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Monday, December 31, 2012

Odeon | New Years Eve House Party


Odeon and Scratch are putting on a New Years Eve party at the Odeon. It will be similar to Scratch's party last year featuring multiple acts and games like beer pong.


English Premier League | Best Goals of December (2012)

Here is 12 minutes of great goals including RVP's Manchester Derby win, Cameron Jerome's fire cracker of a volley against Southampton and Theo Walcott's brilliant little goal at the end of the month.



Yours Truly

Happy New Years!

Christmas is a busy time of year, enjoying the holidays and spending time with friends and families. Fortunately, after the break the blog will be back in action. We would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year and appreciate the support. You can catch all of us at multiple places around the city such as Amigo's, Spadina Freehouse, Hollows or the Odeon. If you know of a happening place, let us know with a comment below. Enjoy your evening and stay tuned for another year.

Cheers

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Pirate Fridays | Douglar

The local Pirate Fridays has just leaked a song from their upcoming album. A 10 song track list will be fully released on January 4, 2013 at Vangeli's. The video is incredibly trippy, so don't focus too hard.



Yours Truly

Up In Coming

Well I hope all your guys and gals' holidays are coming along swimmingly. Just a handful of up and coming posts, I just completed all six Halo games, so I'll be writing a review of Halo 4 soon.

Also me and JJ went and saw Django Unchained, which just might be my movie of the year.

Keep it locked. We haven't forgot about you.

I hope you had a Merry Christmas and a fantastic New Year.

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Photos: Close Talker


This weekend some of my good friends reunited to play an awesome show at Vangelis Tavern on Broadway as the band Close Talker.  Instead of me trying to describe who they are, I will steal directly from their website:

THE ALTERNATIVE INDIE ROCKERS, CLOSE TALKER, ARE THE NEWEST MUSICAL HYPE HAILING FROM THE PRAIRIES, PROUD TO BE REPRESENTING THE UNIQUE STYLINGS OF SASKATOON'S MUSIC SCENE. WHILE ONLY BEING TOGETHER FOR A HANDFUL OF MONTHS AS A GROUP, THE BAND HAS ACTUALLY BEEN IN THE MAKING FOR SEVERAL YEARS WITH THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS HAVING COLLABORATED IN DIFFERING CAPACITIES AND CONFIGURATIONS UNTIL FINALLY COMING TOGETHER AS CLOSE TALKER. EXTREMELY RAW, NATURAL TALENT, PAIRED WITH UNMATCHED PASSION AND UNENDING DETERMINATION, HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR MATURE SONG WRITING BEYOND ANY OF THEIR YEARS. ALL OF THE WRITING IS A COLLABORATION OF EACH MEMBER, AND THE RESULT OF TALENT AND CLOSE FRIENDSHIPS. THEIR PROFICIENT AND SUBSTANTIAL LYRIC WRITING IS EXPRESSED THROUGH SMOOTH AND SOULFUL LEAD VOCALS BACKED BY IMPECCABLE HARMONIES AND UNRESTRAINED GANG VOCALS. LED BY DEMANDING, YET INTRICATE GUITAR PARTS, WITH THE RHYTHM SECTION BEING HELD DOWN BY CALCULATED BASS LINES, AND TASTEFUL PERCUSSION, CLOSE TALKER'S MUSIC IS CHALK FULL OF DEEP GROOVES, MEMORABLY DYNAMIC TEMPOS AND ARRANGEMENTS, AND UNIQUELY CREATIVE HOOKS THAT WILL HAUNT YOU FOR WEEKS. 

WILL QUIRING - VOCALS, GUITAR
MATTHEW KOPPERUD - GUITAR, KEYS, VOCALS
CHRIS MORIEN - DRUMS, VOCALS
JEREMY OLSON - BASS


If you are ever in the neighbourhood when they are playing, check them out!








E

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Holiday Gift Guide

Christmas is near and because the world did not end, you may now have realized that you need to buy some last minute gifts (like Brennan). I thought I would comprise a small list to help you spark some ideas.

