I’m overdue on some diversions here, so I’ll try to catch up. A recent eMusic find: Isis: In the Absence of Truth. Dynamic, atmospheric, heavy, scary… exactly my cup of tea.

Back in the day, for a short while anyway, I was fairly into Korn. My interest was piqued of late when I heard that guitarist “Head” had found God and quit the band… then piqued again when I came across his autobiography a week or so ago. I don’t know that I’ve ever read a book in one sitting, but I did so with this one.

Jeff Somer’s Electric Church is a rough, gritty, and violent look at the future… where cyborg “monks” offer the promise of immortality. But at what cost? Very entertaining… and a very fast read. I’m looking forward to more from Jeff Somers.

Everyone know about Abraham Lincoln, Right? I though I did… before I listened to Doris Kearns Goodwin’s account of Lincoln’s Presidency. I guess I just never paid much attention (or even noticed) what a masterful politician he was (using that term in the oft-neglected positive sense of the word). From how he ascended to the forefront of the Republican Party with his winning of the nomination for the Presidency, to the skillful knitting together of his cabinet (consiting primarily of his politcal rivals) to his truly great leadership during the darkest years of the United States… Verily awe-inspiring.

While I’ll didn’t extactly read David McCullough’s biography of this founding father (I listened very intently to it on my iPod) I found it nonetheless a stunningly interesting accout of John Adams’ life and the tremendous service he provided an emerging nation. My only question is… Why is it that John Adams’ image graces no US currency?

I’ve been getting back into the world of comics of late, and have been duly impressed by Brian Wood’s (writer) and Riccardo Burchielli’s (artist) DMZ. Set in the near future, the United States is in the middle of it’s second civil war. The graphic novel follows Matty, a journalist, as he is stranded on the island of Manhattan… the DMZ. Story and art both top-notch.

The previews for this Dreamworks Animation feature looked great… and the movie exceeded my expectations! Top to bottom, this one was thoroughly enjoyable.

I’ve been a bit behind on my diversions… but this is a particularly nice one (courtesy of my Christmas gift-cards!). Jon Foster is an astoundingly remarkable illustrator working mostly in the fantasy/sci-fi realm. Revolution showcases his work in both traditional and digital media. Really great stuff.

Not your typical off-the-wall wacky-comedy ala Will Ferrell. Not only was this movie witty and fun, but suprisingly clever and well done.

I picked up this 1000-page book at the airport a while back… and I’ve been slowly plodding through it on and off over the last couple months. Immensley enjoyable. Richly detailed. Everything and more you would expect from an account of the restoration of English magic at the dawn on the 19th century. Did I mention incredibly richly detailed? 

Cacey from the Fighting Jacks told be about these guys just two days ago… in fact, he just couldn’t say enough of them. My curiousity being sufficiently piqued, I attended their show the following night… and was not disappointed! Very cool stuff. Sort of a Radiohead-ish/Verve-ish thing going on… Vocals, guitars, drums, and synths… very striking stuff.

Nothing like a week’s vacation to get caught up on one’s diversions. I picked up a volume 3 of Ex-Machina a while back, and only recently found volumes one and two. Interesting story… politics meets super-powers, with excellent artwork. 

Okay, so this one’s not so “recent”, but as I’m still going through my whole CD collection, importing all my albums into iTunes and loaded onto my iPod, I’m getting reacquainted with lots and lots of great music… such as… Steve Morse Band: Coast to Coast. It was seeing the Steve Morse Band performing live that really cemented my interest in instrumental rock music, and Coast to Coast is one fine example of that. Impeccable compositions, flawless playing… inexorably listenable

Hmm… Based on these entries, one might think I haven’t had any diversions or distractions since Pirates! Oh not so! Bing on some DUB! Roots Tonic meets Bill Laswell is an outstanding listen… Bass, bass, and more bass… infectious.

Ahhrrr… here there be… disapointment? Don’t get me wrong, Pirates of the Carribean II has all the right ingredients for your big summer blockbuster mega-hit. Only there’s just WAY to much of it. Nothing like being beaten over the head with a celluloid sledgehammer cheap thrills and oh-so-not-subtle visual effects.

