Short Reviews #3

I have seen four different movies in the past two weeks, and I know I won't get time to do full reviews of them. So here are some mini reviews of movies that I have seen in these past few weeks!

Rogue One
Rating: 4/5 Stars

This new Star Wars movie proved to be a load of fun, but not without its flaws. There were a lot of great things about this movie. One of them is several great characters. I absolutely loved Donnie Yen as Chirrut (who had a cool line in "I am one with the Force, the Force is one with me"), Wen Jiang as the awesome Baze and Alan Tudyk as the hilarious droid K-2SO. All these characters were great contributions to the movie. Though we didn't know much about them, they were very interesting to watch. Another great character is of course Darth Vader. He was in the movie for a sadly short time, but the scenes he was in were absolutely perfect (including one particular scene which I consider to be one of the best Star Wars moments ever). Another positive of this movie was how much weight the movie had. You felt that the mission that was being taken had serious weight to it; it was a story that needed to be told. There was definitely a darker tone to this movie in comparison to most other Star Wars movies, and it worked well. There were some other things about this movie that didn't work as well for me. Jyn Erso and Cassian are not particularly interesting main characters. I didn't really see why Forest Whitaker's character was needed, either. The beginning of the meanders a bit. The beginning also suffers from a very awkwardly done title screen and the abruptness of no opening crawl. Still, "Rogue One" is a worthy movie into the Star Wars universe, being more like what people were wanting the prequels to be.

Nocturnal Animals
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

This is one of the most interesting movies I've seen all year. I liked how there was one main story and then there was a story within a story. The themes of the story are also pretty intriguing in discussing revenge and love. There is also some pretty great criticism of modern art that I absolutely loved watching. The acting in this movie is top-notch. Amy Adams does great as Susan Morrow, a woman who covers up her sadness by being rich and surrounding herself with higher up people. You do feel for her, despite her not being a particularly good person. But the real standout performance (as usual) is Jake Gyllenhaal as Susan's ex-husband Edward Sheffield (he also plays Tony Hastings in the frame narrative). Michael Shannon also deserves a mention by putting his all into the no-holds barred cop Bobby Andes. I could tell he was having a lot of fun in playing that role, and I felt the character's power and menace in every moment he was screen. Another thing that works about the movie is its thriller/suspense elements. While Susan was reading this horrific story her husband had written, you could feel the tension and fear she was feeling inside. The story comes off as threatening in a way, and every time it cut back to Susan, you got the impression that maybe someone was watching her. There were some parts of this movie that didn't work. The beginning shot of the movie was just bizarre, and, while I get what it was trying to do, the weirdness still got the movie off to an odd start. Also, some of what the movie is saying about modern art comes off as a bit pretentious, because this movie, much like modern art, requires some interpreting. At the end of the day, you don't really know too much about either main character, as well. Still, this movie is one of the most unique watches I've had all year,and I never once lost interest, so that at least deserves a lot of merit.

 Moana
 Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

 Disney has released another classic movie that I think fits right in with the likes of "Aladdin", "Beauty and the Beast", and "The Hunchback of Notre Dame". So many things stand out about this movie. One of them is the wonderful, Pixar-level animation (John Lassetter helped produce this movie, so that explains a lot). The landscapes are absolutely gorgeous, and the water especially looks realistic and lifelike. The first 20 minutes of the movie have some of the best animation I've seen in a Disney movie. Another positive of the movie are the characters/voice actors. Moana is a refreshing main character who is instantaneously likeable. Her independence is inspiring, and she is very dynamic. She's probably one of my top 3 favorite princesses of all the Disney movie. It also helps that she's voice-acted by an actual Hawaiian, Auli'i Cravalho. Her voice work is great, and she also has a wonderful singing voice. Dwayne Johnson is awesome as Maui. Even though we've seen a character like this before in Disney movies, Johnson puts a refreshing spin on his character type. I couldn't picture anyone else voicing this character. The songs in this movie (written in part by Lin-Manuel Miranda) deserve mention as well. Almost all of them are pretty freaking awesome (with the exception of the out-of-place "Shiny"), especially "How Far I'll Go" and the extremely catchy "We Know the Way". There isn't a whole lot to complain about in this movie. I suppose that it's easy to see that Disney has a checklist of all the typical things that are supposed to be in a Disney princess movie (catchy songs, a funny animal sidekick, a likable but flawed character). Also, Tamatoa felt like an unneeded character. I didn't really get his presence; it felt totally out of left field. Otherwise, this is a superb Disney entry, and one that I'll be watching repeatedly for sure!

La La Land
Rating: 5/5 Stars

I'd heard great things about this movie, and it DID NOT disappoint. As someone who loves theatre and musicals, this movie is like a dream come true. This is one of the best musicals I've ever seen, and it deserves every award it's getting. Let's talk about our two leads, both of whom are equally awesome in their respective roles. Ryan Gosling as Sebastian makes for an excellent lead. He's hilarious and charming, and you really feel for him in his pursuit of following his dream. He also has a great singing voice, sounding particularly good in "City of Stars". The best performance of the movie is undoubtedly Emma Stone as Mia. Her character really feels like the one we're supposed to follow, as we see all the struggles she is going through. We feel frustrated and sad along with her when she doesn't get the roles she wants, and then we cheer for her when she makes progress. Stone's singing is excellent and emotional in all the right ways. This role may be Stone's best performance, and she has a lot of good work under her belt. There's also some fun moments from J.K. Simmons that are comedic gold. Gosling and Stone work perfectly off each other; I could feel their chemistry throughout the whole movie. It was easy to root for these two characters to be together, because whenever they were with each other, they were at their happiest. Another positive of this movie is just how beautiful it looks. Los Angeles has never looked more gorgeous with the way its cityscapes and landscapes are shot. The colors of the city and land also give the movie a dream-like feel, which works perfectly for the movies thematic arc of following your dreams. The way the lighting and camera work was done in the movie made it often feel like you were watching a theatrical performance, which put a huge smile on my face. Director Damien Chazelle clearly knows how to do musicals, because this movie was expertly directed, from the way the music numbers were shot (with appropriate amounts of camera cuts and long shots) to the pitch-perfect pacing of the movie, slowing down and speeding up when it needed to. I also loved how the movie was basically an ode to those who follow their dreams. It's a beautiful message that needs to be heard more often: follow your dreams no matter what the odds are. If you can't tell, I love this movie and everything about it. Please go see this movie; it's one that shouldn't be missed.

Top 10 Best Hit Songs of 2016

This year has been a slightly discouraging one in comparison to 2015. The pop charts this year felt more repetitive than ever, with a lot of top hit songs feeling like slow, tedious tracks that were hard to get through. The upbeat ones often verged on annoying, and it felt like some artists (such as Drake) were getting way too much exposure to the point that it was easy to burn out on just one artist. But, as someone who is trying to be more open-minded in the music world, I have found some songs on the pop chart that are actually good. So, here are my top 10 best hit songs for this year!

10. "Don't Let Me Down"- The Chainsmokers ft. Daya

 One thing is for sure: The Chainsmokers had quite a year. Their single "Closer" has been on charts for 19 weeks straight. That is quite a feat. I honestly don't think the song deserved that much exposure though, as it didn't sound like anything unique and Halsey is not a vocalist I care much for. But "Don't Let Me Down" surprised me. It's actually a pretty refreshing EDM song with some positive lyricism as well. Daya's strong and smooth vocals work consistently well with the backing beat. The drop is also interesting and danceable.

9. "Million Reasons"- Lady Gaga

Finally, a song that I've found by this artist that I think was deserving of being in the Hot 100. I've never been the biggest fan of Gaga, as I know that she is a talented singer, but instead has wasted her talents on cliched pop trends for years. That was the case until her release this year "Joanne". This album was a pleasant surprise from Gaga, as it used guitar very frequently, and Gaga didn't let her voice be bogged down by electronic flares and obnoxious lyricism. Most of the songs on this album utilized raw instrumentation, and Gaga's vocals actually sounded incredibly realistic too; it didn't seem like the studio interfered with them much. That's especially apparent on the touching single "Million Reasons". The song finds her praying to God to help her through a tough relationship ("I bow down to pray/I try to make the worst seem better/Lord, show me the way/To cut through all his worn out leather"). I've never felt that Gaga has been more sincere than in this song, and the backing acoustic guitar as well as Gaga really showing her vocal talent off only help to serve the sincerity.

