Friday, September 24, 2010

Kanye West - G.O.O.D. Fridays

Kanye West has been releasing a free new song every Friday.  Pretty fucking sweet, right?  This all to promote Kanye's latest album (which was called Good Ass Job at one point, but I understand he's canceled that title), even though I think many of these songs won't actually even be on that album.

Kanye calls these G.O.O.D. Fridays.  Does that acronym actually stand for something?

Anyway, dropping a brand new song every week for a while is a really cool idea that I hope other artists/bands follow in the future.

The 'cover art' for these songs always has a sexy yet classic image of females in the background, with the 'cast' of the song in giant red letters.

Kanye West feat. RZA, Jay-Z, Pusha T, Swizz Beatz & Cyhi The Prynce - "So Appalled"

Thursday, September 23, 2010

NBC Comedies Premiere Tonight

The NBC Thursday 'Must See TV' (remember that?) comedy lineup premieres tonight at 8pm.  A straight block of comedies that I'll actually watch is a rarity.  For example, ABC is doing a comedy block on Wednesdays including the excellent Modern Family...but I don't watch anything else they play that night (The Middle is okay).  CBS does a block of comedies on Monday including How I Met Your Mother, which I really like, but everything else they play that night is fucking terrible!  You get the idea.

Here's the breakdown of NBC Thursdays:


30 Rock - I believe this show replaced Arrested Development for super smart fast paced humor, loaded with references and blink-and-you-might-miss-it jokes.  It's primarily about NBC exec Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) and SNL-type-sketch-comedy show head writer Liz Lemon (Tina Fey).  One of the best shows currently on TV.

Community - This new show about a hotshot lawyer forced to go back to school at a community college got really good over its first season.  The paintball episode was genius.  Definitely excited for its second season.

The Office - This show has kinda been on too long and is past its prime.  Early on in the show it was all like "ooh, Jim likes Pam" and stuff, and now they're married and have a kid.  BUT the show might get a shot in the arm from the fact that Steve Carell, who plays blundering boss Michael Scott, will be leaving after this season.

Parks and Recreation - Will NOT be premiering tonight.  This excellent show about a parks & recreation government office, done in The Office style, has been 'benched' until the midseason.  Really a fucking shame, because this show has gotten really good, and its replacement looks fucking terrible.

Outsourced - Comedy about an American who gets transplanted to an Indian call center.  Early word is that the show is super racist and just all around awful.  Seriously, you put Parks & Rec on hold for THIS?  You suck, NBC.

Sleigh Bells - "Infinity Guitars" Video


One of my favorite songs from Sleigh Bells' debut record Treats gets the video treatment.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Modern Family Returns

Modern Family, my favorite new comedy from last season, returns tonight at 9pm on ABC.  The show won an Emmy, which, I could care less, but congrats for them.

This is a really funny show, it's smart and can be touching, and my mom actually watches it (she doesn't watch anything, really).  That's pretty much enough said.

I hope the show can maintain its quality going into the second season, but I'm not worried.

Cee-Lo Green - "Fuck You"


Cee-Lo Green is perhaps best known for his work with producer Danger Mouse in group Gnarls Barkley, particularly for the song "Crazy".  Here, Cee-Lo is talking about a lost love, and the words 'fuck you' have never sounded so beautiful.  Awesome song.  It's soulful, it's groovy...it's perfectly appropriate for what's going on in my life right now.

"Fuck You" will be included on Cee-Lo's latest solo album Lady Killer.  The release date for Lady Killer just got bumped, from December 7th to November 9th.

Animal Collective - "Bluish" Video

Despite members Panda Bear and Avey Tare (Deakin too?) moving full speed ahead with their solo careers (Avey's Down There out in October, Panda Bear's Tomboy out...who knows?), Animal Collective continue to make videos for their breakthrough album Merriweather Post Pavilion

Up this time, a video for "Bluish".  You can catch it on their site here.

