I’ve strung words together before about my issue with brain-teasers. I’m sad to say that things have not improved at all. I still get hung up on them, I still lose sleep over them, and I still allow them to consume me far too much. It’s a character flaw on my part, and I’ve learned [...]
So I ended up seeing this movie a bit at the last minute. That is to say, Theresa told me about it, then told me that she was seeing it with her friend at a time that allowed little error in me driving 1.5 hours to get to the theater. I arrived with about 6 minutes to spare, and though it probably cost me a mint in gas (not to mention the 10 dollar movie ticket [ damn you indie film support]), I am glad to say that it was worth every penny
I got my hands on a copy of Time Hollow because, lets be honest here, I’m a total sucker for time-travel stuff. I’ve been a fan of Doctor Who since it was introduced to me, I love movies like The Butterfly Effect, and I can have totally open debates on the different effects of time travel can have.
So when I found out about Time Hollow, I thought I’d give it the old college try, because along with Time Travel, I’m also a fan adventure/mystery games. You can refer to my gushing over Phoenix Wright and Apollo Justice for examples therein.
Now I thought Time Hollow was going to be a fairly straight-forward mystery finder.
Yah, sometimes I’m just stupid like that.
I’ve been using a MacBook for almost a year now – 10 months, but who’s counting – and I’ve come to appreciate the small section of Mac apps that are easy on my wallet. More so as I’m a poor student, any useful programs that I can use and not cost me money?
Perfect.
So without further delay, here is my giant list of (mostly) free mac apps.
Every once in a while, you are told about a game that sounds just a little too ridiculous to be true. Just something that’s a little too far off the beaten path that you simply have to play it, if only to know that it exists. Atlus published a game called My World, My Way, and it easily fit the mark.
When it was originally described to me first one eyebrow was raised, and then the other. Then my face had no where to go, and so my eyebrows fluctuated back and forth. I eventually got my hands on it, and was actually surprised.
Turns out it didn’t suck!
I’ve never really been let down by Pixar. There is a reason why their movies do so well: Quality. Every Pixar movie I’ve seen I have enjoyed. Last year I watched Wall-E, though I didn’t have time to write about it. Had I, I would have given it a solid 10/10 because there was nothing Wall-E did less than amazing.
UP sits right under Wall-E on the awesome scale. It’s not as epically beautiful, nor is it quite as artistically stunning, but it’s pretty damned close.
It’s been a while since I’ve played an honest to God platform game. It’s not my usual bag, as it requires a skill set that is lacking in me. These games generally consist of accurate timing, good aim, and good reflexes. These are all things I lack, and so platformers tend to annoy me to the point of non-playing.
I used to stay as far away from platformers as I could, given that my ability in them scored somewhere in the negatives. Every time I would try one, I’d get about 4 levels in, and then start to hate myself. It’s really not a pretty sight. Give me turn-based games and experiences points, that’s what I say!
Of course to every rule there is an exception, and Super Princess Peach is, shockingly, one of those exceptions.
Oh Front Mission. I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with your series. How can one franchise give so much joy, while sapping someones will to live so readily at the same time? I played my first Front Mission game back on the original PlayStation. It was actually the third in the series, but that mattered little to me. Within that game was a breadth of customization and unit control that up to that point I couldn’t have dared dream of.
Don’t even get me started on the side-quest goldmine that it was. It had it’s own “Internet” that came with spam, conspiracy theories, and hackable government systems. It had a solid story line, an excellent battle system, and some decent (for the time) graphics.
Front Mission DS (which apparently is a re-release of the original) has none of these things. Well okay, not none per say, but far less than my first experience. It did manage to be just as frustrating though, so that’s something.
Anyone who has talked to me about DS games will inevitably find out that I am a complete fanboy when it comes to what I call “The Lawyer Games.” This catchall title is used when talking about any of the Phoenix Wright or Apollo Justice games. I’ve talked about previous installments of the series, and so now that I find myself with a little time (shockingly) I thought that I should probably get off my ass and get to writing! Self-deprecating aside, I’ve always enjoyed the Ace Attorney series, but I honestly found this one to be a little lost. Well, a little lost until the end when the grand machinations of the writers come to fruition.
