Monday

New Music 2014

The new year dawns, and 2014 looks to be a big year in new music releases. Let's take a look at some of the musicians who will be gifting us with new music in 2014. Everything from Rock to metal to blues and jazz... I'll add to the list as I discover more (or have more time to complete my list).

Bruce Springsteen - High Hopes
High Hopes finds Bruce in a number of different musical settings, and includes the members of the E Street Band as well as guitarist Tom Morello and many additional players. Recorded in New Jersey, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Australia and New York City, High Hopes marks Bruce’s 18th studio album and includes his own liner notes that detail the album’s evolution.

Bruce Springsteen High Hopes

U2 - Following a Live album release in December 2013, U2 is scheduled to release a studio album sometime in 2014. Word is Danger Mouse is producing. But whether it is Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois, or Steve Lillywhite they should do all right. Few missteps with this band, perhaps except for 2009's No Line on the Horizon.

Adele Laurie Blue Adkins - Better known as Adele. At least to me. In followup to her massive selling 21, probably one of the most anticipated albums of the year would be this new project from Adele. High pressure but I am guessing she will deliver.

Metallica - A followup to 2011's umm... let's say, interesting collaborative effort with Lou Reed as well as the band's 2013 concert film, Through the Never. Metallica is hard at work on a brand new studio album.

Metallica Through the Never

Judas Priest - Set to release their first album since 2008's Nostradamus. Rob Halford and the crew are working on this concept album, which expects to be a return to their big and heavy sound of their earlier years.

Mötley Crüe - a 2014 retirement album? This could be the last hurrah for this Crüe. All four original member have been back in studio getting ready for this 2014 release which will coincide with a worldwide tour.

Mike Oldfield - Man on the Rocks will be Mike Oldfield's 25th album. Best known for his debut as a 20-year old, Tubular Bells, Man on The Rocks features 11 tracks including the song "Irene", inspired by Hurricane Irene which hit the Bahamas in 2011.

Adele's new album 2014

Beck's Morning Phase will be his first album since 2008. Look for the first single Blue Moon to be released on January 209th.

Morrissey - While I don't follow his career closely, I grew up listening to The Smiths, so anything by the band's front-man or other members will interest me. His new album follows the 2013 Blue Ray, MORRISSEY 25Live and his autobiography. In addition to the brand new album, Morrisey is writing his first fiction novel.

St Vincent, or Annie Erin Clark will be releasing a self-titled album in the early part of 2014. The self-titled release will be the fourth studio album by American musician St. Vincent. It is set to be released on February 24 in the United Kingdom and February 25 in the United States, through Loma Vista and Republic Records. A 2012 release was a collaborative effort with David Byrne.

St Vincent

Neneh Cherry - Cool trivia? Neneh's brother is Eagle-Eye Cherry. Fun trivia? Her stepfather's name was Don Cherry.  Best known for her songs Buffalo Stance and her brilliant duet with Youssou N'Dour, 7 Seconds. Officially, this will mark Cherry first solo album in 17 years. Actually, it is supposed to be a collaboration with RocketNumberNine.

Drive By Truckers - Look for a new set of songs from this southern rock band out of the music hotbeds of Athens, Georgia and Alabama.

And legend Stevie Wonder will be putting out not, one but two new albums this year. His first in almost a decade. One will be a set of originals, the other, a gospel collection.

Blondie 2014

Blondie - Yes. You read that right. Blondie will be releasing their tenth studio album. Deborah Harry and the band have been keeping busy, if a little below the radar. The single A Rose by Any Other Name hit the airwaves back in June 2013.

Foo Fighters - With a tour scheduled and a new album, Dave Grohl is back leading the band following his guest work with QOTSA. In an interview with XFM, Dave Grohl announced that their next album has been slated for a 2014 release. Grohl said “...We have been in our studio writing and in the past few weeks we’ve written an album and we are going to make this album in a way that no-one’s ever done before and we’re pretty excited about it…"
Foo Fighters

Following his two highly successful duets albums, Tony Bennett is working on a on some swing and jazz covers with Lady Gaga.

Johnny Cash - Out Among the Stars is an album that features some of his recording from the early 1980s.

Alice Cooper is putting his 27th studio album under wraps. An album of covers that includes ‘Break on Through’ by the Doors, ‘Revolution’ by the Beatles, ‘Foxey Lady’ by the Jimi Hendrix Experience and the Who‘s ‘My Generation’.

Friday

These Numbers Are F*cked

Inigo
My boss called me over the other day.

"Shawn," he said, " Can you help me out?"

"Sure!" I replied.

"Shawn," my boss continued, "Tell me if these numbers look right to you. If they are good, I will finish copulating the data."


