The Intersphere - Hold On, Liberty!

Sure, their influences are easy to spot, but that doesn't mean this isn't some damn fine pop/hard rock hybrid tunage.For me, the appeal of bands like [classic] U2 and Coldplay (read: classic U2) are the wide soundscapes they create, replete with energetic, melodic rhythms, and the soulful wailing of relatable (and sometimes surreal) lyrical themes about the struggle of the human condition. The Intersphere builds on this foundation by adding a nice quasi-punk sheen to it all that energizes the formula without reminding me of every other current era band out there. I guess I'm finally considered old. Time for me to start wearing a sweater all the time and start complaining about the young'ns ("how can you kids listen to that noise?!").

Part of the charm of Hold On, Liberty! is its undeniably fresh vibe, due largely to having recorded the album live in the studio over the course of just a week (you read that right). In a musical paradigm that favors Pro Tools skills as much as the ability to do a windmill on your Les Paul, its encouraging to hear that there's a growing push (e.g., Opeth's Mikael Åkerfeldt) to go back to basics and make a freakin' album like they used to: write your songs, play them 'til you know them backwards and forwards, mic yourself up in the studio, and hit the record button.

The title track, and the Alien Ant Farm-ish groove of Sleeping God really make for some great music to have on while I'm working and need a little productivity boost without the need for a full on mosh at my standing desk (hey, nothing gets you coding like Testament).

The Bottom Line: Very few bands are coming out with a totally new sound that takes the world by storm. But this doesn't mean that there's nothing worth listening to out there. The Intersphere's second CD makes for a nice blend of Coldplay and Opeth for those needing a little more pop to their heavy music.

Standout Tracks: Sleeping God, Masquerade, and Over

- Genghis digs this old school recording resurgence...

Night Crawlers

Sure there are a lot of vampire movies out there, but this one follows the Shaun of the Dead template and injects some welcome humor into a pretty good movie.In the style of horror/comedy flicks like Shaun of the Dead, Night Crawlers offers a tale of the dead raising havoc - only this time it's vampires instead of zombies. The story centers around two misfits that fall into the position of making some quick cash by stealing some scrolls from an abandoned house, thinking that this is their way to break out of the small Texas town they live in, and on to bigger and better things. Little do they know they are stealing from the town vampire, and that the scroll is the key to immortality in the light, making it highly sought after by other vamps - though without the help of humans, it's unattainable.

The movie was entertaining if a bit goofy in parts, but what would you expect from a B-rated horror/comedy? And while I dug the movie, I thought it lacked in the special effect department, as they got a little less effective the more the movie went on (they must have spent their buget and had to improvise at some point). Also, towards the end of the flick the story starts to get a little cheesy and drag in places - but thank goodness that wasn't enough to kill it.  The comedic angle definitely saved this flick for me, as it was much more funny than scary.  Worth a view when all the good stuff is out at the video store.

The Bottom Line: Classic story of how boy saves the world and gets the girl. A fairly solid B-rated horror film that keeps you entertained throughout, thanks to some comedy, with the exception of some slow parts near the end.

- Ragman would have liked a little more gore with this one...

Styx - The Grand Illusion/Pieces of Eight Live (Blu-ray)

Following in the latest trend of bands performing their greatest albums in their entirety, the boys of Styx have made a fine concert flick.Over the last few years many classic bands have gone on tour playing their classic albums in their entirety.  Priest did it with British Steel a few years back and Def Leppard did it with High and Dry, but neither band has done two classic albums back to back until Styx.  In 2010 Styx went on tour playing 2 of their biggest albums, The Grand Illusion and Pieces of Eight, in their entirety and it is now available on DVD and Blu-ray.  It is bold for a band to go out and play a classic album, but to do 2 back to back, is unheard of.  The Grand Illusion/Pieces of Eight tour is a rare moment that may not be repeated again, thank goodness it was released on this memorable DVD.

