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New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter (2) in the dugout in the 8th inning at the New York Yankees vs the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY 7/12/13 (William Perlman-The Star-Ledger)
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The 2012 Great Demo Review
Our annual critique of local music submissions
Let's be honest: Bad reviews can be fun. Writers love writing 'em, many readers love reading 'em and some musicians even love getting 'em.
Every year, CityBeat puts out a call for local music, and our team of music nerds reviews every CD, LP, DVD, digital download and cassette tape that comes in. Not all of what we get is good. In fact, some of it is awful. And while plenty of readers get a kick out of our brutally honest appraisals, we've also been dismissed as bullies, egomaniacs and (at least in the case of Seth Combs) assholes.
We don't put together the Great Demo Review to pick on the music scene. We want to discover new sounds, highlight great artists and clue you in to music that might've otherwise been over looked. For all the stinkers we got this year, there were also plenty of gems—and we deemed our 10 favorites "EXTRASPECIALGOOD."
Still, this issue isn't just about saying what's good and what's bad and leaving it at that. Especially in the age of social media, criticism goes more ways than one. If these reviews spark conversations and debates about the music that's being made in our city, that means we're doing our job.
Whether you love our reviews, hate them or love to hate them, come tell us all about it at our Local Music Issue party at The Casbah on Thursday, March 8.
2 Bit Radio
Cross "Jizz in My Pants" with The Faint, and you'll end up with something like 2 Bit Radio. As hilarious as that sounds, though, I have a sinking feeling that these guys are being totally serious when they sing groaners like "Move that ass, grab that ass" and "It's dirty time, mama" over their two-bit electro grooves. They might think they're players, but, in reality, they're about as sexy as a liquor-soaked Gaslamp creeper who won't stop groping ladies on the dance floor.
—Peter Holslin
321 Stereo
321 Stereo look like they were genetically engineered in an Axe Body Spray lab to suck ass and play Six Flags theme parks, and their music is just as bad. The band's own description of their music is apt: "Part 80s dance. Part Electro Pop. Part Alt Rock. All Party." Yeah, the party where you used the toilet seat as a pillow while your BF got rufied and raped.
—Seth Combs
When the name 7hundercun7 is the best thing about your band, it's time to start a different band. The drone-folk group's interminable two-song EP is a soul-crushing car wreck of Pro Tools wankery, but that's probably the intention. Or maybe assuming it's all a joke is just wishful thinking—the only thing more disturbing than 7hundercun7's cacophonous claptrap is the possibility that they're actually being sincere.
—Chris Maroulakos
9th Street Shakedown
These guys are decent musicians, but I'm not convinced they're anything more than a Rolling Stones cover band that hasn't become self-aware yet. I would love it if they played at my block party, but I don't know that my interest would last much longer after that.
—Sammi Skolmoski
Adams and Eves
This collection isn't so much a finished product as a dreamy patchwork quilt of ideas and sounds. Still, the impressions contained within do well to convey that fans of 2011's Dear Professor can expect more soft, sweet, accordion-and-glockenspiel-frosted indie quirkiness on this band's sophomore effort. The inspired seven-minute Modest Mouse-meets-Ennio Morricone opener was an extra-special treat.
—Sasha Orman
Photo by Angie Ollman
Beat-driven pop duo Bruin tagged this new EP with the term "chillwave" on Bandcamp, but there's nothing on this two-song EP that indicates anything about Instagram filters or melancholy, half-remembered trips to the beach in the 80s. Their music is definitely chill, but their soulful samples, fat beats and stoned, hazy vocals evoke summer barbecues and lazy afternoons. At their core, "Brad Shitt" and "Oh My Hoodness" are great, sample-based pop tunes with equal parts humor and warm, crackly melodies. Dominic Fawcett is charmingly blunt on the title track, dropping verses like "We can laugh and fuck / and with a little luck / more of the latter." And despite its silly title, "Oh My Hoodness" is sublimely hypnotic, looping a brief strings phrase into a mesmerizing one-note hook. The band is reportedly releasing a full-length album later this year, and there's bound to be more laid-back good times where this came from.
—Jeff Terich
This Latin-flavored, reggae-tinged, Gipsy Kings-style world-beat combo isn't half bad, but its two singers might want to work on their cheesy clichés and bumbling rhyme schemes. Take this line from "Break of Day": "Although there will be obstacles and roadblocks in your way / I'm sure you'll find your way." Rhyming "way" with "way"? Come on, you can do better than that! Still, they overcome their flaws with an endless stream of deeply funky Afro-Cuban percussion grooves.
—Peter Holslin
Synth strings, tribal drums, tubular bells and twinkling synths start and stop without rhythm or warning, like staircases and doorways ultimately leading nowhere. This disc is the Winchester Mystery House of ambient sounds. But while the house can be fun, this music is simply baffling.
—Sasha Orman
Amateur Pool Party
OK, they got me. I fell for the live crowd noise they laid over the tracks. But after listening to nine ear-puncturing songs, I'm convinced this band has never played to a crowd larger than however many people you can fit in a garage / practice space / meth lab.
—Jim Ruland
Apoc & Brendan B
Bringing back the playful edge of early hip-hop, The Planet EP is a hoot from beginning to end. While "The Life" expounds upon the days and nights of the MC lifestyle, the true gem here is the completely silly "100 Bars," which name drops 100 different bars nationwide—quite a few of which happen to be local haunts. Lyrics like "Then I head to Open Bar, beware of the open sore" are proof that actual on-site research was conducted in the making of this song.
—Dryw Keltz
April Ventura & The Magnolias
—Aaron Carnes
Day-Go Produce
You'd be hard-pressed to find a local rap group more down-to-earth than Day-Go Produce. As they make clear on Bottom Feeders, J Treel, Tramlife and Rolando are just humble up-and-comers who enjoy the simple things in life—rocking Chuck Taylors with fat laces ("Smokin' evergreen / Chucks hit the scene / complement the whole team"), going to the beach ("You can catch me in the swells") and smoking tons of weed ("Don't trust the marijuana if it came from Tijuana"). They acknowledge that they're low on the hip-hop totem pole—indeed, they're the "bottom feeders" of the mixtape's title. But they've got solid beats, refreshing flows and a disarming honesty, all of which should serve them well as they climb their way up.
—Peter Holslin
Ass Clowns
—Jim Ruland
This earnest, five-song rock offering reminds me a lot of early Three Mile Pilot. Plus, the drummer's moustache is full-on Magnum P.I. I can see this evolving in a lot of different ways—almost all of them good.
—Scott McDonald
Barbarian's double shot of echo-y, perfectly under-produced, harmony-driven rock 'n' roll makes me want to keep listening. Let's hope it isn't just beginner's luck.
—Scott McDonald
Beat Panther
Sharp production and fat-ass beats keep the party rockin' on nine of the 10 songs here. And it's hard to fault Justin Palicki and JFeather for closing with a minimalist cover of Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight," even if they don't sock it to us after that infamous drum roll. More than 60 percent of the time, it works every time.
