Massive Attack's Heligoland Is A Place You'll Want To Visit

By Alessa Valentin

It's been seven years since the release of 100^th Window, the last studio album from British Trip-Hop pioneers, Massive Attack. With an impressive career spanning more than twenty two years, the former trio and current duo has not been one to recycle the same material with each of their four previous albums. Massive Attack is all about experimentation and risk taking which has resulted in a varied and unique catalog. Despite their ever changing musical style, the band's fifth album, Heligoland, manages to keep the mood and sex appeal that has kept fans coming back for the last two decades.

After working on 100^th Window alone, Robert “3D” Del Naja is once again joined by original member, Grant “Daddy G” Marshall. Though Massive Attack in its current state is definitely Del Naja and Marshall's brainchild, the band has always favored guest vocals and collaborations with other artists. Heligoland is no exception with guest spots from the likes of Tunde Adebimpe of TV On The Radio fame, Damon Albarn from Blur and Gorillaz, Hope Sandoval of The Warm Inventions and Mazzy Star and Guy Garvey of Elbow. Martina Topley-Bird, known for her solo work as a singer-songwriter as well as her work with Tricky, also makes an appearance, as does Massive Attack's favorite reggae singer, Horace Andy.

It's never an easy task to know what to expect from a band like Massive Attack. With their last three albums, they've moved from the super chill sounds of Protection to the harder and heavier sound of Mezzanine to the cold, sample-less style of 100^th Window. Despite their propensity to change in delivery, the band's work is always dark, sexy and atmospheric. With Massive Attack, you are truly seeing the work of two artists whose medium is sound. They know how to design mood with their instruments which makes it hard to not get sucked into their music. Heligoland is lush, dark, sexy and atmospheric like the rest of their work but is back to the more jazzy sound that was missing on 100^th Window.

With an album like Heligoland, it's not at all a hard task to find a standout track. “Babel” doesn't try hard to be cool but does so seemingly effortless. It's laid back and smooth with a bit of bite to it while Martina Topley-Bird's soft, almost childlike voice adds wonderfully to the texture and intense mood of the track. “Flat of the Blade” is by far, the creepiest track on the album but with Massive Attack, that's always a good thing. Guy Garvey's vocals are hypnotic and haunting while he sings, “I'm not good in a crowd/I got skills I can't speak of/Things I've seen will chase me to the grave.” Hope Sandoval's hushed, soothing vocals on “Paradise Circus” combined with it's sexy, relaxed sound make for another incredible track off of the album. The bass and drums are slinky against Sandoval's breathy words, “Love is like a sing, my love/For the ones that feel it the most.” The drum and guitar work of “Saturday Come Slow” is wrought with emotion and feeling, melts into Damon Albarn's thoughtful and unique vocals while he begs the question, “Do you love me?” It seems fairly safe to say that the answer will be yes for both existing fans as well as newcomers.

Though all in all, Heligoland is a fantastic album, the beginning can get a little rough initially. The album opener “Pray For Rain” features vocals from Tunde Adebimpe. It moves from it's piano heavy, gloomy and sparse beginning into a more tribal sounding section with much more emphasis on drums into a dreamy, synth driven breakdown and back to the beginning again. Though the drum and synth powered parts of the song are incredibly interesting and quite lovely, the piano powered parts can come off as a bit plain and repetitive in comparison. “Girl I Love You” is dreamy with its sparkling chimes and generally beautiful but there are a few breakdowns involving horns that can really try your patience with their intentional off-key cacophony. Horace Andy's vocals are always incredible though and if you can look past or fast forward through the painful bits, you are rewarded with a great track. Neither of the low points on the album are truly awful songs but rather could have been absolutely spectacular with minor changes to them. In fact after the first few listens, it might be easier to overlook the hard bits than it was at the start.

Heligoland is an incredibly interesting album that is definitely worth a listen and worth a purchase. It hits a great blend of the dreamy, dark, moodiness that Massive Attack fans know and love while adding in a few breaths of fresh air and inventiveness. With standout tracks like “Babel”, “Flat of the Blade”, “Paradise Circus” and “Saturday Come Slow”, the album is rich in its textures and sounds. The mark of a truly good album, though there aren't that low points present, even they have a great deal of artistic value and merit. Each of them could have easily been standout tracks in their own right had a few minor changes or omissions had been made. Though it took us seven years to get here, Massive Attack has created yet another gorgeous sound landscape with Heligoland and it's a place that both existing fans and newcomers will all be eager to visit.

This article was originally published in and edited by The Brooklyn College Excelsior and was re-edited for my blog.

The Wolfman: A Universal Monster of a Disappointment

By Alessa Valentin

Though not the first movie (and definitely not the last) to bring lycanthropy to the big screen, Curt Siodmak and George Waggner's 1941 movie, The Wolf Man, has definitely been one of the most well known and well loved movies on the subject. With considerable popularity on its initial release combined with an already large but steadily growing number of fans nearly seventy years later, it is safe to say that the original Universal monster got it right the first time.

Unfortunately today's movie industry has lost its ability to leave well enough alone. Constantly wishing to cash in on remakes of the original movies of yesteryear, they've started recycling titles left and right. Clearly, with such a large amount of existing fans, The Wolf Man seemed like a great candidate for a movie makeover. And while many of those same fans were highly anticipating the 2010 release of the Joe Johnston directed remake, The Wolfman, many of those fans will be sorely disappointed with what they have been given.

