It’s funny that an American artist who is signed to an American label can’t seem to get his album released in the United States. But sadly, for Peter Cincotti, that is the case for his third release, ‘East of Angel Town.‘ Cincotti had absolutely no problem get his first two albums released when he was signed to Concord Jazz. But now that he is signed to Warner Brothers, he can’t seem to get the album released for the life of him, stateside. It seems that the only way Cincotti’s fans can get his new album is through special order. Warner Brothers released this album in 2007 overseas. A suppsed “new” version was released in the U.S. on June 17th of this year. But apparently no stores have it. It’s anyone’s guess why Warner Brothers is refusing to release this album in the states. But perhaps this experience will help Cincotti realize the error of his ways in signing with WB Records and start looking now for other labels.

Now, with that rant out of the way, on to the album itself. This album is a complete departure from what fans of Cincotti knew him for when he started out. On his first two albums, Cincotti was known as a jazz artist. But on his sophomore release, ‘On The Moon’, he showed a hint of a pop mentality. This album seems to be a continuation of that mentality as it strays even farther from the jazz world, and more towards the world of popular music. The whole thing sounds more like a combination of Ben Folds and Cincotti’s British counterpart, Jamie Cullum, than any kind of classic jazz. Ironically, despite this, ‘East of Angel Town’ is still an enjoyable record.

Cincotti has obviously changed his sound from what it was on his debut CD roughly five years ago. But that aside, his third album is still enjoyable for its own reasons. There’s something for everyone on this record, whether one is a jazzhead, a rock fan or even a fan of jazz and the blues. Peter Cincotti has put out an album that will hopefully help establish him even more in the music community. What fans have to remember though, is that this album is only his third release. And being that Warner Brothers is refusing to releae it stateside, it may make it more difficult for his fans to hear it on this side of the pond. Knowng that, some fans may begin to think that he simply dropped of the map, or hung it up. So the real key to getting sales numbers in the states is for Warner Brothers to hurry up and release this album so fans wlll be able to buy it. Otherwise the low sales numbers will not be his fault. Nonetheless fans can only hope that Cincotti will be one of those artists that manges to overcome the third album curse, and make a true career for himself. If Warner Brothers will give him the chance (or another label), he has a good shot at just that.

Old cartoons never die.  They just get old. Anyone recognize this line? It’s from the Tiny Toon Adventures episode, “Fields of Honey.“ It was making reference to the days of classic cartoons, and how they became forgotten over time as newer entertainment sprung up for kids of a new generation. Steven Spielberg and his crew of writers and performers were trying to make a statement with that episode of what was one of the best kids’ shows of the 1990’s. Ironically enough, Tiny Toon Adventures was an afternoon cartoon. There is virtually no such thing as that anymore, unless one has cable. In that case, kids can watch all the flash in the pan cartoons on Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, and the ilk that they want. Apparently, Cartoon Network’s digital station, Boomerang, rarely even plays the old classics such as Looney Tunes. Nor does Disney’s digital sister station, Toon Disney. But thanks to Steven Spielberg and Warner Brothers, this remnant of a by-gone era can finally be enjoyed again by the adults who enjoyed it as kids, along with their kids.

Steven Spielberg is most well known for his work in big name Hollywood movies. But those who were kids in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s remember that Spielberg is known for more than just big budget blockbusters (say that one three times fast). He made his small screen debut with what was considered another part of the “baby-fication” of classic cartoons. The same was argued about A Pup Named Scoby-Doo (ABC Saturday mornings). Yet this “junior” Looney Tunes made sure to not let itself get stuck in that realm. It did that by including many of the classic Looney Tunes characters actually teaching Buster, Babs, Hampton, Plucky, and all the rest at Acme Looniversity.  To add to that, it also made references to the classic Looney Tunes cartoons.

The inclusion of the classic Looney Tunes characters is ironic in that the original Looney Tunes cartoons were originally intended for adults. Those who have the recent Looney Tunes Golden Collections find this out in the bonus features on each volume. Fast forward back to the debut of Tiny Toons on DVD. The bonus feature, “From Looney Tunes to Tiny Toons: A Wacky Evolution!“ features family and friends of the original Looney Tunes cast and crew. They had no problem saying that they watched the Looney Tune shorts when they were kids. This being noted, Tiny Toon Adventures was less a “baby-fication” of classic cartoons than a way to indoctrinate young audiences into the world of classic cartoons. It could be argued that Tiny Toons was a way to make sure that classic cartoons never died. By introducing kids to Buster, Babs, and company—and in turn the original Looney Tunes characters—Spielberg and his cast and crew of looney nuts actually created a sharp witted cartoon that would get a whole new generation of kids interested in true classic television. Isn’t it funny how cartoons originally intended for adults have become favorites of both adults and kids alike through the generations? Kind of makes a person think.

