"Backspacer" (2009) by Pearl Jam

It's been a while since I posted last, because of two main factors - my recent purchase of "Left 4 Dead" (PC, Valve, 2008) and repeated listens of Pearl Jam's new record, "Backspacer". No, study/exams isn't one of the factors. Anyway, on the way to Sydney for Rosh Hashana on Friday night, we stopped in at JB Hi-Fi to get presents for people. Before we leave, I check W-Pedia for Backspacer's release date, and get very disappointed to find it was not for another two days. But, right at the door of the shop, a big display stand has copies of the record and I get very excited. I then get pissed off cause Backspacer's packaging is bigger than a normal CD and thus won't fit in my CD rack. Upon leaving the shop, Backspacer, to the dismay of the rest of my family, went straight into the car CD player. I then got terrified cause I read a review of the new Flaming Lips record in JB mag and thought it was out and I didn't get it. But it's okay, cause it doesn't come out until October - the reviewer just streamed it online.

Anyway, back to the review. I was very scared that Backspacer was going to be shit, as I always am when a band I love announces a new record. Upon first listen, I was disappointed, didn't really like it. However, Backspacer seems to be the kind of record that grows on you, cause I tried it another few times and became completely obsessed with it. With an album of only 36 minutes, that's alright - I can listen to it twice to one listen of "the Wall", and four times for one listen of another favourite of mine, "69 Love Songs" by the Magnetic Fields.

The record opens with a kind of power trio - "Gonna See My Friend", "Got Some", and "The Fixer". The opening track rocks as hard as anything PJ have released, and it's always nice to hear Eddie's screaming every now and then. "Got Some" is another fast, heavy rock song. "The Fixer" is the one that you know, if you know any of them. Rumour has it that this track has even got into the top 40 - by the looks of the top 40 site, it peaked at #14. Scary, hey. The song's time signatures really mess you up - we open with 4 bars of 5/4, verses are in 6/4, and chorus in the good old 4/4. Vedder's lyrics are at their best here, even with the chorus of 'yeeeeeeahhhh'. There's something about this track (another fairly fast, heavy rock song, btw) that just makes it work. 

"Johnny Guitar" stands out. To a PJ fan, anyway. A PJ n00b may not be too friendly to this song. Something about it gives it a strange, weird feel. Vedder's quick, sharp vocals work, the quasi-breakdowns are brilliant, and, well, the song is goood.

And then we have the album's first ballad - well, the album's first non-hard rock song. The picking styles, chord progressions, lyrics, etc. in "Just Breathe" were obviously influenced by Eddie's solo record "Into the Wild". The track just seems like it'd fit perfectly into that solo album. Not that that's a bad thing - I loved that solo album so much.

"Amongst the Waves", "Unthought Known", "Supersonic", "Speed of Sound" and "Force of Nature" all have the same feel of a rock, grungy band sticking with what they know. Not to say they're typical rock songs - they're all uniquely Pearl Jam, through and through. The standouts would be "Unthought Known" and it's amazing vocal hook of 'nothing left', and "Speed of Sound" - no, it's not a Coldplay cover. The record then closes with aptly named "The End". And there is no better way that PJ could have ended. It is another ballad - although not quite on par with "Just Breathe", it's still brilliant. The lyrics are sublime, and Vedder's vocal performance is the best here compared to the rest of the record. He seems truly pained in this track - not pained cause he can't hit the high notes, just pained because he seems upset and like he cares, something that 95% of vocalists nowadays just can't do, especially if they don't believe the lyrics. The song is a little overproduced however; I don't really think that the strings were necessary, and I'd love an acoustic version with just Eddie and his guitar.

There are some drawbacks to this record. While the artwork is beautiful, the packaging is annoying, and, instead of being next to all the other PJ records, it's got it's own spot next to the other ones that won't fit - "The Eraser" by Thom Yorke, "Takk..." by Sigur Rós, and the double albums. The album is also a little bit too short; I like short albums, but we've waited three years and all we get is 36 minutes and a cover of a Who song? I mean, it's an awesome cover, but can't we do better than that? Also, some of the songs, especially "Johnny Guitar", seem a little forced out, like Matt and Stone just had some snippets from various uncompleted songs, and it was all mushed together.

