The Winery Dogs’ Sophomore LP Is One Of 2015’s Top New Rock Albums

Courtesy: Loud & Proud Records/Red Distribution

When the rock super group The Winery Dogs released its self-titled debut record two years ago, few if any knew whether or not it would be the trio’s only release.  So when it was announced in 2014 that the band—Richi Kotzen (guitar, vocals), Billy Sheehan (bass), and Mike Portnoy (drums)—had started work on a second album excitement instantly built among both the band’s fans and fans of the band’s members.  Now with the release of that album—Hot Streak—earlier in October it can be said that it has definitely lived up to its expectations.  The thirteen-song record boasts elements of each of the artists’ own musical influences past and present; elements that combine to make it a record that is anything but the sophomore slump.  This is clear right from the album’s opener, the up-tempo rocker ‘Oblivion.’  Fans of Portnoy’s work with Liquid Tension Experiment will note the clear similarities to that band’s sound in regards to its musical content.  It is just as intriguing in terms of its lyrical content.  Both elements combined make ‘Oblivion’ a solid opener for Hot Streak and an equally solid re-introduction for the band, too.  ‘The Bridge,’ which comes later in the album’s run, is another good example of how much Hot Streak has to offer fans.  In regards to its musical content, it is pure prog rock akin to material crafted by King’s X.  Speaking in terms of its lyrical content it is just as interesting.  It comes across in its verses as a commentary of sorts.  The chorus creates thoughts of a love song.  Regardless of whether it is one, the other, or possibly even neither, the fact that the lyrical content can spark such thought and discussion makes it all the more interesting of an addition to this record.  ‘Fire,’ the album’s mid-point as it were, is one more great addition to this record.  It is the polar opposite of all of the album’s other up-tempo rock songs.  This is the case at least in regards to its musical content.  Its lyrical content is another story.  Its lyrics present a deeply moving, introspective story that will impress listeners just as much as any of the album’s other, more upbeat compositions.  Whether for these songs or for any of the others not directly noted here, it can be said of all thirteen songs that together, they make Hot Streak a record that is plain and simple, one of the best of this year’s new rock albums.

The Winery Dogs’ sophomore album Hot Streak is a solid follow-up to its self-titled 2013 album.  It is also one of the best of this year’s new rock albums.  That is clear right from the album’s opener ‘Oblivion.’  This song is a great first impression for the band in its new album and an equally great re-introduction for the band, too.  Considering the song’s lyrical content one would think this would be a rather slow, moody song.  It proves to be anything but.  In fact those that are familiar with the music crafted by Liquid Tension Experiment will instantly find quite the striking similarity between the two bands here.  Interestingly enough, that sound is a good fit for this song in examining the song’s lyrical content.  The song’s lead verse reads, “It came to me in the middle of the darkest night/I don’t know if I was dreaming or I got too high/But my demons are closer/I’m flying blind/But my eyes are open wide/From the darkness to the light to the place I die/Wake me up when it’s over.”  This is quite the deep thought.  Taken into context with the song’s musical content, the two elements together paint an interesting picture.  It is a picture of someone in a difficult emotional/mental state.  It could be a momentary thing or something more.  Regardless, the band has done an impressive job of telling the song’s story through the combination of its musical and lyrical content.  And it’s just one example of how Hot Streak proves to be a solid sophomore release for The Winery Dogs.  ‘The Bridge’ is another example of the album’s strength.

‘Oblivion’ is a solid first effort for The Winery Dogs in the band’s new album Hot Streak.  It is also a welcome re-introduction for the band in its new album.  As impressive as it is in whole, it is just one example of Hot Streak’s strength.  ‘The Bridge’ is another clear example of the album’s strength.  The song’s musical content instantly conjures thoughts of King’s X thanks in large part to the work of all three musicians.  In examining the song’s lyrical content it is just as interesting.  That is because of the seeming duality of the lyrical content.  Kotzen sings in the song’s lead verse, “Why do I feel like I know you/I know where you wanna go/I’ve got new things to show you/You’re prime/Don’t you wnana walk over water/From Morocco to Gibraltar/Let’s saunter/Rise we all stand before the altar/You oughtta know/I ain’t gonna let you falter/And when it’s time to die/We’re going right back where we started where we all did.”  This verse alone feels very introspective.  Yet the chorus presents a much different message.  As Kotzen sings, “Sing to me your lullabies/Share all your secrets with me/I’ll bend to your heart’s desire/Step with me/Cross the bridge to the light/And see eternity in my eyes/And for eternity you will be mine.”  On the one hand this comes across as something that would fit into a love song.  On the other hand it could also be interpreted as someone beckoning his or her loved one to come over, perhaps as that perhaps is about to cross over.  That may very well be a stretch.  But the gentility in Kotzen’s vocal delivery coupled with the overall positive vibe of the song seems to hint that it could indeed be just that.  It would make that lead verse make more sense.  The two elements together could perhaps be serving to present a vibe of the positive feelings that one feels as they are about to leave one world and go on to the next.  It definitely would be interesting to learn the real story behind this song.  Regardless, the positive vibes exhibited through both its musical and lyrical content makes it yet another great example of why Hot Streak proves to be a surprisingly enjoyable recording.  It still isn’t the last example of the album’s enjoyment, either.  Midway through the album’s run, the band changes gears in dramatic fashion in its presentation of the interestingly titled ‘Fire.’  It is one more example of what makes Hot Streak such a strong return for The Winery Dogs.

‘Oblivion’ and ‘The Bridge’ are both excellent examples of just how much Hot Streak has to offer audiences.  While both songs are key examples of the album’s strength in their own right they are not the only examples of that strength.  ‘Fire’ is just as important to note in the overall picture of Hot Streak as those songs or any of the others not directly noted.  It is so important to note because it is the polar opposite of those songs.  The sound presented through its musical content is much more reserved. It would be unfair to call it a ballad per se. But it is still a deeply moving piece regardless in its musical content alone. The song’s lyrical content is just as moving. That is exemplified as Kotzen sings, “We’re struggling with everything/And I don’t understand who we are/Sometimes I wanna run from me and find an end to it in your arms/Running dry/And I feel so numb/I could/But I don’t know what it’s for.” He goes on to sing later in the song, “In this portentous lie that is you and I/How do we secede/I’ve got money on it/It’s all a dream.” As the song progresses past this point it becomes clearer that this song must be rooted in relationship issues. Interestingly enough the song’s musical content doesn’t make it come across as the standard breakup song. Yes, it is reserved in its sound. But it doesn’t have that standard oh-woe-is-me vibe. That in mind, it stands out even more against the rest of the album’s offerings. Together with those songs Hot Streak proves in whole once more to be a record that from start to finish is a welcome return from The Winery Dogs and that is also one of the best of this year’s new rock offerings.

