And the Winners Are...

The Portland Phoenix has announced the winners and runner-ups of their third annual short-film festival:

Best Drama
Winner: "Walk On By," Lisa Wolfinger
Runner-Up: "This, We Have Now," Jeff Griecci

Best Music Video
Winner: "Antique Shop," Will Ethridge
Runner-Up: "Outside the City Walls," David Camlin

Best Comedy
Winner: "Myth Perceptions: The Sheriff's Tale," Matt Power
Runner-Up: "Double Oh," Jeff Griecci

Best Documentary
Winner: "Let's Make a Deal," Mike Russell
Runner-Up: "The Fair," Roger McCord

Best Reality Video
Winner: "Flyin' John," Roger McCord

Best Production
Winner: "The Perimeter," Sarah Matzke
Runner-Up: "Artifact, Episode 3," William Fraser Jr.

PROJECT AYNA-V, produced by Westbrook's own Unicorn Cove, obviously wasn't nominated for any of these awards.

- John C.L. Morgan

Top 10 Local CDs: September 15- September 21, 2008

Here are the Top 10 Local CDs for the week of September 15- September 21, courtesy of the Portland Phoenix:

1. Dead Season, "When Everything's Lost..."
2. The Wrecking, "A New Abolition"
3. Dead Season, "Rise"
4. Dominic and the Lucid, "Season of the Sun"
5. Rustic Overtones, "Long Division"
6. Cambiata, "To Heal"
7. Darien Brahms, "Number 4"
8. Prospect Hill, "For the Lovers and the Haters and the Dead"
9. Jerks of Grass, "Come on Home"
10. Paranoid Social Club, "Axis III & I"

The list was compiled from Bull Moose Music.

- John C.L. Morgan

Top 10 Local CDs: August 25-August 31, 2008

Here are the Top 10 Local CDs for the week of August 25-August 31, courtesy of the Portland Phoenix:

1. The Wrecking, "A New Abolition"
2. Dead Season, "When Everything's Lost..."
3. Dead Season, "Rise"
4. Jan Broberg Carter, "Swift Justice"
5. Dominic and the Lucid, "Season of the Sun"
6. As Fast As, "Destroy the Plastique Man"
7. Bill Chinnock, "Badlands"
8. Jerks of Grass, "Come on Home"
9. Darien Brahms, "Number 4"
10. Prospect Hill, "For the Lovers and the Haters and the Dead"

The list was compiled from Bull Moose Music.

- John C.L. Morgan

Top 10 Local CDs: August 11-August 17, 2008

Here are the Top 10 Local CDs for the week of August 11-August 17, (the album's spot in last week's Top 10 is in parentheses, much like this fyi note), courtesy of the Portland Phoenix:

1. Dead Season, "When Everything's Lost..." (1)
2. Dead Season, "Rise" (2)
3. Bill Chinnock, "Badlands" (-)
4. Jerks of Grass, "Come on Home" (3)
5. Loki, "No Disclaimers" (6)
6. As Fast As, "Destroy the Plastique Man" (7)
7. Prospect Hill, "For the Lovers and the Haters and the Dead" (-)
8. Cambiata, "To Heal" (9)
9. Civil Disturbance, "Battle Within" (-)
10. Dead Season, "Down Again" (EP) (-)

The list was compiled from Bull Moose Music.

- John C.L. Morgan

Top 10 Local CDs: August 4-August 10, 2008

Here are the Top 10 Local CDs for the week of August 4-August 10, (the album's spot in last week's Top 10 is in parentheses, much like this fyi note), courtesy of the Portland Phoenix:

1. Dead Season, "When Everything's Lost..." (1)
2. Dead Season, "Rise" (3)
3. Jerks of Grass, "Come on Home" (-)
4. Rustic Overtones, "Long Division" (4)
5. Phantom Buffalo, "Take to the Trees" (2)
6. Loki, "No Disclaimers" (5)
7. As Fast As, "Destroy the Plastique Man" (6)
8. The Baltic Sea, "Through the Scenic Heights and Days Regrets" (10)
9. Cambiata, "To Heal" (7)
10. Spose, "Preposterously Dank" (-)

The list was compiled from Bull Moose Music.