Maximum Balloon Out Now

Maximum Balloon's debut album is out now.  It's really good you guys, check it out.  Not to undermine the unique identity of this project, but "Absence of Light" feat. Tunde Adebimpe is entering the canon of great TV on the Radio songs.

"Groove Me" feat. Theophilus London and "Tiger" featuring Aku are also really good.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Wavves @ Music Hall of Williamsburg Tonight

Going to see Wavves tonight at one of my favorite venues, Music Hall of Williamsburg.  I have high hopes for an awesome show.  I've become a huge fan of Wavves in the past year and half or so, and their new record King of the Beach is one of my favorites to come out in 2k10.

I've heard a few less than stellar reactions to Wavves live shows in the past, but I think the situation has improved greatly since Nathan picked up Jay Reatard's (R.I.P.) former band.  MGMT weren't the greatest live band when they started either, but they really impressed me at Radio City Music Hall last month (definitely not one of my favorite venues, btw). 

In this day + age, bands become famous (blog famous at least) before they have the live chops.  It's gonna happen.  All you need to do is generate a few halfway decent MP3s in your bedroom to get some serious attention.  A band might be thrust into the spotlight before they've truly earned it, but that doesn't mean they won't earn it over time.

Anyway, Wavves!  Their music is so much fun, and I hope the live show will match.  I fully expect to be able to pick up a Wavves brand weed grinder, and will be very disappointed if they're not at the merchandise table.  A shirt with that cat on the cover of King of the Beach would be pretty sweet too. 

My number one song request is "Cool Jumper".  I also want to hear "Baby Say Goodbye", "Mickey Mouse", "Weed Demon", "No Hope Kids", "So Bored"...I pretty much want to hear all the material from their last two records, so it's pointless to continue the list.  But definitely "Cool Jumper".

*UPDATE* The show was awesome.  A whole lot of fun.  There was actually a mosh pit!  I threw myself in there towards the end, let off some steam.  High energy, got my head banging almost every song.  King of the Beach heavy (no problem with that whatsoever) with a few Wavvves standouts.  They left me wanting more - no encore, no "Cool Jumper".  And no grinders, goddammit.  That was very disappointing.  There was actually a little cardboard sign on the merch table that read "Sorry, no grinders".  Nonetheless, I can't wait to see them again.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Metroid: Other M

I just picked up Metroid: Other M for the Wii yesterday.  The Metroid series is one of my all-time favorites in gaming.  I'd put SNES title Super Metroid on a short list of the best games ever made.

The Metroid Prime games brought the series into 3D as a First Person Shooter.  Metroid: Other M goes in a different direction, looking to pick up where Super Metroid left off.  The game is still in 3D, but you control heroine Samus Aran from the outside, not in the first-person.  The controls are kept as simple as possible - you only need the standard Wii remote controller, not the nunchuck attachment.  You control Samus much like the old school Metroid games, move left to right, jump & shoot.

I had heard there would be a larger emphasis on story, and this is apparent immediately.  As awesome as Nintendo games are, they have been dragging their feet big time on the movement to make games more cinematic, often preferring simple text and characters who don't really speak (or speak just a couple of phrases - I'm looking at you, Mario).  Metroid: Other M, on the other hand, has beautifully rendered cutscenes and full voice dialogue.  An awesome character like Samus Aran has always deserved this kind of treatment, and it's great for her to finally get it.

I'm barely an hour into the game - this is a first reaction.  The cutscene retelling the story from the finale of Super Metroid when Samus is saved by the 'baby metroid' in her battle with Mother Brain is absolutely beautiful.  The controls feel great.  I love how Samus is an agile warrior again.  I really enjoyed the Metroid Prime games, but you definitely lost something about being Samus, the way she sprints and somersaults into the air.  You moved slow, and platforming was a chore, more often than not.  It's not so fun to jump from platform to platform when you can't see where your feet are!  It really is glorious to have the feeling of Samus back again in Other M, to move through the environments with speed and style.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Deerhunter - 'Halcyon Digest' Reactions

Deerhunter's new record Halcyon Digest is absolutely amazing.  Exceeded my already high expectations.  A 9 out of 10, at least.  Certainly one of the best (if not THE best) records of the year.

