NeuFutur Magazine / neufutur.com: December 2013

Ghost Face Killah is one of the most challenging beers that we have reviewed; the fire that the beer provides is granted from the ghost and habanero peppers that are included in the brewing process. While pepper beers have been a hot commodity through 2013, I feel that Ghost Face Killah is an effort that beer and hot sauce snobs will appreciate. The beer itself is incredibly smooth, with little to no hop bite present. Before the high levels of spice kick in, one will be able to discern the profiles of some of the most normally-spiced peppers (Serranos and Fresnos). The beer is slightly slow-going, and benefits greatly with an ancillary snack (Twisted Pine says that ice cream is good, but we were a fan of a glass of water and slightly salty snack).

The Ghost Face Killah would be an excellent holiday or birthday gift, while the beer itself is best enjoyed in a party setting. Visit the Twisted Pine website for more information about Ghost Face Killah and the rest of the company’s brews. While the company’s beers are not as mind-meltingly hot as Ghost Face Killah, they are crafted with the same care as this effort. Check your local beer stores to see if they stock Twisted Pine.

Rating: 7.8/10

Ghost Face Killah / 5.0% ABV / Twisted Pine Brewing Company / www.twistedpinebrewing.com

Ghost Face Killah Beer Review

Pax Vaporizer by Ploom Review

The vaporizer is one of the most simple that we have had the chance to review. Where there are a number of settings or other steps (filling the product, ratcheting in the correct temperature), all one needs to do when it comes to the Pax Vaporizer is charge it up and to place the herbal blend into the product. The light that is on the front of the device glows with a variety of colors, keying in to a specific color when trhe material is ready to vaporize. After that, all one needs to do is to take up the device and puff gently on the mouthpiece. Each fill of the Pax is more than enough to sate two or three individuals, while the refill processs is incredibly easy. The magnetized bottom removes easily, while the chamber can be cleaned off in a similarly simple fashion. The Pax is able to efficiently vaporize whatever plant material one places inside it, and the small form that it possesses makes it easy to pack around in a bag, purse, or satchel. The device charges quickly on a simple two-prong charger.

Ploom is offering the device for around $250, with free shipping. The Pax comes in a variety of colors – Green, Purple, Blue, and Black. For those individuals that also smoke tobacco, the company offers the ploom modelTwo, which uses ploom pods. The ploom pods are single-serving tobacco capsules that are blended with a variety of different flavors and plants. For those individuals that need to have a hands-on setting to want to purchase the Pax (or the ploom modelTwo), Ploom also has listed the authorized retailers in one’s neck of the woods. As the Pax Vaporizer continues to grow in fame, look for this list to increase considerably.

Rating: 8.5/10

Pax Vaporizer by Ploom Review / www.ploom.com/pax / http://www.ploom.com

Pax Vaporizer by Ploom Review

When Calls The Heart DVD Review

When Calls The Heart, a film adaptation of a Janette Oke title, is a tremendously inspiring film, and the movie is something that all members of the family can appreciate. The title surrounds an earlier period in American history (1875-1915, or so). While there are specific problems that the cast must encounter that are specific to that time period, the overall narrative that is weaved in When Calls The Heart is something that will resound loudly with anyone that watches the movie. The break between high society and the rough and rugged experience had by those in the Western Frontier is experienced by Elizabeth Thatcher (Poppy Drayton). Thatcher is a teacher that has to show eir family that ey has adequate skills necessary to make a living. With self-doubt creeping in, Elizabeth is able to find solace in the fact that eir Aunt Elizabeth (Maggie Grace) had successfully completed the same sojourn some time before.

What When Calls The Heart succeeds most at is in the costuming and the set design. Viewers will be transported back to an earlier time, while an all-star cast ensures that proper language and mannerisms are utilized.

The home video edition of the movie succeeds as well, with a beautiful transfer that renders flesh tones accurate and both outside and inside scenes to really pop. Make sure to purchase a copy of When Calls The Heart from a variety of physical stores (video shops and Christian media retailers will likely have it) and online retailers – a copy of the release will likely cost from $15-20.

Rating: 9.2/10

When Calls The Heart DVD Review / 2013 Word Films / 89 Minutes / www.facebook.com/wordfilms

When Calls The Heart DVD Review

Christina Perri Reveals Album Cover & New Song "I Believe"

Christina Perri has revealed the cover artwork for her new album head or heart, which will be released March 11^th.

head or heart is now available for pre-order. Fans who pre-order the album will receive a gratis download of “I Believe,” which is the final track on the album.

Listen to “I Believe” here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPVyY200sdI (Post & Share)

Preorder the album here:

itunes: smarturl.it/cpheadorheart

webstore (pre-order bundles): bit.ly/cpheadorheartpreorder

“head or heart” – which follows the acclaimed singer/songwriter’s breakthrough 2011 debut, “lovestrong” – was recorded over the past year with production from Martin Johnson (Avril Lavigne, Gavin Degraw), Jake Gosling (Ed Sheeran, One Direction), John Hill (P!nk, Mayer Hawthorne, Santigold), and Butch Walker (Taylor Swift, Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco). The album was mixed by GRAMMY® Award-winning engineer Manny Marroquin (Kanye West, John Legend, Alicia Keys).

