CD/DVD Review: Orange Sky - Upstairs

I am going to open this with an odd parallel. Listening to Orange Sky, I was reminded of bands such as Sepultura, Puya, Soulfly, and Rammstein. Let me also say that Orange Sky really sounds nothing like those bands I just mentioned, but they do have something in common. Before I get to that common ground, I must give a simple fact concerning my perspective, I am American and a fan of rock and metal music.

Now for that thing that Orange Sky shares with those seemingly different bands. Different cultures, that's it. These bands have developed their sound and attitudes in a culture different from mine, they have different histories and a different variety of influences. These differences all combine and expose themselves in their music. Their sounds are different than what I would hear from homegrown bands. In other words, they bring a sound that is recognizable, yet distinctly different than what I normally listen to.

They bring together elements of metal, rock, and reggae in a concoction that is unique, yet easily accessible. Upstairs has a mix of anthemic rockers and smooth ballads. The proceedings have a pleasant flow that helps the album feel like an album, as opposed to a collection of songs.

Upstairs begins with the acoustic tinged "It's Over." a song that picks up the pace and shows that these guys can rock as well as play restrained, while having a sound that stands out. This is followed by the excellent "Escape." This track is where I become more impressed with the band, as the play some heavy edged riffs, with fast lead breaks, and lead vocals that have a clipped style.

Other highlights of the disk include "Angels" a heartfelt mellow rocker, and "Dogs", a slightly sludgey/bluesy that evokes a little Black Sabbath alternating with a much lighter edge. I love how the latter song slips between the two sounds. There is also an excellent cover of Cat Stevens' "Peace Train". The album comes to a close with the heavy "Tug of War" and the pleasant ballad "Alive".

One thing seems apparent is that this band has an incredible amount of energy, yet they sound oddly restrained. Their a number of places where they seem to want to break free of the recording studio shackles and flat out tear it up. Plus they are hampered by a mediocre mix, which makes the drums sound pretty bad and processes the vocals a bit much on the reverb. On the plus side, the guitars sound fantastic throughout.

The band is led by Nigel Rojas, who lends his good yet limited voice, excellent lead chops, and very good song writing skills. Backing Nigel are Adam Murray, who adds depth with his rhythm guitar, Richard Hall on keyboards, Nigel's brother, Nicholas, on Bass, and Obasi Springer on the drums.

Included in this set is a DVD. This DVD contains a 5 minute clip of a documentary, where we see Nigel and the band in their native Trinidad, showing some sights and pointing out the local cuisine. The meat of this disk is a 26 minute clip of a concert in their hometown, recorded earlier this year. This disk demonstrates the energy that is only hinted at on the CD. Nigel's voice does not seem to be in top form, but his energy and guitar playing more than make up for it. The crowd is into it, and the band just seemed to feed off of it. Makes me want to see them live. The audio is presented in a rather flat sounding Dolby Digital 2.0 and a fuller 5.1 mix.

Bottomline. This is a good debut for a band with an interesting sound. It is hampered by a mediocre mix, yet the band's ability shines through. Back to my initial point, it is always interesting to hear bands from other global destinations, the way different cultures affect a band's sound can have intriguing and satisfying results. Orange Sky is a band to watch.

Recommended.

TV News: Joey Gets Scrubbed, NBC Revamps Thursday Night

NBC is gearing up to revamp its Thursday night lineup. It was announced that there will be shows leaving, moving, and returning as they attempt to reclaim Thursday nights, and fill other holes in the schedule. Upon hearing the news, I could not be happier, sort of.....

First up is Joey. The low-rated Friends spin-off is being taken off the schedule. Now, my, admittedly quick, web scouring has not turned up anything saying that it has been canceled, just "removed" or "taken off" the schedule. Some sources have been quoted as saying that it could be back on in March, but in a different time slot. Perhaps on Tuesdays.

I can't say that this surprises me, but this show has been mediocre to poor at best. I stopped watching it earlier this year, it was the weak link in a crowded time slot as I also watch Alias, Smallville, and the occasional episode of Everybody Hates Chris (which I should watch more of, it is fantastic). Those shows, plus Survivor, make this a tough time slot to get an audience in, and when you have been so disappointing you aren't going to get the viewers. I will admit that I have an affinity for the Joey character, but I also think he was one of the least likely to be able to carry a show alone. It is kind of like a Kramer show, great character, but it is a supporting role and one not suited for the lead. Maybe if and when it returns on another night it will find an audience.

The revamped Thursday lineup will have Will & Grace moving into the 8:00 slot that was evacuated by Joey. This is a move that has no effect on me, as I could really care less for this show. Actually, I am surprised that it has lasted as long as it has, I recall critics panning it when it first debuted.

Following that will be debuting sitcom Four Kings starring Seth Green. This show centers on 4 longtime friends who share an apartment and their crazy antics. Hmmm, where have I seen something like this before? I like Green, so I may give it a shot, but the commercials don't really impress me all that much.

Next in the 9-10:00 slots are two shows changing nights. First, at 9:00 is the new hit My Name is Earl. I admit, I have been sucked in by the charms of Jason Lee's Earl and Ethan Suplee's Randy, as they try to right Earl's past wrongs. This show has not yet failed to elicit a chuckle from me. It is moving from its current Tuesday at 9:00 slot to help draw viewer's to NBC's once mighty Thursday comedy lineup. Not sure if it will work, but I, for one, will be tuning in (or taping) it. Taking up residence in the 9:30 will be Earl tag along The Office. I am glad to see this staying on the air. I am not sure what the ratings have been like for this series, but I love it. It is smart, clever, and a unique vision on the sitcom landscape. Not to mention a worthy adaptation of the British series.

Rounding out NBC's "Must See TV" lineup is 10:00 mainstay ER. There is no shuffling of this show, even though it is not the ratings behemoth it once was, it still draws in a good number of people as it soldiers on through numerous cast changes.

Now, with Earl and Office leaving their Tuesday home, what will be filling the void? If you read the title, you probably already have an idea. Go back and read it, I'll give you a minute............. OK, back? Do you know what the show is? It is none other than the returning Scrubs! I could not be happier. I was so disappointed when it was announced after last season that it would be used as a mid-season replacement. I thought it was doing well in the ratings, critics were recognizing it, it finally got some big noms at the Emmy awards. You would think NBC would want to capitalize on this. As this season has worn on, I started to wonder if it would be returning at all. My hopes rose when I heard that it was going into production and that Zach Braff's girlfriend, Mandy Moore, would be appearing in a couple of episodes. That meant it would be returning, or at least I still hoped.

Initially, NBC will air two new episodes back to back at 9:00 and 9:30. I see this as a likely spot for a future Joey return. Perhaps a new night, with new surroundings would do it so good, alleviating the pressure of trying to keep above water on that crowded Thursday night.

Leading into Scrubs will be the returning Fear Factor, which debuts on its new night this Tuesday 12/6 at 8:00. Can't say that this return excites me, but it does have its die hard fans.

The new Tuesday lineup debuts 1/3/06 and the completely revamped Thursday night debuts on 1/5/06.

You can read about this and other NBC news at CNN.com.

Movie Recap for November 2005: Good Night and Good Luck

Welcome one and all to my November movie recap. Below is a recap of all the movies I saw during the month, in the order in which I saw them. There were a bunch of good movies this month, but there were those on the flip side too. On to the list!

Best of the Month: Good Night and Good Luck
Worst of the Month: Elizabethtown

1. Good Night and Good Luck. This was an amazing film. It has a concise script that doesn't get distracted by anything outside of its purview. Excellent performances, especially from David Straithairn anchor this tale of the McCarthy era. ****
2. Elizabethtown. Overlong and Over dull. Kirsten Dunst was the one bright spot in this Cameron Crowe misfire. **
3. Chicken Little. Not as good as a Pixar film, nor the recent non-CG films, but this was still an enjoyable romp. ***
4. Capote. Excellent biopic of an odd man during the defining moments of his career. Be sure to look for Philip Seymour Hoffman's name come Oscar time. ***.5
5. Jarhead. A new look at the first Gulf War through the eyes of Gen-X. Hurry up and wait. Very good. ***
6. The Weather Man. The second Nic Cage film in a row that while being high in quality, is sadly soft at the box office. This was a dryly humorous look at some fractured relationships. ***
7. Zathura. Surprise, surprise. I actually liked this one, more than I had expected. Despite being like Jumanji, I think it is the better film. ***
8. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. A solid ***, but not the masterpiece some have said it to be. It is all set up to move two feet. ***
9. Walk the Line. Mediocre film raised to a higher standard by the incredible performances from the leads. I would not be surprised to see them come Oscar time. ***.5
10. The Ice Harvest. The holiday season is here, and here is the first dry dramedy of the season. Christmas can bring out the worst in people. ***
11. Derailed. Mediocre thriller that doesn't really go far enough. The bright spots were seeing Aniston on the big screen, and The RZA in a wonderful supporting role. **.5
12. Just Friends. More enjoyable than it had any right to be. This was a silly little movie that is dumb as all get out, but I found myself liking it all the same. ***

That is all for this month. Looking forward to what December will have to offer.

New Movie Releases for 12/2/05: Featuring Aeon Flux

One film opening this week. Yup, thats right. It is the calm before the storm. Next week sees an expanding Syriana, and the release of The Chronicles of Narnia, followed by King Kong the week after that. But before we get to that, we must get through this.

Aeon Flux. Based on the animated show which began life as an animated series, first on MTV's Liquid Television, and then it's own series. It is a future world where Aeon Flux, who is an assassin, she was betrayed and left for dead, this is about her revenge. It stars Charlize Theron in the titular role, something that is decidedly un-Oscar-like, unlike her other recent work. Her co-stars include Jonny Lee Miller (Mind Hunters), Sophie Okonedo (Hotel Rwanda), Frances McDormand (Fargo), and Pete Postlethwaite (The Constant Gardener). It was directed by Karyn Kusama, who last directed 2000's female boxer movie Girlfight. Check out the trailer before heading to the theater.

Also opening this week, but not near me:

• Be Here to Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt
• The Boys of Baraka
• First Decent
• The Kid & I
• Transamerica

That's all until Narnia!

Wrestling Recap: WWE: Smackdown Special 11/29/05

Michael Cole and Tazz welcome you to the Smackdown special. They also throw up a Tale of the Tape comparing the biggest and smallest competitors in the WWE,who will be meeting tonight, Big Show and Rey Mysterio.

They get off to a quick start with the first match, Booker T and Chris Benoit, in the second match of a best of 7 for the US Title. Booker T had one the first match. The series came about when the the title was held up due to a dual countout of both competitors. Benoit gets ahead quick, laying in some punches and snapping off a few suplexes. Booker T fights back, getting ahead of Benoit, slamming him into the turn buckles and hitting a high elbow off the ropes. Benoit responds with thunderous chops to the chest. Booker is the victim of more Suplexes at the hands of Benoit. Booker got the first pin attempt, 2 only. Benoit kicks out and regains control, but Booker fights back quick. Before Booker gets the upper hand, Benoit backdrops him over the ropes. Benoit goes for a suicide dive, but Booker gets out of the way.

Commercial break.

Back to the match, Boojer has Benoit stretched out, Benoit gets out of it, but is slowed by a jumping heel kick to the head. Booker goes for the pin, 2 count. Booker lands a side slam, but can't get the pin. Benoit is being dominated. Benoit fights back, landing chops and backing Booker into a corner, Booker tries to fight back, but gets caught with more chops. Benoit lands a German suplex, followed by a series of belly to belly suplexes. Benoit pins Booker for a 2 count. Booker gets up and catches Benoit with a Bookend, but cannot get the pin. Benoit hits a quick clothesline as Booker comes off the ropes. Benoit lands a German suplex then goes to climb the ropes, but is distracted by Sharmell. Benoit remains in control, climbs the ropes and lands his signature flying headbutt. He still cannot keep Booker down for 3. Booker tries to suplex Benoit over the ropes, but he lands on the apron and tries to hit a German off the apron, Booker fights out and throws Benoit to the floor. Booker roles Benoit in and tries for the pin, but Benoit gets his houlder up. Benoit then lands another German suplex. Booker recovers and lands the scissors kick and gets the pin. Booker T now has a 2 match to none lead in the series.

Next we have a video package highlighting the late Eddie Guerrero.

Commercial break.

Rey is shown in the back praying while prepaing for his match. He asks to look after his family and dedicates the match to his friend Eddie Guerrero.

That is followed by a video package highlighting Rey. Rey speaks on wrestling lucha libre, and the history of the mask. We watch as Rey demonstrates his high flying moves. Next is Big Show, the biggest athlete in the world. We see clips of Show destroying everything in his path.

Big Show makes his entrance, carrying his tag title belt (his champions with Kane).

Commercial break.

Back from commercial, our announcers are hyping a match for Friday's normal timeslot. The match is a tag team Battle Royale pitting LOD, The Dicks, The Mexicools, Nunzio/Vito, Scotty 2 Hotty/Funaki, and Paul London/Brian Kendrick against each other. THis will determine who faces MNM at Armageddon, the next pay per view.

Rey Mysterio comes to the ring using Eddie's music and driving a lowrider. The match begins with Rey quickly moving around the ring to elude SHow. Rey lands some kicks to the leg, but Show brushes him off. Rey gets caught and SHow slams a forearm to his back, then slides him out of the ring. Show exits the ring and Rey gets on then hits a dropkick on Show.

COmmercial break.

Back to the match. Show has Rey in the corner and hits some big slaps to the chest. Rey falls to the ground and Show literally walks over him, before kicking him out of the ring. Show leaves the ring, following Rey. Show lands another slap and throws him back into the ring. Back in, SHow holds Rey against the ropes. The duo exit the ring again, where Rey thumbs Show in the eye, they quickly get back in the ring. Rey starts fighting back, landing some big kicks, but SHow stops that with a huge boot to Rey's head. Show drops an elbow to Rey's chest. He goes for the pin, but picks him up after 2. Show throws him back out of the ring. Rey uses the lowrider to pick himself up. Show slams Rey's head into the hood of the car. Rey gets back in the ring, lands a kick. He then tries to hit a hurracanrana from the top rope to the outside, but Show catches him and powerbombs him on the hood of the car.

Commercial break.

Rey is laying motionless on the hood of the car, while Show stands in the ring. Show then comes out to the lowrider. He picks Rey up and carries him back into the ring. Rey just lies in the middle of the ring, still not moving much. Show picks him up, Rey bites Show on the head, spurring him to drop Rey. Rey lands on the ref, knocking him out of the ring. Show leaves the ring and comes back with a chair. Rey gets the chair away from Show, he hits him repeatedly in the legs, followed by a pair of shots to the head. Show lands in the ropes. Rey hits the 619, putting the big man down. Rey gets the chair again and hits him across the chest. Rey climbs the ropes and hits Eddie’s signature Frog Splash, but before he can go for the pin, Kane shows up, complete with ring post fire and theme music. Kane enters the ring, Rey watches but Show gets up behind Rey, the two catch Rey and give him a double choke slam.

The bell tolls and the Undertaker appears in the ring. Kane leaves quickly, leaving Show facing Taker. The two trade blows, Taker landing most of them. Taker hits a flying clothesline. Kane returns to the ring and gets caught in a chokeslam. Big Show catches a big boot, knocking him out of the ring. Randy Orton shows up, giving Undertaker an RKO, then leaving with his father, Cowboy Bob Orton. Randy opens the lowrider’s trunk and retrieves a crowbar as Taker gets up in the ring. Orton doesn’t get to use the crowbar as Taker catches him. Cowboy distracts Taker and Randy retrieves the crowbar and knocking Undertaker out as he lays in the back of the lowrider. Orton gets in the car, with Undertaker still in the back, he then puts the car in reverse and speeds it through the back of the set as Undertaker is laying over the back. That triggers a series of explosions as the car catches on fire. Randy had escaped and watches as it burns.