Track by track...

  1. Earthquake - Establishes the mood for the album.  It's slow, starts & stops, gets hypnotic (as Deerhunter material tends to do).  This album is dreamy throughout, and you get that feel right away here.

  2. Don't Cry - Then things start rocking.  Some badass riffs.  "Come on little boy, I am your friend.  And I understand the pain you're in."  Do you, Bradford?  Yeah, I think you do.  Bradford tells the boy in question to keep his chin up, you don't need to understand the reasons why.  The reasons why everything sucks - not really important to know them, is it?

  3. Revival - The first 'single' - I was already in love with this song for a month now.  Awesome piano line.  Has a 'bar setting' feel.  "Freedom.  Silence.  Always."  Seems to be about the idea of death.  Weighs the pros and cons.  It certainly would bring freedom.  But can you wrap your head around the idea of 'darkness always'?  It doesn't make much sense.  Eventually you'd have to wake up, right?

  4. Sailing - Projects the imagery about being on a ship, alone, sailing through the fog, with absolutely nothing out there.  "You learn to accept...whatever you can get".  Bradford croons, beautifully.  Great lyrics, but really, this dude doesn't need to say a goddamn word to express himself.

  5. Memory Boy - Album standout.  Exuberant.  Musically, brings the party, the victory, after the lonely sailing of the previous track.  So fucking catchy and awesome.  Though I haven't quite cracked the lyrics yet.  "It's not a house anymore."  Now it's a home?  "Try to recognize your son in your eyes...he's gone, gone, gone."

  6. Desire Lines - Another standout.  Guitarist Lockett Pundt takes over vocals here, as well as on "Fountain Stairs".  Much as I love Bradford, Lockett really comes into his own here.  Kinda sounds like a lost Weezer track, with the whoa-ohs and catchy hooks.  "Is that the way things go, forever reaching for the goal, before everything black comes up gold?"  Then we get get several minutes of hypnotic guitar riffing.  Fantastic song.  When they're not playing in Deerhunter, Bradford has Atlas Sound, and Lockett has his own side project in Lotus Plaza.  This song makes me psyched for a second Lotus Plaza record.

  7. Basement Scene - I love that opening riff.  More dream imagery.  "I don't want to wake up, no."  I want to get stoned and never get old.  But then something changes, and things flip around.  Now he wants to wake up.  I think there's an idea here about never dying, by living on through your fame, such as it is...by people remembering you.  "In the clubs, they know my name.  In the clubs, they know."

  8. Helicopter - Jesus, what a great song.  "My final days in company.  The devil now has come for me...in helicopters circling the scene".  "No one cares for me.  I keep no company.  I have minimal needs...and now they are through with me."  Check out the video here.

  9. Fountain Stairs - Picks up the pace again after "Helicopter", leading into the closing act of the album.  I wanted to say this is the least essential track on the record, but then I find myself really enjoying it.  There just ain't a bad track on here.

  10. Coronado - The most 'different' track here, with horn instrumentation that has never been part of a Deerhunter song before...saxophone?  Gets me into a groove, reminds me of Spoon.

  11. He Would Have Laughed - Fantastic drum beat as Bradford calls out.  "I'm a gold digging man.  I won't rest 'til I buy your land."  I love the way it changes up at the 5 minute mark.

Soundgarden - "Black Rain" Video


New Soundgarden video.  It's animated, in the Metalocalypse style, and Deathklok make an appearance.  Need I say more?

Entourage Season 7

Entourage is a show on HBO focusing on a 'rising movie star' Vincent Chase, and his 'entourage' (2 best friends and his brother), as well as his agent Ari Gold (played spectacularly by Jeremy Piven).

I just finished watching the finale for Season 7.