- John C.L. Morgan

Top 10 Local CDs: July 28-August 3, 2008

Here are the Top 10 Local CDs for the week of July 28-August 3, (the album's spot in last week's Top 10 is in parentheses, much like this fyi note), courtesy of the Portland Phoenix:

1. Dead Season, "When Everything's Lost..." (1)
2. Phantom Buffalo, "Take to the Trees" (6)
3. Dead Season, "Rise" (2)
4. Rustic Overtones, "Long Division" (3)
5. Loki, "No Disclaimers" (8)
6. As Fast As, "Destroy the Plastique Man" (4)
7. Cambiata, "To Heal" (7)
8. Civil Disturbance, "Battle Within" (-)
9. Prospect Hill, "For the Lovers and the Haters and the Dead" (-)
10. The Baltic Sea, "Through the Scenic Heights and Days Regrets" (-)

The list was compiled from Bull Moose Music.

- John C.L. Morgan

Top 10 Local CDs: July 21-July 27, 2008

Here are the Top 10 Local CDs for the week of July 21-27, (the album's spot in last week's Top 10 is in parentheses, much like this fyi note), courtesy of the Portland Phoenix:

1. Dead Season, "When Everything's Lost..." (1)
2. Dead Season, "Rise" (2)
3. Rustic Overtones, "Long Division" (4)
4. As Fast As, "Destroy the Plastique Man" (3)
5. Mindset X, "Thread" (5)
6. Phantom Buffalo, "Take to the Trees" (-)
7. Cambiata, "To Heal" (7)
8. Loki, "No Disclaimers" (8)
9. Cambiata, "Into the Night" (-)
10. Paranoid Social Club, "Axis III & I" (9)

The list was compiled from Bull Moose Music.

- John C.L. Morgan

Top 10 Local CDs: July 14-July 20, 2008

Here are the Top 10 Local CDs for the week of July 14-20, (the album's spot in last week's Top 10 is in parentheses, much like this fyi note), courtesy of the Portland Phoenix:

1. Dead Season, "When Everything's Lost..." (1)
2. Dead Season, "Rise" (2)
3. As Fast As, "Destroy the Plastique Man" (3)
4. Rustic Overtones, "Long Division" (4)
5. Mindset X, "Thread" (-)
6. Various Artists, "Greetings from Area Code 207, Vol. 7" (9)
7. Cambiata, "To Heal" (-)
8. Loki, "No Disclaimers" (4)
9. Paranoid Social Club, "Axis III & I" (5)
10. Paranoid Social Club, "Axis II" (10)

The list was compiled from Bull Moose Music.

- John C.L. Morgan

Top 10 Local CDs: May 19- May 25, 2008

Here are the Top 10 Local CDs for the week of May 19-May 25 (the album's spot in last week's Top 10 is in parentheses, much like this fyi note), courtesy of the Portland Phoenix:

1. Dead Season, "When Everything's Lost..." (-)
2. Bob Marley, "Maine-iac on the Loose" (4)
3. Dead Season, "Rise" (1)
4. Various Artists, "Greetings from Area Code 207, Vol. 7" (3)
5. Rustic Overtones, "Long Division" (2)
6. As Fast As, "Destroy the Plastique Man" (5)
7. Cambiata, "To Heal" (6)
8. Time for Change, "Apocalyptic Fantasy" (7)
9. Civil Disturbance, "The Battle Within" (9)
10. Too Late the Hero, "Is This Thing On?" (-)

The list was compiled from Bull Moose Music.

