(more…)

While it is sad that Brian Westbrook will officially no longer be an Eagle come March 5th, it makes sense. Both from a football standpoint and a financial standpoint, the decision to part ways with one of the team’s most electrifying players of all-time makes sense. Still, some hack writers and controversy seeking radio hosts find ways to rip the Eagles front office and the organization as a whole.

Stephen A. Smith, Fox Sports Radio personality and long time columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer, not only finds a way to turn this story into a Reid/Banner/Lurie bash session, but also find ways to play the race card and cite some of the best decisions the team has made in the past decade as bad ones. He is not only a poor writer, but also a poor excuse for a so-called “sports analyst”.

You can read for yourself his poor attempt at turning a time to celebrate the past 8 years of service by a great running back into a pointed attack at the Eagles organization. If you don’t want to waste your time, here are the highlights…

First, he basically states that once a player is 30, they are gone… he glazes over production and makes it sound like the Eagles front office couldn’t care less about what you do on the field. How about 33 year old Darren Howard, a defensive end that plays all four spots in the defensive line rotation? Could it be that he’s still here because he has been productive, while Westbrook has shown significant signs of wearing down? Don’t like that example? Let’s talk about one of these guys instead then: Juqua Parker, Sheldon Brown, or perhaps… Donovan McNabb. We’ll come back to the age issue later, as his foot goes further into his mouth towards the end of the piece.

Next, he asks for some help speaking sense to the Birds power structure. “Who does he summon?” you ask. None other than Don King. We’ll just move on.

Third, he makes the ridiculous assertion that the team doesn’t care about winning the Superbowl. He must be sharing some meals with Angelo Cataldi, because he comes across just as blatantly stupid as the WIP Morning Show Host (maybe it’s just a morning show host thing). He goes as far as to quote a “noted NFL agent”. [sarcasm]Unnamed sources always display great journalism…[/sarcasm]

Then, he comes back to the age thing. He goes as far as to comment on the Eagles letting Hugh Douglas, Jeremiah Trotter, Bobby Taylor, Jon Runyan, Tra Thomas, and Troy Vincent go. While he also mentions Brian Dawkins, whose departure can be greatly debated, how many of the others listed here went on to GREATNESS after they left. Trotter was a third string backer for the Bucs; Douglas got a big paycheck to be one of the worst starting ends in the NFL on Jacksonville; Runyan played a few games with the Chargers and is now out of football and pursuing politics; Tra Thomas lost his job very quickly this past season; Vincent had no other football success and was not as good as the young guys who took his job when he left; Bobby Taylor: see Troy Vincent… do we get the point? The Eagles usually make good decisions when it comes to seeing when a player is on their way out. This regime has been right about these decisions in nearly every case.

Finally, he brings up ideas to help the team. One of these ideas is to bring in Brandon Marshall to “help” McNabb. Did he not notice that the Eagles had a solid young 1-2-3 at WR already? I won’t even get into his suggestion that the Panthers would be even remotely interested in breaking up their dynamic duo of backs. Peppers? Maybe, but who hasn’t suggested that? Chester Taylor? Sure, sounds like a great option for 3rd downs. But, wow… just wow.

Looking at this piece it makes me wonder how he ever got a national sports coverage job… or even a local gig. One could say that I’m no better a writer than he, but I’m a blogger who does this for my own enjoyment; he actually gets PAID for this filth.

It’s a shame that just a day or two after I was considering writing about how national media are on the national scene because they prove to be bigger than just their local markets, I must question this assertion. How can this guy be on the same national scene as sportstalk greats like Colin Cowherd and Scott Van Pelt? While most of these guys prove their worth daily, Smith’s attempts to turn a story into controversy and finger pointing come across as the attempts of a 14 year old Dallas Cowboys fan.

I received this month’s issue of Spin a few days ago and there was a fun interview with Alkaline Trio’s Matt Skiba. My favorite answer came when he was asked, “Did you ever have the Robert Smith ‘do?”