8. "Cheap Thrills"- Sia

I'm glad that Sia has continued to get exposure in popular music. I feel like she's one of those artists that could take the trend of music in a different direction given time. This is evident in the plain old fun song "Cheap Thrills". Now the lyrics aren't really anything to write home about, but they do at least abandon the sentiment that drinking and money are the only ways to have fun in life: "But I don't need no money/As long as I can feel the beat/I don't need no money/As long as I keep dancing". It's refreshing to see an artist giving plenty of reason as to why people don't need materialistic things in order to have fun. Just dancing can be good enough. Yeah, it's a bit cheesy, but it brings the feel of 80's songs back, and it's obvious that's the inspiration Sia got based on her music video. So many songs that were trying to be fun failed, but this song did it while having a good message that didn't beat you over the head.

7. "All Time Low"- Jon Bellion

A lot of songs this year have used the same  word over and over to justify a "chorus". Every time, it came off as annoying and anger inducing. I must have heard work well over one thousand times this year, to my absolute displeasure. Bellion's single follows this trend, but it does it in a pretty inventive way. First off, the song is an honest look at someone who has been put in a pathetic state after a break-up. Bellion doesn't try to sugarcoat his emotions either, using strong words and metaphors to show his brokenness ("I, was the knight in shining armor in your movie/Would put your lips on mine and love the aftertaste/Now I'm a ghost, I call your name, you look right through me"). The chorus is where this song really sold me, though. It does repeat one word (low) over and over, but it just works. Instead of repeating it in the same vocal styling, Bellion manipulates the way he says "low" at several moments in  the track. The repetition of the word doesn't feel throwaway or wasteful either, as every time Bellion says the word, he puts some real emotion into it. Bellion has the formula to making a catchy song, and I can see him having more success in the future.

6. "False Alarm"- The Weeknd

I am not a big fan of The Weeknd in general. I find him to be one of the most arrogant posers in the music industry. His voice is good, but he undermines it by talking constantly about his stardom as well as explicitly detailing all his sexual escapades. The guy just seems to be full of himself in both his music as well as in real life. But I can't help it, I really enjoy "False Alarm". It has some intriguing verses which give a lot of great imagery about this girl who seems enticing but is really dangerous: "All red dress with the devil eyes/So obsessed with the camera lights/You love her, but you can't deny". The chorus feels huge and thrilling, especially when Abel lets loose this wild howl-like noise. The music video serves to add to the thrilling feel of this song. In fact, I recommend you watch the video along with the song, as it adds to the experience, and is one of the most impressive music videos I've seen all year. I'm glad this song has gotten popular off "Starboy", as it feels like one of the more interesting songs this artist has done.

5. "24k Magic"- Bruno Mars

Ok, let's get one thing out of the way: yes, this song is clearly building off of the success of "Uptown Funk". It has a very similar feel, from Bruno shout/singing his vocals, to the usage of big band instrumentation and lots of gang vocals. But still, the song does something that a lot of pop songs couldn't do this year: it is pure FUN,  nothing more, nothing less. The lyrics certainly do have Bruno Mars bragging about his wealth and what not, but knowing the other music this guy has made, the song feels more like an act where Bruno may even be poking fun at himself. It's clear this song isn't meant to be taken seriously. And still, it's done well. The big band sound really piqued my attention, and Bruno's vocals sound as awesome as they always have. He doesn't even have to really try, it seems, and the raw talent he has will still shine through nearly any song. This track is just irresistible, and one that will get ingrained in your head for sure.

4. "Cold Water"- Major Lazer ft. Justin Bieber and MO

I never thought I could find myself enjoying anything that Justin Bieber has been involved with. But he mildly sparked my interest with a few tracks from "Purpose" where he abandoned his formula of trying to appeal to just young teenage girls. This was the album where he was finally beginning to show some musical talent as well as some decent lyrics. But it was this song where I feel as though Justin Bieber has sounded at his best. He is really helped by the talented electronic group Major Lazer. Their talent shines through consistently on this song, and their presence never becomes overbearing in any way. The way they use electronics contribute rather than taking away from the emotion of the song. Bieber's voice effectively compliments the electronics, and he sounds truly sincere singing some admittedly good lyrics like "And if you feel you're sinking, I will jump right over/Into cold, cold water for you/And although time may take us into different places/I will still be patient with you". MO, a singer I've never heard from before, also has a nice contribution in the bridge of this song. I'd love to hear more from her for sure. This song has stayed on the pop chart for a really long time, but I never got tired of it if I heard it. In fact, I liked it more every time I listened to it.

3. "Adventure of a Lifetime"- Coldplay

Overall, I wasn't too big on Coldplay's newest album. Now, it wasn't in any way awful, but it couldn't compare to all the emotional highlights of "Ghost Stories". However, "Adventure of a Lifetime" is an absolutely irresistible song. Coldplay really uses the upbeat pop/rock tendencies of this track to their advantage, as the little guitar riff that is done several times in this song gets stuck in your head. That's a good thing, thankfully, as the riff sounds really good, and it put a smile on my face every time I heard it. The song feels legitimate in its expressions of simply living life to the fullest. It did feel like a breath of fresh air after lead singer Chris Martin had been drowned in so much sadness in "Ghost Stories". Out of all the songs on the album, this is the one I can recommend the most. It has a real sense of fun to it, and it doesn't take away from the band's talent.

2. "I Took a Pill in Ibiza"- Mike Posner (Seeb Remix)

From the first time I heard this song, I knew I was going to like it. After listening to it more and really dissecting how the lyrics worked with the remix, I came to love it. I know a lot of people have this argument that the remix version of the song really took away from the emotion of the old version. Let's first discuss what the song is talking about. Now, it is for sure that some people will see this as a fun, catchy, danceable song. And it certainly can be that if you're not paying attention. Look a little deeper, and this song is actually a very sad reflection on what fame has done to Posner. He says repeatedly "All I know are sad songs" because fame has made him lose family, his ability to be in a good relationship, or even really finding happiness in writing songs. All of this because of the empty highs he found in drinking, sex, and drug addiction. Posner is really warning people in this song that they "don't wanna get high" like him, because "you don't wanna ever step off that roller coaster/And be all alone". This is some of the most compelling lyricism of the year. You don't usually see songs like this getting attention. And that brings us back to the real question: is the reason why the remix is popular is because it is faster and more catchy? Partly, yes. But, I also think this song accentuates Posner's emotions better than the original. The original song feels very generic and boring, just a sad guy with processed vocals playing an acoustic guitar. The remix honestly feels more emotional, with the drop expressing feelings that Posner's vocals simply couldn't. I don't feel as though it's justifiable to say the sped up beat cheapens the song.  It makes it better, and if the song really is being danced to, that makes the tragedy of the song more apparent.

1. "Heathens" by twenty one pilots

Not only is this undoubtedly my favorite hit single of the year, it also happens to be one of my favorite songs of the year. Everything about this song works extremely well. The darkly cinematic feel of the song is seriously awesome and pretty chilling. Also, Tyler's vocals clash perfectly, especially as he makes his vocals sound creepy and mysterious in many parts. Where the song really excels is in its clever lyrics. Most people are only gonna see the lyrics at surface level, and that is fine when the song is used with "Suicide Squad". However, if you look deeper, you'll find the song is actually twenty one pilots discussing their own friends. With the band having gained so much popularity within just a year, it's clear that not only them but their fan base would have exposure. And, as one of those people who discovered the band a year ago, I can agree with many that the fan base of the band is not very attractive. They don't welcome people in, and are often very critical of them. They call new fans "fake", and it comes across as extremely hateful and pretentious. TOP have bravely addressed this topic, even putting themselves as partly to blame for their fans treatment of others: "We don't deal with outsiders very well/They say newcomers have a certain smell/Yeah, we have trust issues, not to mention/They say they can smell your intentions". The dark feel of the backing music in addition to Tyler's menacing vocal performance really accentuates the hateful things the Clique has said to other fans. It's really clever, and I think that a lot of people haven't noticed that. My favorite moment of the song is when there is a huge guitar riff along with a vocal distortion that says "watch it". It sounds so cool and is chilling. The song really explodes there, with the continuing use of the guitar riff as well as some awesome electronic effects. This is definitely one of the band's best songs they've ever done. I hope that TOP uses this sound more in the future!

