Friday, November 04, 2005 :::

You scored as Batman, the Dark Knight. As the Dark Knight of Gotham, Batman is a vigilante who deals out his own brand of justice to the criminals and corrupt of the city. He follows his own code and is often misunderstood. He has few friends or allies, but finds comfort in his cause. Batman, the Dark Knight 75% Neo, the "One" 75% Maximus 71% James Bond, Agent 007 67% El Zorro 67% William Wallace 63% The Amazing Spider-Man 58% Captain Jack Sparrow 54% The Terminator 54% Indiana Jones 50% Lara Croft 50% Which Action Hero Would You Be? v. 2.0 created with QuizFarm.com

A tie between Batman and Neo? I couldn't have hoped for better results.

::: posted by AJBrotz at 5:37 PM

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Tuesday, November 01, 2005 :::

This is a great idea. But I'd probably forget to wipe.

::: posted by AJBrotz at 6:39 PM

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Thursday, October 27, 2005 :::

For old school KoRn fans (and fans of rap), this is probably the coolest music video ever made. Hilarious.

The freakin' Coheed show in Ft. Lauderdale was cancelled! Dammit! Gotta refund my tickets now...

Hope to see you guys this weekend in o-town...wink wink...

::: posted by AJBrotz at 7:46 PM

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Tuesday, October 18, 2005 :::

Ah crap.

::: posted by AJBrotz at 8:39 PM

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The new Helloween album is pretty sick. These guys are some of the pioneers of power metal so, out of respect, I decided to check 'em out. Freakin' great decision. The first track on their latest record, "Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy," is a FOURTEEN MINUTE LONG epic, complete with rippin' dual guitar solo, kickass vocal harmonies, and, yes, choir. The voice takes a little getting used to and is a little corny at times (very 80s), but it's solid and fits the music well after a few minutes of listening. I highly suggest you check this album out. I've only sampled the early works, but I think I prefer the style on this record. These guys are somewhere between Kamelot and Rhapsody, but I think the guitar work outshines both bands. Just listen to the solo four minutes into "The Invisible Man." Mastery in every sense of the word. Damn...I'm definitely getting my ass kicked listening to this album. HUGE choruses. This shit is epic. The whole album clocks in at 77 minutes and 42 seconds. Wow...I can't wait to spend some serious time with this band. Brian, Mark, and Frank: you owe it to yourselves to do the same.

Props to those to continue to keep up their blogs/lj's. There aren't many of us left. Mark - do you have one? Gimme the addy if you do. And dude...did you ever get a ticket to see Kamelot? Brian, you've got a job now - you should grab one if they're still available.

Congrats to Brian for getting a job at Electronic Arts. Can't wait to hear about it.

Hope everyone else is doing well. Talk to you soon...

::: posted by AJBrotz at 1:15 AM

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Tuesday, October 04, 2005 :::

Get with the season. Play this game and check your horror IQ. It's a different set of questions each time.

"They're all gonna' laugh at you!"

::: posted by AJBrotz at 9:13 PM

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Thursday, September 22, 2005 :::

Just finished the graphic novel - it was freakin' great. I'm still not 100% on the record, cuz it seems that the lyrics are more of a supplement than a mirror - which is cool, cuz it begs for further listening (reading)...but it's difficult to know which character is speaking when, since every character speaks through Claudio Sanchez's voice - unless it's always either Claudio (The Character) or The Writer speaking. I dunno. More to come after further evaluation.

This is the first time I've explored the lyrics of a record more than the music. That's saying a lot, I think, for Coheed and Cambria. There are no errors to distract from the experience: the recording quality is great; the band is flawless; it's all a very smooth, enjoyable musical ride. In this way, the music serves as a true vehicle, an effective medium, for the lyrics. The music has become the soundtrack for Claudio's lyrical story. Bravo, Co&Ca. Bravo.

They really have something to be extremely proud of here. Even if you look at this as objectively as possible, the band is putting together a cohesive story that spans the length of four entire albums - and they've planned it so that the first chapter of the tale will be the last record released. AND, without sacrificing any genuineness whatsoever, they've become commerically successful. All of this is quite the fucking accomplishment.

What else, you ask? I'm retarded. I can't believe I didn't pick up the first Coheed comic at Warped Tour '03. No real way to get it now; it's going for 60 bux and higher on e-bay. Frank, I think you should hand your copy down to me. Seriously, if anyone amazingly comes across the first - not the second, but the FIRST - issue ("NO. 1") of "Second Stage Turbine Blade," buy that beast and call me. It should be less than $10 if you find it in a store - I'll pay you back, and then some. Or I'll pull an Ace Ventura.

I wonder if anyone got that.

Favorite tracks on IV: "Welcome Home," "Ten Speed (of God's Blood and Burial)," "Crossing the Frame," and "Apollo I - The Writing Writer." Actually, the only song on the whole record that I'm iffy about is "The Willing Well: II - From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness." Kinda ironic - the name is part of the album's title. Probably significant, then, eh?. Maybe I should spend more time with that track.

