Leaning Back

WAKE UP MR. FREEMAN AND SMELL THE The PATRóN

2010-09-23T09:23:00.000-07:00

And my most badass wallpaper ever award goes to...

Fix your lame-o desktop with some Freeman freshness.

-br13n

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY

2010-09-23T03:06:00.001-07:00

The Old Testament, (Deuteronomy 25:11-12) states the following:

When men fight with one another, and the wife of the one approaches to rescue her husband from the hand of him who is beating him, and puts out her hand and seizes his genitals, you shall sever her hand; you shall have no compassion.

word.

- br13n

Sick-ass beat-boxing cello player beat boxes while also playing cello at the same time

2010-07-22T20:36:00.000-07:00

Boss: noun; see below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwFRyebKOVw

-br13n

TSFR: THE DAMNED THINGS

2010-07-19T14:34:00.000-07:00

So yea, haven't written shit in a long, long time. Also thinking about jumping ship to Tumblr like the rest of the blogosphere.

Anyway this is the reason we're here today.

Keith Buckley is doing something cool.

Not that Keith Buckley ever does things that aren't cool, but this is like -- really really really cool.

The frontman of the greatest band in the world has joined forces with the remains of the now defunct Fallout Boy and Anthrax to form...

Yea. The Damned Things. And that's exactly what they sound like. Dirty, filthy rock and roll that you found under your uncle's bed.

They only have rough mixes of a couple songs out right now, but they sound great and I eagerly anticipate the full album due out in the Fall.

With filthy guitar riffs and Buffalo's favorite son screaming out obscenities at the top of his hairy lungs, THIS SHIT FUCKING ROCKS.

Every Time I Die + Fallout Boy + Anthrax = THE DAMNED THINGS.

Enjoy! (the video also has a download link if you're into free shit)

YouTube - The Damned Things - We've Got A Situation Here (HQ) Download!

-br13n

RIP GARY COLEMAN

2010-05-28T12:19:00.000-07:00

It's official.

The legend known best for his role as Arnold Jackson on Diff'rent Strokes dies today at the early age of 42.

Coleman suffered many medical and personal difficulties throughout his life and is now finally at peace.

First Dio, now this. 2010 isn't looking much better than '09 at this point.

Here's a tribute to them both.

Gary Coleman takes shit from NO ONE.

Dio RIDES THE FUCKING TIGER. \m/

-br13n

BBBBBBONUS:

LONG LIVE THE DIO

Back in Stadiums as Shady Spits His Flow

2010-05-25T19:56:00.000-07:00

So yea, I'm a little late on this.

New song from Eminem's upcoming album, Recovery.

I'm pretty pumped. He's going back to his old style and dropping all that silly accent nonsense.

He even calls himself out on the whole Relapse debacle.

I've been really impressed with his work on "Forever", "Drop the World", and "Despicable" and can't wait for this shit to drop.

Ladies and Gentlemen, The Best Rapper Alive.

Eminem - "Not Afraid"

-br13n

OH! NEW 3OH!3

2010-05-18T23:13:00.000-07:00

Well, well, well. New songs all around.

I think these guys do a great job of blending electronica, hip-hop, and pop/punk while writing extremely catchy songs. If you disagree, you hate fun. Plain and simple.

Here's a couple songs from their upcoming album, Streets of Gold.

What say you?

"Touchin on My"

"My First Kiss" ft. Ke$ha

Looking forward to more delicious sonic immaturity when the album drops.

-br13n

OMFG: NEW AVENGED SEVENFOLD pt. 2

2010-05-17T21:25:00.000-07:00

So the new song "Nightmare" from the album of the same name is out in full now.

It's not as good as some of their old stuff and I'm a tad disappointed that they ditched the orchestral elements of Avenged Sevenfold, but I still like it a lot. Verses are highly reminiscent of Metallica, but Shadows is still doing that annoying Axl Rose nasally thing on his lower parts.

High hopes for the new album.

What do you think?

Drop a line.

-br13n

Also love, love, LOVE the new youtube.

Just Wondering...

2010-05-11T14:46:00.000-07:00

If you're in on the hype.

NFW: New A7X

2010-05-10T17:43:00.000-07:00

So I haven't posted anything in a long ass time but I got REALLY FUCKING EXCITED ABOUT THIS:

Artwork for "Nightmare" from their upcoming album ft. drummer Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater stepping in for the late Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan.

Here's a preview of things to come.

R.I.P. Rev.

-br13n

AYO (CRYSTAL CASTLES SUCK AT) TECHNOLOGY

2010-03-14T03:01:00.001-07:00

So rather than sleep, I decided to stay up all night watching shitty hip-hop music videos.

This eventually led me to 50 Cent's "Ayo Technology", which in turn led me to the now infamous Crystal Castles Controversy.

This in turn led me to the conclusion that Crystal Castles fans are probably the stupidest people on Earth*.

What it all boils down to is a bunch of indie hipsters who have never heard of this nifty little invention. Rather than educate themselves on a basic concept in the wide world of electronica (of which, unfortunately, Castles is a part of), they insist that Timbaland, one of pop music's biggest producers, sampled this song. Where they got the crazy idea that anyone would want to sample that nonsense, let alone listen to it with any other intention than utter masochism I have no idea.

A summary of the whole controversy and accurate debunking of CC's case can be found here.

The author's conclusion should to be obvious to anyone with ears (or at least have played any game on the Nintendo Entertainment System), but, sadly, you can still find die-hard Castles fans rampant within the bowels of the Youtube comment boards.

Of course, if you listen to Crystal Castles (and worse yet, are a FAN), you clearly don't have ears.

So it makes sense I guess.

To wrap things up, here's a guy who figured out how to do the controversial rapid arpeggios used in both songs waaayyyyy before anyone was using 8-bit synthesizers in commercial music.

Maybe Castles will try to sue him too.

And for the lulz (we're always about the lulz here at Leaning Back), here's a creepy bald guy stripping Fitty's jam of everything that made it interesting. It's clearly RAWFL, but those crazy Europeans can't get enough of him.

*Right up there with this guy.

-BR13N

Also, I think this is my personal record for number of hyperlinks in a single post.

A CELEBRATION IS IN ORDER!!!

ROFLCHAIR: SETH MACFARLANE'S COMEDY CAVALCADE

2010-03-12T23:35:00.000-08:00

If you haven't seen Seth MacFarlane's Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy by now, you should definitely check it out. They're animated shorts that could pass for unused cutaways in Family Guy episodes, but honestly it's what the man does best and he shows it well here. He even makes the animated commercials that precede each clip enticing and hilarious as well.

I was perusing through some of his newer stuff when I found this little gem. Enjoy!

-BR13N

PLAYSTATION MOVE

2010-03-11T14:11:00.000-08:00

Sony's best effort to imitate Wii.

Shit look's stupid as hell.

-BR13N

RAGEFACE: THOUGHTS ON "MOVIE" BOB

2010-03-11T00:14:00.000-08:00

Seriously though I have to wonder how this guy keeps his job with the shit that he pulls.

If you're not familiar he is the house movie critic over at The Escapist.

Now I enjoyed his review on The Watchmen, and whole-heartedly agreed with it.

And I hated his review on Avatar and disagreed with pretty much everything he said (not to mention his smug little intro calling out people for stealing South Park's criticism of the movie as if it's really that hard to reach such a conclusion on your own).

No real problem there; to each his own and all that and I had to respect the guy for giving Watchmen a thumbs up after the harsh backlash it received from most critics.

Where I DO have a problem is that he criticizes Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland FOR THE EXACT SAME REASONS HE TOLD US NOT TO HATE AVATAR.

His defense of Avatar was that it was an "experience" and visually enticing and to not pay too much mind to the recycled story.

His thoughts on Alice? That it's a recycled story with nice visuals as its only redeeming quality.

Umm...WTF?!?

This would bother me less if it weren't for his smugass introductions to every review and his little side notes to inform audiences of things such as Martin Scorsese's background in Hollywood as one of the Movie Brats or Joseph Campbell's The Hero with a Thousand Faces.

Does your audience REALLY need to know about these things in order to understand what the movie is about, Bob?

Or do you REALLY just need them to realize how S-M-R-T you are by reading the summary of any related Wikipedia page?

His Shutter Island review only pisses me off further after the bottom line he gave us to check the movie out was "it's Scorsese" while failing to realize that its obviously one of his weakest films, especially compared to his previous three.

He noted that the movie's visuals and tone were enough to make up for the obvious twist and lack of depth while also failing to realize the choppy editing and horrendously bad special effects (and normally special effects don't mean much to me but we're in the year 2010 here and Shutter honestly looks like its trapped about a decade behind).

Yet all he can tell us is "it's Scorsese".

Now I liked Shutter Island a lot, but it's a textbook psych thriller with enough flaws to put it beneath classics like Fight Club, American Psycho, and Memento, and Scorsese or not, there's enough reason for the average moviegoer to not see it, let alone their only motivation being a critic's insistence that the director is incapable of making a bad film (see: Avatar).

Normally I don't let things like this get to me, but this really is just too much. The thing that makes it most unbearable is that I have a slight feeling that Robert thinks he can get away with all this because he's on The Escapist, home of the popular "Zero Punctuation" game review series. What he fails to realize this time is that Yahtzee can get away with being smug and unfairly cruel to the releases he reviews because HE'S FUCKING HILARIOUS AND INGENIOUSLY CLEVER, two things Bob is most certainly not.

So please Robby, for the love of all things cinema do us all a favor and keep your half-assed bullshit reviews to yourself and find a job you're actually good at.

Like James Cameron's personal fluffer.

