I'm choosing to fill a small part of the gray area in my life with random reviews from the realms of cinema, music, and more things that are generally looked down upon by society. And you've chosen to read them apparently.
Anderson "The Spider" Silva is the most prolific middleweight champion the mixed martial arts world has ever seen. Stringing together seven consecutive title defenses, without so much as having an ounce of trouble doing it, and even going above his own weight class to dominate former champions there, he can seemingly do no wrong. After his seventh title defense is negatively received, however, he finds himself challenged by a new, brash contender named Chael Sonnen, and we bare witness to the behind the scenes footage for what turns out to be one of the most talked about matches in UFC, or MMA, history.
This documentary finally solves the question I've had for several years now: where did Chael Sonnen's infamous "He couldn't be more wrong!" mini-speech (heard regularly on Sherdog.com) come from?
That bit of silliness aside, I've been waiting for several years to catch this documentary, and I'm glad that it didn't disappoint. I've had mixed feelings myself about Silva over the years, but this does convey him as not an arrogant fighting god, but rather a humble, grateful, and strongly family-oriented human being. Silva isn't treating this fight as a joke, and even through the glimpses we catch of his bout with Demian Maia (the man he defeated by unanimous decision prior to the first Sonnen fight), we begin to understand his own comments and philosophy towards the art of fighting. There's even a segment midway through Like Water where we see Silva's own skills as a coach on hand for fellow Black House fighter Damaso "Dan Dan" Pereira.
Silva himself isn't the only one humanized in the film's seventy six minute running time (which is criminally short for such a fascinating individual), as we also see focus on Silva's longtime manager and friend Ed Soares, who himself sometimes struggles with the champ's growing frustration with what can be simply referred to as "repetitive media questions." Soares is portrayed in a more positive light than UFC President Dana White, who appears briefly to comment on the champion's history and his own occasional frustrations with him. Hell, even Chael Sonnen isn't portrayed nearly as bad as one might think.
For those who have seen the now infamous battle between Silva and Sonnen, this might disappoint you, as while it may give you chills, this isn't exactly a biographical documentary on the Brazilian. True, we learn about his life growing up briefly, and we catch glimpses of his family and social life, but the primary focus is the buildup to the fight. I personally would have liked to see some footage of Anderson's tenure in the now defunct PRIDE FC, where he had two very notable defeats that almost had him hanging up the gloves for a teaching job, or to learn what led to him leaving Chute Boxe, the legendary Brazilian camp that spawned a murderer's row of champions.
Like Water is ultimately very satisfying to watch though, even if you don't particularly care for this oftentimes brutal sport. It showcases the very real issues and discipline involved that, sadly, is still sometimes looked down upon by mainstream media. Obrigado.
As I stated a couple of posts ago, 2012 has been one heck of an interesting year. Mercifully, the rest of this year's picks, be they good and bad, can be wrapped up in this one post as opposed to several. First, I present my picks for the best and worst in mixed martial arts for 2012. If this doesn't interest you, skip down for movies and the like.
BEST CARD: UFC 144
For the first time in twelve years (not counting the "crossover" with PRIDE FC in 2003), the Ultimate Fighting Championship returned to the land of the rising sun, and in terms of entertainment, it didn't disappoint. For once, the crowd was respectful and rarely booed, most likely due to Japan's respect for the art of combat and them not being adjourned in atrocious apparel. There were plenty of memorable moments in this one, including former PRIDE stars Takanori Gomi and Mark Hunt scoring huge wins, a new lightweight champion being crowned (in a great bout too nonetheless), another highlight reel addition from Anthony Pettis via first round headkick, Quinton Jackson's slam on Ryan Bader (despite the fact that he still lost), and Tim Boetsch's come from behind victory over dominant Yushin Okami. The organization has scheduled a return to Saitama Super Arena for March, with Wanderlei Silva v. Brian Stann headlining and Diego Sanchez v. Takanori Gomi/Stefan Struve v. Mark Hunt on the undercard. I for one, can't wait, and will be requesting off of work to watch it in all its glory.
Honorable mentions: UFC on FOX 4 UFC 142 UFC on FOX 5
WORST CARD: UFC 149
Despite a rather solid undercard, the bad far outweighed the good with this one, especially when you consider what COULD have been on this card. Let me show you some of the bouts canceled due to injuries and/or schedule conflicts...
Jose Aldo/Erik Koch
Michael Bisping/Tim Boetsch
Yoshihiro Akiyama/Thiago Alves (later changed to Alves/Siyar Bahadurzada, also scrapped)
Mauricio "Shogun" Rua/Thiago Silva
Bibiano Fernandes/Roland Delorme
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira/Cheick Kongo
While the finalized main card did have its fair share of stars among MMA die hards, it paled in comparison. So did the fights. Outside of Matthew Riddle/Chris Clements, there wasn't much to salvage from them. Hell, even the interim bantamweight title fight between Urijah Faber and Renan Barao was average at best. I'd advise staying far away, unless you need a good night's sleep. You know your event is bad when even Dana White is blasting it, comparing it to the infamous UFC 33, despite drawing a record gate.
(DIS)HONORABLE MENTION:
ALL Canceled Strikeforce Cards
Easy target, I know, but jesus, did you see those things? Nobody even seemed upset when they announced that they were scrapped, and for good reason.
