Samcro Is Back For More

Another of my favorite new shows the last few years is Sons of Anarchy on FX network. It's back for a 3rd season on Tue., Sept. 7th and here's a sweet little sneak peek. It's only a minute long but it's sure a glorious minute. And oh yes Virginia, there will be violence.

Say You'll Haunt Me

Stone Sour return with the first single from their third album "Audio Secrecy". This is "Say You'll Haunt Me" directed by Paul Brown. "Audio Secrecy" hits stores on September 7th on Roadrunner Records. If it's anything like their first 2 CDs, I'm ready to be blown away.


Corey Taylor: "Audio Secrecy is the summation of everything we want, everything we crave and everything we fight for...The dimensions go further than anything we've ever tried before. It's metal, rock, slow, soft, hard, fast, bitter, beautiful and most importantly, it's real... We're throwing caution out the damn window."

Hump Day Funnies

Murderdolls Bring The Awesome

Murderdolls are back! They've got a new CD coming out Aug. 30th called "Women and Children Last" and here's a new video for the first single "My Dark Place Alone", their first single in like 8 years or so. Joey Jordison and Wednesday 13 play pretty much everything on the CD, but I think Roman Surman plays lead guitar on this track. Mick Mars (Motley Crue) plays on a couple of tracks on the new CD as well.

Book Review: Elvis and Me

Elvis and Me
by Priscilla Presley w/Sandra Harmon

Synopsis: Priscilla Presley, the woman whom Elvis decided to marry when she was an innocent fourteen-year-old girl, writes candidly about their twelve years together. She talks about Elvis the husband and father, his drug-wracked decline and death.

Oh you know I loves me some Elvis. But believe it or not... I'd never read this book. Sue me. So now I have and I enjoyed it quite a bit. Oh it's not perfect as I felt like very often the side of the story I got from Priscilla was what she wanted to believe or at least wants us to believe, moreso than the truth. Elvis isn't here to defend himself or his actions, which frankly quite often make him look like a controlling, manipulative, arrogant pig. Which, maybe he was at times, but she admits to a couple of affairs herself but almost seems to slant them to where they were the fault of Elvis, pushing her into them. She seems to always come out the victim here. She really degrades Elvis a lot and doesn't paint the prettiest picture of him. But hey, I expect that sort of thing with a book like this. Just like when a couple of friends get divorced, you have to read between the lines and always know there are 2 sides to the story. Here's one side of it.

But a lot of the other aspects of the book are great for an Elvis fan like me. You get a real good behind the scenes look at Graceland and what it was like to hang out there with Elvis' family and posse. She talks a bit about how he felt about his music and movie career during the time she was around. Obviously you get a lot of info about what it was like to be caught up in the whirlwind of fame of being married to the King of Rock N Roll. All of these things really made the book worth reading for me.

So for a fan of the King, I think you have to read this book. But you also have to read between the lines. It's very entertaining and interesting, but it's not hard to see why so many of his fans really dislike Priscilla to this day. I say for a full picture of the man, read various opinions and form your own. This is one piece to the puzzle.

7/10

Clash of the Repo Men

Quite a few goodies on the release list week. Let's hold hands and skip through it together, shall we? And look, I've included links to the entire CDs on a couple because that's what I am. A giver. Now spend that cash or the terrorists win!

* Clash of the Titans DVD (action/fantasy with Sam Worthington)

* Repo Men DVD (sci-fi/action/thriller with Jude Law and Forrest Whitaker)

* Avenged Sevenfold ~ "Nightmare" CD (see blog here)

* Evans Blue ~ "Evans Blue" CD (stream entire CD here)

* 36 Crazyfists ~ "Collisions and Castaways" CD (stream entire CD here)

* Eric Gales ~ "Relentless"

If you don't know who Eric Gales is, you must not be from the Memphis area (and I sort of feel sorry for you). I'll help you out a little. Here's Eric playing "VooDoo Chile" live in Memphis at BB Kings back on 3-28-2010.

Movie Review: Beyond The Lighted Stage

Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage

Synopsis: An in-depth look at the Canadian rock band Rush, chronicling the band's musical evolution from their progressive rock sound of the '70s to their current heavy rock style.

When I read that the directors for this rockumentary were Sam Dunn and Scot McFadyen, the makers of the excellent Metal: A Headbanger's Journey, I had faith that it would be a solid representation of Rush's career... and I was right. It's pretty much a well done Behind The Music episode on steroids.