And what's the deal with the sound of a splash and a dog barking at the end of the last track?

Everyone should buy this record. I need help figuring this shit out.

...I wasn't kidding. Go buy this record. $9.99 at Best Buy. You'll thank me - and, hopefully, I'll end up thanking you.

Hope everyone is just super... - I'll be in town next weekend for Halloween Horror Nights. We should really try to make this thing huge...all the important people - and you know who I'm talking about (including yourself) - need to be there. Friday night, Sept. 30th. Opening night. Heh, didn't fully realize the implications of going on opening night until just now; we'll probably only make it into like, 2 houses, but it'll be fun, nonetheless. Only $25 bux with the Pepsi discount. And Frank, I know you'll probably have some completely reasonable excuse to miss it, or maybe it'll be a bullshit one - doesn't matter. You owe us, buddy. We all need some quality Frank time. And you need to explain your reason for missing the graduation party that you swore you'd come to. You have one week to craft your alibi. I love you.

I'm out like Corey Feldman.

::: posted by AJBrotz at 7:37 PM

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Tuesday, September 20, 2005 :::

Picked up Coheed and Cambria's new album, along with the graphic novel that supposedly fleshes out the story. I really hope it does, cuz I've never been more confused in all my life. If anyone has any idea what's goin' on in this whacked-out tale of space and demons, help me out.

The record is pretty great - "Welcome Home" is such a kick ass song, and the rest of the tunes don't disappoint. The recording quality is finally where it should be, thanks to Columbia's monetary contributions, no doubt. This will be a record to listen to over and over and over again as I try to understand this crazy, crazy story. I dunno what Claudio's been smoking, but he should let us know so we can start to unravel this mystery.

ProTeach is keeping me more than busy. In fact, I should be working on shit right now...

...but I choose to procrastinate. What's life, if not a huge act of procrastination?

Halloween Horror Nights, people. I can make pretty much any Friday or Saturday night work. Or so I think. Let me know when's good, and I'll recheck my schedule.

K...gotta be up by 7:45, so I'm out like Bonkers candy. Dammit those were good.

::: posted by AJBrotz at 8:17 PM

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Monday, September 12, 2005 :::

okay. this is nothing short of amazing.

earlier tonight, i was checking a site that i frequent, looking for an album that, up until now, i've been unable to find. this album is "Epica," by Kamelot, and although i've been able to find it in stores, i'm not a fan of paying 20 dollars for a single cd. anyway, i was thrilled to find it. it's still downloading as i type, and i know it's gonna kick my ass all over the place when it's done. so that was a cool start to my night.

THEN, about 20 minutes ago, I opened up my blog in a usual act of procrastination but, for some unknown reason, I decided to click on the link to Kamelot's homepage. Now, realize that this is something I NEVER do, reason being that I've already explored that site and I understand that this band will probably never come to the US. For those of you who don't know, Kamelot plays a type of music called "power metal," which is nowhere near the mainstream of music in the States but is considerably popular overseas, so pretty much every tour that power metal bands embark on takes place in some other continent. Anyway, with no real reason for doing so, I was browsing the news headlines on the site and came across an intriguing title - "Exclusive US South East Concert!" I was shocked to even see "US" on the page, nevermind the fact that this concert was to be held in the south east! The bulletin was condensed to read "We are pleased to announce an exclusive South East US concert on Veteran's Day November 11th, 2005." While I didn't yet know where or which day the show would be, I knew that I wouldn't have school, so that was excellent. And then, I just about fell over. I clicked to read the full story:

Kamelot and Anvil Productions are pleased to announce an exclusive South East US concert on Veteran's Day November 11th, 2005. The place will be Boomerz's Boiler Room in Seminole, Florida (Tampa, St. Pete's area). This will be Kamelot's only appearance this year in the South East. Tickets will go on sale Friday September 9th as well as the announcement of other acts. Tickets prices will be $15 in advance and will go fast. For more info contact Boomerz.

wha-

um...

HOLYSHITHOLYSHITHOLYSHIT!!! KAMELOT'S ONLY SOUTHEAST US CONCERT IS GOING TO BE IN FLORIDA!!! ONLY HOURS AWAY! MOM, THE MEATLOAF! FUCK!!!

Okay, so that's un-freakin-believable. Kamelot will be playing 3 - count 'em - 3 dates in the US this year, and one of them is going to be in Florida! Incredible! And to reinforce the fact that this is accident, the show is taking place on November 11th. 11/11. %$&*$^%&^! That number has been my number since...I dunno, middle school or something. Case in point: this is meant to be. I still can't believe it.

