50 Most Underrated Albums of the 2000's (So Far): #32

32.Cannibal Corpse-Kill (2006)

Death metal pioneers Cannibal Corpse had already been on the scene for 16 years when they released the most savage attack of their career in 2006's Kill. Kill didn't really differ too much from their traditional horror-infused death metal sound, but they got more out of their established formula than ever before. Producer Erik Rutan gave Cannibal Corpse a cleaner edge that made them sound crisper without sacrificing any of the power of their distinctly raw and evil sound. In addition to Rutan's production work, the songwriting on Kill had a level of energy that hadn't been present since their 1994 record The Bleeding. It was honestly incredible to hear a veteran band pour so much life and passion into their 10th (!) studio album; especially given the fact that Cannibal Corpse had been on a huge cold streak since founding vocalist Chris Barnes left the band in 1995. Ironically, Barnes' replacement George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher had nothing to do with the woes Cannibal Corpse faced on the five albums leading up to Kill. The band simply seemed bored with what they we're doing for quite almost a decade until Kill magically changed that-finally giving Fisher the chance to overtake Barnes as the face of Cannibal Corpse. The Bleeding, Tomb of the Mutilated and Butchered at Birth are all iconic death metal releases that are considered to be Cannibal Corpse's best work, but Kill is the record I will always remember them by.

Standout Tracks
1.Make Them Suffer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9nZoPHLgxk
2.Murder Worship http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_tCkW4LUjI
3.Brain Removal Device http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI9oAsVq3YQ   

Concert Review: Unearth-- Boston, MA-- May 28th, 2014

It's not every day you get to hear one of the most influential records in a genre played in its entirety. Last night, I got that distinct pleasure as hometown metalcore titans Unearth played their breakout record The Oncoming Storm from start to finish at Brighton Music Hall in Boston, Massachusetts.

I arrived right as opener Armed for Apocalypse started their set. As they were talking in between songs, I took some time to take in the venue as I'd never been there before. Brighton Music Hall is definitely a pretty sweet venue. The setting is intimate with a small floor and no rail in front of the stage as well as pretty decent sound. As for Armed for Apocalypse, I have to say I was pretty impressed. I'd honestly never heard of them prior to this tour being announced, but after seeing them live, I definitely have to go ahead and check out their stuff. They had plenty of nice riffs and their drummer was an absolute psycho behind the kit. However, their brand of sludge/crust punk didn't really go over too well with the crowd on the whole. A majority of the slim crowd that was in attendance when they performed looked indifferent as they plowed through their nearly 30-minute set. Despite a weak reception, Armed for Apocalypse put on a good set that certainly inspired me to give them a shot on record.

Maine's top hardcore export Cruel Hand was up next. I hadn't seen them since way back in 2008 when they opened for The Acacia Strain at their DVD shoot at The Palladium. These guys were a lot more in line with Unearth's style, so the crowd reception was a lot better than it was for Armed for Apocalypse. They managed to incite the first pits and hxC dance fest of the evening. As for their actual performance, it was certainly solid. They're not the most exciting or groundbreaking hardcore act in the world, but they have a great stage presence and high levels of energy- which really is all you need to succeed as a band in the hardcore genre. It also didn't hurt that their singer is a pretty hilarious dude who goes off on a bunch of a mini-tangents during the breaks between songs. Cruel Hand was a breezy good time that woke the crowd up and set the tone for the rest of the show from a energy standpoint.

Texas in July was up next. I've never really got too into these guys on record as they are a bit too generic for my liking nor did they manage to make much of an impression on me the first time I saw them opening for August Burns Red in 2012. To my surprise, Texas in July was pretty damn good this time around. Their new vocalist is a huge step-up from their previous one and they weren't nearly as generic as I remember them being. In fact, a couple songs actually had some interesting progressive riffing and well-placed breakdowns! Their stage presence has also improved substantially as their new vocalist got the crowd hyped up with ease and their bassist ran around the stage like a crazy person for the duration of the set (I honestly thought he was going to run clean off the stage during "This Isn't My First Rodeo"). The venue filled in nicely during their set as well, which was a nice precursor for the madness that ensued during Unearth's set.  Texas in July still wasn't spectacular by any means, but they were much better than I had anticipated they would be.

The moment had finally arrived for Unearth to take the stage. As I mentioned earlier, this tour is commemorating the 10th anniversary of The Oncoming Storm. For myself and a lot of other metal fans of my generation, this is an essential record that helped define the metalcore genre. The Oncoming Storm played a huge role in shaping my taste in music and appreciation for metal as a whole. Since I first heard this record when I was 15, I'd dreamed of hearing it played live in its entirety, so it was kind of surreal to see it actually happen seven years later. About a third of the album ("Endless", "The Great Dividers", "This Lying World", "Black Hearts Now Reign") are already staples in Unearth's set and while those tracks were fun to hear as always, it was the rarely/never played tracks that made this performance special. "Failure", "Lie to Purify" and my personal favorite, "Zombie Autopilot" translate especially well to a live setting. With all these rarities being played to celebrate The Oncoming Storm's historic anniversary, Unearth was even more lively and energetic than usual on stage. Guitarist Ken Susi took his typically animated antics to the next level interacting with just about everyone in the front row and regularly jumping off the amps while vocalist Trevor Phipps welcomed the barrage of stage divers that joined him on stage, jamming out with them and letting them scream into the mic whenever they wanted to. Phipps even stage dived himself during the final breakdown of "Endless" while Texas in July frontman J.T. Cavey came out to scream along with him from the stage. Even normally reserved guitarist Buz McGrath got on the mic near the end of the set to personally thank one of his buddies that was at the show for bringing him one of the last glass bottles of Olde English ever made and told everyone in the crowd to either "buy him a beer or suck his cock clean off" as a token of his appreciation. Unearth  preceded the playing of The Oncoming Storm by playing a song from each of their four other records (2002's The Stings of Conscience, 2006's III: In the Eyes of Fire,2008's The March, and 2011's Darkness in the Light) and a new track off their upcoming album which will be released in September or October according to Phipps. The new track ripped with a great solo from McGrath and yet another signature crushing Unearth breakdown. If this track is any indicator, Unearth is going to keep their flawless track record in tact with their new album. This was a truly special performance for Unearth. The combination of there being no rail and the sheer amount of fun the band was having on stage created this really unique camaraderie between the band and the crowd that I had never seen in the five times I'd seen them prior. If you're an Unearth fan in any capacity and this tour is coming to your city over the next month, please go see it. You will not regret it.             

Scores:
Armed for Apocalypse 7.5/10
Cruel Hand 7.5/10
Texas in July 7.5/10
Unearth 9.5/10 

Armed for Apocalypse included:
Worth the Weight (closer)

Cruel Hand included:
Life in Shambles
Under the Ice

Texas in July included:
It's Not My First Rodeo (opener)
Hook, Line and Sinner
Cry Wolf
Elements

Unearth:
Watch it Burn
New Song
Giles
My Will Be Done
My Heart Bleeds No Longer
(Aries)
The Great Dividers
Failure
This Lying World
Lie to Purify
Bloodlust of the Human Condition
Predetermined Sky
Endless (w/J.T. Cavey from Texas in July)
False Idols
Zombie Autopilot
Black Hearts Now Reign

Movie Review: X-Men: Days of Future Past

The X-Men franchise is easily the most unheralded of the major Marvel films. The series doesn't get the same push or hype as The Avengers or Spider-Man nor does the franchise really got tossed around in the best superhero movies of all-time discussion. After the latest, and fifth overall ensemble X-Men installment, Days of Future Past, hopefully this series will start to get the recognition it deserves as the premier Marvel franchise.

The film begins in the present day as a group of robots known as Sentinels are hunting down and killing every mutant and human who carries the mutant gene. With their race at the brink of extinction, Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), Magneto (Ian McKellan), Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) and a small band of other mutants are hiding out at a Chinese monastery hoping to find a solution to this crisis. Left with no other option as the Sentinels will soon become aware of their location, the mutants use Kitty Pride's (Ellen Page) ability to send someone's consciousness back in time to prevent the murder of Dr. Boliver Trask (Peter Dinklage)-who created the Sentinels- by Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) in 1973. The Sentinels are seen as essential security measure after Trask's murder because they prove his theroy of mutants being a major threat to mankind's well-being correct. Wolverine's ability to rapidly heal and not age makes him the only person fit to travel back to 1973 to attempt to complete the mission. In order to stop Mystique, Wolverine has to track down the younger versions of Xavier and Magneto (James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender) and convince them to work together at a time where they were fierce adversaries to try and stop the Sentinels from being conceived in the past before they wipe out all life both mutant and human in the present.    

Days of Future Past is a massive success on every possible level. With the grand scope of the time-jumping narrative and sheer number of characters involved, this could've been an absolute disaster, but the execution here is pretty much flawless. Screenwriter Simon Kinberg is able to balance all the events past and present with a sharp attention to detail that ensures none of the film's many plot developments are left unexplained. Clearly not every character is fully fleshed out in order to streamline the complex plot, but the main character (Charles Xavier, Wolverine, Magneto) development and the intertwining of the story arc of First Class with the original trilogy is expertly crafted.

