Once again running behind... I swear eventually I will get in the swing and write this thing every week. 3 entries for the past couple of weeks, but as previously mentioned one of those is a 3 album effort, which makes it essentially 5 discs of listening. Rather than do a separate blog, I'll just say a couple of things about games I've been playing.

I'm enjoying Mini Nijas. It isn't particularly complex or hard, but it's still good fun. Sometimes I like games a bit more simple. A bit more variety in the attacks and enemies would be appreciated, but what's there is decent enough. I also tried Far Cry 2. Does anyone want to give me a reason to keep playing? I found trudging around the map when you don't have a car (or it breaks down) to be extremely tedious. A few other things didn't sit right with me; I never seemed to be able to distunguish some enemies from their surroundings, and enemy patrols chasing you down when you can shoot from your vehicle were also annoying. Shooting mechanics and story seem decent enough, but I think those other factors are going to drag it down too much for me.

So I decided to play Halo Wars. This is the first time I've played an RTS for a long time (unless you count tower defence). So far it seems to be what I was looking for; an RTS that isn't overly complex, is easy to manage and doesn't require hours and hours to complete a single map. After the first 3 maps I figured it was going to be really easy, but the fourth map offered me some challenges and I haven't completed it yet. Will probably give it another shot after I write this blog, have a fair idea of what I need to do now to complete it. For those who've played it, it's the map where you have to escort civilians to the drop ships. I'm pretty sure though that part of the mission is the 3rd drop shop blowing up even if you defend it. I'll try and defend it again to confirm. Shame the game is a bit on the ugly side though. The lack of detail on units is a bit disappointing, but it doesn't really detract from the game.

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Ella Fitzgerald - Sings The Gershwin Songbook - 1959
Prior to this album I've been exposed to Ella through one song that Megan has on her ipod; It's Cold Outside. I really love that song even though it is nothing like the music I generally like. So I was looking forward to hearing the rest of what Ella had to offer, and this album serves up 3 discs. While not her sound specifically, I'd compare her to Sarah Vaughan who I reviewed earlier in this series. Her voice is amazing, with clean vocals. Music on this collection is perhaps a bit more pronounced, and there are a few zingy numbers. I can hear some odd instruments in some songs that I can't identify, I think they are possibly some kind of wood instrument or something, that gives some of the songs some extra character. She is also the master of matching up rhymes where none should really exist. They are as obvious as all hell, but she still seems to manage to pull them off. For example, who thought dumber and succumb could rhyme? Really drag that B in succumb, even though it should be silent, and you can make it work. Or at least Ella can.

After listening to these discs a few times, it was easy to pick up the swing and sing along (even though I sound terrible trying to imitate it), though the timing for this sort of thing still eludes me at times. Often in songs that repeat their chorus and verses later in the song, there is different emphasis which often feels like it is keeping the album fresh. This collection of songs is certainly one that I can enjoy when it is on; I just won't go out of my to listen to it. Once again an album I acknowledge is good, great even, but isn't quite what I'm looking for. Be assured I will sing along if I hear them though. Especially 'Let's Call The Whole THing Off', probably my highlight of this album.

The Crickets - The Chirping Crickets (1957)
Can't say I've ever heard of The Crickets. So I was really surprised when I put this album on, and recognised some tracks. Then I realised that I was listening to Buddy Holly. I ponder, when these have been played in recent decades, were they attributed as Buddy Holly songs and I've never know that they were The Crickets? Neverthless, heading a bit more rock for this album. Still a few slower numbers as well, but a bit more upbeat. Still, outside of those few tracks that I've heard before, nothing is really inspiring me here. Decent tunes, but nothing that has affected me a lot.

Elvis Presley - Elvis Presley - 1956
I can just imagine the circumstances under which this record was produced. "Hey Elvis, I dare you to put this ferret down your pants, and then see if you can still sing the songs, and see if the audience notices!" Sorry Elvis, I've caught you out. Ok, I might be exaggerating a bit. But there are some tracks where his voice wavers a bit as though he is desperately trying to maintain composure while being distracted. I know this is just how Elvis is, but I couldn't help but think it. Can't say I'm amazed by Elvis. Some well known cIassics on this album, like Blue Suede Shoes and Tutti Frutti. Interestingly, the reviewer in the book lists a number of other songs as his favourites. I ponder whether those are truly the ones s/he prefers, or whether it's just to buck the trend. The recording quality on the album is a bit varied as well, and I wondered whether it was the same album as the voice changed between tracks. More than likely it was recorded in multiple places. After knowing the aforementioned ****cs, the slower songs were a bit of a surprise, but not too out of place either.

