Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Evil Dead is Better than Expected



Fans of cult horror classics rejoice!  The new Evil Dead movie does not disappoint.  Having grown up watching the original Evil Dead trilogy and loving every quirky, gory, funny, horrific moment of it, I went into the new movie with extreme reservations.  Like any 90 minute horror gore-fest don’t expect to see any academy award winning acting; but if you want a decent story line and some truly gut wrenching, QUICK LOOK AWAY moments then you should definitely check out this flick.  At times it seems over the top but in a way that just harkens back to the originals.  There’s no blood spewing from the walls, but the ways in which certain characters meet their untimely demise is quite creative and definitely reminiscent of the Bruce Campbell classics.  Little details like a portable chainsaw and the loss of someone’s hand help to transport the true Evil Dead fan back across that disappearing bridge and into the grasp of the Necronomicon.  Even if you’ve never seen the originals (which you should) Evil Dead is still a great horror movie and one that definitely continues in the vein of the classic franchise.

Great New CD - "New Moon" by The Men



The new CD by post-punk outfit The Men has reassured me that rock and roll is still alive, albeit cowering in the corner in the face of the countless droves of MTV-pushed pop stars.  This Brooklyn based five piece started out as a decidedly hardcore band and their first two LP’s definitely resonate with fans as great punk music.  That being said, the direction they took with "New Moon" is more of a post-punk/alternative sound with a little bit of a country flare (although I hesitate to call it that).  The album is a mix of songs that both harken back to their early days and also experiment with some slower, newer sounds.  If you like great American guitar rock then this band is definitely one to add to your playlist.  Songs like "Half Angel Half Light" are a nice mix between the heavier punk sounding songs like "The Brass" and slower, more alternative ones like "Open the Door".  Overall, the album is a detour from what The Men have done previously but that just shows the group’s ability to grow and evolve.  I definitely can’t wait to see where these guys take things in the future.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

A Little About Me

      My name is Michael and I have been working here at the DFL for a little over a year and a half.  I have an unrelenting passion for music.  I went to my first show when I was 16 for my friends 15th birthday.  We saw The Aquabats and Reel Big Fish at the Avalon on Lansdowne Street in Boston.  It was an incredible experience and one that made a lasting impression on me.  From then on, seeing arena rock bands like Aerosmith or the Foo Fighters just didn't have the same feel.  Don't get me wrong, they are undeniably GREAT bands to see live, but they don't give you the same feeling as being squished against the stage and moving and jumping around just to try and stay right side up.  There is something personal about seeing small shows that I've always loved and it's defined my musical interest ever since Christian Jacobs (aka The MC Bat Commander) lead singer for the Aquabats, threw inflatable pool toys and opened water bottles out into the writhing, homogonized mass of heads and limbs that I was a part of. 
      I read about music, I talk about music, and most importantly I listen to music.  There is a style of music out there for everybody and I enjoy finding out what people like and why.  Hopefully through some of my writing on this blog, those who read it will come out knowning a little something new or experiencing a style or genre of music they previously would have ignored.  At the end of the day, the beauty of music is that it is enjoyed in some form or another by everyone, all over the world.  There is so much of it out there that at times it can feel daunting, but my goal is to hopefully make finding a few new tunes something easy and enjoyable.