who is caught in a lie is also bull; lying comes with the job of trying to please everyone, all the time... just to get into an office where they will disregard all they said during the campaign and focus on collecting money from various sources/groups and staying in office.


Being one of the most brutal election seasons I have witnessed, I worry about what my Facebook feed will look like two days after the election.  Hopefully, friends will realize how little a change in our President affects this country.  It doesn't.  The "talking head" at the top of our government is still a slave to big business interest groups and has his hands tied by Congress.  The Senate and the House of Representatives are the real problems. If you want governmental change, start with the Congress, and you will have to go no further.

Instead of telling me how bad the other guy is, how about promoting what your candidate can do for the country.  Be positive or keep quiet, hate gets us nowhere. The next time "your candidate" looks into the camera and says "I can do this or that"...remember their job is supposed to be about "We The People". 

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

Is this really what these politicians want?  Or is it about money and power?


All that being said, do your own research and vote.  At least you will have a voice in the election and the right to bitch, or celebrate, after.  If you don't vote, you are also part of the problem. Apathy kills. This is no longer a two party system of Democrats and Republicans, more like the informed and the sheeple. Those who do their own research versus those who "drink the Kool-ade" and actually believe what a politician says to be truth. Which are you?


As my mother taught me, you should not speak of religion or politics in mixed company because those are the two subjects where most people cannot put aside their own beliefs long enough to have an intelligent conversation. All this intolerant, asinine political banter makes me ill and I am tired of wasting my time on it.  After this, I will go back to posting about rock bands, movies, games and books. I guess, to me, creativity and art matter.  Lies and corruption do not.

Speaking of creative, I love this:




Joss for president!
He does his own dishes, even after directing The Avengers!

(The Avengers has set or tied numerous box office records, including the biggest opening weekend in North America and the fastest film to gross $1 billion. The Avengers grossed $1.51 billion worldwide, and is the third highest-grossing film of all time. The film was released on Blu-ray Disc and DVD on September 25, 2012. A sequel to be written and directed by Whedon is scheduled for release on May 1, 2015.)







Rock your day!  (-']