Edward's December 2018 Mix

It’s been quite the eventful month for me. My oldest daughter came home for Christmas, and I got two weeks away from work (always a great thing!) I exceeded my 2018 Reading Challenge on Goodreads.com, and I finally beat Neverwinter Nights, a game I bought way back when it came out in 2002 and never put in the time to beat it. I watched a lot of movies this month, given I’ve had some lengthy vacation time. And I got to dive into some good music and games as well. I’ve been studying music, and it’s strange how sheet music was always a foreign language to me, and now it’s starting to make sense. Incredible how it works!  

1.      Grand Theft Auto V on PC: I've been trying to beat the story and at 26 out of 61 missions, it looks like I have a long ways to go. For the first time in my years of playing computer games I’ve had to torture a guy who did nothing to me to make me hate him. Despite “it’s just a game” it still made me feel uncomfortable and I didn’t enjoy that part of the game at all. This is one reason I finally gave up on the game. That, and never quite knowing what to do next. It didn’t help that none of the characters were sympathetic characters. If/when GTAVI comes out, I’ll probably take a pass.  I see so many screenshots of this dazzling game, but that's not what's made the big impression on me. It's the sound. This game is an aural feast. Amazing, really. Standing outside of a trashy trailer at nightfall and hearing a motorcycle on a distant freeway or a far off coyote. Arguably the best sound design I've heard since EA's ill fated but well intended, SimCity.

2.     Silversun Pickups: Better Nature on CD: One of my favorite bands from the noughts. I never get tired of listening to Silversun Pickups. This album, much like their latest album took more than one listen for it to click with me, but man, did it! I can’t say there’s a standout amazing song like “Lazy Eye” on this one, but the album will fit nicely in a rotating disc tray of other of the band’s works. There seems to be a bit more synthesizer on this album than previous ones, which certainly isn’t a bad thing. 

3.      World War II in Color  on Netflix: This has been my go to series this month while spinning on the exercise bike. It’s a series definitely designed for the layman history buff, and it’s a shame because if high schools were to air this during the typical boring history class, we’d have a lot more history majors. Compiled of archival footage, each episode is compelling and well worth watching. It’s one of those documentaries that you just can’t help but feel smarter after having indulged. Good stuff. 

4.  Abzu on PC: A beautiful little gem I picked up on a Steam sale a long time ago but just got around to playing. You are an explorer in a forever ocean surrounded by heart breakingly beautiful visuals and a soundtrack played by Heaven’s Philharmonic orchestra. A short and sweet game I swam through it in about 2 hours. It’s a game to play with a child or a grandchild perched on your lap, a read to me book done umpteen times better. This game makes me want to be buried at sea. 

5.  Olan Mill: Pine on CD: Crying cellos and pianos that tinkle as if from a ruined church with broken stained glass windows nestled in the middle of a deep dark forest. I don’t know why this CD affects me like it does, but I always have to reach for a Kleenex tissue. It makes my soul thrash inside my body as if suddenly awakened from a deep sleep. The band is a mystery at best. They’re not even on Wikipedia. And maybe that’s a good thing; I’ll just keep them as my beautiful little mystery.  

6. Without Fail by Lee Child: Book number 6 in the Jack Reacher universe, this one has Reacher rising to the cause as a security advisor seeking holes in the active defense of the President of the United States. And this time Reacher isn’t alone. He has two partners, both females, one a former Army partner, and the other a civilian in the US Secret Service who once was intimately involved with Jack Reacher’s brother in the past, ah, the plot thickens already!  This book lacks the fisticuff white knuckle action of the prior Reacher books I’ve read, but it is entertaining. 

