Top 40 Albums of the Last Decade

(This was Published Dec. 3, 2009)

Buzz Bin Magazine’s top 40 Albums of this Decade:

Here at Buzzbin we’ve been hard at work developing algorithms and various other scientific things to bring you, our awesome readers, a top 40 list of the best albums from the past 10 years. Our scientists have taken into account record sales, critical reviews, cultural game changers and many other variables to give you all the most comprehensive (and don’t forget SCIENTIC) list ever put together by humanity.

The List:

*1. Kid A (Capitol Records, 2000) – Radiohead

Kid A marked a milestone in Radiohead’s long career, the band’s first record to debut at number one on the charts. Kid A also was the turning point for Radiohead from their Rock sound of the 90’s to the Progressive band they are today. This gem appears on countless numbers of top 10 lists and is generally touted as Radiohead’s greatest record. We, at Buzzbin, happen to agree.

*2. Love and Theft (Columbia Records, 2001) - Bob Dylan

Love and Theft continues Dylan’s musical comeback that started with 1997’s Time Out of Mind. The beauty of this album is the amount of variety Dylan packs into it. It goes from a boogie swing dance track like Summer Days to the dirty electric blues wail of Lonesome Day Blues. Dylan, in a single album, travels the spectrum of American music and he does it with grace and integrity.

*3. How the West was Won (Atlantic Records, 2003)- Led Zeppelin

Zeppelin released an album recently? Yup, they sure did! Jimmy Page took old recordings of Zeppelin’s 1972 U.S Tour, a time Page considers Zeppelin at their “artistic peak”, and compiled them into 3 disks of classic live Zeppelin. How the West features all of Zeppelin’s greatest hits in rare form. From a twenty-five minute psychedelic Dazed and Confused to a delicate Going to California, every fan of classic rock will be pleased.

*4. Elephant (V2, 2003) - The White Stripes

Remember that bass line from Seven Nation Army? Yea, this is that album. The White Stripes had loyal fans but, until this record, the critics weren’t impressed. Jack and Meg White bring on the dirty, guitar driven rock in this album with more finesse than their previous 3, totally rocking, records. And Meg even takes a stab at sitting behind the microphone. Elephant is The Stripes at their best.

*5. How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (Interscope, 2004) - U2

U2 is either the most overrated band in history or they’re going to save us from the apocalypse but, the algorithms don’t lie, How to Dismantle is a great album. U2 stripped this down and took out all of the bells and whistles; it’s just pure rock and roll. U2 must have done something right, the band won eight out of the nine Grammies that they were nominated for. Good Stuff.

*6. SMiLE (Nonesuch, 2004) - Brian Wilson

If nothing else, this album gets the award for “album in development the longest”. Brian Wilson scrapped the original SMiLE project way back in 1967 after Wilson almost went crazy trying to write the music for Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow. Apparently, this album is a journey from east to west across American. Nobody ever said Brian Wilson was completely sane but, then again, nobody ever said we were either.

*7. Speakerboxxx/ The Love Below (LaFace, 2003) - OutKast

This double album is OutKast’s fifth studio album and their most successful thus far. Rather than being a single cohesive album Outkast created 2 separate solo albums for Big Boi and Andre 3000. This album made Grammy history by winning “album of the year” in 2003, making it the only album ever to win the prestigious award with a parental advisory sticker and also only the 2^nd rap album in history to win.

*8. The College Dropout (Island Def Jam, 2004)- Kanye West

Love em or hate em, you can’t deny the great music that Kanye produces. Dropout was West’s first album and, arguably, his best. This album became a huge success around the world, producing 3 top 10 singles and winning a Grammy for “Best Rap Album” and nominated for 10 others. West also brings in music power houses John Legend and Jay-Z on several tracks.

