Thursday, September 30, 2010

The Leo Strut

By now I am sure you have all seen the meme featuring Mr. Dicaprio's strut from Inception. Well now it has a song, and you're gonna be singing it all day. You're welcome.

Wait...what? #71

Lykke Li, you stole my heart with your cover of The Shirelle's "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow"!




You can download the mp3 here!

"What if Civilization Had Lyrics" by BrentalFloss



BrentalFloss is back with his rendition of the theme to the Civilization games and it's awesome as usual.

Thunder Busters

Yup, that means what you are about to watch is an AC/DC vs Ghostbusters mashup. I promise it'g good.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

EGS Speaks to Mike Raicht from "The Stuff of Legend"

Roughly a month ago at Baltimore Comic Con, EGS was fortunate enough to sit down and chat
with “The Stuff of Legend” writers Mike Raicht and Brian Smith. All of us are huge fans of the book
and were beyond stoked for the opportunity to speak with the creative minds behind it. We
spoke with Raicht first about the past, present and future of “Stuff of Legend” along with some
information about how he got his start and got hooked up with Th3rd World.

The story behind “The Stuff of Legend” starts in a similar fashion to the book itself: with a boy and his teddy bear. Raicht’s son, Austin, had just been born. Since Austin was too small to have toys in his crib, all of his toys were placed above him.

“There was one teddy bear that looked like he was specifically watching Austin, like he was
guarding him,” said Raicht. “It's not a new idea; it's been done for centuries--stories about
toys protecting their kids. It's what you do with it afterwards that sets it apart,” he added.

Raicht had also been toying with ideas for a story reminiscent of the movies and books he grew
up with, such as Dark Crystal, Watership Down, and X-Men. The stories portrayed in these
series depict darker, more intense situations than current media directed towards younger
viewers. Raicht wanted to write something that didn’t play it safe, but still held the timeless feel
of great children’s story.

Raicht brought all of his ideas to Brian Smith, his co-writer for “Stuff of Legend” which sparked a
very long phone call of conceptualizing.

"That's when we can tell we had hit on something: when we've had a phone call were 2 hours
have gone by and we've mapped out a whole world,” Raicht said.

K.Flay



Until this past Sunday, I had not heard of K.Flay. Shame on me. A friend who went to the Sleigh Bells show at UMBC  told me that a chick going by the name of K.Flay opened that night and I had to check her out. He said "She's got sick beats and sounds like a female Childish Gambino." How could I turn that down? I looked up K.Flay that night and was thoroughly impressed. She can rap, sing, create some amazingly awesome remix beats, strum a mean guitar, and on top of all of that -- she's hot. K.Flay describes her style best on her website when saying, "If you were to put hip hop, indie rock, and electronic music in a blender, it would sound like me." Yes please.

If that wasn't enough to wet your whistle, you can check out her tunes for FREE! Who doesn't love free music??? Head on over to www.kflay.com to download her MASHed Potatoes Mix Tape and her song "2 Weak" with a remix of Grizzly Bear's "Two Weeks" on the track (it's legit). I can't wait to hear whats next for K.Flay and her music. Her collaborations and remixes are great. I would be really interested in hearing a full original album from her as well. I have linked some videos after the jump. First is a mix with a bunch of clips from live shows. Second is the video for SomethingALaMode's "Clip de 5am" featuring K.Flay. Also, dont forget to check out her website for her mix tape downloads and all things K.Flay. If you don't, shame on you.

Wait...what?! #70

If you like Feist and Bon Iver, then you are in for a special treat today. Justin Vernon of Bon Iver performed an acoustic cover of "The Park" for an Australian radio show. Enjoy!

MASSIVE Remix Download!!!!

If you aren't familiar with The Remix Artist Collective (simply known as RAC), then you need to get with the program! Andre Allen Anjos founded the collective with one goal in my mind--to make awesome remixes that strayed away from being typical dance songs. While some of the tunes are danceable, there's no denying that each and every track is awesome. Need proof? Go through the embedded player and download till your heart's content FOR FREE! Your Ipod and wallet will thank you for the welcomed additions!

RAC Portfolio by Remix Artist Collective

Need more?! Download this mixtape!

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Wait...what?! #69

These kids are rad. That is all.*



If you didn't know that was "Everlong" by the Foo Fighters then you're no friend of mine!

* Yes, I realize that I'm stealing TJ's bit. Deal with it!

Monday, September 27, 2010

Envy - Recitation

After four long years, Envy's sixth full length album is here, and if there is one simple word to describe it, that word is "breathtaking."

I have to say that I was honestly a little worried about how Recitation would sound. I say that because their previous releases were absolutely great, and you could really hear the progression of Envy's sound through each album. After almost 20 years in the business and five great albums, where do you go? Do you really start experimenting, as was evident on their most recent split with Jesu? Do you start falling back to your original sound? These are questions every band would ask themselves, and where some strive and some fall behind.

Long story short, Envy is still Envy. They know their sound and have only grown with this album. Recitation really feels like the next album in progression, as every previous album has felt before. I have to say Recitation really contends with A Dead Sinking Story as my favorite Envy album.

Recitation starts slow and progresses smoothly. If you thought their previous albums has some great feeling and emotion to them, Recitation is going to make you feel ways about life. You don't need to know what lead vocalist Tetsuya Fukagawa is saying to understand these songs. Some are obvious of happier tone, playing around with major chords and resolving progressions very nicely. Other songs are heavy and deep, transitioning from ambient to distortion effortlessly, really drawing out certain sections. It also seems as if Envy took a page out of Explosions In The Sky's book here and there for some of their ambient parts, which is by no means a bad thing.

