Run - Black Crouch (2011)

So how do you feel about roller coasters? How about an roller coaster that does not give you any time to catch your breath, or when you do get those slower moments there is something gnawing at the back of your skull to not trust this roller coaster?
This is kind of what reading Blake Crouch's 2011 book Run is like. It is a book that once it starts it just never really lets up. My copy of it (obviously an ebook, as the picture shows) didn't even have any chapters. I can't remember where I got this version. Back when I got my first Kindle Amazon was giving away a bunch of Blake Crouch books. I might have got it then. But at the same time when I first got my Kindle I fell in with a bad crowd who were trading books. All I do know is that the lack of chapters really kills you when you use those as your "time for bed" cues.
The story involves a family who has gone through some rough times as of late suddenly having to pull together for survival. Something happens in the world where certain groups of people suddenly become intent on killing everybody else. I am not so sure I want to mention what, even though it won't really ruin the story. But basically you either become the hunted or a hunter. The story then becomes a race for the Canadian border, as our family believes there is refuge there. Why? Not so sure, but that is where we are racing for.
The story works, even with a paper thin plot. It is basically a character study and a constant race. We care about the family and hope for the best. Thanks to the pacing of the book we also get worn down when the family gets worn down. There are some hard to believe moments in the book, but we accept them as we accept the whole situation.
My copy of the book does have issues. These are either due to modern day lack of an editor types of errors (oddly worded sentences, poor grammar, that type of thing that is common place in publishing over the past 15+ years), or due to this actually being a "booted" book and poorly transferred to ebook form. I tend to believe this is one of the Crouch Amazon books I got, as it does have the interview in the back of the book.
This was my first introduction to Crouch, aside from the wonderfully wacky multi-author effort Draculas. I will be dipping into his other books fur sure, as this was an enjoyable read. However, beware of one thing. This book completely lacks any form of humor. It is deathly serious and grim from page one, and this does make it a tough read at times. There are no real bright spots or anything to help remove the misery that is everywhere. Yet, oddly enough, it ended exactly how I had hoped it would.

Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

So the family and I went to see the latest Batman and Superman (and Wonder Woman and I guess Cyborg, Flash and Aquaman) outing last night. I had all intentions of not going to see it on opening weekend, as the movie honestly did not interest me too much. I'm a Marvel fan and only like to dabble in DC from time to time, but it is not what I would run to see. But, my son wanted to go on opening night (he is a DC fan to a degree) and my wife was heading out of town for the weekend so we decided to go right away. Luckily we could only get tickets to the latest showing, which worked out well considering this is a very slow moving and fairly boring film. 

The film takes a very long time to get moving. Then there is a wonderful action sequence, aside from the massive amount of Bat-killing, which turns out to be a very confusing nightmare. But then after that sequence we move back to the boring angry Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent material. 

It is hard to believe that in a 2 hour and 33 minute movie things can feel rushed, but this one does have rushed moments. I have no idea how we got to the Luthor party, but suddenly we are finding out Bats is invited and for some reason Kent is also. One never gets the idea, by the way, that people don't know who Superman is. It seems like everybody knows, they just wish to play dumb. 

Is it well made? Yes, wonderfully acted and filmed. Affleck is good, better than a massive Affleck disliker like me would have expected. He carries the role well, if not a little too angry about everything. I read another reviewer who stated that for being so angry about Superman accidentally killing people, Batman sure does his own share of accidental and purposeful killing. This is a brutal killing machine of a Batman. 

Lucky for us we do get a little backstory on Bruce losing his parents. That was something that was helpful, as I am sure most people have not heard that story before. With any luck Civil War will clear up confusion on what happened to Spidey's Uncle Ben.

Caville is still a good Superman, the script just nothing to actually make him a likable Superman. From what I can tell, he loves Lois Lane and his mom, and expects the rest of us to bow down and worship him. He spends all of his Superman time walking around in his suit looking like a ruler, and at times like a scary demon guy with red blazing eyes that show the veins around the sockets. He really does look creepy. One really does get the idea that Snyder is not a huge fan of Superman. 

Gal Gadot is good as Wonder Woman, while she is Wonder Woman. When she is Diana Prince she just shows up in fancy dresses as some form of burglar. I don't even think she gets her name mentioned until she is running off a plane towards the end. 

