Are you ready for a Spooktacular Song of the Week?
Actually, screw the Crypt Keeper nonsense. The song isn't even scary.
I've wanted to do a cover song since week one, but have been thwarted by various factors. (Most notably my lack of talent). I knew I wanted to do something recognizable as the original but different enough to be interesting.
Problem is, I'm not used to hearing myself sing, and finding out just how slurred and off-key I actually sound was incredibly disorienting. For most of these I record one take of each intsrument. The least I did for any of this one was three.
I tried out a lot of songs, some for practice, some in a real attempt. One of the few that stuck was Pixies. When I first heard the song (like a lot of people, I first heard it in Rock Band Classic), I thought it had a distinctive vocal style. Immediately (by which I mean at least a month later) a thought struck me like a bolt of thought-shaped lightning: Barbershop! At least six months later, I've finally achieved that dream.
I figured you guys were tired of electronic and funk (using that term very loosely to refer to my slap-bass solo), so I was, originally, going to do an acoustic song (the first half of "Freebird," for the insanely curious).
So without further ado...
I guess "Mutilation" makes it Halloween-appropriate.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Your Special Bonus Song of the Week (times 2)
Couple weeks ago for song of the week, I just put up some bizarre electronic music with no explanation. Here is that explanation:
My first song was an experiment in recording vocals, and my second an experiment in recording instruments. This, my third, is an experiment in mixology. I call it Mixology. There are eleven tracks, none of which have anything to do with each other.
They are:
1. The bassline from a song I'm about halfway through writing.
2. Random guitar power chords.
3. My heavily processed scream.
4. A kind of cool guitar part I came up with on the spot, and then looped so it fits the length of the song.
5. The part of the Netflix envelope you throw away.
6, 7, 8. The acoustic guitar intro to another song-in-progress, cut in three and then layered over each other.
9. One of Garageband's built-in synth drum kits, with me just making random noises on them.
10. Me shouting. I hate writing lyrics, so the only ones this song has are "one, two, three, four and..."
11. Synth-piano line for another unfinished song
I recorded (or copy-pasted) each track with the all others muted, so my only guide was to look at the Garageband interface as I went along. I wanted to see if a bunch of random sounds would fit together as music. To my surprise, they kind of do.
The first bonus song is called Mixology 2.0, because thats all it is-- the same song played at 240 bpm instead of 120 (in layman's terms, twice as fast). I think it works pretty well.
The second is called Mixology 0.5, though it's actually one-third as fast (40 bpm, the slowest the program lets you do). I also made track two louder. This is my favorite of the three, because it reminds me of Massive Attack, and also because I could turn a minute of work into three minutes of song.
I wanted to do a backwards version (I want to call it "0.1 ygoloxiM"), but I need to get new software first.
My first song was an experiment in recording vocals, and my second an experiment in recording instruments. This, my third, is an experiment in mixology. I call it Mixology. There are eleven tracks, none of which have anything to do with each other.
They are:
1. The bassline from a song I'm about halfway through writing.
2. Random guitar power chords.
3. My heavily processed scream.
4. A kind of cool guitar part I came up with on the spot, and then looped so it fits the length of the song.
5. The part of the Netflix envelope you throw away.
6, 7, 8. The acoustic guitar intro to another song-in-progress, cut in three and then layered over each other.
9. One of Garageband's built-in synth drum kits, with me just making random noises on them.
10. Me shouting. I hate writing lyrics, so the only ones this song has are "one, two, three, four and..."
11. Synth-piano line for another unfinished song
I recorded (or copy-pasted) each track with the all others muted, so my only guide was to look at the Garageband interface as I went along. I wanted to see if a bunch of random sounds would fit together as music. To my surprise, they kind of do.
The first bonus song is called Mixology 2.0, because thats all it is-- the same song played at 240 bpm instead of 120 (in layman's terms, twice as fast). I think it works pretty well.
The second is called Mixology 0.5, though it's actually one-third as fast (40 bpm, the slowest the program lets you do). I also made track two louder. This is my favorite of the three, because it reminds me of Massive Attack, and also because I could turn a minute of work into three minutes of song.
I wanted to do a backwards version (I want to call it "0.1 ygoloxiM"), but I need to get new software first.
"Damn your necromancy, woman!"
House, "Joy":
I used to tune out or skip the cold opens on House, but they've really improved this season. Last week's was probably my favorite (for sentimental reasons), but this and the one where all the organ recipients died in sequence were both great. I forgot to talk about Cuddy last week (which, for our purposes, includes earlier this week [edit: I wrote that the day after the episode aired. I' m just posting late]), and now I wish I had. Too bad.
Maybe it's because I spend most of my waking hours asleep, but I liked the idea of the PoWs sleepwalking through life. And I liked how it related to the characters without hitting you over the head with it (well, not too much).
South Park, "Pandemic Part 2: The Startling":
First Wendy, now Craig. South Park is really going into its bench this year, huh (that's a thing, right? Like in baseball, with the bench...You get what I'm saying?) As I said so, so long ago, I was reviewing this whole adventure as a whole, and so didn't review part one. Over a week later, here we are. Here's what I have to say: South Park Guys: stop doing multi-parters. This episode and the one before it, while not awful, were pretty flat, and dragged around the middle. The decision to drop Craig into an otherwise standard adventure story really redeemed the episode. His flat, affectless voice made his deconstruction of the regular gang all the better. Too bad the episode around him was so lame.
The Office, "Employee Transfer":
I was in denial. I thought, at the very least, Holly would stay till the end of the season. Nope. This wasn't as good as they've been, and as a "heavy" episode it doesn't succeed as well as last season's "Money," but it's got some good elements, like Michael singing the blues and most of the Dwight vs. Andy subplot.
The Sarah Silverman Program, "Pee":
OK, I think I've got it figured out, after two weeks (not counting all the other episodes I watched before I started reviewing them, or even the ones I reviewed before trying to explain why). SSP is the only show out theremaking pee jokes. Other, weaker, shows like Two and A Half Men Who Need to Spend A Few Seasons Roasting in Hell's Eternal Flames (most people don't know the full title) make fart jokes, but don't have the courage to make pee jokes. Cowards. And even if they did, none of them would turn a joke about pee into a story about an evil talking turtle who wants to run off with Sarah Silverman* ("We’ll have children together, Sarah. The boy will be named Seth, and the girl Mandy Moore"). Most of us are incapable of that degree of crazy, and this show should be commended for at least attempting it.
*Admittedly, it'd be kind of hard, since she isn't on those shows.
Morel Orel, "Dumb" and "Help":
I think I've talked a bit too much about this show being "depressing". These two episodes featured plenty of tragedy, but there was way more going on then that (world's worst introduction award goes to...) To wit: the Lost-like plot reversal of "Help"-- we see that Orel's mother, not his father, is the source of the family's problems. See also: Playing the world's two stupidest human beings (Tarzan would be appaled by their grammar) off each other for ten minutes in "Dumb" and moving the plot forward at the same time. And at ten: colons: is it possible to use too many? The answers might surprise you.
Young Person's Guide to History, Part 2:
There weren't not laughs in this show, but it seems something like an attempt at the same level of bizarre that I mentioned in my "Pee" review, but to much weaker results, probably because no one stopped to ask, "does what we're doing even make sense? Is there even a storyline to this crap?" Or someone did, and everyone stopped talking to him for the rest of the afternoon (my theory rests on the assumption that this was filmed in one afternoon).
Pushing Daisies: "Dim Sum, Lose Sum":
As a great philosopher once said, "Meh". This episode was still good, but it didn't blow me out of the water like I would have liked. Are my standards too high? Is the President still retarded (that'd be yes, until January-- yeah, I said it)? This episode also made me hungry.
My Name is Earl, "Little Bad Voodoo Brother":
Non-mainstream-religion fight! Karma vs. Voodoo! I liked that the show never took a side on this debate, and suggested that both sides could be bullhockey. Because they are-- in reality there is one God, the Father, the almighty, maker of...
Saturday Night Live, "Ben Affleck/ David Cook":
I watched David Cook because I try to keep an open mind (quit laughing!). I was not impressed, though watching made me want one of these.
Affleck's good on the show, but could they at least think of one non-election-related sketch? Also, did McCain really get bood? Harsh.
King of the Hill, "Lost in Myspace":
Hey, did you know Hank doesn't trust computers, and furthemore, feels threatened when a new idea infringing upon the sale of propane and propane accessories? This episode would have been better if they had taken a more middle ground, showing that both Hank and Character-We've-Never-Seen-Before-and-Probably-Will-Never-See-Again were a little right and a little wrong. It seemed like they were going fol that a little, but weren't sure what direction to take. And a better Dale B-plot. Also, was that Chris Rock as Random Strickland Employee?
Family Guy, "Baby Not on Board":
Even by Family Guy standards, this was pretty lame. I have absolutely nothing to say about it.
American Dad, "Choosy Wives Choose Smith":
The show I called "TV's most underrated show" a couple weeks ago lets me down this week. A lot of the "Stan fights with Francine" stuff has been done to death in earlier seasons, and it feels like this show (unlike the one airing before it) actually moves forward, and doesn't need to rely on wheel-spinning and retreads so much. I loved the joke about Claus and Haley leaving ten seconds into the episode, and the Steve story was pretty good, but nothing we haven't seen before.
The Simpsons, Treehouse of Horror XIX:
I just finished watching The Simpson's 11th season, and so I know both the highs and lows the show can have (by the way, I'm going to do a review after I finish watching ten thousand hours of bonus features). This was pretty Middle-of-the-Road, with the best joke being the takeoff of Mad Men's credits.
Friday Night Lights, "Every Rose Has Its Thorn":
This is slowly, sneakily, becoming my favorite show on right now (helps that Lost isn't on right now). If you didn't watch it, I won't spoil anything, other than it was good.
How I Met Your Mother, "Happily Ever After":
Hmm. There were parts of this I really liked, like the flashbacks (who bets we see Robin's father in a later episode?) and Ted's fakeout big speech. There are things I'm not so sure about--hiding under a table felt like a ripoff of every sitcom ever, and the overall message about letting go of anger was a little Afterschool Special (though worth repeating).
Indecision 2008: America's Choice:
I'm breaking my "no news" rule for a very specific reason here. It seemed this was a big enough departure from the day-to-day, lameold Stewart Repart and Late Nitely Show with Stephen Colbert (as I believe they are called). Stewart and Colbert didn't quite adapt to live TV, the tag-team interviews were a little shaggy, and I missed the end. The whole thing had the air of a telethon, ill-paced and not as funny as either show usually is. That said, most of the prewritten bits, like the title-off, or Larry Wilmore and Wyatt Cenac taking the shows over (though they should have paid it off on Wednesday night), worked pretty well.
South Park, "About Last Night":
Wow. Let's take a moment and think about how fast they had to make parts of this. OK, we've taken a moment. Anyway, this one had some lame jokes-- suprising for a Randy-centric episode; but the Ocean's Eleven parody was pitch-perfect, from the music to John McCain wearing a football player's outfit for no reason. And though the message-- that people take these things too seriously, that the world isn't going to end or suddenly turn into paradise, that these guys are, at the end of the day, politicians-- isn't that different from "Douche vs. Turd," four years ago, minus all the funny PETA jokes or Stan's surprisingly emotional journey (surprising for an episode of TV called "Douche vs. Turd"), it feels especially relevant, and I really like the idea that the people least concerned with the election were the candidate themselves.
Life, "Jackpot":
Should have known. Everybody knows bodyguards look like this. That guy's hair was way to short to be the real deal. Also, I liked using Rachel and Nerdy Murder Suspect as audience surrogates (especially important because of the show's timeslot change). Not much else to say here, though between this and Hurley I'm never, ever buying a lottery ticket.
Friday Night Lights: "It Ain't Easy Being J.D. McCoy":
J.D. has had, like one line before this episode? And yet somehow it seems like he's been the central character this season, with all the talk about him. We finally get our J.D. spotlight here, and...we don't really learn anything new about him. Changing the subject completely, didn't we just have a "dream girl for Landry" not that long ago? And why does Riggins seem to be involved in every major plotline? Does he ever sleep?
I kid because I love. A+.
My Name is Earl, "Sold a Guy a Lemon Car":
Meh. This show is funny, but unfortunately, it's rarely memorable. Somebody work on that.
The Office, "Customer Survey":
Kelly juked the stats, yo. This story had a lot of things going for it, twists and turns and whatnot, but what I'll remember the most is Pam's triple "That's what she said!" after Kelly's "Get out of my nook, Dwight".
30 Rock, "Believe In the Stars":
Oprah! Or not! Anyhoo (that's British for "anyhow"), lots of things happened, and then lots of other things happened. Also, I'm pretty sure they never had swimming in the olympics before.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, "The Gang Cracks the Liberty Bell":
I used this one for the title quote, because it was awesome. My favorite part had to be past-Charlie speaking ye olde English and everyone else making fun of him for. It's just so... Charlie. Everything else was pretty good, too, except maybe the abrupt ending.
The Sarah Silverman Program: "There's No Place Like Homeless":
Could have had more singing, or more Satan. Or both. Still pretty good, though.
Morel Orel, "Passing" and "Closeface":
Well, that was pretty good. More Mountain Goats, more tragedy, and a surprising note of hope at the end. Plus "I was so worried I forgot to smoke," possibly the darkest joke ever (only works in context).
I used to tune out or skip the cold opens on House, but they've really improved this season. Last week's was probably my favorite (for sentimental reasons), but this and the one where all the organ recipients died in sequence were both great. I forgot to talk about Cuddy last week (which, for our purposes, includes earlier this week [edit: I wrote that the day after the episode aired. I' m just posting late]), and now I wish I had. Too bad.
Maybe it's because I spend most of my waking hours asleep, but I liked the idea of the PoWs sleepwalking through life. And I liked how it related to the characters without hitting you over the head with it (well, not too much).
South Park, "Pandemic Part 2: The Startling":
First Wendy, now Craig. South Park is really going into its bench this year, huh (that's a thing, right? Like in baseball, with the bench...You get what I'm saying?) As I said so, so long ago, I was reviewing this whole adventure as a whole, and so didn't review part one. Over a week later, here we are. Here's what I have to say: South Park Guys: stop doing multi-parters. This episode and the one before it, while not awful, were pretty flat, and dragged around the middle. The decision to drop Craig into an otherwise standard adventure story really redeemed the episode. His flat, affectless voice made his deconstruction of the regular gang all the better. Too bad the episode around him was so lame.
The Office, "Employee Transfer":
I was in denial. I thought, at the very least, Holly would stay till the end of the season. Nope. This wasn't as good as they've been, and as a "heavy" episode it doesn't succeed as well as last season's "Money," but it's got some good elements, like Michael singing the blues and most of the Dwight vs. Andy subplot.
The Sarah Silverman Program, "Pee":
OK, I think I've got it figured out, after two weeks (not counting all the other episodes I watched before I started reviewing them, or even the ones I reviewed before trying to explain why). SSP is the only show out theremaking pee jokes. Other, weaker, shows like Two and A Half Men Who Need to Spend A Few Seasons Roasting in Hell's Eternal Flames (most people don't know the full title) make fart jokes, but don't have the courage to make pee jokes. Cowards. And even if they did, none of them would turn a joke about pee into a story about an evil talking turtle who wants to run off with Sarah Silverman* ("We’ll have children together, Sarah. The boy will be named Seth, and the girl Mandy Moore"). Most of us are incapable of that degree of crazy, and this show should be commended for at least attempting it.
*Admittedly, it'd be kind of hard, since she isn't on those shows.