Self-deprecating, machinations, and fruition, all in two sentences. I think my brain is having some kind of vocabulistic everything-must-go sale. Of course then I go ahead and say something like vocabulistic, and all of my grammar street cred get’s shot to hell.
Anyways! Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney! Review! Commence!
Oh how I wish this review was going to go well. A lot of people like The Midway State. Hell, I’m sure a lot of people really love this album. I want to like it, but I keep getting hung up on things. I know two things will happen with this review. First, anyone who is a massive fan of The Midway State is going to nail me to the wall and then stone me to death. Second, I’ll have to actually listen to the whole album through two more times to actually find songs that I like.
Wait, those could be out of order. It doesn’t matter, they’ll both happen one way or the other.
It’s been a long, long time since I’ve played any real arcade-style games. Last time I picked up a controller to play any sort of side-scrolling, button-bashing, streets-of-fury style game I was a much younger person. With SNES controller in hand, my friend and I playing the likes of TNMT: Turtles in Time, Contra III or Battletoads & Double Dragon.
See the problems with my playing these sorts of games are:
Well I now have a console, so I have no excuse as to whether I could try to play them or not. Turns out I still suck at them, but that doesn’t stop me from trying. The forearm muscle is a slow process, and I’ve already given myself muscle strain resulting in a fantastic carpel tunnel attack. You just don’t feel like a man until you’ve got to ice your forearm because of extreme button mashing.
Or is it “You just can’t feel like a man when you have to ice your forearm because of extreme button mashing”?
Either way, it hasn’t stopped me from playing Castle Crashers with extreme vigor.
Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve done a game review. Could be because It’s been a while since I’ve played a game through to completion. Sadly I am finding it hard to make time to dedicate to playing games when things like school and work are in the way. Pesky thing, responsibility.
Having said that, with my school giving me far too much time off over the Christmas break, I managed to get my hands on a shiny new XBox 360. Granted that was a bit of a fiasco, in the end I landed me a couple of games. One of those games (obviously, I think, at this point) was LEGO Indiana Jones.
I recall my brother getting LEGO Star Wars, back when it came out. He was obsessed with it, and at the time I couldn’t really figure out why. Sure it was LEGO, which we were clinically addicted to growing up, but at the time I couldn’t see what the big deal was. Of course once I started playing LEGO Indiana Jones, my opinion has quite simply 180-ed. I’m just going to go ahead and assume that 180-ed is a term I can use.
Anyways.
I’m a little late with this, but the joy of the Internet is that someone out there doesn’t know about what I’m talking about yet. I’ve been using Dropbox since the last day of their private beta. As soon as I had invites to give, they went public and my chance to look ahead of the curve went up in a tiny cloud of blue smoke.
Regardless, since using Dropbox I can only say that it does everything perfectly. If ever you could have a backup system for the lazy, the inexperienced, or the uninterested this would be it. I know that casts an odd light on Dropbox, but trust me when I say that it is probably the single most impressive piece of software/service that I have ever installed. I’ve commented on using Dropbox before, but now I’m going to get into it with more detail.
I have been waiting for a long, long time for a new album to come rolling out from this man. The album was supposed to come out a while ago, but when your house burns down due to some forest fires that are ruining the local forestry… well I can understand a delay.
Thankfully after my faithful wait, I have been rewarded with his new release: Sycamore Meadows. After giving this album a couple of listens, it has quickly become one of my favorites for all time. It’s both amazingly happy and startlingly deep, many times simultaneously.
Oh my God.
Datarock is easily one of my new bouncy favorites. The only way I can describe them is disco acid pop. There’s probably a better way of explaining them, but that’ll work for lack of the creation of new words.
As an aside, I want to apologize for the title of this post. I’m using the normal format, but their first album is actually called “Datarock Datarock” so it makes for some crummy article titling.
I am not the first person to talk about this book, and I know damned well that I won’t be the last. That aside, I have little choice but to talk about The Last Lecture. I meant to talk about the original online version when I first saw it the day Randy Pausch died. I know it’s somewhat of a morbid coincidence, but it’s true and I can’t tell you how heart-broken I was when I found out this tidbit of information.
