Innocent Creatures

Listen Up

innocentcreatures@gmail.com (Branden Palomo) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 09:30:00 -0700

Two Suns, Bat For Lashes :: *(5.0/5.0)

I first heard of Bat For Lashes when someone posted the video for "What's A Girl To Do" on a messageboard I used to frequent. The video was brilliant, and the music was intriguing... Thought about getting the album on iTunes for a while, but being broke held me back, and I just settled for that song.

So when this new album came out this year, I knew I had to give it a listen...

I don't know if this is a bad rip, or if the sound on this album is really this dark. It sort of reminds me of the way some CDs sounded in the early 90's... Dark and crisp in their low-fi tone — the new technology no longer obscuring the imperfections that were accepted as a part of it all, at the time. So right away, there is a thread of nostalgia that this album pulls on for me.

The production sounds really Retro-Electric. Up-tempo on some songs — almost Dance-Pop — but then there are very minimalist, atmospheric pieces... And her voice is always delicate and pleading. Drawn-out phrasing that enchants your ears.

I really, really like this album, but I don't know if I could listen to it all the time... Feel like I need to be in a certain mood to turn this on.

I don't know what mood that is, but I want to be in it a lot...

Favorite Tracks: "Glass", "Sleep Alone", "Daniel", "Traveling Woman", and "Siren Song"...

Listen Up

innocentcreatures@gmail.com (Branden Palomo) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 09:28:00 -0700

Fork In The Road, Neil Young :: *(3.0/5.0)

The thing I love about Neil Young, is his guitar tone. The sound is just so gritty and fuzzy. It's one of my holy grail tones — Something that I NEED to find for myself on my Guitar Playing Quest...

Another concept/themed album — this one about his car. The Linc-Volt Project. Transforming an old Lincoln into a bio-diesel/electric.

Interesting? Not really... But novel. Not really an album where you're going to pour over the lyrics. But I find the statement he's making much more interesting than the actual words he's singing. Environmental concern. Activist initiative. DIY empowerment. Rejection of rampant capitalist big business blood-suckers...

But really, what goes with Rock 'n Roll better than cars? And who does Rock 'n Roll better than Neil Young?

But stretching the car theme over an entire album tired me out a little bit. Not a favorite album of mine, but I'll probably put it on if I'm in a quirky mood.

The album starts off pretty strong, but then loses its groove a little — lets off the gas a bit and puts on the cruise control...

Seems that's a common affliction with albums recently. Front-loading too much. Maybe because there's not enough "A Material" to span the length of the album?

Favorite Tracks: "When Worlds Collide", "Fuel Line", "Light A Candle", "Fork In The Road", and "Off The Road"...

Listen Up

innocentcreatures@gmail.com (Branden Palomo) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 09:27:00 -0700

The Open Door EP, Death Cab For Cutie :: *(0.3/5.0)

I had been reading through the book Ripped by Greg Kot, and just got done with a chapter all about Death Cab. So I thought to myself that I wanted to give this a chance, since I was just sold on how much they ruled, and thought that their story was interesting...

But this was something totally not to my taste. Folk-Emo... They have a fairly large following, and wanted to make sure I wasn't missing out on anything. Not really impressed by the song or two I've heard of theirs on the radio, but still wanted to give them a chance.

I made it a total of two whole listens through... Although, the second one, I skipped to the next song after about a minute and a half.

Listen Up

innocentcreatures@gmail.com (Branden Palomo) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 09:25:00 -0700

Crack The Skye, Mastodon :: *(5.0/5.0)

Another concept album, but that's par for the course with these guys. And the fact that Mastodon has these stories/concepts are a big selling point for me.

The epic sci-fi/fantasy metal that fills the appetite more than just thrashing guitars and screaming. They've come a long way from Remission. And that may be one of the reasons I latched onto this band. Because I knew that — I could just hear that — they had more going on than just your typical run-of-the-mill metal band. I could sense the potential.

This album has quite a bit Actual "Singing" on it — albeit with help from studio effects. But they don't feel like any sort of pop/Brittany Spears/Lady Gaga thing. Keyboards that really add to the mythic quality of the music are thrown in too. Channeling 70's prog rock and their own personal demons.

It's the Story that make this album... The story of Brann, the drummer's, sister. The story of Brent, the singer/guitarist, almost dying. Story of the actual lyrics and concept. And maybe it's just because I'm a fan and found out all of this stuff before I listened to it. Maybe it's because I'm a fan and shelled out for the CD/DVD version with the documentary of the Making Of this album... But really, I wanted the DVD because I know the guys are funny and I knew it would be entertaining.

I had no idea that Bill, the guitarist, was such a big Star Wars geek, or that Brent had a Creature From The Black Lagoon collection.

There's lots of guitar solos. Lots of intense drumming... But this still feels like an almost laid-back kind of album. At least less of a Full Frontal Assault than their previous albums.

There was an instrumental version released as an iTunes exclusive, and I just had to get a hold of it... Didn't pay for it though, because I already bought the premium version, so that made no fucking sense to me. But I have it, and it is now a valuable addition to my "Writing Playlist" on my iPod.

Favorite Tracks: "Divinations", "The Czar", "Ghost Of Karelia", and "The Last Barron"...

Listen Up

innocentcreatures@gmail.com (Branden Palomo) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 09:23:00 -0700

Swoon, Silversun Pickups :: *(4.0/5.0)

This is an In-Store Play at the Bookstore. And it's purely on the strength of the first single that I listened to this album...

Good all around rock, but there are moments of over-bloated production, especially in the intro's of a couple of songs — keyboards and sound effects. Just get to the guitars already!

Pretty good riffs and guitar tones — nice fuzz. Drumming has a good solid groove. Really tight with the bass. And you put it all together with the soft vocals, you can't help but hear a bit of the Smashing Pumpkins. They've even got it down to having a female bass player, and having the same initials for their band name... There's a part of me asking myself: "Why would I listen to these guys when I could just hear the Real Thing?" Or I make the joke: "You know, I liked these guys a whole lot better when they were called the 'Smashing Pumpkins'."

But then again, Smashing Pumpkins don't really exist anymore — at least since Billy Corgan went insane... A shell of their former selves, charging rent for that empty space.

When they hit it with a good song, they really get me. The problem is, this album is pretty uneven — mostly because of the production and I mentioned earlier... It adds a little bit, but I'm sure if given the chance to just stand on its own strength of Rawk, that this would go from a Pretty Good album, to an Almost Awesome one.... There are some songs that really feel like filler, and this could have been a really focused pop record if they were just left out.

I have a feeling that there's a better album in them that they just need a little time to get to. Never heard any previous work of theirs, but I always remember hearing about them and just having a vibe of not liking them. I think maybe because I had them confused with some other band.