The screen fades to black and the Smackdown Special ends.

CD Review: Wet Animal - Wet Animal

The first thing that came to my mind when I first heard Wet Animal was Alice in Chains. Their sounds have some amazing similarities. Please don't construe that as an endorsement. This band is not bad, but they are nowhere near the league of Alice in Chains.

Wet Animal made it's first appearance 10 years ago, in 1995, when they were founded by Trouble guitarist Rick Wartell. But, it wasn't until 2005 that their debut album would be released. I saw that, and it made me wonder why it took so long, better late than never, I guess.

The album starts of with it's best work, but slides down the ranks pretty quickly. The entire album is filled with straight forward rock, but it rarely climbs out of the ranks of the mediocre. If you are in need of something to put in and turn up, this will fit the bill, but if you thirst for more originality you would do best to look elsewhere.

The first three tracks are what you need to listen too. The first song is "Soul Alone", it opens with a heavy gloom rock guitar riff, over which Shane Pasqualla's Layne Staley-esque vocals come in. It is sure to get your head knocking, and probably bring thoughts of "Man in the Box" to mind. That is followed by the bluesy "Lost in My Head". It has a slightly more upbeat Black Sabbathy feel, while feeling straight out of the mid 90's. Rounding out the opening trifecta is "Outside a Hole" which brings more Alice in Chains to mind.

I cannot really say that I like the album. Overall, it just sounds too generic. It seems to bridge the gap between the grunge rockers and the bluesy rockers, only showing up 10 years too late. There is no denying that there are some good riffs going on here, but it does not go far enough. I had been hoping for something a bit edgier. This, while rocking in the traditional sense falls to the average line and below in terms of originality and forward thinking.

Not Recommended.

DVD Review: Yngwie Johann Malmsteen: Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra in E Flat Minor with the New Japan Philharmonic: Live

Many rock acts have taken their act to the stage with an orchestra, but I must say that I have not seen it done quite as successfully as Yngwie Malmsteen has. In most cases the bands get up and play their songs while the orchestra follows along. A good example of this would be when Metallica took to the stage with the San Francisco Philharmonic. I thought that was a good album, but it was nowhere near the level of Malmsteen's concerto.

Back in 2001, Yngwie decided to take his classically influenced playing and combine it with a full orchestra. He went to the drawing board and crafted a concerto for precisely this event. It is a wonderful piece of music that obviously plays around the guitar as its central point, yet complements the orchestra as a whole. the two meld together and become this wall of classical and rock sounds in perfect balance.

This is a different Yngwie than I am used to seeing. Over the past couple of years, I have had the opportunity to see Yngwie live, most recently, this past weekend. One thing that has always stood out was his flamboyant onstage antics. He was always swinging his guitar, or raising it to the heavens, always in leather with pointy boots and a frilly shirt, kicking in the air, all sorts of crazy stuff. For this performance, the leather and frills are there, but his presence is much more restrained. He walks out, takes a bow, and proceeds to play some incredibly precise and speedy licks.

The show not only showcases Yngwie's electric playing, but also his acoustic side. A few of the segments having him unplug and show that he cans till shred whether the strings are metal or nylon. As good as his playing is, it is only half the show. The orchestra sounds absolutely fantastic, and they are not just there to back the star attraction, but they also further their own purposes, creating this powerful wall of sound.

The camera work gets the job done as well, bringing you right into the think of the action. Get right into the orchestra as the violinists play, watch as the basses bring out the low end. More importantly we get right in on Yngwie's fretboard as his fingers fly over the strings, and impressive site, to say the least.

There is one lackluster element to this disk, that is the sound. It is presented in both Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0. Obviously, the 5.1 sounds better, but it wasn’t nearly as full as I would have liked. The recording is heavily guitar-centric, and that leaves the orchestra sounding a bit on the thin side.

Still, this is definitely a disk worth adding to the guitar fan’s collection. It is quite an impressive concoction of classical and rock.

Recommended.

November Poll Results: The Best New Show Is:

November Poll: The Best New Show Is:

• My Name is Earl 26.7% 4
• Everybody Hates Chris 6.7% 1
• Surface 6.7% 1
• Threshold 0% 0
• Invasion 6.7% 1
• Reunion 0% 0
• Ghost Whisperer 6.7% 1
• E-Ring 0% 0
• Other 26.7% 4
• They all stink 20% 3
• total votes: 15

Once again, the turnout is astounding. Thank you to those who took the time, please don't forget to take part in the new poll. Anyway, let's take a look at our results.

The top vote getters were My Name is Earl and Other. Those who voted for other, I wonder what their vote would have gone for? My vote went to Earl.

To be honest. I don't much feel like writing about this poll, but think the results should be posted anyway.

DVD Review: The GingerDead Man

When was the last time you saw a movie that featured a killer cookie? A cookie voiced by none other than Gary Busey himself! Never? You're kidding, right? Well then, have I got a movie for you!

It has been quite some time since I dipped a wary toe into the treacherous waters of low budget horror films. But my interest has been piqued. Recently I attended the Charles Band Horror Road Show, and that has definitely gotten my horror itch active again. For those of you who don't know, Charles Band is the founder of Full Moon Entertainment and is personally responsible for the veritable horde of killer puppets and dolls which haunted your nightmares as a child. Some of the films that have his name attached to them are Puppet Master, Doll Man vs. Demonic Toys, Subspecies, and Trancers. Recently, he returned to the director's chair to deliver some of his trademarked brand of mayhem. During the Road Show, he treated audiences to clips and Busey sized tales from the set of his latest release, and the subject of this review, The GingerDead Man.

The thing I have learned about these films, is that what you know about the story doesn't really hurt going in. Of course, I don't want to know how it ends, but you can almost guess what is coming next. That is not a bad thing. These are low budget features which generally fall into formulas, the ingenuity lies in bringing the tale to the screen in an interesting manner despite having minuscule budgets. I have to say that for as cheesy this one can be at times, I found myself enjoying the heck out of it.

The film opens with Gary Busey, as Millard, terrorizing the patrons of a small diner. He is brandishing a gun and babbling in the way only Busey can. He is killing everyone he sees, until his eyes fall on Sarah, our heroine, cowering in the corner. He doesn't want to kill her, but he has to "honor his Momma" and finish what he started. He shoots with this comical expression of pained anguish. Then the credits role.

We fast forward two years to discover Sarah is working at her family's bakery. A bakery that is under attack from the chain shop opening across the street. Baked warfare anybody? Anyway, that sets up a conflict between Sarah and Lorna, the daughter of the chain shop owner. But before we even get to that, we learn that Millard was executed and his body cremated and sent to his mother at a neighboring town.

A mysterious figure leaves a box of Gingerbread Seasoning at the back door. Sarah goes ahead and mixes the seasoning in with the dough, this is where the crispy terror starts. It seems, Millard's mother has mixed in some of the ashes with this evil seasoning. The label should have read "Just Add Blood." No sooner is some blood dropped into the mix, the evil cookie takes shape (Shhh, don't tell the board of health!).

By now, Sarah is fighting with Lorna. Lorna's boyfriend is trying to keep them separated, and Sarah's lush mother is searching for her shotgun. The Busey cookie is busy plotting a way to finish what he started. Think about that for a minute, a cookie with the voice of Gary Busey, setting traps, wielding a knife, and later firing a six shooter (that never runs out of ammo).

The teens are your typical horror fodder, although not as many die as I thought there would be. The fight each other, but manage to pull together for the greater good, death to the cookie! The finale features, uh uh, not going to tell you, but I am sure if you think about you already have a good idea of where this going.

The acting is on the poor side, as are the effects, and most of the non-Busey dialog. Still, this movie excels at the low budget enthusiasm that is infectious. You will find yourself laughing at the sheer absurdity going on.

If you only see one killer cookie movie this year....

Video. The film is presented in a ratio of 1.78:1 and it looks pretty good. It is not at the same level as a Hollywood blockbuster, but for a DTV low budget horror film, it looks pretty darn good.

