Review: Fall Out Boy – American Beauty/American Psycho

Posted on 29 ianuarie 2015 by breathemein

I’ve been a fan of Fall Out Boy since 2006, and until now, I must say I never thought they could be so bland and boring. Say what?!

Yes, being a fan does not mean I’ll think everything you create is great, and this time, Fall Out Boy did it worse than ever with American Beauty/American Psycho. Even though I love the play on words and the duality, the album is quite constant, and in a bad way.

The only thing I love about the album is Irresistible. That’s it. One song?! I never thought that could be possible, really, but the whole package makes me think „Go away, Pete Wentz, with your high school lyrics, and leave us alone!”. Too bad I can’t act on that…

So yeah, Irresistible is like Patrick Stump 2.0, it almost feels like it was torn apart from his first album – it has the same angst, the same stadium feeling, the same urge, same need, more of everything that’s good, and less of everything that’s bad. (9/10)

American Beauty/American Psycho, the track that gives the album its title, is headachey to say the least. Stump seems underused, and I can’t understand, for the love of god, what’s Nikki Sixx‘s job on this piece. (5/10)

Centuries is one of the songs released before the album. I remember thinking back then „hmm, wtf?!”. Now?! Now it’s more like „wtffffffffffffffffff!!!”. (5/10)

The Kids Aren’t Alright got me thinking of that one The Offspring song, but that was the only best part of it. The rest of it is totally forgettable – no rhythm, no lyrics, no music. (4/10)

Uma Thurman is something that in some circles people would call music, but in my book this spells boring in several languages, several of whom are already dead, just like my poor ears. (2/10)

Jet Pack Blues is the only thing remotely interesting besides Irresistible. And when I say „remotely”, I’m using the term very loosely. Press „Play” only if you miss your high school love and/or if you had a shitty childhood and wanna blame someone for going on a murder spree. (7/10)

Novocaine reminded me of Holy Roller Novocaine by Kings of Leon, but only because of the name. Of course, what did you expect? The song sounds like something Taylor Swift rejected, so what the crap. (5/10)

Fourth of July reminds me of Black Widow – THAT Black Widow, by Iggy Azalea and Rita Ora, but only because of the clapping at the beginning. The rest of the song screams „This is Patrick having a bad creative day, so bear with me”. (4/10)

Favorite Record seems to be the poor relative of the previous song, with a whole lot of do-do’s and nothing much besides that. Also, the guitars kinda sound like some 80s band I can’t quite pinpoint right now, and I’m not even trying. (4/10)

Immortals… And manele are on! What?! Apparently, this song was intended for Big Hero 6. To that I say „meh”. The song is mediocre at best, and Patrick keep stumping those vocals with religious fervor. (5/10)

Twin Skeleton’s (Hotel in NYC) makes me think of all those emo bands back in 2007-2008, and miss the greatness they were. Because this song is absolutely appalling. (3/10)

Maybe if I’d listen to the instrumentals…

Maybe if I’d pay more attention to the technical part of it…

Maybe if I ignore the stupidity of the lyrics…

Nope, not gonna happen. The album is a whole, and as a whole, I must say it’s pretty bad. I can only point out that it has the proof that Fall Out Boy still know how to title their songs in a punkish way, but the proof that this does not work anymore. Everything else is misery and high school trauma. Thanks, Wentz!

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Review – Clinica Sinucigașilor

Posted on 24 ianuarie 2015 by breathemein

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Despre oamenii frumoși care lucrează la În Culise am numai cuvinte de laudă. Spectacolele lor întotdeauna mișcă, și întotdeauna livrează hohote de râs în sală, fără să aibă un public țintă. Știu doar că de fiecare dată am plecat de la ei cu gura strâmbă de atâta râs, și am vrut întotdeauna mai mult.

Și totuși… Clinica Sinucigașilor, în regia lui Cristian Bajora și urmând un text scris de Gabriela Mihalache este… Altfel. Cu totul și cu totul altfel. Oamenii în jurul meu râdeau la replicile amuzante, credeți-mă că erau amuzante, dar pe mine m-a mișcat tragedia din spatele cuvintelor.

Ești angoasat, stresat, obosit și tulburat? Bine-ai venit la Clinica Sinucigașilor, locul unde toate neliniștile tale vor lua sfârșit! Într-o lume în care depresia e ”la moda”, trebuie să facem haz de necaz și să privim moartea prin ochii divertismentului. Așa s-a născut această drama-comedy deosebit de amuzantă și extrem de actuală, care accentuează contrastul dintre o normalitate depresivă și frumusețea vieții, care oricum e prea scurtă!