Hot Streak shows from beginning to end to be one of the best of this year’s new rock albums and a solid, welcome return for the rock supergroup. That is exhibited clearly throughout the course of the album’s thirteen tracks. Whether for the album’s driving opener ‘Oblivion’ the upbeat and thought-provoking ‘The Bridge’ or for the album’s deeply emotional, moving midpoint that is ‘Fire’ there is plenty to say about this record. That is just in those songs, too. The rest of the songs not noted here each exhibit in their own way plenty of positives. The album in whole is one that is, again, a solid, welcome return for the trio and one that is among the best of this year’s new rock offerings. It is available now in stores and online. More information on Hot Streak is available now online along with all of The Winery Dogs’ latest news at:

 

Website: http://thewinerydogs.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheWineryDogs

 

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Set It Off Returning To The Road Again In Early 2016

Courtesy: Equal Vision Records

Set It Off is heading back on the road again.

Set It off announced this week that it heading back on tour next Spring. The band will take part in the “Fight For Something Tour” beginning Tuesday, March 1^st in Chicago, Illinois. The band will share the stage with co-headliner Tonight Alive and support acts The Ready Set, and SayWeCanFly for the length of the tour.  VIP pre-sale begins next Tuesday, November 3^rd. General ticket sales begin next Friday, November 6^th. After the tour winds down on March 27^th, the band will then perform a pair of solo headlining dates on April 4^th and 6^th in San Antonio, TX and New Orleans, Louisiana respectively. The complete schedule for the “Fight For Something Tour” is noted below. It includes a stop in North Carolina on Thursday, March 10^th.

TOUR DATES:
Set It Off and Tonight Alive w/ The Ready Set and SayWeCanFly
Mar 01 Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge
Mar 02 Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
Mar 03 Pontiac, MI @ The Crofoot
Mar 04 Buffalo, NY @ Waiting Room
Mar 05 New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
Mar 06 Boston, MA @ The Sinclair
Mar 08 Baltimore, MD @ Soundstage
Mar 09 Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
Mar 10 Greensboro, NC @ Greene Street
Mar 11 Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
Mar 12 Orlando, FL @ Beacham Theatre
Mar 14 Houston, TX @ Walters
Mar 15 Dallas, TX @ Trees
Mar 17 Phoenix, AZ @ Nile Theater
Mar 18 San Diego, CA @ Soma
Mar 20 San Francisco, CA @ Slim’s
Mar 21 Sacramento, CA @ Ace Of Spades
Mar 23 Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
Mar 24 Seattle, WA @ Neumos
Mar 26 Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue
Mar 27 Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater

Set It Off
Apr 04 San Antonio, TX @ Korova
Apr 06 New Orleans, LA @ Parish at House of Blues

The band just recently finished off an extensive tour schedule that included the whole of the 2015 Vans Warped Tour, a Canadian run with All Time Low, and a European/UK run with Mallory Knox. The band also recently premiered the video for its song ‘Wild, Wild World,’ which can be viewed online now via YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HCTzmm4LWc&feature=youtu.be. The song is featured as part of Set It Off’s latest EP Duality: Stories Unplugged. The record was released June 23^rd. More information on Set It Off’s upcoming tour is available online now along with all of the band’s latest news at:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/setitoffband

Twitter: http://twitter.com/setitioff

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Fans Will Be Proud To Be Part Of Whitechapel’s “Brotherhood” After Hearing Its New Live Recording

Courtesy: Metal Blade Records

This Friday, veteran death metal act Whitechapel will release its news live recording Brotherhood of the Blade. The CD/DVD combo pack is a rare profile of what is one of today’s most prolific death metal acts. Regardless of audiences’ familiarity with the veteran Knoxville, Tennesse-based band, this recording proves to be one that any death metal fan will enjoy. This applies to the package in whole. For the sake of this review however, the focus will sit on the recording’s audio-only portion (it’s CD presentation). The main way in which Brotherhood of the Blade’s CD proves such an important part of the package is its set list. Over the course of the record’s thirteen-song, fifty-two-minute run time, the featured set list strives to both reach those fans that have been there since the band’s early days and those that have just recently joined the band’s fan base. It mostly represents the band’s most recent full-length recording Our Endless War (2014). However, none of the band’s previous four full-length recordings are ignored here, either. That will be discussed shortly. The band’s stage presence throughout the course of the concert is just as important to note. Front man Phil Bozeman does interact with the audiences at different points. However he and his band mates–Ben Savage (guitar), Zach Householder (guitar), Alex Wade (guitar), Ben Harclerode (drums), and Gabe Crisp (bass)–let the music do the talking here. They attack each song with the full fury for which the band has come to be known for in its live shows. That is evident in the package’s CD side. However, there’s no denying that it translates even better through the package’s DVD side. Both sides together create a concert that audiences listening at home will enjoy just as much as those that were in attendance at the show’s taping. Last but hardly least of note in regards to Brotherhood of the Blade’s CD presentation is its audio mix. Considering the size of the venue in which the concert was recorded the audio mix is quite impressive in its own right. Though, again for full appreciation of that mix fans will want to take in the concert’s DVD presentation as well as its CD presentation. The combination of that solid audio mix alongside the band’s equally solid performance and set list makes Brotherhood of the Blade a live recording that will make any longtime fan proud to be part of the brotherhood and any new fan just as proud to have joined. It is a recording that even by itself proves to be among the best of this year’s new live CD recordings.

Whitechapel’s new live CD recording Brotherhood of the Blade is one of the best of this year’s new live CD offerings. It is a CD that over the course of its thirteen tracks and fifty-two minute run time will make any of the band’s longtime fans proud to be part of the band’s brotherhood. It will also leave new fans just as proud to have joined the brotherhood. The main reason for such acclaim is the concert’s set list. While the thirteen-song set list focuses heavily on the band’s most recent full-length studio recording, 2014’s Our Endless War, (it features a total of five songs from that album) it doesn’t ignore the band’s other albums, either. Four of the show’s songs are lifted from the band’s self-titled 2012 album. Two of the featured songs come from the band’s 2006 debut album The Somatic Defilement, and two more are pulled from its followup, 2008’s This is Exile. The only album not represented here was the band’s 2010 album A New Era of Corruption. Considering this, the band is to be commended for having made such a concerted effort to reach its entire fans base. Having left out that one album it would be unfair to call this performance a career-spanning show. But it still does quite the job of showing Whitechapel’s past, present, and potential future, too. It is just one way in which Brotherhood of the Blade’s CD presentation proves to be such a solid recording. The band’s stage presence throughout the course of the concert is also of note here.

