Manhattan Digest

A Sequel May Not Be So ‘Wonderful’

Sixty-seven years after Clarence got his wings, a sequel has been confirmed to be in the works for Frank Capra’s classic 1946 Christmas movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

The original film, which centers around family man, and bank manager, George Bailey, who has given up on his dreams and tries to imagine what life in his small town of Bedford Falls would be like without him, has come to be regarded as a Christmas staple for millions around the world.

A news release from the film financier, Allen J. Schwalb, and his company, Star Partners, explains that “It’s a Wonderful Life: The Rest of the Story” will pick up with what happened to the Bailey family after the end of the original film, and is said to focus on George’s mean-spirited grandson.

Schwalb has financed many other films including “Rain Main,” “The Color Purple,” and “Thelma and Louise.”

The role of little Zuzu Bailey will continue to be played by actress, Karolyn Grimes. It is also rumored that there have been talks with other living cast members of the original to see if they would want to join the sequel.

It will be interesting to see if the film ever even takes off, as NBC controls the rights to “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and only airs the classic sparingly during the holidays.

For a film that is considered one of the most critically acclaimed of all time, many are understandably feeling that the creation of a sequel will be more like a lump of coal than a present under the tree. Only time will tell, though it remains difficult to imagine that a sequel will do such a classic film any justice.

Screenwriter for the sequel, Bob Farnsworth, seems to understand all of the uproar. “Look, no one can make another ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’ But our story is solid, and we are going in with our eyes open. There is no doubt about it, there will be a ruckus. But I have this motto: All it takes to be a leader is to have a cause you believe in. And the stronger you believe in the cause, the more adversaries you will have. We strongly believe in this.”

The film is projected to be released in time for the 2015 holiday season.

Almost Human Will Grow On You

by Michael Tyminski

Almost Human: Mondays at 8 Eastern on FOX

When I was growing up throughout the 1990’s, one of the more prevalent themes seen throughout pop culture was a generally futuristic vibe, whether it was cyberpunk (The Matrix), 21^st century what-ifs (the much mocked MLB “Turn ahead the clock” promotion), or a pretty large amount of sci-fi on your TV screens (Star Trek: TNG, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, Seaquest). However, as the new millennium progressed, many of these things dropped like flies from pop culture consciousness. Fox is banking on the notion that what’s old pretending to be new will be new again by dipping back into that well with it’s newest big show which debuted Sunday and Monday night.

Almost Human takes a look forward into the alarmingly crime-riddled future of 2048. In this world, police work has gotten so incredibly dangerous that the police force is forced to use robotic partners in order to perform their duties. So when John Kennex (Karl Urban) is brought back onto the force two years after getting ambushed by a shadowy crime syndicate, he is forced to adjust and deal with the robots he has learned to loathe after their rationality killed his partner. After killing his first robot partner, he gets paired up with a Dorian model (played by Michael Ealy) who was deemed too human for police work, and the two go off to fight crime in the city.

Courtesy of FOX turning this premiere into a two-night event, I’m taking the opportunity to catch both episodes before putting out this review. More stock will be put into Monday’s episode if only because second episodes tend to be more representative of what the series will resemble episodically as opposed to pilots which tend to devote time to exposition and origin stories.

Almost Human has some bright spots Michael Ealy shines as Dorian, a difficult task considering he has to come off more human than the bland MX units that were later assigned to the cops and still just uncanny enough that it’s clear you’re aware he’s a robot. Continuing a subtle trend this year of comedic actors occupying the science labs of our new crime shows Mackenzie Crook (The Office UK) gets the privilege of being a perfect fit as the very socially-awkward Rudy, the resident’s lab technician. Unfortunately, many of the other peripheral characters seem to get short shrift in terms of story and could use some further development.

I also appreciated that in a TV landscape full of cop and detective shows, Almost Human sets itself apart by being closer to Die Hard and Lethal Weapon as opposed to functioning like yet another Law and Order or CSI clone. The action sequences themselves are pretty cool looking, using tight camera angles and wide open palate to maximum effect.