Favorite Tracks: "It's Nice To Know You Work Alone", "Panic Switch", "Substitution", "Surrounded" and "There's No Secrets This Year"...

**Bonus video of them playing a couple of songs, because these aren't the most attractive looking bunch of rockers out there, but you can't deny that sound: Link to Stereogum

Test

innocentcreatures@gmail.com (Branden Palomo) — Sun, 6 Sep 2009 13:28:00 -0700

Testing to see if this works & how it's formatted...

*sent via BB8120
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Listen Up

innocentcreatures@gmail.com (Branden Palomo) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 09:19:00 -0700

Relapse, Eminem :: *(3.0/5.0)

Another CD I listened to just to see what the kids these days are into...

One thing I wondered while listening to this, is why don't rock albums have "skits" in them? For that matter, why do rap albums have them? I just don't get it.

I really liked the production — Dr Dre, being another famed rap producer — and was surprised by how much I liked the lyrics. Just super out-there, like a Warren Ellis comic put to music. Hyperbole and exaggeration. Every song containing drug references (why is he halving all his pills?), and most talking about sex and violence.

I don't know how anybody could see this as offensive, as there is no truth in any of it, just an attempt at shock. These aren't attacks, just some guy in his soiled underwear screaming at the top of his lungs about the snake-man conspiracy to steal his pension fund of chicken bullion. Not dangerous at all, just flamboyant. Excentric.

Overall, entertaining. But I just listened through is once, and really, that's all I needed. I got the gist of it.

Listen Up

innocentcreatures@gmail.com (Branden Palomo) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 14:46:00 -0700

21st Century Breakdown, Green Day

All this is, is Hannah Montana/Jonas Brothers/lame pop-rock with the occasional F-Bomb...

Lazy uninspired pop music that is processed within an inch of its life. Compression sucking the warmth out of everything. Guitars with no edge or punch. And vocals — don't get me started on his voice.

I've never liked this band... Only listened through this album one time, and that was one time too many. The only reason I put myself through this, is so that I can get some kind of feel for what is "Really" happening out there in music. Listen to the same stuff as everyone else instead of the safe familiar music I have become accustomed to. Feeling somewhat like I'm connected. Even though, most times, I don't wanna be.

Listen Up

innocentcreatures@gmail.com (Branden Palomo) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 12:59:00 -0700

Scream, Chris Cornell

Chris Cornell. Best screaming vocals in rock music... Timbaland. One of the best hip-hop producers around... Two great tastes that taste great together? Not so much...

At most, this is an oddity. Sort of a train wreck in the middle of a circus side show.

I've listened to this, and I just can't figure it out. I don't know if I like it, or if it's crazy and bizarre, which is why I find it intriguing and slightly appealing. I think that the one thing you can get out of this without a doubt, is that Cornell NEEDS to be in a band for his own good. For the good of all mankind. In the name of all that is holy, please get this guy into a group of other musicians... His only good solo stuff is a song he did while still in Soundgarden, the song "Seasons".

All of the songs on this album blend into each other like a huge club-jam-ultra-mega-mix. The beats sound like out-takes from a Justin Timberlake CD. I don't know if Cornell — or his management — is trying to appeal to a new audience. Trying to sound young and hip and relevant with the times and new musical landscape.

This is just one big "What The Fuck?!" and I think that would have been a better album title. It would tell everyone exactly what they were in for... I am more confused by this than just about any twist in the whole history of the television show Lost.

I. Just. Don't. Know.

Favorite Track: "Climbing Up the Walls"...

The Hazards Of Love, The Decemberists

The Year Of The Concept Album...

Holy Fucking Shit! I love this album.

First listen through — three songs in — I knew this was gonna be great.

Indie/classic rock/rock opera sounding. Lots of guitar groove, which really pushed it over the edge for me...

I've heard most of their previous album, The Crane Wife — heard it on the In-Store Play at work when it came out — and I liked it. But I never heard the whole thing. Probably gonna break down and get it from iTunes one of these days.

But this one — judged all on its own — is excellent. I NEED to buy this... I like the storyline — it really fits in the the "The Hazards of Love" title. And before listening to this, I hadn't read any of the reviews of what the story was supposed to be.

I could get a little bit just listening to the lyrics, but got lost around the song "The Queen's Rebuke/The Crossing"... But I had to go online and read the music mags to figure out that there was a shape changing witch and forest nymph, or some other crap going on. So I guess knowing that makes a little more sense listening back to it over again. But still, even without knowing any of that, it was impossible to listen to this album and not be completely drawn in.

I had no idea that this band could rock this hard. I always just assumed that they were all about the Indie-Folk, but they end up channeling some serious 70's hard rock groove. So good! Especially the female guest vocals. But then again, I'm always a sucker for that.

Most definitely an early favorite for one of my Picks Of The Year.

Favorite Tracks: "The Hazards Of Love 2 (Wager All)", "The Wanting Comes In Waves / Repaid", "The Rake Song", "The Hazards Of Love 4 (Drowned)", and "A Bower Scene"...

Listen Up

innocentcreatures@gmail.com (Branden Palomo) — Tue, 2 Jun 2009 23:35:00 -0700

No Line On The Horizon, U2

U2. Biggest band in the Universe according to some. Especially if you read the reviews in the British music magazines. Everyone in the music press trying to push each other out of the way to suck their dicks.

I've never "gotten" them to be honest. Their appeal. Too laid back for me. A distinct ego underlying everything they've done since at least around Achtung Baby. To me, they're just Adult Contemporary — not vital. There's no excitement or life in their music.

I skipped through most of the songs on this album. Good production elements. Good guitar playing. Some nice melodies... And there are some good songs — "No Line On The Horizon", "Get On Your Boots", and "Breathe" — but Bono just shits all over them with his crap cut-up lyrics. Faux intellectualism and self-importance.

This band, and this album, just is not my style. Not for me...

You'll have to try harder, U2, if you want to convince me that your music is worth buying.

Old Money, Omar Rodriguez-Lopez

An extension of the Mars Volta by pure virtue of its being a solo record of the main song-writer of the group. Guitarist, Rodriguez-Lopez.

This album is just like an instrumental Mars Volta record... Latin jazz groove with crazy guitars.

This is great music to write to. Just have it on in the background and jam out. Get jazzed up to put pen to paper and let all the words in my head spill out. I've put this on my Writing Playlist for my current project.

And I'm wondering now why I never tried to track down his solo stuff before. It should have been a simple equation to work out... I like Mars Volta, so why wouldn't I like his solo stuff?

Favorite Track: "The Power Of Myth"...