Named as iTunes’ “Breakthrough Pop Artist of 2011,” Perri earned critical applause and an increasingly fervent fan following with her extraordinary debut, “lovestrong.” Highlighted by the 3x-platinum certified smash, “Jar of Hearts,” the album – produced by GRAMMY®-winning producer Joe Chiccarelli (The White Stripes, My Morning Jacket) – entered the SoundScan/Billboard 200 among the top 5 upon its initial release, while also proving an unqualified international sensation with top 5 success in Australia and Ireland as well as top 10 sales in Canada and the United Kingdom.

Perri followed “lovestrong.” with the RIAA 4x-platinum certified hit single, “A Thousand Years,” exclusively featured on Summit Entertainment/Chop Shop/Atlantic’s “THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN – PART 1 & 2– ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACKS.” The track was a multi-format radio favorite, with top 10 airplay at Hot AC and top 25 spins at CHR/Top 40 outlets nationwide.

www.christinaperri.com

twitter.com/christinaperri

www.instagram.com/christinaperri

CHRISTINA PERRI

NORTH AMERICAN TOUR 2014

APRIL

4 Denver, CO Ogden Theatre

5 Salt Lake City, UT The Depot

8 Minneapolis, MN Mill City Nights

9 Chicago, IL House of Blues

11 Detroit, MI Majestic Theatre

12 Cincinnati, OH Bogart’s

14 Toronto, ON Danforth Music Hall

16, 17 New York, NY Irving Plaza

19 Philadelphia, PA Electric Factory

20 Boston, MA House of Blues

22 Washington, DC 9:30 Club

24 Cleveland, OH House of Blues

25 Louisville, KY Mercury Ballroom

26 Indianapolis, IN Deluxe

28 St. Louis, MO Plush

29 Nashville, TN Cannery Ballroom

30 Atlanta, GA Buckhead Theatre

MAY

2 Lake Buena Vista, FL House of Blues

3 St.Petersburg, FL State Theatre

6 Houston, TX House of Blues

7 Austin, TX Emo’s

9 Dallas, TX House of Blues

10 Lawrence, KS Grenada Theater

13 Tempe, AZ The Marquee

14 San Diego, CA Humphreys

16 Las Vegas, NV House of Blues

17 Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern

20 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore

21 Sacramento, CA Ace of Spades

23 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom

24 Seattle, WA Neptune

26 Vancouver, BC Vogue Theatre

Monday, December 30, 2013

Dylan Connor Interview

Hello, Dylan. What should we know about you?

Blood Like Fire (Songs for Syria) is my fourth official release as a solo artist. Previously, I released three albums as front man for San Francisco based power pop band M.Headphone. As it stands right now, I am the only American singer to release an album of original songs about the crisis in Syria. I have no Syrian background, but I am married to a Syrian woman, and I have traveled and performed there several times. I live in Stratford, CT and teach Latin during the day, where I often bust out the guitar and sing songs about Latin grammar and red pens.

Which artists have influenced your music and how much do these influences play into your creative process?

Neil Young. I grew up with Neil Young playing on the turntable in my house. I feel so close to his music that I refer to him as “Uncle Neil.” Like Neil, I often oscillate between rocking out heavily with my band and playing mellow, solo acoustic shows.

Guided By Voices really changed the way I look at rock n roll… They saved rock for me in the 90s like the Replacements did in the 80s. Robert Pollard of GBV taught me that I could write songs that are stream of consciousness, one minute long, and record them in my basement with out of tune instruments. So, because of him, I did a lot of 4-track records where I played all of the instruments.

How has your approach to creating music changed over the period since you first started performing and today?

The biggest difference today is probably my voice. I have learned that I don’t have to push so much in order to rock. In the old days I would shred my voice at almost every gig, and now I sing with much more control by getting out of my own way. The other thing that has changed a lot is that I edit my lyrics a lot more these days. I used to make a point of NOT revising the lyrics because they were purer that way… but now I find myself reworking the lyrics again and again.

Who would you say are your biggest influences?

Van Halen, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, the Beatles, Michael Jackson, Prince, Tom Petty, The Ramones, the Lemonheads, and Ben Folds.

What role do politics and current events have in your music?

A big role. This new record is very political by chronicling the Syrian uprising/revolution, and the resulting crisis we see today. I am on the side of the people of Syria who want to be free from the oppression and brutality of the Assad regime. I am against the regime of Syria and the extremists who are hijacking what was once purely a peoples’ revolution. Most of all I am stunned and infuriated by the world’s inaction, as the superpowers stand aside and let this massacre continue.

Why should fans purchase Blood Like Fire (Songs for Syria)?

Fans should by this record because it looks and sounds mint. The record was engineered, produced, and mixed by Bryce Goggin (Pavement, Phish, Nada Surf, Lemonheads) with my full band, The Epic Poets. Proceeds from sales of this record will go directly to aid displaced Syrian children through Karam Foundation (www.karamfoundation.org). This record is the first political, protest record I have ever done – it is essentially a concept album.