Where the second episode truly seems to benefit over the pilot is that the show added moments of levity to counterbalance the grimness that pervades much of the series. The show definitely borrows a lot from the Blade Runner universe, with it’s seedy city underbellies, pervasive crime, and generally dystopian balance of power.. The pilot did it’s job unloading the ton of exposition that is essential for world-building fantasy worlds, but got a little dull at points and definitely would have lost my attention had the same ultra-serious tone remained for the full series.

The Final Verdict: Once you get past the wall of exposition and stereotypical hero origin-story pilot, Almost Human turns the corner into a refreshing different take on the cop drama with it’s shoot first- ask questions later mentality. While there are some obvious tweaks the show could use (most notably in developing it’s side characters and making Kennex a little less one-dimensional), there’s enough good in the first two episodes to justify Fox’s hype. It’s definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for an action fix on Mondays, a night where only Fox really has cop dramas on the broadcast dial.

Cop Out

by Walter Reed

Long before Kelvin Taylor became the porn star, Felony, he was just a regular guy with dreams of becoming a police officer. He stared his high school days in the Bronx at Evander High, at the most dangerous school in the most dangerous borough, where a student was murdered and then buried in the schoolyard, only to be found a decade later. Then he moved on to Columbus High, bullying gays to hide his own homosexuality. From high school high to crash courses on becoming a police officer, he entered the brown bag, bottom-shelf life of the porn industry.

A dream deferred began a brief affair with porn at the tender age of 21, after just one homosexual tryst. He appeared opposite of 20 year veteran Slim Thug, 36. Due to size requirements that Kelvin couldn’t meet, commanding less than 10 inches—he found himself on the bottom. Sometimes you have to let someone go through the back door to get closer to your dreams. After that scene, he earned the name Felony after the underwear he wore coupled with the police scene involving a stop and frisk session. “I was nervous at first and it hurt, but the pain eventually turned to pleasure” he said, turning him into a pro overnight.

Apparently it was so good that night with Slim Thug, it turned into a three year courtship. They agreed, that both of them would be transparent whenever shooting scenes. They also had to use condoms. Unfortunately, Slim Thug was allegedly sleeping around all over the city that never sleeps with or without condoms, unbeknownst to Kelvin. Their lives in porn, inevitably put a strain on the relationship. “I wished I hadn’t done porn and just become a cop,” he said. At six feet tall, he would look amazing in the uniform.

Two years and nearly 25 movies later, he decided which movies to do. “I got tired of being a bottom and it wasn’t happy in that role.” He said. Kelvin was featured bottoms up everywhere from Breed it Raw to Dawgpound USA.

After his porn days waned, he started his nights escorting. “People who escort give us a bad name,” he said. “It wasn’t just sex; It was more like nude massages with happy endings.” Apparently, it was more like nude jerk-off sessions masquerading as massages. Each happy-meal cost $200. He gained clients through an ad placed on Adam4adam, the popular sex site.

When it comes to sex off screen he’s a bonafide top. “I like to be the man in the relationship,” he said, “but I can be flexible and be a bottom for my man sometimes.” When approaching relationships, Kelvin looks for someone, who embodies both masculine and effeminate qualities. He also likes supportive and motivating men.

Life outside of porn has him exactly where he wants to be in a relationship, “I am a relationship oriented person,” he said. “I spent more time in a relationship than being single.” Kelvin is four months into his current monogamous relationship with his live-in boyfriend, a school teacher and friend of three years. They’re in love.

He spends his days dreaming—hoping to someday work for a company like Sony or Microsoft, developing new video games, and building new technologies like the projectile t.v. or the next Playstation. He will be enrolling back in college next year to pursue his goals.

You can catch Kelvin, dancing in clubs all over the city anywhere from Secrets to El Morocco. He enjoys the combination of hanging out in the clubs and drinking while working. “It’s not always about the money,” he said. “If it’s a slow night… I just put on my clothes on and have a drink and hang out.”