Listen Up

innocentcreatures@gmail.com (Branden Palomo) — Sat, 30 May 2009 20:32:00 -0700

The Century Of Self, ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of The Dead

This album starts with a really epic song, and it threw me off... Instrumental Prog-ish sounding electronic rock... Then "Far Pavillions" comes in with a mid-nineties alternative sound.

From the name of the band alone, I was under the assumption that these guys were a Gothic-Emo sort of band. Sludge Metal, singing about the medieval Age of Darkness, and plagues and shit like that. Renaissance Fairs and puffy shirts.

I've never listened to this band, and I am really pleasantly surprised. I wanna try to go back and listen to some of their older stuff, since those are regarded as their better albums — but that's what everyone says about every band.

This is my favorite album of the year, so far. It's beyond all that Pop Nonsense. High energy rock with ethereal bridges — Sonic Youth-meets-Mogwai breakdowns in the middle of their songs. Vocals sound like the Brit Pop whine of the early/mid-nineties. Guitar tones reminding me of The Bends era Radiohead...

Really glad I tried this one out.

Favorite Tracks: "Far Pavillion", "Bells Of Creation", "Pictures Of An Only Child", "Acending", and "Isis Unveiled"...

It's Blitz!, Yeah Yeah Yeahs

I really like their first album, but haven't had the chance to give any of their other stuff a try, yet.

This album was released early on iTunes because of internet leaks, so I didn't get a chance to read any reviews before listening to this. I had no idea the sound that was going to greet me...

Electronic Dance, complete with Disco drumming on the more up-tempo songs. I'm a big fan of Karen O's voice, and I guess that's the main reason I wanted to give this album a try. Totally not what I was expecting, but it's not terrible. And it totally shattering the expectations I had is part of its appeal to me.

It's interesting to hear experimentation and a melding of styles/instrumentation that you don't get from an average Pop group. But I guess that just about every band has their "Electronic Album" at some point in the career.

But the main draw for the iTunes Pre-order of this album was because they were offering exclusive bonus tracks — which I'm a whore for. And while not really essential, the acoustic tracks make up for it. And on this album, it's the slower songs that really showcase the talent in the band, and keep me from writing off this album as less than mediocre.

Favorite Tracks: "Soft Shock", "Dull Life", "Skeletons (Acoustic)", "Hysteric (Acoustic)", and "Runaway"...

Listen Up

innocentcreatures@gmail.com (Branden Palomo) — Sun, 10 May 2009 20:36:00 -0700

Hold Time, M. Ward

Listened to this just one time... Not my style.

A whole lot more country than I expected it to be — "Americana" I guess it could be called. Didn't really know what to expect from this. I've never heard M. Ward before. Just knew that he was an NPR/indie-rock darling, and I thought that I'd give him a chance.

There were a couple of okay songs — the more rock ones. But this isn't anything I care to listen to again. I've been hearing songs from this album at work on the In-Store Play. And hearing a song by itself in the background of my work day, I find myself kind of liking it. But when I tried to sit down with the whole album, it just turned out to be too much for me... The strangest part of listening to this, being that, I'm pretty sure every song ended by fading-out except for one.

Good guitar sounds, and very minimalist production, for the most part. I like the vocal harmonies between he and Zooey Deshanel, but from what I've heard of the album they did together as She & Him, it didn't impress me.

I officially don't understand M. Ward, or his appeal, and that's okay with me...

It's Not Me, It's You, Lily Allen

This is a melody based album, as opposed to her first album which was beat based. Singing replacing rap — the much dreaded "Artistic Growth" that many bands/musicians struggle with... Do you keep going along the same road you have always traveled, or do you venture off into uncharted territory in order to try to fulfill the creative pangs in your spirit?...

You can tell that there has been a period of growth in her career. Her life. There's lots of social commentary and looking at the world. Calling out on a whole bunch of bullshit. Brash and not liberal with the subtlety or artistic nuance... And that's how you can tell that she is still young.

I see the move away from rapping to more of a solid pop sound as a transition — evidence of her maturing. She still has her sense of humor — come on, a fucking banjo in one song ("Not Fair"). And she still has her potty-mouth. So I guess that these are just the things that make her who she is.

This definitely has the sort of lack of energy common in many Second Albums... While there are all the earmarks of more time and money being invested — more elaborate production than Allen's previous release and the experimental nature in the sound that has resulted — I just can't hear confidence in these songs. But as a young artist, I guess she gets a pass for that.

This album — and actually, all of Lily Allen's music — feels like a guilty pleasure for me. But really, shouldns't all music be pleasurable? Isn't that something we're all guilty of?

Favorite Tracks: "Not Fair", "Back To The Start", "Chinese", "Him" and "The Fear (Acoustic)"...

Listen Up

innocentcreatures@gmail.com (Branden Palomo) — Sun, 8 Mar 2009 16:52:00 -0700

Blood Bank, Bon Iver

This album is a perfect continuation from For Emma...

I'm writing this, and it's snowing right now. Headlights and streetlights illuminate the moments before dawn. I am feeling these songs in my bones, and I want to hold my beloved in my arms. Keep her warm... I don't know if I'm going to be able to listen to this the same way once the clouds part and the snow melts. We move out of a dreary winter and into a hopeful and bright spring.

There are only four songs, so I opted for the iTunes download instead of the CD. Purely a cost decision...

The last two songs, "Babys" and "In The Woods" sound like experimental out-takes from For Emma... A toy piano banging away, and then a layered Auto-Tune a cappella torch song.

There's no reason for anybody to not buy this. If anything, consider this a taste of what the full experience of the full-length album is like. You won't be disappointed.

Favorite track: "Blood Bank"...

Working On A Dream, Bruce Springsteen

I've never really listened to The Boss. Just songs on the radio — the big hits. This is a pretty big release for the year — Springsteen playing at the Super Bowl and having a song from this album win a Golden Globe... Thinking I might go back to one of his classic releases after listening to this.

A big sound. A type of rock 'n roll I'm not used to. Something you don't hear from bands today, except on the occasional crossover pop attempt. It's the song writing and arrangement that win me over. The lyrics, not so much...

I mean, I like this album. But it's just so easy to make fun of it. It's one of the In Store Plays at the bookstore, and I can't help but take a swing at the lyrics. Especially for the award winning "The Wrestler" with lyrics about one-legged dogs, one-legged and one-armed men.

I really like Springsteen's voice — sort of what I see Eddie Vedder's voice turning into this next decade. There are tints of it on his solo album/soundtrack album Into The Wild. Puzzle piece lyrics, mainlining Bob Dylan spiked with three or four rhyming dictionaries.