This wasn't a bad movie. It was a decent movie, and that makes it that much worse in one's mind. Kind of like how Age of Ultron isn't as bad as it seems. We have seen lesser movies be so great, accomplish so much, that when one with characters such as Batman and Superman achieves only middling success it hurts that much more. The film doesn't have to be a complete love letter to the fanboys, but it should draw from and respect what has made these characters timeless and iconic. These characters are ingrained into our culture, they have endured and continue to be loved by all. To carry an attitude of "this isn't for the fanboys, it is for everybody else" is excluding the aspects of the character that created the character, that created the fanboy, that created the lasting appeal. 

So while this is not a bad movie, it is not the movie that these characters deserve. 

Raising them right!

Just had to share this picture. One of my friends from high school posted this to his Facebook page. His name is Brian Herb and his band is Brian Herb and the Outstanding Achievements in the Field of Excellence (yes, it is an awesome name for a band). He is also the guitar tech for Billy Duffy from The Cult. I think he still has all of that going on. But these are his roadies. So, for all those folks who say you can't be a Rock star and still enjoy family life on the road, I do believe Brian has found the ultimate way to combine being an awesome family man, and being a full on Rock star!

Steven Wilson - The Raven That Refused To Sing (2013)

Although Sonic Ruin was originally meant to be aimed squarely at the Glam/Punk/straight-up Rock and Roll styles, anybody who knows me knows that I am an unabashed Progressive Rock fan also. I have always claimed Marillion as my favorite band (considering Misplaced Childhood the only perfect album ever recorded, and even naming my daughter "Kayleigh" backs up that claim) and spend most Winter months listening to nothing but Prog. I don't know why that last part is, it just turns out that way.

During a recent discussion on a message board somebody mentioned Steven Wilson's The Raven That Refused to Sing as a flawless album. I have had the album in my possession for a few years now, have tried giving it a spin a few times, but it has always fallen short of really grabbing me.

The problem I ran into with first giving this a spin is that it is without a doubt a Steven Wilson product. For those who do not know, Steven Wilson is the creative force behind Porcupine Tree. Porcupine Tree, for those who do not know, are a Progressive Rock band that took the Prog world by storm (minor breeze in the air in the greater scope of music) back in the 90s. Wilson is an incredibly talented musician, but the problem one can run into is that he has a very distinctive style. He is not one who blends into the surroundings, he instead will blend the surroundings into himself. Case in point being the work he did with Fish, the former vocalist for Marillion. It was no longer a Fish release, as much as it was a "Fish singing for Steven Wilson." This is a wonderful thing if Wilson is your guy, but if his style rubs you a little wrong, then whatever he touches will possibly not be your cup of tea.

So on the shelf that Raven sat. Until today.

One of Wilson's goals, from what I have been told, is that he wanted this to harken back to the glory days of Prog. He wanted analogue. He wanted that warm feeling. So, I am compensating as best I can at this point. For my listen I am having to use a digital download version (sorry, I do not have the vinyl and I can't afford to spend the money on the vinyl at this time), but I will be using my Yamaha Orthodynamic YH-1 headphones! These headphones were bought new by my parents back in 1978 and were considering quite revolutionary for the time. They still sound wonderful and if I had the vinyl I would be able to tell you exactly how well Wilson achieved the goal of re-creating a certain vibe. As is, we will have to deal with the digital download aspect. Sorry.

First things first, even though I do not have the vinyl or actual CD version (sorry audiophiles, stoning may commence as soon as you find me), the production on this is pretty ridiculous. One of those recordings that make just the act of listening a nice experience. One of those times when even the non-audiophile will hear something and think "Gee, that is pleasant."

"Luminol" is a rather fitting tune to be listening to so close to the departure of Chris Squire from this planet. The driving force behind the song is a bass riff that would have been comfortable under the power of Squire, bringing about memories of "Tempus Fugit" from Drama.

At this point I do understand the massive love that Proggies have had for this album. I am not saying I am sold yet, but this dang thing is using every single trick in the Prog handbook. Name a Prog act and at 3:27 into the song every band has been present in some way shape or form. No, not stealing from them, but definitely influences.

That bass run is so intoxicating. I would have to guess that in the studio they had to just keep shutting off everything but the bass and drums and just enjoy this groove. It is that type of bass playing that when the jokes about bassists start up one just thinks of that and goes "Yeah, but . . . "

Nice melody for song two, "Drive Home." The song starts out as a beautiful and gentle melody, but by the time we reach the guitar solo that beauty starts exploding into a rabid flurry of notes and distortion, but never losing the melody under it all.

Time for some headphone workout with "The Holy Drinker." A tune to make a Crimson fan happy as Jazz and Prog Rock collide head-on in an Avant-Garde landscape, which eventually leads into a nice tight Rock groove.