*9. Modern Times (Columbia Records, 2006)- Bob Dylan

Dylan is going to be a staple in American music for a long time to come. Modern Times renewed Dylan’s status as the singer/songwriter king. It was his first #1 album since 1976 which made Bob Dylan the oldest living musician (65) to have such an honor. Modern Times is a classic mixture of blues, folk-rock and jazzy vocals. Check this out; it’s a great driving album especially if you happen to be driving down back roads in Mississippi.

*10. Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (Warner Bros. Records, 2002) - The Flaming Lips

Wayne Coyne took The Lips from early 90’s pop sensations down a path of Technicolor and weirdness to what they are now, Technicolor-strange-progressive-ambient-pop-rock. Yoshimi combines modern recording techniques and musical production with good old school, guitar pushing musicianship. That said, this is a great headphone album. Yoshimi was also turned into a Broadway musical in 2007. What a strange trip that would be.

*11. Is This It (RCA, 2001)- The Strokes

12. Raising Sand (Rounder, 2007) - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

Take rock’s #1 front man and bluegrass’s most powerful pipes and toss in T-Bone Burnett to produce it and you’ll have a Grammy winning album. Raising Sand is gentle, passionate, beautiful and so smooth. Plant and Krauss come together in silky harmonies that intoxicate your ear no matter what genre of music you prefer. This album also raised speculation about Plant’s return to Zeppelin for a reunion tour. We’re still waiting Plant…we’re still waiting.

13. Transatlanticism (Barsuk Records, 2003) - Death Cab for Cutie

14. *15. Lateralus (Volcano Entertainment, 2001) – Tool

Beware, this album might give you a 78 minute long freak out. Lateralus was Tool’s first album in six years and the hype wash huge. Amid legal troubles and bogus leaks online Tool still delivered one of the hardest rocking album experiences in the last ten years. Lateralus also ranks #1 on Digital Dream Door’s 100 Greatest Drumming Albums. This album will definitely send you on some sort of wild metal journey that you’ve never experienced before.

15. Alice (Epitaph, 2002) - Tom Waits

*16. In Rainbows (2008)- Radiohead

In Rainbows was the most anticipated album of 2008. This self-released beauty made shockwaves in the music industry with Radiohead’s “pay what you want” attitude towards the digital download. In Rainbows changed the way records were distributed to their audiences, cutting out the middle man. Musically, In Rainbows is Radiohead’s most ambitious album. Yet, it’s also Radiohead’s most subtle album. It’s quite the gem.

*17. American IV: The Man Comes Around (Universal, 2002) - Johnny Cash

The Man Comes Around is the last album released by Cash before his death in 2003. It is also Cash’s first (non-compellation) album that went gold for over 30 years. Also, The Man Comes Around won “album of the year” at the CMA Awards. The record is a mixture of covers, done in Cash’s sparse style, and original songs rarely heard before from Cash. This is a wonderful way to remember Johnny Cash.

18. Hail to the Thief (Parlophone, 2003)- Radiohead

*19. Live at the Reading (Geffen, 2009)- Nirvana

Unfortunately, Cobain didn’t grace enough of us with his presence so Nirvana released this CD/DVD combo for hungry fans around the world wanting another taste of the grunge masters. Curt whisky growls his voice and gnashes his guitar in ways that more casual fans of Nirvana may find off-putting but, damn, it just sounds so good. This is, hands down, the best live rock album of the decade.

*20. Kala (XL, 2007)- M.I.A

This British dance/alternative/hip-hop artist just happened to single handedly write the anthems for 2007. If you happen to have been living under a rock the last two years, we’ll let you in on a little secret. The song Paper Planes is the biggest pop culture phenomenon since The Slinky. Kala is a groovy mix of dance beats and political undercurrents all done in M.I.A’s signature style.

*21. 10,000 Days (Volcano, 2006)- Tool

22. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (Nonesuch, 2002) - Wilco

23. Rubber Factory (Fat Possum, 2004)- The Black Keys

Here’s one for the home team. Rubber Factory is The Keys’ third album and their most popular. Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney recorded this volcanic album in an old tire factory, thus the name. This record gives us the duo at their most accessible. The gnarly guitar rock and perfect drumming drive this album into the top 20 of the decade.

