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Chief State Drop New Pop-Punk Single “Team Wiped”

20Mar

By SimonNo Comments

Features, Music

Chief State Drop New Pop-Punk Single “Team Wiped”

Canadian band Chief State is here to help usher in a pop-punk revival with the release of their new single "Team Wiped". Along with the single drop we have details on the release of their debut full-length album. Waiting For Your Colours is set for a July 1st premiere on Mutant League Records. Hailing from the Vancouver area, the album is a result of five years of hustle as a band. Waiting For Your Colours follows up the stand-alone single 'Metaphors" from last year and the 2020 EP "Tough Love". After spending time with each, the band has clearly taken a big step forward with "Team Wiped". Not to say their previous efforts weren't quality, it's clear they're growing as songwriters and production values have improved with this release. Frontman Fraser Simpson who left his home i...

SXSW 2022 Film Dispatches, Vol. 2 (Reviews)

18Mar

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Features, Film, Reviews

SXSW 2022 Film Dispatches, Vol. 2 (Reviews)

The 29th edition of the SXSW Film Festival has been back in-person (and online) this week in Austin, Texas, for the first time in three years. With nearly 100 feature films on the schedule and 76 World Premiere screenings happening over the course the week, there are plenty of opportunities to be entertained. With today’s dispatch, I'm going to cover a few more films that I really enjoyed this week. When it comes to festivals, I tend to gravitate to the documentaries. I already covered a few in my previous post, but here are some more to keep an eye out for in the months ahead. Kids In The Hall: Comedy Punks Five wild and crazy Canadian guys formed a comedy troupe in 1984. For this documentary, they head back to The Rivoli in Toronto where their earliest shows began and talk abou...

Moore Kismet Announces Debut Album Release Set For June

16Mar

By SimonNo Comments

Features, Music

Moore Kismet Announces Debut Album Release Set For June

At just 17 years old, up and coming EDM artist Moore Kismet is set to take the music world by storm. Just last year they became the youngest act ever to perform at both Lollapalooza and Electric Daisy Carnival in the same summer. Now, with a debut album on the way in June and shows planned through the summer at some of the world's biggest music festivals, it's time to get to know Moore Kismet. According to a recent press release, it was back in 2019 that heads started turning after Moore Kismet earned a spot as a finalist at A-Trak's Goldie Awards. In 2020, recognition as one of Billboard's 21 under 21 followed. Significant festival dates were up next in 2021 keeping the positive momentum going. But just who is Moore Kismet? Born Omar Davis, this interview from Blackbookmag shines ...

SXSW 2022 Film Dispatches, Vol. 1 (Reviews)

15Mar

By Matt Shiverdecker2 Comments

Features, Film, Reviews

SXSW 2022 Film Dispatches, Vol. 1 (Reviews)

The 29th edition of the SXSW Film Festival is back in-person (and online) this week in Austin, Texas, for the first time in three years. With nearly 100 feature films on the schedule and 76 World Premiere screenings happening over the course the week, there are plenty of opportunities to be entertained. With today's dispatch, I'll take a look at some of the best documentaries I've caught so far during the festival and I'll be back later in the week with more updates. The Pez Outlaw Before becoming obsessed with the wide variety of international Pez dispensers available overseas, Steve Glew had never been out of the country. Living with his family in rural Michigan and working in a factory as a machinist was a means to an end, but then his OCD manifested itself in collecting all ...

‘The Andy Warhol Diaries’ Come to Life on Netflix (Review)

8Mar

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Features, Film, Reviews

‘The Andy Warhol Diaries’ Come to Life on Netflix (Review)

The promotional tagline for 'The Andy Warhol Diaries' is "the art you know, the artist you don't." Director Andrew Rossi ('Page One: Inside the New York Times') and executive producer Ryan Murphy bring us a six-part docuseries that takes Warhol's own diaries and brings them to life using his own voice. Unlike Morgan Neville who generated controversy last year with the 'Roadrunner' release when it was revealed that his team had used artificial intelligence to manipulate Anthony Bourdain's voice to perfectly narrate the documentary, this project had the full approval of the Warhol Foundation to use a similar technology. Rossi recently told Entertainment Weekly, “To fully appreciate the radical vulnerability that Andy shares in the Diaries, I felt that we needed to hear the words i...