The Wolfman stars Benicio del Toro as Lawrence Talbot, an actor living in America who returns to his estranged family's house in England upon hearing of his brother Ben's disappearance. His father, Sir John Talbot played by Anthony Hopkins, welcomes Lawrence home and informs him that his brother's body had already been found, torn up in a ditch. After meeting Ben's heartbroken fiancé, Emily Blunt as Gwen Conliffe, he resolves to not rest until he discovers what killed his brother. His quest for the truth leads him to become the very monster that sits at the center of the mystery and towards the love that may save him from the curse.

At first glance, this movie seems to have all the ingredients necessary for a great remake. You've got an interesting storyline to use as a blueprint, an extremely talented cast that includes the likes of Anthony Hopkins, Benicio del Toro and Hugo Weaving, a score by Danny Elfman and special effects that far surpass the yak hair covered, lap dissolve days of 1941. So where did this movie go wrong?

One of the major issues with the movie is its lack of character development. We don't get to know that much about any of the main characters aside from dialogue that tries desperately to throw in little facts to help curb our curiosity. Because of this, it makes it incredibly difficult to care all that much about anybody onscreen. If you can't make the audience care about the main people in the story, then you might not even bother telling the story at all, no matter how interesting or strong the rest of it might be. Sadly the rest of The Wolfman's storyline doesn't even begin to make up for the weakness in its characters.

While they certainly tried to add their own unique twists to the original storyline, the majority of the changes they made were not big or bold enough in order to be truly effective. It's more like they made a series of swaps for the roles of this character and that character with those swaps being incredibly predictable and formulaic. There seemed to have been little to no thinking about how they could expand on the legend of Wolf Man and where they did, they didn’t push the ideas far enough to make them a focal point of the movie.

As the remake of a classic horror film that was probably truly horrifying to the audience of its day, the movie doesn't succeed in what should be its main objective: terrifying viewers. That being said, it doesn't seem to really accomplish any of the goals it sets out for itself. While it has hints of romance, drama and horror intertwined, it doesn't take any of them far enough to elicit a reaction from the audience. It's not at all scary enough to shock, not dramatic enough to get a gasp and not romantic enough to summon tears. This, combined with the aforementioned lack of consistent character and plot development transforms the entire 102 minutes of the movie into one giant moment of, “Yeah, so?” It seems that we spend more time waiting for something to happen, rather than actually seeing something happen. There simply isn't enough action and movement within the movie and what is there seems lackluster, poorly executed and repetitive.

To top it all off, there is nothing particularly aesthetically pleasing or at all memorable about the movie. The movie doesn't have its own unique visual style and there are very few truly memorable images. It looks like any other period piece would, holding nothing unique or interesting to help us suspend our disbelief and bring us into a world where Wolfman could exist. There's not a real sense of madness, complete horror or magic to any of the film's shots or set design which gives the movie a handicap in expressing any of these feelings to the audience. Just like a painter works to create a feeling of depth and mood in their artwork, the director should have paid more attention to these aspects when creating the world of The Wolfman.

Sadly, it seems that the studio and the director were more interested in making a simple, play it safe remake, rather than creating an artistic film based on the 1941 classic. Had the plot been given a little more innovation, had nearly every aspect of the film been kicked up a notch and had there been more attention paid to the overall artistry in terms of set design, plot and creating a world within, this movie could have been a beautiful homage to Lon Chaney Jr.'s original Wolf Man. Instead, this adaptation of the beloved Universal monster is totally uninspired and totally unworthy of a movie ticket. Sad to say, The Wolfman is all bark and no bite.

This article was originally published in and edited by The Brooklyn College Excelsior and was re-edited for my blog.

The Alternate Route to Love: Offbeat Romantic Comedies to Make You Swoon During Any Season

By Alessa Valentine

For many girls, there's no better way to be unwind than with a romantic comedy that highlights the best parts of relationships while also helping you laugh at the more lacklustre ones. But when the big box office hits don't seem to blend in well with your outlook, it can be hard to find offbeat, quirky and cool indie romantic comedies. Never fear, we've got a few often overlooked indie movies that are just as sweet as their more mainstream counterparts. From the afterlife to the mental institution, we've picked out a few indie romantic comedies that take love to new and interesting heights.


Wristcutters: A Love Story
Directed by Goran Dukic
Starring Patrick Fugit, Shannyn Sossamon, Leslie Bibb and Eugene Hutz

Though undoubtedly not the most optimistic title for a romantic comedy, Wristcutters - A Love Story is surprisingly sweet and heartwarming. An adaptation of Etgar Keret's short story, "Kneller's Happy Campers", Wristcutters is set in a strange sort of afterlife specifically reserved for those who have committed suicide. It's a place where the people can't smile and the days are duller than they were on Earth.

After a bad breakup, a desperate young man named Zia takes his own life and finds himself in the afterlife. A few months later, Zia finds out that his girlfriend, Desiree, took her own life and has been looking for him ever since she got there. Zia and his friend Eugene set out on an epic journey to find Desiree and along the way, meet Mikal, a hitchhiker who says that she ended up in the afterlife by accident. The three go on in search and meet a host of other interesting characters including legendary singer Tom Waits as Kneller. Will Zia find Desiree and get her back or will he find something even more special that he had never even counted on?

The subject matter of this movie is obviously very dark and that goes for the humour too. If you can deal with the morbid nature of it throughout, you will be rewarded with a great love story that culminates in one of the sweetest endings you'll ever see. It'll not only serve to make you more appreciative of your honey, but also more appreciative of life itself.