—Scott McDonald
Beta Lion
I believe in Beta Lion because the last track on this three-song sampler is the best song that Phoenix never wrote. "Love Aside" is that perfect blend of pop, dance and alternative that makes the pretty girls swoon and gives everyone a good excuse to hit the dance floor. The other two songs on here are decent indie-rock fare, but "Love Aside" is the hit.
—Dryw Keltz
Big Shot Reub and the Reloaders
In the dullest wankfest I've ever heard, guitarist Reuben Vigil and his two bandmates try their hands at swinging jazz, moody blues and good ol'-fashioned rock and end up sucking at all of it. After multiple dreary listens, the only thing that sticks with me is Vigil's goofy Muppet voice.
This isn't the first metal / punk band to imitate Danzig and sing about zombies, and it won't be the last. But these guys could likely get some dudes head-banging if they played at The Ruby Room or Eleven, and that's what matters.
I'm not sure if any members of Queensryche or Metal Church died right around the time the dudes in this trio were born, but if they did, any questions about the existence of reincarnation have been answered. Metal from the heyday of metal, if you're into that kind of thing. email@example.com
—Scott McDonald
Box Shift
I'm a sucker for electro-pop, and Box Shift's solid, infectious bed of synths and light, danceable beats comes just the way I like it. Yet, the songwriting and the melodies just don't do it for me. A good electro-pop song should beg you to sing along, but these songs are all basically forgettable. I do have to give them props for the super-reverb-y mix on the keys and guitars, though.
—Aaron Carnes
Broken Dreams x
Not sure how I feel about this video-as-demo thing. Kind of arty? Kind of douchey? A little of both? But if a band can put a CD in a record sleeve and call it a demo, why can't Bruisecaster shoot a rehearsal and call it a movie? But it's more than that: Directed by Shoko Hachiya, it's a live show and a whole bunch of other stuff, too. Twelve minutes in, there's a closeup of someone's ear hole, and I kept looking at it until it didn't look like an ear hole anymore. That's Bruisecaster.
—Jim Ruland
Davit Buck
Some albums make you want to claw your ears out with rusty steel implements. Davit Buck's demo skips right to the aural abuse with four tracks of circuit-bending, sample-fracturing, bass-slapping violence. Noise music, being noise, is hard to judge in terms of good and bad, but as near as I can tell, Buck nails it. My only beef is that if he's going to write a song called "Ghandi Took a Shit on Peace," he might have bothered to spell Gandhi's name correctly.
David Bullard
Singer-songwriter Bullard gives some songs on this 17-track album a folksier turn with James Tayloresque vocals. On others, he lets his guitar do the talking with intricate, Spanish-style flourishes. Both would serve perfectly well as the soundtrack to an upscale candlelit dinner, making the "Valentine's Songs!" note scrawled on the CD sleeve a rather apt self-assessment.
—Sasha Orman
Jennie Buss
Half of this album sounds like something that would be overheard in the parking lot at Lilith Fair, and the other half sounds like you're stuck in a coffeehouse during an awkwardly empty spoken-word open-mic night. "Gift of Madness" has a sort of Pixies vibe that I really wanted to like, but the vocals sound forced, and it just never comes together. I think you will find your sound, Jennie Buss, and then you will nail it. But for now, it's not quite working.
Plenty of movies explore the idea of robots trying to act like humans. Cabuloan had better have dibs on scoring the next one, because this thing sounds like it was generated by machines doing their best to emulate how humans make music. This is hardly a bad thing, as Cabuloan's instrumental-heavy experiments are a surreal, ballsy and many-hued affair, with math-rock riffs moving like pinballs and synth-like sounds going mad. Actually, scratch the robots thing— this defiant mess would be great for a Frankenstein remake.
—Reyan Ali
The Mashtis have always drawn comparisons to Sonic Youth and Pixies, but the songs on this EP— which turns out to be their last record, as the band has split up—reveal a decidedly more modern sound than what they've given us in the past. In the opening measures of the first track, "Amen," the driving guitar alongside the scrappy shouts of "hey, hey" bear a strong resemblance to the play-fighting revelry of Imperial Teen or The New pornographers. And the solid guy / girl vocals and consummately balanced, garage-y instrumentation has only gotten sturdier and more confident. That's not to say this band has ever sounded weak. They've just made it abundantly clear this time around that The Mashtis is a name we should all remember.
—Justin Roberts
The dream of the 1990s is alive with Chaz, and it is awesome. Frantic, fuzzed-out guitars and sweetly awkward, Weezer-style harmonies frame clever lyrics that follow the highs and lows of a slacker lifestyle—from drinking with your shift manager to the struggles of getting out of bed with bills to pay. Throw The Adventures of Pete & Pete in the VCR on mute, pour yourself a bowl of cereal, play this extra loud and pretend that 120 Minutes never left.
—Sasha Orman
Cloud Ceiling
When I first saw the name Cloud Ceiling, I thought I was in for another somber singer-songwriter acoustic outing. I was correct. Very stripped down, very sad. If your favorite Big Star album is Sister Lovers and you worship at the altar of Nick Drake, this is right up your alley.
Layers of fractured, shimmering guitars, math-y drums and soft vocals wash over each other in waves, evoking very early Cursive or Explosions in the Sky. The disparate elements never fight each other for attention, even at their most angular. Instead, they build into intense, finely crafted post-rock crescendos.
—Sasha Orman
Courtyard Roots
I gotta hand it to Courtyard Roots: After getting a bad review in last year's Great Demo Review, the rap-reggae-rock jam band was game enough for another round. Unfortunately, these tracks aren't much of an improvement on last year's submission. The heavy-metal guitars have nowhere to go, the grooves don't lock together and their MC still can't rap for shit (although, to his credit, he has improved slightly). Maybe next year, guys.
—Peter Holslin
Couch Lock
"Meandering" doesn't always have to mean "aimless," but in the hands of Couch Look, the idea of taking your sweet time to get things done drifts between good and bad. Over the course of the instrumental record's run time (60-some minutes, which is way too long), the group shifts from genial, mundane psych-jam rock to something with the bleary-eyed gravitas of Explosions in the Sky-style post-rock. They benefit when they ditch campy wobble-funk to explore weighty highs and lows.
The Cutaways
The retro-tinged pop is OK, but those vocals badly need work. Get voice lessons or use Auto- Tune, but, please, for the love of God, don't torture us any longer with your wavering melodies and train-wreck harmonies.
—Peter Holslin
The Cypress Project
Stop saying that your music is "as experimental as your name implies." First of all, "The Cypress Project" does not imply anything interesting and would be better suited for an environmental-activist group. Secondly, and more importantly, the only experiment going on here is how trite lyrics can be. There's nothing about derivative, rich-white-kid blues that pushes boundaries. To the girl in the band: Listen to Patti Smith. She will teach you how to use that impressive vibrato of yours in a worthwhile way.
—Sammi Skolmoski
Dada in Denial
Toss a dream catcher, a copy of The Steampunk Bible and the complete Incubus discography into a vat of LSD, and this is what you get— dreary, low-rent, highly bizarre alt-rock that would work great as the soundtrack to a community theater production of Labyrinth.