As those same kids got older and started watching the original Looney Tunes, they would still remember their days with the gang of Tiny Toons. The funny thing is that now, this show is finally on DVD. It is a show that can be enjoyed by those kids who are now grown up, and potentially their kids. That will, in turn, get their kids interested in the classic Looney Tunes, too. As a result, another generation can be brought up on the feel of Loney Tunes, and eventually develop a love of those classic cartoons, too, even though those same cartoons were originally intended for adults.

Ben Stiller has always had a rather odd sense of humor. Anyone who has seen the likes of “There’s Something About Mary”, “Meet The Parents”, Meet The Fockers”, “Night at The Museum”, “Zoolander”, “Dodgeball” or any of his other works know this to be true.  Stiller has kept that odd sense of humor going with the release of a movie that he directed, produced, and starred in, in “Tropic Thunder.“

Tropic Thunder is a hilarious farce on Hollywood and its inner workings. From the frontlines of filming all the way to the higher ups at movie studios (played wonderfully by a near unrecognizable Tom Cruise), Stiller pokes fun at the entire establishment that is Hollywood. It just so happens that he and the story’s writers decided on a war movie for the basis of the plot. But it does make for a funny ride from start to finish.

Tugg Speedwell (played by Stiller) and his co-stars in the adaptation of a book written by a supposed war hero, end up going to Vietnam to film a movie that is on its deathbed because of their egos. In the process, the movie that starts out as a comedy somehow manges to blue the line between comedy and action.

This blurring of lines is nothing new in Hollywood. But Stiller and company somehow manage to make the two combine for a movie that is nonstop laughs. It is not a movie that many people will buy when it hits DVD. But it is worth seeing in theaters at least.

So much more could be said of this movie. For instance, the comparison of the procedure undergone by Downey’s character to become black. That is directly lifted from a very famous piece of African American literature. So perhaps Stiller is more educated than fans think. Who knows.

Communication majors would have a field day with Stiller’s attempt to combine a comedy with what becomes an action movie as well. Topics like these make Tropic Thunder a movie that, while not being a blockbuster, is still a movie worth seeing, even if only on the big screen.

When Slipknot first broke through in the late 90’s, the nine-man metal machine from Iowa was the biggest thing to hit the metal community. The band’s sophomore release was just as much of a hit. But then, came the band’s more mainstream third release, aptly titled, ‘Vol. 3.‘ That one came to very mixed reviews. That could have been thanks to the band’s frontman, Corey Taylor, working with his other band, Stone Sour. It could ahve also been thanks to the band bringing on Rick Rubin to produce the album. Rubin has destroyed some of the best band in the music community.

Now, on the band’s fourth release, fans see Slipknot trying to regain the glory of ‘Iowa’, while still holding on to elements of ‘Vol. 3’ and Stone Sour’s current pair of albums. The album opens with a blistering spoken word piece in “Execution.“ This is something that fans of both Stone Sour and Slipknot have come to expect on both band’s releases. It heads into an equally blistering musical opening in the blatantly political, “Gematria.“ The adrenaline doesn’t stop at the end of this one. It keeps flowing full throttle on “Sulfur.“

Fans of Stone Sour may find enjoyment out of the album’s lead single, “Psychosocial.“ It sounds far more like something from Stone Sour than from Slipknot. On one hand, some would call songs like this growth. To others, though, it may cause a bit of concern.

Thankfully, the band makes up for that track—among others—with the likes of “Vendetta”, “Butcher’s Hook”, “This Cold Black”, “Wherein Lies Continue”, and the album’s closer/title track. These tracks are absolutely brutal in their intensity. Lyrically, it’s anyone’s guess as to what [Corey] Taylor is thinking lyrically with most of his songs. Whether it is his spoken word type of material, or actual songs, Taylor’s lyrics are always his own.