Kinberg's script establishes such a strong and compelling story that it really allows the actors to flourish and drive the film. The content of Days of Future Past  makes way for a lot more emotional scenes with powerful acting than normal for the genre. Hugh Jackman has never been more charismatic in his sixth (!) go-round as Wolverine and Michael Fassbender gives an even more commanding performance than he did in First Class. However, the film really belongs to James McAvoy. Days of Future Past is ultimately Charles Xavier's story, and McAvoy makes sure the audience knows that with a deep, nuanced portrayal of a broken man that needs to pick up the pieces of his life and use his wisdom to give misunderstood mutants the leader they need to inspire them to come together as one.

The story and characters first approach of Days of Future Past makes the handful of action sequences really stand out. Director Bryan Singer got creative with the set pieces since there wasn't a barrage of balls-out action throughout. Both scenes with Quicksilver- played with wild energy by American Horror Story's Evan Peters- and the climax set a new bar for superhero fight scenes. There's lot of filmmakers in this genre that could learn a thing or two from Singer's approach of originality and craftsmanship of action sequences over sheer volume. Days of Future Past is a daring and bold standout in this increasingly crowded genre and upon further reflection, this could very well be the finest film to-date in this stellar franchise.

4.5/5 Stars

20 Most Anticipated Albums for the Rest of 2014

There hasn't been a whole lot of stuff I've been excited about in world of music for the first five months of 2014. Fortunately, there's an increase of interesting releases on the docket for the final six months of the year. Here are the 20 records I'm most looking forward to for the rest of 2014.  

20.Job for a Cowboy-TBA (Release Date: TBD)
19.In Flames-Siren Charms (Release Date: September 9th)
18.Riff Raff-Neon Icon (Release Date: June 24th)
17.Son of Aurelius-Under a Western Sun (Release Date: June 3rd)
16.Overkill-White Devil Armory (Release Date: July 22nd)
15.Septic Flesh-Titan (Release Date: June 24th) 
14.Big K.R.I.T.-Cadillatica (Release Date: TBD) 
13.Action Bronson-Mr.Wonderful (Release Date: TBD)
12.Arch Enemy-War Eternal (Release Date: June 10th)
11.Kanye West-TBA (Release Date: TBD)
10.Goatwhore-Constricting Rage of the Merciless (Release Date: July 8th)
9.Darkest Hour-TBA (Release Date: TBD)
8.Kendrick Lamar-TBA (Release Date: TBD Fall)
7.Run the Jewels-Run the Jewels 2 (Release Date: TBD)
6.Foo Fighters-TBA (Release Date: TBD Fall)
5.Unearth-TBA (Release Date: TBD Fall)
4.Every Time I Die-From Parts Unknown (Release Date: July 1st)
3.Fallujah-The Flesh Prevails (Release Date: July 22nd)
2.Revocation-TBA (Release Date: TBD)
1.Mastodon-Once More Round 'the Sun (Release Date: June 24th)

Also excited for:
Body Count-Manslaughter (Release Date: June 10th)
Jack White-Lazaretto (Release Date: June 10th)
Trap Them-Blissfucker (Release Date: June 10th)
Alleageon-Elements of the Infinite (Release Date: June 24th)
Suicide Silence-You Can't Stop Me (Release Date: July 15th)
Four Year Strong-Go Down in History (Release Date: July 22nd)
Within the Ruins-Phenomena (Release Date: July 22nd)
2 Chainz- B.O.A.T.S III (Release Date: TBD)
A$AP Mob-L.O.R.D. (Release Date: TBD)
Action Bronson and Riff Raff-Galaxy Gladiators (Release Date: TBD) 
Juicy J-The Hustle Continues (Release Date: TBD)
Mac Miller and Pharrell Williams-Pink Slime(Release Date: TBD)
Wu-Tang Clan-A Better Tomorrow (Release Date: TBD)
The Acacia Strain-TBA (Release Date: TBD)
Cannibal Corpse-TBA (Release Date: TBD)
Chance the Rapper-TBA (Release Date: TBD)
Frank Ocean-TBA (Release Date: TBD)
Jay Rock-TBA (Release Date: TBD)
Nas-TBA (Release Date: TBD)
Testament-TBA (Release Date: TBD)

50 Most Underrated Albums of the 2000's (So Far): #33

33.Battlecross-War of Will (2013)

 Michigan's newest metal behemoth Battlecross is often written off because they tour frequently and relentlessly pimp their band on social media. Don't let the ridiclous, unjustified backlash against them fool you: Battlecross is not only the real deal, but one of the most promising up-and-coming acts in the extreme metal scene. They play a combination of thrash and melodic death metal that is heavy on killer riffs (of both the fast and melodic variety) and breakneck energy. War of Will serves as a natural progression from their impressive 2011 breakout record Pursuit of Honor. The skeleton of what made Pursuit of Honor special is still present, they've just gotten better at their niche. The songwriting is more polished with a big improvement on their melo-death end of their sound especially and the production is far cleaner than before. The band is also freakishly talented across the board. Guitarist Tony Asta effortlessly rips through fret-melting solos, Don Slater is a rare talent on bass that is actually given ample time to shine and not pushed into the background like a majority of his peers, vocalist Kyle "Gumby" Gunther has a sinister tinge to both his high-pitched and low-pitched screams and session drummer Shannon Lucas (ex-The Black Dahlia Murder and All That Remains) proves once again why he is a modern legend in the scene. War of Will is the work of a band that demands respect in the metal community.

Standout Tracks
Full record link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjmW_Tw-Xh8
1.Wage a War
2.Never Coming Back
3.Get Over It

50 Most Underrated Albums of the 2000's (So Far): #34

34.Born of Osiris-The Discovery (2011)

Prior to the release of their third LP The Discovery, Born of Osiris had already established themselves as a tight, precise progressive deathcore act with their first two records, The New Reign and A Higher Place. The Discovery was such a monumental improvement for Born of Osiris that it almost seemed like a different band had recorded it. This large jump in quality on The Discovery can be attributed to the addition of guitarist Jason Richardson to the lineup. Richardson was a far superior songwriter and guitarist than anyone the band had had in the past. Richardson took the band in a more progressive and technical direction, replacing much of the chugging monotony of their earlier material with beautiful harmonies and blistering guitar leads.  Richardson's presence was seemingly contagious as everyone else in the band stepped their game up on The Discovery as well. Ronnie Canizaro's vocals were sharper than ever, Joe Buras' keyboard sections became more prominent and experimental, and, drummer Cameron Losch seemed to have doubled the speed of his blast beats from A Higher Place.  Richardson unfortunately quit the band in late 2011 and Born of Osiris has since regressed back to being a solid albeit unremarkable act in the progressive metal realm. The Discovery is a remarkable record that is buried in Born of Osiris' otherwise good, but not particularity noteworthy discography.     

Standout Tracks

1.Devastate/Recreate http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd6MmNhE13w http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMlwvYuqzQc

2.Singularity http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iekx3gCGL6k

3.Automatic Motion http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgsZ_vbhoGw 

50 Most Underrated Albums of the 2000's (So Far): #35

35.Andrew W.K.-I Get Wet (2001)

Andrew W.K. knows how to party. The self-proclaimed king of partying became the party-starting icon he is today in large part to the success of his debut album I Get Wet- which is possibly the most pure fun 35 minutes of music ever recorded. I Get Wet is certainly not the most complex listen on the planet, but if you buy into it- which is not hard at all given W.K.'s authenticity as an artist- you can't help but get swept up in the record's atmosphere. W.K.'s ability to make a breezy record packed to the brim with infectious party anthems that could honestly get even the biggest party poopers in the world to lighten up and have the time of their lives. I Get Wet is essentially the OK Computer or Dark Side of the Moon of the party rock genre.

 

Standout Tracks

1.Party Hard http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ9xveRsWxo

2.Ready to Die http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdB6TGonTms

3.I Get Wet http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXkjSpq_Uds     

 

Movie Review: Godzilla

It only took three weeks into the summer movie season to find the first turkey. With a solid pedigree on both sides of the camera, crazy levels of buzz, and one of the most impressive trailers in recent memory; Godzilla seemed to have all the makings of a successful blockbuster. Instead, Godzilla is the dullest and dumbest big-budget film to hit the screen since Avatar.

You have to give Warner Brothers a lot of credit for the marketing on Godzilla. They were able to effectively sell this film on merits that it doesn't actually possess. The advertising made the film look subtle yet tense with a remarkable aura of dread throughout. The actual film is just a plodding snoozefest that takes a whole lot of time to go nowhere. Director Gareth Edwards and screenwriter Max Borenstein mistake subtlety for actual nothingness. I commend their decision to make a blockbuster that relies more on the story and the characters than constant giant action set pieces, but in order for that to work you need to have a well-thought out screenplay and characters that the audience actually cares about. If Edwards and Borenstein wanted to make a character-driven film, they probably should've spent some time developing characters that were even remotely interesting. Every single character in Godzilla are pretty much drones. The film tries to play up the emotional stakes of the monster attacks on the human characters, but all of the characters are essentially mannequins with their inability to convey any sort of emotion themselves, so you could honestly could care less what happens to any of them. Call me a purist, but it's kind of hard for me to get invested in a group of characters that speak to each other like they're robots that just arrived on Earth. Pair these robotic human characters with a storyline that has so many holes in it that it makes little-to-no sense and the aforementioned painfully slow pace, and you have a film that is an absolute chore to sit through.

Even with a script that is so unholy awful, it's still miraculous that Godzilla managed to not even get a single good performance out of its cast. Not even Bryan Cranston-who is only in the film for 30 minutes and not the lead actor here like the ad's make him out to be- can muster a good performance. Cranston does however at least show some effort in his wildly overacted performance, the rest of the cast just looks dumbfounded the entire time. Aaron Taylor-Johnson is absolutely lifeless as the film's real lead character, Elizabeth Olsen seems to be confused by everything that's going on and Ken Watanabe and Sally Hawkins play perhaps the two stupidest scientists to ever grace the big screen. I honestly don't know how accomplished actors like Cranston, Taylor-Johnson, Olsen, Watanabe and Hawkins all manage to be terrible in the same film. At least the blank expressions that actors had throughout matched my face while I watched the events of this film unfold. Getting this many garbage performances out of a vastly talented cast is the most impressive feat Godzilla is able to pull off.

The effects in Godzilla are admittedly impressive, but they are essentially all for naught since the film's action is so sparse. Even when there is action, Edwards chooses to frequently cut away to focus on the film's human characters. Godzilla wracked up a $167 million budget and seemed to put a lot of time into the creature design only to have the monsters appear on screen in a few scenes. Films like Super 8 and Cloverfield we're able to get away without showing the monster until the latter stages of the film because there was a sense of intrigue present and there was an eventual payoff in getting to see the monsters at length in the latter stages of the film. Godzilla teases monsters numerous times and never allows the monsters to really get into the spotlight. It's honestly a shame that Edwards and Bornstein decided to put so little focus on the titular character and accompanying monsters. If they had actually given the monsters some uninterrupted screen time instead of just discussing them at length, they very well could've have been onto something. Godzilla is a poorly-crafted, scatterbrained film that fails to be remotely compelling for even a single frame.

1.5/5 Stars 

Concert Review: Mastodon-- Worcester, MA-- May 16th, 2014

One of the most high profile metal tours of 2014 so far rolled through The Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts last night and good lord, was it one for the annals.

Norway's resident party starters Kvelertak opened the evening in grand fashion. After the first time I saw them last November with High on Fire, I got really into them, so I was really excited to get see them again now that I am a fan of their music. Just like the first time I saw them, they put on an excellent show. It may seem odd given the style of music they play, but Kvelertak never fails to bring a huge smile to my face. Their songs are loaded with old-school rock'n'roll flair, punk energy and black metal bite. The combination of the three makes them unique as hell and an absolute force to be reckoned with in a live setting. Aside from playing great music, their stage presence is immense. They command the room and go batshit crazy every second they're on stage. Kvelertak is without a doubt the most fun you'll ever have seeing an extreme metal band live.

Gojira, France's crown jewel of heavy metal, was up next. I had been waiting to see Gojira for years now, so this was honestly a dream come true. The previous two times I had tickets to see them (headlining in August 2012 and opening for Slayer November 2013), my rides fell through and I wasn't able to attend either show. I can gladly say that Gojira's performance was so outstanding that it eliminated the disappointment of my prior failed attempts to see them. There are few bands that I've seen that are as much of a crushing powerhouse as Gojira. Every single song hit like a fucking freight train live. "Backbone", "The Heaviest Matter of the Universe" and "Flying Whales" in particular were every bit as neck-breaking as I expected them to be and caused me to headbang to the point where I wouldn't have been surprised if I my neck broke. Beneath all the crushing riffs, the most impressive aspect of Gojira is the drumming. Mario Duplantier's use of fills and blast beats are insane and don't get nearly enough attention because of just how heavy and memorable Gojira's music is. Duplantier's drumming is just as vital as the guitarwork and powerful vocals from his brother Joe to the success of Gojira as a band. God bless these beautiful French bastards and I really hope I don't get shut out from seeing them live ever again.

After an over half-hour wait, Mastodon finally took the stage. In my experience, the best time to see them live is in between albums-which is the current situation as their new record comes out on June 24th- or right at the start of the touring cycle for a new album. Last night was no exception. Mastodon pulled out some rarely-played gems from their first three records for this tour to bring overwhelming joy to fanboys like myself. I honestly never expected them to dust off songs like "Hearts Alive", "Naked Burn", "Siberian Divide" and "Crusher Destroyer" for this tour, but I am so glad that they did. Remission, Leviathan and Blood Mountain were the records that made me fall in love with Mastodon's music and are three of my all-time favorite records. Seeing songs from these records played live brings out a lot of fond memories past and present. As the years goes on and Mastodon's music has gotten noticeably less extreme, I'm glad they still honor their roots live. The punch of their earlier, heavier material was balanced out nicely by the more progressive material from their past two records Crack the Skye and The Hunter. The newer stuff served as a nice breather from the relentless attack of the older material. It seems they learned from the mistakes of their past few tours where they saturated the set with material from The Hunter.  This set was perfectly split between older and newer material and served as a nice retrospective of Mastodon's career thus far. In addition to putting together a killer setlist, the whole band sounded great musically. Troy Sanders was spot-on vocally per usual and Brent Hinds- despite fumbling on a few clean sung parts here and there-was pretty damn good as well. Instrumentally, they were flawless and as always, I was especially enthralled with Brann Dailor's drumming. How that dude manages to hit all his drum parts live is legitimately mind-blowing. There's a lot of excellent drummers in metal, but none is as dynamic or skilled as Dailor. Out of the seven times I've seen Mastodon, this was definitely in the top-tier. Just like the last time I saw them headline with Dillinger Escape Plan and Red Fang in 2012, this was one of the best shows I've ever been to.    

Scores:
Kvelertak 9/10
Gojira 9.5/10
Mastodon 9.5/10

Setlists:
Kvelertak:
Apenbaring
Spring Fra Livet
Sultans of Satan
Bruane Brenn
Ulvetid
Evig Vandrar
Blodtorst

Gojira:
To Sirius
The Heaviest Matter of the Universe
Backbone
Flying Whales
L'enfant Sauvage
Toxic Garbage Island
In the Forest
Oroborus

Mastodon:
Hearts Alive
Divinations
Crusher Destroyer
Capillarian Crest
Black Tongue
Bladecatcher
Crystal Skull
Siberian Divide
Naked Burn
Megalodon
Oblivion
Blasteroid
Chimes at Midnight
High Road
Bedazzled Fingernails
Aqua Dementia
The Sparrow

50 Most Underrated Albums of the 2000's: #36

36.Arch Enemy-Khaos Legions (2011)

Sweedish melodic death metal act Arch Enemy is an act that has a discography full of under-appreciated records. However, none gets glossed over more than their 2011 record Khaos Legions. Khaos Legions is the most melodic and wild musical attack the band has released over their nearly 20-year career. The Amott Brothers paid closer attention to writing riffs on Khaos Legions than just simply soloing their asses off the entire time like their earlier records. The use of acoustic guitars and subtle interludes into most of the tracks have a calm before the strom type of effect, making the explosions of musical chaos that much more satisfying. Khaos Legions will also go down as the swansong for vocalist Angela Gossow, who left the band earlier this year. Gossow's imposing and electric presence is surely going to be missed, but at least she went out on top with one of the strongest vocal performances of her career. Khaos Legions is the type of flashy yet beautifully layered melodic death metal that is incredibly satisfying to listen to. Hopefully the loss of Gossow and founding guitarist Christopher Amott won't have a serious effect on the next chapter of Arch Enemy.

Standout Tracks

1.City of the Dead http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDZhx9kBo0Q

2.Cult of Chaos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS25j6lNWsA

3.Cruelty Without Beauty http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oF3td-_vcGU 

Movie Review: Neighbors

Seth Rogen has made a career off of being the "party guy". In Neighbors, Rogen is on the other side as he plays Mac Radner, a young father trying to deal with the nightmare of having a hard-partying fraternity move in next door to him and his family.

Neighbors is pretty par for the course for what you would except from a Rogen film: It's vulgar, over-the-top and god damn hilarious. Neighbors' central conflict of "fraternity vs. family" is the perfect background for Rogen's brand of improv-heavy comedy. Everyone involved with the film knows crazy shit happens in fraternities happen all the time, which allows them to just run wild with the gags. The film takes a little bit to fully find its footing, but once the Radners and Delta PSI start really clashing, the laughs keep coming and it's a total joy to watch.