I already bought tickets for Laura and myself. They WILL sell out soon, so if you know what's good for you (and trust me, Kamelot is good for you), you will jump on this right now. Please, if there's any way in the world that you can make this show, do it. We'll carpool - whatever. The doors open at 8:00 Friday night, November 11th - that's Veteran's Day - and tickets are a measly $15.00! If you've never heard Kamelot, you owe it to yourself to check out their latest release, "The Black Halo." It is, quite simply, a perfect record. No screaming, so don't worry about that - Power Metal is all about strong, pure vocals and mastery of instruments (these guys outperform Dream Theater in nearly every area, and they're much more accessible). A truly impressive band, these guys will amaze you with extremely technical, always singable songs and outstanding musicianship. Check out their site - the link is their logo on the left side margin of my page - for videos and song samples. If you want and can't find a full song to listen to, just ask and I'll get one to you. I recommend starting with "When the Lights are Down" and "The Haunting (Somewhere in Time)."

This is going to be a night to remember - and if you're interested, maybe we can make it into a weekend or something. Let me know. In fact, here's a link to ticketmaster to get you started. Don't miss out, "cuz when the lights are down, there's no more to say." Wow...I've got goosebumps all over.

And yes, I shat myself.

BE THERE!

::: posted by AJBrotz at 7:50 PM

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Tuesday, September 06, 2005 :::

Brock and his band Hand to Hand have finally posted their first music video on their site. Watch for it on MTV, Fuse, and Uranium!

You can view it HERE.

On a completely different note, Kanye West is a fucking idiot (can't use firefox for the link). Fuck him. ...there's really not much else to say about that but, as usual, I'll drag it out and vent a bit. He made a complete ass of himself, had nothing intelligent to say - was a fucking idiot. Wow. Must've been pretty damn awkward for Mike. This fucking guy. No respect; no brains; a lot of foolish nerve. I mean, seriously, it's fucking anarchy over there, with people killing relatives for bags of ice, even. And this idiot takes advantage of a well-intentioned live television broadcast to say that Dubya doesn't care about black people. I'm not saying that he does or doesn't, but given the circumstances, what would any president do? Fuckin' helicopters that were bringing aid to New Orleans were being shot at. Black, white, whatever - if you're acting like senseless fucking animals and shooting at people that are trying to help you, well, I'm sorry, but you deserve to die. They've every right to authorize lethal force against you. It's amazing how mindless and primitive people become...and, yes, it seems that many, if not most, of the people performing these horrendous acts are black. Do they represent the entire "black" population? No! So, when we think this through, Kanye saying that Bush doesn't like black people is completely counterproductive and racist on his part - he is, in effect, stating that the violent, animalistic black people in New Orleans represent all black people. If he were correct, and he's NOT, then I would agree with his characterization of black people and state that I don't like them, either. No one should sympathize with the murderous thieves and rapists making waves (no pun intended) in New Orleans, regardless of their race, or of the circumstances. There is no acceptable excuse for such evil behavior.

If anyone actually thought that Kanye's childish, assanine comments were justified in any way, then fuck them, too. If you buy his music, please be aware that you're supporting a waste of space - a negative influence, and a disgrace to the race. He should take his own jet, or buy one, fly over there, and see if he can provide assistance without getting shot at. Dumb dumb dumb.

In closing, I love you, Michael Myers. Party on.

And Will, I know you'll never look at this, but I hope you had a kickass birthday, buddy.

::: posted by AJBrotz at 12:43 AM

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Saturday, September 03, 2005 :::

THIS is pretty sweet (don't you think, Frank?)

::: posted by AJBrotz at 12:36 AM

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Friday, August 26, 2005 :::

This pretty much blows away every other MK clip you've ever seen, be it from a game or the silver screen. Check it out.

::: posted by AJBrotz at 8:08 PM

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Friday, July 29, 2005 :::

Avenged Sevenfold's new video is pretty awesome. It's dedicated to Hunter S. Thompson. Check it out.

::: posted by AJBrotz at 9:56 PM

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Sunday, July 24, 2005 :::

Right, so, whatever. It's not happenin'. Looks like the way it's been is the way it's gotta be. Sorry for the hype.

New Coheed makes me salivate. It's nice to see that some bands maintain their integrity when they sign to major labels, unlike others...coughavengedsevenfoldcough. Ahem.

Wedding Crashers featured moments of true hilarity. Pretty crazy movie. Interesting to find that the cameo (i won't spoil the surprise) was one of the weaker parts of the film. But Vince is wonderful. 3.5 out of 5.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was grrrreat. Go see it if you haven't already. 4.5 out of 5.

As expected, The Island was mediocre. Ewan was great, and the film actually started out really well, but, all too quickly, it degressed into ridiculous stunts and special effects. Matter over mind. 2 out of 5.

Gotta see Murderball.

Summer's almost over...gonna be graduating/starting grad-school soon. It'd be excellent if I could have just one party in this house before all of that commences, but it doesn't look good. Lemme know if you can visit. Ciao.

::: posted by AJBrotz at 10:24 PM

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Tuesday, June 28, 2005 :::

I'm in a dangerous frame of mind. Maybe the right frame of mind...

Since the start of college, I've kept a private blog. One where I write whatever the hell I want. I suppose it's more like what this one should have been like: "Purity of Expression." I'm contemplating merging the two worlds. Becoming completely, dangerously honest with everyone. I feel like there's something to gain from that...but it's a pretty scary position to assume.