It's been a long time between reviews. I might get back into the swing of things and review some other games that I've played over the last few months that I wanted to review, but just don't seem to find time. I seem to prefer moving on to the next game instead of taking the time to review :)

Currently playing Mini Ninjas, which is not excellent but still fun. I also started playing Far Cry 2. Seems good so far, though I did flip my car, and then had to walk a LONG way back to camp. Hope that doesn't happen too frequently, or I might be giving that game up.

On with the review

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Foreword : Please note that this review is for the single-player portion only. If the multiplayer portion is important to your purchase I recommend reading other reviews.

World War 2 has been depicted in games for many years, so a shooter set in this period needs to do something different to stand out. Brothers In Arms does this by being not just a first-person shooter, but a tactical squad based game as well.

There is a lot of character development and cut scenes throughout the game, though they can be a bit disjointed. There are flashbacks, or events that appear out of order, so you are left wondering what is happening some of the time. As a newcomer to the series I'm uncertain whether previous entries will shed more light on the story. All of the characters are well realised, and during the cut scenes you do feel a connection to people who have been affected by the war, and the emotions they are dealing with. You won't find any arrogant wannabe heroes here. From the loss of friends, potentially going mad, a young soldiers misguided love and covering for friends mistakes, the story is multi-dimensional and effective, even if you are left a little puzzled early in the proceedings.

As a first person shooter, BIA : Hell's Highway is adequate. It offers a cover system, something that you must take advantage of if you want to survive. Staying out in the open will get you killed quick smart. You will have a choice of weapons and can carry 3 at a time (handgun, rifle, machine gun), and also have a handful of grenades. While standing, holding down the grenade button shows the expected landing place of the grenade which is useful; unfortunately this does not appear when you are in cover, and standing out in the open to throw a grenade can be deadly. Enemy positions are marked, so you will always know where enemies are. This might sound like it makes it easy, but becomes more complicated by the suppression system.

Enemy positions appear with a suppression circle above their positions, which start out red. Red means they are not suppressed, and if they shoot at you, they will deal significant damage. By firing towards their position, the suppression circle will change to grey. While suppressed, enemies will not fire as frequently, will do less damage if they do fire, and will take more damage. Occassionally it seems silly to be shooting an enemy that isn't supressed with your rifle and they don't fall over, but it isn't unreasonable about it either; a few good shots and they will still go down. And this is where your squads come in.

During most missions, you will be accompanied by one or more squads, comprising 2 or 3 members each. Directions on the D-Pad will select a team, and then you can hold the left trigger to bring up a reticule to direct them to either move to a certain position, fire at an enemy, or destroy a barrier if able. You squad members suffer the same fate as yourself if they stand out in the open, so you need to direct them to safety. Thankfully, if they start getting shot at, they are smart enough to find the nearest cover. They key to success is to move one team at a time, suppress any nearby enemies, then move another team forward, and try to flank enemy positions. Enemies are also pretty smart about cover as well. If they start getting fired on from 2 sides, they will try to minimise their exposure by jumping to the opposite side of a wall, or retreating to another more well-defended position. You can bring up a map of the area so you can see where enemies are, and walls and buildings are shown on the map so can plan your attack.

Missions are broken up into objectives, which are often blowing up gun emplacements or reaching certain destinations. Occassionally here the AI is a bit dumb, such as when placing a charge on a gun emplacement, your allies quite often stick around and get blown up in the blast. Any downed allies can make your job much harder, but they respawn after the next checkpoint, so your struggle usually doesn't last for long. There are a few missions where you will play solo, but the squad tactics are the games main draw and these sections feel a bit generic. There are also a few sections where you will play as commander of a tank. These sections are a bit more gung ho, but you do still have to be careful not to allow your tank commander (who mans the minigun) to get killed, and need to be watchful for other tanks. While you are on foot you will also encounter opposing tanks, which can either be dealt with by your bazooka squad (if you have one) or running up to the tank if you can flank it and placing an explosive charge on it.

