Biggest Disappointments of 2012 / Most Anticipated of 2013

Disappointments Of The Year

1. Reel Big Fish - Candy Coated Fury

At first listen, you might think this album is quite good.  Once you realize that every song is one really long chorus repeated about a hundred times, your opinion will change.  I enjoy the hell out of the opening track ("Everyone Else Is An Asshole") though it drags on a little too long.  But its repetitiveness is just a taste of what is to come on the rest of the album.

2. Pink - The Truth About Love

Pink went from making a variation on pop music that worked for her - slightly rebellious (in that manufactured kind of way) and at least partially composed by her - to this garbage.  Yeah, she still played a part in the songwriting but this is one case where I wouldn't be too proud of that.  She traded in the rock inklings for dance music and synthesizers.

3. Neon Trees - Picture Show

"Everybody Talks" is one of those songs that when you first hear it on the radio, it actually breaks through the generic funk that pervades most radio friendly music.  It's catchy and has widespread appeal.  Unfortunately, it's the best track on their album.  The rest of the songs are horrible blends of overwrought repetition and outright annoying instrumentation.  The lead singer's voice does not stay consistent and winds up being a primary irritation throughout the entire full length.

4. Anti-Flag - The General Strike

I've pretty much given up on Anti-Flag at this point.  With each new album, I genuinely hope that they will have reclaimed their former vitriol and intensity.  Unfortunately, they have never been able to recover from their brush with the big leagues and the major labels.  These songs sound phoned in.  They don't get you pissed off; hell, they don't even get you excited, which is about the least you would expect out of a punk rock band.

 

MOST ANTICIPATED

Look Mexico

We didn't get it this year, but I am still hopeful that this will see release soon.

Against Me!

I think "Gender Dysphoria Blues" should be an intriguing concept album, to say the least.  I am also curious as to how Laura Jane is going to sound on her first outing since her outing.

Brand New

They were supposed to have studio time booked in April 2012.  Jesse Lacey had this to say, "It’s funny…I joked a while ago that Brand New was going to make happy music. I mean I said it on stage one night and every one ran with it. I don’t think we’re going to write happy music though. We do sad bastard quite well (laughs). But we want our music to answer questions and the thing is that sometimes those questions are sad ones. We want to make new music with new answers but sometimes the questions are still sad ones and sometimes that is just a reality. Life is about accepting the hard parts like loss, and succeeding in society."

The Ataris

What is this, like six years in a row?  Get your shit together, man.  How bad is it when the owner of the record label's only response regarding the status of Graveyard of the Atlantic is "Sorry, but I don't write the songs."?

Taking Back Sunday

The band is planning on releasing two live discs from this year's Tell All Your Friends anniversary tour (which is one of the greatest shows I've ever been to) - one is an acoustic bootleg and the other is a full band bootleg.  After that, the band is planning on recording new material very soon.  They are without a record label currently and are going to use the two aforementioned live discs as a test of whether it is viable for them to release their own albums.

Frank Turner

Frank has already finished recording for his fifth studio album.  It was recorded in Burbank, CA in October of 2012 and the mixing/mastering process is expected to be done for a March release date.  Other than that, I know nothing about the sound.  Let's hope it's a little less England-y than England Keep My Bones.

My Chemical Romance

Having already released several EP's from Conventional Weapons, the album that was scrapped prior to Danger Days, I can safely say that I love them.  They will be compiling all of those EP's and releasing them as a box set/full length in 2013.  I can only hope that the public response to how amazing the scrapped songs are is enough to deter the band from making another terrible album like Danger Days.

Jimmy Eat World

The band began writing and recording back in the fall of 2011.  They entered the studio towards the end of August 2012 and have now finished recording and mixing.  All that's left to be done is mastering.  I'm hoping their new tunes sound less like Invented, of which I was not a fan.

Best EP's and Singles of 2012

As early as I finished my end of the year list last year, I sure waited until the last minute to complete this year's.  Damn you real life, full time employment and moving!  For as much music as was released in 2012, this year will forever be the year of disappointments.  There were a few shining gems but most albums fell short.  There were brief moments of brilliance on each album but the rest of the tracks left you empty, desperately craving more of the good stuff.  As disappointing as it was, it makes for a good yearly compilation.  Just gather all of the greatest songs and you will have a flawless compilation.