1. David's Tea Gift Certificate:

As you know, the weather sucks and its difficult to get your day going when you're tired and unmotivated. A gift like this allows you to purchase daily morning teas or even leaves so that you can make it at home. This place has been hyped up by a lot of my friends and after having it a couple of times I know why. These can be purchased at the Lawson Heights and Midtown Plaza locations.

2. Edgewater Spa Gift Certificate:

This idea was chosen for women because of the offerings but it doesn't mean that it will fail as a men's gift. Manicures, pedicures, massages, you name it, they got it. Edgewater is located on Broadway Avenue right by the bridge.

3. Dinner:

My favourite gift to receive and a good one to give is to take the gift receiver for a meal. It's tangible, with its intangible benefits. Spending time with someone and conversing over a good meal in my opinion is a great time. Some options could be The Keg, The Granary and Otowa for an intimate social experience. For a group of people, Earls, Keo's and Sushiro are great options.

4. Touch Screen Gloves:

Now that many people own smart phones and tablets, these gloves can be really handy. These are made by many different outerwear companies such as The North Face and Burton. They can be used as a liner underneath your winter gloves or on their own. The gloves can be used for driving and even look good with a suit. These gloves can be found at majority of outerwear stores.

Yours Truly

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Just a Taste: The Underground Cafe






The Underground Cafe is located on 20th Street just a block west of The Roxy Theatre.  I've wanted to visit there for quite a while but since they are closed on Mondays, my success has been limited until today.  The Underground is a deceivingly large coffee shop with lots of seating and great coffee and teas.  I didn't try any of their lunch options but they offer paninis and soups as well as a selection of desserts.  If you're looking for a place to study for those last few finals, stop by The Underground for a delicious hot drink in a great atmosphere.







Connected to the cafe is Beaumont Records; two businesses sharing the same space.  They have a very interesting selection of old and new artists from a variety of genres.  CD's, cassettes, and t-shirts are all for sale but the appeal of Beaumont is the many racks of vinyl.  I personally don't have a record player anymore but after seeing this selection, I wish I did!  Definitely worth a visit.





The Underground Cafe on UrbanspoonE

Air Jordan IV | Thunder


It has been confirmed that these are coming to Canada. If we are lucky enough to see them in Saskatoon, Foot Locker and Momentum will have them on December 22, 2012. These were originally produced back in 2006, making them nearly impossible to purchase (unless you have over $1000 to splurge).



Yours Truly

Monday, December 17, 2012

Movies: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

I'd just like to point that I'm not crazy about the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but I did thoroughly enjoy the movies. Well from what I remember at least, it’s been a while. So after the nine year wait (nine years already? Man…) The Hobbit finally graced its presence on the screen, and in select theaters, in 48 frames per second.

All movies up until The Hobbit were shot between 25 - 30 frames per second. With 48 FPS, it allows for a more fluid look of the film, almost lifelike, which takes a lot of getting used to. With the added clarity, at some points in the movie you can tell that the actors are on a set rather than a scene in a movie which kinda takes away from the feel of the movie. But with that all being said, you can still go see The Hobbit in regular 24 FPS in other theaters, which I might actually do.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey tells the story of Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf the Grey and a band 13 Dwarves (Nori, Ori, Dori, Fili, Kili, Oin, Gloin, Bombur, Bofur, Bifur, Balin, Dwalin and their leader Thorin) who take on the quest of reclaiming the Dwarven land: The Lonely Mountain from the dragon Smaug.

Initially the movie was to be only two parts, but a few months before the release of the movie Peter Jackson had announced that it would be three films. I can’t say whether or not this is the best of ideas since The Hobbit is only one book compared to the LOTR trilogy.

But I think the whole reasoning behind this was the added back story of who's doing what at any given time and/or the development of the characters in this film. From what I was told, the dwarves were seen more as one entity rather than 13 separate dwarves.

I wasn't a big fan of the 48 fps, it seemed distracting and like I had mentioned before, it added another level of clarity in which you can tell when they were on a set and when they were on some landscape which kind of takes away from the film’s feel. But that being said, I somewhat got used to it, so visually, the movie was beautiful. It is exactly what you would expect of a Peter Jackson film.