BEST FIGHTER: Benson Henderson
In this category, nobody else really came close. Benson hasn't lost once inside of the UFC, and only has one (admittedly) close defeat under Zuffa employ. While I'll admit that I think he lost the second bout with Frankie Edgar, his deconstruction of Nathan Diaz and the first Edgar fight helped secure him the spot this year. I look forward to seeing what new challengers await the lightweight king, be they from Strikeforce (Gilbert Melendez), the UFC (rematches with Cerrone or Pettis), or elsewhere (Eddie Alvarez). He still won't be able to elicit an "AMEN!" from me however.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Jon JonesJoe Lauzon Chris Weidman Dustin Poirier
WORST FIGHTER: Jason "Mayhem" Miller
I neglected to do this category last year, but this is a new year now, and I'll be more than happy to add this to the negative categories. It pains to start with someone I genuinely like so much though. From losing to C.B. Dollaway (REALLY?!), to his release almost immediately afterwards, to his bizarre appearance on the MMA Hour, to being arrested for breaking into a church (and being found nude no less), to starring in a movie with Kevin Fucking James, this was not a good year for Mayhem monkeys. While he himself has admitted to turning in weird performances all around this year, it still doesn't excuse the consistent crappiness that we had to bare witness to. Better luck in your future endeavors Jason.
(DIS)HONORABLE MENTIONS: Steve Cantwell (while he may have only fought once this year, he is still the first fighter to have five STRAIGHT losses inside of the cage in the organization's history) Bob Sapp (do I really need to explain this one? Go watch any fight of his from the past three years)
BEST FIGHT: Chan-Sung Jung def. Dustin Poirier (d'arce choke, Round 4)-UFC on Fuel 3
Ladies and gentlemen, a star is born. Or more born. Fuck it, proper and incorrect terminology withstanding, this was outstanding throughout every round. I only wish I hadn't been so lazy to drive to the event myself, given that it wasn't too far from where I grew up. The hype for both featherweight contenders was very much real and the tension about who would come out on top was palpable. In the end, it was the man nicknamed "The Korean Zombie" who emerged victorious after sixteen minutes of madness, and surprisingly, it was by the preferred technique of the challenger. Jung should be returning from injury very soon, and the talks of him earning a title shot against the winner or Jose Aldo/Frankie Edgar are still fresh in everyone's minds.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Joe Lauzon def. Jamie Varner (triangle choke, Round 3)-UFC on FOX 4 Jim Miller def. Joe Lauzon (Unanimous Decision)-UFC 155 Sarah Kaufman def. Alexis Davis (majority decision)-Strikeforce: Tate v. Rousey Miesha Tate def. Julie Kedzie (armbar, Round 3)-Strikeforce: Rousey v. Kaufman
Before anyone crucifies me by the way, I sadly did NOT see Erick Silva v. Jon Fitch from UFC 153, though I have heard tremendous reviews of the bout itself.
WORST FIGHT: Cheick Kongo def. Shawn Jordan (Unanimous Decision)-UFC 149
This fight was bad and you should feel bad. If you're into watching Cheick Kongo clinch for fifteen minutes and receive payback for all of the groin strikes he's dished out throughout his career, this might be for you. Otherwise, you're better off taking a shit in your hand and eating it. I despise booing in mixed martial arts settings, but every boo was completely warranted here, and I hope I never have to watch Shawn Jordan on a main card ever again.
(DIS)HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Yushin Okami def. Alan Belcher (Unanimous Decision)-UFC 155 Ronny Markes def. Aaron Simpson (Split Decision)-UFC on Fuel 1 Gray Maynard def. Clay Guida (Split Decision)-UFC on FX 4 Bob Sapp v. the world
ROUND OF THE YEAR: Ivan Menjivar v. John Albert (UFC on Fuel 1)
While I admit that the headline fight of Diego Sanchez v. Jake Ellenberger was a damn good fight in its own right, this bantamweight scrap stole the show for me, and showed why more often than not, the smaller fighters put on the most entertaining affairs. Within these three minutes and forty six seconds, we witnessed everything that makes for a memorable war: submission attempts, solid exchanges on the feet, and a good old fashioned comeback victory. Watch this while youtube still has it up, I implore you.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Donald Cerrone v. Melvin Guillard (Round 1)-UFC 150 Eddie Alvarez v. Patricky Freire (Round 1)-Bellator 76
BEST KNOCKOUT: Edson Barboza def. Terry Etim (Spinning Wheel Kick, Round 3)- UFC 142
The first spinning wheel kick knockout in UFC history, with Etim's body going stiff serving as the sprinkles on top of the cupcake. I'd spend more time talking about this one, but just watch it for yourself.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Nick Denis def. Joseph Sandoval (Elbows, Round 1)-UFC on FX 1 (HELLBOWS REIGN SUPREME) Siyar Bahadurzada def. Paulo Thiago (Punch, Round 1)-UFC on Fuel 2 (there's a reason his nickname is "The Killer") Andrew Craig def. Rafael Natal (head kick, Round 2)-UFC on Fuel 4 (a come from behind kick of death) Ryan Jimmo def. Anthony Perosh (Punch, Round 1)-UFC 149 (one of the five fastest knockouts in UFC history) Lyoto Machida def. Ryan Bader (punch, Round 2)-UFC on FOX 4 (only made better by Lyoto's bowing over Bader's body) Cung Le def. Rich Franklin (Punch, Round 1)-UFC on Fuel 6 (painful for the older fans to watch, but incredible for highlight reel fans) Nate Marquardt def. Tyron Woodley (punches, Round 4)-Strikeforce: Rockhold v. Kennedy (because walkoff KOs are always worth mentioning)
BEST SUBMISSION: Demian Maia def. Rick Story (neck crank, Round 1)-UFC 153
I'm going to let a bit of my fanboy slip out here, but this one made me personally happy, as I think Story and his camp are comprised of meatheads and bullies, and I'm a big Demian Maia fan. It took the BJJ wizard only two and a half minutes to lock on a nasty neck crank from behind, causing enough pressure to make Story's nose drip blood. It seemed as if life itself was being squeezed from the former top 10 welterweight, and it helped Maia earn his first submission win since 2009. Beautiful in its brutality.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Charles Oliveira def. Eric Wisely (Calf Slicer)- UFC on FOX 2 Dustin Poirier def. Max Holloway (mounted triangle armbar, Round 1)-UFC 143 Matt Wiman def. Paul Sass (armbar, Round 1)-UFC on FUEL 5 Rani Yahya def. Josh Grispi (north-south choke, Round 1)-UFC on FOX 4 Vinny Magalhaes def. Igor Pokrajac (armbar, Round 2)-UFC 152
BIGGEST ROBBERY: UFC 151: The Card That Never Was
True, the card wasn't likely to draw record numbers, and featured a myriad of fights that were probably best left on undercards of free television events, but this still sits with me as the biggest middle finger of the year. Jones/Henderson was a captivating bout on paper, and would've been the true definition of old lion vs new breed. Instead, the younger fighter and champion refuses to take a short notice fight against late replacement Chael Sonnen (a blown up middleweight) and effectively, helps get the card canceled. While I don't place all of the blame on Jones and his camp, and I'm somewhat intrigued by the upcoming Jones/Sonnen season of The Ultimate Fighter, it was still a disappointment to hear that the card had been scrapped.