Social media is a major part of activism and the organic dissemination of news and culture. How has social media impacted your career, and how does it compare to traditional (word-of-mouth) methods?

I rely heavily on Facebook and Twitter to connect with fans. Especially now, since my music videos are playing on Arabic satellite news stations, I get messages on Facebook from new fans every day. It is a beautiful feeling to connect directly with Syrian people who are in the thick of it but take the time to express gratitude for my songs of solidarity. Also, the way the Syrian uprising got out to the world was through Youtube – people on the ground were posting videos of peaceful activists being gunned down by the regime. The first song and video that I did for Syria was made of these amateur video clips. It was amazing how quickly the song and video connected through the use of social media. Without social media, these songs and this new direction for my music would have not been possible.

How would individuals find out about you and purchase your album when it comes out on January 14^th?

www.dylanconnor.com is my website. www.facebook.com/DylanConnorMusic is another resource. The album will be available through all major on line retailer, such as iTunes, Amazon, Cdbaby, Spotify, Pandora, etc.

Aside from your impending EP release, what else will 2014 hold for you?

I will be doing CD release events in major US citites, NYC, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco etc. I will also be doing a lot of fundraising concerts for Syria. For example, I will be performing at the National Conference for SAMS (Syrian American Medical Society) in San Diego in February. More importantly, I will be traveling with a delegation from Karam Foundation to work with Syrian refugees in Jordan in the summer.

Do you have anything else to tell NeuFutur readers?

Dylan Connor Interview

Herr Baked Ripple Cut Potato Crisps – Jalapeno Flavored and Sweet Potat

The chips are crispy without being greasy, and have a nice level of heat to them. The peppery flavor of the chips stand up well to repeat snacking; Herr’s has crafted a flavor profile for their potato crisps that not only is innovative, but will please the greatest possible amount of Herr’s fans. For those that are conscious about their health, this addition to the Herr’s baked line has only 2 grams of fat (3% of the RDV) per each ounce. The 110 calorie count of the serving is small enough that individuals even on the most restrictive of diets will be able to find a place for the Jalapeno crisps on their plate.

The Sweet Potato Baked Crisps are perhaps the strongest of the batch. Herr’s provides a distinct offering on the traditional potato chip flavor by including sweet potatos into the mix. There is a good blend of sweet and slightly salty here, lending themselves well to the chip format. I would like to have a little pepper profile to the Sweet Potato chips, but I feel that introducing the collective palette to sweet potato in chip format is enough of a start.

Make sure to visit your local store to purchase a bag of the Herr Baked Ripple Cut Potato Crisps, and take a look at the company’s website for more information about the full breadth of their offerings. Herr’s is really good about releasing new products in a rapid fashion, so make sure to keep looking out for the new varietals of their crisps efforts.

Rating: 8.5/10

Herr Baked Ripple Cut Potato Crisps – Jalapeno Flavored and Sweet Potato / $3.99 / www.herrs.com

The Hunt DVD

The use of color in this film provides a greater level of nuance to what is already a compelling and alluring title. The movie surrounds the mob mentality that occurs when stories are picked up by mass media without properly vetting the initial sources. The Hunt is one of the first films that I can recall that has shown the specific ramifications of a false accusation. Part of the impact of The Hunt comes in the roles turned in by Mads Mikkelsen (Lucas) and the rest of the cast. While the movie is set in Denmark, I feel that the issues that are associated with this sort of mistaken guilty transcends state and country borders; anyone that has had a jealous love craft lies will be able to feel for Lucas. After being vindicated as innocent in the commission of the crime, Lucas is still haunted by the specter of this accusation – the film shows that Lucas will never be free of these lies.

The Magnolia Pictures release of the title is very sharp, and presents the dialogue of the film with a clarity that ensures that anyone that is familiar with Danish will be able to pick up every utterance. English subtitles are provided, and seem to follow pretty faithfully the original intent of the film.

The Hunt can be purchased from a wide variety of online and brick and mortar stores. Look to spend about around $20 for a copy of the DVD; Magnolia has also released the film in the Blu-Ray format for around $25. Visit the Magnolia Pictures website for information about their properties, previous releases, and their presence on social media websites.

Rating: 9.4/10

The Hunt DVD / 2013 Magnolia Pictures / 116 Minutes / www.magpictures.com

The Hunt DVD

Mexican Standoff Review

Mexican Standoff pours with a very dark color, Spicy, chocolaty, and with a nice coffee flavor. The Mexican Standoff is an eye-opening and warmth-generating effort, a great introduction to Due South Brewing Company. This Florida-based brewery has just released Mexican Standoff, an epic porter that will caress imbibers while bludgeoning them mercilessly.

Mexican Standoff’s warmth is due to the presence of Scotch Bonnet peppers. The outward heat situates this beer nicely between smokier imperial porters and the tear-your-soul out Ghost Pepper efforts. The beer is tremendously eclectic, providing imbibers with countless twists and turns. This means that the creaminess of the porter can pop out with one sip, while the pure heat of the pepper side may rear its head soon after. As the beer gets warmer, the spice side mellows out somewhat and allows the cinnamon and sugar notes of the porter to show themselves. A 22 ounce bottle of the Mexican Standoff will make for a great night or a tremendous opening to a session for two or three individuals.

