Laptop Hunters: Homeless Frank

If you are a Mac fan like myself, you are probably tired of the newest Windows ad campaign. If you aren’t familiar with these ads, basically a camera follows a potential laptop buyer around to a few stores searching for a laptop under a certain price-point. They pick PCs because they are cheaper and don’t want to pay for the good-looks of the Apple brand. According to recent laptop hunter Giampaolo, Macs are “about aesthetics more than they are about computing power.” Ok, based on what? Most likely the fact that he’s cheap. Poor Lauren thinks she’s not “cool enough” for a Mac even though she looks like the most typical coffeehouse hipster you’d see re-organizing their Broken Social Scene albums in iTunes. I have gone on more of a rant than I planned, but I’ll say this: You get what you pay for. Spend a little more money and you get a powerful, gorgeous computer with an operating system that simply works. Even PC users hate Windows so I don’t even know why there is such a great debate. Anyway, I saw this video spoofing the PC Laptop Hunters commercials and thought it was hilarious.

This Town Needs Guns

I discovered This Town Needs Guns today on PureVolume.com hidden between the overwhelming amount of typical powerpop electronica and bubblegum hardcore. It’s a rare find on the site. Their indie/math rock sound incorporates intricate guitars and bass lines with vocals that are intellectual and emotional. If you are a fan of Foals and/or Minus The Bear, then you have to give them a shot. Their CD “Animals” is only $5.99 on iTunes. Check out their video for “Panda”:

Hyper Crush – The Arcade

This is the jam. I can’t believe I missed this for a whole year.

Q1 2009 New Music Review

For the most part, 2009 has been pretty good to me when it comes to new music.

I developed a new and improved Flash audio player with my favorite songs so far in 2009. Enjoy the added functionality of file loading and progress bars, volume control, time counter, and reliable album art display. It will open in a new window because WordPress still wont allow Flash to be embedded into blog posts, which is whack. (I am aware it is possible to embed Flash with plugins, but it shouldn’t be such a hassle) Come on WordPress, give your users what they want! Security issues? Whatever.

	A Day To Remember: Homesick   Released: February 3, 2009   I thought their last CD was good, but Homesick takes it to a new level. It’s a great new pop-mosh album that I’ve been listening to over and over. It’s super-catchy and can be in-your-face hardcore as well. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Favorite Songs: The Downfall Of Us All – I’m Made Of Wax, Larry, What Are You Made Of? – Have Faith In Me
	Two Tongues: Two Tongues   Released: February 3, 2009 The Supergroup featuring Max Bemis and Chris Conley. I love Say Anything. I love Saves The Day. I don’t love Two Tongues, but it is really good. Maybe over time I’ll come to love it as well. ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ Favorite Songs: If I Could Make You Do Things – Back Against The Wall – Crawl
	VersaEmerge: VersaEmerge   Released: February 3, 2009 I thought this band had a lot of potential until I heard this. “In Pursuing Design” from their last EP is a really cool song, but this took a turn for the worse. I think Fueled by Ramen likes ruining their bands with unnecessary bells, horns, and strings. ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ Favorite Song: The Hider
	The Sleeping: What It Takes   Released: February 17, 2009 The first time I listened to this CD, I was really distracted by the electric organ that seems to be on every song, but now I’m used to it. I don’t like it as much as much as Questions And Answers. It has a different feel but it’s still pretty good. ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ Favorite Songs: Bomb The World – You’ll Be A Corpse Before Your Time – He Only Sees Where He Walks
	Thursday: Common Existence   Released: February 17, 2009 I never really listened to A City By The Light Divided or Kill The House Lights. I just couldn’t get into them. Common Existence has rekindled the love for Thursday I first discovered on Full Collapse. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Favorite Songs: Friends In The Armed Forces – Last Call – Circuits Of Fever
	Canibus-Central Presents: Mixtape Vol.4: The Frequen-C   Released: March 10, 2009 A great compilation of underground rap executively produced by my good friend Askani’ Son. Check out his MySpace Music link on the right. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Favorite Songs: The Shift – Sketchbook – Pop Song
	New Found Glory: Not Without A Fight   Released: March 10, 2009 New Found Glory has released a new CD every year since Coming Home in 2006. Since 1997 they’ve released seven full-lengths and three EPs, and I’ve never been disappointed. NFG returns to their old sound similar to Sticks And Stones while keeping the maturity of Coming Home. I love their pop-punk bridges and breakdowns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Favorite Songs: Right Where We Left Off – Such A Mess – Listen To Your Friends
	Various Artists: Punk Goes Pop Vol. 2   Released: March 10, 2009 All of the tracks on any Punk Goes [Insert Genre Here] are hit or miss. I like 5 tracks on this CD, a few are ok at best, the rest are just garbage. “Over My Head” is the standout track by far. ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ Favorite Songs: Over My Head (Cable Car) by A Day To Remember – Disturbia by The Cab – Apologize by Silverstein
	The Wonder Years: Distances   Released: March 10, 2009 I am so excited for a new full-length from these guys! Not more EPs!! And this EP isn’t nearly as good as their last (which I love). Only two songs (it is a split) but they are pretty good. ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ Favorite Songs: Don’t Open the Fridge! – An Elegy for Baby Blue
	Vanna: A New Hope   Released: March 24, 2009 Vanna was my favorite band that I discovered in 2007. I rocked out to Curses in the gym and in the car more than any other album. A New Hope has a more polished sound and offers more melody within a familiar heavy foundation. I’ve been listening to it non-stop. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Favorite Songs: Safe To Say – We Are Nameless – Into Hell’s Mouth We March
	Silverstein: A Shipwreck In The Sand   Released: March 31st, 2009 If you like Silverstein, you should like this CD too. It just came out, so I haven’t really given it a good listen. No surprises. Very poppy hardcore or screamo or whatever the kids are calling it these days. Liam from Cancer Bats makes an appearance! ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ Favorite Songs: Vices – A Great Fire – American Dream
	Strung Out: Prototypes and Painkillers   Released: March 31st, 2009 A collection of B-Sides and rarities from one of my favorite bands! It is a great way to re-connect to old songs I’ve lost over the years, and I even discovered a new favorite! However, they are not the greatest in terms of sound quality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ Favorite Songs: More Than Words – Novacain – Your Worst Mistake

