Dance! Sing! Repeat!

If someone from STRIKEGENTLY actually checks this out, I recommend going back a few pages seeing as this main page is littered with TV shows only from when I was studying for my finals. It'll be worth it.

Featuring Paul Rudd and Jason Segel

"When I saw Justin he said he was just in visiting on spring break.
I said "What a surprise. You're one of those guys I haven't seen since 1998."
We talked for a while, and I tried to smile as he told me about his college life.
He parties Fridays through Thursdays (but not for birthdays).
He's acquired a taste for Miller Lite."

"You're coming with me..."

Download: Valencia- 'We All Need A Reason To Believe' B-Sides

Download: New Found Glory- 'I'm The Fool'

Download: Big If- Myspace Demos '09
Featuring: Ryan Key of Yellowcard

Girls Do What They Want

"Did you just ejaculate?"

This was the setlist from when I saw The Academy Is... acoustic tour feat. Evan Taubfield. As you can see, he played a lot of newer stuff/covers and actually we got him to play Attention even though it wasn't on there. The opener played in Avril Lavigne's band and she must have rubbed off on him cause a lot of his stuff sounded like her stuff and/or a seventh grader.

Download: Teamwork- Play Or Get Played

Download: Brighter Brightest- 'Guardian Angel'
Download: Brighter Brightest- 'Welcome Home'
Download: Brighter Brightest- 'Your Name In Lights'

Download: Mathletes- 'Freaks Go All The Way'

I remember seeing this film on TBS or something when I was younger and just thinking, "This is the weirdest, most nonsensical film ever." After watching it last night, I followed plot much better, but I wonder if that was the intention of the film. This action-adventure mixed with science fiction comes off almost as a David Lynch-esque mainstream attempt; almost as if they wanted to confuse the viewer with all of the mix-ups over 'memory implants' and who Schwarzenegger really is, but at the same time not so much that people couldn't follow or that the film wouldn't flop. (It didn't.) Overall, a lot of really cool special effects and violence make the film enjoyable to watch.

****

Maybe it's because I'm a sucker for films from the 80's and 90's or because I'm a sucker for story elements involving fantasy, but Last Action Hero floored me either way. Although the viewer gets a typical Schwarzenegger performance, this film about an action film sports tons of exciting moments and seat-clenching scenes. Try it, then buy it.

*****

Sorry about the vid, the song is what's important obvi.

Even if you don't like ska, give this a spin. Makes every sunny day that much sunnier.
Recommendation: Reel Big Fish - 'Cheer Up!'

I'm hoping this s**t is an April fools joke.

A bird in my ear has informed me that Motion City Soundtrack will be performing in the IMU Main Lounge on April 24th for free. So stoked.

Link Removed :(

This storytellers with Kanye was incredible. A cut off the newest record, "Say You Will" above, VH1 Storytellers download below.

Kanye West- VH1 Storytellers

"You can smoke the peace pipe until your dick falls off, but I'm not dancing with any f**king wolves no matter how high I get. Not that I get high, but if I did you can bet your ass I'd still believe in our lord and savior, Jesus Christ."

What could have been just another pop-punk outfit from Chicago became a staple in the scene with release of Almost Here. Riding the coattails of other bands like Fall Out Boy and Motion City Soundtrack, The Academy Is... managed to create a fresh enough sound to keep the record spinning. Recommended tracks in bold.

1. "Attention" – 2:53
2. "Season" – 3:34
3. "Slow Down" – 4:04
4. "The Phrase That Pays" – 3:17
5. "Black Mamba" – 2:46
6. "Skeptics and True Believers" – 2:54
7. "Classifieds" – 2:52
8. "Checkmarks" – 3:00
9. "Down and Out" – 4:30
10. "Almost Here" – 3:06

Hoping to see this on Wednesday when I see them on the Snakes And Suits Tour circa Ames, Iowa. Fingers crossed for 0% of 'Fast Times At Ridgemont High' and 100% of 'Almost Here'.

The Academy Is...- Santi

If you don't have this record, get it now.
Taking Back Sunday- Tell All Your Friends

Credit: STRIKEGENTLY
Nevershoutnever!- Cute Without The 'E'(Cut From The Team)

Featuring: The Muppets
Weezer- 'Maladroit'

One of the few politically-fueled records that manages to remain timeless, Siren Song Of The Counter Culutre gave my car stereo a run for its money a few summers ago. Harder, but not too hard, Siren Song... manages to keep the listener engaged with catchy, yet hard hooks. Recommended tracks in bold.