Album Review: Moonface – Julia With Blue Jeans On

by Rio Toro

Moonface: Julia With Blue Jeans On.
Similar Artists: Wolf Parade, Frog Eyes, Erik Satie, Sunset Rubdown
Genre: Singer-Songwriter, Canadian Indie Rock, Solo Piano Performance
Label: Jagjaguwar

I have a confession to make. I’m kind of infatuated with depressing music — specifically heart sweeping piano ballads with theatrically inclined male vocalists — and it has been affecting my well being. For one reason or another, I’ve been craving this feeling of intense loneliness; maybe it’s because it makes it easy to feel alive, maybe because it causes me to think more, or write better, but what I do know is that Julia With Blue Jeans On, the new release by Canadian indie god Spencer Krug, sure gives me that feeling.

Released under his genre spanning Moonface alias, after the likely eternal demise of both Wolf Parade and his other solo project, Sunset Rubdown, Julia brings the nakedness that has for so long been a concept behind Spencer’s lyrical motifs to the forefront of his aesthetic. All 10 tracks are composed of solo acoustic piano and, of course, Spencer’s inescapable singing voice. The bulk of his releases — both solo and full band oriented — have been built around his near operatic performance level, and this is no exception. In fact, Julia ranks as perhaps the most emotionally volatile release in his prolific career.

The subject matter, as you might expect, is personal, and often devastatingly so. Like his previous Moonface release, the dramatic, post-rock swept Heartbreaking Bravery, this is the story of a lost love. It is through this misery that he is capable of unveiling his ultimate catharsis; which is all the more affecting when pitted against his sprawling, yet minimalist inspired piano figures that ebb and flow through extended running times. “Dreamy Summer”, the lengthiest track at nearly 8 and a half minutes, is actually one of the more relaxed, optimistic pieces, but it needs to be, as the ones surrounding it, “November 2011” and the title track, are two of the most high strung. The former is particularly poetic, as it vividly recounts a passionate love affair that was doomed before it began. These are songs about serious things, and decisions we must make that are neither black nor white. Topics such as the self destructive nature of man, losing one’s identity, and an insurmountable amount of self-pity all take a part in Spencer’s illuminating woe.

Brought up as a classically trained pianist, this is the sound of Spencer returning to his roots, which he seemed to have been in a constant state of disagreement with for the bulk of his career. As his past has now caught up with him, it seems his soul has as well. With the bare bones presentation, we are seeing him here as more real, more sincere, and possibly even more talented than ever before.

Track Listing:
1.) Barbarian*
2.) Everyone Is Noah, Everyone Is The Ark
3.) Barbarian II
4.) November 2011*
5.) Dreamy Summer*
6.) Julia With Blue Jeans On*
7.) Love The House You’re In
8.) First Violin
9.) Black Is Back In Style*
10.) Your Chariot Awaits

Album Highlight – *

Cell Phone Battery Cases: Which ones are worth it?

by Alex David Jimenez

REVIEW – According to recent statistics, nearly seventy-five percent of the world population uses a cell phone. The market for cellular technology has been exploding since the early two-thousands, and had seen an even more dramatic increase since the dawn of the smart-phone. Long have the days passed since we, as a modern society, have used our cell phones simply for making phone calls. They can tell us about the current weather. They can take high-definition photos and video, as well as post them to all of your favorite social networking sites. They can harbor popular and high-graphic games. They can even give you directions and tell you which of your friends are nearby. It’s no secret that the power of smart-phones is quickly increasing, as so too is the demand for products and accessories capable of sustaining the mounting amounts of energy we use each day for that power.

While cell phones today have a much longer battery life than they did years ago, the market for cellular battery improvement is still growing. We use our phones for everything, and are constantly finding ourselves taking our phone chargers everywhere we go. Can’t find and outlet to plug it in? Looks like you’re screwed.

Consumers today are finding the phone battery-life issue more commonplace, and many are utilizing an ever-growing solution: Cell Phone Battery Cases. The idea: Use the case to protect your phone from damage, and charge your phone when necessary with the battery built right into the case itself. Genius! It seems the most sensible solution, whereas the need for wires on the go will become obsolete, and your stress level might fall at least a bit knowing your phone’s battery should survive the day.