Morel Orel, "Dumb" and "Help":
I think I've talked a bit too much about this show being "depressing". These two episodes featured plenty of tragedy, but there was way more going on then that (world's worst introduction award goes to...) To wit: the Lost-like plot reversal of "Help"-- we see that Orel's mother, not his father, is the source of the family's problems. See also: Playing the world's two stupidest human beings (Tarzan would be appaled by their grammar) off each other for ten minutes in "Dumb" and moving the plot forward at the same time. And at ten: colons: is it possible to use too many? The answers might surprise you.
Young Person's Guide to History, Part 2:
There weren't not laughs in this show, but it seems something like an attempt at the same level of bizarre that I mentioned in my "Pee" review, but to much weaker results, probably because no one stopped to ask, "does what we're doing even make sense? Is there even a storyline to this crap?" Or someone did, and everyone stopped talking to him for the rest of the afternoon (my theory rests on the assumption that this was filmed in one afternoon).
Pushing Daisies: "Dim Sum, Lose Sum":
As a great philosopher once said, "Meh". This episode was still good, but it didn't blow me out of the water like I would have liked. Are my standards too high? Is the President still retarded (that'd be yes, until January-- yeah, I said it)? This episode also made me hungry.
My Name is Earl, "Little Bad Voodoo Brother":
Non-mainstream-religion fight! Karma vs. Voodoo! I liked that the show never took a side on this debate, and suggested that both sides could be bullhockey. Because they are-- in reality there is one God, the Father, the almighty, maker of...
Saturday Night Live, "Ben Affleck/ David Cook":
I watched David Cook because I try to keep an open mind (quit laughing!). I was not impressed, though watching made me want one of these.
Affleck's good on the show, but could they at least think of one non-election-related sketch? Also, did McCain really get bood? Harsh.
King of the Hill, "Lost in Myspace":
Hey, did you know Hank doesn't trust computers, and furthemore, feels threatened when a new idea infringing upon the sale of propane and propane accessories? This episode would have been better if they had taken a more middle ground, showing that both Hank and Character-We've-Never-Seen-Before-and-Probably-Will-Never-See-Again were a little right and a little wrong. It seemed like they were going fol that a little, but weren't sure what direction to take. And a better Dale B-plot. Also, was that Chris Rock as Random Strickland Employee?
Family Guy, "Baby Not on Board":
Even by Family Guy standards, this was pretty lame. I have absolutely nothing to say about it.
American Dad, "Choosy Wives Choose Smith":
The show I called "TV's most underrated show" a couple weeks ago lets me down this week. A lot of the "Stan fights with Francine" stuff has been done to death in earlier seasons, and it feels like this show (unlike the one airing before it) actually moves forward, and doesn't need to rely on wheel-spinning and retreads so much. I loved the joke about Claus and Haley leaving ten seconds into the episode, and the Steve story was pretty good, but nothing we haven't seen before.
The Simpsons, Treehouse of Horror XIX:
I just finished watching The Simpson's 11th season, and so I know both the highs and lows the show can have (by the way, I'm going to do a review after I finish watching ten thousand hours of bonus features). This was pretty Middle-of-the-Road, with the best joke being the takeoff of Mad Men's credits.
Friday Night Lights, "Every Rose Has Its Thorn":
This is slowly, sneakily, becoming my favorite show on right now (helps that Lost isn't on right now). If you didn't watch it, I won't spoil anything, other than it was good.
How I Met Your Mother, "Happily Ever After":
Hmm. There were parts of this I really liked, like the flashbacks (who bets we see Robin's father in a later episode?) and Ted's fakeout big speech. There are things I'm not so sure about--hiding under a table felt like a ripoff of every sitcom ever, and the overall message about letting go of anger was a little Afterschool Special (though worth repeating).
Indecision 2008: America's Choice:
I'm breaking my "no news" rule for a very specific reason here. It seemed this was a big enough departure from the day-to-day, lameold Stewart Repart and Late Nitely Show with Stephen Colbert (as I believe they are called). Stewart and Colbert didn't quite adapt to live TV, the tag-team interviews were a little shaggy, and I missed the end. The whole thing had the air of a telethon, ill-paced and not as funny as either show usually is. That said, most of the prewritten bits, like the title-off, or Larry Wilmore and Wyatt Cenac taking the shows over (though they should have paid it off on Wednesday night), worked pretty well.
South Park, "About Last Night":
Wow. Let's take a moment and think about how fast they had to make parts of this. OK, we've taken a moment. Anyway, this one had some lame jokes-- suprising for a Randy-centric episode; but the Ocean's Eleven parody was pitch-perfect, from the music to John McCain wearing a football player's outfit for no reason. And though the message-- that people take these things too seriously, that the world isn't going to end or suddenly turn into paradise, that these guys are, at the end of the day, politicians-- isn't that different from "Douche vs. Turd," four years ago, minus all the funny PETA jokes or Stan's surprisingly emotional journey (surprising for an episode of TV called "Douche vs. Turd"), it feels especially relevant, and I really like the idea that the people least concerned with the election were the candidate themselves.
Life, "Jackpot":
Should have known. Everybody knows bodyguards look like this. That guy's hair was way to short to be the real deal. Also, I liked using Rachel and Nerdy Murder Suspect as audience surrogates (especially important because of the show's timeslot change). Not much else to say here, though between this and Hurley I'm never, ever buying a lottery ticket.
Friday Night Lights: "It Ain't Easy Being J.D. McCoy":
J.D. has had, like one line before this episode? And yet somehow it seems like he's been the central character this season, with all the talk about him. We finally get our J.D. spotlight here, and...we don't really learn anything new about him. Changing the subject completely, didn't we just have a "dream girl for Landry" not that long ago? And why does Riggins seem to be involved in every major plotline? Does he ever sleep?
I kid because I love. A+.
My Name is Earl, "Sold a Guy a Lemon Car":
Meh. This show is funny, but unfortunately, it's rarely memorable. Somebody work on that.
The Office, "Customer Survey":
Kelly juked the stats, yo. This story had a lot of things going for it, twists and turns and whatnot, but what I'll remember the most is Pam's triple "That's what she said!" after Kelly's "Get out of my nook, Dwight".
30 Rock, "Believe In the Stars":
Oprah! Or not! Anyhoo (that's British for "anyhow"), lots of things happened, and then lots of other things happened. Also, I'm pretty sure they never had swimming in the olympics before.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, "The Gang Cracks the Liberty Bell":
I used this one for the title quote, because it was awesome. My favorite part had to be past-Charlie speaking ye olde English and everyone else making fun of him for. It's just so... Charlie. Everything else was pretty good, too, except maybe the abrupt ending.
The Sarah Silverman Program: "There's No Place Like Homeless":
Could have had more singing, or more Satan. Or both. Still pretty good, though.
Morel Orel, "Passing" and "Closeface":
Well, that was pretty good. More Mountain Goats, more tragedy, and a surprising note of hope at the end. Plus "I was so worried I forgot to smoke," possibly the darkest joke ever (only works in context).
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Escape to the House of Mummies, Part III: Mystery of the Robot Gun
Life, "Did You Feel That?":
I actually watched this before Mad Men, but I thought that needed a post for itself. Then I realized how little I actually had to say that was original or interesting, and probably could have been part of this post. (deep, long sigh). I liked them breaking up the Mystery of the Week structure with lots and lots and lots of action-y parts, and the police trying to do policework while the city burned. Probably the least realistic Life they've ever done, though (the LAPD, of all people, were this unprepared for an earthquake?).
Friday Night Lights, "Hello, Goodbye":
I liked this episode and everything about it. That's the whole review (My review are to criticism what ground beef is to prime rib).
Chuck, "Chuck Vs. Tom Sawyer":
About halfway through this one I was getting worried. The Tony Hale stuff wasn't well-integrated, and the spy plot had completely stalled. Then Chuck saved the world (the WORLD, people) by playing VIDEO GAMES, and I realized this is the best show ever, and nothing else compared. No, seriously, that idea could have been really terrible, and it's a testament to how well this show pulls off its bizarre high-wire genre switching doodad, that I actually cared.
Also, was the use of Tom Sawyer a reference to this? (Sorry, I couldn't find video)
Heroes, "Eris Quod Sum":
Since I don't think my standards can get any lower, Heroes must have been better this week. Maybe I've just figured out how to watch it.
First, pretend every episode is the first time you've seen it, and you can forgive how everyone explains what happened in earlier episodes (the best? Traci trying to figure out the Petrelli/Bennet family tree).
Second, look at the pretty pictures. This week had some of the best, with some cool red/blue composition at Evil, Inc. and the cool scary-movie lighting at the Bennet house. The lightning effect is the only special effect they do that looks realistic, so I'm glad they went overboard this week.
Third, try to enjoy (or just ignore) the homages/ ripoffs. I count four really obvious ones, but I forgot what one was. Two (and the one I forgot) were to Lost (aka LOST): there was the obvious with the airplane (and kudos to Heroes for having someone actually take a plane, instead of just magically showing up on the other side of the country), and Peter surviving his window fall was total John Locke (or Omar, if you prefer (that was the one I forgot about)). And I couldn't help but think of Willow and Tara with the airplane hand-holding. But at least it was derivative and fun.
Fourth, take a shot (of milk, kids) every time someone says "abilities" instead of the much-more-obvious "powers." Take two every time Hiro says something about being heroic.
On a completely unrelated note, I just watched The Colbert Report, and the cello is a seriously underrated instrument.
Morel Orel, "Trigger":
Morel Orel's continuing effort to be the most depressing show to ever air on television continues unabated.
Young Person's Guide To History, Part I:
Man, I don't even have an opinion. I'll watch part two, but I'm not sure why.
Life, camera, action
See what I did? That's a pun.
But there was action.
See what I did? That's a pun.
But there was action.
I actually watched this before Mad Men, but I thought that needed a post for itself. Then I realized how little I actually had to say that was original or interesting, and probably could have been part of this post. (deep, long sigh). I liked them breaking up the Mystery of the Week structure with lots and lots and lots of action-y parts, and the police trying to do policework while the city burned. Probably the least realistic Life they've ever done, though (the LAPD, of all people, were this unprepared for an earthquake?).
Friday Night Lights, "Hello, Goodbye":
I liked this episode and everything about it. That's the whole review (My review are to criticism what ground beef is to prime rib).
Chuck, "Chuck Vs. Tom Sawyer":
About halfway through this one I was getting worried. The Tony Hale stuff wasn't well-integrated, and the spy plot had completely stalled. Then Chuck saved the world (the WORLD, people) by playing VIDEO GAMES, and I realized this is the best show ever, and nothing else compared. No, seriously, that idea could have been really terrible, and it's a testament to how well this show pulls off its bizarre high-wire genre switching doodad, that I actually cared.
Also, was the use of Tom Sawyer a reference to this? (Sorry, I couldn't find video)
Heroes, "Eris Quod Sum":
Since I don't think my standards can get any lower, Heroes must have been better this week. Maybe I've just figured out how to watch it.
First, pretend every episode is the first time you've seen it, and you can forgive how everyone explains what happened in earlier episodes (the best? Traci trying to figure out the Petrelli/Bennet family tree).
Second, look at the pretty pictures. This week had some of the best, with some cool red/blue composition at Evil, Inc. and the cool scary-movie lighting at the Bennet house. The lightning effect is the only special effect they do that looks realistic, so I'm glad they went overboard this week.
Third, try to enjoy (or just ignore) the homages/ ripoffs. I count four really obvious ones, but I forgot what one was. Two (and the one I forgot) were to Lost (aka LOST): there was the obvious with the airplane (and kudos to Heroes for having someone actually take a plane, instead of just magically showing up on the other side of the country), and Peter surviving his window fall was total John Locke (or Omar, if you prefer (that was the one I forgot about)). And I couldn't help but think of Willow and Tara with the airplane hand-holding. But at least it was derivative and fun.
Fourth, take a shot (of milk, kids) every time someone says "abilities" instead of the much-more-obvious "powers." Take two every time Hiro says something about being heroic.
On a completely unrelated note, I just watched The Colbert Report, and the cello is a seriously underrated instrument.
Morel Orel, "Trigger":
Morel Orel's continuing effort to be the most depressing show to ever air on television continues unabated.
Young Person's Guide To History, Part I:
Man, I don't even have an opinion. I'll watch part two, but I'm not sure why.
Escape to the House of Mummies, part 2
Saturday Night Live, "Jon Hamm/ Coldplay":
SNL sure loves guest stars, doesn't it? This time, they at least have a good reason, with Amy Poehler gone (and not coming back, from what I understand). Other than Coldplay playing 3.5 times (who do they think they are, U2?) to kill time, there was surprisingly little filler here, and most of the sketches actually worked. Hamm, even if he was playing Don Draper or Jon Hamm half the time, proved he could be funny. That young man's going places.
Mad Men, "Meditations In An Emergency" (plus other thoughts on Season 2):
If I celebrated Halloween (I don't, because I live in "real America"), I would totally be going as Don Draper.
Oh, you want me to talk about the show? It was one the best, strangest episodes they've ever done. I've avoided doing reviews because I started late (I finished season 1 halfway into season 2 and caught the rest on demand), and because there are many, many places to read better and more comprehensive reviews. One thing I definitely want to bring up, though, was how this one ended. No exclamation point (OMGwhatsinthehatch!), no dash ("listen, I want you to know"--) no question mark (I'm looking at you, the Sopranos), not even a period (like last season). It's an ellipsis (...) and fade to black.
Also, how weird was it seeing everyone dressed all 21st century in that after-show thing?
OK, I lied. There's three parts. But since this post is below that post, you probably already new that.
SNL sure loves guest stars, doesn't it? This time, they at least have a good reason, with Amy Poehler gone (and not coming back, from what I understand). Other than Coldplay playing 3.5 times (who do they think they are, U2?) to kill time, there was surprisingly little filler here, and most of the sketches actually worked. Hamm, even if he was playing Don Draper or Jon Hamm half the time, proved he could be funny. That young man's going places.
Mad Men, "Meditations In An Emergency" (plus other thoughts on Season 2):
If I celebrated Halloween (I don't, because I live in "real America"), I would totally be going as Don Draper.
Oh, you want me to talk about the show? It was one the best, strangest episodes they've ever done. I've avoided doing reviews because I started late (I finished season 1 halfway into season 2 and caught the rest on demand), and because there are many, many places to read better and more comprehensive reviews. One thing I definitely want to bring up, though, was how this one ended. No exclamation point (OMGwhatsinthehatch!), no dash ("listen, I want you to know"--) no question mark (I'm looking at you, the Sopranos), not even a period (like last season). It's an ellipsis (...) and fade to black.
Also, how weird was it seeing everyone dressed all 21st century in that after-show thing?
OK, I lied. There's three parts. But since this post is below that post, you probably already new that.
Escape to the House of Mummies, pt 1
I think, for no real reason, I'm putting the Haikus before the reviews this time (that right). Also, I have a lot to say, so I'm splitting it in half.
House, "Lucky Thirteen":
*Originally there was a pretty in-depth analysis of 13 as a character here, including Sherlock Holmes paralells, but I cut it because it confused even me. Maybe later.
Fringe, "The Cure":
Pushing Daisies, "Frescorts":
You know what? I don't have anything to say about this one. It was creepier than usual, it made references to a movie I've never seen, and it was funny. If you like the show, you'd like it; if not' I hate you, you joyless, cynical, bastard, and you should reevaluate your life. Also, the Young Emerson stuff was great.
South Park, "Pandemic":
First of all, my splitting the review up is not a meta-joke about this episode. It's a coincidence. For everything else, see below:
My Name is Earl, "Quit Your Snitchin'"
Says Riley Freeman: "No snitchin'," in a much better episode of television. Not that this one was bad-- I liked that Earl went through all this trouble trying to do something nice for Randy, and I how it played with the idea of Camden as a wretched hive of scum and villainy-- but it was fairly unmemorable.