"Arrival" Movie Review

By: James Southworth
Rating: 5/5 Stars

As far as this year has gone, there have been a lot of refreshing movies. Unfortunately, most of them have gone almost completely unnoticed. But one that was getting a surprising amount of buzz was the movie "Arrival". This surprised me, as independent films like this one rarely get this much attention. But, the movie did have a lot of big names acting. What piqued my interest even more was seeing that Denis Villeneuve was the director over this movie. This guy is incredibly talented, releasing some of the best movies I've ever seen such as "Prisoners", "Enemy", and my personal favorite by him "Sicario". So I was definitely excited for this movie. The basic premise of the movie is that aliens have invaded Earth. The military hires linguist Louise Banks (played by Amy Adams) and scientist Ian Donnelly (played by Jeremy Renner) to try and decipher why the aliens have come to our planet.

On the surface, this movie sounds deceptively simple. There have been a lot of different alien invasion movies, some pandering to audience expectations (like the popcorn flick "Independence Day") and others surprising audiences (such as "Signs"). I'm happy to say that "Arrival" was not at all what I was expecting it to be. If audiences are going in expecting an action flick with a lot of explosions and blood, then they're going to be disappointed. This film instead ends up being a quiet, intelligent, and compassionate contemplation on the human condition as well as time. The thematic arc of this movie is powerful, but it isn't hammered into your head, either. It lets you think about its message for yourself long after the film is over. Not only is this film different in its theme, but it also takes its time with establishing its style. The visuals of this movie are breathtaking. When I first saw how Villeneuve decided to depict the alien vessel, I was blown away. It looks frightening and fascinating at the same time, and the usage of some incredible fog effects adds to the whole look of it. The aliens were also depicted very creatively, not at all like I've seen them portrayed before. I won't spoil too much about their appearance, but they do come off as scary in their appearance but also oddly human in some intriguing ways.

Let's discuss in some more detail the thematic arc of this movie. Now some people are not really going to appreciate how the theme is presented. I will admit, long after seeing the movie I had to think about whether everything in the movie properly added up or not. Using time as a theme can be a very tricky thing, and if it's done wrong, it can ruin the basis of your whole movie. But the way Denis did it, I felt as though it worked. I was left with some questions as to whether I was interpreting the movie correctly or not. But, after considering it, I think that Villeneuve wanted the audience to be left with questions. That way the movie could continue to be discussed. The complexity of time is not something that can be answered so quickly, and this movie shows that concept over and over in immensely clever ways. In fact, time does not seem to matter so much to the characters as just appreciating the life you're a part of does. Too often, we as humans worry about time rather than just living our lives. "Arrival" touchingly suggests that maybe we don't have to consistently worry about our lives, but instead take things as they come. There's so much more that could be discussed in regards to this idea, but it would take way too much time. Another theme honed  in this movie is how language doesn't have to be a barrier; it can unite us. Louise talks over and over about how language has been the one thing that has been able to change the course of human history. It has been able to prevail over violent acts. Even the aliens seem to be able to connect in some way to the linguistics that Louise practices. This theme felt just as powerful as the theme of time, and it is something that can bring us all together. As someone who is a lover of language, Villeneuve talking about language in such a loving way really connected with me.

The acting in this movie only served to strengthen it. Every performance here was top-notch; no one felt like they were bringing the movie down. The clear best performance was Amy Adams as Louise Banks. This is easily the best performance of her acting career. She really plays this character in a touching way, giving this character a lot of compassion for everyone surrounding her, including the aliens. But what really sold me on Adam's performance was the vulnerability she gave to her character. I always felt as if Louise was quietly suffering throughout the movie (and when you see, the movie, you'll be able to sympathize with her reason), and for that reason, her humanity shone throughout the whole movie. When  Louise finally finds some happiness, even if the happiness is bittersweet, we fee relieved and happy for her. This character is so easy to connect to, as she shows all the potential that people can have. Jeremy Renner also gives a great performance as Ian Donnelly. Though this character didn't have quite as much complexity as Louise, Renner still gave this character a lot of likeability, especially in his humor and chemistry with Adams. He worked really well with her, and you were really rooting for the relationship between these two characters. Forest Whitaker as Colonel Weber has a Boston accent that takes some time getting used to, but he too gives a great performance. He does want to just kill the aliens, but once you understand this character, you can sympathize with his reasoning. He and Adams' character have an intriguing dichotomy, and while the movie refutes Webers' ideals about the human condition, it still gives his point of view validity, which is rare to see in a movie. Those are the three main performances of note, and there are plenty of other great side characters  in the movie that give superb performances as well.

"Arrival" is a surprising movie, but I say that in the best way possible. I have never seen an alien movie that has so much on its mind. It gives interesting complexity to its human and alien characters. The themes in this movie are beautifully compelling and easy to connect to. I can't  recommend this movie enough, as it is different from any other movie released this year. It won't have your typical blockbuster movie tendencies, and that's exactly what makes it look so good. With great acting, compelling themes, and beautiful visual style, you don't want to miss this movie. It may just be the best movie of the year!

Icon for Hire "You Can't Kill Us" Album Review

By: James Southworth
Rating: 2/5 Stars

Icon for Hire is a band that I've had a complicated history with. Their debut album, "Scripted", still remains to be one of my favorite debuts done by any band. Ariel's incredible vocals really show through on this album. Pretty much ever song has a great driving rock sound with some unique pop flare that works. There are many memorable songs on the album such as "Get Well", "Off With Her Head" (my personal favorite), and "Up in Flames". Their second album came out surrounding controversy about the band saying very explicitly they didn't want to be called a Christian band anymore. A lot of bands like to call themselves a band of Christians, but Ariel seemed to almost be rejecting of the faith entirely.  I didn't have a huge problem with that controversy. My biggest issue was that the album was a little bit disappointing. It did have the band's best song to date in "Critics and Cynics", as well as a few other fun tracks like "Pop Culture", "Counting Hearts", and "Nerves". But the album was not as good as their debut otherwise, having several cliched pop/rock tendencies, with some awkward rapping from Ariel. It wasn't entirely bad, but it wasn't entirely great, either.  I totally hated the band's post-record label debut single in 2015 called "Now You Know". It had a horrifying feminazi backbone. There is a hate-filled message tearing down men in and outside of the music industry. The song did not work for me at all, and seemed to be against what the band stood for previously. So, I was definitely hesitant going into IFH's new album, "You Can't Kill Us".

Unfortunately the negatives outweigh the positives frequently through this album, but let me get started with some positives. There are some gems in this album that shouldn't be missed. The opening track "Supposed to Be" combines what what best about the band's debut "Scripted" and their self-titled second release. Putting the best of those two releases together in one song makes for one of IFH's best songs to date. The track is pure fire, especially with its driving guitar rhythm, and Ariel's super talented vocals really belting out the lyrics with passion. The lyrics are very compelling as Ariel is asking in the perspective of another person who she's supposed to be without depression in her life: "Tell me who I’m supposed to be now/Make me better/I can’t stay halfway dead forever". A common theme of this album is rejecting the negativity you used to live with (Icon for Hire's negativity being their dispute with Tooth and Nail records, which made them go bankrupt), and trying to lift yourself up to a better place. That theme is repeated too much throughout this album, but it works at least in this song. The title track feels like it could fit right onto "Scripted", as it's the track that hits the hardest. The guitar riff is memorable, and Ariel's vocals still work excellently with the harder rock feel. "Under the Knife" is an emotional track that addresses people who cut. I could see the main message IFH were trying to bring across here more than any other track. This song felt honest, and I understood how it could connect with other people. Although I'm not usually a big fan of Ariel's rapping, her flow in this song works better than any other one on the album, because it feels like Ariel has a real passion for what she's talking about.

