9

This movie looks really cool. Reminds me of a dark, action packed, post apocalyptic story with an original twist... actually that's exactly what it is.

Check it.

Music Year in Review: From My Perspective

2008 overall was a great year for music. We kicked off the year amazingly, having Radiohead performing their latest masterpiece In Rainbows in its entirety for everyone to see. The performance was taped and released on YouTube.

Shortly after, we were shown just what the magic men in Death Cab for Cutie had in store for us, by doing the unexpected, and dropping the first single of their critically acclaimed Narrow Stairs: "I Will Possess Your Heart". The song clocked in at a magnificent 8 minutes, and was mildly experimental compared to their previous works. The album eventually dropped, and debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts, and even ended up as my #2 album of the year.

Without a doubt, 2008 was the year of the comebacks. Metallica released their latest album, their first in a long time, about 5 years. Some people say this was going to be their last chance to win people over, and keep their credibility among fans and critics. I think it's safe to say the band did so with Death Magnetic. The album rekindled old spirits with it's thrashy song structures, guitar solos, and attitude, but still blending new school, agroesque influences.

Although I didn't pick up Guns n' Roses latest Chinese Democracy, one must applaud the fact tat they finally released it. The album was announced in the 90's, and we just now got it.

Speaking of comebacks, the underground music world didn't have much to complain about. Christian Heavy Metal legends Living Sacrifice made their comeback, co-headlining the massive Christian Metal tour featuring Oh Sleeper, Demon Hunter, The Famine, and Advent. While we're on the subject, both bands Advent and The Famine fall under our category for big comebacks, considering both bands rose from the ashes of former Christian metal bands. Advent features members of one of my favorite bands: Beloved. And The Famine, members of Embodiment. Both bands released new music, and both records were pretty sweet.

2008 had some pretty sour parts as well. My all time favorite band, Life in Your Way, ended their long run. Even though the band is done, they left quite a legacy behind, three full length albums, and great memories. I had actually grown close to the members, and had befriended them, and they will be missed, but something inside tells me they might be back.

Thrice completed their 4 disc release The Alchemy Index Parts I-IV. The entire project was eic, and some people asked why I left it off my top albums list, and the answer is simple, it was just too epic to feature, but it deserves it's own acclaim. The effort is quite a feat, and an ambitious one at that, however they passed with flying colors.

Kanye West dropped his latest 808's & Heartbreak, the first record since the passing of his mother, and the separation from his fiance. The album was extremely personal as one can imagine, and Kanye took quite the leap of faith on his new style, displaying both talent and originality. The record received praises from critics, separated fans, and ended up as my #1 album of the year.

Alot more happened in 2008, but this sums up some of the biggest headlines from my point of view. 2009 hopes to feature a handful of great new records, some long awaited comebacks.

I'll see you there!

Ben Gibbard and Zooey Deschanel Engaged?

Again, stole this from Buzzgrinder.
This is one of those news bits where im both happy, scared and surprised at the same time. Mainly because I think Ben Gibbard is a genius musician, and Deschanel is cute, but a less than stellar actress, REALLY good singer.

I didn't even know they were dating though.

Good for them. Maybe there will be some weird John and Yoko thing that happens, Death cab will break up, but it wont matter because Ben IS DCFC.

Ryan Gosling Has a Band? IS Going to Suck My Blood?

Caught this over on Buzzgrinder.
Ryan Gosling (The Notebook) has a band, and this their video.

Is it just me or does he sound like Dracula. Im sure this song would be alot better if the recording was solid, instead of artsy fartsy terrible.

Anyways, check it out.

In The Room Where You Sleep (live video version)

IGN Posts Top 10 Christian Rock Bands That Don't Suck

I would obviously put some more notable bands on this list, but by all means, most of these are all pioneers of the "genre".

Plus it's pretty cool to see this list on IGN.

[link]

2008 Albums of the Year

I decided to take a different approach this year.
Normally I do a top 25, and do summaries of the top 10. Unfortunately, I simply didn't have enough time to do that, and there are just far too many great albums of this year to do a top 25.

So here we go.
Feel free to comment on them, post yours, or we can debate about why I chose what I did.

Also, I probably forgot about some albums, so I apologize.

1. Kanye West - 808's & Heartbreak
2. Death Cab for Cutie - Narrow Stairs
3. Emarosa - Relativity
4. Means - To Keep me From Sinking
5. Norma Jean - The Anti-Mother
6. Metallica - Death Magnetic
7. Saints Never Surrender - Brutus
8. Take it Back - Can't Fight Robots
9. Misery Signals - Controller
10. Trenches - The Tide Will Swallow us Whole

Honorable Mentions
Lower Definition - The Greatest of All Lost Arts
Underoath - Lost in the Sound of Seperation
Our Last Night - The Ghost Among Us
Spitfire - Cult Fiction
Destroy the Runner - I Lucifer

Best Debut
Our Last Night - The Ghost Among Us

Best Production
Misery Signals - Controller (Devin Townsend)

Breakout Album of the Year
Emarosa - Relativity

Best Song
Robots 3 Humans 0 - Norma Jean

Worst Album of the Year
Attack Attack - Someday Came Suddenly

UFC 92 Fight Predictions

Without a doubt the biggest fight card of the year, perhaps the biggest fight card in mixed martial arts history? Who knows.

