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Artist: AFILabel: Interscope
Album Type: Alternative Rock
Released: September 29, 2009
The Orb's Take: Solid album all the way through, worth a listen.
Album Review:This is AFI's seventh studio album over eighteen years of being a band. They have consistently released a new album every three years, and they put together a solid one with "Crash Love". Solid vocals, and a good mix gives us hooky lyrics with rocking guitars. Catchy choruses makes this an album worth listening to and it will have you humming them in your head. AFi has a distinct vocal sound that sets them apart from other bands. AFI would be considered as more of an "underground band" - this is a band that you will not be hearing on your local radio station getting steady air-play. Again, worth your time to check it out.
What to Listen to: "Medicate", "Torch Song", "It Was Mine"
You Might If You Like These:
My Chemical Romance
Official AFI website
AFI MySpace Page
Director: Kevin MacdonaldRelease Date: April 17, 2009
Genre: Crime / Drama
MPAA: Rated PG13
Universal
The ORB's take: A good drama, nothing too intense, nothing unexpected.
Movie Review:
This movie is better than television mini-series drama, so it it worth a rental. "Russell Crowe" puts in his usual performance; good acting, and he will draw you in even if it doesn't seem interesting. gives a decent performance, and plays his character well; a lying congressman caught in a web of deceit and murder - painting the same picture of what we already think Washington congressmen are. "Rachel McAdams" probably gives the best performance in this movie of top actors and actresses. She gives us smart dialog and handles her character very well, making you want her and "Crowe" on the screen at the same time throughout the movie. The movie's plot is simple; Congressmen gets caught in lies, journalists ("Crowe, McAdams") have to come up with what they are permitted to publish without having all the witnesses, and a murder interweaved in the middle of it all. That is all I can let you in on, there is a small twist, but it is predictable. This movie is worth a rental only because of the actors that are in it. Pop some corn and enjoy.
What to Watch For: Rachel McAdams, Russell Crowe
You Might If You Like These:Lions for Lambs
Hollywood Land
The Sum of All Fears
Official State of Play (2009) Site
IMDB
Director: Mark Neveldine & Brian TaylorRelease Date: September 4, 2009
Genre: Action / Sci-Fi
MPAA: Rated R
Lionsgate
The ORB's take: I have seen and wasted my time on a lot worse movies than this - it's about mind control, what did I expect.
Movie Review:
This is a sad attempt at a modern rehash of the 1987 "The Running Man". On paper the plot line and concept sounds like it could be interesting, but some things are better left on paper or in someone's head. The expectations of great graphics in this film was assumed as well, but instead ends up producing mostly grainy, choppy images. "Gerald Butler" seems to be in every movie coming out this year - three of them in 2009 - hopefully his next film due out in a few weeks will be worth our time. This movie is about a television show that a smart computer programmer came up with after developing a mind control system that allows you to control humans. The game involves convicts that are on death row and places them in suburban war type scenarios. They are controlled by gamers that move them around the different stages and get them through the adrenaline, wanna-be "live" video-game levels to live for another stage. The goal for the convict is to survive an impossible amount of stages and he will be set free of his death row sentence. A modern day remake of "The Running Man" would, could, and should work, but the attempt here involves stupid one-liners, and boring virtual-world concepts. Wait for the TNT movie special or when it shows up on HBO. If you enjoy the "Crank" franchise you will probably enjoy this flick as well.
What to Watch For: The credits.
You Might If You Like These:The Running Man
Crank
Official Gamer (2009) Site
IMDB
Artist: MuseLabel: Warner Bros.
Album Type: Alternative Rock
Released: September 15, 2009
The Orb's Take: Scratch the last 3 tracks and you have a great album.