Audio. The soundtrack is Dolby Digitial 2.0. The film is dialog-centric, and the centered nature of the dialog works fine. No complaints.

Extras. The disk has a few extras.
-Message from Charles Band. This is an introduction from the director, speaking of how much fun he had making the movie, and some of his other projects, including the Road Show.
-Behind the Scenes. This runs about 18 minutes and is pretty entertaining. It shows the making of the cookie, including an early CG version. There are segments with the performers on the set. This is a pretty good watch.
-Bloopers. We get about 5 minutes of bloopers. It is the usual assortment of flubbed lines.
-Trailers. There is the trailer for the feature as well as for Doll Graveryard, Decadent Evil, Petrified, Monsters Gone Wild, When Puppets and Dolls Attack and Cinemaker (a DVD set on making low budget films)

Bottomline. This may not be the best entry in Band's vast catalog, yet it does have a certain charm. It may also interest you enough in perusing more Band films. I know I liked it, but would have liked a little more gore. Oh yeah, there is a rather humorous human cookie in the movie too.

Recommended.

Soundtrack Review: Veronica Mars

This soundtrack was a pleasure to listen to. It is an eclectic mix of indie talent that have a variety of styles, yet it all comes together in an album that works great as a whole. Often times soundtrack albums, especially film soundtracks, offer a good selection of songs, but when they are listened to as an album, it feels as if they were just thrown together in a haphazard fashion. This album has a great flow to it. It works as a straight up collection of songs just as well as a soundtrack.

For those who don't know, Veronica Mars is a smart and witty show about a high school student who does some detective sleuthing on the side, helping out her father. Her father is a disgraced sheriff who works as a PI. The first season had an overarching story about the murder of Veronica's best friend, Lily, and her subsequent fall from grace to the outsider status that she currently enjoys. There are other one of stories throughout the season. The show is currently in its second season, and this disk has songs used in both seasons.

The disk feels more like a play list taken from Veronica's iPod. It doesn't strike me as a concept explored for this disk release, but it would have been a interesting idea to market it as her personal play list. Perhaps for a second volume? In any case, the music included fits the show like a glove. A collection of songs from indie artists representing a free thinking, inquisitive, mature beyond her years young woman. A perfect fit. It is so much better than a collection of the latest pop artists, this helps retain the integrity of the, admittedly, fictional character, but also of the show on a whole. I am sorry, I am beginning (?) to ramble.

The album opens with the theme song, "We Used To Be Friends" by The Dandy Warhols. This a great song, it stands up as its own entity, yet it also perfectly sums up the mood of the show, besides being perfectly catchy. It is followed by a song by former Soul Coughing front man Mike Doughty, "I Hear the Bells". Doughty is a unique talent who has really come into his own as a solo artist, and this is a good example of his droll vocal style, and unique songwriting ability. We're off to a good start so far.

We then turn to the poppy style of Tegan & Sara's "I Know I Know I Know". That is followed by the Modest Mouse sounding "I Turn My Camera On", by Spoon. Move onward to the dance pop sounds of The Faders "No Sleep Tonight", and the reminiscent of U2 "Dakota" by the Stereophonics.

Other highlights include the dreamy, surreal sounds of "On Your Porch" by The Format and "The Way You Are" by 46bliss. The disk closes with Cotton Mather's melancholy "Lily Dreams On". It is fine closer, a sad yet hopeful song that played after Veronica's discovery of what really happened to Lily Kane.

Bottomline. This is a very good soundtrack to a wonderful series. It fits the tone and style of the show, all without compromising the quality of the music it contains. Even if you don't watch the show, but are a fan of indie music, this could be right up your alley. But, if you are a fan it makes a fine compliment to the series.

Highly Recommended.

A Television Viewer's Diary: 11/20-11/26: Veronica Mars

WARNING: The free form ramblings continue, be prepared for run-ons, incomplete thoughts, and atrocious punctuations. This is what happens to a mind on TV, it's not pretty, but kind of fun.

Best show I watched this week: Veronica Mars
Worst show I watched this week: Medium

Sunday 11/20.

• King of the Hill (Fox 7:30). The Hills discover that Arlen was founded as a town of prostitutes. The Council decides to play up that aspect, with disastrous results. Not horrible, but I don't know why I bothered to watch. **
• The Simpsons (Fox 8pm). Homer gets all hyped up for his Father's Day gifts (episode seems to be oddly timed?), and ends up alienating Lisa. He tries to win her back by becoming the Safety Salamander and running for Mayor. Yawn. **
• The War at Home (Fox 8:30). Why must it be so easy to tape this with the rest of the Fox stuff I watch? This week the daughter and her friend get drunk, get yelled at by parental units, and parental units reveal their hypocritical ways. Meanwhile, the son breaks up with his fat girlfriend and the young son shoots a pigeon. *
• Family Guy (Fox 9pm). Peter tries to connect with Stewie, and in doing so goes on an escalating rampage against Lois, culminating with dumping her in the lake. Meanwhile, Chris is pressed into service, helping the creepy old guy do yard work. Not among their best, but still funny. ***
• American Dad (Fox 9:30). Stan tries to convince his daughter that guns are good, and the journey takes them to both sides of the issue, especially after Stan is paralyzed by a gunshot. Roger makes Steve believe that he is adopted. Not too shabby. ***
• Desperate Housewives (ABC 9pm). One of Carlos' prison buddies is released and sent to help Gaby grieve the loss of her child. That buddy is played with great sentiment by Danny Trejo. The Scavo's try to teach the twins about not talking to strangers. Bree doesn't want to be seen with an engagement ring, and Caleb is finally captured. Not bad, but this season does not have the spark that season 1 did. ***
• Grey's Anatomy (ABC 10pm). Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of year, especially for the dysfunctional. Izzie is having a rough time making the turkey, Cristina and Burke arrive to make it a little more awkward, until Burke shows he can cook. Cristina bails looking for booze. George is taken on a hunt t by his family to kill a turkey, and Alex, Meredith, and Derek try to stay in the hospital. Everyone ends up at the hospital, proving their lack of out of workplace social skills. Not much story wise, but a fun episode for the holidays. ***

Monday 11/21.

• WWE: Monday Night Raw (USA 9pm). ***
• Surface (NBC 8pm). Miles mourns Nimrod, and ends up finding a whole herd of the little critters after a fisherman turns up dead, with Nim as the prime suspect. Meanwhile, the submersible has sunk to the sea floor and the occupants frantically try to find a way to get to the surface. My thoughts on this series are growing mixed. Some of it is interesting, but it often feels to lightweight to be all that worthwhile. **.5
• Las Vegas (NBC 9pm). Guilty pleasure alert. This week has Sam enlisting Delinda in the hopes of obtaining the black book from a deceased host. Danny is trying to fill Ed's shoes and fend off the demands of Monica. The con in the casino is a Rain Man like savant counting cards at the behest of a casino-worker. The twist has Danny calling Dean Cain to try a takeover of the Monticito. The show ends with Monica confronting Danny and getting literally blown off the roof of the building. ***
• Prison Break (Fox 9pm). The escape looms ever closer and dissension grows within the little group. Events on the outside bring Westmoreland and T Bag to a confrontation from which someone may not survive. Questions loom over Michael and what information he gives to whom. Lincoln then gets tossed in the show, placing the whole plan in jeopardy. Also a new inmate is recruited to spy on Schofield. ***.5
• Medium (NBC 10pm). I gave up on this awhile back, but was lured back by the promise of 3-D. Red/Blue anaglyph 3-D sucks, period. It opens with a Rod Serling act-alike telling of the 3-D gimmick. It was as dull as ever, I almost turned it off more than once. It was some story about an artist accused of murder, who is a trust fund baby with a father who may be involved in an older murder. The 3-D comes in whenever she looks at one of his paintings and has a vision. Yawn. *

Tuesday 11/22.

