Tuesday, February 24, 2009

FEELIN' A LITTLE POLITICAL


So I don't know why, but I've decided to post some of my thoughts on the current economic struggle.  I think the stimulus package that is currently being put into effect is a great idea in theory, but at the end of the day, will the money really trickle down to all of us?  I think the big problem in our current American society is that we as Americans are not actively involved with our economy.  We just see Big Brother pushing the buttons, sending our cash to whatever cause they see fit.  Sure it's nice to surrender this problem to some unseen governmental office, but does that really motivate us for change?  This new administration needs to get ALL Americans off their butts and actually get them involved in the change we were promised.  What if our government created a new kind of bond that payed dividends in heavy tax cuts?  For example, if I give a chunk of my income now to the government, come tax time I will have barely anything in the red.  Not only would that get people actively involved, it would solve our biggest problem of all: namely paying off our mammoth national debt.  We need to be taking bites out of that debt starting now, not adding to it.  The money we use to fix America needs to come from America.  Enough borrowing from foreign countries!
And lastly, before I end my quick little tirade, the fact that many states are now cutting educational budgets is absurd!  Education should be the stronghold of money flow!  Hasn't this current generation screwed up America enough?  Why should future generations have to pay anymore than they already have to?  I want my children to be born into a world where their education is ten times better than my own.  This world, especially this country cannot afford to go backwards.  Education must be priority one in terms of budget spending, and also, we need to put a big dent in that national debt.  Owing a friend 10 bucks is bad, owing a friend 10 trillion is a travesty.

'Nuff said,
BraXteN

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

GOOD CITIZENS DOT COM!


Hey y'all!

So if you haven't already heard, all upcoming Hollywood 2021 stuff will be posted on the brand new GOOD CITIZENS web page.  I will post here when I have finished a new section, but you will have to go to the GOOD CITIZENS site to read it.  Hopefully this will clear up the confusion, and keep things organized.  Part Two is finally completed in full, and is online now!  So get over there and read it!

www.goodcitizens.webs.com

(Insert witty greeting),
BraXteN

Monday, January 26, 2009

NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE


Hey there friends!  Welcome to the new layout of Slick, Chrome, Americana!  I think the new look and feel is much more a reflection of me, and I hope y'all like it too.  Stay tuned for more changes as well!  As I said before, the main focus of the blog will now be my writing.  I hope to have something for everyone to read this Friday (the first part of a short series I have been chewing on for a while).  Thanks for stopping by.

TTFN,
BraXteN 

DESOLATION ROW


Hey everyone, I bet you are all wondering what the new picture up top is all about, and all I can tell you is that I'm working on a whole new format for Slick Chrome Americana.  I will still post about me and what is going on in pop culture and movies and music and stuff, but I will also be including some of my writing.  My plan is to have some sort of short fiction online every week.  Hopefully my first piece will be on by Friday, and by then I will have updated the look of the blog.  Oh and by the way, check out My Chemical Romance's new cover of Bob Dylan's Desolation Row.  You won't regret it.

See ya real soon,
BraXteN

Monday, January 19, 2009

PUT THE PEN TO PAPER, WRITE YOURSELF OUT


Sorry it has been so long guys, I just haven't gotten around to posting.  So anyways, as I was driving my beloved car Jenny to Utah last Saturday, to surrender her to my parents for fear that I might speed my way into another ticket, I realized something: most bands suck at writing lyrics.  This realization came to me as I was listening to The All-American Rejects' new album "When The World Comes Down."  On my first listen, I was instantly drawn to the infectious pop beats and the fluttering vocals, but on two additional run throughs, I realized how boring and generic the lyrics were.  I guess in many ways the heart of a song is in the music itself, but I believe the words complete it.  When all I hear on the radio is the same old stock chatter about similar relationship situations, I lose interest, and it just becomes another song to me.  People give me a hard time about the bands I like, but I listen to them because they know how to write songs.  Bands like Hinder, Nickleback, Plain White Ts, Metro Station, Boys Like Girls, 30 Seconds to Mars, ext. write in a way that I can almost predict the lyrics on a first listen.  I like a band that keeps me guessing, and keeps themselves guessing too.  Thoughts?

Contemplating, not hating,
BraXteN

Thursday, January 15, 2009

AND I'LL WHISPER...YES


Ladies and gentlemen, today the long overdrawn Watchmen battle has ended.  Fortunately for all us Watchmen fans out there, we get our movie on its scheduled date (March 6th) and Warner Brothers is paying Fox for us.  The settlement amount agreed upon by Warner and Fox has not yet been released, but it appears as though Fox will be getting a hefty upfront fee, as well as a large chunk of the back end.  In other words, even though Fox will not control any part of distribution, they will be making a large amount of money.  So bittersweet news for Warner, great news for us.  Only something like this could put a smile on my face after the day I've had.

Thanking my lucky stars,
BraXteN

PS:
The music single for Watchmen, a cover song of Bob Dylan's Desolation Row, comes out at the end of this month.  Oh, and guess who made it...yep, My Chemical Romance!