As with 2011, our aural cavities were probed once again by bands risen from the dead.  Hot Water Music released Exister, their first full length in 8 years.  Further Seems Forever, reunited with original frontman (and Dashboard crooner) Chris Carrabba, released Penny Black, their first full length with the original lineup since The Moon Is Down was released in 2001.

First, I present to you the Best EP's and Singles of 2012 with the Best Full Lengths to follow later.  

06.  Cursive - The Sun and Moon/The Cat and Mouse

The Sun and Moon/The Cat and Mouse EP was rolled out around the same time that Cursive's full length, I Am Gemini, was released earlier this year.  The first two tracks, "The Sun and Moon" and "The Cat and Mouse" also appear on I Am Gemini but it's the remaining b-sides on this EP that earn a spot on this list.

"Chemical Strain" is an angular and groovy track that tackles the consequences of drug use and abuse and slowly builds into a frenetic and distorted climax.  It captures the same musical essence that the full length possesses without the same esoteric theme and lyrics that were required of the concept album.

"Supernova '95" has an instant tie-in with the band's older work, sharing a nearly identical title with the pre-Cursive band Slowdown Virginia's "Supernova '75".  The music is the usual discordant Cursive and the lyrics are the spiritual sequel to the b-side "Ten Percent To The Ten Percent" off of the Hurricane Katrina benefit compilation, Lagniappe.  It should be noted that the elegance and poetry of Ten Percent's workplace frustration has been replaced with outright rage and dissatisfaction.  As Kasher sings out "Burnt out, Burnt out / These jobs are fuckin' jokes / Burnt out, Burnt out / The dollar is a hoax! / What's a degree get me? / Opportunity? / A foot in the door? / The doors are closed", you have to wonder how a man who has spent over a decade fronting various bands is so familiar with the daily grind.  For the rest of us poor saps, lines like "You used to dream in color, so American / Reds, and whites, and blues, but mostly green / 'Til you learned economy is just a Ponzi scheme" just ring way too true.

Recommended Tracks: "Chemical Strain" and "Supernova '95"

05.  Kevin Devine -  Matter of Time: KD&GDB Tour EP 2012

Tour EP's always occupy a unique territory in a band's discography.  Sometimes a band will simply compile a couple of their more well known songs and release it in a tour-only format (lame!).  Other times, a band will compile some b-sides that aren't readily available and may re-record an acoustic or alternate version of an album track (awesome!).  The latter is what Kevin Devine did when he released his 2007 Tour EP.  So it was easy to see why I was excited about this year's Tour EP, with its promise of re-recording his greatest hits with his backing band, The God Damn Band.

Unfortunately, the title track (and only new song on the EP) is the only shining gem in an otherwise disappointing pile of dirt.  At first glance, the track listing leaves you hopeful.  It spans his discography from his most recent effort to old favorites like "Cotton Crush".  It even features a sprawling 14+ minute jam that combines "Buried By the Buzz", "Carnival" and "Another Bag of Bones", which should have been my first warning.  As I have mentioned millions of times before, the acoustic versions of Kevin's songs almost always triumph the album versions because they forgo the additional instrumental noise, guitar noodling and distortion in lieu of raw earnestness and emotion.  This EP captures everything that Kevin does wrong when it comes to the album versions.  The songs meander about, incorporating a ridiculous amount of noise and artifacts from what must have been an interesting jam session.

With all of that said, the title track "Matter of Time" is incredible.  It isn't in the vein of Between The Concrete & Clouds and instead opts to go the route of an acoustic ballad.  Lyrically, it is steeped in a kind of psuedo-romance that is usually not present in any of Kevin's lyrics.  It is nice to hear him sing lines like "But I’m well-aware that she’s my compass / The strawberry sun, God’s grace and sweetness" in contrast to his usual less-than-joyful words.  Skip the rest of the EP, but relish the fact that we got this new song out of the deal.