So which products are the ones consumers should be looking for? The market for cell phone case/chargers is growing fast, and there are several options floating around the inter-webs. Here, we’ve compiled six of the most popular producers, specifying the specs and the varying differences between the products.

BOOSTCASE

BoostCase.com
$79.95 – $99.95
iPhone 4(s) / iPhone 5(s)
Battery: From 1500mAh to 2200mAh Capacity
Weight: 8.2oz

Aside from its sleek look, the Boostcase iPhone Hybrid Battery Charging Case is also quite functional, capable of extending your phone’s battery life for several hours. The case is somewhat bulky, according to consumers, but does redeem itself in having a separate click and snap design, allowing you to interchange the charging system as desired.

The case comes in a “single-shot” or “double-shot” version, the latter providing better battery life. Though a bit pricey, the Boostcase is a contender in the phone charging industry.

Pros:

Up to 150% Additional Battery Power

Dual Charging (Phone and Case)

Stylish Look

Cons:

Long Charging Time

Bulky Feel

Some Functionality Errors

Overall Rating:

ETÓN Mobius Black

Etón Webstore
$59.99
iPhone 4(s)
Battery: 1800mAh Capacity
Weight: 3.4oz

The Mobius Black is somewhat revolutionary in the world of cell phone chargers, in that it is not only a mobile charging station, but is one which harnesses the power of the sun to do so. Along with the case’s rechargeable battery pack, the Mobius features a high-efficency monocrystal solar panel. The device is moderately priced – good for consumers not looking to spend too much.

Though solar power seems massively convenient, some consumers do complain about the phone’s limited capabilities when charging the phone – i.e. the phone should not be charged while the solar panel is attached. The Mobius Black os only available for the iPhone 4(s).

Pros:

Solar Powered

Removable Battery

USB Syncing Capability

Cons:

Limited Battery Capacity

Mediocre Case Durability

Charging Limitations (solar)

Overall Rating:

POWERSKIN

Power-Skin.com
$49.99 – $79.99
iPhone 4(s) / iPhone 5(s) / Samsung Galaxy SIII / Samsung Galaxy S4 / Samsung Galaxy Express / Blackberry Z10 / HTC One X/X+/XL / Windows Phone 8X
Battery: From 1500mAh to 2000mAh Capacity
Weight: 1.92 to 3.53 oz

The PowerSkin Cell Charging case has taken the battery-powered phone case to several different mediums on the market. PowerSkin has more cases for more phones than any other producer, and has developed some quality products to boot. The look is sleek and modern, and the case itself is one of the most durable on the market.

Consumers have stated in some cases that the phone takes a long time to fully charge and that the battery power is not competitive enough for its competition.

Pros:

Multiple Product Options

Sleek Design

Durable Case

Cons:

Only up to 70% extra Battery Charge

Bulky Feel

Long Charging Time

Overall Rating:

THIRD RAIL

thirdrailmobility.com
$89.99
iPhone 4(s)
Battery: From 1250mAh Capacity
Weight: Case: .85 oz – Battery: 1.4 oz

Perhaps the most positive aspect of the Third Rail’s TRIO Charger for the iPhone (Positive, but not for everyone) is that its battery is completely detachable, leaving the phone thin and lightweight when not in use. The battery pack, or multiple, stackable battery packs can be easily clicked onto the phone when it needs juice. The charging wire is universal, therefore useful in charging many other devices if needed.

The downfall: just not a very attractive product. Most negatives pertained to the case’s design and durability, as well as its lack of efficient power.

Pros:

Detachable Battery

Universal Battery Charger

Light-weight

Cons:

Low Battery Capacity

Poor Design

Poor Durability

Overall Rating:

MOPHIE

mophie.com
$79.95 – $129.95
iPhone 4(s) / iPhone 5(s) / Galaxy SIII / Galaxy S4
Battery: From 1500mAh to 2300 mAh Capacity
Weight: 2.44 to 4.59 oz

The Mophie Cell Phone Charging case is easily the most popular on the market right now, and for good reason. According to average users, the case is durable, sleek, and gets the job done. There are currently 3 versions of the case for the iPhones, each worth a different capacity for charging power, and 2 designs for the Samsung Galaxy phones. The Mophie boasts 120% additional power and an easy on/off switch.

