Seapony - "Go With Me"

Artist: Seapony
Album: Go With Me
Label: Hardly Art
Release Date: May 31st, 2011
Review by: Sean Kayden

Go With Me is the dreamy, simplistic and melodic oeuvre from newcomers, Seapony. Originally from Seattle, this 3-piece band consists of songwriter Danny Rowland, vocalist Jen Weidl and bass player Ian Brewer. Actual drums are non-existent, but in its place is a vintage synthesizer/drum machine. Seapony’s debut record is composed of seamless fuzzed-out guitar melodies, reverb vocals, and beats from the aforementioned drum machine. The songs are hazy and wistful, but sometimes the lo-fi vocals make it difficult to decipher the lyrics initially. Often times you don’t know when a particular song starts or ends. Majority of the tracks are under three minutes and nearly all of them have similar arrangements and chords. Go With Me is a completely chilled-out record that doesn’t require all that much from the listener. Personally, I’m fine with that as long as you’re in that particular mood. If you seek higher meaning, take heed to another audible outlet.

Like many summer indie albums pouring in by the dozens, Go With Me is idyllic and gentle. It’s the quintessential bedroom music played in the background of other things you are attending to. The twelve tracks fly by while it may be a good thing if you become tiresome of the same sound for 35 minutes. At the same token, if you dig the first track or two, you’ll most likely be content on how the rest of the album plays out. It’s a breezy and uncomplicated listen from start to finish. Seapony’s sound is surf rock meets noise-pop. Songs like “Always” and “With You” feel like they were recycled off Beach Fossils’ debut record. The best comparison to another band they sound like is Best Coast (also with a female singer). Both bands suffer from not having all that much variety in their respective songs. However, there’s no argument that the tunes on Go With Me are lovely and cheerful, but don’t expect any songs to be grounded into your head after completion. Truth of the matter, you’ll probably have a difficult time remembering which song is which because of the overwhelming resemblance each consecutive song has to one another.

At the end of the day, Seapony isn’t going to change you, but that’s just it. The expressive charm behind Seapony’s debut record is simplicity. The lyrics are lucid and the arrangements seem nearly identical in most songs. Despite the lack of diversity, Go With Me still delivers given the genre it’s coming from. It’s a sweet and carefree record that’s ultimately very likable. If you’re a fan of the effervescent pop rock complexion like myself, Seapony is definitely worth checking out. The replay value on Go With Me may not be present like other standout albums from this year, but played here and there should be just the right medicine. Like all good remedies, once you get too used to it, there’s really not much more need for it.

Key Tracks: “I Would Never”, “Blue Star”, “What You See”, “Where We Go”
Grade: 7 out of 10.

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Published on July 23rd, 2011 by Mountain Views News.

Horrible Bosses Review

"Horrible Bosses"
Release Date: July 8, 2011
Directed by: Seth Gordon
Screenplay by: Michael Markowitz, John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein
Rated: R for crude and sexual content, pervasive language and some drug material.
Review by: Sean Kayden

This summer has shown us that R rated comedies are all the rage. So far, The Hangover II, Bridesmaids, and Bad Teacher have been financially successful. The same will go for Horrible Bosses, I’m sure. While Horrible Bosses was far from horrible it felt overwhelmingly pedestrian. This high concept/low brow flick had a promising premise, but didn’t fully travel into the dark terrain it well could have. There are a few big laughs spread throughout the film, but consistent it is not. The cast seems to be having a lot of fun and for the most part it’s entertaining to watch the likes of Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis screw up royally over and over again. The majority of the film’s strong points are credited to the chemistry between these guys. Basically, Horrible Bosses is continually hit or miss, but unfortunately the misses are more apparent.