They start with the roots of the band, as these things do, and it's loaded with old photos and even home videos of the members of the band as youngsters. It progresses from the early days of the band (playing church halls) through finally getting their record deal (thanks to the song Working Man), subsequent tours and goes album by album right up until current day tours.

One of the things I like best is all the interviews with other rockers who give praise and claim influence. Guys like Jack Black (Tenacious D), Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins), Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails), Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters), Kirk Hammett (Metallica) and Gene Simmons (KISS) give stories from tours with the band or just throw accolades their way. Jack Black seems an odd choice, but he gives one of the great line I think when he says they have a "deep reservoir of rocket sauce". Sebastian Bach gets a few quotes as well, and is one of the negatives I think. Who can take this guy serious and who really cares what he thinks?

Unlike a Behind The Music episode though, it never takes a turn into one of the band members descent into drugs really, but focuses mainly on the music. It does go over some details and events of Neil Peart's dark descent into seclusion after his wife and daughter's deaths but it emphasizes the final chapter of what it means for the guys to play music together.

Mostly though, the band discusses the progression of their music from the early heavy sound through the epic extended song era and debates over the keyboard era. There are a lot of insightful tidbits that made me go back and dig out the CDs and listen anew all over again.

There's also some great concert footage as you would expect, but not full songs. That's a bit sad as I'd love to see a documentary like this add about an hour and show full live songs and videos... but then again it'd be closer to 4 or 5 hours if they did so correctly I guess (see KISS' Kisstory DVDs for the proper way to do this).

This is a fantastic, well-written/produced/directed documentary on 3 great musicians called Rush which is a great intro for future fans and a great retrospective for current ones.

8.5/10

Angry Red Women

Here's Rob Zombie's new live video for his song "Mars Needs Women" from Hellbilly Deluxe 2. If you wonder just what the hell he's talking about in this tune, check out the old 1968 sci-fi movie classic of the same name if you can find it.

Deliverance is Soilwork's

Here's a pretty cool video from Swedish metallers Soilwork for their song "Deliverance is Mine" from their new CD "The Panic Broadcast".


SOILWORK - Deliverance Is Mine

SOILWORK | MySpace Music Videos

Neil Marshall At It Again

The new Centurion movie trailer is out and posted below. The main reason I'm looking so forward to this is that it's written and directed by one of my favorite directors, Neil Marshall. He's responsible for one of my favorite horror movies of the last decade, The Descent, and also a couple of other films I really like, Dog Soldiers and Doomsday. If those movies and this trailer are any indication, this ought to be another bloody good time.

Centurion is set during the war between Roman soldiers and Pict tribesmen during the 2nd century Roman conquest of Britain. Michael Fassbender stars as Quintus Dias, Roman centurion and son of a legendary gladiator who leads a group of soldiers on a raid of a Pict camp to rescue a captured general (Dominic West). The son of the Pict leader is murdered during the raid, and the Romans find themselves hunted by a seemingly unstoppable group of the Pict's most vicious and skilled warriors, led by a beautiful and deadly tracker (Olga Kurylenko), and hell bent on revenge.

Centurion trailer courtesy Magnet Releasing.

Sunday Funnies

Movie Review: Gasland

Synopsis: It is happening all across America... rural landowners wake up one day to find a lucrative offer from an energy company wanting to lease their property. Reason? The company hopes to tap into a reservoir dubbed the "Saudi Arabia of natural gas." Halliburton developed a way to get the gas out of the ground, a hydraulic drilling process called "fracking" and suddenly America finds itself on the precipice of becoming an energy superpower.

A very informative and well done documentary that comes across as more of an expose' on the natural gas drilling industry. It's both shocking and sad and lacks the snarky sarcasm of other documentaries by people like Michael Moore and the ilk, yet it's in a similar style.

The filmmaker is from the same world as the people he interviews and there seems to be a connection with them that comes out as honesty. It's easy to sympathize with them due to the circumstances many find themselves in.

My only problem with the film might be that it really only tells one side of the story... assuming there actually is another side. I mean, it's pretty hard to deny an issue when people are actually SETTING THEIR F'N TAP WATER ON FIRE. Yep, straight out of the faucet. Has nothing to do with the drilling though... right?

I hate to sound cliche', but everyone in America who uses natural gas should see this well-made, eye-opening documentary that raises a whole lot of questions that need answered.