Amelie
Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Starring Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz and Serge Merlin

Amelie is the story of a shy and reclusive young woman living in Paris. Kept inside for much of her childhood by neurotic parents, Amelie has grown to live inside of her head rather than in the real world. After finding an old time capsule and returning it to its original owner with fantastic results, Amelie decides that she is going to spend the rest of her life doing what she can to ensure the happiness of others.

This plan takes Amelie on a series of adventures, one of which leads her to a handsome man named Nino. After the two bump into each other at a train station, Amelie picks up a photo album that Nino accidentally left behind. She then begins staging elaborate but playful games that serve to intrigue and drawn Nino in. Will Amelie be able to come out of her shell and win the affections of Nino or will her reclusive nature work against her in getting what she wants?

This French film is full of memorable quirky whimsy. Since Amelie spends much of her time in her own head, we are treated to glimpses of her wonderfully wild imagination. And while Amelie's commitment to helping others is sweet in itself and oftentimes very comedic, the heart of the film is a beautiful message about taking chances for the things you really want in life and how a little bit of action can take us a long way, especially when it comes to love.


I'm A Cyborg, But That's Okay
Directed by Park Chan-wook
Starring Im Su-jeong and Rain

I'm A Cyborg, But That's Okay centres around Young-goon, a young woman who believes that she is not a human but a robot. After trying to "recharge" herself through electrocution and almost killing herself in the process, she is sent to a mental institution. While there, she meets another patient Il-Sun, a kleptomaniac who claims he can steal other people's talents, attributes or souls.

The two begin to develop a friendship that soon grows into something a little more complicated, to say the least. Can a relationship work between two people with so many of their own problems? Will true love help Young-goon and Il-Sun overcome them?

Utterly unique, this South Korean film (from the director of Oldboy and Lady Vengeance) is likely be the only romantic comedy that you will ever see set in a mental hospital. While the storyline mainly follows Young-goon and Il-Sun, we meet many other patients who all pitch in to create some incredibly hilarious moments throughout. The movie is guaranteed to have you laughing - but maybe it'll even help remind you that though we've all got our own issues and idiosyncrasies, love is one of the things that can help conquer it all.


Adam and Steve
Directed by Craig Chester
Starring Malcolm Gets, Craig Chester, Parker Posey and Chris Kattan

Adam And Steve is the story of two gay singles in New York City. Adam is a recovering drug addict and alcoholic that has spent too much time working on himself to have an active love life. Steve is Psychiatrist who uncovers other people's emotions by day while hiding his at night which leads to a very overactive love life. After a number of chance encounters, the two go out on a date and pursue a relationship, all the while feeling like they've known each other their whole lives.

While Adam and Steve's love blossoms, the two being to realize that the reason they feel like they've known each other their whole lives may date back to an embarrassing experience from their younger years. Will they be able to look past the past and move on together or does love between a Dazzle Dancer and a Goth never work out?

Whether you are straight, gay or in between, Adam and Steve is romantic comedy that everybody can enjoy. This movie is a perfect combination of great writing and great casting that together, create a hysterical and extremely relatable movie about the emotional baggage that can sometimes get in the way of true love, but only if we let it.


Lars and the Real Girl
Directed by Craig Gillespie
Starring Ryan Gosling, Kelli Garner, Emily Mortimer and Paul Schneider

Lars And The Real Girl is about Lars, a reclusive young man who finds it difficult to relate to and socialize with the people in his small town. Living with his brother and sister-in-law, Gus and Karin, Lars one day has an announcement to make: He met a girl over the Internet. Her name is Bianca and the two are starting a relationship. When Bianca arrives, however, she is not a real girl but rather an incredibly realistic doll that he ordered from a popular adult site.

Horrified, Gus and Karin rush Lars off to the doctor who says that Lars is delusional but must be given the time he needs to get over it on his own. She advises them to band together and go along with Lars and his delusion until he decides that he is ready to give it up. The town bands together and all try to make Lars and Bianca as comfortable as possible. But will Lars be able to get over the delusion that could be keeping him from a more real and longlasting love he may have overlooked?

Lars and the Real Girl is touching and funny in all the right places. The film is not only an example of adorable romantic love but also a moving tribute to the bond between family and community. It's a story about accepting the flaws and failings of those around you and still loving them despite it all.


Paper Heart
Directed by Nicholas Jasenovec
Starring Charlyne Yi, Michael Cera and Nicholas Jasenovec

Paper Heart is a curious blend of documentary and romantic comedy surrounding Charlyne Yi, a comedian and actress who doesn't believe in love. She maintains that she has never been in love, doesn't really understand the concept of it and is unsure of its existence, at least for her. In order to help her understanding of the subject, Charlyne travels across America to interview people that would like to prove her wrong.

Along her way she meets fellow actor, Michael Cera, who pursues Charlyne despite her pessimistic view on relationships. After persistent effort, the two form a bond that may be just the kind of instruction on love that Charlyne needs, but will her cynical side take over and ruin her chance of learning?

The way the film blends interviews with real life people with the fake (though incredibly believable) relationship between Charlyne and Michael, which is a near-unique stortelling format that really works here. Many of the interviews have beautiful little stories that will uplift and amuse you, especially with their hilarious but adorable paper doll re-enactments. And if that's not enough, the soundtrack includes an incredibly sweet original song that Charlyne writes for Michael called "Magic Perfume". Overall, the movie is a great blend of realism and fantasy that carries a fine message about not being afraid of your feelings and taking a gamble on love.