The setup is that Bateman, Sudeikis and Day all hate their bosses with a passion. After a night of drinking and the appearance of an old comrade, the very idea of just killing off their bosses is brought up. Soon after that night these guys seem to have no other choice, but act upon that crazy impulse. Couldn’t they just quit their jobs, you say? Well, it’s not that easy. They all have specific reasons why they can’t merely walk off the job. The reason for Day’s character is pretty funny, I admit. As for the other guys, it’s fairly standard given their adverse situation. So who are these horrible bosses, anyway? The vicious Kevin Spacey plays Bateman’s boss. Spacey’s character is a colossal a-hole with absolutely no sense of humor or lightheartedness. Bateman is deemed his personal “bitch” and is going to be stuck at his humdrum job for the long haul. Jennifer Aniston, a complete psychotic and sexual predator of sorts portrays Day’s boss (for the record, I wouldn’t be complaining). Her character is crass and crude, but at the very least, a welcoming departure from Aniston’s typical goody two shoes persona. Lastly, we have Colin Farrell (with a comb over, I might add), playing a cokehead tool that’s taking over his father’s business. He’s utterly unabashed, but I found the thought of his character funnier than he actually ended up being. Farrell’s character is ill prepared to run his father’s business and uses the profits for coke and Asian hookers. The dude is living the dream, but for Sudeikis, his job at the company is in jeopardy since Farrell is running it into the ground. Spacey, Aniston, and Farrell seem to find pleasure with their ridiculous characters, but at the end of the day, any laughter you’re about to have will surely come mostly from the three leads.

For good measure, Jamie Foxx is thrown into the mix. He plays the “murder consultant” to the three guys. While he doesn’t have a lot of screen time, Foxx nails it. He even has a ludicrous and uproariously funny name (with a back story) to boot. You’ll also find out about his “nasty” past that landed him in prison for ten years. Director Seth Gordon doesn’t restrain his cast, but I still find him to be a bit green (given that this is only his second feature film). The writers (three in all) had a fairly original concept to work with, but opted to become a distant cousin to the Hangover series. Then again, can you really blame anyone trying to do that these days? Anyway, Horrible Bosses had the on-screen pedigree to be preposterously amusing. While it treads into that territory briefly, overall, I found the big laughs to be scarce. The premise was absolutely solid and the build-up too, but the execution was slapped together half-heartedly. I found the story to be a bit contrived in places and I’m really not 100% sure how I felt about the way act three played out (especially with Spacey’s outlandish actions). At the end of the day, Horrible Bosses is an adequate comedy to please most moviegoers. But for guys like myself (that tend to have high expectations for high concept comedies), I walked away from Horrible Bosses with merely a smirk on my face rather than a big, goofy, ecstatic smile.

Grade: 3 out of 5

Published on July 16th, 2011 by Mountain Views News.
http://mtnviewsnews.com/v05/htm/n29/p11.htm

The Verdict Is In And I Do Not Object

Review by: Sean Kayden

Who says lawyers can’t have fun? This summer, both TNT and USA network look to be kicking off the excitement in the most unconventional, unabashedly way possible. Each cable outlet debuted their freshman law shows, Franklin & Bash and Suits, respectively last month. Both shows, while treading in the same terrain, have something innately unique and refreshing about them. Granted, one may say why watch two shows with similar vibes? Well, the pilots for each series were considerably strong and easily among the best with the inclusion of Showtime’s Shameless this year. If you’re like me, you find it difficult to resist witty, clever and genuinely humorous dialogue within the confines of the buddy comedy genre. Franklin & Bash and the guys from Suits are a few charismatic dudes I’d chill with any day of the week. With them, the party seemingly never eases up. And since it’s summer, I’m perfectly fine with that.

Franklin and Bash tell the story of two budding lawyers who play by their own rules. Breckin Meyer portrays Jared Franklin, the too-cool-for-school, self-assured party boy. However, he’s more about doing the right thing than just merely racking up the victories in court. Mark-Paul Gosselaar depicts Peter Bash, the slightly more mature, grounded legal partner of the two. The two together are a bro-force to be reckoned with. Things drastically change for them when a big law firm, headed by the eccentric Stanton Infeld (Malcolm McDowell), recruits the two best friends soon after they display unusual, but convincing tactics in court. The first episode was uproariously funny. While often jocular and airy, there was just something unequivocally charming about the show. The two leads are perfectly cast in their roles and significantly play well off one another. The courtroom drama is merely a backdrop for this wickedly funny dramedy. At its core, Franklin and Bash simply specialize in the ridiculous. And at the same token, it’d be ridiculous on your part not to tune in.

