Blogcritics Author: Brian Murff

Music Review: Phoenix Rising - Ascension

Brian Murff — Sun, 7 Dec 2008 08:24:52 EST

I�d love to hear more out of this accomplished ensemble.
I’ve got a confession to make: before writing this review, I hadn’t heard any music by Phoenix Rising. Their work isn’t the sort that I tend to play on a regular basis. That being said, I’m thoroughly impressed with what I’ve heard, and I’ve enjoyed getting a feel for their style over the past several days. They...

The Big One

Brian Murff — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 08:42:11 EST

Want to know real danger? Move to California.
Californians -- particularly those living in the southern half of that state -- are living on borrowed time. Scientists have predicted with near certainty that the San Andreas Fault will produce an earthquake with a magnitude of at least 6.7 and likely higher than that.Earthquakes, of course, are nothing new to Californians. Their state is riddled...

A Call for Community Service

Brian Murff — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:58:18 EST

Community service should be just that - communal. Let's involve everybody.
According to USA Today, TIME, and a plethora of other news sources, Generation Y (to which I belong) is all about community service. We believe in doing food drives, donating blood, reading to children, participating in street cleanups, raising money for charities, and just about anything else you care to think of. We prefer working for companies...

Music Review: Mason Jennings - In The Ever

Brian Murff — Sat, 8 Nov 2008 19:40:16 EST

Because I love you and Buddha too.
Mason Jennings’ most recent effort is the 2008 album In The Ever. I cannot speak for his previous releases, as this is the first I’ve heard, but so far as I know this guy’s work is pretty special. He has this laidback, hippy-esque vibe going on. The music primarily consists of acoustic guitar, piano, a little bit of drums, and his...

Music Review: Mock Orange - Captain Love

Brian Murff — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 10:30:48 EDT

Check out the 2008 album from alt-rockers Mock Orange!
Captain Love, the 2008 album by Mock Orange, hooked me from the start. The first comparison I drew was to early-1990s Radiohead, with maybe a dash of Ok Go thrown in for good measure. Then I started thinking no, this was more like Nada Surf, or maybe, oddly enough, The Polyphonic Spree. That’s it. More and more, I’ve been drawing...

In Favor of Halloween

Brian Murff — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 17:50:14 EDT

Chocolate and costumes and mischief, oh my!
Soon it will be that particular and unique day of the year in which a certain portion of the population feels oddly compelled to dress up in costumes. They will run rampant through normally quiet and civil neighborhoods, blackmailing innocent civilians into giving them sugary foodstuffs in exchange for abstaining from performing nefarious pranks on...

I Hate Public Transportation

Brian Murff — Thu, 9 Oct 2008 09:49:10 EDT

No matter where you are, Murphy's Law will eventually apply.
My afternoon was going well. It was the first day of school, I'd been back from Air Force ROTC field training only a few days, and civilian life felt like paradise. If I had suddenly burst into song, everyone around me probably would have sung backup and performed choreographed dance moves like I was in a musical. Everything was great until I got...

How To Install a New Graphics Card

Brian Murff — Thu, 9 Oct 2008 05:51:23 EDT

How I cranked my PC graphics from standard definition to full HD.
Periodically, every computer needs an upgrade. Parts get old and, as software becomes more sophisticated, that old gear just doesn’t cut it. Trust me, I know the feeling. I went through this process last February. My main PC came with an nVidia 7300 LE graphics card – just barely better than having an integrated graphics chipset at the...

Satire: An Open Letter to Mr. Al Gore

Brian Murff — Wed, 8 Oct 2008 16:26:43 EDT

You know that whole green movement, that environmentalism thing? I don't like it anymore.
Dear Sir,The green movement isn’t enough.There, I’ve said it. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for reducing our environmental impact. I love the idea of minimizing my carbon footprint. I’ve been recycling for as long as I can remember, and I drank the tree-hugger Kool-aid ages ago. It’s just that it won’t be...

Music Review: K'naan - Dusty Foot Philosopher

Brian Murff — Mon, 8 Sep 2008 06:53:05 EDT

You don't know hardcore.
You might think you know hip-hop. You might listen to the mainstream songs that play on your local top 40 radio station. Maybe you’re even into the good stuff – underground acts that haven’t been tainted by the bottom line or a juicy contract. Regardless, I can pretty much guarantee that you haven’t heard anything like The...