That does it for the MMA portion of 2012. Now, we move on to movies, movies, and movies. Unfortunately, there were a good portion of films that I missed in 2012, so this list might not be full of future oscar winners. Naturally, I don't give a shit, as these are just the five films I enjoyed the most this year, and five that I wish I had never even batted an eye towards.
An honorable mention must be given to The Raid: Redemption, an absolutely insane martial arts film that deserved all of the praise it received from fans, and featured the best fight sequences I've seen since Kung Fu Hustle from 2004. Had the story not been so basic, I think it might have made the list, but it is my only complaint about this otherwise immensely entertaining picture. I ask you to count how many times you exclaim "Fuck!" or "Oof!" during its running time.
5. Chronicle
Debuting director Josh Trank knocked it out of the park with the closest thing we're going to get to a live-action Akira, the severely underrated Chronicle, a unique take on what happens when three friends gain telekinetic abilities. The concluding twenty minutes alone deserve a spot on this countdown, and should make most big name "action" directors take note on how to do a finale properly.
4. Last Days Here
I'm very picky with my documentaries these days. While you can admit that this is favoritism at its worst here, it doesn't change the fact that this was often times tough to get through, but with such a satisfying reward. This chronicles the long time drug use and general "fuckups" of Pentagram frontman Bobby Liebling, and his several attempts to get clean and sober. Pentagram are widely looked at as one of the most overlooked bands in the metal field (despite their influence on doom metal bands far and wide), and hopefully this story of a phoenix rising from the ashes will be help them get the attention they deserve.
3. Looper
I regret not seeing this in theaters, though admittedly the experience and chance to pay attention to the story may have been tampered by the predictable cliches of theater crowds (audible, confused old folks, noisy teens, etc.). I'm also shocked at how much I've been enjoying as many time travel films as I have within these past few years. Joseph Gordon-Levitt continues to prove that he's no longer the little kid from 3rd Rock from the Sun by giving a hell of a performance, and Bruce Willis' tragic figure/alternate version of JGL's character is so interesting, that he almost makes up for the atrocities of Cop Out. Almost.
2. The Avengers/The Cabin in the Woods
Cheating? Damn right I am. In the world of pop culture, this was the year for Joss Whedon. Admittedly, I'm not a complete Whedon devotee (the script for Alien Ressurrection...*shudder*), but you can't deny that these were bonafide hits, and pretty darn awesome all around. What needs to be said about The Avengers that hasn't been said by nearly every person on the planet? It might just be the best superhero film ever created, at least in the Marvel universe. As for The Cabin in the Woods, I'm been saying to those who were skeptical about giving this viewing: it isn't what you will expect it to be, and that is the film's greatest strength. The horror genre needed something like this to be released in America, as we're still being plagued by unnecessary remakes and shameful sequels. Thankfully, this was a treat for us longtime horror fanatics, and I couldn't have had more fun.
1. Django Unchained
Remember this line from Inglourious Basterds?
Well, I have a bone to pick with the man. As good as that film was, I believe this is closer to a masterpiece for Mr. Tarantino. It might be too difficult trying to pick out the best performance in Django Unchained, as everyone is at the top of their game here. Jamie Foxx and Samuel L. Jackson give their best performances in ages, Leonardo DiCaprio is shockingly slimy, and Christoph Waltz proves that he needs to work with QT as much as humanly possible. The action is bloody and over-the-top, the dialogue very memorable (and a lot funnier than expected), and on the whole, very fun. Those who are sensitive to the subject of the film might find it a bit easier to swallow, but I think you'll be missing out. As someone who doesn't purchase many home releases anymore, this will be one I'll be happy to add to my collection as soon as humanly possible.
To quote one Bloodstain Lane, banana splits for the films mentioned above, and banana clips for the five films below that boiled my blood or just plain sucked.
5. American Reunion
This was like being excited to travel to your high school reunion, only to discover that all of the best friends you thought you had are actually schmucks, everyone acts the exact same, and are nowhere near as funny as you remembered them being. That, or maybe this just wasn't that funny. Either works fine.
