Category: reviews

audio review : I Just Called To Say I Love You ( song ) … Stevie Wonder

The verses, in which Stevie lists to a special someone all the seasonal occasions he’s not calling for, sound Wonderful. They melodically and metaphorically warm the heart and are a joy to listen to. The problem with the song is that the chorus is comparatively lackluster.

If the structure has to be flawed, it should be the other way around. A song with a chorus that peaks during the verses is anticlimactic by default. Not to say it’s not a nice ballad because it is. Just to say it’s not great as it seems like it’s going to be before the chorus kicks in.

my rating : 4 of 5

1984

Vanilla Chex

Vanilla Chex

The problem with Vanilla Chex is that they’re mixed with regular Chex, which results in a sort of anticlimactic eating experience. The two don’t mix particularly well because you (I) typically have a craving for one or the other. Imagine eating a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch if half of it didn’t have any cinnamon or sugar on it.

my rating : 3 of 5

video review : You Rock My World ( song ) … Michael Jackson

video review : You Rock My World ( song ) ... Michael Jackson

“You” is an Asian-American girl. She doesn’t talk or smile. She just poses and dances. Her allure is the basis of the song, but make no mistake about it; Michael Jackson is the star of the show. It’s the first song video from his Invincible album and it’s an epic affair; a 13-minute mini-movie, in fact. That Chris Tucker, along with Marlon Brando, Michael Madsen and Billy Drago, are featured is almost a side note, as is the erratic plot. You Rock My World is all about Mike and how cool he is.

The video doesn’t match the aesthetic quality of the song, one of his best, but it is visually appealing. From the cinematography to the set and costume design; 1940s/1950s Mafia era; it’s all warm and sleek. Michael Jackson, I must say, looks damn good here and the man can still move. The best parts are when he’s doing a new strut I’d describe as a sort of reverse Moonwalk. It’s an exquisite display of artistry and I wish it weren’t edited down to just a few seconds near the middle.

my rating : 4 of 5

2001

Amazon Basics On-Ear Headphones

Amazon Basics On-Ear Headphones

I guess the sound quality is fine. I don’t know. I can’t wear these long enough to tell. The headband is too tight. Even at its widest stretch, it feels like it’s designed to induce headaches.

I’m an adult male with I think a normal-sized head, but even if I have a relatively large one, these headphones should be marketed for, because they’re perfectly suited for, petite women and kids.

I love the way they look though. They’re all black with no visible logos. The included black pouch also comes in handy even if you give your headphones away like I did. I use mine as a murse.

my rating : 2 of 5

audio review : Rebel Heart ( album ) … Madonna

audio review : Rebel Heart ( album ) ... Madonna

Madonna is Iconic. Now that Michael is dead, she’s the biggest music artist alive, but you wouldn’t know it by listening to this album. She’s long been overrated to me, so I’m not surprised, but these songs are so-so. Inside Out at least has a pleasant chorus. If more songs did, Rebel Heart could be something relatively special. As is, it isn’t even on par with her previous release.

MDNA; even when her vocals dissatisfies, as it often does; pulsates with innovative club beats. Rebel Heart sounds more like the cookie-cutter pop fluff they play too much on the radio these days. But forget innovation. That’s unnecessary, especially at this point in her career. Madonna, while she may have the Heart, simply lacks the talent needed to make a good album.

my rating : 3 of 5

2015
 

tvicon :

Some of the demos were really good but most of this album is just awful. It could have been a fantastic album but it turned out so bad like if it was recorded in a tin can

Crispy Cocoa Rice

Crispy Cocoa Rice

This cereal, one of Mom’s Best, is a more natural version of Post’s Cocoa Pebbles. That one has artificial flavor added. This one doesn’t. There are four main ingredients; rice, sugar, coconut oil and cocoa; but it’s the latter that gives the cereal its sweet chocolatey flavor. The aftermilk reminds me of those little cartons of chocolate milk we used to drink in elementary school.