I hear he's always looking for more of those.

-Brien

By the way I do realize that it's the dopes at The Escapist I should be blaming for hiring a guy like this in the first place, but this is a rant, and the last thing I want in my rant is accurate blame.

NEW KID CUDI VIDEO

2010-03-10T12:46:00.001-08:00

So yeah, big fan of the Cudi.
I never saw the first video for "Pursuit of Happiness", but apparently it was a bomb.
So they made a new one.
And it makes my head spin.
I've been on that couch many times before and i gotta say i love, love, LOVE this video.

Here's the original for comparison.

I gotta say I prefer the new one. I can definitely dig the high-concept vision over the typical party-video idea.

On another note 100th POST!!!

I'm not really sure what to put here.....but it feels like some kind of accomplishment.

To celebrate, "Mayhem of the Music Meister" from the series Batman: The Brave & The Bold starring Neil Patrick Harris as said Music Meister. ENJOY! And thanks to everyone who's been reading (and NOT commenting...jerks) all this time.

-BR13N

NERDGASM: THOUGHTS ON PORTAL 2

2010-03-09T22:43:00.000-08:00

So all this Portal nonsense has got my brain whirling about what Valve has up their faucet. With the next game set "hundreds of years in the future" I have to wonder about the time travel factor. At the end of Episode 2 we saw (SPOILERZ) the Borealis, a ship thought lost for years, appear out of nowhere. Maybe Chell has something to do with its reappearance. With that of course, comes the possibility that Alex comes up with the crazy idea to go back in time to save Eli. With that comes the even crazier idea to go back further and stop the events at Black Mesa from ever happening. Of course, this would all be thwarted by control-freak G-Man who attempts to teach Gordon a lesson about changing the past, only to have Freeman do something stupid anyway, causing a cataclysmic temporal paradox that would set up a new environment for HL3.

While playing through Black Mesa in the past and likely encountering Past Gordon and Shepard, I really do hate time travel and completely doubt that Valve would do anything that drastic. Honestly, I think their biggest setback with release dates is story. There are giant, gaping holes in the entire Half Life story already, and when they added Portal into the mix it likely changed what little of it they had mapped out. The series really does have the most engaging plot I've ever played through, but with so little known, and such large amounts of time between releases, things get frustrating. During all this time, crazy fanatics like myself spend their hours posting their thoughts and revelations about the unknown in the Half Life universe on the internet. Valve gets wind of this, maybe somebody hit a little too close to home, and due to their incessant need to SURPRISE EVERYONE, it's back to the drawing board. They simply CAN'T release a PREDICTABLE game. And while I appreciate this to the fullest, it really does take a toll on a lonely nerd's heart and soul.

So, in reality, it's anyone's guess as to what the hell's going on with the Half Life story, and that guess is most likely wrong.

I heard something about D.O.G. being turned into a weapon by the Combine. I think I'd like that. The whole G-Man-is-actually-future-Gordon thing is probably out the window by now seeing as eveyone's caught wind of the theory.

Time travel however, does still seem a highly viable option.

We still have to get the Combine's homeworld as well eventually.

Adrian Shepard is still M.I.A.

There's also THIS little all-too-revealing piece of information. Knowing Valve though, they might just be putting stuff out there too make us run in circles. Doesn't seem like them at all to put major plot details out in the open like that.

I think what we can count on though is that whatever happens at the end of Portal 2, it will have a major impact on the Half Life saga, and will likely tie the two series together finally. The only connection we really had before were subtle references to Black Mesa and GLaDOS's brief mention of "out there" and how she's "the only thing between us and them".

Whatever it is going to have to wait til Fall though, unless we're told otherwise on March 11th.

What say you, fair reader(s)?

-BR13N

REVIEW: BROOKLYN'S FINEST

2010-03-09T21:13:00.001-08:00

So it's been a while since I've done a review of anything, and it's been never since I've done one on this blog, but I walk out of every movie with thoughts on why it's bad or good or horrible and this time I'd like to share them.

Going into Brooklyn's Finest I wasn't sure what to expect. I knew it was from "the director of Training Day", which I've never seen but realize to be a notable film, and had a pretty solid cast. I knew it was about cops. I knew these cops were of Brooklyn, New York City, NY. That's about it.

What I expected was a tragic drama about the ups and downs of being a cop in Brooklyn, and to some degree I got that. Ultimately what I got though, was disappointment. A huge steaming pile of it.

The movie starts off strong with Ethan Hawke chatting it up in a parked car next to a cemetery with an unnamed fat man about how he got a "get out of jail free" card on a DUI offense on account of "Righter and Wronger". It sets the tone and theme of the whole film and ends with an unexpected gunshot. Hawke grabs a bloody bag of money sitting on the fat man's lap and runs off.

It's a good start, but Finest quickly falls flat on its face. Somewhere between learning about Hawke's character's seemingly soap operatic myriad of problems and watching Richard Gere get a blowjob I lost interest in the story and characters and became completely obsessed with wondering how this screenplay actually got produced. Was it a chain of sexual favors? Did someone made a call to help their nephew out? Or is everyone at the associated studios just on meth?

Okay, that's a bit harsh. Finest isn't all that bad. It's strength's lie in the stellar performances from Gere, Hawke, Don Cheadle, Wesley Snipes, and the rest of the cast. Much of the film is presented through dialogue between the characters, usually involving some kind of spiel about good and evil, right and wrong, and all that. At times it gets a little preachy, but for the most part it works. Just when things seem to be getting a little too over-saturated with characters hopping up on the soap box, we get a nice break of action where a swat team will bust a drug dealer's hideout or Richard Gere will facepalm after one of his hot-shot rookie partners blows his first day on the job.

Brooklyn's Finest seems like an easy enough film to make. You have three main characters, each dealing with their own struggle of good and evil. They're all within the same precinct and are assigned to closely related problems. Towards the climax of the movie, each makes a drastic decision that will force them to act in the name of right or wrong. You can almost envision the Departed-esque ending where everyone collides and only one man will be left standing. Yet somehow the film never really comes together.

Even though our three protagonists are all on the same street, we don't get the kind of connection that brings their respective stories full circle into a cohesive whole. Instead it ends with a more indecisive and seemingly rushed conclusion. There are subtleties that allow the audience to tie things up in their own minds, but looking at the screen, things feel unfinished, unresolved, and empty - and that's not the good kind of unresolved that leaves you wanting more. No, rather it's the kind that leaves you saying "hey! what the hell just happened to the movie I've been sitting through for the past two hours?!"

Brooklyn's Finest isn't a total loss. It's a decent drama carried through by strong acting and great tension between the characters. It's flawed in that it seems to be dragging its feet the whole way through. Throughout the first hour and a half it's easy to tell that there's some grand scheme; some hidden architecture within each event, line, and subtle movement of Cheadle's eyes in an intense close up. You can almost feel the three loosely related storyline driving faster and faster towards each other. However things never really come together and I left that theater feeling unrewarded for the time and money I'd spent there.

While Finest may not be a complete waste of time, there is a reason it was released right after February ("where films go to die"), and a reason the cast had to be flooded with stars, and those reasons become very apparent about twenty minutes into the film.

2.5/5

---------

Now I hope to do more reviews soon on more movies, music, events, games, whatever. Who knows, maybe I'll actually work up to initiative to make actual pictures and associated values for my rating system instead of just a "2.5/5". It is rather boring don't you think? But what to use? I suppose I could just use stars, but that seems a bit bland. Maybe chairs? I could say "Simply Stunning! Four out of Five chairs!" That sounds catchy. What do you think, reader(s)?

Also plan to beef up blog a bit. Add some fancy HTML shit and whatnot. Maybe more widgets. Don't get too excited, I did say MAYBE.

TSFR: The Protomen

2010-01-21T13:04:00.000-08:00

Long time no blog.
School, work, yadayada.

Anyway here's a truly epic band I came across today.
They go by the name of The Protomen and are a theatrical blend of Queen, Johnny Cash, and Metallica, but with synthesizers.
Strange enough, their songs make up an ass kicking rock opera about Mega Man. Yes, Mega Man, the video game.
Now I've never really played the games, but I love love LOVE the music. Apparently they take a hint from Daft Punk in wearing costumes and concealing their identities from the public and press.
They're kind of like a cross between HORSE the Band and Valient Thorr and the aforementioned Super Duo.

Here's the video for their song "Hope Rides Alone". Enjoy!

With cowboy riffs, spacey synths, and an epic tale that puts certain pop punk acts to shame, THIS SHIT FUCKING ROCKS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGvqMXYhYhU

BONUS:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4y36A--oPAY

Out of all the sentences I've read today...

2009-12-01T02:47:00.000-08:00

This one is the best:

"The Predator's blood is made from a combination of the liquid out of glow sticks mixed with K-Y Jelly."

Oh, Wikipedia.

Which reminds me,

of this.

-Brien

I really have to wonder how the HELL this happened...

2009-12-01T02:40:00.000-08:00

courtesy of the newly resurrected 4scrape

Sincerely confusted,

-Brien

SICKNESS

2009-12-01T01:16:00.001-08:00

New Iron Man 2 poster out.
Let's just say it's not a good idea for me to stand up right now.

Between Holmes and this Downey's probably gonna make me start an annual award ceremony on this blog just so I can name him BAMF of the year.

-Brien

I'd just like to say...

2009-11-22T16:47:00.000-08:00

I fucking CALLED this shit.

Fall Out Boy is taking an indefinite hiatus for a while.
Catch the detailed story at UG.

But what matters here is, I was right. Again. As always.