Neighbors makes a lot of bold casting choices that work well. Aside from Rogen, none of the other lead actors primarily do comedies. Rose Byrne plays Rogen's wife Kelly and is responsible for some of the biggest laughs of the entire movie. Byrne's appeared in a couple of comedies the past few years (Bridesmaids and The Internship) as the straight character, but not since Get Him to the Greek has she been given a chance to really shine in a comedic role. Her unhinged, whacky performance here reenforces that she's a natural at comedy and really needs to be given more comedic roles in the future.

The most bizarre casting choice on-paper is without question Zac Efron- who has made a career of playing the heartthrob in films aimed at adolescent girls- as Delta PSI leader Teddy. Much like Channing Tatum in 21 Jump Street, Efron proves doubters (myself included) wrong by showing some legitimate comedy chops here. Efron manages to easily hold his own with comedy veterans like Rogen, Ike Barinholtz, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse- which is no small accomplishment. Efron's work in Neighbors should be enough to finally earn him some respect outside of the teenage girl demographic that has embraced him for his entire career. 

Where Neighbors surprises is with just how much of a soul it actually has. Amidst all the alcohol, drugs and destruction, this film is really about the struggle of growing up. The Radners are having a hard time letting go of their youth after having a child, while Teddy has no idea what his future holds and just wants to stay in college forever. It's a relateable and relevant struggle for a lot of people in their 20's and 30's. While this film may portray the issue in a bit of an exaggerated fashion at times, it doesn't take away from the poignancy of its message of growing older and living up to your responsibilities, no matter how difficult they may be. Neighbors is a great start to what will hopefully be a summer full of spectacular comedies.

4/5 Stars

2014 NFL Draft Recap

3 days of bedlam otherwise known as the NFL Draft finished up on Saturday at Radio City Music Hall. Now that dust has settled, here my picks for the best/worst overall team hauls, biggest steals, reaches, sleepers, potential busts, and, my updated list of top 50 prospects from the 2014 draft class.

Biggest Steal: Darqueze Dennard, cornerback (Round 1, 24th overall, Cincinnati Bengals)
The Bengals got an absolute gift when Darqueze Dennard fell into their laps in the latter stages of the first round. Dennard is a physical corner that can do anything that's asked of him on the football field. He should be an immediate starter and sure up one of the very few weaknesses the Bengals have.

Biggest Reach: Ja'wuan James, tackle (Round 1, 19th overall, Miami Dolphins)
There were a lot of picks that came out of left field in the first round of this draft, but none was more puzzling than the Dolphins selecting Ja'wuan James with the 19th overall pick. Tackle was an obvious need for them after their abysmal offensive line play in 2013, but taking an average player who would've easily been there when they picked in the second round simply because of a need at the position doesn't make any sense. 

Best Team Overall in Draft: St. Louis Rams
The Rams cleaned house once again. They used their two top 15 picks to draft elite players (tackle Greg Robinson and defensive tackle Aaron Donald) made their already talented lines on both sides of the ball that much better. Their later round picks were equally savvy as they got steals in cornerback/safety LaMarcus Joyner (round 2), running back Tre Mason (round 3) and defensive end/outside linebacker Michael Sam (round 7). Les Snead and Jeff Fisher have drafted about as good as anyone in football over the last few years and in the tough NFC West, the development of that young talent will eventually lead to a playoff berth.

Worst Team Overall in Draft: Kansas City Chiefs
I don't what the hell was going through the head of general manager Jeff Dorsey during this draft. The Chiefs had limited picks in this draft because of the Alex Smith trade and did not use then wisely. The team lost three starting offensive lineman this offseason (including both guards), but didn't draft any lineman until the sixth round. They also did nothing to address their lack of a number two wideout behind Dwayne Bowe. Instead, the Chiefs spent their only two picks in the first three rounds reaching on a pass-rusher they don't need (Dee Ford) and a raw cornerback that is going to need a whole of developing before getting a shot at starting (Phillip Gaines)  Even a potential steal in quarterback Aaron Murray couldn't salvage just how awful the Chiefs draft was.

Top 5 Sleepers:
1.Gabe Jackson, guard (Round 3, 81st overall, Oakland Raiders)
2.C.J. Fiedorwicz, tight end (Round 3, 65th overall, Houston Texans)
3.Aaron Murray, quarterback (Round 5, 163rd overall, Kansas City Chiefs)
4.Lache Seastrunk, running back (Round 6, 186th overall, Washington Redskins)
5.Kevin Pierre-Louis, outside linebacker (Round 4, 132nd overall, Seattle Seahawks)

Top 5 Most Likely Busts:
1.Johnny Manziel, quarterback (Round 1, 22nd overall, Cleveland Browns)
2.Kelvin Benjamin, wide receiver (Round 1, 28th overall, Carolina Panthers)
3.Ja'wuan James, tackle (Round 1, 19th overall, Miami Dolphins)
4.Marcus Smith, outside linebacker (Round 1, 26th overall, Philadelphia Eagles)
5.DeMarcus Lawrence, outside linebacker/defensive end (Round 2, 34th overall, Dallas Cowboys)

Top 50 Prospects:
1.Khalil Mack, defensive end/outside linebacker (Buffalo) Selected 5th overall (Oakland Raiders)
2.Mike Evans, wide receiver (Texas A&M) Selected 7th overall (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
3.Jadeveon Clowney, defensive end (South Carolina) Selected 1st overall (Houston Texans)
4.Greg Robinson, tackle (Auburn) Selected 2nd overall (St. Louis Rams)
5.Sammy Watkins, wide receiver (Clemson) Selected 4th overall (Buffalo Bills)
6.Jake Matthews, tackle (Texas A&M) Selected 6th overall (Atlanta Falcons)
7.Aaron Donald, defensive tackle (Pittsburgh) Selected 13th overall (St.Louis Rams)
8.Eric Ebron, tight end (North Carolina) Selected 10th overall (Detroit Lions)
9.Taylor Lewan, tackle (Michigan) Selected 11th overall (Tennessee Titans)
10.Justin Gilbert, cornerback (Oklahoma State) Selected 8th overall (Cleveland Browns)
11.HaHa Clinton-Dix, safety (Alabama) Selected 21st overall (Green Bay Packers)
12.Calvin Pryor, safety (Louisville) Selected 18th overall (New York Jets)
13.Brandin Cooks, wide receiver (Oregon State) Selected 20th overall (New Orleans Saints)
14.Darqueze Dennard, cornerback (Michigan State) Selected 24th overall (Cincinnati Bengals)
15.Blake Bortles, quarterback (Central Florida) Selected 3rd overall (Jacksonville Jaguars)
16.Kyle Fuller, cornerback (Virginia Tech) Selected 14th overall (Chicago Bears)
17.Zack Martin, tackle/guard/center (Notre Dame) Selected 16th overall (Dallas Cowboys)
18.Anthony Barr, outside linebacker (UCLA) Selected 9th overall (Minnesota Vikings)
19.Derek Carr, quarterback (Fresno State) Selected 36th overall (Oakland Raiders)
20.Odell Beckham Jr., wide receiver (LSU) Selected 12th overall (New York Giants)
21.Bradley Roby, cornerback (Ohio State) Selected 31st overall (Denver Broncos)
22.Xavier Su'a-Filo, guard (UCLA) Selected 33rd overall (Houston Texans)
23.Ryan Shaizer, outside linebacker (Ohio State) Selected 15th overall (Pittsburgh Steelers)
24.C.J. Mosley, inside linebacker (Alabama) Selected 17th overall (Baltimore Ravens)
25.Jason Verrett, cornerback (TCU) Selected 25th overall (San Diego Chargers)
26.Kyle Van Noy, outside linebacker (BYU) Selected 40th overall (Detroit Lions)
27.Jeremy Hill, running back (LSU) Selected 55th overall (Cincinnati Bengals)
28.Cody Latimer, wide receiver (Indiana) Selected 56th overall (Denver Broncos)
29.Ra'Shede Hageman, defensive tackle/end (Minnesota) Selected 37th overall (Atlanta Falcons)
30.Kony Ealy, defensive/outside linebacker (Missouri) Selected 60th overall (Carolina Panthers)
31.LaMarcus Joyner, safety/cornerback (Florida State) Selected 41st overall (St. Louis Rams)
32.Carlos Hyde, running back (Ohio State) Selected 57th overall (San Francisco 49ers)
33.Marqise Lee, wide receiver (USC) Selected 39th overall (Jacksonville Jaguars)
34.Jimmy Garoppolo, quarterback (Eastern Illinois) Selected 62nd overall (New England Patriots)
35.Dee Ford, defensive end/outside linebacker (Auburn) Selected 23rd overall (Kansas City Chiefs)
36.Louis Nix III, defensive tackle (Notre Dame) Selected 83rd overall (Houston Texans)
37.Weston Richburg, center (Colorado State) Selected 43rd overall (New York Giants)
38.Jimmie Ward, safety (Northern Illinois) Selected 30th overall (San Francisco 49ers)
39.Stephon Tuitt, defensive end (Notre Dame) Selected 46th overall (Pittsburgh Steelers)
40.Timmy Jernigan, defensive tackle (Florida State) Selected 48th overall (Baltimore Ravens)
41.Austin Seferian-Jenkins, tight end (Washington) Selected 38th overall (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
42.Teddy Bridgewater, quarterback (Louisville) Selected 32nd overall (Minnesota Vikings)
43.Davante Adams, wide receiver (Fresno State) Selected 53rd overall (Green Bay Packers)
44.Jace Amaro, tight end (Texas Tech) Selected 49th overall (New York Jets)
45.Morgan Moses, tackle (Virginia) Selected 66th overall (Washington Redskins)
46.Joel Bitonio, tackle/guard/center Selected 35th overall (Cleveland Browns)
47.Allen Robinson, wide receiver (Penn State) Selected 61st overall (Jacksonville Jaguars)
48.Dominique Easley, defensive tackle (Florida) Selected 29th overall (New England Patriots)
49.Deone Buccannon, safety (Washington State) Selected 27th overall (Arizona Cardinals)
50.Cyrus Kouandjio, tackle (Alabama) Selected 44th overall (Buffalo Bills)