The album also comes with a nice booklet that translates the Japanese lyrics for you, so you finally get a little look at what Tetsuya Fukagawa is giving us in his songs. And I have to say, his lyrics are legit.

I have to recommend Recitation to everyone. Go. Buy. It. It truly is an amazing album from an amazing band. Envy's sound is simply put, beautiful. EGS had the honor of going to see Envy at the Ottobar on Saturday, Sept. 25th to kick off their current American tour. If they are coming through your town, make sure to go to this show. I promise you Envy and all the bands on the tour will not disappoint. Also, we should have some videos up on our YouTube channel of Envy's performance very soon, so make sure to look out for that!

Wait...what?! #68

The first time I heard Beck's cover of "Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime" was while watching Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. I was unaware that it was a cover but the song was orginally performed by the pop group The Korgis. And now you know!

Top Of The Mornin' Monday


That is all. Happy Monday!

Friday, September 24, 2010

Eleven Saints by Jason Webley and Jay Thompson



Need some cheering up?  Listen to this song!  It's a cheery, quirky, folk jam by Jason Webley and Jay Thompson that's not about anything.  I'm pretty sure it's the only song ever to mention "Wynona Rider", "unlevin bread", "Kafka", "Michaelangelo", and "Now and Laters" all in the same song.

This song has been around for a while, so sorry if you've seen it before.  I just happened to re-discover it this morning when I popped in an unlabled burnt CD on my drive to work this morning and was pleasantly surprised to find this track.

Wait...what?! #67

WTF?! Another David Bowie related post?! I'll try to make this the last one for a while but Nirvana's cover of  "The Man Who Sold The World" is classic! Enjoy and have a great weekend!


Internet Memes! Assemble!


How many memes can you pick out?  Let us know in the comments.  If you can guess them all you'll win a prize!*

*Disclaimer:  Prize not actual prize.  Prize is the harsh realization that you spend too much time on 4chan. 


Happy Friday gang!

Happy Friday 2.0

This is Hannah. Hannah is in love with Stephen. Hannah is moving to Japan and can't bear the thought of leaving her beloved Stephen. Hannah's mom did what every parent should do in this situation, record it and upload it on You Tube for my amusement. Thanks Mom!

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Best Mail Ever?

DeviantArt user Fydbac sends some awesome USPS packages. I have no idea what he's sending, but it really doesn't matter, because it's all about the packaging. Under each image, Fydbac states "I like to decorate the envelope when I mail work to clients (both sketch and standard). It's always random whateverthehellIwant sketches." Mr. Fydbac, I approve. I wish the stuff I got in the mail looked this cool. Hit the jump for some more of my fav's, and make sure to check out Fydbac's DeviantArt page.


Wait...what?! #66

Baltimore's very own Thrushes recorded a cover Mazzy Star's "Fade Into You" on the "Trees" single. You can add this song to the list of songs that if you don't like then you are dead inside! Enjoy!



The band was kind enough to mail us a copy of their latest album "Night Falls"! Expect a full review in the near future.

Science + Gummy Bears = Good Times!

It's a known fact that everyone loves gummy bears. If you happen to be one of the 4 people in the world who doesn't like gummy bears, here's the reason to change your mind. Science makes everything fun!

Pokemon Apokelypse

This fan trailer was made as a statement on how several movie frachises that are being rebooted as being dark and gritty. Whatever the motive may be, it doesn't change the fact that this is hilarious!

I Love David Bowie

So my newest obession on You Tube is watching videos of children crying! Yes, I realize that I'm a heartless bastard but they are hilarious. The child in the following video loves David Bowie. His mother offers to play The Cardigans instead and the kid cries even more. Really mom, The Cardigans or David Bowie?! Someone should report you to child services.

 

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

ETID: S#!T Happens.

For the past 9 weeks, Every Time I Die been putting together clips from various tours and posting videos each week for you, then fans! Every Wednesday marks the release of a new S#!t Happens episode, and they are pretty hilarious. They make me actually look forward to Wednesdays! I really hope this sparks more bands to do this on tour. It reminds me a little of The Chariots Ladies And Gentleman... documentary DVD, which I loved. Below is one of my favorites in the series, but make sure to go to www.vans.com/etid/ to check out all of the videos!

Wait...what?! #65

"The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou" is one of my favorite films of all times! A highlight of the movie was Seu Jorge's covers of David Bowie's classic hits. My favorite song is Jorge's rendition of "Starman". Enjoy! 



If you get a chance check out "Carolina"

Left 4 Dead Comic: The Sacrifice Part Two

Guess what, L4D fans?  Valve gave us more comics to read!  Part two of The Sacrifice dropped yesterday, which means new L4D DLC is just around the corner.  If didn't read the first part of the Sacrifice, you can catch up here.

DLC Quick Gaming Fix : Shank



I was completely ignorant of the DLC game medium and Shank has made me seen the errors of my ways! Shank is a side scrolling beat-em-up that is reminiscent of a Robert Rodriguez film. Klei Entertainment has given new life to a retro genre with this title.