În Clinica Sinucigașilor m-am reîntâlnit cu Maria Popovici, de care m-am îndrăgostit (la propriu) când am văzut Ghengbeng. Maria are o voce care pur și simplu ți se întipărește pe creier, e o prezență pe care o recunoști instantaneu, din o mie de oameni, și mi-a plăcut faptul că rolul ei din Clinică… a confirmat bănuiala mea inițială în legătură cu talentul ei.

Grațiela Popa este, din câte am înțeles, fostă invatatica a cursurilor de la Teen Media, și faptul că a reușit să fie ATÂT de convingătoare într-un rol solicitant m-a făcut să exclam, pe silent, evident, „chapeau bas!” de câteva ori.

Paul Alexandru, fost coleg de scenă cu Maria Popovici în Ghengbeng, se „joacă” cu un personaj, și o face la un mod interesant de intens. Rolul lui Dănuț nu e foarte dificil, dar Paul owns it on so many levels, e o plăcere să-l vezi pe scenă febril, disperat, împăcat cu soartă, plin de speranță, și fonfăit pe deasupra!

Cu Ștefan Nistor m-am văzut prima dată la Scrisori către Rita, și va garantez că nu va fi ultima oară. La câtă carismă are omul asta, ține sală în frâu cu o singură privire și un singur cuvânt, și nu o să vă pară rău dacă pariați pe numele lui când alegeți un spectacol.

Alex Vlad face un pic notă discordantă cu subiectul Clinicii…, cu toată energia lui debordantă și aproape electrizantă, și adună în personajul lui furii și frustrări care ne macină pe toți, cu atâta naturalețe încât mai că-ți vine și ție să faci la fel.

La Clinica Sinucigașilor m-am dus pregătită să râd, și am plecat plină de gânduri și idei care și-au făcut cu greu loc pe foaie. În aparență simplu, subiectul m-a destabilizat un pic și m-a dat peste cap, dar pentru mine asta e un semn de câtă profunzime aduce arta în viața noastră, și câte gânduri și emoții naște în noi, fără că măcar să ne dăm seama.

Și dacă nu pentru asta o savurăm, atunci de ce o mai căutăm?

Clinica Sinucigașilor are premiera pe 25 ianuarie, la noul sediu În Culise, de pe Hristo Botev, nr. 25.

Review: Marilyn Manson – The Pale Emperor

Posted on 23 ianuarie 2015 by breathemein

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It’s been years since Marilyn Manson released something, so you can understand my excitement when I heard Killing Strangers during John Wick. A promise was made – that a new album will come soon enough, and I was eager to listen to it!

Killing Strangers is the opening track – it’s slick, and screams „Manson” with every note. It’s sickening, it’s angry, it’s disappointed – it’s everything you and me are, so why the fuck not!? (10/10)

Deep Six was promoted as a lead single, with a very simple, yet disturbing video. I must admit I adore the bass line at the beginning of the song, the drumming and how it all blends in perfectly with Manson’s screaming. It’s pure joy for my ears, even though at first the song seemed a bit predictable. (10/10)

Third Day of a Seven Day Binge was released as a first promo single, and it was a very smart move. The bass mixes the guitar in a rather savage way, and in theory nothing would seem to make sense, but it does – it does make sense in such a weird way, I can’t stop listening to it! (10/10)

The Mephistopheles of Los Angeles – that’s quite a mouthful! I’m still undecided – the guitars are amazing, the rhythm is not quite there, the lyrics don’t seem to make sense, but the whole package screams „suitability and fear and hope”. What?! (7/10)

Warship My Wreck kinda sounds like a modern Coma White, with a little more comformity and a little less genius. It’s not bad, but it’s not wow either. (6.5/10)

Slave Only Dreams to be King is the kind of title that makes me proud of being a Marilyn Manson fan. Even though the platitude is noticeable and kind of expected from him, at this point in his life, the song is not bad. It reminds me a bit of (s)AINT, minus the angst. (7/10)

The Devil Beneath My Feet seems like a forgettable piece, since I had to look up to see the name. The album seems a bit repetitive at this point, and all the songs get mixed up in my brain. This particular track also has the quality of reminding me of The Red Carpet Grave combined with Children of Cain, so it’s understandable why I’m confused. (6/10)

Birds of Hell Awaiting starts off great, with a bit of Aggaloch-like vocals, and it seems to be the kind of vehicle that propelled Manson to stardom. Too bad he’s like 20 years late… (7/10)

Cupid Carries a Gun sounds like Manson had to fill in a quota, and this straw came short, and Mercury was in retrograde, and a bunch of other bad stuff happened, and so… This song was all that they could come up with. Except that it sounds like Manson circa 20 years ago, so yay?! (7/10)

Odds of Even. I can’t even. Is this The Speed of Pain, remastered?! (5/10)

Overall, The Pale Emperor is at least bearable. Marilyn Manson goes out of his way to please old fans that don’t want any spark of creativity for their idol, and he manages to squeeze out a beautiful combo of Born Villain and The Unholy Trinity (Antichrist Superstar, Mechanical Animals and Holy Wood), recycling old concepts that once appealed to the masses, and are now obsolete.

