excellent

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article4138791.ece

"President George W Bush has enlisted British special forces in a final attempt to capture Osama Bin Laden before he leaves the White House."

This is the last time before Bush is out of office that weather in the region will permit a hunt for Bin Laden. Let's hope this is successful.

(I'm gonna be posting good news/political stories that you might not hear about in the mainstream, like this one.)

This Is Not the World

It's been four long years since their amazing debut album, and two years since their lukewarm second album. The debut had such a quirky energy to it and different sound that you had to like it. The follow-up came and, well, it was disappointing. But that doesn't mean it was bad. News & Tributes was just too structured, but it does have its moments with Skip to the End, Burnt, News and Tributes, Back to the Sea, and Thursday. Come to think of it, that was a pretty darn good album.

But here we have their third effort. After being dropped from their major label, The Futureheads' future (pardon me) looked dim. But they've come back strong. I won't go song by song, but I'll give a review.

Immediately with "Beginning of the Twist" you can just feel that this album is going to be good. It's not as immediately catchy as the debut, but it's not as structured as News & Tributes. You might be tempted to say that they've found a balance, but that would mean that it sounds like a cross between the two. It doesn't. It actually sounds fresh and is really different from anything out there right now. Although, I do miss many of the harmonies of the first album (I used to tell people they were the post-punk Beach Boys). I would highly recommend giving this a few listens (notice I said a few, not one). It won't immediately hit you, but eventually it'll sneak into your subconscious and you'll find yourself coming back.

Top songs:
The Beginning of the Twist
Walking Backwards
Think Tonight
This Is Not the World
Hard to Bear
Broke Up the Time

9/10

sippin on chocolate milk

on this fine monday morning. does life get any better?

Here We Stand

Second album from across-the-pond rockers The Fratellis is out, and after their debut "Costello Music" I have high hopes. And you know what? I'm on the verge of saying that this album is even better. Let's go song by song.

1) My Friend John
- Great intro to the album, full of energy and catchy. Song powers along and then hits the chorus, and you will not be disappointed. I think you'll find yourself singing this to yourself for days. 9/10

2) A Heady Tale
- Starts with a nice piano riff (The Fratellis? Piano? Sign of the apocalypse?) Don't worry this isn't a love ballad, just a great song that, once again, will get stuck in your head. 9/10

3) Shameless
- Kick ass guitar riff, another catchy chorus. These may not be the most groundbreaking songs, but they're tried and true greatness. 9/10

4) Look Out Sunshine! (second single)
- A little lighter and slower than the first three, so the album slows down a bit here. Good song, soon to be second single, but for me I prefer the energy in some other songs, like the first three, but still a good song. 7/10

5) Stragglers Moon
- Another slower song with less energy, average. 5/10

6) Mistress Mabel (first single)
- The album is in danger of falling off the tracks after a great start. But then there's Mistress Mabel. The Fratellis pull out some rockin piano and reapply their unmistakable energy here and of course a catchy chorus. Could get repetitive, but so far is top notch. 9/10

7) Jesus Stole My Baby
- A gut-wrenching song about a girlfriend dying and going to heaven. Nah, of course not. The singer is pissed because his girl found religion and isn't quite what he bargained for. Heavy guitar and funny lyrics, plus a great harmonica solo make this a pretty good song. 7/10

8) Babydoll
- The Fratellis finally get in touch with their emotions here, and deliver a lighter song. In fact, this song sounds like it could've come from the 60s, or at least the chorus. 7/10

9) Tell Me a Lie
- Heavy guitars thrashing about this song, and on my first listen this song really caught my ears. I'm digging the chorus and especially the guitar solo. 8.5/10

10) Acid Jazz Singer
- Another lighter song (trend?) but it's very endearing and I love it. Oh wait. Now it's kinda rocking. Wait now it's lighter again. This song is a good mix of light verses and then boom comes the chorus. This might be the best on the album. 9/10

11) Lupe Brown
- Nice intro to this song, not too catchy in the verses though. Chorus is alright and there's a nice guitar solo near the end. 7.5/10

12) Milk and Money
- Last song on the album, will it close out as strong as it started? Starts slow and quiet with piano, and slowly builds until about half way through the song. Then it picks up unexpectedly with some more rock piano and guitar to end the album on a great note. 9/10

Wow, pretty impressive huh? Some sort of clunkers here but when it's great, well, it's great. The average score works out to be...8. So you know what, i'll give The Fratellis latest adventure an 8/10. There is nothing groundbreaking here but they don't fall into the sophomore slump and I think we should all look forward to their third adventure.

8/10

new coldplay

The new Coldplay album is out, their latest since "X&Y" in 2005. Well actually I don't think it is out but either way I'm reviewing it. Titled "Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends," this is the fourth studio album from Chris Martin and the boys.

First, the title. It may actually be the worst album title that I've ever seen, or at least the worst title of an album that I've actually listened to. But in the end that doesn't matter much when it comes the music. So I'll get to that.

