Gattaca (8/10)

1997
Directed and Written By Andrew Niccol
Starring Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, Jude Law

Genre: Sci-FI, Suspense

From the writer of "The Truman Show", this movie comes from in a similar vein but a completely different arena. Ethan Hawke plays a natural "God birth" in a world where babies are genetically engineered to be perfect, and as such he is a much "weaker" person than everyone around him, including his own brother. But he has a dream of being an astronaut, and he is determined to achieve it, and so he assumes the identity of a man better engineered than he, giving him the genetics to get him into the space academy, and allowing him to pursue his dream.

It's a clever story with some very serious undertones; not accepting one's own hand, the shame of living as someone you're not (because what you are isn't good enough), the human spirit, the jealousy of those who have been outstepped by those who haven't, etc. And all in all, it's superb. There are some gorgeous moments in the film, where the uniqueness of the setting helps portray the underlying ideas so well. For example, living as a different man, he has to constantly keep himself from shedding dead skin and hair, and instead leave traces of his alter ego in his place, and this habit ultimately makes him ashamed of his own skin.

The cinematography is great for 1997, and the movie never outsteps it's own means, which is something I find to be so important. That is, it never uses some kind of ridiculous CGI to render something that ultimately looks absolutely fake. For a science fiction, futuristic, movie, this one's much more character and dialogue based than anything else. There is a voice over for only a small portion of the movie, but, as it only rarely does, it actually adds instead of detracts from the overall film. Ethan and Uma's relationship is one of understanding more than anything, because she, like him, has a falty heart as a result of bad genetics, and while she thinks he is a perfect man, he relates to her in that both of them have achieved unimaginable things for themselves.

Anyway, I've said all I need to say. Go rent it.

Babel (10/10)

Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu
Genre: Drama / Thriller

It's a pretty big deal to say a movie is 10/10. But this one is worth every bit of it. Incredible acting, directing, writing, cinematography - the list goes on and on. I don't have a whole lot to actually say about it because it was just so good that words will ruin it. Pretty much, just watch it.

Basic plot of the movie: It's about 2 tourists (Brad & Cate), the wife is shot by accident while in a tour bus. The whole movie is just the events leading up to and occurring because of that event. It is incredibly emotional and makes a very distinct statement about the state of the world right now. It's worth taking the time to watch. And then telling everybody about.

Bleeding Through- The Truth (1/10)

Trustkill Records

Tracklisting:
1. For Love And Failing
2. Confession
3. Love In Slow Motion
4. The Pain Kiler
5. Kill To Believe
6. Dearly Demented
7. Line In The Sane
8. She's Gone
9. Tragedy Of Empty Streets
10. Return To Sender
11. Hollywood Prison

Genre: Metalcore

The lead singer (whatever his name is) said that with this album, they would prove that they are not a "metalcore" band. Way to be trendy. Oh, wait, I meant way to be a liar.

"The Truth" gets a 1. And that's just because they are fun live, they have a hot keyboardist, and I can tolerate "Tragedy of Empty Streets".

I actually really enjoyed the previous album, but I mean, COME ON! If you are going to follow trends this blatantly, be smart about it.

PS. I almost took away their (1/10) just for having a song called "Return To Sender."

For Fans Of: Eighteen Visions, Bad Music, Etc.

30 Seconds To Mars- ST (7/10)

Despite the criticism of being an actor trying to start a musical career (which I will say, is in general a complete joke), this band's debut release was quite the album. While the general concept and majority of the lyrical content are hokey at best, the music is well thought out, the production is elegant, the instrumentation is thorough and fairly mature, and the hooks are catchy. Kudos, Jared Leto; maybe there's a reason you are my man-crush.