I listen to this, and I hear the craft and professionalism that comes from his experience and maturity as an artist. Don't know what he sounded like when he started out — back when he was my age (and fuck does that make me feel like I've done nothing with my life). And perhaps it's just a product of his generation and influences — guys making music, and coming out now listened more to Kiss and 80's metal bullshit than Springsteen. I'm either just hearing what he's changed into, or this is what he is. Absorbed band he's listened to, and this is it, or I don't know. But I do want to find out.

Favorite Tracks: "What Love Can Do", "Good Eye", The Last Carnival", "A Night With The Jersey Devil" and "My Lucky Day"...

Tonight: Franz Ferdinand, Franz Ferdinand

All I know from this band is their song or two from the album before this. And I knew that I wasn't going to like this going into it, but sometimes you gotta suffer through the shit to appreciate the good stuff that's out there all the more.

Still with the lazy disco beat — even though I read in a short little article in Rolling Stone that they weren't going to use that same old "Take Me Out" drum beat. And while these songs aren't exactly the same, they have the same sound and feel... Synths and guitar effects, I guess in the attempt to make the songs sound a little different from each other.

Only made it through one real listen all the way through. Then gave it a second try, but was skipping songs about a minute or so through. Except for "Send Him Away" — heard the beginning eight beats, and said, "Oh hell no!" then went on to the next one...

I really think that it's the drumming that's turning me off to this album. That, and the similar vocal composition used in each song. No variety. No innovation. No life or real groove.

Listen Up 2008, pt 6 (Final)

innocentcreatures@gmail.com (Branden Palomo) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 19:37:00 -0800

For Emma, Forever Ago, Bon Iver

You can hear the cold and solitude in this album. Jangly acoustic guitar. Multitracked vocals. Sparse drumming. This is all one guy, and it shows. And it shows beautifully.

I first heard Bon Iver from a live concert on NPR at this year's South By Southwest. Thought it was great, but then I just forgot until the end of the year and noticed that this album was mentioned on just about every year-end Best Of list. This is by far the best surprise of the year.

I don't know how anyone could be able to listen to this and not fall under its spell. Soulful. Minimalist, yet fully realized.

I just want to play guitar and write songs after listening to this... So hard to pick anything that stands out — it's all just so fucking GREAT! Only nine songs, though, so I'm glad there's an EP that was just released.

Favorite Tracks: "Flume", "Skinny Love", Blindsided", "Re: Stacks" and "The Wolves (Act I & II)"...

Chemistry Of Common Life, Fucked Up

This was showing up on a bunch of year end lists, as well. Needed stuff to listen to, so I gave this one a try. The name of the band is kind of a turn off — I mean, really? What are you, eighth graders? But I had heard that this was a hardcore band, and I didn't really get a lot of that kind of stuff this year...

Rough vocals and multitracked guitars. Lots of attitude, but it seems like pretty straight-forward rock 'n roll to me. Songs that make you nod your head. really easy to get into, but if the album was a little bit shorter, it probably would have kept my attention a little better.

Didn't really draw me in. Liked it fine, but it's not something I'm going to keep listening to into the new year. There's not enough time for me to listen to music that I just think is okay. I need shit that I'm gonna fall in love with. Something that really touches me — that demands my attention and needs me to give it mind...

Favorite Tracks: "Son the Father", "Days of Last", "Black Albino Bones", "Twice Born" and "No Epiphany"...

Ghosts I-IV, Nine Inch Nails

I already reviewed this album last year...

This album is just crazy creativity. It goes everywhere. Does everything. Leaves so much open, and leaves you wanting more. I swear I could just listen to this all day.

Ghosts is pretty much the reason that I have decided to make my novel into a podcast and license it under Creative Commons. Mostly because this has just inspired me so much that I have to use this music in that spirit of inspiration. Keeping it free and open. Allowing the creative energy in art to keep moving, in and out of the people creating and observing. Art can nether be created nor destroyed, just changed from one thing into another. Plucking particles from Idea Space...

I can't get enough of this. By far, this is what I listened to the most in 2008. This was my favorite (double) album of last year. Just listen to it — it's free everywhere. Streaming all over the place, like here...

Listen Up 2008, pt 5

innocentcreatures@gmail.com (Branden Palomo) — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 10:10:00 -0800

American Gothic EP + G.L.O.W. "digital 45", Smashing Pumpkins

I already reviewed this EP earlier in the year, and I also ranted at the beginning of the year about digital releases, iTunes exclusives, different retail versions and imports...

"G.L.O.W." is a song that was released, first, only for the Guitar Hero World Tour video game. "Superchrist" was released on a limited edition compilation distributed only through Guitar Center...

So, pretty much, the average SP fan isn't going to be able to get these songs — and I guess by average, I just mean me, because I'm narcissistic like that... Sure, there's videos online, but up until about a month ago, you were shit out of luck. But now you can get them, but just on iTunes — exactly like their release of American Gothic (unless you want to shell out the cash for the import CD pressing).

But I just cannot bring myself to buy the iTunes songs, because of the 120-ish bitrate of the tracks. The bass ends up thin, and there isn't as much warmth. And now that they are no longer tied to a record company, this might be the way they decide to do things, now. The Old Business way of the record-making-and-buying industry is dead, and it's us as the dedicated fans and not the casual consumers, who are increasingly getting thrown out into the grave. [EDIT: iTunes has now been allowed to remove DRM from the songs they sell, in exchange for variable pricing, YET these songs are not available in the higher bitrate, so I'm still getting fucked.]

You can now purchase concerts to download, like Pearl Jam does, which is super cool. And I guess I'd just better stop complaining, because if all the things I see as them doing "wrong" really bothered me that much, then I should just stop listening to them... So I guess I'm the asshole.

From these six songs, you get both sides of the Pumpkins... You get the focused pop mastery and sprawling loose epic jamming. It's the two sides of Corgan's Pumkins — the one where he doesn't need anybody and can just write and make music, and the one where he Needs a band, because the songs can only be realized when played Live. Good stuff. Here's downloads of all the songs, in the spirit of paying it forward...

American Gothic EP:
Rose March, Again, Again, Again (The Crux), Pox & Sunkissed

G.L.O.W. & Superchrist

Appeal To Reason, Rise Against

I really want to like this band. Vegans and into animal rights. There are songs of theirs that are punk and they get me jacked up — reminding me of Bad Religion in both their sound and in thematic lyrics... But then there's an Emo side that comes out that's self-indulgent and pompus, and I just think: "Oh, come on!"

I decided to give this album a try after watching the video for "Re-Education (Through Labor) on YouTube. Now, I like the song when I hear it on the radio, but the video is so fucking ridiculous. Young white kids with tattoos and shit blowing up a city — WHY?! What for? What's the reason? What's the message?