I've been a fan of the show for a long time.  I've heard it described as the male equivalent of 'Sex and the City', which is pretty damn insulting, but I get what they're saying.  If 'Sex and the City' is the female fantasy (God help us if it really is) of living in the big city, drinking fancy fruity drinks at stylish NYC bars, fucking dudes (obviously, it's in the title) and...buying shoes?  I don't actually watch the show. 

Anyway, you could say Entourage is like male fantasy fulfillment, or even 'lifestyle porn'.  In the same way that Vince's entourage enjoys the good life due to their relation to the new bigshot movie star, I can live vicariously through him by watching his exploits: living in LA in huge mansions, having awesome parties, banging all manner of hot chicks, cruising around in nice cars, interacting with famous people...all that shit.

There's more to it than that though.  At its best, the show can be very funny, and even when it's not funny, it's almost always entertaining to watch.  Vince is charming, his best bud E is the straight man, his brother Drama is a riot as the insane 'has been / never was' star, Turtle is goofy and endearing.  And Ari, as 'Hollywood's biggest agent', has some of the best lines and deliveries on television.

So I'm a fan of the show.  But I'd be the first to admit it has been past its prime.  Season 2 was really the best.  In recent seasons, I keep watching because at this point, I'm hooked.  I like the characters.  Their familiar faces and personalities comfort me and entertain me.  I wouldn't necessarily rush out to tell people to go watch it, but I know I still enjoy it.

So now we're in Season 7, and I see a lot of 'put this show out of its misery' comments.  There's plenty of hate to go around.  One of the most common criticisms of the show is that it's 'low stakes'.  Like 'uh oh, Vince might have to settle for the $5 million mansion when he really wanted the $10 million one'.  And it's true - this show is not exactly built on dramatic tension.  In this fantasy world where Vince and his bros. inhabit, the stakes have not been particularly high.

But that is what has made Season 7 interesting, and the best season the show has had in a while.  There have been real problems - Vince 'losing it', becoming a drug user, personal life out of control, as well as the dissolution of Ari's marriage - that have unfolded throughout the season.  Both problems developed slowly, subtly even.  In the finale, these problems that Vince and Ari have been downplaying, like it's no big deal, explode in their faces.

Anyway, I'm not gonna go overboard with this, but Season 7 made Entourage interesting again, to the point where I would actually recommend people watch it, even those that had essentially written the show off.  The show might still not have much life left in it (what show does, at this point?), but I am genuinely anticipating Season 8.  Bring on more Entourage, thumbs up.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

'It's Always Sunny' Premieres Tonight

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, one of the funniest shows on television today, premieres its sixth season tonight at 10pm on FX.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Wavves Grinders

Nathan Williams is working hard to make Wavves my favorite band.  First he releases one of the best records of the year in King of the Beach.  Then he entertains me via Twitter.  Now there are Wavves brand weed grinders, to be sold at the 'merch' tables at future shows.

You'd better believe I want me a Wavves weed grinder.

P4K

Deerhunter - 'Halcyon Digest' Leaked

Deerhunter's new record Halcyon Digest has leaked.  Fucking finally.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Angry Video Game Nerd

This guy is great.  He's called the Angry Video Game Nerd.  He has a series of videos where he goes and plays old school games from yesteryear.

As the theme song goes (yes, he has a theme song): "He's gonna take you back to the past, to play the shitty games that suck ass."

That statement isn't entirely accurate.  The Angry Video Game Nerd doesn't JUST cover shitty games.  But he isn't afraid (at all) to express his frustration and anger (he's angry, remember?) towards the poor decisions and generally shoddy workmanship involved in the creation of some of the games we used to play as kids.

Check out some his videos here at Cinemassacre.  You won't be disappointed.

This guy brings back games I didn't think I'd ever see again, and expresses many thoughts and opinions I had about games I spent hours + hours playing.  NES games Back to the Future, Friday the 13th, Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link, Bugs Bunny's Birthday Bash and Ghostbusters are a few of his 'targets'.

He doesn't just play and comment on the games, either.  He'll often act out scenes in which he'll interact with characters from the games, it's a blast.  An awesome mix of nostalgia, insightful commentary on how games should have been made / should be made, and entertaining humor.