This is a solid show showing Styx at the top of their game.  Usually, an undertaking like this, would be career suicide, unless the original members are still in tact.  Yeah the faces have changed, but the band still sounds awesome.  Gowan does a nice job sitting in for the long departed Dennis Deyoung.   The only two original members left in the band are James Young and Tommy Shaw, but for this live show, the guys brought back original bassist Chuck Panozzo, which was a treat.  Too bad they are still at odds with Deyoung, because that would had made for an awesome performance.  That being said, the current band kicks ass and the original guys weren't missed, unless you are looking for nostalgia.  The show is shot as a film and not as a video.  The picture is crisp and the sound is dead on.  A solid watch from start to finish.  Nice to see the band can still kick it this good live.

Bottom Line: Styx pushing the envelope by playing two classic albums back to back.  The band execute them with ease and put on a hell of a show.  Let's all be thankful there was not Mr. Roboto.

-Ragman is thinking he might check out Styx, the next time they come through town.

Queen - Days of Our Lives (Blu-ray)

If you're wondering how this amazing documentary does with the story of Queen. Hey, it's a kind of magic.Queen is, and will always be one of the best hard rock bands of all time.  Yeah, they had some off periods, but who hasn't.  They are one of those seminal bands that have shaped the music we listen to today.  As you all know, I'm a huge rock doc guy, and when one comes that blows me away, I will get on my soap box and scream to the heavens as to how awesome it is.  The latest rock doc to catch my eye is the very in depth Queen - Days of Our Lives documentary.  Originally aired on the BBC in a two part series, it is now available on Blu-ray and DVD. 

Days of Our Lives is a very comprehensive look at the band that is Queen.  The DVD takes you from the beginning, when the band formed, all the way through to the Paul Rogers era.  There is tons of great concert and archived footage of the band through their existence, with the late great Freddy Mercury.  There is lot of archived interviews, mixed in with current interviews with Roger Taylor and Brian May.  As many core Queen fans know, original bassist John Deacon, has retired since the death of Freddy Mercury, for the most part, only appearing with band twice since Mercury's passing in 1991.  This is a great DVD which dives deep into the band and gives you the full scoop.  And if that isn't enough there are some great bonus features.  If you love or even like Queen, this is a must.

Bottom Line:  An in depth look at one of the great hard rock bands ever.  A must for any Queen fan.

-Ragman was blown away by this doc.

Podcast #133: Tattoo

The erstwhile Aussies of Strange Karma have been hitting the West Coast hard for a while now, and it's starting to pay off with some buzz.How geeked are you that VH is back? "A lot!" Maybe, but will they be able to keep things going? Join Genghis and Ragman as they talk about Van Halen’s upcoming CD, A Different Kind of Truth, and the subsequent tour. The boys also take you through some of their favorite Van Halen tunes as well as what they think of the first single, Tattoo. Next, the boys go down under for their interview with Strange Karma guitarist, Paul Strange, who discusses the band’s debut CD and the challenges of breaking out of Australia. HORNS UP!

DVD of the Show: Van Halen - Live in Buenos Aries

Beer of the Show: Traditional Blond Ale (Omer.)
	Presentation: 3.0 Alcohol: 3.5 Taste: 3.5 Drinkability: 3.5 Overall: 3.5	"You just gotta love those Belgian style ales, and this one does a nice job of being light, but offering a wealth of complexity. Nice work, Omer."

Featured Tracks: Van Halen - Hear About it Later, House of Pain, Little Guitars, Where Have All the Good Times Gone; AC/DC - Ride On; ZZ Top - Brown Sugar; Van Halen - Poundcake, Outta love again, Best of Both Worlds; White Lion - Wait; Winger - Seventeen; Van Halen - Tattoo, Dirty Movies; Strange Karma - Time, Down and Out, America, Indian Sun, and Harder than a Stone

Classic of the Show: Roxy Blue - Rob the Cradle

Ragman Pick of the Show: Steel Panther - Just Like Tiger Woods

Genghis Pick of the Show: Van Halen - Somebody Get Me a Doctor

- Ragman is biding his time until Tuesday (time will tell if it's worth it)...

Podcast #133: Tattoo