http://www.viewpoints.com/aboutme/MattA75 Sat, 27 Oct 2007 00:56:40 GMT Reviews by MattA75 http://www.viewpoints.com/Kid-Rock-Rock-N-Roll-Jesus-review-17f02 Kid Rock has always been one of those artists that I just don't get.  I don't get how he's sold so many records, I don't get his appeal, and I don't get how a dude supposedly so talented seems to write every other song about how great he is and yet can't write a decent song about anything else. — Oh, sure, he tries on his newest album, Rock 'N' Roll Jesus.  He wants you to believe there are two sides to Kid Rock: the brash, confident, overhyped superstar, and the down home country boy who just wants the simple things in life.  Nevermind that one contradicts the other; if you're listening to Kid Rock, you shouldn't be thinking in the first place. — And I guess there's nothing wrong with him once in a while in terms of mindless rock music.  His mashup here of Werewolves of London and Sweet Home Alabama with new lyrics works better than it has any right to, and just the fact that you hear there was a mashup of those two songs and it wasn't a horrible... Sat, 27 Oct 2007 00:56:40 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Kid-Rock-Rock-N-Roll-Jesus-review-17f02 MattA75 2 http://www.viewpoints.com/Blackbird-by-Alter-Bridge-review-e37c1 There was true potential shown on Alter Bridge's 2004 debut album One Day Remains.  It was the same potential that 3 of it's members had once shown with Creed, before Scott Stapp got in the way and ruined everything.  It wasn't a consistent album, but when the band hit, they really hit.  Songs like Metalingus and Find the Real gave rock fans reason to think this could be one of the more exciting rock bands to come along in quite a while, once they found themselves and their sound.   — Sadly, Alter Bridge found a sound on their recently released sophomore effort Blackbird.  Not only did they find a sound, they apparently liked it enough to use it over and over again on the record.  Despite the promise of the opening two tracks, Blackbird is a long, droning affair that too often feels like one big long song.  Guitarist Mark Tremonti lays out heavy hitting riffs, but unfortunately, most sound very similar to the last riff.  The rhythm... Sat, 27 Oct 2007 00:25:33 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Blackbird-by-Alter-Bridge-review-e37c1 MattA75 2 http://www.viewpoints.com/Gone-Baby-Gone--135148-review-fa160 I don't know if I've ever been so torn about how I felt coming out of a film as I have last Saturday night at the end of Gone Baby Gone. — You see, as someone who watches with a critical eye, I appreciate every reason why Gone Baby Gone is one of the best films of the year.  First time director Ben Affleck does a heck of a job.  His younger brother Casey turns in a great performance, just one of many by the film's cast.  It makes you think, it unsettles you, it challenges you on the line of what is right and what is wrong; it asks questions most films wouldn't touch, and revels in bringing to light the political incorrectness that lies in each member of the audience. — And yet, as a human being, the questions it asks makes you unsettled.  You can't help but feel as if you're torn between what is right and what is right.  — The film focuses on the kidnapping of a small girl and the race to find her.  Casey Affleck plays... Thu, 25 Oct 2007 23:44:44 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Gone-Baby-Gone--135148-review-fa160 MattA75 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Magic-10-2-by-Bruce-Springsteen-review-b7b71 One can appreciate the changes in direction one Bruce Springsteen has taken the last few years.  From the stark, dark, and stripped down tones of 2005's Devils and Dust, to the folksy, triumphant tones of last year's We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions, Springsteen has been unafraid to challenge himself and his listeners.  This is never a bad thing.  Not only does it allow him a break from his E Street Band roots, it also allows him to feel refreshed when he decides to go back there.   — And on Magic, Springsteen's first album with the E Street Band in 5 years, he sounds as refreshed as he has been in a while.  OK, so maybe the lyrics aren't up to par with his legendary work from the 70s and 80s, but it isn't as if he's just jotting random words down either.  The songs have a glossy pop sheen on them, as producer Brendan O'Brien works his hardest to make these tracks the most crossover friendly since the Born in the USA album.... Wed, 10 Oct 2007 22:28:49 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Magic-10-2-by-Bruce-Springsteen-review-b7b71 MattA75 3 http://www.viewpoints.com/Pink-Floyd-Dark-Side-of-the-Moon-review-ea460 I've been relatively conservative since starting here at Viewpoints.  