This was just another strike against them...

I don't know. Guess that I'm just not a part of the generation that understands this music. Getting old and set in my musical ways... My time to be impacted by this kind of music and this kind of "message" is over.

Favorite Tracks: "Collapse (Post-Amerika)", "Re-Education (Through Labor)", "The Strength To Go On", "Entertainment", and "Hairline Fracture"...

Death Magnetic, Metallica

...I cannot bring myself to listen to this piece of shit album more than once. And just for the record, this is the first Metallica album I have ever listened to in its entirety...

The fucked-up production/mastering makes the drums distorted in parts and the guitars sound like my stereo speakers are blowing — I don't even have it up past the first "notch" on my volume! The lyrics sound like the journal writings of some depressed 13 year-old that thinks he's being deep and profound, and is contributing to the literary world, but is just gonna end up changing oil for a living — not even being a proper mechanic.

And now I can see why this band has the type of audience it does...

Some of the riffs are good, but most time they don't flow in the song. Just smashed together to try and sound like some of the modern metal made by bands nowadays... Songs also go on too long. Phrases repeat and don't build or add depth or to the song's structure.

Ridiculous. Shlock. Give me Mastodon or Baroness or Pelican... These Metallica guys are worth all the punchlines and shit they get...

Random thought...

innocentcreatures@gmail.com (Branden Palomo) — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 22:30:00 -0800

Thinking of writing a series of posts through the year as an experiment. Just some excuse to write, and hopefully entertain others with my own self-inflicted pain...

I'm going to start reading "Rolling Stone" magazine each month (so you don't have to), and writing about the various articles and my impression of the content. Because I haven't been keeping up on my "Reading List" posts — I've read two books and not written about them — I thought that this would serve as a replacement.

For me, writing about a book just takes too much time. The time to read, and then to write, wherein I must remember everything that I spent the time reading, what I thought about it (which is usually fleeting), and then have the time when I feel motivated enough to make the time to write the post. A magazine, I can just breeze through.

With something like this, the pleasure I get out of reading is not going to be taken away. I'm not even going to feel like I'm slogging through something boring like homework, or some banal mandatory assignment — this is going to be for my own amusement. I know "Rolling Stone" is pretty mush jenkem-soaked tripe, so why not provide a service to the world by shielding the public from this otherwise useless periodical? Think of it like the commentary happening on the bottom of the screen during Mystery Science Theater 300...

Gonna post a pic of the cover, have my initial thoughts of just flipping through the pages, and then comments on the articles along with links (if they're available.

Gonna shoot for the Monday after the Friday the mag comes out... Wish me luck.

Listen Up 2008, pt 4

innocentcreatures@gmail.com (Branden Palomo) — Fri, 2 Jan 2009 11:23:00 -0800

The Stand Ins, Okkervil River

NPR-indie-country-folk-rock... That pretty much says it all.

First listen, nothing stood out and grabbed me. Everything pretty much just went by and went in one ear, out the other. Definitely music that you have to be in the right mood or head-space to listen to. Can't just turn it on and rock out — the kind of thing I'm most used to.

And as weird as it is to refer to it as "this kind of music" — "this kind of music" is something that I'm not all that used to listening to. It's the alternative music of today. Just outside the mainstream pop universe, bobbing along the outskirts in its own gravitational orbit. And not everyone knows it's out there, because they're not looking past all the space junk that's right outside the atmosphere — the shit that's just going to end up falling back down to Earth, anyway, and get burnt up upon reentry. To be flushed back down the toilet of the bullshit pop monoculture...

Vocals remind me of Jarvis Cocker. Music goes from folk to country to orchestral pop rock — just stuff that's all over the place. Musicians that know what they want to do and are going to do it without the strangulating pressure of conforming to brain-dead pop music. A sort of Confidence Of Youth is what I hear... There's truth in the music.

I heard that their first album was good when it came out, and the same people praised this one when it was released. Wanna go back and give The Stage Names a try. A good find that just kind of makes me go: "Yeah, this is pretty good." But it doesn't energize me and make me go: "Shit yeah! This is what I'm fucking talkin about!" Guess I'm just a slave to the Rawk...

Favorite Tracks: "Lost Coastlines", "Singer Songwriter", "Starry Stairs", "Pop Lie" and "On Tour With Zykos"...

Tone, Jeff Ament

Bass player from Pearl Jam finally does a solo album... I've never listened to his side project Three Fish, so I don't know how this album compares to that — my only point of reference is the songs he writes for Pearl Jam — and I can hear a couple of these tunes having the quality and construction of songs that band would play. As a matter of fact, I could see them playing one or two of these songs on tour with Jeff singing. Just sort of messing around and wanting to have fun — appreciating good music, wherever it comes from.

I wanted to get the CD of this when it first came out — available in a limited quantity from Pearl Jam's website and certain independent record stores. But I didn't have the money right away, and once I did, it was sold out. So I had to settle for the download...

Songs that are full-on grunge slow rock from the dawn of '89 or '90. Ballads that aren't folksy like is the trend today. One even sounds like it could have been a Mother Love Bone song.

Songs full of energy — coming from a different time and corner of influence. Over twenty years of being a professional musician shows in his song writing. The tone of this album is similar to Stone Gossard's solo album, Bayleaf. Classic/minimalist rock production. Not huge and processed like is standard with most bands today.

This is a very safe, comfortable album. It sounds like something I could have been listening to for ten years, or so. It's almost nostalgic... Warm, but with quirky experimentation, too.

And I feel like I'm not paying enough attention to the lyrics, because if Eddie Vedder were singing, I'd want to read the lyrics (but without the booklet from the CD I don't have, it's not gonna happen anyway). I would try to focus and listen and comprehend... So I feel like I'm kind of missing out, or at least I could be.

Overall, this is a good album. But it doesn't excite me. It doesn't make me squirm with enthusiasm for more plays. Not a definite Re-Listen, but it's something that I'll probably put on later to rediscover on a slow introspective day.

Favorite Tracks: "Give Me A Reason", "Bulldozer", "Say Goodbye", "The Only Cloud In The Sky" and "The Forest"...

Who Killed Amanda Palmer?, Amanda Palmer

This album came to my attention because comicbook writer Neil Gaiman was talking on his blog about how he is writing text for a forthcoming photography book that is supposed to be a companion to the album. What interested me in actually listening to this album, was when Gaiman joined in on the disgruntled cries of fowl play when her record label demand that she take out shots of her "fat" belly from the video for "Leeds United". Watched the video, and that hooked me into wanting to hear the whole thing.

