Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/14045
Artist: Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse Album: Dark Night Of The Soul Genre: Alternative Rock Release Date: 7/13/10 As if Danger Mouse and Mark Linkous (aka Sparklehorse) didn't have enough talent, they went and did something like Dark Night of the Soul. This album features so much musical swagger that your head might just explode. The idea for Dark Night came during the production of the 2006 Sparklehorse album Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain when Linkous had written a number of songs he wasn't comfortable singing. The result is an epic cast of vocals including The Shins' James Mercer (who most recently worked with Danger Mouse on the Broken Bells album), Julian Casablancas of The Strokes and Iggy Pop, each of whom offers his own interpretation of the Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse songs. It will be a string of Dark times for you if you miss out on this album. Artist: The Maine Album: Black and White Genre: Alternative Rock/ Experimental Release Date: 7/13/10 It says that this CD is a Thumbs up but that's only because we don't have a sideways thumb. Meaning mostly that this album won't blow you away but it also won't make you want to scratch your eardrums with a nail file. Recorded in California with Grammy-nominated producer of My Chemical Romance and The All-American Rejects Howard Benson, 'Black & White' sees The Maine stepping maturing a bit and stepping away from the emo-pop of yesterday and moving forward (and as I use the term the thin ice below me begins to splinter), making for a loveable yet forgettable album. Turns out Black and White is an apt description of this flavorless attempt. Artist: Kylie Minogue Album: Aphrodite Genre: Dance Pop Release Date: 07/06/2010 Kylie Minogue has a mission this summer: to get you to dance. Kylie returns with her latest "Aphrodite," proving electro-pop sounds are what she does best. Kylie's talent is taken further with Madonna confidant Stuart Price in the producing reins and mega-hit maker Calvin Harris. The Greek goddess Aphrodite represents love and beauty, and there are plenty of those themes in every track. In "All the Lovers," loving euphoria explodes through its dance beats. Kylie declares herself as an "Aphrodite" in the title single, and much like a goddess; she has managed to remain eternal within her world--the club scene. Artist: Kelis Album: Flesh Tone Genre: Electronic Release Date: 07/06/2010 Following a nasty divorce, having a baby, and a new label, Kelis has taken a detour from her "Milkshake" and into the "22nd Century." The detour has paid off. Her new album, "Flesh Tone," a product of will.i.am's Interscope Records, takes the artist away from the R&B to explore the Euro-discotec. Tracks like "22nd Century" and "4th of July" carry body stimulating dance tempos. David Guetta and Benny Banassi bring their house music tricks to find Kelis' techno side. In "Brave" Kelis reveals her new security within herself and her baby. The Kelis house experiment carries promise and true dance rhythm. Title: The Ghost Writer Genre: Suspense Release Date: 8/3/10 An earnest ghostwriter (Ewan McGregor) is off to a great start penning the memoirs of a former British Prime Minister (Pierce Brosnan) – until he starts to uncover increasingly more reasons to ask increasingly more questions. As ex-P.M. Adam Lang (read "Tony Blair") tries to defend his administration's hard-line tactics and secret collaborations, he becomes engulfed in a scandal that threatens not only international relations, but his and the ghostwriter's lives. Crafting a taut political thriller and sealing it with a twist, director Roman Polanski reminds us that his status as a legend has to do more with filmmaking than with lovemaking. Title: Date Night Genre: Comedy Release Date: 8/10/10 Filled with sardonic surprises and stop motion animation, this film is based on the C.D. Payne novel, and is on its way to becoming a cult favorite. Michael Cera, as Nick Twisp and alter ego François, delivers a funny performance as a 16-year-old pining after trailer park princess Sheeni Saunders (Portia Doubleday). Wreaking havoc upon Berkeley, Ukiah and Santa Cruz, Nick advertently slips into sociopath mode to prove he is worthy of Sheeni's love. Supporting players, including Steve Buscemi, Zach Galifianakis and Mary Kay Place, inundate this movie with humor. The deleted scene department is nothing