Cerebral Pop: October 2010

Features

Laura Jane Grace Isn't Going to Ruin Against Me, She's Going to Reinvigorate Them

Morning Glory's Recent Tour Felt Like a Symbolic Farewell to Ezra Kire's Past, Invitation to his Future

Handling Hecklers with MC Chris: An Exploration in Putting Up With or Putting a Stop to Bullshit

Subscribe to our Podcasts: Sophist Radio | Unoriginal Soundtracks | Shuffled

October 29, 2010

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

Netflix Minute: Stargate SG-1

Serial science fiction television shows are a dime a dozen. Of course, the quintessential series that pops into most people's minds is Star Trek, whether in its original form or its many variants. The list goes on, including titles like Babylon 5, Sliders, Lost, The X-Files, V, Quantum Leap, The Outer Limits... I've made my point. Few manage to survive past several seasons, with most losing too many primary actors to be viable, retreading the same ground too many times, or simply just not retaining the spark that made them popular in the first place. One true survivor managed to catch my attention recently, lasting an entire ten seasons and holding the mantle as longest-running sci-fi series for quite some time. That television show is, of course, Stargate SG-1.

Every other Wednesday I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, songs about world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for random terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and rediscover old classics.

Alan Wake, like Max Payne before it, is simultaneously great and trash. It embraces King-Koontz thriller novels and exaggerates them like Payne did to noir cinema and comics. It's a guilty pleasure -- its melodrama is laughable at times, but Alan is a nuanced character I cared for more than enough to help find his wife. It's derivative, but that's what Remedy do best -- they grind popular culture into a brilliant condensed pulp.

Video Round-Up: Detention Edition

The Round-Up is late this week. I am sorry! But I haven't shortchanged you at all. I bring you a new-old classic speech, Christine O'Donnell, contemporary art, Auto-Tuned News and more!

I can't be the only person that heard about Steve Carell's plan to leave The Office after the 2010 season, and felt mild relief. Not that he isn't a wonderfully talented comedian, and the show isn't one of the best on TV, but honestly, I'm kind of sick of his character.

As shows go, there is no shortage of zany characters with their own unique quirks in The Office, but Michael Scott has become the one whack-job out of all of them that no longer tickles my funny bone. It's abundantly clear that in every single situation he is put in, he will inevitably make the worst possible decision. One that is based on a need for approval instead of common sense. It might have been funny before, but I've come to the conclusion that it is taking away from the development of the other characters.

Movie Review: Life As We Know It

The previews for Life As We Know It do a very good job of telling you everything about this movie. It follows the usual romantic-comedy formula in placing two wildly incompatible people together through some contrived act of fate and then spends the rest of its time making you laugh at their mistakes and hope they eventually see a way to get together. I'm sure that if you've seen more than five romantic comedies in the last ten years then you could write this movie yourself. It has a few saving graces, but doggedly sticks to the rom-com formula, even when diverging into originality might've helped it stand out from the crowd.

Movie Review: Red

When someone proposes a story that has Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, Morgan Freeman and John Malkovich playing ex-CIA operatives out to cause havoc while trying to find their would-be assassins, it doesn't take a genius to say, "Sign me up!" These are all incredibly talented actors on their own, and here they're let loose in a crazy, definitely-came-from-a-comic-book premise. And the whole thing is played for fun. You don't send a kill squad through a suburban city street, firing automatic weapons into a house until it collapses and expect to be taken seriously.

Movie Review: Jackass 3D

Disgusting, ridiculous, stupid, over-the-top, outrageous, moronic, hilarious, and incredibly dangerous. All of these words easily describe the stunts that the Jackass gang do on a regular basis. They are one of the originators (if not the originators), of the stupid and dangerous stunt genre, if there is such a thing. At least, there have certainly been a lot of copycats over the years (and countless spin-offs), so is the formula stale?

In short, no. I may not be a ravenous fan of the show, it's spin-offs, or the movie adaptations, but I definitely enjoyed myself. And honestly, was I left with any gaping plot-holes because I never saw the second movie? Probably not. It doesn't take much to be entertained by Johnny Knoxville and his crew's particular brand of lunacy.