The set list that is featured over the course of Brotherhood of the Blade’s fifty-two minute run time is, while not career-spanning, is still a healthy representation of the band’s body of work. It is a set list that will entertain the band’s long-time fans just as much as its newer fans. As important as it is to note in regards to the CD presentation’s whole it is just one way in which this presentation proves to be so solid. The band’s stage presence is just as important to the concert’s overall listening experience as the show’s set list. From start to finish, front man Phil Bozeman and company impress with their stage presence. The band lets its music do the talking throughout most of the show. Though, front man Phil Bozeman does take some time here and there to interact with the audience both between songs and even during the songs. There is a certain sincerity in his voice when he thanks the hometown fans for coming out to support the band and for the audience’s years of support. It’s tough to put a finger on it, but that sincerity in his gratitude has just as much effect as his powerhouse vocals as he makes his way through each of the set’s songs. Even when he talks to the audience during the songs, there is a certain confidence in his voice that makes him stand out as a front man even more. It’s one of those things that makes his presence on stage so powerful. Of course his command of the stage isn’t all that makes the band’s stage presence so powerful and noteworthy. Ben Harclerode’s blast beats come across with the precision of an M-16 from one song to the next while the three-guitar approach creates a pummeling wall of sound that as powerful as it is never overpowers Bozeman, Harclerode, or Crisp at any point in the show. Audiences will hear (and see) this for themselves when they purchase Brotherhood of the Blade for themselves. It still isn’t the last way in which the recording proves to be so solid, even as impressive as it is. The audio mix in Brotherhood of the Blade’s CD presentation rounds out the ways in which it shows to be a solid recording.

The set list featured in Brotherhood of the Blade’s CD presentation and Whitechapel’s performance of said songs are both key ways in which the recording shows itself to be a solid new live recording from the Knoxville, Tennessee-based death metal band. While both elements are of equal importance to the recording, they are hardly the only ways in which it proves itself worth the listen. The concert featured in both the CD and DVD presentation of Brotherhood of the Blade was recorded at Knoxville’s The International. For those that might not be familiar with the venue, it is a venue with high ceilings but somewhat close walls. That means that sound goes straight out and straight up. It doesn’t have a lot of room in which to spread out and really envelop the hall, basically creating its own share of challenges. This is important to note in the concert’s audio mix because considering this element it would have been easy to have trouble for those behind the boards to balance out the show’s audio. Luckily, those charged with that duty carried out their duties with the utmost expertise. Audiences will be surprised to hear how well each member’s part was balanced against those of his band mates. This is especially important to note considering the sheer power exhibited by the band from start to finish. The end result is a death metal concert that is just as powerful on CD as it must have been in its original recording. That full, pummeling sound couples with the band’s performance of its set list and the set list itself to make Brotherhood of the Blade’s CD presentation one that will make fans new and old alike proud to be part of the band’s brotherhood of fans and a recording that is one of the best of this year’s live CD offerings.

Brotherhood of the Blade is one of the best of this year’s live CD offerings and a recording that will make the band’s fans new and old alike proud to be part of its brotherhood of fans. That is thanks in large part to its set list, which pulls from almost every one of the band’s albums to date. the band’s performance of said songs adds even more power to the CD presentation. Its final audio mix rounds out the ways in which it shows itself to be so impressive. Fans will agree with that sentiment when they experience this concert recording for themselves. Each element shows clearly in itself why this presentation is one that every fan will appreciate and enjoy. Together, they make it a presentation that is, once more, one of the best of this year’s live CD recordings. It will be available in stores and online Friday, October 30th and can be ordered online in a variety of packages at http://www.metalblade.com/whitechapel. More information on this and other titles from Metal Blade Records is available online now at:

Website: http://www.metalblade.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/metalbladerecords

More information on Brotherhood of the Blade is available online now along with all of Whitechapel’s latest news at:

Website: http://www.whitechapelband.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/whitechapelmetal

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

No Mystery Here: The Great Shape Mystery Is Another Great Letter Factory Adventure

Courtesy: Lionsgate

Lionsgate studios has never been known as one of Hollywood’s “Power Five” studios. This aside it has still proven to be a powerhouse in its own right. It is the studio responsible for hit movie franchises such as The Hunger Games, The Expendables, and the new thriller Sicario. It is just as well known in the TV world thanks to hit series such as Manhattan, Orange is the New Black, and Mad Men. It has even delved into the world of educational content with its Leap Frog titles. Lionsgate has released a number of titles from Leap Frog in recent years thanks to its partnership with the organization. Those titles include a handful of titles in Leap Frog’s Letter Factory Adventures series. The latest of those titles, The Great Shape Mystery, was released late this summer. And it is yet another enjoyable addition to any early childhood educator’s personal DVD library just as much as it is to the personal collection of any family with a young child or children. The central reason for its enjoyment lies in its story. This time out Leap and company have to set out on a quest a la Indiana Jones in order to figure out the secret of a mystery machine (no, not that mystery machine) that has been delivered to the Letter Factory. The team’s adventure takes it underground through a number of interesting situations requiring some problem solving skills and all the way back to the Letter Factory in the end. And it all happens in the span of about thirty-seven minutes, which is really not that bad. It is just one way in which this latest installment from Leap Frog’s Letter Factory Adventures series proves itself to be so enjoyable. Another way in which it proves itself so enjoyable is its lessons. Despite being part of the Letter Factory Adventures series, this installment branches out into the world of basic math just as with the previously released installment Counting on Lemonade. Even more interesting is that it expertly balances not one or even two lessons but three over the course of that near forty-minute run time. That will be discussed at more length later. Along with its multiple lessons and engaging story, The Great Shape Mystery also boasts another handful of bonuses for kids and grownups alike. Those bonuses include a few sing-a-longs for younger viewers that help to drive home the lessons presented throughout the gang’s adventure and extra curriculum discussions to help parents and educators drive home those lessons, too. Collectively, the bonuses round out the presentation that it The Great Shape Mystery. Together with the featured story and lessons, the DVD in whole proves to be one more great addition to Leap Frog and Lionsgate’s Letter Factory Adventure series.

Letter Factory Adventures: The Great Shape Mystery is another great addition to Leap Frog and Lionsgate’s popular Letter Factory Adventures series of DVDs. The main way in which it proves itself so enjoyable is its story. The story follows Leap and the rest of the Letter Factory gang as they set out to solve the mystery of a new machine that has been delivered to the letter factory. The adventure takes the gang underground and through a number of interesting situations that require some problem solving skills. Just as with previous Letter Factory Adventures DVDs the story presented here is family friendly. And it has been scripted in such fashion that not once does it ever go over the heads of its target pre-school-age audiences. In other words, the story and its incorporated lessons are written at the target audiences’ level, thus keeping those viewers engaged. Just as important to note of the story is its run time and associated pacing. The presentation in whole runs roughly thirty-seven minutes. Thirty-seven minutes may seem like a lot even for a pre-schooler. But the pacing of the story over that time is such that those audiences will in fact remain engaged. The pacing together with the run time and story itself combine to make this central element of the presentation a key way in which The Great Shape Mystery shows itself to be yet another enjoyable installment of the Letter Factory Adventures series. It is just one of the ways in which this DVD shows itself to be so enjoyable, too. The lessons that are featured within the story are collectively another way in which it shows itself to be so impressive.