When I saw the actual lecture, I was at work. Though I told myself I would let it play in the background as I worked, that idea was quickly thrown out and I watched the 76 minute video without pause. Actually there was one pause when I went to the washroom. You get the idea.
When I found out he had a book, the only reason I didn’t buy it was because my girlfriend wanted it. So I got it for her and borrowed it when she was finished.
I finally read it. It took me far too long, but I finally found time to sit down and read 1984. What is there to say about this book? It set the bar for every totalitarian-themed novel, T.V. show, movie and video game that was to come. You know what else? After reading the book itself, I can actually say that 1984 does it better than any movie ever could.
1984 paints a future (well alright, past technically) where there is no law, and yet everyone fears to break it. A land so poor, yet constantly boasting it’s over-manufacturing. A world so controlled, that the past literally changes to suit the need of the ruling class. It depicts such a cultural and societal wasteland that nothing else really quite compares.
1984 is terrifying.
What to say about Blindness? I went and saw it with Theresa when It came out in Canada (October 3rd, if anyone is wondering). We had seen previews for it months ago, and the idea intregued us both. At that point it fell off the map to anyone who wasn’t actively trying to follow it.
Apparently it was shown at the Cannes film festival to mixed reception. Reading reviews online does little to ease ones trepidation towards the film. It seems that Blindness is a movie that has those who love it, and others that feel that it was “like looking into the sky and having sand poured into your eyes.” I’ve had to think long and hard about what I really felt about it.
It had all the makings for a great film: a good premise, a fairly strong cast calling, some impressive cinematography, an excellent musical score, and a fair amount of detail. So what happened?
I’ve got something to admit to. A secret that I’ve had for a long time. Something that very few people know about me, and I’ve kept this quiet for a very long time. I’ve had somewhat of a re-awakening to something that I though I had left behind me.
I like classical music. Beyond that I’m a fan of opera, all forms of choir music, and even musicals. I even have a keen spot in my heart for well-arranged soundtrack of both T.V. and Movie.
That’s right people, I’m basically a monocle-wearing classical enthusiast.
I don’t know what it is with me and reading books about mentally-challenged, slow, or otherwise afflicted people. It’s not like I’ve got a fetish or anything; I think maybe I’ve got Underdog Syndrome. In any case Lottery, by Patricia Wood, isn’t about a mentally-challenged person; Lottery is about Perry L. Crandall. He’s not retarded; he’s got an IQ of 76, and 76 is higher than 75 – The IQ bar for ‘reatrded’.
As an aside, I have noticed something about myself: If a book writes about someone dying that is in any way dear to the protagonist, I will tear up. I can’t help it. The effect is almost immediate, and the Man in me shakes his head in disgust. This happens more often than it really should, and Lottery did it to me as well. I won’t divulge any more about it, because I’m not really in the habit of spoiling books.
Break Of Day is one of those albums that every time I come across it I don’t realize who the artist is, but I always think the songs sound fantastic. Then I’ll check my iTunes and realize that once again, it’s a song from Break Of Day. Then I say to myself “I really have to review this album! It’s so good!”
Then another month passes, and no review has been written, at least not by my own hands. Well I’m changing that today, because I ended up listening to the entire album from start to finish and I am not totally in love with this album.
I happened to get some tickets to Evil Dead The Musical for last Saturday…that is, the Saturday that just passed. We were off to the side, and just outside the “splatter zone”. With a surprisingly small amount of props (though the ax, the 12 gauge, the chainsaw and the Necronomicon all make their appearances) and almost childishly simplistic sets, Evil Dead The Musical blew me out of the water with wit, energy, and so much homage that it almost hurts.
I’m almost at a loss for words to describe this stage performance. Fantastic, B, Sparse, Electrifying, Camp, Entertaining, Rude, and I’m sure I could think of more were I willing to dedicate more time towards the effort. Suffice it to say, it’s a great night out and it’s probably the best 40 dollars (for two tickets) that I’ve ever spent.
I’ve found myself using online music sources when I’m not around my home computer or too lazy to plug in my iPod. I’ve found myself going between two different programs: Last.fm and Deezer.com.
