Media Junkie

Now It's On [Shameless Plug]

It should be pretty obvious if you read this blog that I am not a professional writer.  I'm just a fan of movies and music, and I've been told I have a modicum of ability, so I decided to share my opinions and hopefully expose people to new things.

To that end, I'd like to point out that my older brother, who is responsible for the majority of my musical taste, also maintains his own blog.  Named for a Grandaddy song, Now It's On is dedicated mostly to indepedent music and offers up for more content in that field than my own.  Unlike me, he has also had some professional writing experience (albeit for smaller sports papers, not music-related).

If you're looking for some honest reviews that don't contain obscure references to hipper, more underground bands than the one being reviewed and Radiohead comparisons (*cough*Pitchfork*cough*), check it out via the sidebar (left) or the handy link in this post. 

Media Junkie on Twitter!

I have a confession: I am also a Twitter junkie.

In my blogging absence, Twitter filled the void for posting small updates about life, my thoughts on new movies and music, and jokes.  Mostly jokes, and mostly crass ones.

In order to keep this blog a bit more serious, however, I decided to create a separate account just for Media Junkie.  There you'll find links to new articles when they're posted, as well as news blurbs for the types of things you'd normally find on the site (e.g. - music, movie, and book-related).  I may post interesting pictures from time to time, including some live shots from concerts I attend, and other minutiae to keep it from being nothing more than redirects to the blog. 

This also serves the purpose of helping add a little more content to the blog without the need to type up long-winded posts for every little thing.  You can follow me using the handy link to the right!

-Matt A.

The Reruns Are Over: We're Back!

You may have noticed some signs of life here at Media Junkie.  I'm happy to report that after a too-long hiatus, I plan to keep this - as well as my sister blog, Player 1 Start! - alive!

My readership, which had grown steadily in 2009, may have dwindled, but I have always maintained that I blog for my own entertainment first and foremost.  Writing is in my blood; it's something I love to do.  Writing about the things I love - movies, music, video games, and books - just seems natural. 

Ironically, 2010 - the year that saw the longest stretch without an update - was nothing short of a perfect year.  This stands in stark contrast to 2009, where my house was destroyed by a fire and I lost my father to an unexpected, massive heart attack, yet I maintained this blog. 

What made 2010 so great?  Well, the music, the movies, the games, and my newly rekindled love of reading, for starters.  But most of all, it was my girlfriend.  Yes, it's true, geeks can get girlfriends, and my new relationship kept me busy.  There were times where I thought about shutting down my blogs entirely, but I always knew I'd miss them if they were gone.  I never intended to quit outright.  I never stopped seeing movies, listening to new music, reading, playing games, or enjoying writing, but my time was occupied with other things that were simply more important.

That relationship is over a year old now and is still as strong as it was in the beginning, but now that we've gotten past the whirlwind early stages and settled in, my free time has returned (albeit, still somewhat sparingly).  As a result, now seems as good a time as any to restart my love affair with blogging.

I plan to write some reviews for 2010 albums and movies, just to catch up.  Alas, the numerous concerts I saw last year will more than likely go undocumented, as the memories have faded significantly (which is why I like writing recaps of the shows to begin with), but I will continue the tradition this year, and I may do a larger, all-inclusive concert recap to capture some of the highlights of last year.  I may even go back and post my 10 favorite albums of 2010, just to keep that tradition alive.

Oh, and to answer the most oft-asked question I've received: Unfortunately, I do not know if or when All Thieves' album will be released.  Sorry, folks.  I wish I had a better answer, but with the recent news that dance music luminaries Faithless have called it quits, I'm hoping that producer Rollo realizes he still has this album sitting on his shelf.

In the meantime, there's plenty of other great music to keep you occupied, and you can read plenty of reviews over at my brother's blog, Now It's On.  Here's to new content in 2011!  Thanks for staying tuned in!

-Matt A.

The Juliets hold a Parade! [Free Music]

Detroit's own The Juliets have just announced today that their debut album, entitled Parade, is currently available.  Best of all, it's free until March 13th!

To get your hands on one of my most anticipated albums of 2010, simply head on over to the group's Band Camp site here.  The album is available in a variety of formats, including lossless for the music snobs like myself!

In addition to an upcoming performance at the Metro Times Hamtramck blowout next Friday, the band will celebrate the album's release with a show at the Majestic Cafe in Detroit on March 12th.  I will most certainly be in attendance. 

