The Lazarus Effect
Rated PG-13 {2 out of 5 stars}
The Lazarus Effect follows mad scientist couple Zoe McConnell (Olivia Wilde) and Frank Walton (Mark Duplass) as they try to find the secret to reincarnation at fictional university St. Paternus in Berkley, Calif. With the help of their science team, Clay (American Horror Story’s Evan Peters) and Niko (writer, comedian and rapper Donald Glover), and their documentarian, Eva (Sarah Bolger), Zoe and Frank perform and record their experiments on animals. They move from experimenting on pigs to dogs, sort of like Pet Sematary. Of course Zoe and Frank prove successful in their experiment and all hell breaks loose, because everyone knows that you cannot bring any living thing back from the dead without repercussions.
All seems innocent enough with the zombie animals, but soon the experiment becomes a true matter of life and death for the whole team as they are forced to make the difficult decision to perform their mad scientist stuff on one of their own members. Matters of faith and scientific morality are thrown out the window and Frank, Zoe, Niko, Clay and Eva must ask the question, “Who are we really helping?”
In true horror movie fashion, there are flashes of Hell, demonic faces, burning dolls and creepy little children; but the question I continued to ask myself was, “What does it all mean?” Now, I am the horror movie buff. I have seen everything from Killer Mermaids (it really exists, by the way, and you can watch it on Netflix…you’re welcome) to The Shining, a horror movie classic. Clearly, I give all horror films a chance and the writers of this movie definitely had an idea, but I just don’t believe that it was executed properly. The film seemed to be all over the place, trying very hard to be deep and meaningful and not living up to the hype. We are shown that Olivia Wilde’s character, Zoe, has a sinister past and that somehow syncs up with the experiment and her Catholic faith (which is mentioned repeatedly), but I never quite figured out the connection. For me, the film just became flashes of darkness and black pupils in a science lab accompanied by screaming and peculiar deaths.
The Lazarus Effect was exceptionally short (only an hour and 23 minutes to be exact) and the ending left the possibility open for a sequel or perhaps even a trilogy (Blumhouse Productions is known for their horror trilogies). This had me thinking that maybe that’s why there were so many plot holes, because they will be filled in later on down the line in subsequent movies. But all the holes left me confused and a little bored. I’m not saying that I wouldn’t see the sequel if there ever is one. Obviously I would because you know, Killer Mermaids…but I probably wouldn’t pay to see it in the theaters. I’ll just wait for Netflix and watch it in the confines of my bed with sweatpants, hair tied, chillin’ with no makeup on…and of course popcorn because all movie watching should be accompanied with popcorn.
Though, it was nice to see one of my favorite comedians and rappers, Donald Glover (aka Childish Gambino) in a film, and I will continue to pay for anything he blesses his pretty little face with. My advice to those who were rooting for this movie is to wait for it to come to Netflix or Redbox and don’t waste the $11.25. The movie just never really got to the point and there were no particularly startling parts. So, I give the writers a hand for trying but you win some and you lose some. Instead, I suggest watching the obvious inspiration for this film, Pet Sematary, and see how a true horror classic is done.
(in 140 Characters or Less)
How many albums came out in 2014? Hell if we know. Eleventy-billion? It was a lot, let’s just leave it at that. You probably didn’t have time to listen to all of them, that’s why we picked out our 30 favorites from local and national/international bands to share with you. Now, now…we know what you’re saying. “But Submerge, now that the holidays are over and we’re all back to work and stuff, how do you expect us to read another long-ass ‘best-of’ list?” Hey, you know we gotchoo. We waxed eloquently about these 30 albums in Twitter-friendly blurbs. Now, who’s your best bro? We thought so…
30.
J.Sirus
Varsity Blues
Self-released
You’d think this homegrown MC was in Alcatraz from all the bars on his second album. But J.Sirus clearly breaks out here and is on the run.
29.
Sun Kil Moon
Benji
Caldo Verde Records
Heavy lyrics (assisted suicide) and the mundane (trips to Panera Bread) are equally vital. It’s folk, but it’s so much more.
28.
Sylvan Esso
Sylvan Esso
Partisan
Velvety voiced melodies woven into a dark bassy web. The two elements could stand alone as quality songs but together they’re beyond catchy.
27.
Ty Segall
Manipulator
Drag City
For his seventh studio album, the prolific fuzz-rocker charted deeper waters for a cathartic, trippy, Kinks-like psych romp over 17 tracks.
26.
