By Robin Ianson
When reviewing an album, I tend to just pop it into the player and listen through it a couple of times. I let the music reveal itself as a whole before noticing songs that seem to demand my attention. tUCo, Canadian band Ox’s fifth studio album, changed that process for me. The moment I heard… Continue reading Spun: Ox
By Robin Ianson
Ambition in the music industry is a good thing. It can help keep a band going through the lowest of lows and give bands the courage to push music in new directions or explore new sounds and ideas. Every once in a while a band comes along that is far too ambitious for its own… Continue reading Spun: DAATH
By Robin Ianson
Watching the news on television can be a frustrating experience. In a world where media conglomerates have a death grip on the medium, it can be hard to get the real message. However, VICE Magazine has come up with a novel solution: taking TV out of the hands of mainstream media by moving TV to… Continue reading VBS.tv: Reporting off the beaten path
Editor, the Gauntlet, [Re: “The Gift of Barong, a gift to surf cinema,” Robin Ianson, March 29, 2007.] Gauntlet Poser Robin Ianson has a bright future as a journalist. He not only listened well and took good notes, but also wove a good story. I enjoyed the article very much! Thanks and see you at… Continue reading Letter: Kudos, poser!
By Robin Ianson
Surfing films aren’t normally life changing. They are mostly uninspired affairs of sun, surf and girls in bikinis that try to attach themselves to the hip surfer lifestyle in a desperate grab for status. However The Gift of Barong: A Surfing and Cultural Odyssey dares to be something more, tackling some serious cultural issues while… Continue reading The Gift of Barong: A gift to surf cinema
By Robin Ianson
It wasn’t that long ago when discussions about Asian cinema revolved around the ubiquitous martial artist in the lead role and just how hilariously bad the dubbed dialogue was. While Asian cinema has become more accepted by the mainstream–evidenced by Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’s four Oscars–the stereotypes persist. Like an Asian Johnny Appleseed, Calgary Pan… Continue reading More than Crouching Tiger: Pan Asian Film Festival
By Robin Ianson
It’s easy to dismiss Cradle of Filth as a crude and disgusting band with no talent, but that’s only a half truth. Their infamous “Jesus is a Cunt” band t-shirts, complemented with the image of a topless masturbating nun, immediately put them on the blacklist of every church and parent group. However, as twisted and… Continue reading Cradle of Filth
By Robin Ianson
Manowar, second only to GWAR as heavy metal’s biggest joke, are back again with yet another eardrum assault. Holding the unofficial world record as loudest band on the planet at 129.5 decibels (ear damage starts at 80!) Manowar have been writing their over-the-top, hyper macho songs for over 20 years and show no signs of… Continue reading Spun: Manowar
By Robin Ianson
There are two types of indie bands. The first are great bands that are indie only because they have yet to be discovered and land a major label deal. The second are bands that revel in the label of indie and churn out album after album of mediocre music, but claim they don’t want to… Continue reading Spun: Oxford Collapse
By Robin Ianson
The Chiodo brothers have done it all. From bringing evil gremlins to life to blowing up Roseanne Barr’s house, they are the go-to guys for all things animated. It’s impossible not to have seen some special effect they have created for television shows, commercials or Hollywood feature-films without having lived under a rock. The Chiodo… Continue reading Freedom isn’t free — An interview with the Chiodo Brothers