Team Grades (Here is a link to each team's individual draft hauls http://www.nfl.com/draft/2014/tracker/by-round#dt-tabs:dt-by-team):
Arizona Cardinals: B
Atlanta Falcons: B+
Baltimore Ravens: B
Buffalo Bills: B+
Carolina Panthers: B-
Chicago Bears: A-
Cincinnati Bengals: B+
Cleveland Browns: B
Dallas Cowboys: C
Denver Broncos: A-
Detroit Lions:A-
Green Bay Packers: B+
Houston Texans: A
Indianapolis Colts: C-
Jacksonville Jaguars: A-
Kansas City Chiefs: D+
Miami Dolphins: C-
Minnesota Vikings: B+
New England Patriots: B+
New Orleans Saints: B
New York Giants: B+
New York Jets: A-
Oakland Raiders: A
Philadelphia Eagles: C
Pittsburgh Steelers: A-
San Diego Chargers: B-
San Fransisco 49ers: A-
Seattle Seahawks: B-
St. Louis Rams: A
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A-
Tennessee Titans: A-
Washington Redskins: B
 

Update

Hello all!,
I apologize for the lack of new content over the past couple weeks. I'm winding down with finals at school and haven't really had the time write anything on here. I'm just about done now so you can expect an influx of posts starting this Monday or Tuesday. I have reviews of Neighbors, a few new records and a continuation of my long dragged-out 50 most underrated albums of the '2000s countdown in the works at the moment. Please check back later in the week for all that stuff, and a big thank you to anyone who anyone who checks out the site!

Chris Maitland 

Footbal Anonymous: 2014 NFL Mock Drafts

Here are the first-round mock drafts from myself and my colleagues over at the Football Anonymous podcast. Enjoy! 


Carson
1.Houston Texans: Jadeveon Clowney, defensive end (South Carolina)
2.St. Louis Rams: Greg Robinson, tackle (Auburn)
3.Jacksonville Jaguars: Khalil Mack, outside linebacker/defensive end (Buffalo)
4.Cleveland Browns: Sammy Watkins, wide receiver (Clemson)
5.Oakland Raiders: Mike Evans, wide receiver (Texas A&M)
6.Atlanta Falcons: Jake Matthews, tackle (Texas A&M)
7.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Taylor Lewan, tackle (Michigan)
8.Minnesota Vikings: Johnny Manziel, quarterback (Texas A&M)
9.Buffalo Bills: Eric Ebron, tight end (North Carolina)
10.Detroit Lions: HaHa Clinton-Dix, safety (Alabama)
11.Tennessee Titans: Blake Bortles, quarterback (Central Florida)
12.New York Giants: Zack Martin, tackle/guard (Notre Dame)
13.St.Louis Rams: Justin Gilbert, cornerback (Oklahoma State)
14.Chicago Bears: Aaron Donald, defensive tackle (Pittsburgh)
15.Pittsburgh Steelers: Kyle Fuller, cornerback (Virginia Tech)
16.Dallas Cowboys: Anthony Barr, outside linebacker (UCLA)
17.Baltimore Ravens: Calvin Pryor, safety (Louisville)
18.New York Jets: Odell Beckham Jr., wide receiver (LSU)
19.Miami Dolphins: Xavier Su'a-Filo, guard (UCLA)
20.Arizona Cardinals: Kony Ealy, defensive end/outside linebacker (Missouri)
21.Green Bay Packers: C.J. Mosley, inside linebacker (Alabama)
22.Philadelphia Eagles: Brandin Cooks, wide receiver (Oregon State)
23.Kansas City Chiefs: Cody Latimer, wide receiver (Indiana)
24.Cincinnati Bengals: Darqueze Dennard, cornerback (Michigan State)
25.San Diego Chargers: Bradley Roby, cornerback (Ohio State)
26.Cleveland Browns: Derek Carr, quarterback (Fresno State)
27.New Orleans Saints: Marqise Lee, wide receiver (USC)
28.Carolina Panthers: Cyrus Kouandjio, tackle (Alabama)
29.New England Patriots: Jace Amaro, tight end (Texas Tech)
30.San Fransisco 49ers: Stanley-Jean Baptiste, cornerback (Nebraska)
31.Denver Broncos: Ryan Shaizer, outside/inside linebacker (Ohio State)
32.Seattle Seahawks: Ra'Shede Hageman, defensive tackle/end (Minnesota)

Chris.
1.Jadeveon Clowney, defensive end (South Carolina)
2.Greg Robinson, tackle (Auburn)
3.Khalil Mack, outside linebacker/defensive end (Buffalo)
4.Johnny Manziel, quarterback (Texas A&M)
5.Sammy Watkins, wide receiver (Clemson)
6.Taylor Lewan, tackle (Michigan)
7.Mike Evans, wide receiver (Texas A&M)
8.Blake Bortles, quarterback (Central Florida)
9.Jake Matthews, tackle (Texas A&M)
10.Anthony Barr, outside linebacker (UCLA)
11.Justin Gilbert, cornerback (Oklahoma State)
12.Zack Martin, tackle/guard (Notre Dame)
13.HaHa Clinton-Dix, safety (Alabama)
14.Aaron Donald, defensive tackle (Pittsburgh)
15.Darqueze Dennard, cornerback (Michigan State)
16.Kony Ealy, defensive end/outside linebacker (Missouri)
17.Calvin Pryor, safety (Louisville)
18.Eric Ebron, tight end (North Carolina)
19.C.J. Mosley, inside linebacker (Alabama)
20.Derek Carr, quarterback (Fresno State)
21.Ra'Shede Hageman, defensive tackle/end (Minnesota)
22.Brandin Cooks, wide receiver (Oregon State)
23.Odell Beckham Jr., wide receiver (LSU)
24.Kyle Fuller, cornerback (Virginia Tech)
25.Bradley Roby, cornerback (Ohio State)
26.Marqise Lee, wide receiver (USC)
27.Jason Verrett, cornerback (TCU)
28.Cyrus Kouandjio, tackle (Alabama)
29.Louis Nix III, defensive tackle (Notre Dame)
30.Cody Latimer, wide receiver (Indiana)
31.Ryan Shaizer, outside/inside linebacker (Ohio State)
32.Joel Bitonio, tackle/guard/center (Nevada)  

D.J.
1.Jadeveon Clowney, defensive end (South Carolina)
2.Greg Robinson, tackle (Auburn)
3.Khalil Mack, outside linebacker/defensive end (Buffalo)
4.Johnny Manziel, quarterback (Texas A&M)
5.Sammy Watkins, wide receiver (Clemson)
6.Jake Matthews, tackle (Texas A&M)
7.Mike Evans, wide receiver (Texas A&M)
8.Blake Bortles, quarterback (Central Florida)
9.Taylor Lewan, tackle (Michigan)
10.Aaron Donald, defensive tackle (Pittsburgh)
11.Anthony Barr, outside linebacker (UCLA)
12.Eric Ebron, tight end (North Carolina)
13.Calvin Pryor, safety (Louisville)
14.C.J. Mosley, inside linebacker (Alabama)
15.Justin Gilbert, cornerback (Oklahoma State)
16.Timmy Jernigan, defensive tackle (Florida State)
17.HaHa Clinton-Dix, safety (Alabama)
18.Darqueze Dennard, cornerback (Michigan State)
19.Zack Martin, tackle (Notre Dame)
20.DeMarcus Lawrence, outside linebacker (Boise State)
21.Ryan Shaizer, outside/inside linebacker (Ohio State)
22.Odell Beckham Jr., wide receiver (LSU)
23.Xavier Su'a-Filo, guard (UCLA)
24.Jason Verrett, cornerback (TCU)
25.Kyle Fuller, cornerback (Virginia Tech)
26.Bradley Roby, cornerback (Ohio State)
27.Brandin Cooks, wide receiver (Oregon State)
28.Morgan Moses, tackle (Virginia)
29.Ra'Shede Hageman, defensive tackle/end (Minnesota)
30.Kony Ealy, defensive end/outside linebacker (Missouri)
31.Joel Bitonio, tackle/guard/center (Nevada)
32.Cody Latimer, wide receiver (Indiana) 