Recommended Tracks: "Matter of Time"

04.  Laura Jane Grace - Black Me Out (Nervous Energies Session)

For those of you who have been living under a rock, Laura Jane Grace is the new identity of Against Me! frontperson Tom Gabel. After battling for years with gender dysphoria, Laura finally gathered up the courage to begin living the way she always felt on the inside.

This single wasn't an official release but it deserves a place nonetheless.  Nervous Energies invites some of your favorite indie rock bands to perform a session for them, most of the time acoustic, which they then put up online.  "Black Me Out" is a song that Against Me! has been kicking around for over a year now.  I don't know if it will end up on their next full length, Transgender Dysphoria Blues, which is a concept album about a transgender prostitute, but I am glad to experience the song now.

The song is filled to the brim with piss and vinegar as Laura belts out lines like "I want to piss on the walls of your house / I want to chop those brass rings off your fat fucking fingers / As if you were a kingmaker / Black me out".  It's such a genuine song that you forget all about the slick and produced New Wave era Against Me!.  This song is already an aggressive beast with gnashing teeth and claws and it is just one person and a guitar -  I can't even imagine how abrasively delicious it would be if they recorded it with a full band. 

Recommended Tracks: "Black Me Out"

03.  Person L/Weatherbox Split EP

Person L is the side-project of former The Starting Line bassist/vocalist Kenny Vasoli.  Weatherbox is the brainchild of perpetual stoner Brian Warren.  The Person L side of this split is... horrible.  "Ok" is a song that alternates between ethereal vocals and distorted guitar riffs accompanied by screaming and yet it never finds solid ground.  "Winter Clothes" is even worse, saturated in a ridiculous amount of distortion and echoed vocals.  Kenny's singing becomes more of an irritating caterwaul as the song progresses.  Perhaps I am just not a Person L fan but I can't even imagine who this would appeal to.

Besides, I was more interested in Weatherbox taking another crack at regaining the former glory of their debut album, American Art.  The songs that have followed since the original line-up dissolved have been less than stellar, none more so than their sophomore album, the atrociously bad The Cosmic Drama.  With each new release, I cross my fingers and pray to the music gods that they have finally found their way again.  They have showed promise ("Broken Glowsticks" off of Christpuncher and Follow The Rattle of the Afghan Guitar) but it has fizzled away before culminating into anything worthwhile.

Thankfully, this split's offerings ("Kickflips For Weeks" and "Two Seductresses") seem to recapture a shade of brilliance hidden under the druggy fog that envelops Brian's brain.  Perhaps it's because he toned back the stoner-friendly instrumentation and returned to more straight-forward music, but I'm digging the new songs.  "Kickflips For Weeks" features the same esoteric lyrics that Brian Warren is known for though they are a lot more relatable this time around.  This first track features some very fun vocal melodies and layered lines.  "Two Seductresses" is my favorite off of the split.  It's a little more rock and roll with gang vocals and more energy than a hummingbird sipping Red Bull.  I'm beyond glad that they seem to be moving back in the right direction.  The lyrics are less nonsense and the music is more focused.  I might actually buy the next full length, assuming Brian doesn't insist on a cassette-only release... again.

Recommended Tracks: “Kickflips For Weeks” and "Two Seductresses"

02.  Frank Turner - I Still Believe (Single)

Despite being initially released at the end of October 2010, Frank Turner still managed to find a way to release another single featuring "I Still Believe" in April of this year.  This would be an easy one to write off... if Frank hadn't selected a cover of a Queen song as the b-side.  The only thing better than a Queen song is hearing it covered by some of your favorite present day musicians.

Frank puts his own spin on "Somebody To Love", a song he's been playing live for a good while now.  It's good to hear it put on wax finally.  This was a Record Store Day exclusive whose scarcity made it virtually unobtainable.  I can't really review a Queen song - if you know the song, you already know how good it is.  This is just an upbeat, English folk singer's take on it, including a driving piano riff, a guitar solo and backing vocals provided by the Sleeping Souls.

