By Phil Wegner, November 2008
One of the more pathetic spectacles this election year summer has been the far right’s consternation over Disney Pixar’s latest computer animated spectacle, WALL-E.
National Review blogger, Greg Pollowitz, effectively encapsulates this hysteria when he writes, “I saw WALL-E with my 5 year old on Saturday night. Read the rest of this entry »
By Shamrock McShane, November 2008
Let us now, in the manner of the great humanists, give thanks to ourselves. The reason that Satellite is “The Finest Arts and Culture Magazine in North Florida” is that Gainesville is the finest arts and culture city hereabouts. Read the rest of this entry »
By R.M. Cannon
Book by Andrew Gordon
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 302 pages, $26.95
If you hadn’t known movies have layers upon layers of psychological mud, Empire of Dreams clarifies this fact beyond doubt. An almost 10-year write by a University of Florida professor with mega-doses of research, Dreams discusses 30 Spielberg films, first quoting him as saying “I dream for a living,” then analyzing what Gordon calls The Suburban Trilogy (E.T., Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Poltergeist). Read the rest of this entry »
By Allison Candreva, November 2008
People scrambled for party poppers and maracas as the band played one last time. With orange and green balloons flying toward the stage, Common Grounds looked like a big party minus a clown.
Shaggy hair laced with streamers, Matt Brink sang to the packed room looking out on the crowd through his black-rimmed glasses. Parachute men floated across the room, as Averkiou finished up the Pop Mayhem show and the last set they would ever play.
Or so they thought… Read the rest of this entry »
By Travis Fristoe, November 2008
Pretty Dark Things, Hometapes Recordings
Gainesville prides itself on a few musical success stories – Tom Petty and Sister Hazel. Even the somewhat “alternative” bands like Less Than Jake get lauded as exemplars of local boys made good. All of which is fine—history tales reward followers of Manifest Destiny. Read the rest of this entry »
By Jake Crown, November 2008
Death Magnetic, Warner Bros.
I know that I will get laughed at for this but, the new Metallica record is good. Not great, but good. The thing that makes Death Magnetic good is the raw and fast power of the songs. Kirk Hammett still writes face-melting solos, I must admit. Read the rest of this entry »
By Jake Crown, November 2008
Chemistry of Common Life, Matador Records
Fucked Up’s new album is their most intense record to date. Dare I say the most intense hardcore/punk record of the year? F’ed up is a dangerous band, in a sea of kids playing “punk” with makeup and women’s haircuts (remember Poison? Give it up). Read the rest of this entry »
By J. Maggio, November 2008
Acid Tongue, Warner Bros.
I was primed to take pleasure in this album; I enjoyed Jenny Lewis’ last CD, I really am fond of Rilo Kiley, and, to be honest, big breasts turn me on a lot. But this is a horrible CD only somewhat redeemed by the presence of Elvis Costello—who must also like big boobies, too—on its best track, “Carpetbaggers.” Read the rest of this entry »
By Jake Crown, November 2008
Creating Problems While Practising Solutions, Household Name Records
Milloy is a fast, catchy punk rock band from across the pond in Wakefield, England. They owe a lot to bands like Hot Water Music and Leatherface, but manage to sneak in a little of their own style. Read the rest of this entry »
By Fred Sowder, November 2008
How to Walk Away, Ye Olde Records
For former Blake Babies member Juliana Hatfield, the ease of making records seems pretty apparent. Since her solo debut Hey Babe in 1992, she has recorded 10 other records, not to mention her involvement with other projects. Read the rest of this entry »