The Hobbit is definitely a lot easier to follow than LOTR seeing as there aren't as many characters you gotta keep track of. LOTR, I got confused pretty easy. I should just rewatch those damn movies.

Some scenes in the movie seemed unnecessarily drawn out, like when Bilbo meets Gollum for the first time. But maybe it was necessary? I never read the books so I can’t say for sure. I'm just a guy who goes and sees movies.



Seeing as An Unexpected Journey was the first of three movies, this film was a good stepping stone to what we can expect in the next two. This movie introduced such characters as Smaug and the Necromancer, a man who can conjure the dead, both of which are played by Benedict Cumberbatch, you might know him from the UK TV show Sherlock or the bad guy in the new Star Trek movie, Star Trek into Darkness.

So should you go see it? Definitely, if you’ve seen all the LOTR films, you may as well keep the ball rolling. But if you do go see it, do yourself a favour and just watch it in regular 24 FPS. 48 FPS is pretty distracting.

Case and Point
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is: experimental.

Friday, December 14, 2012

Jimmy Fallon, Mariah Carey & The Roots | All I Want for Christmas is You

If you are anything like me, you must have Christmas music CD's in your vehicle and are finally embracing the holiday spirit. And if you aren't, well this could be your start.



Yours Truly

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Champions League 2012/13 | Group Stage Moments

Here is a collection of Sky Sports' best group stage moments of this years Champions League tournament. It is the most exciting club football/soccer tournament in the world and even though Chelsea has been eliminated, I am excited for the playoff stages. Who do you think will win it all this year?



Yours Truly

Trailer: Pacific Rim

So, this is like, the movie I am waiting for now.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Nike Sportswear | Solarsoft Moccasin Premium


Here is a new colour way of the NSW Solarsoft Moccasin that is coming in Spring 2013. It has the inspiration of a moccasin with the feel of a runner. I love the idea that Nike can transfer its innovations in footwear technology to other departments within the brand. Hopefully I can land myself a pair of these.

Yours Truly

Friday, December 7, 2012

50 Cups of Christmas | 2012


Christmas after Christmas (well this may be the last one, considering the end of the world), Saskatoon's own 50 Cups of Coffee never fails to throw a good party. For $10 you can grab a ticket at either Momentum and are also expected to bring a non-perishable food item to the event.

RSVP on Facebook

Yours Truly

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Photo Friday: Life Isn't Black and White... But My Photos Are


After you go say hi to Brandon Svarc at Luna and Hill on Friday, swing by the east side to check out some of my favourite black and white photos at Moka Coffee Bar.  For this one night only, all artwork will be available for purchase for $100!  A nice framed black and white photo might be a great Christmas present or something... just saying.

Come for the photos but stay for the great music!  Derek Funk, Karla Neufeld (no relation...) and Brent Letkeman have recently started a new band--the third for Derek and Karla together.  They sound great and I'm pumped that they will be playing their first gig here.  Also, my main man Geoff of Gunner and Smith will be wrapping up the evening with a solo set.

This won't be a formal event by any means but come grab a coffee and enjoy a relaxed evening.

Hope to see you there!

E

Naked and Famous: Brandon Svarc at Luna and Hill


The poster pretty much says it all but I speak for many denim heads in Saskatoon when I say that this is going to be a good time.  Brandon Svarc is a designer and owner of arguably the best denim brand coming out of Canada, Naked and Famous.  The Montreal based company specializes in Japanese selvedge denim in a variety of styles and some outrageous special editions like glow in the dark and scratch and sniff jeans.  Come on out to say hi to a guy making some noise for Canada in the fashion world and to support a local shop who just celebrated their first birthday.

E

F*ckin' Problems - A$AP Rocky Ft. Drake, Kendrick Lamar & 2 Chainz

NSFW

Monday, December 3, 2012

Air Jordan XI | Playoffs


This sneaker is known as the Playoffs and as the Bred. Jordan has been crazy with their releases and the next year will be the exact same. The Breds is another successful attempt of making sneaker heads spend money and fight for shoes. I can already say it's a success based on the long awaited hype and quality of these photos. These are expected to release on December 21, 2012. You will be able to purchase them at Footlocker and Momentum.


