// Category Archive for: Reviews

Music Review: They Might Be Giants, Why?

By Melissa Bratcher

They Might Be Giants can’t help but be They Might Be Giants. Since 1982, TMBG have been doling out idiosyncratic melodies with unusual instrumentation and clever, visual lyrics. Their jump to making music for families (not kids, specifically, but families) was less a jump than a side step, and a logical move. Those of us who listened to TMBG as yoofs have been known to foist cassettes of their music on our own children (who, if they have any taste at all, loved them) and one day, those children will foist hologidgets of TMBG on their children and thus the cycle will be repeated forever and ever, etcetera.

(more…)

The Official Popshifter Podcast, Episode #04: Texas Gators

Welcome to Episode 4 of The Official Popshifter Podcast. This one is titled “Texas Gators, Violent Pornography, and Tales from the Pit.”

Already, you should be enticed. It’s another fascinating discussion of American pop culture with Less Lee and X! Please enjoy. Preferably with a nice glass of cold Bosco.

Reviews:

Blu-Ray Review: Eaten Alive

DVD Review: The Farmer’s Daughters

Blu-Ray Review: The Beast (from Dirge Magazine)

Music Review: Hulaland: The Golden Age of Hawaiian Music

Music Review: Fuzz, II

Concert Review: Fuzz at The Hoxton

Music Review: Protomartyr, The Agent Intellect

By Jeffery X Martin

One of the glorious things about living in a college town is getting to listen to college radio. Flexible playlists, fresh new music, and DJs who haven’t quite learned to read out loud are only a few of the entertainment benefits. In fact, the first time I heard Protomartyr was on our local college station (WUTK – Volunteer Radio, baby). I thought the announcer said the name of the band was “Robo-Margaret.” I searched for that non-existent band for two days!

(more…)

Review: Master of None, Episode 4: “Indians on TV”

By Tyler Hodg

It’s not hard to guess what the theme of Master of None’s fourth episode is when it has a title like “Indians On TV.” Writers Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang tackle cultural inaccuracies, and, well, blatant racism towards Indians in television and film.

(more…)

Music Review: Danzig, Skeletons

By Tim Murr

Glenn Danzig could have ended his career at any time in the last 30 years and still left an indelible mark across pop culture. Most artists don’t get one iconic band to front, much less three! From Misfits to Samhain to Danzig, Glenn has given the world some of the best albums in punk, goth, and metal, while always staying true to his rugged individualistic vision and not giving a fuck about trends.

(more…)

TV Review: Master Of None, Episode 3: “Hot Ticket”

By Tyler Hodg

“Hot Ticket” was the episode I hoped “Parents” would be. The third episode of Master of None has characters other than Dev (Aziz Ansari) resurfacing and the show starts to feel like it’s truly hitting its stride. Although the series still doesn’t have a completely concurrent narrative, “Hot Ticket” was a step in the right direction thanks to the reappearance of familiar faces.

(more…)

DVD Review: México Bárbaro

By Tim Murr

“Eight terrifying films from Mexico’s top horror directors.” México Bárbaro (or Barbarous Mexico in English) almost lives up to its own tag line with four excellent and compelling shorts, one really good one, and three that you couldn’t pay me to say something nice about. Still, the good to bad ratio makes this anthology better than the first V/H/S, in my opinion.

(more…)

TV Review: Master of None, Episode 2: “Parents”

By Tyler Hodg

Two episodes in, Master of None is becoming very clear to me. It’s not a show about getting the cheap laugh (almost every Chuck Lorre sitcom, I’m looking at you), it’s about offering a healthy dose of wit, charm, and intelligence. While it appears very accessible on the outside, those looking for added layers of sophistication won’t need to search hard.

(more…)

TV Review: Master of None, Episode 1: “Plan B”

By Tyler Hodg

The latest Netflix show to be garnering high praise is Master of None, a comedy co-written by and starring the severely underrated Aziz Ansari. Through a ten-episode season, Ansari looks to break out from his Parks and Recreation shadow and prove he isn’t a one-trick pony.

Well, to be honest, this quest is completed in only one episode.

(more…)

Music Review: Lee Michaels, Heighty Hi

By Melissa Bratcher

Is there a more intriguing story than an enormously talented, rock and roll recluse? The kind of artist that is so gifted, with a vision and unique sound, and he (or she) just walks away? Don’t you want to know why? What did they do after they stopped being famous? Does it make that person more exciting?

(more…)