Despite a friend's strong recommendation, this album is crap, unoriginal, and uninspiring. After one listen through, I thought, "Where's the band?" proving that when you have a perfectly great band as Rob does with Matchbox Twenty, you go and get all gung-ho with your big ego from being front-man and lead songwriter with talented musicians that a few years ago recorded one of the best albums out there, get reduced to an overproduced, directionless has-been.
I was really looking forward to the next Matchbox 20 album, Rob spoiled that ideal. The edginess you found on Matchbox's last album is completely gone. The piercing gutty guitars, super groovy walking bass lines, anthemic choruses and choirs, powerful lyrics, all supported by dynamic, sharp, and smashing drums really made that album awesome. You'd think Rob would learn something from it. Did he? Nope.
Gone are all those great things I mentioned. What's left? It sounds like NKOTB trying to be Menudo at times. You remember Menudo don't you? Yeah, Ricky Martin when he had no pubic. It's like Rob was trying to reinvent what he did with Santana, but just fails miserably. The vocals are forced around poor arrangements and bad idealess production centered on "cool beats" from a soulless drum machine with rhythms sounding like they were downloaded for your cellphone.
Needless to say, this album, which I don't know the name of, 'cause well, it's not memorable, is one disappointing effort. There's some not bad songs, but I don't remember how they go.
Snaky gives Rob Thomas' new album 1.52 fists out of 5.
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Snak's Intermittent Movie Review - "Wedding Crashers"
So there I was on the lounge patio with some friends at Edmonton's ritziest, the Hotel Macdonald. Two weddings were on. Was I dressed for such an occassion? Nope. I had my black leather jacket, brown 70's shoes, messy hair, dark faded jeans, and a brown striped untucked shirt. We had a few glasses of pino when it was time to head off.
But as I walked down the deco'd hallway on the east side, wedding guests passed me in their suits, tuxes, and with hotties in their shiny dresses. They stared, wondering, who's this guy?
But then there it was -- the big black Yamaha grand piano tucked into the corner where the hallway did a 90, and it sat there quietly asking me, "Play me! Play me!" So I pulled it away from the wall, sat down on the perfectly provided bench, and started my little jazz/blues on the ivories.
Wedding people began gathering around. I got requests. Played "Piano Man" and everyone sang along, even the father of the bride. Then after some more crooning, I bid them adieu, "I have to go." But they pleaded for me to stay and I replied, "I'd love to stay, but I have another wedding to crash!" Hearing laughter as I walked away I then put my arm around the father and said, "Congratulations sir, she's a beautiful girl." He said "Thanks!" and off I went.
Motivated and inspired? Damn straight.
Wedding Crashers, starring Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn, and Christopher Walken, is a really fun movie. The first part depicts two divorce mediator attorneys who see no need for the matrimonial institution in their lives go incognito during wedding season, partying, socialising, befriending, and hooking up with every hotty available, even at ethnic weddings.
And you'd think the movie was just about all that right? Of course not. There's gotta be some plot and a change of hearts.
Vince Vaughn is superb and on the money. His adlib comedic acting style shines through and he has the funniest lines. He and Luke Wilson work seemlessly together as partners at work, and partners in crashing. But you see the inevitable breakdown and conflict coming don't you? That part of the movie was a little weak.
Personally, I would have liked to have seen more of their con artist antics at a couple weddings. I think even more laughs could have been generated there and I needed more tips.
The show appears to be a simple fun comedy, but then in the second half, it drifts off into the romantic side and Owen Wilson gets so sappy at times, I wanna puke. But Vince, being the good buddy, sticks by for wing support and falls into countless acts of physical abuse by random happenstance. These comedic parts reminded me of some of Stiffler's antics in American Pie and thankfully at least keep the movie on the comedy side of things. The second half drags on, some scenes could have been deleted.
But if you want a laugh, because there's no other comedies out right now, go see Wedding Crashers, but not with a chick. Even if you are a chick reading this, take a guy. Heck, take me again. That way, I can reminisce about my crashing days and this time, take some notes.
Snaky gives Wedding Crashers, 3.1 fists out of five.
But as I walked down the deco'd hallway on the east side, wedding guests passed me in their suits, tuxes, and with hotties in their shiny dresses. They stared, wondering, who's this guy?
But then there it was -- the big black Yamaha grand piano tucked into the corner where the hallway did a 90, and it sat there quietly asking me, "Play me! Play me!" So I pulled it away from the wall, sat down on the perfectly provided bench, and started my little jazz/blues on the ivories.
Wedding people began gathering around. I got requests. Played "Piano Man" and everyone sang along, even the father of the bride. Then after some more crooning, I bid them adieu, "I have to go." But they pleaded for me to stay and I replied, "I'd love to stay, but I have another wedding to crash!" Hearing laughter as I walked away I then put my arm around the father and said, "Congratulations sir, she's a beautiful girl." He said "Thanks!" and off I went.
Motivated and inspired? Damn straight.
Wedding Crashers, starring Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn, and Christopher Walken, is a really fun movie. The first part depicts two divorce mediator attorneys who see no need for the matrimonial institution in their lives go incognito during wedding season, partying, socialising, befriending, and hooking up with every hotty available, even at ethnic weddings.
And you'd think the movie was just about all that right? Of course not. There's gotta be some plot and a change of hearts.