• Bones (Fox 8pm). A case from Booth's past is back. A man about to be executed has a lawyer who believes he may be innocent. Booth and Bones investigate, despite Booth not wanting to. As the investigation moves on, evidence is reevaluated and more murders are discovered. Good for the characters, if not the mystery. ***
• House (Fox 9pm). House is accosted on the streets by an AIDS patient begging him for help. House, of course, has no interest. Soon enough, they are at the hospital, they also find that he is not dying of the AIDS, but something else is killing him. While trying to work on it, House is also trying to win back his ex, which is not going too well. House is full of his sarcastic quips and there is some extracurriculars between Chase and Cameron. This series is consistently entertaining. ***
• My Name is Earl (NBC 9pm). This begins with Earl being beaten down by the handicapable boyfriend of his one legged former girlfriend. From there it moves to him trying to reconnect with his father, guest star Beau Bridges, and getting him to run for Mayor. Of course nothing goes as it should. This series keeps chugging along keeping the laughs coming. ***.5
• The Office (NBC 9:30). This starts when the Arab descended IT guy arrives and Michael thinks he's a terrorist. From there it moves to Michael spying on email and finding that Jim is having a party that he wasn't invited to. Jim tricks Dwight into coming, to prove to his roommate that he exists. Then Michael crashes. Great stuff. ****
• Supernatural (WB 9pm). The brothers head off on a job, a haunted asylum. A teenage couple decide to check out if the hauntings are true and are faced with more than they bargained for. Ghosts appear and seem to attack them. Sam and Dean off to the rescue, figuring out that the ghosts are trying to convey a message. The doctor was experimenting on them and they revolted. They find the doc's remains and end the horror. The show ends with Sam getting a call from Dad. I like this series. ***
• Law & Order: SVU (NBC 10pm). A teenage girl goes to NY for an abortion, but ends up getting beaten within an inch of her life and losing the baby, the father being the key suspect. As the evidence unfolds, the girl becomes the primary suspect. This was good, but not one of their better episodes. **.5
• Threshold (CBS 10pm). Debuting in it's new time slot, this show also has guest star Elizabeth Berkeley (Showgirls, Saved by the Bell) as the latest infectee. The episode revolves around the team trying to track her down. The problem is that she is the wife of one of the President's best friends. The intrigue continues.

Wednesday 11/23.

• Lost (ABC 9pm). The two halves finally meet, but it isn't without some problems. Sayid is tied to a tree after trying to attack Analucia for the shooting of Shannon. Jack and Kate are hitting some golf balls. Echo arrives with he injured Sawyer, whom Jack promptly saves, using items from the hatch. The flashbacks give some insight into Analucia and her past as a police officer. Ana and Sayid come to reluctant terms, and the people are all reunited. ***
• Invasion (ABC 10pm). The swamp is found to have been poisoned, so they bring in a dead alligator to dissect. Meanwhile, the secret meetings at the church are crashed, trying to find out what it is that is so different about them. This was a decent show, but I keep waiting for something really big to happen. ***
• Veronica Mars (UPN 9pm). The mysteries continue. Veronica finds herself in a bind while investigating a plastic surgeon, only to be saved by non other than Logan. Keith Mars is looking to find who is planting toy school buses at a guys house, and finds that the message may be meant for him. This is one of the best shows few are watching. ***.5

Thursday 11/24.

• Everybody Hates Chris (UPN 8pm). Chris sneaks over to a friends house, and ends up causing a rift between their respective fathers due to his being late. Meanwhile, Tanya keeps wondering where he is so she would have someone to blame her misdeeds on. This is a very funny series. ***.5
• CSI (CBS 9pm). A man is found dead, in a dumpster outside of a restaurant. It appears that he had eaten himself to death. The investigation leads them to some competitive eating contests. They end up with the dead guy's sister's boyfriend, who the guy had escaped from. Turns out, he has a rare disorder where he is always hungry. Not a deep episode, but kind of fun. ***

Friday 11/25.

• Ghost Whisperer (CBS 8pm). A dead bride is dead set on stopping her husband from taking a new bride. It is up to Melinda to find a way to bring peace to the upcoming nuptials. Will she be able to? Ask a silly question, of course she will! This was fun from the lightweight show. ***
• WWE: Friday Night Smackdown (UPN 8pm). Decent final build up to Survivor Series, especially the Booker T v Chris Benoit match, and a pretty good diva match. ***

Saturday 11/26.

• Sci-Fi Originals: Manticore (9pm). What would a war be like if we added a mythical creature? That was the spark that spawned this. Granted, it is better than the average Original, but it is nowhere near the tops of their debuts, like Cube or Dog Soldiers. Eh. **
• TNA: Impact (Spike 11pm). Features a good promo with Raven, who will be on next week's episode. BG James comes out with 3 Live Kru to make a bid for a fourth member, Kip James, and wins. There is also a challenge laid out by Christian Cage to Monty Brown. There was also a very good match between AJ Styles and Chris Sabin. ***.5

To be dropped from the "To Watch" list:

Shows on the bubble:

That is all for this week.

Box Office Update for 11/23-11/27: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Welcome back! I hope you all saw plenty of movies over your Thanksgiving weekend. This week's update is for the entire 5 day holiday. Read on, my faithful!

This week's champ is, once again, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. It has taken in over $200 million in its first 10 days of release, and over $410 million if you count the worldwide receipts. It is fast making it's way up the yearly and all-time box office charts.

I think it would be safe to say that the Potter franchise is not showing any signs of slowing. In fact, it appears that it be alive and well for awhile, as this latest entry keeps raking in the money, in contrast to the last one The Prisoner of Azkaban. I guess something can be said for the time of year that Potter gets released, the last one was in June, while the other three were all right around Thanksgiving. It seems that fantasy films are well suited to the Fall holiday season. With the success of the Potters, and Lord of the Rings, and the potential for Chronicles of Narnia and King Kong, I think that fantasy's Fall slot is pretty much solidified.

Coming in second place once again is the Johnny Cash biopic, Walk the Line. A very good film which is relies heavily on the first rate performances from its two leads. I think the movie is good, but Phoenix and Witherspoon are so good that it makes the film better than it really is. If you like Cash, or are even remotely interested, see it.

This week featured 5 new entries. The highest ranked of the new entries is the Randy Quaid/Rene Russo family comedy, Yours, Mine and Ours. I, personally have no interest in seeing this. It looks like a new take on the Brady Bunch story, and it just does not look all that entertaining. However, it does seem to be a harmless film that the whole family could go to. Coming in right behind that is the new musical, Rent. It had a decent take, but I have not heard anything that is overwhelmingly positive for it, but for some reason I still feel a slight interest in seeing it.

Next up on the new entry list is the comedy Just Friends, starring Ryan Reynolds, Amy Smart, and Anna Faris. I saw this one, and in no way can I defend it as a good movie, but I cannot lie as I had a blast watching it. It is a goofy, silly comedy that lacks in logic and believability for most of it's runtime. What it does have going for it is the comedic timing that Reynolds possesses, the manic personality that Faris seems to capture so well, and that girl next door sweetness of Amy Smart. For those three things I enjoyed the heck out of this movie.

Rounding out the top ten, and the new entries are In the Mix and The Ice Harvest. I have zero interest in the former, but the latter is very good. The latest Harold Ramis film is a fun dark comedy, I was reminded a bit of Fargo and Bad Santa. I think those two are better than this one, but this is not without its charms. Oliver Platt is a scene stealing drunk, oblivious to the real deal, and Cusack is the droll lawyer character who gets increasingly paranoid. Good movie, hopefully more people will get out and see it.

Pride and Prejudice made a move after going wide, it went from 10th to 6th place and more than tripled the previous weekend's take. Also, still pulling in decent crowds was Chicken Little, although I think that it will start dropping quickly, as most interested have probably already seen it.

I took a quick look at the 3 day weekend grosses, and all of the films fell in the same place, the only difference being the amounts. Also, with 5 new entries, a number of films got bumped out of the top 10. The bumped films include the delightful Zathura, which should do well on DVD, Jarhead, not enough cheer for the holidays, and Saw II, a little too much sadism for those who want to be cheered up at the movies, I guess.

That's all until next week, where the only new wide release is Aeon Flux.