Shank is a mob enforcer that has fallen in love with Angela. Shank's boss, Caesar, gives our hero a choice, kill Angela and he will inherit the criminal empire or Caesar will take care this distraction. Shank refuses and Caesar sends three of his top assasins to kill the lovers. Miraculously, Shank survives the attack and sets out on a path of vengeance.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Hopesfall, The Satellite Years

During the drive home from Ocean City this weekend, Scott and I decided it would be a good decision to introduce our friend to a band called Hopesfall, using their album The Satellite Years to showcase their talent. Upon listening, I really fell in love with the album all over again, and feel its definitely worth noting.

The Satellite Years really marks the peak of great music coming from Hopesfall. Released in 2002, this album continues to deliver on many levels to this day. At the time, Hopesfall was a hardcore/screamo band who mixed in some great ambient sections and songs into their albums, similar to Japanese screamo/hardcore pioneers, Envy. Their transitions seemed effortless, which helped make The Satellite Years an exceptionally great album from start to finish.

The album kicks off with the instrumental track"Andromeda" which really sets the tone with sounds that border both the screamo and ambient sides of the spectrum. The middle of the CD sports some amazing songs like "Waitress", "Decoys Like Curves", and "The Red Shift", all of which you wont mind getting stuck in your head for the next week. Closing out the tracks with a bang is "The Bending", and Hopesfall really couldn't have ending the album with a more fitting track.

After The Satellite Years, Hopesfall went through quite a few member changes. Their next full length album A Types had more of a straight forward alternative/pop sound to it, marking the end of what made Hopesfall so special in my opinion. However, I still urge to give The Satellite Years a try. It's an album that stands the test of time, and if Hopesfall were to ever tour again, I would go just to hear some of these tracks live. Check out "The Bending" after the jump.

Wait...what?! #64

Hey gang! Sister Hazel did an awesome cover of Sam Cooke's "Bring It Home To Me". I'm a chump for acoustic performances and Sam Cooke's music so this is a MAJOR WIN. Enjoy!

 

If you hate "All For You" then you are simply dead inside!

Bill and Ted's Excellent Inception



Yuuuup! That just happened!

Top Of The Mornin' Monday... On Tuesday!

I know I missed my normal Monday post yesterday to kick off the week, and for that, I apologize. Please accept this offering in return.

I give you The Boba Fett Plush Rocket Backpack! No one will ever question who your favorite Star Wars character is ever again. Make the right fashion statement in school this year. And if someone ever tries to pick on you for it... freeze their ass in carbonite, or at least with the dry ice you packed in all the pockets! Check out Thinkgeek for more deets on this backpack and more awesomes!


That is all. Happy Mon... err... Tuesday!

A New Voice for The Joker?



I had originally intended to write about Batman : Under The Red Hood. Since we at The Epic Gentleman's Society try to only write about things we enjoy, that plan quickly scrapped. Not that the movie was terrible, but for everything that I enjoyed, there was something that made me roll my eyes. In the end the movie turned out to be just "meh". What I enjoyed most about the animated feature was John Di Maggio's performance as The Joker.

Di Maggio is one of the best voice actors in the business. He is the voice behind Bender of Futurama, Marcus Fenix of Gears of War, Wakka of Final Fantasy X, among others.

A void will be left as Mark Hamill, who has played The Joker since 1992, will retire after Batman: Arkham City. I propose that John Di Maggio should be the next actor to voice the clown prince of crime. He is a recognizable name among fans of the video game and animation industry. And as I mentioned before, his performance was best thing about the mediocre film! So what do you think? Is Di Maggio the next Joker? If not, who would you cast?


SPOILER ALERT!!!!
This is one of the last scenes of the movie but it is a great example of Di Maggio's talent! You've been fairly warned.

Monday, September 20, 2010

X-Force: Sex + Violence

In X-Force: Sex + Violence, Domino is on the run from The Assassins' Guild (not Creed). The guild hired her for a heist against The Hand. Domino stole the money for herself and needless to say The Assassin's Guild is not pleased. Wolverine finds out about her predicament and insists on helping out his teammate.

Watching the chemistry between Domino and Wolverine was a blast! The duo are constantly bantering as the sexual tension between the two mounts. Once it erupts, the gloves along with the rest of their clothes come off. Their relationship is strictly carnal and isn't romantic by any means. As a character whose power is based on luck, Domino has a managed to get into a situation way over her head. Wolverine has no problem of pointing this out to her. At times I didn't know if Wolverine was going to attempt to kill or have sex with Domino. I don't think that Wolverine knew either. I would love to see more adventures starring these two characters.

Let's not forget about the violence. The fights are brutal and push Wolverine's healing powers to the limit. The carnage is beautifully painted by Gabriele Dell' Otto. I was really impressed with his work in Secret War and Dell' Otto doesn't disappoint with Sex and Violence. His use of shadows and lighting enhanced the intensity of the story. Almost every page consists of bullets, blood, and blades and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Gone For the Weekend

Hey gang, we have good news and bad news! The good news is that we are going to the beach today. Woot! The bad news is that there won't be any new posts today. Lamerz! We'll resume our normal posting schedule on Monday. Hopefully, the internet won't crack in half due to our abscence. Before we go, I'll leave you with a song that always reminded me of the beach. Hope that everyone has a great weekend!


Thursday, September 16, 2010

Ra Ra Riot "The Orchard"


Earlier this week, I read a review for Ra Ra Riot's sophomore album The Orchard. I've never really been a fan of the website, it's too pretentious for my tastes. Don't worry, this isn't going to be a fanboy rant against the site in question but I will respectfully disagree with the reviewer.

