Reviews

Album Review – The Way Back, “EP”

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WCB Music Writer Megan Purazrang There are times in music when an electronic-based sound is nothing more than a misfit, and lacks decent substance other than noise. However this is not the case for The Way Back, an electronic rock band consisting of Alex Ellis and Jeff Kinney (former member of Roanoke and The Brisbanes) as well as Daniel Cole and Paul Herman. The band’s EP is only a taste of the potential the full-length album will most likely hold when they begin 2013 in the studio. The electronic rock band consisting of Alex Ellis and Jeff Kinney (former member of Roanoke and The Brisbanes) as well as Daniel Cole and Paul Herman blends several genres giving an authentically created feel including: hip hop, pop, rock and even hints of experimental instrumental rhythms.“Messages Get Lost” carries a pop-rock pulse with detailed percussion guiding the lyrics through. “Out of Control” takes a more laid back ballad feel, bringing to mind a more mellow boy-band less straining version of that seen in the unique vocal techniques of Linkin’ Park lead singer Chester Bennington. In the song “How It Has To Be” the band shines with the perfect batch of electronic beats and smooth vocals that vibrate with an R&B/hip hop style that has the potential to be a hit.

Reviews

Movie Review- So, Where’s All This Activity That’s Supposed to be in ‘Paranormal Activity 4’?

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April Barkley WCB Movie Writer Director- Henry Joost and Ariel SchulmanStudio- Room 101Starring- Katie Featherston, Kathryn Newton,Brady AllenRating- 1.5 out 4 starsThe now famous paranormal movie franchise has released their newest movie: Paranormal Activity 4. This series is starting to feel like the Saw movies. They keep making more and more but downgrading on the scares. The first couple Paranormal Activity movies were awesome. They were scary, had great plots, and made you excited for the next installment.

Reviews

Album Review – Fun, “Some Nights”

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Megan PurazrangWCB Music WriterFun, Some NightsReleased – February 14, 2012Label – Fueled by RamenProducers- Jeff Bhasker, Emile Haynie, Jake One Indie-rock today is a completely blended genre. Finding an album that can stand uniquely alone is borderline impossible. “Some Nights” the second record from the native NYC indie-rock trio fun. will appease listeners for the first half and leave them exhausted and bored by the end. In the debut (“Aim and Ignite” 2009) the band was clearly experimenting with its sound.

Reviews

Movie Review- A Few Dead Ends With ‘House at the End of the Street’

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April BarkleyWCB Movie Writer Director- Mark TonderaiStudio- FilmNation EntertainmentStarring- Jennifer Lawrence,Max Thieriot, Gil Bellows,Elisabeth ShueRating: 2 out of 4 stars “The Hunger Games” Jennifer Lawrence isn’t fighting to the death in the woods anymore but she is fighting to survive. “House at the End of the Street” does have a few dead ends though. This new horror and thriller movie provides a few scares but it does lack a few twists and turns that should have been there.“House at the End of the Street” follows Elissa Cassidy (Jennifer Lawrence) who moves to a new town with her mother. Their new home is spacious, attractive, set in the woods and for some reason, very reasonably priced. Mom and daughter learn that they live next door to a house where a young girl had murdered her parents.

Reviews

Album Review- Green Day, “Uno!”

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Megan PurazrangWCB Music Writer Green Day Uno!Released – September 24, 2012Label – RepriseProducers – Rob Cavello, Green Day Green Day “Uno!” (Reprise) For those who loved Green Day in the beginning and lost faith in the band along the way – have no hesitation. The younger years that were seen during the hit record “Dookie” (1994) with songs such as “Basketcase” are back with the first album released of the trilogy, “Uno!” on September 24, 2012. The second record, “Dos!,” will be released on Nov. 13 and the third “Tre!” will be released on Jan. 15.

Reviews

Album Review – Young the Giant, “Young the Giant”

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Megan PurazrangWCB Music Writer Young the Giant, Young the GiantReleased- October 26, 2010Label – RoadrunnerProducer – Joe Chicarelli, Young the Giant Young the Giant’s self-titled debut is a refreshing indie/alternative rock discovery. The music is mellow yet inviting, and tends to reflect emotions that we feel in everyday life. The record begins with “Apartment,” a song with smooth and easy listening guitar strumming that has the head bouncing along within seconds. The percussion is light and distinctive throughout. In comparison to slower indie style like the work of Mumford and Sons, the sound of Young the Giant is much more lively, but still shares the same talent level.

Reviews

Album Review – Jason Mraz, “Love Is A Four Letter Word”

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Megan PurazrangWCB Music WriterJason MrazLove Is A Four Letter WordReleased – April 13, 2012Producer – Joe Chiccarelli, Rick Nowels              In April of this year, Jason Mraz released his newest endeavor and fourth studio album titled “Love Is A Four Letter Word.” It followed the success of his last record released in 2008, “We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.”             As we experienced with the previous album, Mraz can serve the mainstream well, and although he challenges his common ground this time around, he still delivers tunes with his beloved pop-rock style.             The intro “Freedom Song” is filled with jazz elements, including brass instrumentation. The melody is hip and the back-up vocals hold nostalgic blues moments.

Reviews

Movie Review- ‘The Possession’ is Your Cliche Exorcist Movie; With a Few Twists

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April Barkley WCB Movie Writer  Director-Ole BornedalProduced by Sam RaimiStudio-Ghost House PicturesStarring-Natasha Calis,Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Kyra SedgwickRating-3 out of 4 stars When people hear that the newest horror flick coming to theaters is about possession, people count down the days until they get to see it, theaters are packed, and popcorn starts to fly as people jump and watch little girls become possessed. The newest possession movie, The Possession is based on a true story, or so they say but I would put money on it that the entire hour and a half was completely exaggerated. Every horror film these days is “based on a true story.” How many psycho ghosts and demons could possibly be out there?It resembles almost every cliché possession movie ever released by following a young girl who starts acting oddly, becomes belligerent, curses in every sentence, then her family figures out she’s possessed, and find someone to perform an exorcism. So while it possesses, pun intended, cliché horror story lines, it does have unique plot points and does provide scary scenes.  It follows divorced couple Clyde (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and Stephanie Brenek (Kyra Sedgwick) and their two daughters. At a yard sale, the youngest daughter Em (Natasha Calis) has her eye set on a wooden box with ancient carvings on it.

Reviews

A Garage Sale Classic- ‘A*P*E’ Movie Review

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April Barkley WCB Movie Writer Director- Paul LederStarring- Rod Arrants, Alex Nicol,Joanna KernsSummertime means garage sales, which means old VHS tapes for 50 cents. Recently, I saw a movie called A*P*Eon VHS at one of the garage sales and the cover looked like a King Kong type movie. I had to have it. I watched it the other night and I have to say that was the best 50 cents I have ever spent. It’s an American/South Korean movie from in 1976 and directed by Paul Leder.