The drawbacks are only minor, however. After all, who am I to bitch about the packaging of PJ albums - their albums are the most beautifully packaged of all the CDs I own. Overall, "Backspacer" is a breath of fresh air in the high-profile-album-releases department.

Re-playability: 19
Overall song quality: 15
Flow as an album: 17
Does what it tries to: 18
Packaging/art: 18
My mark /20: 17
Overall mark /20: 17.3

A sad, sad day for Aussie Gamers.

On the 17th of December, Australia's brilliant video game classification board has refused an MA15+ classification to Valve's Left 4 Dead 2, effectively meaning that the game will be unavailable for purchase in Australia. The first game in the series (Left 4 Dead, obviously) won heeeeaps of awards and topped countless end-of-year lists last year.

Anyway, as Kev Rudd's government have been too lazy to lift a finger and pass a bill allowing R18+ games, the highest allowable rating is MA15+. And, as the ratings board claimed that L4D2 was not MA15+, the came cannot be sold in Australia. Rudd, L4D2 will be one of this years top-selling games, if not number 1. Pull your finger out and give us our game.

I've emailed Valve to see what their stance on this whole situation is - even a bulk email sent to everyone else who asked will satisfy me, I just want to know whether they're going to censor it for Australia, if American releases will work, and whether they will cooperate with our government and block it on Steam and block American copies.

Matt
Now listening to "Stunt" (1998) by Barenaked Ladies

"Professor Layton and the Curious Village" review, DS 2008

First of all, I'll say that I haven't actually finished this game just yet as my DS has run out of battery and I can't find my charger :( - however, I think I'm nearly finished, as most of the mysteries have been solved.

"Professor Layton and the Curious Village" (NDS, Level-5, 2008) is a very interesting game. Combining the point-and-click style adventure game (eg "Secret of Monkey Island" (various, LucasFilm, 1990)) with a new puzzle/lateral thinking riddle-genre (ie "a man works on the 83rd floor..." etc), Professor Layton is a whole new style of game.

First off, the graphics are beautiful. The cartoon-y style works perfectly, and the animated cutscenes, complete with full voice acting, are simply pleasures to watch. It's all the more impressive when you remember that it's on the DS.

The story is superb, too. Full of twists, you'll be hooked to this game after the first cutscene. I played for hours on my first sitting. Did I mention the twists? They don't stop, and there's one towards the end of the game that left me speechless for more than a minute. The gameplay is fun as well, completely addictive, and, although it's made up of "over 120" puzzles, never repetitive. You'll find yourself up till 2, rubbing your eyes trying to get a ball from one side of a puzzle to the other. The simple setting helps the player learn about the locations etc of the buildings, making it seem more like a real town. The puzzles are all assorted - the game includes classic "last year, the brother was double his sister's age, now he's..", lateral-thinking riddles, matchstick and card puzzles, and heeeeaps more. In addition, you find 'hint coins' by touching suspicious areas in the map screen, which you can use to purchase hints on each puzzle. This helps to prevent from becoming completely stuck on any one puzzle. The vast majority of the puzzles are unnecessary to complete as soon as you encounter them - although you need to complete certain numbers of puzzles to pass certain points, you can always save them for later, so you can solve them at 'Granny Riddleton's Shack'. This building hosts all the puzzles you couldn't solve or overlooked. 

And then we have the negatives. While the game is absolutely amazing, it has next to nothing in replay value - I won't let that detract from it's overall score but, as, for a game that gets its amazingness from plot twists and riddles, it's kinda hard to give it replay value. As well as that, while it's our first, Japan has already got 4 Layton games within the space of 2 and a half years; our second is due on September 25 (I think it's already out in the US). This means that us fans won't be left out in the cold waiting for 4 years for the next installment, like console Zelda fans. In addition to all this, the sound is great and suits the game perfectly, but can get reeeeally annoying from time to time, as it's the same. Constantly.

All in all, "Professor Layton and the Curious Village" is fucking brilliant. You must try it, even if only to experience one of the greatest twists I've encountered in gaming, especially handheld. And some perfect puzzles.
10/10
Matt
Now listening to "Richard D. James Album" (1996) by Aphex Twin

Modest Mouse "No One's First and You're Next" (2009)

Their new record (kind-of-long-EP-album-thingo) "No One's First And You're Next" is a must buy. Simple as that. It's only a very reasonable $12 for 34 minutes of music - and, although the music is a collection of B-sides and just-didn't-make-the-final-cuts from their last two albums, it really could, if they added maybe one more song, be Modest Mouse's sixth LP. It's got everything - singles ("King Rat", "Satellite Skin", "Autumn Beds") and tracks destined to be fan favourites ("The Whale Song", "Perpetual Motion Machine").