Most complaints about the Mophie include the lack of accessory access, including that for headphones and USB cables.

Pros:

Sleek Design

Up to 120% Additional Battery Power

Durable Case

Cons:

No Syncing Access (Must remove Case)

Headphone Jack less accessible

Product gets Hot when Charging

Overall Rating:

PHONE SUIT

phonesuit.com
$79.95 – $99.95
iPhone 4(s) / iPhone 5(s)
Battery: 2100mAh Capacity
Weight: 2.78 oz

The PhoneSuit Elite Battery Case for the iPhone is certainly one of the most appealing charging cases on the market. The case is durable, and the size is preferred over many other cases given its slim look. The charging jack gives the option for charging or syncing your phone, and the fit offers access to most headphone jacks, regardless of shape or design.

Overall, the product is often edged out by companies like Mophie because of the product quality. The PhoneSuit works well, and looks great, but doesn’t seem to last as long as other products before pieces start breaking down and breaking off.

Pros:

Sleek Design

Up to 16 additional Hours talk-time

Quick Charging Technology

Cons:

Mediocre Durability

Too Expensive

Short Product Life

Overall Rating:

The Drama Queen is Surprisingly Low-Key

by Michael Tyminski

The Drama Queen: Sunday Nights at 11 Eastern on E!

In the recent past, we’ve seen the reality genre do everything possible to remove the wires behind their machinations (and how well the producers manage to do so has become one of the key areas in which I tend to grade reality TV). We rarely, as a result, see the kingmakers, the people behind the people whom guide their clients to success. E!’s newest reality show, however, is banking on the notion that people are interested in the business of star-making by shining the spotlight on the process with it’s newest reality show.

The Drama Queen follows the life of celebrity manager Marki Costello (granddaughter of Lou Costello of “Who’s on First?” fame) as she tries to bring her celebrity clientele to new heights of fame. This means not only elevating her clients careers, but also to help develop the brands that will give them the boost they need in a busy Hollywood climate. We also get to meet her family, including her boyfriend Tommy and her two kids whom she tries to make time for in between her heavy work-related demands.

Since I brought it up, the first thing I noticed with the show is that it hides it’s machinery extremely well. Marki seems to have a very heavy amount of agency in the major plot drivers of the show, to the extent that any producer meddling seems fairly seamless. Furthermore, the genuineness of everyone’s reactions seems to also indicate a lighter hand behind the camera than what I’ve been accustomed to seeing lately, including some very adept plot juggling that touches on both two main plots as well as setting up some smaller side-stories.

The Drama Queen also benefits from Marki being the near perfect centerpiece for a show like this. While the show opens and reinforces the brash super-agent stereotype (her reactions to the open talent search are priceless), there also seems to be enough humanity in her that even at her most tyrannical she remains likeable. This striking contrast becomes even clearer when set against the backdrop of her incredibly (and annoyingly) catty support staff at CMEG.

While The Drama Queen is a fairly strong reality show, it also has some clear flaws. The first half hour has a tendency to feel a little repetitive at times (there are limits to the number of times that one can bang home variants on the term “head b***h in charge”), which is hopefully just an issue that occurred as a function of trying to establish Marki’s personality. However, what feels horrendously off is the lighting in the talking head segments which seems to age everyone who happens to step in front of that camera a solid ten years.

The Final Verdict: The Drama Queen feels mildly ill-fitting as this show’s title as in lieu of hysterics we get a surprisingly well grounded workplace show about star making and star marketing. While I could see E! trying to make this show splashier (i’m guessing that’s what all the intra-office awkward sex banter is for), I kinda hope it sticks to it’s main premise of one woman vs. Hollywood. Check this one out, particularly if show business piques your interest.