There is a bit of flair when it comes to kills, as every so often when you place a killing shot the game will slow down and zoom in on the kill, showing a soldier being thrown backwards in a fountain of blood, or if you are in a tank, a sandbag wall being destroyed and soldiers being flung into the air. It happens infrequently enough that it doesn't get annoying and remains entertaining, but you can always turn it off if you prefer. The game last for several hours, and while sometimes situations can feel similar to ones you have been in before, the game is designed well enough that most of the time it feels different even if the objectives aren't terribly varied; for example, you might have different squads on different missions, and sometimes elevation plays a part as well.

Brothers In Arms : Hells Highway is a great game that delivers on its squad based tactics. While slightly convoluted, the story is good and worth sitting through the puzzling parts in the beginning. Controls are responsive, so whenever you fail you know it is your fault and you need to change up your tactics. It offers a good challenge, and is an entertaining experience all around.

Score 8.0

So I've played a bunch of games recently, and I thought I would give you a few mini-reviews.

Halo Wars
Greek mythology has been plundered by plenty of games, but Christianity finally gets its turn.This third person brawler takes place in Heaven, and due to some imbalance because of Beelzebub (I couldn't quite get a handle on the story) the angels have all gone crazy and are beating down on each other. Thus you take control of one of the affected angels and beat down on the others in a bid to survive. As you beat down on the angels you earn souls which you can use to get upgrades. Once you earn enough souls, you get a kick ass halo that acts as a long range weapon, slicing through anything you throw it at. There are also stealth options, and it is extremely satisfying to sneak up on an unsuspecting angel to garotte them with your halo. Christianity never looked so good. I hear Jesus is an unlockable character but I'm not sure how to unlock him yet.

Oblivion
I can't tell you anything about this game. Every time I turn it on I just get a white screen.

Ratchet & Clank : Quest For Booty
Ratchet has been saving the galaxy for long enough. So now he is looking for action of another kind. This sandbox game has you wandering around collecting bolts so that you can pay for services of the local ladies. Clank comes along for the ride, and as usual transforms into various mechanical devices. And of course upgrades abound for the various devices you have. Multi-speeds, extensions, etc, and those devices are used in some of the games minigames. Better not go into those minigames in much detail though. Might get myself banned.

Far Cry 2
It's bizarre that such a niche sport made a video game in the first place, let alone a sequel. For those who haven't played it, it introduced us to the world of people who can cry really hard, and the sport measures the distance that participants tears travel. It was a bit shallow, with simple controls using some basic analog stick rotations and button presses. The main improvements in the sequel involve more character development, so you can create an emo who actually has something to cry about, and this character development means you can cry even further as you progress. My record is 359 metres, but I'm pretty sure that it was a glitch.

Mini Ninjas
This is more proof that games are art and socially relevant. This tells the tale of midget ninjas, and how hard they have it compared to regular ninjas in becoming accepted. But as you will learn as you play this game, they are almost like real people. You won't make fun of dwarves when one puts a shuriken into your throat at a 100 yards or stabs you in the neck from behind.

Eternal Sonata
I'm not sure if this is supposed to be a game or not. I've put the disc in, and a sonata started playing. I've tried turning off the console but it doesn't work. I've unplugged it at the wall, but it just keeps on playing...

I'm starting to get back into the swing of things, even though I'm behind. I should be able to get at least 3 entries a week from now on, except probably next week... but that is due to the fact that I've obtained Ella Fitzgerald sings the Songs of Gershwin, and that is a 3 album epic, so that might need an entry just to itself. Just started listening to it this morning so will see if I can fit that and another one in during the week.

Joan Baez - Joan Baez - 1960
If I had to sum up this album in one world, it would be vibrato. Nearly every line resonates with extremely rapid and well held vibrato, almost like it is her signature. Joan Baez is a folk singer/guitarist, and her voice rings clear and true on each track. While I would say that I find the work impressive looking at it purely from a technical standpoint and appreciation of her voice, I found that the songs did meld into each other a bit. Nevertheless a solid album if this is your sort of thing.

Miriam Makeba - Miriam Makeba - 1960
While from Africa, this doesn't have the drums that I expected to accompany the music. I guess the best way I could describe it would be African folk, and it is very laid back and slow. The focus is on Miriams voice. Megan loved this album when I put it on, but I wasn't as impressed. Of note is that there are some songs, especially The Click Song, where her voice includes clicks that it seems only Africans can make; at first I thought someone was just playing a xylophone or something. Once you realise what they are, it does sound a little weird to hear these clicks in the middle of her soaring voice, and makes for an interesting contrast. But still, I'm just not really excited by this album.