Due South’s website provides information about the brewery’s offerings and the company’s taproom, and presents an up to date beer list for the latter. If you ever find yourself in the South Florida area, make this sojourn – Due South has hit it out of the part with this challenging brew. This is a perfect end to an already strong 2013 for microbrews.

Rating: 9.6/10

Mexican Standoff / 8.5% ABV / Imperial / Strong Porter / Due South Brewing Company / www.duesouthbrewing.com/

Mexican Standoff Review

TEEN AGERS: Winter Tour

Beginning on Thursday, TEEN AGERS (Orlando, FL) will embark on a 10-day tour of the East Coast in support of its debut full-length, I Hate It. The Orlando punk outfit – which features past and current members of Go Rydell, Protagonist, How Dare You and Direct Effect – will be playing shows with Divided Heaven.

Recorded by Less Than Jake’s Roger Lima and mixed and mastered by Stephen Egerton of Descendents and All, I Hate It was released in November by Anchorless Records. The album is available on LP and CD formats, with the former being limited to 300 on color vinyl. The record is also out digitally via Bandcamp and iTunes.

You can currently stream the 10-song long player in full at Punknews.org. Additionally, Teen Agers recently teamed up with PureVolume to premier a video for “Here We Go Again,” one of the album’s many standout tracks.

Stay tuned for more Teen Agers news in the coming month. You can follow the band on Facebook and Twitter for daily updates.

——————————————————————————————————————

TOUR DATES

JAN 02 – Norfolk, VA @ The Iguana w/ Thomas McDonald & the Record Collection

JAN 03 – Baltimore, MD @ Sidebar w/ Ex Friends, Ma Jolie, Toy Store Riot and more

JAN 04 – Doylestown, PA @ Siren Records w/ Squid Subject A, Ma Jolie, Townhouses

JAN 05 – New Brunswick, NJ @ Court Tavern w/ Timeshares, Great Explainer, City Limits

JAN 06 – Trenton, NJ @ Mill Hill Saloon w/ Great Explainer

JAN 08 – Philadelphia, PA @ Golden Tea Room w/ Signals Midwest, Timeshares

JAN 09 – Providence, RI @ Dusk w/ Neutrinos, She Said That

JAN 10 – Cambridge, MA @ Plough And Stars w/ Jeff Rowe

JAN 11 – Brooklyn, NY @ The Gutter w/ Young Leaves, Scarboro

JAN 12 – Alexandria, VA @ The Lab w/ Ex Friends, Braceface (CD release)

Recorded by Less Than Jake’s Roger Lima and mixed and mastered by Stephen Egerton of Descendents and All, I Hate It erupts like a sonic Cthulhu from beneath the Florida swamps, barreling its way through 30 minutes of propulsive, dynamic and undeniably catchy punk rock. Teen Agers contains no actual teenagers – I mean, look at those beards – but it does boast past and current members of bands such as Go Rydell, Protagonist, How Dare You and Direct Effect. With plenty of melody to satisfy the crowd at your next wine mixer and a hearty helping of riffage guaranteed to satiate any unresolved adolescent angst, this barnstormer of a debut is like an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object – just a bit slower, so as to not pull a muscle. Highly recommended for fans of The Menzingers, Hot Water Music, Dag Nasty and Lifetime.

TEEN AGERS: Winter Tour

Ane Bune and Linnea Olsson's "Halo" live video

Ane Brun and Linnea Olsson’s live performance of Beyoncé’s “Halo” recently premiered on Rolling Stone’s website at rol.st/JaRM46 and can be streamed and shared on YouTube at youtu.be/6FWG4hIzQTo. A studio version of the cover also appears on Ane Brun’s new collection Rareties, out now on her own Balloon Ranger label. The singer is set to embark on a North American tour with Olsson, a cellist and singer who will support Brun as a featured musician. “I am very excited to perform my music in America,” says Olsson. “I love touring in the states and I am curious about how the audience will receive my songs. I can’t wait to get there.” The tour includes stops in Los Angeles and New York; please see below for complete tour dates.

Brun’s second collection of the year Rareties follows the release of Songs 2003-2013 in May and is being praised by Stereo Subversion as “the proper monument for an artist intent on documenting an achievement” and by Ear Buddy as a “must listen.” Both collections are celebrations of Brun’s critically acclaimed and highly successful ten-year music career, and Rarities features lesser-known works spanning her time as a recording artist.

According to Brun, “Rarities is a compilation of songs and recordings that have either not been released, or have been released on other compilations or as singles. This is a way to empty our cupboards of recordings that have been lying around, and another way to mark my ten year anniversary as an artist.” The collection includes covers of Björk and The Beatles, among others, as well as new versions of fan favorites and previously unreleased songs. See below for full track listing.