24. Kill the Moonlight (Merge, 2002)- Spoon

*25. ( ) (Fat Cat Records, 2002) - Sigur Ros

What exactly is Sigur Ros? It’s hard to say but this album rounds out our top 25 albums of the decade. What separates this album from the rest is the dedication to the avant-garde aesthetic. Jónsi, the lead singer, sang the album’s lyrics in a completely created language he titled “Hopelandic”. ( ) combines powerful crescendos and wonderful melodies to make it, truly, one of the most beautiful albums on our list.

26. Graduation (Island Def Jam, 2002)- Kanye West

*27. Discovery (Virgin, 2001) - Daft Punk

Discovery revived Daft Punk and 80’s dance pop all in one fell swoop. It’s hard to tell if this album is poking fun at the era or embracing it with corny melodies and catchy beats. The biggest hit on this album is the, now cliché, song One More Time. Pop this baby in and crank it up and as you begin to gyrate your body like some diseased tropical fish remember how good it felt way back in March, 2001.

28. Hot Fuss (Island, 2004) - The Killers

*29. A Rush of Blood to the Head (Capitol Records, 2003) - Cold Play

A Rush of Blood is Chris Martin’s last album before he started going all falsetto on us so ,naturally, it’s the best album Cold Play has released. The events of 9/11 affected the songwriting. A Rush of Blood is much more piano oriented than Cold Play’s previous album Parachutes. The singles The Scientist and Clocks are nestled nicely in the Grammy’s “Best Alternative Album of the Year”.

30. The Blueprint (Island Def Jam, 2001) - Jay Z

31. Good News for People Who Love Bad News (Epic, 2004) - Modest Mouse

32. American Idiot (Reprise, 2004) - Green Day

33. Phrenology (Geffen, 2002)- The Roots

34. Demon Days (Virgin, 2005)- Gorillaz

35. I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning (Saddle Creek, 2005)- Bright Eyes

36. Continuum (Columbia Records, 2006)- John Mayer

37. Franz Ferdinand (Domino, 2004)- Franz Ferdinand

38. Food and Liquor (Atlantic, 2006)- Lupe Fiasco

39. Living with War (Reprise, 2006) – Neil Young

40. At War with the Mystics (Warner Bros. Records, 2006)- The Flaming Lips

Technorati Tags: Music,Top 40

Fall Television Preview

Buzzbin’s Fall T.V Preview 2009

Fall is here ladies and gents, it’s time. It’s time for the changing leaves, school, caramel apples and football. But, don’t forget, it’s time for television! Yes! We all love television and here at Buzzbin we’ve done our best to give you a heads up for this fall season. This isn’t every show but it’s a damn good cross-section of what to expect.

Dancing with the Stars- ABC – Premieres 9/21 at 8pm (Mon)

America’s biggest guilty pleasure is back this fall with, as ABC says, “An Epic Season”. This season the stars are as diverse as ever so if you want to see Donny Osmand, Aaaron Carter, Chuck Liddell, Macy Gray, Michael Irvin and, here’s the kicker, Tom Delay, tango and swing tune in for the premiere of Dancing with the Stars. This should be fun for some of us.

3 Stars

Heroes- NBC- Premieres 9/21 at 8pm (Mon)

“Heroes” is still chugging along thanks to a loyal fan base but this season will have to get the ratings or the show risks getting yanked from the air. The entire cast has returned for another twist-filled, super-power-saturated plot. The most exciting thing about the new season is the addition of Robert Knepper (Prison Break) as Samuel, a carnie with super powers. With a smaller budget and an earlier time slot don’t expect Heroes to be as flashy this season. Hopefully the show will get the ratings. We’ll see.