Muddy Waters at Newport - 1960
Of the three I've listened to, this would have to be my favourite. We're talking blues here, and at times when I had this on in the house, I just wanted to strut about the place. His voice (yes, his name is Muddy Waters, not the name of the band) is deep and while restrained still seems powerful and full of energy. I won't say I've listened to the lyrics intently, but I'm not sure what the deal is with the song called 'Tiger In Your Tank'. You put a tiger in someones tank? What? But really, you don't care, because it is delivered with such confidence. Given that this is a live performance, the finale of 'I've Got My Mojo Working' is infectious and you can really hear the crowd getting into it. Do I like it enough to add to my collection? Probably not. But this is my first taste of blues on the list, so it might have opened up a new door for me.

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So that's all I got for now. In future I will try and be a bit more descriptive about how I'm feeling when I'm listening to the albums; I just wanted to belt this one out because I know I am falling behind.

Other musical randomness, I found 7 of the 10 CD's I've been missing for about 5 years. One of which happens to be on this list (Prodigy - Fat of the Land). It's amazing though, I put on a Depeche Mode cd that I haven't replaced since I lost it, and straight off the bat I was singing along to just about every song, knowing the words. I think sometimes I underestimate the impact of music, rhythm and patterns.

So I bought some games today. 9 in fact. Or 10 if you count Pure which came as a double pack, but I'm not interested in that. And I have about a dozen other games to play. So that puts my total number of unplayed games in my collection at over 20. Oh dear. I just can't resist games when they are cheap.

So I grabbed today;

Halo Wars (360)
Fable 2 (360)
Bayonetta (PS3)
Lego Batman/Pure (360)
Klonoa (Wii)
Ratchet & Clank : Call to Booty (PS3)
Mass Effect 2 (360)
Mini Ninjas (360)
Wolverine (360)

I joked to the clerk that I might need to call in a week of annual leave so I can catch up. I don't think that it's a joke; I probably should!

No weekly album update this week as I've been busy, and once again I'm having problems putting music onto CD's which is the main inhibiting factor.

I've finally finished all the E3 stuff and getting back up to date, so now I'm going through peoples blogs, so you might finally get a reply from me!

Before I begin, just noting that I haven't read any of your blogs recently; mainly that's because I saw E3 ones pop up and I haven't had an opportunity to read all the news yet. I'm still on Tuesday of last week as far as looking at Gamespots daily updates because there are so many and I haven't had time! Once I've caught up I will go back and look at all the previous blogs on my tracked list that I've missed. On with the show!

Thelonius Monk - Brilliant Corners (1957)

I suoppose this would fit in the jazz category, but piano plays a more important role here. The opening track opens with a brief piano solo, before trumpets come in and steal the show, and later in the track drums take the fore. Megan tells me this a common thing in jazz; for each musician to get their own time within a song to do a solo. Overall I find that I don't really find this album memorable. The title track is decent but after that I'm not really maintaining interest. I'm listening to a track on this as I write and I was able to pick one of the melodies as it came up, but generally it's not doing anything for me than being ok music.

Marty Robbins - Gunfigher Ballads & Trail Songs (1959)

Thus far I'm glad I've listened to most of the albums on this journey to gain knowledge of the musical history, but Frank Sinatra's Songs For Swingin' Lovers is the only one so far I might buy... until now. And once again it's from something out of left field and not in my musical repoirtoire; country. In fact, country is usually counted amongst my least favourite genres, but I guess part of this journey is turning that on its head and not being judgemental.

The album opens with the stellar Big Iron. Now that is the first time I've linked a song, so that should say how impressed I am. The album as a whole is full of old styIe Western stories, and this is a great example. The music itself is generally understated, and the focus is Marty's vocal delivery. It's almost as if he isn't singing at all and just telling a story in a lyrical voice. And when you are telling a story, the structure and the words that you use are vital, and the lyrics here are superb. It probably does no justice to take some lines out of context of the whole story, but a favourite of mine is;
"Wasn't long before the story was relayed to Texas Red
But the outlaw didn't worry men that tried before were dead
Twenty men had tried to take him twenty men had made a slip
Twenty one would be the ranger with the big iron on his hip"
If I had to sum up this album in one word, it would be drama. While the music doesn't swell and rise to much degree, the stories themselves and the emphasis in Martys voice really delivers that sense of drama. Without having listened to a lot of country, I don't know what this has that I haven't felt before in other albums or how it compares, but for whatever reason I do enjoy this album.

