"The Purge" Review

Written and Directed by James DeMonaco

Rated R for strong disturbing violence and some language

Release Date: June 7^th, 2013

Review By: Sean Kayden

“The Purge” on paper has a very intriguing premise. The year is 2022, unemployment is at 1%, and the crime rate is at an all time low. The film proposes this wild notion that our “New Founding Fathers” initiated a law that states that for one night out of the year anyone can commit any feasible crime without punishment. The reasoning behind the purge is that we as human beings are in fact violent and vicious. Therefore, we need to purify ourselves. To purge is to cleanse the soul for those with pent up anger, hatred, and rage. In the 85 minute running time, writer/director James DeMonaco wastes his interesting concept with a lack of thrills, chills, and any real social commentary to put on display. “The Purge” could have been one scary, thought-provoking human story masked behind an R-rated horror film yet everything that seemed promised in the trailers was not kept.

Ethan Hawke stars as James Sandin, a high level employee who sells home security systems to wealthy people in his suburban paradise. Those who buy it ultimately are able to turn their luxurious homes into fortified castles. The Sandins consists of James, his wife Mary (Lena Headey), and their two kids, Zoey and Charlie. Zoey is a typical 17-year-old girl. She shows bitterness toward her father, who doesn’t approve of her older boyfriend. Charlie is an intelligent, misfit pre-teen who doesn’t know how to occupy his time effectively. Leading up to the purge, we hear news broadcasts throughout the house expressing what is allowed during the event. They also have a brief yet humorous transmit about which weapons can and can’t be used. There’s also a small segment about how the purge may be helping the economy and rapidly lowering crime rate. However, analysts insist that perhaps these stellar results come at the cost of attacking those who are at poverty stricken, homeless, and infirm levels. DeMonaco doesn’t really expand too much on this in his underdeveloped script. He’s more focused on having his film be this small, contained thriller than allowing it to develop into something much greater as it desperately should have been.

When the purge starts at 7pm, Charlie inquires why his parents don’t go out and kill someone on this night. They simply tell him they have no urge to do so. As the they settle in for the night for another annual purge, Charlie witnesses a man in trouble outside his home via their outside camera security. The African-American man outside is begging for someone to help him and to no surprise not a single person is willing to open his or her home for him. Believing the right thing to do is to aid the man who’s in trouble, Charlie takes it upon himself to disarm his house’s security system to allow for the man to come in side. This is where the “real” story of the movie unfolds. It become less about this wild event that happens each year and more about this family keeping a man on the run inside their home from people wanting to kill him.

Australian actor Rhys Wakefield is the ringleader of this group of wealthy collegiate individuals looking to kill the man inside the Sandin residence. If the family doesn’t comply with their demands, they will have no choice to force entry and kill everyone. Wakefield is easily the most entertaining character in this thinly written film. He’s vicious, humorous, and utterly portrays his violent tendencies with such ease. Unfortunately, his joker-like demeanor can’t save “The Purge” from being such a slog from halfway in till the end. With a few small surprises in store late in the game and a cool fight sequence with Ethan Hawke and the perpetrators, “The Purge” isn’t completely empty. However, the story is sparsely conceived and these surprises are too little too late to really care. As we approach the conclusion, things become pretty silly and unintentionally humorous. With a lack of big moments and neither being terrifying nor providing anything remotely insightful with its great premise, “The Purge” can’t deliver the goods it initially set out to do.

Grade: 2 out of 5

Published by Mountain Views News on June 15th, 2013
http://mtnviewsnews.com/v07/htm/n24/p16.htm

THREE ANTICIPATED ALBUMS FOR THIS MONTH

By: Sean Kayden

Camera Obscura – “Desire Lines” - Camera Obscura’s fifth studio album and first in four years has them sounding better than ever. With their baroque sound, lush melodies, and soulful singing, “Desire Lines” is the summer nighttime album for young and old lovers alike.  The first single is “Do It Again,” the most upbeat song on the record. Whirling, guitar-laden, and savagely infectious, “Do It Again” is a real gem coming from a band with a treasure chest of valuable material. In fact, don’t be surprised to find many tunes on this particular album that will be your guiding light these late estival nights. In a summer filled with craziness and boisterous anthemic tunes from many newcomers, sometimes it’s nice to take a step back to reflect on the more personal, worthwhile things in life. “Desire Lines,” the record from a band that’s been making music before turn of the millennium may be the sound of the summer to get you where you really want to go, the place beyond the frivolous agenda of those occupying your time with no worthy reward in exchange. The album runs deeper than the usual summer affair.

“Desire Lines” was released June 3rd, 2013 via 4AD.