No, I never had hair like that. I did want to get my hair like Huey Lewis when I was a kid, though. I asked my mom if I could get my hair cut like his and she said, “You can’t get your hair cut like that.” And I said, “Why not?” And she said, “‘Cause you’ll look like an asshole.” True story. So I have to thank her for never having had a mullet.

So, with this in mind, I pose the following question… If you could give any one famous person and one hairdo, who and what?

BONUS: Rock a nice Photoshopped image of your new creation!

So, rather than a Question of the Week this week, I thought, “Let’s try a poll!”

Didn’t like any of the poll plug-ins for WP that I found, so I went with a survey plug-in instead. Anyway, check out the survey/poll thingy and leave your input… it’s only 2 quick questions (check the tags for my answer to question 2). Without further ado…

Let the games begin… I promise to watch less than a total of 1 hour… but bring it on! I’ll display the results on Sunday (unless I can figure out how to display results in real time with the plug-in before then)!

My editor contacted me about some errors in yesterday’s piece about Mercury Radio Theater. He received several angry emails and also received information form Buddy Mercury that was meant to be included in the piece. Due to my editor’s expressed orders, I composed the following apology letter to Buddy and the MRT crew:

Dear Sir or Madam:

I apologize for my impatience on releasing this piece. Due to my premature release (LOL), there was a great deal of information that was not included in the article. Here is summation of that information.

The current lineup of the band includes Buddy, as well as bassist Jason Todd (One 21, Kill Hands) and drummer Joe Getz (ninedigitnumber, The Psalters, Left Lucy). I’ve been informed that this lineup has been intact for sometime and will remain so (barring catastrophic Apocalyptic scenarios, such as the inevitable takeover of the world by zombies).

Additionally, the upcoming project is about a geriatric werewolf named Kilroy. This Kilroy is not to be confused with Kilroy of former Styx fame. The album is set to be released next month on vinyl. You should also check back here and at the band’s website for information regarding the band write and performing score for multiple film projects.

One of the complaints received by my editor was in regards to my apparent problems in remembering things correctly… “Correction: Night of the Haunted Asylum was the one Kurt wasn’t involved in (Kurt was in Kansas City at that point, leaving Woods, Jeff and myself to create that episode)”. This comment author has prompted me to drive back into my feeble mind to re-remember the conversation I previously had with Buddy… as I now recall, I mentioned that my two favorite episodes were Manhattan Zombie Massacre and Night of the Haunted Asylum, to which he made the aforementioned response.

To jog my memory and the memories of my readers, I will will pause this letter and interrupt with a list of all Mercury Radio Theater episodes, as delivered to me by Buddy himself:

-Attack of the Space Octopi
-Dick Danger: Super Spy
-Manhattan Zombie Massacre
-Mission to the Tenth Planet
-Night of the Haunted Asylum
-The Death and Life of the Undead Boy
-The Blue Eyed Model
-Lewis
-Kilroy

So, in conclusion…

I conclude my letter once again apologizing to your, the fantastic band that I claimed to have followed and adored for the past decade, and hope that you will forgive me. If you don’t, please at least allow me a chance for redemption by reviewing your upcoming release. I’d appreciate that.

Your (forgetful and impatient) fan,
Justin aka thepaintedman

When you’re not protected by the guards and weapons of Fiddler’s Green, you may have to fend for yourself during a zombie attack. Thus, it’s important for everyone to have their own zombie survival kit. If you don’t already have one, you should get it together immediately… we never know when (not if, but when) World War Z will begin. If we aren’t ready, the dead will reign.

Ok, so now that I’ve impressed the importance of your zombie survival kit, I need to explain a few important things. First, it cannot be larger that a duffel bag or backpack, as you must be able to move around easily while carrying it (mine is is a messenger bag). Second, you are allowed to have two automatic or semi-automatic weapons that do not fit in your kit and you can wear your bullets Rambo style… of course, they must have straps so that they can also be carried easily. Third, this bag should include a few pairs of underwear, an extra shirt, and a pair of gym shorts… I don’t think this needs to be explained.

