Birds

Birds are weird.

This is undisputed. No one really knows what they're up to.

I was heading home from a Contemporary Literature exam when I saw them. Standing at a bus stop, I looked up and saw about 2 dozen birds flying around in circles. Now, I know vultures do this as well, but they didn't not seem to be waiting for me to keel over so they may feast upon my supple bosom. So, I figured I'm in the clear there. Some birds would occasionally join in, and they'd know exactly what directions to fly in. How do they know this? Why do they do this?

Anyway, they flew in circle after circle after circle after circle until I left the station. Now, I'm not an expert in Ornithology, but that is just unusual. Are they supposed to do this? What purpose does this serve? I'm not all about practicality, but could you see yourself running around in circles for hours? (This question does not apply to Olympic runners, running enthusiasts or the mentally impaired.) It's fascinating. Can watch them for hours, especially when there's hundreds in one flock.

I give birds in general an 8 out of 10. I may decide to focus on individual birds some time, but let this be the general idea.

Snow

Snow is fantastic.

I'm not talking about that I'm-white-but-vaguely-rastafarian musician, I'm talking about that white stuff.

A winter without snow isn't winter. It's just a slightly colder autumn. Oh sure, we can still call it winter, but it won't be so without snow. I don't think they ever have winter in Mexico. Isn't it just summer year 'round there, or have travel brochures been lying to me? No wonder there's so many Mexicans move to America. They want the snow. Unless they live in Texas, but why would anyone live in Texas?

As I said, snow is fantastic....unless you get a concussion. Therein lies the one fault in snowy weather, it's damn slippery. Hit some ice wrong and you might be on your way to a few months in hospital, unless you die. If you can avoid the reaper, snow is fun. Sledding, tobogganing, etc. I didn't mention snowboarding or skiing, I haven't tried the former and suck at the latter. Unless you're supposed to roll down the hill in skiing, then I'm a master.

I give snow a 9/10. One mark off for possible injury/death. Otherwise, it's good times had by all.

Neon Bible

For the longest time, I've been wondering what all the hype was about The Arcade Fire.

Around the time that "Neon Bible" came out, I was wondering why everyone was going crazy over this band. I saw them perform on Saturday Night Live and wasn't impressed. Maybe I just wasn't ready, because now I love this band and this album, "Neon Bible".

I'd been listening a lot to "The Arcade Fire EP" for a week or so and loved it. Especially "Old Flame", "No Cars Go" and "Headlights Look Like Diamonds". Now, I haven't been into indie music all that much unless you count Radiohead as indie (and even if you do, I only started liking them since this time last year). Modest Mouse is considered indie, and I discovered them in March when their latest "We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank". I discovered and experimented with various indie bands since then, but much like "Kid A", I was too scared to go near The Arcade Fire. The music just sounded too new and intense, I'm not sure what I thought would happen if I listened to them before I was "ready" but for whatever reason I decided a week or so ago that I'm ready now.

Anyway, I just started listening to "Neon Bible" yesterday and I haven't listened to anything since. Sure that hasn't been a long time, but still. I don't usually grab onto an album this fast but there's something about it that's just fantastic. Maybe it's the organ, it reminds me of when I went to church as a child not knowing what the hell was going on when everyone would stand up and start singing. It's an instrument I will forever connect with church, and through that, religion. Now, I'm not a religious guy. I'm an atheist. Not the prick atheist who shouts about how terrible religion is and how it's going to destroy the world, just an atheist who keeps his thoughts largely to himself. Something about the way they use the organ on this album is....spiritual. The songs feel like a hymns. Especially the beginning of "Intervention".

I really like "Black Wave/Bad Vibrations", it's so odd. It starts off like an 80's pop/new wave song or something like that, but then veers off in a spectacular way for the "Black Wave" portion of the song. "(antichrist television blues)" is another terrific song that I can't help tapping my toe to, and I love the lyrics that seem to describe a man who wants to be a messenger for God and to do that wants to live though his child. There's just something that resonates with me. "No Cars Go" I had trouble with at first, since I was so used to the original on their debut EP. I've grown to love it, though I'm still unsure as to which version I like better.

It's fantastic album in general. I still like "In Rainbows" more, but this is a close second for album of the year. Probably a 9/10.

(Yeah, the review would be more substantial without a numeric rating, but hell. I do what I want, so there.)

Crysis Demo

The hype around Crysis is astronomical, although that's mainly because of the graphics. They're really purdy lookin'.... if you have a computer loaned from NASA. Otherwise, the graphics will end up looking rather bland, since you'll be playing with minimum specs like myself. Hopefully not though. I'm rather surprised it works at all on my computer, Bioshock was a black abyss with some white specs on my machine. (Thank God I got the 360 version.)

Since the graphics aren't that great on minimum, you get to focus more on gameplay. If you've played a Far Cry game, you pretty much know the score here. Lots of jungle, encounters with soldiers, some vehicle driving, etc. The suit gives you some interesting abilities, I had fun throwing things with "Maximum Strength" (I'm in love with the voice that tells you what suit power you've equipped. Deliciously cheesy.) Cloak comes in very handy, a little too handy since you can use it even if you're staring right at someone and they'll fail to see you. Still, there's fun to be had.

The A.I. is.....alright. I wouldn't call it revolutionary by any stretch, but it's quite decent. The best thing I enjoyed was the destructible foliage. It's pretty much useless, but I found myself spending an inordinate amount of time shooting trees and watching them fall over. If this is the future of gaming, it's going to be a delightfully unnecessary ride.

Out of 10? Probably an 8. I'd give a 10 if I saw the graphics in full fidelity I'm sure.

In Rainbows

If you don't like this album, your ears are vestigial organs. They are broken and useless.

I can't really describe this album. I don't mean that in a Pitchfork-esque hyperbole kind of way, I just find it hard to describe music in general. In Rainbows is definitely more user-friendly and accessible. It's not like Kid A/Amnesiac, where it takes a while to actually listen to it. I love the albums, don't get me wrong, but it took a while to actually enjoy them. I could see a lot of In Rainbows songs being singles. 15 Step, Bodysnatchers especially, Weird Fishes/Arpeggi, Faust Arp or Jigsaw Falling Into Place. Hell, I could see House of Cards being played on an easy listening station.

The only song I had a problem with was Videotape. At first it's fine, but when the drums come out of nowhere (especially if you've heard the song before the album) it feels very off-putting. It feels like something just isn't working here. Overtime though, I'm finding myself loving this song. The drums seem to give off this ominous feeling, like Thom is fighting off this feeling while recording this farewell message on a videotape. It's no Pyramid Song, but it's great closer for a fantastic album.

The most interesting thing about this album is the fact that most of the songs were already available before the album came out. The only songs I hadn't heard were Faust Arp, Reckoner (well, I'd heard the original rockier one) and House of Cards. The amazing thing is that the album didn't feel old. The album felt brand new, even though I'd already listened to more than half of it in some way or another.

In short, an amazing album. As sick as I am of the comparison, it does feel much like OK Computer. Just as accessible as well. I hope this ends up huge when it comes out on CD in early 08.

First post.

If you're reading this, you probably stumbled here by accident. You still have a chance to get away, I won't stop you.

I'm mainly using this blog to practice my writing anyway, so don't expect anything particularly exciting or insightful here. Just ranting, maybe some reviews or news stories.

If you're a glutton for boredom, then keep watching this blog. You'll get as much as you need.