The band's sound itself is not generally my favorite- the industrial rock tinged with nu-metal- because generally these kinds of bands sound like they think they are from the future (this band is no exception). However, if you can get past that, we have some really good songs here. The disc has a fairly intense pace from the get-go and doesn't actually let up for most of the album. The instrumentation, guitar-wise, isn't anything special at all, minus maybe some slightly cliche effects loaded on with no mercy, but the percussion is something I always found to be superb. There are alot of electric drums use, but the drummer himself does show some natural talent. Production wise, it's everything you could expect from an album fronted by an A movie actor- perfect. Everything is mixed well and can be heard clearly.

Real quick, I'm going to touch on why this cd could never get higher than a 7 in my book. The lyrics are ridiculous. I think Leto wanted to portrat himself as some sort of futuristic astronaut hoping to lead a space revolution... or ? I really have no idea, but he ends up sounding like an idiot, or maybe someone who wanted to be an astronaut but did too much acid in high school and instead ended up pumping gas and continues to be obsessed with the "back when's" and "what if's" of total failure.

All in all, it's a decent album. Over the years my taste in music has changed quite a bit, but this album has always stayed somewhere on my shelf as something I can still enjoy occasionally, and that fact alone is why I chose to review it.

Hackers (6/10)

Directed by: Iain Softley

Genre: Sci-Fi

A group of sleek computer hackers are framed for a crime and use their super-dooper skills to get themselves out of it and solve a mystery. Honestly, this is a good film. It's one of Angelina Jolie's earlier ones, and all of the acting is good, the story is well thought out, and the film is probably well ahead of it's time. The only thing is, that time was 11 years ago, and I have a headache, and honestly this film does not hold my attention.

Maybe it's just me, but is this not just a cliche with the word "hackers" inserted every once in awhile? I don't know. But while this film isn't awful by any stretch of the imagination, and I do share the same name as the director, overall I find it boring. Sorry if that offends you. Go check it out if you're into this sort of thing.

The Pursuit of Happyness (8/10)

Director: Gabriele Muccino
Genre: Biography / Drama

Will Smith plays a father who finds himself without a job, a wife or a car and facing rent, parking tickets and taxes while trying to take care of his son. He joins an unpaid internship to become a stockbroker and at the end of the internship, only one person is chosen out of around 20 to get the job. It is a uphill battle the whole way and definitely emotionally tiring.

I think that in the times we live in, people are always expecting action-packed movies. They want to be kept on their toes. We live in an ADD world where many people have a hard time sitting through anything that isn't constantly fast-paced. This movie was worth the extra effort. It was a little slow, a little sad the whole time, but it paid off in the end. I, personally, thought Will Smith was more than excellent in this role. And his son, who plays his son in the movie, was surprisingly refreshing for his first big movie role. It was given bad reviews by some, but I think if you take the time to chill and just watch it, it is well worth it.

Final Say: Definitely worth seeing!

Rocky Balboa (6/10)

Director: Sylvester Stallone
Genre: Action / Drama / Sports

Rocky is working at his restaurant and trying to work out his relationship with his son. A computer-generated fight is shown on ESPN of Rocky vs. the new, young heavyweight champion. Since this new guy's agents see this as an opportunity to make a lot of money, they convince Rocky to actually fight the guy. He does and most of the rest of the movie is a pay-per-view looking fight with a happy ending (surprise, surprise, come on, it's a Rocky movie).

This was WAY better than the 5th movie. He lost it for a while and came back on top. It's a great way to end the series. He looks pretty great for a 60 year old if you can get past the nasty looking veins. It's definitely worth seeing if you like the Rocky movies, but the main line in the movie says, "It ain't over 'till it's over" which is true. It was great, but after this one, I hope they really let it be over. All good things come to an end. At least it ended like this as opposed to the 5th one.

Final Say: A definite must-see (**if you have seen all the others** - if not, don't really bother.)

Children of Men (8/10)

Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Genre: Adventure / Sci-Fi / Drama / Thriller

So it's 2027 and women haven't been able to have children for 18 years. The youngest living person just died. Clive Owen plays this guy who through a series of events ends up being responsible for helping this woman who is miraculously pregnant get across the border safely to meet up with this group that is going to help her.