Dave Brubeck - Time-Out (1959)
Jazz piano strikes again! The piano is more pronounced here than in Brilliant Corners above. The opening track, Blue Ronda A La Turk, and the third track Take Five stand out above the others (which are the same tracks highlighted in the book) but overall I'm not finding this album a keeper. I rather do like one of the drumming sections in Blue Ronda A La Turk though. The entry listed in the book makes me wonder about jazz though, and that maybe appreciating jazz comes much easier to those who actually have a knowledge about music. The entry by the contributor lists a bunch of stuff about timing, and I have no idea what he or she is talking about; I might have to ask Megan. I would say this sounds a bit more experimental than some of the other jazz that I've listened to.

So I'm just about done for the 50's. There are some that I haven't been able to obtain, though I think my dad might have found me some. So the next entry might include a few albums from the 60's. It's interesting to note that the 50's takes up 23 pages in the book; the 60's takes up 145. It does look like there is more variety in the 60's, as I think I'm getting a little stale with all this jazz!

I'll just catch up to the week I'm actually supposed to be at. If I can try and catch up on albums I will!

Frank Sinatra - In The Wee Small Hours - 1955

I finally got around to listening to the first album in the book. This is an interesting contrast to 'Songs For Swinging Lovers' which Sinatra released in 1956 (which I reviewed a few entries ago). That album was upbeat; In The Wee Small Hours is filled with melancholy, and apparently he went through a break up not long before the album was released. Thus the album has an entirely different tone, and one which I did not appreciate at first. Upon repeated listens this album has grown on me somewhat. Franks lyrical phrasing and sense of timing can become mesmerising at times, and it really sounds like he is revelling in his unhappiness. 'Can't We Be Friends' is perhaps the standout track for me, and Frank sounds totally alone. While they are two totally different albums, I think I prefer Songs For Swinging Lovers.

Billie Holiday - Lady In Satin - 1958

The first few seconds of me putting this on, I thought maybe it hadn't recorded correctly. Nope, just turns out that is her voice. Her voice is a bit rough and raspy, and can be pretty deep. I wasn't really taken with her voice. In reading the entry in the book, apparently this well past her heyday, which was in the 1930's. During the period she recorded this album, she was a heroin addict which had affected her voice. As she sings some of the lines her voice seems cracked and can't hold the notes, though you can see shadows of skill that would have been applied to a clearer voice in earlier years. Apparently this was her favourite recording, because it was her most honest and raw. The writer then draws some analogies that listening to this album is like watching a junkie shooting up. Why should I care? If I knew nothing of her past, then to me this is not a great sounding album. The clincher is when she sings 'I Get Along Without You Very Well' which Frank also sings on 'In The Wee Small Hours'. His beautiful rendition blows hers out of the water. What comes naturally to him seems like hard work for her. Sorry Billie, I just don't like your voice.

Ray Charles - The Genius of Ray Charles - 1959

At first I wasn't thrilled with Ray Charles voice, but after a few listens I got more used to it and can see the level of control he has. The jazz here is a bit more rock and roll, with some bass lines hanging in the background of some tracks, along with Ray's piano skills. It opens with the passionate 'Let the Good Times Roll' before heading into the standard 'It Had To Be You' which I enjoyed. Ray shows some versatility, as these more upbeat tracks are offset by some that are a bit of a slower pace or mood. I think my favourite would be 'Just For a Thrill', which is apparently a jazz standard but this is my first exposure to it. In what seems to be a trend this week, Ray also performs a track on 'In The Wee Small Hours'm this time it'When Your Lover Has Gone'. Without listening to the tracks back to back, I think this one has a more upbeat brass instrument backing and I prefer Franks voice, but this is still a good performance.

Miles Davis - Kind of Blue - 1959

I don't know what it is about Miles Davis. Supposed to be awesome, but this is the second album I've heard and I'm just not impressed. With both albums, they just seem to disappear into the background and I find I'm not really listening to them, even when I'm in the car when I have more opportunity to focus on the music. With only 5 songs on the album (6 on the version I have) they are all a bit on the longer side, but just don't retain my interest.