PORN STAR – Taking C*ck up my @ss! (Bottoms Up!)

by Charlie Harding

Yes folks, Twitter don’t lie, I HAVE FILMED MY FIRST SCENE AS A BOTTOM! Men.com asked me to be their TOP to BOTTOM for the fifth installment in the series entitled “TOP to BOTTOM 5: Daddy’s Turn!” (and rewarded me handsomely for it I might add!). I have to say I had a great time shooting it, and hope you all enjoy seeing it when it debuts on Men.com November 22^nd. By the way, the preview is up on the site now… So here’s some fun trivia and behind the scenes moments from the day of filming!

We filmed the scene in Atlanta in my actual condo. My partner Scotty Rage (@scottyragexxx) and I bought a loft about a year ago, and celebrated that anniversary by opening the unit up the men.com production crew! We shot the entire scene in our living room on the leather couch that has been in my family for almost 30 years! And Yes that is also our 6’ by 6’shower stall in the scene… it has two shower heads and a tub in the enclosure and can hold about 8 big muscle guys… (dirty smirk)

Scotty Rage plays my partner in the scene (LOL big acting stretch there, huh!). Scotty and I open the scene together and set the tone and premise that leads to my bottoming for Colby Jansen. Colby and I have been friends for a long time, and really enjoy getting to work together. He and Scotty also have hit it off well, so the day was a reunion of sorts and more like a bunch of friends hanging out (and fucking), which made for a super fun time.

Colby Jansen and Charlie Harding — photo by men.com

Scotty also took on the role of Craft Services for the shoot. Given that we are all friends (the production crew included), Scotty went out and bought fried chicken, potato salad, wrap sandwiches and sodas for everyone before they arrived. Needless to say we appreciated the food and drink and it made the entire day like a big picnic!

During the shoot, our two dogs got out and ran away! That’s right, our two dogs somehow made it out the back door, through the fence around our patio and took off down the road. Scotty, after filming his portion of the scene, discovered the jail breakers had run, and spent the next two hours driving around the neighborhood looking for them. Don’t worry folks, he found them safe and sound…2 miles away from our condo!

This was the first time Scotty had ever seen me perform on set. While Scotty has gone on multiple trips with me when I was shooting, and been to many of the studios, he had never actually been there live while I was filming. At one point while Colby is inside me, plowing away, I glanced over and there’s Scotty just off set in the bedroom doorway rubbing his… well, needless to say I think the scene turned him on!

2014 Grammy Predictions- Song Of The Year

by Ryan Shea

Miley’s song could be nominated, folks. Be aware.

The announcement of the songs nominated for the 2014 Grammy Awards are only 18 days away at this point where they are set to be announced live on CBS the night of December 6th. A tradition that they have been doing for a couple of years, the event will take place at 8/7 central, hosted by LL Cool J and featuring performers (and potential nominees) Drake, Macklemore and Keith Urban to name a few. As exciting as the performances are themselves, millions of music fans and performers alike will be giddy with anticipation over who will be the actual nominees for next year’s biggest music event. But who will be nominated in each category?

The award for “Song Of The Year” is different from “Record Of The Year” in that Song is awarded to its composers whereas Record can go to the performer and production team for that song. To me, this award exemplifies the best written song of the year, the one that is different from the rest and really made you think about its lyrical content in order to win this type of award. In recent years, this has been won by John Mayer’s “Daughters”, Adele & Paul Epworth’s “Rolling In The Deep” and the guys from Fun’s song “We Are Young” last year (Miguel’s “Adorn” should’ve won, in my opinion). So who has the chance to win the award this year? Take a look at who I think are some of the potential nominees.

