Album Review: Daft Punk-Random Access Memories

I can't think of the last time an album was as hyped or surrounded by mystery as French electronic duo Daft Punk's new release Random Access Memories. They aired a series of vague 30 second commercials during a couple episodes of Saturday Night Live that didn't show much of anything besides their trademark motorcycle helmets and brief clips of new music. On top of the commercials, they unveiled two minutes of single "Get Lucky" in the form of a bizarre, unannounced video at Coachella in April. After a few months of bizzaro marketing and internet hype, Random Access Memories is here and it completely fails to live up to the epic buzz surrounding it.

I'll be the first to admit that I'm not a huge fan of electronic music. A lot of electronic artists just don't click with me and the appeal of electronic music to me has only decreased over the past couple years with my disdain for the dubstep and brostep movements. That being said, Daft Punk has been one of the few artists in the genre that broke the boundaries of electronic music and consistently pumped out enjoyable albums throughout most of their career. This consistency and innovation of the genre comes to a screeching halt with Random Access Memories. 

Random Access Memories is quite simply a giant bore. Their older material such as Homework and (their crowning achievement) Discovery expertly weaved many different genres and provided a lot of diverse electronic landscapes that were equal parts thumping dance/house music, dreamy pop and vintage disco. The songs were all different yet flowed very well together and constantly kept the listeners on the toes with the many different directions the tracks went in. Random Access Memories throws almost of all that to the wayside in favor of mostly slow, overlong songs that don't really go anywhere. Unlike their older material, this record takes electronic music nowhere new or interesting. The beats are repetitive and stagnant throughout and the few times there was something exciting (such as the intro sections on "Lose Yourself to Dance and "The Game of Love") they pulled away from it too fast and went back to the same old boring beats. There is honestly about 3-5 minutes of intrigue over the course of this record's bloated 75-minute runtime. Not even talented guest artists like Pharell Williams, Niles Rodgers, Julian Casablancas (The Strokes) and Panda Bear (Animal Collective) can inject much life into this dull material.

Random Access Memories is a complete and utter disappointment for Daft Punk. These dudes pioneered electronic music and to have to them come out with a record like this is truly a shame. What makes this record especially unsatisfying is that Daft Punk spent four years making it. How an act as talented as Daft Punk can spend so long making a record and churn out something so lifeless and uninspired is mind-boggling to me. Random Access Memories is a colossal letdown and has at least for the time being, completely destroyed my faith in the quality of electronic music.

1.5/5 Stars

NFL Postion Rankings: Top 30 Cornerbacks

Here are my picks for the top 30 cornerbacks in the NFL going into this season. There are only two lists left (safeties and kickers) in my series of 2013 NFL position rankings, hope you enjoy.

30.Janoris Jenkins (Rams)

29.Morris Claiborne (Cowboys)

28.Nmandi Ashomuga (49ers)

27.Brandon Carr (Cowboys)

26.Chris Harris Jr. (Broncos)

25.Terrence Newman (Bengals)

24.Jonathan Joesph (Texans)

23.Vontae Davis (Colts)

22.Domnique Rodgers-Cromartie (Broncos)

21.Carlos Rodgers (49ers)

20.Cortez Allen (Steelers)

19.Keenan Lewis (Saints)

18.Casey Hayward (Packers)

17.Antoine Winfield (Seahawks)

16.Leon Hall (Bengals)

15.Cortland Finnegan (Rams)

14.Sam Shields (Packers)

13.Brandon Flowers (Chiefs)

12.Lardarius Webb (Ravens)

11.Ike Taylor (Steelers)

10.Joe Haden (Browns)

9.Tarrell Brown (49ers)

8.Brandon Browner (Seahawks)

7.Tim Jennings (Bears)

6.Champ Bailey (Broncos)

5.Patrick Peterson (Cardinals)

4.Antonio Cromartie (Jets)

3.Charles Tillman (Bears)

2.Richard Sherman (Seahawks)

1.Darrelle Revis (Buccaneers)

Movie Review: The Hangover Part III

The wolfpack is back for a third go-round and for once, they don't get hammered and lose someone. The Hangover Part III does everything possible to distance itself from the first two films and I felt like they did a pretty good job of doing so.

The Hangover Part III swamps out the drunken misadventures of Stu (Ed Helms), Phil (Bradley Cooper)  Alan (Zach Galifinakis) and Doug (Justin Bartha) for the gang being forced to go on a giant manhunt for Mr.Chow (Ken Jeong). The gang is forced to look for Chow after being run off the road by a gangster/drug dealer known as Marshall (John Goodman) while trying to take Alan to a mental institution because Alan was the last person known to have to contact with Chow. Marshall kidnaps Doug as insurance and the rest of the gang has 72 hours to find Chow and the $250,0000 worth of gold bars Chow stole from Marshall.

The manhunt plotline gives the film an entirely different direction which was refreshing. I was in the small percentage of people who enjoyed The Hangover Part II, but they really needed to deviate from the "Have wedding>Get blackout drunk>Lose someone>Spend rest of movie figuring out where person while various crazy thing ensue" formula for this series to make any type of progression. If this was just another film of them getting drunk and losing someone, the series would have completely run its course (though some would argue that it already did before this film was released.) This Chow manhunt plotline lets them explore darker comedic territory  and the filmmakers are more than up to the challenge. The jokes aren't as constant as the first two and a few of them fall flat, but I applaud writer/director Todd Phillips and co-writer Craig Mazin for making the audience laugh in different ways than the first two. While there isn't as many of zany surprises you've come to expect with thi series, Phillips and Mazin manage to work minor characters Black Doug (Mike Epps) and Jade (Heather Graham) from the first film back into the series seamlessly and give new comedic superstar Mellisa McCarthy a brief but hilarious appearance as a Las Vegas pawn shop owner. Though they weren't necessarily as unexpected some of the stuff in the past films, they served as nice tributes to the franchise and it's always good to see someone as talented as McCarthy show up in a film, even if it's only for a couple of scenes. Even with the new comedic direction and solid supporting cast additions, the strongest parts of the film still center around the performances of Zach Galifinakis and Ken Jeong. Galifinakis was born to play the role of Alan Garner and his deadpan line delivery, use of facial expressions and impeccable comedic timing makes his character endlessly entertaining. Jeong is equally priceless as psychotic criminal Leslie Chow. Jeong gives Chow this warped energy and the darker tone of the film lets him run even more wild with the character. Ed Helms gets his fair share of laughs and Bradley Cooper is fine as the straight man (though he kind of fades more into the background in this film), but this film/franchise belongs to the elite comedic talents that are Zach Galifinakis and Ken Jeong. The Hangover Part III is unlike the other films in the series yet serves as an oddly fitting conclusion to the series. It never reaches (nor did I expect to) reach the heights of the first film, but its still a very amusing and worthwhile swan song for the Wolfpack.