Smith Westerns –“Soft Will” - Smith Westerns are gearing up for their third studio album, “Soft Cell.” These glam rockers, inspired by the 70s, are refreshing on all accounts. The band’s first single, “Varsity,” is shimmering, crisp, and incredibly melodic. With their first foray into sleeker production values and a more mature sound, Smith Westerns haven’t lost their youthful exuberance. As the band comes to terms with their new outlook on life, so has the way they’ve approach songwriting. As a matter of fact, even as the group gets older (still in their early-to-mid 20s), their view on life has somewhat changed. While their friends are seeking jobs in the professional world, the band could be destined for more success than what the “working world” could ever offer. “Soft Cell” may bleed youthful energy, but the band’s latest approach finds them closer than ever to the likes of adulthood.

“Soft Will” is out June 25^th, 2013 via Mom + Pop.

City & Colour – “The Hurry and The Harm” - City and Colour is the moniker for singer/songwriter Dallas Green. He’s this soulful folk singer who once occupied his earlier days in the post-hardcore outfit, Alexisonfire several years ago. For his forth studio album, “The Hurry and The Harm,” Green brings his folk tendencies to a slightly elevated level. More folk rock than strictly just folk this go around, City and Colour still has the aptitude of capturing the human spirit in fullest form. For fans of Neil Young and Bob Dylan, City and Colour’s established sound, expressive songwriting, and sensitive melodies can chill your bones and yet warm your soul. While “The Hurry and The Harm” feels more like a late fall/winter sort of album, I can argue that anytime of the year is just fine for terrific music like this. Regardless of where you’re going, where you came from, or where you stand today, City and Colour has the right dose of medicine for any complications that may come your way. And better yet, there’s no way of ever overdosing on such a prescription as this. 

“The Hurry and The Harm” was released on June 4^th, 2013 via Dine Alone Records.



Published by Mountain Views News on June 8th, 2013
http://mtnviewsnews.com/v07/htm/n23/p13.htm

Gold & Youth - "Beyond Wilderness"

Artist: Gold & Youth 

Album: Beyond Wilderness

Label: Arts & Crafts

Release Date: May 14^th, 2013

Review By: Sean Kayden

Debut records are difficult to critique. With the hope and promise of a long lasting career, many buzzed bands fizzle out after an album or two. I hate when expectations are so high after hearing a new band’s single and only to find out the rest of the record pales in comparison. This next band is one I was worried about despite hailing from the Arts & Crafts label, which houses such wonderful acts like Broken Social Scene, Feist, Eight and A Half, and Bloc Party. After a name alteration and line-up change, Gold & Youth was rebranded when they dropped their first single “City of Quartz,” a song dripping in 80s pop. It was brooding pop tune, at least for the first three-fourths of the way. It quickly turned into a more polished, expansive song toward the last minute or so. After months of delay, the long awaited debut album from Canadian synth-rockers, Gold & Youth has finally been bestowed upon us. “Beyond Wilderness” is the creation of Matt Lyall (lead vocals, guitar, keys and bass), Louise Burns (vocals, bass and keys), Murray McKenzie (guitar, keys and backing vocals), and Jeff Mitchelmore (drums). The thing that makes Gold & Youth different than their synth-pop peers is how their record is fully engaging, bold, and mature. While veteran snyth-rockers Phoenix and newcomers Youngblood Hawke may get all the attention in 2013, there’s an intrinsic exuberance found in Gold & Youth that shouldn’t be ignored. 

“Beyond Wilderness” is ambitiously modern regardless of roaming through the likes of 80s synth rock. What is even more amazing is that just about every subsequent track feels different than the one before. “Quarters” has this sunny and warm atmosphere going on for it. The last minute is reminiscent of something found on a Broken Social Scene record. “Tan Lines,” a true standout, boasts understated guitars, softened snyths, and powerful choruses. This is the song to identify summer with as soon as it arrives. “Daylight Colours” demonstrates tropical guitars, ultra chill vibes, and supreme catchiness. “Little Wild Love” is a menacing, moody tune and while it criminally sounds like a cut off some Depeche Mode record, it’s still pretty darn good.

There are a few mishaps along the way with “Beyond Wilderness.” The dreadful “Cut Lip,” which features barely audible vocals is a dream-like song, but plays more like a nightmare you desperately want to wake up from. “Jewel” is a little too much 80s for its own good. It features the vocals of Louise Burns, which is nice change of pace, but the jarring vocal change makes this song seemingly just a plain old filler. Luckily, there’s a song like “Young Blood” to crank up the energy once again. It should be the go to song for any club looking for something different to play on the dancefloor. Many newcomers exercising their musical aptitude in synth-pop seem to create the same ten or eleven songs on their brand new record. I’ve already vocally expressed this genre to be an overcrowded arena, but with “Beyond Wilderness,” Youth & Gold are doing something intoxicatingly refreshing. It’s a pleasant surprise to find exceptional depth and profundity to a record of this nature. While it may not be a perfect album, this rather striking debut record wields both high energy and a mature sound that’s rare to find working hand in hand with one another.

Grade: 7.9 out of 10

Key Tracks: “Quarters,” “Tan Lines,” “Daylight Colours,” “Young Blood”

Published by Mountain Views News on June 1st, 2013
http://mtnviewsnews.com/v07/htm/n22/p15.htm