I don't know that it's healthy to keep a blatantly honest outlet in coexistence with a more filtered, censored blog. True, certain thoughts are nobody's business but my own, but can I have full, satisfying friendships without being totally open with everyone? I feel like all kinds of drama might ensue if I reveal everything, and Lord knows I hate drama.

Okay, I've thought it through, and I'm not going to merge the two blogs. As hard as I would fight it, there would always be the consequence of knowing that other people will read what I write, and a certain impurity would surely taint the posts. At least, that's how it would be at this stage of my life.

The other possibility is to pick and choose from certain posts that I've already written in my private blog and post them in this one from time to time, to try to balance things out. Remind myself that I should stay as close to honesty as possible when writing. Last semester, I wrote a five-page poem for a class. It was pretty solid, but my professor remarked, accurately, that it lacked the benefits that mark a work when it is written from a place of honesty and actual personal experience. I think that same sort of lack has plagued this blog. Writing about music and movies is cool...but as I wrote in my very first post on this blog, I need to "post my blood" here. So I'm going to make a verifiable effort to do that. I will try to convince myself that what I write is being written for myself, and myself only...and if others can't handle it or don't want to, that's totally cool.

In keeping with this spirit, I will post an older, more honest "vile" in the near future. The contrast in style and vividness of thought should be pretty clear. It is to me, anyway.

*Deep Breath*

::: posted by AJBrotz at 10:10 PM

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Thursday, June 16, 2005 :::

DOUBLE-DEUCE REPRESENT!

::: posted by AJBrotz at 10:07 AM

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Monday, June 13, 2005 :::

Not merely a Smooth Criminal...

THE KING OF POP IS NOT GUILTY! MJ ACQUITTAL 2005 WOOHOO!

Congrats, Mike - but I still wouldn't let my kids stay with you. You're too damn weird.

::: posted by AJBrotz at 4:45 PM

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Friday, May 20, 2005 :::

Episode III was pretty good.

No more, no less.

Fairly crappy dialogue (watered down for younger audiences, perhaps?) plagued the movie, and I felt that the moment of, and primary catalyst for, Anakin's final turn to the Dark Side was kinda weak and abrupt. Maybe that's because Hayden Christensen is suuuuch a whiney little bitch of an actor and couldn't manage to make Anakin's change (and all that led up to it) believable. Whatever. General Grievous kicked serious ass, Obi Wan was excellent, and Yoda was, of course, amazing. So don't get me wrong - I enjoyed the film thoroughly, and think it to be the most enjoyable of all the Episodes. But it was far from perfect, far from achieving the level of epic grandeur inherant in other cinematic closers - namely, Return of the King. God I love that movie.

So I don't want to sound like Hayden Christensen and cry over spilt milk, but I was wondering: "Who visits this blog anymore?" And I decided on a way to find out. I was listening to my Zen Extra and remembered one of my most favorite moments ever experienced at a concert, and I thought it'd be cool for us all to reminisce. Though I'm not sure of who visits here, I know that most of you enjoy concerts and shows...so let's share some memories, shall we? I'll go first.

I think it was the summer or early fall of 1999. A few of you may remember... We went to the House of Blues to see Sevendust with Skunk Anansie and Staind - there was one other band with them, but I'm not sure if it was Powerman 5000 or Spineshank. Anyway, it's irrelevant - Skunk Anansie stole the show with amazing stage presence and musical accuracy. The energy exhuded by lead singer Skin was intimidating as she ran from one end of the stage to the other, swinging the mic stand in frantic motions that must have made her bandmates scared for their lives. Skin is quite the woman - a bold, black bisexual, fronting an aggressive rock band, sporting a shaved head and an outfit consisting of trash bags, leather, and denim, if I remember correctly. During Skunk's performance, Skin stood up on the metal, fence-like barricade between the stage and the crowd - an action that prompted all of us to reach out towards her. In order for Skin to balance on the railing, she had to hold an audience member's outstretched hand - and the hand that she chose belonged to me. She held my hand for the entire, blissful performance of "We Don't Need Who You Think You Are," which has become my favorite track off of the band's final record, Post Orgasmic Chill. I remember looking back at Melo, who was just as surprised and excited as I was. The moment lasted around four minutes, but it was so surreal, and I can reach back to it like it was yesterday. It was truly awesome.

So that's the idea. Think back on your collective concert-going experiences and find one that stands out more vividly than the rest. I think it'd be an exercise that we all could enjoy...

Favorite Power Metal bands: Kamelot, Dragonforce, Masterplan, Heavenly.

Hope to see everyone soon; again, we need to break this place in! The party room is almost finished!