4/5 Stars     

Movie Review: Fast and Furious 6

Fast and Furious might be the most unconventional franchise in the history of film. Most film franchises lose steam over time, but Fast and Furious has done the exact opposite. Ever since the series strayed away from being a strictly street-racing series with the fourth installment in 2009, the series has become increasingly popular and the films have gotten substantially better.  Fast and Furious 6 continues the positive trend of the last few films and proves to be an early contender for one of the most exhilarating rides of the summer.

Fast and Furious 6 has a similar beefed-up vibe as Fast Five with no shortage of big action set-pieces and thrills. The stunts and action sequences featured in this film are absolutely insane and amongst the best ever put on film. From hand-to-hand combat to car chases, this film delivers high-octane action in droves. The filmmakers intent was to stage epic, absurd action sequences and they absolutely knocked it out of the park. This series has also recently benefited from the insertion of humor into the scripts and this installment is easily the funniest yet. Tyrese Gibson and Ludacris shoot off one-liners effortlessly and the interactions between their two characters are priceless leading to a great dynamic developing over the past two films. The rest of the cast is also strong per usual with Paul Walker, Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson being completely in their wheelhouse and it was a lot of fun to watch a film where Johnson's character is on the same side as Diesel and Walker's gang of likable criminals. 

Given the quality of the past few films, you have to give a lot of credit to writer Chris Morgan and director Justin Lin for taking this series in a different direction. Since they took over the series on Tokyo Drift, The action has gotten better, humor and a self-aware tone was inserted and there is actually some pretty good storytelling present. Lin and Morgan don't really get enough credit how substantial their contributions to this franchise have been, they are solely responsible for taking this series to pretty good to truly elite action movies. Fast and Furious 6 is an insanely entertaining action flick that never takes itself too seriously. It's a small step behind Fast Five, but Fast and Furious 6 is still a must-see action blockbuster.

NFL Postion Rankings: Top 30 Outside Linebackers

Today I'm ranking the position that seems to get more loaded with talent each and every year: outside linebacker. Here are my picks for the top 30 outside linebackers in the league, which was one of the most difficult lists to put together due to how great players there at this position. 

  

30.Jo-Lonn Dunbar (Rams)

29.Connor Barwin (Eagles)

28.Mathias Kiwanuka (Giants)

27.Kevin Burnett (Raiders)

26.Robert Mathis (Colts)

25.Dwight Freeney (Chargers)

24.Phillip Wheeler (Dolphins)

23.Leroy Hill (Seahawks)

22.Dont'a Hightower (Patriots)

21.Nick Roach (Raiders)

20.James Harrison (Bengals)

19.Vontaze Burfict (Bengals)

18.Sean Witherspoon (Falcons)

17.Ryan Kerrigan (Redskins)

16.Paul Kruger (Browns)

15.Wesley Woodyard (Broncos)

14.Justin Houston (Chiefs)

13.Ahmad Brooks (49ers)

12.Lavonte David (Buccaneers)

11.Tamba Hali (Chiefs)

10.LaMarr Woodley (Steelers)

9.Jerod Mayo (Patriots)

8.Anthony Spencer (Cowboys)

7.Lance Briggs (Bears)

6.Chad Greenway (Vikings)

5.Terrell Suggs (Ravens)

4.Aldon Smith (49ers)

3.DeMarcus Ware (Cowboys)

2.Von Miller (Broncos)

1.Clay Matthews (Packers)

NFL Postion Rankings: Top 30 Inside Linebackers

I'm resuming my series on position rankings going into the 2013 NFL season today with my picks for the top 30 "captains" of the defense. Here my choices for the 30 best inside linebackers in the league right now.

30.Rey Malaluga (Bengals)

29.Dan Connor (Giants)

28.A.J Hawk (Packers)

27.Jasper Brinkley (Cardinals)

26.Brad Jones (Packers)

25.David Harris (Jets)

24.Takeo Spikes (Free Agent)

23.Bruce Carter (Cowboys)

22.Jon Beason (Panthers)

21.DeMeco Ryans (Eagles)

20.Paul Poslunzy (Jaguars)

19.Dannell Ellerbe (Dolphins)

18.D'Qwell Jackson (Browns)

17.Brandon Spikes (Patriots)

16.Karlos Dansby (Cardinals)

15.Donald Butler (Chargers)

14.Jerrell Freeman (Colts)

13.Mason Foster (Buccaneers)

12.Stephen Tulloch (Lions)

11.London Fletcher (Redskins)

10.Derrick Johnson (Chiefs)

9.Lawrence Timmons (Steelers)

8.Sean Lee (Cowboys)

7.Bobby Wagner (Seahawks)

6.Luke Kuechly (Panthers)

5.James Laurinatis (Rams)

4.Daryl Washington (Cardinals)

3.NaVorro Bowman (49ers)

2.Brain Cushing (Texans)

1.Patrick Willis (49ers)

NFL Position Rankings: Top 20 Defensive Tackles

20.Justin Bannan (Broncos)

19.Marcel Dareus (Bills)

18.Linval Joesph (Giants)

17.Fletcher Cox (Eagles)

16.Michael Brockers (Rams)

15.Chris Canty (Ravens)

14.Randy Starks (Dolphins)

13.Richard Seymour (Free Agent)

12.Jay Ratliff (Cowboys)

11.Desmond Bryant (Browns)