3 Stars

House- FOX- Premieres 9/24 at 8pm (Mon)

The Emmy Award winning character drama is back for its 6^th season. So what can we expect from Hugh Laurie and the writers this time around? More of the same sarcastic humor? More medical mysteries? How about House is stuck in a mental institution, Foreman is trying to take charge, Huddy is falling to pieces without House and, the new cast member Dr. Nolan (Andre Braugher) is trying to diagnose the best diagnostician in history.

5 Stars

Accidentally on Purpose- CBS- Premieres 9/21 at 8:30pm (Mon)

Jenne Elfman (Dharma and Greg) is back doing comedy this fall. I’m excited. Accidentally on Purpose is a romantic sit-com about Billie (Elfman), a film critic, who hooks up with a much younger man. Everything is great until Billie finds out that she is pregnant. I love Jenna Elfman, she’s quirky, cute and an all around pleasure to watch. This will be a show that breaks ground and pushes the envelope for such an early time slot.

5 Stars -- Editor’s Pick

Trauma- NBC- Premieres 9/28 at 9pm (Mon)

Good-bye “ER”. Hello “Trauma”. “Trauma” is NBC’s new, action packed, medical drama. “ER” plus explosions, minus the boring stuff, divided by a largely unknown cast. The previews for this show stress huge fires and Matrix-like slow motion. Is this a medical show or an action movie? I guess we’ll have to wait and see. Either way, expect these first responders to bring life back to Monday nights.

3 Stars

The Jay Leno Show- NBC- Premiers 9/14 at 10pm (Mon-Fri)

I thought Jay Leno was retiring? This guy must store energy in that chin of his like some freakish mutant camel. It’s not clear if this show is going to be a reimagining of The Tonight Show or if it’s going to be something different. Expect Jay Walking, Headlines, monologues, skits and interviews. Jerry Seinfeld is Jay’s first guest this fall. Hey, why not? Don’t expect this show to change your life.

3 Stars

90210- The CW- Premieres 9/8 at 8pm (Tues)

The CW’s smash hit is back for another season. Who would have thought a modernized version of “Beverly Hills 90210” would make such a splash? Not me. Expect more drama and edgy content this fall. Also, a new cast member will be announced soon, rumor has it it’s an old Beverly Hills cast member. The CW is quickly becoming the channel for those ladies between the ages of 14 and 30. Watch on teens!

3 Stars

So You think You can Dance- FOX- Premiers 9/9 at 8pm (Tues)

FOX’s American Idol for dancers is back again this fall. Part talent show, part reality show, part competition spells out R-A-T-I-N-G-S. Really, we only watch these things for the goofy and bizarre first few episodes that showcase the worst and the best of the auditions. But, I’m so bad at dancing everybody looks good to me.

4 Stars

The Biggest Loser- NBC- Premiers 9/15 at 8pm (Tues)

The only show on television where we can watch real people disappear before our eyes. I’ve always wondered about the audition process for this show. Anyways, this season looks pretty straight forward; same scenario, same trainers, different contestants. I love the fact that I can watch this show on my couch and munch on Doritos as I’m on the phone with Dominos.

4 Stars

Melrose Place- The CW- Premieres 9/8 at 9pm (Tues)

To continue the CW’s dedication to all things teen, the network has re-hashed another 90’s soap opera in hopes of bringing old (and new) fans of the series back to the trendy apartment complex in Los Angeles. The cast of 20-somethings come from every corner of the acting world with credits ranging from “Cloverfield” to The “Sarah Conner Chronicles”. The season starts off with a body found dead in the community pool. Ooo scandalous.

3 Stars

NCIS: Los Angeles- CBS –Premiers 9/22 at 9pm (Tues)

Looking for Action? Drama? Mystery? Big stars? “NCIS” is your answer this fall. This show looks great with Chris O’Donnel, L.L Cool J and, Linda Hunt bringing in the star power. NCIS: Los Angeles brings the viewers into the world of undercover surveillance at the Office of Special Projects (OSP). This is CBS’s answer to ABC’s jugernaught, “Dancing with the Stars”. So this show will be a winner and certainly worth your time.