It is a nice slice of his music to hold us over until his new full length is released in March of 2013.  Also keep an eye out for his new hardcore side project, Möngöl Hörde, featuring his former bandmate/drummer from Million Dead and one of the guys from his Sleeping Souls backing band.

Recommended Tracks: "Somebody To Love (Queen)"

01.  Chuck Ragan & the Refugio Kids & friends

Chuck Ragan has always seemed like a man of the people and this EP just drives that perception home.  This is not an EP made for fame or recognition of any sort.  It doesn't even matter if the EP carries Chuck's name.  This is music made for the sake of music and nothing else.

Back in the Fall of 2010, Chuck visited the refugee children of Refugio e.V. Munich, an organization that offers shelter to victims of torture, political persecution and armed conflict that now live in exile in Germany.  While visiting, he played a show for the children at a place called EineWeltHaus, a venue designed for intercultural discussion and emphasis on art.  This was an exercise designed by the children's therapy group to help them overcome their "double speechlessness" - that is, their inability to speak the native language in a foreign country and the inability to even describe the traumas that they have experienced.  Chuck's price of admission for the show?  He asked attendees to donate musical instruments to the refugio kids.

A year later, Chuck followed his heart and returned to the same place to make music with the children.  He recorded four songs with them, as the original press release says (translated from German), "a meeting that initially opposites might be: Chuck Ragan's rough raspy voice hits the four songs the fragile background choir of children, who for the first time in their lives English songs sung in a studio atmosphere - a warm, authentic snapshot, in charity, respect, and the connecting power of music in the forefront."  And I really couldn't put it any better than that.  It's amazing to listen to this collaboration of children living in exile and our road-weary troubadour.

Recommended Tracks: “Come Around” and “Bedroll Lullaby”

Mining The Expanded Universe

In light of the announcement of the purchase of Lucasfilm by Disney and the revelation that there would be Episodes 7, 8 and 9, as well as a new movie every couple of years, I've taken the time to put together a list of Expanded Universe material that could be adapted into excellent movies.  Without further adieu, here are fifteen EU stories that are begging to be told on the big screen. 

1.  The Thrawn Trilogy

Every single fanboy on the face of the planet knows that this should have been the next logical step for the upcoming trilogy.  Yes, our lead actors are looking old and horrible, but that's nothing that ILM couldn't fix in post production.  The books were on the New York Times best seller lists and they kept the saga going at a time where things were looking bleak.  Disney could bring Timothy Zahn in to write or polish a script.  This trilogy would introduce awesome new characters (Grand Admiral Thrawn and Talon Karrde come to mind) as well as bringing in characters that would open the door to other EU offerings (See: Mara Jade).

Of course, they've already said that this is not going to be the basis for the next three episodes but perhaps they'll turn to them in the future.

2. Legacy of the Force 

I have always thought that this 9 book series would make an excellent trilogy.  The timeline lines up with real time (the books take place about 36 years after Return of the Jedi), so all of the original cast could return.  These books deal with a galaxy in the aftermath of the Yuuzhan Vong invasion, so you'd have to have a movie introducing that conflict first.  But beyond that, LOTF also saw old favorites like Lando and Boba Fett return.  It would introduce  the next generation of characters (like the Solo twins) to moviegoers who aren't all that familiar with the EU.  And the conflict and final twist of the series are as gut-wrenching as anything we've seen in any of the movies thus far.

And if you're doubtful about the original cast returning, you should read this article about Lucas meeting with Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill and letting them know about the next trilogy.  Insiders also say that Harrison Ford would be interested if the script and director were right.

3.  Republic Commando 

The Republic Commandos are the most elite unite of the Grand Army of the Republic and they are BAD ASS.  This movie could be crafted as a military movie, following Delta Squad from their first deployment on Geonosis to their life and death missions that saved the Republic over and over again.  It covers the same time period depicted in the prequel trilogy, just from a much different perspective.  It'd be nice to see the Battle of Geonosis as we saw it in Attack of the Clones and then flash to the underground tunnels, where Delta Squad is battling hordes of Geonosians to get to their mission objective.  Boss, Fixer, Sev and Scorch each have their own intriguing personalities and I think watching an action/military movie with them fighting battles, rescuing Wookies and destroying Separatists warships would be amazing.