If the combination of sounds on this album aren’t enough to make some longtime fans wonder, the extended version may not be the best purchase either. All that it includes is a couple of bonus songs, and a remix of another song, along with a “Making of the album” special addition. Once you’ve seen a “making of” special, you’ve seen it. That kind of takes away the allure of having the extended edition of any album, including this one. To the band’s defense, though, the band has made an album worth buying. It may cause some friction among the loyal maggot army, thanks to the mixture of high-intensity tracks and softer ones. But there are enough high-intensity songs to make up for the softer ones. That makes for an album that will encourage fans to buy the album, rather than download certain songs. In an age where downloading is killing CD sales, that is a big statement. So to all the maggots out there, this album proves that there is still hope for Slipknot on this, the band’s new album.

Richard Wolf, and his company have dominated the airwaves for decades with their brand of drama/thrillers in the Law & Order franchise. Finally, in recent years, the USA Network came along and gave that franchise some competition with “Monk.“ Tony Shaloub is no stranger to the spotlight, as he made his big break in the Men in Black movies, alongside Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith. Now, USA has scored yet again with another original crime comedy in Psych. This is one of those shows that is a big hit among its own fans, while flying just below the radar.

There is an odd irony in the success of both “Monk” and “Psych.“ That irony lies in that in recent months, both shows were shipped over to NBC and aired on Sunday evenings, being that USA is part of the NBC/Universal conglomerate. Perhaps that temporary shift is what has helped “Psych” enter into its now third season. Fans who may be new to Psych need not worry about catching up, as the first two seasons are now out in stores on DVD boxset. The second season of this hit crime comedy shows just how much the show is growing. The front of the box reads, “All of the law, none of the order.“ That couldn’t be more true, as there are more than enough laughs to go around, all while leaving audiences wondering whodunit. Some of the best laughs are subtle, as in the constant reference to 1980’s entertainment. Whether he is using it to solve a case, or simply making some odd reference to the ‘80’s, James Roday’s timing is spot on every time. And his comedic timing with his partner, Dule Hill, makes for plenty of laughs.

The comedy is not the only sign of this show’s growth. There is also the inclusion of guest stars such as Tim Curry, Kevin Sorbo, Gina Gershon, and Curtis Armstrong, among others. When other such well known stars come out to help the budding career of a pair of young actors, that is a tribute to their hard work. Sorbo appears in one of Season 2’s best episodes, “Gus’s Dad May Have Killed an Old Guy.“ He (Sorbo) plays a bounty hunter. Hmmmmm, now where have we seen that before? He’s competing with Sean and Gus, to get a $50,000 bounty for a wanted killer. All the while, Sean and Gus actually befriend one of the suspects, who is a criminal regardless of the situation. It makes for an odd, yet entertaining, combination.

The season opener, “American Duos” is a parody of American Idol. Famed actor and thespian Tim Curry plays a talent judge a la Simon Cowell, who is being targeted for murder. This is a funy episode, but not the funniest of the season. If it were not for Curry guest starring, this episode may have suffered more than it did. In the show’s defense, however, it does manage to hold its own even without guest stars. That is evident in later episodes such as “There’s Something About Mira”, “Lights, Camera…Homicidio”, “The Old and The Restless”, and “65 Million Years Off.“

“Monk” came first, yes. USA just released the sixth season of that now hit show to DVD. “Psych” is much younger. It is only in its third season right now. But in watching the second season of this outstanding show, one can only hope that it will be much like its counterpart, and make it to six seasons, or even more.

Trent Reznor has been considered one of the most prolific artists in the music industry since his first release under the Nine Inch Nails moniker back in 1989. In the near twenty years since, he has also been known as one of the most reclusive (next to Axle Rose). However, in recent years, Reznor has gotten clean and sober. As a result, he has released some of his best music in the form of his 2007 release, ‘Year Zero’, and this year’s equally impressive instrumental album, ‘Ghosts I-IV.‘ He has followed that up with yet another album in ‘The Slip.‘

‘The Slip’ was originally released to fans for free via the official Nine Inch Nails website earlier in the year. However, fans who preferred the actual physical object have been rewarded even more with the same album, plus a bonus DVD that features the band performing five songs off of the new album in rehearsal, and some rather odd stickers. So that being the case, the question is raised, was it worth it to buy the album as compared to downloading it for free. That is a discussion that could go on for ages. But for the sake of argument, it was just as worth it to buy the album as it was to download it.

For starters, fans who bought the album have the actual physical album. Most people in this day and age have an Mp3 player of some sort. What this does, is it allows those fans who bought the album to have a double copy of it just in case. Those fans can transfer the album to their Mp3 players, as well as have an actual physical copy. This way if something should happen to one copy, those same fans will always have a second copy to enjoy.