This Week	Last Week	Title	Wknd Gross	Overall	Week in release
1	1	Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire	$81,266,683	$201,010,207	2
2	1	Walk the Line	$26,886,244	$54,008,042	2
3	N	Yours, Mine, and Ours	$24,321,341	$24,321,341	1
4	N	Rent	$17,138,943	$17,138,943	1
5	3	Chicken Little	$16,894,780	$118,398,441	4
6	N	Just Friends	$13,243,107	$13,243,107	1
7	10	Pride and Prejudice	$9,509,849	$16,032,282	3
8	4	Derailed	$6,258,566	$29,307,115	3
9	N	In the Mix	$6,138,207	$6,138,207	1
10	N	The Ice Harvest	$5,047,783	$5,047,783	1

DVD Pick of the Week for 11/29: Murderball

It didn't make as much of a splash at the box office as it should have, but all you who didn't see it can make up for it now. This week's pick is Murderball. It is a great documentary about a game that few people see, but more important than that, it is about the people who play the game.

Murderball is the name used for rugby played by quadriplegics. I wasn't sure I had read it correctly either when I first heard about it. I always had it stuck in my mind that a quadriplegic had no use of their four limbs, and I couldn't be more wrong. Apparently, it is a term used for anyone who has impairment of the limbs. Mobility can be affected to different degrees based on where the break in the neck is.

Anyway, this film follows the US and Canadian teams as they battle each other around the country and in the Para-Olympics. More than that we get insight into a few of the guys. We learn how they ended up in a chair, how they accept where they are, and how they have had better lives since their respective accidents.

It is a fantastic movie. After seeing it, I haven't looked at those bound to wheelchairs the same. I know that really doesn't sound right, but I do not have the words to properly explain myself. All I can say is, watch the movie, I have no doubt that you will love it too.

Other releases this week include:

• Family Guy, Volume 3. The triumphant return of the Griffin clan to primetime. This is the 14 episodes that comprised the 4th season.
• The Frighteners: Unrated Director's Cut. Finally, the full cut of Peter Jackson's inventive ghost story.
• The Great Muppet Caper: Kermit's 50th Anniversary Edition. The second Muppet adventure in a newly created transfer.
• Jurassic Park Adventure Pack. One low price for all three dino-movies. Just in time for the holidays.
• King King vs. Godzilla / King Kong Escapes. Here are the 2 Toho produced Kong films, in preparation for Peter Jackson's new film. Too bad the suit is so bad!
• March of the Penguins. A delightful documentary about the family life of the Emperor Penguin. A smash at the box office, and hopefully again on DVD.
• Mr. & Mrs. Smith. I believe a 2 disk version is in the works, but this is still a fun action adventure which really knows how to use its star power.
• The Mummy Collector's Set. The 3 Mummy related films in one fine gift pack.
• The Muppet Christmas Carol: Kermit's 50th Anniversary Edition. The Christmas classic, finally in its OAR.
• The Muppet Movie: Kermit's 50th Anniversary Edition. The first Muppet adventure remastered.
• Muppet Treasure Island: Kermit's 50th Anniversary Edition. One of my favorites.
• Sky High. Fun coming of age film set in the currently hot world of comic book superheroes.
• Tremors Attack Pack. The fun original and all the mediocre sequels, together for the first time.
• Zatoichi, The Blind Swordsman: Volume One. The first volume of the television series, based on the long running film series.

That is all for this week!

Wrestling Recap: WWE: Raw 11/28/05

Raw starts with Eric Bischoff coming down to the ring, clearly in a bad mood. This is the first show after Survivor Series, where the Raw team lost to Smackdown. He rambles on about putting the roster on notice, and calls all of them to the ring. Just as he is about to go to them, and fire the first person he sees, Vince McMahon's music hits and the boss comes out. Vince tells Eric that none of the wrestlers had to come down, and proceeds to dress down the GM. Eric has to accomplish a goal tonight, or he could be replaced. By who? Shane McMahon could become the new GM. Eric does not appear to be happy.

Commercial break.

Match one is Shawn Michaels taking on Carlito. Carlito starts off by slapping Michaels and spitting some apple in his face. He continues to control through the early part of the match. Lots of quick action leads through the middle. Carlito clotheslines Michaels to the outside, then hits a pescado on Michaels. Back into the ring, Carlito goes for the first pin, 2 count only. Michaels is being dominated. Carlito hits a crossbody off the ropes, Michaels rolls through for the pin, 2 count. Michaels hits a forearm, goes to nip up, but his knee buckles. Shawn is clearly in some pain; he rolls to the outside as the ref checks him. Carlito hits a baseball slide, but is chased off by the ref. It seems that Michaels may actually be hurt.

Commercial break.

Back to the match, it seems that Shawn is good to continue. Hopefully it is a good sell job. The two are trading blows in the middle of the ring. Michaels climbs the turnbuckles, but Carlito catches him. Michaels throws Carlito off and then hits a flying elbow. Shawn begins a painful tuning up of the band, but the knee gave and he could not hit the kick. Carlito goes for the pin, 2 only. Carlito goes for a suplex; Shawn slips off the back and crumples when trying the kick again. Carlito picks Shawn up, but he gets out and is able to hit Sweet Chin Music and gets the pin. After the match, Shawn was slow to get up, and may indeed be hurt.

Back in Bischoff's office an irate Kurt Angle, with Daivari in tow, comes in upset over his loss to Cena at Survivor Series. It seems Smackdown's Boogeyman had something to do with his loss.

Commercial break.

Back to the show, we are treated to a video package of the Raw vs. Smackdown Survivor Series match. This is used to hype the Big Show vs. Rey Mysterio match on the special live Smackdown on Tuesday night. Next was a video package of the Last Man Standing match between Triple H and Ric Flair. It was comprised of stills showing highlights from the weapon filled, bloody match.

Maria goes to Eric's office to ask him about his potential firing. Of course, Eric isn't happy about the question, which Maria said came from Shane McMahon. In response to this, Eric puts her in a match with Kurt Angle, and kicks her out of the office.

Commercial break.

Raw returns with Maria standing nervously in the ring. Daivari's music hits and he comes down to referee the "match". This starts a fight between Daivari and the ref that was already in the ring. Daivari then beats down ref Jack Patton and throws him out of the ring. Kurt Angle finally makes his way to the ring; complete with the "You Suck!" chants being censored. Maria is cowering in a corner. Kurt tries to calm he down, asks for a hug instead of a match. It was a trap; Kurt hits the Angle Slam and is about to go for an Ankle Lock when John Cena comes to the rescue. Quickly after that, Chris Masters comes out and locks in the Masterlock while Kurt beats on him. Eric Bischoff then comes out and announces a no DQ, no count out, triple threat submission match between John Cena, Kurt Angle, and Chris Masters.

Commercial break.

Next is a recap of what had just transpired prior to the commercial break. This accompanied by the wonder of Cena's chances. Has he ever used a submission?

The third match is a Diva tag pitting Trish Stratus, Mickey James, and Ashley against Candice Michelle, Victoria, and Torrie Wilson. Torrie and Mickey start, with Mickey controlling. Ashley gets a quick tag. Torrie who tags in Candice quickly takes her down. Candice gets a quick tag to Victoria, who controls Ashley. She hits a suplex and gets a 2 count. Ashley gets away from Victoria and gets a tag to Mickey who takes control of Victoria, hitting punches and a flying forearm, followed by some kicks. She goes to pin, but Candice comes for the save and gets kicked out of the ring. Victoria momentarily gets control, but Mickey gets it back and hits the Stratusfaction for the pin while Trish keeps Candice away. The trio celebrates the win.

Commercial break.

Eric finishes up an angry phone call, and then has Shane come in checking on a status. Shane seems very confident. Eric then calls Shane a member of the Lucky Sperm Club. Shane gets just a little upset, puts Bischoff against the wall.

In the locker room, Daivari helps Angle get prepared for the submission match. Masters then enters, not terribly happy of Daivari potentially screwing him out of the title, so he went to Vince and got a new referee for the match.

