Thursday, June 23, 2011

New (INSPIRATION) Music

Well this shit is new music to me anyway. Once again I have to give a super shout out to Chris Money for playing me this joint from Chairlift. From what he tells me, this is some hipster type of group, well they have a hipster following, I should say.. but fuck fans and fuck hipsters anyway... I just love this beat. The production is super tight and this song is just dripping with 80's love.



I'd love to say more about this group but right now I still know nothing, except this song is fire!

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti is up next with "Bright Lit Blue Skies.' This is another track that I've been sleeping on and its completely new and refreshing to me. Like Chairlift's "Planet Health," this song makes me think of the 80s. It makes me want to go out and skateboard, even though my skills are sub par and I'd end up busting my ass, it would still be great fun.... but yeah, much love to Ariel Pink and her Haunted Graffiti....this video is beautiful and screams creativity....cardboard horses are awesome

Monday, June 20, 2011

Something strange be happening

It's been a decent 24 hours. I got to get involved in some nerding and spending time with the family. I learned how to finally make dvd's that will play on my x box or anywhere else (it isn't as bad as everyone says it is, just takes a long time to burn) and I got to walk around all day with a swollen eye. I wasn't fighting, or drinking, nor was I out and about, yet I still managed to wake up with my eye swollen up as if I'd been snuffed. Maybe I'm fighting myself, was it possible? Of course it was, it would explain things so easily, he thought to himself in comic book font, inside of a drawn thought bubble. The pastel buildings and roads with black semi circles formed tiny pebbles in the painted road. A chicken with yellow abstract forks for legs looked more and more like a crudely drawn duck, a beak of orange, and eyes like marbles. An angry cab driver charges down the road, cartoon dust clouds following, thrown from black rubber tires, oval, leaning forward in design. With ugly teeth and pencil dots at random for a beard, it is apparent the artist wants to show the driver's frustration with things. Grey shaded wooden crates and black and white fruit stands break and spill awkwardly shaped food. The cries of fist pumping immigrants echoes in my ears when I feel the wetness on my face. Seemingly smoother than water, it kisses my lips... I'm reminded of blood but can taste the poison of spilled ink.

Word, I took that shit completely elsewhere, hope y'all enjoyed.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

This is Probably a First Installment

I think the weather might have something to do with the amount of personal play A Tribe Called Quest has been getting. I don’t know, I think it’s the motivation that both the music and the sunshine bring out in us. It’s a bit crazy when you think of these external forces that shape our daily thoughts and rhythms. Seasons, weather, music from the birds in the trees and the music from a group of talented emcees, it is all synonymous with feeling good. I love the production from ATCQ. They were always full of soulful energy and inspirational gifts that came together ….blablaba…. here are some fresh samples…. Cause that’s where all this shit is headed.

This one is probably my favorite. Forget the sample to ‘Sucka Nigga,’ this whole song is unbelievable. Mark Murphy’s voice delivers in a stellar performance and the song writing is impeccable, as far as I’m concerned. This song has really grown on me since recently hearing it, and its guys like Mark Murphy that make me realize that there are better things out there.

Sucka Nigga

Sunday, June 12, 2011


Forget, if only for a moment, a world without hip hop. A world without endless samples of drums and loops. In 1975 this world existed*, and one of the true masters had just released a beast upon the world. "Take Me to The Mardis Gras," by Bob James. A song that was so bananas, that years later, when the culture of hip hop was born*, it was, and still is sampled by artists around the globe. In my personal opinion though, no matter how many hip hop producers try and take bits and pieces of this gem, by sampling it for either their own benefit, or in an attempt to pay homage, nothing will ever come close to the magnitude of genius behind this record. Nevermind the trademark bells that RUN-DMC used on "Rock the Bells", or the drums that too many artists  have sampled... just listen to those keys around 2:00 deep and tell me that whole shit doesn't go crazy. For real, Bob James is a genius and it's not my job to further hint that you all go and do your homework. peace

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

why does everything need a title (metaphor)

Lately, I've been getting asked to provide people with custom CD's. Most of the music hasn't been too impressive, but it isn't all bad. I just rediscovered King Harvest's 1972 classic, 'Dancing In the Moonlight." This is one of those summertime songs that just makes you wanna be out at night when it isn't too hot. Just coolin' out with good people and maybe a lovely sex bomb. Feel a fly breeze, or smell some barbecue food. Watch fireflies throw signals at each other... I wonder what they are saying?


