CG came down ill with tonsillitis last week and hasn't had the energy to do the "So You Think You Can Dance" and Friday Music/Arts Review either last week or this week.
Music Reviews and other interviews/profiles will continue, probably starting next Friday.
Thank you to those that read this blog regularly and CG apologizes for the downtime.
Little Dogs Media
Aha! Blogolicious! Musings and Meanings of Non-Sensical Events...and Canada? In the past, it focused on music reviews, humor and satiric editorials. Now, it will concentrate on cartoons, art, and comic strips: Hypocrisy Fleas, Time Travelin' Dogs, DC Kids (with Purple Girl) and Dark Farm.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Saturday, July 14, 2007
MUSIC REVIEW: The Click Five is a Band to Watch!
Atlantic Records has yet another Winner in The Click Five
OK, so this time I'm reviewing a band that is probably not all that unknown, but there's a reason. They're good! They also show that a PowerPop band can make it big, especially in a music industry that still seems dominated these days by rap and hip hop, with rock and roll only recently beginning to reemerge as a contender (and often, under the guise of being an Alternative band.)
With Jenny, The Click Five blend pop sentiments with the wonderful retro-feel of what we now call Powerpop. Headlight Disco (don't cringe at the name) heartens at first more to a 70's groove but adds in a modern twist by rotating and bending the expected beats and rhythms with definite leanings toward what in the 70's might be confused with punk influences, or even with anthem or epic rock, but now might be more recognizable as rap influences. Counter to the others offered up on MySpace, Happy Birthday shifts the focus away from grandiose themes or retro sensibilities and moves instead into a more alternative/pop vibe.
All in all, the songs are all impeccably produced, perfectly played and with vocals that are both vibrant yet subtle (as a Powerpop band should be, by the way.) The three offerings also hang together in spite of their different influences and changes in emphasis--that is the sign of a great band as well as a great producer. Everything fits, yet the variety is there to keep you interested.
If you haven't heard of The Click Five, then definitely check them out at www.myspace.com/theclick5
And put a little Power in your Pop.
Have a great weekend!
CG Anderson
Little Dogs Media
Aha! Blogolicious! Musings and Meanings of Non-Sensical Events...and Canada!
OK, so this time I'm reviewing a band that is probably not all that unknown, but there's a reason. They're good! They also show that a PowerPop band can make it big, especially in a music industry that still seems dominated these days by rap and hip hop, with rock and roll only recently beginning to reemerge as a contender (and often, under the guise of being an Alternative band.)
With Jenny, The Click Five blend pop sentiments with the wonderful retro-feel of what we now call Powerpop. Headlight Disco (don't cringe at the name) heartens at first more to a 70's groove but adds in a modern twist by rotating and bending the expected beats and rhythms with definite leanings toward what in the 70's might be confused with punk influences, or even with anthem or epic rock, but now might be more recognizable as rap influences. Counter to the others offered up on MySpace, Happy Birthday shifts the focus away from grandiose themes or retro sensibilities and moves instead into a more alternative/pop vibe. All in all, the songs are all impeccably produced, perfectly played and with vocals that are both vibrant yet subtle (as a Powerpop band should be, by the way.) The three offerings also hang together in spite of their different influences and changes in emphasis--that is the sign of a great band as well as a great producer. Everything fits, yet the variety is there to keep you interested.
If you haven't heard of The Click Five, then definitely check them out at www.myspace.com/theclick5
And put a little Power in your Pop.
Have a great weekend!
CG Anderson
Little Dogs Media
Aha! Blogolicious! Musings and Meanings of Non-Sensical Events...and Canada!
Friday, July 06, 2007
MUSIC REVIEW: Shallow rocks! (Together or Apart, they're Good!) And What's With All the Mud SYTYCD Fans? Summer TV IS HOT!
Shallow, It Isn't--SHALLOW is a rockers rock band.
Television in the Summer Heats Up and
..."So You Think You Can Dance" Once Again Begins to Generate Controversy and Mudslinging!
Their MySpace page says that they are broken up, yet apparently they just recently played a show together. Hence, it's confusing, but this rock/pop band out of Livermore, California, definitely is worth a listen. Any Place To Say is a powerful mix of anthem lyrics, rounded vibes and angst-driven vocals--in other words, a ROCK song. Bleed starts as a ballad but quickly morphs into something demanding and driven, a ballad with a bad-boy side. How Far pushes you to the edge and Ever Absent isn't, rather it's full of alternative based vocals, soothing but moving melodies and dips into pregnant pauses that suddenly explode into full-bodied, overarching beats, riffs, bass thrums and about-to-burst drums--in the best tradition of rock.