The Office, "Crime Aid"
What can I say? I like it. This week, I liked the various acknowledgements of the camera crew, Dwight trying to act like a real person (and failing), and the strangely ominous David Wallace line at the end.
Thursday Night Live (or whatever the name really is) Number 3:
This was probably the best of the three, not that that's saying a lot. Will Ferrell showed up, can't go wrong there. What else happened...the big board thing was alright, Samberg did one of his things. I'm not exactly sad to see them go, especially since they'll be replaced by a much better show.
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, "Dennis Reynolds: An Erotic Life":
This probably should have been the two-parter, or just two different episodes. Both the Dennis and Charlie/Dee stories were great concepts (Charlie/ Dee stories are usually my favorites anyway-- they're like Cartman and Butters, or Brian and Stewie), but they both could have used some more breathing room, and neither really had anything to do with each other (other than the fountain, Dennis' one true story). Liked most of the actual scenes (even if there weren't enough), especially Dee's glue trip and Mac and Frank in the movie theater.
The Sarah Silverman Program, "Patriot Tact":
Remember how I said last week I would try and figure out what I like so much about this show? Other than all the jokes about having too much hair, I'm still clueless. Whatever the reason, I found the two patients arguing about whether what Sarah did was right right in front of her, while she just spouted off non-sequiturs, was one of my favorite TV moments of the week. Plus this Thursday's episode is called "Pee" (I'm five).
30 Rock, "Do-Over":
End of Part I. To be continued in Part... II.
House, "Lucky Thirteen":
The ground shifts below
The Earth seems to be changing
Are you changing too?
Holdup, for some reason I've got an assload to say about this one, but I don't feel like saying it (plus most of it doesn't make sense). See, I'm of two minds on this one. I thought this would get to the bottom of 13 (insert House-like pun about 13's bottom). I thought we would finally figure out something tangible about someone who, even after a year, is still pretty "mysterious." I'm not sure we did*. Other than the extended character study, the patient-of-the-week (henceforth PoW) story wasn't great, and tied a little too neatly into Thirteen's real life (admittedly, that was the point, but we don't want this to turn into Grey's Anatomy). And it was a little too easy to see Wilson was stringing House along, and the fact that Lucas didn't doesn't say much about his PI skills. If nothing else, that last shot of 13 in bed, alone but not alone, staring straight at the camera, was one of the hauntingest TV tableaux (is that the right word) I've seen in a long time.The Earth seems to be changing
Are you changing too?
*Originally there was a pretty in-depth analysis of 13 as a character here, including Sherlock Holmes paralells, but I cut it because it confused even me. Maybe later.
Fringe, "The Cure":
It's your choice, my friend
Two paths will lie before you
But you must take one
It's pretty clear that Fringe is trying. Unlike, say, Heroes, it actually cares if I like it or not, and it wants me to be invested in its storylines. This week it tried to make a standard monster-of-the-week story, without the Pattern or Walter's research. It also tried to make me care about Wooden Lead Actress's past (I'll start using her name again when she shows an emotion). Unfortunately, it's not trying hard enough. I'll stick with it because it has potential, but this episode was hella boring, and I don't really care about most of the non-alien characters (yeah, I know he's not really an alien, when they get to that one I'll be interesteder).Two paths will lie before you
But you must take one
Pushing Daisies, "Frescorts":
You know what? I don't have anything to say about this one. It was creepier than usual, it made references to a movie I've never seen, and it was funny. If you like the show, you'd like it; if not' I hate you, you joyless, cynical, bastard, and you should reevaluate your life. Also, the Young Emerson stuff was great.
South Park, "Pandemic":
First of all, my splitting the review up is not a meta-joke about this episode. It's a coincidence. For everything else, see below:
There shall be no review
There shall be no haiku
Until I've seen part two.
There shall be no haiku
Until I've seen part two.
My Name is Earl, "Quit Your Snitchin'"
Says Riley Freeman: "No snitchin'," in a much better episode of television. Not that this one was bad-- I liked that Earl went through all this trouble trying to do something nice for Randy, and I how it played with the idea of Camden as a wretched hive of scum and villainy-- but it was fairly unmemorable.
The Office, "Crime Aid"
♥, ♥, ♥, ♥, ♥♡, ♡, ♡, ♡, ♡, ♡, ♡,❤, ❤, ❤, ❤, ❤What can I say? I like it. This week, I liked the various acknowledgements of the camera crew, Dwight trying to act like a real person (and failing), and the strangely ominous David Wallace line at the end.
Thursday Night Live (or whatever the name really is) Number 3:
This was probably the best of the three, not that that's saying a lot. Will Ferrell showed up, can't go wrong there. What else happened...the big board thing was alright, Samberg did one of his things. I'm not exactly sad to see them go, especially since they'll be replaced by a much better show.
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, "Dennis Reynolds: An Erotic Life":
This probably should have been the two-parter, or just two different episodes. Both the Dennis and Charlie/Dee stories were great concepts (Charlie/ Dee stories are usually my favorites anyway-- they're like Cartman and Butters, or Brian and Stewie), but they both could have used some more breathing room, and neither really had anything to do with each other (other than the fountain, Dennis' one true story). Liked most of the actual scenes (even if there weren't enough), especially Dee's glue trip and Mac and Frank in the movie theater.
The Sarah Silverman Program, "Patriot Tact":
Remember how I said last week I would try and figure out what I like so much about this show? Other than all the jokes about having too much hair, I'm still clueless. Whatever the reason, I found the two patients arguing about whether what Sarah did was right right in front of her, while she just spouted off non-sequiturs, was one of my favorite TV moments of the week. Plus this Thursday's episode is called "Pee" (I'm five).
30 Rock, "Do-Over":
(Just read my pair of
"amnesia" haikus
from last week's reviews)
I think I actually watched this Sunday afternoon, but it went up on the webernets last Thursday or Friday, so whatever. It's good-- not as good as last year's finale, but better than "Seinfeld Vision" or most of season 1. And that's coming from someone who has literally seen every episode at least twice (except this new one). Jack getting promoted twice in a week was great. I loved that Pete was in anger management for the arrow stunt. Devon as hopeless screwup was the funniest thing they've ever done with what was formerly a prety one-note character (especially "I sold the E to Samsung. They're Samesung now"). The only problem: I though Mullally would be playing Sarah Palin."amnesia" haikus
from last week's reviews)
End of Part I. To be continued in Part... II.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
My Eight-Word Review
Of the unable-to-compress-into-six-words film version of Sweeney Todd:
So that's what all the fuss was about.
In other news, the Rock Band 2 liveblog is dead. Long live the Rock Band 3 liveblog! No, for serious, I was running low on both both time and new things to say. I might pop in with a stray observation or such, but that'd be it.
So that's what all the fuss was about.
In other news, the Rock Band 2 liveblog is dead. Long live the Rock Band 3 liveblog! No, for serious, I was running low on both both time and new things to say. I might pop in with a stray observation or such, but that'd be it.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Livebloging Rock Band 2: Running Out of Funny Subtitles (Day 5)
7:00 PM
Redoing Setlist that broke last night (Drums, Medium):
"The Middle"-- Didn't 5 star. Oh well.
"Girl's Not Grey"-- Uses the same beat as "Green Grass and High Tides," the song that kept me from beating the first game on medium. At least this one's short.
"Lazy Eye"-- Speaking of endless guitar solos... No, this one's not that bad, but it's a little boring, playing the same thing over and over for a month.
"Our Truth"-- My arms still work, so this must not be a real metal song. The jury's still out on "Testify." It's fun if you're totally lame and not metal (which, apparently, I am).
"Chop Suey"-- My arms aren't tired, but my brain is. 50% of the reasons I wanted to do this set on drums was this song (look down for the other half). It doesn't disappoint.
"Give It All"--This song? Not that other 50%. It's a dumb song, but drumming it is more fun than singing it.
"Colony of Birchmen"-- That was pretty cool I guess.
West Coast Marathon (Vocals, Hard):
"Shackler's Revenge"-- How am I supposed to sing a song no one's ever heard before? I fail. I switch to Guitar. Then I play "Bad Repution" and start over.
"Bad Reputation" (Guitar, Expert): I like to call this song "Freaks and Geeks Theme Song," because, well, guess. Hang on, I have to do something else...8:42: I'm back. OK. Gameplaywise, this is a lot like "I Wanna Be Sedated"-- just play the chords, fast. IT gives you the same "I am cooler than I actually am" feeling I talked about with "White Wedding."
West Coast Marathon (Guitar, Expert):
"Shackler's Revenge"--Failed. This is the first guitar song that's actually been hard, as opposed to unfair ("Rock'n Me") or evil ("Anyway You Want It"). Take three.
West Coast Marathon (Guitar, Hard):
"Shackler's Revenge"-- Now having heard the whole song, it's pretty cool, though it sounds nothing like classic Guns 'N Roses. It sounds, not surprisingly, a lot like Buckethead.
"Chop Suey"-- Ten thumbs up.
"Everlong"-- I have a really good story about this song that I'm not going to share right now. Well, not really really good. A story, anyway. Well, more of an anecdote to illustrate a point. Keep waiting. Also, I get that Seattle is technically on the west coast, but are there really that few LA bands?
"Peace Sells"-- Failed once, passed once. I always thought Megadeth were a bunch of lame butt-rockers, coasting on their frontman's fame and guitar "skill." Now I know they are. Glad I only had to do this song once.
"Souls of Black"--More metal in 5 minutes than Megadeth has recorded in 25 years.
"Battery"--What's with all the thrash in this set? Whatever. This song out-thrashes both other thrashers thoroughly. Thrash thrashety thrash thrash.
Roadie Rockathon (Guitar, Expert):
"Tangled Up In Blue"-- I've tried twice to cover Bob Dylan for SotW, and both missions were aborted. Despite that, I'm not very familiar with this song. It's OK on guitar-- and a refreshing (I literally felt cleaner) break from all the hard rock. But it's a little too long and hard on the wrists. I'm guessing it was included mainly for the Vocals.
"Alive"--Not much harder on Expert than Hard. If you could beat "Even Flow" in Guitar Hero III, you'll have no problem with this one.
"Give It All"-- Still don't like it.
"Let There Be Rock"--Failed. Quit. Looked up "unlock all" code*. Finds out this deactivates achievements. Decides it's not worth it. About the song, it's a minute of no guitar followed by thirty seconds of hard guitar, lather, rinse, repeat. It's every bit as not fun as it sounds. Thankfully, I didn't have to beat the whole set to unlock "Tangled Up In Blue>" I'm taking a break.
*Go to the game modifer screen, and input "RYBRRBBRYB" (I'm assuming you can figure out what the letters stand for).
10:33: Just noticed that my drums and guitar turned themselves off. I'm not gonna stop playing, but I am gonna stop blogging. 'Night, homies.
Redoing Setlist that broke last night (Drums, Medium):
"The Middle"-- Didn't 5 star. Oh well.
"Girl's Not Grey"-- Uses the same beat as "Green Grass and High Tides," the song that kept me from beating the first game on medium. At least this one's short.
"Lazy Eye"-- Speaking of endless guitar solos... No, this one's not that bad, but it's a little boring, playing the same thing over and over for a month.
"Our Truth"-- My arms still work, so this must not be a real metal song. The jury's still out on "Testify." It's fun if you're totally lame and not metal (which, apparently, I am).
"Chop Suey"-- My arms aren't tired, but my brain is. 50% of the reasons I wanted to do this set on drums was this song (look down for the other half). It doesn't disappoint.
"Give It All"--This song? Not that other 50%. It's a dumb song, but drumming it is more fun than singing it.
"Colony of Birchmen"-- That was pretty cool I guess.
West Coast Marathon (Vocals, Hard):
"Shackler's Revenge"-- How am I supposed to sing a song no one's ever heard before? I fail. I switch to Guitar. Then I play "Bad Repution" and start over.
"Bad Reputation" (Guitar, Expert): I like to call this song "Freaks and Geeks Theme Song," because, well, guess. Hang on, I have to do something else...8:42: I'm back. OK. Gameplaywise, this is a lot like "I Wanna Be Sedated"-- just play the chords, fast. IT gives you the same "I am cooler than I actually am" feeling I talked about with "White Wedding."
West Coast Marathon (Guitar, Expert):
"Shackler's Revenge"--Failed. This is the first guitar song that's actually been hard, as opposed to unfair ("Rock'n Me") or evil ("Anyway You Want It"). Take three.
West Coast Marathon (Guitar, Hard):
"Shackler's Revenge"-- Now having heard the whole song, it's pretty cool, though it sounds nothing like classic Guns 'N Roses. It sounds, not surprisingly, a lot like Buckethead.
"Chop Suey"-- Ten thumbs up.
"Everlong"-- I have a really good story about this song that I'm not going to share right now. Well, not really really good. A story, anyway. Well, more of an anecdote to illustrate a point. Keep waiting. Also, I get that Seattle is technically on the west coast, but are there really that few LA bands?
"Peace Sells"-- Failed once, passed once. I always thought Megadeth were a bunch of lame butt-rockers, coasting on their frontman's fame and guitar "skill." Now I know they are. Glad I only had to do this song once.
"Souls of Black"--More metal in 5 minutes than Megadeth has recorded in 25 years.
"Battery"--What's with all the thrash in this set? Whatever. This song out-thrashes both other thrashers thoroughly. Thrash thrashety thrash thrash.
Roadie Rockathon (Guitar, Expert):
"Tangled Up In Blue"-- I've tried twice to cover Bob Dylan for SotW, and both missions were aborted. Despite that, I'm not very familiar with this song. It's OK on guitar-- and a refreshing (I literally felt cleaner) break from all the hard rock. But it's a little too long and hard on the wrists. I'm guessing it was included mainly for the Vocals.
"Alive"--Not much harder on Expert than Hard. If you could beat "Even Flow" in Guitar Hero III, you'll have no problem with this one.
"Give It All"-- Still don't like it.
"Let There Be Rock"--Failed. Quit. Looked up "unlock all" code*. Finds out this deactivates achievements. Decides it's not worth it. About the song, it's a minute of no guitar followed by thirty seconds of hard guitar, lather, rinse, repeat. It's every bit as not fun as it sounds. Thankfully, I didn't have to beat the whole set to unlock "Tangled Up In Blue>" I'm taking a break.
*Go to the game modifer screen, and input "RYBRRBBRYB" (I'm assuming you can figure out what the letters stand for).
10:33: Just noticed that my drums and guitar turned themselves off. I'm not gonna stop playing, but I am gonna stop blogging. 'Night, homies.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
P.S. No Song of the Week Today
For various reasons I can't do a Song of the Week right now. I'm gonna try and do two next week.
Liveblogging Rock Band 2: 2 Rock 2 Bandious (Day 4)
3:36 PM:
Sorry. Blogger was out for a while. While it was, I played Quick Play, and 99%ed "Give It Away and 100%ed "Testify" and "So What'Cha Want" (Vocals, Hard). To be fair, I knew all the words to "Give It Away" going in. And they're all rap songs. But I never did that well on "Sabotage," which means my "this game is easy" theory is looking pretty strong.
No Pain, No Plane Challenge (Vocals, Hard): I feel cocky. I figure if I can beat "Psycho Killer" (I did that too. I thought this one was supposed to be harder?), I can do whatever this game throws at me. Let's see.
"Lump" is harder than I thought it would be, probably because I didn't try very hard. And who would have thought? "Psycho Killer" itself. You know, this song wouldn't be that hard if that guy* just sang in English. "Pinball Wizard" is probably my least favorite Who song. Of course, that's a relative measure; it's still one of the game's better songs.