The story at the center of The Great Shape Mystery, its run time and associated pacing are hugely important elements to note in examining what makes this presentation so enjoyable. And as important as they are to the whole of the DVD’s overall presentation they are only part of the presentation’s whole. The lessons that are incorporated into the story are just as important as the story and its associated elements. The story features a total of three lessons over the course of its nearly forty-minute run time. The lessons are each centered on basic math skills. They center on basic geometry, measurements, and fractions. It’s not the first time that one of Leap Frog’s Letter Factory Adventures DVDs has featured basic math lessons. But the fact that the series is titled Letter Factory Adventures yet features basic math lessons shows the thought put into the DVD. It shows once more that those behind the series understand the need for the series to branch out in order to be successful. What’s more, the lessons are presented such that they are easy for those target viewers to understand. Leap and his friends don’t use big words, formulas or any related matters in teaching the lessons. They are presented with terms that those young viewers will understand and in turn connect with easier. Even more noteworthy of the lessons is the manner in which they are delivered throughout the course of the program. The lessons are actually made part of the story instead of being the center of focus. They are also very well-balanced from beginning to end. No one lesson gets more time than the others. This ensures even more that young viewers will not only remain engaged but will also easily grasp the presented concepts and retain them, too. It is yet another way in which this DVD shows itself to be an important and enjoyable addition to the Letter Factory Adventures DVD series.

The story at the center of The Great Shape Mystery, its associated elements, and the lessons tied into the story are each vitally important to the presentation’s overall viewing experience. While both elements are equally important to the whole of the program, they are not all that deem noting in considering the DVD’s overall presentation. The bonus material included alongside the main feature rounds out the DVD’s presentation. Just as with previous installments of Lionsgate and Leap Frog’s Letter Factory Adventures, this one has also come complete with a handful of bonus sing-a-longs for kids and curriculum material for parents and teachers. The sing-a-longs are not just sing-a-longs, either. They are songs lifted directly from the main feature. Each one serves to drive home even more the lessons presented throughout the course of the main feature. And being that the program is aimed largely at pre-K-aged children, said viewers likely won’t even realize that they are being educated while also being entertained at the same time. This is nothing new to the Letter Factory Adventures DVDs and is just as welcome here as in those aforementioned DVDs. The case is similar with the bonus curriculum material included for parents and educators. Instead of forcing both parties to sit through the entire presentation a second time, only the first few minutes of the program are used in order to establish the key lessons and lesson ideas. In other words, the bonus curriculum material is presented in a quick yet clear and concise fashion. It’s exactly the same as with each previous Letter Factory Adventures DVD. So regardless of whether they are used in a home setting or in the classroom, the bonus curriculum materials and sing-a-longs both prove quite useful in the end. Those bonuses set alongside the DVD’s story, its associated elements, and its lessons leave no mystery about The Great Shape Mystery. It is yet another great DVD for any Pre-K educator and for any family with young children. They collectively make The Great Shape Mystery yet another great addition to Lionsgate and Leap Frog’s Letter Factory Adventures series.

Lionsgate and Leap Frog’s latest addition to their Letter Factory Adventures series The Great Shape Mystery is a great addition to any Pre-K classroom and home setting. Its story, with its relatively short run time and equally solid pacing makes for plenty of reason for the series’ fans to add this DVD to their collections whether for a home or classroom setting. The lessons that are tied into the story make for even more enjoyment and interest to the DVD in whole. That is because the lessons show yet again the companies’ willingness to take a risk and branch out past just teaching about letters and vocabulary in these DVDs. That bravery paid off in spades in this case just as much as in a previous case such as Counting on Lemonade. The bonus material included in the DVD rounds out its overall presentation, making it complete. Young viewers won’t realize in the bonus sing-a-longs that they are actually being educated at the same time that they are being entertained thanks once again to the approach taken by the story’s writers. The bonus curriculum material included alongside the sing-a-longs is a boon both for parents and teachers alike. That is because it offers both parties plenty of extra insight into the program and ideas for lesson plans of their own. Each element is important in its own right to the whole of The Great Shape Mystery. Together, they make this latest installment in Lionsgate and Leap Frog’s Letter Factory Adventure series yet another great addition to that series and leaves no mystery as to why, either. Letter Factory Adventures: The Great Shape Mystery is available now in stores and online. It can be ordered online now direct via Lionsgate’s online store at http://www.lionsgateshop.com/product.asp?Id=32330&TitleParentId=10244. More information on this and other titles from Lionsgate is available online now at:

Website: http://www.lionsgate.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lionsgate

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BSO’s New Christmas Music Is A Surprisingly Enjoyable Musical Holiday Treat

Courtesy: Surfdog Records

Ten years have passed since Brian Setzer and his feow musicians in The Brian Setzer Orchestra released their last holiday album. Now with Halloween only days away at the time of this posting and Christmas still well over a month away, Setzer and company have brought audiences an early present for all of the group’s fans. The present comes in the form of its new album Rockin’ Rudolph. Being the group’s first Christmas album in a decade it is a welcome return. Given, there is no original material presented in this record per se. However, the group’s upbeat renditions of the featured holiday standards are within themselves plenty of reason to have this record echoing through any family’s house this holiday season. This is obvious right from the album’s opener, the big band rendition of ‘Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree.’ The song boasts the group’s trademark swing and also keeps the song’s original feel at the same time. ‘Rockabilly Rudolph’ is more proof of what makes BSO’s new holiday such a welcome return. It is anything but the original song. Rather, Setzer and company have taken the classic tune and completely re-imagined it. One could even say that they turned it on its ear. The band’s updated take on ‘O Little Town Of Bethlehem’ is just as intriguing. That is because Setzer and company have also re-imagined this holiday standard in its own unexpected fashion. All three songs are in themselves clear examples of why Rockin’ Rudolph is such a welcome return. Together with the collection’s other nine covers the collection in whole proves to be quite the surprisingly enjoyable musical holiday treat.

The Brian Setzer Orchestra has brought audiences quite a surprisingly enjoyable musical holiday treat in Rockin’ Rudolph. The twelve-track, thirty-four minute collection of holiday standards is such a welcome return for Setzer and company because unlike so many other well-known mainstream acts out there, Setzer and his fellow musicians don’t just perform the standards and call it a day. Instead, they take the noted standards and build on them at some points while totally re-imagining them at others. The end result is a record that any family will want echoing through their homes this holiday season. This is obvious right from the album’s opener ‘Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree.’ Setzer and his band mates have taken the original standard here and given it a full-on big band swing touch that also features Setzer’s own rockabilly style on guitar. The album’s liner notes don’t specifically note who handled the drums on this song (apparently there were two drummers utilized in recording the featured songs). Regardless, the drums absolutely swing and will have listeners dancing in their kitchens and living rooms as they bake those christmas cookies and drink their eggnog. The same can be said of the band’s horns. They swing just as much as the group’s drummer. The horns and drums set alongside Setzer’s own trademark rockabilly style sound make this cover one that stands head and shoulders above all of its other renditions across the musical universe. It is just one example of what makes this record such a solid collection of holiday covers, too. The band’s updated take on ‘Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer,’ titled here ‘Rockabilly Rudolph’ is another example of everything right with this record.