Yours Truly

Friday, November 30, 2012

Just a Taste: Taj Mahal

Location
The Taj Mahal can be found on 157 2nd Avenue North beside Cupcake Conspiracy and across the street from the Fiat dealership.

Environment
I went during lunch time where they allow you to order from their menu or miniature buffet. It was quite busy, I figured it was because of it being a Friday because I know they aren't usually busy during their lunch period. The buffet can be eaten from 12-1:30 pm. The restaurant is constantly dim and could make a good restaurant for a date. The service is friendly but understaffed. I find them to be quite slow with food and don't come around when they are needed.

Menu
The menu offers food for meat lovers or traditional vegetarians. The buffet offered rice, fritters (Indian styled fries), four different type of curries, naan bread and rice pudding for dessert.

Food
Today I went with the lunch buffet. The food had a very nice taste, but lacked spice in my opinion. Because the restaurant was so busy, the buffet always had fresh food. But the problem was that it either had fresh food or no food. Many customers had to wait in a line for the buffet to be re-filled. Naan bread on the other hand was served by the waiters in abundance and thank you for that.




Conclusion
This place is definitely worth trying, I'd recommend you to go for lunch. The servers are very friendly and do try to make you experience a great one. Now I just feel like I need to try more Indian restaurants to square them off with each other.

Taj Mahal on UrbanspoonYours Truly 

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Just a Taste: Cora's

Cora's just opened today. I haven't physically been to this location but I tried this restaurant for the first time in the Summer. I have been excited for Saskatoon to get a Cora's since I found out. Cora's is a breakfast restaurant that opens early in the morning and closes down in the afternoon. They strive to serve gourmet and healthy breakfast and lunch.

Location
Cora's is located at 1718 Preston Avenue (Preston Crossing).

Environment
The restaurant seems like it is meant for a younger audience. The fonts and menus make it looks like a children's restaurant but don't let that turn you off. If the service was anything like it was in Edmonton, the servers are polite and fun.

Menu
Like mentioned previously, Cora's serves breakfast and lunch dishes. They offer meals like crepes, omelettes, waffles, paninis and skillets.

Food
I went with the crepomelette. It's a crepe with a western cheddar omelette inside of it, covered in a Hollandaise sauce. It was served with a bowl of fresh fruit and toast. I have never ordered anything like this, it was delicious and very filling.


Conclusion
Cora's is a great new option to go out for breakfast. Whether it's an early or late breakfast, it's something worth trying. I know I have to get myself out to this new Cora's.

Cora Breakfast and Lunch on UrbanspoonYours Truly

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Photo: Train Bridge


Taking pictures in winter is honestly the worst.  Either you wear gloves which doesn't allow you to use your camera properly or you don't wear gloves and freeze your hands off.  Saskatchewan winters make it easy to complain.  But on those seemingly rare days where the sun makes an appearance, you have to take advantage and get outside.

This shot was taken on top of the train bridge which is almost on top of the weir (which you can see on the right side).  Heights are not my favourite thing in the world but the view from up there is pretty great.  For the number of times I've gone up the train bridge, I've never been able to experience a train actually using it at the same time.  I have friends from out of town who have shared the bridge with a train many times and say its a pretty terrifying experience.  I also have friends who enjoyed throwing flaming garbage cans, TVs and whatnot off the train bridge when they were in high school.... Needless to say this photo is pretty bleak in comparison but if you have some good stories from this Saskatoon landmark, throw us a comment!

E

YXE: WakeUp Apparel



How was the name “WakeUp” chosen?
I got the idea while driving back from the lake last Summer. I was bouncing around ideas with Malerie. I wanted to do something that makes a difference while selling clothing to create awareness. Initially, “Wake” was chosen because of water sports and “up” was chosen to get people up and active. But when I put more thought into it, I really wanted to integrate the ideology of “waking up” and being aware that we take a lot of our great times for granted and there are youth out there that experience none of it especially the lake life. The Canadian Summer is the best season of the year and we want to share that with youth who don’t have the opportunity to experience it.