Album Review:First I'll start off with the simple facts: If you are a "Muse" fan you will / or should have already had purchased this album and you are not / will not be disappointed. Second : If you have never heard of the English band that calls themselves "Muse", this is a solid album, but not the best album to start with. Their third album "Absolution" would be the best album to start listening too one of the most creative, talented bands out there in the industry today. Now with that out of the way, their fifth studio album "The Resistance" has eight solid tracks out of eleven. The last three tracks on the album might as well be instrumental tracks, and would have been better off being on a bonus disk rather than the full length album. I would have rather have had three more great songs, instead of musical symphonies without any point, not that they are talented, well put together tracks; they just don't fit in with the rest album. Just like their last album "Black Holes and Revelations", "Muse" defiantly gives us a different sound on this album, adding a different style to their own unique sound. You can close your eyes multiple times while listening to this album and hear the influences of "Queen" and "David Bowie". While I thought the last album introduced more of a pop sound to some of their songs, I think this album throttles back a bit on the pop sound and gets back to more of the classical sound that "Absolution" gave us. I have had the opportunity to see this great band live, twice, and they are the only band that I would actually travel a long distance to go and see - one of the best live bands I have ever seen. This album will translate very well in their live show; if they are ever in a city near you, don't hesitate, go and see them - I promise you will not be disappointed and you will become a long-life fan.
What to Listen to: "Resistance", "MK Ultra", "Uprising"
You Might If You Like These:
Queen
The Verve
Radiohead
Official Muse website
Muse MySpace Page
Artist: The UsedLabel: Reprise Records
Album Type: Alternative Rock
Released: September 1, 2009
The Orb's Take: Take note, this lead singer knows how to convey passion throughout an album.
Album Review:If you like "The Used" then picking up this album should be an purchase that has already happened. This album is very well mixed, and the track listing is very strong. Great writing, solid drumming, and intense guitar sounds is what "Artwork" is all about. Bert McCracken's intensity and passion he omits in his vocals is what puts "The Used" on a different level when it comes to this type of music. After listening to this album it made me more aware of the "K-Mart" shop-toy-bands that are putting music out today that you hear every time you turn on the radio because it can't stack up to a band like this. "Artwork" is the fourth studio album and the first album that new drummer Dan Whitesides has been featured on. McCracken refers to their sound on this album as "Gross Pop" - calling it nosier and messier. If you have heard "The Used" and you like them, you will not be disappointed at all in this album. Future artists and lead singers take note of how to convey intensity, passion, and quality throughout an album by listening to "Artwork" before you put out something just to put it out.
What to Listen to: "Blood On My Hands", "Men Are All The Same", "Meant To Die"
You Might If You Like These:
My Chemical Romance
Story Of The Year
Official The Used website
The Used MySpace Page
Director: John HamburgRelease Date: March 20, 2009
Genre: Comedy / Romance
MPAA: Rated R
DreamWorks Pictures
The ORB's take: Typical, predictable, but funny.
Movie Review:
Paul Rudd was made for these type of movies, but with that being said this movie had its moments when it just seemed to drag out parts that should have been cut from the film. Don't get me wrong, I laughed hysterically in parts of this flick, but that didn't make up for the lull in parts that made you feel awkward for almost wasting your time. The movie was predictable and would remind you of a romantic girl flick, but that was made for a guy. I know that sounds weird, but that is definitely what they tried to do with this film. The guy (Paul Rudd's character) asks his girlfriend (Rashida Jones - "The Office") to marry him. He is the perfect guy, but he has no man friends at all, and this becomes a concern for his girlfriend and her friends. So he starts to go out on "man dates" (I know that sounds weird, because it is) and it will make you laugh, but only because his brother ("Andy Sandburg") is who helps him out - you have to see the movie to understand why. Predictable, he finds a friend and they start to hang out all the time, which then makes his girlfriend jealous, so she wants him to stop hanging out - ect. ect. ect. This is for sure a DVD rental, maybe even a TNT or FX movie. Almost a waste of time, but there is just enough to keep if from being complete trash.
What to Watch For: Walking the dog, Billboards, and Poker night.
You Might If You Like These:Role Models
Knocked Up
Anchorman
Official I Love You Man (2009) Site
IMDB
Director: Neil BlomkampRelease Date: August 14, 2009
Genre: Action / Drama / Sci-Fi
MPAA: Rated R
Sony Pictures
The ORB's take: Completely refreshing script, different, exciting; when is District 10 coming out.....?