Saved!
Directed by Brian Dannelly
Starring Jena Malone, Mandy Moore, Macaulay Culkin and Patrick Fugit

Saved! is the story of Mary, the picture-perfect Christian girl who seems to have everything going for her. She attends a Christian high school where she has popular and devout friends like Hillary Faye and even has a very handsome, very religious boyfriend named Dean. But Mary's Christian life is turned upside down when she learns that her boyfriend Dean might actually be gay. Determined to help bring him back to a "righteous" and straight path, Mary tries to do everything in her power to "cure" him. When nothing seems to be working, a desperate Mary decides to give up her virginity and have sex with Dean, thinking that this is exactly what will help him.

Unfortunately, this move leaves Mary pregnant while Dean is shipped off to a "degayification" retreat by his parents. Mary soon begins to question everything in her life and is pushed away by the intolerance of Hillary Faye and her cronies. Soon, Mary is ostracized from her former pals and instead befriends Cassandra, a wild Jewish girl attending her Christian highschool and Roland, Hillary Faye's paralyzed brother. She even meets Patrick, the religious, liberal, and very cute skateboarder son of her school's principal. It's with this band of "misfits" that Mary finds true friendship and maybe even true love.

The film is witty with a slight, biting satirical edge directed towards religion. If you are a religious alternative girl that is willing to take a joke, the movie can still be enjoyable and heartwarming despite it having views that may differ from your own. Saved! is a wonderful tale of tolerance and how the undying support and love from family, friends, and partners can help you overcome even the scariest of situations. Even more, it's a lovely reminder that sometimes the most important people to care about are those that wouldn't change you to fit their own image.


Zack and Miri Make A Porno
Directed by Kevin Smith
Starring Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Craig Robinson and Jason Mewes

Zack and Miri have been best friends forever. They live together. They drive to work together. Zack even helps Miri pick out what she should wear when she they go to their high school reunion together. It seems like the only thing they haven't done together is have sex.

But when times get rough and Zack and Miri are threatened with the idea of getting evicted, the two hatch a plot to write, direct and star in their own porno. Enlisting the help of various friends, the two believe that their platonic friendship won't be affected by sexual relations. Fortunately for them, things don't usually go the way we plan and there may be more between the two than they had ever thought.

Zack and Miri Make A Porno was directed by Kevin Smith, who also made Dogma, Chasing Amy and Clerks. So you know what you're getting - wisdom and human tenderness wrapped up in a whole lot of cheek.

Zack And Miri Make A Porno is incredibly raunchy, hugely amusing and delightfully sweet. Due to the very dirty humour and generally graphic sexual nature of most of the film, it's definitely not for the faint of heart. But if you're able to sit through the naughty bits, you're rewarded with a great movie about falling in love with the person you never thought you would - which turns out to be the person that knows you the best. Plus, you'll get to see the most romantic scene involving a toilet ever. Thanks, Mr. Smith.


Saving Face
Directed by Alice Wu
Starring Michelle Krusiec, Joan Chen and Lynn Chen

Wil is a successful Chinese American surgeon living in Manhattan who arrives home one day to discover that not only is her widowed mother pregnant but she's moving in. Since her mother is not married, she's been thrown out of her own parents' house in Queens. But Wil's got some of her own secrets as well and her mother's arrival isn't helping to make things any easier.

As it turns out, Wil is a lesbian that's falling for Vivian, the dancer daughter of the boss at the hospital she works at. Her mother is unaware of this, though it becomes increasingly hard to keep it that way. Knowing that the only way to get her mother out of her apartment and back with her grandparents, Wil tries to marry off her mother. Will she be able to help Ma find the man of her dreams? And will Wil be able to make it work with the woman of hers?

Saving Face is a story of forbidden loves wrapped into one extremely funny package. Though there is a lot of emphasis on Chinese culture, the very traditional nature of the family is something that many people can appreciate and relate to, regardless of their heritage. Wil, Vivian and Ma's abilities to overcome the cultural taboos that threaten their happiness become a refreshing reminder that your love for someone is never something you should be ashamed of, no matter what anybody else tells you.


Garden State
Directed by Zach Braff
Starring Zach Braff, Natalie Portman and Peter Sarsgaard

In Garden State, one of the most well known and well loved alternative romantic comedies, Andrew Largeman is a mildly successful yet troubled young actor who returns home upon the death of his mother. He returns home to mourn the loss of his mother, which turns out to be even more complicated than one might think.

Due to an unfortunate childhood incident that had serious repercussions for the entire family, Andrew has spent the last nine years away from home. In order to help Andrew cope with the event, his psychiatrist father has prescribed him pills that have numbed the pain but also made Andrew feel disconnected with his emotions and with the world around him. In the midst of all this, Andrew meets Sam: a beautiful free spirit whose reckless courage and zest for life is infectious. Can Sam help Andrew reconnect with himself and see the beauty in life or is he destined to miss out on it all?

Garden State is cool and laid back with a killer soundtrack (Iron and Wine, the Shins etc.). The chemistry between Andrew and Sam seems natural and sweet with some killer dialogue between the two. It's funny, touching and best of all, subtle. The characters have a quiet love that doesn't call for gigantic gestures of love or words of devotion being shouted across rooftops in order for it to seem beautiful. The way that the pair interact seems to tell it all without them really having to say a thing. It's an inspiring story about how somebody can change your life when you least expect it and how true love can help turn you into the better person you've always wanted to be.

So whether you're single or taken, gay or straight, mushy to your core or more on the cynical side, there's no need to wait until Valentine's Day to indulge in some comedy-sprinkled romance. With these wonderfully weird indie movie picks, you'll be glad you stayed in.

This article was originally posted on and edited by Mookychick and was re-edited for my blog.