Thanks,

-Brien

NEW 3OH!3 VIDEO W/ mp3

2009-10-26T15:44:00.000-07:00

So Colorodo's crunktronic duo 3oh!3 has a new video out for their new and improved version of "Starstrukk" featuring Katy Perry. The new mix is 100x better than the old one, but the video is just as lacking as their previous ones (except for the bridge, whistle whistle!). It's the usual girls chasing after the band intercut with them doing random shit like mountain climbing with chopsticks. I guess it's supposed to be based on this movie or something. Here's the video courtesy of MTV, and I even threw an mp3 link at the bottom for you crazy kids. Enjoy!

3Oh!3 - New Music - More Music Videos

http://www.mtv.com/videos/3oh3/444698/starstrukk-feat-katy-perry.jhtml

mp3.

-Brien

How do people get jobs like this???

WE WERE ONCE A FAIRYTALE

2009-10-20T17:40:00.000-07:00

What apparently started off as a music video turned into a short film when director Spike Jonez teamed up with Kanye "IMMA LET YOU FINISH" West turned into this crazy, beautful, bizarre, and just plain awesome short film entitled We Were Once A Fairytale. Mad props to those crazy cats.

-Brien

FPS SYNDROME

2009-10-17T01:40:00.000-07:00

So I've noticed through my my vast exposure to violent video games, that whenever I see a movie or TV show where somebody makes it out it alive from a shootout, I can't get my head around WHY they'd just leave all those beautiful guns lying around. Goldeneye, Nightfire, Red Faction, Halo, Black, Half-Life, Grand Theft Auto, The Suffering, Time-Splitters, Hitman -- What all these games have taught me over the years is that when you shoot somebody that has a gun, YOU TAKE THEIR SHIT AFTER YOU KILL THEM.

James Bond kills his captors, armed with two Destroyer pistols. An AK-47 lies waiting on the ground to be picked up when the firefight is finished.

To demonstrate my point, here's a clip from Sam Peckinpah's Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia.In this scene, our protagonist, Bennie, is confronted by the family of Alfredo Garcia, whose severed head is in his possession. Obviously, this group is none too happy about their kin's grave being desecrated and his cabeza stolen, so they come armed with plenty of firearms to secure its return. When all seems lost, the men Bennie is retrieving the head for show up. Mayhem ensues.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KzeRTFrQDU

Now after all is shot and done and Bennie is the last man standing (well, almost) he has all these fine weapons laying around - rifles, semi-autos, another pistol - all quite superior to what he's been holding, yet all he takes is a wallet?? WTF?!? If he had done this in his previous altercations he probably wouldn't have even been in this sticky a situation. Of course our protagonist here is suffering some mental deterioration assisted by rampant alcohol abuse, but you see my point.

Seeing this scene drove me up a wall and I suppose have video games to thank for that. I don't know whether this means we'll be seeing it reflected more in future films directed by people like me from my generation or whether I'm just an oddball, but dammit, if I ever have a gunfight in one of my stories (almost definitely), there will be absolutely NO precious boomsticks left on the ground by the end of it.

And that's all I have to say about that.

-Brien

Also, here's the vid I nicked the title of this post from.

fps syndrome
Uploaded by gbraul8. - Click for more console and PC gaming videos.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9oe9j_fps-syndrome_videogames

GLEN BECK = LEWIS PROTHERO

2009-10-01T15:13:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEuAVgmWt0U

Compare with:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flBpsyFbEOs

Is this:

A. Creepy
B. Hilarious
C. Scary
D. Plain Damn Weird
E. All of the Above

-Brien

HAPPY ARTHUR'S DAY

2009-09-24T09:04:00.000-07:00

So today marks the 250th anniversary of Guinness...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrSSSfYE2dQ

Lovely day for it.

-Brien

LEBRON JAMES FOREVER

2009-09-23T17:06:00.000-07:00

So apparently basketball legend-in-the-making Lebron James demanded a team of hip-hop superstars create an ass-kicking new song for his new documentary about himself. So Drake, Kanye "BEST VIDEO OF ALL TIME" West, Lil' Wayne, and Eminem joined forces produce the hottest collaboration of the month. While the results don't quite kick ass as much as give it soft caress (and the video is more of a shy wave at a person who's not looking at you), the song, titled "Forever", isn't half bad. Skip to about 4:47 for Eminem showin' 'em how its done. Now why couldn't the bulk of The Relapse be on this level??

http://videos.onsmash.com/v/2XxWNLJcl3P2Gypj

-Brien

FREEMAN'S MIND #15!!

2009-09-23T16:51:00.000-07:00

If you're not familiar with the series, GET familiar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRkccVO2Z14

-Brien

MAKE THE GIRL PLAY GUITAR HERO

2009-09-22T13:52:00.000-07:00

Remember that Make the Girl Dance video I posted a while ago for "Baby, Baby, Baby"? Well the video is, unsurprisingly, quite popular and has worked its way into one of Guitar Hero 5's new ads.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl94L3rt5s4

Awesome right? Anyway, in case you haven't heard if you buy GH5 now, you get Guitar Hero Van Halen free with it. Pretty sweet deal I think. Check out the website for details.

Keep leanin, kids,

-Brien

I'm Back, With A Brand New Invention

2009-09-22T10:06:00.000-07:00

IT MAKES YOU READ THIS IN MY VOI....NO! Bad Andy!

Hello all, I'm back.

I've been on...let's say Hiatus for the last few months, had the end of school year stress and all that, and then the summer to unwind. But I'm back!!!

I'm starting my second year at my college, I figure this blog works well as a chronicle of sorts of my journey through America's collegiate system.

Well at least I know that we won't lose our school in a heavy storm.

Anyways I was taking a quiz for my music theory class, and my professor decided to put this on a quiz for us;

I'll give you a hint, the answer isn't D.

Anyways, that's my re-introductory post to Leaning Back, I promise I'll have more fun stuff to upload soon.

~Andy

A DAY IN BADASSERY

2009-09-15T09:26:00.000-07:00

What do the above pictures have in common? Nothing until you read this.

A student at John Hopkins University went Soul Calibur on some poor guy's ass after he broke into his garage. Apparently a Playstation and a couple laptops had already been stolen earlier from the house and this guy just wasn't gonna have it anymore. Police reported the would-be-thief was sliced up all over and was practically missing a hand. BADASS.

I'm reminded of a certain 1994 film about fantasy orange juice or something...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPZISW_mcD4

-Brien

2009 CLAIMS ANOTHER

2009-09-14T18:02:00.000-07:00

In memorium:

-Brien

'M MN F CNSNNT SRRW

2009-09-14T15:58:00.000-07:00

A comedy group from my school made this. I thought it was pretty effing hilarious. Do yourself a favor and check em out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6g-e8FGHutc

-Brien

HOLY SHIT! A CHUPACABRA!

2009-09-02T21:13:00.000-07:00

That's what a lot of people are saying right now due to this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O04hYpmOoiI

What say you?

-Brien

SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT WITH THIS PICTURE

2009-08-28T20:15:00.001-07:00

-Brien

MASH-UPS FOR CLUNKERS

2009-08-15T21:32:00.001-07:00

The following video was on the Digg front page today and I saw it as a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate the difference between GOOD mash-ups and BAD mash-ups.

BAD mash-up:

Even if the rick roll was still funny, this would still be horrible

GOOD mash-up

AWESOME mash-up MONSTER KILL

NOT EVEN CLOSE mash-up FAIL

CLASSIC mash-up

-Brien

...

BONUS mash-up

Disclaimer to those viewing this on FACEBOOK, click on "View original post" to see the embedded videos.

WHAT A CATCH...NOT!!

2009-08-11T10:55:00.000-07:00

So I found the actual video from the Jimmy Fallon show of Fall Out Boy playing their latest single, "What a Catch, Donnie", only to be let down. A lot. The performance isn't is great as it could be. Patrick Stump's voice is kind of weak, the band makes no effort to support him with back-up vocals, and half the band seems to be falling asleep on the stage. To make matters worse they cut out the heart-lifting medley at the end of the song. I expect more from you Fall Out Boy.

There's talk they might be splitting up soon. That's honestly not surprising in the least bit given the nature of the album and this song in particular. They don't seem hate each other, just to be drifting apart. I can see bassist/lyricist Pete Wentz focusing more on his production projects on his label Decaydance, and settling down with his wife. Stump could easily have a very successful solo career, and the other two will do a great job waiting for a reunion. I can remember a certain other mega-hug pop-punk group that dissolved after their best and most ambitious album as well.

Oh well, here it is anyway.

Original video.

-Brien

WHAT A CATCH

2009-08-11T00:03:00.001-07:00

Fall Out Boy played what is by far the best song they've ever written on Jimmy Fallon tonight. I couldn't find video of it, so here's the official music video (ya know, those things MTV used to show when Carson Daily was running shit).

At first I was a little let down. I don't think the video at all captures the full epically emotional scale of the song, but its still good and gets its point across pretty clearly. I like this band more every time I hear about them.

Well, here it is "What a Catch, Donnie" from Fall Out Boy's Folie a Deux.

Fall Out Boy - What A Catch, Donnie from clandestine on Vimeo.

-Brien

NEW IRON MAN 2 FOOTAGE. PANTS OFFICIALLY RUINED.

2009-08-09T16:05:00.000-07:00

While I'm disappointed by the absence of perfect fit Terrance Howard as War Machine, it is quite awesome to see Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, complete with eyepatch. Hopefully we'll get some good Avengers lead-ins and cameos too.

You can see it in all it's infinite glory here.

CANNOT FLIPPIN' WAIT.

