All posts by Ascher Robbins

There’s a lot of bad music out there. Granted, people have different tastes and one man’s trash may be another’s treasure. But some songs are such complete and utter shit, such poorly-written nonsense, that most of humanity has come to accept their utter suckitude. I give you ten of the worst songs to ever (dis)grace the airwaves.   #10: “Friday” by Rebecca Black Awww, poor Becca. She was only a 13-year old, naive girl when the High Priest of Shit Music, producer Patrice Wilson (who will make another appearance onRead More

On the 4th of July, most people feel American while drinking a Budweiser. Others prefer an obnoxious red, white, and blue bottle of Svedka…which isn’t even an American company, so get it together! If you want to feel really American, there’s only one beverage that makes sense: good ol’ Kentucky bourbon whiskey. And this July 4th, I was able to try a truly transcendent taste of bourbon – Orphan Barrel’s limited release Rhetoric whiskey.   This 20 year-old bottle of bliss is a bourbon lover’s dream. BUT you better getRead More

Dogs and cats are both awesome in their own ways, don’t get me wrong. But I can’t be the only one who fantasizes about owning some weird, unique pets. Here are 10 animals that would make fantastic pets.Get your exotic animal licenses ready!   #10 – Pygmy Marmoset Weighing just over 3 ounces and measuring about 5 inches tall, the pygmy marmoset is the world’s smallest monkey. Having a regular monkey would be pretty dope, but having one that fits in the palm of your hand? UNREAL COOL. Plus, youRead More

Some music groups evolve and get better with every single album they put out. However, other groups start out hot…and then regress for the rest of their musical careers. Here are five bands who started out with all sorts of promise, only to get mired in mediocrity.   #5 – The Killers Sometimes a band tries SO hard to evolve and experiment and grow that they find themselves instead regressing and devolving. Such is the case with the Killers. After breaking into the mainstream with 2004’s multi-platinum Hot Fuss, theRead More

  We’ve all been there, man.  Read More

In the world of outdoor action sports, one girl stands out from the rest. Whether for her stunning looks or superb grip strength, rock climber Sierra Blair-Coyle is always involved in discussions in the sport. At only twenty years old, Sierra has made quite a name for herself in rock climbing competition recently, placing third in the Dominion RiverRock Competition in both bouldering and speed bouldering, her highest finish as a professional athlete. Sierra describes the podium finish as the “most proud moment of (her) career,” and don’t worry –Read More

Lana Del Rey, even with her melancholy vocals and brooding melodies, is far from epitomizing what being sad really is. If for whatever reason you’re having a rough start to your summer, here are ten of the saddest songs ever written to send you deeper into your dark place.     #10: Modest Mouse – “Little Motel” Whether you interpret “Little Motel” as referring to a divorce, a disintegrating relationship, or even the loss of a loved one, there is nothing happy about this track. Isaac Brock’s subtle vocals overRead More

A few weeks ago, Writtalin staff writer John O’Neill and I traveled to Comedy Works in Downtown Denver to check out the lovely and hilarious Iliza Shlesinger, a decorated comedienne, who we’d also just named as our #WCW. It was a packed house, as we anxiously waited for the Iliza, the evening’s headliner, to take the stage. As we sat through a few fantastic opening acts (special shoutout to Denver’s Troy Walker who was absolutely hilarious), we settled in, anticipating the winner of season six of NBC’s Last Comic StandingRead More

Today is my 24th birthday. What better way is there to celebrate than to make a listicle of all the important things I’ve learned in my 24 years on this planet? Without further ado, here are some of the key lessons I’ve learned thus far in life:   1. Not everyone finds offensive jokes funny. Some people find them offensive. 2. Never buy drinks at sporting events or concerts. Pocket shots and flasks are your wallet’s best friends. 3. Your parents actually have good advice, at least most of theRead More

It happened again. But this time, it was more than just another tragic news story – at least for me. This past weekend’s events hit way too close to home. I’m a UCSB graduate. I’ve partied in the same streets and eaten at the same restaurants where a coward named Elliot Rodger murdered 6 innocent people whom he blamed for his own personal shortcomings. If this had taken place three years ago, I could have been a victim. My friends could have been victims. It’s pretty surreal for a collegeRead More

In modern music, true musicianship, true composition, has largely gone by the wayside. Relatable lyrics, power chords, and computer-automated sheen has become the norm. However, there exist several groups, generally categorized as “post-rock,” that continue to focus on the music – the real nuances and complexities of melody, progression, and instrumentation – to create sonic soundscapes that allow a listener to truly lose themselves in the sound and the environment it creates. Perhaps the best known band in the genre is Austin’s Explosions in the Sky, who have found breakthroughRead More

Believe it or not, nine years have passed since a little known five-piece from San Diego burst onto the scene and into the ears of every American with a melancholy, beautiful power-ballad by the name of “Boston.” Seemingly overnight, Augustana – the creation of crooning frontman Dan Layus – found themselves thrust into the mainstream. “Boston” appeared on everything from MTV’s TRL (THAT WAS STILL A THING!) to episodes of Scrubs and One Tree Hill, and was played repeatedly on every major radio station. The song went on to becomeRead More

Do you like magic? Do you like comedy? I’m guessing you answered yes to both of those questions, cause let’s be honest: who doesn’t like being amazed and laughing? NOBODY, that’s who. So, assuming you like those things and aren’t some miserable curmudgeon, I’d like to introduce you to your new addiction: Tru Tv’s The Carbonaro Effect, starring magician/comedian Michael Carbonaro. Haven’t seen the show yet? Haven’t heard of it? Well, worry not, because the show actually premieres May 15th at 10PM Eastern. However, a first glimpse of this surefireRead More

Before I start here, let me be clear: I’m an ardent supporter of gay rights. I believe that being gay is no more of a choice than being white, black, brown, or blue. I believe that gay people are absolute equals in society, and should be treated accordingly. I’ve voted in support of gay marriage every chance I’ve had. And perhaps most on-point, I believe that a gay football player is just as qualified to be in the NFL as a heterosexual player. And that brings us to Michael Sam.Read More

The NFL is, by far, the wealthiest and most powerful sports league in America. With an annual revenue of around $9 billion, the National Football League dwarfs other professional sports leagues, both in America and abroad. But just how much of a giant in the NFL in the sports world? More than you can imagine. This “weekend” (Thursday night through Saturday morning), the NFL Draft took place in New York City. Obviously, the most-hyped bit of the draft was the first round, televised in primetime on Thursday evening. Needless toRead More