Vince Vaughn is superb and on the money. His adlib comedic acting style shines through and he has the funniest lines. He and Luke Wilson work seemlessly together as partners at work, and partners in crashing. But you see the inevitable breakdown and conflict coming don't you? That part of the movie was a little weak.
Personally, I would have liked to have seen more of their con artist antics at a couple weddings. I think even more laughs could have been generated there and I needed more tips.
The show appears to be a simple fun comedy, but then in the second half, it drifts off into the romantic side and Owen Wilson gets so sappy at times, I wanna puke. But Vince, being the good buddy, sticks by for wing support and falls into countless acts of physical abuse by random happenstance. These comedic parts reminded me of some of Stiffler's antics in American Pie and thankfully at least keep the movie on the comedy side of things. The second half drags on, some scenes could have been deleted.
But if you want a laugh, because there's no other comedies out right now, go see Wedding Crashers, but not with a chick. Even if you are a chick reading this, take a guy. Heck, take me again. That way, I can reminisce about my crashing days and this time, take some notes.
Snaky gives Wedding Crashers, 3.1 fists out of five.
It's the terrorists, stupid!
With the recent cowardly terrorist bombings in London, Brits were polled asking if they thought the attacks were result of British involvement in the Iraq war. A clear majority says this is true.
Well, they need to blame someone accountable. Tony Blair, you're taking the fall.
But this logic is well, ... completely illogical. With the recent terrorist attacks in Egypt, why aren't they asking that question there? Egypt's not involved in the war at all. They're an Arab nation!
And remember Bali? Oh, but some will say, "Australia's involved in the war and there were a lot of Australian tourists killed." Fits real nice doesn't it?
And Spain.
And of course, Iraq itself. These terrorists are killing innocent "fellow" Muslims all the time there. You can be certain that even if the U.S. pulled out, the new Iraq gov't, military, and police force will still be easy targets for terrorists.
Basically, terrorism is an industry unto itself. Here you have a worldwide secretive organization, with sleeper cells, that when called upon, execute a well oiled plan to kill innocent people. Money flows from donations and other shady means.
When the hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon, and almost the White House, the U.S. was not at war with Iraq then. Neither were the Brits.
Canada didn't go to Iraq because we simply couldn't afford it financially, nor do we have the resources. We're not the big peace keeping nation either (35th on the list actually), but we still sent our men to Afghanistan.
And as more Canadian troops were just sent there to fight this terrorist haven, are people saying we'll get attacked because we're there? No. Well why not? It's the same reasoning isn't it?
It's just Iraq. So this reasoning really doesn't make any sense. Unless this is all about the battle for Iraqi oil.
But again, why was Spain, Bali, and now Egypt attacked?
Terrorism is terrorism and they'll attack where they think they can. Are there more attacks to come? You betcha. Do we know where? Intelligence tries to figure this out, but when you have young men brainwashed into thinking that by carrying out this great act, Allah will reward him with 70 virgins awaiting in heaven. "Well, my life kind of sucks compared to the Christian, and this sounds like a better deal."
So you think the suicide bomber gives a rats ass where he carries out this most horrific act?
Whether there's a war in Iraq or not, terrorists will still terrorize, threaten, and cause fear. As I said, it's an industry. So don't blame the countries like the U.S. and U.K. for fighting terrorism on different fronts, because Canada is doing it too.
It's the terrorists, stupid!
Well, they need to blame someone accountable. Tony Blair, you're taking the fall.
But this logic is well, ... completely illogical. With the recent terrorist attacks in Egypt, why aren't they asking that question there? Egypt's not involved in the war at all. They're an Arab nation!
And remember Bali? Oh, but some will say, "Australia's involved in the war and there were a lot of Australian tourists killed." Fits real nice doesn't it?
And Spain.
And of course, Iraq itself. These terrorists are killing innocent "fellow" Muslims all the time there. You can be certain that even if the U.S. pulled out, the new Iraq gov't, military, and police force will still be easy targets for terrorists.
Basically, terrorism is an industry unto itself. Here you have a worldwide secretive organization, with sleeper cells, that when called upon, execute a well oiled plan to kill innocent people. Money flows from donations and other shady means.
When the hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon, and almost the White House, the U.S. was not at war with Iraq then. Neither were the Brits.
Canada didn't go to Iraq because we simply couldn't afford it financially, nor do we have the resources. We're not the big peace keeping nation either (35th on the list actually), but we still sent our men to Afghanistan.
And as more Canadian troops were just sent there to fight this terrorist haven, are people saying we'll get attacked because we're there? No. Well why not? It's the same reasoning isn't it?
It's just Iraq. So this reasoning really doesn't make any sense. Unless this is all about the battle for Iraqi oil.
But again, why was Spain, Bali, and now Egypt attacked?
Terrorism is terrorism and they'll attack where they think they can. Are there more attacks to come? You betcha. Do we know where? Intelligence tries to figure this out, but when you have young men brainwashed into thinking that by carrying out this great act, Allah will reward him with 70 virgins awaiting in heaven. "Well, my life kind of sucks compared to the Christian, and this sounds like a better deal."
So you think the suicide bomber gives a rats ass where he carries out this most horrific act?
Whether there's a war in Iraq or not, terrorists will still terrorize, threaten, and cause fear. As I said, it's an industry. So don't blame the countries like the U.S. and U.K. for fighting terrorism on different fronts, because Canada is doing it too.
It's the terrorists, stupid!
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