Her voice is fascinating — low, accented British on certain sounds, rough and coarse. I don't know what kind of music The Dresden Dolls make normally, but I like the kind of stuff on this album. Noir Lounge. Dark Cabaret. Piano heavy without being piano-centric — and I'm not sure if that's the Ben Folds production influence, or if this is normally her instrument... Not too soft like other female piano music. But there are gentle parts in this album, too. But this mix is nice, and you aren't getting hammered over the head with the delicate tone of estrogen and sorrow.

Lots of songs about relationships with men, but not your standard songs of "woo". Nuanced mature complexity that you don't get in pop music, and I can tell that there is not much a difference in age between her and I...

This is good stuff. I know I'll listen to this again, most definitely. I always enjoy good music with female vocals.

Favorite Tracks: "Runs In The Family", "Leeds United", "Blake Says", "Have To Drive" and "Oasis"...

Listen Up 2008, pt 3

innocentcreatures@gmail.com (Branden Palomo) — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 09:34:00 -0800

með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust, Sigur Rós

This album is a whole lot more "pop" and accessible than their others. I had to shell out for the iTunes version, because of the exclusive song "Heima", and my geek-OCD wouldn't allow me to just let that go...

Of course, everyone has to mention that the English "translation" is "With a Buzz in Our Ears We Play Endlessly" in their reviews, and I think that it really gives insight into the tone of the album.

For me, this has sentimental value, especially the first song "Gobbledigook". It was released as a free download from the band right around the time that Molly and I started dating... I listed to it, and I just hear happiness and joy. Every time it comes on, I think of her.

This album is less ethereal than their other releases, but still vast and Icelandic. It just has a mood full of emotion — and part of it may be because I don't understand the lyrics (even the English Song "All Alright"). The vocals are like the moaning of a wounded soul. A wandering spirit calling out into the frozen wilderness for a lover...

And, yes, I know that Greenland is the one covered in ice — I remember my middle school geography... But still, there is this weight behind it, but it doesn't bring you down. It lifts you up, somehow.

Favorite Tracks: "Inní mér syngur vitleysingur", "Festival", "Íllgresi", "Heima" and "Gobbledigook"...

Real Emotional Trash, Stephen Malkmus & Jicks

I reviewed this album earlier in the year...

Love the jamming. Must be just awesome to see live. Another one of those albums that makes me just want to play music — pick up my guitar and just have fun. Sit on the couch and write songs all afternoon.

Still haven't listened to any of his other stuff... There was a re-release of a Pavement CD that came out this year, maybe I'll pick that up.

Favorite Tracks: "Hopscotch Wille", "Baltimore", "Elmo Delmo", "Wicked Wanda" and "Real Emotional Trash"...

Chinese Democracy, Guns N' Roses

Is Bush's America what an actual, real-life Chinese Democracy would look like?... Maybe I'm looking too deep into this album, or giving Axl too much credit...

I've never been as huge a fan of GNR as my best friend, John, but I always refer to him with any questions, and the occasional poke of fun. The way GNR has shaped his life is on par with how much of an impact Pearl Jam has made on me. Except, you know, Pearl Jam has been releasing albums steadily since their first album... And that's part of the joke &mdash part of the appeal in listening to this album. Like they all say about slowing down when driving past a car wreck.

I am actually surprised by how much I actually like what I hear. It's different than the "old radio stuff" — hearing what Slash and the rest of the guys have done without Axl, it's easy to hear that they added a Blues Influence to the songs that is absent here. You get the grand ballad orchestration and thick production from back in the day, but with an oddly out of place, yet cohesive electronic-metal thing going on as well.

His voice still sounds good and rockin, and you can tell that it is still GNR. The song writing and attitude, to me, seem like the logical next step in the musical evolution... "Real Fans" might be disappointed that this isn't just like one of their old albums, but we all know that those nostalgic crybabies are always in the wrong. You want the old stuff — just listen exclusively to the old stuff and quit complaining. Be content to live in the past like the Neanderthals.

Hearing this after the 14 or so years this album has been in the works, I can hear that this is what happens when an obviously talented guy is indulged in his insanity with no real filters, editors, peers, collaborators, or self-doubt to hold him back. I don't think that anyone is ever really going to be able to talk about this album independent of the context of its history and turbulent creation... But I have to admit, that the Story does kind of add to it and make it a little bit more exciting.

But this is a pretty good album. I will most likely put this on and listen to it recreationally. So much better than those bands that are around now trying to mimic the 80's hair-metal thing that GNR was a part of... Chinese Democracy is not the self-parody I thought is was going to be, but rather a whole new joke I can torment my friend John with.

Favorite Tracks: "Chinese Democracy", "Better", "There Was A Time", "Prostitute" and "Scraped"...

This Will Destroy You, This Will Destroy You

I already reviewed this album earlier in the year...

After listening to a bunch of instrumental post-rock music this year, I can hear that this band is different than Mogwai and Explosions In The Sky. Part of it is the electronic sounds and beats — the way they put them in there. Another is the way in which the phrases build and repeat and change — it's really a signature that I can now pick out as belonging to this band.

So glad I found this band and saw them live... I can't wait to start writing again so I can listen to this album more often.

Favorite Tracks: "A Three-Legged Workhorse", "The Mighty Rio Grande" and "Threads"...

Listen Up 2008, pt 2

innocentcreatures@gmail.com (Branden Palomo) — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 11:27:00 -0800

*due to not being able to post a streaming widget for my Mars Volta pick, this is a special Video Post Edition. enjoy -bcp

Bedlam In Goliath (and b-sides), The Mars Volta

I already reviewed this album earlier this year...

SO hard to pick favorite tracks from this album. Everything just belongs together. Movements in this grand piece... You get lost in the songs, losing track of where songs begin and end, even getting caught, myself. Thinking it's a new song, but it's still on the same one — a thread of the melody still intact, coming back in right before you realize the song never left.

One of my favorite albums of the year, and I'm including the B-Sides in with this album as well.

Favorite Tracks: "Metatron", "Agadez", "Ouroboros", "Pulled To Bits (b-side)" and "Goliath"...

The Hawk Is Howling & Batcat EP, Mogwai

It just hit me, while riding the bus. On the short walk back to my apartment...

I've listened to this while writing. Lying in bed. Just around the house. But I could never "get" it. Couldn't figure out what I thought about it all — what I thought. All just instrumental music with guitars, drums, and the occasional electronic blips (the only singing is "Devil Rides" on the EP with vocals from Roky Erickson).

But I've figured out that this is a Travel Album... You need to be moving in order to really listen properly. Some kind of movement going on. Looking around at the world, not really thinking about anything.