Sunday, January 11, 2009

HEATH LEDGER WINS


I am happy to report that the hopes of most sane film viewers came true tonight.  Heath Ledger did indeed win the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor at tonight's ceremony.  The posthumous award was accepted by The Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan with a simple, but stirring speech about Ledger's far too short career.  Although it was truly fulfilling to see an incredible actor presented with such a deserved honor, I kept thinking back to the stormy day I learned of his passing.  Heath's performance of The Joker will no doubt be forever cemented in the depths of film history.  Congrats Heath.

What doesn't kill you makes you stranger,
BraXteN

Saturday, January 10, 2009

A WATCHMEN UPDATE TO SMILE ABOUT


So as dire as the Fox/ Warner suit over Watchmen has become during the past few months, a settlement between the two companies may be more than just a glimmering hope.  January 20th will ultimately decide the fate of the film as Judge Feess makes his final ruling, but spokesmen from both Fox and Warner have released information hinting at a positive agreement.  Although I am still anxious about the outcome, I personally have faith that money will ultimately save the day.  Fox will get paid a ridiculous amount of money, and Warner will release the film on its scheduled date.  Hopefully this story will have a happy ending, and with any luck, March 6th will stay marked on my calendar.

Knocking on wood,
BraXteN

Friday, January 9, 2009

OH HOW IT'S BEEN SO LONG


Hey there friends,  sorry it's been so long since my last post, I've just been getting settled up here in Rexburg.  This is going to be quick because I am still trying to patch my room together, attempting to make it both a practical and a creative environment.  Anyways a couple of things you should all check out, and a few you should avoid at all costs:

Do go and see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, it may be a little long winded, but the payoff is immense.
Do watch the new Fall Out Boy music video for America's Suitehearts.  The song is great, but the vid is better.
Do get a good start on the new semester.  If the bottom level of a house is built with twinkies and chocodiles, it WILL fall down.

Do not take a job as a model for an art class.  Your neck will never be the same, and you will lose a large chunk of self confidence.
Do not ever miss another exciting edition of Slick, Chrome, Americana...more to come soon.

Keeping it 99% real,
BraXteN

Sunday, January 4, 2009

BACK TO THE NORTH


Hey y'all, sorry it has been a couple days since I posted anything, it's been quite a weekend.  Anyways, today I go back up to Rexburg for yet another semester of college fun!  I am not excited for the freezing temperature, nor am I excited for the dull people or nearly retarded police force, but I am excited to be on my own again (at least for a few months).  Stay tuned for some updated movie reviews and other current events stuff once I am comfortably moved in.  Which reminds me, what kind of blog is this anyways?  Is it about me?  About movies?  About music?  About nothing?  Well it doesn't really matter, I think I have at most three people who actually read it.  If you are one of those people, thanks.

Wishing you well,
BraXteN

Thursday, January 1, 2009

2009 REASONS TO GET OUT OF BED


Welcome to 2009 everybody!  This is going to be a) the last year we have a "double 0" in the middle of our date and b) the last year we get to say "two thousand (insert number)" because next year we will be saying "twenty ten" (which is much cooler in my opinion) - so eat it up people.  Anywho, yesterday I included a list of the best stuff in ol' 2008, so today I have prepared a list of the things to look forward to in 2009.  Enjoy.

MOVIES OF 2009

The Unborn - An actually decent looking horror movie - January 9th
Coraline - A great book, looks to be a great movie - February 6th
Watchmen - My number one film of 2009 - March 6th
Monsters vs Aliens - Looks to be a very charming animated feature - March 27th
17 Again - It has Chandler in it, enough said - April 17th
X-Men Origins: Wolverine - Looks to be better than the awful X-Men 3 - May 1st
Star Trek - Never been a fan of the show, but the film looks amazing - May 8th
Angels and Demons - Hopefully better than DaVinci Code - May 15th
Bruno - Remember Borat?  This is the same thing with a new, funnier character - May 15th
Terminator Salvation - The start of a new Terminator trilogy - May 22nd
Up - The next Pixar film, looks hilarious - May 29th
Land of the Lost - A film adaptation of the old TV show, should be really funny - June 5th
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - The sequel to the surprise Blockbuster - June 26th
I Love You Beth Cooper - I've actually seen this movie (testing screening) I highly recommend it - July 10th
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - It's Harry Potter, what more can you ask for? - July 17th
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra - From what I've seen, looks to be a fun action movie - August 7th
9 - A new animated picture from the mind of Tim Burton, looks interesting - September 9th
Where the Wild Things Are - This film has had its ups and downs, but is finally being released - October 16th
The Wolfman - From what I've seen, I am intrigued - November 6th
Sherlock Holmes - A hilarious take on the famous detective starring Robert Downey Jr. -November 20th
Avatar - A new Sci-Fi epic from the director of Titanic - December 18th
The Princess and the Frog - Disney's return to traditional animation - December 25th

MUSIC OF 2009 (A little too early to know exactly what is coming out this year)

Expect new albums from...

Muse
My Chemical Romance
Panic At The Disco
U2
Aerosmith

Ringin' in the new year,
BraXteN