Now I know what the bugs were saying. They were runnin sexy game on each other. "Presenting" themselves with a sophisticated light show. I cannot help but be jealous about this. It's alright though, because the mind is a crystal! By the way does anyone else hear that (Doom????) sample?
http://animals.howstuffworks.com/insects/question554.htm

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Game Review: Bionic Commando 8/10

When I saw the ads and commercials for the remake of Bionic Commando a few years back, I was genuinely excited to see Capcom’s classic NES game returning on a next generation console. Although I didn’t get a chance to immediately play, all I was hearing from the majority of gaming sites was that it was a joke, or had this kind of sub-par presentation with a train wreck storyline and impossible controls and wah, wah, wah. It was kind of a turn off, so I hesitated on picking it up until recently, and I have to say, that for the most part, I disagree with the industry titans, and message board geeks of the gaming world.


As far as story telling is concerned, it’s presented in more of a classic comic-book fashion. This isn’t the game that is going to keep you in suspense, or suck you in with so much brilliant writing that you are just as invested and dedicated to finding out what will ultimately be your character’s fate, as you are to simply kick brutal ass and conquer. Don’t get me wrong, it has the basics; you are a high profile prisoner who once donned a huge bionic arm, which you are separated from while incarcerated. (This sucks, because basically, that stupid bionic arm was a huge part of your identity and mental stability.) Eventually you are released under the condition that you have to do some bullshit you don’t want to do for the people who supplied you with your arm to begin with, but they got you by the balls, because you are looking for your missing wife, and only they have the information you need. A high price will have to be paid for this information, and so begins your adventure as a pawn and weapon. (Commando, anyone?)

Now that the admitted cheesy, action storyline is out of the way, let’s crack this baby open and get to the good stuff. Even though you don't initially have access to all of your biotic arm’s powers, you do have a standard-issue gun (other weapons are available as you progress), and you are still starting off with the ability to swing from basically anything you want, as long as you are within range. Buildings, lampposts, highway and exit signs, cranes, hooks, steel beams, cliff sides, ledges, floating mines that look like balloons, airborne enemies, and probably a few more things that I forgot to mention. Enemies can be shot while swinging from street lights or diving from rooftops or cliff sides, and it is a real satisfying way to make some kills.  Besides swinging around like a bionic Spiderman, you can eventually learn how to pick up and throw cars, boulders, barrels, soldiers, crates, and pieces of fallen armor from larger enemies. This is a key skill that should be mastered as soon as possible. Often you will find yourself low on ammo, and being able to quickly grab a car, or a soldier by his face and throw him into a sniper a block away is a nice way to wreck shop and keep your finger off the trigger and your ammunition conserved.

The environments are spacious enough to supply you with enough room to swing around like a hell-bent lunatic, and at the same time provide enough cover to hide or scope out your enemies from a vantage point. This game is designed as a modern 3D platformer (in my opinion) in the sense that all the boards are linear and there is a basic goal or checkpoint to reach before you can move on to the next area. You will encounter city streets, gigantic underground caves and excavation sites, factories, building interiors, tunnels, broken down bridges, flooded neighborhoods, and a larger than life park full of trees, creeks, and cascading waterfalls.  There are even areas where there is nowhere to go but the sky.

While the graphics are colorful and the levels are well designed, this game does have one major setback, the controls could have definitely used some work. When I first started to play, it took me longer than I expected to get used to the mechanics of swinging and controlling the bionic arm in general. This really made me understand how a lot of people were disappointed in this game, but trust me, taking a little while to break in your arm and get yourself used to things is well worth the patience. Another downfall is that like most platformers the game is short, and can be beaten in about ten hours (once you know what you’re doing that is.)

The bottom-line is that I do feel what many gamers are saying, that the storyline isn’t what it could be and neither are the controls, but ultimately does that even matter? Did it matter when half of the games on the NES were the most asinine or difficult games to play? We still played them, and we still had a lot of fun trying to overcome these obstacles, no matter how many hours it took or how many ungodly curse words were shouted in frustration, it was all in good fun, and that is what this game is, classic video game fun.


Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Just when I thought there was nothing to write  about,  here comes Bob James with an absolutely mind blowing cover of Stevie Wonder's Creepin.' This song is just so dope on so many levels, even the harmonicas are fresh. The song is featured on the compilation CD "A Twist of Motown," 2003, The Verve Music Group.