-Brien

OBESE PRISONER CONCEALS GUN IN ROLLS OF FAT

2009-08-09T08:42:00.000-07:00

No, this story is not from the Onion. It's legit news from the American Free Press. A prisoner actually got through 3 searches without the 9mm gun being found. It was only discovered when he got to the showers. The odd thing is, this guy wasn't arrested for murder or drugs or saying bad things about Obama. He was in jail for selling counterfeit CDs. Perhaps the charges ran along the lines of "refusing to believe world has changed since 1996". Counterfeit CDs? Really? I just don't even know what to say.

In his defense though, maybe he'd forgotten the gun was there. Perhaps it was just another poor item lost in the abyss like that bag of potato chips he never finished, or his car keys, or his dog who "ran away". Maybe another prisoner planted it on there. Or if he's absorbed any high-power magnets lately, the thing could have come from anywhere.

If this story says anything, I think it's "This is America, dammit! And we will NOT use your filthy, French holsters!"

-Brien

MICHAEL JACKSON'S GHOST??

2009-08-01T05:59:00.000-07:00

Not too long ago Larry King featured a virtual tour of Neverland Ranch on his show. After having the tour guide explain what a locked door means, a shadowy figure can clearly be seen crossing the room at the other end of the hallway. Creepy.

What say you? Ghost of the King of Pop, or our eyes playing tricks?

-Brien

TSFR: CHESTER FRENCH

2009-07-27T20:08:00.000-07:00

God DAYUM its been a long time since we had a TSFR here at LB. What's up with that, huh??
Anyway, I'm going to the Blink 182 / Weezer Tour this summer. Two of my favorite bands from my youth in one show with a couple supporting acts. Unfortunately, one of these acts is Taking Back Sunday. However, the other band is a duet called Chester French. Not a very attractive name, but don't let it fool you.

Chester French is a catchy blend of rock, pop, and funk. "She Loves Everybody", the song featured in this TSFR, is highly reminiscent of 60s psychedelic rock, but brings a modern twist and a hook that I can't for the life of me get out of my head. The video itself is also quite a piece of work.

Thanks to Chester French I now have a reason to show up to the concert before 7:00 PM. Unfortunately, thanks to Chester French, this means I'll also have to endure an hour or so of Taking Back Sunday.

Oh well, Enjoy!

With some of the fiercest hip-shakin psychedelic groove you've ever heard, and the baddest chick you've seen since 1995, THIS SHIT FUCKING ROCKS.

Chester French - She Loves Everybody
Uploaded by UniversalMusicGroup - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

-Brien

MAD AS A HATTER!

2009-07-24T09:31:00.000-07:00

So yea, it's been 22 days since I've posted anything. I'm a respectable member of society now, going to my daily job a bankrupt amusement park. I don't have as much free time as I used to. Sorry 'bout that, reader(s).

But anyway, Movifone's got the latest on Tim Burton's highly anticipated take on the classic Alice's Adventures in Wonderland with the film's first trailer. I must say, I am quite excited.

2010's gonna be one hell of a year*.

-Brien

what with the Yuktobonian-Osean War and everything.

LEANING BACK'S TOP 5 MICHAEL JACKSON COVERS

2009-07-02T07:19:00.000-07:00

I was never a huge fan of Michael Jackson, but there's no denying the influence he had on popular music and culture. In memoriam I've prepared a small tribute to the "King of Pop" to show his influence throughout pop music and also showcase artists paying tribute through their own versions of his songs. Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you, LEANING BACK's Top 5 Michael Jackson covers.

#5: James Morrison - "Man in the Mirror"

Morrison does a pretty straight on, stripped down version of the song. He doesn't reinvent it, but manages to give it a solid, fresh new sound.

#4: Ben Gibbard - "Thriller"

Deathcab for Cutie frontman, Ben Gibbard puts on a unique performance of the seminal "Thriller" sans zombies and werewolves. This version's just a bit more toned down, a bare bones acoustic performance, complete with a lyrics sheet taped to the top of the guitar. Awesome.

#3: Fall Out Boy - "Beat It"

A few years ago the very thought of Fall Out Boy covering a song of this magnitude would have brought me to raging tears, but the band has since cleaned up their live sound and grown into some very, very solid songwriters. Although the guitar solo is somewhat lacking, Patrick Stump delivers a powerful vocal performance and the band breathes new life into - well the song didn't really need any CPR, it's a classic - but nevertheless, Fall Out Boy pulls through here and gives us a "Beat It" for the 21st century.

Fall Out Boy - Beat It
Uploaded by UniversalMusicGroup. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

#2: Alien Ant Farm - "Smooth Criminal"

This is a happy memory from my childhood in a time where a cool new band called Alien Ant Farm had an awesome new song. It was a while before I was educated with knowledge that said song was in fact a cover. I was rather disappointed with the original version after hearing it, and AAF's remained the only version forever in my heart. It was just about the band's only hit in my memory too...

Alien Ant Farm - Smooth Criminal
Uploaded by hushhush112. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

#1: Chris Cornell - "Billie Jean"

Topping off the list we have Soundgarden/Temple of the Dog/Audioslave ex-frontman, Chris Cornell tearing Jackson's hit "Billie Jean" to pieces, then eating those pieces, and spewing the them out in a fiery pillar of awesomeness. Not only does Cornell completely reinvent the song, filling it to the brim with gut-wrenching soul, but he does it all with just a lone acoustic guitar and a microphone. It's almost enough to make us forget about all that Scream business. Almost.

Rest in peace, MJ. You gave the world some great music and leave behind a great legacy. Even if people don't like the music, they can't doubt the influence it had on pop music and culture at large.

- Brien

...

B-B-B-B-BONUS POST!

ROFLCHAIR: MEGAN FOX AND PORN STARS.

2009-06-16T20:21:00.001-07:00

This was on the Digg front page today. I had to post it for obvious lulz-related reasons. It seems demotivator-worthy, but really, does anyone find those funny anymore?

On another note, sorry I haven't posted for a while. I'd like to say this is due to my time being sucked up by work, or some intense project I'm working on. I'd like to, but honestly I've just been too damn lazy. Here's a double-dose of ROFLCHAIR to compensate.

Remember that Watchmen video I posted a while ago? Well here's another piece of work from creator Harry Partridge. His style kind of reminds me of Family Guy, but he doesn't seem to be forcing it as much, which makes it much, much more bearable than recent Family Guy episodes, and in fact entirely awesome. Check out his youtube channel and subscribe for a steady dose of laughs and OMG's.

The Latest:

My Favorite:

-Brien

What's that? You find the headline misleading?? Well...

OMGZ!!

2009-06-04T00:39:00.000-07:00

LOOK WHAT I FOUND!

Btw, if you don't know this song get your head the FUCK out of whatever hole you have it in.

-Brien

ANYTHING BUT THAT!!!

2009-05-29T21:47:00.001-07:00

Somehow, I'm reminded of my childhood.

-Brien

MAKE THE GIRL DANCE

2009-05-28T23:08:00.000-07:00

I'll just leave this here...

-Brien

FAIL

2009-05-23T07:50:00.000-07:00

Sauce: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn30slt_7-0

-Brien

IMPORTANT NEWS!!!

2009-05-22T09:10:00.000-07:00

Hey I know it's been a while since we posted anything but I just couldn't let this one slide. Recently Joe Trohman of Fall Out Boy fame sat down for a chat with Ultimate-Guitar.com's Brandon Weiss. In the controversial interview he revealed astonishing secrets and details about the band's current album and supporting tour. When asked bout the various aspects of the band's rise from pop-punk indie band to rock star juggernauts, he had this to say:

"I actually used to have long hair before people cared about Fall Out Boy. It was really long, about this long. You know how as you grow older the texture of your hair changes? My hair used to be like the longer it wouldn’t weight down, it would just go out. Now it weighs down. I think it has to do with me getting older and my hair texture just completely changing. It was weird. Our fans kept bugging me to grow my hair back out and I was like “um yeah, sure, why not?” I started doing it. It is cool for playing live. I’ve always noticed that dudes that have long hair when they’re headbanging it looks like they’re rocking out harder than they really are. I know that’s the visual trickery of it. Of course all the cool, classic rock guitar players had long hair which made them look awesome. I like it. My hair is so thick and unmanageable that it really gets in the way sometimes of not just eating, but seeing too. Especially on stage it can be a difficult thing to do. I’m still learning how to balance enjoying my hair length and being able to see and play on stage."

Ultimate-Guitar.com. Important shit.

-Brien

108

2009-05-08T03:08:00.000-07:00

Take two deep breaths

Count down slowly

The girls won't turn their noses up at you

The jocks will put on weight and lose their appeal

The bad teachers will fade from memory

Backstabbing ex's will miss your smile

The "freaks" will realize that their originality is a facade

One breath

Good people emerge in view

Girls who laughed at your jokes

Guys who called just to chill

Teachers who taught you how to think

And also how to write

Family that gave you morals

And challenged you to debate

One day you'll rise above all of this

Make your money having your say

So relax for now

This won't hurt a bit.

~Andy

JONAS BROTHERS FAIL

2009-05-07T12:45:00.000-07:00

Thank you, Failblog.

VS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGqzbUsqFxY

-Brien

Unpublished.

2009-05-06T16:24:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's because I don't know the right people.
Maybe it's because my favorite writers aren't scholars with years of schooling in literary craft, but sweaty, hairy men on a stage, slapping a bass or pounding a cowbell.
Maybe it's because poetry to me isn't a painting, but a photograph.
Maybe it's because I'm a photographer who hasn't discovered Photoshop.
Maybe it's spite. Envious spite.
Maybe it's the language; maybe it's too thick and obscure.
Maybe it's the hours spent clicking buttons and gazing at back-lit screens instead of pouring over the sacred scriptures.
Burning my precious time away
like a cigarette on an ashtray.
Maybe it's trite similes like that.
Maybe it's because I don't care enough.
Maybe I'm just delusional.
Maybe it's because it's not my time.
Or maybe, just maybe, it's because I suck.