5 Stars

The Forgotten- ABC- Premiers 9/22 at 10pm (Tues)

“The Forgotten” is Jerry Brockheimer’s latest attempt to keep audiences everywhere sucked to the screen. With an impressive cast including Christian Slater, Candace Butler and Lindsay Drake, I expect “The Forgotten” to be a big hit. The show is about a team of scientists and detectives dedicated to indentifying the remains of 40,000 unidentified victims. This show already has a lot of buzz.

4 Stars

The Good Wife- CBS – Premiers 9/22 at 10pm (Tues)

Here you go ladies, a drama just for you! Emmy Award winner Julianna Margulies anchors the cast in this drama about a woman who must care for her family in the wake of her husband’s public political scandal. Alicia (Margulies) must re-enter her old career as a defense attorney to support her family while her husband sits in the slammer. Also, an interesting note, Ridley Scott (the director of Alien) is one of the show’s producers. This looks like it could be interesting.

4 Stars

Hank- ABC- Premiers 9/30 at 8pm (Wed)

It’s been a while since Kelsey Grammer graced televisions around the world in a new show. This fall he’s staring as Hank, a former CEO who is forced to downsize his life and become a family man. This series also has talent behind the camera. Tucker Cawley, who won 3 Emmys for writing Everybody Loves Raymond, is writing “Hank” this season. You should expect a good ole’ family comedy this time from Grammer. Break a leg Kelsey!

5 Stars

Mercy- NBC- Premiers 9/23 at 8pm (Wed)

Yet another medical drama! Boy, I can’t get enough of these! Aren’t they just fantastic? “Mercy” is for the nurses out there who, for some reason, can’t get enough of the hospital drama. Veronica Callahan returns to Mercy hospital after a tour in Iraq. Enough said. Drama. Emergencies. That sums up this show.

3 Stars – for lack of originality

The Middle- ABC- Premiers 9/30 at 8:30pm (Wed)

Here’s one for Cleveland! Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond), a Cleveland native, and Neil Flynn (Scrubs) couple up for possibly the quirkiest comedy on television this fall. The Middle is about a completely average family living in the Midwest. Frankie Heck (Heaton) must balance work and family as she quickly approaches middle age. Can Neil Flynn escape his role as The Janitor on “Scrubs”? I hope so because this comedy looks like a wacky delight.

5 Stars

Modern Family- ABC- Premiers 9/23 at 9pm (Wed)

This show looks hilarious. It’s a single camera mockumentary about “modern” families. Jay Pritchett (Ed O’Neil) is an older fellow who marries a much younger Columbian beauty. Claire Delgado (Julie Brown) and her husband Phil (Ty Burrell) are coping with Phil’s midlife crisis. Lastly, Mitchell Dunphy (Jess Tyler) and his flamboyant partner Cameron (Eric Ferguson) are excited about the new addition to their family, an adopted daughter from Vietnam. This is going to be this year’s “The Office”. It will be winning awards.

5 Stars Editor’s Pick

Cougar Town- ABC- Premieres 9/23 at 9:30pm (Wed)

Any older ladies out there? Recently divorced? Looking to get back into the dating scene? Questioning what you want your life to be? If so, then Courtney Cox’s return to television is for you! “Cougar Town” is about Jules Cobb (Cox), a single mother who is bored with life and lacking the male attention she wants. So she, along with her gal friends, takes life by the horns and goes looking for adventure. This is ABC’s sophisticated comedy for the fall. Definitely check this one out even if you’re just checking out Courtney Cox.

4 Stars

Flash Forward- ABC- Premieres 9/24 at 8pm (Thurs)

Remember “Lost”? Well this is another strange concept by ABC and it seems like it will have the same amount of shelf life. The basic idea behind “Flash Forward” is everybody around the world passes out for 2 minutes and 17 seconds. While passed out, everybody sees 6 months into their future. FBI agent Mark Benford (Joseph Fiennes) struggles to find out who is behind this bizarre event. This show has unlimited potential as long as the writers don’t get to weird with it.