At long lasts, Rush’s concert videos are now available on DVD. No longer will I have to nurse my region-free DVD player along to watch my Japanese copy of “Exit Stage Left”. These things are incredible!

The latest from Pixar… is pretty much what one should expect from Pixar. A good story, excellent storytelling, and impeccable visuals. the only drawback for me was the cute-sy/cheesey aspect inherent to any movie with talking cars. Very well done indeed.

It’s been a while since I’ve picked up enjoyed any “superhero” comics, but Marvel’s 1602, written by Neil Gaimen, I found to be quite clever. Set in, well… 1602, it focuses around the premise that certain super-beings came into existence 400 years too early… and you know what kind of trouble that can cause.

Tool arrives with yet another immense and masterful specimen of truly modern progressive rock. Scary, heavy… and just about everything else you’d expect from tool.

I liked Tycho’s Sunrise Projector the moment I heard the first track (which happened to be on ISO50. Retro sythns, expertly massaged beats and manipulated samples… overall a very, very enjoyable chilled refreshment.

What did I expect in a DVD from Buckethead? As strange as his music is, this collection of home videos, out-takes, unreleased tracks, and general tomfoolery is one bizarre product. Complete with self-terminating playback if you try to remove bucket’s mask.

Spike Lee’s latest joint Inside Man is a seemingly uncharacteristic foray into the action and suspense realm… and is one entertaining piece of work. Smart, taught, and engaging.

Kong rocks. Even though there were maybe a few extra scenes than were actually needed, Peter Jackson delivers the good yet again. This film pushes some pretty extreme limits in the visual effects realm—almost to the point of disctraction—but that’s what big-time Hollywood blockbusters are all about.

The Machinist is a truly nightmarish tale of insomnia and paranoia severely underscored by Christian Bale’s frighteningly immersive performance. Bale’s physical appearance nearly eclipses his effort, but imparts a great deal of grit and realism to this movie.

Satriani’s latest effort doesn’t really break any new ground, but I’m digging it nonetheless. Great tones, great grooves, great tunes. Real solid, enjoyable listening. 

The trailers for this film adaptation of the graphic novel seemed interesting enough. Not having read the original comic by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, I went in with no expectations.

Strike that. I went in with some expectations, having just read two opposing reviews. I found the film to be thoroughly thought provoking and relevant. Granted, the protagonist is a “terrorist” intent on bringing down a futuristic, corrupt caricature of a government, but given the fact that V was originally published in the ‘80s-I think those who draw too-close a parallel between our world and this are missing the point.

Ridley Scott’s adaptation of Mark Bowden’s Black Hawk Down, is one of those relentless movies. Once it gets going, it just keeps hurtling toward you with extreme situation after extreme situation.

As brutal as the cinematic depiction is, the book is much more extreme… A truly frightful and impossible scenario.

Crash is a truly spectacular piece of cinema. Searing, biting, resonant and tragic.

Even on it’s second viewing, the varied strand of this multithreaded tale held no less impact.

This is an account of a little-publicized battle at the beginning of the first Gulf War, in which the coast town of Khafji, Saudi Arabia, was overrun by Iraqi armored divisions.

Vibrant and detailed, these recountings convey the overwhelming confusion, the miscommunication, and fog of war… and the courage and strength of those who edured it all.

Uhg. Nice start… but it didn’t really go anywhere.

I shied away from seeing Underworld when if came out a few years back based soley on one reviewer’s take—“A souless cinematic turd”. But I checked out the DVD last weekend… and it was actually pretty good!

(If you’re into gun-toting warewolves and leather-clad vampires running amuck, this is surely the movie for you)

Recently finished Jihad in Brooklyn, a harrowing, true account of how a disasterous subway suicide bombing was thwarted by the NYPD.

More info here.

Just picked up Yo-Yo Ma’s Bach Cello Suites… Sweet.

No amps, no cabs, no loopers… just music, hundreds of years old, interpreted by a virtuosso.