One aspect that I think drives me a little crazy with Wilson is his dropping into total spacey moments, even when he has a wonderful groove going. Yes, this is a key to Prog, having these moments breath life and story into the structure of the songs. I am not saying that they do not work, but when Wilson hits that groove and really brings out the Rock, he does so in such a powerful way that when it leaves it really is frustrating, and at times makes me wish he would just make a 10 song, half-hour explosion of Rock anthems. Remember, my main love in life is Glam and straight-up Rock and Roll, and that part of me takes over in this situation.

"The Pin Drop" is a fascinating little number. Swirling music, nicely layered vocals that mix into the swirls, opening up to a wonderful and full chorus that holds onto the swirling feel.

Uh-oh . . . Steve Hackett time? "The Watchmaker" started up, just an acoustic beginning and Hackett popped into my head. I don't wish to make a comparison, as really there isn't anymore of a Hackett connection here than there would be with any other acoustic guitar. Maybe. Actually, there might be a tonal similarity to it Genesis going on in that guitar. Let's see if it steps into a Genesis mode in a second here.

By the way, can you tell I am writing this exactly as I hear it? This is a stream of consciousness writing project happening at this very moment. Good thing for you it is a short album.

Nope, won't do the Genesis thing. At 4:30 though it does get super good. Dropping in that Squire-ish bass, flute, and just another wonderful groove. Eventually the song takes numerous more shifts, all of which drop in and out without a single jarring moment, as each segment works into the next so that the shifts never seem wrong, even the most jarring move towards the 10:30 mark. The music switched just enough before the big break to make the song work.

Final proper tune (my version has a demo track for "The Holy Drinker," but I am not counting that one) is the title track, "The Raven That Refused To Sing" and it opens with a haunting piano and light vocal melody. "Haunting" is easily the best way to describe this song. It digs in deep into the brain and settles in, building into a beautiful song that holds onto that haunting side. It is that type of song that just builds and builds as it moves along, adding a little more to the emotion that you thought could not get any deeper or more intense. One of those songs that if you can connect to the lyrics at all it will leave you a quivering mess of tears and laughter by the end because somebody finally understands your own feelings.

Dang . . . this album really is as good as everybody gushed about 2 years ago. Bah . . . I bet I missed an absolutely fantastic tour for this thing. If one of you could be so kind to tell me that he did not tour the States, as so many do not, I would be much obliged. I am fine with being lied to about this.

Look at that, a year has almost passed again!

I can sit here and start to claim all of the grand things I am planning, but it is quite obvious that I should not promise anything. As Drivin' N Cryin' said, "A promise unbroken is a strange thing indeed." That being said, I will be trying to actually complete a few things with Sonic, if they happen only time will actually tell.

Things changed in my life, which quickly put a halt to the plans from the last posting. In a nutshell I did become employed. The job, teaching first-grade, proved to be just as time consuming as my cooperating teacher had always promised it would be, which caused Sonic to fall to the back seat.

As this summer approached I had started to dream of wondrous ideas with Sonic. I was going to re-launch the print fanzine again, full of wonderful articles. The idea would be to not focus on interviews, but actually focus on actual essay style articles. I wanted the 'zine to be a reading priority for the music snob, of which I am one.

The problem is, however, that it would cost money. While I am finally employed, I did choose a career where the greatest pay is through the students' success, not in the financial flood. I could possibly make it work, but I also had to buy a new car recently. It is a fine car, but sadly modern technology in cars does not include a printing press. Dang near everything else, but no printing press.

This has lead me to choose to go the blog route. Considering this is the blog route, I am also going to try and do as much as I can with this blog. I will do the thing I have mentioned, essay type of articles, but also just writing about the things that happen or go on that I think would fit. I am hoping to have some contributions from outside sources also.

Eventually this will all hopefully lead up to a print form of Sonic again. I am not going to promise that will happen, or even that updates here will be regular. But, in all honesty, I do believe I will be able to do this blog thing on a semi-regular basis. So please check back from time to time.

- Carl

Which would be better, video or article?

First off, I apologize for there not being any updates. Truth be told this has been a much harder summer than I had expected. I'm not going to dig into any reasons, as I am sure that nobody really wants to hear/read it, but my head just has not been where it should be. I am trying to dig myself out, and this is going to hopefully be the catharsis that it once was.

Now, the reason for this post. I see a lot of people doing stuff with their vinyl and collections. Some people are listing what they are listening to (say "hi" Bob), others are just digging through their collection one album at a time, but only saying "hey, I own this." So I decided I want to start getting into my vinyl.

Options:
One thing I am thinking is to go the video route. Grabbing one of the records, playing it, and discussing it on camera. Posting and hosting it here.