Final Thoughts
How much should your knowledge of an artist or their vision of their own work affect your enjoyment of it? In the case of Lady In Satin, the entry came across that I should be taking into account the circumstances in which it was recorded and the life of the artist herself. What are your thoughts?

So I got a bit behind with this, partly because one of the programs I was using to put mp3's as normal CD's decided to stop working, meaning I could only listen to them while at the computer which wasn't terribly convenient. So this is for week 4 but this should really be week 6. So I'm back on track now, and time to catch up on what I've listened to for the past few weeks. For the ones I haven't listened to for a bit, I've had another listen just to bring myself up to speed and remember the album. But as this time around I am less 'in the moment' some these are a bit short and sharp. I might do these every few days until I catch up to the right week. So maybe by next week (my intention is to get these blogs up on a Sunday or Monday) I should really be up to week 7. Will see how I go.

Count Basie - The Atomic Mr. Basie (1957)
Some nice jazz here. It's nearly all instrumental, and while there is nothing I can fault with this album, it feels like something that would be good background music as opposed to something that I would would want to focus on and listen to. That said, I did find myself thinking about a tune from this album several hours after I last listened to it, which I guess says something. I still don't think I will be revisiting this album in the future though. Nothing wrong with it, it just isn't wowing me.

Machito - Kenya (1957)
Some more jazz, but this time infused with some Cuban congo drum beats. As compared to Sabu who I reviewed last time, the drums generally take a bit more of a back seat and the brass instruments are usually front and centre. There is some variety however and the drums do sometimes step up and steal the limelight. It's an all instrumental affair, but that is just fine. Maybe as I learn more about jazz I might revisit this album, but I'm a bit undecided at this stage as to whether it will hold my interest long term.

Tito Puente - Dance Mani Vol 1. (1957)
I wonder if they released any other volumes in this supposed series? The version I have of this was missing some songs, but the ones I had gave me a good enough impression. It's a very jazz filled list this time! This time though there is less of the lazy long solo brass sections; there is usually always a beat in the background, and as the album title might suggest, it feels like these were intended for dance numbers instead of lounge music. Even though I'm tempted to move my body involuntarily while this album is playing, I'm still not enthralled by it. But who knows, I've been intending to take up dancing with Megan so I may end up dancing to something like this!

So yeah, a short one while I get myself back on track and fully focused. It's much easier to listen to these in the car and be more absorbed than playing them on the computer while trying to read your guys blogs or doing whatever else on the internet!

I'm too lazy to do it for this one, but I might include album artwork for future blogs.

I've just gone and updated my massive list of games that I want to play. I'm also a bit of a stooge when it comes to games. In the past 18 months I've only purchased 3 games on release; LittleBigPlanet, Rock Band, and Aliens vs Predator (for the Collectors Edition, and I now question this purchase). Most of the games I buy are once they come down a fair bit in price; if it hasn't held up for two years, then it wasn't really a great game to start with, was it? I've been considering going to one of my local stores and giving them the list, and if anything drops to $30 or less (that's Aussie dollars), then they can put it aside for me and I'll come and grab whatever they put aside once every month or so.

But my list is massive. And there are also some games I've already seen at that price, but was just shy of picking them up. I think the list needs a bit of a trim. So here's the list below. Is there anything on the list that you think is overrated, or maybe there is just a plan better game out there in the same genre and I don't need to bother? I've left a few comments for some that I'm considering dropping. So your thoughts on whether anything I'm second doubting should stay, or anything else that you think should go, is appreciated!