Suits plays the drama card a little more than F & B. Although, that gives Suits the edge for creating more emotional depth. Plus, on occasion, you’ll find razor-sharp humor. Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams) is a lethargic but an extremely bright college dropout with a photogenic memory that has allowed him to pass the bar exam without attending law school. He has immeasurable potential, but has never truly utilized it in the finest way. Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht), one of Manhattan's best lawyers and self-proclaimed #1 closer in New York, hires Ross as his new associate after being completely impressed with him and his story. Problem is, Ross never went to Harvard (the firm only hires Harvard grads) and the two must keep it a secret. Honestly, the situations that arise in Suits feel to have more at stake than ones in Franklin & Bash. For the character, Mike Ross, the viewer can sympathize for him more because he’s a good guy, who is close to his ailing grandmother and he sincerely cares about the well being of others. Suits may appear to be less “fun” than the other guys, but they make up for it effortlessly with realistic scenarios, intelligent writing and avoid the same beat-for-beat story structure found in consecutive episodes of F & B. Even with only three episodes in the bag, I’m confident to say that these are a pair of “suits” you’d actually want to be friends with.

Look for Franklin and Bash on Wednesday nights at 9pm on TNT and Suits on Thursday nights at 10pm on USA.

Published on July 9th, 2011 by Mountain Views News.
http://mtnviewsnews.com/v05/htm/n28/p12.htm

Vetiver - "The Errant Charm"

Artist: Vetiver
Album: The Errant Charm
Label: Sub Pop Records
Release Date: June 14th, 2011
Review by: Sean Kayden

The fifth album from Vetiver is a strong showcase in music progression. The Errant Charm is a concoction of solid songwriting, lush melodies and washed-out aesthetics. There’s an innate charm and allure to this record. It’s the ideal compilation to be playing while lying in one’s futon on a hazy sunny day. Since that’s the case, little work is required for one to soak up the tunes, “Worse For Wear” and “Hard To Break”. Such beauty and blithe best describe the aforementioned songs. The Errant Charm will take you on a journey without ever realizing you were actually on one. It gently guides you to serenity. There are rarely any surprises with Vetiver, but they constantly deliver what you want and possibly need. However, tracks like “Ride Ride Ride” and the closer, “Soft Glass,” slightly weave off the road a bit. Despite those minor calamities, you’re still left with an accessible album that has considerable depth.

“It’s Beyond Me”, the lengthiest track from the album, starts things off in a promising fashion. It’s definitely a suitable preview to the adventure you’re about to embrace. However, it’s the few sequential tracks that standout from the rest. As I previously mentioned, “Worse For Wear” and “Hard To Break” are dazzling in every way. These songs either symbolize relationships on the fade-out or receiving second chances. “Fog Emotion” is a leisurely sort of tune that has the aptitude to put one in a reflective frame of mind. The spirit of the song is both tranquil and insouciant. While it may be the simplest tune off the album, it’s the one to put you in the best kind of mood no matter of any type of darkness trying to enter your life. “Faint Praise” feels a bit out of place on this particular album, but there’s no denying its stunning beauty. It’s an airy, atmospheric, and ambient track that’ll have you become lost within your own thoughts. It’s a deeply satisfying dream song minus the requirement of needing to fall asleep to experience the vivid imagery discovered within.

The Errant Charm is an undeniably strong demonstration of effective lyrics accompanied with breezy and swirling arrangements. It’s not a masterpiece by any measure, but the record effortlessly displays Vetiver’s most admirable strengths as a group. There’s definitely a lot to enjoy here if this type of music persuasion is your thing. It may not fully captivate one entirely, but the superior songs off the album will certainly ease your distressed disposition. Even if it’s only temporary, it’s still more than what most songs can do these days.

Key Tracks: “Worse For Wear”, “Hard To Break”, “Fog Emotion”, “Faint Praise”
Grade: 8.0 out of 10

Published on July 2nd, 2011 by Mountain Views News.
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