The big band swing of ‘Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree’ presented by the members of BSO makes the song a great first impression from Setzer and company in its first new holiday record in a decade. It shows that Setzer and his fellow musicians offer audiences more than just the standard holiday covers. And it does so quite convincingly, too. ‘Rockabilly Rudolph,’ the band’s take on ‘Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer’ is just as enjoyable for audiences. That is because it is yet another piece in which Setzer and his fellow musicians do more than just cover the old standard. Instead, they completely turn the song on its ear with a rockabilly take on the classic. It goes without saying that this rendition of ‘Rudolph The Red-Nosed’ sounds almost nothing like the original. And that is not a bad thing, either. There’s even a tribute to James Bond with the famous spy’s theme song incorporated into the song. Setzer is the main star of this piece. Though, his band mates shine just as much. All things considered here, this original take on the holiday standard is something that audiences won’t hear anywhere else. It proves even more why Rockin’ Rudolph is such a standout holiday offering and an equally impressive return for Setzer and his fellow musicians to the realm of holiday music. It is of course still not the only example of what makes this record so surprisingly enjoyable. The group’s take on ‘O Little Town Of Bethlehem’ is just as interesting to hear.

BSO’s cover of ‘Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree’ and ‘Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer’ are both clear examples of why the group’s first holiday album in ten years is such a welcome collection in any family’s home this holiday season. While both songs show in their way just how much this compilation has to offer audiences they are only a couple of examples of just how much the record offers. The group’s take on ‘O Little Town Of Bethlehem’ is one more example of just how much this record sets itself apart from all of the year’s other holiday music offerings. As most audiences know, ‘O Little Town Of Bethlehem’ is quite the solemn piece’ in its original presentation. In the case of BSO’s rendition, the band has replaced that much more solemn feel with something more along the lines of a slow jazz sound. It’s quite the departure from the far more reserved sound to which audiences are accustomed. That’s not to say that it is a bad thing. Rather it is just a something different. The very fact that Setzer and his band mates have opted to go a different route just as much here as with the record’s other covers makes the record in whole all the more interesting. Speaking of those songs, the collection in whole is so original in regards to its renditions that audiences will agree in hearing it that it is in fact quite the surprisingly enjoyable musical holiday treat for any family.

BSO’s covers of ‘Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,’ ‘Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer’ and ‘O Little Town Of Bethlehem’ are all good examples of just how much Rockin’ Rudolph has to offer listeners. Instead of just taking the easy road, all three songs show a group that opted to take the original tunes and build on them in some cases and even totally re-imagine them in others. That is displayed just as much in the rest of the album’s songs as through the trip directly noted here. Whether one chooses one of that trio or any of the others not directly noted, one will agree that the album in whole proves to be one of the few holiday music collections actually worth purchasing this year. It is available now in stores and online. More information on this and other titles from Brian Setzer and the Brian Setzer Orchestra is available online now along with all of the group’s latest news at:

Website: http://www.briansezter.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/briansetzerofficial

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Audiences Will Want Seconds, Thirds, And More Of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s New Live Recording

Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment

A little more than four decades ago, a little band named Lynyrd Skynyrd released its debut album (Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd). At the time of its release, no one would have known that said album would go on to become one of the band’s biggest and most beloved. Surprise, surprise. That album has long since gone platinum at least twice over if not more, and has produced some of the band’s biggest hits of all time including: ‘Tuesday’s Gone,’ ‘Gimme Three Steps,’ ‘Simple Man,’ and perhaps its biggest hit of all ‘Freebird.’ With the quick success that that album saw, the band followed it up the very next year in 1974 with the release of Second Helping. That album proved to be just as successful if not more so. Earlier this year, the current Lynyrd Skynyrd lineup celebrated the ongoing success of both albums when it performed both albums in their entirety over the course of two nights at the Florida Theatre in Jacksonville, Florida. Now thanks to the people at Eagle Rock Entertainment, audiences can see both performances in one package in the band’s new live recording Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin nerd & Second Helping Live From Jacksonville at the Florida Theatre. There is a lot for audiences to appreciate about this presentation beginning with the noted two-album set list. It’s just one part of what makes te recording so impressive. The band’s stage presence throughout both sets is just as important as the complete album set lists. Last but hardly least of note is the shows’ production values. Considering the venue’s high ceilings and open space, balancing acoustics was obviously quite the task. But both the band’s production crew and those behind the mics did a superb job of balancing the concerts’ levels from start to finish. The camera work is just as impressive with shots from multiple angles, capturing the theater’s surprising size. The shows’ variety of shots and their equally impressive audio mixes partner with the band’s stage presence and the shows’ complete album set lists to make Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin nerd & Second Helping Live From Jacksonville at the Florida Theatre a show that every Lynyrd Skynyrd fan will want to have in his or her own home DVD/Blu-ray library and Lynyrd Skynyrd collection.

Lynyrd Skynyrd’s brand new live recording Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin nerd & Second Helping Live From Jacksonville at the Florida Theatre is one that every Lynyrd Skynyrd fan will want to have in his or her own home DVD/Blu-ray library and Lynyrd Skynyrd collection. The main reason for this is its sixteen song set list. The set list in question comes from the band’s 1973 debut album (Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd) and its followup, 1974’s Second Helping. Both albums are presented in their entirety over the course of a two-night stint at the Florida Theatre in the band’s hometown of Jacksonville, Florida. This means that not only are all of the album’s major hits there, so are the lesser known yet still enjoyable songs such as ‘Mississippi Kid,’ ‘Poison Whiskey,’ ‘The Needle and the Spoon’ and ‘I Need You.’ Front man Johnny Van Zant even points out ahead of ‘I Need You’ that the band very rarely performs that song in a live setting. That makes its inclusion in this performance all the more special. It is a truly touching work, too; one that will move any viewer regardless of his or her familiarity with the song. It is more proof–along with the inclusion of the other lesser known songs–why this live two night recording is so special and why the “hits” are not always the only hits. Just because a record label says “X” or “Y” song is a hit doesn’t mean that fans will agree. On another level, the presentation of both albums in whole gives audiences of all ages a much richer picture of Lynyrd Skynnyrd in more than one way. The performance of both albums presents a full picture of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s original lineup creatively. The performance of those albums by the band’s current lineup is almost a side-by-side portrait in a manner of speaking. It’s like experiencing the “old” Lynyrd Skynyrd and the current Lynyrd Skynyrd all at the same time for lack of better wording. All things considered here, the dual set list that makes up the body of the recording shows in full why it is such an important part of the recording’s whole. it is just one part of what makes Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin nerd & Second Helping Live From Jacksonville at the Florida Theatre such a proud success. The band’s stage presence over the course of both nights’ sets adds even more enjoyment to the recording.