One Woman Army

Kate Earl, Stronger

Alaskan native Kate Earl's third album Stronger was released towards the end of 2012. Now based in L.A. this 32-year old singer's indie / country-folk sound comes through in One Woman Army, a song she wrote, inspired by her young son.

On One Woman Army, she promises, "Here I am, baby, I'm your one-woman army I'd fight for you, I'll die, I'll be your protector". She says she is especially proud of the tune for the way it achieves one of her biggest goals as a songwriter: "It's one of those songs that you can take to mean whatever it means to you. It can be a love song; it can be about friendship; it can be a song from a parent to a child. I want people to identify with my music like that."

Wednesday

2014 Movie Preview

The new year brings us a whole new list of movies. Here you will a find a rundown of some of the most anticipated and perhaps biggest movies of 2014. A common theme this year is 1980s remakes. Look for trailers and plot summaries for some must see movies and the most talked about films. Let this be your guide to some of the best and brightest and most anticipated new movies for 2014.

300: Rise of an Empire
Legends of Oz
Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return
This is not the sequel to the live action film starring Mila Kunis and James Franco. But an animated full length film with an amazing cast of voices. Patrick Stewart, Dan Ackroyd, Lea Michelle, Kelsey Grammer to name just a few...
This story is based on the novel of Frank L. Baum's great grandson Roger S. Baum.
Expected release : May 2014.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Steve Rogers is back. This time he struggles to find his place in the modern world and meets an old Soviet foe, The Winter Soldier. Stars Scarlett Johansson, Cobie Smulders, Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, and Robert Redford. Picking up after The Avengers film ended, The Winter Solider is a 1970s style political thriller masquerading as a big superhero movie. 
Look for an April 4 release.


Captain America : The Winter Soldier

Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones
After the first film realized $108 million in box office revenue on a budget of only $15k, sequels were immediately planned. The Marked Ones, is the fifth film in the series.Films 2 through 4 had a much higher, yet still reasonable production budget between $3 and $5 million.
In the latest a young Californian named Jesse (Andrew Jacobs) is designated for possession by the same malevolent demon who previously claimed Kristi and Katie. Christopher Landon (son Michael Landon) wrote and directed this spin-off/sequel produced by Oren Peli and Jason Blum.
Expected release: January 2014


One Chance
The true story of Paul Potts, a shy, bullied shop assistant by day, and an amateur opera singer by night who became a phenomenon after being chosen for - and ultimately winning - Britain's Got Talent.
Rather than play the film clip, I thought it best to load the clip that launched his stardom.
Maybe you have seen it? It's had 105 million hits.

While released in the U.K. in October, the North American release is expected February 2014.


I, Frankenstein
From the graphic novel by Kevin Grevioux, I, Frankenstein tells the tale of Frankenstein's monster Adam, who gets involved in a war between two immortal clans in an ancient city. Filmed in Australia, the movie stars Aaron Eckhart and the incredible Bill Nighy.
Expected Release: January 2014.

I, Frankenstein

Arnie is back. In Sabotage, an action crim drama, Members of an elite DEA task force find themselves being taken down one by one after they rob a drug cartel safe house. Stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sam Worthington, Terrence Howard, Ralf Moeller and Mireille Enos.
Expected Release: April 14, 2014.

Sabotage


The Lego Movie
In The Lego Movie, an ordinary LEGO mini-figure, mistakenly thought to be the extraordinary Master Builder, is recruited to join in a quest to stop an evil LEGO tyrant from gluing the universe together... Based on a true story.
With the voices of Elizabeth Banks, Channing Tatum, Will Ferrell, Cobie Smulders, Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson, Jonah Hill, to name a few.

Robocop, a remake of the 1987 action flick. This reboot follows eight or so sequels, remakes and video games based on the original Paul Verhoeven movie. Stars Gary Oldman, Michael Keaton and Abbie Cornish. With Samuel L. Jackson and Jay Baruchel. Joel Kinnaman wears the armour of Robocop.

After a police officer is critically injured in the line of duty, OmniCorp utilizes their remarkable science of robotics to save Alex's life. He returns to the streets of his beloved city with amazing new abilities, but with issues a regular man has never had to face before.


Another remake, this time from the 1981 Brooke Shields film Endless Love. Bigger than the actual film, was the duet from the films soundtrack as sung by Lionel Ritchie and Diana Ross.
The story of a privileged girl and a charismatic boy whose instant desire sparks a love affair made only more reckless by parents trying to keep them apart.
Expected Release: February 14, 2014.