Challenging Mystery Setlist (Vocals, Hard): "Let There Be Rock" is about the closest we're gonna get to an all-tambourine song. I failed "Rob the Prez-O-dent" the first time. I didn't care, I had to do it again. It's easily the funniest song in the game and I encourage you to seek it out immediately.
*I know David Byrne's name. It was for comic effect.
Make A Setlist: "I Was Wrong" and "Lazy Eye" (Vocals, Hard) (plus added Hard guitar challenge): I never really thought about it, but "I was Wrong" is like the anti-punk song. It's the song you listen to when you stop hating everything and realize that most of your problems are your own fault. It's totally made me rethink my life (not really). "Lazy Eye" is pretty good, but it wish they gave you some thing to do for the 48 hour guitar solo than hit the tambourine 1000 times. And the mystery song is... "Carry on My Wayward Son," part 1 of the Guitar Hero Carryovers (the other two are "Ace of Spades" and "More than a Feeling," neither of which I have yet). It's not really that hard of a guitar song, or a vocals song (except for the end). Also, more cowbell than any song I've yet seen.
5:27
21st Century Marathon (Vocals, Hard):
"The Middle"-- I've written enough about this one.
"Girl's Not Grey"--Failed once, barely passed second time. Don't like it anyway.
"Lazy Eye"-- Repeat
"Our Truth"-- I'm not sure how I feel about the two-vocalists thing. I thought a duet or backing vocals feature would be a cool multiplayer mode even before Rock Band Classic came out, but I'm not sure it works here. This song is OK otherwise.
"Chop Suey"-- This song, while not easy, is way easier than I expected. Still awesome, though.
"Give It All"--Failed. Second time hummed (an octave lower) and almost got four stars.
"Colony of Birchmen"-- I accidentally misread this song's title as "Colony of Bitchmen,"which I like better. On the one hand, I'm glad they did some metal, and it's probably awesome on drums. On the other, it's a bitch to sing (probably the hardest I didn't fail out of, and harder than some of those), and it just broke my XBox. Also I'm gonna starting shouting "RUN WITH DEATH!" in my best Nathan Explosion voice, at random people on the street, and I encourage you to do the same*.
*This blog, its parent company, and all of its subsidiaries do not advocate yelling "RUN WITH DEATH!" at random strangers, no matter how cool it is. Don't blame us if or when it goes horribly awry. Awry means bad.
Since my XBox just froze up and I don't feel like starting over, so I'm out bitchladies and bitchgentlemen.
Sorry. Blogger was out for a while. While it was, I played Quick Play, and 99%ed "Give It Away and 100%ed "Testify" and "So What'Cha Want" (Vocals, Hard). To be fair, I knew all the words to "Give It Away" going in. And they're all rap songs. But I never did that well on "Sabotage," which means my "this game is easy" theory is looking pretty strong.
No Pain, No Plane Challenge (Vocals, Hard): I feel cocky. I figure if I can beat "Psycho Killer" (I did that too. I thought this one was supposed to be harder?), I can do whatever this game throws at me. Let's see.
"Lump" is harder than I thought it would be, probably because I didn't try very hard. And who would have thought? "Psycho Killer" itself. You know, this song wouldn't be that hard if that guy* just sang in English. "Pinball Wizard" is probably my least favorite Who song. Of course, that's a relative measure; it's still one of the game's better songs.
Challenging Mystery Setlist (Vocals, Hard): "Let There Be Rock" is about the closest we're gonna get to an all-tambourine song. I failed "Rob the Prez-O-dent" the first time. I didn't care, I had to do it again. It's easily the funniest song in the game and I encourage you to seek it out immediately.
*I know David Byrne's name. It was for comic effect.
Make A Setlist: "I Was Wrong" and "Lazy Eye" (Vocals, Hard) (plus added Hard guitar challenge): I never really thought about it, but "I was Wrong" is like the anti-punk song. It's the song you listen to when you stop hating everything and realize that most of your problems are your own fault. It's totally made me rethink my life (not really). "Lazy Eye" is pretty good, but it wish they gave you some thing to do for the 48 hour guitar solo than hit the tambourine 1000 times. And the mystery song is... "Carry on My Wayward Son," part 1 of the Guitar Hero Carryovers (the other two are "Ace of Spades" and "More than a Feeling," neither of which I have yet). It's not really that hard of a guitar song, or a vocals song (except for the end). Also, more cowbell than any song I've yet seen.
5:27
21st Century Marathon (Vocals, Hard):
"The Middle"-- I've written enough about this one.
"Girl's Not Grey"--Failed once, barely passed second time. Don't like it anyway.
"Lazy Eye"-- Repeat
"Our Truth"-- I'm not sure how I feel about the two-vocalists thing. I thought a duet or backing vocals feature would be a cool multiplayer mode even before Rock Band Classic came out, but I'm not sure it works here. This song is OK otherwise.
"Chop Suey"-- This song, while not easy, is way easier than I expected. Still awesome, though.
"Give It All"--Failed. Second time hummed (an octave lower) and almost got four stars.
"Colony of Birchmen"-- I accidentally misread this song's title as "Colony of Bitchmen,"which I like better. On the one hand, I'm glad they did some metal, and it's probably awesome on drums. On the other, it's a bitch to sing (probably the hardest I didn't fail out of, and harder than some of those), and it just broke my XBox. Also I'm gonna starting shouting "RUN WITH DEATH!" in my best Nathan Explosion voice, at random people on the street, and I encourage you to do the same*.
*This blog, its parent company, and all of its subsidiaries do not advocate yelling "RUN WITH DEATH!" at random strangers, no matter how cool it is. Don't blame us if or when it goes horribly awry. Awry means bad.
Since my XBox just froze up and I don't feel like starting over, so I'm out bitchladies and bitchgentlemen.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Liveblogging Rock Band 2: Electric Bandaloo (Day 3)
9:43 PM, Wednesday
Alternative Marathon (Drums, Medium):
"De-Luxe"--repeat
"Give It Away"--repeat
"Testify"-- I just figured out drummers can freestyle over the end of songs (it was just the beginnings in RB1). Doesn't quite make up for almost no Big Rock Endings
"Teenage Riot"-- Fun. I'll have more to say later, I bet.
"Everlong"-- I think they made the Medium version easy on purpose to mess with my head.
Ernie Ball Showcase(Drums, Medium; Repeats Omitted):
"We Got the Beat":I liked the surf-rocky part in the break. Also, they replaced hihat & crash effect (yellow & green pads) with toms for freestyle. Is it because of the cybal add-on they're releasing (probably).
...5 starred "The Middle"..."Where'd You Go" isn't a repeat, I just forgot about it...
"Let There Be Rock": What a big, dumb, awesome song. Also I got five stars and did another Big Rock Ending. Also also, why isn't this the song played at the beginning (instead of "Hello There")?
Done and done.
Alternative Marathon (Drums, Medium):
"De-Luxe"--repeat
"Give It Away"--repeat
"Testify"-- I just figured out drummers can freestyle over the end of songs (it was just the beginnings in RB1). Doesn't quite make up for almost no Big Rock Endings
"Teenage Riot"-- Fun. I'll have more to say later, I bet.
"Everlong"-- I think they made the Medium version easy on purpose to mess with my head.
Ernie Ball Showcase(Drums, Medium; Repeats Omitted):
"We Got the Beat":I liked the surf-rocky part in the break. Also, they replaced hihat & crash effect (yellow & green pads) with toms for freestyle. Is it because of the cybal add-on they're releasing (probably).
...5 starred "The Middle"..."Where'd You Go" isn't a repeat, I just forgot about it...
"Let There Be Rock": What a big, dumb, awesome song. Also I got five stars and did another Big Rock Ending. Also also, why isn't this the song played at the beginning (instead of "Hello There")?
Done and done.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Liveblogging Rock Band 2: Rock Bander (Day 2)
7:33 PM, Tuesday: I don't have a lot of time, so let's just jump into it.
"Where'd You Go" (Bass, Expert): Hey, they added effects for bass players! Finally.
"Rock'n Me" (Guitar, Expert): Failed. Also, they added hammer-ons for chords, but that's not why I failed.
"Rock'n Me" (Guitar, Hard): I like this song, and I'm never playing nit on guitar again. Maybe it's bad calibration or something else, but it seemed unfairly hard to get the timing right in this one. I trying my Guitar Hero 3 controller if it happens again.
Mystery Setlist, The Bison Room (Guitar, Expert): "White Wedding" is my pick for biggest resurgance in popularity from the game (often called the Guitar Hero bump). It's just hard enough to make you feel talented for beating it, it has lots of sustain notes to rock the whammy bar on, and you can jump up and down and/or act like a complete idiot and still get three stars. It actually makes you feel cooler while you're playing it (that insight alone made me glad I did the liveblog instead of the usual postmortem review). "A Jagged Gorgeous Winter" (new to my ears) is a little too emo for my taste, but it's good for that sort of thing, I guess. Too bad, that, like "Rock'n Me" or "Float On", it's more hard than it is challenging in a fun way.
For some reason I had to reboot and play those two over, hang on... This time it's "Psycho Killer", which doesn't really pick up until the solo, "One Way or Another," which is good except for the solo, and "Lump," which is a little too chord-heavy.
Special Encore: "Any Way You Want It." I thought this was too easy, an "Eye of the Tiger"-esque song put in as joke. Then I got to the solo, and failed it. Twice.
Mystery Setlist, Alice's Free Love Cafe *Guitar, Hard): "Mountain Song" isn't really that Hard, but that riff is a finge-buster. Good song, though."Come Out and Play (Keep 'Em Separated)"-- too long a name for a song. Plus it's another I wished I'd been singer for. Otherwise pretty good.
Merch Search Showcase (Guitar, Hard):
"The Middle," perhaps the most optimistic rock song of the last ten years, plays better on drums. On guitar it's another of those "play thischord eight times, then thi chord, etc." songs I mentioned Sunday (other than the chorus, which is fun).
The inclusion of "Round and Round" still mfstifies me. At least "Nine in the Afternoon" and "Living on a Prayer" are big hits. But besides strippers, who gives a ratt's (see what I did there?) ass about this song? Whatever.
"Alive" is kind of famous for its solo (which is actually pretty easy), but the whole thing works pretty well, mixing slow and fast parts, hard and easy parts, and a solo that's as fun to play as it is awesome. Also, fourt Big Rock Ending, which is now officially an endangered species according to the EPA.
[Update: I just checked and "Rock'n Me" is the hardest guitar song I have unlocked.]
Mystery Setlist, El Ocho (Bass, Expert): My thoughts on "Alex Chilton" are best summed up in one sentence fragment: THE REPLACEMENTS!!!!! I love you Rock Band 2, I can even forgive you for Bon Jovi. Other song is "Shooting Star," which actually has a pretty cool baseline.
Make-A-Setlist: "Drain You" and "Go Your Own Way" (Guitar, Expert): It's confirmed. Nothing can make these songs not fun. Also I'm just noticing how much the animation is improving. During "Drain You" my singer seemed, if not quite Pixar-level animation, maybe Dreamworks-level (though they're still a little short on moves).
LA's Brat Pack (Guitar, Hard): Just some quick hits, since there's so many:
"One Step Closer"-- just OK
"Give It Away"-- easier than I thought it would be (I 100%ed the first solo). But then, Frusciante's brilliance lies in the simplicity of his playing (most pretentious Pretentious Muttering ever!).
"Kids in America"-- Like with "American Woman", I know the lame covers of this better tha the fun, Joan Jett-ish original. Maybe it's a generation thing. Speaking of Joan Jett, when am I gonna get "Bad Reputation"? Fifth Big Rock Ending.
"Lazy Eye"-- I asways think of this one as "1979.5," but it's pretty good in the game. And I'm not against using the 90-minute extended guitar solo version, but they probably should have put it at the end of the set, not the middle.
"Come Out...Separated)"-- As I'm now calling it. Exactly the same as before.
"Mountain Song"-- See above. If for some reason you have an inner Dave Navarro, you can unleash him/it by playinng this song (that's not a dick joke, pervert).
"Testify"-- I don't know why they picked this over "Sleep Now In the Fire," which is a better song, a bigger hit, a wierder guitar solo, and the only Rage song you can dance to. Still, this one works pretty good, though I suspect it's more fun on other instruments.
-30-
"Where'd You Go" (Bass, Expert): Hey, they added effects for bass players! Finally.
"Rock'n Me" (Guitar, Expert): Failed. Also, they added hammer-ons for chords, but that's not why I failed.
"Rock'n Me" (Guitar, Hard): I like this song, and I'm never playing nit on guitar again. Maybe it's bad calibration or something else, but it seemed unfairly hard to get the timing right in this one. I trying my Guitar Hero 3 controller if it happens again.
Mystery Setlist, The Bison Room (Guitar, Expert): "White Wedding" is my pick for biggest resurgance in popularity from the game (often called the Guitar Hero bump). It's just hard enough to make you feel talented for beating it, it has lots of sustain notes to rock the whammy bar on, and you can jump up and down and/or act like a complete idiot and still get three stars. It actually makes you feel cooler while you're playing it (that insight alone made me glad I did the liveblog instead of the usual postmortem review). "A Jagged Gorgeous Winter" (new to my ears) is a little too emo for my taste, but it's good for that sort of thing, I guess. Too bad, that, like "Rock'n Me" or "Float On", it's more hard than it is challenging in a fun way.
For some reason I had to reboot and play those two over, hang on... This time it's "Psycho Killer", which doesn't really pick up until the solo, "One Way or Another," which is good except for the solo, and "Lump," which is a little too chord-heavy.
Special Encore: "Any Way You Want It." I thought this was too easy, an "Eye of the Tiger"-esque song put in as joke. Then I got to the solo, and failed it. Twice.
Mystery Setlist, Alice's Free Love Cafe *Guitar, Hard): "Mountain Song" isn't really that Hard, but that riff is a finge-buster. Good song, though."Come Out and Play (Keep 'Em Separated)"-- too long a name for a song. Plus it's another I wished I'd been singer for. Otherwise pretty good.
Merch Search Showcase (Guitar, Hard):
"The Middle," perhaps the most optimistic rock song of the last ten years, plays better on drums. On guitar it's another of those "play thischord eight times, then thi chord, etc." songs I mentioned Sunday (other than the chorus, which is fun).
The inclusion of "Round and Round" still mfstifies me. At least "Nine in the Afternoon" and "Living on a Prayer" are big hits. But besides strippers, who gives a ratt's (see what I did there?) ass about this song? Whatever.
"Alive" is kind of famous for its solo (which is actually pretty easy), but the whole thing works pretty well, mixing slow and fast parts, hard and easy parts, and a solo that's as fun to play as it is awesome. Also, fourt Big Rock Ending, which is now officially an endangered species according to the EPA.
[Update: I just checked and "Rock'n Me" is the hardest guitar song I have unlocked.]
Mystery Setlist, El Ocho (Bass, Expert): My thoughts on "Alex Chilton" are best summed up in one sentence fragment: THE REPLACEMENTS!!!!! I love you Rock Band 2, I can even forgive you for Bon Jovi. Other song is "Shooting Star," which actually has a pretty cool baseline.
Make-A-Setlist: "Drain You" and "Go Your Own Way" (Guitar, Expert): It's confirmed. Nothing can make these songs not fun. Also I'm just noticing how much the animation is improving. During "Drain You" my singer seemed, if not quite Pixar-level animation, maybe Dreamworks-level (though they're still a little short on moves).
LA's Brat Pack (Guitar, Hard): Just some quick hits, since there's so many:
"One Step Closer"-- just OK
"Give It Away"-- easier than I thought it would be (I 100%ed the first solo). But then, Frusciante's brilliance lies in the simplicity of his playing (most pretentious Pretentious Muttering ever!).