The dual album set list that makes up the body of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s new live recording is in itself plenty of reason for fans to add it to their home DVD/Blu-ray libraries and Lynyrd Skynyrd collections. It is just one part of the recording’s whole that makes it so impressive. The band’s stage presence adds even more enjoyment to the concert in whole. That is because the band shows throughout both performances that the k.i.s.s. formula still works perfectly to this day. There was no need for on-stage antics, pyro or anything else. The band let the music do the talking. And it talked loud and clear, too. The energy exhibited by the band in each night’s set proves that. It showed that the band wasn’t just phoning it in at any point. Rather, it showed that the band intended to give its audiences the best show that it possibly could on both nights. Even when Van Zant did take some time between songs to interact with the audience, he didn’t just say a couple of things and go into the next song. He really interacted with the audience and made them feel that they were part of the show. As minor of an element as it may seem to be, it is just as important as the songs themselves. Together with the band’s overall stage presence and the set lists, both the set lists and the band’s presence together make for even more enjoyment for fans throughout the band’s shows. Even with their importance they are still not all that make this pair of performances so impressive. The concerts’ production values are just as important as the set lists and the band’s performance of said set lists.

The set lists that make up the body of Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin nerd & Second Helping Live From Jacksonville at the Florida Theatre, when combined with the band’s performance of both set lists makes for plenty of enjoyment throughout the course of the recording. While both elements are of equal importance to the overall viewing experience here, they are not the only important elements worth noting. The shows’ overall production values are just as important to note as anything else. Without proper production values none of the recorded material would be worth the watch. Luckily for fans the production values incorporated into this concert are of the highest caliber. Of course that is to be expected from Eagle Rock Entertainment being that the label is the leader in live recordings. Those that have never been inside the Florida Theatre will be surprised to see the concert hall’s immensity. This critic is among those masses. Its ceilings come across as being quite high. And the overall space feels just as open. This means that sound will spread out everywhere. It also means more space for echoing. That can be a very bad thing when recording an indoor performance. Those that handled the mics and the boards for the shows’ original recordings did so with the utmost expertise. Thanks to their work audiences really get the full feel of the theatre’s size without getting any of the echoing, feedback or other issues. It shows the talents of those charged with handling the concerts’ audio and makes those individuals all the more deserving of praise. The same can be said of those behind the cameras. The venue being so large and open, the camera crew was given plenty of options for camera shots. And they used every one of those options, too providing audiences at home not only great footage of the band’s performance but of the theatre and the audience in attendance. Those shots include shots from the theatre’s upper balcony, looking up at said balcony from the stage, looking at the stage from amidst the audience and so much more. In whole the work of those behind the cameras gives audiences the best seat in the house and the fullest experience. It rounds out the ways in which Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin nerd & Second Helping Live From Jacksonville at the Florida Theatre proves itself such an impressive experience for any Lynyrd Skynyrd fan and shows once more why Eagle Rock Entertainment remains once more the leading name in live recordings.

Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin nerd & Second Helping Live From Jacksonville at the Florida Theatre is yet another impressive live recording released by Eagle Rock Entertainment. It is just as much a must have for Lynyrd Skynyrd fans of all ages. That is thanks in large part to the set lists which present the band’s first two albums in whole. The band’s performance of each set list adds even more enjoyment to the recording’s whole. And thanks to the work of those behind the cameras and audio boards, both concerts look and sound great. Each element is important in its own right to the whole of the recording. That goes without saying. When combined, they make Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin nerd & Second Helping Live From Jacksonville at the Florida Theatre a must have for Lynyrd Skynyrd fans of all ages and more proof of why Eagle Rock Entertainment remains to this day the leading name in live recordings. It is available now in stores and online. More information on this and other titles from Eagle Rock Entertainment is available online now at:

Website: http://www.eagle-rock.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EagleRockEnt

Twitter: http://twitter.com/EagleRockNews

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Panthers Look To Stay Perfect Monday Night On ESPN’s MNF Broadcast

Courtesy: ESPN

Before the 2015 – 2016 NFL season kicked off, very few of the major talking heads out there had much faith in the Carolina Panthers. Many felt that the Panthers would even come close to the playoffs. Now almost halfway through the regular season, Carolina sits undefeated at 6 – 0. Now next Monday, Cam Newton and company will look to stay undefeated as they go under the lights to take on Andrew Luck and the AFC South-leading Indianapolis Colts.

Next Monday night, ESPN’s Monday Night Football will broadcast live from Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte as Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers host Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts. The 3 – 4 Colts lead the AFC South and have gone 3-2 in their last five games while the Panthers have not yet been taken down. It is one of five teams that currently sit undefeated this far into the season. This means that it will have plenty to play for Monday Night when the Colts come into Charlotte. Mike Tirico and Jon Gruden will be in the booth for the call. Lisa Salters will also be on hand for additional commentary and news throughout the game.

Ahead of Monday’s game, Chris Berman and Suzy Kolber will co-host ESPN’s weekly pre-game broadcast of Monday Night Countdown beginning at 6pm ET. Berman will be live in ESPN’s studios alongside NFL analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson, Keyshawn Johnson, and ESPN Insiders Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter. Trent Dilfer, Ray Lewis, and Steve Young will join Suzy Kolber live from Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.  Those not near a TV Monday night can still catch the game online via WatchESPN.  The game will also be simulcast on ESPN Deportes for the network’s Spanish-speaking audiences.  More information on Monday night’s broadcast of Monday Night Football is available online now along with all of the latest NFL headlines at:

Website: http://espn.go.com/nfl

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MNF

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and headlines in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

ESPN’s College GameDay Celebrates Special Mark This Saturday

Courtesy: ESPN

This Saturday, ESPN’s College GameDay Built by The Home Depot will celebrate a very special mark.

This Saturday, ESPN’s College GameDay Built by The Home Depot will come live from historic Independence Hall in Philadelphia ahead of Saturday night’s matchup between #9 Notre Dame and the undefeated 21st-ranked Temple Owls of the AAC. Saturday morning’s broadcast will be a very special one for all involved as it will be the 300th (yes, 300th) edition of ESPN’s College GameDay Built by The Home Depot. The broadcast will also mark only the second time that the program will have come live on Halloween from Independence Hall. It will air live from 9am – 12pm ET. Rece Davis will anchor the broadcast. He will be joined at the desk by analysts Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso, Desmond Howard, David Pollack. Contributors Samantha Ponder, Tom Rinaldi, George Whitfield, and Gene Wojciechowski will also be on hand for additional commentary.