Robocop 2014

Vampire Academy
A film adaptation of the popular Richelle Mead series. Two races of vampires walk our world. One, the Moroi, are alive and wield elemental magical. The other, the Strigoi, are undead and evil - feeding on the innocent to survive. Rose Hathaway - a half-vampire - is training to be a bodyguard for a Moroi princess. Learning to decapitate and stake is hard enough, but Rose's real danger may lie in an illicit romance with one of her instructors...
Stars a whole lot of beautiful people including Sarah Hyland, Olga Kurylenko, Zoey Deutch, Joely Richardson. Also stars Gabriel Byrne.
14 February 2014

Vampire Academy movie cast list
3 Days to Kill

3 Days to Kill Is an action thriller directed by McG and starring Kevin Costner. In the screenplay by Luc Besson, Costner's Secret Service Agent has a few days to live, and pulls off his last mission, all the while protecting his daughter.
February 2014

Pompeii, set in the year 79 C.E., Pompeii is an epic story of the slave Milo turned invincible gladiator. Put in a race against time to save his true love Cassia (Emily Browning), the beautiful daughter of a wealthy merchant who has been unwillingly betrothed to a corrupt Roman Senator. Mount Vesuvius erupts in a torrent of blazing lava, and Milo must fight his way out of the arena in order to save his love as the once magnificent Pompeii crumbles around him.
21 February 2014




Noah
A film 4,360 years in the making. Noah tells the tale of the biblical hero and his battle to conquer the coming catastrophic floods and protect his family. Starring Russel Crowe as Noah, also Emma Watson, Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins and written by Moses. No, just kidding, Darren Aronofsky gets writing and directing credits. A graphic novel tie in to the movie will be released on March 18th.
Expected film release date: 28 March 2014



The Monuments Men
Delayed from a 2013 release, The Monuments Men is the latest directorial and writing effort from George Clooney. Based on a true story.


The story tells of Roosevelt ordering a small platoon of soldiers into Germany in World War II, with the aim of recovering artistic masterpieces deep behind enemy lines. In addition to Clooney himself, the cast includes Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman, and Jean Dujardin.
7 February 2014

The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Peter Parker battles against Electro (Jamie Foxx) and The Rhino (Paul Giamatti) With the emergence of his new foes, Peter must confront an adversary far more powerful than he. And as his old friend, Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan), returns, Peter comes to realize that all of his enemies have one thing in common: OsCorp.
2 May 2014

Spider-Man 2
Godzilla 
A giant radioactive monster called Godzilla appears to wreak destruction on mankind. 2014 also marks the 60th anniversary of Godzilla. The film stars Bryan Cranston, Elizabeth Olsen, Juliette Binoche. And look for a cameo from Akira Takarada who starred in the 1954 original. Don't believe the rumours that Olsen is playing Godzilla.
16 May 2014

Godzilla

Edge of Tomorrow
What's a movie season without Tom Cruise? Lt. Col. Bill Cage is an officer who has never seen a day of combat when he is suddenly assigned to what amounts to a suicide mission. Killed within minutes, Cage now finds himself inexplicably thrown into a time loop - forcing him to live out the same brutal combat over and over, fighting and dying again - and again. But with each battle, gaining more skills, Cage becomes able to engage the adversaries getting him one step closer to defeating the enemy.
With: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton
6 June 2014
Edge of Tomorrow


X-Men: Days of Future Past
The X-Men send Wolverine into the past in a desperate effort to change history, and prevent an event that results in doom for both humans and mutants.
News is that Anna Paquin's scenes were cut from the theatre release but will be seen on the home edition. 
Directed by Bryan Singer and starring the usual cast, Jennifer Lawrence, Evan Peters, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Michael Fassbender, Ellen Page, James McAvoy, Halle Berry, Patrick Stewart.
23 May 2014



Sex Tape
Stars Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel, Jack Black, Ellie Kemper, Rob Corddry.
A married couple wake up to discover that the sex tape they made the evening before has gone missing, leading to a frantic search for its whereabouts. Careful what you click on if you look up this film title. Trust me on this.
25 July 2014


300: Rise of an Empire
The Greek general Themistocles battles an invading army of Persians under the mortal-turned-god, Xerxes.
The movie was initially going to focus on the story of the mortal-turned-god, Xerxes and his military expeditions. It was revised to include a greater focus on Themistocles, as he battles the invading army of Persians. Stars Lena Headey and Rodrigo Santoro.
7 March 2014


Interstellar
An amazing cast fills the roster, as a group of explorers make use of a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage. Stars Matthew McConaughey, Jessica Chastain, Anne Hathaway, Wes Bentley, Casey Affleck, Michael Caine, Topher Grace and John Lithgow.
November 7, 2014



The Equalizer
Feature film based on the 1980s television series. Denzel Washington takes on the role of a veteran covert operative who, seeking redemption for his dark deeds, quits the spy agency and puts a classified advertisement in the paper that simply reads: "Got a problem? Odds against you? Call the Equalizer". September 2014
The Equalizer

Sin City: A Dame to Die For
Sin City: A Dame to Die For
My personal choice for 2014. A sequel to the 2005 film and based on the graphic novels. The release was pushed to 2014, with a title change as well. The film's ensemble cast includes returning actors Jessica Alba, Rosario Dawson, Jaime King, Powers Boothe, Mickey Rourke, and Bruce Willis.
Newcomers to the series include Eva Green, Josh Brolin, Jamie Chung, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Dennis Haysbert, Marton Csokas, Julia Garner, Juno Temple, Ray Liotta, Stacy Keach, Christopher Meloni, Lady Gaga, Jeremy Piven, and Crystal McCahill.