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Mary Lambert- “Same Love”(Written by: Ben Haggerty, Mary Lambert, Ryan Lewis & Curtis Mayfield). I love it when an artist of this caliber comes and makes a song about marriage equality, especially when he is in an industry that is known for its overabundance of homophobia. Written in particular about legalizing same sex marriage in Macklemore’s home state of Washington, the song does a simple yet extraordinary way of flowing lyrically why the use of the words “gay” and “faggot’ are truthfully wrong and why we should accept people as a whole no matter what their backgrounds are. In my opinion, this has never been doing before hip-hop wise, and I give Macklemore a ton of credit for being brave enough to do this. I also love that he has featured a ton of relatively unknowns on his album as he himself was practically one before the release of “Thrift Shop” in late 2012. Just like he did with Thrift Shop (Wanz) and Can’t Hold Us (Ray Dalton) he features the beautifully gifted Mary Lambert on this track to add a soft yet powerful female element to the song. Definitely the winner in my book here.

Miley Cyrus- “Wrecking Ball” (Written By: Henry Russell Walter, Sacha Skarbek, Stephan Moccio, Maureen Anne McDonald and Lukasz Gottwald). Let’s keep it 100 here folks, this was the year of Miley. We couldn’t escape her presence this year and say what you want about her but she does do a pretty good job at keeping us talking. The second release off of her album “Bangerz” became known a bit more for its very controversial video than it did the actual song. The song itself talks about the end of a relationship and the dealing of heartbreak at a young age (mainly this song is about Liam Hemsworth, whom she was engaged to until recently). It is her best effort yet, in my opinion, and has a lot of raw energy and grit to her which is something that she hasn’t really done in the past, being all Disney and whatnot. This song earned her her first number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and a permanent spot in our brains (for that video and other stuff) but more importantly in pop culture. She ain’t Hannah Montana anymore that’s for sure.

Pink & Nate Ruess- “Just Give Me A Reason” (Written By: Pink, Jeff Bhasker & Nate Ruess). It really drives me nuts that almost fifteen years into her career I still feel like Pink doesn’t get the recognition she deserves. The third release off of her popular album “The Truth Above Love”, “Just Give Me A Reason” is another one of those amazing songs that talk about the woes of a relationship and how hard it is to hear the other person when you yourself are in a ton of pain that you can’t see your way out of. Pink’s deep and low falsetto blends very well with Nate Ruess’ high-pitched vocals and makes this song that much more special. Pink, who we usually see do songs from a more solo perspective, truly shines on this one and proves why even after all this time she is still one rocking chick.

Drake- “Hold On We’re Going Home” (Written By: Aubrey Graham, Noah Shebib, Majid Al Maskati and Jordan Ullman). Something that I am still in shock about is the fact that Drake’s title track and album for “Take Care” didn’t get a single nomination in the main categories at last year’s Grammy’s, which is crap. I am really pulling for this talented guy to be grab a nomination for this song on some type of level, because this is one of his best one’s he has put out thus far. Blurring the lines of rapping and singing, the R&B crooner and hip-hop mainstay released this song second off of his very successful third album “Nothing Was The Same” to the delight of fans and critics. A simple song about how he feels for his female counterpart, the song has been a hit on the charts and in the minds of many of his female fans as he continues on his path to being one of the greatest hip-hop artists today.

Lorde- “Royals” (Written by: Ella Yelich O’Connor & Joel Little). I fucking love this song, forgive me for my language but I feel like that emphatic “FUCK” needs to be in there. A surefire lock for a Best New Artist, this song is the anti “Bling Bling” and “Beemerz, Benz & Bentley’s”. Meaning that she is aware of her background and upbringing and doesn’t have to sing about the jet set lifestyle in order to make it big in the industry, kind of like Sara Bareilles “Love Song” did with her tongue and cheek version of not writing a love song for her debut record. I am really pulling for her in February and really in the future because she is definitely one to watch out for.

Honorable Mentions:

Justin Timberlake- “Mirrors”

Taylor Swift- “Red”

Bruno Mars- “Treasure”

Sara Bareilles- “Brave”

Imagine Dragons- “Radioactive”

Who do you think should and will be nominated?

The CW’s Reign Recap: He Gives Me Kisses

by David Baxter

My Reign recaps gives good read.

Last week was Halloween. I have no idea why Reign ran during then, but it means that, unfortunately, I was out doing things in a costume, and I have to spend this weekend catching up.