I'm very torn over what I think of this movie. First of all, it is an incredible film. In terms of cinematography and just the general way the movie was done and put together, it's really great. There is no way around that. I love the one continuous take type of filming. I thought the acting was incredible, but then again, I am a huge Clive Owen fan. I think he is fantastic. And I really liked the story. It was unique. It was making a statement. It was interesting. My only problem is that I feel like it was way too much story to put into a 2 hour movie. It left me with way too many questions. Not questions like lingering, left me thinking kind of questions, but actual, like I didn't understand basic premises of the movie kind of questions. I don't know, it was good. But it's not anywhere in my top movies. I would've liked to see it more in like a 3 part series and just get a lot more information. I know Ian disagrees, he loved it. And I just want to stress how incredible I thought the movie was. If you love movies or know anything about cinematography or actually good acting, then you will love it whether you completely understand everything or not. Maybe I'm just too dense to understand parts of it, but it didn't ruin it for me. It just isn't in my top movies.

Final Say: It's definitely worth seeing. But you may have questions.

Alpha Dog (7/10)

Directed: Nick Cassavetes
Genre: Crime / Drama

Johnny Truelove is a 19 year old drug dealer in California. Through a bad drug deal, Jake Mazursky ends up owing him about $1,200. After Jake breaks in and trashes Johnny's house, Johnny and his friends go to find Jake, but see his brother Zach walking down the road. They catch him and beat him up and then take him home with them to hold him for ransom. He is aware of what is going on, but is having fun partying with Johnny's friends. It is based on the true story of Jesse James Hollywood who was the youngest person ever to be on the FBI's Most Wanted List.

I actually loved the movie. I have been reading about the case and the making of the movie for about a month now and was just excited to see how the Writer/Director Nick Cassavetes put it all together. I think Justin Timberlake is actually a really good actor. I saw him in Edison Force and thought he was great, so I was excited to see what he would do in a completely different kind of role. And he was great. Ben Foster who plays Jake Mazursky was pretty out there, but he was playing someone who was supposed to be a little crazy and on drugs pretty much constantly. So if you've ever been around people who are on a drug that makes them like that, he really wasn't too far off from what it would've been like. Sharon Stone's fatsuit in the end was pretty distracting because it looked ridiculous. But if you can get past those things, it was just great. What is interesting to me is that the movie was taken straight from the case files of Jesse James Hollywood's attorney. So the movie is as accurate as it could be. In an interview with Nick Cassavetes, he says that it is between 90 to 95% accurate. He said obviously the actual details of what was said between everyone couldn't be completely accurate. But the storyline and what happened in what sequence of events and who was there and what they saw was taken from the witnesses accounts of the events. I think that's pretty much fascinating.

Final Say: If you can get past the drugs, sex, violence & language, it's worth seeing if you're interested in the story at all. But go into it knowing that it is a true story.


Here are some interesting sites with information about the real guy:

Really Detailed Account of how the movie was made
FBI Press Release about capture of Jesse James Hollywood
Unsolved Mysteries information
Jesse James Hollywood - Wikipedia

Audition (7/10)

Directed by Takashi Miike
Genre: Drama/Suspense/Horror?

I had never seen any of Miike's movies before, but one of my friend's kept talking up his horror movies as the most shocking he'd ever seen; "Nothing offends this guy." Well, lo and behold, Audition was a surprise for both of us, but not necessarily in a bad way. It's just that a) the film holds a strikingly low budget but surprisingly real feeling, and b) this is most definitely not a horror movie, at least not in the naturaly sense of the word.

The basic premise is actually pretty lame (what a surprise? Japan has given us a movie about a video that kills you, a website that kills you, a video game that kills you, and the Grudge), but don't write the movie off just yet. The main character, who's name has already slipped my mind, loses his wife at the beginning movie, and is forced to raise his son alone. Seven years later, he decides to remarry. So his friend, a movie producer, writes a movie plot in which the main female role is exactly what our protaganist is looking for in a woman, and then holds auditions. Long story short, our hero meets his dream woman and falls in love, but she apparently has some very strange secrets.

