Bang : Rainbow Unicorn

Bang : Rainbow Unicorn

The Rainbow Unicorn concept seems to have nothing to do with the taste. This Bang supposedly has “a spectacular collection of fruity flavors”, but it goes down like another standard energy drink to me. That isn’t a bad thing; it’s sweet despite having “zero sugar”; but there’s nothing magical about it neither.

my rating : 3 of 5

Bang : Wyldin Watermelon

Bang : Wyldin Watermelon

The Wyldin stylization is silly. “Wild” would’ve sufficed. Not that there’s anything crazy about this energy/sports drink, which offers 300 milligrams of caffeine. “Enjoy summer all year long with the refreshing taste of watermelon!”, the promo reads, and the taste, though carbonated, is akin to the fruit.

my rating : 3 of 5

audio review : Mayhem ( album ) … Lady Gaga

audio review : Mayhem ( album ) ... Lady Gaga

There are hints of Mayhem; some of these (gay) club beats get quite tumultuous; but this album is mostly a controlled affair. That is to say it sounds just like another Lady Gaga album, whatever that’s worth these days. It’s about on par with Chromatica; more interesting than Joanne but not as fun as Artpop. Garden Of Eden sounds like an outtake from the latter. The Swiftesque How Bad Do U Want Me is another highlight.

my rating : 3 of 5

2025

365 Creamy Peanut Butter

365 Creamy Peanut Butter

The Crunchy one tastes better, at least when eaten alone. This Creamy version would be better in, say, a sandwich with jelly. Neither are quite good. The lack of a sweetener basically assures as much, but with just two ingredients; dry roasted peanuts and salt; you’ll have a hard time finding a healthier alternative.

my rating : 3 of 5

3D Energy Drink : Frost

3D Energy Drink : Frost

The name of this 3D Energy Drink doesn’t make sense given its flavor. Frost means cold enough to form ice crystals, but it has a strong; the promo describes it as “light”; hint of citrus, the fruits of which would quickly go bad under such conditions. “Citrus Frost” would at least acknowledge the discrepancy.

my rating : 3 of 5

audio review : Life Is Beautiful ( album ) … Larry June + 2 Chainz

audio review : Life Is Beautiful ( album ) ... Larry June + 2 Chainz

What’s Beautiful, or at least quite nice, is “Alchemist’s production”. Larry June and 2 Chainz’s laid-back monotonous raps; they may as well be relaxing in the sun; sound decent enough over it. The lazy hooks, speaking of Bad Choices, are what rock the boat. Potential gems get flawed at the breaks. The best songs include I Been, Munyon Canyon, Jean Prouvé and the blazed-up title cut.

my rating : 3 of 5

2025

365 Crunchy Peanut Butter

365 Crunchy Peanut Butter

You’d have a hard time finding a healthier Peanut Butter. This Whole Foods product is healthy in the sense that there is no sugar or unnecessary ingredients. The only listed here are “dry roasted peanuts” and salt. What helps the taste, aside from the Crunchy bits, is its oily consistency. It’s more like a spread.

my rating : 3 of 5

video review : Smile 2

video review : Smile 2

This should’ve been a stand-alone biopic of sorts about a successful pop singer; Skye Riley may as well be Lady Gaga; dealing with drug-induced psychosis. That would at least explain, if not excuse, all her scary hallucinations, which aren’t scary when they’re basically presented as such. Smile 2 is a lot more fun than the abysmal original. It’s the horror theme; the “supernatural bullshit”; that nearly ruins the show.

my rating : 3 of 5

2024

Monster Energy : Ultra Rosá

Monster Energy : Ultra Rosá

“Roses are red, grapefruit is pink,” the can reads, “Ultra Rosá is not what you think.” I don’t know what that’s supposed to mean, but the flavor is described as “light and easy” with “a floral finish.” Silly metaphors aside, it is one of the more pleasant-tasting Monster Energy drinks.

my rating : 3 of 5

audio review : The Ruler’s Back ( album ) … Slick Rick

audio review : The Ruler's Back ( album ) ... Slick Rick

The Ruler’s Back, but is he really? This Slick Rick album, produced entirely by Vance Wright with the exception of an incongruous club coda by Mr Lee, is mostly underwhelming. The constant scratch samples, on every song, give the set a monotonous tone. The highlights; all stories about dating girls; include Runaway, Venus and Mistakes Of A Woman In Love With Other Men.

my rating : 3 of 5

1991

audio review : Missionary ( album ) … Snoop Dogg

audio review : Missionary ( album ) ... Snoop Dogg

This is the sequel to Doggystyle; Snoop Dogg’s first and best album. If the titles seem out of order; it’s more appropriate to start with the standard Missionary position before hitting it from the back; perhaps it’s a fitting metaphor. It’s 30 years later, the rapper reminds us; it’s actually 31, so the album comes a year late; and he’s not the pup he used to be. Ain’t No Fun these days without a tab of Viagra. At one point, he’s complaining about his cataracts.

Not that anyone can see thru the clouds of weed and gun Smoke; the latter of which inspires a song with 50 Cent and Eminem; the latter of which once made an inferior sequel of his own. Part of the problem with The Marshall Mathers LP 2 was the absence of Dr Dre. Snoop avoids that mistake by inviting the legendary beatmaker to produce every song here, though the abundance of co-producers suggests he’s become more of a musical figurehead.

Those beats are the best thing here, but that’s not saying much. Long gone are the banger basslines of the G-funk era. The production here is polished and contemporary; routine sex with your wife while longing for those “bitches in the living room getting it on”. The biggest turnoff though is the breaks, where the music too often changes for the worse in order to accommodate a limp chorus. Minor highlights include Pressure and The Negotiator.

my rating : 3 of 5

2024

video review : Ming Shi versus Xiaocan Feng at UFC Fight Night

video review : Ming Shi versus Xiaocan Feng at UFC Fight Night

Xiaocan Feng is prettier, but the most beautiful moment of this Road To UFC finale comes at the end when Ming Shi; Doctor Sleep; lands a “massive” head kick à la Valentina Shevchenko versus Jessica Eye. It knocks her opponent out cold to the point where Feng is carried out of the Octagon to the hospital on a stretcher. Brutal.

my rating : 3 of 5

2024