Secondly, the bonus DVD included with this release is nothing new to Nine Inch Nails’ fans. Reznor did this for fans on the 2005 release, ‘With Teeth.‘ The format of that bonus DVD and this one are exactly the same. What makes the DVD worth it, though, is that many fans don’t get the opportunity to actually see Nine Inch Nails live. That being the case, the performances recorded straight from the band’s rehearsal space gives fans the chance to see the band live, albeit live from the studio. It is still a live release of sorts. Therefore, Nine Inch Nails’ fans are rewarded with the bouns DVD included with this album, unlike those fans who downloaded the album for free online. One could even go so far as to argue that downloading free makes up for paying for the album. That is another angle that could keep this argument going for any amount of time.

‘The Slip’ is not an entirely new album in itself. Longtime fans will note that the first half of the album sounds like an amalgum of ‘With Teeth’ and ‘Year Zero.‘ However, the latter half of the album begins sounding like ‘Ghosts I-IV.‘ Again, the argument can be raised. Was it worth it to buy the album or download it since fans have heard the sounds of this album recently in Reznor’s three most recent albums. Regardless of which side one takes on this album, what all fans can agree on is that it is still an anjoyable album from one of the music inudstry’s most prolific artist/musicians.

What do you get when you cross one of the most prolific producers in the music community with one of the most prolific frontmen in the music community? The answer: You get what could be considered among the best metal albums of 2008. It has been almost a decade since Max Cavalera left his former groundbreaking band, Sepultura, and started Soulfly. In that time, Cavalera has re-invented his band on every album. And only one of those albums has been met with largely negative reviews. That album was the band’s appropriately titled third release, ‘3.‘ Fans and critics alike considered that album far too experimental for their tastes. But since that time, Max has been hitting on all cylinders, getting more and more brutal on every album.

Now, almost ten years after the release of the debut self-titled Soulfly release, Max Cavalera has returned again with what could easily be his best work with this band, in ‘Conquer.‘ Much like the band’s debut, this album comes in two forms. It is available both as a standard edition, and as a deluxe edition complete with a full concert (on a separate DVD), and even a music video for a track not included on the album, in “Innerspirit.“ This is much like the recent re-issue of Stone Sour’s sophomore effort, ‘Come What(ever) May.‘ There is a pair of differences between these two issues, too. The main difference is that unlike Stone Sour, Soulfly has released this album in both standard and deluxe edition the first time around. It took Stone Sour twice to get a release that had a chance to combat digital downloading. The other difference lies in the concert footage. On the re-issue of Stone Sour’s sophomore release, the full length concert included suffered from massive audio issues. Soulfly, on the other hand, does not suffer from that on its concert. That lack of audio problems makes for a release that could entice fans to buy rather than download.

Now then, with that out of the way, let’s get back to the music itself. Anyone who knows rock music, knows the name Andy Sneap. Every rock band he has worked with has seen a drastic improvement in its sound. Among the bands Sneap has worked with are the likes of: Stuck Mojo, 36 Crazyfists, Fozzy, Killswitch Engage, Chimaira, As I Lay Dying, Devildriver, and countless others. This album, however, marks the first time that Max Cavalera and Andy Sneap have collaborated on a Soulfly release. And the collaboration has more than produced results. The entire album is much fuller and focused in its sound. That focus makes it the most brutal album from Cavalera and his fellow members of the Soulfly tribe yet.

Larry, Curly, and Moe are back yet again with twenty-three more shorts full of laughs, yucks, and more on Volume Three of the Three Stooges Collection. This volume focuses on the war years of the Stooges; 1940-1942. This compilation opens with one of the Stooges’ most well known shorts in “You Nazi Spy.“ This short is a direct stab at Adolf Hitler. Larry, Curly, and Moe play the roles of an evil dictator, and his aides, in the kingdom of ‘Moronica.‘

“Boobs in Arms” is another of the Stooges’ most famous shorts from their war years. The guys go on the run from a drill sergeant when he comes home to his wife one day and finds them with her, not realizing that there’s nothing going on. Ironically, in their attempt to avoid the angry husband, the guys join the army, and of course, end up under the control of the same angry husband. Those who have seen this short know where this leads. Those who haven’t will find themselves laughing till they cry.