Johnny:
1.Jadeveon Clowney, defensive end (South Carolina)
2.Greg Robinson, tackle (Auburn)
3.Khalil Mack, defensive end/outside linebacker (Buffalo)
4.Sammy Watkins, wide receiver (Clemson)
5.Mike Evans, wide receiver (Texas A&M)
6.Jake Matthews, tackle (Texas A&M)
7.Taylor Lewan, tackle (Michigan)
8.Blake Bortles, quarterback (Central Florida)
9.Zack Martin, tackle (Notre Dame)
10.HaHa Clinton-Dix, safety (Alabama)
11.Anthony Barr, outside linebacker (UCLA)
12.Aaron Donald, defensive tackle (Pittsburgh)
13.Justin Gilbert, cornerback (Oklahoma State)
14.Darqueze Dennard, cornerback (Michigan State)
15.Timmy Jernigan, defensive tackle (Florida State)
16.Kony Ealy, defensive end (Missouri)
17.Ryan Shaizer, outside/insidelinebacker (Ohio State)
18.Odell Beckham Jr., wide receiver (LSU)
19.Morgan Moses, tackle (Virginia)
20.Teddy Bridgewater, quarterback (Louisville)
21.Jimmie Ward, safety (Northern Illinois)
22.Kyle Fuller, cornerback (Virginia Tech)
23.Brandin Cooks, wide receiver (Oregon State)
24.Jason Verrett, cornerback (TCU)
25.Ra'Shede Hageman, defensive tackle/end (Minnesota)
26.Johnny Manziel, quarterback (Texas A&M)
27.DeMarcus Lawrence, outside linebacker (Boise State)
28.Marqise Lee, wide receiver (USC)
29.Derek Carr, quarterback (Fresno State)
30.Cody Latimer, wide receiver (Indiana)
31.C.J. Mosley, inside linebacker (Alabama)
32.Xavier Su'a-Filo, guard (UCLA)

Steve:
1.Jadeveon Clowney, defensive end (South Carolina)
2.Taylor Lewan, tackle (Michigan)
3.Sammy Watkins, wide receiver (Clemson)
4.Khalil Mack, outside linebacker/defensive end (Buffalo)
5.Greg Robinson, tackle (Auburn)
6.Jake Matthews, tackle (Texas A&M)
7.Mike Evans, wide receiver (Texas A&M)
8.Blake Bortles, quarterback (Central Florida)
9.Eric Ebron, tight end (North Carolina)
10.Justin Gilbert, cornerback (Oklahoma State)
11.Anthony Barr, outside linebacker (UCLA)
12.Zack Martin, tackle/guard (Notre Dame)
13.Johnny Manziel, quarterback (Texas A&M)
14.Aaron Donald, defensive tackle (Pittsburgh)
15.Bradley Roby, cornerback (Ohio State)
16.Timmy Jernigan, defensive tackle (Florida State)
17.HaHa Clinton-Dix, safety (Alabama)
18.Calvin Pryor, safety (Louisville)
19.C.J. Mosley, inside linebacker (Alabama)
20.Derek Carr, quarterback (Fresno State)
21.Ryan Shaizer, outside linebacker (Ohio State)
22.Odell Beckham Jr., wide receiver (LSU)
23.Brandin Cooks, wide receiver (Oregon State)
24.Jason Verrett, cornerback (TCU)
25.Kyle Fuller, cornerback (Virginia Tech)
26.Teddy Bridgewater, quarterback (Louisville)
27.Marqise Lee, wide receiver (USC)
28.Xavier Su'a-Filo, guard (UCLA)
29.Louis Nix III, defensive tackle (Notre Dame)
30.Kony Ealy, defensive end/outside linebacker (Missouri)
31.Darqueze Dennard, cornerback (Michigan State)
32.Cody Latimer, wide receiver (Indiana)

2014 NFL Mock Draft 5.0 (Updated 5/8, Draft Day)

1.Houston Texans: Jadeveon Clowney, defensive end (South Carolina)
With the all the hype around Jadeveon Clowney going into this draft, he kind of has to be the first pick in the draft. Clowney is an absolute freak atheetically and someone with his skill set at defensive end doesn't come around often. Whether it be Houston or someone else holding the pick, it would be an absolute shock if Clowney wasn't selected number one overall.

2.St.Louis Rams: Greg Robinson, tackle (Auburn)
I had Jake Matthews penciled into this slot for a long time due to his family connections with Rams head coach Jeff Fisher, but I'm now starting to believe that they will take Greg Robinson with this pick. Robinson reminds me of 2013 top five pick Lane Johnson with his freakish athleticism for his size (6'5, 320 pounds) and polish as a blocker in both the running and passing game. Robinson would be a perfect match alongside talented veteran Jake Long at tackle and bolster the Rams offensive line immensely.

3.Jacksonville Jaguars: Khalil Mack, outside linebacker/defensive end (Buffalo)
The Jaguars selection at number three starts off the most intriguing section of the first round in my opinion. Their pick and the two that follow them (Browns at four and Raiders at five) will dictate the tone of the rest of the first round as all three of them have a lot of needs and players they could feasibly draft  in the top five with elite talent. Personally, I think the Jaguars are going defense with this pick because of head coach Gus Bradley's previous tenure as defensive coordinator in Seattle. The best defensive player available at this juncture is Khalil Mack and, I think he'll pay dividends for this team. The Jaguars are desperate for a playmaker on the defensive side of the ball and Mack provides just that. He is an absolutely explosive edge-rusher, plays the run well and can even drop back a bit in coverage when called upon. I actually have Mack rated above Jadeveon Clowney because he is a more well-rounded player with a higher motor and stronger work ethic. Mack is the type of defensive phenom that Bradley has been looking for since he took over as head coach and should be able to instantly turn around this paltry Jaguars defense.

4.Cleveland Browns: Johnny Manziel, quarterback (Texas A&M)
There are a lot more sensible picks to pick at number 4 than Johnny Manziel, but I have a sneaking suspicion the Browns are going to select him anyways. Manziel is a flashy pick that will garner a lot of excitement and attention for a franchise that hasn't had a lot of either in recent years.

5.Oakland Raiders: Sammy Watkins, wide receiver (Clemson)
The Raiders are desperate for an impact player at a skill position with the jobs of head coach Dennis Allen and general manager Reggie McKenzie on the line. Wide receiver Sammy Watkins would be just what the doctor ordered. Watkins is a great intermediate route-runner with sneaky speed and rare playmaking ability. If anyone is going to bail out the Raiders offense in 2014, it's going to be Watkins.

6.Atlanta Falcons: Taylor Lewan, tackle (Michigan)
If you watched the Falcons play at all last season, you know that Matt Ryan had essentially no time to check his reads before threw the ball. Luckily for the Falcons, there is lot of top-level talent at tackle available in this draft that could help fix that problem. Taylor Lewan has been rapidly rising up draft boards since his character issues checked out and rightfully so, he's a powerful, technically-sound tackle that has the potential to be one of the best blind-side protectors in the league. Lewan would be a huge upgrade for the Falcons o-line and could ended up being a crucial piece for the Falcons as they look to get back into the playoff hunt after a disastrous 4-12 campaign in 2013.

7.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mike Evans, wide receiver (Texas A&M)
I thought the Buccaneers needed Mike Evans before they traded Mike Williams. Now that Williams is a Buffalo Bill, they really need Evans. Evans is the type of imposing physical presence that gives secondaries fits. Put him alongside another big bruiser in Vincent Jackson and the results could be deadly. Evans could be the piece that sends the already much-improved Buccaneers over-the-top and into a serious contender.

8.Minnesota Vikings: Blake Bortles, quarterback (Central Florida)

New Vikings coach Mike Zimmer is a defensive guru and surely the plethora of intriguing defensive prospects in this draft class is grabbing his attention. That being said, the Vikings top need is a quarterback and I think Zimmer will go against his inkling for defense to select the best available signal-caller. Blake Bortles is the most polished quarterback in this draft class with his combination of arm strength, intelligence and surprising amount of mobility; making him the perfect fit for a Vikings squad that desperately needs someone besides Matt Cassel or Christian Ponder under center in 2014.

9.Buffalo Bills: Jake Matthews, tackle (Texas A&M)

Jake Matthews has kind of got lost in the shuffle amongst the top tackle prospects since Taylor Lewan's recent stock surge. The relative lack of attention of late for Matthews should cause him to slip a little bit; which is great news for the Bills picking at number nine. Matthews started all four years at Texas A&M and was never anything less than rock-solid in all areas of the game. Matthews is easily a top-5 talent, so the Bills would be getting a serious steal here.