Unfortunately, those are the only tracks on this album that I feel I can recommend. Most of the other songs on here can range from filler to cringe worthy in both the musical and lyrical department. Let's get the unmemorable ones out of the way first; there's not much to say about them. I respect what IFH was trying to do with "Get Well II", but it simply can't compare to the more emotionally connecting original song. The song felt more like fan service than anything. The theme was the same as the original song (faking happiness because that's what everyone else is comfortable with), but it doesn't hold much weight. I didn't necessarily hate this song, but it didn't stick out. Another unmemorable song comes in "Invincible", which is as typical a pump-up song you can get. It tries to come across as big by being loud in the vocal and musical department, but that doesn't make for a good song. In fact, that's what a majority of the album suffers from: trying to make emotion from being loud. Other unmemorable tracks appear in "War" and "Too Loud" (which, ironically, uses technical effects to make Ariel's voice sound soft).

The rest of the tracks on this album are insufferable to me. "Demons" has an absolutely bizarre backing beat that does not work with the vocal performance. The content of the song is as generic as it gets, using demons as a metaphor for addictions. I know that IFH can be more creative than that. I don't get why they use the same stuff every other band is using if they're wanting to be such a different and edgy group. Pretentious self-praise appears in the song "Pulse", where Icon for Hire seems to put themselves on a pedestal above bands that associate with record labels. I get they're calling out Tooth and Nail for part of this song, but they seem to imply that the label stifles the creativity of literally EVERY band associated with them: "Stuck us in boxes, that’s where you want us/Cardboard is boring, we brought our matches /Stuck us in boxes, that’s where you want us/Cardboard is boring- look how it burns". I'm not gonna pretend that Tooth and Nail is flawless, but I think it's a little unwarranted for Icon for Hire to say Tooth and Nail has stuck all the bands associated with them in boxes when many bands have thrived under their label. The song also has a beginning electronic/drum pattern that reminds too much of "We Will Rock You" and Ariel repeats the word "pulse" way too much, stuttering the p's in an annoying way.

Even worse content appears in the extremely tedious song "The Magic", which has nothing of real redeemable value to it, with generic lyrics ("When you close your eyes/Somewhere are you still alive/Or do you feel, do you feel like you’re dead inside?"). The musicianship is not special; even Ariel's vocals couldn't save this song. "Happy Hurts" might be the most cringe worthy song. Where "Under the Knife" exceeded in addressing deep depression, this song fails in every way. The lyrics feel like they come right out of a diary entry- and I almost feel like that might be what IFH says was their purpose with the song, but that's not a good excuse. Also the way the words "happy hurts" are sung by Ariel feels awkward and forced. I think that Ariel believes she is being clever in this track with all the  puns she uses. But pretty much every line here comes across as something you'd read on a Tumblr post. I personally think this song is a bit of an insult to people dealing with depression, as it seems to imply that people with depression can find happiness out of their deep sadness, which makes no sense whatsoever. This song is frustrating, and is probably my least favorite track because of how pathetically it tries to tackle a mental disease. Sadness is a good thing, but not in excess. This song seems to validate that sadness should be a part of our daily lifestyle; that we should validate it. That type of mentality is not only wrong, it's not going to help a depressed person recover. Two more bad tracks appear in "You Were Wrong", which is yet another tiresome pop song where IFH is convincing themselves that they are an amazing and inventive band. Ariel's vocals also sound very whiny in this song, especially in the verses. Even more problematic is the song "Here We Are", which uses many pop cliches. The song drowns Ariel in some annoying vocal effects, which try to come off as being inspirational, but instead make Ariel's voice sound unbelievably processed.

I am at a crossroads here for "You Can't Kill Us". On one hand, I am glad that Icon for Hire broke free of what was apparently a bad record deal. I never got to know Tooth and Nail's side of the argument, and I've never heard of another negative story coming from this label, so I don't know who is to blame. On the other hand, I also think that Icon for Hire can be a little bit full of themselves. Yes, there are songs on this album that feel sincere. But then, there are others on here which are just drowned in cliches both musically and lyrically. I find it ironic that they call out other bands for being generic when  they seem to have adapted the generic tendencies of those groups in this release. I just think I'm gonna have to accept this Icon for Hire isn't for me anymore. I'm glad that they've been able to connect with fans (although I'm hoping people with depression don't adapt the ideals promoted by "Happy Hurts"), and I guess their music is exactly what they want to do now. Not all of this album is a loss, as there are some songs which show hints of IFH's talent from their debut.  However, for the most part this album is disappointing, generic, obnoxious, and self-absorbed.

Favorite Songs: "Supposed to Be", "Under the Knife", "You Can't Kill Us"
Least Favorite Songs: "Happy Hurts", "Here We Are", "Pulse", "You Were Wrong", "Demons", "The Magic"

"Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them" Movie Review

By: James Southworth
Rating: 4/5 Stars

When J.K. Rowling introduced the world to Harry Potter with "The Sorcerer's Stone", I'm sure she had no idea just how much of an influence this book series would have. If you haven't heard of the Harry Potter franchise, you have probably been living under a rock. All seven books have been number one bestsellers, and the movies based on the series have made billions of dollars all together. The series also has quite a passionate fan base, myself included. The characters of the Harry Potter world are incredibly memorable, as is the amazing story line about a young man coming into his own in a beautiful magical land. J.K. Rowling has now expanded her series even more with the movie "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them". This series takes place 70 years before any of the events in the Harry Potter series take place, and it takes place in America rather than Britain. The story revolves around Newt Scamander (played by Eddie Redmayne) who has been studying a variety of magical creatures, and in studying them, is compiling a book telling wizards how to treat them, as well as explaining how these creatures are not as dangerous as many would believe. Along the way he meets a Non-Mag/Muggle Kowalski (Dan Fogler), who unintentionally sets the beasts Newt has free. The two of them, along with a witch involved in America's magical government named Tina and her sister Queenie, set out to try and find these creatures. Meanwhile, the threat of a powerful wizard named Grindelwald looms, as well as an organization that is setting out to extinguish witches and wizards.

Now I'll be honest: upon watching the trailer for this movie, I was not impressed. The movie looked like it would abandon practical special effects in favor of excessive CGI, and the characters did not seem that interesting to me. The plot as it was given in the trailer also didn't look all that compelling. I am glad to say that this movie REALLY surprised me though. Let's start with some of the primary strengths of the movie. One is the writing, and that is due to J.K. Rowling being the writer of this movie. There's no way people can say this movie isn't what the author wanted, because Rowling had total control over this movie. Thankfully, her screenwriting talents are just as good as her novel-writing talents. She does a great job of moving this movie along at a smart pace, and she creates a new set of likeable and well-developed characters as well. Though I was a little worried about the special effects in the trailer, I had a totally different view of them while watching the movie. The CGI in this movie is very impressive, and all the creatures in the movie seem very lifelike. All the creatures presented in the movie are lovable in  their own way, especially the absolutely cute and delightful  bowtruckles. Another strength of this movie that should absolutely be commended is that it doesn't have to use the Harry Potter franchise as a crutch. In fact, this movie does a great job of standing on its own; it really is its own thing. Rest assured American Harry Potter fans will be delighted in seeing that the American magical world is just as fascinating as the British one. There are some moments in the movie which reference the Harry Potter franchise, such as mentioning Hogwarts a few times (as that was the school Newt attended), as well as having a cool implementation of the Deathly Hallows symbol. Those Easter eggs work well in the movie; they don't feel like they are forced at all, and are sure to satisfy Harry Potter fans.