Rarities collects some of the more private moments from Brun’s career. Her cover of “Halo” derives from a tradition of singing the song backstage to warm up on her 2009 tour with The Diamonds. The Beatles’ “From Me To You” and Amerie’s “1 Thing” were recorded alone in Brun’s Stockholm studio. The piano version of “Oh Love,” is a recording of a performance of the song for a small group of friends.

On the other hand, Rarities also includes some very public moments released for the first time. Brun’s rendition of Björk’s “Joga” was recorded at the 2012 Polar Prize Award Ceremony in front of Björk herself and a TV audience of millions. Brun remembers being “as nervous as I’ve ever been, both before and after.” Fans may recognize the new version of “Humming One of Your Songs,” the first track from Brun’s very first album, from renditions at live shows the past few years.

Brun was born in Norway and lives in Stockholm. She has recorded eight albums over the last ten years. In 2005, her second album A Temporary Dive earned her critical acclaim at home and abroad and the Norwegian Grammy for Best Female Artist. Her third album The Changing Of The Seasons was recorded in Iceland by Valgier Sigursson, of which the New York Times said, “Changing of the Seasons offers the kind of comfort that only well-versed singer-songwriters can give. An album full of sad songs to revel in as the days grow shorter and colder, Seasons is Brun’s strongest work yet.” Songs 2003-2013 was a confirmation of Brun’s achievements as a songwriter, and Rarities furthers that proclamation, celebrating the less-known corners of Brun’s catalog.

ANE BRUN TOUR DATES

*With special guest Linnea Olsson

February 11 Vienna, VA Jammin Java*

February 12 New York, NY Highline Ballroom*

February 13 Montreal, QC L’Astral*

February 14 Toronto, ON Rivoli*

February 15 Chicago, IL Schubas Tavern*

February 17 Vancouver, BC Electric Owl*

February 18 Seattle, WA Crocodile Lounge*

February 19 San Francisco, CA Yoshis*

February 21 San Deigo, CA Casbah*

February 22 Los Angeles, CA The Mint*

ANIMATIONS present new video for the song "Dawn The Day Before"

Originating from Jaworzno, Poland – progressive metalcore band Animations has recently released their new video promoting latest, third studio album “Private Ghetto”.

Video for the song “Dawn The Day Before” is available here – www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KKYYooQHUQ

“We chose this song for the next video, because it as a bit different from other “Private Ghetto” stuff – when it comes to both sound and atmosphere. However we honour this one very much – still it’s quite challenging song when played live. We took the shots for this video quite a long time before – in December 2012 – in Theater Of Arts in Jaworzno – one of the most amazing places we ever played”- comment Animations members.

In spring 2013, Animations had finished working on their third album entitled Private Ghetto. The album is available both in regular CD format and digitally through every major digital distributor. In addition, Animations has published full version of the album (‘playthrough’) online on band’s Youtube channel – www.youtube.com/watch?&v=XLRkTFkm2z0.

“We really want the music from Private Ghetto to hit the ears of our listeners as soon as possible, that’s why we’ve decided to distribute the album digitally.”- Animations members say.

Private Ghetto is the result of over a year’s work in the studio. The band’s first album with Frantz Woloch – the new vocalist, and the first one marking such a dramatic genre shift.

The album contains fourteen tracks, three of which are short instrumental interludes. The tracklist is as follows:

1. Mellah

2. Morality Failed

3. Silence

4. My Private Ghetto

5. Dawn The Day Before

6. We Are…

7. Generation Zero

8. Internal Chaos

9. Crystal Lies

10. Thieves of Dreams

11. Epiphany

12. Mea Culpa?

13. Wrath

14. halleM

Animations have also prepared a trailer for the album that is also a short behind the scenes documentary. It can be viewed here: youtu.be/ZWu5osnccUI.

More information: www.animations.com.pl, www.facebook.com/animationsofficial

Busta Rhymes Teams Up with Bunji Garlin on Differentology Remix

1. Busta Rhymes jumps on the official remix for “Differentology (Ready For The Road).” Stream or download now.

2. Flash mob performance to song occurred inside the Long Island, NY airport over the holiday season.

Watch now: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YCjbTtNdc0

3. MTV Iggy’s 2013 Song of the Year

4. Performed song with The Roots at annual Okayplayer holiday party

5. Okayplayer Large Up’s #1 Soca Song for 2013

6. One of NPR’s Top 100 Songs of 2013

7. 2013 Soul Train award win for Best International Performance

8. First song to win 5 nights in a row on NYC’s HOT 97 FM’s Battle of The Beats competition.

9. Single receiving over 125 radio spins a week. It is in rotation at Power 105, HOT 97, HOT 93.7, JAM’N 94.5, JAMZ 96.3, 92.3 NOW and more.

10. Peaked at #1 on Shazam charts in NYC boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens), Hempstead, NY and Fort Lee, NJ.

11. Featured in this season’s Grey’s Anatomy in the opening sequence of episode 10.

12. NBA’s new favorite arena anthems for the 2013/2014 season. It aired throughout the Barclays Center during Brooklyn Nets games and Air Canada Centre during Toronto Raptors games.