Spoiler Alert. Anyway, the film is very slow moving and has some really strange cryptic dialogue, but in the end, and by the end I mean the last 10 minutes, the girl suddenly turns sadistic and starts torturing the main guy. It's very graphic, but surprisingly real looking, despite the low budget look of the film quality, etc.

Ultimately, I felt sort of strange about this movie. It didn't rub me the right way as an obviously good movie, such as Eternal Sunshine would. But I still can't write this off. For a slasher director, this movie has a suprising amount of depth and maturity, seemingly showing infinite patience (the movie runs for nearly an hour and a half without anything significant happening). The dialogue, while cryptic (probably in part due to errors in the subtitle translation), is very clever and dark, and runs very deep. The acting might not be the greatest, but I think it's perfect for the film. I'm forever on the fence. Rent the film, and tell me what you thought.

Destroyer Destroyer- The Dead Sleep Like Us For A Reason (3/10)

Debello Recordings
2006

Tracklisting:
1. Dead Weight As Far As The Eye Can See
2. Horse-Drawn*
3. Error*
4. I'm Tired Of Making You Listen And Listen "Good"
5. Chainsodomy
6. 1981-2005
7. Why Isn't Dr. Gregory's office open? Because It's Sunday. No It Aint!
8. Don't Be Ridiculous, Doctor.

Destroyer's second release is quite the disappointment, if you ask me; and I only say that because this band is absolutely amazing live, and incredibly unique. On CD however, I find it hard to distinguish them from the one hundred and fifty bajillion bands in the Nu Grind upprising. Let me explain.

The first disappointment, that immediately made me want to break something pretty, was that this album is merely their old demo, plus 3 new songs. Which leads me to my immediate response: Why the hell did you release anything at all? What's worse is they didn't even re-record the old songs. It's literally just three new recorded songs plus the old EP, each sounding radically different. I don't think I can put into words how frustrating it is that between track 3 and track 4 the production style shifts completely, and this fact alone has completely tainted my view of the entire album. I'll listen to tracks 1-3, all of which are excellent musically, and then switch to a different band (even though track 4 was my favorite track off the old EP, I just cannot handle the sound change- IT'S HORRIBLE!).

Production wise, let me go ahead and vent a little more. The album must not have been mastered, because all of the tracks, old and new, and incredibly quiet. That coupled with the fact that the recording is so muddy that hardly a single instrument can be distinguished, and then add the chaotic style of the music itself (namely Noah's drumming), and what you have is jumbled noise. That's literally what most of this cd sounds like.

But, I will say this. Overtime I have gotten past these issues to some degree, and the music itself is pretty cool. Picture a fast and heavy version of melancholic jazz, with the greatest drummer of our (well my at least) generation playing behind it, and incoherent shrieking over top. Maybe it's not your cup of tea, but that at least sounds like something that can find a market somewhere.

The layout of the CD is pretty cool, for a low budget label, definitely. The Cd itself is clear, with some crazy designwork over top, and the only part that is opaque is the is the middle, where information was written. The artwork is all very dark and well done, if maybe a bit generic.

All in all, I just can't wait for Destroyer's first release on Goodfellow Records, because I've heard the new Handshake Murders, and that lable knows what they are doing. In case you missed the point, Destroyer is a great band, and definitely worth checking out. This recording is just not the one to go with.

Sounds Like: Really, nothing I've ever heard before.

Neal Stephenson- Snow Crash (10/10)

Neal Stephenson

Bantam Spectra Books

1992

Stephenson's Snow Crash is a futuristic satire with a clever writing style, strong sense of humor, and one of the most complex plots I have ever encountered. Written in 1992, Snow Crash is a blend of The Matrix, Bladerunner, and The Fifth Element, which should just give you an idea of how ahead of it's time this book really is. The protaganist, aptly named Hiro Protaganist, is a world class pizza delivery boy/hacker/world's greatest sword fighter. He lives in a world where the franchise is king, the Mafia as prevalent as ever, and the United States is... well... still ridiculously impotent.