To be completely honest, after The Golden Age of Grotesque, Manson looked like he was on his way to reinvention, and for about 10 years that reinvention seemed great. Too bad peer pressure, or whatever that is, chased away that new spirit – I hope all those oldies reminiscing their 1996 Manson are happy. I am only meh.

Review: Angels & Airwaves – The Dream Walker

Posted on 23 decembrie 2014 by breathemein

I can’t believe that, until now, I haven’t got the chance to review the newest Angels and Airwaves album, The Dream Walker. Their latest effort since 2011’s Love Part II is, maybe, their best so far. I’m not quite sure if this affirmation will stand in a few years or even a few months, but until now I’ve come to terms with it.

This 5^th album came with a lineup change, especially with Mr. Ilan Rubin taking over drums and keyboards. Rubin, formerly of Lostprophets and Nine Inch Nails, brought a heavier sound, that gives depth to DeLonge’s aerial vocals in such a manner, it only makes you wonder why the f*ck they waited so long for this collaboration to start.

The new lineup gives a little more organic darkness to the sound, and lyrically speaking, DeLonge’s has kept the same balance as before, albeit a little simpler and poppier. The Dream Walker marks a little more experimentation for the Blink 182 frontman, coupled with electronic sounds bound to keep you playing the album on repeat. I think the best quality of the album is its fresh feeling once you forget about it and you stumble upon it by accident.

Teenagers & Rituals opens up The Dream Walker, leaving you no chance but to speed up with the sound that takes you faster and faster. It’s the kind of song that won’t take no for an answer, it’s raw and young and stupid, just like we were, and while the lyrics aren’t the greatest thing cooked up by Tom, they fit perfectly with the youthful sound of the song. (8.5/10)

Paralyzed was one of the singles that preceded the album, and through the bass line, you get carried away in a split second. This song has such a sense of urgency; it’s quite unbelievable I hated it when I first listened to it. Paralyzed is one of those rare songs that grow on you, even if you hate it at first. It’s demanding, and it has determination, anger and angst – a perfect anthem for Mr. DeLonge. (9/10)

The Wolfpack stands out from all the Angels & Airwaves songs I have ever listened. It has such a buildup, it’s electrifying, to say the least. It’s a perfect song to be played out in the open, and I can’t wait to see the band live, just because of this one song. It can’t hurt that the video is one of the most pop attempts I have ever witnessed from DeLonge, and the lyrics will appeal to both teenagers and adults. (10/10)

Tunnels comes to argue with everything that The Wolfpack was. As far as I know it, the song was inspired by the death of Tom’s father, and maybe because of that I have the feeling that this track is the most personal thing he created with AVA. Tunnels is filled with emotion, sad reality and hope at the same time, and the overall composition – musically and lyrically speaking, seems so mature for Tom. I have to applaud this effort. (10/10)

Have you ever missed Depeche Mode in their glory days? Look no further, then! The same gravity Martin got us used to is employed in Kiss With a Spell. Until I listened to this song, I could’ve sworn my all time favorite track off the album was The Wolfpack, but Kiss With a Spell has such depth and the electronic touch can’t hurt the meaning of the song, so I’ll have it forever on my playlist. (11/10)

Mercenaries is one wicked track. I can’t remember its name, nor I can distinguish its beginning, but around the first and a half minute I start recognizing what I like about it. It’s a weird composition, I never know if I fully love it, or if I hate it with all my power, but one thing I know for sure – I wouldn’t recommend missing it. (8/10)

Bullets in the Wind will come off as a surprise, especially for Interpol or The Editors fans. Ilan Rubin goes wild with the drums, engaging in a wicked rhythm filled with awesomeness – but of course! This song is one of their best and the proof (if you really needed that) that this combo works on many levels. (10/10)

The Disease seems a bit uneven, or maybe uneventful, even though it plays on the dark side of the album, with a little more emphasis on the analysis, and a little more focus on the choice of words. However, even if it’s a great song technically speaking, it doesn’t have the spark. (8/10)

Tremors has the same anthem-y sound I was expecting from the band, and for me it screams “hope and happiness are at your feet”, how can I not love it?! (10/10)

Anomaly, just like its title, is an anomaly. For me, it kinda sounds like Boxing Day, from Blink 182’s 2012 EP, Dogs Eating Dogs. It’s a mellow track, with sad accents, almost emo-ish, but at the same time you can sense a bit of hope at the end of the song. (8/10)

Overall, the album is better than I expected. Thematically, it shows that the band has grown (if you really doubted that until now), musically, DeLonge has allowed himself to explore a little more and it has taken Angels & Airwaves outside their comfort zone, and God! How good they sound outside it!