8/10

New Dexter Promos

Comic-Con 2010 had a couple of new promos for what's still my favorite show on television, Dexter. Check out this good stuff for the upcoming Season 5 which premieres Sunday, September 26th on Showtime. I've got to warn you though, these have what some might consider a few spoilers in them. It looks like Dexter raises some eyebrows with how he handles Rita's death and the other cops start to question who he really is. It's definitely some of the same riveting television I'm come to expect from this series.

One of the tag lines says "Sins may be forgiven but conscience is a killer."

Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock - Rush 2112 Trailer

I love the Guitar Hero video game series and I love Rush, so this is a natural fit for me. The latest game in the series comes out September 28 and is called Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock and features Rush's 2112 album, which is the definitive Rush album if you don't know (or weren't around in 1976 and haven't heard since). The whole CD isn't on the same subject, so I stop short of calling it a concept album, but it features a 20 minute, seven-part suite which tells a dystopian story set in the year 2112. And oh yes, it's awesome.

Check out the teaser below. This'll be available for Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and the Wii.

Fight Night Tonight

Below is a nice little preview for tonight's fight card on Showtime, Strikeforce Challengers 9: Del Rosario vs. Mahe, from The Fight Network. I've been watching most of these challengers shows and a few of the fighters on this card have my interest. The main event is excellent and should be 2 big bulls locking up. Mahe weighed in at 264 lbs and Del Rosario was 244. The girl fights rarely disappoint also and I'm very interested to see Mike Kyle and Abongo hook it up too. Might be a pretty fun card.

Main Card:

* Shane Del Rosario vs. Lolohea Mahe
* Champ Sarah Kaufman vs. Roxanne Modafferi (for women's welterweight title)
* Abongo Humphrey vs. Mike Kyle
* Cory Devela vs. Bobby Voelker
* Thomas Diagne vs. Caros Fodor

Starz Is At It Again

Here we go again. The last Starz series I went ga-ga over was the awesome Spartacus: Blood And Sand, and while I patiently wait for a "prequel" they're shooting to that show and also the 2nd season, Starz is bringing out this 8-part mini series that I think looks pretty interesting. It's called The Pillars of the Earth and is based on Ken Follett's novel of the same name. From the looks of this trailer I think Starz is really throwing their hat in the same ring as HBO and Showtime with quality original programming. Check out the website, synopsis and trailer below. It starts tonight!

"This epic tale of passion and greed begins when a mysterious secret disrupts the succession to the English crown and an unlikely member of King Henry's family takes the throne. Based on the best selling novel by Ken Follett, now an 8-part mini series on Starz. Premieres Friday July 23rd at 10pm e/p on Starz."

Official Site

This Bear's For You

There's a great story over at the Arkansas Times website and also in their printed issue about Arkansas' own Diamond Bear brewery. Here's a teaser and link to the full story at the bottom:

Crafting Suds
Diamond Bear grows along with tastes for real beer.
by Sam Eifling

It's the end of a long day for Russ Melton, tire salesman. He enters his brewery, Diamond Bear, at Fourth and Cross streets still wearing his Michelin button-down and apologizing for being late — "spent 45 minutes with a guy on some silly tire questions" — but happy to talk beer, his hobby and obsession. This fall will mark a decade of brewing in this one-time car dealership where Melton, his wife, Sue, and three employees have built up Diamond Bear, Arkansas's largest stand-alone brewery, into a regional distributor and maker of award-winning craft beers.

Read the full article here

The End Of Jigsaw Is Near

They debuted the new teaser for Saw VII aka Saw 3D at Comic Con this past week and of course I've got it right here:


The 7th and supposedly final film in the Saw series is due out Oct 22nd and I've not seen a whole lot on the plot. Here's a synopsis off IMDB and it's about the extent of my knowledge on it:

"As a deadly battle rages over Jigsaw's brutal legacy, a group of Jigsaw survivors gathers to seek the support of self-help guru and fellow survivor Bobby Dagen, a man whose own dark secrets unleash a new wave of terror."

I can tell you that Bobby Dagen is played by Sean Patrick Flanery and also on the cast list is Cary Elwes, Tobin Bell (duh), Costas Mandylor and Betsy Russell (Jill). Kevin Greutert is back in the director's seat, as he was in Saw VI, which I think is the best Saw film in some time. I like all the Saw movies though and plan on my annual marathon the week before this one drops, as always.