Wait...what?! #63

Oh Placebo, you never cease to amaze me. The band's cover of David Bowie's "Five Years" is a must listen. Enjoy!



Meds is one of my favorite songs by Placebo!

BCC2010: Omega Chase

Omega Chase is another comic written (and co-created) by Kieth Dallas and its a very interesting one. I've made it through issue one and I am left wanting more.

I have to give props to Kieth Dallas with how this comic is written. It draws you in right away. The narration/first person thoughts of main character Mack Baron have a lot of personality, and really fit in with the environment.

*Note* Possible spoilers after this, but I will try to keep it to a minimum.
The Omega Chase cover really shows us a bunch of what we can expect with the story: zombies in an old-timey Midwest, which is already exciting! My first thought was if its anything like Red Dead Redemption meets zombies, I'm sold hook, line, and sinker!

The comic opens up with us meeting Mack Baron, the the sheriff of a Providence Fields. The year is 1881, however Baron isn't so sure that is his place in time. He knows of key historical events that take place in the future, but has no memories of his past. So now we can expect some sort of sci-fi element added to the mix. There are hints of it towards the end of the first issue, but nothing specific. I am kind of hoping for an Assassin's Creed type of twist, but thats really because of my love for that game franchise. There's no telling what kind of twist this will take yet with just getting into the first issue.

Again, I really have to acknowledge the writing here. It does a really good job of setting up the feeling and tone for the time period. The humor is subtle but really helps break up the some of the seriousness. It definitely keeps you reading.

I really like where this comic is going. Again, I've only been through the first issue, but I'm excited to pick up the rest. I think this is a very interesting blend of genres, and ready to see where the rest of the issues will takes this story.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Phantogram: Eyelid Movies

Another month means another new set of awesome MP3 albums for $5 on Amazon, and this month has a must-have album in Phantogram's Eyelid Movies.

I actually just recently started listening to this album again, and man is it good. This is a great example of what a complete album should sound like. Start to finish, each song is a winner. They can stand alone and work as a whole. There wont be any skipping tracks on this CD.

I first heard Phantogram when they opened for School of Seven Bells at the Ottobar in Baltimore, MD. I actually wound up liking them over the headliners that night, and love them even more now with this album. Eyelid Movies is really an extension of their self titled EP which was fantastic in itself.

Phantogram consists of only two members: guitarist Josh Carter and keyboardist Sarah Barthel, and they really offer a little something for everyone. Phantogram has an electronic/indie-rock sound with light and heavy sounds mixed with great beats. I hate comparing bands to other bands, but its kind of like The XX meets Nine Inch Nails meets The Age of Rockets done ever so perfectly with some extra spice and flare. Phantogram is one of my favorite bands right now and you definitely need to buy their album Eyelid Movies ASAP.

Other awesome MP3 Albums on sale this month include Ray Lamontagne's Till The Sun Turns Black, The Avett Brothers' I And Love And You, Sufjan Stevens' Illinoise, Bat For Lashes' Fur and Gold, and MC Hammer's Greatist Hits. Dont miss out!

Ra Ra Riot at Sound Garden

Last night, Ra Ra Riot played in store performance at Sound Garden in Baltimore. It had been two years since the group's first performance at the store. The band performed a 7 songs from their albums "The Rumb Line" and "The Orchard". The folks in Ra Ra Riot have been known to put on a great show and last night's acoustic performance was not an exception.  Here's a clip of the the band performing "Shadowcasting". Be sure to check out our You Tube channel for other clips from last night's set and Explosions in the Sky!

Left 4 Dead Comic: The Sacrifice Part One

Check it out L4D fans, Valve made us a comic!  Ya'll should totally read it, it's pretty awesome.  It ties into the last DLC pack released for L4D2 and attempts to fill us in on the events leading up to it.  Go read now!

DLC Gaming Quick Fix: DeathSpank

The Fall gaming season is upon us.  This month we've already seen the release of Dead Rising 2, Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, and Halo: Reach; and there's plenty more heavy-hitter titles slated for release up through the holiday season.  

EGS is here to help keep a controller in your hand until that big name title you've had on pre-order for the past 6 months hit stores.

Today, we have the hilarious hack n' slash action rpg, DeathSpank--one of the many downloadable gems from this past summer.

DeathSpank is a heroic hero of the downtrodden who dispenses social justice like most heroes:  with violence.  DeathSpank's power is derived from a magical purple thong he wears (I'm not kidding).  And, it's up DeathSpank to use the power of his mighty undergarment, and a large variety pointy and smashy weaponry, to help free a group of orphans from the evil Lord Von Prong.

DeathSpank plays a lot like your typical dungeon-crawler (think Diablo and, to some extent, X-Men Legends/Marvel Ultimate Alliance).  DeathSpank roams a huge, cartoonishly rounded, open world, where he cleaves, bashes, skewers, burns, freezes, poisons, and electrifies any evil-doers in his path and collects mountains of sweet loot along the way.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Wait...what?! #62

Arrested Development are legends, so if they want to cover "Heaven" by Los Lonely Boys, then I'm cool with that. It's actually pretty enjoyable! Let me know what you think!



You say that you're not familiar with Arrested Development? Shame on you! Don't worry, I got you covered. Here's one of my favs!

BCC2010: Ghostbusters Con-Volution!

Walking around the Baltimore Comic-Con floor, I couldn't help but notice a Ghostbusters comic.