Josh Damigo
Two-time San Diego Music Award winner Josh Damigo should be a familiar name to readers. After having spent some time in the Los Angeles wilderness, the singer-songwriter decided to air his grievances in a song titled "L.A. Is Not My Home," in which he oozes his VH1-style alt-country earnestness from every orifice. Damigo has learned a few of the right lessons from the Ryan Adams playbook, but when he sings about girls, the results can be embarrassing. There's cheese a-plenty, but if it gets Damigo laid, more power to him.
Jeff Terich
Danny and the Tramp
Danny and the Tramp is a pop-punk band that leans more toward pop. Though the band's sound isn't extremely original, it's enjoyable if you're a fan of blink-182 or Newfound Glory. Harking back to the late-'90s and early-'00s, the album is semi-monotonous yet oddly appealing to the middle-schooler inside us all.
Day-Go Produce
A demo in the real sense of the word in that the production is a little rough, this six-track EP is still a rewarding mix of R&B and hip-hop. The flows are kinda weak and the lyrics clichéd, but there's definitely room for improvement.
—Seth Combs
Dead Animal Mod
Rife with distortion and featuring a damn talented lead guitar, Dead Animal Mod remind me of a band you'd see playing in the basement at the 4th & Ivy house in Bankers Hill. Remember those days? The shows were always loud as fuck, and somehow the neighbors would never complain. And as long as you were able to wade your way through the empty cans of PBR and avoid getting vomited on by the barely, and the not-so, legals in the audience, you'd usually end up having a fun time. That is, of course, until morning arrived.
—Justin Roberts
Deno Marquee
If being wild and free means listening to a cornball, reggae-thieving singer-songwriter obsess over some girl, then I'd rather have solitary for life.
—Peter Holslin
Dinosaur Ghost
"Playing with its Food" and "Ballad of the Sea Bison" are two instantly forgettable surf-rock ditties, but they're followed by two amusing, much more digable tracks—a cover of Salt-N-Pepa's "Push It" and "Kilda Bird," a psych-rock jam with Dr. Seussian lyrics.
—Peter Holslin
The Distinguishing Marks
Magic Fire Music
Oh, no. No, no, no. The voice of what sounds like a whispering pedophile over fuzzy synth gibberish.
This is what garage-rock is all about: The singer isn't always on pitch, and the guitarist and drummer are a bit sloppy, but they still manage to deliver a refreshing pop hook that has me listening to this track more than once. Follow your dreams and you will go far, dudes.—Peter Holslin
An electro-pop overload of carnival-esque synths, cracking beats and overlapping samples, "C.O.S.M.I.C." is like candy-flipping on a Gravitron. You might need a barf bag, but you'll still have a blast.
—Peter Holslin
East of Sweden
Two parts Foo Fighters, one part Green Day, a dash of The Strokes and a generous handful of Linkin Park is about what it took to cook up East of Sweden's demo. These guys obviously aren't aiming for a niche market; rather, their sound demonstrates a craving for front-and-center placement on a mainstream rock station. Luckily for them, they're actually pretty talented. As long as they avoid being pressured by publicists into getting flat-ironed hair, spray tans and $400 jeans, they might just make a name for themselves.
—Justin Roberts
Jesse Daniel Edwards
With his heartfelt lyrics and powerful voice, Jesse Daniel Edwards' songs are mellow yet emotionally provocative. I couldn't help but picture scenes from films about love and heartbreak while listening to standout tracks like "You Get What You Give." Definitely worth downloading when the full-length album is released in March.
—Kaitlin Perry
Emerald City
Let's just put aside the fact that there's a song on this three-song cycle of shit called "Ride the Snake" and that the song isn't some kind of epic Tenacious D homage. Having done that, the only positive thing I can say about Emerald City is that the singer sounds hot. That's it. Really.
—Seth Combs
The world-famous Los Angeles "beat scene" might boast an army of enviable talent, but San Diego has some amazing beat-makers of its own, and one of them is Mystery Cave. On this limited-edition cassette tape, mastermind John Christopher Harris II warps his samples beyond recognition to conjure a sound world with surprises at every turn. There are melodious synths and glimmering drone tones, orchestras playing in reverse and beats assembled out of clicks, pops and sucking sounds. Even the tape itself serves as a kind of instrument, embracing the music in a bosom of warm fuzz. Of course, Red Tide can be a challenging listen—it's pretty weird stuff, and good luck finding a way to actually play it (tape decks aren't exactly common). But if you accept it on its own terms, this wonderful little tape will reveal more of itself with each listen.
—Peter Holslin
Extinct Animals
There's a lot less death-screaming than I'd expect from an album that comes with a pullout sheet connecting rivers and waste to violence and hate. But vocals aside, this is straight political hardcore, with all of the intricate guitars, preachy slogans (sample song titles: "World Crisis," "Peace Bomb") and DIY production qualities you know and love.
—Sasha Orman
Ezekiel Jay
This is a somewhat prefab country, blues, roots-rock hybrid. There's even a dash of Hootie & The Blowfish in there. (Even a dash of Hootie is too much!) It's well-produced, and the players sound professional: It's exactly the kind of demo I imagine major labels got a lot of in the '90s before promptly tossing them in the trash.
—Aaron Carnes
The FABulous Rudies
Annoying pop-rock-ska-punk that's stuck in the late '90s. If you took the awesome opening five seconds of "Keep on Movin'" and looped it for five minutes, you'd get a pretty rockin' song. The rest, however, is garbage.
—Peter Holslin
Far From Ya Average
Featuring an array of unknown MCs, this hip-hop debut has just about everything—a seductive slow-jam ("Feeling You"), a politically conscious morality tune ("Dark Alley"), chest-thumping brag-raps ("Third Degree," "Stuck Up Playa")—even a cheesy ode to the city ("The Sound of San Diego"). Not every track is a winner, and some of these MCs desperately need some personality, but the imaginative beats help make up for the flaws.
—Peter Holslin
Faux Plato's
Let's put aside the punctuation-challenged name and the fact that the band describes itself as "ambassadors of cognitive introspection." They sound like a space-age Pavement minus the talent, or maybe Slightly Stoopid-ish jamming, only 1,000 times stoopider. Please don't make me listen to these five songs again.
—Seth Combs
Joe Flatt
Joe Flatt sounds like every other singer-songwriter that regularly plays the Gaslamp bar circuit at any given time. Serviceable guitar work but slightly tone-deaf vocals and an emo aesthetic make it easy to understand why he doesn't have a backing band.
—T. Loper
Gasoline Addicts
I can practically smell the stench of engine fuel while listening to this greasy slab of high-octane rock 'n' roll. But, guys, where's the roaring guitar solos? Where's the sweet-ass production quality? Where are the fiery collisions, screamed vocals and smashed instruments? The longer this 48-minute set drags on, the more this hot-rod looks like a jalopy.