Childish Gambino
Kauai EP
Glassnote
Been tough taking Donald Glover seriously as a full-fledged rapper. But now that he’s crooning like MJ we have no choice but to respect him.
25.
Exquisite Corps
Vignettes
Excorpsmusic
For their sophomore release, Ex Corps stripped down their sound, dropped a string section (mostly), to bring a driving, soulful rock album.
24.
White Reaper
White Reaper
PolyVinyl
There are at least three punks in Louisville. Together they’re called White Reaper and none of them can legally drink, so buy ‘em a 12er.
23.
Kurt Travis
Everything Is Beautiful
Blue Swan Records
Travis ditches the post-hardcore he’s known for and delivers an impressive full-length pop album with lush melodies and clean production.
22.
Young Aundee
Caveat Emptor
Waaga Records
Buyer beware. A lyrically sparse EP wading in the deep end of ominous soundwaves, so that the electronica must emote the mood.
21.
Summit
Spellbreaker
Self-released
Dark metal oozing with evil. The song “Soldier” alone has enough firepower to win the war on terror, but probably for the wrong side.
20.
Salt Wizard
Salt Wizard
Self-released
That mood with a playlist of Piper @ Gates of Dawn, VU-Loaded, Pet Sounds, Cowboy Junkies? Add this album to that list. Sac dreampop heroes.
19.
Hurray for the Riff Raff
Small Town Heroes
ATO Records
Puerto Rican from the Bronx grows up on doo-wop & Motown, then dips into riot grrrl punk before settling on the sweetest of country styles.
18.
SZA
Z
Top Dawg Entertainment
Emotive, raspy & powerful R&B voice delivers intelligent, poetic lyrics atop constructed soundscapes w/ unique time changes, spoken word.
17.
Michael RJ Saalman
Lxus Shaq
Crash Symbols
On Lxus Shaq, Michael RJ Saalman constructs a world of experimental pop tunes that spark sonic hallucinations through osculating synths.
16.
YG
My Krazy Life
Def Jam
A sly tribute to G-funk packed with synths, 808s and scary-ass gangster shit. It’s everything Republicans hate about rap.
15.
Crude Studs
Crude Studs 7-inch
Self-release
Aggravated verses meet sporadic, chaotic change-ups. From start to finish, the EP lasts 15 minutes. But, sometimes, that’s all she wrote.
14.
Chuck Ragan
Till Midnight
SideOneDummy
Heartfelt, moving folk songs that don’t forget to rock from Northern California’s sageliest songwriter. Ragan just gets better with age.
13.
FKA Twigs
LP1
Young Turks
FKA Twigs’ debut is a shuddering, sumptuous dose of futuristic chamber-soul perfect for carrying us into the chilly months of early 2015.
12.
Earth
Primitive and Deadly
Southern Lord
Carlson’s riffs combine with Lanegan’s vox to make molten metal magic. #stonerboner
11.
Mac DeMarco
Salad Days
Captured Tracks
Sounds like killing a sunny afternoon w/ nothing to do in a low-lying, wood-paneled den w/ beaded curtains, but it’s a good thing, really.
10.
Sturgill Simpson
Metamodern Sounds in Country Music
High Top Mountain
Refreshing ‘70s Outlaw Country throwback vibe w/ plenty of slick licks & proper twang. No phony caricatures. Old school troubadours proud.
09.
Tele Novella
Cosmic Dial Tone
Lolipop Records
Cosmic Dial Tone stylistically and instrumentally takes us back to the basics while keeping it quirky & eclectic, modern groovy done right.
08.
DLRN
Neon Noir
Waaga Records
The synth-fueled, sexier side of hip-hop for those in search of that golden-era feel layered with endless soundscapes & head-bobbin’ beats.
07.
The War on Drugs
Lost in the Dream
Secretly Canadian
What has 10 legs, smokes a lot of weed & sounds like mid-’80s Don Henley? The War On Drugs’ Lost in the Dream. We still hate the Eagles, tho.
06.
Future Islands
Singles
4AD
Dreamy synthpop embellished with the howls of Samuel Herring. This is Future Islands. If you haven’t been introduced, please do so now.
05.
Tycho
Awake
Ghostly International
Epic and absolutely addicting synth-driven instrumental album that’s ambient, groovy, melodic and psychedelic. Road trip to this!
04.
Dre-T
Sacramentality
Sol Life Music
Roots run deep in hip-hop, soul and intellect. The voice of the streets, a disenfranchised people and universally Sacramento all the same.
03.
G. Green
Area Codes
Mt. St. Mtn.