Insufficient Funds: Pixel Purge

This isn’t some kind of rule, and I hesitate to even say it, but the simple and free games found all over the internet have probably taken up much more of my time than any single game I’ve purchased in the last few months. I should learn my lesson and never buy another game again, but that’s not going to happen. I’m just too stupid.

Look, I don’t recommend many games because of how subjective someone’s enjoyment of a video game is, but I’m going to recommend this game: Pixel Purge.

Netflix Minute: Mad Max

Old films are often fairly difficult to get into, as sensibilities change and some themes may be more effective in the context of their inception. However, classics generally rise above the rest, setting the standard for movies in the same realm of thought. Akira Kurosawa, Stanley Kubrick, Ingmar Bergman, Jean-Luc Goddard, and many other directors may come to mind when thinking about foundational films. While these visionaries certainly deserve their due praise, filmmakers who create action movies or comedies are more tricky to remember. George Miller, for instance, created a classic action film which is the subject of this review - Mad Max.

Mad Max isn't nearly as old as some of the works of the directors I previously mentioned, but the release year of 1979 puts a fairly sizable amount of time between then and now. As a result, it's easy to see the inspiration that Miller's work provoked, especially for films of the post-apocalyptic, dystopian subgenre.

Shuffled: Punk Plus Edition

This edition turned out very punk-filled, except for the first track by The Dodos. While most of my musical tastes have matured into the indie territory since high school, punk is still a very comforting genre for me. When life gets complicated, it's always nice to put on one of my favorite punk albums and unwind by acting like a complete fool, singing and drumming along in my car. It takes me back to a simpler time in life, when bills and jobs weren't a worry. Maybe it will do the same for you.

Video Round-Up: Jerkin' Back and Forth Edition

In this week's Video Round-Up, I play with your emotions. But don't worry, I'd never rile you up without bringing you back down. There are some hot-button issues at hand here, and also some completely ridiculous "issues" at hand. So hit the jump for cleavage, hope, space, modifications, and sleazy paparazzi. It's definitely an interesting mix.

Sophist Radio Episode 33: Analogies Are Like Sharks...

The gang tries out a new format in this episode... having no format. But the newly uncaged bird that is the Sophist Radio crew has a game-filled discussion for us, with plenty to say about Civilization 5, DJ Hero, Left 4 Dead 2, Dead Rising 2: Case Zero, Spider Man: Shattered Dimensions, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, Hydrophobia, Enslaved, Bioshock: Infinite and more. Also, several ridiculous tangents like the differences between black, white, and Hispanic boy bands, and the Adventures of the Gummi Bears. Hit the jump to give it a listen, now in a handy, manageable size.

Movie Review: It's Kind of a Funny Story

I can respect a movie that focuses on characters far more easily than I can one that focuses on plot. There's something intrinsically pleasing and human about getting to know someone through the lens of a projected screen. It gives you a baseline to build a foundation of a movie experience, whereas a focus on plot tends to have several points of friction. Of course, almost any effective piece of cinematic art depends on both characterization and plot to capture the attention of its viewers.

It's Kind of a Funny Story tells a... kind of funny story about a teenager who checks himself into a psychiatric ward after contemplating suicide. While this one sentence introduction might suggest something like a black comedy or tragic drama, directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck approach the topic with varying degrees of levity and gravity with a fair amount of success.

While Michigan might not have a thriving music scene along the lines of Seattle, or Athens, Georgia, there are still a fair amount of great bands around here. Tiny but creative music scenes in Lansing, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Kalamazoo and all of the smaller cities in between come together to make a slew of great bands that might never get the national attention they deserve.

One of the most creative and interesting of the Michigan musicians I've come across is Levi Jacob Bailey. Prolific is certainly one word to describe Levi. His "normal" band is Spit for Athena, one of my favorites local bands, or really, bands in general. I even got them to play at my bachelor party at the local bowling alley, because while most people go to strip clubs and get drunk for their bachelor party, I just want to see live music.

Netflix Minute: The Men Who Stare at Goats

Quirkiness is a tricky beast. Directors like the Coen Brothers and Wes Anderson have an uncanny ability to tap into this style and present generally well regarded films as a result. Many others try their best to capture this beast and steer it to their own success, but ultimately fail. It's hard to say where Grant Heslov's The Men Who Stare at Goats ends up between those two extremes, but I can say with a fair amount of certainty that I had fun with his latest flick.