Where this movie really stands on its feet is in its incredible cast. Eddie Redmayne is amazing as Newt Scamander. He really gives this character a lot of interesting aspects, making him a compassionate and sweet character. He also portrays this character as one who has a broken backstory that, while not expanded upon in this movie, I certainly would like to see discussed in one of the sequels. It's easy for the audience to attach to this character. I could totally root for him in his quest to try to get people to understand magical creatures. Another great performance comes from Katherine Waterson as Tina. She does a great job of portraying this witch's more rebellious traits, as well as giving her a tough but friendly demeanor. She and Redmayne worked well together, and their clashing personalities was always interesting to watch. Dan Fogler is a real highlight as the Non-Maj character Kowalski. This character was one that was basically an audience character, the one that didn't know anything that was happening. But he was a well-developed character, one that is extremely hilarious and easy to connect to and sympathize with. The ending of his story in this movie was a bittersweet. I hope to see more of him to come. The comic relief of this character is great, but where Fogler really sells his character is in the love he legitimately has for Newt and the rest of the magical people he follows around. The real standout performance for me out of this movie was Alison Sudol as Tina's sister Queenie. This character didn't start out as very interesting, just feeling like a love interest for Kowalski. But as the movie progressed, she became more interesting, having her own brand of humor. Something about the way Sudol portrayed Queenie made her look like she had more to her than met the eye. She wasn't a character that I really expected to be part of the magical world, but maybe that's why I like her so much. She's surprising and interesting. Some other great performances that shouldn't be forgotten are Colin Farrel's menacing portrayal of Graves and Samantha Morton really making Mary Lou a despicable character.

"Fantastic Beasts" is not without its faults. While Rowling's screenwriting is great, there are some points where it can really falter. One of the biggest problems of the movie is trying to shift between a lot of different plot lines. There was a really unnecessary political plot line that really felt like it connected to nothing at all. I still am trying to figure out what role it had to play in the movie besides having an admittedly exciting action sequence take place. The side plot of the anti-magical people was good, but it felt like it didn't need as much focus as Rowling gave it. Out of all of these plot lines comes a more prevalent problem in this movie: jarring tonal shifts. One thing that I've always loved about the Harry Potter franchise was how it logically shifted from the awe-struck wonder of the earlier movies to the darker tone of the later movies. This movie tries to combine those two, and it doesn't always work. One moment, you're watching Newt and Kowalski together experiencing all these amazing creatures, the next you're watching a woman abusing a child. While this problem wasn't something that weighed down the movie too much, it was still noticeable at points. Another slight problem of this movie was the pacing. Sometimes the movie was going way too fast, other times it felt like all was happening was an exposition dump. But that is more of a nitpick than anything.

Ultimately, I am happy to say that "Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them" was an unexpected surprise. It reminds a lot of the first two Harry Potter movies, which isn't a bad thing at all. This movie can stand independently of the films it's come from, which is a rare thing that can be said about a prequel. The movie also shows how America is just as magical as Britain. I can confidently say that I recommend this movie to any Harry Potter fan, new and old alike. Despite its flaws, there's still plenty to like about this movie; it's a fun ride. I will definitely be highly anticipating the upcoming sequels!

Thoughts on the 2016 Election Cycle

By: James Southworth

Don't get me wrong: I am SO incredibly thankful to live in a country where we are allowed to vote and express so many freedoms. America is a great place to be, but it is flawed. I am not a nationalist. I do not think America is or ever will be a perfect country. It's one to be proud of sure, but its flaws should also be addressed. That's why I'm talking about the 2016 Election Cycle today. I won't lie: it has been a hard year for me to keep a politically level head. I am usually the type of person who can understand where others are coming from when they say they are voting for a candidate that I am not voting for. When I was in high school, I initially expressed disdain at Obama being elected. But after watching him as president, I could understand why people wanted him in office. That wasn't the case this year. I don't understand how people could support such a racist, sexist, and all around unqualified person as Trump. I also don't understand how people could support someone as Hillary when there is evidence of criminal activity and other shady things. I don't like either main candidate this year. But, I've seen people this year be more passionate for their candidate than ever. That's not always a bad thing; it can lead to disaster, though. Here are a few things I've gathered from this election cycle.


1) Debate your points rather than insulting another person.

     The Facebook and Twitter political threads were atrocious this year. I've never seen so much name-calling, accusations, and treating of other people as sub-human. That never leads anywhere, especially on social media. It's nice that you can hide behind a computer and say whatever you want, but does that really mean you should? The worst kind of insults I saw were the passive aggressive ones, the ones were people thought they were being subtle by calling people's research invalid, or saying that the media has skewed their perspective- this came from both Trump and Hillary supporters, and it is just as bad with both sides.

    Of course, something like this is never going to get resolved. People will continue to insult one another no matter what, and it's during this election race that we've seen the worst of it. But I could see so much more productivity coming out of speaking your opinion with an open mind to trying to see another person's point of view, rather than just shut them down. We are all human. The candidate we choose doesn't automatically make us a more moral person, because both candidates have some form of immorality in them. So don't play like you have all the answers. Because you don't. That's the truth.

2) Do your research.
   
    As a citizen who is now able to vote, I know it's important that I find out where the contesting presidents stand on issues. I need to do research into the cold, hard facts that don't come from a biased media. The media is, in my opinion, in its least trustworthy state ever. There are some that do their job better than others, but no matter what, they have been trying to influence the election in some way. Fox News has been so clearly for Trump, it's actually sort of disgusting and saddening. The same can be said for people who use out of context soundbites from the democratically leaning "NowThis" and "Occupy Democrats". I hate to be a cynic, but if you are using media places like these, are you really making an educated vote? It would behoove everyone more if they used sites such as Politifacts. Because, I am SO tired of seeing Facebook posts with NowThis articles that paint Hillary in just one way, or Trump supporters using memes with baseless statements put on them. If you're going to vote, being informed is key, and that means going beyond getting your opinions from any sort of news site.

3) Focus on the issues rather than trash talking.

    This can be said just as much about the candidates as it can about us. I remember watching the final debate and seeing Clinton and Trump in quite the insult match which ended in these two incredible zingers: "Trump is a puppet." "No, I'm not a puppet; you're a puppet." It was just wonderful to watch two grown adults using playground-level attacks to get under each other's skin. But for all the bad the candidates did with insulting each other, supporters of both candidates have been much worse. An elderly Trump supporter was obnoxiously yelled at and insulted at an Obama rally (fortunately, Obama had the good grace to stop the booing and encouraged everyone to just vote for who they thought was the better candidate; bravo to him for that); Hillary supporters have been sadly attacked at Trump rallies (and there are some claims that Hillary and her crew sent out people to purposefully incite these attacks). No matter what, the amount of stuff like this that has been going on is inexcusable. The issues are what is important; they are what will help us determine who should be president. Insulting only leads to people being angry in an already angry year. People's concerns are legitimate. Listen to them, and the anger has a greater likelihood of dissipating. Of course, if you can't get through to this person, it might be wise to just give up. Egging them on and pressing them will lead to worse things.

4) You don't have to choose "the lesser of two evils".

     I had this mindset earlier in the year, thinking "Ok, when election comes around, I will just bite my tongue and vote for Hillary because Trump shouldn't be in office". The more that thought kept on going through my mind, and more I hated even considering it. Then I started reading some compelling articles on how it is possible for a third party to win if there are the right amount of votes. Therefore, if you are voting for someone like Gary Johnson, you are NOT wasting your vote. Despite what you may think, your vote does matter, and that's something even Clinton and Trump agree on. Once again, though, if you do vote third party, be sure to research their stances on issues. Because if you don't agree with them then you shouldn't have to vote for them either. Using a lesser of two evils approach is honestly harmful, because you're admitting your decision is still detrimental to your base morality. It'll put you at a better peace of mind if you choose a candidate who you feel lines up with what you believe.

5) Vote!

     Please, people, vote. It's a right given to us, and it shouldn't be taken for granted. If you don't vote, then you will have no right to complain about the results. Voting not only gives you more validity in your opinions on the election, it also makes you an active participator in an important event. That's all there needs to be said about that.

