Reviews
 Keep It Simple
Van Morrison
Roger McGuinn @ the Huntington IMAC, Long Island, NY - April 4, 2008
Emily Saxe @ the Allen Room/Jazz at Lincoln Center - April 5, 2008
Another Country
Tift Merritt
Be Your Own Pet
Get Awkward
Paul McCartney – The McCartney Years (DVD)
Juno – Music from the Motion Picture
Various Artists
Yes - Their Definitive Story
Day and Night Driving
Seven Mary Three
InterMedia Arts Center 2/2/08
Huntington, NY
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Trick or treat? This CD compilation was released just in time for the Halloween market, but to tell the truth, the disk is more about bad attitude than it is about bad monsters. Two disks of headbanging emo/hard metal make up the majority of entries here, with subject matter that rarely strays from the anguished cries of unfettered self-analysis and overwrought onanism. The scariest thing here is what these guys are willing to do to their vocal chords in order to get some attention. Shaunluu (“Norma Jean”) and Shadows Fall (“This Is My Own”) shred their voices beyond human recognition, all in the name of self-pity. If I were their Daddy, I’d send them to bed.
Surprisingly, a number of entries are downright melodic, as if the bands had aspirations for the pop market. Andrew W.K. (who submits the downright goofy “You Will Remember Tonight”) is an obvious example of this – imagine early Bruce Springsteen in Goth makeup, and you’ll come close to the sound here. It Dies Today (“Enjoy the Silence”) and Alkaline Trio (“We Can Never Break Up”) sound as if they are disenchanted boy bands rebelling against their managers – not exactly what the title “Masters of Horror” would suggest. The most entertainingly weird song is supplied by Buckethead feat. Serj Tankian, whose off-kilter melodic style and insane syncopation come closer than most tracks here to achieving a true “Monster-Chiller-Horror-Theater” mood. As for the rest, though, most of these bands simply sound as though they need to be bitch-slapped, or maybe they just need a good nap.
Grade: 
 
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