Anywhere USA

Not bad for an independent movie, but the trend of loosely interconnected story lines just doesn't work for me.Anywhere USA is a movie that involves three separate plot lines which are loosely connected to one another.  Not sure why Hollywood continues to intertwine stories this way seeing as how it rarely seems to work.  I believe most films with this format would work much better separated into 3 shorts - but I digress.  

The first story involves a couple wherein the woman beats the man once a week for pleasure (at least I think), until she finds out he has cheated on her, at which point she throws him out.  This is the best story of the 3 because it comes off very comical.  She then hooks up with a new guy online.  The fun comes in when her ex-boyfriend and his friend come to the conclusion that her new beau is a representative from Al-Qaeda.  Good stuff.  The next story is about a little girl coming of age and discovering that the tooth fairy doesn't exist.  This story is more dramatic and brings things down after the strong comedic start of the movie.  The last story is about an upper class man who realizes he doesn't know any black people.  At first glance this storyline could be funny, but unfortunately the filmmaker takes a dramatic route rather than playing on the potential humor of this scenario.

All in all not a bad movie.  For a low budget independent film, this movie looks highly professional.  One rip I have is that I think they should've kept more of a comedic vibe throughout the movie.  Another thing that bothered me about this film, is that the stories didn't really mix too well with one another.  There was no real connection.  But the thing that saved this movie for me was the first story; it definitely had some classic moments.

Bottom Line: An artsy fartsy film, with a bit of an edge.  Three loosely connected stories that mix comedy with drama.  Not a bad watch, but not sure when it will hit the player again.

- Ragman is jonesing for the Hangover 2...

The Metal Minute #2

Genghis is back with the second installment of snarky newsmanship known as The Metal Minute.  In this episode:

• Vinnie Vincent tries to dance all over his wife's your face.
• The crew of the Space Shuttle Endeavor gets a morning Rush on Victoria Day.
• You get to peep the CD releases for the week of May 24, 2011.

- Genghis is finally starting to get the hang of recording and editing this shebang (if only the equipment would cooperate)...

The Metal Minute #1

In this edition of [the return of] The Metal Minute for the week of May 17, 2011: 

• Def Leppard is making a lullaby album of their greatest hits.  Oh, good.
• The Vegan Black Metal Chef seems at odds with the principals of black metal.
• Album releases for the week of May 17, 2011, because Facebook said so.

- Genghis is actually going to enjoy making this segment (be on time? maybe not so much)...

Podcast #120: Awarded

Can James Rivera rock some black duds or what? That's old school style, people!We all know the the Grammys are a joke as well as the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame.  Who decides who should get an award and does metal have a place in the award community (hell, yes!)?  Over the past couple of years metal rags like Hammer and Revolver have started their respective tributes (e.g. Golden Gods) - and it's about time.  Join Genghis and Ragman as they disect this year's nominations as well as giving their own.  Next, the boys round up local favorite James Rivera from Helstar for a one on one as he discusses their recent reunion and their latest offering, Glory of Chaos.

DVD of the Show: Megadeth - Rust in Peace Live

Beer of the Show: The Right To Rock's Double Dick Ale  Beer Rating: 3

Guest Soundmen: Justin and Charlie

Featured Tracks: Black Veil Brides - We Stitch These Wound; Megadeth - Good Mourning Black Friday; Gary Moore - Empty Rooms; Children of Bodom - Blooddrunk; Avenged Sevenfold - Buried Alive; Ozzy Ozbourne - Diggin’ Me Down; Black Label Society - Southern Dissolution; Accept - The Abyss; Helstar - Detroyer, Dark Queen, Pandemonium, Summer of Hate, Trinity of Heresy & Run With The Pack

Classic of the Show: Black Sabbath - Ancient Warrior

Ragman’s Pick of the Week:  Farewell to Freeway - Afterlife Lottery

Genghis’ Pick of the Week:  I Mother Earth - Not Quite Sonic

- Ragman is bringing the thunder...

Podcast #120: Awarded

Star One - Victims of the Modern Age

Star One is another one of those all star projects that is driven by Arjen Lucassen.  It is a project that is full of progressive and powerful/epic music.  As with most of these types of projects the musicianship is top notch and the songs are well written.  Lucassen has been doing this awhile and has perfected the format to a "T".  Arjen and his many friends have recently released their 2nd CD Victims Of The Modern Age, which is heavier and darker than its predecessor. Star One’s debut, Space Metal, was bit blusier while Victims take it up a notch.

As with all of Arjen's projects, he has assembled a line up of vocalist that would make his mom proud. This guy must have one hell of an address book.  Victims features the following vocalist:  Floor Jansen (ex-After Forever), Damien Wilson (Threshold), Russell Allen (Symphony X) and Dan Swäno (Edge of Sanity, Nightingale).

Victims begins with Down the Rabbit Hole which is keyboard instrumental, which then leads right into the track Digital Rain. Digital is a killer up-tempo track which features Allen and Wilson in a vocal dual.  The song is catchy and well written.  The next track Earth That Was is fueled by a slow heavy riff, full of balls and chunk.  It is a more straightforward and heavier track, than its predecessor, which is complemented by a really strong melodic chorus.  This CD is not much different than what you would typically get from Lucassen.  Progressive songs full of melody, executed by some of the best in the biz.

Bottom Line:  A melodic progressive CD full of strong song songs that will stay with you.  All in all a solid release from start to finish.

Standout Tracks: Earth That Was, Victims of the Modern Age, Human See, Human Do, 24 Hrs.

-Ragman will get caught up one of these days.