4.  Unknown Soldier: The Rise of General Grievous

Based on the short story that appeared in Star Wars Insider (and its online supplement "Lord of War"), this movie could trace the origins of the droid general that led the largest army of battle droids that has ever existed.  It could begin when Grievous was still Qymaen jai Sheelal, an ambitious warrior growing up on Kalee.  When the war with the neighboring Huks breaks out, Grievous hones his skills and amasses huge kill totals against the enemy invaders.  He quickly attains the status of "demigod" alongside his sister/lover demigod Ronderu lij Kummar.  The movie could follow the conflict, eventually leading to the shuttle "accident" that stole Grievous' body away from him.  It could end with his reconstruction and his reluctant acceptance of his new command.  This movie would explain how Grievous ended up as a cyborg, why he had Magnaguards modeled after the Kaleesh Elite and how he perfected his sword fighting while using Lig swords to hunt.

5.  Republic (The Darkness of Quinlan Vos)

Quinlan Vos is absolutely my favorite EU character of all time.  The Republic comic series follows him throughout the Clone Wars as he infiltrates the ranks of Separatists leaders and tries to win the favor of Count Dooku.  This movie would deal with his memory loss, his love for Khaleen Hentz, his master (Tholme) and his apprentice (the lovely Aayla Secura) and his eventual battle with the darkness that, if you ask me, was a lot more believable than Anakin's descent.  Quinlan's obsession with finding the second Sith was a much more admirable and understandable motivation than "OMG I LOVE YOU AND CAN'T LOSE YOU".

6.  Joe Johnston's Boba Fett

Joe Johnston was one of two people (alongside Ralph McQuarrie) who created Boba Fett.  Back in July of 2011, Johnston was trying to get Lucas to let him make a Boba Fett movie and Lucas turned him down.  Disney might not feel the same way considering Johnston's success as a director has been evident with films like Captain America: The First Avenger.  Johnston's Boba Fett movie could fill in the gap in Fett's story between knowing him as a child in Attack of the Clones and The Clone Wars show until we first meet him in the original trilogy.  Comics like Blood Ties and the now mostly non-canon short story "The Last One Standing" (from Tales of the Bounty Hunters) provide plenty of opportunities for storylines and conflict.  We could find out how Boba Fett survived on his own in such a harsh galaxy and why he develops an obsession with Han Solo.  Depending on how big of a timeline you want to see, you could show Boba Fett confronting the impostor Jodo Kast or escaping the Sarlaac.  Towards the end, we could see the scene from Return of the Jedi where Boba Fett falls into the Sarlaac.  We then see him stuck to the walls of the Sarlacc where he endures an arduous escape after being partially digested.  The movie could end on him climbing out of the Sarlaac with a smile on his face.

7.  The Force Unleashed Trilogy

Yeah, yeah.  I know it already exists unto itself and fan reaction wasn't all that great, especially for the second game, but when you actually understand what's going on, it's quite a good story.  All of the characters in the game were modeled on actors anyway, so you wouldn't be bothered with casting.  Sam Witwer (Starkiller) would be more than happy to take on the role in a live-action setting.  You could dial down his force powers a little bit so that he is still very powerful but not omnipotent.  This trilogy would appeal to fans (or people who think Sam Witwer is sexy because, honestly, who doesn't?) who were interested in the games but lacked the desire to actually play a video game.  The entire gaming experience is very cinematic and would translate well into film.  You'd have to clarify some things for the audience's sake (The Dark Apprentice from the sequel comes to mind) but otherwise it would be an amazing set of movies revealing Vader's secret apprentice and the birth of the Rebellion.

8.  The Old Republic
I can speak the least to this idea because I have not played the game.  But based on what I know about the game and the cinematic trailers, I'd love to see Darth Malgus, Shae Vizla and the Sacking of Coruscant on the big screen.  Audiences have never seen a large scale war between the Jedi and the Sith, which is what would make this story unique.