Shallow is anything but...I hope they do decide to
get back together, stay together or whatever is going on with them--this group belongs on stage. Check them out at
http://www.myspace.com/shallowrock
In other news--the world of television:
On the SYTYCD side of things, this week the dancers had time off (or so one can hope!) Meaning of course, that with the Fourth of July on their regular time slot, the show was pushed out a week. The fabulous fourteen will battle it out on the dance floor next week. And apparently, the mud is already slinging on the various message boards--as fans trash or testify for their favorite dancers against their least favorites.
It's gotten bad enough that Benji Schwimmer felt the need to defend his sister's talent on his blog and scold the naysayers. I don't follow the mudslinging, beyond what is commented on by those I watch and stay in touch with (like Nigel's comments last week on the show) but I agree that all the dancers are immensely talented and whatever advantage some of the siblings had has probably evaporated by now. Now it's up to their talent and their ability to win and keep a fan base, as we witnessed with the upsets last week.
For my part, my opinion is still that no one is safe. None of the dancers have built up enough of a fan base to really break out as a number one contender (much like last year during the midpoint.) In fact, since I judge by audience reactions and my own impressions on their emotional appeal (the dancers, that is) and image on the show, I'd say that so far, no 'stars' have emerged from the mix yet.
I mean, no dancer really has hit a level where they are so unbelievable in personality, image, dance, performance that you only focus on him or her (likely, it will be a him, considering the demographics of the show) when they are on stage--unable to take your eyes off them, even if they are with a partner.
This 'star' would be someone suddenly getting a lot of press and media attention, much like Ivan did near the end of the show, indicating that the person has some special quality that just hits right with media and public alike. It doesn't mean they are going to win, but it certainly helps--and will continue to help the dancer after they leave the show and continue to pursue their career. (You don't have to win the contest, to become the most successful! Ask any number of American Idol types...)
I haven't seen that person yet, though sadly, I saw glimpses of that quality in both Ricky and Jesus. I still see glimpses of it in many of the current dancers, but nothing that is full fledged media frenzy level yet.
I won't tell you my picks of that quality right now, since it might bias you or perhaps hurt them in some odd sort of backlash...but you can probably get an idea from how I've talked about various dancers over the course of my SYTYCD season 2 reviews.
Next week should be interesting on the show. As for upcoming things, Eureka! premiers, another fav of mine from last year (and hopefully, it won't go lame and jump the shark like Kyle XY did in its opener.) Also PainKiller Jane has fast become a fav, as has Blood Ties (Lifetime) and yes, I'm also hooked on Disney's Jetix's GET ED now, after finally having had a chance to see it. Grey's Anatomy has gotten kind of lame, especially with all the trash talk but also from the wimpy performances and whining from the characters--and so, I don't have a good feeling about next season. And the other new summer offerings from ABC, NBC and CBS (and Fox) haven't been that inspiring--some seem downright stupid, cruel or voyeuristic, especially these new reality game shows. Ugly Betty has definitely been a consistent winner though, even in reruns, they can manage to make any preposterous-looking-on-the-surface plot hang together and make perfect sense! (Kyle XY should take notes.)
I definitely like this new trend of putting on new (and often edgy or risky) shows during the summer months. The west and southwest are currently experiencing a heatwave...luckily, the stuff that's hot isn't just coming from outside...but coming from the networks, too!
Anyway, also upcoming later this summer, interviews with industry movers and shakers about the state of music, art and other things both offline and online, as well as profiles and coverage of more musicians, dancers and television shows. (Who knows, maybe Gordon Michael Woolvett will even finally get his interview responses back to me from his winning of the award, you never know!) ;)
In other words, lots of great stuff coming...hope you stick around to read some of it!
On that note, time for something cold to drink, it's already sweltering here...bye!
Have a great weekend!
CG Anderson
Aha! Blogolocious! Musings and Meanings of Non-Sensical Events...and Canada! (a music/art/dance/media review site)
Television in the Summer Heats Up and
..."So You Think You Can Dance" Once Again Begins to Generate Controversy and Mudslinging!