Ghostbusters is one of my favorite franchises ever. The original Ghostbusters movie is one of my favorite movies of all time (one of my feel good movies as well). I loved the cartoon series, The Real Ghostbusters, as a kid. I grew up with the Ghostbusters and continue to love them to this day. So obviously I had my hesitations when I saw a Ghostbusters comic. Could the comic hold up and be an extension of the Ghostbusters? Is this just a milking of a franchise hoping for more money with the recent success with the Ghostbusters video game and rumors of Ghostbusters 3? So I sat down with Ghostbusters Con-Volution and I thought it held up pretty well.

*NOTE* Possible spoilers after here, but I will try to keep them to an absolute minimum.

Written by Keith Dallas and Jim Beard, the Ghostbusters comic really feels like a cross between the movies and cartoon series. This particular comic felt a little more like the cartoon series because of the "comic-con" theme. In the movies, you never see the team without their trusty proton packs at the climax of the film. However, there were certain situations in the cartoon series where they left their gear behind and had to find alternate means of dealing with a ghost. This happens in this story and its done in a pretty fun way. You can tell the writers had fun with tying in some real life likenesses related to the comic world. The humor is pretty good as well, with jokes (again) really filling the space between the movies and cartoons. I am excited to get my hands on the rest of the comics in this series to see if they feel any more like the movies (I also want to see the proton packs in action :P).

One of my only real gripes with the comic is extremely minor and or an art related note. Josh Howard does a good job with the art, however I wish there was a little bit more difference in the way Ray Stantz and Peter Venkman were drawn. You can tell the difference between them with their dialog, but its hard to decipher one from the other by just looking at them. Other than that, I really enjoyed this one.

All in all, if you are a fan of Ghostbusters, this is going to be worth your time. Its fun and nostalgic. Give it a shot and let us know what you think!

Remembering Nujabes



You'll have to excuse me if this post seems late but I just heard about Nujabes' passing. Jun Seba aka Nujabes was a pivotal producer in the Japanese Hip Hop scene. He was known for incorporating Jazz samples into his music, reminiscent of the New Jack Swing era of the late 80's and early 90's. His music was heavily featured in the anime classic Samurai Champloo. The Japanese producer had collaborated with several MC's here in the U.S. including C.L. Smooth, Cise Starr of CYNE , and B-More's very own, Substantial. Sadly, Nujabes passed away due to injuries from a car accident, on February 26, 2010. Hydeout Productions plans on releasing Seba's unreleased work in the near future. Check out one of my favorite cuts and the trailer to the Nujabes documentary after the jump.

Monday, September 13, 2010

It's a Your Birthday, Mario!

Everyone's favorite plumber is 25 today!  On September 13, 1985 Super Mario Bros. was released in Japan, which marked the beginning of the Mario we all know and love.

To honor this occasion, here's BrentalFloss' Mario piano medley.

Pwnage Like Us

Gigi, Nyhm and DruidBoyz did an awesome parody of T.I.'s "Swagger Like Us". It's pretty funny and I was surprised by the fact that they can actually spit. World of Warcraft represent!

Wait...what?! #61

Recently, Robyn's cover of Bjork's "Hyperballad" has been making it's rounds on the internet. After watching you can see why. It is a wonderful cover. The only thing that could have made it better is it Bjork joined and made it a duet. Enjoy!



Need more Robyn in your life? Then check out "Be Mine"!

Top Of The Mornin' Monday


No other captions necessary. Post replies in the comments! Lets see what we got to work with.

That is all. Happy Monday!

Friday, September 10, 2010

Gaming Honor Roll Stickers

Does your son or daughter play video games? Then be an awesome parent and forget those stupid honor roll stickers and put these on the back of your mini-van. Your kids will thank you. You're welcome. Have a great weekend everyone!

BCC2010: Bargin Bin Challenge: Battle Pope

Now for our final entry in our EGS Bargin Bin Challenge: Battle Pope Volume One: Genesis!  

Before I go any further, I have a confession to make.  I did not pick up Battle Pope in a bargain bin.  I paid full price for a shiny new trade.  However, what Battle Pope lacked in low, low prices it made up for with blasphemy-laden kick-assery.

One of the first things I noticed about Battle Pope (beside it being called Battle Pope and the muscle-bound Pope on the front cover dual-wielding John Woo style on the front cover) is that it's written by Robert Kirkman.  Yes, that's the guy that writes The Walking Dead.  Needless to say, Battle Pope is a tad different than Kirkman's other works.

Battle Pope is Book of Revelations meets B-list action flick.  It's kind of like if Brock Samson were Pope during a post-rapture future.  Battle Pope chain smokes cigars like Wolverine, pounds whiskey like an Irish author, and chases tail like a senator.  He's quick to spout cheesy one-liners and smart ass remarks while he decapitates demons with a broadsword and/or mows thems down uzi's.

The story is simple.  God returns to earth to take those who have lived pure, sin-free lives to heaven--which is only two people (spoiler alert: Pope's not one of them!).  This pisses God off royally, so he decides to stop watching over Earth.  With God not around to keep everything in check, Hell opens up and it's demonic denizens start to wreak havoc.  God sends St. Michael to protect humanity, but he gets captured by Lucifer.  So, God takes our left-behind, foul-mouthed, lecher of pope and gives him super powers making him the Battle Pope!  Battle Pope and his bungling, hippie sidekick, Jesus (yup), must fight the forces of Hell to free St. Michael

Battle Pope is fun, guilty pleasure read if you're not easily offended by parodies of religious icons.  It's a simplistic story that relies heavily on it's ridiculous premise for laughs, which isn't entirely a bad thing.  Pope's raunchy behavior and Jesus' childish incompetence make for some funny moments.  However, the joke starts to fizzle towards the end of the book, but it's still a hell of  a ride if you're into dirty jokes and ultra violence.  