less than pure gold. Title: Greenberg Author: Romantic comedy Genre: Fantasy Release Date: 7/13/10 For a romcom, the interacting characters sure have a host of latent social issues, especially Ben Stiller's Roger Greenberg, who is a pessimistic dick. That said, the idiosyncrasies and awkwardness between Greenberg, his estranged pal Ivan (Rhys Ifans), and his new love interest, Florence (Greta Gerwig), is magically effective. The story, by Jennifer Jason Leigh and Noah Baumbach, follows Greenberg, post nervous breakdown, as he house- sits for his brother in Los Angeles. The standout performance is Gerwig portraying a quirky, heart-on-the-sleeve family assistant to the Greenbergs. There is a puny bonus section offering brief commentary from the filmmakers. Title: Lucy Author: Laurence Gonzales Genre: Fiction Release Date: 7/6/10 Her father is a British field primatologist working in the Congo, her mother is a bonobo ape. They are murdered by Congolese insurgents, and Lucy, at age 14, is rescued by another primatologist, Jenny, who takes her to America. Lucy looks and speaks like an educated teenager. But as the hybrid result of her father's jungle experiment, she is smarter, stronger and more perceptive than anyone else around her. This novel turns sci-fi sensibilities, civil rights activism, teenage angst and bioengineering ethics into a suspenseful and submersing read. An exceptional adventure story, what happens keeps us on edge and surprised. Title: Fly Away Home Author: Jennifer Weiner Genre: ? Release Date: July 13, 2010 This is a richly woven story of a family whose lives are ripped apart by betrayal. After being the "perfect" wife of a Senator for so many years, Sylvie Serfer-Woodruff has been realizing how complacent she has become, and what opportunities she has given up by not having her own career. When CNN breaks the news that her husband has been caught having an affair with a much-younger intern, Sylvie's sheltered world is turned upside down. Her two daughters – educated and poised Diana and scatterbrained and troubled Lizzie – must also deal with the aftermath of the affair. Each woman deals with the situation in her own unique way, but it also serves to bring them closer together in the face of the emotional crisis. Title: Rattle conducts Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky & Rachmaninov (Blu-ray) Genre: Music/Concert Release Date: 6/29/10 Thank you, EuroArts, for this gift of music —yes, it's truly a gift! The German production company, EuroArts Music International has recently released its 12th music blu-ray, which contains a live recording of an annual classical music concert at the Waldbühne, Berlin in June 2009. The world's finest Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra with Sir Simon Rattle conducting, performs 4 pieces from Thaikovsky's "Nutcracker", Stravinsky's "Le Sacre du Printemps" and Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 3. The entire rendition is absolutely wonderful and breathtaking! One of the highlights of the concert is when Yefim Bronfman's piano is rushing into the coda of the Rachmaninov's most favored piano work. The Europe's largest outdoor theatre is filled with dynamic yet romantic atmosphere that Bronfman's subtle touch creates. The picture is sharp with 1080i resolution and the sound is flawless with PCM 2.0/5.1 audio track. Very highly recommended! Title: The Illusionist (Blu-ray) Genre: Romance/Thriller Release Date: 6/8/10 Unlike Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman's 2006 film The Prestige, the smaller-scaled "magician themed" indie film The Illusionist (2006) is more romance based. But still, The Illusionist is a well-plotted thriller set during a fictional political upheaval in 1890's Vienna. To enhance the mysterious movements of the illusionist (Edward Norton and the secret love between the main character and his woman Sophie (Jessica Biel), the entire film was purposely darkened and stylized with some sepia effect and vintage feel. The 1080p vision (1.78:1) with AVC transfer is not impressive but still great and beautiful. The lossless DTS-HD Master 5.1 audio track, which is always a definite improvement over Dolby Digital, is more than great. No extras and no subtitles. With this blu-ray release, The Illusionist deserves a new classic! Writers>>Tova Morrison, Tyler andrews, daniel alberT, daniel raMierez, CynThia ryan, eriC Park MUSIC & MEDIA REVIEW CD'S DVD'S BOOKS BLU-RAY LIVEMAGS.NET AUGUST>>10 23