2015
Noah’s Barks pages covering things relating to the year 2015.
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One Punch Man
One Punch Man is a parody whose premise remains entertaining for about as long as any of Saitama’s fights. What’s left is just another battle shonen, minus sincerity. (Includes seasons 1 & 2) (read more)
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Foo Fighters – “Saint Cecilia EP” (2015)
After Sonic Highways, you may have been inclined to believe that the riff-generating machine must have finally broken down, but if this EP is any indication it seems back up and running, even though it’s not at full capacity. The title track is Foo Fighters‘ best song to appear since Wasting Light, and the sound… (read more)
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Belle and Sebastian – “Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance”
Ah, fuck. On Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance, Belle and Sebastian were just a minute too late. Everyone made a big deal about Reflektor, but Arcade Fire couldn’t groove their way out of a paper bag. Turns out Belle and Sebastian totally can, but if you were to upgrade to plastic, they’d probably be… (read more)
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Bridge of Spies
The praise Bridge of Spies has been getting is inexplicable. It’s a Steven Spielberg movie with no powerful stills. It’s a Coen bros. script full of terribly misplaced awkward jokes in spite of the story’s drama and risk, and this awful humor makes it obvious every situation ends for the best or it’s in poor… (read more)
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Killing Joke – “Pylon” (2015)
I can’t deal with Pylon. Where’s the intensity!? Where’s the fucking fury!? Killing Joke were a hoot; a bunch of old codgers more pissed off over… whatever—than any musician half their ages. Killing Joke used to be a pummeling, muscular, fuck-em-up band, but Jaz Coleman and co. have been softening up ever since Hosannas From… (read more)
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Refused – “Freedom” (2015)
Finally, post-hardcore goes boogie rock on Freedom. Some The Wall-esque arena rock thrown in for good (bad) measure. But I would be lying if I said I didn’t find a lot of this catchy, if not in the electrifyingly intense way The Shape of Punk to Come. I’m not sure if I’m being too nice to… (read more)
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Florence + The Machine – “How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful”
How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful Release Date(s): May 29, 2015 How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful is a very mild comeback for Florence. After starting out as a fusion between the most enrapturing parts of Kate Bush and Siouxsie and The Banshees, and in accordance with Dragon Ball Z rules on fusion, surpassing her influences in songcraft,… (read more)
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Death Parade
‘Death Parade’ turns the ‘Death Billiards’ short movie into its own series, which sadly reveals the narrative limitations of its writers. (read more)
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Cannibal Ox – “Blade of the Ronin”
Even the most well-written critique of Blade of the Ronin struggles to escape the desperate fan dream of The Cold Vein Part 2. Every aspect of Blade of the Ronin that sways a little right, everyone says it was wrong of it to do so, and that it should’ve stayed on the left. From my… (read more)
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Lupe Fiasco – “Tetsuo & Youth” (2015)
The more I listen to Tetsuo & Youth, the more convinced I am that it’s a modern hip hop masterpiece. I don’t give a shit if Lupe Fiasco isn’t “cool” anymore—but I suspect hip hop listeners at large do. Fiasco uses his youthful, irreverent persona to his greatest advantage yet, and a frequently innocent, childlike… (read more)