—Peter Holslin
A fairly solid dose of indie hip-hop with some tight beats, decent lyrics and interesting sampling choices. There's just nothing particularly groundbreaking on it, and the attempts at conscious-rap and heartfelt love jams are sooooo 1997.
—Seth Combs
Get Off the Map
—Aaron Carnes
Ghetto Blaster
Some boss bass lines, but I'm not a fan of the wordy, carnival barker vocals. Feels like being lectured by Willy Wonka.
—Jim Ruland
Glorious Bridge
Any parents who make an album with their kids are cool in my book. Six-year-old Rory and 2-year-old Kailen aren't exactly rock stars, but it sure is adorable when they recite the alphabet and yell stuff like "It's breakfast time!" over what I can only assume are mom and dad's guitar and sample accompaniment. (And naturally, this album deserves bonus points for "Drunken Friend," a song based around a line written by CityBeat columnist Aaryn Belfer.) Kidz Bop, eat your heart out.
Gone Baby Gone
—Aaron Carnes
Thomas Graff
Ugh! Your press kit is all that's wrong with music and humanity. From the first page (in a non-ironic way): "Twenty-five years of pure talent, six feet of eye-candy, a well traveled mind, and a heart of gold." When is all this phony, pseudo-sensitive singer-songwriter garbage going to be taken out to the Dumpster? I'd rather listen to Chris Gaines, because at least he admitted to being phony. Sure, Thomas, you've got a nice voice. Go on American Idol; you're the perfect type. Nothing but buzz words, trite metaphors and a fedora.
—Sammi Skolmoski
Grind and Bare It
So close to being an "EXTRASPECIALGOOD," this two-track demo is creepy as all hell, but I just can't turn away. "More Possibilities" pulls me in with gloomy electronics and an intricate hip-hop beat, but it's the cryptic vocal samples and twisted vibes of "To Paradise" that leave me breathless and clawing for air—you know, in a good way.
—Peter Holslin
Keith Greenwood
Even if some cataclysmic event manages to wipe out the majority of Earth's population, there will still be two living things left: cockroaches and Steve Vai-worshipping dudes who want to plague us with their awful, seven-minute instrumental guitar rock songs. Wow, man, you can move your fingers really fast and look affected while you do it. I feel badly for the cockroaches.
—Seth Combs
H-eyer Level Poets (H.E.L.P.)
It's all middle-of-the-road. The rappers are decent, but they're not interesting writers (a guest rapper, Tory-T from The Concrete Project, actually has the album's best verse). The beats are serviceable but lean toward being over-produced. Some ideas are obvious (the weed song is reggae-tinged? That's crazy!). Some just aren't executed well ("Hypnotic"). Their worst idea, though, is the album's underlying concept: that they are space-y weirdos with "alien" flows. The concept amounts to little more than some extra electronic sounds and a few references to stuff you'd see at Comic-Con. They should hear weirder music.
—Quan Vu
In the vein of Brian Jonestown Massacre, Hail Hail successfully navigate the geography between the drone-y sludge of psychedelic rock and the off-kilter jangle of garage folk. A band to watch if they can put together a dynamic live show.
—Scott McDonald
Hargo Khalsa's story makes him marketable as a musical novelty (he's a big-bearded American Sikh who had a song in the John Lennon doc Strawberry Fields), but his music is schmaltzy pop-by-numbers fare that would only appeal to weekend environmentalists and chick-flick aficionados.
—Seth Combs
The MCs on this street-rap mixtape have lots of character. "So Sick Of
," about scrounging up change for cigarette money, is as hilarious as it is funky. And I can't help but appreciate "'Til We Meet in Heaven," a heartfelt ode to a fallen momma replete with flowery acoustic guitar.
—Peter Holslin
The Heart Beat Trail
Back in 2010, we reviewed a demo by this band when they were known as Nautical Disaster. While the new name might not be much of an improvement, this demo absolutely is. Before, the group was producing tracks that could pass as Lucy's Fur Coat b-sides. But on Dusty Totems, they've nailed their unique groove. It's slow, dark and bluesy—the right jukebox selection for a desperate game of billiards with the devil. But the biggest improvement is in Berkeley Austin's hoarse and unpredictable vocals.
This EP is a late-'90s time warp. Each song so fully evokes a different artist from that era that the track listing should read like this: Stone Temple Pilots, Hootie & The Blowfish, Korn, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, System of a Down, Staind. So, 91X will probably play them.
—Sammi Skolmoski
Homeless Sexuals
Everything about Homeless Sexuals' Snake Nipples seems like a highly orchestrated effort to be as obnoxious as possible—from their name to the crude snake illustration on the album cover to song titles like "Anne Frank Sinatra" and "Walking Jesus Like a Dog." And yet, there's a surprisingly minimal amount of bullshit here— just some high-energy, Stooges-style rock 'n' roll sleaze featuring a singer who's a dead ringer for Nation of Ulysses' Ian Svenonius. Their ass-kicking tunes may not be work- or mother-appropriate, but they definitely rock.
—Jeff Terich
Hugh Gaskins & The G-String Daddies
—Aaron Carnes
The Hulkamaniacs
The five songs on this EP are annoyingly all over the place stylistically, but it seems like these guys have more going on than their ability to come up with clever song titles ("Ted Dancin'," "In the Cervix of the Queen"). It's rough, but there's some gold in the acoustic ditties that close out the EP. Now, about that name.
Just when I thought electronic music had become the enemy, Erleen Nada handed me a glittery treaty of irresistible pop gold. A sassy synth-master, Nada's avant-garde space tunes carry a sense of colossal power and urgency. Cooing dark and hilarious nonsense over warped, beautifully coarse synth jaunts, she seems to tell the listener, "Freak out, or perish." "Psychedelic Space Ship" is this demo's oddly addictive standout track, with a pulsing beat and twangy guitars that—when isolated from the vocals—sound like the best of Queen. Nada might have much more psychedelic tastes than the average electro-songstress (think Santigold or Peaches), but she also sounds much more authentic.
—Sammi Skolmoski
iD the Poet
THANATOS Using the plural "instrumentals" in the title leads you to expect some sort of Madlib-esque assortment of loose beats made for rapping over. Instead, this is a cohesive instrumental project that stands on its own, a meditation on death and dying (the demon "Thanatos" represents death in Greek mythology) that evolves from chaotic fury into peaceful acceptance. It's highly informed by the Low End Theory beat scene. The beats are angular, warped and eclectic, incorporating everything from the RZA and dubstep to reggae and blues piano.
—Quan Vu
iD the Poet & Dusty Nix
This type of hip-hop will probably go over well with the indie-rock crowd. While it's not exactly guitar-driven, guitars feature more prominently than usual along with other live instruments. There's also a stronger emphasis on melody. All hooks are sung and both rappers frequently use sing-song flows in their verses (Dusty Nix could be a voice twin for sing-songy rapper Pigeon John). The lyrics explore the same themes as iD's previous work, namely the industrialization of society. Think of an Office Space-meets-The Matrix, "we are more than cogs" spirit.
