The Shins - Oh, Inverted World (2001)



Tracklisting

1. Caring is Creepy
2. One by One All Day
3. Weird Divide
4. Know Your Onion!
5. Girl Inform Me
6. New Slang
7. The Celibate Life
8. Girl on the Wing
9. Your Algebra
10. Pressed in a Book
11. The Past and Pending

This album is good. Ridiculously good. I don't know how else to say it. This is just a good album. 11 tracks, 11 home runs. This is another album that I love every track on it. This is easily my favorite album in this millenium. James Mercer's voice just matches the music here so well. Opening up with "Caring is Creepy" is amazing, I have not stopped listening to this song since I removed the shrink-wrapping. But even better, "New Slang" is a song that is an elite group. This is one of the finest songs recorded in the past 15 years. Yeah, it's that good. The Shins produce this almost dream-like music, psychadelic but not too much, they always stay well grounded. Songs like "New Slang" and "Weird Divide" show their folk roots. To be honest, I didn't know that sounds like this could be made by dudes from Alburquerque.

"New Slang" seems to be a song about sadness and remorse. With lyrics like "I was happier then, with no mindset" and "And my head's to the wall, and I'm lonely", it kind of sets the mood. This song has a RIDICULOUS melody, for being a somber song, it has quite a catchy melody.

"Girl Inform Me" is a song straight out of the 60's. This reminds me of a Beach Boys song or something. Amazing production on this one, you'll fall in love with it.

"Caring is Creepy" to me portrays a sense of uselessness and numbness. The lyrics "Building nothing, laying bricks" is basically saying, I'm trying but nothing is being accomplished. Just my interpretation.

All in all, The Shins crafted a masterpiece here, a work of art. If you don't believe me please just buy it for "New Slang", as Natalie Portman says in Garden State, the song will change your life.

Pearl Jam - Ten (1991)



Tracklisting

1. Once
2. Even Flow
3. Alive
4. Why Go
5. Black
6. Jeremy
7. Oceans
8. Porch
9. Garden
10. Deep
11. Release

Considered by some to be a member of the upper tier of great grunge albums, alongside Nirvana's Nevermind, Soundgarden's Superunkown, and Alice in Chain's Dirt, Pearl Jam burst on to the music scene with this incredible debut. It was released on August 27th, 1991, a seminal day in music. This album boasted several hit singles for Pearl Jam, tracks like "Even Flow", "Alive", and the biggest hit of all, "Jeremy". Although they are exquisite tracks, other songs like "Black", "Oceans", and "Release" seem to be superior with poetic lyrics and great melodies.

"Black" tells a tale that is familiar to most, it is about losing someone you love, whether it be death or a breakup, the lyrics are spectacular. Towards the end of the song, as it builds toward an epic climax, piano playing, singer Eddie Vedder screams "I know someday you'll have a beautiful life, I know you'll be a star/in somebody else's sky, so why/why, why can't it be, why can't it be mine?", you can't help but feel his pain.

There is also some storytelling involved on this album, the tracks "Alive", "Once", and a B-side "Footsteps" form what is called the "Mamason Trilogy". This is a disturbing story where the song "Alive" recounts a boy having sex with his mother. This boy grows up to be a serial killer in the song "Once", and the song "Footsteps" is him making his way to be executed. This shows Eddie Vedder's natural ability to weave incredible stories.

Ten is an essential album in any music fan's collection, with tracks like "Black", "Once", "Release", "Oceans", "Porch", and "Alive", you can't go wrong. The first album on the essentials list is 1991's Ten, pick it up.

Well as of today, I have began quite an undertaking. I pick a random old school game, and just play until I beat it. Whether it be Contra, Ninja Gaiden, or even the atrocious Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde. I will try and try until I reach the end of the game. The first game that was chosen is...Dragon Warrior, an Enix RPG released in 1989. Many consider it to be one of the roots in RPG gaming.


Dragon Warrior: DAY 1

Well I started up the game and got going on this quest. The story has to do with a knight named Erdrick who must save Princess Gwaelin from the evil Dragonlord. Very typical storyline, but it works. Well this game moves very, very slowly, so I'll be leveling up for a while now. I just bump Biggie on the stereo as I battle these stupid blue and red slimes. I think it is BS that the king wants you to save his daughter, but he gives you 120 freaking pieces of gold to spend. I know a little about this game and the fact that if you try and go ahead to far without leveling up, you'll get destroyed. I'm just going to take it slow with this game. So for the next hour or two, I have to look at this screen:



Each battle with these guys takes like thirty seconds, which isn't bad, but you only get one experience point and one piece of gold for each battle. This game isn't horrible, but it definitely has some rough edges. Like it or not though, I have to beat it. See you next entry.

