Led Zeppelin kicks so much ass.
The thing that I've found most impressive about Led Zeppelin is that, over time, I've come to appreciate almost all of their songs. Wait, appreciate isn't the right word. I can appreciate things that I don't like. I've come to really like almost every Zeppelin tune I've heard.
This CD, Houses of the Holy, has the three song set that might just be the best trifecta to open a CD of all time: The Song Remains the Same, The Rain Song, and Over the Hills and Far Away. Track one blows you away, seemingly the musical equivalent of a race against time. The Rain Song is arguably the greatest song ever made (I said arguably). The guitar part is smooth and relaxing, but still powerful, and Robert Plant's vocals are, as always, perfectly phrased. Over the Hills is the only radio-friendly of the three, but still holds true to the creative guitar and vocals that Zeppelin became known for.
The rest of the album is great as well. D'yer Mak'er is a huge radio hit and popular among most music fans. No Quarter appeals to a more segmented group, with its darker sounds, but is still tremendous. And the final track, The Ocean, has what I named my favorite lyric of all time:
"La, la, la la la la, la, la la la la la la la la."
What can I say? I'm a sucker for scat.
Most people who recommend Led Zeppelin to someone unfamiliar will recommend the untitled fourth album, also called IV or ZOSO. They're not wrong to make such a recommendation, and I imagine someday that album will make its way into the hall of fame. But for my money, Houses of the Holy is the best album Zeppelin ever made, so that's my recommendation.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Installing Xbox Games
I was at Best Buy the other day, and I found something that seemed seedy; maybe you guys will see it differently. I was looking at Xbox 360 games, and noticed a sticker on one of them offering Best Buy's expertise in installing the game for customers.
What?
Doesn't the installation process for a console game consist of putting the game in the 360 and turning it on? I'm sure it's profitable for Best Buy to charge people whatever they charge for installations, but shouldn't the technicians have some sort of moral problem with it? They know there's nothing to it. If anyone pays to have a console game installed, the technician needs to make sure they only do it once, and they realize how silly it is to pay for that.
Generally I'm fine with exploiting the very stupidest of our fellow humans, but you should feel some kind of guilt when you do it this egregiously. I don't know, maybe I'm a sucker.
Yeah, I'm a sucker.
What?
Doesn't the installation process for a console game consist of putting the game in the 360 and turning it on? I'm sure it's profitable for Best Buy to charge people whatever they charge for installations, but shouldn't the technicians have some sort of moral problem with it? They know there's nothing to it. If anyone pays to have a console game installed, the technician needs to make sure they only do it once, and they realize how silly it is to pay for that.
Generally I'm fine with exploiting the very stupidest of our fellow humans, but you should feel some kind of guilt when you do it this egregiously. I don't know, maybe I'm a sucker.
Yeah, I'm a sucker.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Video Game Hall of Fame: Halo
We take a step just a little bit forward with this month's induction into the Video Game Hall of Fame, and embrace a game that came out after the turn of the century. Halo was widely appreciated as a great accomplishment, and one of the reasons that the Xbox would be here to stay. It really ended up being the game that was able to counter the ridiculous size of the Xbox controller and have broad-reaching entertainment. People who had never played first-person shooters came around, because the game was so smooth and well-designed. And long-time gamers appreciated the depth of gameplay and the fact that, finally, a futuristic first-person shooter didn't suck ass.
The campaign portion of Halo was tremendous. I say "campaign" rather than single-player because, at long last, this was a game that offered a two player cooperative campaign. The logic behind it was limited, as there is supposed to be only one Master Chief, but when it comes down to eliminating aliens, you don't need a reason. There are lots of situations where one player can hold the attention of enemies, and the other can slip behind them and bust things up. You feel like a well-oiled machine when it goes right, and a complete boob when it goes wrong.
One feature in particular of the multiplayer campaign made for some good laughs when I played through with my brother. When one of the two players dies in cooperative play, the player is spawned at the location of the second player, so long as they're in a safe location without enemies nearby. My penchant for sniping and taking cover, combined with my brother's maverick attitude, meant that he was essentially bait in big battles. He'd run out into the open, kill a couple guys, and draw more guys to him. Then, he'd start tossing grenades, and I'd start popping pistol rounds into alien skulls. He'd die, I'd fall back a bit, and he'd get respawned. And we'd do it all over again.