4. Piranha 3DD
In this bearded weirdo's opinion, John Gulager struck gold once with the original Feast and has yet to make anything to could surpass, or even equal it. This sequel to the surprisingly fun remake from 2010 was so tepid and flat, you'd think it went straight to video. And no, I don't believe a screening in 3D will help me change my mind, as you can't polish a turd.
3. Jersey Shore Shark Attack
The film that damn near all of my friends weren't able to finish, and I'm shocked that I was able to do myself. This could have come in at number one, but it wasn't released theatrically, so I'm giving it a break (which will be the only time this film will ever get one). If you're curious about why I hated this as much as I did, click here.
2. Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance
Please keep Nicholas Cage away from all comic book-related properties. Hell, keep him from even purchasing the books. This was just plain bad, and for that matter, it was rated PG-13. Mind you, I'm not opposed to PG-13 action films at all, but when you manage to wrangle up the directors behind the Crank films and have David S. Goyer (Dark City, the Nolan Batman trilogy) co-write the screenplay, I expect something resembling a watchable product. Needless to say, we didn't get that. Here's hoping Johnny Blaze stays far away from the big screen for a very long time.
1. The Devil Inside
So, here I am in January 2013 reminding myself of a film released nearly one year ago. I try to convince myself that this wasn't the most infuriating horror film I've watched since The Village, and that by avoiding projects like Rock of Ages, Gone, Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie, Joyful Noise, and the latest installment in the Twilight saga, I haven't truly witnessed the "worst of the worst." You're probably right. That being said, this movie still fucking sucks. Essentially an advertisement rather than a real horror film, this got worse the more I thought about it. If you care to revisit my original angry rant/review, go right ahead. But please, don't give this movie your precious time. Invest it with superior projects like The Cabin in the Woods or The Loved Ones instead.
And that does it for the rest of the best and the...what rhymes with worst? Whatever the case, I'll try to update this blog a little more often this year in between work and school, and might even start doing vlogs if I feel compelled to.
Ah, so here we are again. Though I realize making my entire top 20 list as one post would've been much easier to do, I figured I'd drag it out just a tad bit more. Well, that and I needed to sleep before heading to work.
So, with little fanfare, here are numbers 1-10 of my favorite 20 albums released in 2012.
10. Napalm Death-Utilitarian
If you'd have told me Napalm Death were going to take some of the biggest risks this year in the extreme music community, I'd have asked you to supply me with some of the drugs you were taking. Shockingly, these risks, which range from a saxophone solo (hi there guest cameo from John Zorn!), to guitarist Mitch Harris singing cleanly, work incredibly well for the godfathers of grindcore. And for those of you who are uncomfortable with experimentation, don't worry, there are still plenty of righteous blasts of hostility to be found. True, ND have been on a good tear for the past ten or so years, but this one will probably warrant the most repeats (next to Enemy of the Music Business at least) in their recent catalog. Diversity is your best friend sometimes.
9. Early Graves-Red Horse
Two years after losing frontman Makh Daniels in a horrible van accident, this promising dark hardcore/crust band return with an effort that was as punishing as it was inspiring. New vocalist John Strachan (also of The Funeral Pyre) seems like a natural fit, his Gothenburg-style yells adding a very strong Disfear vibe (and the Tragedy influence is even stronger than before) to a band that I'm sure some were uncertain were ever going to return after their excellent 2010 effort Goner. Well, they're still going strong, and in my opinion, this is even better than that record. To quote one Joey Diaz, "TREMENDOUS!"
8. Witchcraft-Legend
I've slept on this band for way too long, and it figures that my first real exposure to them is when they have a mostly new lineup. Shame, since this is some absolutely beautiful heavy metal. In my book, Magnus Pelander and Mlny Parsonz (Royal Thunder) were neck and neck for vocal performance of the year, and despite the album positioning on this list, I'm not quite sure who won out in the end. I get the feeling that this will be a grower, and over time, could potentially sneak into my top five. If you still haven't listened to these Swedes, and count yourself as an old school metal/doom/stoner/hard rock fan, I implore you to find this album however you can, and give it a spin.
7. Gaza-No Absolutes in Human Suffering
Ouch. This album wants to hurt you. Badly. Not like in that pseudo-hardcore tough guy way, but in that "tear your hair out and pummel you to death with a microphone" kind of way. I've always liked this band, but something always prevented me from loving them. Their BotchalesceVerge sound (I will NEVER used that term again) has been perfected on this full-length however, so watch out. This is some of the most chaotic music I've heard in a long time, making you feel like you had been crushed by a bulldozer. Mathcore fanatics and fans of "violent" music in general will be drawn to this like a moth to flames.
6. High on Fire-De Vermis Mysteriis
I'm going to make a ballsy claim here: this will be the last truly great HOF album. Matt Pike checking into rehab earlier this year didn't particularly surprise me, but you know the old saying of "No Drugs, No Soul?" Well, this has TONS of soul, some of the best riffs I've heard from the (now) legendary guitarist, and it feels pretty drenched in drug use. Easily the best thing in this band's catalog since Blessed Black Wings, though let's hope their next effort doesn't turn into the band's equivalent of St. Anger. For now though, let us bask in its sheer power and magnitude.
5. Royal Thunder-CVI
The moment I heard about this GA stoner rock/doom metal band signing to Relapse Records, I knew their full length debut would be a monster. True, some songs on this can drag a bit, but Mlny Parsonz's vocals are enough to keep the listener's attention throughout any potential mediocrity (which there really isn't any). With fantastic chemistry between rhythm section and guitarists abound, and the aforementioned amazing performance from Ms. Parsonz, this bluesy and doom-soaked debut was well worth the wait. All I can hope is that they don't become too big to forget that they still owe us another show!