Speaking of harmonicas and Stevie Wonder, be sure to check out this gem. (skip to 1:40 if you have no patience)


Dante's Inferno XBOX 360 Review


"Now say Violence, death… there ain’t nothin left to say, this sh_t’s fresh.” Well, kind of. Don’t get me wrong, rivers of boiling blood, tearing demons in half, and fighting topless women with possessed pussies is very fun, and more often than not, satisfying. (Fellas, you know what I mean) Unfortunately, just like these adventures with possessed vaginas, things can get tired and repetitive.
When the game opens and you start playing, you are going to immediately notice a few things. The animated flashbacks are very well done, (reminded me of Ill Bill’s video for War is My Destinyhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRLl2yVrJzE.) and the game play is a blatant emulation of the God of War series (mind you, I don’t own a ps3 and I’ve never played GoW3.) This isn’t necessarily a bad thing though. Fans of Kratos will have no problem picking up this game and jumping right back into all of the button mashing and fancy evade moves that they have grown to love over the years.
With that being said, the controls are tight, especially as far as combat goes. Your primary weapon is attained early in the game after defeating Death and wielding his scythe, which is surprisingly quick, considering its size, and responds almost identically to GoW’s bladed gauntlets. Unlike GoW, Dante’s Inferno lacks the option to use multiple weapons but, there is a power-up system involved, allowing the player to purchase new moves, extended health and other upgrades to make your journey through the nine gates of hell somewhat bearable.
Hell you say? Yes, In case you haven’t figured it out, or are one of those people who think “reading is some stressful sh_t,” let’s take a minute to highlight this game’s story, which is loosely based on the famous poem that shares the same title (http://www.sparknotes.com/poetry/inferno.) In a nutshell, as in many action movies and games, some crazyness has happened to your wife and now it’s time to kick ass and take names. Sounds familiar? It is, only difference is now you are descending into the 9 levels of hell (Gluttony, Anger, Violence, Treachery, and so on) instead of shooting up 1000’s of soldiers, gang members, police officers or alien zombies.
What that means to you, as a player, is a game full of morbid, demented, and genuinely disturbing images and backgrounds. Sure, there are some pretty crazy looking bosses and enemies to f_ck up along the way, but what really caught my eye was the little details in the scenery. The scores of drowning souls, screaming in the mud or hanging out of walls before they are dismembered by crushing spiked gates was a nice touch. As I mentioned in the beginning of this review, the possessed vaginas are not to be missed, and even though they aren’t a real threat, they ironically are the most stubborn and annoying encounters in the whole game.
Unfortunately, besides the occasional statues of tortured souls and the beautiful golden river in the realm of Wealth, the artistic diversity seemed to run out of steam far too quickly, with the exception of the bosses, who didn't appear nearly as much as I hoped for. In fact, I actually got bored of seeing the same type of things I’ve seen before in previous levels and in other games. This isn’t to say that the levels are bland, boring or unchallenging, (a few puzzles are thrown about, and they can drive you absolutely nuts) but after a while I got tired of turning the same old cranks I’ve been turning since GoW landed on the PS2 back in 2005. I can also say that I was more impressed with the GoW franchise on PS2 as far as art, level design and story is concerned, than I am with Dante’s Inferno. Granted, the game does take place in hell, and not on Mount Olympus but still, considering both are mythological places, you would think there would be a bit more variety to it.
When all is said and done, and all the nerdy nitpicking and comparisons are over, Dante’s Inferno is good old fashioned, button mashing fun but, it is weighed down by a relatively short campaign mode (the game can be beaten in about 10 hours of gameplay.) To many gamers, this is unacceptable, which I generally do agree with. Games aren’t cheap, and to shell out fifty or sixty bucks for a new game, you would expect it to last. However, if you can rent it, or pick up a pre-owned copy of this game online or at your local game store, it is definitely worth a playthrough if you are a fan of the hack and slash, violence infused, action packed, morbid insanity genre of games.


Overall Score (7.5/10)

Graphics (7) Graphics, although generally enjoyable, especially during boss battles and flashbacks, is not what it could be when you think of how beautiful the GoW games were on PS2.
Sound (7) Loved the screams of tortured people, and the ambient mood music but there wasn’t much of a score here that stood out to me besides the expected orchestral darkness on occasion.
Gameplay (8) Tight controls, excellent response system, however for all the bonus power ups you can attain, the majority of them are unnecessary.
Fun (9) Classic mega violence and almost non-stop button mashing and ass kicking.
Replayability (6) Besides the added survival mode and new difficulty level unlocked after beating the campaign mode, there isn’t much else to do.