In the book, Hiro and his trusty sidekick Y.T., discover a conspiracy involving the leading media center and the Reverend Wayne's Pearly Gates franchise (the future of organized religion, I suppose); a diabolical plot using technology that dates all the way back to Ancient Sumeria to basically rule the world (it's way more original than it sounds). Neal clearly has done his research, because amidst the high voltage futuristic, slightly hilarious action of the book, he presents a case implying that the brain operates like a computer, with both hardware and software, that long ago we all spoke the same language, but in one singular event all peoples were scattered and languages began to diverge (Babel), that religion is spread as a virus (whether orally as in Judeo-Christianity or through bodily fluids, which would explain why earlier religions had temple prostitutes and ritualistic orgies), and that the original language (prior to Babel) still lies in our brains as hardware, and can be activated and understood by all, which would explain Glossolia (the "speaking in tongues" phenomenon). Obviously the above sounds ludicrous at first, but reading the book, it becomes very difficult to refute all the evidence he proposes. Like I said, he clearly did his homework.

Another interesting and very important aspect of Snow Crash is the concept of the Metaverse, which is his vision (remember this was 1992) of an internet that one "jacks in" to and has a virtual avatar that allows him to walk around. Basically the Metaverse is a giant planet with one street, and instead of websites, you have buildings that go along that street which you an choose to enter or not enter. Essentially, think the Matrix... only 10 years earlier. By the way, Stephenson invented the word "avatar" with this book.

His writing style is my personal favorite- he opts for writing closer to the way a normal person speaks, rather than sticking to the strict rules of traditional grammar. That isn't to say, however, that he isn't extremely talented and intelligent. Snow Crash is the kind of book that inspires you, regardless of your interest in the content. The kind where every few pages you'll he'll put something into words that you've always understood but never known how to say.

Snow Crash is full of sword fights, futuristic weapons, romance, violence, big words, scandalous sex, morbid and satiric humor, and covers some very serious ground with a very light hearted attitude. I've read it multiple times, and it's definitely in my top favorites collection as far as books go. I'd recommend it to anyone.

For Fans Of: Anything Nerdy

Misery Signals- Of Malice And The Magnum Heart (10/10)

Ferret Records

Tracklisting

1. A Victim, A Target
2. In Response To Stars
3. The Year Summer Ended In June
4. In Summary of What I Am
5. The Stinging Rain
6. Worlds & Dream
7. Murder
8. On Account of an Absence
9. Five Years
10. Difference of Vengeance and Wrongs

This CD has been one of my favorites for a very, very long time, and the reason is that the more I listen to it, the more I can only slightly comprehend the magnitude of just how good it is. I don't even really know where to begin, but I'll start by saying forget the genre, forget what's trendy, or what's the trend to be anti-trendy about, and just look at the album from an objective point of view; it's incredible.

This release from Misery Signals is very complex, technical and melodic metalcore tinged with some of the more passionate elements of hardcore (i.e. lyrical honesty, singalongs, breakdowns... whatever. I don't really know what I'm talking about). I'm not really sure about the various subgenres of metalcore, but it's less riff and harmony based (less Gothenburg-esce) than most metalcore bands, but still very very melodic. Both guitarists Ryan Morgan and Stuart Ross have an uncanny ability to produce refreshing, complex melodies that break out of the typical epic metalcore chord progressions that 10,000,000 bands have gotten incredibly good at in the past 2 years. Whether it's the nearly four minute acoustic/electric/ambient instrumental "Worlds and Dreams," or the absolutely breathtaking end to "Five Years" (which is quickly becoming one of my all time favorite songs), the guitarwork is, as far as I'm concerned, simply refreshing. Talk all you want about how so and so genre is dead- this band rules. The drummer, Brandan Morgan is also superb. I read a review that said something about the "fastest double bass in a breakdown I've ever heard." I'm sure that's not true, but it's pretty damn close. The guy is incredible, and once again, is ridiculously tasteful. There are several breakdowns where his left hand hits the snare at a different time signature than the actual rhythm of the breakdown, which I find to be totally impressive. Also his knack for ambient cymbal work and airy eclectic beats really makes the softer, more experimental moments in this record. And of course, Kyle Johnson rounds things out nicely on bass. I mean honestly, I'm a bass player and I don't even pay attention to the bass in most bands. There aren't too many moments when his particular role stands out, but there is one in particular in "Five Years" that works beautifully. The musicianship on the entire record is just impeccible.