4. The Devil's Blood-The Thousandfold Epicentre
Okay, technically I'm cheating by putting this one on my list, given that it saw release in Europe back in November 2011, but we didn't see an official release in the U.S. until January. So nyah nyah. My childish insult aside, they were one of the standouts this year at Maryland Death Fest, and this is damn good psychedelic rock/metal from the Netherlands, with soaring vocals, a great use of the hammond organ, and a lyric sheet that makes the listener feel like they've been dropped off in a mid-70s drugged-out satanic ritual. Speaking of Maryland Death Fest, I just remembered that I neglected to type a proper review on here, so here's a quick recap: Everyone but Anvil, Die Pigeon Die, and Needful Things were good, and the latter were more disappointing than bad.
3. Pig Destroyer-Book Burner
I was scared that the sheer amount of dicksucking that this album was receiving would ruin it for me, but I'll admit: it may be warranted. It has been way too damn long since the D.C. masters of grind released a new album, but this was definitely worth waiting five years. The production might throw fans off, but Scott Hull's riffs slay and J.R. Hayes still sounds like a man possessed. This album is also more noticeably groovy than past efforts, but it works in its favor, especially on "Iron Drunk" and "The Diplomat." Guest vocals by Kat Katz (AnB/Salome) and Jason Netherton (Misery Index) only add to the intensity, and "The Bug," which features one of two collaborations between Hayes and Katz, might be my favorite song of the year. I'm expecting their set at 2013's Maryland Death Fest to be pure insanity.
2. Converge-All We Love We Leave Behind
I've never been shy about my love for Converge, and I'm probably one of the few who prefers their newer material (Jane Doe and onward) to their older material. Whereas 2009's Axe to Fall was a family affair stuffed with guest appearances galore, Converge is back to doing their thing as four piece on this album with no appearances but their own. Jake's vocals are torturous and pained like usual, and his skills as a songwriter have certainly not diminished, but to me the stars of this one are his bandmates. I've always thought that as musicians, Converge was severely overlooked. Kurt Ballou can riff with the best of them, Nate Newton's vocals and bass lines are growing in size, and Ben Koeller can beat his drums better than most in his field (opener "Aimless Arrow" and the title track are proof). The kings of metallic hardcore continue to reign supreme.
1. Christian Mistress-Possession
Unbelievable. Just when I think Relapse has dropped the ball with signing newer acts, this proves me wrong. No disrespect to the purveyors of the "retro metal" revival that seems to be the thing nowadays, but I prefer to see my favorite music genre go forward rather than take two steps backward. That doesn't mean I can't enjoy some of the albums though, and god DAMN did I love this one. Incredible guitar melodies that could compete with the best of early Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, soulful and sultry vocals that resemble if Grace Slick listened to a lot of Black Sabbath, and a very solid production that mixed just the right amount of modern with "old school," I'll be shocked if this band doesn't blow up within the next few years, or at least doesn't garner a slightly bigger following. The only thing I can ask now is COME TO THE EAST COAST!
And there you go, my top twenty albums list is complete. But you might be asking "Ryan, why title this 'best of tunes, worst of tunes' without a bottom 20?" Well, not to sound egotistical, but I avoided most of the albums this year that I knew would disappoint me.
But there were two albums that stuck with me the same way shit sticks to your shoes...
Dead Icons-Condemned
Remember my unpopular opinion on hardcore being mostly stale now? This is the epitome of it. I was struggling to say anything worth note, be it slightly positive or overwhelmingly negative, about this album. At the end of the day, however, I found it to be completely unmemorable and forgettable, which sometimes is the worst crime of all. I'm sure they're all nice guys, but this just didn't do a thing for me.
Lamb of God-Resolution
I feel bad bashing this because of the band's recent troubles involving Randy Blythe's manslaughter case, and I also avoided the new releases that nearly everyone has on their "worst of" lists (Muse, Bad Brains), but good fuckity god did this suck. The opening song "Straight For the Sun" is passable (mostly due to LoG going sludge on it), but it was a downward spiral after those two and half minutes were over. There is no life and variety to be found on this release, and LoG have pretty much confirmed their decision to take the Slayer route by deciding not to stray too far from the sound that helped secure them gold records. If you're okay with that, then you might not despise this album nearly as much as I did. For me though, I'm still yearning for something to match As The Palaces Burn. I'll probably have to keep waiting though.
NOW you have it. The best (and worst) of 2012's music, as chosen by this bearded weirdo.
As with last year, here are some other top lists from fellow music fans, a.k.a. friends and acquaintances.
Kris Hargitt 1. Torche-Harmonicraft 2. Gaza-No Absolutes In Human Suffering 3. The Rival Mob-Mob Justice 4. Power Trip-7" 5. Converge-All We Loves We Leave Behind 6. Rise and Fall-Faith 7. Burning Love-Rotten Thing to Say Lew Cabral 1. Converge-All We Love We Leave Behind 2. Every Time I Die-Ex Lives 3. Grizzly Bear-Shields 4. Pig Destroyer-Book Burner 5. Gojira-L'Enfant Sauvage
Ben Johnson
Cattle Decapitation-Monolith of Inhumanity
Pig Destroyer-Book Burner
Christopher Millard (Children of the Reptile)
The Sword-Apocrypon
Dragonforce-The Power Within
Justin Palughi
Converge-All We Love We Leave Behind
Between the Buried and Me-The Parallax II: Future Sequence
Come back tomorrow for another best of/worst of list featuring movies, MMA, and all other sorts of things!