13. 2013′s biggest hit throughout the Caribbean Carnival season, scoring over a million YouTube views since February.

14. DJ supergroup Major Lazer jumped on the remix earlier this year and was the go-to track to open all their live shows.

Bunji Garlin will release his upcoming studio album next year on VP Records. His anticipated release will be his first full-length release on VP Records since 2007’s Global. The Trinidadian artist and international soca royalty is known for his high-energy stage shows, lyrical confidence and eloquence. Garlin is both a composer and performer of soca and ragga soca. The latter is a blend of soca with dancehall music that he made his own during the start of his career in the late ‘90s. He has won the “Ragga Soca Monarch” competition in both 2000 and 2001, the Young King title in 2001, the coveted title of International Soca Monarch in 2002 and then reclaimed this title for three more years.

“Differentology (Ready For The Road)” is featured on Soca Gold 2013 (VP) and available now on iTunes:

itunes.apple.com/us/album/soca-gold-2013/id633775218

Watch the official video for “Differentology (Ready For The Road)” (directed by Nigel Thompson):

www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5g4EsftP8I

Purchase Major Lazer remix of “Differentology (Ready For The Road)” on Strictly The Best Vol. 49.

itunes.apple.com/us/album/strictly-the-best-vol.-49/id766579979

Watch the video for Major Lazer remix of “Differentology (Ready For The Road)”:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HgpnX6QUQY

twitter.com/BUNJIGARLIN / www.facebook.com/Bunji.Asylum

YEMEN BLUES, SARAH AROESTE, ASAF AVIDAN HEADLINE NEW SEPHARDIC MUSIC FESTIVAL

After 9 years in New York City, the Sephardic Music Festival comes to Los Angeles this March. The L.A. events will further the Festival’s reputation for cutting-edge presentations of the best in contemporary Sephardic music from across the globe. The term “Sephardic” refers to the Jewish cultures that originated in Spain, North Africa, the eastern Mediterranean, and the Middle East, as distinct from the more familiar Jewish cultures of eastern and central Europe.

The Festival’s preview event in L.A. during Chanukah, on December 3rd, at Voila!, has already been featured on Ovation TV (watch here). The festival itself will place between March 2nd and March 8th 2014. Founded by American-Israeli producer Diwon, the Sephardic Music Festival (SMF) is the first Jewish music festival to focus exclusively on Sephardic music and culture and showcase the latest Mizrahi, Yemenite, and Ladino artists from around the world. The festival offers a platform for performers of traditional Sephardic folk music and innovators who fuse traditional Sephardic rhythms, melodies, and motifs with modern musical styles. With an incredible range of artists this year, the Sephardic Music Festival presents a colorful tapestry of music and culture as rich, vibrant, and diverse as the Jewish world itself.

March 2nd 2014: Sephardic World Arts Day opens the LA Sephardic Music Festival with world food, music and free, hands-on, interactive activities for all ages. Later that night will find Yemen Blues at the Luckman Theater for the official opening event of the festival. Yemen Blues coexist in both the past and the present; they are timeless and modern. Fronted by acclaimed vocalist Ravid Kahalani, the group mixes the music of Yemen and West Africa with funk, mambo, soul, and ancient chanting styles. Conjuring up a rich and diverse musical palette with the use of percussion, oud, horns, and strings, their myriad influences carry over to the stage, where the ensemble navigates from the boisterous to the romantic and from joyous celebration to anguished balladry.

March 5th 2014: The festival collaborates with UCLA on its 3rd annual ucLADINO symposium. This year’s theme is Judeo-Spanish revitalization efforts in all spheres and domains, with particular focus toward the 21st century. Renowned scholars, graduate students, professors and community activists from a variety of disciplines will present research and discuss programming efforts in Judeo-Spanish speaking communities across the globe.

That same evening there will be an intimate performance by international Ladino singer Sarah Aroeste, who travels the globe fusing both original and 15th-century Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) folk songs with her signature blend of rock, pop, and psychedelia. Along with music collaborator Shai Bachar and a world-class ensemble of musicians, Aroeste comes to UCLA with her new multi-media Gracia project—a mix of experimental, feminist, rock-beat, retro-chic, Mediterranean-infused original Ladino songs— and will perform some of her signature pieces off her most recent album, including Enusenyo Te Vi and Gracia. One of few artists today who writes her own music in Ladino, Aroeste draws upon her family roots from Spain and Greece and works tirelessly to bring Ladino music back to life for a new generation.

March 6th 2014: ucLADINO continues on the UCLA campus with a special concert to be announced.

March 8th 2014: The closing night of the festival will feature Asaf Avidan and Automatic Toys at the Luckman Theater. Automatic Toys was formed by Israeli artists Nachum Peterseil and Yasha Gruzman and will perform a set of unique renditions of their favorite Hebrew tunes. Singer-songwriter Asaf Avidan has taken the international music community by storm with his unique brand of folk and blues and his signature vocal sound, reminiscent of jazz greats and rock legends alike. Following the release of his debut solo album The Reckoning and its subsequent catapult to gold certification, Avidan has garnered numerous accolades from around the world.