Commercial break.

Now we have Shelton Benjamin taking on Trevor Murdoch. Shelton wastes no time, laying in a number of punches, then hits a clothesline from the top rope to the outside. Back in the ring, Murdoch gains control, laying in the kicks. Murdoch gets the first pin attempt, 2 only. He then hits a body slam, but misses an elbow. Benjamin is back in control, hitting a back body drop. Shelton then hits a Dragon Whip, followed by a 2-count pin. Shelton up to the ropes and misses, followed by Murdoch hitting something like a Downward Spiral, but can't get the pin. Benjamin misses off the ropes again, Murdoch is in control. Murdoch gets Benjamin down, grabs the tights and gets the 3.

We then watch as Triple H walks the halls of the back.

Commercial break.

Triple H enters the arena and makes his way to the ring. He gets a mic and continues to talk about how he destroyed Ric Flair at Survivor Series. He tells Flair to stay home; nobody wants him back in the ring. He says he was the only one with the guts to do what needed to be done. During his speech, Big Show interrupts him. Show gets a mic and proceeds to call Hunter a piece of Sh!t. He says he doesn't need a sledgehammer to do his dirty work. He tells him that his time has come.

Commercial break.

Back right into a match. The tag champs; Big Show and Kane are taking on Tyson Tomko and Snitsky. Kane and Snitsky are in ring. Kane tags in Show who proceeds to clean house. He goes to pin Tomko, 2 only. Kane comes off the ropes and takes Snitsky out of the ring just prior to Big Show squashing Tomko with a choke slam. Quick match. Show and Kane celebrate in the ring.

Commercial break.

It is time for the triple threat submission match. Kurt Angle is already in the ring, when Chris Masters begins his entrance. Cena then made his presence known, to a mixed reaction from the crowd. He goes right after Masters, but is quickly overpowered by Masters and Angle who are working as a team. Angle turns on Masters, leaving him alone with Cena. The two trade blows, but before long Angle quickly locks in the Ankle Lock. Masters comes from behind and locks the Masterlock in on Angle. Cena comes in to break up the submission; Masters then gives him a vertical standing suplex. Cena is then caught in the Masterlock. Cena is sinking fast, but then Angle returns to the ring, saving Cena. Angle starts pounding on Masters, Angle escapes the Masterlock and locks in the Ankle Lock. Cena comes off the ropes taking down Angle, and then hits a series of clothesline, then his version of a powerbomb. Masters then hits Cena with a clothesline, and then lays in some boots. Angle takes the straps down and gets a chair, which Cena kicks into Kurt’s face. Cena gets the chair and lays out Masters. Cena then puts Masters in a STF, Masters taps. John Cena retains, but he doesn't look happy.

The McMahon’s are in the back talking about taking out the trash.

Back to the ring, Cena is celebrating up the ramp as Angle shouts at him from the ring. We then get a replay of the finish. I liked how Cena locked in that STF.

Cena leaves the arena and the show ends.

TV News: Threshold Canceled

The cancellations just keep coming! This one has me upset, as I think that it was the best of the three new alien shows this season, the other two being Invasion and Surface. So far 9 episodes have aired and there is no word yet as to how many were produced or how many more will air.

The show had a great cast featuring Carla Gugino (who was also in the short shifted Karen Sisco), Charles S. Dutton, Brent Spiner (Star Trek: TNG), Peter Dinklage (The Station Agent, Elf), and Brian Van Holt. Plus, they had just signed Jag's Catherine Bell for a recurring role. The writing was very good, very X-Files-like without being a rip off of that series.

Threshold deals with an alien signal which was received by a freight ship in the Pacific. The signal's purpose was to change the genetic structure of the Earth, first affecting people. Those infected by the signal are then driven to continue spreading the signal, changing more and more people along the way. A group of scientists, headed by Gugino's Molly Caffrey. Some of this group have also had a slight dose of the signal, but have not showed any effects, other than having dreams of a glass forest. The team is working towards stopping the spread, first by tracking down all of the crew members from that initial infection.

This series had a lot going for it, in my opinion. The plotting is very good, it is intricate and holds together, it does a good job of keeping you guessing as to what is going to happen next. On top of that, the characters were being well developed. They have great interaction with each other which not only moves the plot forward, but also helps to form who these characters are. The series has a sense of fun, but it is also full of suspense and intrigue.

The show aired on Friday nights between Ghost Whisperer and Numb3rs. In that slot it pulled in mediocre ratings, showing itself to be the weakest of the line up. This past week it was moved to Tuesdays at 10pm. Apparently, the move resulted in even fewer viewers, which I think is due, at least in part, to the move being poorly advertised.

This announcement came hot in the heels of Alias' cancellation. Two shows for which I always made sure to tune in. At least with the former we got a 5 seasons, it does not appear that Threshold will even have one. Perhaps we will get a DVD release as a consolation prize?

TV News: Alias Canceled

It was announced a few days ago that the spy action series, Alias, was canceled. It will be finishing out its 5th season, but once the last scene is shot it will be all over. That is a real shame.

This season has not been kind to the show, as it has seen its ratings take a steep dive. Although it has not been specifically stated, I am sure this had something to do with the cancellation. Something that should be noted, however, is that the series garnered its highest ratings during season 4, where it followed Lost. It was moved to a very crowded time slot, going against the also recently moved WB hit Smallville, and the CBS powerhouse Survivor. I have to say that this was probably a poor decision.

The show has been on hiatus for the past couple of weeks, but next week it slips back into last years post-Lost time slot while Invasion takes a break. After a few weeks there, it will go on hiatus, presumably for Jennifer Garner to have her baby. Who knows where they will put it when it returns.

I can't help but wonder what the real reasons were behind the cancellation. Perhaps they just did not like the show anymore and put it in that Thursday time slot as a way of killing it, give them a reason to end it.

Alias has been consistently entertaining, crafting crazy over the top stories populated with interesting characters. It has consistently been nominated over the years for numerous Emmy Awards. Among the nominations are 4 for Jennifer Garner, 3 for Victor Garber, 1 for Lena Olin, plus numerous others in technical and writing categories. That doesn't even get to its Golden Globe nominations and other Guild awards.

I am sad to see it go, but at the same time, it did get a good 5 year run. That's more than some shows I like get. So, while I would have liked to see it go on longer, I will be happy to have gotten what I did get.

Everyone, be sure to watch the rest of the season, and enjoy it while you can!

Concert Review: Twisted Sister w/ Yngwie Malmsteen, Sebastian Bach, Lynch Mob

The date, 11/26/05, the time, approximately 7:00pm, the place, the Mid-Hudson Civic Center. The start of a night of old school, rock and role debauchery. Or so everyone there hoped. The end result of the night was a bit of a mixed bag.

Twisted Sister was actually supposed to play here way back in July, as a part of WASP's "American Metal Blast" tour. They had to cancel, which, apparently, ticked off a lot of fans. I still went to that WASP show, and had a great time. Dee and the boys quickly rescheduled their visit, and I waited with eager anticipation. It seems the fans may have won out, getting the opportunity to see these other three acts on the same bill. On to the show!

It was about 7:25 when out opening act took to the stage. The opening chords of "Unchain the Night" introduced us to Lynch Mob, led by the former Dokken guitar maestro, George Lynch. That was followed by "Into the Fire." In addition to Lynch's masterful guitar, he brought along a special guest with him, drummer Vinny Appice (Derringer, Black Sabbath, Dio). I really wanted to like the performance, but the mix was doing all that it could to prevent that from happening. George's guitar was too low, Marten Andersson's bass was nearly non-existent, and the singer's (whose name I did not catch) mic was overdone to the point of distortion. As the set wore on, the mix gradually improved, the only constant was the sound of Appice's drums, they always sounded great! Lynch was on point, working his magic on the fretboard. I have seen Lynch Mob a few times, and while this was good, it was not the best performance I have seen from them. They played for about 40 minutes, closing with Lynch's signature instrumental, "Mr. Scary" followed with "Tooth and Nail".