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Review – Cum se duce totul dracu’

Posted on 15 decembrie 2014 by breathemein

Cum se duce totul dracu’ este, in teorie, cel putin, o comedie. Incepe ca o comedie, in care razi si razi si razi, si starea de facto a natiunii pare sa fie un ranjet larg, intins de la ureche la ureche, si se sfarseste, cel putin pentru mine, in lacrimi sincere. Cel mai neasteptat lucru la acest spectacol a fost tranzitia exceptionala, emotionanta, naturala, de la amuzament la realism dureros si dur.

Povestea din Cum se duce totul dracu’ e una simpla rau de tot, fix ca-n viata (cum altfel?). Un el, o ea, un razboi etern al principiilor si nervilor, al dreptatii puerile si al logicii si ratiunii. Daca vreodata credeti ca aveti sorti de izbanda in dragoste, think again. Bazat pe un text contemporan scris de Mihai Ignat, spectacolul face uz de creativitatea celor doi actori, Loredana Cosovanu si Florin Fratila, care au creat Cum se duce totul dracu’ integral si l-au pus in scena asa cum am avut ocazia sa-l simt pe 10 decembrie.

Cum se duce totul dracu’ are noroc de o distributie exceptionala – doi oameni care par sa se inteleaga din priviri, cu o chimie incredibila intre ei, dar si intre ei si public, doi oameni care au muncit extrem de mult pentru a prezenta un rezultat incredibil de bun unui public receptiv si empatic. Sau poate asa s-a vazut spectacolul din primul rand, de acolo de unde ai acces la trairile actorilor, dar si la trairile oamenilor care au facut din Cum se duce totul dracu’ un spectacol sold out, asa cum ar fi fost normal.

Daca Loredana Cosoveanu a stiut sa imbine gratia, frenezia si irationalitatea feminina, Florin Fratila a reusit sa mixeze simplitatea, confuzia, bunatatea si exasperarea masculina. Cei doi actori au adus pe scena o relatie cat se poate de reala, cat se poate de plina de defecte, cu sperante, vise si frustrari, cu fericire si ura, cu momente stupide si absurde. Realitatea acestei relatii inchipuite m-a miscat si m-a impresionat, si cred ca si daca n-ati suferit vreodata din iubire, tot veti rezona alaturi de actorii de pe scena.

Cum se duce totul dracu’ e un spectacol pe care il recomand din suflet, alaturi de o buna doza de rationament. Puteti sa va uitati linistiti zambetele acasa, veti avea destule motive sa zambiti In Culise.

Review: 2CELLOS – On The Road

Posted on 9 decembrie 2014 by breathemein

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A long, long time ago, I was a Gleek, and this is how I stumbled upon 2CELLOS. At that particular moment I thought “man, these guys are awesome” and me, being the lifelong fan of everything about that bass (no treble!), was instantly hooked. This happened somewhere in January 2012, when Glee had that Michael Jackson special episode, and until now I almost gave up hope of seeing them soon.

Except only the fate had something else in stores for me, and that something else was a 2CELLOS concert in December 2014, after almost 3 years of constant listening and 2 albums released under the moniker.

Last night’s concert was rushed, and intense, young, and free, and old at the same time. Everything was filled with soul, and peace, and sadness, and completeness, and my heart was once again filled with music. And since I love music, beyond words and definitions and concepts, I’ll let the beautiful duo speak for itself.

As usual, Luka and Stjepan started with Benedictus. Maybe for some of you this might seem like an odd choice, but this song does the greatest thing ever: it builds up on emotion and raw cello, chasing away introspection while inviting curiosity in. This song will forever be one of my favorites.

I was never a big U2 fan, nor was I a Sting fan, but the covers for Where the Streets Have No Name and Shape of My Heart, respectively, are so hauntingly beautiful on their own, they deserve to be at least mentioned. Where the Streets Have No Name brings on an intense peace, while Shape of My Heart seems even darker and sadder than I used to know.