John Wayne Gacy Daycare
Daycare Hands down the most disturbing album art of the year—imagine a vomiting teddy bear bleeding from its anus. Like Stormtroopers of Death, only slower, weirder and meaner. In other words, not like S.O.D. at all.
—Jim Ruland
—Peter Holslin
Jonathan Karrant
Hmmm—10 straight-ahead vocal covers of artists ranging from The Beatles to Mose Allison. Karrant is pleasant enough and the arrangements are nice, but I worry about (even capable) jazz vocalists without any originals. Does anyone under 50 care?
—Scott McDonald
Surprisingly good for a group of KIDS., this Poway five-piece fronted by Nature Fejarang doesn't take itself too seriously on this album but manages to pull it off anyway. With their punk-meets- '60s-girl-groups-meets-hipster sound, KIDS. could benefit from a proper mix and a subtler drummer, but they have the right idea.
—T. Loper
The New Kinetics
The New Kinetics kick your teeth in for 44 minutes straight on Contact. This is unpretentious, straightforward rock 'n' roll, geared to get the crowd moving and the drinks flowing. But about halfway in, you'll be begging for a break from these grueling jams. You don't get one, which is both the best and worst thing about the album.
—Andrew Scoggins
OK, so they have a pretty badass name and even more badass song titles like "Gnarmegeddon" and "Tigerstriped Delorean." And while there's nothing wholly original on this demo that couldn't be heard on any Motorhead album, Kodiak's music still kicks a whole lot of ass. If they're not headlining Eleven soon, I'll be very surprised.
—Seth Combs
The first track, "Happy When I'm High," is the fluffy and dissonant standout on this five-song electro EP. A close second is "Sun Go Away," which calls to mind The xx. But after that, the set descends into the trendier trenches of computer-generated music, where synths are used for synths' sake and vocal effects rival those of T-Pain. I am so close to liking "Everyone Talks Too Much" but just can't commit. And, I have to say, "Living Dreams" sounds way too much like the song from that old Internet video "Aicha, Aicha," in which that acne-covered white kid sings and dances in his bedroom.
—Sammi Skolmoski
The Last Years
Simply put, The Last Years is loud and fun. This album gives you the urge to mosh, or just do some slight head-banging. It's probably most suitable for drinking beer at warm-weather barbecues and skateboarding.
—Kaitlin Perry
Latex Grenade
First of all, I need to describe Latex Grenade's logo: a severed hand holding the Earth in the shape of a water balloon. Yep. Anyway, the music is more straightforward: Pennywise-style punk melodies roughed-up with some thrash-metal riffs. Plus, there's a song called "Tits on a Stick." San Diego has produced about 5 million bands just like Latex Grenade. Here's another one.
—Jeff Terich
Oldest Boy & Girl's folk-pop is deceptively simple. On Get What You Give, brother-sister duo Jesse and Cristina Evans mostly strum acoustic guitars as they sing tales of love lost, love won and love unrequited. Every so often, though, they'll emphasize their desperation with a frantic guitar solo that seemingly comes out of nowhere. The warm, bluesy guitar and simple lyrics of "Nowhere Left to Go" shows how willing this duo is to leave everything behind for love: "I just want to be on the floor / and lay with you," Jesse sings. It all comes off as incredibly honest, especially considering that the duo got their start busking on the streets of Dublin for potatoes and cheap whiskey. After trekking around the globe, this humble band has finally settled in Carlsbad, and we're lucky to have them.
—Andrew Scoggins
James St. Laurent
Folk singer-songwriter James St. Laurent has a pretty bland voice, all of his songs sound the same and this hour-long video (featuring live performances by Laurent and some other unknowns) is about 45 minutes too long. Still, there's something endearing about his easygoing folk tunes—it's like he doesn't care if you think he's cool, which itself makes him kind of cool.
—Peter Holslin
Leigh Taylor's Watermark Tribe
Inspirational, Christianity-themed pop fusion usually makes my ears bleed, but this band's saving grace is frontman Leigh Taylor, who lends a dollop of much-needed grit with his raspy voice.
—Peter Holslin
Lillian Lefranc and the Proper Villains
—Aaron Carnes
The Lovebirds
With a name like The Lovebirds, I expected some middle-aged ex-hippies playing stale freedom-rock. Instead, they turned out to be a lesbian duo who sing dreamy love songs. With a guitar (and an occasional harmonica or keyboard) and lots of gorgeous vocals, the songs are all sugary-sweet and endearing, providing an almost surreal tranquility. Their lyrics would be corny ("I've got such a good love / That is why I have such a good life") if they didn't sound so sincere.
—Aaron Carnes
Undernourished pop-rock and kinda-sorta funk figure strongly in Lovesoul's four-song demo, a sampler of this duo's forthcoming EP. Donny Taylor makes an adequate if unimpressive lead vocalist while Rebeca Lopez's voice is energetic and bright but reduced to backup duty—the duo should really give switching roles a shot. They manage a few memorable hooks (the nimble, fun "Lot Like U" is a high point), but their uninventive rhyme schemes ("desire / fire") almost derail the whole thing. And it doesn't help that one track is dedicated to the hokey notions of "rocking" and "grooving."
—Reyan Ali
Cleveland native M-double-a-l throws a lot of curve balls at you on this hip-hop record—whether it's the unusual swinging beat ("STFU"), the weird vocal processor ("Prince Charming"), the big sporadic orchestral bursts ("Brink Truck"), the oddly placed high-energy backbeat ("Patience"), the overly distorted mix ("Jeans Off"), the surreal samples ("Revel8") or the abrasive electronics ("All Alone"). While M-double-a-l's lyrics and flow are fairly remedial, with a little work he could be on par with the experimental originality of the production.
—Aaron Carnes
M&M Blues
On 7even, M&M Blues mix blues, psych, garage and ambient rock into a bizarre sound. They begin with a lulling drone, transition into raucous jangly rock and then go all out with blazing, feedback-heavy riffs. In the second part of the three-part suite "I Am a Dog," they even incorporate a long spoken-word passage recited in what sounds like Indonesian. After too many scrambled-circuits riffs, 7even grows grating, but its early eruptions are thrilling.
—Reyan Ali
Mack N Biz
Straightforward, well-produced, rich-white-kid party music. There are moments of cleverness in this hip-hop collection, but the gratuitous rhymes about weed are all we seem to have in common, and the overarching theme of "I'm a kid and I just like to have fun!" quickly gets tiresome. This duo is like Pacific Beach, personified. So, if you like P.B., enjoy. If you like music with substance, look elsewhere.
—Sammi Skolmoski
Martian Horses
At their best, Martian Horses ride a cool wave of dreamy indie-pop, like a band on Barsuk Records. The secret weapon may be the his-and-her harmonies that have spelled success for any band from Fleetwood Mac to She & Him. As long as they keep the tempos up, the band stays entertaining. It's only when they hit the brakes too much that they begin to drift.