10.Detroit Lions: Anthony Barr, outside linebacker (UCLA)

Secondary is clearly the top need for the Lions, but their front office has a lot of faith in the development of 2013 second round pick Darius Slay to emerge as a top corner, so I think they'll go in a different direction at number 10. They desperately need another pass-rusher alongside Ziggy Ansah and, I think Anthony Barr could help them out a lot. Barr is a bit raw since he's only played linebacker for a couple of years now, but his upside is sky-high, and The Lions aren't afraid to take a chance on a guy who could become a premier edge-rusher in the NFL (see Ansah in 2013, who proved to be worth the gamble with a very solid rookie campaign).

11.Tennessee Titans: Justin Gilbert, cornerback (Oklahoma State)

The Titans lost an absolute stud at corner this offseason in Alterraun Verner. Justin Gilbert has the cover skills and knack for creating turnovers that should reduce some of the sting of Verner's departure for the Titans.

12.New York Giants: Zack Martin, tackle/guard (Notre Dame)

Top offensive lineman are at a premium in this draft with so many teams having gaping holes in their offensive line. Few teams are more desperate for o-line help than the Giants, who were abysmal across the board in 2013 and lost veteran tackle David Diehl to retirement this offseason. Zack Martin is a very intriguing prospect with his versatility to lineup anywhere on the line and fantastic durability. Martin would be a great piece to have alongside free-agent additions Geoff Schwartz and J.D. Walton in the Giants overhauled offensive line.

13.St. Louis Rams: HaHa Clinton-Dix, safety (Alabama)

If the Rams want to contend in the stacked NFC West, they need more playmakers on defense. HaHa Clinton-Dix not only fills a need at safety for the Rams, but brings a dynamic presence to back-end of the defense with his range, coverage skills and ability to dole out bone-crushing hits.

14.Chicago Bears: Aaron Donald, defensive tackle (Pittsburgh)
The Bears have a lot of needs on defense going into this draft, but none is of higher precedence than defensive tackle. The 2013 Bears rushing defense was amongst the worst I've ever seen and a lot of that has to do with the lack of quality interior defensive lineman disrupting the line of scrimmage. Because of this need, I think Aaron Donald is a no-brainer pick for the Bears at number 14. Donald may be a bit undersized (6'1, 285 lbs) for a defensive tackle, but he makes for up it with elite speed (he ran the fastest 40 for a defensive tackle in the history of the Combine with a time of 4.68) and power. Donald's knack for exploding off-the-line and stopping the run is exactly what the Bears defense needs to get back on the right track in 2014.  

15.Pittsburgh Steelers: Darqueze Dennard, cornerback (Michigan State)
In order for the Steelers talented but seasoned defense to avoid a full-on collapse a la the 2013 Bears, they need to start getting younger on defense now. With longtime reliable starter Ike Taylor showing signs of wear in 2013, cornerback Darqueze Dennard would be the perfect place to start. Dennard fits the traditional Steelers mold of toughness with his physical play and exceptional tackling ability for a corner. Dennard's ability to create turnovers would also be a welcome addition to a Steelers team that has had trouble taking the ball away the past few years.
 

16.Dallas Cowboys: Kony Ealy, defensive end/outside linebacker (Missouri)
The Cowboys defense is so broken right now that it would be silly for them to use this pick on anything else. Their defensive line especially took a hit this offseason with the loss of Jason Hatcher and DeMarcus Ware. With needs at both defensive tackle and end, I expect them to take the best available defensive lineman with this pick- and that man is Kony Ealy. Ealy is not the most polished edge-rusher right now because of his relative lack of power , but he's got solid quickness and instincts to make up for it. Even the potential for Ealy to become a star is more than enough to justify the Cowboys selecting him with this pick.

17.Baltimore Ravens: Calvin Pryor, safety (Louisville)
The Ravens did just draft Matt Elam in the first round last year, but with the departure of James Ihedbigo in free agency, the Ravens have a hole to fill at safety. Calvin Pryor would give the Ravens an enforcer safety with solid coverage skills that the team hasn't had since Ed Reed was in his prime. I'm sure Ozzie Newsome will consider other avenues at this pick (offensive line, wide receiver, tight end), but he won't be able to pass on an elite safety prospect that has the tools to be one of the game's best.

18.New York Jets: Eric Ebron, tight end (North Carolina)
Rex Ryan could very well go defense yet again here with the Jets having a huge need for a corner after letting go of Antoinio Cromartie this past offseason. While Ryan loves to pick defense early, the depressing performance of his receivers last year should force him to get a top-flight prospect to add to second-year quarterback Geno Smith's arsenal. Eric Ebron is perhaps the most promising tight end prospect since Vernon Davis with his excellent hands and dynamic playmaking ability. Ebron's stock has fallen a bit over concerns about his personality, but that shouldn't really alarm a team like the Jets. Getting Ebron this late in the first round would be a massive success for the Jets, who need an impact vertical threat more than any other team in the 2014 draft.
 

19.Miami Dolphins: C.J. Mosley, inside linebacker (Alabama)
With all the top-rated offensive lineman gone by the time they pick (in this mock at least), the Dolphins have to go in a different direction. C.J. Mosley is easily a top 10 level talent, but concerns over his injury history will knock him right into the Dolphins lap at 19.

20.Arizona Cardinals: Derek Carr, quarterback (Fresno State)
With all the top pass-rushers off-the-board, the Cardinals decide to go with their quarterback of the future. Derek Carr has shot up draft boards since the Combine thanks to his incredible accuracy, great arm, quick release and decent mobility. Give him a year or two to hone his craft behind Carson Palmer and I think Carr will blossom into something really special.
  

21.Green Bay Packers: Ra'Shede Hageman, defensive tackle/end (Minnesota)
The Packers need a lot of help in the middle of their defensive line. B.J. Raji's play has been awful of late and they don't have anyone currently on the roster to take his place if he continues to decline. Ra'Shede Hageman is a big body with a whole lot of power and the versatility to be bounced to the outside of the line in certain packages. Even with his off-the-field problems, Hageman is worth the gamble as the Packers nose tackle of the future.

22.Philadelphia Eagles: Brandin Cooks, wide receiver (Oregon State)
Unless you've been purposely avoiding NFL media over the past couple months, you know that the Eagles released their number one wideout DeSean Jackson in late March. On the current roster, there's really no receiver that can live up to Jackson's role of speedster wideout. Enter Brandin Cooks. While Cooks isn't the exact same player as Jackson, he has the combination of speed and excellent hands that make him an ideal player to thrive in Chip Kelly's offense.
 

23.Kansas City Chiefs: Odell Beckham Jr., wide receiver (LSU)
I seem to be the only person that doesn't Odell Beckham Jr. will be a top 15 pick. I honestly think Beckham Jr. will be available for the Chiefs at number 23. Beckham thrives in running intermediate routes and has excellent vision after the catch, making him the perfect fit for the Chiefs' conservative offense.
  

24.Cincinnati Bengals: Kyle Fuller, cornerback (Virginia Tech)
The Bengals don't have a whole lot of problems on either side of the ball, but they could use another cornerback alongside Leon Hall to sure up the secondary. Kyle Fuller is a durable, well-rounded corner that would do just that.

25.San Diego Chargers: Bradley Roby, cornerback (Ohio State)
The only really weakness to the 2013 Chargers was their god awful secondary play, especially at the cornerback position. For a team that lacked physicality and talent at corner last year, Bradley Roby would be a godsend. Roby is a quick, tough corner with all the physical tools to be a number one corner in the NFL.

26.Cleveland Browns: Marqise Lee, wide receiver (USC)
The Browns are hungry for more offensive weapons to put alongside Josh Gordon and Jordan Cameron to help get them out of the basement. Marqise Lee-who was once considered a top 10 talent- has the quickness and route-running skills to be something special. Lee is certainly not a sure thing with his shaky hands and average size/strength, but the Browns front office isn't afraid to take risks, so Lee makes a whole lot of sense at this point in the draft.
 

27.New Orleans Saints: Jason Verrett, cornerback (TCU)
The Saints are kind of strapped for a number two corner after cutting ties with Jabari Greer to get under the salary cap prior to the start of free agency. Jason Verrett would be a nice compliment to Keenan Lewis with strong physicality for his relatively small size (5'9', 172 lbs) and outstanding ball skills. Verrett would also be the sole corner picked in the first round that has the benefit of having a future hall-of-famer (Champ Bailey) as a mentor.

28.Carolina Panthers: Cyrus Kouandjio, tackle (Alabama)
It's pretty much a toss-up as to whether or not the Panthers will select a wide receiver or offensive lineman with this pick. With the sheer depth at wide receiver in this draft class, offensive lineman seems to be the more sensible pick here. Cyrus Kouandjio has major health concerns coming off a major knee injury and a failed physical at the Combine. Kouandjio also wasn't exactly the epitome of consistency at Alabama, but with his huge upside and utter dominance at times, The Panthers will be willing to roll the dice on him as the successor to Jordan Gross.
 

