tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-124444812024-03-13T14:33:11.451-07:00chasing coolnessi write a lot and not everything gets published or i need an immediate outlet to get my thoughts across. so there ya go.ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04622327688277638870noreply@blogger.comBlogger638125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12444481.post-14516893373478795642009-12-21T06:44:00.001-08:002009-12-21T06:48:34.027-08:00Totally Crushed Out<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PBWVbn82GFVc0n9ZVlXa4_eDVgrMd3ECMcAkTsv1TqdxD3WDjR1Zmkr8-M5eFR7OaRI_TwC79N_apu6KAi18q43U4mYIx91rjB-dOlGixjNAyL7Jbe3-UUmCYKwfCioq2wXY/s660/Final+squirrel.png"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 482px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 271px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PBWVbn82GFVc0n9ZVlXa4_eDVgrMd3ECMcAkTsv1TqdxD3WDjR1Zmkr8-M5eFR7OaRI_TwC79N_apu6KAi18q43U4mYIx91rjB-dOlGixjNAyL7Jbe3-UUmCYKwfCioq2wXY/s660/Final+squirrel.png" border="0" /></a>A little while ago, I decided to launch a new webzine called <a href="http://www.totallycrushedoutmag.com/">Totally Crushed Out</a>. It's not unlike how this blog started, but there's a lot less rambling and a bit more generalized (not so much music, even though that's the majority of the posts right now, though I hope it will change with time). I am also not the only person who is writing for it, which is always a plus (i.e. less stressful). In the new year, we'll have some merch and whatnot, so update your bookmarks. Totally Crushed Out is the new Chasing Coolness.<br /><div></div>ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04622327688277638870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12444481.post-17215229067385879342009-10-31T09:26:00.000-07:002009-10-31T09:29:27.642-07:00New SiteI've been ignoring this blog for a minute. I've even been updating the food blog and the mp3 blog more often. All articles and news is now on my <a href="http://ryanpangilinan.tumblr.com/">Tumblr. Checkit.</a>ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04622327688277638870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12444481.post-4707254483145514832009-09-26T21:39:00.000-07:002009-09-26T21:41:05.467-07:00The Loved Ones, "Living Will (Get You Dead)/Distractions" (Live at the Showbox)<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/a3Sdf7PZSqc&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/a3Sdf7PZSqc&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04622327688277638870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12444481.post-55010557233514504492009-09-26T21:37:00.000-07:002009-09-26T21:38:41.883-07:00Video: Murder By Death, "Until Morale Improves, the Beatings Will Continue" (Live at the Showbox)<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/o42pYEwjGYc&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/o42pYEwjGYc&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04622327688277638870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12444481.post-65832700765375680722009-09-24T13:37:00.001-07:002009-09-24T13:42:00.234-07:00Review: Polar Bear Club, "Chasing Hamburg"Polar Bear Club<br />"Chasing Hamburg"<br />(B9)<br /><p></p><p>At this point in their career, Polar Bear Club probably hates being compared to Hot Water Music and Small Brown Bike. In fact, other than singer Jimmy Stadt’s gruff vocals, the upstart band shares little else with those other bands. I would liken Polar Bear Club more to Seattle’s defunct Waxwing, the post-hardcore slash emo band fronted by Rocky Votolato and flanked by guys who would go on to form Blood Brothers and Gatsby’s American Dream. With that comparison in mind, it’s pretty much a no brainer that PBC would recruit former Minus the Bear keyboard player and renowned knob twister Matt Bayles to production for their second full-length, first for Bridge Nine, “Chasing Hamburg.”</p><p>Lyrically, what I enjoy about all of the band’s recordings, and it’s something that is very apparent on “Hamburg,” is how transparent the words are. The topics on this particular record reflect that of a growing band, which is what Polar Bear Club is.</p><p>In “Boxes,” Stadt sings “You don’t have to be an asshole to be an artist.” A similar criticism is explored on “Song to Persona,” where Stadt mulls over the schism between a band, their music and the people who love them. As far as the music itself goes, it’s a natural progression from their last album, “Sometimes Things Just Disappear.” My biggest misconception about the album, based on the teaser 7” “The Summer of George,” was that the band was going to be poppier. But it’s quite the opposite. There are harder parts across the album and Stadt sings much better. </p><p>Having just got off a support tour with Set Your Goals and Four Year Strong and an upcoming tour with Crime in Stereo and Strike Anywhere, Polar Bear Club is definitely going to be a band to watch in the coming months and the proof is