Battle is also a glimpse into the early career of Kirkman.  It's also interesting to note that the original publishing of Battle Pope was entirely in black and white.  It wasn't until the re-released trade (which is what I bought) that series was seen in color. 

BCC2010: Bargin Bin Challenge, Flaming Carrot

I think it would be safe to say that Flaming Carrot is an American hero. The guy knows how to entertain, and always has you muttering "w...t...f...???"

Continuing with our Bargain Bin challenge we have Flaming Carrot. When we first came up with the challenge concept at Comic-Con, we looked down and there is was, like a ray or sunshine through the stormy bargin bin clouds. We seriously didn't move one comic. And so it was purchased for 33 cents.

Flaming Carrot has to be the most random and eclectic comic I have ever read. I dont think there was ever more than 3 panels that were ever related to one another (besides the main plot, which in my comic was Flaming Carrot on a mission to find his lost bar of soap... mmhmm). Locations are always changing. Characters are going in and out of the story. Even the art style changes to real life pictures at the end of the comic (which was pretty hilarious I might add). To put it bluntly, this comic had a little case of A.D.D., and that was really part of the fun.You never (ever) know what kind of shenanigans will come up next, or who will show up next, or which ghosts will get sucked up in a vacuum, you know -- the normal stuff . It actually goes far enough to make me want to find more Flamming Carrot comics for the same reason. Flaming Carrot is definitely a strangely entertaining comic. Consider the Bargin Bin Challenge a success for me.

Wait...what?! #60

Today's post is a great way to end the work week! Adele performed a fun cover of Sam Cooke's "That's It, I Quit, I'm Moving On". Enjoy and have a great weekend!


Here's to a Manly Friday: Saxton Hale

If you're a Team Fortress 2 player, then you're probably already well versed in the testosterone fueled heroics of Saxton Hale.  His manliness was borrowed to promote a few class updates last year.  Hence, Saxon Hale's existence was known predominantly only by the TF2 community.

That travesty ends today.  Behold Saxton Hale!

Sadly, Saxton Hale does not have his own comic series.  However, you can read the promotion comic Valve created for the TF2 updates.  There are also a number of additional Saxton Hale comic covers too.



Best Coffee Table Evar.

A dude named Matt went ahead and created a coffee table that is an exact replica of an original Nintendo Entertainment System. Even more clever is that the controller ports contain power outlets to plug in your laptop, phone, whatever floats your boat. I dont think a coffee table ever looked so good. Now the real question is, when can I get mine? A few more pics of the table after the jump.



Wu Tang Vs. The Golden Phoenix



I...CAN'T...WAIT!

Trillwave Mixtape



As "Mixtape Week" draws to a close, I'd like to thank everyone for the positive responses. I never intended to make an event out of this, it just kind of happened. I've been listening to some old records and fell in love with the genre all over again. For those of you that thought it was way too much hip hop, I do apologize.

End Rant

Now on to some more awesome and wallet friendly tunes! Today's mixtape is from Chicago duo "The Hood Internet". The Hood Internet is similar to Wait What in that they take indie tracks and mash them up with hip hop. Their latest mixtape "Trillwave", is the perfect soundtrack for a basement party! If you like the tracks on this compilation, you can find the full versions at their website.


In case you are iffy about downloading this mixtape (I don't know why you would be) then you can stream it.

The Hood Internet x Mishka - TRILLWAVE by hoodinternet

Missed out on Mixtape Week? Don't worry, you can follow the links to catch up!

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Captain America: First Look

Here is our first glimpse at the Captain America suit for next years feature film, fashioned by some unknown stunt guy who also seems to be wearing a questionable cloak?...  Any ways, what does everyone think? Anyone super excited for Captain America next year?


Mirror's Edge OST

I know this isn't new, but I wanted to share because it's new to me and shouldn't be missed. Mirror's Edge came out during the holiday season of 2008 and had mediocre success. It received mixed reviews across the board. I played the demo of it when it was released, and it was ok.

During my Amazon $5 MP3 Album download extravaganza last month, I decided to give the sound track a chance. I listened the the track previews and thought it had potential and decided "What the hell." The album opens up with a great ambient track that I just wanted to keep on repeat. After that, the songs really pick up the pace (as they should for what is essentially a first person parkour game).

With every new song I continued to gain more and more appreciation for this album. It really developed into something beyond a simple game soundtrack in my opinion. I really think anyone who is into the dance/electronic/techno types of music will really like this album. Its mixed and produced incredibly well. Each track has its own personality. The fast songs really make you feel like you want to do whatever it is your are doing quicker (I wouldn't exactly condone using this to help you get to work on time, but the fact is that it probably will -- do not blame your speeding tickets on me). The final song, Still Alive, performed by Lisa Miskovsky, is also really great. It was the song used in most of the commercials for the game. Its a much slower song, but a welcomed change for the album.

So if you are looking for something a little different, give this album a try. Its awesomeness was unexpected, and really glad I gave it a try. I am actually considering buying a copy of this game now to try it out because I loved the soundtrack so much.