Your head just fills with stories... And while the album is a little front-loaded like a lot of albums today, it sort of fits in with the epic journey that the music is taking you on. Moving with the music, you get caught up with it — and for some reason, I was envisioning Vikings and blood and romance and peace and redemption. A whole weird-ass story taking years, happening in the less than an hour soundtrack that was this album.

Favorite Tracks: "Stupid Prick Gets Chased By The Police And Loses His Slut Girlfriend", "I'm Jim Morrison, I'm Dead", "Daphne And The Brain", "I Love You, I'm Going To Blow Up Your School" and "Batcat"...

The Slip, Nine Inch Nails

Can't believe I didn't write about this when it first came out... Back in May when it came out as an ABSOLUTELY FREE download, just months after the double album instrumental release of Ghosts I-IV. Don't know why I never got off my ass to write my reaction to this kick-ass album...

Ten tracks, but three of them are instrumentals, and you can't help but wonder if Reznor was just inspired from his previous instrumental release, or if these were left overs. There's the slight feeling of being cheated by the lack of "actual songs" — but, shit, this was free, so who am I to complain?

But this is more song oriented than album — no concept or overarching theme. Very minimalist — I can hear these songs being played live almost exactly as recorded... Lots of energy. A return to the Broken era style of songs.

I've listened to this the most out of everything that came out this year. I can put this on at any time and just rawk out. Just. Fucking. Great.

Favorite Tracks: "1,000,000", "Head Down", "Lights In The Sky", "Demon Seed" and "Letting You"...

Listen Up 2008, pt 1

innocentcreatures@gmail.com (Branden Palomo) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 09:05:00 -0800

Third, Portishead

Dark, minimalist lo-fi... This album sounds like music from another time. Aged like a fine wine... This is the kind of music I wish more people were making these days. No pretension. Just art with the weight of feeling behind it. Deep and heavy with mood and not bravado and shine.

Music for a laid back evening. Part of the art is Beth Gibbons' voice. Breathy and ethereal... Almost evil — imagine hearing her as a ghost in a haunted house. The reverb and drawn out vocal melodies draw you along the lifespan of each song.

The overall tone of the album sounds old — analogue. Never really listened to Portishead, except for their popular single off the first album back in the early 90's. About ten years since their last one, and there was a whole bunch of buzz around this. So I had to pick this up, and was so glad I did...

Favorite Tracks: "Silence", "Nylon Smile", "We Carry On", "Small", "Threads" and "Machine Gun"...

This Is It and I Am It and You Are It and So Is That and He Is It and She Is It and It Is It and That Is That, Marnie Stern

Never heard of her, but all of a sudden, everyone was talking about her all over the internet. All I knew was that everyone was calling her things like a "Guitar Tapping Virtuoso".

What I heard, was Space Guitar backed by intense jungle drums. Pop sensibility with a strong sense of experimentation. Heavily processed vocals — reverb, harmony and multi-tracking. And I can't really tell what her voice is. Young and pixie-like.

The music is full of energy. Jazzy and new. I don't know if I like her "screechy" voice — staccato and manic. It gets kind of grating, but it's mixed-in sort of like just another instrument. Not really up-front, and so I can't discern the lyrics at all... But everytime I listen to this album, I like it more and more.

Favorite Tracks: "Shea Stadium", "Ruler", "The Package Is Wrapped", "Vault", "Roads? Where We're Going We Don't Need Roads" and "The Crippled Jazzer"...

My Bloody Underground, The Brian Jonestown Massacre

I already reviewed this album earlier in the year...

I listen to this, and I get the sense that this is a musical commune as band. I can envision these guys all living together in a super small house, doing drugs and playing music. Passing out, with instruments always just laying around all over the place... Lots of droning and trance drumming, it's almost like a lifestyle, not a band.

Favorite Tracks: "Infinite Wisdom Tooth/My Last Night In Bed With You", "We Are The Niggers Of The World", "Golden Frost", "Automatic Faggot For The People" and "Yeah, Yeah"...

Reading List

innocentcreatures@gmail.com (Branden Palomo) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 13:28:00 -0800

Too Fat To Fish; Artie Lange

It's been years since I've heard the Howard Stern Show — ever since he went off to satellite radio. But Artie was always one of my favorite parts of the show. Even when the show turned into a total bitch-fest, I could rely on Artie to say something or tell a story that would make me laugh.

Not hearing his voice in a long time, I wanted to pick up the audiobook version. Sort of bring back the days of when I could listen to him on the radio... But what I got was not quite what I expected.

This book was so goddamn depressing. Just bad choices, tragedy and addiction. I mean, I got the story about him on coke in the pig costume for that bit on Mad TV, but then it got to the part where he quit reading because he couldn't handle it anymore. Because he is still on drugs... And that just really fucking floored me.

There was funny stuff, but it just got to be too much. Hearing about someone fucking up — making a mistake, getting into trouble — and it's funny. I have a sense of humor, so I "got" it. But then it just keeps going on, and it's no longer something that has humor because it's out of the norm — it IS the norm, and is just a symptom of a bigger problem. A disease, instead of a hiccup.

To hear about someone that has chosen to destroy himself like this — and I don't know if it's because he just has that little self-worth, or if it's because he thinks it makes him funny. Following in the footsteps of John Bellucci and Chris Farley. If he finds the trouble that he gets into, and the stories that come out because of it are worth it all — if that's all he has to give to the world.

Kind of rooting for him throughout the whole thing that he's going to get his life in order, but remembering that he quit the book in the middle, so it's really no use... And part of it is because hearing someone on the radio everyday — or used to hear someone on the radio — it makes you feel like you know the person. You've gotten to know them. You hear stories about their life, and you become invested.

Not too sure if I liked this book. If anything, it was nice to hear his voice again. And I got some fodder for one of my book projects.

Doktor Sleepless Maunual; Warren Ellis, Ivan Rodriguez, et al.

I think this is a mish-mash of the first couple issues of Dok. Nothing new, but I picked it up anyway.

Putting together the next group of comics I need to read...

End of days

innocentcreatures@gmail.com (Branden Palomo) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:24:00 -0800

November is already more than half over. Year is nearing the end and everyone is starting to reflect. Look back on movies and music and their lives. What history has yielded in 2008...

Actually listened to a lot of new music this year — didn't hurt that some bands I like were active this year. Tried some new stuff as well, and I think I'm gonna put together a playlist on my iPod of all the stuff I have that came out this year, and write up an all-encompassing post, since it's kind of late to try to catch up on all the albums that I didn't write up this year.

Quite a number of books — "real" books, too — read. Half were audiobooks, so it made it a little easier, but still, I got off my ass and did some reading. Still got a stack of comics to go through, but I don't know if I'm ever gonna have the money to buy more than just a few each month... Might have to make a huge purge of my list at the comic shop. That's gonna hurt my geek soul.