With the remaining space in your bag, what items will you carry in your zombie survival kit, and why?

For me, I’ll begin with a bottle of Jim Beam, a carton of strike anywhere matches, and, of course, my lightsaber. Essential.

Now, it’s your turn. The winner gets a zombie prizepack (any other winners awaiting prizes, sorry for the delay… I’ll get a bunch of them sent out by next Monday).

thepaintedman rates this:

As I’m sure you can tell, it’s HORROR WEEK on TPM this week. The inspiration: Mob Zombie. The Mob is a hip hop collective of the living dead. They entertain while eating brains. They make you tap you toe and bounce your head, all the while scaring the life out of you… ok, maybe not exactly. But they do rock, in fact they know it, with references to being more rock than hip hop… chucks, Mohawks, and all that rock ISH.

Before I go on, I’d like to offer my theory on the cause of zombie-ism, at least the theory that I believe to have learned from The Mob: WEED. Apparently, smokin’ lots of weed can make you a zombie (which leads me to believe that my buddy keen and my cousin are likely zombies, as well). While this is never stated outright, I believe I’m not the only one who would come to this conclusion when rockin’ Join the Mob.

Ok, so I think based on what has been said so far, you can guess what the lyrical content of Join the Mob focuses on… if you haven’t caught on, the key points are zombies, brains, and marijuana. Marijuana is secondary to the zombie stuff, which is good since that’s what drew me to Mob Zombie to begin with. My hopes and dreams for this CD are fulfilled for sure… as much brains, eating flesh, and walking dead folks as one can ask for.

There is a story told throughout the CD, partially through the tracks filled with hot beats and B-Movie lyrics, but also through the news radio bits scattered throughout the CD. As with all good zombie stories, the dead run amuck; in this story, several major US cities are overrun and quarantined. The story is quite well done.

As far as the actual songs go, I have a few favorites. Hands down, my favorite track is “Zombies vs. Humans”. The backbeat is folky acoustic guitar with a phat drum beat. The chorus includes folk vocals that set a backdrop to this battle between the living and the dead.

Other standout tracks include “Mary’s Brains” (an R&B love song focusing on a different part of the body than what Al Green and Isaac Hayes were focusing on), “They Were Diggin’” (a track with one of my favorite verses on the album, “Hip hop sucks, that’s why I wear chucks”), “The Underground Funk”, and “I’m a Zombie”.

With hip hop that rocks like this, I may be willfully joining the mob sometime soon. I wonder if zombies can blog…

thepaintedman rates this:

My friendship with Skot has not only lead to my introduction to Debtor, but also to a great band from my own backyard, Reading’s own Twin Killing.

Last week, when I saw Debtor play at Johnny Reno’s, a killer new venue on Lancaster Ave in Reading, I also was treated to a great set from the local hardcore act. Their set was most impressive, so I grabbed a CD and gave the band some kinds words before they fled to a second show they were playing that night.

Thirteen tracks on the CD and it still seemingly clocks in around 8.5 minutes. Not really, but it is quite short. Each track goes by quickly, but that isn’t to say that there isn’t enough riffage and breakdown action to tear your face off during each of the thirteen.

Some of the lyrics are deep, some are clever, some are typical hardcore “fuck you, stand true” type lyrics… but the vocal delivery is straight forward and solid. The music is punishing and full of all the appropriate hardcore elements.

When it comes down to it, Twin Killing is a straight forward hardcore band, no bells, no whistles. They do it the right way. They dress how they want (sweatpants, jeans, whatever), work hard (as evidenced by two shows in a night), play as a tight unit, have some sing-a-long gang vocal choruses, and even have the token fat guy on bass (I’m allowed to say that since I’m a fat guy, too).