At first, I wasn't a huge fan of the vocalist. Jesse Zaraska came over from Compromise when the band first formed, following the death of two of the members. His vocals are kind of weird sounding. I can't really put my finger on it. Of course, Devin Townsend is a complete wacko and has the infamous skullet, so who knows what the hell he did to make Jesse sound the way he does. His vocals sound layered, and kind of airy... like a whisper, which is sort of irritating at parts. He doesn't have much of a screaming range, but he does avoid monotony by speaking and yelling certain lyrics with an almost startling frequency. And at first, I couldn't really get him lyrically. His lyrics almost seemed too personal... what with the infamous "I hope you know I tried to find those pictures, Jordo" quote and all.

But lately, I've been changing my mind alot. The rest of that quote is "I hope you know I tried to find those pictures, Jordo, of us in Daytona (i think) with the Preshure Point. And I now feel the need to fly and hide inside; and I now feel the need to hide inside your loving arms. Man, I'd give the whole thing up for you." This is a reference to the deaths in Compromise, taken from "The Year Summer Ended In June", and is a perfect example of the sheer honesty and emotion put into this record. Other examples: "I believe in promises, do you believe in trust." "I swear I heard you say blood is forever. So it seems forever meant nothing to you."

The record was produced by Devin Townsend, which essentially means that it recieved the attention it deserved from a very talented producer, and nothing whatsoever was short-changed. The production is phenomenal, although I will say that you can definitely tell that a metal mastermind had his hand in it. Especially in the soft, ambient breaks, there is a certain epic quality that can only be found in metal. Some like that; some don't. I, for one, know that metal for the most part is lost on me, barring a few exceptions (amon amarth), but the instrumentation in these parts is unique enough so as not to bother me.

My only negative comment is that I find the final track to be, well, awful. Perhaps it's just personal taste, but it honestly sounds like Townsend wrote a song for them and then forced them to put it on the record, and it just pisses me off. It sounds like bad Opeth or something. Whatever.

All in all, this record is worth the listen, and has ultimately gone down as a top ten record in my book. I can't keep from listening to it. It's clear that plenty of time was spent on the writing, recording, production, mastering, etc. and it's also clear that Misery Signals is made of seasoned, talented, intelligent, and mature musicians, who understand the difference between rock and art (the former being the negative).

Codeseven- Dancing Echoes/Dead Sounds (10/10)

Equal Vision Records





Tracklisting:

1. La Memoire Reincarnee
2. All The Best Dreams*
3. Pathetic Justice*
4. Nasty Little Revolution
5. Quail's Dream
6. Roped And Tied*
7. The Day That Doesn't End
8. Shalo
9. Alt. Wave
10. The Devil's Interval
11. Cherry Tree
12. Sunflower*

*Indicates Notable Tracks

I don't have ample time to write this review, so I'll probably keep this one pretty brief. This album was referred to me by Jason, of the Arkansas crew, as music "to go to sleep to." And while, I think maybe Jason and I disagree on sleep-worthy music, this disc was instantly a constant listen for me, and a record to be studied. Codeseven played in Lexington not too long ago, and, of course, I went to the show but didn't really pay attention to the bands. I remember during their set I was out in the lobby of the Beaumont YMCA, chatting it up with various "tardsticks" that I knew as legends of the scene, and I was basically just trying to look cool, instead of listening to a band, who I'm sure put on an amazing show.