Top 5 Best and Worst Characters of "American Horror Story"

By: James Southworth

FX's original show "American Horror Story" created by Ryan Murphy has quite an ambitious concept. Each season of the show takes place in different time periods and settings. In each of these settings, the show tries to thrill, intrigue, and most of all scare you with all of the events and ideas it presents. A lot of times the scares reflect the human condition rather than being entirely supernatural. For example, "Hotel" had clear messages about the effects of drug addiction. I do really enjoy this show. But it is far from perfect. A large result of that can be some of the characters the show presents. But the excellence of the show can also be a result of the characters. Sometimes we see characters with compelling arcs; other times they can really feel like cardboard cutouts. So, for this piece, I will be counting down my five favorite and least favorite characters throughout the whole of AHS. Feel free to give your own opinions! (There will be spoilers)

Favorite Characters

5. Dr. Arthur Arden (James Cromwell)- Asylum

You will be seeing another character from "Asylum" for my favorites list, as "Asylum" is my favorite season, and I believe it hosts some of the most interesting characters out of any of the seasons. This guy is seriously one of the most frightening characters to behold in this whole season; I honestly found him more frightening in some ways than the main antagonist of the show, Dr. Thredson. The fact that the guy is an undercover Nazi who just loves to torture others and has practically free reign over what he can do to the mostly blameless patients in the Asylum is frightening to say the least. Every time I saw him on screen I was distinctly unsettled. But there was also something compelling about him as a villain, especially in the fact that he was always cool and collected no matter what horrible acts he committed. It really showed that he believed in what he was doing wholeheartedly. He's one of the most evil characters on the show, but I couldn't help but enjoy watching every time he was on screen.

4. Marie Laveau (Coven)- Angela Bassett

Angela Bassett has become an awesome part of the ensemble cast, but her appearance in Coven is still the best. Much like "Hotel", Bassett helps make better what can often be a weaker season. She plays this voodoo witch who has been victim to racism and is on the lookout for revenge against the Coven who has always oppressed her own. Bassett always seems to play her characters with a real sense of powerful strength and determination to them. More than anything she has fun with them. This can be seen in Marie as she puts a dark comedic edge to her that ultimately makes the character feel dynamic. I rooted for this character more than any other out of this not so great season, and a lot of that was due to Angela's great performance. I have noticed that Murphy sometimes writes his side characters better than his main characters, and this is a great example of that.

3. Tate Langdon (Murder House)- Evan Peters

Peters is one of three actors that has been consistently a part of AHS, and I am always interested to see what type of character he'll be playing next. But still my favorite role by him (and it will most likely remain this way) is his very first role in murder house, where he plays a mentally unstable high school boy turned school shooter. It might sound hard to empathize with a person like this, but Murphy has a certain skill for making the audience have sympathy for those who we often consider horrible. Peters shows his character as one who is incredibly broken and messed up, in need of redemption. His redemption seems to be in the girl he befriends and eventually falls in love with, Violet Harmon. Peters doesn't play his character like a horrible, pathetic person though; Tate has a sense of humor, an inherent kindness in him, and never feels like a shallow individual. But the darker side of him can be very frightening because of the way Peters plays the character. It's a very multi-dimensional role and makes the first season that much stronger.

2. Liz Taylor (Hotel)- Denis O'Hare

O'Hare gives a bravura performance in the transgender character Liz Taylor. He really helps elevate what is otherwise easily the weakest season in the AHS catalog. It seemed at the beginning of this show that O'Hare was going to be once again a more minor character. But instead, Murphy wisely chooses to give him a starring role for the first time, and Liz turns into almost a main character near the end of the show. In a season full of deplorable characters who are all awful people in their own right, Liz is a breath of fresh air, as she is the only character in this season that (at least for most of it) doesn't kill anyone, and instead is a loving, compassionate character who is very accepting of others but often not very confident in herself. I was always rooting for this character to be able to discover and eventually accept herself. After the midpoint of this season, she becomes one of the strongest and most self-assured characters of the show, and this is where Denis's acting skills really shine, as he makes Liz fierce while still having her golden heart. I don't want to give too much else away about this character. If you want to watch "Hotel" for anything, watch it for this amazing character.

1. Sister Jude Martin (Asylum)- Jessica Lange

Lange is my undeniable favorite out of all the the cast of AHS. Every character she plays she always makes extremely believable and three-dimensional. But the role out of all of hers that is the clear best comes in the nun she plays in Asylum. Murphy has a sometimes obvious, one-dimensional distaste for religion. As a Christian, it can be infuriating to see how he portrays Christianity, like in "Freak Show" where he has a "Christian" mother abandoning her son because he is a sin to God based on something he can't avoid, or in "Hotel", where a serial killer justifies his killings based on the Ten Commandments. Murphy can be about as subtle as Stephen King when it comes to being anti-religion. But, for "Asylum", it actually turned out that a more compelling Christian was created in Lange. She does start off as a pretty horrible person, as she emotionally abuses the patients and even her own nuns. But we see a more interesting side to her when in an interesting twist of events she becomes a mental patient after claiming to have witnessed one of her nuns being possessed by a demon (which she is telling the truth on). We see why now this character may have been not such a great Christian- because her faith had constantly been twisted as she had been oppressed by others her whole life. The priest who she is in love with perverted her view of how a Christian could be. Once she realizes this priest is a virus to her, she becomes someone who does feel like they actually do love God, even if they have questions. The best moment of this character comes in a powerful monologue that Lange delivers about how broken she is to her patients who have no idea what she's talking about. It's an equally heartbreaking and powerful moment.

Least Favorite Characters

5. Kyle Spencer (Coven)- Evan Peters

It was somewhat insulting to watch Peters reduced to a zombie-like creation for almost a whole season. As the show started, I thought we were going to get to see Murphy tearing down what a frat-boy stereotype. But, just when that is about to get started, Peters has a spell put on him that turns him into a creature that can only speak seemingly in grunts and sexual advances. This guy is a talented actor, but he could NOT pull off this role. His movements did not feel connected, his expressions were always blank. There was really nothing to this character that made me feel like I should care for him. I hated that Murphy wanted to put Peters in a role like this, as it was clearly not within the guy's acting strengths. This is easily his weakest role to date, and will probably remain to be that way.

4. Shelley (Asylum)- Chloe Sevigny

Maybe it's because I find Sevigny to be a freaking boring actress, but I did not think that this actress matched this role of a sex addict at all. The lines that she delivered did not feel very convincing. I just did not feel she created any sympathy out of her character either, as she just seemed to take all of the intrigue out of the room whenever she was on the screen. She felt like a wall whenever another actor attempted to make a connection to her. I never got the feeling she had any particular objective to go after. There was nothing here. Luckily, she was not one of the bigger parts of Asylum, so she did not put too much of a damper on it.

3. Detective Jon Lowe (Hotel)- Wes Bentley

Jon is one of the least interesting serial killers I've ever watched. This season could've been from almost any other person's perspective and it would've been totally ok. But instead, Murphy decided to make Lowe the main character for a big portion of the season, and that did not work at all. He was extremely boring for most all of it, mainly just an empty canvas for the audience to project themselves upon so they could feel more a part of the show. He never seemed to have any real personality to him, which is what made it so weird that he turned out to be a serial killer. It was a twist I was expecting, but it still felt like a cheap move. His motivations for killing were a little all over the place- I couldn't decide whether it was for "justice" or some perverted religious agenda (once again- nice subtlety Murphy). He became a little more intriguing once he remembered he was a killer, but by the time that happened it was too late. I couldn't find a reason why I should care that he find redemption; I more felt he deserved punishment.

2. Violet Harmon (Murder House)- Taissa Farmiga

In a season full of great characters, Violet was the only one who felt like she conformed to horror stereotypes. It was hard to say which was worse between the character that Taissa plays in Coven versus the one she plays in this season. Taissa is probably my least favorite of the ensemble cast, as with both of the seasons she's in, she seems to play the same exact character- an emo, whiny teenager who feels as though she's entitled to everything even though she already has a lot of good things going on. But Violet did become the clearer worse of the two, as she embodied a lot more of the cliches of the rebellious teenager type- argues all the time with her parents, smokes/takes drugs, lashes out in a very violent way against her bullies, falls in love with a shady individual. Literally all the check marks are ticked off. The only thing that lifted her up was the rest of the cast making her look better as an actor. Otherwise, this character is a weak, shallow, cardboard cut-out, partly the fault of Murphy's writing, partly the fault of Farmiga's weak acting.

