Blogcritics Author: Jordan Richardson

Music DVD Review: Public Enemy - Revolverlution Tour 2003

Jordan Richardson — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:00:16 EST

Public Enemy rocks your face off Down Under.
One of the most compelling aspects of Public Enemy is the incongruity between Chuck D and hype man Flavor Flav. Chuck D plugs in as the lyrical conscience of the group, imposing his political will with words sharp as razor blades. Flavor Flav, an underrated MC in his own right, fills in the gaps with bleats of praise, braggadocio, and the world...

DVD Review: Hannah Montana - The Complete First Season

Jordan Richardson — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:21:09 EST

If you want to get an up-close look at the leader of a bizarre, sparkly cult bent on world domination, this box set is critical.
As I sit here attempting to iron a Hannah Montana transfer on to my hooded sweatshirt, I’m reminded of my personal journey with Miley Cyrus and I start to wonder how it all came down to this. I first discovered Disney’s Hannah Montana juggernaut courtesy of my landlord’s kids. Curious, I checked it out one day and found myself...

Music Review: Down-Stares - Cobras and Matadors

Jordan Richardson — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:11:04 EST

An engaging and convincing journey that is both familiar and entirely unique
With a roar and the crunch of frantic guitars, DIY punk/metal/hardcore/experimental act Down-Stares kicks your ass. A true band on a mission with a van full of empty beer cans and invigorating ideas, this Texas quintet is one of the hardest working bands on the rock scene today. Their effort is evident on their latest release, Cobras and...

Music DVD Review: Vision of Disorder - Dead in New York

Jordan Richardson — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 07:28:14 EST

All of the hardcore fun - and none of the bodily harm - of a V.O.D. show.
Sweaty bodies, microphone feedback, shouting, chanting, tattoos, and more shouting - no, I’m not talking about the Republican National Convention. I’m talking, of course, about the New York hardcore punk/thrash scene. And perhaps no other band summed up the frenzied, anarchic energy of that scene than the legendary Vision of...

Music Review: Ruste Juxx - Indestructible

Jordan Richardson — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 16:55:45 EST

An enthusiastic but spotty debut from one of the underground's hardest-working MCs.
Straight out of Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Ruste Juxx is hoping his debut LP will crack the pavement with his resilient rhymes and diligent style. Having toiled in the underground for years, Juxx is banking on Indestructible as the zenith of his hard work and the genesis of his career as an authoritative, powerful solo artist.With Sean Price on board...

Discovering Heroes: Destiny

Jordan Richardson — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 13:41:06 EST

Check out Santiago, the fan-chosen Hero, online.
After more than one million votes, NBC and Sprint announced the winning hero in the “Create Your Hero” campaign. November 10 saw the unveiling of the winning character, Santiago, as selected to star in the innovative online live action micro-series Heroes: Destiny. The first of four episodes landed Monday, November 10 online at 9pm ET....

Movie Review: Manhattan, Kansas

Jordan Richardson — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 02:59:10 EST

A determined, boundlessly genuine documentary.
“This is my movie. She is my subject,” filmmaker Tara Wray reassures herself as she heads to reconnect with her mother. She prepares herself to concurrently distance herself and pull herself deeper into the difficult, gripping character that is her mom Evie. In the beautiful documentary Manhattan, Kansas, 25-year-old Wray wrestles with...

Movie Review: Porco Rosso

Jordan Richardson — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:12:56 EST

Hayao Miyazaki's most personal, delicate work.
Porco Rosso is a unique film in the canon of genius animator Hayao Miyazaki. The historical and geographical context of the movie is specific; there is no fantasy world or alternate universe in which the characters operate. Indeed, most of the story could have occurred in reality and within the context. The only element to the story that stretches...

Music Review: These Arms Are Snakes - Tail Swallower and Dove

Jordan Richardson — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:50:30 EST

This one may blow out your windows.
There is an urgency and a coarseness to These Arms Are Snakes, the post-hardcore outfit out of Seattle. Comprised of former members of Botch, Kill Sadie, and Nineironspitfire, this is one solid quartet and their latest, Tail Swallower and Dove, may blow out your windows.The record works as a whole, coming across as an incessant piece of music...

Exploitation Cinema: Lady Snowblood (Shurayukihime)

Jordan Richardson — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 21:58:08 EST

The decisive revenge movie.
The ultimate story of revenge, Lady Snowblood (Shurayukihime) laid the groundwork for Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill films and proved to be the inspiration for several others. It is a blood-spattered and beautiful picture, directed by Toshiya Fujita with all sorts of fierce, blood-spurting glee. While many would argue and perhaps complain that...