On Friday afternoon, Chris Ponder, Desmond Howard, and David Pollack will be at the College GameDay set for ESPN’s weekly broadcast of College Football Live at 2pm ET.

Everything comes to a head Saturday night at 8pm as the Owls and Fighting Irish go head-to-head live from Lincoln Financial Field. Kirk Herbstreit will have the call for the game. He will be joined at the desk by Chris Fowler. Reporter Heather Cox will also be on hand for additional commentary and news throughout the game. More information on this weekend’s 300th broadcast of College GameDay Built by The Home Depot is available online now along with all of the latest college football headlines at:

Website: http://espn.go.com/college-football

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/collegegameday

Twitter: http://twitter.com/CollegeGameDay

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

ESPN Opens Its 2015 NBA Regular Season Coverage Wednesday Night

Courtesy: ESPN

The day is officially here. The 2015 – 2016 NBA regular season gets under way tonight. And beginning Wednesday, October 28th, ESPN joins in with full coverage that will take audiences straight through this weekend.

ESPN begins its coverage of the 2015 – 2016 NBA regular season Wednesday night with a Western Conference double-header. First up for the night is a matchup between the Thunder and Spurs live from Oklahoma City beginning at 8pm ET. Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers follow at 10pm ET as they host Karl-Anthony Towns and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Coverage of that game begins at 10pm ET. Mike Tirico will have the call for that game. He will be joined in the booth by analyst Mark Jackson and reporter J.A. Adande. the T-Wolves will be playing with heavy hearts but a real purpose Wednesday night following the death of coach Flip Saunders Sunday at the age of 60. Over the course of seventeen seasons in the NBA, Saunders accrued a record of 654 – 592. This includes his time coaching in Detroit and Washington.

Ahead of Wednesday night’s double-header, ESPN will air a special one-hour edition of NBA Countdown beginning at 7pm ET. Sage Steele will anchor the broadcast and will be joined at the desk by analysts Jalen Rose and Doug Collins. As an added bonus, ESPN will broadcast rapper Missy Elliot’s new single ‘WTF (Where They From)’ during its broadcast of NBA Countdown. The song features famed performer/producer Pharrell Williams.

ESPN’s NBA coverage won’t be limited to just ESPN as it joins in all the basketball celebrations. Over on ESPN2 NBA Coast to Coast–ESPN’s NBA whiparound show–will have coverage of all of the action around the league from 8pm – 11pm ET. Cassidy Hubarth will anchor and will be joined by Ryen Rusillo, analysts Tim Legler and P.J. Carlesimo, and ESPN NBA Insider Chris Broussard. On Thursday morning, Cassidy Hubarth and P.J. Carlesimo will have even more coverage on NBA Tonight at 1:30am. That broadcast will be on ESPN2 as well.

After things wind down Thursday morning, ESPN will continue its NBA coverage Friday night with yet another double-header. First up Friday is an Eastern Conference matchup that sees LeBron James and the Cavs hosting James’ former teammate Dwayne Wade and the Miami Heat at 7pm ET. Mike Breen will have the call for that game. He will be joined in the booth by Doris Burke for additional commentary. Stephen A. Smith will also be on hand for a special edition of SportsCenter on the Road beginning at 6pm ET. In the night’s second game, James Harden and the Houston Rockets renew their rivalry with the Golden State Warriors when the defending NBA Champions come to town. Tipoff for that game is set for 9:30pm ET. Ryan Ruocco will have the call for the game. He will be joined in the booth by Jeff Van Gundy and Chris Broussard for additional commentary. Both games will be live on ESPN. NBA Tonight will follow live at 2am ET with Cassidy Hubarth and Antonio Davis for a full wrap up of the night’s games and highlights on ESPN2. For those that prefer it, the full schedule for this week’s NBA coverage is included below.

More information on ESPN’s coverage of the NBA is available online now along with all of the latest NBA headlines at:

Website: http://espn.go.com/nba

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NBAonESPN

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Every Transformers Fan Will Enjoy Shout! Factory’s New Transformers Prime Compilation

Courtesy: Shout! Factory

The Transformers is one of America’s most popular and successful franchises in American pop culture history. The franchise, which started out as a line of toys has spawned numerous animated series ever since the debut of the original series a little more than three decades ago including but not limited to: Beast Wars, Prime, Robots In Disguise, and Rescue Bots just to name a handful. There has even been a resurgance in the Trnasformers’ popularity on the big screen in recent years with four big screen features having been churned out and a fifth on the way. Now as audiences await that movie and the upcoming episodes of the latest small screen installment of Hasbro’s beloved property, they have just the thing to pass the time in the form of Shout! Factory’s recently released Transformers Prime collection, Ultimate Decepticons. Transformers Prime: Ultimate Decepticons was released early this past September. It features five episodes pulled from the series. And while that may not seem like very much, those five episodes equal to a total run time (TRT) of an hour and fifty minutes. That is nearly two hours of nonstop action and entertainment for audiences. And while all five episodes are ultimately from Transformers Prime, not all of them are from the same chapter of the series’ run. That is one part of what makes this latest collection worth the watch and will be discussed shortly. The writing within each of the collected episodes is just as important to note as the episodes themselves. That will be discussed later. Last but hardly least of note of the collection is the work of the show’s voice cast. Thanks to their work, audiences can more easily suspend their disbelief and in turn allow themselves to be pulled into this Transformers universe and enjoy each presented episode. It is the finishing touch that along with the work of the show’s writers and those charged with choosing the featured episodes, makes Transformers Prime: Ultimate Decepticons yet another enjoyable collection for any Transformers fan.

Shout! Factory’s new Transformers Prime collection Ultimate Decepticons is not the first collection of Transformers Prime episodes to ever be released by Shout! Factory. As a matter of fact, Shout! Factory has released all three of the series’ seasons and a number of other standalone compilation discs since 2012. That aside it still does not do anything to lessen the enjoyment of this latest collection. The main reason for this is its featured episodes. Over the course of its five total episodes all three seasons of Transformers Prime are represented here. What’s more all five episodes, thanks to the work of the series’ writers, leave audiences wanting more. That being the case Shout! Factory has achieved its goal. It would be easy to see that desire to find out what happens next leading viewers to pick up any of the series’ previously released standalone full season sets. It shows that those charged with choosing this collection’s episodes have done quite the commendable job in carrying out their duties. Not only did they do a commendable job of representing all three seasons, they also presented five episodes that are sure to pull in those audiences that might not be so familiar with the Transformers Prime universe and in turn drive them to pick up the series’ full season sets. Of course it’s just one way in which this collection proves itself another successful compilation from Transformers Prime. The work of the writers displayed here is another way in which it proves itself so entertaining.