Anyway, on to the disc. Phenomenal. Dancing Echoes is a very atmostpheric and dynamic rock record with a progressive tinge and ample feeling. The songs cover a wide range, from the semi-epic "Sunflower" to the almost dancy "Roped and Tied," instantly making it one of my favorites (my G-spot lies in bands that choose to do everything the love instead of making up their minds, especially when it's done well).

This album is for fans of music in general. If you're too caught up in trying to look cool and keep up with whatever the latest fad is, it'd be real easy for you to throw the words "gay" or "weak" at this record in your frantic, wide eyed attempt to impress whoever might be listening to you. But if you can generally appreciate something that is tasteful, artistic, and well-done, then this record will go down smooth.

The instrumentation, I feel, can be summed up in one word: "clever." Codeseven will seemingly go to any length to find the perfect sound for each part. Every segment of every song seems to have a different drum EQ and effects, different guitars (acoustic and electric), different guitar effects, different guitar EQ's and levels, overlaying keyboards or synths, and tons of atmostphere. Every musician is tasteful without being overly flashy.

Vocally, the album is just golden. The singer's voice is just gorgeous, and the melodies are so catchy that you'll find yourself humming a different chorus from the album for weeks. His range is all over the place as well, and he uses it (Singers tend to stick to one range: Even if they have an amazingly high range, they generally just sing within that. This singer uses any and all, based on the key of the music, and, I guess, just whatever works.) Lyrically, I find it charming as well... the album is very poppy and very catchy, full of wonderful hooks, and easy-to-remember lyrics, but it is all still very dark in content, which is a unique aspect that resonates with me for some reason. Ultimately though, the lyrical content is uplifting and benign, and the ultimate mood of the album is stoic but smiling.

Production wise, again, perfect. In fact, I think the production alone would make this album one of my favorites. The snare drum specifically sounds great (I notice weird things like that). Each part seems to have it's own specific guitar tone and drum sound, loaded with effects and EQ's, to provide a very specific mood. Occasionally, things can get a bit muddy, despite the excellent quality of the individual instruments (something I found similar to Miss Machine by TDEP). Go get the cd, there's nothing to really complain about, accept maybe that there aren't enough songs to love.

For Fans of: Dredg, Mutemath, U2, Further Seems Forever

Anathallo- Floating World (7/10)

Nettwerk Records

Genre:Folk/Indie/Rock

1. Ame
2. Gennesarat (going out over 30,000 fathoms of water)*
3. Hoodwink*
4. By Number
5. Dokkoise House (with face covered)*
6. Hanasakajijii (four: a great wind, more ash)*
7. Hanasakajijii (one: an angry neighbor)
8. Inu (howling)
9. Hanasakajijii (two: floating world)
10. The Bruised Reed*
11. Yuki! Yuki! Yuki!
12. Hanasakajijii (three: the man who made dead trees bloom)
13. Cuckoo Spitting Blood
14. Kasa no Hone*

One of the most inspiring bands in the world, as far as I'm concerned. And capable of such creativity and passion. The album, as to be expected, is very clever lyrically, conceptually, and musically, using the typical folklore and literary allusions, and the strange but very tasteful experimentation instrumentally. The addition of a female voice also adds a new dynamic to the beauty and atmosphere of the cd. All in all, this is what one could expect from Anathallo. I was a little disappointed, simply in that I can't get into at least half of the songs at all. Anathallo has always been an acquired taste for me, and I have to make an effort to actually enjoy some of their songs, and unfortunately, with this record, I find myself doing that alot. Production-wise, I'm very impressed and pleased, because everything sounds great, and nothing is lost in translation, which has always been a problem with the band in the past. A good full-length, even if it just doesn't compare to their earlier material.

Notable tracks: Hoodwink, Dokkoise House (with face covered), Hanasakajijii, Kasa no Hone.

For Fans Of: Sufjan Stevens, Deathcab For Cutie, (Insert Pretentious Indie Band)