- John C.L. Morgan

Top 10 Local CDs: May 12- May 18, 2008

Here are the Top 10 Local CDs for the week of May 12-May 18 (the album's spot in last week's Top 10 is in parentheses, much like this fyi note), courtesy of the Portland Phoenix:

1. Dead Season, "Rise" (1)
2. Rustic Overtones, "Long Division" (3)
3. Various Artists, "Greetings from Area Code 207, Vol. 7" (2)
4. Bob Marley, "Maine-iac on the Loose" (-)
5. As Fast As, "Destroy the Plastique Man" (4)
6. Cambiata, "To Heal" (5)
7. Time for Change, "Apocalyptic Fantasy" (8)
8. Bob Marley, "Goin Up the Faya" (-)
9. Civil Disturbance, "The Battle Within" (6)
10. Bob Marley, "Don't Feed the Natives" (-)

The list was compiled from Bull Moose Music.

- John C.L. Morgan

Top 10 Local CDs: May 5- May 11, 2008

Here are the Top 10 Local CDs for the week of May 5-May 11 (the album's spot in last week's Top 10 is in parentheses, much like this fyi note), courtesy of the Portland Phoenix:

1. Dead Season, "Rise" (3)
2. Various Artists, "Greetings from Area Code 207, Vol. 7" (1)
3. Rustic Overtones, "Long Division" (2)
4. As Fast As, "Destroy the Plastique Man" (4)
5. Cambiata, "To Heal" (8)
6. Civil Disturbance, "The Battle Within" (10)
7. Sly-Chi, "The Space" (6)
8. Time for Change, "Apocalyptic Fantasy" (5)
9. Cambiata, "Into the Night" (9)
10. Dave Mallett, "Midnight on the Water" (-)

The list was compiled from Bull Moose Music.

- John C.L. Morgan

Top 10 Local CDs: April 28- May 4, 2008

Here are the Top 10 Local CDs for the week of April 28-May 4 (the album's spot in last week's Top 10 is in parentheses, much like this fyi note), courtesy of the Portland Phoenix:

1. Various Artists, "Greetings from Area Code 207, Vol. 7" (1)
2. Rustic Overtones, "Long Division" (2)
3. Dead Season, "Rise" (4)
4. As Fast As, "Destroy the Plastique Man" (3)
5. Time for Change, "Apocalyptic Fantasy" (-)
6. Sly-Chi, "The Space" (8)
7. Cambiata, "Into the Night" (9)
8. Cambiata, "To Heal" (7)
9. Sidecar Radio, "Wave Principle" (-)
10. Civil Disturbance, "The Battle Within" (-)

The list was compiled from Bull Moose Music.

- John C.L. Morgan

Top 10 Local CDs: April 21- April 27, 2008

Here are the Top 10 Local CDs for the week of April 21-April 27 (the album's spot in last week's Top 10 is in parentheses, much like this fyi note), courtesy of the Portland Phoenix:

1. Various Artists, "Greetings from Area Code 207, Vol. 7" (-)
2. Rustic Overtones, "Long Division" (1)
3. As Fast As, "Destroy the Plastique Man" (3)
4. Dead Season, "Rise" (2)
5. Spose, "Preposterously Dank" (4)
6. Lost on Liftoff, "Mixtape Blackouts" (5)
7. Cambiata, "To Heal" (9)
8. Sly-Chi, "The Space" (8)
9. Cambiata, "Into the Night" (6)
10. Christian Cuff, "Silo" (10)

The list was compiled from Bull Moose Music.

- John C.L. Morgan

Top 10 Local CDs: April 14- April 20, 2008

Here are the Top 10 Local CDs for the week of April 14-April 20, courtesy of the Portland Phoenix:

1. Rustic Overtones, "Long Division"
2. Dead Season, "Rise"
3. As Fast As, "Destroy the Plastique Man"
4. Spose, "Preposterously Dank"
5. Lost on Liftoff, "Mixtape Blackouts"
6. Cambiata, "Into the Night"
7. Civil Disturbance, "Battle Within"
8. Sly-Chi, "The Space"
9. Cambiata, "To Heal"
10. Christian Cuff, "Silo"

The list was compiled from Bull Moose Music.

- John C.L. Morgan

On Patriots' Day

Jeff Inglis of the Portland Phoenix's About Town blog reminded me of the peculiar nature of the Patriots' Day holiday and does well explaining the Maine connections to the holiday.