The episodes that are featured in Shout! Factory’s new Transformers Prime compilation are in themselves plenty of reason for audiences to check out this collection. They are only a small part of what makes the collection so enjoyable. The work of the series’ writers is just as worth noting as the episodes themselves. That is exhibited through each episode’s story line. In ‘Masters and Students’ the collection’s lead episode (and the series’ official premiere) writer Duane Capizzi has crafted a story that sees the vile Decepticon Starscream take control of the Decepticons after the supposed death of Megatron following the events of the Darkness Rising mini-series. What makes Capizzi’s writing so impressive here is that he didn’t just pen a whole new beginning despite the episode being the series’ official premiere. Instead he picked up right where that mini-series left off. That’s just part of what makes the writing here so impressive. The transition from Dark Rising into Transformers Prime is clean. There is no flashback or any of those other overly used elements. Rather Capizzi jumps right into the driver’s seat and keeps the story moving forward with Starscream unsuccessfully trying to take the reins of the Decepticons.

Capizzi’s fellow writer Steven Melching deserves just as much applause for his work in crafting “Con Job” also from Season 1. Melching’s script takes the classic evil twin story that has been used countless times in other TV series and gives the timeless tale its own updated take. One of the most notable aspects of Melching’s script is that unlike with so many other series’ evil twin stories, Melching doesn’t waste time with the whole sequence of Makeshift being captured. It is insinuated ahead of that as Starscream and Soundwave create their own evil duplicate. By taking this route, he actually does leave viewers questioning whether the first Makeshift is really him until the ultimate reveal and showdown that follows. Even in the final showdown between Makeshift and his impostor, Melcher avoids the all too common element of the twins trying to convince everyone that the other is the fraud. Instead he has Makeshift state that he had the situation in hand. Even then, it left viewers to wonder if that was indeed Makeshift or not. It’s a nice change of pace from the classic evil twin plot for which Melcher is highly deserving of his own praise.

“Thirst” closes out Ultimate Decepticons. Marsha Griffin crafted the script for this episode. And in watching this episode, audiences will agree that she is just as deserving of praise for her work as Melching and Capizzi are for theirs. That is because her script will bring just as many laughs as it will excitement and laughs. Griffin’s story is one of those rare instances in which the Autobots and Decepticons aren’t seen fighting one another. It sees Starscream and Knockout testing Ratchet’s synthetic Energon on Cy.L.A.S. Things don’t go exactly as planned, obviously. Instead of helping, it makes Cy.L.A.S. aggressive and requires him to be restrained. The duo decides to use Dark Energon on him in hopes that it would balance him out. The result is quite the opposite. It makes him even more aggressive and also turns him into an energon-craving zombie vampire robot thing. In their attempt to outrun Cy.L.A.S. Knockout makes a joke about having watched human horror stories and their truthfulness in killing the walking dead. Griffin is to be commended here as the playful stab at all of the horror movies out there is sure to generate its share of laughs. The duo’s very attempt to escape Cy.L.A.S. and his hordes of fellow energon-sucking zombie vampire robots is just as funny. That is because the manner in which the pair runs for their lives from each one is anything but serious. It’s obvious that Griffin intentionally did this so as to keep the mood from getting too serious. There is even a scene in which Knockout and Starscream have to convince Megatron about the hordes at which point Megatron turns around tells one of the zombies from advancing. The zombie is promptly dispatched by Megatron as it advances on him. Megatron’s cool demeanor as he does so is worth its own share of laughs. Of course for all of the entertainment value in Griffin’ s script, there is also some action as Cy.L.A.S. does meet his eventual end at the hands of Airachnid. That scene is the episode’s one real serious moment. Of course for those that might not be familiar with the series, the reveal in his death might lead to some confusion for obvious reasons. Of course it could lead said viewers to pick up one or all three of the series’ seasons so as to understand and appreciate that one scene. It is just one more example of how the writing behind Ultimate Decepticons’ featured episodes makes the collection in whole so interesting and enjoyable for Transformers fans of all ages. That is not to take anything away from her work in “Prey” or Marty Isenberg’s work in “Crossfire.” Both scripts are equally gripping and entertaining in their own right. The work put into all five episodes makes each one equally entertaining in its own right. Collectively, they make Ultimate Decepticons yet another welcome addition to any Transformers fan’s collection.

Ultimate Decepticons’ featured episodes and the writers that brought the episodes to life are both key elements in the overall presentation of this new Transformers Prime compilation. While both elements are each important in their own right, the work of the series’ voice cast is just as important to the overall experience. It goes without saying that the voice cast is just as impressive as the writers in carrying out their duties here beginning with that of Peter Cullen. Cullen has brought voice to the Autobots’ leader ever since the Transformers first came to small screens across America back in 1984. He is just as impressive here as in any of the franchise’s previous installments. Whether leading the Autobots in battle or laying injured, on the verge of dying, Cullen has perfected his performance of the famed Autobot. Steven Blum is just as impressive throughout each episode as the voice of Starscream. He fully embodies Starscream’s persona as he schemes to overthrow Megatron (as in previous Transformers series) and throws his pride around, which in turn leads to him being thrown around more than once in each episode. On another note, Jeffrey Combs and Kevin Michael Richardson are just as impressive as the voices of Ratchet and Bulkhead respectively. Combs does a great job of bringing out Ratchet’s grumpy but caring old grandfather style figure while Richardson is just as entertaining as the charismatic Bulkhead. That is especially displayed in “Con Job” when Bulkhead originally thinks that the Makeshift he is talking to is the real Makeshift. He’s one of those light-hearted figures that is as caring as can be but is just as deadly when necessary. It’s just one more example of why the work of the show’s voice cast is just as important to the whole of these episodes as the work of the episodes’ writers and of the episodes themselves to the overall viewing experience of Transformers Prime: Ultimate Decepticons. All three elements together make this latest compilation, again, one that any Transformers fan will want to have in his or her own home DVD library if they don’t already own any of the series’ full season sets.

Transformers Prime: Ultimate Decepticons is a collection that while it features only five episodes, offers plenty for audiences to appreciate. Its selection of episodes represents all three of the series’ seasons and does so to the point that they will leave audiences wanting to purchase all three seasons and get the whole story of Transformers Prime. The work of the series’ writers in each of the featured episodes is just as important as the episodes themselves. The work of the series’ voice cast is just as important as the previously noted elements to this DVD’s overall viewing experience. Each noted element plays its own important part in the whole of Ultimate Decepticons. All combined, they make this collection another welcome addition to any Transformers fan’s home DVD library. It is available now in stores and online and can be ordered online direct via Shout! Factory’s online store at https://www.shoutfactory.com/kids/kids-animation/transformers-prime-ultimate-decepticons. More information on this and other titles from Shout! Factory is available online now at:

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