The adversarial multiplayer options are also very well done. The maps are well-constructed and, more importantly, well-balanced. Some of the weapons are a little unbalanced (specifically the pistol), but in most levels everyone starts with the pistol, so the playing field is pretty level. As far as game types, you have the standard death match and team death match, as well as king of the hill, capture the flag, and "odd ball," in which a player or team tries to hold the "ball" for as long as possible. The options available are numerous and interesting, from giving every player permanent invisibility or unlimited grenades to giving each player a specific target to kill. They make for a wide variety of enjoyable games.
The apex of Halo, however, is in the system link option. You can link up to four Xboxes together for up to 16 players playing together at the same time. The scope of these mega-matches give you the PC online experience of a chaotic, action-packed game, with the allure of knowing everyone in your game. Trash-talking becomes an art form in these kinds of games, and you learn to appreciate it as much as solid gameplay. This facet, the "big game" feature, is what has made the original Halo playable even today. Our familiarity with the maps and nostalgia for the original have brought people together on multiple occasions to compete in massive struggles for supremacy.
In the end, Halo did both ends right (campaign and multiplayer), which is all too rare in the video game world today. It was this combination of accomplishments that made Halo one of the games of the decade, and one of the early inductees into this hall of fame.
The campaign portion of Halo was tremendous. I say "campaign" rather than single-player because, at long last, this was a game that offered a two player cooperative campaign. The logic behind it was limited, as there is supposed to be only one Master Chief, but when it comes down to eliminating aliens, you don't need a reason. There are lots of situations where one player can hold the attention of enemies, and the other can slip behind them and bust things up. You feel like a well-oiled machine when it goes right, and a complete boob when it goes wrong.
One feature in particular of the multiplayer campaign made for some good laughs when I played through with my brother. When one of the two players dies in cooperative play, the player is spawned at the location of the second player, so long as they're in a safe location without enemies nearby. My penchant for sniping and taking cover, combined with my brother's maverick attitude, meant that he was essentially bait in big battles. He'd run out into the open, kill a couple guys, and draw more guys to him. Then, he'd start tossing grenades, and I'd start popping pistol rounds into alien skulls. He'd die, I'd fall back a bit, and he'd get respawned. And we'd do it all over again.
The adversarial multiplayer options are also very well done. The maps are well-constructed and, more importantly, well-balanced. Some of the weapons are a little unbalanced (specifically the pistol), but in most levels everyone starts with the pistol, so the playing field is pretty level. As far as game types, you have the standard death match and team death match, as well as king of the hill, capture the flag, and "odd ball," in which a player or team tries to hold the "ball" for as long as possible. The options available are numerous and interesting, from giving every player permanent invisibility or unlimited grenades to giving each player a specific target to kill. They make for a wide variety of enjoyable games.
The apex of Halo, however, is in the system link option. You can link up to four Xboxes together for up to 16 players playing together at the same time. The scope of these mega-matches give you the PC online experience of a chaotic, action-packed game, with the allure of knowing everyone in your game. Trash-talking becomes an art form in these kinds of games, and you learn to appreciate it as much as solid gameplay. This facet, the "big game" feature, is what has made the original Halo playable even today. Our familiarity with the maps and nostalgia for the original have brought people together on multiple occasions to compete in massive struggles for supremacy.
In the end, Halo did both ends right (campaign and multiplayer), which is all too rare in the video game world today. It was this combination of accomplishments that made Halo one of the games of the decade, and one of the early inductees into this hall of fame.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Deals?
Hey, I was thinking about perusing Amazon for more deals (mostly video games) to post here, and I wanted to see if anybody has anything else that you'd like me to keep an eye out for. I have a decent amount of free time at work, so I stumble upon all sorts of deals from time to time. I also have a couple of other sites that I sometimes get deals/coupons for, and I'd be happy to share those as well.