all over “Chasing Hamburg”</p><p>Recommendation: Buy it</p><p>Listen to: “Boxes,” “Chasing Hamburg,” “Drifting Thing”</p>ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04622327688277638870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12444481.post-34492790216913216942009-09-19T07:58:00.000-07:002009-09-19T08:01:29.000-07:00Video: Get Up Kids, "Holiday/I'm a Loner Dottie, a Rebel/The One You Want" (Live)<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RtN-R2o8xSo&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RtN-R2o8xSo&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />I shot some video of the Get Up Kids Reunion show for Redefine last night. I will be adding more videos on my <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/bestnerdevar#play/all/uploads-all/0/RtN-R2o8xSo">YouTube channel</a> throughout the weekend. Enjoy.ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04622327688277638870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12444481.post-81250322268453512202009-09-08T13:14:00.000-07:002009-09-08T13:15:38.733-07:00Review: Raekwon, "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II"Raekwon<br />“Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II”<br />(Icewater)<br /><br />It’s funny that when people who are held in high regard and hit a bit of a stumble are forced to go back to the well. Unfortunately, Wu-Tang’s gulliest member, Raekwon, has had to be that guy. Arguably, Rae has the strong solo album under his name, 1995’s “Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…” Featuring strong guest appearances from all the members of the Wu, as well as Nas, the street-dubbed Purple Tape is heralded as a hip-hop classics.<br /><br />In subsequent years, Raekwon’s been chasing the strength of “Cuban Linx” and oftentimes with underwhelming results, as is such on “Immobility” and “The Lex Diamonds Story.” While Rae’s partner, Ghostface Killah, has become the most popular solo member of the Wu (Method Man notwithstanding), the Chef has toiled away regaining relevancy with a string of YouTube covers and signing with Dre’s Aftermath imprint.<br /><br />Unsurprisingly, Dre dropped Raekwon (like he did with Rakim and Lord knows who else); undaunted, Raekwon formed his own label (Icewater) and put out the sequel to “Cuban Linx” himself.<br /><br />Since 2006, tracks have slowly leaked online and many of them do not appear on this album, which is probably why “Cuban Linx II” sounds so fresh.<br /><br />The album’s full opener, “House of Flying Daggers” is a return to form for the hungry Wu rappers going over a Dilla beat. The Pete Rock-produced “Sonny’s Missing” is complimented with Marley Marl’s interlude, “Pyrex Visions.”<br /><br />The dreary Motown vibe of “Cold Outside” is one of the album’s strongest tracks with Suga Bang singing the hook. In fact, I would go as far to say that it’s the definitive moment of the record – Raekwon and Ghostface trading narrative barbs while the horns recall early RZA production techniques.<br /><br />It’s too early to tell if “Cuban Linx II” will match the popularity and success of its predecessor, but it’s definitely one of the best hip-hop records that’s come out in sometime, as well one of the most gratifying Wu albums in general.ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04622327688277638870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12444481.post-88259686699019127962009-08-29T08:41:00.000-07:002009-08-29T08:47:39.285-07:00Updates!It's been a little while since I updated this. I've had a rather busy summer, but it's tapering off now. I still have a few projects that I'm working on, though I imagine that I'll have more opportunity to continue to write some reviews and share my thoughts on stuff once things settle down a little.<br /><br />Here are some records that I've been enjoying lately:<br /><br />Hot Water Music, "No Division"<br />Heartsounds, "Until We Surrender"<br />Drake, "Whatever Long Title the Mixtape Has"<br />PS Eliot, "Introverted Romance in Our Troubled Minds"<br />Used Kids, "Yeah, No"<br />Tom Gabel, "Heart Burns"<br />Keri Hilson, "In a Perfect World"<br />Polar Bear Club, "Summer of George EP"<br /><br />Check them out, I'll chat with you guys soon, k? Thnx.ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04622327688277638870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12444481.post-76076029489489293752009-07-09T09:19:00.000-07:002009-07-09T09:27:05.117-07:00What Kind of Asian are You?Yesterday, some awesome guy posted a comment in response to my article about <a href="http://www.nwasianweekly.com/wp/2009/06/single-asian-fathers-%e2%80%a6-are-there-any-out-there/#more-930">single Asian fathers</a> which appeared in both the NW Asian Weekly's print copy and website.<br /><br />I think I'm more disturbed by the fact that this singular person has decided to make themselves the gatekeeper to who can be considered an Asian or Asian-American. Ignoring the fact that he uses the term "flip" -- which is not only racist and derogatory, but also archaic -- what kind of follow up can someone have? I simply wanted to write a story about being a single father who happens to be from an ethnic group.