::: posted by AJBrotz at 10:14 AM

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Tuesday, May 17, 2005 :::

So...got my hands on the new Dream Theater record, Octavarium. Listened to pretty much the whole record this morning, and it proved to be a sobering experience. Dream Theater, in my opinion, has lost it. Maybe I'm more inclined to say this because I've been exposed to tons of incredible Power Metal, but this new album feels extremely uninspired and lazy, as if they just don't care to push themselves to the limit anymore. Sure, there are some great solos here and there from Petrucci, but it seems that they're trying to establish a new "unmistakably Dream Theater" sound...and it's crappy. It's more of the same style from Train of Thought, which was less than impressive, but better than this stuff. OH, also...there's shit on here that sounds like Linkin Park. Seriously. Fuckin' record scratches and unoriginal drum samples - it all comes off sounding very contrived and weak. Labrie's vocals, though dead on, sound...dead. There's no energy...no emotion behind his voice, and its rarely backed by another vocal for harmony. What else... - well, most of you know that I've grown to hate Mike Portnoy, and his performance on this disc only strengthens that hatred. Tasteless, excessive - even, dare I say it, sloppy at times. Seriously - after hearing some truly monstrous drummers kickin' ass in the Power Metal genre, I'm more confident than ever that Portnoy's talent has been hyped up beyond his actual ability. Conclusion: Unless unextinguishably curious, stay away from Octavarium and indulge in previous Dream Theater releases (Awake, Scenes from a Memory, etc.).

Oh - and Power Metal still kicks ass.

::: posted by AJBrotz at 12:55 PM

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Thursday, May 12, 2005 :::

Added links to the official sites of Kamelot, Masterplan, and Dragonforce. If you have any sense at all, you will check them out. Kamelot's site opens up with the video for the first track off of The Black Halo, "March of Mephisto" - pretty sweet, featuring a cameo from guest vocalist Shagrath from Dimmu Borgir (that's right, Frank...). Dragonforce's site opens up with the first and second tracks from their latest album, Sonic Firestorm. PLEASE listen to at least the first track, "My Spirit Will Go On," in it's entirety - it's amazing from start to finish, particularly near the end. Power Metal will go on, "for all of eternity."

I've officially moved out of Gainesville Place and into the house. Still have a ways to go before I've completely settled in, and everything still feels pretty strange...but change is good. Hopefully everyone's schedules will agree with each others soon, and we'll be able to break in the new place with a nice, healthy, ass-kickin' party. Let me know when's good for you guys.

Summer school is in session. I'm currently taking "The Romantic Period," which is pretty sweet since we'll be studying Dracula, Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and several interesting poets (Blake, Keats, etc.). The Romantic Period in general is fascinating to me, so that makes it less of a class and more of a cool activity for the summer.

That's all for now - make it an awesome Friday the 13th!

::: posted by AJBrotz at 4:24 PM

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Tuesday, May 03, 2005 :::

At Last...

I have finally found my home.

POWER-FUCKING-METAL!!!

Great vocals, incredible musicians, great stories - it's all here! Fucking uplifting, too! This is the shit, man...I'm Telling You. Dammit, I am fucking telling you...right now...this is the shit.

MASTERPLAN (!!!), KAMELOT, DRAGONFORCE (fastest playing EVER), AT VANCE - these guys don't mess around...and I've only just begun checking out the many bands categorized under Power Metal. Finally, I've stumbled into an actual brand of music that's heavy, kicks ass, and doesn't rely on screaming. Constant screaming is boring, easy to do, and annoying to hear - singing like these guys do actually requires talent, and it's actually pleasing to the ear. Yeah, some of the lyrics can be corny as hell, but overall, this is technical, inspiring, catchy metal...and it blows away pretty much everything else that's out there right now. There's so much shit in the mainstream, and that's fine with me, because it allows the masters of better types of music (power metal) to thrive in their own creativity. But stop listening to the shitass radio. Its repetition of simplistic, uninspired music stupifies everyone that lends an ear. It's like they say: "Surround yourself with good people and you'll be more inclined to better yourself." Something along those lines, anyway - whatever - it goes for music, too. So...don't listen to bad music. If you need a reminder as to what bad music is, turn your radio dial to any modern station - but be sure to shut that shit quickly.

In sum, give power metal a try. Some of these guys will make you wonder: "Dream Theater who?"

I'll be in Orlando today, and I have less than a week to hang, so let's get it done.

UPDATE: I just listened to the first track off of the Dragonforce record. And I shit myself. "Sonic Firestorm" is the only name that could ever have been used for the title of this record. It's THAT FAST. Jesus.

::: posted by AJBrotz at 3:01 AM

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Wednesday, April 13, 2005 :::

Okay...if you're looking for some exquisitely beautiful music to lay out in the sun to...or hide in a corner with...or to sleep beside, your search is over. Meet Lorna. "Static Patterns and Souvenirs" is the name of the new record, and it's probably the softest music you'll ever hear. Always tasteful, employing male and female vocals, brushes, acoustic guitar, well-placed electronics, and even a little trumpet here and there. Definitely mood music - and strong enough to pull you into its own, so be careful. It might be tough to find a sample anywhere other than their own site, www.lornamusic.co.uk. I'll post stuff on my uf webspace when I get a chance but for now, check out the video for "Understanding Heavy Metal." Lemme know what you think.

