October Music Wrap-Up

The Music Wrap-Up is a monthly summary of my favorite and other notable new releases. Having trouble keeping up with all the new music? Need some music suggestions? Then the Music Wrap-Up is for you. And please support these musicians as that's the reason I'm featuring them in the first place.

The already short release list this month was further hampered by my being unable to obtain several of them as well. It's been a busy month for me, so some of my write-ups may be slightly less informed than normal as I'll be writing based on the songs I could find on YouTube instead of the whole album. It's not ideal, but it'll have to do. The playlist may be much smaller, but there were some really good releases. Enjoy!

Insufficient Funds: Radiolab

 

Insufficient Funds is a weekly post in which we feature a free, or very close to it, piece of media that you can enjoy without overdrafting your bank account. So if you're low on funds, stay tuned to Cerebral Pop every Friday morning.

Most of the podcasts I listen to are a bit conversational in both tone and pace. Some step it up a little, spreading their topics into segments to better focus the discussion. Then, there are the distinct few who truly produce their shows, editing the conversation in a very deliberate way, adding sounds effects or music, and keeping a tight grip on the message of each show. Radiolab definitely fits in that last category.

Netflix Minute: Spy Game

 

Netflix Minute is a weekly feature highlighting a title from Netflix's catalog of instant view films. If you want to spend a night snuggled up with a bag of popcorn and don't want to drive to the video store, this is for you.

I'll get it out of the way right now... Tony Scott certainly isn't his brother Ridley. While he's directed his fair share of hits, Tony simply doesn't have the "never fails" reliability of Ridley. This is especially the case in recent times, with the failures of his last two films, Deja Vu and The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3. Some might argue that this dip might continue into Scott's upcoming film Unstoppable, I can't help but recall the great films he's put on the screen. One particular title that slipped under my radar and has proven to be one of these successes is Spy Game.

Shuffled: No Theme Edition

Every other Wednesday I hit the shuffle button on my 90 gigabytes of music and post the results. I might have to justify some of the stuff in my library, but hopefully it will help inform you of new music -- Or at least be entertaining.

Every time I do this feature I think about deleting a majority of my music library. So many albums I never listen to. You ever get worried that you're missing out on really great music that you would love? I mean, there's billions of bands out there, so I feel the urge to check out any and every one that I hear about. Do I have a problem? Is there a support group for this?

Music Review: Avey Tare - Down There

I'm not usually of the belief that a bad first impression matters much when it comes to music. Usually, the most rewarding music is that which you have to work at before you truly appreciate it. It might not click with you the first time you sit down to listen to it for any number of reasons, but after a handful of play-throughs you come to enjoy it for what it is, not what you expected it to be. And that mostly sums up my experience with Avey Tare's new release.

The new solo release by the man better known as a part of Animal Collective was probably hurt by my own expectations. While Animal Collective aren't the most normal of bands, their last few releases have had enough of a pop element to help pull in new listeners. And while Panda Bear -- another founding member -- released a solo outing that was also pretty different from the band, it was sprawling, and lush with sounds that immediately took hold of your eardrums and pulled you into their world.

Movie Review: Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'hoole

To assume that an animated movie inherently signals material fit for children is, quite simply, childish. Animation allows for impossible scenes and stories to be visualized without spending billions of dollars, while letting the creators express themes and ideas that don't translate well in a live-action movie. Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole is a fantastic movie that parents might feel inclined to show their children. But they should be prepared to explain some things once the movie's finished. Like the concepts of kidnapping, child soldiers, betrayal, slavery, fascism, and why this is relevant in today's world.

Video Round-Up: Nostalgia Lane Edition

Video Round-Up is a weekly post collecting an assortment of videos from around the web. Whether they be music videos, creative viral marketing, just plain cool, or just plain ridiculous, they will all be found on Video Round-Up.

This week's Round-Up is an assorted mix of awesome. The nostalgia comes from a retro-inspired commercial and a Simpsons intro that has me looking to return to one of my most beloved childhood TV show obsessions. But apart from that, there is some amazing vocal talent from my newest schoolgirl-like crush, and a eery phone call you might not have heard, probably won't believe, but should find interesting nonetheless. Enjoy!

Sophist Radio Episode 34: The Giant Bombast

In their continuing adventure into inanity and format-less shows, the Sophist crew discusses the attractiveness of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and actor David Boreanaz. They also discuss how World of Warcraft is very much like Fallout: New Vegas, and after that, James, Harold, and Aaron waffle about the merits of Vanquish and the game's difficulty. More tangents and off topic chatter than you can shake a stick at. At the end of the day, what's important is that you should play Super Fallout mixed-story Meat Boy...grilled cheese.

P.S. Don't click play if you're at work, or around children/those prone to heart-attacks.

Movie Review: Let Me In

It's tough being 12-years old. Especially when you have a borderline-alcoholic mother, get bullied constantly at school, have no friends, and constantly observe your neighbors through a telescope while acting out serial killer revenge fantasies in your room. Such is the life of Owen. Once he befriends Abby, a girl who just moved in next door, things start looking up. Well, not really. She's a vampire, you see, and that can put a damper on some bonding potential.

Insufficient Funds: Childish Gambino - Culdesac

Insufficient Funds is a weekly post in which we feature a free, or very close to it, piece of media that you can enjoy without overdrafting your bank account. So if you're low on funds, stay tuned to Cerebral Pop every Friday morning.

While I would probably never cite rap as one of my favorite genres, I've been known to enjoy it on a few select occasions. The biggest problem I usually have with it is not being able to relate to most of the subject matter at all. So many giant egos rapping about girls and clubs and having pissing matches with other large, muscle-y men whose sides I will never take. I'm a white, mid-20s male, married with a kid, and a huge boner for all forms of media that I will never even hope to create on my own. So, it makes sense that the only rap I enjoy is the stuff that isn't written with the traditional genre conventions in mind: mc chris, Saul Williams, and now, Childish Gambino, the rap-persona of Community star Donald Glover.