November 09, 2006 03:46 pm
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GREAT 12 MINUTES
On the strength of a furious, 15-minute live set and a look that’s “cooler than the first time you saw the Strokes but with more menace,” to quote Vice magazine, the Horrors have managed to captivate audiences in their native UK, and have now snagged a North American record deal through Stolen Transmission. Released in October, their debut EP is a blazing fast five-song set that ends disappointingly soon — altogether, the album clocks in at only slightly more than 12 minutes. But that’s all part of the package, because the Horrors are, if nothing else, an oddity. With a sound somewhere between the Ramones, the Bad Seeds and Tom Waits, the quintet shreds its 12 minutes of music into pure madness with twitchy organ work by Spider Webb and Faris Badwan’s spastic, choked vocals. Freaky, stripped down, indignant and immediately catchy, the album may be short but it’s a trip. Check out their vid for on YouTube or hear their music at www.myspace.com/thehorrors.
— JAMES SANDHAM
MISHEARD LYRICS
Almost everyone knows the famous misheard lyric from Jimi Hendrix when “excuse me, while I kiss the sky” was thought by some to be “excuse me while I kiss this guy.” Therefore, the makers of www.kissthisguy.com decided to make an entire enterprise of misheard lyrics. With perhaps the largest collection available online, you are sure to be able to find some funny misheard lyrics from some of your favorite stars over the years. Whether it is John Lennon, Annie Lennox, AC/DC or The Eagles, almost every band out there has had at least one of their lyrics misinterpreted with hilarious results. A convenient search feature allows you to find your favorite band and see if you actually knew what they were really singing about.
— CHRIS CURRY
LOW ENERGY BUT MOVING
The Cape May’s principal songwriter, Clinton St. John, grew up in a rural Alberta, Canada, town of some 300 people. He then moved to Newfoundland. On this alone you might suspect the man’s got a penchant for isolation. And after you listen to “Glass Mountain Roads,” the Cape May’s follow-up to their 2004 debut, that suspicion will be confirmed. Ghostly, haunting melodies and drifting layers of sounds underscored by St. John’s shy, quavering vocals fuse on this album with excellent results. The sound is detached, lost, perhaps even dreary at times, but always hauntingly captivating. Comparable to Modest Mouse at its most mellow, this is a plodding, tumbling album that rolls from one lackadaisical song into another. Low energy but certainly moving, the Cape May can be heard at www.myspace.com/thecapemay.
— JAMES SANDHAM
SAW 3 KEEPS CUTTING
The first Saw movie was more of an intellectual thriller. The second was a combination of intellectualism and gruesome violence. “Saw 3” is the culmination of the series and is a perfect mixture of both. Jigsaw, the serial murderer made famous from the first two movies, is back again. However, this time he is on his death bed and his last few dying wishes are nothing less than mystifying. The plot is much more intense than the earlier movies and the graphics are completely astonishing. Whether you are a fan of psychological mind-benders or horror movies in general, “Saw 3” has everything that you could possibly need. However, keep in mind that this movie is not for the weak stomached, so viewer discretion is definitely recommended.
— CHRIS CURRY
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