Both have pros and cons, and I felt that it’d make a good article to compare my findings and contrast the two services. I’m not going to gives scores, because comparisons like this are subjective. I’ll let the readers come to their own conclusions.
I have to start by saying that I’m not a huge Coldplay fan. Short of some of their more well-known songs (Green Eyes, Yellow, Clocks) I’ve never been much of a fan; a fact my girlfriend has never quite understood why. Coldplay as a rule, have never really done it for me; their music tends to border on the hyper-sensitive, and though I like sensitive music, theirs was a brand I just couldn’t stand behind.
Then they came out with Viva la Vida.
Where the hell do I start with Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog?
Lets start with “watch this now.” It’s just that good. Joss Whedon once again proves that he’s a god at story-telling. He manages to put such a spin on the “Bad Guy” concept and actually gets you to root for the evil dude in this one. It’s funny, it’s serious, it’s witty, it’s cute, it’s heart-breaking, it’s totally out there.
It’s also one of the greatest thing’s I’ve seen in a very, very long time.
So my friend Bart recently pointed me towards a website called “Goodreads” which is a social website (web 2.0, as the kids call it these days) dedicated to literature.
How could I refuse? The amount of books I read, it makes sense that I should use a system that is built for sharing my feelings about literature with others that feel the same!
I picked up Flowers for Algernon almost on a whim. My friend told me about it when I picked it up in a book store. Curiosity got the better of me, and 10 dollars later I had what I consider a great piece of literature added to my collection. I consumed the book with a hunger I haven’t had from many books. It almost hurt me to put it down for any amount of time, and I found that when I did sit down to read it, I’d end up getting through about a 3rd of it in one sitting. These are the signs of a great story.
So I’m making this post while blatantly aware that some of my readers will probably have no Idea what I’m talking about. If you’re one of those people, just nod your head and pretend to listen.
A while back I came across a little website called 9rules. As it turned out 9rules was very much similar to Digg.com, Design Float, Mixx, and so on. It was a social hub where ideas were exchanged, participation was rewarded, and all was well. Somewhat of an opportunist, I took advantage of 9rules and their content submission to help my site gain some popularity (I’m sure I gained nothing from it) by submitting my design-related posts to their ever-flowing river of content.
I admit that this is a bit dubious in nature, but it is a white hat way to get your name out there, and that’s something I’m still working on doing. Hate me if you want, but that’s what I used it for. I regret that a little in retrospect, because they had a good community, and I chose to throw my stories into the pile instead of participating and making it better.
The lamenting has a point, so stick with me.
Never in my life have I read a book with such blatant use of the word “fuck” and all of its derivatives. Honestly, The Electric Church has more swearing in it than Theresa’s sister in a bad mood, and let me assure you that that is a sizable amount. Jeff Somers either has a severe case of sailors mouth, or he has an almost unhealthy penchant with the word.
I’m a bit of a sleeper fan of Motion City Soundtrack. I had their albums available to me for over a year before I listened to them. The only reason I really gave them a chance was because I was driving through a snow storm and the radio couldn’t pick up anything. I was really shocked when I went through both albums that I had of theirs (Commit this to Memory and I Am the Movie) and was craving more. Their bouncy, feelgood sound had me totally hooked. I listened through them all again, and I realized that in contrast to their sound, much of what was said bordered on major depressing.
I recently got around to reading The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. I remember picking up the book a long time ago and only putting it back because I didn’t have the money to purchase it right then and there.
The next time I find the book, it’s a best seller across the world, and Mark Haddon has already written another novel. I could have been there in the beginning! Ah well, I picked it up, and once I started reading, I found it hard to put down.
The more I watch Ryan Gosling, the more I like him. He started off as Sean Hanlon from Breaker High, and that was a hard image for me to break. Thankfully he’s gone on to do a wide variety of films, and pulling them off with impressive results. Lars and the Real Girl is just such an example. Not an award-winning movie or performance, but considering his “girlfriend from the internet” is a Real Doll, I’m impressed he didn’t break down laughing in almost every scene.
I don’t know what to say about The Nines. I’m not even sure whether I liked it or not. Theresa and I watched it this afternoon, and It was going well right up until the end. Then I didn’t know what the hell was going on.