New MSI is, in my opinion, their most accessible work yet. Maybe it's not quite as inspired or spazmatic as their previous works, but that's fine by me. Planning on attending the show.

The still-to-be-released Gorillaz record is either subpar or is going to take a while to grow on me. Probably the latter.

Been diggin' The Beta Band lately. Very cool, creative stuff. Makes me feel hip listening to it. Memories of High Fidelity...

Have yet to listen to the new Beck but am looking foward to it.

Anne slipped me a Ben Folds track, which I was pleasantly surprised by, so I downloaded the unreleased "Songs for Silverman" album. My thoughts on that are soon to come.

And, just for Frank, I downloaded an advance copy of "The Magic of the Wizard's Dream" by Rhapsody. I'll sink my teeth into that one tomorrow. Madness, I'm sure.

Pretty eclectic, eh?

A thousand congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Juan Chirinos! God bless!

and I'm out.

::: posted by AJBrotz at 11:39 PM

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Sunday, April 10, 2005 :::

New Team Sleep = niiiice. Check it out HERE.

Downloaded the new MSI - have yet to listen. Will update soon.

Sin City, of course, was terrific. Anyone who disagrees is just silly. Silly silly silly.

So Juan is getting hitched monday night - by my mom, interestingly enough (she's a notary). Congratulations, Grandpa Freak, and good luck as you embark on what I trust will be the most exciting and rewarding journey of your life. I'm sorry that Laura and I can't make it, but know that you're in our thoughts and you have all of our love and support. Hope to see you and your new family (!!!!!!!!!) soon!

Life is full of wonderful surprises, isn't it?

::: posted by AJBrotz at 1:49 AM

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Thursday, March 31, 2005 :::

http://plaza.ufl.edu/munkys4u/Movies/slideshow.mpg

A little something I made last night for a class. Short and sweet.

Uploading files to the web fucking rocks my socks off! I need more webspace, though, so if anyone has any suggestions, please let me know. I'm new to this stuff. I'd like to upload videos that I've made in my video production classes but they're too big to fit on my current alottment of webspace (25 megs). I need more space, dammit!

Karaoke Revolution sounds amazing...

Seriously looking forward to a kick-ass weekend.

Laura, I love you babe and cannot wait for you to get out of the crapass hospital.
UPDATE: Laura is home! HOSPITALDISCHARGE2005WOOHOO!!!

On a much more downbeat note, Mitch Hedberg is now filed under "D" for "Deceased." Heart attack. Ugh...so unfortunate. He was 36. You will be missed, funnyman. May your new residence be filled with Koalas.

I once believed in a quote that read "let life live," but that's not enough. Live life as hard as you can. Squeeze all the life out of each moment you have and soak it back up. I don't think any of us actually realize that today could be our last day. If we did, I imagine we'd be much more productive...much happier. So let's get to it.

::: posted by AJBrotz at 11:28 AM

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Friday, March 18, 2005 :::

okay, fine...even I can be wrong sometimes.

disappointment.

looking forward to Sin City...

::: posted by AJBrotz at 10:30 PM

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Wednesday, March 16, 2005 :::

Watched The Ring again with Laura in preparation for Friday's main event. That damn movie still freaks me out. The shots in it are great...the score is creepy as hell...and the character development is excellent. Samara is one of the scariest characters ever conceived. The sequel is going to be awesome, and it's going to make the original (remake) even better; flesh it out; give it more depth. Dreamworks may have a saga with serious potential for longevity in their hands, comparable to a Freddy/Jason legacy. Let's hope.

I'm gonna eat your cookies now. Deal with it.

Oh - and happy St. Patrick's Day to everyone, especially Lovey. Get crunk...

-aj

::: posted by AJBrotz at 11:58 PM

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Sunday, March 13, 2005 :::

Basement Jaxx kicks ass! This is some seriously upbeat dance music. Soul, disco, techno, and even some pop sensibility fuse together to create a very listenable, danceable experience. Just downloaded the new Singles album - looking forward to spinning it at a party sometime soon.

Speaking of which, there seems to be a rumor going around that some o-town kids might come up this weekend. Please let me know the validity of this rumor so that I can prepare the apartmentellones.

THIS is a link to one of the coolest videos I've seen in quite a while. The song's called "An Honest Mistake" and it's performed by The Bravery. Fans of Franz Ferdinand and The Killers will probably dig 'em... - they're not bad. Regardless, the video is sweet. Check it out, then meet me at the park for some Domino Rally.

The Reel Big Fish concert was freakin' great... - It's awesome to see that despite the many changes they've undergone in lineup, the band still sounds excellent. As long as Aaron and Scott stay in the band, I'll maintain my faith in RBF. New record in stores April 5th.

The Ring 2 friday night, bitches! "yOU lET tHE dEAD gET iN..."

Budweiser Select is pretty good...but I think I still prefer Lite. Less filling.

I'll listen to your mixes soon, melo. Downloaded your script, too - Laura and I are both stoked to read it.

Over and out.