Tickets and further information are available at www.sephardicmusicfestival. com/events

ANIMATIONS present new video for the song "Dawn The Day Before"

Originating from Jaworzno, Poland – progressive metalcore band Animations has recently released their new video promoting latest, third studio album “Private Ghetto”.

Video for the song “Dawn The Day Before” is available here – www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KKYYooQHUQ

“We really want the music from Private Ghetto to hit the ears of our listeners as soon as possible, that’s why we’ve decided to distribute the album digitally.”- Animations members say.

Private Ghetto is the result of over a year’s work in the studio. The band’s first album with Frantz Woloch – the new vocalist, and the first one marking such a dramatic genre shift.

The album contains fourteen tracks, three of which are short instrumental interludes. The tracklist is as follows:

1. Mellah

2. Morality Failed

3. Silence

4. My Private Ghetto

5. Dawn The Day Before

6. We Are…

7. Generation Zero

8. Internal Chaos

9. Crystal Lies

10. Thieves of Dreams

11. Epiphany

12. Mea Culpa?

13. Wrath

14. halleM

Animations have also prepared a trailer for the album that is also a short behind the scenes documentary. It can be viewed here: youtu.be/ZWu5osnccUI.

More information: www.animations.com.pl, www.facebook.com/animationsofficial

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Super Deluxe Surrender CD Review

There are always a few albums that I receive that are cut by a band that had their meteoric rise and later fall to and from stardom years before I seriously got into music. Spin Doctors was the first this mouth, Super Deluxe was the second. Without saying I know anything about Super Deluxe beyond the history on the promo sheet, I would have to say that the disc’s first track “Come Down” is put from the same mid-nineties cloth that the band first got their start on. With a sound that plays off The Smiths’ “How Soon Is Now?” along with some Matthew Sweet thrown in for good measure, Super Deluxe immediately up the stakes with this first radio hit.

In much of the same vein, the downtempo stylings of “Joie De Vivre” elicits another early-nineties set of influences from Super Deluxe, taking notes off the first Foo Fighters record and moderating them to come forth with a sultry and smoother vocal-led track. Each of the songs on “Surrender!” are really constructed for massive radio play. “Upsidedown” is the first track that Super Deluxe can really unfurl their wings and come forth with something nearly all theirs (although they do throw in a hint of R.E.M. for good measure at times). “Shoot” shows Super Deluxe as influential to some of the current retro-rock bands out there; the song busts out with such an infectious melody that one can do nothing but hear hints of both Weezer and (in a much more contemporary) Tegan & Sara sense. The only thing that really shows itself as a problem during “Surrender!’s” runtime is the sheer saccharine that Super Deluxe comes with during every track.

Sure, the band tries to vary their sound at points (the inclusion of power metal-like solos for “Safe and Sorry”, but one has put take a break at a few places during “Surrender!” and just chill down. Still, Super Deluxe may just be the best pop-rock band to come out in the last ten years, and the success of this album really will give other bands an example to aspire to, instead of just falling into a Nickelback/Creed brand of schmaltz-rock. With guitar solos that would be utterly perfect for Party of Five or Beverly Hills 90210 during “She’s Got It”, the band really shows that they still have iit even in the latest stages of “Surrender!”. Worth it.

Top Tracks: She’s Got It, Come Down

Rating: 5.1/10

[JMcQ]

Super Deluxe – Surrender! / 2005 The Control Group / 11 Tracks / www.superdeluxemusic.com / www.controlgroupco.com / Reviewed 28 November 2005

Super Deluxe Surrender CD Review

Supercreep S/T CD Review

The high-energy of Supercreep is something that works well with the lavish production present throughout the disc. Different sections of the disc really show Jody’s diverse array of influences, something that makes the average tone of this disc – essentially a Weezer with instrumental intelligence – resonate throughout. Something that Supercreep has that most other acts in which one person is the main influence is this diversity, creating another dimension to Jody’s music that make popularity something achievable. “Mushroom Cloud” has a guitar riff that singlehandedly sets the tone for the track, something that does change as the disc spins on.

The electronic-sounding “One Day” seems to run a little close to The Network, but delves into the subject material that was present in the surprisingly deep New Wave genre. “Time” continues the electronic feel to Supercreep’s music, and it is in this more easily malleable format that Jodi can truly get across the tremendous emotional weight of each lyric ey spouts out. By the time that “Evolution” kicks into full gear, the atmosphere that is created by the synthesizer brings an amount of dynamic tension worthy of the best (worst) horror movie. Skillfully moving through different conventions into unexplored territories (track lengths) , Supercreep’s strongest suit comes in the fact that they create such a vibrant sound out of a traditionally-stale genre.