Looking at all this time I invested in music and reading, it really shines a light on how much time I can spend on writing... It's not motivation that's keeping me from advancing on that front, it's having this uncompleted project of my audiobook podcast for Innocent Creatures that's making it hard to move forward. Wanting to close a door before opening a new one... Cleaning off your plate before asking for seconds... The time it takes to invest in that comes from a different bank — I have to be home to record, but I can write anywhere.

Being home alone is a prerequisite in my artistic anxiety when it comes to performing my work — fucking up and having to do multiple takes. Not to mention just saying some of these things and being there with someone who, I have no idea what they're thinking about me as I say this insane depraved shit... Weekends are out, 'cause the roommate is home. Might have to start disciplining myself hardcore and wake up early — while he's at work and I'm all alone before going in for my late shift — and getting ready for work immediately, then spending an hour or two recording before heading off to the bus.

Might be able to do it... Don't see any reason why I can't, other than giving into my comfortable laziness — not wanting to change things to better my life. Then, that'll leave me time on the weekends to do the backing music I need to do...

Holy shit... I think I just came up with a plan.

Reading List

innocentcreatures@gmail.com (Branden Palomo) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 10:50:00 -0800

The New Avengers vol. #4: The Collective; Brian Michael Bendis, Steve McNiven, Mike Deodato Jr., et al.

The aftermath from "House of M" — or at least what happened to the mutant powers that were flying around the Earth after No More Powers...

So, if you wanted to know what happened with all that, then that's pretty much the only reason to read this. Nothing really exciting. No real character development. No real revelations vital to the Marvel Universe... You only get the tiniest hint of the Skrull-iness of Spider-Woman in her trying to convince the rest of the Avengers to kill the Collective/Xorn/House of M power thing...

Feels like filler before "Civil War", but I have yet to read that trade.

Secret Invasion: Front Line #1 & 2; Brian Reed, Marco Castiello, et al.

Issue started off Really Weak. Could have been the "Brand New Day" Spider-Man showing up and making me try to hold back my vomit. Could have been the completely uninteresting cab driver character that was trying to tell a story with an overused, cliche device. But then it abandoned that, and it immediately got better.

However, the art is a little "Over-lined" and all the women look the same — have the same faces. The colors make things seem dark, so that outdoor and indoor scenes are lit exactly the same way. No sense of a change of environment.

The story is following along several different people as the Invasion is happening, but with the way the story is being told — while the scenes are interesting — I'm having a hard time understanding just when the story is happening. It's in the past tense, and I don't know when everything is tying together, because they seem to have a sort of common resolution in order for the story device to work. Logically, I don't know if it's going to work.

And when overlapped on top of the "Secret Invasion" title proper, I'm not sure if the time-line works out... Three issues left and I'm gonna have to see how this works. Although, it would have been interesting to see the other side — how the Skrulls were reacting, and their point of view during everything. I think that's what I was expecting on this title, and why I picked it up, but I can't remember.

The Mighty Avengers #17; Brian Bendis, Khoi Pham, et al.

Pretty much all this issue was about, was showing that some undercover Skrulls have gone rouge before "Secret Invasion". Maybe it's 'cause I don't know all that has been going on with Hank Pym before hand, so I just don't get what's going on. Don't see the point of this story, but whatever...

The New Avengers #44; Brian Bendis, Billy Tan, et al.

Now this one had some good stuff. Telling us how the Skrulls figured out how to be undetectable, and showed us just how far they were willing to go. The fanatical steps that they took in order to reach their ultimate goals.

How many of their fellow Skrulls did they "turn-into" Earth heroes — and then kill — just to try to figure out how they would react, and if they would find a way to discover that they were hiding among them... Shows you how far fanatics are willing to go for a cause, and that angle of this overall story is what really gets me. This is why I'm reading, because you don't see this kind of intelligence that often in your standard superhero comics. But Marvel has been right on for the past couple of years in this regard...

Secret Invasion #6; Brian Bendis, Leinil Yu, et al.

Leaving the Savage Land, and now all the action is headed toward New York... Setting up for the big fight — teasing us at the end.

Two issues to go after this, and I'm guessing that the next one is going to be light on story, in favor of just tons of action. Then the finale is going to wrap everything up... That is until the next big even starts right up to handle the repercussions of this big event,

Need to magically come into the ownership of money, so that I can pick up more comics... Not that I don't already have a huge stack waiting for me to read.

Innocent Creatures: chapter_01

innocentcreatures@gmail.com (Branden Palomo) — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 16:01:00 -0700

Chapter 1 of my novel Innocent Creatures...

(Right-Click/Option-Click to download)

This is just basically me getting this out there. A rough mix — I'm reading too fast and I'll fix it and re-release it... Just wanted to start getting the word out. Prove that I'm actually working on this.

Also, I still need photos of this symbol on people's stomachs (lipstick works good)

Please leave links in the comments, or send the file in an email to: innocentcreatures (-at-) gmail (-dot-) com

Reading List

innocentcreatures@gmail.com (Branden Palomo) — Mon, 6 Oct 2008 05:32:00 -0700

The Mighty Avengers #16; Brian Michael Bendis, Khoi Pham, et al.

The art wasn't all that... Really "line-y" faces made everyone look old.

This was an Electra (Skrull-lectra) story. Tons of fighting, which took up most of the issue. So, sure, she was an important part to this "Secret Invasion", but there wasn't really much to her story — to her getting into the position to fuck everything up for the good guys.

Need to catch up on the trades for New Avengers, because with all the Hydra and Hand stuff that went on in there, I'm sure stuff would make more sense and be more "Holy shit! That's what was going on!" than it was.

But again, not an essential part of the greater story...

The New Avengers #43; Brian Michael Bendis, Billy Tan, et al.

Captian Skrull-merica issue... Sort of figured out the psychological angle of "Secret Invasion", but this part also shows why 70's style Marvel Characters were chosen to be on that ship that crashed in the Savage Land.

Not really sleeper agents, just confused brain-washed Skrulls thrown out there to get killed, but just by their existence, they strike at the psyche of the Marvel Heroes. Throw everything and everyone into question.

Not a Must Read for the whole story, though...

Secret Invasion #5; Brian Michael Bendis, Leinil Yu, et al.

I kind of always knew that Captain Marvel would turn back around, because it kind of seems like a long way to go when they brought him back last year... The whole meta/viral "Embrace Change" thing is introduced here. And I am wondering if someone is translating all the Skrull language and putting it up online.

Things were kind of slowed down, but still lots of bad-ass-ness... Really, REALLY turning out to be a great story.