Music Video: The Spill Canvas - Our Song

It's not an official video but it's a peak at some new music from the fantastic group The Spill Canvas.  They're new EP, Realities, arrives next week.

Fans who pre-order the EP via The Spill Canvas' official site will get both a physical and digital copy of the new EP, an instant MP3 of an exclusive acoustic track, and a Realities logo t-shirt.

If that's no enough, how about some tour dates?

Tour Dates:
4/21     Cedar Falls, IA                                    The HuB
4/23     Denver, CO                                         Bluebird Theater
4/24     Salt Lake City, UT                               Murray Theater
4/25     Boise, ID                                             The Venue
4/26     Seattle, WA                                         El Corazon
4/27     Portland, OR                                       Hawthorne Theatre
4/29     San Francisco, CA                              Slim’s
4/30     West Hollywood, CA                          The Roxy Theatre
5/01     Orangevale, CA                                   The Boardwalk
5/03     Tucson, AZ                                          The Rock
5/05     Dallas, TX                                            The Loft
5/06     Houston, TX                                        Meridian
5/07     San Antonio, TX                                  The White Rabbit
5/08     Austin, TX                                           Emo’s
5/10     St. Petersburg, FL                               The State Theatre
5/11     Orlando, FL                                        The Social
5/12     Atlanta, GA                                         Masquerade
5/14     Towson, MD                                       The Recher Theatre
5/15     Asbury Park, NJ                                  Stone Pony
5/17     Philadelphia, PA                                  World Café Live
5/18     Cambridge, MA                                  The Middle East – Downstairs
5/20     Columbus, OH                                    The Basement
5/21     Detroit, MI                                          St. Andrews Hall
5/22     Chicago, IL                                          Metro
5/23     Minneapolis, MN                                 Triple Rock

The Spill Canvas is hitting the road with Tyler Hilton, AM Taxi, and The New Politics

Rawr!

In Stores Today: The Icons of Suspense: Hammer Films!

The Icons of Suspense Collection: Hammer Films

Releasing today is a three-disc, six film collection of some lesser known (at least to me) Hammer Films.

Here's what the box tells us:

Hammer Films made their name with monsters and vampires, but this third compilation from Columbia Pictures - all new to DVD - proves they could frighten you without them.  Topping the set is the uncut version of the futuristic classic THESE ARE THE DAMNED, directed by the legendary Joseph Losey. Peter Cushing and Andre Morrell match wits in CASH ON DEMAND. Oscar-winning cinematographer Guy Green (1947, Great Expectations) directed THE SNORKEL, about a young girl who can't convince anyone her stepfather's a murderer.  The renowned Val Guest co-wrote and directed the startling psycho-drama STOP ME BEFORE I KILL!  Kerwin Matthews finds himself in the middle of a strange mother/daughter threesome in the Jimmy Sangster-written MANIAC.  Plus, this ultimate rarity:  Cyril Frankel's astounding NEVER TAKE CANDY FROM A STRANGER, a serious, and still horrifyingly timely, chiller about a small town terrorized by an elderly child molester. You won't do better than this impeccable collection from the darkest corners of the Hammer imagination.

These films are along way from Dracula but they manage to deliver that Hammer creepy charm.   The films themselves are a bit dated, all ranging from the late 50's to the early 60's but that doesn't take away the fun that's to be had watching them.  Fans of Hammer will enjoy seeing the different types of films the company did, despite being more famous for monster flicks.

It's a great collection of suspense films that do pack some good scares and seat grabbing.

Unfortunately, squeezing six films on three discs (two for each disc) leaves no room for special features. In fact, the only feature to speak of is a trailer for each film. Really? That's the best that could be done for this?  I find it hard to believe that there were no other features suitable for a collection such as this.

My biggest complaint about this set is the packaging. They inexplicable have the three discs stacked on top of each other in one case rather than including an insert tab that could keep each disc in its own spindle. It's not that easy to get them out and if you want disc three you have to pull out discs one and two to get to it.   Surely, there are better options for packaging out there?

That nitpicking aside, it's still great to see these films released, in some cases for the first time in fifty years. It's a steal to get six great films for less than thirty bucks.

I'd say this is 100% worth a buy if only to see that Hammer was capable of doing more than monster movies.  These six films are some great examples of the suspense genre in its youth.

The Icons of Suspense Collection: Hammer Films is available now.

Rawr!

Collector's Edition of Avatar The Last Airbender!

Avatar: The Last Airbender is by far one of the greatest achievements in animation history.  It is a brilliant show with some of the best writing I've ever had the joy to experience and now a Collector's Edition of the first season is coming out.  You can get your hands on this new set on June 22.  I implore you to do so.  It is certainly worth the money.

Relive from the beginning the epic saga of Avatar: The Last Airbender, the animated series that quickly became a phenomenon, creating a huge fan base that spans the globe! This newly designed limited edition 7-disc collector's edition includes the entire Book 1: Water compilation, packed with special features, an exclusive behind-the scenes documentary and a beautifully illustrated paperback book that provides a unique, insider's view of the amazing designs, storyboards, paintings and animation.

Rawr!

Movie Trailer: Resident Evil Afterlife

These seem to have gone so far beyond the scope of the games that it's not even recognizable anymore.  Can someone A) Remake this film the right way please and B)strip Paul WS Anderson of any right to ever make a film in the future.

Rawr!