Far Cry Instincts Predator (360) Decent but could probably miss?
Tomb Raider Legend (360) Decent but could probably miss?
Hitman Blood Money (360)
Prey (360) Decent but could probably miss?
Dead Rising (360) Maybe just wait for the sequel?
Godfather (360, PS3 or Wii)
Call of Juarez (360) Just play the second one instead?
Two Worlds (360)
Blue Dragon (360) Decent but could probably miss?
Beautiful Katamari (360) I want a Katamari game, but there is a more recent PS3 version
Lego Star Wars Complete Saga (360)
Culdcept Saga (360)
Turok (360/PS3) Decent but could probably miss?
Dark Sektor (360/PS3) Decent but could probably miss?
Bourne Consipracy (360/PS3) Decent but could probably miss?
Unreal Tournament 3 (360/PS3)
Tales of Vesperia (360)
Merceneraries 2 (360/PS3) Sounds fun but plenty of glitches?
Lego Batman (360/PS3)
Dead Space (360/PS3)
Fable 2 (360)
Far Cry 2 (360/PS3)
Spiderman Web of Shadows (360/PS3)
Call of Duty World at War (360/PS3)
Mirror's Edge (360/PS3)
Left 4 Dead (360)
Afro Samurai (360/PS3)
Darkness (360/PS3)
F.E.A.R. 2 Project Origin (360/PS3)
Star Ocean : Lost Hope (360/PS3)
Halo Wars (360)
Resident Evil 5 (360/PS3)
Chronicles of Riddick : Assault on Athena (360/PS3)
Ninja Blade (360)
X-Men Origins Wolverine (360/PS3)
Sacred 2 : Fallen Angel (360/PS3)
Red Faction Guerilla (360/PS3)
Prototype (360/PS3)
Ghostbusters (360/PS3)
Overlord 2 (360/PS3)
Call of Juarez 2 (360/PS3)
Wolfenstein (360/PS3) Decent but could probably miss?
Batman : Arkhum Asylum (360/PS3)
Mini Ninjas (360/PS3)
Wet (360/PS3)
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 (360/PS3)
Halo 3 : ODST (360)
Brutal Legend (360/PS3)
Borderlands (360/PS3)
Forza 3 (360)
Dragon Age Origins (360/PS3)
Assassin's Creed 2 (360/PS3) Didn't finish the first one, but willing to give this a go
Left 4 Dead 2 (360)
The Saboteur (360/PS3)
Darksiders (360/PS3)
Bayonetta (360/PS3)
Army of Two : 40th Day (360/PS3)
Mass Effect 2 (360)
Bioshock 2 (360/PS3)
Final Fantasy XIII (360/PS3)
Metro 2033 (360/PS3)
Resonance of Fate (360/PS3)
Just Cause 2 (360/PS3)
Splinter Cell Conviction (360)
Alan Wake (360)
Red Dead Redepmtion (360/PS3)
Heavenly Sword (PS3) Decent but could probably miss?
Folklore (PS3)
Metal Gear Solid (PS3)
Disgaea 3 (PS3)
Resistance 2 (PS3)
Tomb Raider Underworld (360/PS3)
Killzone 2 (PS3)
Infamous (PS3)
Katamari Forever (PS3)
Demons Souls (PS3)
Ratchet & Clank Crack In TIme (PS3)
Heavy Rain (PS3)
Yakuza 3 (PS3)
God of War 3 (PS3)
Trauma Center Second Opinion (Wii)
Twilight Princess (Wii) This will NEVER come down in price, saw it today at only 20% off original price...
Elebits/Eledees (Wii)
Mercury Meltdown Evolution (Wii) Decent but could probably miss?
Resident Evil Umbrella Chronicles (Wii)
Geometry Wars Galaxies (Wii)
Trauma Center New Blood (Wii)
Nights Journey of Dream (Wii) Decent but could probably miss?
Endless Ocean (Wii) Just play the more recent version?
Okami (Wii)
Blast Works (Wii)
De Blob (Wii)
Wario Land Shake It (Wii) Decent but could probably miss?
Animal Crossing City Folk (Wii) Not so interested in this any more.
Deadly Creatures (Wii)
Klonoa (Wii)
Boom Blox Party Smash (Wii)
Punch Out (Wii)
Little Kings Story (Wii)
Metroid Prime Trilogy (Wii)
Muramas (Wii)
Dead Space Extraction (Wii)
A Boy and His Blob (Wii)
Rabbids Go Home (Wii)
House of the Dead : Overkill (Wii)
Resident Evil Darkside Chronicles (Wii)
Silent Hill Shattered Memories (Wii)
No More Heroes 2 (Wii)
Endless Ocean : Blue World (Wii)
Red Steel 2 (Wii)
Monster Hunter Tri (Wii)
Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)

So let's count. Err... so that's 112 games. And that doesn't count some downloadable titles I'm keen on as well. Oh dear. Time to cull some of these. What can I miss out on?

I never got around to writing this out last week, so there's two weeks of goodness here. So I learned something new about music (which I guess this is what this is all about). I noticed with a couple of albums I had that they both had the same song on it, so I thought one must have been a cover. But apparently back in the day, they had what were called jazz standards (at least as far as I can understand from what Megan tells me). They used to have singers, and song writers, but both in the same person were rare. As such, sometimes songs were shared among many people due to lack of licencing etc that we have today. Still, the performances themselves are what matter most. They've exposed me to songs I might not have listened to previously, even if they aren't the original artist.

