Adam – Page 34 – Adam Bender

Crocodiles Sharp on ‘Sleep Forever’

Published by Adam on October 3, 2010

If you were to combine the dark, twisted fuzz of The Raveonettes with the “We know we’re good” bombast of Oasis, you’d probably end up with something a bit like Crocodiles.

But forget the comparisons (another popular one on the ‘net is The Jesus and Mary Chain). On their new LP, Sleep Forever, this San Diego band provides 35 minutes of fresh and filler-free rock ‘n roll. The choruses are big, especially on the title track, with lyrics that are simultaneously bleak and psychadelic. “When you die you don’t really die/You just paint yourself across the sky,” singer Brandon Welchaz roars over Charles Rowell’s static/melodic guitar on “Billy Speed.”

Some have bemoaned the slower tracks — the pace drops to a heartbeat on track four, “Girl in Black,” before coming back to life on a track that — ironically enough — is called “Sleep Forever.” But if you switch off your iPod’s shuffle and swallow the album the old-fashioned way (in one dose), it all comes together.

Check out the video to the rockin’ title track below:

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Change Comes to Gotham City

Published by Adam on September 3, 2010

Batman and Robin Vol. 1: Batman Reborn by Grant Morrison

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’ve been pretty resistant to the Grant Morrison Batman books because of all the radical changes: Bruce Wayne is dead, he has a son named Damian, Damian is now Robin, Dick Grayson (the original Robin) is Batman, Bruce Wayne is actually not dead but lost in time… It’s all a bit much.

Still, this first collection of the Batman & Robin books featuring Dick and Damian is a pretty good read. These are some of the most fun and yet dark/bloody Batman stories I’ve read in some time. And it’s nice to see a focus on two Batman heroes, rather than the veritable Batman family featured in the books preceding the Grant Morrison run. Unlike the dynamic duo of yore, Batman and Robin don’t always get along, but in the end they always come together to stop the bad guys. Morrison also invents a gaggle of psychotic new villains who fit into Gotham perfectly. And the artwork by Frank Quitely and Philip Tan is always colorful and expressive.

I’m probably still going to avoid the Bruce-as-caveman comics, but happy to see there still is good writing in Batman.

View all my reviews

Review: Autolux – Transit Transit

Published by Adam on August 11, 2010

After a deafening six-year silence, Autolux return with a new album that builds upon and evolves the dark, distortion-filled rock ‘n roll of their 2004 debut.

The California-based band has garnered comparisons to ’90s alt-rock greats like Sonic Youth, thanks to its members’ ability to infuse noisy rock with real pop sensibility. The group’s forte is dissonant guitar underpinned by driving drums and a steady bass. Bass guitarist Eugene Goreshter is the lead singer, often sounding like a deranged Ben Gibbard (of Death Cab for Cutie fame). Drummer Carla Azar also ably contibutes vocals to a few tracks, sometimes trading off lines with Goreshter.

More than half a decade after their first LP Future Perfect, Autolux has reined in some of the noise. Goreshter’s vocals in Transit Transit show more melodic range, and the band seems less afraid to offer up the slow and mellow. While several of the tracks sound in the same vein of their original material (“Census,” “Audience No. 2”), they’re interwined with songs that remind of the Beatles (“Spots,” “The Bouncing Wall”), Earlimart and the Raveonettes. But while the influences show, there’s never a doubt that this is an Autolux album.

You can stream all of Transit Transit on the band’s MySpace page. My current favorite is “Highchair.”

If you like it, the MP3 version of the album is currently only $5.99 on Amazon.

Quick Update on New Novel

Published by Adam on July 12, 2010

Things are really starting to come together on my second novel, an apocalyptic romance set after the events of WE, THE WATCHED. It features some of the same characters, but I’m writing it so that you won’t have to have read the first one to understand what’s going on. Reading both might give you a fuller picture, however. Unlike my first novel, this one is written in third-person, past-tense perspective, which has given me a lot more freedom and I think ultimately will be easier for everyone to read.

My goal is to finish writing it by the end of the year, and then send it off to agents, contests, etc., in early 2011. In the meantime, you can get WE, THE WATCHED for $2.99 on Scribd and Smashwords. I’d love to hear any feedback on that book and suggestions for the new one in the comments section below.

Update: You can now get 50% off the price of WE, THE WATCHED on Smashwords, formatted for your Kindle or other eReader. Deal expires July 31.

Now on Smashwords!

Published by Adam on May 14, 2010

I’m excited to announce that WE, THE WATCHED is now available through Smashwords, an indie eBook publisher. This means you can now download my novel about government surveillance and propaganda in multiple formats that will look great on your iPhone, iPad, Kindle, Nook or other popular reading device! Through Smashwords, the book is now listed on several popular iPhone apps, and will also soon be available on many popular eBook stores including Sony, Apple, and Barnes & Noble.

Smashwords strips most of the page formatting out of the book so it is more compatible with eReaders. However, if you want a PDF that looks more like a real book, please check out the book on Scribd. The full eBook costs $2.99, but you can read the first several chapters for free.

One more thing! If you like WE, THE WATCHED or my other writings, please become a fan of my new Facebook page. Thanks.