I've sort of tried not to step on many toes.  In other words, I've been the exact opposite of what made me so popular on another certain review site.  Well, with this review, that's gonna change.  I'm planning on receiving plenty of hateful comments for this review.  And to that I say bring it on. — So help me, I've tried to like Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon.  I tried when I was 13, 15, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25 and now, 27.  I tried the whole Wizard of Oz thing, to no avail.  Maybe it's because I've never listened to it while on drugs.  Then again, the whole "listen to this while taking that" idea never appealed to me.  I mean honestly, if you need to take mass quantities of drugs in order to enjoy a piece of music, isn't that saying something about the music?  I mean, I can listen to The Grateful Dead and I can get it, totally sober.  It's not my... Tue, 09 Oct 2007 22:20:34 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Pink-Floyd-Dark-Side-of-the-Moon-review-ea460 MattA75 1 http://www.viewpoints.com/Collective-Soul-7even-Year-Itch-Greatest-Hits-1994-2001-review-c4da3 If you're going to put out a "best of" or a "greatest hits" album, you may as well do it right.  This is what makes the Guns N Roses greatest hits laughable, while, say, the Garbage greatest hits is pretty much spot on. — Apparently, Collective Soul didn't get the memo.  Oh sure, they got the memo about including 2 new tracks so that their diehards would have reason to buy this even though they already own all of the other songs.  Of course, they also got the memo that says those songs don't actually have to be anything good, just new.  They also threw on a hard to find rarity that, SURPRISE, isn't very good either. — What is good is the majority of tracks here.  Collective Soul has always been a  bit confused about whether they want to be a rocking band, a pop band, or something that combines the two.  However, despite the fact they very easily could have been assigned "one hit wonder" status after the success of "Shine," they became one... Sat, 29 Sep 2007 15:03:24 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Collective-Soul-7even-Year-Itch-Greatest-Hits-1994-2001-review-c4da3 MattA75 3 http://www.viewpoints.com/2K-NHL-2K8-review-08a0 While EA Sports has dominated sports video gaming for the last 15 years, I find that lately they've become lazy and more than willing to live on reputation rather than on the innovation they became known for.  After all, when 2K sports NFL 2K5 came out and immediately became the hottest football game on the market, EA cried like little babies and struck an exclusive deal with the NFLPA to wipe out the competition (2K struck back by getting the exclusive rights from the MLBPA, effectively taking out the best football AND baseball games off the market: 2K for football, EA for baseball). — EA in recent years has been hit hard by 2K's hockey series as well.  Actually, scratch that.  2K has made EA it's bitch in recent years in terms of their hockey games.  From the time that I first played NHL 2K5, I was hooked on the 2K series.  The skating motions were more fluid and realistic, the games were challenging, you had to work for goals (though there were some... Sat, 29 Sep 2007 13:59:15 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/2K-NHL-2K8-review-08a0 MattA75 3 http://www.viewpoints.com/Blender-Magazine-review-9fe61 Considering it's from the same people who publish Maxim, it's really no surprise that Blender magazine is put together the way it is.  Blender is pretty much an all music version of Maxim, just with slightly better journalism. — I'll be the first to admit that Blender was much better in it's earliest days (2002), when they seemed to be truly focused on being an all things to all listeners music mag.  To an extent, they still have this goal, they're just not nearly as focused on it.  — Blender offers a lot of excellent monthly features to get the reader engaged.  The "classic song" feature selects a hit from yesteryear and collects comments from the artist, the producer etc about how it came to be.  "Ask Blender" features readers asking Blender questions about musical heroes past and present.  The news section is always interesting, since Blender seems to always have 1 or 2 nuggets I haven't seen elsewhere.  Their album review... Sat, 29 Sep 2007 01:19:45 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Blender-Magazine-review-9fe61 MattA75 3 http://www.viewpoints.com/Verizon-Wireless-Network-review-ba8e1 There was a time I hated cell phones.  