i hope you don't enjoy dialogue

What's the difference between Connor and Wayne? If you're Bale, not much at all it turns out.


I haven't sat in the front at a movie since I was probably 10 years old. Last night we showed up just a few minutes early for the "Terminator Salvation" midnight showing and had to rock some front row seats.
After getting over my initial seizure of having to be that close I was treated to an above average summer blockbuster.
McG's first foray into the Terminator universe is one full of brawn and little to no brains.
There is no character development or emotional attachment to any of the stars to speak of. This doesn't take away from the overall brute force of the film.
It is wall to wall action from the get go and that is all I was looking for early this morning.
The beginning action sequence borrows heavily from "Children of Men" and its use of single take scene work. This makes for an intense thread of action in McG's desolate, futuristic universe.
The story does not matter here, it is McG's great use of modern CGI and in your face robot violence that makes the film succeed.
If you have already seen "Star Trek" and are looking to escape the heat at the multiplex this weekend, "Salvation" is your best bet.

roll 'n' rock

Fam-Lay isn't dead!
The Star Trak spitter has been absent for a minute but returns with a vintage Neptunes beat.
Fam always had a wonderfully off-kilter flow and it is a great thing if he's back. Maybe we can finally get a full album from him or at least a mixtape.
The bongos are beating like it's 2001 on this jam. Here's to hoping Skateboard P gets back to his old ways on the boards.

i just wanna be

drizzy

It's been a serious month or so for me. Just stuff going down and school ending and then beginning. I'm back though with a renewed sense of passion for working this space.
So now I'm going to touch on an artist who is really exciting me (and a number of others on the internets).
Drake is a Canadian rapper who, yes, was once on that Degrassi show.
Well, the young spitter is all grown up these days and has put out one of the best collection of hip hop songs of '09, "So Far Gone".
Right away the thing that struck me is the fact that Drake can actually sing. Along with being able to tear into a track, the man can sing the hook as well. Unlike Wayne who thinks he can carry a hook, Drake can actually do it, without the autotuner Weezy.
Wayne has been one of Drake's biggest campaigners. The two have been showing up on tracks together for a while now. This creative coupling is only for the best for Wayne as he seems to step his game up every time him and Drake are sharing a beat.
It really reminds me of when Beanie Sigel was murdering everything at the beginning of this decade and Hova, in turn, started to tear into tracks when the two shared a beat (peep The Wire's Sydnor and Bodie in the vid).
So Drake has those two positives going, but the one thing that has since been rolling around my brain after listening to the record numerous times, is Drake's verses on "Successful".
The beat is a slowburner as Trey Songz croons the hook about wanting money, cars, clothes, hoes... ya know the usual rap stuff. Drake takes the normal hip-hop wanting material things jam and flips it on its ear.
He flows about certainly wanting these things, but his downtrodden flow and admitting to leasing a Phantom are not commonplace for a song of this nature. It is so refreshing to hear a rapper be able to rap about these material items without chest beating, but dropping his guard instead.
Drake is definitely the one emcee in the newest crop of dudes getting buzz right now that has me jacked about the future of hip-hop.

drums

Opening track to new White Rabbits album.
Sadly, it's really all downhill after this gem. I was really looking forward to this record.

dead bodies

it's been a pretty good year so far


dirty



drizzy


hot one

finally a film set in boston

In all seriousness, this was a solid piece of work. Especially as a debut from first time director Brian Goodman.
The whole Boston crime world has been tread so heavily in movies over the past few years, but this film does not make the city its focal point.
Ruffalo just takes over this movie. I don't understand how this guy doesn't get more work. Whatever he's in he kills.

to the maxx like TJ

kindalikeabigdeal

ball hard like we the majors

Wiz does something not many up and comers have been able to accomplish. The man carries a large mixtape by himself.

all the embarassing things you done

Once upon a time there was a 7 minute video of this track floating around.
This jam has got me even more excited for Yeasayer's sophomore effort.

jaws 5: shark in the city

Tim and Eric are unleashed to the public. I'm so glad they didn't tone it down and do a straight interview.

fresh like will smith

This is better than expected. I definitely won't be deleting the whole thing.
It was a good idea to put Maybach Music II here.
Listening to a full album of Ross talk about Gucci can be a chore, but throw one or two tracks here onto a playlist and it works.

pale blue eyes

The first of two great films out right now that were marketed terribly.
Adventureland trailers make it seem like it is going to be Superbad 2 and it has little in common with director Greg Mottola's hit last summer.
The film is a wonderful piece of throwback 80s comedy/drama that deserves all the John Hughes comparisons being thrown its way.
There are a number of laughs in the film, but it is more about the characters within instead of one liners.
The cast is superb, even Kristen Stewart. She might be the most boring person on the planet when not on film, but her performance here is confident and heartbreaking at times.
Jesse Eisenberg continues his string of strong roles with a starring turn here. I just thank God Mottola didn't give this to Cera. Eisenberg has Cera's awkwardness down, but he also brings a level of confidence never found with Cera.
Also, it is always wonderful to see Martin Starr and he kills here.

po-lice

If you're not excited, get there

ass blood

If you're not watching Eastbound & Down yet you must get on it.
I hate hearing people call this "dumb" comedy because McBride and his writing partners (Hill, Gordon Green, etc...) have crafted one of the smartest comedies on TV right now. It could easily just be Talladega Nights 2, but there is depth to these characters as well as intense hilarity week in and week out.
It's been nice to look forward to HBO Sunday nights again these past few weeks. Big Love has been stellar this season, one of the best overall shows on TV right now. It's too bad Flight has to swoop in between Eastbound and Love with its mediocrity. They need a Murray spinoff or something.

I'm a pinecone. Why would I know where a coffeeshop is?

Galifianakis is going to be huge after this. Get on the bandwagon early.

talk dat

New Grizzly Bear has made its way onto the internet machine. It's an awful rip and I almost wish I hadn't listened to it because there is so much going on within this album. Listening to a sub par rip doesn't give the music justice.
This time around it sounds as if songwriting was the major focus and less on relying on production.
"Two Weeks" is killer. Here's the live version from Letterman, the album cut is even better.

if you don't know, now you know

I can't stop listening

the rub

The Tumblr experiment is over. I've decided to do a little work around this space, revamp somethings and make the overall layout and experience more enjoyable for the lucky few who stumble up on it.

So, postings will resume shortly as I work on some things.

Until then, enjoy this... or else.

let's crash my car to see if the airbags work

New website for the Daily Egyptian this semester. The Pulse section, which I'm editing these days, has been turning out some pretty good stuff so far. The new website has given us some great opportunities to write a bit more and start working with video.
Check out Chris and myself with our first foray into the online video landscape for our little section of the paper today.

A bunch of new music floating around. The Boss, M. Ward, blah blah blah. Hopefully I'll have some time to write some of that up on here.

Go see The Wrestler if you can, it's near-perfect.

rock 'n' roll,

Luke

don't give back lip

Where have you gone Juelz?