-Brien

MY GOD THE WALLS!

2009-05-06T12:04:00.001-07:00

How many times has this happened to you? You buy a million dollar home in sunny Florida, and then inexplicably get headaches and bloody noses. You're rich! You should never have to deal with common ailments! Of course, you do the first thing that makes sense, you blame it on the Chinese drywall...

Alright alright, so it seems as if the drywall plague has some merit, and it has been making them sick. But does this REALLY need to be on the front page of CNN? From sensationalizing the H1N1 virus to telling you your walls are going to kill you, CNN's got panic on their side. I mean, look at the story, it was on the front page. Nevermind insinuations that cops in Texas are shaking down pulled over motorists, or the fact that guns and body armor were found in a day care, we need to hear about the millionaires with homes are making them sick.

The picture is what really made me laugh, there are still thousands of homeless people in New Orleans and across America, and here are two women hugging and consoling each other in their designer label outfits and apparently marble lined kitchen. At first I thought it was just a misprint but CNN is actually expecting me to feel sorry for them. Though this story is interesting, it doesn't deserve the front page.

Yes yes I know I ranted a bit, I'm sorry for that but I'm tired of our media. Also I laughed because this story reminded me of that Aaahh Real Monsters! episode where the students are sent to a haunted house to get a scare.

I would have posted a clip but they're nowhere to be found on the internet, so I apologize that this post isn't as amusing as I had intended.

~Andy

FAIL: EMINEM STARS IN NEW PUNISHER COMIC

2009-05-06T11:18:00.000-07:00

In what seems like a desperate attempt to boost the fanbase of both parties, Marvel and Eminem have joined forces to produce the greatest lump shit to hit comic books since One More Day. The story involves Eminem becoming caught up in a shoot out or something after a show, at which point dear ol' Frank gets involved. Apparently the two team up realizing that despite decades of Marine training and vigilantism and a stockpile of weapons big enough to start a small army, this job is just too big for the Punisher to handle alone. Who can assist him in the daunting mission of taking down the same breed of street thugs he's been murdering for years? Spider-Man? Daredevil? While both have proved their worth in previous team-ups, they still can't quite match the level of skill that years of multi-platinum record sales has brought Eminem.

This is a pathetic joke and anyone who buys this trash should be shot. In the knees. Obviously they'll be able to take it if they're willing to put themselves through that kind of torture. I really hope Marvel gets their shit together soon. Eminem/Punisher: Kill You (creative, I know) came out yesterday and is split in two halves, one on store shelves, and one on marvel.com. I tell you this in the hope that you will avoid either at all costs until this shitstorm has passed.

-Brien

IT GOES TO 11 ALL OVER AGAIN

2009-05-05T00:12:00.000-07:00

My, my, today's just been full of blogworthies. Apparently metal parody band, Spinal Tap is releasing a new album in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the famous film. The album, entitled Back from the Dead, features all of the bands hits and misses rerecorded for a the 21st century along with 6 new songs, as well as a 3-part Jazz Odyssey.

Here's some new Tap, and some old Tap to celebrate!

VS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXGbwIkvh38

VS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGuWS_mEcMk

-Brien

CONSPIRACY AMERICAN

2009-05-04T23:09:00.000-07:00

Stumbling through the wreckage of Youtube the other day I came across this interesting assortment of conspiracy videos. No, these were not about how "bush knocked down the towers", they were about how Marvel Comics legend, Captain America, had been cleverly and very subtly implanted in the first to releases from Marvel Studios last summer, Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk. Now for those who don't know (most of you I suspect), the Captain was a hero in WWII and was thought dead after his plane was shot down. He was found three decades later frozen in a block of ice in Antarctica and returned to action shortly afterward with superhero superteam, The Avengers.

The one in Iron Man is pretty easy to spot, right behind Tony Stark as Pepper Pots catches him trying to get out of his suit. It's the famous shield Captain America uses apparently contracted to Stark Industries for production. The clip from the alternate beginning to The Incredible Hulk however, comes a bit faster and is much harder to pick up. After Bruce Banner transforms and crushes and ice cliff, you can see a blurry red and blue figure in the ice with a circular red blue object, complete with a white star in the middle lying next to him.

Both clips only last for a couple seconds, but they're real and for a nerds like me everywhere seeing it for the first time it's quite a treat. You know that Christmas gift you got one year? The one that that ruined all the following Christmases because it was so damn good and set the bar so high that every other gift was just a pathetic disappointment? This is that gift. Hopefully Marvel Studios won't turn into my friends and family and let me down year after year too.

This of course is just another tease at the planned Captain America and Avengers films by Marvel. This cameo just isn't as easily spotted as Nick Fury and Tony Stark in Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk, respectively. I'm really looking forward to what Marvel has in store 2010, onward. Wolverine however, I might just have sit out on for now after -ahem- previewing it last month. After all, the script's by the same guy that managed to ruin the Hitman movie.

The video below is the best I found to sum up this delicious easter egg. It features stills of both clips and makes them pretty easy to see. If you want to see the actual clips you can do your own research. With things on Youtube the way they are I figured posting them here would lead to a "this video has been removed due to blah blah blah" anyway and didn't bother.

Anyway, enough lollygagging. Here it is, Captain America as featured in Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk. Enjoy!

VS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4H2OqymsXw

-Brien

If you're any kind of comic book fan you'd know that Captain America didn't have a circular sheild until AFTER he was unfrozen, but I suppose comic book adaptations pride themselves on how inaccurate they are these days. Unless you're Zack Snyder of course.

I GEZ I MUSTA KILLED DEM

2009-05-04T22:32:00.000-07:00

Eminem's got a new video out and the consensus seems to be in line with my reaction: good lyrics, nice flow, but what in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory is with that voice? It sounds as if Mister Mathers has been grabbing his balls just a little to hard lately. It's the voice he usually uses to break things up or to imitate someone, but here it's the normal tone for the entire song. I don't understand it. I'd like the song if it weren't for that one aspect. The chorus is a little weak, but it's made up for with the great surrealist-psycho themes Eminem is known for.

The video has issues too. The whole "B Horror Film" theme is a bit trite and a lot lame. There's plenty of blood, gore, and sharp object, and enough green tint to make you think you were watching the latest Saw film. Eminem rapping in the woods with his shirt off is no improvement either. I expected more from an artist's whose videos (at least until recently) have always impressed me with either great pop-culture spoofs and nice animations.

Anyway here it is, the latest from Eminem's The Relapse, "3AM".

VS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvMvFE9K0Q8

-Brien

MEGATRON WANTS WHAT'S IN MY HEAD!

2009-05-04T18:12:00.000-07:00

So there's a new Transformers 2 trailer out...

VS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5lCxB-MF28

ya dig?

-Brien

I'm Back

2009-05-01T14:36:00.000-07:00

Hello all of you nonexistent readers, I'm back with bravado. I thought that I'd give you a small taste of what's in my journal, I'll be putting in things occasionally that aren't too personal and aren't too bland to post.

This is one I wrote about showers;

drip drop drip patter sploosh splat plot bloop blip quoip tick tick tick till dribble splip splip dboop dboop
Water feels good.
Runs down my head, washes away all strife and troubles alongside dirt from a long day of work.
I love to soap up so much that I look like a ghost.
I usually let it soak into my skin, it lets me feel like the soap is really getting rid of all the bad parts to life.
There really is nothing like washing out greasy hair and a sweaty face.
Facial cleansers are fun to use, knowing that I can get the grime from cigarette smoke out of my pores.
Body wash is nice for getting out the sweat accumulated on my skin from lugging my musical accoutrements around all day.
I love hand washes, getting the grime of years old-stained with chicken grease-covered in dead skin cells-guitar strings out from under my nails.
Showers are fun

~Richard Harland

THE PIRATES STRIKE BACK

2009-04-29T12:09:00.000-07:00

So today Digg featured a story about the website of the prosecuting law firm in the Pirate Bay trial being attacked by unknown hackers. The owners of the Pirate Bay are currently demanding a retrial after being found guilty of the charges filed against them. If there's any justice in Europe, they'll get it since the judge has admitted to having ties with the prosecuting parties.

Somehow I'm reminded of a certain 1999 cult classic film.

Look, the people you are after are the people you depend on. We cook your meals, we haul your trash, we connect your calls, we drive your ambulances. We guard you while you sleep.
Do not fuck with us.

-Tyler Durden

Sauce: http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/225458

-Brien

MICHAEL BAY

2009-04-29T11:35:00.001-07:00

On my daily travels across the internet today I stumbled across a few pretty hilarious parodies of Hollywood's favorite blockbuster director. South Park is the first thing I can remember really taking a shot at the guy in Team America: World Police with an entire song dedicated to the question of "Why does Michael Bay keep to keep on making movies?", mostly attributing their distain to his interpretation of the events at Pearl Harbor. Ever since Transformers however, it seems like everyone's been jumping on the Bash-Bay Bandwagon. Not that I have a huge problem with it, I mean the jokes are funny, and to be honest Michael Bay does get on my nerves, I was just surprised by the number of people going out of their way to call the guy out on his ready-fire-aim style.

Anyway, here's a bunch of Michael Bay parody videos for your lulz. Enjoy!