—Dryw Keltz
Matthew Walker Project
The impressive thing about the Matthew Walker Project is that two guys—Walker and his drummer / recording engineer, Alexander Dausch—are able to produce a contemporary blues album that sounds like they've got a full lineup. Other than that, though, this duo sounds like G. Love with slightly less special sauce or a second-class Citizen Cope.
—Dave Maass
The Mike Michaels Program
The first track on this three-song demo does a great job evoking a truly palpable mood—something like a dangerous, border-town bar a la From Dusk Til Dawn. And while the guitar work is strong throughout, the spotty lyrics on the next two songs can't evoke anything more than distraction.
—Scott McDonald
Misspent Warhead Premise
Simple, straightforward indiepop. These are the kind of songs that grow on you after a while. Hasn't happened for me yet.
—Jim Ruland
Mohammed Qiang
—Seth Combs
Paul Moeller
An admitted George Winston fan, Moeller is shooting to soothe the savage beast here. I'm sure these 12 instrumentals would make the new-age maestro proud. Grab the lavender candles and your little waterfall machine—let's get this party started.
Not every song on this EP gels with equal success—it's hard for indecipherable spoken words to make an impact on a track already thick with wailing funk guitars. But when everything comes together just right—opening track "LttleBter," in particular gets strength from a minimalist approach and Megan Carlson's guest vocals—the resulting dark, atmospheric beats invite repeat listens.
—Sasha Orman
The Mosaic Quartet
Rudy Palos
With such high-quality music, it's hard to believe Parker & The Numberman haven't released a full-length album yet. Maybe they want to develop a mystique by sporadically dropping music, just enough to entice you into seeking more. Maybe they're too busy exploring new styles and ideas to settle on any of them for long. Both reasons sound feasible given The Ridley Project, an EP that finds them teaming with Mr. Ridley of rap group Anti Citizens. They all experiment with a very 1988-era, Run-DMC sort of style. Ridley's spare beats rely heavily on bass and drums sprinkled with samples used in quirky ways. The two rappers banter back and forth about how fly they are. It's clear they're just joking—Parker probably didn't write a song with Heavy D, Diddy and Cupid (yes, the dude with the arrows)—but their inventiveness and playfulness have a way of building up their myth.
—Quan Vu
—Peter Holslin
Ricky Small and The Talls
—Dryw Keltz
—Aaron Carnes
Roxy Jones transport you back to a time when alternative music was truly alternative, not the slightly edgy pop that bands like Death Cab for Cutie and Vampire Weekend wallow in today. There is true weirdness all over this disc, intermingled with exploding guitar choruses, well-timed episodes of manic screaming and, of course, memorable hooks. Opener "Downtown Tokyo" sounds like it could have been a hit on 120 Minutes around the same time that "She Don't Use Jelly" broke through to the mainstream in the early '90s. The band's closest kin seems to be oddball alternative acts like The Flaming Lips, Tripping Daisy and The Butthole Surfers. Songs such as "Atom Bomb Singalong" will make you wonder whether a new album or a six-month stay at a mental institution are on the horizon. And that is certainly a good thing.
—Dryw Keltz
—Chris Maroulakos
Some Guy
Shiva Trash
Shiva Trash are catchy, contemporary and complicated. They do lots of time changes, and they're hard to pin down. "Bleach Bath" starts with a surf-rock platform and takes off from there. Did I say "takes off"? I meant rockets into the fucking stratosphere. "Gnarly Thirst" changes tempos so many times that it's like a medley of songs. It's got a bright, brisk beginning, throttles down in the middle and then goes full bore at the end. "Residual Backwash" is somehow both poppy and full of jangly reverb at the same time. It's an exotic, druggy clash of styles that culminates in a rock 'n' roll apotheosis of wasted nights and wasted days. The epic pop of Shiva Trash makes the majority of music being made today sound downright pedestrian. If there's a limit to where Shiva Trash can go, it's not evident here. More, please.
—Jim Ruland
—Scott McDonald
Sunrise at Duck Pond
I was kinda hoping that these guys sucked, as their name is perfect for a creative slam. No dice. The skilled quartet filters things like Talking Heads and The Walkmen through a tattered Calexico cheesecloth, turning the 11 tracks here into dusty and original gems. Hard to classify and solid throughout, "No Work Dancing" deftly blurs the line between trainhopping sing-a-longs and quirky accordion rock without ever coming off as pretentious or straining. Nicely varied yet cohesive, it's difficult to imagine this album benefiting from anything other than people taking the time to check it out.
—Scott McDonald
Got comments? Email our music editor, firstname.lastname@example.com, or follow him on Twitter at @peterholslin.


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Swimming for Health and Fitness
By Tomeka Weatherspoon • May 18, 2012
Local triathlete John Aust discusses fitness swimming, pool rehab and working in aquatics at UMKC's Swinney Recreation Center.
Plus, hear from a married couple that's been coming to Swinney for well over a decade. Almost as long as they've been retired.
View The Search for Water in a larger map


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Skip to comments.Only Obama Would Release Terrorists Guilty of Thousands of Murders
Posted on 06/09/2014 4:17:53 PM PDT by FredDardick
Sometimes there is a price too high to pay, even to save a human life. In the case of Obama releasing five of the most dangerous criminals on the face of the planet, who will no doubt return to their scorched earth terror campaign in Afghanistan just as soon as they are able, Obama not only crossed the line, he made a mockery of human morality.
The Taliban terrorists Obama let go in order to secure the release of Bowe Bergdhal, whose loyalty as a soldier many have questioned, are among the worst trash the world has seen in the twenty-first century.
Mohammad Fazl is the Taliban military commander Mullah Omar once considered his top soldier. According to the Institute for the Study of War, Fazl is a known war criminal During the 1999 offensive, Taliban forces summarily executed civilians, destroyed civilian infrastructure on an industrial scale and forcibly displaced several hundred thousand people.
Khairullah Khairkhwa is one of the Talibans founders. He also served as its minister of interior and spokesman. During fighting with the Northern Alliance in 1997, Khairkhwa conducted his own ethnic slaughters during a retreat from a Taliban stronghold. He later became governor of the Herat province where he proceeded to make life a living hell for women. I thought of killing myself many times said one widow from Herat who was forbidden from leaving her home without a male relative.
Noorullah Noori used to be the governor of Balkh and the Northern Zone, which saw its own fair share of massacres during his reign. He is wanted by the UN War Crimes Commission for the murder and torture of thousands of Shiite Muslims. When asked about the mass killings, Noori did not express any regret and stated they did what they needed to do in their struggle to establish their ideal state.
Abdul Haq Wasiq was the head of the Taliban secret police and is responsible for numerous mass killings and torture.
Mohammad Nabi Omari was the Talibans chief of communications when he was picked up by U.S. forces in 2002.
With expertise in the political, military, communications and secret police arenas, Obama has given the Taliban all the top-tier talent they need to reconstitute their terrorist network. With the majority of American soldiers pulling out of Afghanistan by the end of the year, the struggle of the Afghan people to remain free from Taliban bondage just got far more difficult, a betrayal that many Afghans will likely find unforgivable, especially women who were forced to endure shocking abuse under Taliban rule.