::: posted by AJBrotz at 6:02 PM

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Saturday, March 05, 2005 :::

The cops broke up the party. Pretty surreal... - very dumb but strangely exciting. Frank Costa might be the funniest man I know. I love you, Snugglebear.

Sea Dog is probably the worst shit you can drink from a bottle.

Here's to seeing old friends (Angela, Lauren, Raudebaugh, Dave, Jenn, etc.). Hope to see you all again in the near future.

Props to Brian for his exceptional kegstands. You're the greatest - even if you have emo hair.

Thanks to Juan for picking up the watch. See you later today, buddy. P.S. - You are the tallest friend that I have. I mean that. From the bottom of my broken heart. Taller, Venezuelan Will Smith.

I love you Laura...can't wait to see you tomorrow! "WAAAAIIIIIIT!" - funny stuff. You are the world to me.

love,
munkytoes

::: posted by AJBrotz at 2:53 AM

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Sunday, February 20, 2005 :::

Constantine was good. That's all for now.

-aj

::: posted by AJBrotz at 12:51 AM

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Friday, February 18, 2005 :::

For the love of GOD - I can't hear the difference between 192 kbps and 320 kbps. I feel inadequate.

230,958,723,947 comparative listenings to the same song encoded at different bitrates; all for nothing(?)

I've been trying to decide whether or not it's worth it to reload songs onto my MP3 player at 320 kbps instead of 192.

Can't hear any difference warranting change, so I'm gonna' stick with 192.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. It is, without question, one of the most impressive films I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing. Quite heavy the first time around, but Jesus, what an accomplishment! Masterful in every sense of the word. Films like this demonstrate how wonderfully an intensely rich story can be translated cinematically; the creative storyline was matched and perfectly complimented by appropriate inventive filmic techniques. Everyone gives huge credit to Charlie Kauffman - undoubtedly the chief influence and contributer to the movie - but it's evident that everyone involved in the creation of this film was on top of his/her game. I can only hope that the team behind ESOTSM rejoins forces in the future to create more amazing quality cinema. 5+ Stars.

Damn bitrates.

HOLY SHIT - I just exchanged virtual words with one Francis Costa. I feel...cleansed? We can all rest a little easier now with the knowledge that Frank is still an animate object - although he did end our convo to go see an object with much less animation - Keanu Reeves. Constantine looks pretty rad, though, so I'll let it slide. This time.

Until we meet again, keep it at 192 kbps.

::: posted by AJBrotz at 7:05 PM

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Friday, February 11, 2005 :::

Finally saw the movie everyone's been raving about since its release - The Grudge.
Not bad, but there was absolutely no substance to this film. - Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. For what it was - a simple, creepy horror flick - it was above average. It just doesn't warrant repeated viewing. And I didn't think that it came close to the effectiveness of The Ring. The Grudge was kind of a hodge-podge of jumpy scares and creepy images, all tied together by an extremely simplistic haunted house story. The Ring was more than that. Anyway, Japanese (turned American) horror is still drastically better than m0st of the stuff the US has been putting out; it'll be nice to eventually see these scare tactics put to use with stronger plots. The Ring 2, anyone? *crosses fingers*

Caught a pretty awesome flick on Cinemax tonight called Wishcraft. I'd have to describe it as a mixture of Scream, Drive Me Crazy, Wishmaster, and Can't Hardly Wait. Trust me, it's damn good entertainment. Stupid, exciting, grab a beer entertainment. A solid 3.5 out of 5 stars. Enjoyed it more than I did The Grudge. If you dug Club Dread, you'll probably dig Wishcraft.

Enjoy the weekend...

::: posted by AJBrotz at 3:14 AM

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Friday, February 04, 2005 :::

Wow. See, this is what I get.

I opted to abandon www.rottentomatoes.com and all other sources for movie reviews in an effort to distance myself from preconceptions - which, occasionally, were misconceptions.

WELL.

The previews looked halfway decent - some of them good, even - and ultimately convinced me that Boogeyman was worth the $6.50. Needless to say, www.rottentomatoes.com is once again a link on my blog. Don't be a sucker. Stay the hell away from this incredibly terrible movie. Jesus.

The only thing worse than the movie was the audience. Is it as bad down in Orlando, or wherever you are? I realize that this was opening night, but DAMMIT. Absolutely ridiculous. People laughing at random things throughout the movie...laughing at parts that in no way warranted laughter...talking about the movie...talking about random shit...trying to warn the characters...playing with phones...yelling... - it's sad. And I know that it's "just the movies," but dammit, it's NOT. It's a reflection of society, dammit. Wanna' go hang out and chat with your friends? Go to a fucking club. God knows that we have enough of them here in Gainesville. Someone needs to make a movie about moviegoers who die when they talk during a movie. Seriously. I know it wouldn't solve the problem, but it would be a step in the right direction and it would make me feel a little better. For the life of me, I just cannot understand how people can manage to be as inconsiderate as they are. But I guess if everyone is being inconsiderate, then there's nothing to worry about. Maybe I'm the one with the problem.
Nah, fuck that. I'll just have to avoid peak times for drama and horror flicks. Comedies, action movies - fine. Cheer, laugh, have sex - whatever. People, vent with me on this. Lemme know how you guys manage to cope with the sad state of today's theatrical environment.