4 Stars

Community- NBC- Premiers 9/17 at 9:30 (Thurs)

This show has cult comedy written all over the trailers. Chevy Chase and Joel McHale (The Soup) star in what promises to be something fantastic. Jeff Winger (McHale) is a lawyer whose degree has been revoked so he must return to community college to lie and cheat his way back into his career. This comedy looks laugh out funny. I will personally be checking this one out on Thursday nights.

5 Stars-- Editor’s Pick

Technorati Tags: Television,Preview

Pabst Blue Ribbon, Coming to Indie Parties near YOU

He stands outside Annabell’s in Highland Square, smoking an American Spirit cigarette as he rattles on about some band that used to be cool before they became famous. His friends look as nonchalant as possible in their ironic t-shirts and their skinny jeans and their thrift-store scarves and handmade necklaces and bracelets. And they all watch passerbys from behind their, equally ironic, Buddy Holly glasses. He flicks his cigarette into the street and, without trying too hard, meanders mysteriously back inside. He sits down and calls over the bartender and orders a freezing cold can of Pabst Blue Ribbon, the hipster’s beer of choice.

PBR may seem like a last resort, blue collar beer to some but, to the underground communities of artists, musicians, hipsters, hippies, freakers and the largely disenfranchised groups of outcasts, PBR is the beer of choice. From New York City to Portland, Oregon, indie-scene 20 somethings are bringing back one of America’s oldest brewing companies from the brink of collapse. It’s a consumer movement that can only be described as anti-establishment.

Pabst Brewing Company, which brews and distributes Pabst Blue Ribbon, has a long history as a major player in the beer making trade. The brand was officially started back in the 1880’s when Captain Fredrick Pabst took over the Empire Brewery and renamed the company Pabst Brewing Company. During that time, Pabst also began their signature tradition of tying little blue ribbons around the bottle necks of their most popular beer, Best Select. Then, as the legend goes, Best Select won “America’s Best” at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Captain Pabst, with all of his genius, then renamed Best Select to Pabst Blue Ribbon and thus PBR was born.

Unfortunately, the good times couldn’t last for the ole’ Captain and his brewery. As with all breweries, Pabst Brewing Company was forced to change its business during “the dark ages”, also known as prohibition. Pabst Brewing Company dropped “brewing” from its named and started producing soft-drinks and cheeses. Think about it folks, you could be munching on some delicious Pabst cheese right now. But, nay, after the darkest era in American beer history ended, Pabst Brewing Company came back stronger than ever. Beer would be falling from the heavens. Angels would sing and rainbows covered the landscape.

Pabst Brewing Company led the industry in innovation as one of the first breweries to offer canned beer. Canned beer is to beer drinking as Pamela Anderson is to home movies, the two are virtually inseparable. Even today, Pabst Blue Ribbon is often served in a can. The can was very popular in a post World War II America, a time that saw a huge economic boom. America’s prosperity after the war was great for beer sales. During the boom, Pabst Brewing Company became one of America’s top five breweries. Pabst opened breweries around the country. When Pabst opened a brewery in Perry, Georgia, the town changed its name to Pabst to celebrate the occasion. In 1977 Pabst Brewing Company was selling 18 million barrels of PBR a year.

Yet, somehow Pabst Brewing Company fell off the radar during the 1980’s. And, let’s be honest, PBR was mostly forgotten until David Lynch’s 1986 classic, ‘Blue Velvet’. In the film Frank Booth (Dennis Hopper) yells, “Heineken?! Fuck that shit! Pabst Blue Ribbon!!” But, even with Lynch’s film, the sales of Pabst Blue Ribbon fell under one-million barrels a year by 2001. The brand was dying and it seemed like all hope was lost.