In between sets, we returned to the lobby to grab a bite to eat and check out the merchandise. They were selling the usual array of CD's and t=shits, at prices that can only be considered extreme. There were also items like Vinny Appice's drumsticks, Yngwie Malmsteen guitar picks, a George Lynch poster of him with his many guitars, and a Twisted Sister thong. Surprisingly, there didn't seem to be an Sebastian Bach items.

We returned inside, just as they were finishing setting the stage for Sebastian Bach. Tonight's Bach performance also featured a special guest, Wolf Hoffman from the German metal act Accept. I was never a big Accept fan, but they had some classic tracks in the 80's. The lights came up and they tore right into "Slaves to the Grind" followed with an earlier Skid Row track, "Big Guns". Sebastian Bach has got to be one of the best frontmen working today. Besides having a great voice, he is an absolute cluster of energy. He roams the stage like a caged beast, never letting his voice falter, and when he isn't singing, his mic is being swung around his head. Bach and crew even had a surprise for us, while playing "Monkey Business" they stopped and broke into a cover the biggest song from Hoffman's Accept, "Balls to the Wall", before finishing back into "Monkey Business". Sebastian kept his crowd interaction to a minimum, saying he wanted to play as much as he could due to a mere 40 minute stage time, which actually went over, playing about 45. Their set concluded with "Youth Gone Wild". He left the crowd wanting more. Sadly, their performance was plagued by some of the same sound issues that hurt Lynch Mob, volume and distortion first among them.
Here is a near complete set list:
1. Slave to the Grind
2. Big Guns
3. Here I Am
4. The Threat
5. 18 and Life
6. Monkey Business...
7. ...Balls to the Wall...
6. ...Monkey Business (cont.)
8. I Remember You
9. Youth Gone Wild

Bach's banner was taken down, drum kits were switched, and keyboards were set up, and the wall of Marshal's were turned on. That could only mean one thing, Yngwie Malmsteen's appearance was imminent. Once again, the lights went down, and when they were brought up Malmsteen was front and center beginning his shredding in front of a trio of smoke pillars. Yngwie is a player who I have always recognized as being a first rate player, but I never followed him all that closely. Because of my deficiency in Malmsteen history, I am unable to name any of his songs, nor have been able to locate a set list for this show. However, what I did witness, for the second time, was Malmsteen's impressive skill with the ax. I would have to say that my biggest problem with Yngwie is that his music becomes a bit repetitive and boring to me. That isn't to say that I was any less enthralled with his live performance. Yngwie just tore it up, his blazing speed and technical accuracy, combined with his flamboyant stage presence is something to behold. Yngwie is constantly swinging his guitar around, or playing it over his head, plus kicking his pointy boots in the air. He is a first rate showman straight out of the 80's, not letting the times affect his style. The near hour long set was mostly solo pieces played by the maestro. He played like there was no tomorrow. The mix was the best so far, everything was loud and clear. The final solo segment culminated with Yngwie ripping the strings off his guitar, while playing it with near every body part, then kneeling down in prayer to the guitar gods and threw his guitar back over his head to a waiting roadie. The set came to a close with the one song I do recognize, "Far Beyond the Sun". Great set.

Finally, the moment that everyone had been waiting 4 months for. The time was drawing close for Twisted Sister to take the stage. The PA system was playing AC/DC, lyrics familiar to all, "It's a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll!" We are all ready, ready to have our heads rocked. The lights went up and Dee and the boys were playing "What You Don't Know" whole the crowd went crazy. You never would have been able to tell it was not sold out by the noise being generated by the crowd. Song 2 was "The Kids Are Back", and while they were playing well, trouble was afoot. There was a popping sound emanating from the speakers, and it was getting worse. It turns out that it was being caused by Dee's microphone, they switched to the corded backup mic while they tried to correct the problem, this repeated for about 3 or 4 mic switches before the problem was corrected. That was an inexcusable problem, but after it was corrected, the rest of the set was pretty damn good. Watching Dee, you can see where guys like Bach got their inspiration. Dee owns a crowd, he can hold them in the palm of his hand and play them like marionettes. In between songs we learn that this is most played venue in Twisted Sister's career, a home away from home. The local radio station was one of the first in the US to put their music into rotation. The band was in full costume, and loving every minute. The set was peppered with a mix of the classics and lesser played cuts. Among the surprises was the Strangeland inspiring "Captain Howdy", "Don't Let Me Down", and "The Price". During "Burn in Hell" we were treated to a great drum solo from AJ Perro, can this guy play, or what? While the mix was pretty good, there were times when Mark Mendoza's bass was not that noticeable, and Jay Jay French and Eddie Ojeda's guitars were a little overblown. Overall, it was pretty good.

Set List:
1. What You Don't Know
2. The Kids are Back
3. Stay Hungry
4. Captain Howdy
5. Shoot 'em Down
6. You Can't Stop Rock and Roll
7. The Fire Still Burns
8. Knife in the Back
9. We're Not Gonna Take It
10. Don't Let Me Down
11. Burn in Hell (w/ drum solo)
12. The Price
13. I Wanna Rock
Encore
14. Under the Blade
15. SMF

While the bands all performed well, the night was marred by poor audio mixing. Granted, the Civic Center is not known for being a good place for sound. I guess I have been spoiled by the past few shows I have attended there which have sounded incredible. Among those acts are Billy Idol, Ill Nino, Disturbed, Anthrax, and Judas Priest. I find the quality here to be poor and the problems inexcusable. It really brought the evening down a few pegs.

Still, I cannot deny that I had a great time. Seeing all of these guys together on the same stage was a blast. I have found the shows featuring older acts to be a lot more fun than those with just the current acts, but that is a column for another time.

The bottom line is that if you have an opportunity to see these guys live, any of them, do it! Just hope that your venue doesn't suffer from the audio problems I suffered through.

Soundtrack Review: Four Dead Batteries

Four Dead Batteries is a rather entertaining independent comedy that I reviewed recently. I'm back to take a look at what is a rather exceptional collection collection of western swing and jazz music. The music is supplied by The Hot Club of Cowtown and Whit Smith's Hot Jazz Caravan. A pair of bands with an rather tight connection.

I first experienced The Hot Club of Cowtown in August of 2004. They were the opening act for the Willie Nelson/Bob Dylan tour of minor league baseball stadiums. The performance was electrifying and charismatic, it was unlike anything I had heard before. It was a delightful concoction of country and jazz, performed by a trio of highly talented musicians. Since then, I had not been able to track down any of their music locally, and then this soundtrack landed on my doorstep. I was looking forward to listening to it after enjoying what I heard in the film.

Two musicians appear on the entire album. It seems that The Hot Club of Cowtown broke up last year and guitarist Whit Smith founded Whit Smith's Hot Jazz Caravan with Cowtown bass player Jake Erwin. This soundtrack features the first recordings of the newer group. All of the music supplied here is fantastic.

The album primarily features Cowtown tracks, with the Caravan sprinkled liberally throughout. This is a wonderful soundtrack to put on and sit back with some friends and a bottle of wine. It lays down a jazzy groove that isn't overpowering, yet doesn't fall into repetitive elevator music. All of the musicians demonstrate just who good they are at their respective instruments, all coming together to create an aural tapestry that is simply captivating.

There is a split between instrumental tracks and those with vocal accompaniment. Whichever route they take, it is still a great ride. The collection transcends the film that spawned the soundtrack, meaning that you don't have to be a fan of the film, or even know about it, in order to get a lot out of the music presented here.

The songs are a mix of traditional jazz, covers with new arrangements, and originals. I cannot go through and pick out favorites as this is an album that must be taken as a whole. Jazz inflected with western stylings is a wonderful sound. I cannot say how unique this is, but it is a new sound to me, and this metalhead is impressed.

Bottomline. The combination of acoustic guitar, standing bass, and violin on the Cowtown tracks, and the addition clarinet and saxophone on the Caravan tracks is music to my ears. It is upbeat, playful, and energetic. It is guaranteed to get you foot tapping, your head bobbing, and your spirit lifted.

Highly Recommended.