Louis Prima - The Wildest! (1956)
On first listen I wasn't that interested in this album, but upon several additional listens I got into it more. I think my problem initially was that after the stellar performance that is Frank Sinatra, this just didn't hold up. Of course, Louis Prima is not trying to be Frank, or sing like him at all. I wouldn't say Louis' voice is gravelly... maybe a bit brash at times, and he can sing in deep voice at times. It took a few listens to get it, but it is a bit of a rambunctious performance. This album brought up the jazz standard discussion because the album opens with a 'Just a Gigolo/Aint Got Nobody' medley. There is a bit of variety in the album, from the sharp trumpet shrill on The Lip, and the duos with some female whom I haven't learnt the identity on (Nothings Too Good) For My Baby, to the surprising dark turn on (I'll Be Glad When You're Dead) You Rascal You. While I've come to appreciate this album on multiple listens, I wouldn't say I'm excited enough to add it to my collection.

Sabu - Palo Congo (1957)
I'm going to have to refer to the book for this one. I'm not sure what you would call this exactly. I think it's basically some Latin congo drum rhythms. Let's check... ok Maybe not Latin. Apparently the artist drew from his 'mixed Spanish/African/Wst Indian heritage'. Apprently he captures 'Cuban rumba and son styIe'. I'm not sure what language the singing is in because it isn't clear from the book, I suppose it is Spanish, though it is of little consequence to me. The beats themselves are what matter most, and they work well with the string instruments... I'm not sure if it is a guitar, sitar or something else. That said, I think my favourite song may be Asabache, which is (what I assume to be) a pair of congo drums being played, one laying down a backing beat while the other improvises. The singing is already interesting, in that sometimes it doesn't seem like it is really sung at all, but rather yelled, and another pair yell back in response, and it comes across as unscripted and spontaneous. As such it feels like a very organic musical process.

Miles Davis - Birth of the Cool (1957)
Of all the albums I'm discussing today, this is the one I was probably the most excited about listening to, because of my potential interest in jazz heightened by Duke Ellington from the previous week, and having heard about Miles Davis as a pinnacle of jazz. But I just didn't get into this at all. I don't even really know why. I tried a few times but after the requisite 3 listens, I just put this aside and kep listening to other stuff. Not much of a review here, but this just did not pique my interest.

Jack Elliot - Jack Takes The Floor (1958)
After my first listen of this album, I wondered what the hell was going on. I suppose you would call it folk with a bit of a country/bluesy aspect. Jack does a bit of talking and introductions on some of the tracks and they can be quite amusing. There are also a few guests as well. Some of the tracks have a lazy quality about them, while others can crank up a notch and be fairly energetic. Generally, I'm not sure if I like this album, or just like laughing at it. The lyrics and the way they are sung are what stand out most. Sometimes I would be listening to the lyrics in the car thinking 'did he just say that?'. Bed bugs as big as a jackass? Lord lord lord, they all go quack quack? I want to be your salty dog? You'll find all this lyrical insanity on this album. In contrast the final song has rather poetic lyric I'd like to share, though this is sung by a guest and not Jack himself (though I suppose he could be in the chorus) "Just put your feet on the road to peace, and see your journey through". All in all a rather strange album. I'm still undecided as to whether I really like it, but I'm glad I listened to it at least.

Sarah Vaughan - Sarah Vaughan at Mister Kelly's (1958)
The first thing to strike you is that Sarah Vaughan's voice is beautiful. The music here takes a backseat, but strong composition means it highlights her voice without being intrusive. She has such great voice control at different volumes and tones, it is amazing. Also of note is that this is a live performance, and while she speaks a couple of times, nearly everything is sung, including the intros to songs, and at one point she makes a mistake, and sings her apology as well, proving she has great improvisation skills as well. I don't think you would want to get into a rap battle with her. Interestingly there is a version of Just a Gigolo here, which is much much slower than Louis Prima's upbeat version, which was an interesting contrast. As much as I can appreciate her voice, I'm not that excited about this album. Her performance is stellar, but it just wasn't quite for me.

So all up, no albums that have really stood out as anything I would add to my collection, although there are a few songs I might like to listen to now and again. With the exception of Birth of the Cool, I'm still glad I listened to all of these albums and got a glimpse into the 1950's.