Three of the film's four segments - "Just Another Saturday Night", "A Dame To Kill For" and "The Long, Bad Night" - are prequels to the first film.
22 August 2014


The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1
If I said Jennifer Lawrence stars in this one would that be a spoiler? This movie was split in two, perhaps taking the lead set by The Hobbit. In the third movie of the series, Katniss Everdeen reluctantly leads the districts of Panem in a rebellion against the tyrannical and corrupt Capitol. As the war that will determine the fate of Panem escalates to the point of destruction to the other districts by the Capitol, Katniss must figure out for herself whom she can trust and what needs to be done, with everything she cares for in the balance.
Part 1, November 12, 2014 (Part 2, November 2015)


The Expendables 3
Joinng Sylvester Stallone this time around will be Harrison Ford, Wesley Snipes, Antonio Banderas, Kelsey Grammer and Mel Gibson, in addition to the usual cast of veteran mercenaries. Gibson is the bad guy this time around. Look for fights, blood, guts and bullets. I would like to see an Expendables with Eastwood, Bronson and  McQueen.
Release date: August 15, 2014
Look for an all-female cast version of the Expendables down the road.

The Expendables 3

Jersey Boys
A musical biography drama based on the Jersey Boys musical tells the story of the group The Four Seaons. Directed by Clint Eastwood, Jersey Boys focuses on the relationships at the center of the group, with a special focus on frontman Frankie Valli. 
Release date: June 14, 2014
Jersey Boys
The Hobbit: There and Back Again
I have mixed feeling about the The Hobbit. I have read every book with Tolkien's name on it. I have read books about Tolkien and books about his books. I have seen all the film and TV adaptations of his works. Am I overselling the fact that I am a fan?
While I was looking forward to this latest adaptation, there was no reason to stretch the book into three films, there was not enough material to do so. That being said, this last one will contain the major battles in the story and should be exciting.
17 December 2014

The Hobbit: There and Back Again
The movie I am most looking forward to in 2015? The Avengers: Age of Ultron. There are a whole lot of new movies are heading our way in 2014. I am excited to see most of these 2014 new movies. Tell me if I missed any?


300: Rise of An Empire ,A Haunted House 2 ,A Million Ways to Die in the West ,About Last Night ,Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day ,Almanac ,Annie ,Are We Officially Dating? ,Bears ,Belle ,Big Hero 6 ,Book of Life ,Brad Pitt/David Ayer Untitled ,Captain America: The Winter Soldier ,Chef ,Dawn of the Planet of the Apes ,Devil's Due ,Divergent ,Dolphin Tale 2 ,Dom Hemingway ,Dracula ,Echo ,Edge of Tomorrow ,Endless Love ,Exodus ,Fast & Furious 7 ,Fifty Shades of Grey ,Frankenstein ,Guardians of the Galaxy ,Heaven Is For Real ,Hercules ,Home ,How to Train Your Dragon 2 ,I, Frankenstein ,Interstellar ,Into the Woods ,Jessabelle ,Jupiter Ascending ,Kitchen Sink ,Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return ,Lego ,Maleficent ,Million Dollar Arm ,Mr. Peabody & Sherman ,Muppets Most Wanted ,Need for Speed ,Night at the Museum 3 ,No Good Deed ,Noah ,Non-Stop ,One Chance ,Paranormal Activity 5 ,Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones ,Planes: Fire and Rescue ,Pompeii ,Ride Along ,Robocop ,Rio 2 ,Sabotage ,Selfless ,Sex Tape ,Sin City: A Dame to Kill For ,Stretch ,Stretch Armstrong ,Tammy ,Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ,The Amazing Spider-Man #2 ,The Boxtrolls ,The Equalizer ,The Expendables 3 ,The Familymoon ,The Good Dinosaur ,The Hobbit: There and Back Again ,The Hundred-Foot Journey ,The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 ,The Interview ,The Loft ,The Judge ,The Maze Runner ,The Nut Job ,The Other Woman ,The Secret Service ,The Untitled Minions Project ,Think Like a Man Too ,Three Days to Kill ,Tomorrowland ,Townies ,Transcendence ,Transformers 4 ,Tyler Perry's Single Mom's Club ,Unbroken ,Untitled Godzilla Project ,Vampire Academy ,Walk of Shame ,When the Game Stands Tall ,Winter's Tale ,X-Men: Days of Future Past