1. The Countess (Hotel)- Lady Gaga

"Coven" and "Hotel" are, in my opinion, the two weakest seasons of AHS. But their weaknesses are for differing reasons. "Coven" has a weak, generic story, but for the most part, the acting really shines through because of the very talented cast. "Hotel" often has an interesting story, but even some of the most talented cast members seemed to be weaker in their acting skills than usual. But there is one person in the cast of this season who I can safely say is not very talented in the acting department, and that is Lady Gaga. I'm not saying her acting is bad because I dislike her music. Those two things are not related. While I will give Gaga the credit that she certainly tries, her acting capabilities just do not reach to the character she plays. The Countess is clearly a character Lange would of played, as besides Jon Lowe, The Countess is pretty much the main character. She is a vampire who also happens to be a mother as well as the leader of Hotel Cortez. She has what could be an interesting backstory about being in love with two people at the same time but losing both of them. But anything that could be interesting about this character is lost because Gaga's acting skills are only surface level. It's not like anything she does is really cringe-worthy, it's more just boring and predictable. She plays a vampire in the most typical way possible: a seductive individual who is deceptive and cunning. There is nothing innovative besides the flashy, but often-times ridiculous-looking, clothing Gaga wears. I really wanted to like Gaga, and I can tell she could be a good actor with more time. However, a role of this weight was just not for her. The character was instead one who I could never sympathize for because of how many people she killed and how entirely ungrateful she was of everyone around  her. Murphy did seem to have a feminist idea going for her, like she couldn't be controlled by any man, but she came across as the most extreme type of feminazi out there, a murderous one at that. I hated this character so much; I couldn't get behind her motivations and I couldn't even find her interesting as a villain.

And there you have it! What are YOUR favorite and least favorite characters of the AHS franchise?

10 Great Songs for Halloween

by: James Southworth

It's hard to believe, but Halloween is already on the way! This is easily one of my favorite holidays, mainly because I love creepy things. Horror movies are one of my favorite genres to watch, and they become even more fun on Halloween (countdown of my favorite horror movies coming on Halloween day!). But oftentimes people associate songs just as much with Halloween, if not more, than the movies they're part of. Who can forget the crazy string arrangement of the "Psycho" theme, the campy fun of "Ghostbusters", or the absolutely unsettling crescendo of clashing sounds in the "Insidious" intro? There's a lot of memorable horrifying music out there for sure. Today I've decided to challenge myself to name off ten songs that aren't just for this season of scares; however they still feel like they work for the Halloween spirit (I will break my rule one time for the number 1 song though). Sometimes I do feel like all those iconic themes can become overexposed and tiring. So why not name some more unconventional ones to add to the playlist?

10. "The Darkest Part" by RED

This song feels just right for the Halloween spirit. It starts off with a quietly unsettling string arrangement, and Barnes's vocals come in distorted and creepy. The theme of this song is perfect as well, as it is discussing the idea of not wanting someone to see your more corrupt side. What really sells this song, though, is the amazing music video. The video has Halloween aesthetic all over it, especially with the gorgeous red and orange leaves, as well as these frightening masked figures that are representations of the darker parts of our selves. The song's subject is deep, but chilling things should have weight to them.

9. "MNSTR" by Crown the Empire

There are a lot of songs that bands have made surrounding the theme of monsters, but I feel like this song not only did a good job at addressing the idea of a monster lyrically ("I am the ghost in the shadow/I am the fear of the dark/I am the murderer of apathy/An angel that's fallen"), but it also nails the atmosphere. The song starts off with a lot of menace as the unclean vocalist is practically spitting out his words over an effective guitar riff. The song builds and builds until it explodes, and leads into a guitar riff that sounds like it could be in "Frankenstein". In fact, thematically, this song does remind of that play, especially with how  theatrical and over-the-top the song is. It's a fun listen and is sure to get you into the Halloween spirit.

8. "Turn Your Back and Run" by Demon Hunter

This song gives me chills every time I listen to it. The song starts with this very distorted guitar riff which transitions into some of the most guttural growls that Ryan Clark has done. Even the rare singing moments in this song feel very off. The lyrics in this song give off some frightening imagery of their own ("A small price to bleed and give you everything that you want/Dancing with the spirit, giving heart to pump a dirty veil/Leaving with a scar, a uniform to bruise a perfect stain"). Those lines have even more weight considering they're talking about the very real consequences of what temptation can do. Where this song really gets its horror feel is in the very creepy choir. This choir really does sound like it belongs on a "Halloween Noises" compilation. The song ends off with a keyboard that sounds out of tune in just the right way to make you have goosebumps.

7. "Doomed" by Bring Me the Horizon

This is an odd song for BMTH, as it is a moody electronic piece with none of their signature screams, but it happens to be one of my favorites by them just because it gives off its mood so effectively. The electronics in this song are an intriguing thing to behold, as they give off this somber, depressing vibe that was a little creepy to listen to the first time I heard it. Then we get into Oliver's vocals, which are very have a monotone feel to them. The repetition of "you can have my heart" adds to the depressing vibe of this song. Where the Halloween feel of this song really comes in is the end of this song, where there's this amalgamation of human noises and more unsettling electronic elements. The song has a fall vibe to it, and it can work quite effectively for a Halloween playlist.

6. "Insane" by Korn

Easily the newest addition on my list, this song is a delightful return to form by Korn. I would say their whole dystopian themed album "The Serenity of Suffering" could be the soundtrack to a horror movie because of all of the themes it tackles. But "Insane" might be the best one to use, as this song just reeks of horror themes. Lead singer Jonathan Davis seems to go into the mindset of an insane person, someone who is so used to their insanity that it has become the new normal to them. Now things that are deemed as "normal" to them are insane. Davis gives this insane person further characterization by making his voice sometimes sound off-tune with the guitars. It's done in just a way to make one feel that something could be behind them. This is yet another song where I recommend you watch the music video. It has that Halloween aesthetic to it, and it adds another dimension to this awesome song.

5. "The Phantom of the Opera" by Andrew Lloyd Weber

I know that a lot of people do associate this song with Halloween, but I do not think the original intention of this musical was just to be for the season of Halloween. Nevertheless, what makes this song work is, obviously, its theatricality. The Phantom and Christine's vocals sound beautiful yet ghost-like in this song, as Christine expresses how the Phantom has gained this odd control over her, while the Phantom says his power over her will continue to grow. What really makes this song shine is the keyboard, as it plays this arrangement of notes that will stick in your memory because it makes you feel unsettled. Also the final part where Christine is going higher and higher in her vocal range while the Phantom continues to darkly tell her to "keep singing" ends the song on what can only be interpreted as the Phantom having some sort of power over her. This is easily the highlight of the whole musical, and it made this romance all the more compelling, while also being frightening.

4. "No Place Like London" by Stephen Sondheim

This song comes from the musical "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street". Now, on that title alone, you might think this whole musical is Halloween themed. I would debate it is not, as this musical goes up when it is not the Fall season. But the content of this song, which is talking about all the awful people that live in London, is horrific to say the least. The image of London being a "great black pit" is a frightening one. The song certainly sounds beautiful, but it also has odd time signatures, and the different vocals always offset each other, adding to the feeling of being unsettled. I would honestly recommend giving any song off this musical a listen, as it will put you in the mood for Halloween instantly.

3. "Heathens" by Twenty One Pilots

I think it's pretty easy to see why this song gives me a lot of Halloween vibes. The lyrics alone make you feel like you can't trust anyone ("You're lovin' on the psychopath sitting next to you/You're lovin' on the murderer sitting next to you...All my friends are heathens take it slow"). Like almost any TOP song, this track does have a deeper meaning, as it is addressing the band's huge fans not giving warm welcomes to any new fans who only came knew TOP because of their successful "Blurryface" album. But that metaphor gives this song some even more weight and depth, as it is talking about real things and real people. The creepy feel of the song is accentuated by Tyler's vocals having a more epic, dark feel to them, as well as later in the song when a distorted voice says "watch it" over a guitar riff. This song is superb, and it can work for Halloween perfectly.