10.Kyle Williams (Bills)

9.B.J Raji (Packers)

8.Kevin Williams (Vikings)

7.Nick Fairley (Lions)

6.Henry Melton (Bears)

5.Ndamukong Suh (Lions)

4.Gerald McCoy (Buccaneers)

3.Haloti Ngata (Ravens)

2.Vince Wilfork (Patriots)
1.Geno Atkins (Bengals)

Brian Urlacher's Retirement

I would like to take this time to acknowledge my favorite football player of all-time, Brian Urlacher, who announced his retirement from football yesterday. Urlacher spent his entire 13-year career with the Chicago Bears (which is a truly remarkable feat in the modern NFL) and revolutionized the position with his speed, ability to cover the field and skills in both the passing and rushing defense. He was a natural-born leader who became the face of arguably the most feared defense in the NFL over the past decade or so and is the latest in a long line of legends to lineup at linebacker for the Bears. It's fitting that Urlacher retired at the same time Ray Lewis did, now the two greatest linebackers of the modern era can potentially enter the Hall of Fame together. Brian Urlacher walked away from the league at the right time in his career and in a understated way which shows exactly the type of high-character guy he is. His contributions to the Bears on and off-the field will never be forgotten. Happy retirement Brian and hopefully you'll be enshrined in Canton in 2018.

NFL Postion Rankings: Top 30 Defensive Ends

Offensive side of the ball is done, now on to defense. Here are my picks for the 30 best defensive ends in the NFL going into the 2013 season.
30.Adam Carriker (Redskins)

29.Kamerion Wimbley (Titans)

28.Chandler Jones (Patriots)

27.Carlos Dunlap (Bengals)

26.Trent Cole (Eagles)

25.Jason Babin (Jaguars)

24.Bruce Irvin (Seahawks)

23.Rob Ninkovich (Patriots)

22.Cameron Jordan (Saints)

21.Jason Hatcher (Cowboys)

20.Cliff Avril (Seahawks)

19.John Abraham (Free Agent)
18.Osi Umenyiora (Falcons)

17.Calias Campbell (Cardinals)

16.Greg Hardy (Panthers)

15.Robert Quinn (Rams)

14.Justin Tuck (Giants)

13.Michael Johnson (Bengals)

12.Elvis Dumervil (Ravens)

11.Chris Clemons (Seahawks)

10.Chris Long (Rams)

9.Charles Johnson (Panthers)

8.Michael Bennett (Seahawks)

7.Mario Williams (Bills)

6.Julius Peppers (Bears)

5.Jason Pierre-Paul (Giants)

4.Jared Allen (Vikings)

3.Justin Smith (49ers)

2.Cameron Wake (Dolphins)

1.J.J Watt (Texans)

Album Review: Vampire Weekend-Modern Vampires of the City

Since their debut self-titled record in 2008, Vampire Weekend has rapidly become one of the most popular and influential bands in the indie rock/pop scene. Dozens of copycat acts have surfaced already and I'm sure dozens more will surface in the future. Aware of this wave of similar bands, Vampire Weekend decided to change their sound up quite a bit on their third record Modern Vampires of the City. Unfortunately, this change in sound leads to a pretty big letdown of a record.

Modern Vampires of the City sees Vampire Weekend experimenting with their sound to separate themselves from the hordes of similar bands and the results are mixed. Their ambition is definitely there and I appreciate their desire to change things up, but some of the experiments just fall flat on their face. The incorporation of woodwind instruments and choirs on tracks like "Don't Lie", "Obvious Bicycle" and "Hudson" seems forced and fail to mesh with their style. However, these experiments are home runs compared to the disastrous "Ya Hey". I don't know what possessed them to loop chipmunk-esque vocals throughout, but it's just awful to listen to. These vocals paired with poor use of synths and a repetitive chorus make for the most obnoxious song Vampire Weekend has ever recorded.  That being said, The biggest problem I had with this record was the lack of energy a majority of this record has. What made Vampire Weekend's first two records so exciting and different to me was how energetic, upbeat and fun the music was. This record sees most of that special spark disappearing in favor of a slower and surprisingly stagnant sound. Plenty of people will appreciate this shift in style, but I think this more-down tempo sound takes away from the genuine enthusiasm that made their music memorable in the first place.

Thankfully, not everything about Modern Vampires of the City falls short. Although it's in a reduced role, the infectiousness of their first two records isn't completely lost. "Diane Young" and "Unbelievers" are incredibly catchy and fun. These are the types of rousing tracks that Vampire Weekend have built a career around and I'm glad that they didn't completely lose focus of that while modifying their sound. Despite my lesser enjoyment of the enhanced focus on producing slower material, there are a few slower tracks that work well. "Everlasting Arms" is a pretty powerful track while "Finger Back" and "Step" are low-key, subtle tracks with nice instrumentation and hooks. The production on this record is also fantastic. This is the first time the band used an outside producer and Ariel Rechtshaid gives them the sharpest sound they've ever had. Guitarist Rostam Batmanglij did a fine job producing the first two records, but the presence of an outside producer managed to get the cleanest sound mix they've ever had.

Modern Vampires of the City is a competent albeit somewhat underwhelming third full-length for Vampire Weekend. The record's slower pace makes for a far more pedestrian record than their previous material. Save for "Ya Hey" and "Hudson" there isn't any misfires, it's just that a lot of this record is average/half-decent making for a not particularly memorable listen. I really missed the fun, upbeat vibe that dominated their first two records. Their spirited sound made them unique and memorable and that was the primary reason they were one of the few indie bands I enjoyed. Their new sound isn't terrible, but it takes away from the originality they had and makes them a lot more like other less creative indie bands. Modern Vampires of the City simply just didn't click with me the same way the self-titled record and Contra did.

3/5 Stars
Standout Tracks
1.Diane Young
2.Unbelievers
3.Everlasting Arms



 

NFL Postion Rankings: Top 30 Tackles and Guards, Top 20 Centers

My position rankings continue today with arguably the most undervalued position in the NFL: Offensive line. Here are my picks for the top 30 tackles/guards and top 20 centers in the league right now.