Staccato beats, quirky vocals & airy guitar riffs comprise the plucky quartet’s sophomore effort. Reinvention, done.
02.
Hoods
Gato Negro
Artery Recordings
With their first new album in five years, Sacto hardcore legends Hoods are back and as brutal as ever. Gato Negro is a mean pussycat!
01.
Sunmonks
In a Desert of Plenty
Crossbill Records
Sunmonks seduces w/ clattering beats, enchanting harmonies & horns to make ur heart sing. You’ll dream of celebration under the desert sun.
Childish Gambino, Danny Brown
Ace of Spades, Sacramento – Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Childish Gambino’s Camp Gambino Tour sold out Ace of Spades months in advance. The line to get in stretched the length of the R Street block and wrapped down 14th, halfway to S Street. Inside it was a patient wait through one opener to see a young Hollywood actor from NBC’s Community, Donald Glover, take the stage as a rapper.
There’s no use hiding it. The opener was Detroit’s Danny Brown. A recent signee to Fool’s Gold Records and the artist I anointed as Rapper of the Year 2011 in another publication. As for Childish Gambino’s debut record Camp… I gave it a few listens in November and deemed it overrated. Glover’s Camp record is not as painful as Brian Austin Green’s One Stop Carnival album in the ‘90s, but if he’s serious about rapping over acting he’ll live in the shadow of Drake. But what the hell do I know? Danny Brown had a few pockets of fans in the first row shouting his gratuitous lines from his XXX album back at him. Childish Gambino had wall-to-wall admirers reciting every word to a song that shares its title with a TV show, canceled after 12 episodes.
It was his show for the taking and it’s easy to revel in the limelight with such positivity electrifying Ace of Spades. No songs faltered or lulled the set. It was hit, hit, hit for Gambino and even the time lapse for an encore seemed insignificant. He was impressive, but I did not leave converted.
My struggle with Glover/Gambino does not stem from questioning his talent as a performer or even as a songwriter. He’s a clever rhyme writer, interspersing wit culled from his stand-up like, “I sound weird, like nigga with a hard R” and references to Invader Zim. His balance between nerding out and sneaking in sentiment testifies to his mass appeal. He tours with a talented backing band, half of which look as though they toured with Travis McCoy, while the others possibly play violin behind Justin Vernon of Bon Iver. His stage presence is not the issue, and the giant screen displaying lyrics, forest landscapes and scenes from the streets of New York City were not the issue. It lies in not knowing how to perceive his craft.
The name Childish Gambino was conceived through the use of a Wu-Tang name generator, making it difficult to assess it as genuine or satire. The campy name paired with Glover’s notoriety as a stand-up comedian, his far superior talent in my opinion, and presence on a sit-com, lean towards the notion he’s a parody. So why weren’t we all laughing? Why was everyone singing along in earnest?
There were opportunities to laugh–plenty of them. Danny Brown exposed himself as an avid participant in cunnilingus by performing “I Will” and wagging his oblong tongue between his missing front teeth. He earned a few laughs beyond the front row by letting his followers deliver punch lines from “Monopoly” like, “Stank pussy smelling like Cool Ranch Doritos.” Childish Gambino is not short on humor either. He and Brown are contemporaries in rap humor as both love bragging about their sexual virility and their haters’ lack thereof. Guess which line is Danny Brown’s and which Childish Gambino’s is:
“I fuck bad bitches to Stacy Lattisaw, while y’all niggas got blue balls like an Avatar.”
“My dick is like an accent mark, it’s all about the over Es.”
The first quote is Brown on “Adderall Admiral.” The second is Gambino on “Bonfire.” Did you get it correct? I could split fine hairs like this for paragraphs and end up with an even part resembling the top of Crispin Glover’s head, but what’s the use? Danny Brown doesn’t have a television presence, which is still more powerful and influential than being critically lauded on the Internet.
Glover’s an act worth the price of admission. Place him in the recent crest of celebrities like Zooey Deschanel and Scarlett Johansson, who’ve earned successful recording careers. The trend could be gruesome and transparent, were the named figures less talented. It’s undeniable that their recording triumphs are assisted by their TV and film notoriety. Glover is privileged, but his closing statement on “Bonfire” (“Man why does every black actor gotta rap some?/ I don’t know, all I know is I’m the best one.”) hints that he’s aware. It could be worse. The actor/artists could cover Celine Dion instead of Tom Waits, perform alongside Sugar Ray instead of M. Ward, and bring Mac Miller on tour instead of Danny Brown. They should always be commended for their fine taste.