They'll be properly linked, which means I get a cut of the action, but the price for you will be the same, so you can enjoy all the benefits of a personal shopping assistant without having to worry about me grabbing your ass...yet.
What?
They'll be properly linked, which means I get a cut of the action, but the price for you will be the same, so you can enjoy all the benefits of a personal shopping assistant without having to worry about me grabbing your ass...yet.
What?
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Movie Hall of Fame: The Usual Suspects
This was the movie. When people wanted to know what movie to rent, this was the movie. When people asked what your favorite movie was for the months that followed your initial screening, this was the movie. This was the movie that made us demand some kind of completely surprising twist at the end of any "dramatic" movie. This was the movie you wouldn't let people watch the end of if they weren't paying attention to the rest of it, because they wouldn't "get it." This was the movie.
The first time I watched it, even I didn't really get it. I mean, I was like 16, so I didn't really get much of anything, but I wasn't sure that I even liked the movie initially. But the times changed. I grew up, and began to appreciate complex storylines, and this movie really started to shine through. I liked the betrayals, the suspicions, and the investigation. Also, as a teenager, I liked the fact that the movie was about criminals and crime. There was (and to an extent still is) something about a life of crime that piques my interest.
The Usual Suspects doesn't have an all-star cast. The "headliner" is Stephen Baldwin, who's fine, but not exceptional. There are some other bright spots: Kevin Spacey is good (but not as good as the accolades he tends to get), Benicio Del Toro does a very nice job of playing a kind of loopy guy, and Chazz Palminteri plays in a much more serious role than he played in A Night at the Roxbury. But generally, it's pretty good acting and fantastic story-writing.
I'd love to tell you more about the story, but if you haven't seen it, I don't want to ruin a moment of the movie for you. I'll leave you with a couple of very vague pieces of information: it's a crime drama that you'll enjoy the first time you see it, and like it more each successive time. And once you've seen it, you'll want to discuss it with everyone around you. Just remember, the movie came out over a decade ago, so you may look foolish. But hey, you never know. You might find someone like me, who, regardless of how old something is, I love it.
(See my video game HOF choices).
The first time I watched it, even I didn't really get it. I mean, I was like 16, so I didn't really get much of anything, but I wasn't sure that I even liked the movie initially. But the times changed. I grew up, and began to appreciate complex storylines, and this movie really started to shine through. I liked the betrayals, the suspicions, and the investigation. Also, as a teenager, I liked the fact that the movie was about criminals and crime. There was (and to an extent still is) something about a life of crime that piques my interest.
The Usual Suspects doesn't have an all-star cast. The "headliner" is Stephen Baldwin, who's fine, but not exceptional. There are some other bright spots: Kevin Spacey is good (but not as good as the accolades he tends to get), Benicio Del Toro does a very nice job of playing a kind of loopy guy, and Chazz Palminteri plays in a much more serious role than he played in A Night at the Roxbury. But generally, it's pretty good acting and fantastic story-writing.
I'd love to tell you more about the story, but if you haven't seen it, I don't want to ruin a moment of the movie for you. I'll leave you with a couple of very vague pieces of information: it's a crime drama that you'll enjoy the first time you see it, and like it more each successive time. And once you've seen it, you'll want to discuss it with everyone around you. Just remember, the movie came out over a decade ago, so you may look foolish. But hey, you never know. You might find someone like me, who, regardless of how old something is, I love it.
(See my video game HOF choices).
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Music Hall of Fame: Throwing Copper (Live)
Just to clarify, this album is by the band Live, it's not a live album.
When I was in high school, I didn't really know much about music. I heard songs and liked them, but rarely knew who the band was or what other songs they did. I knew Dave Matthews Band, Counting Crows, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Spin Doctors, and that was pretty much it. My cousin told me she liked Live, and I said, "Oh, I don't know them." Which was half-true; I didn't know who they were. But I would find out soon enough that I actually like several of their songs.