Top 30 Tackles

30.Eric Winston (Free Agent)

29.Bryan Bulaga (Packers)

28.Bryant McKinnie (Ravens)

27.Sam Baker (Falcons)

26.Gosder Cherilus (Colts)

25.Cordy Glenn (Bills)

24.William Beatty (Giants)

23.Jermon Bushrod (Bears)

22.Donald Penn (Buccaneers)

21.Phil Loadholt (Vikings)

20.Tyson Clabo (Dolphins)

19.Orlando Franklin (Broncos)

18.Jordan Gross (Panthers)

17.Matt Kalil (Vikings)

16.Branden Albert (Chiefs)

15.D'Brickashaw Ferguson (Jets)

14.Nate Solder (Patriots)

13.Eugene Monroe (Jaguars)

12.Andre Smith (Bengals)

11.Trent Williams (Redskins)

10.Sebastian Vollmer (Patriots)

9.Michael Roos (Titans)

8.Jake Long (Rams)

7.Anthony Davis (49ers)

6.Andrew Whitworth (Bengals)

5.Russell Okung (Seahawks)

4.Ryan Clady (Broncos)

3.Joe Thomas (Browns)

2.Duane Brown (Texans)

1.Joe Staley (49ers)

Top 30 Guards

30.Garrett Reynolds (Falcons)

29.Manuel Ramirez (Broncos)

28.Harvey Dahl (Rams)

27.Lance Louis (Dolphins)

26.John Greco (Browns)

25.Dan Connolly (Patriots)

24.Clint Boling (Bengals)

23.Jon Asamoah (Chiefs)

22.Jeremy Zuttah (Buccaneers)

21.Kevin Boothe (Giants)

20.Geoff Schwartz (Chiefs)

19.Zane Beadles (Broncos)

18.Donald Thomas (Colts)

17.Louis Vasquez (Broncos)

16.Rob Sims (Lions)

15.Richie Incognito (Dolphins)

14.Nate Livings (Cowboys)

13.Willie Colon (Jets)

12.Brandon Moore (Jets)

11.Chris Chester (Redskins)

10.Chris Snee (Giants)

9.Kevin Zeitler (Bengals)

8.Ben Grubbs (Saints)

7.Andy Levitre (Titans)

6.Alex Boone (49ers)

5.Jahri Evans (Saints)

4.Carl Nicks (Buccaneers)

3.Logan Mankins (Patriots)

2.Mike Iupati (49ers)

1.Marshal Yanda (Ravens)

Top 20 Centers

20.David Baas (Giants)

19.Ryan Lilja (Chiefs)

18.Ted Larsen (Buccaneers)

17.Todd McClure (Falcons)

16.Dan Koppen (Free Agent)

15.Robert Turner (Rams)

14.Ryan Wendell (Patriots)

13.Stefen Wisnewski (Raiders)

12.Dominic Raiola (Lions)

11.Brian De La Puente (Saints)

10.Will Montgomery (Redskins)

9.Jonathan Goodwin (49ers)

8.Alex Mack (Browns)

7.Mike Pouncey (Dolphins)

6.Ryan Kalil (Panthers)

5.John Sullivan (Vikings)

4.Marquice Pouncey (Steelers)

3.Chris Myers (Texans)

2.Nick Mangold (Jets)

1.Max Unger (Seahawks)

Movie Review: Star Trek Into Darkness

In 2009, the Star Trek reboot came out of nowhere and impressed the hell out of me. My expectations were low and the film just blew me away and instantly became one of my all-time favorites. Naturally my expectations for the follow-up, Star Trek Into Darkness, were high and while it doesn't quite live up to it's near-perfect predecessor, Star Trek Into Darkness is still a very satisfying addition to the series.

Star Trek Into Darkness sees director J.J Abrams further expanding his unique vision of this complex and much-loved universe. Abrams and screenwriters Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof makes this realm appeal to everyone with enough nuances and nods to to original television series to please the fanboys and enough accessibility to please the common audience. I can't go in-depth on the storyline without giving away heavy spoilers, but the story does a brilliant job of incorporating familiar elements from the original series while also serving as a metaphor for domestic terrorism in the modern day. Some of the twists it takes will catch you by surprise and Trekkies that were naysayers of this rebooted franchise will probably explode with joy at one twist in particular. Between both Stark Trek films, Super 8 and the first few seasons of Lost, Abrams has become the most trusted name in modern sc-fi and his involvement with the new Star Wars franchise gives me hope that those films won't suck.

In addition to the tight direction and script, this film delivers with exhilarating action sequences and stunning visuals. The action is constant and intense with some of the better hand-to-hand combat scenes I've seen in a while and of course, no shortage of thrilling intergalactic battles. Both the returning and new cast members are strong as well. Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto are both excellent in the leads. Pine gives Kirk a new-found fire and makes more of an admirable leader in the process while Quinto manages to give Spock more depth and emotion to his normally emotionless, extremely intelligent character. Both Pine and Quinto's work here show why these guys are two of the most underrated actors in all of Hollywood at the moment and they're performances as these two iconic characters are ultimately the heart and soul of this franchise. The supporting cast continues to provide comic relief with Karl Urban and Simon Pegg getting bigger roles this time around and delivering more laughs in the process. Although the returning cast makes up most of the film, the new additions make their presence felt. Alice Eve does some solid work in relatively limited screen time as the Enterprise's second medical expert and a new love interest for Kirk. However, the biggest addition to the cast was British actor Benedict Cumberbatch. Cumberbatch absolutely owns the role of the film's villian John Harrison. Cumberbatch gives Harrison a properly sinister aura and his performance pretty much assures that you will see no greater villain on the big screen all summer long. Star Trek Into Darkness is a well-made/acted, fun and highly enjoyable sequel that does the franchise justice.

4/5 Stars 



 

NFL Position Rankings: Top 20 TIght Ends

Continuing my series of NFL position rankings with tight ends today. Here are my picks for the 20 best tight ends going  into the 2013 season.