The Juliets have gained widespread critical acclaim throughout the Metro Detroit area for their terrifically moody sound, commonly referred to as baroque pop.  The five piece outfit consists of Jeremy Freer (Guitar, Piano, Vocals), Kaylan Mitchell (Cello, Vocals), Sarah Myers (Violin, Vocals), Kip Donlon (Bass, Vocals), and Scott Masson (Drums, Vocals). 

Knowing that at least two of the bandmembers have read this blog, I have to ask for the collectors: Will there be a physical CD available?  Those of us who still appreciate music would love a copy complete with artwork and whatnot.

For everyone else, get to downloading!

Arms & Sleepers Need Your Help!

As I've said many times in the past, this blog is nothing more than a labor of love.  It's something I do for fun and for the thrill of introducing people to new music, particularly that outside of the mainstream.  Not because I'm some elitist who thinks he knows better than everybody else, but because there is simply so much good music out there that never gets heard and deserves to be.  If you limit yourself to only what is popular or only one style of music, you are missing out on so much.

Minutes after listening to The American Dollars' newest full-length LP, Atlas, I purchased the entire catalog from the band's official website, including the EP From The Inland Sea, a split recording with Massachusetts downtempo electronic artists Arms & Sleepers.

Upon hearing the CD, I took it upon myself to check out more of A&S's music, and wouldn't you know it, I loved what I heard - purchasing their catalog in various formats as well. 

Those who love good, atmospheric chill out music would certainly do well to check out Arms & Sleepers, whose last CD, Matador, would have easily made my 10 Best Albums list in 2009 had I heard it in time to write the feature.  Now the band needs your help!

Being self-financed, independent musicians is expensive, so if you like what you hear why not head over to their KickStarter page and donate?  It'll net you some nifty goodies, ranging from rare import CDs, digital downloads, or band merch.  At the time of this writing, there are 25 days to go and they're only $268 away from achieving their goal of $2,500, which will allow the band to continue touring and making music for you and I to enjoy.

If you'd like to hear what the band has to offer, just head to their MySpace page and listen to the beautiful tune "The Architekt", or the title track from Matador, or one of the other numerous tracks on their player.  Any one of them should be enough to convince you the band is worth it.

I feel I should point out that I am in no way affiliated with the band.  I only discovered their music roughly a week ago, but as a fan I would like nothing more than to see them continue writing, producing, and recording music, as well as get the opportunity to see them live some day.  

Thanks for reading, and remember to support the artists you love by purchasing their music!

Temporary Hiatus

You may have noticed that my article about James Cameron's Avatar preview did not appear.  Nor did my reviews of the last Summer Pledge concert I attended, the latest comedy from Mike Judge, Extract, or any CD reviews.

Fear not, dear reader(s), Media Junkie is not dead. 

As some of you may remember, earlier this year my family was the victim of a house fire.  That was almost 7 months ago.  A lot has happened in that time and the house is in the final stages of completion.  My free time, which is what I dedicate to this blog, is more sparse while we're out shopping for new furniture, appliances, and necessities.  

Updates may still trickle through, and they will once again become more steady throughout October.  I am also working on several other projects, both personal and public, that will receive the attention they deserve after we have moved back into our real house. 

This is an exciting time for my family and I, but I have not forgotten how much I love writing reviews and sharing my opinion with others.  Media Junkie isn't going away any time soon, and when it returns there will most likely be an overabundance of articles and reviews that I've had on the backburner for some time now, as well as the promised new feature, Approved For All Audiences.

Thanks to those who loyally read this blog!  See you soon!
-Matt A.

New Feature: Approved For All Audiences

It's time to unveil a new feature here at Media Junkie.  It's one I've debated doing for a long time, but I'm just going to run with it.

There are plenty of movie sites out there on the internet.  If you want the latest scoops, you go to Ain't It Cool News, if you want exhaustive information you go to the Internet Movie Database, and if you want trailers, you go to Apple.  Therefore, it seemed kind of redundant to post trailers for films I'm looking forward to at this blog, but then I remembered - this is MY blog.

I'm not trying to compete with those sites.  I love those sites and visit them on a daily basis.  I'm not trying to be the biggest music/movie blog on the internet or paint myself as an authoritative voice.  I'm just a nerd with a passion for these forms of entertainment, a passion for writing, and too much free time on my hands.  Media Junkie is a fun side project for me, so why shouldn't I write short pieces about upcoming features and their trailers? 