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN25hFa1rms

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXGWZxI9lAs

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENggeXbzecQ

And the original...

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pM8PrqY5Rg

The Latest South Park shot Featuring M. Night Shemmallaner... and Mel Gibson:

Source: http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/155700

-Brien

Stockpile

2009-04-21T20:36:00.000-07:00

I found this gem on the third floor of my school, there's been a locked closet next to the bathroom there and I always assumed there was just cleaning supplies, what else could you keep in a bathroom closet?

Macs

Lots and lots of Macs.

I'm not sure why these are all here, I know we upgraded the recording studio's computers recently but something tells me that tossing the old ones into a pile in a closet next to a bathroom is not the proper Mac Disposal Protocol.

Maybe it's just me

~Andy

4/20

2009-04-19T20:41:00.000-07:00

Skip to 3:04 for win.

Also, make sure you guys sing happy birthday to Hitler.

Video Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGXmqv9jrlo

- Brien

NFW: SLASH PLAYS WITH AVENGED SEVENFOLD

2009-04-18T11:31:00.000-07:00

Yes brix were shat as rock and roll Olympian Saul "Slash" Hudson of Velvet Revolver, formerly of Guns n' Roses, graced 2000's rock/metal giants Avenged Sevenfold with his presence Thursday at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles.

Note: This picture is NOT from the actual show. Embedding doesn't seem to be working but you can check out pics of the show here and here.

Unfortunately, they chose to cover what is in my opinion, one of the lesser GNR songs, "It's So Easy". This can be attributed to 1) the band being to lazy to learn anything a little more difficult, and 2) Fear of Axl throwing a complete bitch fit over them covering one of GNR's more well known songs. Regardless, I still take great satisfaction is seeing one of my favorite bands play with one of my favorite guitarists.

Avenged Sevenfold trying to look tough.

In related news, Avenged Sevenfold are planning on heading back into the studio sometime soon for their 5th full-length album and 3rd for Warner Brothers. Hopefully they'll enlist an actual producer this time around to tell them when they're grand aspirations and ideas turn into phail. Their latest, self-titled release was a tad disappointing to my ears, but showed promise for great things to come.

Anywho, here's the aformentioned performance of Avenged Sevenfold featuring Slash - "It's So Easy".

Video Source: http://www.youtube.com/v/wyWQQ7tROUA

-Brien

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE: THE GODDAMN MOVIE

2009-04-06T15:40:00.000-07:00

So I suppose I'm a bit late on this, but it's finally here, Where the Wild Things Are, the goddamn movie directed by Spike Jonez, scored (at least partially) by that bird from The Yeah Yeah Yeahs (who by the way have just had the honor of being remixed by MSTRKRFT)., and blessed by the sounds of The Arcade Fire.

Needless to say it looks mind-blowingly beautiful and heart-meltingly epic.
Out in theaters October 16th.

-Brien

EPIC FAIL: I-84

2009-04-06T13:06:00.000-07:00

A truck on a local highway near my hometown.
Now seriously, HOW THE FUCK DID YOU MANAGE THAT?

Picture courtesy of Spencer Hopson

-Brien

HOLY SHIT!! NEW PROTEST THE HERO VIDEO!!

2009-04-05T21:24:00.000-07:00

Well that title comes with some bitter sarcasm in knowing that Protest the Hero's videos have been a little bit less than stellar as far as their 2008 masterpiece Fortress goes.

What's that? You say you've never heard of PROTEST THE HERO?!? Well how rude of me. Allow me to introduce you to the greatest metal band on Earth. Period.

PtH combine mind-fucking mathcore riffs with beautiful vocal melodies and harmonies, complimented and contrasted by guttural growls. Their dual-lead guitar attack soars over equally agile bass lines, all over some of the most solid drums I've ever heard. Throwing all conventions of what music should sound like and all notions of song structure out the window, Protest the Hero have captured my heart and warped my mind. To be honest, I can't remember if I've done a TSFR on them or not, and even if I did, they deserve every bit of praise I throw their way.

To add to how cool this band already is, when Fortress was released, they made it avaible for free download on amazon.com on the launch date. Now how sick is that?!? Needless to say I downloaded, enjoyed, and later bought the album, which was worth every penny. Unfortunately, I've yet to catch one of their shows.

Anyway, enjoy the video from the 4th single off Fortress, "Spoils".

Sauce: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y45HI7H9DMc

Like this song?

-Brien

For some more kickass and PtH check out "Heretics and Killers" from their previous album Kezia, a sort 21st century telling of The Brothers Karamozov. Also, one of my favorite music videos of all time (see: flying monkeys).

WARNING TO WINDOWS USERS

2009-03-31T19:57:00.000-07:00

Hey my buddy recently linked me to this blog where the writer gives a brief rundown of super-malware Conficker C and how to protect yourself from it. Essentially, it's a worm that has the ability to infect a massive amount of computers and put them at the mercy of the person controlling it. There's a fix linked from the blog put out by Microsoft, but I just wanted to let out reader(s) know to be especially wary this April Fool's Day.

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/132464

Oh yea, and you Mac bastards are immune. Laugh now.
In the meantime, I'm gonna go play Half-Life.

-Brien

An Open Letter to YOU

2009-03-29T21:05:00.000-07:00

Hello reader(s)! Long time no see. It's been a while and let me apologize for slacking on our relationship. I've been a neglectful, selfish blogger, but that's all gonna change soon. I know you've heard it all before. You've heard your past bloggers say such things in the past only to leave out in the cold with nothing to read; your comment box a desolate wasteland of what could have been beautiful harmonious rebuttals and/or props. You deserve better, and I'm gonna show you that I'm the blogger for you.

I've been so caught up with trivial things like school, family, friends, and love and haven't paid enough attention to you, and for that I am truly sorry. I hope you can find it in your heart(s) to forgive me, and that we can start with a new slate. I tell you, I have many an opinion stocked up waiting to be unleashed upon the internet for you to enjoy and that every letter I type; every image and video I embed will be done with thoughts of you warming my heart and fueling my mind.

So I ask you reader(s), can you forgive me?
Can we start again?
I hope so.

Yours forever,

-Brien

Oh Narcissism

2009-03-25T21:45:00.000-07:00

So I was cruising the intrawebs and I found a comedian that I hadn't heard of online. His name's Anthony Jeselnik, here's a link, I know how all you readers like our great links. Anyways here's a link to a video of him doing standup.

He's pretty good, a few of his jokes didn't hit for me but decent material. I did what any good internetter does and wikied him and that's where I found this wonderful internet Easter Egg. If you go to his wiki page, a few things pop out that just seem weird. Here's a real gem of a quote.

"Anthony's pitch-black sense of humor, brilliant joke writing, and devilish charm have made him a smash hit in the alternative comedy community."

Seems odd to have a wiki page that's so flattering, it seems to me that he created his own wiki page as a piece of shameless self promotion.
Link to the page:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Jeselnik

Anyways, thought I'd return to blogging with that interesting tidbit of insight into the internets' inner workings.

~Andy

ROFLCHAIR

2009-03-12T12:53:00.000-07:00

So it's been a while since we posted anything and an even longer while since we posted a good ROFLCHAIR. Let me offer my sincerest apologies to all our non-existent readers who have been anxiously awaiting the blogging genius of Leaning Back.

If you've ever wondered what a Watchmen Saturday morning kids' show (which I know you have) would be like, all your questions are answered in the clip below. Lulz ensue.

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDDHHrt6l4w

PWNCH4!R 2-22-09

2009-02-22T01:23:00.000-08:00

Here's to you, Kanye West. Even considering the venetian blinds style sunglasses and your world famous hissy fits, you have really outdone yourself in ridiculousness this time. Kanye has claimed, in a recent interview with Details Magazine, that he coded a sexually oriented Super Mario level. He then preceeded to tell the interviewer about something to do with gigantic penises and ghostly vaginas. I'm not sure what's more shocking to me, the fact that Kanye, is (and this is an actual quote) "the fucking end-all, be-all of music” or the fact that he's also a master ROM hacker.(How do you see through those? I don't understand it, are you trying to figure out what it feels like to have 30% of your vision?)

Yes, it's nice to see that Kanye made sure he paid special homage to the video game industry of yesteryear. I'm really glad he took time away from stroking his musical ego to remind us all that we are far inferior to him in every way. Just because we think programming is cool doesn't mean that it's been spared from the umbrella of Kanye's awesomeness.

Personally, I'm waiting for the day when he says he made a perpetual motion device back in the 9th grade.

~Andy

TSFR: THE BRONX

2009-02-21T12:27:00.000-08:00

The Bronx have to be one of my favorite bands of the modern age. I say this not only because of their electrifying music and live shows, but because of their business model. This is a band that after a handful of local shows had labels begging for a record deal. Not wanting to become slaves to the industry, the band declined and instead built up a fanbase by way of self-financed and operated touring and eventually put out their first album The Bronx (2003) on their own label, White Drugs. After signing with Island/Def Jam, the band put out their second album also titled The Bronx in 2006 in an agreement that required little inference from the label. Disliking major label support even more than they thought they would, The Bronx departed from Island/Def Jam and produced their third self titled which came out last year, soon to be followed by a mariachi (that's right, mariachi) album this year.

Now normally I don't do biographies for bands, but The Bronx deserve it because they stand it out in an industry built on deals with the devil and trend-based music. The band's unique blend of punk rock dares its listeners to pigeonhole them, only to be defied by the next release. After all, how many bands are bold enough to do a friggin mariachi album? The Bronx (who by the way are from Los Angeles) are band without fear or limitation and continuously impress me with their music.