Flight Control for iPhone

I purchased a new iPhone game today! It’s only the second time I’ve ever actually paid for an app. I saw it on AppVee and I was immediately drawn to it. The basic idea of the game is to land various kinds of airplanes on their respected runways. You touch and drag to draw the flight pattern of each aircraft so they will land safely without crashing into any other planes or helicopters. It’s pretty simple but really fun. The look and feel of Flight Control really makes you want to pick it up and play. The vintage look reminds me of the old Gameboy Advance game Advance Wars, and the soundtrack is jazzy and enjoyable. For $.99 the price is more than fair, and is well worth it. Check out the video review below.

“Daily” Sketch 002

This took 2 episodes of Seinfeld to complete. Season 2.

Fight Night Round 4

I am super excited for this game! I have loved all the versions of Fight Night, and this looks like it will be the best ever. EA Sports admits that FNR3 had its problems, and they say that all the issues have been resolved. If so, this game will be amazing. I loved the replays, entrances, ring girls, and gameplay of FNR2. The whole experience before and after the fight really made the game for me. It was so fun to be able to pick which ring girl accompanied you and which song would be playing as you made your way to the ring. I’d love for Round 4 to be more like that, but as long as the replays look and sound better, you can have ring girls escort you to the ring, and if the soundtrack is good (or better yet, a custom soundtrack) I’ll be happy. I can’t wait to create myself, build my entourage, and rise through the ranks of a fake boxing league.

“Daily” Sketch 001

After days and days of reading daily sketch blogs (see links on right) and evenings of sitting and watching Entourage on DVD, I figured I could do something constructive with my time. I started my own daily sketches, which I am sure will be far from daily. I drew this tonight while watching The Grand. It was OK. Afterwards, I watched more Entourage.

I need to work on faces.

SIGNS by Patrick Hughes

Here is a short film that was forwarded to me by Rian, my independent film associate. It’s SIGNS by Patrick Hughes. It really makes me want to make another movie one day. Check it out, it’s 12 minutes.

Maybe next year

Thanks to all those who gave up on their New Year’s resolution. The gym is much less crowded because of you.