…If This Could Last Forever is a solid outing for this young band: 7 out of 10 stars. But, I recommend you catch these guys live: 9 out of 10 stars. They are sure to be rocking the Reading scene (and hopefully beyond) for years to come, don’t take my word for it , “Just like your shitty tattoos, we’re fuckin’ here to stay” (lyrics from “Just an Enemy”)

Stand out tracks: “Hard Times”, “Weak”, “Best of Us”

For fans of: Youth of Today, Ten Yard Fight, Good Clean Fun, early H2O

Today, I present to you two great CDs that you should own. Both incorporate elements of their influences, while their sound is their own. Both draw on faith for inspiration. Both write powerful songs that draw you towards them with a gravitational force. Both are CDs by acts that you’ve likely heard very little about before. And, both are CDs that will remain on my iPod (or iPad/iPon/iWhatever) for years to come.

However similarly I have described these two CDs, their sound is far from similar.

The first is the debut release from a surf-rock-shoegaze-dreampop band from Ventura, CA. This release first crossed my path through an email sent by Jeff Cloud of Velvet Blue Music. When I responded to his email about wanting to check this out, he noted that the band wasn’t on VBM, but is being distributed by VBM’s distro. He said he’d tell Joel, the man behind this music, to send me a copy for review. A few days later, I received a package, complete with CD, sex wax, and sand from the band’s favorite surf spot.

thepaintedman rates this:

When I popped Mainsail into my car stereo, I was immediately struck by the pop sensibilities of Joel Bennett and his band of merry musicians. I thought to myself, “Wow, this is what bands like Phantom Planet are supposed to sound like,” and I was transported in my mind to the Overseas Highway, where I drove through the Florida keys several years back… the ocean on either side of the road, the smell of the shore, and the warm sun. Ok, so Florida and California aren’t the same, but I’ve never been to Cali, so don’t jump down my throat just yet.

There isn’t a whole lot to say about this CD; the songs blend one into the next with ease. The sum of the parts is what is most important here. The parts are good, but none stand out as the best. Is there a song that could be a good single on here? Sure, pick one at random and put it on pop radio and I don’t doubt that people will love it. If I had to choose a single, I’d start right at the beginning… the opening track, “Endless Summer”. Think Jack’s Mannequin, but more mature and less interested in focusing on making music that sells. It’s just a good, upbeat Summertime type of song.

Here’s all you really need to know. This is dreamy, 90’s shoegaze influenced, surf pop. And I like it. A lot.

The second CD… drastically different. East coast. Very little in the way of pop sensibilities. Even less in the way of dreamy surf influence. What we have here is hardcore. Hardcore, Debtor be thy name.

thepaintedman rates this:

I was introduced to Debtor when I bumped into a friend, Debtor’s bassist Skot Rudy, who told me he was in a new band. While we stood amidst a crowd of folks wandering out the door after a killer Social Distortion show, Skot proceeded to explain to me that he had been asked to join a band called Debtor, a hardcore band based in the Philly burbs. I told him that I’d make a point to come out to a show. And come out to a show, I did.

At the show, I mentioned to Skot that I would love to review a CD, because not only do I like to promote friends but also because I thought their set was tight. Skot offered a free copy of their EP, but I decided to pony up the $5 and support the band with the little money I had on me that night.

The next morning, I popped the CD in the stereo in my living room. I walked out of the room for a minute, only to return to my 14 month old son dancing like a madman to the 2nd track of the CD. Plain and simple, it was awesome.

As opposed to Mainsail, I think Debtor’s Deliverance EP is more about the parts than the sum. Each track is its own piece. The CD flows well together, but nothing about it seems to push me to think that the sum is greater than its parts. Keeping with this theme, there are certain standout tracks on this EP. My favorites being the opener, “Escape”, the spoken word “None Righteous”, and “Witness”.

Overall, quite glad Skot joined the band and that I was lucky enough to experience them recently. I expect big things moving forward from this release. In short, the CD is powerful stuff, harkening back to the hey day of Spirit-Filled Hardcore. Then again, I’d expect nothing less of Blood & Ink Records.