20.Brent Celek (Eagles)

19.Joel Dressen (Broncos)

18.Jermaine Gresham (Bengals)

17.Dwayne Allen (Colts)

16.Jemichael Finley (Packers)

15.Jared Cook (Rams)

14.Brandon Myers (Giants)

13.Martellus Bennett (Bears)

12.Greg Olsen (Panthers)

11.Owen Daniels (Texans)

10.Kyle Rudolph (Vikings)

9.Dennis Pitta (Ravens)

8.Antonio Gates (Chargers)

7.Aaron Hernandez (Patriots)

6.Heath Miller (Steelers)

5.Vernon Davis (49ers)

4.Jimmy Graham (Saints)

3.Jason Witten (Cowboys)

2.Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)

1.Tony Gonzalez (Falcons)

Album Review: The Dillinger Escape Plan- One of Us Is the Killer

The Dillinger Escape Plan are widely regarded as one of the most groundbreaking and important bands in the modern metal scene. Their music is thoroughly unpredictable and draws from everything to art rock to grindcore. Their latest release, One of Us Is the Killer, further solidifies Dillinger Escape Plan's legacy as one of the most inventive and exciting bands in all of metal.

One of Us is the Killer continues to take Dillinger Escape Plan in a more accessible/melodic direction without giving up any of the raw aggression they've become known for over their 14-year career. The constant shifts between melody and chaos in the record are slightly less frequent on this record. What we get instead is a bit more of a focus on making strictly heavy or progressive songs, which was previously uncharted territory for Dillinger but thankfully the results are just as effective as their previous material. The album starts off in typical psychotic fashion with the punishing "Prancer" and "When I Lost My Bet", which are relentless, whirlwind songs that leave the listener with very little time to breathe. The record goes in a more artsy direction with the brilliant "One of Us Is the Killer" (which showcases the soulful clean vocals of Greg Puciato to the fullest extent) and "Nothing's Funny", which is one of the most melodic songs in their catalog before it explodes into a breakdown during the last 20-30 seconds. The second half of the album sees Dillinger's going into a slightly more tame version of their trademark chaos and this is where the album really picks up and becomes special. "Paranoia Shields",  "Magic That I Held You Prisoner", "Crossburner" and "The Threat Posed by Nuclear Weapons" perfectly blend balls-out insanity with triumphant hooks and crafty instrumentation. These tracks are some of the most genre-bending songs Dillinger has ever created and the balance of crushing heaviness and melodic beauty in these songs is simply amazing.

One of Us Is the Killer is Dillinger Escape Plan doing what they do best: creating layered, unpredictable chaotic music that will garner a strong reaction from its listener. Their music might be more accessible than before, but don't mistake that for them softening up: Their musical attack is just as savage as it was in the past, it's just a bit more refined with more calm in-between storms. It's beautiful, it's bat-shit crazy, it's Dillinger Escape Plan and One of Us is the Killer is another incredibly satisfying musical journey with these warped metal masterminds.

4.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks
1.Paranoia Shields
2.Magic That I Held You Prisoner
3.One of Us Is the Killer 

 

NFL Postion Rankings: Top 50 Wide Receivers

50.Mohammad Sanu (Bengals)

49.Donnie Avery (Chiefs)

48.Santana Moss (Redskins)

47.Josh Gordon (Browns)

46.Emanuel Sanders (Steelers)

45.Brian Hartline (Dolphins)

44.Malcolm Floyd (Chargers)

43.Golden Tate (Seahawks)

42.Justin Blackmon (Jaguars)

41.Sidney Rice (Seahawks)

40.Santonio Holmes (Jets)

39.Cecil Shorts (Jaguars)

38.Jeremy Maclin (Eagles)

37.Jacoby Jones (Ravens)

36.T.Y Hilton (Colts)

35.Mike Williams (Buccaneers)

34.Lance Moore (Saints)

33.Danny Amendola (Patriots)

32.Antonio Brown (Steelers)

31.Mike Wallace (Dolphins)

30.Torrey Smith (Ravens)

29.Michael Crabtree (49ers)

28.Eric Decker (Broncos)

27.Miles Austin (Cowboys)

26.Dwayne Bowe (Chiefs)

25.James Jones (Packers)

24.DeSean Jackson (Eagles)

23.Stevie Johnson (Bills)

22.Marques Colston (Saints)

21.Anquan Boldin (49ers)

20.Jordy Nelson (Packers)

19.Greg Jennings (Vikings)

18.Demariyus Thomas (Broncos)

17.Randall Cobb (Packers)

16.Pierre Garcon (Redskins)

15.Steve Smith (Panthers)

14.Hakeem Nicks (Giants)

13.Percy Harvin (Seahawks)

12.Wes Welker (Broncos)

11.Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals)

10.Vincent Jackson (Buccaneers)

9.Reggie Wayne (Colts)

8.Julio Jones (Falcons)

7.Victor Cruz (Giants)

6.Dez Bryant (Cowboys)

5.Roddy White (Falcons)

4.Andre Johnson (Texans)

3.Brandon Marshall (Bears)

2.A.J Green (Bengals)

1.Calvin Johnson (Lions)

NFL Position Rankings: Top 50 Running Backs

I'm going to keep this list party going: Here are my picks for the top 50 best running backs in the league.

50.Daryl Richardson (Rams)

49.Ronnie Brown (Chargers)

48.Rashard Mendenhaal (Cardinals)

47.Beanie Wells (Free Agent)

46.Pierre Thomas (Saints)

45.Shane Vereen (Patriots)

44.Joique Bell (Lions)

43.Jaquizz Rodgers (Falcons)

42.Chris Ivory (Jets)

41.LaMichael James (49ers)

40.Lamar Miller (Dolphins)

39.Michael Turner (Free Agent)

38.Ben Tate (Texans)

37.Mikel Lashoure (Lions)

36.Vick Ballard (Colts)

35.Michael Bush (Bears)

34.Bryce Brown (Eagles)

33.Kendall Hunter (49ers)

32.Bernard Pierce (Ravens)

31.Knoshown Moreno (Broncos)

30.Darren Sproles (Saints)

29.Andre Brown (Giants)

28.Jonathan Stewart (Panthers)

27.Benjarvus Green-Ellis (Bengals)