Album Review: James Ferraro – NYC, Hell 3:00 AM

by Rio Toro

James Ferraro: NYC, Hell 3:00 AM

Similar Artists: Dean Blunt, D’eon, Inga Copeland

Genre: Experimental

Label: Hippos In Tanks

I can’t say I’ve ever completely enjoyed a release by James Ferraro. With that said, he is a fascinating producer, and one I have always listened to with a perked ear. Within recent years — since the release of Far Side Virtual (an album of his I’m still torn on) — he has been viewed as one of the more forward thinking producers within the experimental realms. After the bizarre eccentricities (ads, Microsoft voices) that became a part of his sound with Far Side Virtual, he has moved down a darker, more R&B influenced path. Sushi, the album he introduced many of these new themes on, was a pull away from his hyper conceptual work, and with his Cold mixtape earlier this year — with the emphasis largely being put on the beats and Ferraro’s own voice — it seemed he was moving in a more accessible, or at least more digestible, direction.

However, NYC, Hell 3:00 AM sees Ferraro taking his newly found sounds and crafting them into a dense, multifaceted 60 minute album that recaptures his love for overarching conceptual design. As the title suggests, this album was inspired by NYC at its darkest, most depressed, and most surreal. On these terms, Ferraro has conquered, as the album is synonymous with subway systems, a lack of oxygen, and towering grey skyscrapers that keep you locked in like a prison. This is a new kind of darkness that Ferraro is playing with, and he’s not the least bit afraid to make us feel uncomfortable. While people have been attempting to fit Ferraro’s work in with the current wave of ghostly R&B — popularized by How To Dress Well, The Weeknd, etc. — in reality there is little comparison. While I don’t feel this direction is James’ attempt to make a mockery out of this style, he does play up the humor every once in a while. “Cheek Bones”, one of the lengthier, and even dancier tracks, has the main lyric of /I don’t want cancer, but these cigarettes give me cancer/ and there are similar moments of irony played out through the album. It’s for this reason that James’ closest comparison is label mate Dean Blunt, who took his turning step as a vocalist on “The Redeemer”, released earlier this year. Both have a sound that is impossible to categorize, and their music is frequently intoxicating because of it.

These 16 songs are often skeletal, and bereft of many components that would have suited them nicely. Even the beats, which Ferraro has previously piled layer on top of layer, are conspicuously absent for minutes at a time. What is there, however, is enveloping, and harrowing in its tone. This will likely go down as James’ ambient period, as he seems much more concerned with creating a dense, cataclysmic atmosphere rather than writing solid hooks…or poetic lyrics…or any of the other things an artist would add to their music to assure people would enjoy it. Take the opener, which begins with a loop of a feminine Microsoft voice saying “money” over and over again; we keep expecting a beat to drop in, but it never does, in turn introducing the album’s neglect towards our expectations.

Many tracks, especially during the first half of the album, feature organic instrumentation such as bells, as if they are being heard from a far away church, and they act as the one safe haven in a land crawling with filth. The field recordings — which pull from idle chatter to police sirens, to 9/11 news reports — add to the tense feeling that becomes burrowed within your skin through the endurance testing running time.

Somehow, it works though. If only for its uncategorizable mood and consistently dense atmosphere, NYC Hell 3:00 AM, is an unforgettable work. It’s an album’s album: one that you couldn’t listen to a lot — or in this case, barely at all — but when that right time comes, it will be right there at the back of your mind begging you to explore its world one more time.

Track Listing:

1.) Intro

2.) Fake Pain*

3.) QR JR

4.) Close Ups*

5.) Beautiful John K.

6.) Stuck 1

7.) City Smells

8.) Upper East Side Pussy*

9.) Eternal Condition

10.) Stuck 2

11.) Niggas

12.) Stuck 3 (RATS)

13.) Cheek Bones*

14.) Vanity

15.) Irreplaceable*

16.) Nushawn

Album Highlight – *

Miley’s song could be nominated, folks. Be aware.

My Reign recaps gives good read.

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