Their MySpace page says that they are broken up, yet apparently they just recently played a show together. Hence, it's confusing, but this rock/pop band out of Livermore, California, definitely is worth a listen. Any Place To Say is a powerful mix of anthem lyrics, rounded vibes and angst-driven vocals--in other words, a ROCK song. Bleed starts as a ballad but quickly morphs into something demanding and driven, a ballad with a bad-boy side. How Far pushes you to the edge and Ever Absent isn't, rather it's full of alternative based vocals, soothing but moving melodies and dips into pregnant pauses that suddenly explode into full-bodied, overarching beats, riffs, bass thrums and about-to-burst drums--in the best tradition of rock.Shallow is anything but...I hope they do decide to
get back together, stay together or whatever is going on with them--this group belongs on stage. Check them out athttp://www.myspace.com/shallowrock
In other news--the world of television:
On the SYTYCD side of things, this week the dancers had time off (or so one can hope!) Meaning of course, that with the Fourth of July on their regular time slot, the show was pushed out a week. The fabulous fourteen will battle it out on the dance floor next week. And apparently, the mud is already slinging on the various message boards--as fans trash or testify for their favorite dancers against their least favorites.
It's gotten bad enough that Benji Schwimmer felt the need to defend his sister's talent on his blog and scold the naysayers. I don't follow the mudslinging, beyond what is commented on by those I watch and stay in touch with (like Nigel's comments last week on the show) but I agree that all the dancers are immensely talented and whatever advantage some of the siblings had has probably evaporated by now. Now it's up to their talent and their ability to win and keep a fan base, as we witnessed with the upsets last week.
For my part, my opinion is still that no one is safe. None of the dancers have built up enough of a fan base to really break out as a number one contender (much like last year during the midpoint.) In fact, since I judge by audience reactions and my own impressions on their emotional appeal (the dancers, that is) and image on the show, I'd say that so far, no 'stars' have emerged from the mix yet.
I mean, no dancer really has hit a level where they are so unbelievable in personality, image, dance, performance that you only focus on him or her (likely, it will be a him, considering the demographics of the show) when they are on stage--unable to take your eyes off them, even if they are with a partner.
This 'star' would be someone suddenly getting a lot of press and media attention, much like Ivan did near the end of the show, indicating that the person has some special quality that just hits right with media and public alike. It doesn't mean they are going to win, but it certainly helps--and will continue to help the dancer after they leave the show and continue to pursue their career. (You don't have to win the contest, to become the most successful! Ask any number of American Idol types...)
I haven't seen that person yet, though sadly, I saw glimpses of that quality in both Ricky and Jesus. I still see glimpses of it in many of the current dancers, but nothing that is full fledged media frenzy level yet.
I won't tell you my picks of that quality right now, since it might bias you or perhaps hurt them in some odd sort of backlash...but you can probably get an idea from how I've talked about various dancers over the course of my SYTYCD season 2 reviews.
Next week should be interesting on the show. As for upcoming things, Eureka! premiers, another fav of mine from last year (and hopefully, it won't go lame and jump the shark like Kyle XY did in its opener.) Also PainKiller Jane has fast become a fav, as has Blood Ties (Lifetime) and yes, I'm also hooked on Disney's Jetix's GET ED now, after finally having had a chance to see it. Grey's Anatomy has gotten kind of lame, especially with all the trash talk but also from the wimpy performances and whining from the characters--and so, I don't have a good feeling about next season. And the other new summer offerings from ABC, NBC and CBS (and Fox) haven't been that inspiring--some seem downright stupid, cruel or voyeuristic, especially these new reality game shows. Ugly Betty has definitely been a consistent winner though, even in reruns, they can manage to make any preposterous-looking-on-the-surface plot hang together and make perfect sense! (Kyle XY should take notes.)
I definitely like this new trend of putting on new (and often edgy or risky) shows during the summer months. The west and southwest are currently experiencing a heatwave...luckily, the stuff that's hot isn't just coming from outside...but coming from the networks, too!
Anyway, also upcoming later this summer, interviews with industry movers and shakers about the state of music, art and other things both offline and online, as well as profiles and coverage of more musicians, dancers and television shows. (Who knows, maybe Gordon Michael Woolvett will even finally get his interview responses back to me from his winning of the award, you never know!) ;)
In other words, lots of great stuff coming...hope you stick around to read some of it!
On that note, time for something cold to drink, it's already sweltering here...bye!
Have a great weekend!
CG Anderson
Aha! Blogolocious! Musings and Meanings of Non-Sensical Events...and Canada! (a music/art/dance/media review site)
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