26.DeAngelo Williams (Panthers)

25.David Wilson (Giants)

24.Ryan Matthews (Chargers)

23.Shonn Greene (Titans)

22.Darren McFadden (Raiders)

21.Ahmad Bradshaw (Free Agent)

20.Reggie Bush (Lions)

19.Fred Jackson (Bills)

18.DeMarco Murray (Cowboys)

17.Willis McGahee (Broncos)

16.Stevan Ridley (Patriots)

15.Trent Richardson (Browns)

14.Steven Jackson (Falcons)

13.Chris Johnson (Titans)

12.Matt Forte (Bears)

11.LeSean McCoy (Eagles)

10.Maurice Jones-Drew (Jaguars)

9.Jammal Charles (Chiefs)

8.Doug Martin (Buccaneers)

7.Alfred Morris (Redskins)

6.C.J Spiller (Bills)

5.Frank Gore (49ers)

4.Ray Rice (Ravens)

3.Marshawn Lynch (Seahawks)

2.Arian Foster (Texans)

1.Adrian Peterson (Vikings)

NFL Position Rankings: Top 25 Quarterbacks

A few weeks ago, I was reading through infamous sports site Bleacher Report's individual position rankings for the NFL. Pretty much without fail, every position list rankings pissed me off (I'm all for differing opinions, but the rationale behind each pick were poorly thought-out and ridiculous.) This discontent with Bleacher Report's lists inspired to be make my own. Over the next few weeks, I will be unveiling my position rankings for every position on both sides of the ball (I may do kickers as well, but I will not be doing punters.) To kick things off, here are my picks for the top 25 quarterbacks in the NFL going into the 2013 season

Notes:
1.I will not be including rookies on any of these lists.
2.Each player is listed as a member of their current team, not the team they played for in 2012.
3. There is only one tie on any of these lists. I know ties are kind of cop-outs, but I believe there are four quarterbacks in the league tied for the honor of being the best.
Now onto the list....

25.Matt Moore (Dolphins)

24.Ryan Tannehill (Dolphins)

23.Josh Freeman (Buccaneers)

22.Michael Vick (Eagles)

21.Phillip Rivers (Chargers)

20.Carson Palmer (Cardinals)

19.Alex Smith (Chiefs)

18.Jay Cutler (Bears)

17.Tony Romo (Cowboys)

16.Andy Dalton (Bengals)

15.Matt Schaub (Texans)

14.Joe Flacco (Ravens)

13.Matthew Stafford (Lions)

12.Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers)

11.Andrew Luck (Colts)

10.Colin Kapernick (49ers)

9.Russell Wilson (Seahawks)

8.Eli Manning (Giants)

7.Cam Newton (Panthers)

6.Robert Griffin III (Redskins)

5.Matt Ryan (Falcons)

1.Tie Tom Brady (Patriots), Drew Brees (Saints), Peyton Manning (Broncos), Aaron Rodgers (Packers)

Album Review: The Ocean-Pelagial

European prog/sludge metal act The Ocean have always had a flair for creating an immense atmosphere with their music. Though they've created many memorable musical landscapes with their previous material, but none are more striking or memorable than the ones on their latest record Pelagial, which is undoubtedly their finest work to-date.

Like the rest of The Ocean's music, Pelagial is a concept album about the different layers of the ocean. The music is meant to reflect these different layers starting with a soft, piano-driven intro ("Epipelagic") to represent the surface, the middle of the record representing the chaos and eventual calming of the mid-layers and finishing with a gloomy, heavy track to represent the ocean floor ("Benthic: The Origin of Our Wishes".)It's an ultra-complex, behemoth of a concept, but The Ocean pulls it off. This record was originally supposed to be instrumental (the strictly instrumental version is the second disc of the album) which means The Ocean put more of a focus on complexity and experimentation in the music and the results are simply stunning. The Ocean have always had a lot of wide-ranging influences and layers to their music, but they've never created music that use these elements more chaotically or brilliantly than on Pelagial. The frequent tonal shifts this record has could've been jarring going from a soothing orchestral piece to an incredibly heavy sludge section on a whim, but none of it sounds forced or inorganic in the slightest. The Ocean are just fantastic songwriters and everything flows together incredibly well making for a truly special listening experience.

Though there are many different genres and tempo-changes on this record, I have to say that the sludge elements standout above the rest. The riffs are absolutely monstrous throughout the record. I'm an absolute sucker for a good sludge riff and Pelagial has an abundance of them. The Bathyalpelagic trilogy ("Impasses", "The Wish in Dreams", "Disequilibriated") had my jaw on the floor. The riff work is amazing and I was shocked at how heavy some of the portions were. Don't get me wrong, The Ocean have never strayed from having heavy sections in their music, but they've never had anything as skull-crushing as the Bathyalpelagic trilogy in the past.

The record also makes for the best vocal performance from Loic Rossetti to-date. Rossetti had been battling a slew of health problems during the initial writing process of this record (hence why the album was originally supposed to be instrumental), but he clearly recovered for the recording process and he returned to the band with a vengeance. His clean vocals are more crisp and emotional while his screams have a lot more power than before. Overall Rossetti has improved substantially as a vocalist from Helio/Anthropocentric and his work here elevates the immense musical landscape the rest of the band provided in his absence.

Pelagial is a damn near close to perfect album. This is basically a prog/sludge metal fans' wet dream: There's heavy riffs galore, plenty of beautiful, subtle progressive passages, brilliant musicianship across the board and a spectacular vocal performance from Loic Rossetti. The concept of this record lets The Ocean run wild with all of their influences being prominently featured on the record, which provides the listener with constant excitement as the various twists and turns all the songs have play out. The Ocean's are Europe's resident metal mad-scientists and Pelagial is their finest experiment thus far.

4.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks
1.Bathyalpelagic III: Disequilibriated
2.Bathyalpelagic I: Impasses
3.Bathyalpelagic II: The Wish in Dreams

Concert Review: Danny Brown-- Cambridge, MA-- May 9th, 2013

Yesterday was an absolutely fantastic day for me. Not only did I finish my spring semester at school, but I also got to see the one and only Danny Brown tear it up at a sold-out show at The Middle East Downstairs in Cambridge last night.