1. "State of the Union" – 2:19
2. "The First Drop" – 2:39
3. "Life Less Frightening" – 3:44
4. "Paper Wings" – 3:43
5. "Blood to Bleed" – 3:48
6. "To Them These Streets Belong" – 2:49
7. "Tip the Scales" – 3:49
8. "Anywhere But Here" – 3:38
9. "Give It All" – 2:50
10. "Dancing for Rain" – 4:01
11. "Swing Life Away" – 3:20
12. "Rumors of My Demise Have Been Greatly Exaggerated" – 4:14

Lustra - 'Scotty Doesn't Know'

Credit: STRIKEGENTLY

Footage from the upcoming live action movie directed by Spike Jonze.

I know she's a cartoon, but wow.
ALSO: Eve 6- 'Rescue'

Credit: STRIKEGENTLY
'Ocean Avenue'- Winner of Austin Davis' award for 'Best Pause in a Song Ever.'

Sail By The Stars- A Sunshine State Of Mind
'April Showers Bring May Flowers' has been stuck in my head for two weeks.

The Cool Kids- 'Pennies'
ALSO: The Cool Kids- The Bake Sale

Asteria- Asteria EP
They've also got self-released LP I didn't put up, but you'll no doubt be spinning this for a minute so I can throw it up later as a rarity.

Daryl Palumbo's first project before Head Automatica and United Nations.

Featuring: Jason Biggs, Jack Black, and that other guy.

Let's Get It- Myspace Demos '09

Oh. My. God. This is what I've been trying to find forever. My mood's been down lately, but this is kicking my ass and I'm loving it.
The Doppler Effect- Just Dance! EP

Freshman 15- Throw Up Your Hands For One Night Stands
Freshman 15- 5 Ways To Get To 3rd Base

Credit: STRIKEGENTLY

The Format (2001-2008) were incredible. Dog Problems is an absolute defining staple in the indie-pop genre in today and will remain so. Unfortnately, it's a record centered around a relationship theme that either hits you, or doesn't. Going along with that thought, i think it's probably a timing thing. Either way, recommended tracks in bold.

1. "Matches" – 2:10
2. "I'm Actual" – 3:47
3. "Time Bomb" – 4:01
4. "She Doesn't Get It" – 3:51
5. "Pick Me Up" – 3:46
6. "Dog Problems" – 4:11
7. "Oceans" – 4:48
8. "Dead End" (Means, Linda Perry, Ruess) – 4:08
9. "Snails" – 4:09
10. "The Compromise" – 3:27
11. "Inches and Falling" – 3:30
12. "If Work Permits" – 5:28

Almost the defining textbook example of an excellent space adventure 80's movie, The Last Starfighter also incorporates video games into this incredible story of a normal kid from a trailer park who finds out his name is written in the record book AND in the stars. The film doesn't disappoint at all any time during its 101 minute run time. I highly recommend it if you're into nerdy s**t like I am.

*****

Packed with an incredible cast, (Jack Black, Glenn Close, Natalie Portman, Jack Nicholson, Pierce Brosnan, Danny DeVito, Sarah Jessica Parker, Martin Short, Michael J. Fox, and Christina Applegate) Mars Attacks! shines brightly even with the dark undertones from director Tim Burton. Not meant to be taken too seriously, the film provides plenty of interesting sub-plots and skin-vaporizing action sequences.

***1/2

This movie should come with a caution label, but that would be all too unacceptable for surrealistic director, David Lynch. In his mystery-esque thriller Mulholland Drive, a non-linear story/series of events is presented for the viewer not even to interpret fully, but just to observe and wonder, 'What the f**k is going on?'. A little longer, but overall not bad. I bet if you threw a couple back during the film, your brain wouldn't hurt as much as mine did.

***1/2

Grab the bonus track off Drake's upcoming debut So Far Gone here.
P.S. Drake played 'Jimmy ' in Degrassi: The Next Generation.

P.P.S. 'Congratulations' samples 'Viva La Vida' by Coldplay.

Spinning this record takes me back to the passenger seat in the cab of Joe Vigdal's truck freshmen year. Granted that we were also doing less than legal things whilst listening, it's an incredible record if you like ska or pop music. Not too poppy to be un-ska and not too horny (ha.) to be on some hxc shit, Progress had the one element that every good record has: I could not stop listening to it and not be angry. Recommended tracks in bold.

1. " – 0:28" – 0:28
2. "VCG³" (Rich Balling) – 3:44
3. "Consequential Apathy" – 2:36
4. "Analog Boy" – 4:13
5. "Get" – 2:42
6. "All the Time" – 3:55
7. "In All Rwanda's Glory" – 3:35
8. "Babylon" – 3:20
9. "Who Would've Thought" – 3:15
10. "Status" – 3:28
11. "Anyone But You" (Balling) – 3:03
12. "Nugget" – 4:59
13. "Progress" – 3:28
14. "Nothing Sacred" – 2:58
15. "Infection" – 6:53

Pee-Wee Herman was a icon for children that you either loved or hated. Mostly, this decision depends on whether you were introduced to him before or after Paul Reubens was caught masturbating in an adult theater in 1991 and arrested on charges of possession of child pornography in 2001. Either way, I vote we look past both of those disgusting, if not eye-opening circumstances and instead examine the film masterpiece that is Pee-Wee's Big Adventure. In Tim Burton's full-length film debut, he doesn't come close to disappointing with all of Pee-Wee's wacky run-ins and catch phrases. Plus, with the infamous bike/movie set chase scene at the end, how could the movie contain any bad elements? Answer: Danny Elfman scored the soundtrack.