 

9.  Knights of the Old Republic

Immensely popular games with some of the coolest Sith ever created (Darth Nihilus, Darth Sion, etc.) - how could you ignore this when it comes to a movie?  Darth Revan's Bourne Identity-ish nightmare would make for a confused protagonist, which could keep viewers on their toes.

10.  Darth Bane: The Rule of Two

We all know from the prequels that "Always two there are, no more, no less" and it's this knowledge that keeps the Jedi guessing during the Clone Wars.  A Darth Bane movie would step backwards in galactic time and explain the origins of one of the most powerful Sith Lords of all time.  A Sith Lord who was able to restructure the Sith Order so that it would survive millennia in hiding.  Some of the major set pieces would be the battle against the Jedi Army of Light and the destruction of the Brotherhood of Darkness in the Valley of the Dark Lords.  You could include Bane's apprentice, Zannah, and their eventual confrontation.  And of course, you'd have to include Bane raiding Sith tombs for Holocrons only to become covered in parasitic Orbalisks that were constantly killing him.

11.  Shadows of the Empire

It was the movie without a movie.  It'd be a lot harder to do now considering the age of the cast and the fact that it is supposed to take place between Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.  But Shadows of the Empire contributed very interesting things to the galaxy.  From the Falleen species and their use of pheromones to the introduction of Dash Rendar, SOTE fills in the gap between the two movies.  It has Luke returning to Tatooine to sharpen his skills in the Force at Obi-Wan's old hut, Leia trying to mount her first rescue mission for Han (still entombed in carbonite) and Wedge's Rogue Squadron.  It even has a Human Replicant (ala Blade Runner) in Guri.  The more I think about, this one would have to be a CG movie.

12.  The Tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise

We could see the rise of Darth Plagueis and his tutelage underneath Darth Tenebrous.  Plagueis' obsession with the science of midichlorians and the prophecy of the Chosen One would become the focal point.  We would discover the origins of Palpatine and his training underneath Plagueis.  It would end up with Plagueis being murdered in his sleep (as told in the tragedy) and with Palpatine's first election to public office.

13.  The Skywalker Legacy (Cade Skywalker vs. Darth Krayt)

This one would be based on the Legacy comic series, which takes place 130+ years after Return of the Jedi.  With no returning characters, there would be no concerns with recasting or recruiting original cast members (save for one, maybe).  Legacy would cover the Skywalker bloodline in the future.  Cade Skywalker is the perfect anti-hero with his drug addiction and brushes with the dark side.  A pirate Jedi versus Darth Krayt, one of the oldest and most imposing Sith Lords that has ever existed?  Sign me up.

14.  Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina

Ever since that first moment when fans saw the Cantina scene, we have been curious about the slew of creatures and aliens that pervade the scene. Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina would be a movie comprised of vignettes.  It would dance its way through the cantina, telling the stories behind every face you encounter.  Some of my favorite stories from the book are Momaw Nadon (Hammerhead) and his transformation from pacifist botanist to vengeful Ithorian; the story of Dannik Jerriko as it dives into the "myth" of the Anzati (snot vampires) and just how lethal they can be; and the love story of the Wolfman and the Lamproid, an unlikely pairing that stretches across the galaxy and plays a part in the Alliance and their Rebellion.

15.  Death Troopers

Zombies.  I know I can't get enough of them and it seems like their popularity is only increasing.  With shows like The Walking Dead gaining steam, now would be a great time to adapt a novel like Death Troopers into a movie.  Even The Clone Wars brought in Zombie Geonosians, which was a scary concept for adults, let alone the primary audience of that show.  For Death Troopers, Disney would have to accept the R rating and in turn adult fans would go see such a movie in droves.  It's such a dark concept that I think adults would love the departure from anything even remotely kid friendly (think about how popular Revenge of the Sith was compared to The Phantom Menace).  I don't know how you'd handle the casting of familiar faces but since they aren't the main protagonists of the story, I'm not sure it would even matter.  The setting of an abandoned Prison Barge floating through space filled with an army of insatiable Storm Troopers has the potential to be an intensely creepy and satisfying romp in the space-horror genre.