Here is a link to the theme song Still Alive. I will embed it when I get a chance later today: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TERyxFfMqDk&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Wait...what?! #59

Today's post is a really fun cover. Maroon 5 and Chad Hugo cover Pharell Williams' "Frontin'". It if that wasn't enough, Mos Def took the stage to perform "Bonita Applebum" by A Tribe Called Quest. In case you couldn't tell from my other posts this week, I've been in a serious hip hop mood! Enjoy!

Luchini

I've had this song stuck in head and thought that I would share it with you guys. I seriously miss Camp-Lo. I heard rumors that the group got back together, but I haven't heard any new material. Does anyone know anything about this?

This is Real Life Mixtape

                                

Wait What (no relation to us) has made a mixtape for hipsters. Coming off the success of his "Notorious XX" mixtape, we are treated to "This is Real Life". The mixtape consists of 21 indie rock vs. hip hop mash ups. You can "Name Your Price" over at Band Camp. All proceeds will be donated to 826 Valencia to promote youth writing. Dope music + good cause = EVERYONE WINS!

Uncanny X-Force

I was a fan of the previous series so I am pretty stoked to hear about the new team!

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Brooklyn We Go Hard

I'm not sure who made this mashup but it's AMAZING! The vocal's to Notorious BIG's "Juicy" fits perfectly with Jay-Z's "Brooklyn We Go Hard" featuring Santigold. If I can find a link to download this track I will post it ASAP! If anyone else can find a link, I'll hook you up with some sort of prize. You have your mission, so get on it!

Wait...what?! #58

So I just heard about Mayer Hawthorne and I'm really stoked about his music! He reminds me of an "old school" soul singer. In this clip Hawthorne performs a medley including Slum Village's (a group that is seriously underrated) "Fall in Love", his song "One Track Mind", and ELO's "Mr. Blue Sky"! Enjoy!



That wasn't enough Mayer Hawthorne for you? Check out "Just Ain't Gonna Work Out"

BCC2010: Gon

Everyone at EGS had a blast at this year's Baltimore Comic Con. A highlight for me was TJ's "WTF?! Bargain Bin Challenge". Each EGS member had to find the craziest book possible. I was most pleased with my contribution to the challenge. Not just because "Gon" is filled with several WTF?! moments but it is hilarious and I walked away becoming a huge fan of this obscure series.

Gon is an incredibly cute and extremely tough dinosaur that  somehow managed to escape the fate of his fellow dinosaurs. The series follows the one foot tall carnosaur as he goes on completely random adventures (usually in search of food) with a variety of paleolithic mammals. Masashi Tanaka's artwork is very detailed, which makes following the story very easy since "Gon" lacks any dialogue or narration.

Gon is so awesome that he is an unlockable character in Tekken 3! Being that it's Gon, the adorable dino uses toxic farts and his ending in the game plays on a continuous loop. Masashi Tanaka would be proud as this is a very fitting tribute to his creation!

Back to the Feature Mixtape


This mixtape by Wale is a must have! I've had it for a while and it is still in heavy rotation on my Ipod. Wale is bringing the heat with this mixtape that is mostly produced by 9th Wonder. The album features a ton of unexpected samples and guest appearances. The best part is -- they all work! Seriously, this mixtape will have you nodding your head all day.


There are so many enjoyable tracks that I can't decide on my favorite!




You can download it here!

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

EGS Invades You Tube

That's right internet, on top of the Facebook and Twitter pages, we are now on You Tube! In the future, you will find more musical performances, interviews, among other things. We only have two videos now, but they are worth checking out, especially if you missed Explosions in the Sky last week.

BCC2010: Hexed

This week we are going to start bringing you our Comic-Con round ups, thoughts, reviews, interviews, etc etc. Kicking things off, here is my review of one of the books I picked up titled Hexed.

Comic Info:
Hexed / Boom! Studios
Written By Michael Alan Nelson
Art By Emma Rios
Colors By Chris Peter

The Boom Studios booth was the first major booths anyone came to on the right hand side of the convention floor, so you really couldn't miss it. Browsing through their comics, the main thing that caught my attention was the art of Hexed and how vibrant it was. Then I started noticing what was on some of the panels, and without giving any spoilers away, things pick up really quick.

Hexed follows Luci Jennifer Inagcio Das Neves, or Lucifer for short, and her troubles as an underground thief. However, Lucifer doesn’t steal any old ordinary objects. Oh no. These objects once belonged to some pretty interesting people, protected by some pretty crazy monsters, and the means of getting these objects are pretty out there. I couldn’t believe some of the crazy and creative ways in which the writers decided to have Lucifer travel to certain places to go after very particular objects. For example, I learned there is a whole new world to experience within the bodies of the deceased…

My only problem with the books was the ending. It was a little predictable, which was really ok, but it just ended very abruptly. I really wanted the writers to extend the ending and go into some more detail (I didn’t want to stop reading!). There are also some details left out in the story, but you kind of just glance over them and continue. It actually helps add to the mystery of the story and keeps you reading.

Overall, I think this is definitely worth your time. The story is really out there and creative. The art is fantastic. The monsters and “other worldly” scenes are incredibly vibrant and detailed. Boom Studios did a really good job with this one. Hit the jump to check out a few still from the first comic.