What does your business do?
WakeUp Apparel is a non-profit organization. There are two aspects to the business. First is the apparel side, sales of clothing stay within the organization to go towards camps and the shirts are only the beginning of a full apparel line. The brand is to be run like a regular clothing company.
The second part of the business is the operation of day-long wakeboard and youth development camps. The wake camps provide youth who do not have the opportunity to get out and experience the things we get such as going on a boat, hanging out with friends and hanging out at the beach. The camp teaches kids how to wakeboard or water ski and maybe wakesurf. The camps will also provide the youth with leadership and goal-setting skills to empower them make positive life choices.


Who it benefits?
We have begun to meet with an assortment of organization within the community to develop partnerships to ensure that we are positively reaching out and impacting a deserving group of youth in the community. That is our number one focus for the organization and it always will be. That being said, we also like to think that other parties involved with the development of our programs are also benefitting. When we seek out corporate sponsors, we want to ensure their contribution, whether is it in-kind or cash based, is fully recognized and aligned with their nature of business.

How it benefits?
First off, the youth who attend our camps are going to experience some of the best of times out on the water. That being said, we can rely on that alone to empower them to make positive life choices. Sure, it may motivate them to strive to be able to afford a massive boat but we aren’t shooting for that. The organization will be recruiting committee members and board members to ensure that our camps are powerful and motivating on a personal level with the attendees. I want them to leave with skills that will enable them to make the right choices in life, to be motivated to lead others, and to create positive examples of their actions to their peers.


What is the yearly plan for Wake Up Apparel?
The focus this year is the camps (self sustained and growth)
There will be three camps this summer, which have already been budgeted for and after only a few weeks of operations, we are very much on track with that. The support has been gratifying and overwhelming. Approximately 10 kids will attend each camp in July and August at Blackstrap Lake, if the support continues to grow, we will be able to either increase attendance or hold another camp. The camps encompass water sports lessons, semi-pro demonstration, leadership and goal setting sessions, campfires, meals, as well as some swag for the children and a series of photos and videos to capture memories.

How can people contribute?
First off, purchasing a shirt or any product. Since we are a non-profit organization, we are retaining all of the revenue within it so every item sold will have a direct impact on the success of the organization.  
Business can get involved through strategic partnerships. Properly aligning their offerings to our offerings. For example, gear, printing, food and cash donations. Businesses will be recognized for it. We will also be developing some pretty sweet marketing campaigns that will require the assistance of in-kind sponsorship. This will not only allow us to offer some wicked prizes for these campaigns but it will also allow for businesses to receive substantial recognition alongside.
We also have various volunteer positions available. We are seeking committee members, who will directly work in the planning of our camps, advisory board members, who will oversee the committee members, as well as an assortment of camp volunteers that will be present during the day-long wake camps.

History in the industry
I grew up spending my summers at Murray Lake, Saskatchewan. I spent every summer there for two months a year. My family has been involved in water sports for my entire life. I started with water skiing at a young age and then began wake boarding which lead to wake surfing. The past two summers I have been teaching friends and kids of friends how to surf behind the boat. Seeing their expressions and the sheer joy they had just rocked my world. From surfing without the rope or just getting up, it was always such a blast!



One thing you can’t leave the house without?
I am so reliant on my iPhone. I could probably leave without pants before I could separate from it.

Favourite beverage?
Hands down, Dr. Pepper. I swear I could drink about 15 of them… Just like Forest Gump.

Celebrity wifey?
Good question… I don’t even know…

Favourite restaurant?
Would people frown at me if I said McDonalds… Kidding. Umm… I have three go-to places in the city that I will always love. Sushiro, Amigos, and The Wok.

Who inspires you?
My number 1 is Steve Jobs for so many reasons. 1. His ability to communicate his vision and passion for Apple was huge. If more people could do that with businesses today, we would have so many awesome entrepreneurs out there. Thankfully people are getting better at it and there are so many cool ventures popping up in our own backyard because of this! 2. He rarely gave a sh*t about what others thought of him and his ideas. I think that is what made him so successful. The more people spend hiding from other’s nasty comments and jealousy, the greater chances for them lose focus of what they love.