I apologize in advance, but in order to review this movie, there are going to be spoilers.
I have a problem.
It’s silly, I know, but I have a problem with brain teasers. I can’t put them down without getting really angry at myself for giving up. I will constantly think about the problem until I’ve answered it. It’s really quite unhealthy. So what do you think happens when I come across a game like Professor Layton and the Curious Village?
I lose sleep.
I read Gods Behaving Badly in three days.
The only reason it wasn’t read in one is because I have to work during the day. Truly a fun book to read, Marie Phillips does a fantastic job of detailing the lives of the Greek Pantheon. Granted it’s a humorous view and takes light of the fact that the Gods are losing their powers are slowly slipping away, but it’s a hell of a humorous view.
Another Doctor Who adventure comes and goes, and I’m once again left wondering how this got to print. Sting of the Zygons wasn’t a bad story by any means, but the new novels just aren’t doing it for me. With the original Doctor Who book series, the authors were writing stories that were so epic that they simply couldn’t be done on screen at the time. Stories so fantastic that imagination is a requirement in order to read them. This is a quality that I find lacking within all of the new novels that I have read thus far, with exceptions being made for The Last Dodo, Stone Rose, and The Clockwise Man.
Panic! At the Disco actually made a second album? I totally thought that they were going to burn out after their first album “A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out” but apparently I was mistaken. I mean the first album was self-contained, and it’s fairly obvious that you can’t really go anywhere from it. If they released another album that sounded like it, they’d be accused of repeating themselves and it wouldn’t have the impact that the first CD did. Tack on the fact that ‘I Write Sins Not Tragedies’ got played to death, and you get a mixture for disaster should they continue on the path they were on.
They didn’t, which shocked me.
I very recently came across Ben’s Brother due to Dentynes newest commercial. I like many, many others were drawn in by the addicting song selected. ‘Stuttering’ is the name of the track, and it’s performed by Ben’s Brother. I’m sure this track alone will launch them into new realms of stardom. As I tend to give bands the benefit of the doubt, I decided to get my hands on their latest (and only) album “Beta Make Fairytales”. As it turns out, they are not a one-hit-wonder. They are, in fact, a rather talented band that reminds me faintly of Coldplay, Maroon 5, and even Snow Patrol.
I’m impressed with The Memory Keeper’s Daughter.
I thought it was going to be a dry, boring read, much like Everything Must Go. I was mistaken (mostly) and by the end I found myself devouring the last pages. Despite its small dimensions, the novel sports 401 pages, 300 of which were a fantastic, engrossing read. Kim Edwards does a wonderful job of getting the emotion across as well as managing to make very real characters.
Everyone’s done it. We get lazy, we’re pressed for time, or we otherwise don’t care enough to standardize our stuff. I can note this most prevalently in code, but it easily extends into design and every day life.
I cannot claim to be innocent of this crime, nor would I. It takes effort, experience, and an iron will not to cut corners in everything you do.
I was recently at the El Mocambo with Theresa to watch Ingrid Michaelson, and one of the opening acts was David Ford. As soon as this guy hit the stage, he won my heart with his shear moxy at having many instruments that could record and repeat audio. He played them all, which involved him dashing around the stage singing into a microphone, or mashing the piano, or playing the guitar, or the maracas, etc.. He easily won top marks for the technical portion of the night. He was actually fantastically funny, and very, very English. Complete with the swanky accent and a wit so dry that you could start a fire with it, he won over the crowd with his banter and his craft.
I love Butch Walker, but I’ll try and be objective with this review. I could review many of his albums that I happen to have in my possession, but as this is the newest one out and available for free (or 6 bucks if you want to) I figured I’d try and be current and edgy and what have you.
Now there are certain artists that sound good on albums but come up short in live shows. There are other artists that rock live performances like they were born to it, but fail to translate this to their recordings (Live ones aside, obviously). Then there are artists that do both exceptionally well. This is where Butch Walker falls.
Why can’t the new series make books that match the caliber of the old series. This is probably the newest one that I have read of the original(ish) series, and its grandeur dwarfs any of the new series with out even batting an eyelash. Taking place during the Sixth Doctors’ time, The Quantum Archangel is a sequel of The Time Monster from the Third Doctors’ time in the limelight.
