Contests

God’s unconditional love is the central focus of Joanna Beasley’s album, Loud Love. About it, Joanna says "We’re singing back to God what He already says about Himself and about us. His love is bold, true, loud, unconditional, and constantly pursuing you wherever you go!”

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The winner is PETER G. of Galloway, NJ.

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The randomly selected winning entry is: JANAN C. from RIVERWOODS, IL.

Is there anything that amazing Minnie Mouse cannot do? In this DVD from Disney Junior, Minnie's dream of singing onstage is about to come true -- until her Mickey Mouse Clubhouse backup band pals discover that their musical instruments are gone! Now the race is on to track them down and reach Melody Mountain by sunset. But even if they find the missing instruments in time, should Minnie sing the blues, croon a country tune, or boogie to a disco beat? It's going to take help from YOU -- plus a few Mouseketools -- to get Minnie in the right groove to totally rock out!

Bursting with fun, surprises, additional episodes and two delightful "Bow-Toons," Pop Star Minnie is simply song-sational!

Dan Rodriguez, an artist based out of Minneapolis, MN, is creating quite a buzz in the Midwest. The groove-based, bluesy over-toned sound of his music, mixed with his powerful, yet seductive voice creates an atmosphere different from other music. It's refreshing, tantalizing, and just plain good!

Rodriguez chose to create Come On Home in Nashville, with the intent of layering a back-to-roots Americana vibe on his work. The fresh setting resulted in totally unblemished emotion for Rodriguez’s finished music: “These are real, honest songs sung with hope and desperation… pain and joy,” he states.

“(Bassist/guitarist) Steve (Norgrove) and I had talked about doing a sort of low-key, homemade acoustic album," says Brian Lisik of Curtisinterruptedus, follow-up to his 2012 release The Mess That Money Could Buy. It is his fourth solo release since cutting his musical teeth as the founder and frontman of ‘90s slop rockers The Giants of Science.

Throughout, the singer and his crack band, the Unfortunates (Norgrove, guitarist Ray Flanagan, and drummer Craig Lisik), along with co-producer Benjamin Payne (drums, guitars, percussion, banjo, backing vocals) and guests including Roberts; Tim Longfellow (Todd Rundgren, Alex Bevan) on piano, organ and accordion; and cellist Matt Reese (The Flying Carpet People) harken back to the sounds of Big Star, Cheap Trick, early Aerosmith and John (when he was still Cougar) Mellencamp.

Long-time industry veteran Wyatt Easterling has spent a good part of his career as a successful songwriter, producer and as the head of A&R for a major label. But it’s often when those such as Easterling step out of the shadows as artists themselves that true music fans are rewarded. Such is the case with Easterling’s latest effort, Goodbye Hello. The album features eleven original songs that speak to love and loss, honoring the past, and a changing outlook on life and on the future.

“In the process of writing these songs I discovered, for the umpteenth time, that life is about facing change and embracing it,” said Easterling.  “As the new album began to come into focus, it dawned on me that I’d been writing songs about my own transitions.”

The album is summarized thus: The songs here are about endings and beginnings, some about living and some about dying, and in the end finding new love and how that brings out the best in us all.

This contest has ended. The winner is Jill R. of Pennsville, NJ.

Lara Croft returns, desperate for answers -- and seeking a hidden truth. After uncovering an ancient mystery, Lara must explore the most treacherous and remote regions of Siberia to find the secret of immortality before a ruthless organization known as Trinity. Lara must use her wits and survival skills, form new alliances, and ultimately embrace her destiny as the Tomb Raider.

Singer-songwriter Johnny Beauford is known for his distinctive Americana style, soaring vocals, and narrative lyrics. He employs a sense of spontaneity on his new sophomore set, A Pig Eating Past Love.

Beauford has made considerable waves in the Americana and local Texas music scene both as a solo artist and as part of bands the Jack Kerowax and bravo, max!

The seven-song EP was recorded in large part as a one-man process (with help on a few tracks from friends), resulting in a lo-fi sound and “interesting rhythm concepts” that fans of Beauford’s first solo work will recognize and appreciate. “Think Bon Iver’s debut For Emma, Forever Ago, performing most of the parts for each song on his own,” says Beauford. “But instead of a cabin in the woods of Wisconsin, I used a studio apartment in the big city of Dallas.”

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Americana songwriter Andy Hackbarth wrote and recorded Panorama Motel in the wake of a messy breakup. The record finds Hackbarth singing over acoustic guitars, dobro, upright bass and organ -- turning his recent brush with heartbreak into some of the most moving songs of his career.

No song sums it up better than the title track, which takes a headfirst dive into the frustration that follows a breakup.

“It’s reflective of my music career as a whole,” Hackbarth explains, “from the classical/Spanish guitar background to the darker, more indie/acoustic rock writing style that I’ve been gravitating toward lately. It’s beautiful, but dark and emotional. I’ve always loved the sound of the nylon-string guitar, and paired with layered violins, guitar swells and some haunting background vocals its aim is to capture the despair and loneliness we all feel after a breakup.

The Nate Jones Band EP is the five-song debut release from Cleveland, Ohio native Nate Jones, a young singer/songwriter who spikes his coffeehouse folk songs with soulful vocal melodies and intricate, funky fretwork on the acoustic guitar. The collection brims with Hammond organ, bluesy guitar solos, and the breezy charm of Jones’ voice.

The EP also introduces Jones’ band, a group of likeminded musicians who, in Jones’ words, “allow me to balance my love of the softer singer/songwriter music with heavier, guitar-driven rock music, blending everything into what I think is a unique and very original sound.”

An original sound, indeed. The Nate Jones Band EP is an old-school record for modern audiences, balanced somewhere between the glory days of the Laurel Canyon sound and the recent resurgence of neo-soul music.

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Rob Nance's second album, Signal Fires, finds him broadening the sound he introduced with his first effort, 2013’s Lost Souls & Locked Doors.  Incorporating a wide range of musical styles and instruments- everything from pedal steel guitars to retro Casio synthesizers, Rob made a conscious effort to push Signal Fires into places he had not ventured on his first record.

“This time around I wanted to take the music I’m comfortable with and see if I could push it in any new directions,” says Rob. “I think this album reflects my need to explore beyond the normal scope of folk and Americana music. Whether it was having pedal steel and synthesizer together in the same song or veering into psych rock on occasion, it was cathartic to at least follow some of ideas wherever they led, even if they didn’t always fit.”

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This contest has ended. The winner is KATHRYN C. of LIBERTY, KY.

So, you didn't win the contest featuring THE ORIGINALS Season 2 on Blu-ray? Well, you're not out of luck just yet! Because we still have THE ORIGINALS Season 2 on DVD, and we're making that available to one lucky winner starting... now!

This contest has ended. The two winners are DIANE B. of WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI, and KELLY G. of GASTONIA, NC.

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD hits the home entertainment market this Tuesday, September 1 on Blu-ray and DVD. So why not gear up your wardrobe for the occasion by winning one of these FURY ROAD tees?

The MAD MAX: FURY ROAD promotional tee has the MAD MAX: FURY ROAD logo on the front (with the theatrical release date), and "What a Lovely Day" emblazoned across the back. The shirts are black, and are a men's size S.

This contest has ended. The randomly selected winner is JAMES C. of SCRANTON, PA.

Up for grabs is the second season of the hit CW series and sister show of THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, THE ORIGINALS, on Blu-ray and Digital HD.

This contest has ended. The two randomly selected winners are:

AL J. of CHICAGO, IL  and JENNIFER M. of CHICAGO, IL.

So you didn't make it to Lollapalooza this year in Chicago? Well, you may have missed out on all those great bands, like SCHOOL OF ROCK ALL STARS, B0RNS, PHILIP SELWAY -- and, of course, PAUL MCCARTNEY, but you can at least look like you were there.

Up for grabs this week, we have TWO of the Limited Edition Lollapalooza Skyline logo caps by New Era. We are going to randomly select two winners from everyone who fills out the form below, and each of those winners will receive one of these caps. What you say to your friends while wearing the cap is none of our business.

Thic contest has ended. The randomly selected winner is LL L. of Lexington, KY.