Actually, hated isn't quite the right word.  Perhaps abhorred would be better.  I couldn't stand the need to talk everywhere you went, while common courtesy to those who were actually in front of you seemingly disappeared.  — But let me tell you: getting a flat tire on the side of the highway and having no cell phone will change your outlook real quick.  It happened to me five years ago, and that very afternoon, I went out of work on my lunch break and signed up for my first cell phone contract. — I chose Verizon because I had heard good things about their network's reliability from friends.  Since I was really only interested in making and taking calls (no internet, no texting etc), all I cared about was making sure that I wouldn't be dropping calls left and right. — Five years later, I'm still with Verizon, after re-upping for 2 more years on 2 separate occasions.  I'm very happy with... Sat, 29 Sep 2007 00:56:08 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Verizon-Wireless-Network-review-ba8e1 MattA75 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Rolling-Stone-Magazine-review-8de9 At its peak, Rolling Stone was a marvelous music and pop culture rag, while also dabbling in politics.  Over the years, the emphasis on music has lessened, the politics and pop culture has increased, and the quality of the magazine is not near where it was at it's peak in the early to mid 70s.  I don't even think RS themselves would try to say it was.  After all, it's a different time, and there's no real way to reconcile what they had going for them then, and what they have working against them now.   — With that being said, I can't help but laugh whenever I see people dismiss Rolling Stone completely.  Yes, I wish they'd focus a bit more on music too.  But it's not as if they've completely dropped the ball journalistically.  While their political articles can be a bit heavy handed (I mean honestly, I hate Shrub too, but I can do without the monthly article decrying something new about his administration...I honestly wonder what they're going... Fri, 28 Sep 2007 19:54:52 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Rolling-Stone-Magazine-review-8de9 MattA75 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Reaper-review-4cdd Reviewer's Note: This review is based on, and mostly about, the series premiere of this show.  If this show goes downhill, I'll update the review as necessary. I was a bit weirded out, to say the least, when the new fall show I wanted to see more than any other was going to air on the CW Network.  It'd be like being excited about a Fox show in 1988. — But such was the case with Reaper.  The idea felt like the defunct Showtime series Dead Like Me ran head on into Buffy the Vampire Slayer (I never watched Buffy, though people tell me I'd probably like it).  — Bret Harrison (best known for being the neighbor on Grounded For Life, also was on the under-rated and now cancelled The Loop) plays Sam Oliver, a young slacker working at a Home Depot type big box store.  On his 21st birthday, his parents tell him that before he was born, they sold his soul to the devil, and that the transfer happens when he turns 21. — Before long, the... Fri, 28 Sep 2007 01:53:05 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Reaper-review-4cdd MattA75 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Foo-Fighters-Echoes-Silence-Patience-Grace-review-8e783 The biggest knock people have had on the Foo Fighters over the years is that they rarely branch out past their comfort zone.  Of course, when they did do that for half of their last album, 2005's In Your Honor, the results were far from good.  Thankfully, the first disc that featured the band in their comfort zone was excellent, one of the best rock moments of that year. — So now, after releasing an acoustic live album last year (Skin and Bones), and apparently getting that completely out of their system, they're back this week with their sixth album, Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace.  For those hoping to see the band branch out past their comfort zone, you'll be disappointed again.  For those like me, however, who is just happy that there's still a couple of decent rock and roll bands out there, this album is just about everything you could ask for. — The first four songs on this record grab your attention and absolutely refuse to let it... Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:38:38 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Foo-Fighters-Echoes-Silence-Patience-Grace-review-8e783 MattA75 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/The-White-Stripes-Icky-Thump-review-07ed Very few, if any, bands have enjoyed the type of critical acclaim and commercial success in tandem that The White Stripes has over the last few years.  Critically, they are almost universally praised, mostly thanks to Jack White's mad scientist like guitar-work and songwriting.  Commercially, they've had several hits in recent years, including, but not limited to Seven Nation Army, My Doorbell, and their 2002 breakthrough Fell In Love With a Girl.   — Earlier this year, the Stripes released their sixth album, titled Icky Thump.  As usual, the record received it's usual critical acclaim, and it didn't bomb commercially either, debuting at #2 on the US Charts with over 220,000 copies sold in it's first week.  But sometimes, you see, critics and music fans can be wrong, and sadly, Icky Thump is one of those times.   — It's not that I dislike the record.  It's more than I expect more out of Jack White and his ex wife Meg (drums). ... Thu, 27 Sep 2007 17:00:59 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/The-White-Stripes-Icky-Thump-review-07ed MattA75 2 http://www.viewpoints.com/Sharp-XL-MP130-Five-Disc-CD-Changer-review-2263 In the fall of 2005, I finally decided that my old shelf stereo system would need to go.  It was struggling to read CDs, making my music listening nearly impossible unless I wanted to listen on my at the time very old computer.  For someone as into music as I am, this was completely and utterly not going to work. — I started looking around at prices.  I had decided I wanted a five disc changer, just to avoid having to put in and take out discs repeatedly.  However, I was on something of a tight budget, so I didn't want anything too ridiculously priced.  I was perusing the selection at Circuit City when the XL-MP 130 Five Disc Changer by Sharp caught my eye.  At $150, it was right in my price range.  I did a bit more research on it, found that most people who bought it loved it, so I went back and grabbed one. — Two years later, I've gotten a good amount of use out of it.  The sound is crisp, even when the volume is being... Wed, 26 Sep 2007 23:39:17 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Sharp-XL-MP130-Five-Disc-CD-Changer-review-2263 MattA75 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Chris-Rich-Robinson-Brothers-of-a-Feather-Live-at-the-Roxy-review-b641 I think I was the only Black Crowes fan who was not disappointed that the Brothers of a Feather mini tour did not come to Boston.  Brothers of a Feather was simply Chris & Rich Robinson on stage with a pair of guitars, and in spots, a pair of backup singers.  The songs promised to be stripped down to their bare essence.  Say goodbye to swampy jams and big loud rock and roll.  But while I like it when my favorite bands strip their songs down, I also like it in short spurts.  A two hour show?  No thanks. — But come on, even I knew I'd have to give a listen to the CD from the resulting tour.  Brothers of a Feather: Live at the Roxy features 14 tracks recorded over the course of a three night stand at the Roxy in LA.  Most of the songs are simply Chris and Rich, some with just Rich on guitar, some with both Rich and Chris on guitar.  They pull songs from the Black Crowes songbook, covers from their favorite artists, songs from their own... Wed, 26 Sep 2007 22:57:16 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Chris-Rich-Robinson-Brothers-of-a-Feather-Live-at-the-Roxy-review-b641 MattA75 3 http://www.viewpoints.com/Spin-Magazine--135456-review-4ed60 Of the three music magazines I subscribe to, I find myself regretting more and more my decision to renew with Spin last year more than anything else.    — At one time, Spin was a nice alternative to Rolling Stone.  Now, however, they seem unable to decide if they want to be Rolling Stone minus the politics, or if they merely want to cover whatever the flavor of the month is.  Spin's biggest problem at the moment is that they jump all over whatever is hot, only to rag on it six months later, pretending they never supported it.  And that's to say nothing of the artists they apparently are in love with at the moment at the Spin offices.   — The columnists are mostly boring, offering what they no doubt feel is witty commentary on pop culture.  In reality, they lack the bite and wit of Chuck Klosterman, who, sadly, left the magazine shortly after it's sale last year.  