my rating : 4 of 5

audio review : The Firewatcher’s Daughter ( album ) … Brandi Carlile

The Firewatcher's Daughter ( album ) ... Brandi Carlile

Brandi Carlile rocks the house on The Things I Regret. It’s not a song of celebration, quite the contrary, but, with it’s stomping drums and chanty refrain, it should be. Elsewhere the album isn’t quite as fun. She makes country/folk music that falls relatively easy on the ears, but there’s nothing special about most, if any, of it. Sparks are too far and few between, even when she’s belting her heart out with the Hanseroth twins harmonizing in the background.

my rating : 3 of 5

2015

Marie Callender’s Three Meat And Four Cheese Lasagna

Marie Callender's Three Meat And Four Cheese Lasagna

This frozen lasagna, which is one of Marie Callender’s best grocery store values in regard to net weight, is about as good as any I’ve had. Once cooked, it tastes and looks freshly made; sloppy layers of noodle sheets with a hearty marinara sauce.

The main cheeses are ricotta and mozzarella; parmesan and Romano are barely there; so the Four is a marketing misnomer. There are also more than Three meats; Italian sausage, pepperoni, beef and pork; but I guess the latter two are combined as one.

my rating : 4 of 5

Berry Colossal Crunch With Marshmallows

Berry Colossal Crunch With Marshmallows

Berry Colossal Crunch is a direct rip-off of Cap’n Crunch’s Crunch Berries right down to the name. The main difference with this version of it is that it has marshmallows, which enough of can make even the blandest cereals taste good.

When added to a cereal that’s already good, the level of deliciousness starts to peak the scales. It’s sugar central; your pancreas may remind you later in life; but health smealth. The aftermilk alone could be bottled as a separate drink.

my rating : 5 of 5

audio review : A Day In The Life [ A Pokadelick Adventure ] ( album ) … Kwamé And A New Beginning

Kwamé calls himself Da Man, but he’s more like one of the coolest, most charming kids in the school. He’s not the most popular; that’s a slot reserved for the sports jocks; but he attracts more girls than he has time for. The ones he rejects throw hissy fits, spread rumors about him or try to get their boyfriends to beat him up. What a Life.

The songs would be more pleasant on the ears if he got real girls to do the girl voices, but doing them in his own falsetto does provide some fun, if demo-like, backdrops. Points are deducted for lack of originality; the house party song copies Kid N Play; and Ownlee Eue isn’t an appropriate ender, but the album earns itself a C in my gradebook.

my rating : 3 of 5

1990

audio review : Brazilian Nights ( album ) … Kenny G

audio review : Brazilian Nights ( album ) ... Kenny G

The title is spot on. It doesn’t tell you it’s a bossa nova album; the repetitive use of “Bossa” in the songlist is a clue; but it doesn’t have to. The genre is globally associated with Brazil, a country Kenny G has apparently taken a liken to. Paradise, from years back, if you remember, begins with Brazil; a song that wouldn’t sound out of place here.

Brazilian Nights serves wine-fine as, if nothing else, background mood music. There’s nothing even close to being a classic standout to my ears; dare I say the slightly annoying sound of a saxophone is generally the worst part of any Kenny G album; but I wouldn’t object to it playing softly at, say, an outside dinner party serving Brazilian food.

my rating : 3 of 5

2015

video review : Interstellar

video review : Interstellar

Interstellar would be better as just a space adventure. Christopher Nolan instead makes the mistake Steven Spielberg made with AI by encompassing the ambiguous theme of “love”. The protagonists intake on journeys to other worlds, but I’m stranded in schmaltz city as Nolan tries to make me care about the relationships between characters.

In a sense, the gist of the plot depends on it. If emotional attachment doesn’t pull you in; it didn’t me; there’s not much else to do the trick. The movie is daring and provocative in its declaration that the Apollo moon landings were faked and some of the action scenes are entertaining, but it’s bloated and pretentious in most other regards.

my rating : 3 of 5

2014