Artist: Empire of the Sun Album: Ice on the Dune Genre: Electronic/Synthpop Label: Capitol Aussies have been making quite a name for themselves in America over the past few years. Tame Impala, Cut Copy, and Atlas Genius are a few names that come to mind. However, there is a duo of musicians from Sydney who […]
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REVIEW: Empire of the Sun – ‘Ice on the Dune’
July 1st, 2013 
Mike Sacchetti 
Posted in Features, Reviews 
Tags: alive, australia, critic, daft punk, dna, empire of the sun, ice on the dune, john williams, luke steele, new album, old flavours, review, single, walking on a dream 
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REST IN PEACE: Roger Ebert (1942-2013)
April 4th, 2013 James Shotwell Just hours after it was announced he would be scaling back his review work due to a cancer recurrence, the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that legendary film critic Roger Ebert has passed away at the age of 70. Ebert will be remembered for his film review column, which first began appearing in the Chicago Sun-Times […]
Posted in News Tags: critic, rest in peace, RIP, roger ebert, thumbs down Comments Off on REST IN PEACE: Roger Ebert (1942-2013)
REVIEW: Dia Frampton – Red
December 19th, 2011 James Shotwell Artist: Dia Frampton Album: Red Genre: Indie Label: Universal Republic I hadn’t heard the name Dia Frampton before this review, but I certainly won’t be forgetting it now. Red is a gorgeous collection of songs, quirky and fine with a very strong sense of self. Frampton’s pristine vocals steer an understated but faithful line of […]
Posted in Features, Reviews Tags: album review, critic, critique, dia frampton, dia frampton album, folk, med and dia, pop (genre), red, red review, red reviews, review, scores, solo 1 Comment »
REVIEW: Canterbury – More Than Know EP
November 6th, 2011 James Shotwell Artist: Canterbury Album: More Than Know EP Genre: Sweet rock Label: (unsigned) I first saw Canterbury live with Cancer Bats and Billy Talent two years ago. It says a lot about the English four-piece (then a five-piece) and their precocious talent that they stood out on a bill like that, and won themselves a steady […]
Posted in Features, Reviews, Unsigned Tags: album review, canterbury, canterbury ep, critic, critique, ep review, more than know ep, more than know review, mroe than know ep review, sweet rock, unsigned Comments Off on REVIEW: Canterbury – More Than Know EP
STAND-UP TUESDAYS: Tom Simmons
September 27th, 2011 Angie Frissore Stand-Up Tuesdays is a weekly comedy spotlight written by the wonderfully talented Angie Frissore. Covering both known and unknown comics, Stand-up Tuesdays is your new source for all things funny. This week, Angie puts a spotlight on Tom Simmons and his latest release, Keep Up. If you or your comedy troupe would like to be featured […]
Posted in Columns, Comedy, Features, Reviews, Stand-Up Tuesdays Tags: album review, angie frissore, column, comedian, comedy, comedy review, comedy spotlight, critic, critique, feature, let go, spotlight, stand up, stand-up tuesdays, stu, tom simmons Comments Off on STAND-UP TUESDAYS: Tom Simmons
MOVIE REVIEW: Bad Teacher
June 24th, 2011 James Shotwell “f there is one thing we are learning in Summer 2011, it is that Hollywood can turn anything into a bad idea. It used to be people dreaded sequels, now we dread superhero films (thanks Green Lantern!) and after this weekend, some may even be more cautious of raunchy comedy. “
Posted in Features, Movies, Reviews Tags: bad, bad teacher, cameron diaz, comedy, critic, film, Jason Segel, justin timberlake, movie review, negative, raunchy, sucks, terrible, worst film Comments Off on MOVIE REVIEW: Bad Teacher
REVIEW: Set Your Goals – Burning At Both Ends
June 13th, 2011 James Shotwell “On Burning At Both Ends, Set Your Goals continue to set themselves apart from the rest of the pop punk world with anthems of youth, life on the road, and a level of social awareness that is second to none. This is the kind of album that defines Summer and stays with the listener for decades after. If you’ve ever considered yourself a “lifer” for the music industry or even considered a career in music, prepare to meet your new favorite album.”
Posted in Features, Reviews Tags: album review, burning at both ends, critic, critique, Debut, Epitaph, june 27, leak, official, pop punk (genre), premiere, review, set your goals 11 Comments »
REVIEW: Bon Iver – Bon Iver
May 30th, 2011 James Shotwell “As much as I love this album, and I do (if I think about it subjectively, standing alone), I unfortunately can’t help drawing comparison’s to For Emma, Forever Ago. As much as I don’t want to, I’m human, and loving a band means knowing when they’re strong and weak. It would be wrong of me to pretend this album existed in a bubble, living without ties to other releases, because it would mean this album was a product of completely originality (and it isn’t). This is a continuation of artist growth and development that challenges listeners to forget the feeling and mood of the previous album with a platter or new thoughts and ideas.”
Posted in Features, Reviews Tags: a lbum review, bon iver, bon iver review, critic, folk, jagjaguwar, music review, new album, review, self titled Comments Off on REVIEW: Bon Iver – Bon Iver
REVIEW: Job For A Cowboy – Gloom EP
May 26th, 2011 James Shotwell If somehow you like some death metal but have never heard Job For A Cowboy, Gloom is a perfect starting point as it is certainly the band’s best work to date. One of the best EPs I’ve heard in quite some time, it comes with the utmost recommendation I can give a four song EP.
Posted in Features, Reviews Tags: critic, critique, DOOM, ep, gloom, gloom ep, jfac, job for a cowboy, metal blade, premiere, review 5 Comments »Review: Alesana – The Emptiness
January 13th, 2010 James Shotwell Artist: Alesana Album: The Emptiness Genre: post-hardcore/scene metal Label: Fearless It seems to me that 2010 will be the year we see if any of these new age screamo/post hardcore/scene metal acts have legs underneath them. People have been saying for years that the heavier underground scene was getting flooded and I think we’re at […]
Posted in Reviews Tags: album review, alesana, alesana the emptiness review, alternative, critic, Emo, Fearless Records, music review, review, screamo, the emptiness 9 Comments »REVIEW: Day of Fire – Losing All
January 7th, 2010 James Shotwell Artist: Day of Fire Album: Losing All Genre: Rock Label: Razor & Tie Some bands break out on their first record and fail miserably on their Sophomore effort. Others take a bit longer to bloom and use their second release to catapult their careers. Then there are those rare gems that have a large audience, […]
Posted in Reviews Tags: album review, cd review, christian rock, critic, day of fire, day of fire losing all review, losing all, music review, razor & tie 10 Comments »REVIEW: Forever The Sickest Kids – The Weekend: Friday
November 18th, 2009 James Shotwell Artist: Forever The Sickest Kids Album: The Weekend: Friday Genre: Pop Label: Universal When a young band like Forever The Sickest Kids takes over a year to release a follow-up record and instead of giving us 13 news tracks, opts instead to begin releasing a series of EPs dedicated to different days of the weekend, […]
Posted in Reviews Tags: album, bad poor, critic, ep, forever the sickest kids, ftsk, review, score, terrible, the weekend: friday 4 Comments »