Nonetheless, there are some great fights, and if you're not a UFC fan and you're trying to get into it, I would recommend checking this one out.

I went 2-1 on my predictions for the TUF finale, and before that I think I went 1-3 so to say the least im down but not out.

Here we go.

Forrest Griffin Vs. Rashad Evans

What a match up, champion Forrest Griffin comes off his huge title win over Rampage Jackson in a fight for thr history books. Evans off of his huge win, defeating and knocking out Chuck Liddel.

I think the thing to keep in mind about this fight is both fighters strengths. Evans is a striker without a doubt, he can defend on the ground, and even take some ground offensive, but the chances of this one going to the ground is slim. Evans is a perfect puncher, and we saw that in his fight against Liddell, and my guess is he will deal some pretty serious blows to Forrest.

On the other hand, we look at Forrest Griffin. Perhaps one of the most well conditioned fighters i've ever seen. Forrest's greatest strength lies in the fact that he can absolutely stand toe to toe with the heaviest hands in the UFC, especially after seeing him go 5 rounds with Jackson, while Jackson delivered blow after blow that would have KOed anyone else.

With that being said, this one on tape, looks like a toss up. However, I have trouble believing that Rashad Evans will do anything more than what Rampage did in his fight, and that's beat the living crap out of Forrest Griffin. Although that might sound like i'm saying Evans will win, it's not. Griffin's main tactic is that he doesn't mind people beating the crap out of him, but by doing this, his opponents waste their energy and remain frustrated enough to where they make big mistakes.

WINNER: Forrest Griffin

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira Vs. Frank Mir

This is the fight for the intterim championship between the TUF coaches, Nogueira and Mir. What that means, is that Nogueira is the Pride Fight champion, which UFC owns.

This fight will simply come down to ground game, and experience, in which Nogueira has over Frank Mir.

This one to me is a no brainer.

WINNER: Antonio Nogueira

Wanderlei Silva Vs. Quinton Jackson

This one looks like a tossup to me. Jackson has been defeated by Silva once before, but Jackson is more in his prime than ever, with something to prove after his loss to Forest Griffin. On the other hand, Silva seems like he's lost touch after showing less than stellar performances, even though some wins, in his last few fights. This one is a close one, but i'm gonna call for a winner.

WINNER: Quinton Jackson



OTHER FIGHT PREDICTIONS

CB Dollaway Vs. Mike Massenzio :: C.B. Dulloway
Matt Hamill Vs. Reese Andy :: Matt Hammill

Official Wolverine Origins Trailer

I posted the leaked one from Comicon a while back, and of course it was taken down. That trailer was a bit more in depth than this, but nonetheless, it looks like a great flick.

By the way, if you haven't seen this yet, you've been living in a hole.

My Take on Junie Browning

The Ultimate Fighter contestant Junie Browning has garnered quite the reputation as a loose cannon on the most recent season of The Ultimate Fighter, and people were pretty skeptical from his performances on the show as well.

Shortly after the show was over, the announcement was made that he would be fighting other team Mir favorite Dave Kaplan at the TUF Finale.

Browning ended up walking away with the victory, in what some people called fight of the night, and definitely surprised some people, as well as possibly holding his spot in the UFC.

Check out this interview where Browning ultimately admits he was an idiot on the show, as well as predicting the unexpected winner of the Escudero/Nover fight.

Lack of Posts

I apologize, i've been super busy with finals and stuff, but I promise i'll have some new stuff tomorrow possibly, including reviews, yearly wrap up, and my albums of the year!

So drop by soon!

-Jaye

The Ultimate Fighter Finale

The Final 4 is set for The Ultimate Fighter finale on Saturday December 13th, live and FREE on Spike TV.

Here's some highlights on the fight card.

Phillipe Nover Vs. Efrain Escudero

Though Efrain defeated favorite Junie Browning, I think this one is going to be one sided on behalf of Nover. Nover's skills have gone simply unmatched throughout the show, displaying phenomenal striking ability, and an equally impressive ground game.

WINNER: Phillipe Nover


Ryan Bader Vs. Vinicius Magalhaes

Vinnie Magalhaes is a text book Jiu Jitsu master, but last weeks fight between Ryan Bader and Elliot Marshall, who is a black belt in Jiu Jitsu, showed that Bader can defend against the ground attacks, by using his size and wrestling ability. Close fight, but I think this one comes down to Bader's wrestling ability again.

WINNER: Ryan Bader

Junie Browning Vs. Dave Kaplan

This is honestly a toss up. After watching Browning on the show, i've come to the conclusion that he just wasn't a focussed fighter. Maybe training with Team Coutoure has made him a more focused fighter. His striking ability is amazing, he throws some of the best, and most painful looking body shots i've ever seen. Bottom line is I simply haven't seen enough of Dave Kaplan to pass a judgment on him, he was absolutely destroyed by Phillipe Nover. Toss Up.

WINNER: Toss Up

Untooned

Alot of people probably have seen these, but I think they're amazing.
Basically they're just photo manipulations of famous cartoon characters.

NOTE: They're pretty creepy haha.

Real Life Photoshop

Someone posted this on emptees and I thought it was pretty sweet.