Yes I've realized I've failed to update this everyday like I said, but now I'm back and I have an idea for this. I'm going to review albums, movies, games, etc. in my journal. Here is the first of many.

System of a Down - Mesmerize (2005)


This album, SOAD's follow up to 2001's Toxicity, a spectacular album, continues down the path of incredible music. Mesmerize is short and sweet, but it is the first half of a double album, Hypnotize comes out this fall. SOAD had a lot to prove on this record, taking 4 years to release an album after Toxicity, which many thought they couldn't top. DId they top it, well I'm not going to say until I hear Hypnotize, but so far I'm extremely satisfied. The first single, "B.Y.O.B. ", is a frantic and energetic song with a strong political message. Throughout the entire album Serj Tankian and Daron Malakian both contribute vocals, and both deliver amazing performances. They harmonize well together and combine that with the band's melodies and you have a winning formula. Tracks like "Radio/Video" and "Cigaro" both stand out and of course "B.Y.O.B.". SOAD goes completely wild on this record, and I'm loving it.

Well this situation is just weird. I asked her to prom on a Friday, she said yes and seemed very excited. Then on Tuesday I'm in Spanish class and her friend is like, "Alon isn't sure she wants to go to prom anymore, she is nervous because not many other sophomores are going, it has nothing to do with you though." This is just confusing, if anyone has any advice please let me know.

Well I didn't ask for her number, but I did make some progress. We talked and flirted a little, and now I think I may ask her to the prom. That will be the perfect way to get to know her and forward things romantically. I'm not gonna say I'm in love, but man do I like her a ton. I think about her all the time, I take long routes to classes just so I can see her, and I ask her math questions I already know the answers to. Well I'm gonna keep talking to her and getting to know her, and then when I feel comfortable I'm going to ask her to go to the prom with me. Wish me luck!

Well I failed on my goal to update this everyday, but oh well. Well tonight I am feeling a little down, it's Saturday night and I'm stuck at home. I'm really stressed out about school and this situation with this girl. I'm having trouble talking to her, but I did a little bit the other day. I'm going to ask for her number on Monday and then I'm going to see how it goes from there. She is so beautiful inside and out, and I really want to get to know her. I hope it goes well.

I've noticed the great amount of people saying that Ocarina Of Time is the greatest Zelda game in the series. I disagree completely. Although it is one of my favorites of all time, and I see it as an art form, it is not my favorite in the series. The game I am talking about is not A Link to the Past either. Another amazing game but not my favorite. The original is timeless, but that is also not my choice. My favorite game in the Legend of Zelda franchise is: (drum roll)...Link's Awakening!

This game was just amazing to me back when it came out. To be able to take such a big and vibrant world with me in the car was just a wonderful thing. The plot is more inventive and original than the other Zelda titles. It isn't all about defeating Ganon and saving Zelda. I won't spoil it, but this plot involves Link washing up on Kaholint Island. When he is here, he is told he needs to wake the wind fish. Whether it sounds interesting or not you have to give this game a try, it is spectacular. I will be posting a review of it shortly.

Today I started playing Final Fantasy II/IV for the first time ever. It is also my very first RPG if you don't count Pokemon games. So far it is pretty cool, I've always liked the concept of RPG's. Building your character up, buying armor and weapons, and exploring. I really love the old school 2D RPG's the most. I am now in the process of searching on eBay for many NES and SNES RPG's. I may even check out the Phantasy Star and Shining Force series. Unfortunately, that means getting a lot of money. Those games go for a ton because they are so great and rare. I may start off by getting Dragon Warrior I because it is so easy to find. I can get it for 4.99 at Game Crazy so I may just do that. I'm so glad the Game Crazy near my house hasn't given up on old school games, they actually have quite an inventory. Alright off to play more FF...

I can't believe how quickly my weekends go by. Yesterday I had SAT's so I had to get up at 6:45 on a Saturday!! I got home about 1:05 so thats pretty much a Saturday morning wasted. I remember when Saturday mornings were the ultimate thing in my life. I would get up around 8:00 and turn on the NES or Genesis, whatever. Play a game like Sonic the Hedgehog 2 or Startropics all morning and eat Count Chocula while watching my favorite cartoons. I used to always watch Doug on Nickelodeon the most, but I also enjoyed many others. Well after that morning ritual, my parents would be mowing the lawn or something so my brothers and I would just go and play football or baseball outside. We would sometimes also ride our bikes up to the school and play on the playground. Man my nostalgia is just pathetic.