Obama has a habit for abandoning Muslim countries to homicidal Islamic radicals, as he did in Egypt when he went full-throated in his support for the Muslim Brotherhood during their short and murderous time in power. The Egyptian people remember and despise Obama for this, and the Afghan people are sure to do the same.
It would seem impossible to rationalize the freeing of criminals who have murdered thousands, even to secure the release of an American prisoner, whether they are a deserter or hero. To do so is simply replacing one life with hundreds, if not thousands of other potential victims, a moral equation that only a self-loathing narcissist like Obama could justify.
The EXEMPT US Congress condones his open borders,
the 100 murders and rapes a day from illegal aliens,
the crucifixions in Egypt, the MANPAD transfers in
Libya and the arming of terrorists who are
raping nuns in Syria.
The EXEMPT US Congress has given Obama assent to
free 35,000 felons.
The EXEMPT, deservedly hated, US Congress has told
Obama to continue the NSA and IRS abominations.
The EXEMPT Congress is just too busy on Ambien,
too busy in the House brothels, and too busy
operating outside of the Laws they impose on others.
His true love is the bearded ones, not with the USA. That explains why he released their bearded savages back to them.
They ain't heavy, their his brothers!
He's likely hoping one or another of them will pull off another major terror attack. Obama recalls the highly favorable press he received after Bin Laden's death. He is also aware of how high Bush's ratings shot up in the wake of 9/11. Obama's own poll numbers have been dismal for ages. He's been thinking about his legacy, which at this point isn't much. So he could well be imagining that if one of these terrorists succeeds in a major strike, his, Obama's, fortunes could turn around. He could act Bush-like in the aftermath, & then kill the terrorist with a drone [all this is happening in Obama's fertile brain; it's not likely in reality]. So Obama sees more terrorism as big potential plus...or so it would appear.
The joke is on us. Obama was planning on releasing them anyway.
I said from day one in 2008 he was an Islamic foreign agent, and I've been proven right every day since.
But who would have dreamed that once this criminal fraud exceeded worst-case fears, the congress would be powerless to remove him?
Just wait for the end of '16, if he does"decide" to leave.
His pardon list will have stars like O. J. Simpson, Mumia Abu Jamal and all kinds of drug cartel luminaries and Eric Holder's criminals who are in for life.
That's a given.
Klintoon pardoned around 200 criminals. Mark Rich the biggest who owed millions in taxes. But his wife donted plenty to campaign.
Bush pardoned like 17 guys, 2 of which were those border guards falsely imprisoned.
What a difference huh?
Simpson and Jamal were not convicted of federal crimes. Therefore, Obama's pardon would have no effect.
Thank you.
I didn't know that.
Criminals are a democrat constituency.
Too damn many of the two denominations. They both murge into the making of this Islamofascist regime.
Terrorist release ping.
And it took a lot of bitching and complaining to get them released.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.


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Christmas in Los Angeles
Your guide to Christmas events and activities in Los Angeles, including a holiday gift guide, the best Christmas movies and fun ways to warm up
While we may not be dreaming of a white Christmas here in Los Angeles, we can certainly look forward to tons of shopping and more than a few Christmas lights on palm trees. We've gathered together a list of the best Christmas events, activities, movies and songs for this most magical time of year. If it's shopping you're after, we have the ultimate holiday gift guide and some great stocking stuffer ideas. Don't miss out on these holiday events because before you know it New Year's Eve planning will be in full swing and then it'll be back to work (or whatever pays for all your partying). Merry Christmas!
Christmas events in Los Angeles
Christmas events, performances and things to do in LA
You won't find snow-covered trees and below-zero temperatures in LA, but there are still plenty of Christmas events.
Where to see Christmas lights in Los Angeles
In between a deluge of Christmas activities and frantic shopping trips, take the time to check out these twinkling neighborhoods.
Where to go ice skating in Los Angeles
In between a deluge of Christmas events and frantic shopping trips, take the time to check out these twinkling neighborhoods.
Holiday markets in Los Angeles
Fed up with mass-produced merchandise and stuffy, crowded stores? Try a holiday market instead.
Six Christmas Day movies to see in theaters
Check out our guide to six Christmas Day movies to see in theaters on opening day.
December 2015 events calendar
After endless, premature teases from retailers, the holidays are here for real and they've taken over our December 2015 events calendar.
SantaCon is a holly jolly good time in Los Angeles
The red tide of jolly Santas took to the streets, and bars, for another year of festivities in Los Angeles
Christmas for kids
The best Christmas plays in Los Angeles
What better way to get in the festive spirit than with a Christmas play?
Where to hear and go Christmas caroling in Los Angeles
Belt out classic Christmas songs—or, if you're feeling shy, leave the caroling to the pros.
More ways to celebrate Christmas
Where to buy Christmas trees in Los Angeles
Start decorating with a tree from one of these places, including real, fake and live trees, along with places where you can cut your own.
Grocery stores open on Christmas in LA
Need a last minute ingredient? These grocery stores have you covered.
The 50 best Christmas movies
Roast a chestnut, nog an egg and settle in with some cookies and milk to Time Out's top Christmas movies.
The best LA Christmas ornaments
Los Angeles may have the nickname of "Tinseltown," but at Christmas time, it's all about the ornaments.
Where to eat Christmas dinner in LA
Skip the at-home turkey basting and dine out instead
The best holiday movie screenings from now until Christmas day
These Christmas movies are playing at some of the best theaters in LA
Where to have Christmas brunch in LA
Take a break from unwrapping presents with a fantastic Christmas brunch at these festive LA restaurants
Santa will have a full moon backdrop for the first time since 1977
Christmas will have some extra light to guide him this year
15 Christmas tree fails on Instagram
Some of these are worse than Charlie Brown's Christmas tree
The best local charities to donate to in LA
Spread the wealth during the holiday season with these 10 fantastic local organizations
Holiday gift guide
White elephant and secret santa holiday gift ideas
Make it easy on yourself with these top gender-neutral gifts.
The best LA experiences to give as gifts
Give your friends and family gifts that create memories (instead of clutter) like these only-in-LA experiences
The best gifts for men
Whether the guys on your list are dapper or dudely, these gifts for men are ones they won't want to return.
The best Christmas gifts for women
We've done the shopping for you with these great Christmas gifts for women.
The best funny gifts for the holiday season
We found the best funny gifts that are perfect for everyone on your holiday list.
25 stocking stuffer ideas for $25 or less
This Christmas, stuff your family's stockings with something other than gift cards and candy. There's so much potential in stocking stuffers: think small gifts with big personality.
See more of our past Christmas coverage
13 winter cocktails to keep you warm and fuzzy
We scoured LA's best bars to find the drinks that make you want to curl up by the fire and get toasted.
12 LA beers of Christmas
Here are 12 holiday beers from local breweries that are just as tasty as they are festive.
Where to find the best Christmas cookies
Head to these bakeries for all your holiday cookie needs.