Brody Dalle Writes A "Prescription for Mankind" With Spinnerette

By Alessa Valentine

History shows us that artists tend to work in periods, becoming obsessed with one style or one technique, creating works that adhere to their desired format. Once they've sufficiently explored their obsession, they move forward, searching to experiment with something else in the favour of challenging themselves, reinventing themselves. Picasso had his Blue Period, his Rose Period before moving into Cubism. Former punk rock queen Brody Dalle is no exception to this rule.

Dalle spent eight years as frontwoman of The Distillers, writing songs with both hard grit and sickening beauty. Thousands of The Distillers fans were horrified when they heard about the band calling it quits in 2006. Some were even more horrified when Ms. Dalle announced that she was starting a new project -- one that would be very much different from the punk tunes that they were used to.

Working under the moniker Spinnerette and collaborating with formed Distillers bandmate Tony Bevilacqua, Alain Johannes of Queens of the Stone Age and Jack Irons (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Eleven and Pearl Jam), Dalle has adopted a fresh, new musical style on the self-titled debut album, Spinnerette. While Dale's new music may alienate some diehard fans, it's one that will surely win her quite a few new ones.

The album kick starts with "Ghetto Love", a delicate balance between a funkiness that forces you to move your hips with its drum work and the hard rocking that will keep you banging your head with its guitar work. On hearing this opening track, hardcore Dalle fans should feel that in spite of this punk beauty softening her sound, she definitely hasn't lost her edge.





"All Babes Are Wolves" is a thrashing plea for forgiveness and a declaration of devotion all wrapped into one. Likening herself to a wolf "born on a bad moon", Dalle apologizes for her past mistakes while aiming to do better the next time if offered one more chance. Dalle moves from steady singing and then sky rockets to screams in a chorus of, "Oh babe, I would die for you, woah. Oh babe, I would never stray." If you've gotten into a tiff with your significant other, this just might be the rock anthem you need to win them back. Play it on a dark night under a bad moon and they'll love you forever.

Dalle is a woman that's suffered the sting of the Roman Godlike ambassador of love quite a few times and it shows on "Cupid". The track is a little more downtempo than those that precede it, mixing in a few unexpected chimes and tinkers with the guitar - a juxtaposition that further illustrates the theme of Cupid not being nearly as nice as we all wish he'd be. Deeply singing, "Cupid's a heartless angel with cruel composure," Dalle's words are poetic, but easy to relate to. When Dalle points out that Cupid doesn't "aim to please," they are words that we've all thought once or twice before.

"Geeking" is summer mischief's anthem. With lines like, "You and I got a reason to live. Now that I'm drunk, I don't know what is," it's easy to see why. It's equal parts rebel and feelgood with a hint of restlessness as Dalle sings, "Nowhere, going nowhere, going nowhere. Nowhere fast. Lightning fast." Wasting time has never sounded better.





The next track,"Baptized By Fire", was picked as one of the three singles released from the album. The track has a wonderful message to it with lines like, "Pick your heart up off the floor, hold it gently now and go to the place you were meant to know." It has somewhat introspective, slower verses and a more upbeat, dance-oriented feel which helps bring to life the message of redemption, even after years of pain.

"A Spectral Suspension" is a haunting lullaby with steady drums and guitar work that explode at the chorus. The track speaks volumes of desperation and guilt as Brody scream-sings, "I've gone mad, kissed insane. Where do you go when you leave this place? I've made my bed. Don't have to lie in it." It's ethereal and slightly gothic in its dark but delicate and dreamy vibe. It's easy to feel the influence of Johannes' work with Queens of the Stone Age in its composition, while Dalle's voice and lyrical stylings help to make the sound all her own.

"Distorting A Code" is the second song from the Ghetto Love EP that made it onto the album (the first being the EP's title track) and for good reason. Dalle wonders dreamily on the track, "How do I find my back home?" Later on in the track, the music moves into a frantic breakdown only to find its way back to its softer pace in the end, working beautifully with the idea of finding your way back home through difficult situations.

"Sex Bomb" and "The Impaler" are two of the more diverse tracks off the album. Both tracks sound like a rocker's way of approaching world music which makes for an unexpected but highly enjoyable pair of tracks. "Sex Bomb" takes a sexier approach as Dalle pleads, "Be my daddy, love you only. No other daddy can tell me what to do." Though the usage of nickname can seem a bit creepy to some, all in all the track is raunchy good danceable fun. "The Impaler" drops a little bit of the sexy and opts for scary as Dalle sings, "I'll take your head off tonight, Vlad Impaler style." It's a track that will get you pumped for any of your own battles.

"Driving Song" is a rocking lament that hits you in the heart as Dalle asks, "If all the love in this world isn't enough, where do you go, who do you trust?" At its core, the track is about having to leave behind somebody that you once loved. A bad breakup or a falling out with a friend is a truly shaking moment that most will do anything to avoid. Dalle captures the essence of that awful period after it doesn't work out and serves it up in a way that won't have you running for the tissue box.

"Rebellious Palpitations" is loud, good fun. With talk of cheap sex and excessive drinking, the song lives up to its title and then some. It bursts into life like a bat out of hell and keeps on rocking all the way through. This track was made to be blasted from a convertible while driving seventy miles an hour down a desert highway.

"The Walking Dead" has a title that will deceive you. No, it's not an ode to everybody's favourite undead creatures, the zombies. The track's aim is to make you think about how you live your own life. "I won't believe in dying to live," Dalle sings as you can feel the sincerity in her words. It's a fabulous track that will help you think about how you deal with the daily grind and rat race that so many seem to get trapped in.

