Rather than a conventional review, this review of Shapiro’s debut LP on Dweeb Records will be a presentation of the notes I took on the album. While you read, download and listen to Shapiro’s first single for free.

First Listen:

-Piano rock, parts equally Ben Folds/BF5, The Dresden Dolls, and Snow Patrol.
-Their one sheet mentioned The Arcade Fire, but unlike AF, they don’t come across as overrated copycats.
-Vocals remind me of Daniel Johns (Silverchair), especially on Young Modern.
-Not much press on these guys on the web, good and bad thing. Good because press can often taint one’s view, bad because they deserve some good press

Second Listen:

-Found Daily News Record article on them from 2005 from Google search “granofsky shapiro” (Nathan Granofsky looks like Harry Potter in picture used in article), where I learned that these guys are EMU products. Interesting.
-Music is very solid overall, “L-E-A-V-I-N-G” is making its case for becoming my favorite Shapiro track.
-I dig the artwork and packaging of the album.

Third Listen:

-“Right and Wrong” is a good opener, definite Ben Folds feel here, think Songs for Silverman meets Silverchair’s Young Modern (I knew these references were coming from somewhere, must be this song specifically).
-For some reason, Muse came to mind while listening to the second track. Not sure if that makes much sense, but it did. Big time Daniel Johns-esque vocals again here.
-Band is incredibly tight and very well produced.
-“L-E-A-V-I-N-G” is officially my favorite Shapiro song. Officially.
-“Emily” is a pretty cool track. Not much else to say there.
-The obvious comparison to piano playing punk influenced pop rock act Jack’s Mannequin and his former outfit Something Corporate inserted here. Not sure there are any direct comparisons, but I definitely think fans of these bands will dig on Shapiro.
-“You Had it Coming” made me realize that someone in this band digs on Queen. Read on a user review via iTunes that the name of this track changed from before. Curious.
-“Battle of Beatrix” reminds me of Queen again. Someone in this band like Queen a lot. Officially.
-Piebald’s All Ears, All Eyes, All the Time could be an influence on this LP. Wouldn’t be surprised if it was and wouldn’t be surprised if no one in the band knew what the hell I was talking about.
-Last song is called ”Prelude” and the irony is not lost on this reviewer.

Overall, a solid debut LP. Looking forward to finding out more about this band and hopefully getting the chance to interview them or at least talk and get some more insight. As an avid Ben Folds and Billy Joel fan, good piano rock makes me happy, thus this album makes me happy. Thoroughly enjoyable.

thepaintedman rates this:

thepaintedman rates this:

The movie event of the Summer was not disappointing, albeit Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince didn’t blow me away, either. A solid movie adaptation of the transitional novel between the two best books in the series, the film did everything it was supposed to do, despite leaving out a good deal of the memories of Tom Riddle shared in the book.

We’ll start with the best parts of the movie. To begin with, the film, surprisingly, did a better job in depicting Snape’s double agent duplicity. While I walked away from the reading of the book with feelings of anger and certainty in regards to the character of Snape, I left the theater with a more appropriate mix of feelings, confusion and contemplation. Snape’s allegiance is never defined and that is how it should be. The book drew too much of a line (while possibly and incorrect one) in the sand.

Besides my appreciation of the portrayal of Snape, there were a few other things done extremely well in this film. The budding romance between Harry and Ginny is filled with all of the appropriately awkward moments. The angst and frustration underlying the Ron and Hermoine situation continues to present itself appropriately, as well. The coming of age pieces to this film as so important to the development of the characters; thankfully, all of this is done very well. In addition to this, the film does a great job with the conflicted nature of Draco Malfoy’s inner struggle throughout the story. He isolates himself and loses himself in his task, eventually breaking down and revealing his true inability to become fully evil. One could argue that Malfoy is the most interesting character in the film, despite his infrequent screen time and even less frequent dialogue.

While I began with my favorite parts of the movie, I won’t go to the logical next step of highlighting what I don’t like about the film… because honestly, there isn’t much. The biggest issues here are slow moving plot points and a plot that is primarily a transitional piece of the overall tale. This is not the film’s fault, as the book is just that… the transition between the reintroduction of Voldemort into wizarding society in Order of the Phoenix and the journey that begins early in the final book. While extremely important things happen in The Half Blood Prince, the action is lacking. Relationships and character development play a much more important role than any type of action. This is common to both the book and film.

Overall, I loved the movie, but it’s not my favorite. I’d place it third, behind Order of the Phoenix and Prisoner of Azkaban, which still leaves it in great company. I tried to avoid too much in the way of spoilers and thus, this review is less than comprehensive to say the least. What I want to shine through here is simple… the film is what it should be, another enjoyable Potter film. While I wish more memories of Riddle had been shared, I see where the film had little chance to include much more than the few they did. I look forward to rereading this book and the final book after having seen this movie and I intend to purchase the film the day it’s released on DVD, but I doubt I’ll head back out and see the IMAX experience after having seen the film in the theater once. A good, but not great film, but a necessary one to set up two films based on one of the best books I’ve ever reading. I’ll counting down until the first installment of Deathly Hallows hits theaters worldwide.

I had intended on getting a few things up today, but a busy day of cleaning the house followed by a date with the Missus kept me from getting it all done.

Therefore… I am going to postpone the results until Monday morning and extend Beerfest through Tuesday. Honey Lager review and PA craft brewery piece on 3 of my faves (Weyebacher, Stoudt’s, and Yards) are still coming by Tuesday AM.

The site will then return to it’s regularly scheduled program… including reviews of Harry Potter, the new Rootbeer EP, JustMe, and more.

Since no one visits the site over the weekend anyway, I’m taking tomorrow off… well, not really… I’ll be cleaning the house more and spending time with the in-laws. For now, enjoy this: