Album Review: Cazwell - Hard 2 Be Fresh [#TheReturn Day Six]

It's been a long time since I've reviewed an album. I knew when I saw this album pop up for pre-order, I knew I had to give it a go. Luckily the timing was perfect for #TheReturn, so we will get to see what I can come up with for this gem. This album has been a long time coming, and it also features one of my favorite lovelies -- Cherie Lily. Hellz yeah! Let's get into this.

Exclusive Interview - Gear of Skin Wars [#TheReturn Day Five]

Skin Wars was definitely my favorite show for this summer. They had a lot of talent and just enough drama to keep the show going. One of the most crucial part to this season's success had to be Gear. Whether you thought he was crazy talented or crazy hot, there was no denying Gear was a star in his own right. Recently I was privileged enough to be able to sit down with Gear and discuss his career and his time on the show.

 

 

Countdown Of The Best RuPaul's Drag Race Runway Songs [#TheReturn Day Four]

Believe it or not, this was one of the hardest countdowns I've ever had to do. I have been watching Drag Race since it's first season, and each year I feel like it can't get any better, and yet somehow it usually seems to surprise me. I say "usually" because number six is the one exception. You'll see. Anyway this is just for the main series.No All Stars or Drag U. Let's get started.

6. The Beginning (Season 5)

Yup. I like "The Beginning The least. It was just so forgettable. Compound that onto a season that in itself wasn't remarkable, and you have one of the worst. It's not a bad song (I don't think RuPaul can make a bad song), but it's not really something I would have chosen to front an entire season. I think the concept for the video was strained, and that it didn't really give the girls a g good thumping beat to prance down the runway to. This one was a full miss for me.

Exlcusive Interview: Nicole Hays of Skin Wars [#TheReturn Day Three]

Man I wish the site had been up during the run of the first season of Skin Wars. GSN struck gold with this show, having me hooked from the first second. The entire cast was wonderful and talented, but one did something you would never expect -- come out on national television. This isn't Logo, honey (even if RuPaul is a judge). She gave me a great insight into what it was like behind the scenes on the groundbreaking first season of a new franchise.

Gao's Thoughts: Why The World Hates Laganja Estranja (But You Shouldn't) [#TheReturn Day Two]

With the new start comes a new recurring column! This one is called "Gao's Thoughts" where I, GaoSalad, will take subjects from time to time, many of which I have the opposing opinion from the majority of the world, and elaborate on my views. The site was on hiatus during the most recent season of RuPaul's Drag Race, which for the purposes of this article may be a good thing. Now that the formalities are out of the way, let's take a look at why the world seems to really hate season six contestant Laganja Estranja, but they really shouldn't.

Exclusive Interview - Liz Primo [#TheReturn Day One]

We're back! After nearly a year in the dark, Taking Over The Universe has returned. I'm so sorry we've been gone, lovelies. I'll try and make sure it never happens again, ok? Anyway, for our big return, I thought that it would be best to do a week full of awesomeness, and that's what we are gonna do! For our first day, since we are so in love with indie-pop music here, I thought it would be rad if I interviewed Liz Primo AKA one of the hardest working indie artists out there. Let's see what she had to say about her body of work.

Site News: #TheReturn

Hello to all of my readers. It's been a while, I know. I have plenty to say to you all and not a lot of time to do it, so why don't we get started? First of all comes the big announcement: Taking Over The Universe is coming back! Check it!

I am super excited to announce that the blog is going to come back full time starting this October. I am currently planning a big comeback week jam packed with interviews, "top lists" and maybe even an essay or two. I have been pulling favors and grabbing onto stories for the past month trying to pull together a great comeback week (or even week plus) so that you guys all can remember what you loved about this site in the first place.

I want some of the return week to be a surprise, but I can say that if you like my Facebook page you will get many more exclusive sneak peeks. All you have to do is like the page, and then click on the arrow next to the "like" button and click receive updates. It's that simple. You will get advance notice of who I am doing interviews with, what sort of essays I've been working on, and polled for input on all the upcoming top lists. Often I will go on Facebook and Twitter alike, and tell everyone who I am speaking with that week and see if anybody has any questions they want to ask the artist.

This brings me to our next topic: I am making a pledge right now to make this site more than just a music blog. Yes, music will still be a huge focus, but there are so many other aspects of this universe, and if I am to take it all over, I've got to start branching out. I am going to do weekly reviews of a few more tv shows, including the return of my RuPaul's Drag Race reviews. I have not decided which shows to follow exactly, but I will do my best to provide news on a wider variety of series.

I want the site to come back to not be just a good website, but a great one. We left off at a crucial moment with the UCA awards, but due to sickness and other personal problems, I was not able to continue things at the speed and consistency that my readers have come to know and appreciate.  That being said, the Universal Conquest Awards from 2013 are null, and due to the hiatus the 2014 UCAs will not be taking place. I have yet to decide if the UCAs will come back next year, but that is not even an issue this early in the game.

Basically, as a writer, I have been itching to get back on the scene. Writing is something I love to do, and I love that you all read and support me. I hope that this past year of being gone hasn't set me back too far. My goal is to continue on that upward slope, getting bigger stories, bigger interviews, and bigger readership.

Thank you all. It's time to for our comeback. It's time to take over the universe -- again.

If you would like to help, go on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and every other oddly named social media and hashtag #TheReturn and #TOTU and link them here. October 1, 2014 will be the dawn of a new era for us.