To say that 2012 has been interesting would be like stating that Black Sabbath were an amazing musical act. I got two new jobs (down to just one as of this writing, mostly due to distance), went back to school, and even traveled to a festival that was previously only thought of as a dream and nothing more. We'll save that hoopla for another entry though, since this is about what obviously matters most: MUSIC! As with last year, I've assembled a list of my own favorite releases that I happened to hear and found quite pleasant on my ears. This was a rather difficult process, even more so than assembling my favorites of 2011. Despite its difficulty, it does make me optimistic for the next year though, as there isn't the slightest thing wrong with finding more good music.
Even dillydallying though, let's get to it. I'm making this a two part post due to links being attached for key tracks too.
But first!
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Magic Circle-Single 7"
An amazing glimpse of things to come from a supergroup comprised of members from The Rival Mob, Mind Eraser, and Doomriders. It has a tad bit in common with the latter, but this two song 7" shares more similarities with Black Sabbath and the melodic doom bands of the 80s (Candlemass, Trouble) than anything else.
Alcest-Les Voyages De L'Âme
I'm shocked that I never gave this band a listen until now. Roughly translated to "The Soul's Journey," this feels like a fairly natural meeting of haunting, melodic alternative post-rock and screeching black metal. There are moments on this that can genuinely give me chills depending on how my week has been going. Too bad I don't speak a lick of French, I would love to read about what I'm hearing. Strongly recommended for fans of Opeth, Agalloch, and Katatonia.
CREEM-CREEM 12"
*cues joke from Family Guy related to this band's name* Unusual feeling about their name aside, this was some damn good 80s-style hardcore punk from New York. This is what I wish Ceremony had evolved into.
Torch Runner-Committed To The Ground
North Carolina, you're doing me proud these days. The hardcore/grindcore band keeps evolving and playing shorter, faster songs, while turning the angry factor to eleven. In all honesty, I don't have too much more to say here, seeing as how this goes by in a flash, but what a flash it is.
Fiona Apple-The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do
I've always liked this gal, even if recalling her album names post-Tidal have made me want to claw my face off. Smooth, sultry, sad, and even funny at times, this was easily my favorite non-loud music discovery I heard all year (outside of the PHENOMENAL Chelsea Wolfe).
Power Trip-S/T 7"
Time to entice the haters: I think hardcore is pretty boring right now. I feel the genre is too riddled with cliched acts, singing about the same subjects and catering towards the "cool" side of things, which is the complete antithesis of what hardcore is about. Mercifully, before signing to Southern Lord, these Texans released a banger of a 7" this year, chocked full of speed and groove. Comparisons to the now-defunct Iron Age are inevitable, but I can only hope these guys last a little longer and continue to impress.
The Rival Mob-Mob Justice
C'mon, the intro alone is worth a spot alone on an end of the year list, and the band themselves will admit (and have) that this is purely for the intention of moshing really, REALLY hard. Oh, and as for the rest of the release? It's rather good.
Enabler-All Hail the Void
I suppose the reason this didn't quite make the top 20 was due to this being an example of "good record, better live." Not to dismiss the band or anything, because this is still very enjoyable. Ex-members of Today is the Day and Fall Out Boy (really!) make a very good metallic hardcore album that often crushes, but is better experienced in a live setting. This was especially apparent when (in my opinion) they stole the show during this summer's Southern Lord tour.
Now, we shall march forward onto the actual list. Well, at least the first half.
Speaking of march...
20. Coffins-March of Despair
The guitars are evil, the drums are primitively simple, and the vocals sound like a demon is getting ready to vomit onto your very soul. Naturally, I loved it. I can never keep track of who is doing what in the lineup of Japan's kings of death/doom, but as long as they keep churning out awesome releases like this one, I don't care who performs what.
19. Action Bronson-Blue Chips/Rare Chandeliers.
Technically these are two different albums, but given how busy the New York rapper is, I don't see the problem with putting both of these in the same spot. I've been so down on newer hip-hop and rap, but something about this guy just works. Perhaps its the subject matter (food, weed, money, women, wrestling, etc.) or perhaps its his uncanny vocal resemblance to Ghostface Killah. With the latter album, the insanely cool beats conjured up by The Alchemist only up the enjoyment factor. Did I mention that both of these were put up for free online? So go ahead and give these (and his excellent full-length Dr. Lecter) a go. I sense that this guy is going to explode in popularity, and I couldn't be happier if that comes to be.
18. Torche-Harmonicraft
Ahh Torche, you never disappoint. Hell, even your weakest efforts still have something worth revisiting. Personally, I've always preferred Torche a bit more than Floor (here comes the shitstorm now...I just realize I made that joke too. Oy), and maybe it was because I've always been attracted to a good melody more than anything. I find it impossible to be in a bad mood when listening to a Torche album, and nobody else does sludge-pop better than Steve Brooks & company. Can we also talk about how awesome the video to "Kicking" was too? Because it totally is.
17. Pallbearer-Sorrow and Extinction
I love Profound Lore, but it took me almost a full year to FINALLY listen to this in its entirety, and while I don't think the hype is 100% justified, I think the attention is still very well deserved. Epic, traditional doom metal with melodic (almost soaring) vocals that can tug at your very heartstrings. Perhaps my only complaint is that there are only five songs on this impressive debut, but I predict this band will have a rather big year and churn out something that even surpasses this titan of a record.