"Kids in America"-- Like with "American Woman", I know the lame covers of this better tha the fun, Joan Jett-ish original. Maybe it's a generation thing. Speaking of Joan Jett, when am I gonna get "Bad Reputation"? Fifth Big Rock Ending.
"Lazy Eye"-- I asways think of this one as "1979.5," but it's pretty good in the game. And I'm not against using the 90-minute extended guitar solo version, but they probably should have put it at the end of the set, not the middle.
"Come Out...Separated)"-- As I'm now calling it. Exactly the same as before.
"Mountain Song"-- See above. If for some reason you have an inner Dave Navarro, you can unleash him/it by playinng this song (that's not a dick joke, pervert).
"Testify"-- I don't know why they picked this over "Sleep Now In the Fire," which is a better song, a bigger hit, a wierder guitar solo, and the only Rage song you can dance to. Still, this one works pretty good, though I suspect it's more fun on other instruments.
-30-
(Not That Kind of Cougars)
As promised:
Chuck, "Chuck vs. The Cougars": I was a little worried with this one. A big part of Sarah's character ins that we're not supposed to know anything about her (she is, after all, a spy). So imagine my being happiness I was at the end, which created new mysteries and undid all that silly "we want answers" crap. Sarah's wasn't just a normal girl who became a spy, but someone who's actually interesting. Also like the Don Draper-Dick Whitman aspect of Chuck's spy persona, and how they used it in this episode ("see this scar?"). (No haikus today).
Heroes, "Dying of the Light": According to some, the first season of Heroes started off slow, but picked up steam as it went forward, and near the end it had a few great episodes ("Company Man" and "Five Years Gone" most notably, and yes, I looked that up), and then an then an abysmal finale. Season 2 started off terribly (or at least mediocrely) and slowly improved to become pretty good by the end. It looks like season 3 is going to be the same.
After last week's almost-good-enough episode, we get something that's actually entertaining. It was still badly paced, and had more than a few plot holes, but there was nobody acting incredibly stupid (except Suresh, but he had it coming), a Peter-Sylar fight that didn't involve parking meters, and a Hiro subplot that tied into his actual personality (he wants to do good, but isn't sure how), instead of stupid plot contrivances (like opening the safe in episode 3.1). The Claire thing was weaker than last week-- the puppet man was neither creepy enough to be scary (all he wanted was a kiss?), nor interesting in some other way (like Bubbles was), and he had the same "unlimited power" problem that too many characters have on this show (Peter most notably)-- but it was an actual story with a beginning middle and end, and a villain of the week who was actually a villain.
How I Met Your Mother, "Shelter Island": OK, so Stella's gone (I heard she has one more episode, but she's on the way out) Now what? Was the whole storyline just the writers killing time? Does Stella play a role in finding the mother? (It doesn't look like it's her sister, which some people guessed). My guess is the Stella thing is supposed to be instructive to Ted: it teaches him something new about himself or relationships in general, probably that he shouldn't rush into things as much, which becomes important later on. Watch, next time he has a girlfriend, he'll be all "I'm not going to rush into things like I did with Stella" (if it's those exact words, Craig Thomas and Carter Bays owe me a coke. And lots of money).
As for the rest of the episode, it was pretty good. I liked the Tokyo Ichi monkey (and that "ichi" is one of the ten Japanese words I know (it means "one." Can you guess what the other nine words are?)), and the non-alcoholic bar ("I think that's the lead singer of the Spin Doctors"). This one felt a little squeezed to fit into 22 minutes, though. It may have worked better as a two-parter or one of those 30-minute "supersized" episodes they sometimes do with The Office.
Chuck, "Chuck vs. The Cougars": I was a little worried with this one. A big part of Sarah's character ins that we're not supposed to know anything about her (she is, after all, a spy). So imagine my being happiness I was at the end, which created new mysteries and undid all that silly "we want answers" crap. Sarah's wasn't just a normal girl who became a spy, but someone who's actually interesting. Also like the Don Draper-Dick Whitman aspect of Chuck's spy persona, and how they used it in this episode ("see this scar?"). (No haikus today).
Heroes, "Dying of the Light": According to some, the first season of Heroes started off slow, but picked up steam as it went forward, and near the end it had a few great episodes ("Company Man" and "Five Years Gone" most notably, and yes, I looked that up), and then an then an abysmal finale. Season 2 started off terribly (or at least mediocrely) and slowly improved to become pretty good by the end. It looks like season 3 is going to be the same.
After last week's almost-good-enough episode, we get something that's actually entertaining. It was still badly paced, and had more than a few plot holes, but there was nobody acting incredibly stupid (except Suresh, but he had it coming), a Peter-Sylar fight that didn't involve parking meters, and a Hiro subplot that tied into his actual personality (he wants to do good, but isn't sure how), instead of stupid plot contrivances (like opening the safe in episode 3.1). The Claire thing was weaker than last week-- the puppet man was neither creepy enough to be scary (all he wanted was a kiss?), nor interesting in some other way (like Bubbles was), and he had the same "unlimited power" problem that too many characters have on this show (Peter most notably)-- but it was an actual story with a beginning middle and end, and a villain of the week who was actually a villain.
How I Met Your Mother, "Shelter Island": OK, so Stella's gone (I heard she has one more episode, but she's on the way out) Now what? Was the whole storyline just the writers killing time? Does Stella play a role in finding the mother? (It doesn't look like it's her sister, which some people guessed). My guess is the Stella thing is supposed to be instructive to Ted: it teaches him something new about himself or relationships in general, probably that he shouldn't rush into things as much, which becomes important later on. Watch, next time he has a girlfriend, he'll be all "I'm not going to rush into things like I did with Stella" (if it's those exact words, Craig Thomas and Carter Bays owe me a coke. And lots of money).
As for the rest of the episode, it was pretty good. I liked the Tokyo Ichi monkey (and that "ichi" is one of the ten Japanese words I know (it means "one." Can you guess what the other nine words are?)), and the non-alcoholic bar ("I think that's the lead singer of the Spin Doctors"). This one felt a little squeezed to fit into 22 minutes, though. It may have worked better as a two-parter or one of those 30-minute "supersized" episodes they sometimes do with The Office.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Ch-ch-ch-changes
OK, so here's the deal. I'm getting really tired of the haikus. Two reasons: I usually have more than 17 syllables to say, and they aren't making great haikus anyway. So I'm compromising. I'll still do haikus, but it'll be more of a thematic thing, and I'll do a review to go with it.
From the top:
Testees, "Pilot": Let me put it this way. I'm never, ever watching this show again. (No haiku).
The Sarah Silverman Program, "The Mongolian Beef": A charming and fun if not exactly groundbreaking. For some reason I loved "Three different people, three different sizes" and conspired to right my own ridiculous song (I might use this as Thursday's Song of the Week):
Mad Men, "The Jet Set": I'm breaking Rule Numero Three (No shows that premiered over the summer), for no good reason. I just liked the use of "Misirlou" in this episode. If you want something more in-depth, go elsewhere, my child. (No haiku)
Chuck, "Chuck Vs. The Break-Up": We kind of had to have this episode, didn't we? It worked great, both for the bigger story and as hour of entertainment. I'm a little fuzzy on the details because I just watched the new one, but I remember how cool it was. (No haiku, though the "Heroes' one works here, too)
Heroes, "Angels and Monsters": I loved the idea of the Claire storyline-- someone actually trying to, you know, do something heroic. I liked that Bubbles was the bad guy, and he didn't turn out so bad after all. I didn't like that they tied it to the dumb Sylar business, or anything else about this episode. Since I didn't care enough to write a real one, I'm gonna use a poem I wrote a couple weeks ago:
How I Met Your Mother, "Intervention": Hey, Family Guy writers (I know you all read this, or I like to pretend you do): This is how you do the cutaway gags. There was so much time-travel in this episode I lost track of what the present was supposed to be. Which is exactly the point, and one of my favorite things about this show. Best of the season so far.
House, "Birthmarks": This is Classic House: put on a big show of crying just to get a DNA sample. This is Classic Wilson: try (not very hard) to talk him out of it. I liked how House unwittingly revealed how similar he is to his father (both play games and abuse their underlings) as well as how different (House the Younger is, well, House). Loved Kutner, Taub, and Bubbles reaching the same conclusion as the original team, only off camera. Glad we finally found out how House and Wilson met. Glad Wilson's back. Wish to talk in complete sentences, but forgot how.
Pushing Daisies, "Bad Habits": There was maybe too much going on in this episode, and it wasn't as funny as the last two, and it made me hungry for truffles (I've never even had truffles before). But even a less-than-perfect PD is perfectly cromulent, and has gags like Ned and Olive's game of charades, and "Sister Christian" (plus Emerson's "we're motorin'").
Fringe, "Power Hungry": Another week, another Fringe. Did you catch No-Eyebrows-Not-Michael-Stipe (henceforth NENMS) get out of the elevator at the beginning? I didn't. The frustrating part here was watching the Fringies (that's what I'm calling them) spend half the episode figuring out something everyone guessed after the first minute. If you're going to do that, there should be some twist, like the guy was really doing it on purpose, or he was a robot or a pair of twins or something (Buffy did those twists a lot). This show has a lot of potential (apparently NENMS isn't an alien, and we'll find out more about him soon), but it's not being used well. It doesn't earn a haiku.
South Park, "The Breast Cancer Show Ever": Wendy has only been the focus of like four South Parks, but playing her self-righteouness off of Cartman's assholery was a brilliant idea, and gave us the best episode since "The List," from last season. This was a great Cartman episode, too, giving us both comic (he eats-- then vomits-- his underpants to avoid the fight) and tragic (he's deluded himself to thinking everyone doesn't hate him*) insight into him (which we haven't really seen since "Tsssk"). And Eric was due for a beatdown (his last was "Cartoon Wars", right?) If there was one flaw, which there was, it was that the Stan and the Goth ("did she just call us Emo?") kids plotline didn't have a real ending. (No haiku again).
*Kind of like Pip. Remember Pip?
My Name is Earl, "We Got Spirit": Speaking of insight into borderline insane supporting characters, we finally get good look at Randy here. On one hand, Earl going out to help him was a good gesture by Earl. On the other, Randy probablywould have been better off doing nomething on his own. Looks like next week is going to be Randytacular as well, so I'll probably say more (and do a haiku) then.
The Office, "Baby Shower": I don't know. I liked it a lot, but I don't have anything to say about it, in prose or haiku. It,d just all be quotes, and you can read those elsewhere.
Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday (#2): IF this wasn't ending next week, I probably wouldn't review it thewn (technically it counts as "news," bt it's an "event" so I have to write about it). It wasn't not funny, and the debate sketch was better than last Thursday, but there's not a lot to write about (other than "I liked this, I though this was dumb blah blah blah boring boring boring I hate you all I'm never talking to you again goodnight and have a pleasant tomorrow")
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, "Paddy's Pub: The Worst Bar in Philadelphia": They can't all be winners. This one was a little too slow and not nearly insane enough, though I liked "Now there's a cat in play?" and "I asked a question."
Friday Night Lights, "How the Other Half Lives": The show is taking off again. It's firing on all cylinders, or whatever metaphor you find appropriate. Too bad you probably can't watch it.
Moral Orel, "Innocence" and "Alone": I don't have anything to say about these two episodes, but I also watched "Nature, Parts 1 and 2," and I'm pretty sure it's the most depressing half hour of TV ever, or at least in the top five. (No haiku)
Heroes, "Genesis" (Not a new episode): OK, let me explain why I'm breaking the "no-rerun" rule (aka Rule Numero Two). I watched this one (Heroes' network pilot; it's streamable on Netflix) to answer whether Heroes has always been terrible, or it's just in decline. I won't go into detail (not right now, anyway), but "Genesis" is better than the new episodes we all know and loathe. It's hella uneven and nowhere near, say Lost's first episode, but it's good, and so I can definitively say that Heroes has at least one good episode. (No haiku, haikus are for real reviews).
Life, "Crushed": Is every case going to paralell (parallel? I can never remember) Charlie's prison time? We had the boxes, the girl trying to escape L.A., the man frozen to death, the fake prison experiment, now a man trapped and crushed to death. Not to mention Rachel being kidnapped for 12 years. I can dig it though. This was weaker than last week's, but not bad.
King of the Hill, "Square-Footed Monster": Good to know someone else hates McMansions. Also, I liked the political incorrectness of this one: group of white southerners band together to kick out their new Asian neighbor, and uphold their conformist way of life as "good old-fashioned values". Good for them? (No haiku)
Family Guy, "Road to Germany": The animation seemed a lot better than your average FG; too bad thestory wasn't. Once again, to my Family Guy-writer audience: just because something was in a movie, doesn't mean you have to copy it. A movie reference, especially a visual one (their were many in this one) is a (playful or biting) dig at a movie, or a clever twist on an old idea, or an extra layer to another joke, not a joke itself. The joke becomes "hey, look how much this scene is similar to another scene," which is funny maybe once, and every other time maken you look derivative and lame. (No haiku)
American Dad, "One Little Word": Even the title is derivative of earlier episodes. Tying in with the Family Guy discussion, even though this was a "sequel" of sorts to "Four Little Words," it did more repeating the same plot points of that episode than playing off it in a meaningful way. They could have shown how Stan has changed in the time between, or used it to point out how he's exactly the same, instead of taking one idea ("Like many of today's conservatives, Stan puts more value on words than on meanings") and running it into the ground. Plus the Roger stuff was dumb. We just had the "Roger acts childish" and a "Roger invests too much into his personas" episodes, so this one became repetitive on two fronts.
The Simpsons, "Double, Double, Boy in Trouble": I don't know. I thought this was funny, but like last week, it felt like more of a pitch for a story than an actual story. And as someone (not me) pointed out, why does Bart go from brat in the first act to wuss in the second? He should have used his powers as prince of prankdom to prank the punk prats. With style. Plus a trip to Aspen for no reason. Like Family Guy, the animation was noticably better here than it often is. Too bad the writing wasn't. (No haiku)
Mad Men, "The Mountain King": A weird one, here. Lots of time jumps and unexpectedness. I'm gonna do a full review next week, for the finale, is why I have so little to say/ haikuize now.
The Sarah Silverman Program, "Making New Friends": I can't adequately explain why I find this show funny. Maybe I'll be able to by next week. (No haiku)
Saturday Night Live, "Josh Brolin/ Adele": Same old lame old SNL. Took me all weekend to watch this one in bits and pieces, so I don't remember much about this one. But kudos to Sarah Palin, Mark Walhberg, Alec Baldwin, and Gregg Allman for showing up to play themselves. Quick Musical Guest Review: She's a good singer, but the songs are literally forgettable, as in I couldn't remember either by the end of the commercial break.
From the top:
Testees, "Pilot": Let me put it this way. I'm never, ever watching this show again. (No haiku).
The Sarah Silverman Program, "The Mongolian Beef": A charming and fun if not exactly groundbreaking. For some reason I loved "Three different people, three different sizes" and conspired to right my own ridiculous song (I might use this as Thursday's Song of the Week):
Take me far away
Where the Mongolians play
We'll be happy there!
Where the Mongolians play
We'll be happy there!
Mad Men, "The Jet Set": I'm breaking Rule Numero Three (No shows that premiered over the summer), for no good reason. I just liked the use of "Misirlou" in this episode. If you want something more in-depth, go elsewhere, my child. (No haiku)
Chuck, "Chuck Vs. The Break-Up": We kind of had to have this episode, didn't we? It worked great, both for the bigger story and as hour of entertainment. I'm a little fuzzy on the details because I just watched the new one, but I remember how cool it was. (No haiku, though the "Heroes' one works here, too)
Heroes, "Angels and Monsters": I loved the idea of the Claire storyline-- someone actually trying to, you know, do something heroic. I liked that Bubbles was the bad guy, and he didn't turn out so bad after all. I didn't like that they tied it to the dumb Sylar business, or anything else about this episode. Since I didn't care enough to write a real one, I'm gonna use a poem I wrote a couple weeks ago:
The Wind, he hates us
He tries to pull us apart
pulling, pulling, pull...