1970’s Charitable Frenzy Explained in ‘Dear Mr. Brody’ (Review)

4Mar

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Features, Film, Reviews

1970’s Charitable Frenzy Explained in ‘Dear Mr. Brody’ (Review)

In 'Dear Mr. Brody,' the latest documentary from director Keith Maitland ('Tower'), we're introduced to a seemingly well-intentioned 21-year-old named Michael James Brody Jr. Brody caused a genuine national frenzy in 1970 when he announced he would be giving away his entire inheritance, allegedly worth $25 million or more, to people in need. He encouraged people to write him letters to let him know why they needed money. The plan was to distribute as much of it as he could for the betterment of society. Or so the story goes. Maitland attempts to uncover the bizarre backstory behind Brody's giveaway by speaking to his widow, several friends, and multiple letter writers from the original campaign. You see, Brody was quickly overwhelmed by the response to his quest to give awa...

LISTEN: SHAED Covers Nirvana’s “Come As You Are”

2Mar

By SimonNo Comments

Features, Music

LISTEN: SHAED Covers Nirvana’s “Come As You Are”

In honor of the 30th anniversary of its original release, SHAED has released a cover of Nirvana's "Come As You Are". Originally released on March 2nd, 1992, the Washington D.C.-based group put their own spin on the track. "Come As You Are" was the second single to be released off of the landmark Nevermind album from Nirvana. It followed the release of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and marked the last time the band had a Top 40 hit on their hands. Recorded in 1991 and produced by Butch Vig, there was some reluctance on even releasing the song as a single due to similarities to Killing Joke's "Eighties". Ultimately it was released and the rest, as they say, is history. SHAED made a name for themselves with the breakout hit "Trampoline" in the summer of 2018. Their album High Dive followe...

2Mar

By Ambur MasenNo Comments

Features, Interviews, Music

A Chat With The Young Legend, MAYKO.

"...the whole purpose of music, in my opinion, is to transport people into a place, into a feeling..." If there is any name you need to remember in 2022, it's Mayko's. You're certainly going to be seeing it everywhere soon. You may already be familiar with Mayko through his release with Sable Valley, or perhaps you remember him from a vibe.digital podcast, or stumbled upon him another way. (If not, you can get introduced to Mayko in our “Release Radar’s Greatest Hits, Volume 3”). Perhaps the best way to get to know him is through his own words, though, right? Well, we were lucky enough to be able to interview Mayko about his art and artistry, what he’s learned on his journey so far–as well as what’s coming next for ‘The Young Legend’. For y...

‘Cyrano’ Charms With Musical Remake (Review)

25Feb

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Features, Film, Reviews

‘Cyrano’ Charms With Musical Remake (Review)

Wikipedia lists at least 24 film adaptations of 'Cyrano de Bergerac,' either in direct or derivative versions. Based on a play from 1897, most versions find our lead character pining for a beautiful woman and afraid to put himself out there on account of his large nose. Joe Wright's charming new adaptation is based on an Off Broadway musical reimagining of the story that was done for the stage by Erica Schmidt and starring her husband, Peter Dinklage, in the titular role. Haley Bennett also reprises her role as Roxanne from this stage version, which includes a beautiful score and delightful original songs from Aaron Dessner, Bryce Dessner, and Matt Berninger of The National. https://youtu.be/EpuImNBJXTE Edmond Rostand's original play was loosely based on the true st...

Catch Up With ‘Flee’ Before the Academy Awards (Review)

22Feb

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Features, Film, Reviews

Catch Up With ‘Flee’ Before the Academy Awards (Review)

Danish drama 'Flee' is one of the most unique nominees at this year's Academy Awards. It earned a nomination for Best International Feature Film, but also made history for its inclusion in the categories for Best Animated Feature and Best Documentary Feature. The film, which world premiered at Sundance last year, introduces us to a man in Denmark who finally breaks his silence on being a child refugee. Director Jonas Poher Rasmussen tells the intensely personal story of one his best friends from high school. We're introduced to him as Amin Nawabi, but that's a pseudonym. Combined with the animation, it allows Amin to tell his story, but remain protected. Born in Kabul, Amin's family was torn apart after their father was arrested and the country was torn apart by war. In...