The show started up at 9:30 with Miami/Boston rapper Stu Cat. I'm not overly familiar with the Boston hip-hop scene and from what I've heard I wasn't expecting much, but this dude can definitely rap pretty well. He got the crowd into it and his first few songs were actually really good. I will say his set did hit a bit of a roadblock when be brought out this clown rapper named MC Chucklehead to come out and rap with him. This guy was just awful, his style was like if Riff Raff took himself seriously. Judging from his between song banter he seems like a pretty good dude, he just isn't a gifted rapper. Stu Cat was still pretty good on his own, but the presence of MC Chuklehead definitely brought the energy and quality of his performance. Side-note: Stu Cat sort of looks like Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and came out with a towel on his head like Newton does when he is on the sidelines, which caused me to laugh very hard.

Kitty came out next and she put on a very entertaining show. For those who don't know, she's a 20-year old white-girl rapper and her music is just a fucking blast. Her rapping came off more fluid and intense in a live setting opposed to the laid-back style she uses on records which was gave her performance a gritty edge that I wasn't expecting. I also have to give her props for playing with so much energy when she had a illness, she give it 100% even though she was sick (a few of the faster parts she couldn't rap because her throat was clearly fucked up, but she gave it her best shot which is all that matters.) Some people might give her shit for being a white-girl rapper, but people need to drop their ignorant biases and stop writing her off: this chick can rap and it's time people starting taking her seriously as an artist. Kitty got shit going and she is a natural-born performer that I would love to see again.

DJ Skywlkr, the DJ for Danny Brown, came out and spun for about 25 minutes to hype the crowd up. I normally don't like DJ's, but he actually rolled out some pretty good beats and he definitely succeeded in getting the crowd pumped up for Danny Brown. As I expected, Danny came running out when Skywlker dropped the beat for "Jealousy" and rapidly launched into the best hip-hop show I've ever seen. If there was any doubt that Danny Brown is amongst hip-hop's elite artists, that was shattered by his performance last night. This dude just flat-out killed it for an hour. Unlike most rappers I've seen, Brown finished every song perfectly. For hip-hop outsiders, that doesn't sound like an accomplishment, but most rappers are lazy and about half of the time don't even finish the whole song so it was refreshing to see a rapper complete their songs flawlessly in a live setting. He also did some cool things like cut the beats out and just rap acappela, which was amazing and showed just how gifted of an MC he is. On top of his precision with the songs, Brown is just an incredible performer. He gave off insane energy and the sold-out crowd gave every ounce of that energy back, which made for an awesome vibe and it's always badass to see a crowd and the artist so into a performance. He was clearly stoked to be on-stage and was extremely appreciative for the reception he got. The setlist was pretty damn solid with a lot of lesser-known, older songs and a good amount of material from his breakout mixtape XXX  as well a few new ones from his upcoming record Old (which judging from the stuff he played last night is going to be another slam-dunk for him.) My only complaint is I would've liked to hear songs like "XXX", "Outer Space" and "Adreall Admiral", but the set was completely fine as is so I can't really bitch too much. Danny Brown is the best live rapper I've seen by leaps and bounds and I urge any hip-hop fan to go see him when he plays in your city, you will not be disappointed

Scores
Stu Cat 7/10 (would've been higher if it wasn't for MC Chucklehead)
Kitty 8/10
DJ Skywlker 7/10
Danny Brown 9/10

Setlists:
Kitty:
Dead Island
$killionare
NO OFFENSE!!!!
New Song
Ay Shawty 3.0
Scout Finch Bitch
UNfollowed
?
Okay Cupid

Danny Brown:
Jealousy
Witit
Molly Ringwald
Black Brad Pitt
Toxic
Blueberry (Pills and Cocaine)
Radio Song
Lie4
I Will
Dip (new song)
Dope Song (new song)
Baseline
Terrorist Threats
Bruiser Brigade
Piss Test
Monopoly
Blunt After Bunt
Kush Coma
Express Yourself

Movie Review: Iron Man 3

It's the first weekend of May, which means Marvel has a major film coming out. 2013's entry is Iron Man 3, which does Marvel proud and manages to be one of their best films to-date.

After a relatively disappointing second entry, the Iron Man franchise manages to get completely back on track with the third installment. This film is your prototypical Marvel film loaded with brilliant action sequences, humor and visual effects galore. It's goal is to entertain the audience for two hours and it succeeds big time. This film follows a similar blueprint as the previous films with some surprises to keep things fresh. First off, this is easily the funniest superhero film ever made. Co-writer/director Shane Black has a background in comedy (the last film he did prior to this was Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, which was amongst the first films Robert Downey Jr. did when he came back into acting after becoming sober in 2004) and flexes his comedy muscles on the biggest stage he's ever had with great success. The humor works incredibly well and while it's over-the-top at times, the jokes never stop being enjoyable (aka there is no sad attempts at humor like the Tony Stark/Colonel Rhodes house fight scene in Iron Man 2.) There is also a different approach to the villains in this film which I liked a lot. The first two films were essentially just Iron Man fighting people in similar suits as him, but this time around we get two non-suited villains in The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) and Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce), which was refreshing. Both make great foes for Iron Man and although a lot of comic book fans disagree, I really liked the direction they took The Mandarin in. The characterization of The Mandarin was an unexpected twist that hasn't been done in any other comic book film and Kingsley absolutely nails the role with a lot of energy and his typical grand demeanor . Though some things are different,  the beating heart of the film is still Robert Downey Jr. His portrayal of Tony Stark is excellent as always. Stark is an arrogant, sarcastic, wealthy jackass who Downey gives an inherit likability and makes him one of the most memorable heroes in superhero movie history. Downey was born to play this role and his pitch-perfect performance as Stark is at the root of his triumphant comeback over the past five years. Iron Man 3 is a thrilling, surprisingly hilarious, action-packed ride that kicks the summer of 2013 off with one of the most fun blockbusters in years.

