freethinker25
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For those who have already watched this week’s Game of Thrones episode 19 ‘Blackwater’(Season 2 Episode 9), we can all agree that, finally, we have reached the moment we’ve all been waiting for… gore and blood party! graawr! This is probably one of the best bloodfest so far offered by the show, and most importantly, quite an epic introduction of what (
Filed under: Bastard Review, English, Music | Tags: Andre 3000, Converse, Gorillaz
The Gorillaz have done it again with an amazing music video concept that just makes your jaws drop in awe. Collaborating with LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy and Andre 3000 of Outkast for the track “DoYaThing”, This Converse-commissioned video surely introduces a new dimension with such explicit detail of making these fiction band members as real life characters. Not only that, as usual the band always provides their fans with a labyrinth of eye-candy gimmicks and clues Gorillaz History that your keen eyes must pay extra attention. For example, their house address at 212 Wobble Street, London, SW21 JQJ must be a key code for a door that is not yet revealed. Other than that, guest artist Andre 3000 is restyled as a Rorschach-like character of Alan Moore’s “Watchmen.”
If you haven’t got a copy of the song, you can download it right here at the Official Converse website. (reviewbastard)
The sixth full-length studio album by the almighty latin-influenced progressive rock band The Mars Volta is scheduled for release a month from today (I literally counted) on March 27th, 2012. Titled ‘Noctourniquet’, practically most of the instrumentation materials was actually already recorded in 2009, but ongoing arguments between vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zaval and guitarist Omar Rodríguez-López halted the album from being completed for its initial release schedule.
To demonstrate a little taste of what’s to come, the band released the album’s first single “The Malkin Jewel” on February 14th. Although the song does have quite an impressive eerie carnival-like reggae groove to it, but Cedric’s alternating sizzling croon and raging snarls is moderately stale compared to his reputational vocal ability, and overall, the song progression is a bit repetitive. Fortunately, Omar’s spasmodic crunchy rhythm and drummer Deantoni Parks’s arcane percussion accommodates the grandeur edge it needs, and for a group like Mars Volta known for their explicit concept approach, one song can’t be used as a measurement of the real direction the band is taking for the album. Especially within this song, after minute 3:00 the song becomes fairly interesting with its psychotropic discord, a distinguished trait of this particular band (reviewbastard)
Say what you will about Deftones frontman Chino Moreno – whether it be scrutinizing his vocals as whiny (say what?) or physically mocking his chubbiness (well, its true) – but the man and his band have served loyal fans by all their might and magic with a distinguished sound that cannot be imitated or simply generalized with a generic stylistic stereotype … other than “this is effin def-rock!“
Despite his success with his core band, Moreno remains hard at work on songs for his side project ‘†††’( pronounced ‘Crosses’) with Far guitarist Shaun Lopez. Although their first EP released on mid-2011 did not receive much spectacle from the general music scene, but fans of his previous project ‘Team Sleep’ did appreciate and admire Chino’s alter passion for a more laid back ambient with sophisticated sonic vibe. Late January 2012, Chino and Shaun issued their second EP dubbed ‘EP ††’.
For fans of Deftones, it is exactly the same as what you thought about the Team Sleep project; it’s very un-metal. It would be a waste of time comparing this side project with whatever idealistic idea you have about Chino Moreno in Deftones. But for those who can appreciate Moreno beyond the aggressive providence of Deftones piquancy – that is his fluidly resonating and soothing vocal work which is just too sexy and hypnotizing for metal in the first place – the latest ††† EP is definitely a remarkable gem worthy to be played and listened over and over and over. (reviewbastard
Most countries that have been – or are still – savagely tormented with the horrors of dictatorship would probably agree that other than the chief tyrant himself… the dictator’s son could be the first worst nightmare a country must endure. ‘The Devil’s Double’, directed by Lee Tamahori, tells the story of the perverse brutality in Iraq under Saddam Hussein’s Ba’ath regime who has given full reign of unlimited power to the vile and deranged eldest son, Uday Hussein. Loosely adapted from a questionable autobiography of the same title, it is depicted from the viewpoint and experiences of Latif Yahia, a veteran of the Iran-Iraq war who was chosen to be the Uday’s double for public appearances that is reckon as target for would-be assassins.
Although the movie itself does not really convey any new portrayal beyond that we know of about the conditions of Iraq under the control of Saddam, and there isn’t any original touch on the concept of Doppelganger, but the entirety of the movie is quite fairly entertaining, all due to the extraordinary and convincing dual performance by the British actor Dominic Cooper as Uday Hussein dan Latif Yahia. Previously played mostly as second-string leading men, Dominic was able to portray in one frame scene as both the sadistic always-intoxicated rapist Uday and the reluctant Latif who is slowly enjoying the luxurious lifestyle of the Hussein heir.
Unfortunately, the movie was based on a book which the truth itself is questioned by many. In addition to that, director Tamahori and screenwriter Michael Thomas admit that many aspects of the movie was changed and fictionalized for the purpose of making a more interesting tale. Hence, the movie then only serves as a purpose of merely fictional entertainment and not intended as a historical portrayal. Worst come to worst, it could also be interpreted as a propaganda to justify negative opinions towards Iraq. But overall, “The Devil’s Double” is quite an engaging movie of sadistic cruelty, violence, drugs, and sex taking set in a contradicting place , but sadly, did not fully executed to its full potential. (reviewbastard)