16. Panopticon-Kentucky
I'm incredibly strict about what black metal (if any at all) I like anymore, and I'm even harder to please when it comes to one man black metal bands from the states. I'm always open to hearing new things though, and this melding of black metal and bluegrass songs (blackgrass?), along with unusual additions to the genre (recorder and banjo) worked better than I could have ever expected it to. A concept record about the horrors of coal mining and forest destruction in his native state, this was one of the most emotional albums I've heard from the genre, and will leave you truly concerned for the well being of the artist and his home land.
15. Baroness-Yellow & Green
One of the more controversial albums released this year (well, at least down in Wilmington, where folks seem to be split), Baroness' double album upped the melody even more than usual, and toned down quite a large bit of the aggression heard on their previous full-lengths. Did it make for a good listen? Well, in my eyes, it absolutely did. True, the lyrics are weaker than normal ("Little Things" could be phenomenal if you ignore them), and there are some filler songs here and there, but the fact the GA natives were able to make a double album that didn't completely stink is enough to warrant some respect. This is one that I think those with more time to kill and more open minds will appreciate.
14. Deftones-Koi No Yokan
Yeah, I like the Deftones. Fight me. They're one of the few bands that I'm still a fan of after going through all of my music "phases." Oddly enough, it might be due to that fact that this band has been willing to grow and change themselves, and barely resemble the primitive nu-metal act heard on Adrenaline (though you could argue about the band ever even belonging in that genre). Mixing influences from post-rock, post-hardcore, and European acts like Meshuggah, this band has never sounded more like themselves and less like a Korn clone. Admittedly, 2010's Diamond Eyes is still a better album, but the atmosphere dripping from tracks like "Leathers" and "Rosemary" help secure this a spot in the top 20.
13. Neurosis-Honor Found in Decay
I'll probably get crucified for this not being higher, but it didn't mean it was a bad record whatsoever. Hell, Neurosis isn't capable of making a completely bad album. The use of hammond organ on this will leave you salivating, making you wish that the California post-metal giants had used it more, while they also prove to be one of the few bands in the world who can still pull off using bagpipes in metal without sounding cheesy. Scott Kelly's and Steve Von Till's vocals are still amazing and instantly recognizable, and "At the Well" could compete with the best material from Through Silver in Blood.
12. Black Breath-Sentenced To Life
What a rager. I was impressed by these cats' debut EP years ago, but never did I imagine they could churn out something so nasty-sounding. The Stockholm sound has been alive and well in America over the past few years, and you can largely attribute that to these Washingtonians (along with Nails, All Pigs Muse Die, and the surprisingly inactive Trap Them). Combining the best of Swedish death metal with a very strong hardcore punk vibe, it might be impossible to not bang your head to at least two of the tracks on this one.
11. Burning Love-Rotten Thing To Say
I'll probably get an endless amount of hate for this, but I was not a fan of Burning Love's "Songs for Burning Lovers." Perhaps I was still mourning the loss of Cursed, but something just didn't click with me. Whatever was lacking on that album is gone though, as this one was a bonafide, amped up release. Chris Colohan's vocals are expectedly strong, the riffs more memorable (and more based in rock & roll than hardcore), and the lyrics are fittingly biting. Bravo guys, looking forward to future releases again now.
And that does it for Part 1. Tune in for part 2 in a few hours.
Shortly after his wife Katherine loses their own child, Robert is coerced by a priest into switching the deceased child with one whose own mother died at nearly the exact same moment, without telling his wife of the change that has transpired. The boy is named Damien, and for several years, he grows up rather normally, until one day at his fifth birthday party, Damien's nanny commits suicide in his name. Things begin to unravel about the origin of Robert and Katherine's "son," and there exists a strong possibility that the young lad is more "devilish" than his parents thought.
Before you say it, yes, prior to today, I had never seen the original 1976 The Omen. I'm uncertain as to why it took so long, given that it's had a profound impact on the genre, and historians remember it as a great film, regardless of classifications. Hell, Iced Earth even wrote a song about it.
This was one of the last notable and big roles Gregory Peck had in a motion picture, but I thought his sort of "old style" acting wasn't the best fit for this character. It's that super stern style of acting which, while I admire, is something that can only be seen in the past. The character of Robert felt more like Kathy's father rather than her husband (this isn't necessarily a knock on Peck's age either). Lee Remick is pretty good, and it's quite interesting to see her character breaking down with the more that keeps happening. Billy Whitelaw however, is delightfully devilish as Damien's new nanny following his previous caretaker's suicide, like Mary Poppins if she was the devil's right hand (wo)man. Speaking of Damien, the choice to mostly keep him silent was smart, and I'm surprised nobody bothered to cast the kid playing him in anything else. Perhaps casting directors were too frightened to do so.
David Warner has a pretty interesting performance as a photographer who begins to examine and connect all of the accidents following (and including) the nanny's suicide, but he's pretty much just playing David Warner. There are some good suspenseful moments too, like a scene at the zoo involving the local animals' reaction to the "Unholy One"'s presence. Some moments do tend to drag on for a bit, such as Peck and Warner's trip to Rome. That particular segment, while important, lacked a tremendous amount of light in certain scenes, making it a tad bit difficult to tell what exactly what was going on.
Despite a few moments that don't age well, I still like The Omen and can recognize its importance. I'm not sure what the 2006 remake offered audiences (other than an admittedly amusing release date of 06/06/06), but I can almost be certain that it lacked the memorable score (kudos to Jerry Goldsmith) and the standout performances involved with Richard Donner's original movie.
Maybe I'll save that for next year. That and the three sequels that followed.
Tomorrow, we review...nothing! We've reached the inevitable conclusion of this year's blog, and I can safely say that like last year, I've had a hell of a fun time doing this. There were some bumps along the way, and I personally would've liked to have reviewed even more, but we're entering holiday hours at my store, so time is valuable.