Locally though, there are so many stunners out there doing amazing things and that is driving me to do something awesome too. You have people like Bryan McCrea of 3Twenty, Ainsley Robertson of The Princess Shop, David Luba and the Emsley bros at Ten Tree, and Kendal Netmaker of Neechie Gear to name a few. These people, all young, are leading a generation of game changers, they are going against what is “safe and secure” and are creating the most amazing of ventures. I come across more ever so often and that just goes to show how awesome some of the people are right here in Saskatchewan.  


Any last words?
If you just sit there in school, finish your assignments and get your good grades, you receive a piece of pretty paper in return. You and 5,000 others. Make your move. 


Check out his website and his social media accounts below:


Thanks Toran for spending time with us to do an interview. Good luck in the future.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Concert: Red Hot Chili Peppers

After 30 years of being a band, touring the world countless times, a handful of member changes and ten albums you would think Red Hot Chili Peppers would see signs of slowing down in their age.



But after last night, RHCP proved that they still got it as much as they ever had had in the prime time of their youth.

Last night I had the opportunity to see Red Hot Chili Peppers once again in concert. Last time I had saw them was the first time they came around in 2006 during their Stadium Arcadium tour. I was seated to the right of the stage on the second level. It was pretty high up but I still could see everything just fine. But I still envy those people who were on the floor dead center.

This time around was the "I’m With You" tour that was written with their new guitarist Josh Klinghoffer who was the backing guitarist for RHCP for some time.

I admit I was a little hesitant to go since I’m a bit of a stickler for original bandmates and stuff. Prior to Klinghoffer was John Frusciante, the one responsible for a lot of RHCP’s sound. I was thinking that it just wasn’t gonna be the same without Frusciante. Nope, I was wrong. Klinghoffer gives the same amount of depth and emotion that Frusciante does when playing the guitar, which is critical to the sound of Red Hot Chili Peppers. On top of that, there's also Anthony Kiedis' pitch perfect spot on singing or Flea's god like prowess on the bass or Chad Smith's masterlike skills on the skins. Without any of that, RHCP would just be another band with a standard 4/4 power cord riff.

The set list blew me out of the water. I was under the assumption that it was gonna be all new songs from their I’m With You album, but instead they had an even ratio that ranged from old school (Give It Away, Suck My Kiss), to the Californication/By The Way (Californication, Can’t Stop, By The Way, etc.) days, to their new stuff, which I won’t lie, I didn’t listen to that album too much.

Red Hot Chili Peppers definitely don’t show any sign of slowing down. The band members excluding Klinghoffer, who is only 33, are of the age of 50 or over. You’d think at that age you’d see signs of wear and tear but absolutely not, they gave it 110%, which just goes to show that RHCP will one day definitely be one of the greats, if they’re not already.

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Nike GS Concept II


Nike has kept the second GS (Green Speed) on the low for quite some time now. If you remember the first pair, they sold out instantly. This model weighs in at 5.6 oz, Nike's lightest football boot yet. They were made in Italy and use a bio-based traction plate made primarily of castor beans and a sock liner made completely of castor beans. To avoid percentages, the entire shoe is made up partially of recycled materials. The upper is Nike's Kanga-Lite material with the ACC technology for wet playing surfaces. To promote the product, they have some of Nike's younger football stars wearing them such as Theo Walcott, Mario Gotze and Eden Hazard.


This will most-likely only be available online for $250 USD.


Photos from SoccerCleats101

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Air Jordan IV | Black/Cement

This is a highly anticipated drop in the sneaker community. This year marks the 23rd anniversary of the Jordan IV. The upper is nubuck and mesh to stay breathable with a classic Nike Air unit. These are set to release on November 23, 2012 (Black Friday) at locations including Foot Locker and Momentum. I think that this shoe offers a great look in fashion at a hefty $200.This time around, I definitely think people will camp outside stores in the city.

Yours Truly

Friday, November 16, 2012

Air Jordan IX | Olive


The Jordan IX Olive releases tomorrow (November 17, 2012). From what I hear, they are a great ball shoe and the Jordan IX has been a favourite among the street wear community. They can be found at locations like Footlocker and Momentum. You can expect these shoes to be around $200 retail.