So I'm going to unashamedly complement his post by referring to two sites that give context to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's "Paul Revere's Ride" (here and here), as well as a YouTube video that is creepy, mind-numbing, and enjoyable all at the same time.

Our unfortunate union with the Commonhealth of Massachusetts has one redeeming quality after all.

- John C.L. Morgan

FaT Voted Best French Restaurant

The Frog and Turtle was voted by Portland Phoenix readers to be the Best French Restaurant in, er, Portland.

The inspiration of mostly good reviews (click here for a quick sample) since it opened at 3 Bridge Street last fall, FaT receives complimentary words in the write-up: "The donuts are well on their way to legendary." Well said.

As for the geographical dissonance, at least Phoenix editors acknowledged the Frog and Turtle's Westbrook digs.

- John C.L. Morgan

Top 10 Local CDs: March 31-April 6, 2008

Here are the Top 10 Local CDs for the week of March 31-April 6 (the album's spot in last week's Top 10 is in parentheses, much like this fyi note), courtesy of the Portland Phoenix:

1. Rustic Overtones, "Long Division" (1)
2. As Fast As, "Destroy the Plastique Man" (2)
3. Dead Season, "Rise" (3)
4. Cambiata, "To Heal" (7)
5. Sly-Chi, ""The Space" (4)
6. Civil Disturbance, "Battle Within" (5)
7. Christian Cuff, "Silo" (10)
8. Spose, "Preposterously Dank" (8)
9. Cambiata, "Into the Night" (9)
10. Samuel James, "Return of Sugar Smallhouse" (-)

The list was compiled from Bull Moose Music.

- John C.L. Morgan

Top 10 Local CDs: March 24-March 30, 2008

Here are the Top 10 Local CDs for the week of March 24-March 30 (the album's spot in last week's Top 10 is in parentheses, much like this fyi note), courtesy of the Portland Phoenix:

1. Rustic Overtones, "Long Division" (2)
2. As Fast As, "Destroy the Plastique Man" (1)
3. Dead Season, "Rise" (4)
4. Sly-Chi, ""The Space" (8)
5. Civil Disturbance, "Battle Within" (5)
6. Rustic Overtones, "Light at the End" (3)
7. Cambiata, "To Heal" (6)
8. Spose, "Preposterously Dank" (9)
9. Cambiata, "Into the Night" (-)
10. Christian Cuff, "Silo" (-)

The list was compiled from Bull Moose Music.

- John C.L. Morgan

2008 Best Music Poll: Our Picks

For the last couple weeks, I've been listing the nominees for the Portland Phoenix's 2008 Best Music Poll and linking to the bands' MySpace.com pages. But now we're providing links to all the categories and our preferences in each category. So, without further ado, here are our picks for the various categories:

Best New Act
Honey Clouds

Best Singer-Songwriter
Rev. Paul S. Cunnynghame

Best Hip-Hop Act
Brzowski

Best DJ/Dance Act
Graymatter

Best Electronic Act
None

Best World-Music Act
Okbari

Best Male Vocalist
Jonny Balzano-Brooks (Phantom Buffalo)

Best Female Vocalist
Emilia Dahlin

Best R&B/Soul/Blues Act
Samuel James

Best Indie Act
Phantom Buffalo

Best Roots Act
King Memphis

Best Heavy Music/Metal Act
Dead Season

Best Punk Act
The Pubcrawlers

Best Category-Defying Act
Big Blood

Best Rock Act
Hiss & Chambers

Best Local Act
Samuel James

You can vote in 2008 Best Music Poll by clicking here.

- John C.L. Morgan

2008 Best Music Poll Nominees

Nominees for Best Local Act in the Portland Phoenix's 2008 Best Music Poll are:

• Cambiata
• Covered in Bees
• Cult Maze
• Fire on Fire
• Samuel James
• Rustic Overtones

You can vote for Best Local Act here.

- John C.L. Morgan