4.5/5 Stars  

R.I.P Jeff Hanneman

I'm still in shock over the sudden passing of Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman yesterday. Hanneman is responsible for some of the greatest music ever made in my humble opinion and he was a large part of why Slayer is such a great band. I was fortunate enough to see him play live once in 2009 and that performance is particularly special due to his untimely death. Jeff's immense contributions to the genre will never be forgotten and his music will continue to influence newer bands for generations to come. Be sure to blast some Slayer to honor the life of this heavy metal icon. R.I.P Jeff and be sure to say hi to Dimebag and Dio for us.

Album Review: Kid Cudi-Indicud

Kid Cudi never fails to frustrate. His third full-length record, Indicud, like the rest of his material, shows flashes of promise, but ultimately fails to get off the ground.

Indicud has many of the same problems as his previous work while simultaneously introducing new ones. Cudi's biggest issue is his continued lyrical problems. He just simply can not produce good lyrics. Although he thankfully for the most part gets away from the stupid weed lyrics that dominated his older material, he fails to bring anything interesting to the table lyrically. His half-assed observations on love and brag raps are just plain weak and self-indulgent. I do commend him for changing it up a bit lyrically on this record, unfortunately he still falls short in that department. Indicud also sees Kid Cudi trying to branch out in a poppier direction by incorporating more singing into his music. Although it's a nice idea, the execution isn't particularly strong. Don't get me wrong, he has a half-decent voice, but it's not nearly strong enough to carry an entire song (tracks like "Immortal" and "Unfuckwittable" were tedious as all hell due to the amount of singing on them.) His last record, Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr.Rager made much better use of his singing without overdoing to the point where it just became bland.

Indicud is not without it's strengths though. The production, as always, is top-notch. Cudi's handles all of the production (save for one collaboration with Hit-Boy on the incredibly catchy "Red Eye".) himself and this is definitely where he shines as an artist. He has a flair for making interesting, psychedelic beats that create a really nice atmosphere. Every beat on this album catches your attention and keeps you listening even when the songs fall short. Cudi may not be a gifted lyricist, but he sure as hell is a gifted producer. There is also some points on this record where Cudi's lofty ambitions outside of hip-hop actually work out. The guest spots from indie acts Father John Misty (a.k.a J.Tillman) and Haim on "Young Lady" and the aforementioned "Red Eye" are amongst the brightest moments of the entire album. Their styles are completely opposite from Cudi's, but they somehow mesh incredibly well and make for some unexpected fun moments that standout above the majority of the record. Although these guest spots are great, the best guest spot (and moment) on the record is from hip-hop's current torchbearer Kendrick Lamar. Kendrick never fails to deliver 110% fury on each and every track he appears on. No matter how big or small the verse, he delivers the goods and proves once again why he is amongst hip-hop's elite. Not to be completely outdone by the young gun, hip-hop icon RZA manages to spit a couple of quality verses on "Beez", which is essentially just his song as the grizzled veteran pulls the rhyming weight while Cudi only provides support singing the hook.

Indicud is unfortunately just another run-of-the-mill effort from Kid Cudi. The beats are proficient as always and there's some solid guest spots, but Cudi doesn't do anything thing to fix the lingering lyrical problems that have haunted his music for his entire career. The pop elements and enhanced focus on singing instead of rapping doesn't do him any favors either. I will admit that save for "Girls", "Unfuckwittable" and "Immortal", none of these tracks are god awful, but they sadly only rarely rise above average. Cudi continues to waste his potential and the lack of progress in his music is incredibly frustrating, his easygoing flow and production are far too good to keep consistently churning out such mediocre albums.

2.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks
1.Solo Dolo, Part II (ft.Kendrick Lamar)
2.Young Lady (ft.Father John Misty)
3.Beez (ft.RZA)     

May in Film

The Summer movie season is officially upon us! May, as usual, is mostly comprised of major tentpole films that sets the tone for the next 4 months in the world of cinema. Here are my thoughts on the entire slate of May films.

Films I want to see:
5.Now You See Me (5/31)-The idea of a magician heist movie is very original and intriguing to me. The cast including Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Morgan Freeman, Isla Fisher and Michael Caine is absolutely phenomenal. Hopefully it doesn't drop the ball with its cool concept.

4.The Hangover Part III (5/24)-Yes Part II wasn't as good as the first. Yes Part II was essentially the same concept as the first. That being said, Part II was still very amusing and more than enough to get me to want to spend another round with the wolf pack. The concept this go-round is a bit different as they don't get drunk and loose someone and the trailer is undoubtedly funny and looks a bit darker in it's humor than the other two installments. I'm very excited to see how Todd Philips decides to wrap-up this franchise.

3.Iron Man 3 (5/3)-Marvel again kicks off the summer movie season with Iron Man 3. Iron Man 2 was a bit disappointing after the excellent first installment, but I am pretty confident that writer/director Shane Black will get the franchise back on track. The early reception has been very positive and the film looks like it could be in the top tier of Marvel films.

2.Fast and Furious 6 (5/24)-Fast Five was easily the best of the franchise and was my 2nd favorite film of 2011. Coming off that triumph with the same writer and director in tow and a explosive trailer, Fast and Furious 6 has all the making of another potential top-notch action flick.

1.Star Trek: Into Darkness (5/17)-My most anticipated film of the entire summer. The initial remake came out of nowhere and blew me away and became one of my favorite films of all-time after multiple viewings. With J.J Abrams, screenwriters Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman and most of the cast still on board, this film could very well repeat that magic again.

Film I'm not sure on:
After Earth (5/31)- With M.Night Shyamalan behind the camera and a mediocre trailer, I'm a bit wary to see this. However, the presence of Will Smith and screenwriter Gary Whitta (The Book of Eli) peeks my interest enough to probably check it out at some point in time.

Film I have zero interest in seeing:
The Great Gatsby (5/10)- I despise the book and director Baz Luhrmann, even a solid cast with the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire and Joel Edgerton doesn't pique my interest towards the film.

Peeples (5/10)-Craig Robinson is the man, but Tyler Perry's involvement in the production all but assures that this will a forgettable film.

Epic (5/24)-A kid's movies that just simply doesn't look like my thing.