The Resistance is a great song on its own, but given the cello combination, it receives a little more depth and introspection and power, all the while keeping the same alert rhythm that Muse introduced us to.

I must admit I am not one of the biggest fan of The Magnetic Fields (I only started listening to them a few years ago), but The Book of Love has been long covered by other artists and it’s a well known piece. However, these boys manage to shape it into beautiful poetry, savage and free, and it’s such a pity that we missed this… And it’s such a pity we got to listen to Viva la Vida instead, which is a great song on its own, but I prefer The Book of Love better. Also, Californication was heard, but I was never a fan of this particular piece, and it fell kinda short next to the other songs.

Another U2 cover, this time With or Without You, the one that always screams “WE WERE ON A BREAK”, the one that always spells true love and the most beautiful U2 song I have ever heard.

The Michael Jackson duo – Human Nature & Smooth Criminal raised us all from our seats, and thank god for Welcome to the Jungle, Thunderstruck, Voodoo People, Smells Like Teen Spirit, You Shook Me All Night Long, Highway to Hell and (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction kept us all standing, dancing and clapping, because these guys know what they’re supposed to do, and they do it so god damn well.

For the encore, Luka and Stjepan got back on stage to unleash the monsters within us, with Back in Black (well, who’s a little AC/DC fan, huh?!) and finish with Fields of Gold, one of the best songs Sting has ever created.

A few comments on the side: I wish I’d see them recreating some Marilyn Manson (circa Mr. Tom Skold) or some good old fashioned KMFDM. Peter Gabriel, at the end of the concert, especially Don’t Give Up? Not bad at all. Somebody yelled several times Mombasa, but no one cared. Stjepan is the joker of them two, but Luka is the hard working guy I always imagined he was.

My final conclusion? Money well spent. But I still feel that something’s amiss – this year I haven’t seen yet the concert to end all concerts, except for Mr. Peter Gabriel. He’s always amazing.

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Review – Ghengbeng

Posted on 7 decembrie 2014 by breathemein

Dupa experienta unica pe care am avut-o cu Scrisori catre Rita – The Show, urmatoarea intalnire pe care am avut-o cu cei de la teatrul In Culise a fost la Ghengbeng. In teorie, o comedie efervescenta, marketata drept 16+, in realitate, o comedie spumoasa, care m-a tinut in priza toata seara.

Incerc, pe cat posibil, sa evit comparatiile intre cele doua piese, mai ales ca nu au actori comuni, si Ghengbeng e o productie comuna a celor cinci actori de pe afis (Alexandru Minculescu, Maria Popovici, Paul Alexandru, Cristiana Ionita, Ionut Iftimiciuc), ajutati la scenografie de Iulia Popescu si pe partea de tehnic de Bogdan Ionescu. In rest, introspectiile sunt lasate deoparte, si primeaza emotia pura, nealterata, care, odata mutata de pe scena in public, se transforma in hohote de ras cat se poate de sincer.

Ghengbeng are o structura usor deosebita pentru o piesa de teatru, fiind mai degraba mai multe piese de teatru mici, scenete, as zice eu (dar nu sunt o autoritate in domeniu), care culeg si expun situatii care mai de care mai banale, transformate in umor si lectii de viata.

Mi-a placut foarte mult energia si capacitatea de „cameleonizare”, ca sa spun poetic, de care a dat dovada Maria Popovici, in special in momentul cu „doamna Picasso”, iar Cristiana Ionita a reusit sa fie, rand pe rand, ingenua, prostuta si posibila victima, cu la fel de mult farmec ca si prima oara.

Paul Alexandru s-a achitat onorabil de intermezzo-uri savuroase, si trebuie sa va spun ca e musai sa auziti varianta lui la piesa Un actor grabit, precum si fascinantul moment cu Scoateti-o la timp. In caz ca va intrebati, da, despre asta este vorba. Coitus interruptus pe romaneste si foarte plastic.

Ionut Iftimiciuc mi-a dat impresia unui titirez neobosit, pe cand Alexandru Minculescu a reusit sa se faca parte integranta din toate scenetele in care a avut ceva de spus.

Pana la urma, Ghengbeng a fost un moment amuzant construit de niste oameni care au ales sa expuna in fata publicului consecintele si alegerile naturale in cazul unor situatii destul de comune, si sa extraga de acolo fix elementul lipsa dintre confort si acceptare. Daca la Scrisori pentru Rita ar trebui sa va inarmati cu multa deschidere, la Ghengbeng e destul sa fiti prezenti. Va veti regasi macar intr-una din situatiile expuse, si universalitatea subiectelor din piesa nu va va lasa indiferenti nici macar o clipa.