Right from the start, it's pretty noticeable that they have expanded on their X&Y sound and not gone back to Parachutes or A Rush of Blood to the Head (my fav). Personally, I would've liked a more basic sound and less produced but that doesn't necessarily make it bad. I've listened to it roughly two times now, and it's really not bad. Like I said, it sounds too produced (Brian Eno was on it) and they've ditched a lot of piano hooks for guitar hooks. Not flying guitar solos, mind you, but some hooks.

The opening track is pretty forgettable, so we'll move on. Second track is alright but nothing special, so we'll keep moving on. There's some good rythm here, like on the song "Lost!" (another bad title). There's also some building going on throughout songs, like in "42" (yet ANOTHER bad title. What is up with these guys?). Starts slow, ends with some catchy guitar. Not bad.

"Lovers in Japan" is a good song, I'm digging the piano in it. "Reign of Love" is a slow piano song with strings. Meh. "Yes" is next with more strings and so far I think it's just average. "Chinese Sleep Chant" is pretty forgettable and almost instrumental.

So the album has started out decently, but then gotten off track in the middle. What will come next?

I'm immediately digging the strings in "Viva la Vida," and it's my favorite song so far. Next is "Violet Hill," the first single off the album I believe. I like it. Driving drums and pretty sick guitar. Great song and much better than "Clocks" or "Speed of Light." "Strawberry Swing" is a great song as well, completing a neat little trifecta here. It just rolls along sweetly right up through the end; very enjoyable. "Death and All His Friends" starts slow but then a little past halfway kicks in and becomes an enjoyable song. No, this isn't Fix You pt. 2. Last we have "The Escapist" which isn't great but works as a closer to fade the album out.

Overall, I'd give it a 6.7/10 which isn't bad at all. It's overproduced but I'm sure it'll grow on me and there's a nice little clump of four pretty darn good songs in a row. You know how I know you're gay? You read this review.

Is there anyone besides Ryan Braun on this team? Really?

6-1 loss. To the Astros.

Miss Columbia

Let Me Tell You How It's Gonna Be

Starting now, this will no longer be simply a sports blog. I'll still touch on sports, but now it'll include music, movies, and my daily girl pic(k). Or, at least I'll try to make it daily.

So I saw Indiana Jones...last weekend? Two weekends ago? Whatever. Here's my review:

Going into the movie I had average expectations, because unlike most people I didn't anticipate too much from the fourth installment of the series. I wasn't thinking it'd be bad, just that it wouldn't live up to the other three. I'm glad that's what I was expecting, because that's exactly what I got. The action was good, the adventure was good (although I wish they'd gone to more locations) but the story was...yeah. I don't wanna give it away for anyone, buuuut SPOILER



...
ALIENS?
...


So yeah. Now I'll have a bunch of atheists on here telling me how aliens are no more silly than believing in Jesus or God or whatever yada yada yada. I don't care. Aliens. In Indiana Jones.

Shia LaBeouf did a fairly decent job and I approve of his crowning to carry on Indiana's namesake. As for the movie: not bad, but not great. But in saying that, I'm giving it a 6.0/10.

Yessir

Why not? Dayana Mendoza, Miss Venezuela.

So has the turnaround begun?

Not too long ago, the Brewers were sliding downhill in a pitiful fashion. It started around the time that Gallardo was injured and out for the season, and continued onwards. Well, it looks like we've finally come around.

Has Prince suddenly been sneaking in some bacon between innings? Either that or he's been trying spinach on for size.

So who is the team MVP right now? To me, it comes down to either Eric Gagne or Bill Hall. Wait yeah no. How about Ben Sheets or Ryan Braun? As of now, here's the numbers (I put the on pace #s in parenthesis):

Sheets
IP: 76.3 (201)
H: 67 (184)
R: 24 (66)
ER: 23 (63)
HR: 9 (25)
BB: 13 (36)
SO: 60 (165)
ERA: 2.71
WHIP: 1.048

Not too shabby. He's staying healthy (so far...) and has been an ace. Now let's look at Braun:

Braun
R: 33 (91)
H: 73 (200)
2B: 16 (44)
3B: 3 (8)
HR: 16 (44)
RBI: 46 (126)
SB: 2 (5)
BB: 11 (30)
SO: 51 (140)
BA: .299
OBP: .331
SLG: .586
TB: 143 (392)

So he's actually on pace for 6 more total bases than last season. But I'm gonna have to go with Sheets on this one; without him our pitching staff would be in major trouble. Without Braun, our offense would be lacking but we have other players that could pick up the slack. I don't see that in the pitching staff.

Let me know what you think.

Welcome All

Welcome to the new Brewers/Packers/whatever I feel like writing about sports blog! I'm sure you'll gain some great insightful knowledge here (or laugh at me), but either way you'll be entertained!

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