Movie Review:
When I first saw the trailer for this movie back in early spring, I honestly thought it did not look exciting nor very entertaining. But I am very thankful that I was wrong, WOW this movie was a surprise that lived up to the hype. For only the last couple of weeks have they started to push the trailer on television and start the anticipation that this was a really good must see movie. Even from the trailers it is hard to determine exactly what this flick is really about, which adds to the freshness this movie brings the first time you watch it. I will not give anything away, or much of the background of the movie. When the movie starts out it will remind you of how "Cloverfield" was shot, but a lot more professionally done, so for you that got sick watching "Cloverfield" you will be fine in this one and it is not done that way the entire flick. It takes on sort of a documentary feeling at first, describing the aliens, when they came down, how they came down, how we came in contact with them, how District 9 was formed, and what District 9 has become. The story is intriguing so you don't mind the information and the introduction to District 9. After that, the action / thriller part begins and does not end until the credits start rolling. I have read some reviews that people were saying the ending is sad, and I would have to disagree, I think it is brilliant and makes you want more. The way the aliens were depicted is another great part of this film, it showed a different type of alien that you might be used to seeing on most other alien/sci-fi films. My recommendation is to go see the movie if you like these type of films. My warning: it is rated R for the violence/gore and language. It is worth your money, even if you see it at full price at an evening showing and that is rare.
What to Watch For: Alien weaponry, The Mech Robot
You Might If You Like These:Cloverfield
iRobot
The Day The Earth Stood Still
Official District 9 (2009) Site
IMDB
Director: Michael MannRelease Date: July 1, 2009
Genre: Crime / Drama
MPAA: Rated R
Universal
The ORB's take: Wait for the DVD, I had higher expectations, even if it was based on a true story.
Movie Review:
My first thought when I watched this movie was that it seemed to move to slow. There were the occasional bank heist and shoot outs, but it seemed like those scenes were not the focus of the film, it was the "attempted" development of the Johnny Depp's character ("John Dillinger") so that by the end of the movie you feel for bad for him. The movie is designed to make you believe that "Dillinger" is doing the right thing by robbing banks and killing people that get in his way. The best part of this movie is when he gets caught, wondering how he is going to escape. The other big part in this flick is the love story it also attempts to develop (it never goes deep enough into Johnny Depp's character for the audience to appreciate it). Bottom line, good actors, skimpy script, could have been better, but you still should rent it when the DVD comes out - but you've been warned that it is nothing spectacular.
What to Watch For: John Dillinger's tyrants
You Might If You Like These:Goodfellas
The Untouchables
Donnie Brasco
Official Public Enemies (2009) Site
IMDB
Director: Joe WrightRelease Date: April 24, 2009
Genre: Drama
MPAA: Rated PG-13
Universal
The ORB's take: Worth a DVD rental! It will make you think.
Movie Review:
Jamie Fox and Robert Downey Jr. can act and they do a great job in this dramatic film. Nothing over the top, and nothing award worthy, but great acting. The script was one of those scripts that worked and kept pulling you into the characters and their emotions. Jamie Fox is a mentally ill, talented musician (Cello and Violinist), who is homeless on the streets of LA. Downey Jr. is a writer for the LA Times that can't find an interesting story for his column until he stumbles upon Jamie Fox playing a violin with only 2 strings on it. Downey Jr. continues to run into Foxx and finds him intriguing and asks to write about him. While writing Foxx's story he feels compelled to get him some help and see him play music again. That is where the story begins and has a great ending with your typical ups and downs that always occur in this type of a film. If you enjoy either one or both of these actors you will like this film and agree that it is worth a rental.
What to Watch For: The Result
You Might If You Like These:Seven Pounds
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Official The Soloist (2009) Site
IMDB
Artist: Project 86Label: Tooth and Nail
Album Type: Rock
Released: July 14, 2009
The Orb's Take: Good Vox, Good mix, Good Rock n Roll.
Album Review:Project 86 returns with "Picket Fence Cartel" and they don't disappoint at all. With their 7th full length studio album they prove that they should be getting regular ready play on any rock station out there. Very catchy tunes, so catchy that it catches you off guard sometimes and you find yourself listening to the album 2 or 3 times before you realize you have already heard one of the songs twice. Incredible guitar tones with very unique lead vocals defiantly sets this band apart from all the others out there trying to rock in their own category. If you have never heard of Project 86, no worries because I think this is their best album to date, so now is a great time to discover this veteran rock band.
What to Listen to: "The Butcher", "Destroyer", "Dark Angel Dragnet"
You Might If You Like These:
POD
He Is Legend
Avenged Sevenfold
Official Project 86 website
Project 86 MySpace Page
Tooth and Nail Records website
Artist: AFI