I have always wanted to be a fan of Matthew Good. I’ve loved a couple songs that he’s made over the years, but I’ve never managed to be a huge fan. He’s just one of those guys that people I wanted to hang out with seemed to like. You can laugh all you want, but I was young and therefore stupid. As it worked out, my time would come when he released his latest album, “Hospital Music.”
Despite choice of quote, I can assure you that for the most part Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal is as fantastic all the way through. It sports fantastic writing by one of my favorite authors: Christopher Moore.
Phoenix Wright: Justice For All is very much like the original, but with a few added tricks. Released in North America January of 2007, Current fans salivated over the new game. Featuring slightly improved graphics, – maybe I’m nuts but I don’t recall moving mouths in the first game – slightly better music, an expanded cast, and a new feature to aggravate the player, Justice For All provides hours of entertaining Lawyer-y fun.
Who knew that reading about a gay man who dresses in drag and his call-boy lover would be all that interesting? I sure didn’t! To be honest had someone suggested it to me, I probably would have sprained my eyebrow from the speed in which it would’ve raised. All that aside, I Am Not Myself These Days is a great first book to the year. Starting off with your good foot and all that.
What can I say? I’m a fanboy of Abandoned Pools. No, that’s not true; I’m a fan of talent, and that’s something that Abandoned Pools has in spades. I will admit that Armed to the Teeth came out in 2005, making this review a little dated, but I feel that Abandoned Pools is a band (artist, to be more accurate) that I’ve had since it came out (please refer to my fanboy comment).
Over the Christmas holidays, Theresa and I went to our local independent movie theater, and watched Juno. I have to say that it’s easily one of the best films I watched in 2007. It was sweet, funny, and potent in all the right spots.
The movie Juno is about one Juno MacGuff (Ellen Page) and Paulie Bleeker (the ever master of awkward pauses, Michael Cera) and their joint child-making. The movie takes place during the nine months of Juno’s wonderful adventure through pregnancy, and her interaction with the adoptive couple Vanessa and Mark Loring (Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman).
Last night I had the fortune to watch I Am Legend staring Will Smith. The premise of the movie is that Robert Neville (Will Smith) is the last man alive, after a deadly super-virus lays waste to 90% of the worlds population. 1% of man kind had a natural immunity to it, and 9%… well that’s something else.
Finally! A new series that actually has a little body to it. I was honestly starting to lose hope in the new adventures. The Last Dodo puts a little bit of that darkness, that deep reflection of the Doctors that has been until now has been sorely lacking from the new books. Though there is only a small moment of it (part of which is quoted in this review) it demonstrates what I’ve been talking about over he past couple books. I know that the authors were probably told that they need to ease into it all, what with trying to nail such a wide demographic and so many new readers, but have a little compassion for those who’ve stuck with the series all these years.
Boys Like Girls self-titled album came out in August of 2006, and I only found out about them in August of 2007 (or was it July…). My friend linked them to me and I got my grubby little hands on the Album as soon as I could. Drawing parallels to All-American Rejects, Acceptance, and even a hint of Abandoned Pools I just can’t put my finger on, this album has a weird blend of pop-punk and rock. I found it really hard to pick favorite on this Album, because to be honest there are only two tracks that I don’t like. I made my choices though, and I stick by them.
Beowulf is the newest adaptation do the epic poem of yore. It’s rather liberal with its interpretation, and as near as I can tell, also adds new and unrelated sections to the plot.
I tried to watch this movie, and take it seriously. Honestly I did, and I am sorry to everyone who was around me who was also trying to watch the movie seriously. I didn’t mean to laugh at it so much, I really didn’t! But when a man is naked for over half of the film, has questionable (at best) dialog, and so much over the top fighting that a Die Hard fan would squeel with joy… well it’s just too much for me to try and take seriously.
So much like the other 3 million people – if the cover tells the truth – who have bought this book, I caved and decided to read Gregory Maguire’s Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. I admit that it has interested me for a while, but I’m adverse to reading much of what the general public reads. I don’t even want to start on The DaVinci Code. What is shocking is that it took this long for the book to become such a hit. It was originally printed 12 years ago. 12!
