I Liked It: KiD CuDi 1/6/10

Kid Cudi ruined my week.  And I mean that in the best way possible, because after that crazy concert, everything else just seems boring.  I have officially decided that concerts are pretty much the best way to spend your money, because you can't put a price on the fun and craziness of a good concert.  This concert, at The Rave in Milwaukee, was sold out and packed to capacity. Chip the Ripper opened, and did fine, although I could not understand a word he said (granted, I probably would have enjoyed his set more had I been more familiar with his music).  After he finished, there was a torturous 30-45 minute wait until Cudi came out.  As soon as he entered the stage, the crowd went crazy, and stayed crazy the whole night.  Cudi performed a mixture of old and new songs, ranging from Man on the Moon (The Anthem) off of his first mixtape through his latest recording, Memories.  I was going crazy along with everyone else while Cudi worked through his entire catalog, performing every one of my favorites except for The Prayer.  Cudi even gave us an acapella preview of a song from his next studio album, Cudder: The Revolution of Evolution, the full title of which was revealed for the first time. The only negatives were the abundance of young high-schoolers (most of which I suspect only came because they thought it was the cool thing to do and/or decided they wanted mommy and daddy to buy them tickets after hearing Day 'n Nite on Kiss FM) and haze of pot smoke which hung in the air.  All in all, the concert was an incredibly enjoyable experience due to Cudi's talents as an engaging entertainer. Next time Kid Cudi comes to town, get your tickets early, because they'll be going fast.

He's drinking apple juice....

photos "courtesy" of The Rave (I stole them)

I Liked It: In-N-Out

IN-N-OUT IS INCREDIBLE!! DELICIOUS BURGERS!! CHEAP PRICES!! GOOD SERVICE!! I'M PROBABLY GONNA BUY AN IN-N-OUT TSHIRT CUZ I LIKE IT SO MUCH!! IF YOU ARE EVER ON THE WEST COAST YOU HAVE TO EAT THERE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN!! I LOVE IN-N-OUT!!

Seriously though, it's really good.

I Liked It: Avatar

Ahhhhh!!! That last week in Vegas with no internet has put me so far behind.  Today I'm just gonna try and get caught up and everything I missed.  New music posts will be coming later today. Yes, that means the College Dropout review is gonna be pushed back till next month.  I was also planning to do my own best of the decade type deal, but I'm gonna postpone that indefinitely (probably never gonna get around to it).  Yes, I know, I'm lazy. With that being said, I decided to get my Avatar review out before it comes out on DVD.

I'm gonna keep it real short. Avatar will blow your freakin' mind: though the plot is predictable and the acting is average at best, the stunning visuals keep your eyes darting across the scene, greedily drinking in the spectacular effects James Cameron and his team created.  This is not a movie so much as an experience,a preview of the future of cinema.  If you haven't seen Avatar, go see it as soon as possible: don't deprive yourself of this awe-inspiring experience.

 

 

I Liked It: Five Guys Burgers and Fries

This is will be the first of many positive food reviews (I didn't take any of these pictures, but I chose those most representative of the meal I had).

Yesterday, I went to Five Guys Burgers and Fries for the third time.  The red and white themed restaurant is decorated with sacks of potatoes and complementary peanuts.  Reviews of the burgers and fries are posted on the walls, and a whiteboard near the cash register reveals where today's potatoes are from. The menu is relatively simple, consisting of little (single patty) burgers, and regular (double patty) burgers, as well as hot dogs and fries.  A few of my friends complained about the lack of shakes, but I didn't miss them.  Add-ons for the burgers such as lettuce, tomatoes, and onions are available free of charge, but be careful, as it is really easy to get carried away and overload your burger (something I learned the hard way my last two visits).  It should be noted that the jalapenos available are fresh, and I ended up taking them off of my burger the last time I dined there as they distracted from the taste.  This time, I kept it simple, ordering a little cheeseburger, a large fries, and a regular drink.  Unfortunately, this cost about $11, a little too pricey to pay for on a regular basis.  Burgers are made to order, so there was about a 5 minute wait.  Service was friendly, and the food came in a slightly grease-stained brown bag.  The burger was delicious, the meat juicy and flavorful and the toppings fresh. 

The fries, made from fresh cut skin on potatoes, were crispy and brown on the outside and soft on the inside, a nice departure from the frozen then fried fries found at most fast food restaurants.  The large fries, which cost me $5, came in a gargantuan cup, with an extra scoop of fries in the bag (I definitely would have been satisfied with the regular size fries).

 

Five Guys Burgers and Fries is definitely worth a visit for anyone who enjoys a good burger (though it should be mentioned that the quality of burger from nearby Kopp's is on par with that of Five Guys).

I Liked It: Waking Up

To be honest, I am really surprised that I liked OneRepublic’s new album.  I didn’t really like their singles (“Apologize” and “Stop & Stare”) from their first album, and if I don’t like the two songs I hear from a band that gets most of their plays on top 40 radio stations, I don’t give them another listen.  I made an exception in this case, which turned out to be a good decision.  The band shows an ear for great choruses, and can be easily likened to bands such as The Killers, U2 and Coldplay.  However, the outstanding production of their sophomore effort is the best reason to pick it up.  Unique drum beats, acoustic riffs, and lush string accompaniments create beautiful tracks such as “Good Life” and “All The Right Moves”.  Though some tracks drag on a little, OneRepublic's new, slightly tweaked sound is leaps and bounds ahead of their first outing, with great melodies and interesting lyrics creating a very nice album.


YES!!
 All The Right Moves,  Good Life, Marching  On, Secrets, Everybody Loves Me
No.
Waking Up, Lullaby, Missing Person 1 & 2

I Liked It: Attention Deficit

Fans of hip hop expect great things from Wale, an aspiring young rapper from DC, and they weren't disappointed with his debut album, Attention Deficit.  His first official LP combines clever rhymes and witty wordplay with his trademark go-go sound in order to convey his positive message.  His quick punchlines cover issues ranging everywhere from race relations to bulimia and coke addiction.  Wale shines on tracks such as the riff-driven Mirrors and the upbeat World Tour, but at times seems to be drifting away from the uniqueness that made A Mixtape About Nothing great.  All in all, this is a fantastic debut album from a rising star which should definitely be given a listen.

YES!!
Mirrors, World Tour,  90210,  Beautiful Bliss, Chillin', Triumph
No.
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