It happened while I was at the beach with said cousin. We were driving somewhere and a song came on the radio, and I said, "Turn it up, I love this song!" She said, "This is Live, the band you said you didn't know." It was Pain Lies On The Riverside, off of the Mental Jewelry album, immediately preceding Throwing Copper. I said, "Oh, maybe I do like them then. What are some other songs by them?"
She proceeded to hum four or five songs from Throwing Copper, and they were all songs I had heard and enjoyed: All Over You, Lightning Crashes, Selling the Drama, I Alone, and possibly White, Discussion. I say "possibly" not because I'm unsure of whether or not I like the song; it's in fact definitely my favorite among the five radio hits from the album. I say it because I'm not sure if she had suggested that song to me at that time; the others I'm fairly certain about.
So, armed with the knowledge that I already liked the album, I went out and bought Throwing Copper. It was beautiful. The album opens with The Dam at Otter Creek, which is anything but mainstream, but it ends up being a really "neat" song. Neat like cool, not neat like tidy. The radio hits are sprinkled throughout the album, but the other songs are often just as good. Iris and Top are both a little less radio-friendly, but a little more interesting. Another tune sort of like Otter Creek. is T.B.D., which may or may not be a playful title, like when Dave Matthews Band uses numbers (#41, #36, etc). Regardless of the meaning behind the title, the song is dark and foreboding, but also quiet and calm. I love it.
You might ask, "Who would like this album, Joe?" And my first inclination would be, "Anyone who likes rock," but then there's the example of Chip. Chip appears to like rock, but can't stand Live (or Van Halen, but that's another story). I would guess that you maybe have to enjoy some of the harder rock bands, like Alice In Chains, Megadeth, or Soundgarden. Not that I know for sure that Chip doesn't like those bands; he may love them. I'm just trying to do what I can to guide your music exploration.
Regardless of your tastes, if you haven't really heard any Live, I suggest you give them a whirl. I'll make you a mix tape!
When I was in high school, I didn't really know much about music. I heard songs and liked them, but rarely knew who the band was or what other songs they did. I knew Dave Matthews Band, Counting Crows, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Spin Doctors, and that was pretty much it. My cousin told me she liked Live, and I said, "Oh, I don't know them." Which was half-true; I didn't know who they were. But I would find out soon enough that I actually like several of their songs.
It happened while I was at the beach with said cousin. We were driving somewhere and a song came on the radio, and I said, "Turn it up, I love this song!" She said, "This is Live, the band you said you didn't know." It was Pain Lies On The Riverside, off of the Mental Jewelry album, immediately preceding Throwing Copper. I said, "Oh, maybe I do like them then. What are some other songs by them?"
She proceeded to hum four or five songs from Throwing Copper, and they were all songs I had heard and enjoyed: All Over You, Lightning Crashes, Selling the Drama, I Alone, and possibly White, Discussion. I say "possibly" not because I'm unsure of whether or not I like the song; it's in fact definitely my favorite among the five radio hits from the album. I say it because I'm not sure if she had suggested that song to me at that time; the others I'm fairly certain about.
So, armed with the knowledge that I already liked the album, I went out and bought Throwing Copper. It was beautiful. The album opens with The Dam at Otter Creek, which is anything but mainstream, but it ends up being a really "neat" song. Neat like cool, not neat like tidy. The radio hits are sprinkled throughout the album, but the other songs are often just as good. Iris and Top are both a little less radio-friendly, but a little more interesting. Another tune sort of like Otter Creek. is T.B.D., which may or may not be a playful title, like when Dave Matthews Band uses numbers (#41, #36, etc). Regardless of the meaning behind the title, the song is dark and foreboding, but also quiet and calm. I love it.
You might ask, "Who would like this album, Joe?" And my first inclination would be, "Anyone who likes rock," but then there's the example of Chip. Chip appears to like rock, but can't stand Live (or Van Halen, but that's another story). I would guess that you maybe have to enjoy some of the harder rock bands, like Alice In Chains, Megadeth, or Soundgarden. Not that I know for sure that Chip doesn't like those bands; he may love them. I'm just trying to do what I can to guide your music exploration.
Regardless of your tastes, if you haven't really heard any Live, I suggest you give them a whirl. I'll make you a mix tape!
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