With that in mind, I'm going to begin sharing the films I'm excited to see in the feature Approved For All Audiences, and I'm going to kick things off later this weekend with my write-up of the 16 minute preview of James Cameron's new 3D science fiction epic, Avatar, I witnessed yesterday before attending a late screening of Inglourious Basterds.

Nobody is going to come to this blog to see the latest trailers, but that isn't the point.  The point is, was, and always will be to share my enthusiasm for the things I love, and if anybody enjoys reading them, that's just a bonus. 

Friendly Reminder

Need something to do on a Friday night?

Live in the Metro Detroit area?

Love music?

Got $5?

Then come on down to Mr. Sandman's Quadruple Album Release Prom at the Crofoot Ballroom in Pontiac tomorrow!

It's all ages and there will be free cookies.  Who can say no to that, right?

Oh, and for the adults, there will be $2 spiked punch.

Be sure to dress up in your finest prom attire (or at least your closest approximation if you didn't attend your real prom) and be ready to sing da-da-das.  Come on, you know you want to.

Doors are at 8 PM. 

A full write-up will be available here, complete with pictures, on Saturday for those who didn't attend and want to see what they missed.

The Silent Years Detail EP Release Show

It seems like forever since I've been able to attend a live show from The Silent Years.  They've been busy touring the United States to promote their new EP, Let Go, along with Jukebox the Ghost and friend Craig Owens' band Chiodos. 

But all that is going to change on June 5th when The Silent Years will host an EP release show at the Crofoot Ballroom in Pontiac, Mich. that will include fellow Detroiters Deastro, Manna & Quail, Bars of Gold, and The Summer Pledge.  Even better, tickets are only $5! 

To make sure this show is going to be one to remember, The Silent Years have decided to make it a special theme show.  As lead singer Josh Epstein has said in the past, he wants the band's shows to be an experience, and that's why they're encouraging everyone to come dressed up in their finest prom attire.  Yes, relive all those awkward high school memories, or pretend you had them if you skipped your prom like I did.  A King and Queen will even be selected by random ballot. 

You can check out the complete event details right here at the Crofoot's website.

Really, what have you got to lose?  Haven't I jammed The Silent Years down your throat enough?  Just go and see them already!  It's only $5 for an evening of entertainment!  It's cheaper than a movie, lasts longer, you don't have to be quiet, there's free cookies and $2 spiked punch, and if it really is like prom night, you may even get lucky after the show!  How much more convincing do you need? 

Oh, did I mention it's a Friday night?  You're gonna be out anyway, right?

I know I'll be there, and I hope any Metro Detroiters reading this find their way to the Crofoot on June 5th as well. 

(Oh, and any friends who may be interested, I just might be willing to cover your entry fee so you really have no excuse.)

The Envy Corps ready new EP

One of the biggest highlights of 2008 was attending a concert at The Magic Stick on October 18th.  This show was significant for several reasons, not the least of which was that it was the first of many Silent Years concerts I would attend, but also because it introduced me to another great band known as The Envy Corps.

The Envy Corps' last full-length LP, Dwell, made #5 on my Top 10 Albums of 2008, and in retrospect it probably should have been higher.  In recent months, Dwell has been a constant fixture in my music rotation.  Hardly a day has gone by where I haven't listened to either a handful of songs, or the album in its entirety.  I obviously held the album in high regard when I wrote the original review, and my opinion of it has only improved since then.

As a result, I recently retroactively added Dwell the Media Junkie's Essential Albums - records I feel every true music fan should check out, as well as being personal favorites of mine.

The Envy Corps will release their new EP, entitled Kid Gloves, on June 9th on Tempo Club Records, the band's own newly formed label.  In addition, fans in Iowa have a chance to attend the band's EP release show on June 4th at Vaudemille Mews.  Tickets are on sale now via Iowatix for $10 a piece, but you can also net yourself a copy of the new EP by spending $14.

Featuring five brand new songs, Kid Gloves is a forerunner to their new full-length, which is to be called Palawan Scops/I Hate My Host Family.  The tracklisting is as follows:

1. "Briar-Rose"
2. "Screen Test"
3. "The Cursing Choir"
4. "Kid Gloves"
5. "The Dissenter"

You can pre-order the EP now at Smash Clothing, as well as purchase three fancy Envy Corps shirts (all of which I have just ordered myself).

Look for a review of Kid Gloves here, just as soon as I can get my greedy little hands on it!  And for God's sake, guys, please come to Detroit on your next tour!