The EP opens with "Satellite Skin", and from the moment that Brock's unforgettable vocals enter, you that the song is going to be awesome. One of the best, most distinctive aspects of Modest Mouse's music is Brock's powerful, lisp-y vocals. Especially when they're being yelled. "Satellite Skin" is a chilled out rock song, and you can't help but wonder how it didn't manage to get on whichever album it was recorded for.

The second track, "Guilty Cocker Spaniels", is memorable for those who love Isaac's vocals. Like me. Otherwise, it's nothing special. "Autumn Beds" is good for those who aren't usually MM fans and just want something chilled out to listen to, as Isaac's vocals aren't as recognisable and prominent as usual; it's a very laid back song.

"The Whale Song" is the fourth track on the record, and it is fucking awesome. There's no way to describe it in words, but it's quickly become one of my favourite songs this year; it's been on repeat for the last week. It's a 6 or so minute epic, with amazing vocals from Brock, and Marr's guitar work is heavenly. If you're a post rock fan you'll fall head over heels. But if you plan to listen to it, make sure you're somewhere secluded so you can turn it up till your ears bleed. And don't go easy on the bass either. Try not to be doing something else, just immerse yourself in the subtly textured, weaving song.

The next song is "Perpetual Motion Song". It is a good contrast to "The Whale Song", and perfect for MM songs. Brock's vocals are amazing, as usual, and prominently him. It is fun filled, with horns, tinny acoustic guitars, and tens of overdubbed vocals. It's good fun. Then comes "History Sticks To Your Feet" - for me, not a memorable song, although that's not saying it's bad, at all - it's still awesome.

"King Rat" is track 7. It was the first song I heard from the EP, and I loved it right away. Brock's vocals,, well, I've been harping on about them all review; let's just say that they're at their best on this song. It's impossible to not not your head and tap your feet to this song. Johnny Marr's guitar work is beautiful; and from Brock's opening scream of "Well!", the crash of instruments and the strings playing their riff; well, it's amazing. The song has an eerie, foreboding sense around it. The use of horns and strings are perfect; and that beautiful breakdown, "Deep water.. deep water..", it's fucking amazing. Just listen. Loudly. And don't pass over the video, it's the best one I've seen in years.

The EP then closes with "I've Got It All (Most)", and, I must say I didn't really like this song all that much; it is a good way to close, but.

Anyway, I'm off. As it is just an EP, by EP standards this one is easily a 10/10

Matt

Hitler's reaction to Oasis breakup

The world's biggest Oasis fan sent me the link to that video :) very funny.

(oh, and to clear stuff up, Oasis hasn't actually broken up, Noel just left.)
Matt
Now listening to "No One's First And You're Next" (2009) by Modest Mouse

Wall of Ice

For those of you paying attention to the whole new Radiohead EP thingo with "These are my Twisted Words" and the Wall of Ice conspiracy, you'll be interested to know that www.wallofice.com now points to Contagious Magazine. At first, I was suspicious, thinking that it was another of Radiohead's companies along the line of Xendless Xurbia Limited and W.A.S.T.E., something secretive. I was disappointed when I found out it was just an online magazine, this issue documenting the Wall of Ice. A funny magazine, ("Fans note the URL www.wallofice.com points to Radiohead’s own W.A.S.T.E. site. Several music journalists hyperventilate.") but not Radiohead-related by the looks of it.

Those of you who haven't got "These are My Twisted Words" yet, go to www.radiohead.com and download it, it's free. I don't like it as much as other stuff, but hey, it's still Radiohead, so there's little chance of it being terrible. I'm terrified for their new album/set of EPs/download/tablets each with a word from a lyric on them/however they're going to release the new music. It could be absolutely dreadful - worse, it could be poppy and they could play it on pop radio - not that that makes it bad music (although it could).

Matt
Now listening to "Good News for People who Love Bad News" (2004) by Modest Mouse