29.New England Patriots: Louis Nix III, nose tackle (Notre Dame)
Chances are slim that the Patriots actually keep this pick, but if they do Louis Nix III is the selection they should make. Vince Wilfork is getting up there in age (will be 33 in November) and they need to draft his understudy now. Nix is the perfect fit for this system and if he can work at staying in shape all the time, Nix should end being a similar force as Big Vince in New England.
  

30.San Francisco 49ers: Cody Latimer, wide receiver (Indiana)
The 49ers have 10 picks in this draft, so it would be far from a shocker if they traded up to get a more coveted player in the top 15 or so. If they stay put at 30, fast-rising Indiana wideout Cody Latimer should be their selection. Jim Harbaugh had Latimer run plays from their playbook after his pro day and Latimer's combination of size, agility and speed make him an ideal number three wideout for the 49ers.

31.Denver Broncos: Ryan Shaizer, outside/inside linebacker (Ohio State)
After the Broncos major free agency haul, there really isn't many holes they need to address in the draft. Ryan Shaizer is an extreme athletic linebacking prospect that the Broncos could consider playing at inside linebacker to replace Wesley Woodyard, who left the team in free agency this offseason. If inside linebacker doesn't work out, Shaizer's top-flight speed and ability to cover the field would still be a nice asset for the Broncos to have as an outside linebacker option.

32.Seattle Seahawks: Joel Bitonio, tackle/guard/center (Nevada)
The Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks only real need in this draft is offensive line. Joel Bitonio is not the most talented player left on the board, but his ability to play all five positions on the offensive line makes him an excellent fit for the defending champs who value versatility over everything else.

Round 2
33.Houston Texans: Jimmy Garoppolo, quarterback (Eastern Illinois)
34.Washington Redskins: Morgan Moses, tackle (Virginia) 
35.Cleveland Browns: Carlos Hyde, running back (Ohio State)
36.Oakland Raiders: Timmy Jernigan, defensive tackle (Florida State)
37.Atlanta Falcons: Jeremiah Attaochu, defensive end/outside linebacker (Georgia Tech)
38.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Xavier Su'a-Filo, guard (UCLA)
39.Jacksonville Jaguars: Teddy Bridgewater, quarterback (Louisville)
40.Minnesota Vikings: DeMarcus Lawerence, defensive end/outside linebacker (Boise State)
41.Buffalo Bills: Jace Amaro, tight end (Texas Tech)
42.Tennessee Titans: Jeremy Hill, running back (LSU)
43.New York Giants: Stephon Tuitt, defensive end (Notre Dame)
44.St.Louis Rams: Stanley Jean-Baptiste, cornerback (Nebraska)
45.Detroit Lions: Kelvin Benjamin, wide receiver (Florida State)
46.Pittsburgh Steelers: Allen Robinson, wide receiver (Penn State)
47.Dallas Cowboys: Dominique Easley, defensive tackle (Florida)
48.Baltimore Ravens: Scott Crichton, defensive end (Oregon State)
49.New York Jets: Marcus Roberson, cornerback (Florida)
50.Miami Dolphins: Ja'Wuan James, tackle (Tennessee)
51.Chicago Bears: Pierre Desir, cornerback (Lindenwood)
52.Arizona Cardinals: Kyle Van Noy, outside linebacker (BYU)
53.Green Bay Packers: Jimmie Ward, safety (Northern Illinois)
54.Philadelphia Eagles: Deone Buccannon, safety (Washington State)
55.Cincinnati Bengals: Dee Ford, defensive end/outside linebacker (Auburn)
56.San Francisco 49ers: LaMarcus Joyner, cornerback/safety (Florida State)
57.San Diego Chargers: Trent Murphy, outside linebacker/defensive end (Stanford)
58.New Orleans Saints: Marcus Martin, center (USC)
59.Indianapolis Colts: Weston Richburg, center (Colorado State)
60.Carolina Panthers: Jordan Matthews, wide receiver (Vanderbilt)
61.San Francisco 49ers: Ego Ferguson, defensive tackle (LSU)
62.New England Patriots: A.J. McCarron, quarterback (Alabama)
63.Denver Broncos: Bashaud Breeland, cornerback (Clemson)
64.Seattle Seahawks: Davante Adams, wide receiver (Fresno State)     

10 Most Anticipated Films of Summer 2014

The summer movie season officially kicked off with the release of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 this past Friday. Here are the 10 films on the docket for this summer that I'm most excited to see.

10.Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (7/11): Rise of the Planet of the Apes was a pleasant surprise back in 2011 and the follow-up look just as promising. The premise of a film mostly driven by the apes led by Ceaser (motion-captured and voiced by the remarkable Andy Serkis),and their continued evolution as a species that has led them to become the most powerful beings in the world sounds very intriguing.

9.Jupiter Ascending (7/18): I'd be lying if I said I fully understood the premise of Jupiter Ascending from the trailers, but it looks cool as hell so I guess it's a moot point. The Wachowskis look to be back in sc-fi visionary mode, which is refreshing after their recent string of flops. Even if the film ends up disappointing, it should at least be fun to see how much of the film Sean Bean can make it through before meeting his inevitable demise. 

8.Neighbors (5/9): To be honest, I'll see anything with Seth Rogen in it, but Neighbors looks like it could be one of his upper-echelon films. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from South by Southwest in March paired with the genius premise of a fraternity moving next door to a young family gives Neighbors a whole lot of potential to be a piece of comic gold. 

7.Guardians of the Galaxy (8/1): Resident Hollywood weirdo James Gunn (Super, Slither) gets the reigns to the weirdest group of superheroes (Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel voice a gun-toting raccoon and giant tree respectively) in the Marvel universe with Guardians of the Galaxy. If the teaser trailer is any indicator, the good times are going to roll.
   
6.Godzilla (5/16): Godzilla is arguably the most hyped movie of the entire summer. The trailers have pulled off quite a feat by capturing a strong aura of dread without showing much of the titular monster. If this doesn't blow the doors off of Roland Emmerich's 1998 reboot, I'll be beside myself.

5.A Million Ways to Die in the West (5/30): Seth MacFarlane's second entry into the world of cinema look to be even stronger than the first (2012's Ted) as he brings his vulgar, twisted humor to the Old West. The sheer strength of the redband trailer and a cast including Charlize Theron, Neil Patrick Harris, Giovanni Ribsi, Liam Nesson and MacFarlane himself all but assures comedic brilliance from A Million Ways to Die in the West.

4.22 Jump Street (6/13): The sequel to the wildly hysterical 21 Jump Street retains much of the same cast and looks to maintain the same playful tone that made its predecessor so successful. If 22 Jump Street can manage to get anywhere close to as many laughs as the first installment, It's got a good shot of being the funniest film of 2014.

3.The Expendables 3 (8/15): Sylvester Stallone has called the latest entry in his all-star action franchise "bigger and better than ever". With the likes of Wesley Snipes, Mel Gibson and Harrison Ford joining an already stacked cast, and the monumental improvement this series showed from the first to second installment, I can fully believe Stallone's sentiments.
  
2.X-Men: Days of Future Past (5/23): X-Men: Days of Future Past is essentially the X-Men answer to The Avengers. Days of Future Past combines the cast of the original trilogy with the cast of the 2011 prequel First Class for a time-jumping mutant extravaganza. The film also sees such fan favorite mutants Bishop, Warpath and Quicksilver making their long-awaited debut in the X-Men film universe. In my eyes, X-Men: Days of Future Past has all the makings to be the blockbuster event of the summer.

1.Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (8/22): Sin City: A Dame to Kill For is a film that I've been waiting to come out for almost a decade. The sequel to Sin City was announced shortly after the original was released in 2005 and after enduring countless delays, I sincerely didn't even believe it was a real project. Now that a trailer is out and the August release date appears to be firmed up, the dream of a Sin City sequel coming out seems to be coming true. Sin City: A Dame to Kill For features a majority of the (living) original cast returning as well as top Hollywood talents including Josh Brolin, Joesph Gordon-Levitt and Eva Green entering the fold. I can't remember the last time I was this excited for a movie to come out and I really hope Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller don't drop the ball after all this time.

Also Interested In:
Chef (5/9)
Million Dollar Arm (5/16)
Edge of Tomorrow (6/6) 
The Rover (6/13)
The Signal (6/13)
Snowpiercer (6/27)
They Came Together (6/27)
Transformers: Age of Extinction (6/27)
Tammy (7/2)
The Purge: Anarchy (7/18)
Happy Christmas (7/25)
Hercules (7/25)
Magic in the Moonlight (7/25)
Sex Tape (7/25)
Get on Up (8/1)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (8/8)
Lucy (8/8)
The Giver (8/15)