"A Prescription for Mankind" is the album's closer and it's eight minutes of the sexiest rock and roll you'll hear from any modern band. It ends the album on a high note and will leave have you wanting to get your prescription refilled over and over.

It's difficult to find an album anywhere else that will contain such raw emotion, tackling a host of tough topics with such expert songwriting while still remaining as uptempo and catchy as Spinnerette manages to be. Between the rocking beats and the relatable circumstances of each track, every song begs to be put on repeat and it'll be difficult to stop yourself from answering that plea. Instead of opting to do The Distillers 2.0 after the split, Dalle took a risk and developed a new sound that has definitely paid off. Though Dalle's new sound may turn off some of her old fans, the band's debut self-titled album is brilliant in its own right - infusing Dalle's edge with a more playful, less intense sound that is sure to bring Brody Dalle to a whole new audience.

This article was originally posted on and edited by Mookychick and was re-edited for my blog.

The Dead Weather Create A Monster Of An Album With Horehound

By Alessa Valentine

Take a whisk of rock, a syrup spoon of country and a sprinkle of The Kills and The Raconteurs and what do you get? The Dead Weather. But can they live up to their supergroup status?

From Broken Social Scene to Heaven and Hell to Audioslave, we're getting supergroup bands comprised solely of well-known musicians. The word "supergroup" has larger than life connotations, so it's time to see if The Dead Weather can live up to the promise.

The Dead Weather is the latest band to test their hand at supergroup success with their debut album, Horehound. Formed in Nashville, Tennessee and comprised of Alison Mosshart, Jack White, Jack Lawrence and Dean Fertita, The Dead Weather is bringing together musicians from some of the most talented bands in music today. Mixing members of The Kills, The White Stripes, The Raconteurs, The Greenhornes and Queens of the Stone Age respectively, The Dead Weather's lineup alone makes it the quintessential supergroup of our time.

As the debut album of a band that's generated a substantial buzz since forming earlier this year, Horehound could have easily failed to live up to the hype created by both fans and critics alike. Fortunately, The Dead Weather manages to soar above and beyond anybody's expectations.

Instead of starting the album off with a bang, The Dead Weather opts for a more subtle, bluesy buildup with "60 Feet Tall". The track introduces us to itself with a simple but intriguing little tune that builds both suspense and anxiety as to where The Dead Weather plan on taking us for the individual track and the album as a whole. After sufficiently teasing the listener, the song moves into a brief pinch of feedback before it settles into a funky minimalist sound - that gets shattered towards the end of the track when The Dead Weather finally builds up to the big bang we were expecting. Crashing drums mingle with soulful guitar work that envelops your ears and will have you begging the band for more. This is an excellent track to lead into their debut album as it proves that this group has a killer set of skills but makes sure that the audience knows they're only getting started.

Punchier than "60 Feet Tall", the lyrics to "Hang You Up From The Heavens" deal with the uncertainty surrounding a decision to leave someone who isn't the best choice for them. The song is fuelled by anger rather than cliched sorrow and lament - there's no Debbie Downer, Negative Nancy approach to weigh the album down. This is a funky, hard-rocking and oddly empowering track that might even help some fans to make a few decisions of their own.





"I Cut Like A Buffalo" adds organ to the band's already eclectic funk, country and rock influences to give the track an off-kilter carnival feel. The use of instruments like organs, violins, accordions and even banjos in rock music could scream "gimmick" but the song manages to feel cool, modern and effortlessly light on its feet in spite of its vintage edge.

Slowing down just a bit for "So Far From Your Weapon", the tracks starts off with a much more subdued Mosshart singing, "There's a bullet in my pocket burning a hole." As the song builds into the chorus, backing vocals add emphasis to Mosshart's soft but seemingly sinister statements. The track has a beautiful ambiance to it, ripe with darkly addictive moodiness.





"Treat Me Like Your Mother" is the first single off of the album and does a good job encapsulating the sound of The Dead Weather. It's loud and in your face with a definite quirk and edge. The track's highest point is a deliciously frenzied breakdown midway as White and Mosshart scream-spell, "M-a-n-i-p-ulate." The video for the single, directed by Jonathan Glazer, features the pair in a gunfight to the death. The concept works well with the confrontational tone of the track, and it has a strangely modern western feel that mirrors the "old but new" signature sound crafted by the band.

With the next track, "Rocking Horse", the band creates a sultry sound that will have you wanting to sway your hips and scream out "Cowabunga." It sounds like a bad girl/boy surfer's theme song and thus it's the perfect track to blast while you drive through the hot summer air on your way to the beach.

"New Pony" is an incredible cover of the Bob Dylan original that rocks hard. I once heard that bad artists imitate, while the good ones steal. This is most definitely The Dead Weather's case as they truly stole Dylan's track and made it their own. The band's twisted vision, heavy sound and sonic mastery combine with Dylan's provocative lyrics to make for a stellar cover that does not disappoint - which is just as well, as there are a lot of fiercely protective Dylan fans out there.

"Bone House" features Ms. Mosshart proudly letting her listeners know that she always gets what she wants. With lyrics like "I put your heart in a vault, that's how I get the things I want," this track is an anthem for the femme fatales of the world. If you're one of those wonderfully bad women, you couldn't ask for a sexier, more evil-sounding track to relate to.

The only instrumental on the album, "3 Birds", sounds like classic fifties horror movie music for the new millenium. The absence of words isn't a hindrance - it truly allows the listener to hear all of the intricacies present in this track and the rest of the album without the beautiful distraction of lyrics. "3 Birds" will definitely make sure that you get to grips with the incredibly complex and odd yet totally harmonious sound that the band works together to create.