Best gift shops in LA for anyone on your list
We searched the city for the best gift shops and bring you the top places for the next time you need to buy a present.
Artisans in LA show off their handmade wares
Meet 13 local artisans and shop their hand-crafted wares—you'll never give a boring gift again.
The best ugly Christmas sweaters
Shop our picks of the season's hilarious knits, sure to stand out at any ugly sweater party.


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Can you wear the latest high street fashion trends? Absolutely, and our expert fashion editors are on hand to give the best fashion advice on how to dress for your shape
Search options
The Top 10
The Handbag Collection Fit For Lady Mary
Since leaving Downton, Michelle Dockery has been up to many things, including designing her own handbag collection...
The Duchess' Jewellery Collection And Where To Buy It
You may be surprised how much you can afford as well!
Michelle Obama's Top Style Moments
Michelle Obama rarely gets it wrong in the style stakes. Let's look at her best looks from her seven years as America's First Lady.
The Best Leather and Faux-Leather Jackets
Give your look an edge with this season's leather (and pleather) jackets...
How To Layer When You've Got Big Boobs
Layering is a top trend this year, but when you're busty it can be tricky to nail the look without looking frumpy.
The Ultimate Summer Dresses
Get style savvy with the summer dresses that go the extra mile - day or night...
Dress Yourself Slimmer - Figure Fixers to Update Your Wardrobe
Our fashion experts show you the styles to flatter your shape
Victoriana Blouses: The Autumn Wardrobe Update We Can All Wear
A blouse makes the perfect flattering addition - they're effortless and easy to wear. See our edit of the best now...
Our Edit: The Top Trench Coats
Step out in style this autumn in one of this season's must-have trench coats...
10 Of The Chicest High Street Spring Coats
If you only update one item this season, make it a spring coat. In lighter fabrics and shades, it's the sensible yet stylish investment for any British weather!
Top 10 Flat Boots
Find the perfect flat boot to suit you with our round-up of this season's most stylish picks...
Top 10 Knee High Boots
Master the knee high boot trend and have a look through out top 10 essentials every woman needs to own...


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Obama made a pledge in his inaugural address to combat climate change, passionately pointing out that a failure to do so would "betray our future generations." In his speech Obama did what politicians do best, tugged at the heart strings of humans by bringing up the devastation that climate change has caused in recent history, including the summer's drought that sent corn prices skyrocketing and hurricane Sandy, which devastated many areas of the northeast.
The speech was cheered by environmentalists, who felt that on the campaign trail the president did not talk enough about climate change; however, not everyone was happy with the president's political theater, and questions quickly arose over how Obama would balance such a tough stance on climate change - which he says he will combat by increasing investments in green energy - along with another major promise, energy independence for Americans.
The first major test on where the president really stands on these key issues will come this spring, when he is set to approve or deny the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline. While environmentalist supporters want to see him take a stand and reject the pipeline, others urge an approval, so the U.S. can reduce its reliance on oil from unfriendly regions and instead increases purchase from Canada, a politically stable ally.
Obama's inauguration speech resurrected concerns that Keystone XL would be rejected. After the speech, Canada's Finance Minister Jim Flaherty told Reuters: "I had reason for optimism before the election that the president would approve it, were he re-elected, but his speech the other day was not encouraging."
The Obama Administration is not expected to decide on final approval before April. Recently, governors in the state of Nebraska approved a re-routed pipeline to run through their state.
Obama has backed himself into a corner, forcing a decision that will either way seem to contradict his promises. In the past, Obama's wavering on energy policies has angered many, including vice president Al Gore who spoke out on Obama's action in an op-ed piece in Rolling Stone, called Climate of Denial. His statement goes as follows:
President Obama has thus far failed to use the bully pulpit to make the case for bold action on climate change. After successfully passing his green stimulus package, he did nothing to defend it when Congress decimated its funding. After the House passed cap and trade, he did little to make passage in the Senate a priority. Senate advocates - including one Republican - felt abandoned when the president made concessions to oil and coal companies without asking for anything in return. He has also called for a massive expansion of oil drilling in the United States, apparently in an effort to defuse criticism from those who argue speciously that "drill, baby, drill" is the answer to our growing dependence on foreign oil.
So, turning back to the keystone - Would snubbing the pipeline really help greenhouse gas emissions?
While environmentalists on both sides of the Canadian American border love to protest the pipeline, they forget a very important point. While America's demand for oil may trend downward, it is not going anywhere in the near future, and whether or not the U.S. decides to be a major purchaser of Canadian oil, that oil is going to market. Finance minister Flaherty stated in his Reuters interview that if the pipeline is rejected, "We will go wherever we have to go. We are going to create markets for Canadian commodities."
Canadians are serious about selling their oil. Last year, after Obama rejected a key leg of the Keystone Xl, Canada turned to China, and a partnership is currently in the works.
There is some major irony in the environmentalist's protests. While they protest the pipeline over concerns about greenhouse gases, they fail to acknowledge the fact that transporting oil into the U.S. from rail, rather than using the pipeline, results in far greater emissions, according to data compiled by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The U.S. is already getting a great deal of this oil from Canada, and trucking it down via rail. If the pipeline protesters are to be successful in their goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, they must work to cut off demand. If the pipeline is rejected, the oil will still be transported, most likely by rail. Last year, delivery of petroleum by rail increased by 38 percent, according to EIA data.
The fact of the matter is that America needs oil; perhaps the country can start policies to decrease their dependence on oil, but this is a strategy that will take decades to develop. In the meantime, environmentalists need to be smart about their protests and look at the total picture, while Obama needs to make a decision that will be best for the long term health of his country, and not just his popularity with special interest groups.
Obama's policies clearly have an impact on energy investments - which we saw in his first term when he cracked down on coal stocks. While other economic factors definitely came into play, his moves contributed to a slide in coal stocks. So, as an investor how can you prepare your portfolio for Obama's energy policies in terms of Keystone XL? Obviously, this depends on whether he approves or disapproves the pipeline. Here are my investment picks for either scenario.
If the pipeline is approved, here are the stocks that are poised to benefit:
TransCanada (NYSE: TRP). TransCanada, as the owner of the Keystone XL, and the entire Keystone Pipeline system arguably, stands to benefit the most if the project is approved.
Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE: EPD). Enterprise and Enbridge bought out ConocoPhillips' (NYSE:COP) stake in the Seaway pipeline that will take oil from Cushing, OK to the gulf.
Enbridge (NYSE: ENB). Has an ownership stake in the pipeline.
Valero Energy (NYSE: VLO). Valero will benefit economically from the pipeline because it has an option to acquire up to 15% of the pipeline and because many of Valero's refineries along the coast are set up to handle the heavy tar sands crude oil.
Stocks poised to benefit from a rejection of the pipeline:
Railroad stocks that will transport oil from the oil sands to the U.S. are poised to benefit the most if the pipeline is rejected. Publicly traded companies engaged in the railway transport of crude in North America include Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.B), owner of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad, and Canadian Pacific Railway (NYSE:CP).
Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it. I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.


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