One of the funniest moments of this collection comes in the short, “Dutiful but Dumb.“ The guys go to ‘Vulgaria’ to take pictures for their employer, only to find out that taking pictures there is illegal. As a result, they’re put before a firing squad. Curly provides the laughs when he asks for a cigar as a last request. The rest will be left for those who haven’t seen this one yet, either. Needless to say, the result is beyond hilarious.

Among the funniest non-war shorts in this compilation is “A Pumbing We Will Go.“ The Stooges pretend to be plumbers to avoid the police. When they do, they end up at the home of a very wealthy couple, and completely destroy the couple’s plumbing. The funniest moment of this short comes when the guys’ plumbing work goes awry, and leads water to pur from the couple’s television during a show about Niagra Falls.

There are plenty more shorts to enjoy among these twenty-three shorts. Unluckily, those who may have all of the single disc collections of Stooges shorts still won’t be able to replace them. Volume Three, along with the first two volumes, are the DVD equivalent to Greatest Hits CD’s. On the good side, though, a fourth collection of Stooges shorts is already on the way. It is scheduled to hit stores on Tuesday, October 7th. Having that compilation added to the first three may finally allow those with the single disc sets to replace them and save some space on their DVD racks. In the meantime, fans old and young alike have this compilation, and two others to enjoy.

Indigenous is one of the most well kept secrets in the music industry today. The band, which hails from South Dakota of all places, has the same sound that made Los Lonely Boys a hit. The difference between these two bands is that Indigenous has been around longer than Los Lonely Boys. Indigenous first got its break back in the late ‘90’s. Los Lonely Boys didn’t hit it big until around 2003. Also, LLB has the backing of a major label in Epic Records. Indigenous has stayed under the radar thanks to being signed to the lesser known indie label, Vanguard Records.

This new release from Indigenous continues to provide fans with the sound that they have come to know from the band’s previous releases. It is a great soulful blues-rock feel. It tends to have a mixture of sounds from the likes of The Allman Brothers Band to Lynyrd Skynyrd to Stevie Ray Vaughan just to name a few. The musical side of this album is outstanding. It shows just how talented Indigenous is, as a collective unit. Lyrically, though, the topics are nothing original. The album is comprised largely of songs about love gained, lost, and hoped for. Pick any song you like off of this release. The majority of this album deals in love songs; from both the happier and sadder side.

‘Broken Lands’ is the sixth overall full length studio release from this all Native American band. The lyrics may be a troublesome point for some listeners. But if listeners can tune out the lyrics, and enjoy the record solely for the musical talent, it makes for a good release, even for new listeners.

Oh good Grief!  How many more times can movie companies re-issue DVD’s and box sets before fans finally say enough is enough?  If you’re still wondering what I’m going on about, apparently, The Peanuts Holiday Collection is set to be released for the second time on September 23rd.  Anyone who already owns the first box set would not be missing very much.  This box set has all of the same bonus cartoons, etc. that are included in the original holiday box set.  The only difference between the two box sets is that the new one boasts “making of” featurettes for the Thanksgiving, and Christmas specials.  It also offers digital downloads from the soundtracks of each of the three specials.  So fans who already own the original box set really are not losing out if they leave this one on the shelves.

For the longest time, I personally, have wondered why the entire holiday collection has not been boxed together as one large set.  Instead of what is currently out in stores, why not include the Valentines Day and Easter specials, too?

This is not the first time that Hollywood has tried to rob consumers in such fashion.  A very recent example is the re-release of the Indiana Jones movies box set.  The new box set is completely different from the first box set.  And when the fourth movie hits shelves later this year, it likely won’t be long before a new box set, containing all four movies, hits stores.  And to make it worse, there are now rumors of a potential fifth movie—with Harrison Ford in it no less.  Another example of consumers being fleeced is the multiple releases of the Star Wars franchise box sets.  How many more times can George Lucas and his company reinvent the wheel? 

Box sets of movies aren’t the only ones that are fleecing American audiences.  It happens with ordinay movies all the time.  A recent example of that is in the re-issue of the Henry Fonda classic ,“12 Angry Men.“  It has an introspective about how the jurors’ room was set up, and the effect it had on the movie.  A few years ago, audiences saw this happen with the Stephen King masterpiece, “The Shawshank Deremption”, too.  How many more times can studios re-release movies and box sets of movies before consumers finally stand up and say, “ENOUGH!“?  Hopefully the answer to that one is not many more.