Since 2001, Pabst Blue Ribbon has made an enormous comeback in the U.S. According to our sources, Pabst sales are up 30% compared to Budweiser sales which have fallen 7% and Corona Extra sales which have fallen 8%. Pabst Blue Ribbon is flying off the shelves in taverns, convenience stores and college bars around the country, making it one of the fastest growing beers in the country. But, it’s not just the blue-collar workers sipping on the brew anymore. It’s the young and hip college crowd bringing Pabst Blue Ribbon back from the dead. Nothing tastes better than pouring an entire case of the stuff into a beer bong and taking it to the face. Trust us, we know.

So what is making Pabst Blue Ribbon so damn popular? Is it the price? Is it marketing? Is it the cool-factor? The answer to all three of these questions is undeniable. Yes! Pabst still remains in the “cheap beer” category even though they recently upped the price. Nothing is more important to aspiring alcoholics than having as much beer as possible at a low price. And we all know that most college students are getting degrees in binge drinking and functional substance abuse. Keeping the beer cheap is key to keeping them stumbling to class with hellish hangovers.

PBR has secured a great place in the beer market. It’s slightly more expensive than Natural Light but cheaper than Budlight. Nothing tastes better than something other than Natural Light and the college crowd knows it. But, most of the hype happens completely word of mouth and Pabst Brewing Company likes it that way. Pabst Brewing Company spends little on marketing. Sparse marketing keeps PBR off of the mainstream radar and keeps it attractive to the hipster underground. The company has been careful not to alienate their customer base. Pabst hasn’t overtly pushed advertising towards the community; rather, the company has embraced the community by sponsoring a Pabst Blue Ribbon art contest. Contestants submit artwork featuring the beer. The grand prize winners receive money and, more importantly, free Pabst Blue Ribbon for a year. The community is what keeps Pabst going. Interestingly, Pabst Brewing Company is for sale to the public at buyabeercompany.com, where anybody over 21 can donate money and own a piece of the company.

Pabst Blue Ribbon is now a staple in college towns, hipster communities and blue-collar dives alike. PBR is a testament to the importance of grass-roots movements in every aspect of society. America’s youth took PBR from a struggling brand to the beer of their generation, making Pabst Brewing Company the fourth largest brewery in the country. Ironically, Pabst Brewing Company did it all as nonchalantly as possible, just like their skinny-jean wearing costumers. Remember: “Heineken?! Fuck that shit!”

Technorati Tags: Pabst Blue Ribbon,Feature,Comedy

Kick-Ass Preview

What do you get when you mix amateurs, costumes, comedy, martial arts and Nicholas Cage? Not the new ‘Ghost Rider’ movie. You get a new and exciting addition to the super hero movie genre, ‘Kick-Ass’. Director, Matthew Vaughn brings to life Mark Miller’s comic book creation in what is likely to become an instant cult classic. When asked about his decision to bring Miller’s comic book to the big screen Vaughn said, “It's a very unique story and it's fun and it had stuff I hadn't seen before, and I just knew I could make a good film.”

‘Kick-Ass’ is about Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson), an unnoticed high school student and comic book nerd who decides to become a super hero, minus the super powers and martial arts training. Lizewski inspires other super hero hopefuls to join the fight against crime including; Damon MacReady (Nicholas Cage), his daughter Mindy MacReady (Chloe Moretz) and, Chris D’Amico (Christopher Mintz-Plasse). The unlikely super heroes then team up to defeat Frank D’Amico (Mark Strong), the movie’s, drug dealing, villain.

‘Kick-Ass’ is a great jumping off point for many of the young actors the film pushes into the lime light. This is a big year for Moretz in particular, who is staring in several films in the upcoming months. Nicholas Cage is also benefiting from his off-beat role as the super hero Big Daddy. Expect to see him several times this year, amid his financial breakdown.