As with last year's iteration, there were quite a few films that didn't make the list for various reasons. Blood and Donuts, Sometimes They Come Back, and The Langoliers were all possible entries, but were mostly "alternate" titles in case something was hard to obtain or removed from Netflix's Instant Streaming. There was actually quite a mixup with the video service "Crackle" as well, as [REC] 2, Idle Hands, and Bats were all originally scheduled for viewings, but were taken off without warning (though two of the three have since been put back up. Figures). I was even considering breaking from home video and checking out Sinister, but I don't wish to spend $10 to watch a horror film in a theater. If I haven't voiced my frustrations with horror audiences before, perhaps I'll save it for a later date. I was considering making a Top and Bottom 5 for this year's list, but felt it would be too frustrating to choose just 5 for each category. So you'll just have to read my thoughts (like originally intended).
Until then, enjoy your Halloween folks. Eat plenty of candy, drink plenty of drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic alike), and enjoy the company of others.
Henry, an emotionally distant man, spends his spare time killing innocent people for seemingly no reason. He also trains his protege and best friend Otis in his ways, though with restrictions that the simpleton often seems to forget. Soon, Otis' sister Becky arrives in town, and while she tries to earn money to support her daughter, she begins to fall for the mysterious and cold Henry...
Before he was making a younger generation incredibly nervous on The Walking Dead, Michael Rooker was making audiences feel unsettled and disturbed with this highly praised piece of cinema, based somewhat loosely on the life of serial killer Henry Lee Lucas. Henry has been on my "To Watch" list for what seems like an eternity, and like Thirst, I regret waiting this long to view it.
Let's get this out of the way right now: if you find yourself easily upset by violence against women, or don't like murderers with zero emotion (i.e. no smartass quips), this will most likely turn your stomach. Henry (the film and the title character) make no mistake with being brutally honest with the handling of its subject matter, and casting Michael Rooker was the best choice they could have made. He is downright chilling, with near hints of humanity poking through his cold exterior and demeanor. His protege Otis (Tom Towles) is just as reprehensible, if not more so. He's what most folks would consider the "archetype" of the crazy murderer: stupid, bloodthirsty, potentially incest-inclined, and just downright ugly. The film's just as much about him as it is the title character. A rape scene involving both of the men managed to disturb even myself, and I have a pretty iron stomach these days.
The only real complaint with the film involves a subplot with the character of Becky (Tracy Arnold). Don't get me wrong, she's fantastic, and the character itself is well written, but the film seemed to forget her potential romantic entanglement with Henry until the very end. When they bring it up again though, its handled fittingly. I was almost ready to ask why in the world there seemed to be no law enforcement in sight, but we're given a reasonably understandable explanation as to why that is (that and sometimes cops are just dumb).
This is an excellent piece of work, despite (or perhaps even because) of its low budget. As I mentioned above, there is some off-putting material for those who don't frequently watch horror films, but otherwise, this is nearly essential stuff. Bravo.
Alas, tomorrow is Halloween. This year's "Unseen Terror" will come to a close, and it'll close with a bang. What is this classic film I've never seen that I'll be reviewing? Stay tuned!
After a tree in the backyard of his house is demolished, young Glen and his best friend Terry dig in the remaining hole, and unearth a strange geode. Accidentally pricking himself, Glen spills blood in the hole, and they both return home. Shortly thereafter, a series of strange events begin to occur, and the origin of the hole in Glen's backyard is discovered to be more demonic than initially realized...
Wow. For the first time in this year's iteration of the blog, I found a movie that I have virtually nothing to complain about. This is...unusual. Hell, even some of the entries I enjoyed immensely (Thirst, Pontypool) had some problems that slightly brought them down from being perfect, but The Gate is pretty darn awesome.
I've always been fascinated by horror films that are clearly aimed at younger audiences, but can also be immensely entertaining for adults as well. This is the reason why flicks like Stephen King's It are so fondly remembered. The kids in The Gate are all very easy to like, and are the furthest things from morons or bothersome. This was Stephen Dorff's film debut, and I'm starting to think this might be the pinnacle of his career. There's also his heavy metal-loving friend Terry (Louis Tripp), and Glen's teenage sister Al (Christa Denton). They're all doing fine jobs here, and in addition to spouting off some rather amusing lines, can pull off looking scared or shocked rather well.
It is undeniable that this has a very distinct "80s" charm and feel to it, with a real sense of wonder and the feeling that you could be stuck in the ultimate nightmare when the gate itself is opened and it unleashes all sorts of hellish trouble. Speaking of the gate, the effects work in here is pretty solid, and the monstrosities that emerge felt like an old tribute to Ray Harryhausen's old stop motion techniques. I also found it to be a little coincidental/funny that I've now watched two films in the past two days that both featured graphic facial destruction. If that pops up at all again in the last entries, I'll be convinced that something is amiss.
This is great fun. Is it perfect? No, but if you are between the ages of eight and fourteen, this could be the holy grail of hidden horror gems for sure. Even if you're not, this is still a very fun, creepy, and almost Lovecraftian horror film that I can only hope earns more fans over time. I know there are plans to remake this very soon (with friggin' Bill from Bill & Ted as the director!), but I'm not convinced this needs an update of any sort, minus the Blu-ray that was recently released.
I could've done without the somewhat forced happy ending and the clear advertisement for Canadian metal band Sacrifice though.
Oh damn it, I just complained! Curses.
Tomorrow, we're winding down to the very end, and tackle the often discussed HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER.