He tries to pull us apart
pulling, pulling, pull...
How I Met Your Mother, "Intervention": Hey, Family Guy writers (I know you all read this, or I like to pretend you do): This is how you do the cutaway gags. There was so much time-travel in this episode I lost track of what the present was supposed to be. Which is exactly the point, and one of my favorite things about this show. Best of the season so far.
Clock sits on the wall
Says time only goes one way
Wrong very is he.
Says time only goes one way
Wrong very is he.
House, "Birthmarks": This is Classic House: put on a big show of crying just to get a DNA sample. This is Classic Wilson: try (not very hard) to talk him out of it. I liked how House unwittingly revealed how similar he is to his father (both play games and abuse their underlings) as well as how different (House the Younger is, well, House). Loved Kutner, Taub, and Bubbles reaching the same conclusion as the original team, only off camera. Glad we finally found out how House and Wilson met. Glad Wilson's back. Wish to talk in complete sentences, but forgot how.
It's all in your head
We'll have to amputate it
You won't feel a thing.
We'll have to amputate it
You won't feel a thing.
Pushing Daisies, "Bad Habits": There was maybe too much going on in this episode, and it wasn't as funny as the last two, and it made me hungry for truffles (I've never even had truffles before). But even a less-than-perfect PD is perfectly cromulent, and has gags like Ned and Olive's game of charades, and "Sister Christian" (plus Emerson's "we're motorin'").
(No haiku) (Or is there?)
(Is it all a mystery?)
(How "meta" of me)
(Is it all a mystery?)
(How "meta" of me)
Fringe, "Power Hungry": Another week, another Fringe. Did you catch No-Eyebrows-Not-Michael-Stipe (henceforth NENMS) get out of the elevator at the beginning? I didn't. The frustrating part here was watching the Fringies (that's what I'm calling them) spend half the episode figuring out something everyone guessed after the first minute. If you're going to do that, there should be some twist, like the guy was really doing it on purpose, or he was a robot or a pair of twins or something (Buffy did those twists a lot). This show has a lot of potential (apparently NENMS isn't an alien, and we'll find out more about him soon), but it's not being used well. It doesn't earn a haiku.
South Park, "The Breast Cancer Show Ever": Wendy has only been the focus of like four South Parks, but playing her self-righteouness off of Cartman's assholery was a brilliant idea, and gave us the best episode since "The List," from last season. This was a great Cartman episode, too, giving us both comic (he eats-- then vomits-- his underpants to avoid the fight) and tragic (he's deluded himself to thinking everyone doesn't hate him*) insight into him (which we haven't really seen since "Tsssk"). And Eric was due for a beatdown (his last was "Cartoon Wars", right?) If there was one flaw, which there was, it was that the Stan and the Goth ("did she just call us Emo?") kids plotline didn't have a real ending. (No haiku again).
*Kind of like Pip. Remember Pip?
My Name is Earl, "We Got Spirit": Speaking of insight into borderline insane supporting characters, we finally get good look at Randy here. On one hand, Earl going out to help him was a good gesture by Earl. On the other, Randy probablywould have been better off doing nomething on his own. Looks like next week is going to be Randytacular as well, so I'll probably say more (and do a haiku) then.
The Office, "Baby Shower": I don't know. I liked it a lot, but I don't have anything to say about it, in prose or haiku. It,d just all be quotes, and you can read those elsewhere.
Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday (#2): IF this wasn't ending next week, I probably wouldn't review it thewn (technically it counts as "news," bt it's an "event" so I have to write about it). It wasn't not funny, and the debate sketch was better than last Thursday, but there's not a lot to write about (other than "I liked this, I though this was dumb blah blah blah boring boring boring I hate you all I'm never talking to you again goodnight and have a pleasant tomorrow")
"Fair and Balanced"- Fox
"The most trusted"- CNN
"Thursday's Next!" -Update
"The most trusted"- CNN
"Thursday's Next!" -Update
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, "Paddy's Pub: The Worst Bar in Philadelphia": They can't all be winners. This one was a little too slow and not nearly insane enough, though I liked "Now there's a cat in play?" and "I asked a question."
Amnesia's real
We'll just start over again
Amnesia's real
Alternate version for if you think "amnesia" is 3 syllables:
Amnesia is real
We'll just start over again
Amnesia is real
We'll just start over again
Amnesia's real
Alternate version for if you think "amnesia" is 3 syllables:
Amnesia is real
We'll just start over again
Amnesia is real
Friday Night Lights, "How the Other Half Lives": The show is taking off again. It's firing on all cylinders, or whatever metaphor you find appropriate. Too bad you probably can't watch it.
Spacemen to brain, RE:
Message beamed from satelites:
They're not meant for you.
Message beamed from satelites:
They're not meant for you.
Moral Orel, "Innocence" and "Alone": I don't have anything to say about these two episodes, but I also watched "Nature, Parts 1 and 2," and I'm pretty sure it's the most depressing half hour of TV ever, or at least in the top five. (No haiku)
Heroes, "Genesis" (Not a new episode): OK, let me explain why I'm breaking the "no-rerun" rule (aka Rule Numero Two). I watched this one (Heroes' network pilot; it's streamable on Netflix) to answer whether Heroes has always been terrible, or it's just in decline. I won't go into detail (not right now, anyway), but "Genesis" is better than the new episodes we all know and loathe. It's hella uneven and nowhere near, say Lost's first episode, but it's good, and so I can definitively say that Heroes has at least one good episode. (No haiku, haikus are for real reviews).
Life, "Crushed": Is every case going to paralell (parallel? I can never remember) Charlie's prison time? We had the boxes, the girl trying to escape L.A., the man frozen to death, the fake prison experiment, now a man trapped and crushed to death. Not to mention Rachel being kidnapped for 12 years. I can dig it though. This was weaker than last week's, but not bad.
The weight of the world
Falls down unto my shoulders
I'm such a cliche
Falls down unto my shoulders
I'm such a cliche
King of the Hill, "Square-Footed Monster": Good to know someone else hates McMansions. Also, I liked the political incorrectness of this one: group of white southerners band together to kick out their new Asian neighbor, and uphold their conformist way of life as "good old-fashioned values". Good for them? (No haiku)
Family Guy, "Road to Germany": The animation seemed a lot better than your average FG; too bad thestory wasn't. Once again, to my Family Guy-writer audience: just because something was in a movie, doesn't mean you have to copy it. A movie reference, especially a visual one (their were many in this one) is a (playful or biting) dig at a movie, or a clever twist on an old idea, or an extra layer to another joke, not a joke itself. The joke becomes "hey, look how much this scene is similar to another scene," which is funny maybe once, and every other time maken you look derivative and lame. (No haiku)
American Dad, "One Little Word": Even the title is derivative of earlier episodes. Tying in with the Family Guy discussion, even though this was a "sequel" of sorts to "Four Little Words," it did more repeating the same plot points of that episode than playing off it in a meaningful way. They could have shown how Stan has changed in the time between, or used it to point out how he's exactly the same, instead of taking one idea ("Like many of today's conservatives, Stan puts more value on words than on meanings") and running it into the ground. Plus the Roger stuff was dumb. We just had the "Roger acts childish" and a "Roger invests too much into his personas" episodes, so this one became repetitive on two fronts.
The Simpsons, "Double, Double, Boy in Trouble": I don't know. I thought this was funny, but like last week, it felt like more of a pitch for a story than an actual story. And as someone (not me) pointed out, why does Bart go from brat in the first act to wuss in the second? He should have used his powers as prince of prankdom to prank the punk prats. With style. Plus a trip to Aspen for no reason. Like Family Guy, the animation was noticably better here than it often is. Too bad the writing wasn't. (No haiku)
Mad Men, "The Mountain King": A weird one, here. Lots of time jumps and unexpectedness. I'm gonna do a full review next week, for the finale, is why I have so little to say/ haikuize now.
The Sarah Silverman Program, "Making New Friends": I can't adequately explain why I find this show funny. Maybe I'll be able to by next week. (No haiku)
Saturday Night Live, "Josh Brolin/ Adele": Same old lame old SNL. Took me all weekend to watch this one in bits and pieces, so I don't remember much about this one. But kudos to Sarah Palin, Mark Walhberg, Alec Baldwin, and Gregg Allman for showing up to play themselves. Quick Musical Guest Review: She's a good singer, but the songs are literally forgettable, as in I couldn't remember either by the end of the commercial break.
It's a routine thing
Just move along, everyone
Nothing to see here
Just move along, everyone
Nothing to see here
Tomorrow (I hope)
Chuck, "Chuck vs. The Cougars"
Heroes, "Dying of the Light"
How I Met Your Mother, "Shelter Island"
I've seen them all, but it's midnight and this post is long enough.
Chuck, "Chuck vs. The Cougars"
Heroes, "Dying of the Light"
How I Met Your Mother, "Shelter Island"
I've seen them all, but it's midnight and this post is long enough.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Liveblogging Rock Band 2: The Legend of Curly's Gold
And we're back! Did you miss me? We should be back on schedule now. For shizzle.
12:06 PM, Sunday: OK, so I was one of those people who bought Rock Band 2 (a game that's been out for over a month) in its Special Edition um, edition, at midnight last night. I'm the first person in town to get me one (there was someone ahead of me, but I checked out first. Arbitrary distinctions FTW!).
I can't think of any reviews that capture the experience of playing a game, and Rock Band has lots of load screens, and we're starved for content, and I didn't want to wait till I was done to review it, so I was all "hey I'ma do a liveblog." My inner monologue speaks in hilariously dated Ebonics.
First things first: the equipment. Well, the box. It's packaged way better than the Queen Mary-sized (the boat, not the bar) box the first came in-- everything's in one big box instead of three, and you need to cut maybe four pieces of tape, not a [metaphor for large amount of tape].
The microphone is almost identical to RB1's. It's not wireless, though I think the cord is longer. There's still no buttons. It still says "Rock Band" on it in that weird-asst font. The doodad near the base is smaller, but I can't even remember what that's called. I haven't used it yet, so it may or may not work better than the original.
The guitar is pretty much the same as Plasticaster V1, except where the cord was, is the button to wirelessly connect (note: press this button immediately when loading. I pressed the XBox Guide Button for 20 minutes before I got this and the drums connected). I haven't used this one either, but just holding it and pushing the buttons feels a little better than the old one.
I have used the drums, for about two hours (I was up till 3:45). They're way better. They're easier to use: I was getting high four-star ratings on some songs that weren't harder than those I got threestars in 1 (tell me you understood that. I'm trying to say I did better with these than the old ones). I didn't wear out on longer songs (which is why I never got past "Green Grass and Endless Guitar Solo" on medium). They're quieter, too, as I didn't wake up anyone else playing at 3:00.
I played maybe six songs, but I spent a lot of time in the (awesome) drum trainer mode. There's not much to it, but it has a Zen-like purity that reminds me of Tetris, with all these red and yellow blocks falling towards you.
One more thing, since I've spent half an hour writing and zero seconds playing today: does anyone know how I import my guy from Rock Band Numero One-o? He had a cool hat and more money than my current guy.
12:37: Wikipedia says importing is a no-no. (Sighs deeply). I guess this no guy will have to do.
12:43: Apparently, the disc is unreadable, despite looking better than literally every disc I've ever Netflix'd.
Fender Warmups (Guitar, expert): "Float On" is surprisingly tricky (far from hard, though). Something about the chords. "Today" is one of the few songs I can almost play on a real guitar. It's an early standout of the (two) songs I've played so far, and pretty fun for such an easy song (though I still think they should have went with "Bullet With Butterfly Wings". I haven't heard of "New Kid in School" before, and it's not love at first listen, but it's a good selection on guitar, mixing chord-bashing and fast single-note runs. It's easy with a challenging solo, which gives you something to replay it for. Plus, the shaved-head, shirtless lead singer of my band with a girl's voice? Never gets old.
I four-starred two of these songs, which rarely happens on expert. Am I getting better or is the game getting easier?
Bass Apprentice (Bass, Expert): Die-hard readers know how much better bass is than guitar. Let's put that to the test. "Round and Round" isn't the worst hair-metal song ever, but it's still a hair metal song. Plus, it's one of those songs where you play the green note 8 times, then the red note 8 time, then the yellow, ad nauseam. "Hungry Like the Wolf" isn't really any less cheesy than "Round and Round," but it's the fun kind of cheese, and you play more than one note. "Pump it Up" and "We Got the Beat" are actually fun in a non-cheesy way, though a lot harder than the first two.
Why was this set all 80's pop-rock? Only God knows.
Lunch Break
2:07 PM: And we're back! Um, again.
Make a Setlist: "E-Pro" and "Drain You" (Vocals, Hard): It's not exactly hard to sing like Beck, but then "E-Pro" throws in the na-na-na... chorus, which I have to mess up my throat to do right. I've heard that "Drain You" was Kurt Cobain's favorite Nirvana song, and I can see why. Gameplaywise, it's way easier than "In Bloom" was in the last game. I could barely finish "In Bloom" on Hard (and can't on Expert), but I got five stars on "Drain You." It might be a bit too easy, actually. I typed some of this post during the solo (without pausing), and came back in too late, but still, 5 stars.
Hey, does "Vox" rhyme with "Ox" or "Oaks"?
Boston, Wicked Awesome Local Setlist (Vocals, Hard): Norman Greenbaum is from Boston? Anyway, first song, "Spirit in the Sky," is something of a 70's rock cliche (pretend the accent mark is there), but it's a nice, mellow, easy-to-sing song, and there's nothing wrong with that, especially this early in the game. Plus, lots of tambourine. I could have swore Dinosaur Jr. wasn't Bostonese, either. I suspect most people have never heard "Feel the Pain" (I hadn't) before playing it, which makes it harder than it actually is (especially for singers). Plus it's a great song. "Where'd You Go?" is the first song I've failed so far. Second time through, I sang "ah-ah" to the pitch and got four stars. Not a good sign.
Battle of the Vans (Vocals, Hard): I hate "Nine In the Afternoon." I hate its pretentious lyrics. I hate its winking, plasticky fakeness. I hate those claps at the end. I hate it on a train. I hate it on a plane. I hate that I knew the words before playing it in the game. I hate that it's a big hit and "Fell the Pain" is an obscurity. I hate that it somehow takes itsself too seriously and not seriously enough. Compare it to "Eye of the Tiger." Even Survivor doesn't take the song seriously; remember that coffee commercial? Both songs are moderately hard, gameplaywise, though "Eye of the Tiger" is just above my range giving me a sore throat. Plus I feel the need to shout when singing it. Also, the new mic is really sensitive. I kid you not, it's picking up the sound of my typing. You migt have already guessed that I like "Today." It's one of those songs where the verse or chorus are completely different, and it takes you through a lot of different styles (whispery falsetto in the early verses, loud choruses, long sustained notes nearer the end).
On to New York! E-Pro again. Weirdly, I fail this time. How come my band is different every show?
"Hello There" by Cheap Trick (Vocals, Hard): The annoying song that plays when you start up the game. It's surprisingly fun to shout your way through, and mercifully short, so it's not all bad.
3:34: [Switches to Drums] [There were noise complaints]
Nine in the Afternoon (Drums, Medium): Nothing special to report. Almost got 5 stars.
Make-a-Setlist: "I Was Wrong" and "So What'cha Want" (Drums, Hard): Warning! "So What'Cha Want' is the same beat through the whole song. Lame. "I Was Wrong" is all right, though kind of easy.