This movie looks great in a quirky sort of way. It mixes indie aesthetic with a dose of comic book action and a bit of humor. But, ‘Kick-Ass’ isn’t the movie that will break box office records or create a huge cultural phenomenon like ‘The Dark Knight’. In fact, don’t expect ‘Kick Ass’ to stir much mainstream buzz at all. What ‘Kick-Ass’ does do is add a new dimension to super hero films. Hero films lately have focused on the human aspects of being a super hero, ‘Kick-Ass’ takes the human side to a new level. The heroes lack any kind of extraordinary powers or skills or gadgets. It’s liberating to think that anybody can be a bad guy punishing, cape wearing, super hero. ‘Kick-Ass’s new approach to crime fighting earns it a place in super hero movie lore.

‘Kick-Ass’ promises to be a great alternative to the more conventional super hero movies. If you’re tired of the gadget using, power flaunting heroes of the past, check out ‘Kick-Ass’ In theatres on April 16^th.

Technorati Tags: Movies,Review,Kick-Ass

The Book of Eli, Post-Apocalyptic Disappointment

‘The Book of Eli’, directed by the Hughes brothers, is one apocalyptic disappointment after another. The disappointments don’t necessarily come from any single element. Rather, the film’s attitude of taking itself too seriously may have been the reason for the mediocrity.

‘The Book of Eli’ takes place after what we can assume was a nuclear war. Eli, played wonderfully by Denzel Washington, is on a spiritual journey across the arid landscape of what is left of the world. His mission? Take The Bible west. Along the way he comes across the book-obsessed villain Carnegie (Gary Oldman) and one of his servants Solara (Mila Kunis). Mix in some stylish action, a washed out color scheme, ‘Mad Max’ type architecture and technology, and a plot twist that seems gimmicky and there you have it, a mediocre post-apocalypse film.

Technorati Tags: Movies,The Book of Eli,Review

Avatar, The Movie to Beat in 2010

12 years ago James Cameron released one of the highest grossing films of all time, ‘Titanic’. Then, he went into hiding. His fans wondered what his next big project was going to be. And the movie industry patiently waited for his return. When news of ‘Avatar’ surfaced, fans and Hollywood alike knew it was going to be the film of the decade. They were right, ‘Avatar’ is not only breaking records but, sets a new standard for motion pictures. James Cameron changed the filmmaker’s landscape forever. For the next several years computer generated movies will, undoubtedly, be compared to ‘Avatar’. Yet, nobody said greatness was without imperfections.

Avatar’s story focuses on Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), a paraplegic Marine who takes his dead brother’s place as an operator of an Avatar. The Avatar is a genetic replica the aliens who live on the planet Pandora, the very same planet where huge amounts of a rare mineral are found. It’s Jake’s job to study the alien culture and report back to his boss, Dr. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver). Jake is then tossed into a moral battle between helping the Marines take the alien’s resource rich land or helping the aliens, alongside Jake’s alien heartthrob Princess Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), push back the Marines thus saving their way of life.

The story raises ethical, moral and philosophical questions. And Cameron does a nice job of keeping the plot simple enough for the casual audience as well as complex enough for the intellectuals. But, the story is similar to Pocahontas and Fern Gully. We’ve all seen the story before. It’s nothing new. Yet, ‘Avatar’ doesn’t sell itself based on an original story; rather, it’s focus is on the special effects and the CG animation.

Visually, ‘Avatar’ is incredible. Cameron had the help of two of the largest special effects companies working on the project, WETA (Lord of the Rings) and Industrial Light and Magic (Star Wars). The two powerhouses came together to create amazingly life-like computer generated characters that seamlessly interact with real life actors. The transition from traditional film to computer generated material is seamless. Also, the 3D isn’t a gimmick. The movie’s third dimension adds depth and atmosphere to the film that just wouldn’t be possible with traditional filming techniques. Audiences literally gasp at some of the 3D effects.

‘Avatar’ is bringing in more money than bailouts, is causing more controversy than Rush Limbaugh and is pulling more nerds away from their girlfriends than World of Warcraft. It’s becoming a cultural phenomenon. My biggest complaint about the movie is it will not transfer well to home entertainment systems. You all need to see this movie soon. And see it in 3D. ‘Avatar’ is not disappointing. It’s a film everybody can enjoy and be amazed by.

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