<br /><br />This does open up the floodgates of who people consider Asian. Up until the mid-to-late 90s, I've always been identified as "Asian" in legal documents. Afterwards, "Pacific Islander" started popping up in forms and applications, but seeing as how my family has roots in Chinese, Spanish and Indian cultures, I feel that "Asian" is an all encapsulating term. Also, I'm full Filipino, well as full as someone whose parents are both from Manila can be.<br /><br />I guess, in the end, it really comes down from a source of miscommunication, ignorance and just plain ol' dumbness. But somehow, I'm still left dumbfounded.ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04622327688277638870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12444481.post-79739919639795921392009-06-30T07:11:00.000-07:002009-06-30T07:17:27.553-07:00Running PlaylistsOne of the most awesome features I like about my iPod is that I can craft a playlist that has precise timing. I have two playlists for my morning, pre-work runs, one at 20 minutes and a 30 minutes, depending on how much time I give myself in the AM. I was thinking of making a new playlist and I wanted to get peoples' suggestions. Leave them in the comments, please. Here's what I currently have:<br /><br />Playlist 1 (20 Mins)<br />Fireworks, "Show Me Your Vanishing Act One More Time"<br />Four Year Strong, "Heroes Get Remembered, Legends Never Die"<br />Brand New, "The Shower Scene"<br />Big Pun feat. Fat Joe, "Twinz"<br />Comadre, "I Think We're Alone Now"<br />Broadway Calls, "Get at Me"<br />Capone and Noreaga, "TONY"<br /><br />Playlist 2 (30 Mins)<br />None More Black, "Oh, There's Legwork"<br />Modern Life is War, "D.E.A.D.R.A.M.O.N.E.S."<br />The Lawrence Arms, "Great Lakes/Great Escape"<br />Shook Ones, "Order Form"<br />American Nightmare, "am/pm"<br />Kid Dynamite, "Heart a Tact"<br />Silverstein, "Vices"<br />The Bled, "Dale Earnhardt's Seatbelt"<br />Hour of the Wolf, "Taking Out the Trash"<br />Crime in Stereo, "I Stole This for You"ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04622327688277638870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12444481.post-76938879774127256222009-06-29T15:47:00.000-07:002009-06-29T15:57:40.949-07:00HxC Kind of SummerI don't know why, but I got bit by the hardcore bug again. I'm working on doing songs with my long dormant Blown to Eliot Smithereens project and I've listened to the new Comadre records three times in a row today. At some point I put on "Takin' it Ova!" the record by the International Superheroes of Hardcore (aka New Found Glory).<br /><br />Surprisingly, the album was much better than I remembered and I kind of wished that more hardcore bands were this fun. Oh well.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/llZX-cstKc4&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/llZX-cstKc4&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />International Superheroes of Hardcore, "ISHC Theme Song/Back to the Future"<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2gEMxYHkVAY&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2gEMxYHkVAY&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />Comadre, "New Noise (Refused cover)"ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04622327688277638870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12444481.post-14124228403030207022009-06-23T11:09:00.000-07:002009-06-23T11:19:40.200-07:00Shake the Sheets: Another List of Shit 2009I've been pretty lazy at updating this thing. I've probably updated Backed With more recently. Eh, what are you going to do?<br /><br />Here are my midyear picks for 2K9 (again, in no particular order):<br /><br />Kevin Devine, "Brother's Blood"<br />Method Man and Redman, "Blackout 2!"<br />Raekwon, "Blood on the Chef's Apron Mixtape"<br />Narrows, "New Distances"<br />Shook Ones, "The Unquotable AMH"<br />Manchester Orchestra, "Mean Everything to Nothing"<br />Sister Cities, "Demo"<br />Tigers Jaw, "Tour EP"<br />The Loved Ones, "Distractions EP"<br />Like Bats, "Demo"<br />Chase Pagan, "Bells and Whistles"<br />A Loss for Words, "Whatever the new album is called"<br />Fireworks, "All I Have to Offer is my Own Confusion"ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04622327688277638870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12444481.post-85797893083538560002009-05-26T07:11:00.001-07:002009-05-26T07:13:08.136-07:00Video: Kevin Devine and Jesse Lacey, "Tomorrow's Just Too Late"<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8eLBrWemIpA&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8eLBrWemIpA&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04622327688277638870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12444481.post-76352825928274930882009-05-19T12:04:00.000-07:002009-05-19T12:19:40.788-07:00Redux: The Ataris, "End is Forever"Almost everyone I know who's met Kris Roe, the singer and guitarist for The Ataris, have told me he's kind of a douchebag. Actually, that's an understatement. I've definitely heard from one person that he's the biggest douchebag from Indiana and a former roommate tell me that he's a fucking asshole. And I can kind of see that, but the two times that I've spoken to him he was polite, so I have nothing ill to say about him on that level.