And while the magazine was seeing a decline in quality before the... Wed, 26 Sep 2007 17:14:26 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Spin-Magazine--135456-review-4ed60 MattA75 2 http://www.viewpoints.com/Clerks-10th-Anniversary-Edition-review-80300 If you have never seen Kevin Smith's directorial debut Clerks, it's safe to say you are either out of the targeted age range (Gen X and younger or so), or have been deprived to this point in your life.  I'll let you decide. — For those unfamiliar with this classic film, a quick rundown.  The film focuses on Dante (Brian O'Halloran) and Randall (Jeff Anderson), a pair of early twenties slackers who run the Quick Stop convenience store (Dante) and RST Video Store (Randall).  Essentially "a day in the life of a clerk," the film concentrates on Dante and Randall's relationship, their interactions with various customers and old acquaintances, as well as Dante's relationship with his girlfriend Veronica, as well as his ex, Caitlyn Bree. — Dante and Randall debate Star Wars, relationships, women, and a host of other subjects.  This focus on dialogue would become Smith's main forte. — Filmed entirely in black and white, the film was made on a... Wed, 26 Sep 2007 01:14:50 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Clerks-10th-Anniversary-Edition-review-80300 MattA75 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Pearl-Jam-Immagine-In-Cornice-review-da884 The DVD format has been a boon for bands looking to make a quick buck.  With them being so relatively cheap to produce, and with fans willing to shell out money for anything their favorite bands put out, it's no wonder some bands would seemingly rather put out DVDs than new albums.  And the complete half assed job some bands put into their DVDs makes that much obvious. — Pearl Jam was in danger of going into that territory.  Their last two major tours were documented on DVD (Touring Band 2000 and Live at the Garden (2003)), with a few extras thrown in.  Last year's tour in support of their self titled album promised more official bootlegs, but then came rumor of a DVD to chronicle the band's five show mini-tour of Italy in September of 2006.  Fans began jokingly referring to it as Touring Italia 2006.  But just when you think the band has taken the lazy route, they surprise you. — Today's release of Immagine In Cornice (Italian for "Picture in... Wed, 26 Sep 2007 00:10:31 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Pearl-Jam-Immagine-In-Cornice-review-da884 MattA75 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Dropkick-Murphys-The-Meanest-of-Times-review-f59d0 I first saw the Dropkick Murphys on the last night of 1997, opening for legendary Boston ska-coresters The Mighty Mighty Bosstones (so screw all you bandwagon jumpers...just kidding...sort of).  And while their half hour set that night surely could not have predicted the amount of success they've gradually built, it also wouldn't have been an unfair assessment to say that I was potentially watching the next band of Boston punk legends to be. — Hot off of their song I'm Shipping Up to Boston being used in Martin Scorsese's The Departed last fall, the Murphys released their sixth full length studio album, The Meanest of Times, last week.  Not as instantly ferocious as their previous release (2005's The Warrior's Code), the Meanest of Times is nonetheless an album to be reckoned with.  On my first listen, I don't know how crazy I was about this disc.  Coming off of the Warrior's Code, I half expected that same energy here, and when I didn't get it, I was a bit... Tue, 25 Sep 2007 00:46:23 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Dropkick-Murphys-The-Meanest-of-Times-review-f59d0 MattA75 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Death-at-a-Funeral-review-3b7e0 Certain things draw my interest in terms of movies.  For example, any movie directed by the Coen Brothers or Kevin Smith will be on my "must see opening weekend" list.  But aside from directors or actors who I really seem to enjoy, there are also types of films that just seem to grab me.  — For example, if the terms "English Black Comedy" are used to describe a film, I'm probably going out to see it.  I love English comedy (from Python to Bean to Black Adder), and I love black comedy, so put the two together, and I'm pretty much in heaven.    — Such was the case with Death at a Funeral, a roaring black comedy with a mostly English cast and directed by American Frank Oz (best known for being Jim Henson's right hand man with the Muppets).  With a tagline of "a story of a family that puts the F U in funeral," Death at a Funeral explores the seedy secrets and hidden lives of one particular dysfunctional family, all gathered to lay... Mon, 24 Sep 2007 19:20:26 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Death-at-a-Funeral-review-3b7e0 MattA75 4