2. "Nightmare" by Avenged Sevenfold

Man, I love this song. It's what got me into A7X, and it's easily one of my favorite tracks by them. I enjoy listening to this song more than ever around Halloween. Something about Synyster's beginning guitar riff made me instantly think of a horror movie. The song becomes even better when Shadows has this extended "yeah" that he belts out along with a laugh that does sound like it could come from a famous horror villain. The song has an unavoidable Halloween feel as the band is talking about nightmares. The music video seems to be an ode to horror movies, and it works for what the song sounds like. I heard this song being played while I was going to a haunted attraction, and it added to my enjoyment of being there rather than taking away from it. So this song definitely works.

1. "This is Halloween" Cover by Marilyn Manson

I did say my number one song would be the only one that had explicit ties to this holiday. But really, I can't resist. No matter how much attention this cover gets, to me it will never be enough. It's pure fun and it actually builds off what the original Tim Burton version established rather than just copying it. I love the guitar riffs here, as they give off all the spooky Halloween sounds that the original song had. But the real star of the show here is clearly Manson's voice work. I love how he changes his voice with every different character he portrays. He could've easily taken the easy route and used his standard voice, but instead he decided to have fun and embrace his theatrical side. It makes this song that much more of a fun listen, and is probably one of the best covers of any song I've ever heard. Go check it out now. With this song and all the rest, you should be more than ready for October 31st!

Disciple "Long Live the Rebels" Album Review

 

By: James Southworth
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Christian metal/hard rock band Disciple has been around for an impressive twenty four years- that is more than most Christian rock acts or any band in general lasts. What makes it more impressive is that the band has consistently changed its lineup, except for one very important person- lead singer Kevin Young. Without him, Disciple would've been broken up long ago, as he is the one who has kept this band going. This guy, and in effect, every member a part of Disciple have affected me very personally. They were the band that got me back into music after a time of being out of it. My favorite song of all time (which is by them) "Dear X" was the first time I came to the realization my sins don't have to define me, and it continues to be a philosophy I live by today. I owe a lot to them to say the least. Their consistently awesome musicianship that has hardly ever deteriorated since their sophomore release "This Might Sting a Little" have made them my favorite band of all time. This year Disciple has come out with yet another release, "Long Live the Rebels". How is it compared to their other releases? Well, let me just say, this release surprised me a lot because it showed this over two decade old band still willing to experiment with their style while keeping their central sound and superb lyricism in tact.

The album begins off in a great way with the epic opener "First Love". This one doesn't pack quite the same huge punch that openers like "Radical" or "Outlaws" may have. But this opener works  well in a different way, as it feels big in scale at nearly five minutes long. It also boasts a great chorus which has Young begging God to take him back to where his love for God was raw and real: "You can have it all, each part of me/The saint and the sinner/Are ready to return to my first love/Take me back". This song is one that has grown on me more and more each listen. I love the excellent musicianship it shows as well as how Kevin's vocals are allowed to shine in new ways. Disciple hasn't attempted an epic feeling song before, but they pull it off here with talent. After this song, we move into more familiar Disciple territory with the title track. But familiar Disciple territory includes hard hitting guitar work, intense vocals from Young, a driving drum beat, and some defiantly fun war themed lyrics. Those elements are all here, and they still work as effectively as ever. Somehow Disciple is able to use this tried and true formula and still make it feel fresh. I found myself quickly singing along to the chorus. "Secret Weapon" is easily one of the most experimental songs on this album, not sounding like any other Disciple song I've heard before, even going so far as to incorporate some electronic elements. Guitarist Josiah Prince takes some of the vocals for the chorus, and his voice complements Kevin's quite well. The chorus of this song has a driving feel, making this one of the most interesting pump-up choruses on the album.

"Erase" is easily one of my favorite songs off this album, as it is an emotionally effective anthem that tells the listener God doesn't define us by our past: "When you say you're not okay/My heart it breaks to heal your pain/I will erase your yesterday,you'll be okay/My love is greater than your mistakes". This song really hit me with that awesome reminder. The song is lifted even more by the memorable guitar riff as well as the wonderful climax the song reaches in its vocally dominant bridge. We then get what is in my opinion the best song on the album, "Come My Way". When I first heard this song, I had to make sure I was still listening to Disciple, as I'd never heard the band do a song like this before. The song is a slow-burning rock tune which builds and builds until it reaches several amazing climax points. Young and Prince trade off vocals more frequently in this song, and it makes the song even more interesting to listen to; it makes it feel bigger and more epic as well. Anticipation keeps on building as Young asks "Are you gonna come my way" which goes into an awesome chorus. There is also quite the incredible guitar solo which is some of the best guitar work I've ever heard from the band (that's saying something, because guitar work has always been good for this group). The song then ends on a surprisingly good subdued note. This tune is very much so a musical journey, and it is one of the best songs of the year; I'm absolutely obsessed with it. After this song comes a track which is reminiscent of famous Disciple battle themed songs like "Game On" and "321", known as "Underdog Fight Song", plays. While I did not care for this song at first, it has certainly grown in me. It's easy to head bang to this song with the chaotic drumming and guitar work. To top it all off, Young's vocals feel like a throwback to the rap/screaming style he did in "This Might Sting a Little". This song screams nostalgia, but also feels new in other ways. The chorus of this song sticks, and I couldn't help but smile as Young encourages listeners to tell those who doubted them "It's been my pleasure proving you wrong".

The great songs continue with "Spirit Fire", which finds Disciple experimenting once again, this time with a pop/rock vibe that still has the band's classic intensity. The "woah"s used in the song don't feel forced and instead work to increase the truly catchy feel of the chorus. The song does break the pop/rock feel as Young lets loose one of his delightful screams that effectively transitions back to a chorus that ends off the song in a big way. We then get "Forever Starts Today", which shows the band maturely talking about how the words we say to others on earth have an eternal significance, so our words should always reflect God's love to others. While not one of the bigger highlights, this one certainly has a lot of lyrical content to chew on. Much like "First Love", "Black Hole" continues to grow on me more and more, especially with its awesome guitar intro. The song has Jesus comparing the scars on his hands to black holes saying "You can project all your pain onto me" and all the pain we may have in life will disappear into Him as if it never existed. For that intriguing metaphor alone, this song is a huge highlight among all the the other great tracks on here. "Spinning" has Young contemplating on the idea that while one person in the world may be suffering, another will be celebrating; and yet, the world will "just keep spinning around". He just wishes for the world to stop spinning so that he could comprehend all of the complications of it, but the Young maturely realizes that only God will have the answers to all of the chaos the world offers. "Long Live the Rebels" ends off in excellent form with another highlight in the simplistic ballad "Empty Grave". For the most part, only an acoustic guitar, piano, and Kevin Young are in this track, and it makes for a beautiful song about finding redemption from death through God. What elevates this song above some of the others though, is the backing vocals by Joyce Martin Sanders. Her and Young actually complement each other nicely. It makes for yet another more experimental track on this album, as Disciple have never had a female featured vocalist. I hope they try this again, as it works to their favor here.

The only negative I could find on this album is "God Is With Us", which is just so clearly pandered for radio. It also awkwardly rhymes "us" with "us", which felt a little cheap coming from this band. But the chorus is still somewhat catchy, and the song is more likeable than most radio friendly singles. Overall "Long Live the Rebels" is a superb album, and in my opinion even wins out over the preceding albums "O God Save Us All" and "Attack". This is their best album since "Horseshoes and Handgrenades" (still my favorite album by Disciple as well as my favorite album of all time), which is an impressive feat. This album tells me that, thankfully, Disciple shows no signs of quitting any time soon. In fact, it still feels like they are just getting started on what they can deliver. This album surprised me with all of the experimentation it did, twisting Disciple's signature sound into trying out things like pop/electronic rock, slow-burning rockers, and even featuring vocals that aren't Young's. Pretty much every time it worked in the band's favor. This album is easily one of my favorites of the year, and will most assuredly make my top 10 year end list!

Favorite Songs: "Come My Way", "Erase", "Black Hole", "Empty Grave", "First Love", "Long Live The Rebels", "Spinning"
Least Favorite Songs: "God Is With Us"