The other thing would be the exact same as what I just mentioned, but instead I would just write about it. Still covering the same stuff that might come about with the video one, but saving you folks the pain of listening to me.

So, which seems the more interesting route to take? I know my son would prefer the video, because then he could try and get his own channel going. My only hang-up with it is that it seems awful cheesy and a little arrogant in a way, for some reason.

School is done and as I promised, Sonic will now return.

Now that I have actually finished college and am holding a degree in elementary education, I have numerous goals this summer. One of which is the obvious of becoming employed again. That goal, however, probably means very little to the people outside of my family. But of interest to the people outside of the family would probably be the idea of my getting Sonic off the ground again. I have said all along that Sonic was only being put away while I became obsessed with finishing off the college thing, and that it would be back. Over the years I have been forced to rethink certain aspects of the 'zine and came to realize I would have to change certain aspects.

Format:
I know one of the charms of Sonic for the three people that bought an issue was the fact that it was a print 'zine. The fact is, though, that print is dying. I love print also, but I am seeing more and more fanzine/small press 'zines decide to fold up shop due to the cost not being feasible. Sonic never made any money, and it actually never paid for itself. I think that in the end I probably sold 10 copies of each of the issues 100+ print runs. I gave the rest away.

I am cool with giving the 'zine away for free. It came with enough freebies from bands that it was worth it, in my eyes. Not so much in the eyes of my wife. For her those bands were just giving me more crap to clutter up the house. I also started to share her views once more and more bands found out about Sonic, and I was suddenly flooded with bands that I had no interest in covering or ever listening to. Eventually for every Glam/Sleaze/RnR band I was sent, I was sent 20 Rap/bad Alternative/bad Metal CDs. I was flooded with REALLY bad stuff. So my incentive for keeping it going was suddenly becoming the clutter my wife accused the cool stuff of being.

So my idea is to do a .pdf copy, and then look at a print on demand site. This way if somebody insists on having a print copy they can go and just order a copy. The company that did the last issue of Sonic was just such a company, but they have since gone under. I do believe that I know of another one, and I will be looking into that company. If I can't find any print on demand sites, then .pdf will be the format until I am employed and making a decent living again.

Content:
O.K., Sonic was supposed to be about covering only the bands I love. That kind of died away once I was flooded with freebies. I suddenly had a lot of garbage sitting around here and I felt obligated to give it some form of coverage as somebody put their money into it and thought about sending it my way.

Sonic was also only about music. I started out thinking I wanted nothing but music in it. All music, all the time.

The new version of Sonic will be going back to covering only what I want to cover. This time that includes things other than music. If I want to cover a novel, comic book, TV show, movie, whatever, I am covering it. If somebody sends me something, I will be placing a disclaimer by my address that warns the person that sending me something does NOT guarantee coverage. Sender beware, in other words.

I found that the music was burning me out. I was getting tired of trying to write about it. When I was suddenly being flooded with stuff that I really didn't like, that started to hurt the stuff I did love. When I was in college years ago for the first time, I was in it for art. I found that being forced to do art killed my love of drawing. It turned a passion into a job, and that really killed the love. That started to happen again with music. I started to associate negative feelings to it all, so I am going to try and avoid that this time out.

This blog:
This will be the testing area, by the way. Before I start to assemble the .pdf thingy I am going to play around here for a few to get back into things. The picture above shows my iPod being loaded up with a bunch of CDs I have not uploaded to it yet. There are many CDs around here that I have yet to listen to. Many of those will get quick little blurbs on this page. I have also been watching more movies as of late, catching up on a lot of movie that have slipped by over the years. Those will also get little blurbs.

Rock City Angels:
There will be a special edition of Sonic that I still intend to run print copies of. It will be a tribute issue to RCA. Issue 4 of Sonic was supposed to be an issue similar to issue 3, with a lot of the attention given to RCA. In the years that have passed Bobby Durango, vocalist and main guy of RCA, passed away. I have a decent chunk of interviews he did for me with interviews of the band. I will be able to pull together a decent sized issue with that and writings I will do covering the four Rock City releases I have here. We will also see what else I can pull together for that one. He was a heck of a nice guy, and the band had become what they had promised to be when the Geffen album was released. I, for one, expected them to actually keep getting better. Sadly, that will never happen now.

So that is what I am planning for Sonic Ruin. Will it happen? Who knows? I'm going to sure as heck try again. I know I will be seeing the Quireboys on the 15th of August, so expect something about that to be written. Hopefully I can pull off an interview!

Until later . . .