Simple Mystery Setlist (New York, Ramp Arts; Drums, Medium): "Pretend We're Dead" is strange. It's one of few songs to use a drum riff, and it's the first Big Rock Ending I've had so far. Not sure if I like it. "That's What You Get" isn't as bad as, say, "Nine in the Afternoon" but its still lame. It's not, as it claims to be, "power pop". It's just pop. "One Step Closer" is equally stupid, but I'm going easy on it since I got five stars. It reminds me of "Fat Lip" way, way back in the first Guitar Hero, another dumb song that was a lot of fun to play. Plus, another gender-reversed singer.
NYC-- I Heart Local Artists (Drums, Medium):
"So What'Cha Want" again. Makes sense. On Medium, it lacks the offbeat bass drum that made it such a pain on Hard. Otherwise, they're identical.
"PDA" is one of the songs I played yesterday, and (surprise!) it's exactly the same as then: a little too easy. I could have gone to the bathroom and come back ducring the drum-free part (ont that that's a bad thing). Also I thought Interpol was (were? are? be?) British. Guess not.
"One Way or Another" would have been a good choice to include whether it was fun to play or not. It's one of the few songs alternative, pop, and classic rock fans can all agree on (sorry, metalheads). And it has a female singer. It acttually is fun to play, but on Medium it was too easy to hear the notes I wasn't playing (i.e. the ones you only play on Hard and Expert).
"Psycho Killer"? Oh, I wish I'd done singing instead. I jest: this is a good one to just bash through, without thinking too much (like a real drummer!). Said bashing resulted in my first dropped (thrown, really) drumstick.
Montrealward Ho!
Simple Mystery Setlist (Drums, Medium): I have nothing new to say about "Hungry Like the Wolf," only that I think it's going to be stuck in my head all week, and I suspect I'm not the only one. "Man in the Box," or as I like to call it, everyone's third-favorite Alice In Chains song, sounds... different? It's the vocals. It's a master, but maybe it's remixed? Maybe because I always sing over it, I don't know.
Rebel Girl by Bikini Kill (Drums, Hard): Failed
Rebel Girl by Bikini Kill (Drums, Medium): That's more like it. On Medium, this is like the easiest song ever. Nothing else to say have I.
Cool for Cats by Squeeze (Drums, Medium): A drum solo! All my prayers have been answered!
Bus or Bust Competition (Drums, Medium): "Drain You"! I played it last night, and both times it was fun and challenging without being difficult. "Hello There" remains just short enough to not be annoying. We'll see if it stays that way on the hundredth playthrough.
Crap. "Living on a Prayer" made it into this game. At least on drums I don't have to play that stupid guitar "riff' (it's not music, it's a special effect! It's like the Michael Bay of guitar riffs) or sing the awkward, clich(e with accent)-riddled lyrics.
I won a bus!
Montreal-- Canada's Local Artists, Eh? (Drums, Medium): Don't let me down, Canada.
"American Woman". Ah, yes, I remember that old Lenny Kravitz classic. We used to listen-- what's this now? The Guess Who? Where the [expletive] is Winnipeg? Whatever.
I knew it would be Alanis. What else is there in Canada? And they needed to include a few songs people have heard of. Despite my rock snobbery, "You Oughta Know" is actually a pretty good song, in hindsight, and whatever underpaid session drummer recorded it gave me something good to play along to.
I called Rush, too. Love them or hate them, Rush is kind of the perfect band for this game, and "The Trees" is Rush at their best: silly but meaningful lyrics, other qualities, and a drum solo! Wooooooo! Drum Solo!
"We Got the Beat" (Drums, Hard): Failed. Never accept the film student challenge, readers.
"Lump", by PotUSA (that's an acronym, folks; Drums, Hard): Failed
"Lump" (Drums, Easy): I hit Easy on accident, trying to hit Medium. Not surprisingly, Easy is easy-- I got 5 stars without trying.
"Give It Away" (Drums, Medium): This isn't really a "drum" song, and it's still totes funs (as the kids say). Except I felt weird playing it with my shirt on.
Sweaty's BBQ Mystery Setlist (Drums, Medium): "The Middle" (the one by Jimmy Eat World-- I think there's a lot of songs with that name) is too hard. I only got four stars! "Pinball Wizard," on the other hand, must be too easy, because I finished the whole thing. Double standards are fun!
Go Your Own Way (Drums, Medium): Paramor, or however you guys mispell your name? This is Power Pop. Not whatever it is you people do.
Dinner Break
Make A Setlist: "De-Luxe" and "Shooting Star" (Drums, Medium): Not much to say about "De-Luxe." I think it's the first 6/8 time song in the game, but I might be full of crap. I'm grateful for the fadeout ending, so I could type and play at the same time.
With "Shooting Star," we get the obligatory song about rock stardom. It's the third Big Rock Ending, after "Pretend We're Dead" and "The Trees", so far (does that number seem low to you guys?). It's also way too long, at more than 6 minutes--I almost missed King of the Hill.
It's 7:40 PM, and I'm done playing and equally done blogging.
12:06 PM, Sunday: OK, so I was one of those people who bought Rock Band 2 (a game that's been out for over a month) in its Special Edition um, edition, at midnight last night. I'm the first person in town to get me one (there was someone ahead of me, but I checked out first. Arbitrary distinctions FTW!).
I can't think of any reviews that capture the experience of playing a game, and Rock Band has lots of load screens, and we're starved for content, and I didn't want to wait till I was done to review it, so I was all "hey I'ma do a liveblog." My inner monologue speaks in hilariously dated Ebonics.
First things first: the equipment. Well, the box. It's packaged way better than the Queen Mary-sized (the boat, not the bar) box the first came in-- everything's in one big box instead of three, and you need to cut maybe four pieces of tape, not a [metaphor for large amount of tape].
The microphone is almost identical to RB1's. It's not wireless, though I think the cord is longer. There's still no buttons. It still says "Rock Band" on it in that weird-asst font. The doodad near the base is smaller, but I can't even remember what that's called. I haven't used it yet, so it may or may not work better than the original.
The guitar is pretty much the same as Plasticaster V1, except where the cord was, is the button to wirelessly connect (note: press this button immediately when loading. I pressed the XBox Guide Button for 20 minutes before I got this and the drums connected). I haven't used this one either, but just holding it and pushing the buttons feels a little better than the old one.
I have used the drums, for about two hours (I was up till 3:45). They're way better. They're easier to use: I was getting high four-star ratings on some songs that weren't harder than those I got threestars in 1 (tell me you understood that. I'm trying to say I did better with these than the old ones). I didn't wear out on longer songs (which is why I never got past "Green Grass and Endless Guitar Solo" on medium). They're quieter, too, as I didn't wake up anyone else playing at 3:00.
I played maybe six songs, but I spent a lot of time in the (awesome) drum trainer mode. There's not much to it, but it has a Zen-like purity that reminds me of Tetris, with all these red and yellow blocks falling towards you.
One more thing, since I've spent half an hour writing and zero seconds playing today: does anyone know how I import my guy from Rock Band Numero One-o? He had a cool hat and more money than my current guy.
12:37: Wikipedia says importing is a no-no. (Sighs deeply). I guess this no guy will have to do.
12:43: Apparently, the disc is unreadable, despite looking better than literally every disc I've ever Netflix'd.
Fender Warmups (Guitar, expert): "Float On" is surprisingly tricky (far from hard, though). Something about the chords. "Today" is one of the few songs I can almost play on a real guitar. It's an early standout of the (two) songs I've played so far, and pretty fun for such an easy song (though I still think they should have went with "Bullet With Butterfly Wings". I haven't heard of "New Kid in School" before, and it's not love at first listen, but it's a good selection on guitar, mixing chord-bashing and fast single-note runs. It's easy with a challenging solo, which gives you something to replay it for. Plus, the shaved-head, shirtless lead singer of my band with a girl's voice? Never gets old.
I four-starred two of these songs, which rarely happens on expert. Am I getting better or is the game getting easier?
Bass Apprentice (Bass, Expert): Die-hard readers know how much better bass is than guitar. Let's put that to the test. "Round and Round" isn't the worst hair-metal song ever, but it's still a hair metal song. Plus, it's one of those songs where you play the green note 8 times, then the red note 8 time, then the yellow, ad nauseam. "Hungry Like the Wolf" isn't really any less cheesy than "Round and Round," but it's the fun kind of cheese, and you play more than one note. "Pump it Up" and "We Got the Beat" are actually fun in a non-cheesy way, though a lot harder than the first two.
Why was this set all 80's pop-rock? Only God knows.
Lunch Break
2:07 PM: And we're back! Um, again.
Make a Setlist: "E-Pro" and "Drain You" (Vocals, Hard): It's not exactly hard to sing like Beck, but then "E-Pro" throws in the na-na-na... chorus, which I have to mess up my throat to do right. I've heard that "Drain You" was Kurt Cobain's favorite Nirvana song, and I can see why. Gameplaywise, it's way easier than "In Bloom" was in the last game. I could barely finish "In Bloom" on Hard (and can't on Expert), but I got five stars on "Drain You." It might be a bit too easy, actually. I typed some of this post during the solo (without pausing), and came back in too late, but still, 5 stars.
Hey, does "Vox" rhyme with "Ox" or "Oaks"?
Boston, Wicked Awesome Local Setlist (Vocals, Hard): Norman Greenbaum is from Boston? Anyway, first song, "Spirit in the Sky," is something of a 70's rock cliche (pretend the accent mark is there), but it's a nice, mellow, easy-to-sing song, and there's nothing wrong with that, especially this early in the game. Plus, lots of tambourine. I could have swore Dinosaur Jr. wasn't Bostonese, either. I suspect most people have never heard "Feel the Pain" (I hadn't) before playing it, which makes it harder than it actually is (especially for singers). Plus it's a great song. "Where'd You Go?" is the first song I've failed so far. Second time through, I sang "ah-ah" to the pitch and got four stars. Not a good sign.
Battle of the Vans (Vocals, Hard): I hate "Nine In the Afternoon." I hate its pretentious lyrics. I hate its winking, plasticky fakeness. I hate those claps at the end. I hate it on a train. I hate it on a plane. I hate that I knew the words before playing it in the game. I hate that it's a big hit and "Fell the Pain" is an obscurity. I hate that it somehow takes itsself too seriously and not seriously enough. Compare it to "Eye of the Tiger." Even Survivor doesn't take the song seriously; remember that coffee commercial? Both songs are moderately hard, gameplaywise, though "Eye of the Tiger" is just above my range giving me a sore throat. Plus I feel the need to shout when singing it. Also, the new mic is really sensitive. I kid you not, it's picking up the sound of my typing. You migt have already guessed that I like "Today." It's one of those songs where the verse or chorus are completely different, and it takes you through a lot of different styles (whispery falsetto in the early verses, loud choruses, long sustained notes nearer the end).
On to New York! E-Pro again. Weirdly, I fail this time. How come my band is different every show?
"Hello There" by Cheap Trick (Vocals, Hard): The annoying song that plays when you start up the game. It's surprisingly fun to shout your way through, and mercifully short, so it's not all bad.
3:34: [Switches to Drums] [There were noise complaints]
Nine in the Afternoon (Drums, Medium): Nothing special to report. Almost got 5 stars.
Make-a-Setlist: "I Was Wrong" and "So What'cha Want" (Drums, Hard): Warning! "So What'Cha Want' is the same beat through the whole song. Lame. "I Was Wrong" is all right, though kind of easy.
Simple Mystery Setlist (New York, Ramp Arts; Drums, Medium): "Pretend We're Dead" is strange. It's one of few songs to use a drum riff, and it's the first Big Rock Ending I've had so far. Not sure if I like it. "That's What You Get" isn't as bad as, say, "Nine in the Afternoon" but its still lame. It's not, as it claims to be, "power pop". It's just pop. "One Step Closer" is equally stupid, but I'm going easy on it since I got five stars. It reminds me of "Fat Lip" way, way back in the first Guitar Hero, another dumb song that was a lot of fun to play. Plus, another gender-reversed singer.
NYC-- I Heart Local Artists (Drums, Medium):
"So What'Cha Want" again. Makes sense. On Medium, it lacks the offbeat bass drum that made it such a pain on Hard. Otherwise, they're identical.
"PDA" is one of the songs I played yesterday, and (surprise!) it's exactly the same as then: a little too easy. I could have gone to the bathroom and come back ducring the drum-free part (ont that that's a bad thing). Also I thought Interpol was (were? are? be?) British. Guess not.
"One Way or Another" would have been a good choice to include whether it was fun to play or not. It's one of the few songs alternative, pop, and classic rock fans can all agree on (sorry, metalheads). And it has a female singer. It acttually is fun to play, but on Medium it was too easy to hear the notes I wasn't playing (i.e. the ones you only play on Hard and Expert).
"Psycho Killer"? Oh, I wish I'd done singing instead. I jest: this is a good one to just bash through, without thinking too much (like a real drummer!). Said bashing resulted in my first dropped (thrown, really) drumstick.
Montrealward Ho!
Simple Mystery Setlist (Drums, Medium): I have nothing new to say about "Hungry Like the Wolf," only that I think it's going to be stuck in my head all week, and I suspect I'm not the only one. "Man in the Box," or as I like to call it, everyone's third-favorite Alice In Chains song, sounds... different? It's the vocals. It's a master, but maybe it's remixed? Maybe because I always sing over it, I don't know.
Rebel Girl by Bikini Kill (Drums, Hard): Failed
Rebel Girl by Bikini Kill (Drums, Medium): That's more like it. On Medium, this is like the easiest song ever. Nothing else to say have I.
Cool for Cats by Squeeze (Drums, Medium): A drum solo! All my prayers have been answered!
Bus or Bust Competition (Drums, Medium): "Drain You"! I played it last night, and both times it was fun and challenging without being difficult. "Hello There" remains just short enough to not be annoying. We'll see if it stays that way on the hundredth playthrough.
Crap. "Living on a Prayer" made it into this game. At least on drums I don't have to play that stupid guitar "riff' (it's not music, it's a special effect! It's like the Michael Bay of guitar riffs) or sing the awkward, clich(e with accent)-riddled lyrics.
I won a bus!
Montreal-- Canada's Local Artists, Eh? (Drums, Medium): Don't let me down, Canada.
"American Woman". Ah, yes, I remember that old Lenny Kravitz classic. We used to listen-- what's this now? The Guess Who? Where the [expletive] is Winnipeg? Whatever.
I knew it would be Alanis. What else is there in Canada? And they needed to include a few songs people have heard of. Despite my rock snobbery, "You Oughta Know" is actually a pretty good song, in hindsight, and whatever underpaid session drummer recorded it gave me something good to play along to.
I called Rush, too. Love them or hate them, Rush is kind of the perfect band for this game, and "The Trees" is Rush at their best: silly but meaningful lyrics, other qualities, and a drum solo! Wooooooo! Drum Solo!
"We Got the Beat" (Drums, Hard): Failed. Never accept the film student challenge, readers.
"Lump", by PotUSA (that's an acronym, folks; Drums, Hard): Failed
"Lump" (Drums, Easy): I hit Easy on accident, trying to hit Medium. Not surprisingly, Easy is easy-- I got 5 stars without trying.
"Give It Away" (Drums, Medium): This isn't really a "drum" song, and it's still totes funs (as the kids say). Except I felt weird playing it with my shirt on.
Sweaty's BBQ Mystery Setlist (Drums, Medium): "The Middle" (the one by Jimmy Eat World-- I think there's a lot of songs with that name) is too hard. I only got four stars! "Pinball Wizard," on the other hand, must be too easy, because I finished the whole thing. Double standards are fun!