More Daytrotter Sessions

Some other notable Daytrotter sessions y'all should check out:

Wavves


of Montreal

Deerhunter

Grizzly Bear

Dirty Projectors

Surfer Blood

Sunset Rubdown

This list is by no means comprehensive!  Check out everything the site has to offer.

Toro Y Moi - Daytrotter Session

Daytrotter is a site where they get cool bands/artists to come in and record some songs (generally like 3-5, but it varies) in a stripped down setting.  Then they post the songs up on their site for free, accompanied with a sweet drawing.  It doesn't get much better than that.

The latest artist to do a Daytrotter session is 'chillwave' artist Toro Y Moi.  It's awesome.  Check it out here.

New from Neon Indian - "I Really Didn't Need You Anyway"

A new song from Neon Indian has surfaced!  It's called "I Really Didn't Need You Anyway".  The song was performed on satellite radio for a Sirius XMU session.  Thanks go to unclefarkus for supplying the song.

Neon Indian - I Really Didn't Need You Anyway

Surfer Blood Sign to Warner Bros.

I'm not sure how big a deal it is for a band to sign to a major record label in 2010 (what's a record label?), but Surfer Blood have done just that, and signed to Warner Bros.

Surfer Blood released one of my favorite debut records this year.  It's called Astro Coast.  Listen to it if you haven't.  Catchy, fun, rockin' music.

Surfer Blood will release an EP next year on their current indie label Kanine before releasing their second LP / 'major label debut'.  Definitely excited to hear more music from them, and I love a well made EP.

It's probably good for a band like Surfer Blood to get some support and funding from a major label.  Meanwhile, well-established acts like Radiohead, Pearl Jam and Weezer are doing just the opposite, and ditching their major record labels.  Weezer's new record Hurley was just released on an indie label.  I think Radiohead and Pearl Jam are just releasing their records themselves at this point.

What's the Best Castlevania Game?

Beloved internet meme The Angry Video Game Nerd (gonna have to do a full post devoted to him at one point) claims that Super Castlevania IV for the SNES (Super Nintendo) is the best of the Castlevania series.

Super Castlevania IV is indeed awesome.  "Worthy of that name" says Angry Video Game Nerd.  Something that might escape my younger readers (or people who don't know shit about video games) is that back then, they were sticking 'Super' in front of damn near every title for the SNES, so you could be damn sure it's a Super Nintendo game - Super Mario World, Super Metroid, Super Star Wars, Super Tennis, Super Smash TV, Super Bomberman...you get the idea.

Anyway, in Super Castlevania IV, you play Simon Belmont, badass with a whip, part of a long line of vampire hunters, set out to kill Dracula.  It's definitely one of the best games to come out on the SNES, the graphics were absolutely gorgeous for their time, presentation and gameplay are top notch.

And yet I have to give the edge to Castlevania: Symphony of the Night for the Playstation.  In this game, rather than playing a member of the Belmont clan, as usual, you play Dracula's son, Alucard.  You're pissed at pops though, so the ultimate goal remains the same - kill motherfucking Dracula.

You wield a sword (among other weapons) rather than a whip, and the game incorporates the Metroid style of exploration.  Coming back to an area later after acquiring a new ability that allows you to advance further, a type of gameplay made famous by the Metroid series.  Because of Symphony, this style of gameplay is now referred to as Metroidvania.  I happen to love these kind of games, whereas Angry Video Game Nerd prefers the straightforward action of Super Castlevania IV.  Can't really argue with that.  They're both stellar games.

I suppose the more interesting question might be, what's the third best Castlevania game, after these two?  One of the newer games on the Nintendo DS (largely following the style of Symphony of the Night), or one of the older games on the NES?

Kitty

My new kitten!  Her 'official' name is Zen, but I've been more often calling her by the affectionate term Toontah.  My roommate's sister-in-law's cat just keeps getting pregnant, and so she was desperate to unload some kittens.  Zen was really shy when I went there, but the other eligible kitten seemed stuck up, so I chose Zen instead.  Totally made the right choice, she's awesome.