*****

Wow. Maybe you've heard about 'Battlefield Earth' before because it's been noted as possibly one of the worst flops/movies ever. What sucks is I watched all two hours of it before I came to the same conclusion. This adaptation of L. Ron Hubbard's novel doesn't really help Scientology out as far as support from the public goes. I mean, if everybody already thinks your religion sounds super fake/science fiction-ish and then someone tries to make a movie that's not even a decent attempt at a science fiction movie, you're f**ked. Also, this movie stars John Travolta, Forrest Whitaker, and at one point Jimmy Fallon. Enough said.

1/2*

Upon first glance and the fact that I remember seeing this movie on USA all the time as a child, it would be appropriate to say that I had low expectations for 'Tremors'. I was banking on a textbook Kevin Bacon performance to lift it out of the crap category. Not only did I get textbook Bacon, I got a Reba McEntire that was actually tolerable AND cheap, but fun to watch gore.

****

This documentary about the race to the top of the Donkey Kong scoreboard. Although kind-of interesting, especially if you enjoy video games, the film mostly centers around a school-girl like drama between credibility of scores between the characters the film centers on: Billy Mitchell (Champion since 1980's) and Steve Wiebe (Laid off challenger).

***

I've always been a fan of the fantasy genre, but when within the first five minutes of the movie I was informed that the great heroes of the movie would be a midget and Val Kilmer, I almost turned it off. This isn't even mentioning that it was directed by Ron Howard (Ritchie Cunningham in Happy Days). I should have stuck with the old proverb about 'Don't judge a book by it's cover' because even though this wasn't a book, it proved to be a very good film.

****1/2

Just when you thought one puppetmaker was bad enough, Jim Henson (The Muppets) and Frank Oz (The Wizard Of Oz) team up to create the ultimate puppet-fantasy film of the 80's (with the exception maybe being Labyrinth). Ignoring that sometimes a character speaks and the puppet's mouth remains unmoved, the storyline is excellent and all of the wacky creatures provide a pleasant and intriguing backdrop for a viewer.

*****

When drum machines got too popular, Radiohead took it up a notch by recruiting a marching band. FTW.

I guess this seems as appropriate of any time to recommend this record considering just as of tonight we celebrate the reunion of the boys of 'Blink-182'. This particular record falls into my category of records I wasn't impressed by at first, but came to love over time. My grandma always said, 'Different isn't always bad.', a particularly true statement when examining song structure, instrumentation, and lyricism. Recommended tracks in bold.

1. "Feeling This"
2. "Obvious"
3. "I Miss You"
4. "Violence"
5. "Stockholm Syndrome"
6. "Down"
7. "The Fallen Interlude"
8. "Go"
9. "Asthenia"
10."Always"
11. "Easy Target"
12. "All of This"
13. "Here's Your Letter"
14. "I'm Lost Without You"

Green Day to release new album in May 2009 entitled '21st Century Breakdown'.

This is my roommate, David Assman (Yes, that's his real last name.) He just launched his new clothing company, does.it.melt. Definitely worth checking out. Possible big news coming soon about it too. If you're interested, check it out here or just get a hold of me at dancesingrepeat@gmail.com.

Although I admit a movie with a red-headed, freckle covered, devil child protagonist looked to be more than appealing to me, Problem Child delivered what I should have expected from a movie delivered by 1991. I chuckled a lot at all of the antics, but actual laughing was barely achieved. Highlights include John Ritter, Gilbert Gottfried, and Michael Richards.

**1/2

Quite possibly earning a place under the definition of 'underrated' in the dictionary, my portable cd player was dominated by the debut from Utah's The Used for the entirety of the summer. Loaded with a strong, but emotional tracklisting, listening to the record on repeat proved to be the closest to time travel I've gotten thusfar.
Download: The Used- 'The Used' (2002)
Recommended tracks in bold.

Track List:

1. "Maybe Memories" – 2:55
2. "The Taste of Ink" – 3:28
3. "Bulimic" – 3:20
4. "Say Days Ago" – 3:17
5. "Poetic Tragedy" – 3:44
6. "Buried Myself Alive" – 4:02
7. "A Box Full of Sharp Objects" – 2:56
8. "Blue and Yellow" – 3:21
9. "Greener with the Scenery" – 3:37
10. "Noise and Kisses" – 2:49
11. "On My Own" – 2:43
12. "Pieces Mended" – 3:13