Ice Station Santa is the first installment for the second “season” of Telltales expansion of the Sam & Max universe. I grew up with the original Sam & Max, and so when I heard tell of a new company taking over the title – since LucasArts is run by morons and discontinued the title – I was a little worried. Hell I remember the short-lived cartoon, which though enjoyable had screwed with my young sensibilities. The voices weren’t the same and it really bugged me.
I wish I could say I listened to indie music more, and that I was well versed in it. Truly I wish I could, but the fact of the matter is I am an outsider to the genré and as such, my opinion here is literally just that: opinion. I’m not saying that all my other music reviews are based on scientifically music-based fact, but at the very least I know what I like and dislike and can compare it to something. The closest thing I can compare The Weakerthans’ new album, Reunion Tour, would probably be The Shins or Bright Eyes. Please don’t send me hate mail for being unable to notice the subtle differences that separate these artists. I don’t see them and I don’t really care.
If you’ve ever watched Clone High, you’ve heard Abandoned Pools. I’m fairly certain that all of their songs from their first album are used throughout the show, including the intro video which is not actually on any of their Albums. In any case, Humanistic is one of the longest running albums existent in my library and easily on my top ten, if not my top five. Flat out I’m going to say that it’s simply a wonderful album and worth listening to. It has a subtle darkness to it, and manages to convey a stunning amount of emotion considering how “happy” some of the songs happen to be.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney is for the most part, a rather enjoyable game. Released in October of 2005 (if you live in North America as I do) this game became an instant hit and flew off the shelves. Now granted I waited two years before playing it (since then a second game has come out, and there are a third and fourth in existence somewhere) but only because I have only recently bought a DS. I have to make sure to buy my friend Dane a decorative cake for lending me his copy.
What happens when you take Panic! At The Disco and tell them to emulate Backstreet Boys? You get The Higher. Their album On Fire is amusing to listen to, at the very least. You can’t take this album too seriously, and if you’re looking for deeper meaning or an answer to one of life’s mysteries, just keep walking. If you feel like dancing to something with a solid beat and like pop-ish music? This album is a must have for your very shallow, expensive shelf.
Where to begin with this one? I honestly don’t know and I’m at a bit of a loss. Maybe I’m just not used to reading this style of book. Maybe I just don’t get the point behind it. Maybe I overlooked some obvious and keen insight that everyone else picked up on. No matter how you put it, I still don’t know what to make of this one.
Mute Math: Teleprompt Edition is one of two release versions (the other being the Warner Bros. release, which I have not listened to, though they are fairly close I’m told) exists for a very interesting 52 minutes. The tracks start off small (ranging from one to four minutes) but quickly move into the six to seven minute range. One reason I can possibly find for this is the over all ambient feel to the Album. The whole thing reeks of “chill,” which I don’t want to say is a bad thing. You do however need to be in the mood to listen to it. This is not an album I would listen to when working out. Yoga maybe, but not for anything that required me to be pumped.
No I do not do yoga.
I really wish I could find a good quote from this book, but I assure you that every one of them is offensive and far too vivid. I’m serious in saying that this is the most blunt, graphic, degrading, disgusting, non-pornographic article I have ever read. The best part is that you can pick it up in Chapters. Right off the shelf. There isn’t even a disclaimer, though I’m being totally truthful that anyone who lets a minor read this should be shot. Now having said that this book is either the equivalent of a harlequin novel for women, or the most subtly brilliant thing I’ve read. To be honest, I think it’s both.
No Really, I’m Fine is the third fourth (it pays to do research) official album (I don’t count EPs as albums) by The Spill Canvas, and I’ve noticed two things. They’ve become more mainstream sounding, and they’ve really tightened up their sound. I don’t want to make conclusions that one of those points begets the other, it’s merely an observation.
How to describe Douglas Coupland’s new novel “The Gum Thief?” I’m struggling for words here because I’m fairly sure I’d need too many, and probably have to create a few just for the effect to truly sink in. I think I’ll go with ‘depressing and beautiful.’ It’s sad and its magical. It’s bleak and its stunning, It’s a fire-y car crash between two massive trucks carrying nothing but bright, floaty balloons.