Yours Truly

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Zlatan Ibrahimovic vs England


If you are friends on Facebook with anyone who plays soccer, you most likely have seen this already. Just yesterday, Zlatan Ibrahimovic put Sweden on his back against the England squad (based on these highlights). He scored four goals individually, including a bicycle kick in the last few minutes of the match. Currently, he is one of the best strikers in the world and knows it himself.



Yours Truly

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Movies: Skyfall

I feel like I’m too young to review a James Bond movie. So if I were to say Daniel Craig is a damn good Bond, I’d probably be stepping on a lot of toes. So let’s just keep it between Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig, the Generation Y Bonds.

In my eyes Pierce Brosnan, will always be the Bond. I grew up with his face plaster to the name, whenever somebody says Bond, I think Brosnan, but that being said, they’re both great Bonds but in their own way. So I won’t draw comparisons between the two, rather I’ll just review Skyfall as if it’s part of a brand new trilogy of movies unique unto its own.

Unlike Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, Skyfall doesn’t follow the story line of the former, instead it is its own new story. In a sense it was a mini reboot of the Bond series within this era in that it introduced all the pivotal types of characters to the movies before the Daniel Craig era, that being the gadgets, Q, the classic cars and so on.

After a failed mission with the apparent death of James Bond and the retrieval of a hard drive containing a list of national agents that are working undercover within various terrorist cells around the world, MI6 falls under the attack of a cyber-terrorist organization with no clues as to who is heading this terrorist organization.

Bond, completely off the radar thanks to his apparent death, discovers this via news and returns back to duty. In a newly relocated MI6, Bond is put back in the field to find and eliminate the leader of the organization behind the attack.

Of the three movies, Skyfall felt like the Bond movie. The others I felt like they were trying to humanize Bond a lot. Which is ok, not that I have a problem against it, but it felt like it lacked a certain charm that most Bond movies had.

Easily, this was the best of the series. It captured all the necessary Bond moments, like the car chases, the action sequences, the lovely women. But to top it all off, the villain, was truly a villain. Instead of some sort of white collared, “just wanna get rich” villain.

Bardem played Raoul Silva, an ex-MI6 agent turned rouge, on a little revenge trip, looking for those he felt had betrayed him while in captivity. Ranging on genius, Silva’s tactics were always precise, making him consistently two steps ahead of MI6. This guy was a villain, like an, “I just want the world to burn” kind of villain, which is exactly what this series needed.



Should you go see it? Totally. If you've ever seen a Bond movie, and were kinda ho-hum about the last two, this will definitely make up for it. For it is, more or less, a homage to what Bond films should be.

Case and Point
Skyfall is: what GQ would be if they had a gun collection.

Monday, November 12, 2012

Supreme x Nike Air Force 1

Supreme and Nike collaborate again to make an Air Force 1. I have personally never worn a pair because of the silhouette but I think that these are all a success. Not just because of the Supreme logo that can be found on the red tag or tongue. They have used an upper that is practical in the military. They are meant to be durable, water-resistant and look good.

The Air Force 1 will release on the Supreme website this Thursday.

Yours Truly

Thursday, November 8, 2012

The Internet - Give It Time


Behind all the OFWGKTA hype, lay a little less over-theatrical duo comprised of Syd Tha Kid & Matt Martians known as The Internet. The duo feeds off of each other with Syd and Matt both sharing vocals and producing duties. The Internet came to my attention after hearing some featuring tracks on some old OF tapes. Earlier this year, The Internet released their first official album entitled Purple Naked Ladies. After hearing track #4 (formally known as "C*nt"), I went out of my normal music downloading routine and purchased it directly from iTunes.

After 8 months, The Internet finally releases new material with the newest single, "Give It Time" making my now playing. Best way that I can describe The Internet is 'timeless easy listening R&B electronic funk from the future'. Take a listen for yourself. Enjoy!
 

Check out this interesting documentary on The Internet's progress as musicians, lifestyle and the process of Purple Naked Ladies.

 
the Method to my Madness,