The song featured is "White Guilt" from their second self-titled album. I use this song because it really stands admist the rest of their music and because i just think the video is really, really, really cool. I encourage you to check out the rest of their catalouge though. With clever lyrics, solid riffs, and enough collective energy to power a small city, THIS SHIT FUCKING ROCKS.

The Bronx - White Guilt
Uploaded by UniversalMusicGroup

-Brien

"I wanna be original, I wanna be surrounded by art / but everything is digital, the formulas are falling apart" - The Bronx, "Knifeman"

It's lines like that that make me love this band. I wanted to use that song for this post, but oddly enough there's no music video for it. Go look it up anyway n00bz!

PINEAPPLE EXPRESS RIPS OFF C&H

2009-02-21T11:55:00.000-08:00

I thought Pineapple Express was a decent movie. I laughed a lot, but it seemed like a bit of a trainwreck towards the end. One of the funniest scenes was the opening credits in which Seth Rogen cheerfully fulfills his job of delivering court orders to people. After handing them the order he slyly claims "you've been served". A clever joke...if it had come out 2 years ago before this Cyanide and Happiness comic dated February of 2006.

http://www.explosm.net/comics/443/

Compare with:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vaw8bjNjtQ0

-Brien

2/19/09

2009-02-19T19:59:00.000-08:00

And so Brien slammed his forehead onto his desk like a defeated boxer after the final blow, his eyes panning over to the open Quantitative Reasoning Book laying open on his lap. His gaze fell upon the words "...'how heavy the traffic load is'...".

Brien agreed, "How heavy indeed".

-Brien

COFFEE

2009-02-17T19:39:00.000-08:00

Andy gets credit for spotting this gem.
This is how most weeks go for me.

le Café - Oldelaf (english subtitles)
Uploaded by Boebis

-Brien

NH SECEDES FROM UNION?!?!

2009-02-10T20:35:00.000-08:00

So there's rumors flyin 'round that New Hampshire is threatening to secede from the United States of America. New legislation was passed recently condemning the federal government for its recent actions and claiming the right to basically leave when they please.

I'd assume this thing has been in the works for a while and it is only coincidence that it comes out shortly after a new, mulatto president is elected.

I for one think it's unfortunately, a load of hot air; a bluff meant to inspire the Americans to realize just how grave our current situation is and to take the power back from Washington. It's a scare tactic meant to do...I'm not exactly sure...but I'd have to agree with one digg commenter: "I'm actually naive enough to believe civil war would be kind of fun". This of course not meaning something similar to the moral struggle that consumed the entire nation and took the greatest number of American causalties of any war it's participated in. I see a new "civil war" as a reform of the Federal Government and the dawn of a new America. As good a wet dream as it may be, it would be a TERRIBLE IDEA. I can picture other countries coming into the fray and taking control as we ourselves are so fond of doing. What goes around comes around I suppose.

In the unlikely (and by that I mean impossible) event that New Hampshire were to secede, I would gladly leave my comfy dormroom at Keene State College and head to wherever the action is. I've been praying for something like this for a while. I've hoped that an event would swallow me whole and throw me into the belly of some kind of Ragnarok. From the looks of things though, I'm gonna have to wait it out til 2012 (sigh).

Anyway, here's a couple links about what's going on. Enjoy!

Organization bent on secesion and the formation of a new America that operates closer to the forefather's wishes from what I understand: http://www.republicofnh.org/

The actual legislation: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2009/hcr0006.html

-Brien

RAWFUL: THE GRAMMYS

2009-02-10T17:47:00.000-08:00

The picture pretty much sums it up.
None of us were interested enough in the Grammy to really write about it.
Just like that particular picture of shit looks as you'd expect shit to look, and probably smells like you'd expect shit to smell, the Grammys met their expectations with full fail.

Here are some of the highlights, or lowlights depending on your perspective:

-Blink 182 made the possibly the most awkward reunion announcement in music history.

-Jonas Brothers reached a new level of fail thought unreachable my failotologists

-Katy Perry was stripped everything that made her unique in the endlessly ambiguous realm of pop music.

-A well-deserved homage to Dean Martin was followed by the "Rap Pack" performing the astronomical shitstorm known as "Swagga Like Us" in which a very pregnant MIA lip-synced random bits of her hit single "Paper Planes" in a see-through dress while four of the industry's biggest rappers fought for stage presence by seeing who could yell incoherent Ebonics the loudest.

GRAMMY'S - SWAGGA LIKE US
Uploaded by 3030fm

at this point I left the room.

So thank you, Grammys, for failing to meet your already increasingly low expectations.

And that's already far beyond what i had the will to write about this garbage. Goodnight, ladies and gentlemen.

-Brien

BTW!11!1 this is part of a new section I'm dubbing "RAWFUL" (us and our clever puns, you know you like it) reserved for stuff that makes us go "EEEEWWWWWWW!!!!!"

'Nuff Said

2009-02-08T20:18:00.001-08:00

DIVERSITY

2009-02-07T23:09:00.000-08:00

-Brien

CHRISITAN BALE-ISTIC 3

2009-02-07T21:04:00.000-08:00

And so, the final chapter of Christian Bale's freak-out ends in a well structured, honest apology. I think a lot of people could understand a method actor overreacting in the middle of a scene of a highly anticipated ACTION FILM. Bale gave his exclusive public apology to the guys at the Kevin and Bean show on radio station KROQ 106.7 FM, which is conveniently presented here via the youtube account of InternetPopular.com (whatever that is).

Well this completely restores what little faith I lost in Bale and I look forward to seeing his performance in Terminator 4.

-Brien

NFW! BLINK 182 REUNITES?!?!?

2009-02-07T19:43:00.000-08:00

Yes, Rolling Stone have just reported that pop-punk superstars Blink 182 will be breaking their hiatus to either present or perform at this year's Grammy Awards. It seems drummer Travis Barker's recent narrow escape from the clutches of death has altered the bands stand on their status. Hopefully this is the start of a beautiful re-friendship.

I personally thought their last album was a great turn in a new direction that unfortunately got cut short. It was experimental, yet catchy; Exciting, yet romantic; Blink yet, not Blink. It was a beautiful redefinition of a band that seemed to be growing out of themselves, and it was tragically denied a follow up. Perhaps if we close our eyes and hope real hard, we'll get it some time in the near future.

Anyway, to celebrate, here's some classic and modern Blink 182 for ya's. Enjoy! :)

Blink182 - Dammit (Live At Sydney Big Day Out 2000)
Uploaded by Dominium666

Blink 182-Stockholm Syndrome
Uploaded by asroro

-Brien

TSFR

2009-02-07T19:05:00.000-08:00

It was October of 2007 when I found my beloved Schoolyard Heroes. I was going through my daily music news rounds and an article caught my eye about a newspaper in Seattle condemning the band for their violent lyrics, warning readers of the enormous threat they pose to society. Clearly, no one had ever explained to the author the meaning of "metaphor". The thing that separates Schoolyard Heroes from most other horror-punk bands is that their twisted, graphic lyrics about zombies, blood, and the apocalypse are posed as metaphors for more relatable issues like love and the superficiality of American society. This, and the endless barrage of catchy guitar riffs and leads, interesting song composition, and the dual vocal attack of guttural screams contrasted against frontwoman Ryann Donnely's operatic singing style.

The Video below is for the song "Plastic Surgery Hall of Fame" from their most recent (and IMO best) album Abominations (2007). Dissonant, biting guitar licks, graphic horror-themed lyrics, soaring vocals from an actually respectable female lead (a rarity these days) - oh yeah, THIS SHIT FUCKING ROCKS.

Schoolyard Heroes - The Plastic Surgery Hall Of Fame
Uploaded by UniversalMusicGroup

-Brien

GORDON FREEMAN

2009-02-07T13:15:00.000-08:00

I heart Half-Life.

-Brien

PWNCH4!R

2009-02-07T00:03:00.000-08:00

I Haven't been contributing much lately, so I'm going to start up in earnest. This new section is going to be called PWNCH4!R (see what I did there? It's a double pun) Being something of a videogame nerd, I figure it's good to post about what's going on in these changing times in the industry. I'll try to post every Monday, I realize it's saturday but I've got a burning desire to talk about Jack Thompson but Brien wanted me to showcase this first

I got D-Pad hero for my NES emulator (Nestopia if you were wondering and it is awesome). I may be behind the times, for some reason I always seem to hear about things 2 years past. But I digress, this game is fun once you fix the controls to suit your keyboard (Shift and Option do NOT work on Mac when the game is as fast paced as it is) but it works well.

There's only four tunes on it so far, but they're pretty fun. There's a Micheal Jackson tune that I don't know (I'm a product of the nineties), Sweet Child O' Mine (I grew up a "Classic Rock" fan) Some random song I have no clue what it is and Daft Punk which drew me in the first place.

Either way, I guess this works as a pseudo-videogame review, and you should definitely check it out. 8 Bit music is so cool.

Check out this video posted of it by ScaryBugThing

(Finding ROMs for emulators is kinda hard when you can't use .torrent clients so I have to wait until I'm on a network that can. Oh well, TANSTAAFL)

-Andy

CHRISITAN BALE-ISTIC 2

2009-02-04T20:50:00.001-08:00

-Brien

(I had to do it.)

CHRISTIAN BALE-ISTIC

2009-02-03T15:55:00.000-08:00

For those of you who haven't heard, actor Christian Bale is currently involved in production of the next (Schwarzenegger-absent) Terminator installment.
Apparently while shooting, the director of photography stumbled onto the set and threw off Bale's groove. An audio clip of the event has been circulating featuring Bale chewing out the guy in ways rivaled only by the infamous Buddy Rich tapes. More important than all of this however is the remix of the recording made by youtuber RevoLucian cleverly titled "Bale Out"

Prepare to BAMWROFL ("bust a move while rolling on the floor laughing").