<br /><br />The Ataris are probably one of my favorite sophomoric pop-punk bands from the 90s, particuarly their watershed album, "Blue Skies, Broken Hearts...Next 12 Exits," which served to be my personal soundtrack for the latter part of my high school years.<br /><br />In my freshman year of college, they released "End is Forever," which was their "serious" album of sorts. There were still some fast pop songs and most of the songs about love were boiled down to a middle school-level, but songs like "Fast Times at Drop Out High" which covers the topic of an adopted child (a lost brother Roe later found out about) and "Road Signs and Rock Songs," which addresses the polarizing effects of being a band on tour and being away from the ones you love. Through these weighty themes, and for better or worse, The Ataris started branching out as a mature band (for lack of a better term). <br /><br />It's interesting that The Ataris were pretty much castigated because of this (and moreso over subsequent releases, "So Long, Astoria" and "Welcome the Night") in 2000, yet other contemporaries like Sum 41, Blink 182, New Found Glory, and Alkaline Trio followed this pattern in the years to come and while they were not without their critics, they didn't seem to get hit as hard as The Ataris did.<br /><br />In the last few years, The Ataris sort of fell apart on the weight of their own "vision" (releasing an indie rock album for a crowd of teenagers who know you for a Don Henley cover will do that) with Roe doing solo acoustic tours of "Blue Skies..." and selling off his possessions via eBay. Though the band has always pretty much been Roe, many longtime collaborators, like John Collura, Mike Davenport and Chris Knapp, have been shown the door. A new version of the band has a new record coming out soon, promising to recapture the "End is Forever"-era, so it'll be interesting how this all pans out for them.<br /><br />"Summer Wind Was Always Our Song"<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AygkK80U6S8&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AygkK80U6S8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04622327688277638870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12444481.post-77414358325832038872009-05-18T07:13:00.001-07:002009-05-18T07:23:18.618-07:00Video: Descendents, "I'm the One" and Lifetime, "Airport Monday Morning"<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gXbPlFgSfao&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gXbPlFgSfao&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Descendents, "I'm the One"<br /><br /><a href="http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=30013171">Lifetime - Airport Monday Morning</a><br/><object width="425px" height="360px" ><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><param name="movie" value="http://mediaservices.myspace.com/services/media/embed.aspx/m=30013171,t=1,mt=video"/><embed src="http://mediaservices.myspace.com/services/media/embed.aspx/m=30013171,t=1,mt=video" width="425" height="360" allowFullScreen="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent"></embed></object><br /><br />Lifetime, "Airport Monday Morning"<br /><br />This weekend I was jamming out to "Everything Sucks" by the Descendents. It's one of their later-era albums and it seems to be the one that is largely ignored (along with "Cool to Be You"). It's a little bit more polished than the rest of their catalog, but it still holds up. The same could be said for Lifetime's self-titled album, which took me a long time to get into. In fact, I probably didn't really care much for it until after I saw them on their reunion tour almost two years ago. Yeah, it's a little overproduced but it still knocks. I guess for a lot of these older punk rock dudes that's the goal: putting out a solid record that even the most jaded of fans can appreciate.ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04622327688277638870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12444481.post-88208315348222749642009-05-04T13:53:00.000-07:002009-05-04T13:58:06.946-07:00Video: None More Black, "Oh, There's Legwork?"<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ouLv6TwSBRE&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ouLv6TwSBRE&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Easily one of my favorite Schevchuk bands, None More Black is far more melodic than Kid Dynamite, but has all the clever lyrics that makes Jason Schevchuk one of the most quotable lyricists in punk rock. This is my favorite NMB song, chiefly because (other than being ridiculously catchy) contains the following lyrics: "We are the brand new beatniks/We are the down and out/We are the bleeding hearts beating syncopated broken rhythms/Our speed is all too breakneck, we need to slow it down/Tired of being sleepless/Tired of being broke and broken." Fucking genius.ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04622327688277638870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12444481.post-17996167182036118552009-05-01T08:10:00.000-07:002009-05-01T08:41:50.523-07:00Fun while it lasted...I haven't had the opportunity to write about "Ashergate 2009" recently, but here's the quick rundown:<br /><br />My least favorite rapper, Asher Roth, played at Rutgers and tried making light of last years Don Imus/Nappy Headed Hoes comment. Obviously, this did not play out very well. But to give my archnemesis the benefit of the doubt, he was trying to lampoon Imus. Fair enough. Then Roth is quoted in Pitchfork as saying "You guys (other rappers) are disgusting." Again, in all fairness, he was talking about the plight of Africans and how American rappers tend to spend their money. This coming from a guy who basically glorifies date rape on his single about college and used the release date 4/20 as his marketing ploy.<br /><br />Huh.<br /><br />Eskay and the Nahright crew weren't having this and issued a Roth ban until homedude apologized, <a href="http://nahright.com/news/2009/04/30/a-statement-from-asher-roth/">which he did</a>, assuming that Steve Rifkind threw a chair at him or something that he picked up from working with ODB or MOP.<br /><br />Personally, I think the whole thing was blown out of proportion to a certain degree. More than anything, however, I doubt Asher Roth -- as a white kid from an affluent suburb -- is in any position to talk about how rappers who have typically come from places of poverty should spend their money. Yes, I am being a hypocrite here since superficial musical acts are usually who I talk shit about the most, but given the nature of my upbringing, I feel like I have a much better grasp on the socio-political implications than some severely mediocre college rapper. I'm just sayin'.<br /><br />That being stated, I'm actually a little bummed that the Roth ban is lifted. The reality is that if the ban had stayed in place, Roth already has such a following (there's no accounting for taste) that just because a singular hip-hop website (even if it's the best one) stops posting about him, it won't hurt his career among fans -- only credible hip-hop heads. Which, as I write this, was probably the point all along. Oh well.<br /><br />BAN ASHER ROTH!ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04622327688277638870noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12444481.post-71344995909787840042009-04-28T19:32:00.001-07:002009-04-28T19:33:05.260-07:00New Prize Inside PodcastPrize Inside, the podcast I host with Corey Be, has a new epsiode (4!!!) which we just uploaded.<br /><br /><a href="http://prizeinside.blogspot.com/">Checkit!!! </a>ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04622327688277638870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12444481.post-46480324029845782312009-04-23T07:27:00.000-07:002009-04-23T07:35:15.739-07:00Review: Manchester Orchestra, "Mean Everything to Nothing"Manchester Orchestra<br />"Mean Everything to Nothing"<br />(Favorite Gentlemen/RED)<br /><br />For their debut LP, "I'm Like a Virgin Losing a Child," Georgians Manchester Orchestra channeled a host of obvious of influences such as Built to Spill, Modest Mouse and Lord knows who else to bring together one hell of a moody album about Woody Allen movies and religion. And as random as it sounds, the combination played up the band's strengths and singer Andy Hull's vivid lyricism. <br /><br />On their second record, "Mean Everything to Nothing," the Orchestra goes balls to the wall, immediately creating a frantic atmosphere with very little pauses. The second track -- and in my opinion, the highlight -- "Shake it Out" is one of the most aggressive hardcore songs, without actually beiing a hardcore song. The loud guitars and breakneck rhythms may turn some older fans off who liked the melodic fragility of "Virgin," but the sonically challenging nature of "Nothing" further diversifies Manchester Orchestra's sound. Bravo.<br /><br />[bonus video]<br /><br />"Shake it Out"<br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TFn2bC8DAIg&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TFn2bC8DAIg&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="360" height="140"></embed></object>ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04622327688277638870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12444481.post-86904628412033777712009-04-22T07:26:00.000-07:002009-04-22T07:28:27.891-07:00Prize Inside Vol.3 Now Up!!!The podcast and Corey and I host is now running into its third (!!) episode. Recognize. Stream it. Download it.