"No Hassle Night" is one of three tracks that were released as downloadable content for the ever-popular Rock Band video game. The drumming moves from fast and hard to a slow, steady pace and back into quick bursts of faster beats that keeps the song interesting and should make for some fun gamplay in the game.

The last track off of the album, "Will There Be Enough Water?", is slow, smooth and gorgeous example of the heavy music heritage that the band has been influenced by from its birthplace in Tennessee. The strong Southern flavours hold true to what country and folk are all about - soul and emotion.

Where living up to supergroup status might be hard for other bands, The Dead Weather makes it look incredibly easy. Mosshart, White, Fertita and Lawrence work together incredibly well, and treat the listeners with a sound that is fresh, raw and rocking all the way through. Horehound takes the attitude of rock, the palpable emotion of country and the sound of each of their previous bands to create a powerful sound that has earned them the moniker of supergroup in more ways than one.

This article was originally posted on and edited by Mookychick and was re-edited for my blog.

Paramore Talks Risk, Religion, Relationships and Success on Brand New Eyes

By Alessa Valentine

Since the release of 2005's All We Know Is Falling, the members of Paramore have been hard at work carving a name for themselves into the pop punk scene of today. Formed in 2004 in Tennessee, the band has spent the last four years and three albums making sure that they reach their goal and so far, so good. From the big hit that made them a household name, "Misery Business" (off their second album, Riot!), to their work on the ever popular Twilight soundtrack with "Decode", the band already has a formidable number of hits on their hands and with their latest album, they're looking to add some more to the list.

With Hayley Williams on lead vocals, Josh Farro on lead guitar, Zac Farro on drums, Jeremy Davis on bass and new addition, Taylor York on rhythm guitar, the band has yet again created a deliciously catchy brand of pop punk that stands out from that of their peers. With Brand New Eyes, the band has matured as musicians with better playing, stronger vocals and deeper lyrics.

"Careful" and "Feeling Sorry" blend some advice in between crunching guitar. "You can't be too careful anymore when all that is waiting for you won't come any closer; you've got to reach a little more," sings Williams in the catchy call to action that is "Careful". As the opening song of the album, it hints at the risks that the band's new album aims to take. According to "Feeling Sorry", Williams doesn't have any time for sympathy. She's moving forward, away from the people in her past that chose to play it safe and make all the wrong decisions. She sings, "I tried not to think of what might happen when your reality, it finally cuts through. Well, as for me, I got out and I'm on the road; the worst part is that this, this could be you." It's a pop rock reminder that if you want a big life, you need to take the big actions necessary to get there. Worked out well for these five, didn't it?

"Ignorance", the first single off the album, channels Canadian punk rock band Billy Talent with a sound that is loud, energetic, rebellious and has attitude to spare. In this track, Williams fires back at those she's parted ways with in the past with lots of rage and little to no regrets. It's an infectious song that gets you in fight mode.

With songs like "Playing God" and "Turn It Off", Williams seems to be questioning the very things she used to believe in. Lyrics like, "Next time you point a finger, I might have to bend it back or break it, break it off. Next time you point a finger, I'll point you to a mirror," and "I scraped my knees when I was praying and found a demon in my safest haven" seem to highlight her frustration with the religion she once held so dear. "Playing God" seems to express her views regarding the hypocrisy of some fundamentalists who are quick to judge others while engaging in behaviour less than holy themselves. "Turn It Off" is a more personal account of what losing her faith has left her feeling. It's a stance that is sure to alienate some of the band's more devout fans but it's a brave move that pays off, creating moody, beautifully thought-provoking songs that will get people thinking a bit more about exactly what it is that they believe in.





Williams seeks to attack the fairy tales of old with "Brick By Boring Brick". It's a pop song with a slight feminist edge about refusing to believe in the old stories of Prince Charming saving the helpless Princess. "Go get your shovel and we'll dig a deep hole to bury the castle, bury the castle," Williams sings loudly. It's a refreshing and empowering track for the young girls that listen to the band and look up to Williams.





With "The Only Exception", the band crafts a cynic's love song. Having believed that love was a hoax for years, Williams now thinks differently after find "the only exception" to her romantic rules. Its honesty and light airy feeling make it a dreamy track that can soften even the hardest skeptic's edges and will have you feeling lovesick in no time.

"Looking Up" lets the music world know plainly that Paramore is just getting started on their journey and they are definitely not giving up without a fight. "It's not a dream anymore, it's worth fighting for," Williams sings. "Where The Lines Overlap" follows alone the same lines with lyrics like, "No one is as lucky as us, we're not at the end but, oh, we already won." The band clearly has a lot to be thankful for and a lot more ambition for the future.

"Misguided Ghosts" is hauntingly gorgeous, soft and sorrowful with some great acoustic guitar work and a beautiful little melody that will get stuck in your head all day. This sounds a lot more like a female-fronted Kings of Convenience than classic Paramore. It's a different sound for sure, but it's one that definitely does suit them and a risk that pays off, as this track is easily the best off of the album.

The closer, "All I Wanted", has Williams feeling a little bit wistful. "I could follow you to the beginning just to relive the start." Its verses are slow while the chorus gets louder and more frenzied like pent up frustration finally let out. When the chorus builds, she treats us to some intense vocals, with a scream envied even by hair metal bands.