The debut album by A Fine Frenzy, this CD features 14 tracks that I could play on repeat for god only knows how long. A Fine Frenzy is the result of the hard work of Alison Sudol, and this album is proof that great music still exists in the increasingly commercial music industry. It reminds me faintly of Chantal Kreviazuk, though Alison has a softer voice and simpler sheet music.
I recently watched “Across the Universe,” a musical that takes place in the 1960s involving Jude (Jim Sturgess) as a dock worker who sets off from Liverpool to find his father. Upon the sad and simple meeting of his estranged father, Jude befriends Max (Joe Anderson) wherein he meets Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood).
The three migrate to New York to see where life takes them. Jude and Lucy hook up and are painfully in love. A lot of the movie is based entirely around their evolving love; through their dizzying highs (literally in some cases) and depressing lows.
I had the chance to watch this movie at about 3 in the morning after Theresa suffered a horrible coughing fit (she developed a cough while at school). She decided to put a movie on since she has this amazing habit to fall asleep to any movie she sets her mind to. I sadly do not have the same ability. In fact I could go so far as to say that if a movie is being played, I’ll be drawn to it like a moth to the flame, regardless of the quality of the movie. All it takes is one hook and it’s over.
Today I completed the Doctor Who novel “The Price of Paradise” written by Colin Brake, and features the 10th Doctor and Rose.
The synopsis is fairly straight-forward: Laylora is a perfect planet. Pristine and beautiful, and the residents live a nomadic life and praise the planet like a deity. The Doctor and Rose show up just as another Ship crash-lands. He lends a helping hand to get them off the planet, but the planet is working on removing them in her own way. The planet is, for lack of a better term, allergic to all outside objects. This includes alien people, ships, waste product, etc. Oh, and did I mention that the planet can turn it’s native people into giant hive-minded furry things with 4 arms that have scythes for claws?
Que the hilarity.
On the weekend I went out with Theresa and four others (sister, roomie, and the boyfriends) to one of the only things to do in North Bay. You really only get four options: Drink, have sex, go to the mall, or go to the movies. Well you can mix and match those, but that’s basically it. Regardless, we went to the movies.
This is where I saw Good Luck Chuck.
Yeah, I’m aware the movie came out some time ago, but I only just got to see it on the weekend. Yes, I am aware that the odds of my being unable to watch a movie that is over 5 years old is somewhat of a stretch, but let’s pretend I was busy. Every day. For five years. Well okay, six years.
Shutup.
Anyways, it stars a fuck-load of actors whom you can look up a list of yourself. I’m not going to list out all majillion of them. Suffice it to say they were actually on their A-game for this one.
Words fail me with this movie, but people say that pictures are worth a thousand words right?
I started reading this book directly on the tail-end of The Zombie Survival Guide. I have to say that where the Guide failed to impress, this book delivers.
The book takes place years after what the Guide specified as a “Class 4″ or when Zombies overthrew the world, and mankind goes into hiding. The book is basically a recount of peoples tales of what happened before, during and after the “Great Panic”.
When I started reading this book, I can honestly say that I was expecting a humourous, maybe even cute survivalists guide to a Ghoul outbreak. Lord, even something that was at the very least eccentric in its writing style or message.
Hell was I wrong.
I usually find it hard to sum up a movie in one word. This is not one of those times. A friends msn name said it best:
“Spiderman 3 = Disappointing”
I couldn’t have said it any better, but before I get into this lemme put things into context here. I love Spider-man. Truly I do. The idea that a man is doing the right thing even though his world falls apart around him is truly noble and something I wish to aspire two when push comes to shove. Having said that, I want to point out that I did my utter and complete best not to put this movie on a pedestal. I avoided trailers when I could, nor did I read up on it. I never visited the website nor read any threads on it.
I was unintentionally saddened by this movie.
What happens when you take every SuperCop movie, combine it with fantastic writing and British humour so dry, you could use it as a combustible fuel? You get Hot Fuzz. I’m still new at this movie review thing, so I’m going to try to do this as best I can. This movie is for all [...]