Hell, “Polite” even moves beyond the Rufus Wainwright/Thom York-mixed vocals to incorporate an electronic interlude that would seem perfectly at home during a Wendy Carlos disc. Perhaps the best track on the disc, “Fire Escapes” uses sunny, ethereal synthesizers to really elicit an indie-rock style from Jody’s vocals. If the review seems a little askew, it is because this disc achieves the impossible; the most disparate music coupled alongside a cohesion virtually unknown in this era of the track-oriented album. Instead of front-loading all of the stronger tracks, Jody’s decision with this album is to allow the disc to climax at its end; listeners may have to invest forty minutes of their time into this disc, but the returns are definitely worth it. Finishing off the disc with something that sounds eerily similar to The Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony”, Supercreep’s “In The Dust” shows off a maturity in composition with the impressive mixture of organic (the acoustic guitar) and the inorganic (synthesizers). The range in style and form that Jody brings to this disc will ensure that a wide cross-section of fans will pop up just as soon as this album is released.

Top Tracks: The Haze, Stereo

Rating: 6.8/10

Supercreep – S/T / 2005 Pat’s Record Co / 12 Tracks / www.myspace.com/supercreep / www.patsrecordsco.com / Reviewed 14 August 2005

Supercreep S/T CD Review

Zulu Dawn Blu-Ray + DVD Combo Review

Zulu Dawn is an engrossing film that is helmed by a number of stars (Peter O’Toole, Burt Lancaster, Bob Hoskins, and Simon Ward), is bolstered through a stellar score crafted by Elmer Bernstein (who scored The Ten Commandments, Ghostbusters, and Stripes), and tells an epic story. Set 100 years in the past from its release date, Zulu Dawn captures the tense relationship between the Zulu Empire and the British forces in control of Cape Colony (South Africa). The title expands upon many of the themes first broached during 1964’s Zulu, but provides viewers with sufficient information about the players in the conflict. The costuming, set-design, and overall language used by the actors ensures that viewers are fully engrossed in the storyline.

Severin’s release of Zulu Dawn is incredibly sharp; the Blu-Ray version of this film belies the fact that the title is thirty-five-plus years old, while the audio quality has been cleaned up to ensure that ever line of dialogue and attack can be heard. Severin has rounded out this Blu-Ray release with a number of bonus features. This includes a historical accounting of the Zulu Wars by author Ian Knight, the original theatrical trailer, a set of the out-takes for the film, and a brief interview with the historical advisor for the film, Midge Carter. The featurettes are rounded out with the inclusion of a piece where Ian Knight visits the site of the Battle of Isandlwana. Taken together, these featurettes provide ample context for which to enjoy and understand the events that occur in Zulu Dawn.

Visit the Severin website for more information about their slate of films, upcoming releases, and information about the offers that the company provides on the regular.

Rating: 8.7/10

Zulu Dawn Blu-Ray + DVD Combo Review / 2013 Severin Films / 115 Minutes / www.severin-films.com

Zulu Dawn Blu-Ray + DVD Combo Review

Sunshine Moonshower and Razorblades CD Review

Sunshine has been around for a decade, and the sound really is cultivated to the point that one knows that this band has been around for an eternity in band years. Taking equal parts Nine Inch Nails and The Strokes, the opening to “Moonshower and Razorblade”, “What You’rve Got” is an immediate hit for the band, using a distinctive set of vocals to confidently stride forward into new territory. The mixture of traditional rock sounds and the electronic crunch of bands like Depeche Mode and New Order is something that Sunshine pulls off without a flaw, exemplifying the genre during “Victim is Another Name For Lover”.

The songs on “Moonshower and Razorblades” are extraordinarily well-compiled and coherent among the rest of the tracks on the disc. Everything here has the same electronic/rock hybrid, although some tracks are definitely better than the others. For example is “Vampire’s Dance Hall”, which has a thrash/industrial sound not quite unlike early Ministry. Pit material for sure, and much less annoying than “Jesus Built My Hotrod”. This same speeded-up tempo is present on the next track (Never’s Always Never”, but the added amount of synthesizer to the track really changes the context of the sound, changing it from something that vaguely resembled Ministry to something that sounds like “Sacrifice”-era Danzig. The only thing that factors negatively on this disc is the length of some of these songs, which plays into the fact that some of these tracks tread too closely to the rest of the fare on the disc, blurring track lines into one big huge miss.

“Miss Kkarma Kkoma” finds its way into the goth domain, sounding quite like the turn-of-the-1990s style popularized by labels like 4AD and Projekt. The disc ends a slight bit above the fifty-minute mark, and I honestly feel as if this run-time includes some chaff which must be dropped before the band can truly break through in the US market. The band may have toured with Sparta, but the similar sound to all of the tracks on the disc as well as a lack of experimentation (not breaking from the general sound of “Moonshower and Razorblades” even once, not even moving from stereo to live once) really makes this disc suffer. The music sounds good during the first few tracks one listens to, but as the disc spins on, the band closes in on a few specific sounds and fails to attempt to change this fact even the slightest. A greater ear for experimentation would allow for a stronger disc.

Top Tracks: Miss Kkarma Kkoma, Victim Is Another Name For Lover

Rating: 3.6/10

Sunshine – Moonshower and Razorblades / 2004 Custard / 12 Tracks / www.sunshinetrash.com / www.custardrecords.com / Reviewed 28 May 2005

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Monday, December 30, 2013

TOUR DATES

Sunday, December 29, 2013