CD Review: The Bombpops “Fear of Missing Out”

“Fear of Missing Out”
The Bombpops
Fat Wreck Chords
Tracks: 12

Our score: 4 out of 5 stars

San Diego punkers The Bombpops are set to explode with their first full-length album titled “Fear of Missing Out”. Released via Fat Wreck Chords the 12 track album is the follow up to the bands 2015 self released EP titled “Can of Worms” and hits with a sound and energy that harkens back to punks resurge in the 90’s.

Fat Wreck Chords has a long and fabled history as one of the independent leaders of punk rock music so whenever I get a chance to check out a new release from them I jump at the chance. Right from the albums opening track “Capable of Lies” to the closing notes of “All in a Day’s Lurk” the album is two parts nostalgia and two parts new as the 4 piece band consisting of Poli van Dam, Jen Razavi, Josh Lewis and Neil Wayne provide listeners with 90’s styled pop-punk fueled with modern day angst. Tracks like “CA in July”, “Watch Me Fold” and “Sweet for Sorrow” are definitely worth noting as they provide a perfect example of my previous statement.

If you were ever into bands like Dance Hall Crashers or Save Ferris then you definitely owe it to yourself to check out The Bombpops and their latest release “Fear of Missing Out”. Not only does the band/album provide a new take on a familiar sound each track’s catchiness is through the roof making it an album you can throw on repeat and listen to multiple times.

Track Listing:
1.) Capable of Lies
2.) CA in July
3.) Be Sweet
4.) Sweet for Sorrow
5.) Jerk
6.) FOMO
7.) I Can’t
8.) Watch Me Fold
9.) Forever Since
10.) Brake Lights
11.) Marry. Fuck. Kill
12.) All in a Day’s Lurk

Blu-ray Review “Missing In Action 2: The Beginning”

Directed by: Lance Hool
Starring: Chuck Norris, Soon-Tek Oh, Steven Williams
Distributed by: 20th Century Fox / MGM
Release Date: June 5, 2012
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 95 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: N/A

If you haven’t seen Chuck Norris kick some major ass in “Missing in Action”, then you just haven’t lived. This film is a great follow-up to a great 80’s action film. Currently this film is a Walmart exclusive release and is only available to purchase there. It is cool to have this film on Blu-ray but it is a bit of a letdown like “Missing in Action”. I feel that this is really a cash-in to capital on Norris’ return to theaters in “The Expendables 2”.

This film is a prequel to the first “Missing In Action”, it flashbacks to when Colonel Braddock was captured during a rescue mission in the Vietnam war. It focuses around him and the other American POWs in a prison camp and his plans to escape. Braddock becomes a one-man fighting machine with his only mission to free himself and his men at any cost.

The Blu-ray presentation for “Missing In Action 2: The Beginning” looks good with its 1080p transfer. It is also presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1. But like “Mission in Action”, the audio track is disappointing with no surround track, only a DTS-HD Master Audio Mono. Nonetheless, if you are Chuck Norris loyal fan like myself, you will be happy enough just to have this film in HD. I can live without special features.

Blu-ray Review “Missing in Action”

Directed by: Joseph Zito
Starring: Chuck Norris, M. Emmet Walsh, David Tress
Distributed by: 20th Century Fox / MGM
Release Date: June 5, 2012
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 101 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: N/A

When its comes to Chuck Norris, I am completely bias. I love of his films and they just crack me up. I don’t laugh at him, I am just in awe of his coolness. I am the Chuck Norris fan that wears his shirts, recite his “facts” and respects the beard. Currently this film is a Walmart exclusive release and is only available to purchase there. It is cool to have this film on Blu-ray but it is a bit of a letdown. I feel that this is really a cash-in to capital on Norris’ return to theaters in “The Expendables 2”.

“Missing in Action” was a big franchise for Norris. It was followed by two sequels, both equally as good as the first. The first film follows, Colonel James Braddock, an American officer, who after escaping from a Vietnamese POW camp, he heads back to locate and save remaining MIAs. with the help of an attractive State Department official (Lenore Kasdorf) and a former Army buddy (M. Emmet Walsh), Braddock prepares to blast his way into Vietnam and save the day.

This release gives “Missing in Action” a decent presentation with its 1080p transfer. It is also presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The audio track is disappointing though with no surround track, only a DTS-HD Master Audio Mono. Nonetheless, if you are Chuck Norris loyal fan like myself, you will be happy enough just to have this film in HD. I can live without special features.