All in all, Brand New Eyes is a great album from a band that is pushing itself artistically with every new release, a rarity for most bands considered to be in the realm of pop music today. They have grown more, adding better musicianship along with mature lyrics that cover difficult topics and give them a clear point of view as a band. Whether they are talking about more intense topics like religion, relationships - romantic or otherwise - or about taking the necessary risks to get where you want to be and getting the sweet success you deserve, Paramore packs their latest album with some of the most infectious pop punk tunes you'll hear and will keep you coming back for more. Brand New Eyes makes it clear that Paramore is here to stay and that little truth should give all fans a reason to rejoice.

This article was originally posted on and edited by Mookychick and was re-edited for my blog.

Big, Blue and Badass: A Review of Watchmen

By Alessa Valentine

In September of 1986, DC Comics released a series that would forever change the face of the comic book industry: Watchmen, one of the most well-known and well-loved comic books ever. Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons and John Higgins worked together as writer, artist and colourist to create this stunning, illustrated masterpiece. To to this day, Watchmen is one of the biggest-selling graphic novels of all time - and for once, biggest-selling really does mean best.

The twelve issue series told the story of an alternate United States in which the Americans had won the Vietnam War and were sitting dangerously close to nuclear war with the Soviet Union in the 1980s. In Moore's alternate history, superheroes fought crime freely and openly, with much support from the public and the government until 1977, when an act was passed to outlaw them. Any exceptions were either government sanctioned or operating against the law.

The story followed an investigation of one well known government hired superhero, The Comedian. As two fellow superheroes, Nite Owl II and Rorschach, learn more and more about the strange circumstances surrounding The Comedian's death, they uncover a disturbing plot that could end the threat of the nuclear war but only at the cost of millions of lives.

Since the series was such an incredible success, it's no surprise that there have many attempts to turn it into a feature film but none of them had been successful until 2005, when 300 director Zack Snyder was approached to direct the film. Snyder took on quite a challenge and succeeded in bringing the movie to the big screen. The 2009 release of Watchmen has given us a film adaptation that's a solid blend of authenticity and accessibility - a blend that should keep both newbies and diehard fans happy.

The movie is engrossing from the onset. I've heard more than one person say that the opening credits of Watchmen are among the best opening credits of any film, and I agree wholeheartedly. The choice of song for the opening credits as well as for many of the other key scenes in the film was brilliantly atmospheric and added much to the feel of the movie.

When adapting a comic book like Watchmen, dialogue is one of the most important parts to get right. Moore is one of the most critically-acclaimed writers in the industry and he filled his work with many well-known lines that are frequently quoted by die-hard fans. While one key portion of dialogue from the comic got a rather unfortunate makeover, the movie is on the whole, jam-packed with scenes and words ripped straight from the pages of the comics. The overall faithfulness to the text makes up for the minor missteps here and there. Moore's already stellar concepts and ideas are beautifully done justice in the film and will have even those who've never heard of Watchmen in awe of the larger than life scenes and effortlessly cool dialogue. Combining Alan Moore's original writing with stunning special effects and visuals throughout, the film manages to keep the spirit of the original Watchmen alive.

A testament to the incredible special effects is the manifestation of Dr. Manhattan (played by Billy Crudup), the only hero in the story who actually has superhuman abilities. He's blue, he's naked and he has the ability to change matter at will. Such an out of this world character definitely ran the risk of looking cheesy if not done correctly, but they managed to make Dr. Manhattan look amazingly realistic throughout the film thanks to stunning computer graphics.

Watchmen's characters are among the most-loved characters in any comic book - which made casting integral to the film's success. Thankfully, the casting was done well with a few exceptions. Both Billy Crudup as Dr. Manhattan and Matthew Goode as Ozymandias fell just slightly behind their fellow actors. Neither went above and beyond in their portrayal - which is especially disappointing when you consider that Crudup plays a superhuman and Goode plays a retired superhero who is the smartest man in the world. Their characters are among the most powerful in the entire story and yet their performances were entirely ordinary. Though a few actors missed the mark, Patrick Wilson as Nite Owl II, Jeffrey Dean Morgan as The Comedian and Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach were all cast perfectly. Each really captured the essence of their characters and sold their performances beautifully with nuance and conviction.

Though Snyder opted to keep the movie set in the 80s and not update the time period, he did make a few updates to the film. The costumes of a few of our heroes got a much-needed makeover, breathing new life into the persona of each character. Many of the film's fight scenes were extended or changed to highlight the action and inevitable gore of the original comic.

One of the biggest changes (and, I'm sure, one of the most controversial among Watchmen fans) was the nature of the plot uncovered by Rorschach and Nite Owl II. Although many Watchmen purists might believe otherwise, any changes made to the original storyline of the comic book were necessary in order for the film to work. Snyder truly tried to keep the movie as true to the comics as he could and made changes sparingly and thoughtfully to give us a slightly more realistic take on the plot, given that he was cutting out much of the sidestory that gave the original endgame plot its depth and moral residue.

Though they've clearly tried to make the film as accessible as possible for those who are totally unfamiliar with Watchmen, the movie can at times be a bit confusing. While watching the film I occasionally heard a few of my fellow audience members question what was going on. Though some of them did seem like they were having some trouble keeping up, the majority of the theatre seemed to enjoy the twists, turns and standout moments of the film and there were plenty to keep them occupied. Though it's a very different viewing experience for those who've never read the comics, it's still an enjoyable one worth checking out.

All in all, Watchmen's film counterpart is an incredibly faithful adaptation that manages to keep the spirit of the story and its characters intact while making important changes that make the movie more accessible and believable for the everyday movie goer. Although the movie is clearly not perfect, it's as close to a perfect adaptation of the groundbreaking comic as humanly or, perhaps more appropriately, superhumanly possible.

This article was originally posted on and edited by Mookychick and was re-edited for this blog.