Go Your Own Way (Drums, Medium): Paramor, or however you guys mispell your name? This is Power Pop. Not whatever it is you people do.
Dinner Break
Make A Setlist: "De-Luxe" and "Shooting Star" (Drums, Medium): Not much to say about "De-Luxe." I think it's the first 6/8 time song in the game, but I might be full of crap. I'm grateful for the fadeout ending, so I could type and play at the same time.
With "Shooting Star," we get the obligatory song about rock stardom. It's the third Big Rock Ending, after "Pretend We're Dead" and "The Trees", so far (does that number seem low to you guys?). It's also way too long, at more than 6 minutes--I almost missed King of the Hill.
It's 7:40 PM, and I'm done playing and equally done blogging.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Details to follow...
UPDATE, 10/30: A full two weeks later, here they are:
My first song was an experiment in recording vocals, and my second an experiment in recording instruments. This, my third, is an experiment in mixology. I call it "Mixology". There are eleven tracks, none of which have anything to do with each other.
They are:
1. The bassline from a song I'm about halfway through writing.
2. Random guitar power chords.
3. My heavily processed scream.
4. A kind of cool guitar part I came up with on the spot, and then looped so it fits the length of the song.
5. The part of the Netflix envelope you throw away.
6, 7, 8. The acoustic guitar intro to another song-in-progress, cut in three and then layered over each other.
9. One of Garageband's built-in synth drum kits, with me just making random noises on them.
10. Me shouting. I hate writing lyrics, so the only ones this song has are "one, two, three, four and..."
11. Synth-piano line for another unfinished song
I recorded (or copy-pasted) each track with the all others muted, so my only guide was to look at the Garageband interface as I went along. I wanted to see if a bunch of random sounds would fit together as music. To my surprise, they kind of do.
DOWNLOADABLE VERSION:
Rerelease Notes: This one's the same.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Regular Broadcasts will resume shortly...
I'm, how you say, knee-deep in the shit right now, so I haven't been able to post regularly. All you Infinite-junkies can expect posts longer than six words to start up again tomorrow or Friday, possibly at an accelerated (two-a-day?) rate. Until I get a real job.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
My SIx-Word Review...
...of the Streamable-from-Netflix just-viewed Sarah Silverman: Jesus Is Magic:
You know what? Nazis are bad.
You know what? Nazis are bad.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
One more Haiku: Life: Not for Nothing
"Professor Warden...
Mr. Professor Warden"
"Please don't call me that."
Mr. Professor Warden"
"Please don't call me that."
Friday, October 10, 2008
More TV! More More More!
More TV Haikus
Have arrived. Good or bad news?
I'll let you decide.
Have arrived. Good or bad news?
I'll let you decide.
I give it an A.
(A+, if you're into those ).
I can't explain why.
(A+, if you're into those ).
I can't explain why.
South Park: "The China Probrem"
I can't not say it:
"Oh my God, they raped Indy!"
Otherwise lame ep.
"Oh my God, they raped Indy!"
Otherwise lame ep.
The Sarah Silverman Program: "High, It's Sarah"
Are pot jokes funny
If you're not high?-- Common question.
SSP says yes.
If you're not high?-- Common question.
SSP says yes.
My Name is Earl: "Sweet Johnny"
I'll admit right now
I've never seen Groundhog Day.
How did this compare?
I've never seen Groundhog Day.
How did this compare?
The Office: "Business Ethics"
Another home run.
"You can’t set them up like that";
"The bread is poisoned."
"You can’t set them up like that";
"The bread is poisoned."
Saturday Night Live: "Weekend Update Thursday"
Only two sketches
But the debate one weren't great
Update was OK.
But the debate one weren't great
Update was OK.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: "Who Pooped the Bed"
Good Dee episode.
Maybe best since "Gas Crisis"
"I did 'em all"-- Frank
Maybe best since "Gas Crisis"
"I did 'em all"-- Frank
Life: "The Business of Miracles"
Charlie drops acid!
But it's not what you would think.
Well, not exactly.
But it's not what you would think.
Well, not exactly.
Chuck: "Chuck Versus The Seduction"
My favorite quote:
"How can you seduce someone
Without alcohol?"
"How can you seduce someone
Without alcohol?"
Friday Night Lights: "Tami Knows Best"
No murders so far.
But nothing super-awesome.
Not yet, anyway.
But nothing super-awesome.
Not yet, anyway.
Farewell and goodnight.
I'm off to drink Gatorade.
And watch a movie.
I'm off to drink Gatorade.
And watch a movie.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Song of the Week! Song of the Week! Song of the Week!
It's that time again, people.
This week's Song of the Week this week is a complex instrumental piece based on Bach's 5th and Michelangelo's Pieta. It was composed longhand, carved into pieces of wood I found on the ground while living in the woods outside of Walden pond, and performed on three Moog synthesizers, on in each hand and the other played with my left foot (I used my right to control the Computer).
Just kidding! It's a bass solo. Well, a bass duet, because there's a second track of me playing the same note (open E, of course) at the same tempo for a minute and a half. The main track is slap bass played very fast, loosely based around a scale I made up as I went along. I call it the Halfassian scale. It's improvised, because (as you may have guessed) I don't plan ahead or do second takes.
This is where I again remind you that I can do something better, I just didn't feel like it. Maybe next week.
It'll be up soon. I'm having internet problems.
This week's Song of the Week this week is a complex instrumental piece based on Bach's 5th and Michelangelo's Pieta. It was composed longhand, carved into pieces of wood I found on the ground while living in the woods outside of Walden pond, and performed on three Moog synthesizers, on in each hand and the other played with my left foot (I used my right to control the Computer).
Just kidding! It's a bass solo. Well, a bass duet, because there's a second track of me playing the same note (open E, of course) at the same tempo for a minute and a half. The main track is slap bass played very fast, loosely based around a scale I made up as I went along. I call it the Halfassian scale. It's improvised, because (as you may have guessed) I don't plan ahead or do second takes.
This is where I again remind you that I can do something better, I just didn't feel like it. Maybe next week.
It'll be up soon. I'm having internet problems.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Promised mega post! It's finally done, people! Can you believe it!
(this is the ever-lengthening, thrice-delayed mega-long post. And no, it's not worth it.)
My TV haikus
Of every show I watched
( fall season only).
Beware it, my friends:
Start reading, you may not stop
Talking in haiku.
With that considered
Know what I don't count-- three things:
Reruns, News, Fragments
Had HBO for two days.
Don't really miss it.
P.S.: I've put them
Chronologically (ish)
Is that okay, y'all?
Fringe: "The Same Old Story" (9-16)
House: "Dying Changes Everything"(9-16)
Life: "Find Your Happy Place" (Debuted on Internet 9-22, First TV airing 9-29)
How I Met Your Mother: "Do I Know You" (9-22)
Fringe: "The Ghost Network"(9-23)
How I Met Your Mother: "The Best Burger In New York" (9-29)
Fringe: "The Arrival" (9-30)
(Note: where I live, "trials" really is one syllable)
Pushing Daisies: "Bzzzzzzzzz!"(10-1)
Friday Night Lights: "I Knew You When" (10-1)
My Name Is Earl: "Joy in A Bubble" and "Stole an RV" (Both aired 10-2)
Still no brilliance yet
We need a good Randy ep.
C'mon, Hollywood!
I d.q.'d some shows
Like Mad Men or Dethklok show
For starting too soon.
This feature's being
Made frequenter (daily posts?).
They won't be this long.
Of every show I watched
( fall season only).
Beware it, my friends:
Start reading, you may not stop
Talking in haiku.
With that considered
Know what I don't count-- three things:
Reruns, News, Fragments
True Blood: "Strange Love" (Aired 9-7)
Forgot I'd watched this.Had HBO for two days.
Don't really miss it.
P.S.: I've put them
Chronologically (ish)
Is that okay, y'all?
Fringe: "Pilot" (9-9)
I liked-- loved-- the cow.
But the show? I'm not so sure.
But the show? I'm not so sure.
Nowhere near Lost yet
SNL: "Michael Phelps/ Lil Wayne" (9-13)
Phelps is no Manning
Athlete hosts: always risky
Who cares, Tina Fey!
Athlete hosts: always risky
Who cares, Tina Fey!
Fringe: "The Same Old Story" (9-16)
Fringe: X-Files ripoff,
Buffy and Angel ripoff,
Or more Twilight Zone?
Buffy and Angel ripoff,
Or more Twilight Zone?
House: "Dying Changes Everything"(9-16)
House versus Wilson,
Medicine-y things happened
The patient lived (?)
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia: "Mac and Dennis: Manhunters" and "The Gang Solves the Gas Crisis" (Both aired 9-18)
Chuck: "Chuck Versus the First Date"(Debuted on Internet 9-22, First TV airing 9-29)Medicine-y things happened
The patient lived (?)
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia: "Mac and Dennis: Manhunters" and "The Gang Solves the Gas Crisis" (Both aired 9-18)
Both of these titles
Are seventeen syllables
Perfect haiku length
Actual review:
First funny; Second more so.
"Wild card, bitches!" (jumps)
Are seventeen syllables
Perfect haiku length
Actual review:
First funny; Second more so.
"Wild card, bitches!" (jumps)
SNL: "James Franco/ Kings of Leon" (9-20)
(Yawns) Forgetable.
(Yawns) Nothing to blog about.
(Yawns) Watch Freaks and Geeks.
(Yawns) Nothing to blog about.
(Yawns) Watch Freaks and Geeks.
Nerd spy dude uses
Call of Duty to save world.
Hey, it could happen!
Call of Duty to save world.
Hey, it could happen!
Life: "Find Your Happy Place" (Debuted on Internet 9-22, First TV airing 9-29)
Cop goes to prison,
Is released, rejoins the force.
This week's case: boxes.
Is released, rejoins the force.
This week's case: boxes.
How I Met Your Mother: "Do I Know You" (9-22)
The last good sitcom
Hits the ground walking. Oh well.
We'll see how it goes.
Hits the ground walking. Oh well.
We'll see how it goes.
Heroes: "The Second Coming", "The Butterfly Effect"(Both aired 9-22)
This show must be bad
If this is considered good.
The song is better.
At this point I watch
More for the coming train wreck
Than the storylines.
If this is considered good.
The song is better.
At this point I watch
More for the coming train wreck
Than the storylines.
Fringe: "The Ghost Network"(9-23)
Boring, boring, bor-
ing, boring, forgetable.
Better than last week.
ing, boring, forgetable.
Better than last week.
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia: "America's Next Top Paddy's Billboard Model Contest" (9-25)
and "Mac's Banging the Waitress" (Also aired 9-25)
Weaker than last week
But still pretty danged funny
No good quotes though
But still pretty danged funny
No good quotes though
and "Mac's Banging the Waitress" (Also aired 9-25)
Recalls Season 2's
"Mac Bangs Dennis' Mom," except
Where were Dee and Frank?
"Mac Bangs Dennis' Mom," except
Where were Dee and Frank?
The Office: "Weight Loss" (9-25)
The Simpsons: "Sex, Pies and Idiot-Scrapes" (9-28)
King of the Hill: "Dia-Bill-ic Shock" (9-28)
Family Guy: "Love Blactually"(9-28)
American Dad!: "1600 Candles" (9-28)
Innovative, smart
clever, funny. This is what
All TV should be.
SNL: "Anna Faris/ Duffy" (9-27)clever, funny. This is what
All TV should be.
Could have been better
Moving along, what's a Duffy?
Nevermind, don't care
Moving along, what's a Duffy?
Nevermind, don't care
The Simpsons: "Sex, Pies and Idiot-Scrapes" (9-28)
God, what a dumb pun.
Homer and Ned: pretty fun
Marge story was not.
Homer and Ned: pretty fun
Marge story was not.
King of the Hill: "Dia-Bill-ic Shock" (9-28)
Another dumb pun.
Otherwise good episode
(I'm so insightful).
Otherwise good episode
(I'm so insightful).
Family Guy: "Love Blactually"(9-28)
I really forgot
What happened in this half-hour
Not a good sign, folks.
What happened in this half-hour
Not a good sign, folks.
American Dad!: "1600 Candles" (9-28)
Underrated show--
or the most underrated
Show?- Steven Colbert
or the most underrated
Show?- Steven Colbert
How I Met Your Mother: "The Best Burger In New York" (9-29)
This one I did like.
Because what other shows would
say "burger" this much?
Heroes: "One of Us, One of Them" (9-29)Because what other shows would
say "burger" this much?
And here's that train wreck
Sylar good? That's not a twist,
Sylar good? That's not a twist,
that's the Gordian.
Fringe: "The Arrival" (9-30)
Do we all agree
No-eyebrows-not-Michael-Stipe
Is an alien?
House: "Adverse Events" (9-30)No-eyebrows-not-Michael-Stipe
Is an alien?
Grossest case ever;
I'll never enter drug trials.
Lucas B-story.
I'll never enter drug trials.
Lucas B-story.
(Note: where I live, "trials" really is one syllable)
Pushing Daisies: "Bzzzzzzzzz!"(10-1)
I'm missing an ep.
To finish this post. Must add:
"Best title ever"
To finish this post. Must add:
"Best title ever"
Friday Night Lights: "I Knew You When" (10-1)
If you've seen this show
And you still don't love it, sir,
There's something wrong with you
And you still don't love it, sir,
There's something wrong with you
My Name Is Earl: "Joy in A Bubble" and "Stole an RV" (Both aired 10-2)
Still no brilliance yet
We need a good Randy ep.
C'mon, Hollywood!
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia: "Mac and Charlie Die, pts. 1 and 2" (Both aired 10-2)
Life: "Everything...All the Time" (10-3)
SNL: "Anne Hathaway/ The Killers" (10-4)
The Simpsons: "Lost Verizon" (10-5)
Cons: Hit-and miss. Long.
Jokes were weak. Pros: "The Shadow".
My grade: A-
Jokes were weak. Pros: "The Shadow".
My grade: A-
Life: "Everything...All the Time" (10-3)
The case-- confusing
Not an good as "Happy Place"
Fluke, or bad omen?
Not an good as "Happy Place"
Fluke, or bad omen?
SNL: "Anne Hathaway/ The Killers" (10-4)
Funny SNL!?
Brandon Flowers has freak face--
Homeboy creeped me out.
Brandon Flowers has freak face--
Homeboy creeped me out.
The Simpsons: "Lost Verizon" (10-5)
Bart gets a cell phone!
Hijinks ensue! Big guest star!
'Twas a "good" one (sighs).
Hijinks ensue! Big guest star!
'Twas a "good" one (sighs).
King of the Hill: "Earthly Girls Are Easy" (10-5)
Felt like a South Park
With all the politicking
Hey, South Park's on now!
With all the politicking
Hey, South Park's on now!
Family Guy: "I Dream of Jesus" (10-5)
Standard FG ep.
The bird is indeed the word.
Jesus stuff too short.
The bird is indeed the word.
Jesus stuff too short.
American Dad!: "The One That Got Away" (10-5)
Best in a while now.
I always liked this show, but
Two Rogers? Bravo.
I always liked this show, but
Two Rogers? Bravo.
Heroes: "I Am Become Death" (10-6)
How I Met Your Mother: "I Heart NJ" (10-6)
A small, small step up.
At this rate it'll be good
By Twentyonetwelve.
At this rate it'll be good
By Twentyonetwelve.
How I Met Your Mother: "I Heart NJ" (10-6)
Stella's not the mom.
I wasn't sure until now
But Jersey? Come on!
I wasn't sure until now
But Jersey? Come on!
I d.q.'d some shows
Like Mad Men or Dethklok show
For starting too soon.
This feature's being
Made frequenter (daily posts?).
They won't be this long.
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