The Keane concert was superb. The boys played wonderfully. My only problem was the crowd.
...See, I wasn't even intending to make a connection there. Dammit people. Show some respect! You paid good money to see great entertainment - let them entertain you, and stop entertaining yourselves! I swear...Keane played some excellent new quiet material, but I could hardly hear it because of the fuckers throughout the House of Blues who wouldn't shut the fuck up. I could ignore the couple in front of me that made out for hours during the show. One might even consider that to be romantic. Whatever. But loudly bullshitting with friends while exceptional music is attempting to be heard is...so fucking unfortunate. I really just do not get it. What's a guy like me (and you, I hope) to do?

For now, I guess I can only change the subject.

Said to the tune of the Merita White Bread slogan: "The new Green Day album really is good."

New Anberlin is great. The band can do no wrong. They've begun to spread their creative wings, which is nice. Already looking forward to the next record. Rock and roll.

Stumbled upon Jamie Cullum. Very good stuff. Nice to hear that jazz is still alive in young musicians. Check out his latest album Twentysomething. Very smooth tunes. He even covers "High and Dry" (Radiohead) and *GASP* "Lover, You Should Have Come Over" (the late great Jeff Buckley), among other classics.

Finally saw Ray. Great biopic... - it has me wishing for a more upbeat sequel, heh - primarily because Mr. Charles seemed so jovial in his later days. But tragedy earns $ and awards... It really was a good movie, though.

Not much else to report. Miss you all...leave me some of your dirty love...

::: posted by AJBrotz at 11:12 PM

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Monday, January 31, 2005 :::

<------------------ That banner kicks ass.

In case you were wondering, that's where the music is coming from.

Buy this record Tuesday.

Rock and roll lives on...

::: posted by AJBrotz at 1:25 AM

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Thursday, January 20, 2005 :::

So. For shits and giggles, I visited www.entity.4mg.com today. I expected nothing special, as I'd been there a few times in the past year and nothing on the site seemed to work anymore.

However.

Upon clicking the first RealAudio link, RealPlayer started up and played the first minute or so from one of Entity's songs, "Adrenaline."

...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DAMMIT we were good. I've always wanted to hear our old stuff again, but I either misplaced our demo tape, or I lent it to someone and never got it back... - whatever. Anyway, hearing our stuff brought back memories, but more than that, it reinstilled a desire in me to get on the damn drumset and bust that shit out. It's never a comfortable feeling when you realize that an older version of yourself was more skilled than the current version of yourself...and hearing this little piece of a song (which I've listened to over 50 times now) brought to the forefront the fact that I've let myself go. The most painful part of the whole thing, though, is knowing that Andrew, Raudebaugh, and myself have a snowball's chance in hell at reuniting and making such inspiring, kickass music together again. I think I'd be willing to give it a shot, for music's sake...but again, realistically, it's a snowball.

Andrew and John - the two of you are the most talented musicians I've ever had the pleasure of playing with. Thanks for the times, the tunes, and the memories.

If only I could find that damn demo tape. If anyone has any recordings of Entity, please let me know. Grazie...

Go check out www.entity.4mg.com and click on the first RA link. The music you will hear was awesome back then, and is just as good now - probably better, actually, when you consider the (lack of) quality and actual musicianship in most music today.

The bitch only stuck around for less than a year, but she made a hell of an impression. She brought me to life, and I want that life back. Entity is the relationship that I will never get over.

Bands really are just like women.

::: posted by AJBrotz at 4:16 PM

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Thursday, January 13, 2005 :::

Good GOD, man. What's up. How ya doin'.

Where are all the ballsy bands? I gotta get my fix...

For a band or artist to have balls, it has to have energy. It can't be depressing. It has to move you - often physically, but lone emotional movement can suffice. It inspires you... - forces you to be an active listener - a participant instead of a mere bystander.

Most of the ballsy bands I've heard fall into some subcategory of rock, but as shown in the list below, bands can be "quieter" and still have balls.

Bands/Artists with Balls (no order)
36 Crazyfists
Anberlin
Atreyu
Jeff Buckley
Glassjaw
Damien Rice
Sum 41
Thornley
Muse
(old/live) doubleDrive
Holotype (featuring Chris Garlandt from the long-defunct WiKiD)
Sevendust

I know that I'm leaving out several other bands. If you've caught my drift, give me some suggestions as to where I can find more balls.

Go adopt a fetus.

::: posted by AJBrotz at 1:05 PM

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I adopted a cute lil' ninja fetus
from Fetusmart! Hooray fetus!





Thanks Anne...

::: posted by AJBrotz at 1:02 AM

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Wednesday, January 05, 2005 :::

NEW ANBERLIN

The new record, "Never Take Friendship Personal," hits stores February 1st.

Yes.

::: posted by AJBrotz at 11:19 PM

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