Calling All MC's and Producers

We here at EGS, have prided ourselves in providing you with great music for free (legally of course). Keeping in the spirit of providing free music, we are trying to create a hip hop mixtape. This is where we need your help. We are looking for MC's and producers that are willing to contribute to the project. If you  are a musician that is interested or know someone that would be, please email us at epicgentlemansociety@gmail.com Subject: EGS Mixtape. Any help would be highly appreciated. Not just by us, but by G Dubs!

Wait...what?! #57

This is Emily Wells. She did a cover of  Notorious BIG's "Juicy". It's pretty rad and she's pretty rad for this trip hop cover. If you like Portishead, then you'll dig this! Enjoy!



If you liked that, then check out "Symphony 1 In the Barrel of a Gun"

Anchorman Mixtape


Yesterday's edition of "Wait...what?!" featured one of my favorite MC's, K-OS (pronounced chaos). Well, I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that K-OS will not be realeasing an album this year. The good news is that he realeased "The Anchroman Mixtape" to tide us over till his next studio album. The mixtape is free and awesome! You can download it here but it will be available for a brief time. So don't waste another second and treat yourself to some free sweet tunes!








Here's my favorite cut from the mixtape, "Joni Mitchellin' Peelin Out"!

Monday, September 6, 2010

Wait...what?! #56

Today's post isn't a cover but "I Wish I Knew Natalie Portman"(my vote for funniest song title ever) by Canadian MC, K-OS, brilliantly samples Phantom Planet's "California". If you aren't familiar with K-OS, you need to rectify that situation right now! Enjoy



If you liked that, check out "Sunday Morning"!

Enter the Magical Mystery Chamber

British producer Tom Caruana has crafted the best mixtape to come out this year! Caruana's "Enter the Magical Mystery Chamber" has drawn many comparisons to Danger Mouse's "The Grey Album"(an equally amazing mixtape). What make Caruana's mixtape unique is that it doesn't just sample from The Beatles but artists covering The Beatles. The use of covers makes the samples subtle and the instrumentals feel original. The mixtape also features songs from the solo albums of various clan members. This free mixtape is absolutely worth the download. Let me know what you think!  


You can download the mixtape here.
As a Labor Day bonus, you can download Danger Mouse's "The Grey Album" here. I hope that everyone enjoys their holiday!

Friday, September 3, 2010

DO WANT. Portal Book Ends.


Actually, scratch want and change to need. An unnamed genius in a secret government laboratory decided to create bookends themed after the wildly popular game, Portal. This is the only set the internet knows of unfortunately. I am hoping said genius puts his powers to good use and starts finding a way to mass produce and sell them. I would also settle for Valve getting a hold the idea and selling them. One way or another, please make this happen ASAP. I bought way too many books at Baltimore Comic-Con, and this couldn't be a more perfect solution. One more image of the masterpiece after the jump.

An Artsy Take On Movie Posters


The Alamo Drafthouse’s Rolling Roadshow Tour is something really cool for movie lovers. Long story short, the tour goes across the country each year to show free screenings of movies in the cities they were filmed in or where they are based in. This year, the Roadshow got an extra treat with the addition of some fantastic movie posters created by Olly Moss. Moss puts a whole new spin on each movie's poster, all of which feature some great negative space and imagery treatment. Check out all of the posters after the jump!

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Let There Be Rocket Jumps



And so, one of the greatest tactical maneuvers since circle-strafing was born.

This video is by the same guy who brought us a real-life look at aimbots (Freddie Wong).  I wonder when he'll make video about spawn camping.

Wait..what?! #55

Mates of State covering Tom Waits' "Long Way Home". Can't....describe....awesome........overload!



Need more of the awesome? Check out "Get Better"!

I think this cat has Duck Hunt confused with Punch Out.



Having a rough day?

EGS knows the cure:  internet cat videos!  Watch this clip of a cat playing Duck Hunt (poorly) and your troubles will melt away--for 49 seconds.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

To All Sigur Ros Fans...

Today and today only, the solo album from Sigur Ros' lead singer, Jonsi, is available for just $3.99 on Amazon! If you are a fan of Sigur Ros, you definitely want to pick up this album. Jonsi's unmistakable voice is present, and the music really feels like an extension/expansion of Sigur Ros. Some of the tracks are a little more upbeat which is a very welcomed change. The entire album is also completely refreshing. So if you are looking for some new/cheap/awesome tunes, this is the album you need to purchase today!

Wait...what? #54

I think that it's an unspoken rule that every band in existence must cover Black Sabbath's "War Pigs" ! It's a great song and I haven't heard an awful attempt yet. The Flaming Lips performed my favorite cover of the classic on "Later with Jools Holland"(that show has some of the best music performances). Enjoy!

Music for Your Thumbs #6: Bionic Commando (ft. Rusko)



Bionic Commando is a game about a soldier with a sweet robot-grappling-claw arm-thing.  Mr. Bionic Commando (yes, I'm aware his name is not Bionic Commando) uses said arm to deliver NATO-approved justice to bad guys, and to swing around cities like your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.  Needless to say, having a bionic arm kicks ass.

Apparently, Rusko thinks so too. At the very least, he thinks the Bionic Commando level 1 theme music was awesome enough to make a dub-step remix of it.  Prepare your sub woofers and take a listen.

Rusko - Bionic Commando (Rusko Remix) by TheSaharaTent

Like what you just heard?  T.J. posted about Rusko's bass-breaking dub-steppery last week.  So, you should probably check that out right now.