Should I just stick with calling her by one name, Zen or Toontah?  If so, which one?

of Montreal's 'False Priest' Out Now

of Montreal's new record 'False Priest' officially drops today.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Maximum Balloon

One of my favorite albums from 2008 is definitely TV on the Radio's Dear Science.  TVOTR make the kind of arty, funky electro pop I live for, and Dear Science is their masterpiece. (Some might argue that their previous album Return to Cookie Mountain is their best work, and I wouldn't kill them for it, but I would disagree). 

The band went on a (hopefully) brief hiatus after touring for that record, and the individual members are pursuing various projects in the meantime.  Guitarist/singer Kyp Malone has his group Rain Machine. Vocalist Tunde Adebimpe sang on a Massive Attack track, and he acted in the Anne Hathaway movie Rachel Getting Married (WTF?).


Then there's guitarist + producer Dave Sitek.  Sitek could probably just work as a full-time producer during the break (he's produced records for Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Liars and...Scarlett Johansson, as well as TVOTR), but apparently that's not good enough.  Now he's got his own project called Maximum Balloon.

Sitek ain't about to start singing though.  No, this is a Santana type project, with a different vocalist on each track.  His bandmates Kyp and Tunde each make one appearance each, as do Karen O and David Byrne.  Then there's some people I've never heard of (Theophilus London, Aku), but their tracks sound cool.  I expect the whole record to be top notch, frankly.

Maximum Balloon drops September 26.  Here's the tracklisting:

1. Groove Me (feat. Theophilus London)
2. Young Love (feat. Katrina Ford)
3. Absence of Light (feat. Tunde Adebimpe)
4. If You Return (feat. Little Dragon)
5. Shakedown (feat. Kyp Malone)
6. Communion (feat. Karen O)
7. Tiger (feat. Aku)
8. The Lesson (feat. Holly Miranda)
9. Apartment Wrestling (feat. David Byrne)
10. Pink Bricks (feat. Ambrosia Parsley)

Super Mario Bros. 25th Anniversary!

The NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) classic Super Mario Bros. turns 25 today!  The game played a major part of 'ushering in' console gaming, and the series has continued to be hugely influential throughout the past 2.5 decades.

The fact that Super Mario Galaxy 2 takes ideas, concepts and characters from this 25 year old title and turns them into something fresh and exciting is nothing short of amazing.  And you know what?  The original game is still mad fun to play.  I'm going to give my PS3 a break tonight and play some old school Mario on the Wii (via Virtual Console).

Hey, What's Up With AnCo?

Seems like there's enough bits of news pertaining to the various members of Animal Collective to pull something like this:
  • The rumors of Tomboy's release date have been greatly exaggerated.  Most people were expecting Panda Bear's new solo record to be coming out this month.  We've had new songs "Tomboy" and "Slow Motion" for a while now.  But as it turns out, Panda isn't even half finished recording the record!  So a September release ain't happening.  Hell, the record might not even see the light of day until 2011
  • On the bright side, it seems like Panda Bear is going to continue releasing singles from the record.  Hey, maybe we'll get the album piece-by-piece, song-by-song.  At any rate, although not a full album, we will definitely be hearing more new material from Panda real soon
  • Panda Bear played a show on Governor's Island on September 11.  I've heard the site nyctaper, who posts awesome bootleg recordings of shows, will be posting that show imminently (UPDATE - You can download the show here)
  • Unlike Tomboy, Avey Tare's solo record Down There is done and will be released on October 26.  Just in time for Halloween!
  • Lesser known AnCo member Deakin will be playing his first NYC solo show tonight at Grasslands.  Check out Deakin's interview with nyctaper here.
  • I've acquired a copy of AnCo's 'visual album' movie ODDSAC.  I'll be watching it as soon as I can find the appropriate 'snacks' to watch it with

Deerhunter - Helicopter (Video)

               