-Brien

ARIZONA CARDINALS: EPIC FAIL

2009-02-01T23:10:00.002-08:00

-Brien

(To be fair though quite a few bullshit calls were made in the Steelers' favor, but that's how the Superbowl is these days..)

(...Like that last call on Warner's incompletion as a fumble, WTF WAS THAT SHIT?!?)

ROFLCHAIR

2009-02-01T22:36:00.001-08:00

Yet another addition to the world-wide phenomenon that is Leaning Back, allow me to introduce ROFLCHAIR. The title's origin stems from a distant cousin of the ROFLCOPTER. As you clever rapscallions might have guessed, here we feature discoveries that make us SICLOFAO (that's "spinning-in-chair-laughing-our-fucking-asses-off" for those of you a lil' slow on the uptake).

To break it in, today we feature the phenomenon that is "Half-Life: Full Life Consequences".
The video's received well over one million views by now but I came across it the other day and SICLMFAO for hours. It's amazing how much a few guys having some fun with Garry's Mod and some poorly written (and narrated) Half-Life 2 fan-fiction can brighten up your day. (:

Those unfamiliar with the game should still find it pretty damn funny. Or maybe just retarded. If you like it be sure to check out creator-youtuber Djy1991's other videos.

Without further a due, here is today's ROFLCHAIR. Enjoy! :D

-Brien

TSFR

2009-02-01T22:19:00.000-08:00

Today's installment of TSFR features Cincinatti's own Foxy Shazam.
I stumbled across them whilst digging up some tunes from one of my personal favs, Every Time I Die, with whom they share a label.

The song below is "A Dangerous Man", lead single from their Ferret Records debut released a little over a year ago simply, yet elegantly titled Introducing Foxy Shazam.

Foxy's explosive blend of indie, punk, and stunning theatrics make them quite the sonic spectacle (dig the mic-stand-kick-twirl at 2:23).

And with frontman Eric Shawn Nally exhibiting stage persona that can only be described as some bizzare fusion of Iggie Pop, Freddie Mercury, and Michael Jackson, THIS SHIT FUCKING ROCKS.

-Brien

Digg

2009-01-28T23:24:00.000-08:00

Our technological ineptitude and lack of HTML prowess has led our Digg functions to be temporarily in the state of COMPLETELY FUCKED.

Operators of the site ask you to please stand by during technical difficulties and thank you for your patience. (:

-Richard M. Harland

IMITATIONS

2009-01-28T22:37:00.000-08:00

-Brien

TSFR

2009-01-28T21:51:00.000-08:00

Allow me to introduce the new TSFR section, named so simply because THIS SHIT FUCKING ROCKS. An outlet for musical discoveries and journeys far and wide.

Today's installment: "My Girls" by Animal Collective.

One of my friends (though I can't remember who exactly - I'll have to thank them when I do) recommended these guys a while back. Naturally, I ignored his advice, but what a mistake that was. From the memorizing synthy triplets of the intro to the eventual galactic vocal harmonies, this shit fucking rocks.

-Brien

File Under: Bullshit

2009-01-28T21:15:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again where the film world throws shiny hunks of painted-gold statues at the industries faithful servants. Yes, award season is a time for celebration, a time for acknowledgement, and most importantly a time for vicious bickering between fan bases.

Now last year's Oscars seemed to go over rather well. The expected winners won and all was peaceful throughout the land. This year turned out quite different. While dramas Milk and Slumdog Millionaire made it into the coveted Best Picture category, two fairly notable fan favorites were shut out to the lesser realms of prestige: WALL-E and The Dark Knight. Both films were highly acclaimed this past summer and brought in a hefty sum of profit.

WALL-E told a tale as pixar only could, of a sentient robot who after centuries of organizing trash on the abandoned planet Earth comes into contact with another robot named called EVE. The two fall in love and in their struggle to find each other across the reaches of space effectively save return mankind back to its homeland from a space station resort where all progress and innovation has been at a stand still since the abandonment of Earth.

The film takes on environmental and cultural issues and warns us of that we're not too far from an age where robots are showing more compassion than humans who simply loaf around in a completely computer-operated, meaningless existence.

The Dark Knight continued the story of the series' cinematic reboot, Batman Begins. The gritty, dark depiction of Gotham city served as a departure from the bright, flashy superhero flicks we're accustomed to. Taking things further, director Christopher Nolan took the classic battle of good versus evil to a whole new level. Heath Ledgers portrayal of the sadistic Joker reinvented the character in ways I can't describe through a mere paragraph summary. The introspection of the hero is a window into the struggle in all of us.

The film tread where none of its brethren had before, dealing with not just a masked hero and a psychotic villain, but a look at the delicate line between chaos and order; sanity and madness; hope and despair and just how easily it can bend, twist, and break.

Now I’ve read justifications about the Academy’s decision all citing that in the end the TDK is a superhero/action movie and WALL-E is just a kid’s cartoon flick. Clearly, if that’s how you feel about it dear sirs, you’re missing the point. Nonetheless, it is the truth behind why neither of them are up for best picture. It’s not coincidence that all of this year’s (and almost every year’s) nominees are dramas - because a film is meaningless if it delves into any other genre right? These two films push the boundaries of their respective categories and get shunned for it? Well I have only one response for that: SHENANIGANS.

The Academy has lost its way and can clearly no longer decipher what is and is not a worthy film of their shiny little man. The Dark Knight and WALL-E both took risks and beat the odds, creating innovative, deep, yet entertaining films inside genres that are scoffed at by the film elite. Surely that deserves more praise than making a traditional drama (likely based on a book based on a true story). Now I’m not saying that any of the actual nominees are unworthy, but a couple of them at least got in easy.

It is notable however, that both are up for nominations in several other categories. But to be denied the holy grail of “best picture” just because of genre falls somewhere in the ranks of racism, sexism, and other facets of the supremacist elite. I might be taking this whole thing a bit too seriously but what can I say, I’m writing a blog. I need something to complain about.

WALL-E’s up for best animated feature film (against the fierce competition of Bolt and Kung-Fu Panda), sound editing, sound mixing, original screenplay, best song, and best score.

The Dark Knight is up for best art direction, cinematography, best makeup (but not best costume design?), best film editing, sound editing, sound mixing, and the shoe-in best supporting role for Heath Ledger as The Joker.

Well it looks like The Dark Knight won’t get the Oscar it deserves, but the Oscar it needs right now.

(And if Heath doesn’t win oh boy am I gonna blog HOT FIRE.)

-Brien

I Hate Disney

2009-01-21T17:31:00.001-08:00

This is an official stand against "band" the Jonas Brothers, the latest in a long line of glam glitter rock. No, not quite glam rock of the 80's yesteryear, glam rock today. Bands like Hannah Montana, Camp Rock, Kidz Bop, all of that stuff.

The music in general is awful, their image is a pre-processed Disney image that appeals to parents and kids alike. Particularly stuck in my craw is the fact that the Jonas Brothers wear purity rings. Okay, not the fact that they wear them so much as they talk about them. With such an impressionable audience, the last thing the band needs to be talking about to them is sex. No popular music figure should force their idea of abstinence on anyone else, that decision should come with great thought put into it, not simply because it's the cool thing to do. It's not their fault entirely, some executive probably told them they had talent, and that exec apparently understood talent to be teenage appeal.

Disney has a tight hold on the 4-15 year old demographic on the music industry. Hopefully that hold will be broken soon, as people start to tire of buying the same CD over and over again. How many High School Musical's can be made before people realize it's ridiculous? However, the guilt does not solely fall on Disney's shoulders, the major labels have substituted image for talent for a while now.

For every great musician to emerge in today's nearly talentless music industry, ten Jonas Brother imiators emerge from the woodwork and attack them with barb wire sticks.
For every brilliant musician who emerges, the actual Jonas Brothers arrive and beat that artist sensless with sticks swathed in fecal matter.

Please comment if you agree, or disagree or whatever

Richard M. Harland

The Way I See It

2009-01-19T23:22:00.000-08:00

The way I see it,
nothing gets better
than a hammock on a beach
toes toasty in the sand

-Richard Matthew Harland

Don't Promise Us What You Can't Deliver

2009-01-19T23:19:00.000-08:00

I never did get that free Dr. Pepper

-Andy

to begin, a poem

2009-01-13T22:13:00.000-08:00

The urn has shattered and the ashes are scattered like trash on the streets of a city gone madder than the wildest kegger of the frats or the brats or the last hell days of a preapocalyptic Saturn.

The dogs are on the loose hunting down the recluse whose lived far too long in his little red caboose thinking he could reach the top of a mountain of truth before sleuths and the judges strung his head through the noose.

Stars are starting to fall from the sky while the moon too soon begins to rise and wage war upon the holy one, eternally divine; God's only sun at the center of time.

Holy Spirits at the local pub.
Ladies night: Mother Mary gets in free.
Baptized in synthesized blood,
Bring a bouquet of Rosaries.

Umbrellas out.
Knees on the ground.
Pray for summercy.
Reigning cat and hound.

The Sphinx took a drink from the bathroom sink, everything else went to hell (and we'd like to think that he was dead in the casket when we buried the shrink), in a breadbasket carried by red ridinghoodwinked.

She was on her way to the retirement home
where a wolf slumbers atop a pile of bones.

-Brien

the urn has shattered by Brien is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at leaningback.blogspot.com.