The film tells the story of a group of supernatural soldiers trained in the Army under Bill Django, played by Jeff Bridges. It's told mostly through flashbacks, relayed in concert with the unfolding events between journalist Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) and former Army "Jedi Warrior" Lyn Cassady (George Clooney). The two met in Kuwait when Bob was desperately looking for an interesting story to report on after his wife left him. When he heard Lyn's name, he recalled an interview he held with a man who he then thought was crazy, going on about military experiments with the paranormal.

Unoriginal Soundtracks: Halo Reach Edition

Reach, is Bungie's swansong to the Halo universe they created. Its deals with death, sacrifice, and leaving friends behind. That's all appropriate to the plot, but I can't help but wonder if it mirror's Bungie's feelings -- sacrificing a fat cash-cow, leaving behind their baby, and moving on to something new.

Music Review: Fake Problems - Real Ghosts Caught on Tape

When I first heard of Fake Problems, the comparisons to Against Me were inevitable. They had a similar, folksy/punk sound, and just happened to also come from Florida. It might have been a shallow attempt at describing them, but it was a fairly accurate way of doing so. Still, I knew right from the start that they had promise and would become something great in a couple of albums. As far as I am concerned, this album is it.

Even if you aren't familiar with The Social Network, you've no doubt heard of Facebook, the incredibly popular website that inspired it. The site boasts over 500 million users, but it didn't get there by accident. Every massive success story started somewhere, and The Social Network suggests that Facebooks is filled with backstabbing, thievery and unchecked ambition. How much of that is true is left to the audience.

Video Round-Up: Find Your Own Tree Edition

As much as possible, I try to include videos from the present and also the past. That way I strike a balance between videos that were meant to be viral, or Youtube-funny, or Gen-Y, and others that we're just plain fortunate to have at our fingertips. I have decently succeeded this week, staying in the 21st century, but also providing a nice breadth. Jazz, hipsters, Japanese, dubbed Scott Pilgrim. Go!

Music Wrap-Up: September

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.

Like every month, this month is full of new releases from bands I've heard a lot about but have never investigated further. Having the monthly Music Wrap-Up helps me feel obligated to take the plunge, so it not only helps you discover new music, but helps me as well! And we've had a pretty good month, with new releases from bands like Les Savy Fav, The Walkmen, Ben Folds, and more.

Plus, this is the grand unveiling of a slew of new features for this here feature. It isn't just prettier on the eyes, but it's also got handy links to the each of the tracks separately so you can refer back to specific songs without having to scour through the playlist. Plus, there are handy Amazon links to buy anything you like (and help us out at the same time). Oh, and helpful lists of stuff I didn't feature, and stuff I'll probably feature next month. So hit the jump and enjoy the music!

Show Review: Rob Cowen & The Dissidents

Thursday, September 23 @ Barfly (Camden Town, London, UK)

The idea of a singer/songwriter from the Bruce Springsteen School of Working Class Rocking that comes from northern England is a bit strange -- especially considering that the U.K. has its own fair share of blue collar rock legends. But Rob Cowen and his band (The Dissidents) are out to prove this idea might not be as strange as it sounds -- in fact, once you've listened to them, you'll be convinced.

After the opening act, Winterhours, was through with their set (a rather uninspired group of generic alternative rock tunes), Rob Cowen and his backing band (and the Barfly's sound engineer) set-up their gear as fast as possible in order to maintain whatever momentum the show had gathered until then.

Podcasts are one of my favorite forms of entertainment as I'm in my car at least five hours a day, 365 days a year. And it's only natural that with all of that podcast listening time, my taste in the form of entertainment that I hold so dear has slowly turned from talk of video games and movies, to just plain comedy shows. I used to listen to at least one video game podcast a day, but now my iTunes list is filled with stuff to make me laugh; And Stop Podcasting Yourself is one of my favorites.

Features

October 29, 2010

October 28, 2010

October 27, 2010

October 26, 2010

October 25, 2010

October 22, 2010

October 21, 2010

October 20, 2010

October 19, 2010

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October 14, 2010

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October 11, 2010

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