There really aren't words...I fucking love Deerhunter.  The wait for this album has been agonizing, but it will be here soon, and then I shall rejoice.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Resistance 2 Reactions

  • Resistance 2 is the sequel to PS3 launch title Resistance: The Fall of Man.  Of course I didn't pick up a Playstation 3 until much later, so I never played the original.
  •  I have now inherited the sequel (my friend has a smashed/destroyed PS3, so his entire game library is on loan with me) and it's pretty awesome.  With no XBOX 360, I'm a little bummed about not being able to play Halo: Reach, so I'm hoping that the PS3 steps up with its own quality first-person shooting games to make me forget about Halo.  So far Resistance 2 does not disappoint
  • The graphics/visuals are gorgeous, and I'm not even playing on an HDTV.  Very cinematic, gives you the feeling that you're living action movie scenes for real
  • Oh, I forgot the concept - pretty basic alien invasion stuff.  I think it's set in the World War II era though, but, you know, an alternate universe where we fought aliens back then?  Something like that.  'Kill the aliens' was a pretty easy directive for me, so I haven't needed to grasp the concept much more than this, at the moment
  • Controls are incredibly smooth and fluid.  It makes the controls for Bioshock 2 (which is still an awesome game) seem massively clunky by comparison
  • Can the online multiplayer provide me with a deathmatch experience on par or better than Uncharted 2?  Usually I play the single player campaign all the way though before I venture into multiplayer, and I'll probably continue that order of operations
  • When the Kraken (giant sea monster) gets up close and personal, ready to eat you, holy shit!  Really fucking scary.  I'm not kidding - this is one extreme closeup of a monster about to eat you
  • Now I'm fighting 'chameleons', who as you might have guessed, blend in with the background.  But they're gigantic lizards with claws that can tear you to shreds in seconds.  And they're invisible, lovely.  It's satisfying to blast them with the shotgun right before they can get their claws into ya

Song Lyrics 9/12 2k10

"I can't make you hang around. I can't wash you off my skin...I can go with the flow, I can say it doesn't matter anymore" -Queens of the Stone Age, Go With the Flow

I won't find a better quote to express my state of being right now, the current state of affairs with my friend / would be girlfriend.

Another good line from the same song...

"I want a new mistake, lose is more than hesitate.  Do you believe it in your head?"

Final Fantasy XIII First Impressions

I'm one hour or so into Final Fantasy XIII.  That's nothing as far as these games are concerned - many Final Fantasy titles can take 40+ hours to complete, and that's just straight beating the game, not even including all the various side quests that are out there.

Still, it's enough time for me to get some first impressions...

  • Production values + visuals are amazing, which is to be expected from the series. So pretty
  • Enjoying the story and the characters so far. It does frustrate me, in 2010, to have so little control over the action...
  • It's very early in the game, and I'm sure customization and more battle options will become available later, but for now it's on auto-pilot
  • There's actually even an 'auto battle' option, so I'm just clicking that, tapping it over + over, except maybe to use a potion now + then
  • It's a turn-based RPG, so I know what I'm in for, this ain't my first Final Fantasy by a long shot, but c'mon, let me 'play' this bitch!
  • I would love for a new Final Fantasy to employ a battle system based off of Final Fantasy Tactics (classic for the original Playstation, find it and play it if you haven't!), where you have to position your characters...
  • ...Make decisions about where they should go, navigate the terrain, as well as attack. Actually affect how the battle plays out
  • Anyway, as it stands right now, Final Fantasy XIII is more like an interactive movie. A pretty awesome one, but still
  • I'll end my bitching with this - I just saw my character piloting a badass hoverbike. I will be pissed if this game does not let me fly it
  • It was all the way back in Final Fantasy VII when they broke up the RPG-ing with some action sequences. Don't tell me we went backwards  
  • Story involves the government supposedly rounding up dangerous people and exiling them to another land, when really they're just executing them, mass genocide.  Blondie up there is Lightning, former soldier for the government, now knows the truth and is working for the 'rebels' / 'resistance' / you know