Cyberspace. The latest frontier. These are the contests of the website, CriticalBlast.com. Its continuing mission: To explore all forms of entertainment. To seek out new readers and new fan material. To boldly go where no website has gone before. Let those who worship boredom's might, beware our power...

Wait a minute. We're mixing mantras. Oh, but there's a good reason, good reader! Because IDW and DC Comics have reached across the galactic barrier separating their universes to bring us STAR TREK / GREEN LANTERN: THE SPECTRUM WAR, a union of two of fandom's favorite spacefaring adventurers.

This contest has ended. The winner is TIM Y. of Bala Cynwyd, PA.

In Season 4 of AMC's top-rated drama, Hell freezes over. Following the brutal winter of 1868, the railroad is at a standstill and restless workers wreak havoc on Cheyenne. Cullen Bohannon is trapped in a fort with a pregnant wife and the Swede. Thomas Durant is broke and Elam Ferguson is presumed dead. The task of uniting America by rail remains undone and the costs and consequences are rising, for everyone.

To win this Blu-ray release of HELL ON WHEELS: The Complete Fourth Season, enter your information in the form below. Be sure to read our complete rules and regulations. CriticalBlast.com does not make your provided information available to anybody, and all entries are deleted upon confirmation of delivery to the selected winner (via USPS tracking).

This contest is over. The randomly selected winnier is SHANNON B. of EMMETSBURG, IA.

The Who's 1982 tour would prove to be their last with Kenney Jones on drums and the band wouldn't do a full scale tour again until 1989. The tour promoted the then recent IT'S HARD album, which had been released in June 1982, and the set list included a number of tracks from that album, some of which the band would only ever play live on this tour.

The main film features the show from the second of their two nights at New York's Shea Stadium on October 13, 1982, with bonus tracks from the first night.

The Who remain one of the finest live rock acts of all time, and this show will be a great addition to any fan's collection.

This contest is over. The winners are DAN L. of LOS ANGELES, CA and LYNNE D. of GANSEVOORT, NY.

INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 3 opens today, June 5. In honor of that, we are giving away a full-sized, double-sided theatrical poster to TWO (2) randomly selected entrants from this contest.

The good news is that you don't have to make contact with any supernatural or disturbing beings (the appearance of our editorial staff notwithstanding). All you have to do is enter your information in the form below, and click on the submit button.

If you haven't already done so, be sure to reference our complete rules and regulations. CriticalBlast.com does not sell, lease, or psychically transfer your personal information to anyone, and all entries are destroyed upon confirmation of delivery to the winner(s) via USPS priority mail tracking.

This contest is over. The winners are: SYLVIA B. of BOYNTON BEACH, FL  and NICOLETTE S. of SARASOTA, FL.

For fans of HBO's ENTOURAGE, today is a good day -- because ENTOURAGE: THE MOVIE just opened in theaters! (And one of our staff gave her opinion of the film here.)

To celebrate this momentous release, we are giving away not one, but TWO (count them, 1, 2) ENTOURAGE embroidered Otto Snap caps, just like the one pictured here. Maybe one of them will be yours?

To enter, simply fill out the form below and click the Submit button. CriticalBlast does not sell, rent, give away or otherwise make available your information, and all entries are deleted upon confirmation of delivery of the prize to the selected winners through USPS Priority Mail tracking.

This contest has ended. The winner is:  ANN F. of WAPPINGER FALLS, NY.

For fans of Gone Girl, I Hunt Killers, and TV's How to Get Away with Murder.

Max Cantrell has never been a big fan of the truth, so when the opportunity arises to sell forged permission slips and cover stories to his classmates, it sounds like a good way to make a little money and liven up a boring senior year. With the help of his friends Preston and Parvati, Max starts Liars, Inc. Suddenly everybody needs something and the cash starts pouring in. Who knew lying could be so lucrative?

When Preston wants his own cover story to go visit a girl he met online, Max doesn’t think twice about hooking him up. Until Preston never comes home. Then the evidence starts to pile up—terrifying clues that lead the cops to Preston’s body. Terrifying clues that point to Max as the murderer.