lowdown411.com

Friday, June 24, 2005

Tegan and Sara – So Jealous Album Review

Tegan and Sara – So Jealous

As I get older I am bombarded with more and more evidence that there is really nothing purely original in the world. Everything has already been done before and WILL resurface several generations later. Good is good, but the super-lame-o style and fashion police fool us into thinking otherwise.

After a weak decade of one-hit-wonders and crappy boy bands (Partridge family/Osmands last time around anyone?) the wheels of retro have turned once again to bring us 80’s music. This is actually not a bad thing to me since I grew up in the 80’s. The Killers, Hot, Hot Heat, Franz Ferdinand – these albums could have been recorded in 1982.

Now that the stars are in 80’s alignment - out comes a very post-disco, early Elvis Costello-y album from sisters Tegan and Sara Quin called ‘So Jealous’ – and I can’t stop listening to it!

Catchy acoustic guitar hooks and enticing melodic vocals dominate with a kind of minimalist sound on most of the album. Backing drums, base and keyboards are used sparingly and I believe that decision really showcases the true talent of these young ladies. They tried to do something artsy with the title track which should probably be titled ‘the tease song’ because as soon as the great hook kicks in the song fizzles back to this lame Enya/Sinead O’Conner/Dido fusion that seems incredibly contrived. You can easily forgive them for being artsy – being young. The lyrics are on par with any high-school diary entry which would usually make me groan and turn off a record. But this album seems innocent and genuinely sincere. Charming.

My favorite tracks:

I can take it
Take me Anywhere
Walking with A Ghost (indie hit)
Where Does the Good Go?
Speak Slow

The whole album is really very good. I tried listening to their previous couple of albums but they are nowhere near as good as this one.

Until the 80’s come around once again – check this one out!

4 1/2 Skinny ties out of 5



Thursday, June 23, 2005

Sony PSP Import Fears

...honestly, what is the problem? If someone in Europe wants to import a freaking PSP from an eBay merchant who cares? Sony is retarded. They should spend more time figuring out how to increase battery life and decrease load times. Now, if you'll excuse me I have some no-swap 1.5 PSP Military Madness to attend to.

Monday, June 20, 2005

More Sony PSP and Nintendo DS Handheld Reviews

PSP & Nintendo DS Handheld Reviews

Here’s a quick lowdown on some handheld games I’ve purchased in the past few weeks:

PSP (AKA, “you want HOW much $ for your downgraded ports???)

Untold Legends


Here's an untold legend - once upon a time there was a sucka (yours truly) who spent $40.00 on a un-cheap immitation of Baulder’s Gate with giant spiders instead of rats. It wasn't such a bad game, but $40.00???? Just to feel better about my purchase, I have been playing this dungeon crawler quite a bit. I mean who doesn't like Baulder's Gate? Decent graphics and somewhat interesting game. Load times on this beauty, as with ALL PSP games, suck ass. Still pretty fun for a knockoff.

Rengoku: The Tower of Purgatory

Forty bucks for a steaming pile of LastGen gaming. Crap graphics, Crap A.I., Repetitive combat. There is really nothing fun AT ALL about this one. What a letdown.


Nintendo DS (AKA Zookeeper DS)

Goldeneye: Rogue Agent

Once you get used to using that little thumb nub, this is a very fun first person shooter. Graphics are okay, and it’s nothing you haven’t seen before, but I still had a great time playing through this one. Maybe it’s the novelty of playing a portable FPS? Lot’s of loading off the cart which is weird but not nearly as long as on the PSP. Good practice for those who are waiting for the Metroid DS game to come out.

Kirby Canvas Curse

I wasn’t sure what to expect when told that the entire game is touch based, but this turned out extremely enjoyable. Great twist on the franchise. Easy to pick up and go. Probably one of the best utilizations of the stylus yet. Pick this one up!

Warioware: Touched!

Having just played the Warioware twisted on GameBoy Advance SP, this had much to prove. Sure this game came out earlier, but I never got to play it until recently. Worth the wait - this was fun! Imaginative mini-games that will make you laugh.