There's a website parked at Saw3DMovie.com but there's not a whole lot there yet. I expect it to pick up now though.

Cody McCarver is America

This is the latest video from Confederate Railroad's Cody McCarver for his song "I'm America". I like this guy's "old school country" sound.

From his website:

While listening to Cody, you will hear a voice like no other. Sure, everyone picks up pieces along the way, but Cody has blended them into something unique, true to himself and his voice. Gospel, Classic country and Southern Rock are in his blood and can be heard in his songs.

The Return of The Rock?

Yes I realize that Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has been making plenty of movies but I'm not so sure I consider Tooth Fairy, Race to Witch Mountain and Get Smart the type of roles I'd like to see him in. In all fairness I never even saw the first 2 films I mentioned there, but again that's sort of the point. He's still probably good in those roles, I mean the camera loves the guy and I think he's got good comedic timing and charisma, it's just that I want to see The Rock again. I want to see somebody get punched out, a few things blown up and in summary... I want to smell what he's cookin.

So the new trailer for the film "Faster" is out, and I think I'm getting my wish. See for yourself:


Gone are the sissy tights, in their place is a bad ass muscle car and a gun. Steve Carell out, Billy Bob Thornton in. Here's the synopsis:

A stint in prison usually has one of two effects on a man -- it either breaks him down or makes him stronger. For Driver (Dwayne Johnson), a 10-year sentence proved the latter. His strength was not just fueled by time, but also by a hunger to avenge the murder of his brother during the botched bank robbery that led to his own imprisonment. Untouchable on the 'inside,' he made plenty of enemies in prison - men who were counting the days until his release so they could exact their own revenge on the outside. Now, on the day of his release, he is hell-bent on reaping vengeance upon the four men responsible for his brother's murder. With a list of names and addresses in hand, he sprints out of the prison gates and is immediately on his mission.

Faster is out November 24th. I'll be in line. Welcome back Rock.

Finally, A Robot With Real-World Uses

This is a video from the folks at Willow Garage, a company that aims "to lay the groundwork for the use of personal robotics applications in everyday life". Meet PR2:



Do I need one of these beer-fetching robots? Well, no. But I do want one. Sure it's only about 20 feet from my couch to the fridge but hey I might as well get my beer delivered in style and I usually have my laptop going anyway in the living room so a few clicks and I'm all set. Seems a bit slow, but I'd just order my beer a few swigs before the end of the last one. Problem solved.

As if that isn't enough awesomeness, they've also "taught" the PR2 to play pool.



I'd make my beer fetching, pool shooting 'bot sound like Rosie from The Jetsons I think. And maybe even wear the apron too.

Deathbed Atheist

Norma Jean have streamed the video for what I think is the best song on their new CD for the song “Deathbed Atheist”. If you don't own the new CD, "Meridional", then stop whatever you're doing and go buy it this moment.


Norma Jean - "Deathbed Atheist"

Norma Jean \ Normachine.com | MySpace Music Videos

Bury your hands in the sand.
You'll never use them on me again.

And I'm exhausted from shaking hands with your meat hook fingers.

Anniston Adopts

Jennifer Aniston Adopts 33-Year-Old Boyfriend From Africa

Daughtry Looks Back

Here's the third single from Daughtry's 2009 album Leave This Town for the song "September" and it's the song the CD takes it's name from. The video is a nice look back at some of the guys in the band growing up mixed with the band performing. Personally I love this track.

J-Woww Just For Guidos?

I've never watched 1 second of 1 episode of Jersey Shore, but I've seen the so-called "stars" all over the place (how could you not?). The only one I've even paid any attention to is Jenni Farley, AKA J-Woww. She's not a knockout in the looks department but she's cute enough and has a drop-dead body going for sure... wow indeed. Maxim did a photo-shoot with her and you can see enough of it here in this behind-the-scenes peek to know if you'll be picking up the issue. I will.

Pre-Emptive Use Of Hillary Clinton

U.S. Condemned For Pre-Emptive Use Of Hillary Clinton Against Pakistan

Avenged Sevenfold's Nightmare

Here's the video from Avenged Sevenfold for the song "Nightmare". The CD of the same name drops July 27th. They'll be co-headlining the first annual Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival with Distubed later this Summer. Also on the bill are Stone Sour, Halestorm and Hellyeah.

Sunday Funnies