<br /><br /><a href="http://prizeinside.blogspot.com/">PRIZE INSIDE</a>ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04622327688277638870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12444481.post-87862385476617434992009-04-17T09:44:00.000-07:002009-04-17T09:49:31.681-07:00Racism Still Exists in America; Chasing Coolness is Not Surprised<a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3380/3447320621_897b498c0e.jpg?v=0"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 391px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3380/3447320621_897b498c0e.jpg?v=0" border="0" /></a><br /><div>It's a rather bittersweet time to be a person who's interested in American politics. On the one hand, we're witnessing some of the most radical changes to the status quo in quite sometime (and granted it's not as radical as, let's say, the Marcos Exile in the 1980s or Castro taking Cuba, but give America a little credit) and yet it's marred with pictures like this. </div><div> </div><div>These ridiculous tea-bagging (if you haven't seen the Rachel Maddow video, Google it; it's hilarious) parties that have been going on around the country just serve as a reminder of much closer to idiocracy we are as a society. I may not agree with these dumb events, but I'm not going stop them from congregating. I am, however, appalled (though not shocked) that for many people, it was more about their displeasure of having a Black man as our President. People are bullshit. </div>ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04622327688277638870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12444481.post-81673314073614948402009-04-13T19:01:00.000-07:002009-04-13T19:03:49.946-07:00Prize Inside Podcast 2Corey and I did another <a href="http://prizeinside.blogspot.com/">PRIZE INSIDE</a> podcast.<br /><br />Episode 2: Superzeroes.<br />Corey debuts "Ryan Doesn't Know Shit About Sports" and we talk comics (books and stand up) and the Real World (the TV show).ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04622327688277638870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12444481.post-28428942499075261202009-04-13T07:14:00.001-07:002009-04-13T07:15:21.945-07:00Video: Modern Life is War, "D.E.A.D.R.A.M.O.N.E.S."<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/I7VpiiGDoG8&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/I7VpiiGDoG8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />This song is on my AM jog playlist. It rules.ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04622327688277638870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12444481.post-7008093368880339972009-04-08T01:39:00.001-07:002009-04-08T01:41:19.041-07:00Prize Inside Podcast<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxppWH9Tyk9116EqptKAb4mutH_wKfAhOhpsMziYeqzUB1hKMDzadJWWN-ieOFGcDES5Vesvm-Th0F1y45hTCDjsKQ7K0f7Lci6a3JBPg4-ClmilWMP-UYV0dHKiKj8oA7B83CiA/s400/hesthedjimtherapper.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 193px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxppWH9Tyk9116EqptKAb4mutH_wKfAhOhpsMziYeqzUB1hKMDzadJWWN-ieOFGcDES5Vesvm-Th0F1y45hTCDjsKQ7K0f7Lci6a3JBPg4-ClmilWMP-UYV0dHKiKj8oA7B83CiA/s400/hesthedjimtherapper.jpg" border="0" /></a> Corey Bee + Ryan P = <a href="http://prizeinside.blogspot.com/">Prize Inside</a><br /><br />A former rapper and a former DJ come together for a new podcast. Episode 1 up now.ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04622327688277638870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12444481.post-41573333802803744882009-04-06T08:50:00.000-07:002009-04-06T08:51:48.083-07:00Review: Silverstein, "A Shipwreck in the Sand"Silverstein<br />“A Shipwreck in the Sand”<br />(Victory)<br /><br />Long running Canadian screamo outfit, Silverstein, is still churning out records like it’s nobody’s business and their latest album, “A Shipwreck in the Sand,” is supposedly decidedly different. Supposedly. <br /><br />Like the erstwhile other Canadian screamo band, Boys Night Out, Silverstein’s newest album is a concept record based around some story or another. While I’ve never shied away from concept albums (“Winners Never Quit” and “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea” being among my favorites) it’s a harder pill to swallow from a pop-punk band. <br /><br />Not to say that “Shipwreck” is a bad album. It is probably Silverstein’s most polarizing record, in as much as the heavy parts are pretty heavy and the delicate parts are very delicate. But make no mistake, Silverstein do what they do best, which is to write and perform catchy songs with intricate guitar parts.<br /><br />As much crap as I’ll get for saying this, there’s a consistency in Silverstein’s overall songwriting and this album is no different. Concept record or not, they have a formula in writing songs that are fairly easy to digest and while I can’t say that this is their best album, it is, in essence, a Silverstein album.ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04622327688277638870noreply@blogger.com0