7. Mission Impossible III on Blu Ray: So far, of the three M:I movies I’ve seen, this one overshadows the others. The plot races like a passenger train out of control, and the gadgetry, the locations, and all the intrinsic elements make this a fun movie to watch. If you’re a fan of Solid Snake or Sam Fisher, this is a must see. I directly watched it again right after, but with Tom Cruise and J.J. Adams’ (the film’s director) comments. They were entertaining, and though I’m not a fan of Cruise in the real world, he definitely harbors a genuine love for acting and puts his all into every role he does. And ever since Abrams was offered the helm of both  the Star Wars and Star Trek franchises, I just lost the little bit of fandom I have for him, but I have to admit I was pretty impressed with this movie.  
8. Dragon Age II on PC: I played the first one many years ago, back in 2010 and enjoyed it immensely. I had heard not the best of things about this one, the second title in the series. But until The Witcher III: The Wild Hunt came out, I’d read the third title in the Dragon Age series, Inquisition was the best PC game ever made. So, for me to play that one I have to make my way through the second game. Some of the graphics are a little wonky, but so far the story line is brilliant. I’ve created a character I’ve grown to love. This is like reading a fine novel that you never want to end. I wholeheartedly recommend it. 

9. Saving Private Ryan on 4K HD: This makes the 9^th time I’ve seen this? And the fourth iteration of it I’ve seen. I first saw it on the big screen, and then DVD, and then Blu Ray, and now I have the 4K HD. Honestly, I saw little difference between this one and the standard Blu Ray version. I’d say if you have it on Blu Ray, keep it. There’s no need to upgrade. It’s still a spectacular movie, but I think I’ve finally reached that point where I’m just watched out. I won’t soon forget the impact this movie had on me over the years, however, through the many PC games I've stormed Normandy beach over time and time again thanks to the influence of this movie.

Edward's November 2018 Mix

Winter is here. We’ve had some really brisk nights. But you know what? That’s okay. It’s just the excuse I need to stay inside and dive into my love of CDs, Blu Rays, books, and PC games. I’ve been hitting my guitar more than I ever have before. Each little conquest is hard fought, but it’s like scaling over the top of a mountain. You’ve heard me say this before, but my biggest regret is that I didn’t delve into this much younger in life. I hail from a family of musicians. I could have been a contender! Seriously kids, buy a guitar or a piano now and practice, practice, practice! I guess the old adage might be true, however. You’re never too old to learn, yeah? And who knows, maybe I just wasn’t interested when I was younger. Maybe this is where I am supposed to be at this point in my musical universe.


1.      The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly on Blu Ray: Finishing up my Man with No Name trilogy, this is the last movie in the series. But you already know that, you probably also know it’s one of the coolest westerns in the history of movies. Sergio Leone who made mythical westerns based on what was mythical in the first place, created a magnum opus with this one. I don’t know if Eastwood’s taciturn observant character or Eli Wallach’s scoundrel rapacious Tuco Ramirez is my favorite character. Both of them have earned a spot in my book of coolness. The Blu Ray treatment is okay, nothing special. The film now has a gritty yellowish tint to it. From what I read, it’s the look Leone wanted. I’m okay with it, but beside the yellow tint, the film itself isn’t substantially different than the DVD version. Still, this version contains some great interviews with Eastwood and Wallach and two commentaries by noted film historians. It’s definitely worth the rewatch just to catch these great commentaries

2.     Blackstar HT-1RH Stack Amp: When I discovered there were only 750 of these made, and it was a tube amp my interest was piqued. And then I found out it was only a 1 watt amplifier. I was like, huh? And then I read the reviews. It was the multitude of 5 star reviews that urged me to pull the trigger. I ordered it from Sweetwater based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and I had it the next day. (As an aside, a company with some of the best customer service of any company I’ve ever dealt with.) When I plugged my guitar into it and strummed the strings the first time, it was then I was wholly convinced. This thing sounds incredible! I never would have believed 1 watt would have me keeping the volume on the down low to prevent awakening the household. And then there are the aesthetics. With its vintage good looks, this thing looks like a wedding cake stolen from a Lawrence Welk show. 

3.      Created By by Richard Christian Matheson: Who would have known a writer who penned screenplays for early 80’s television shows like The Incredible Hulk, Knight Rider, B.J. and the Bear, and Three’s Company could spin out one of the best novels I’ve read this year. A young screenplay writer, Alan White creates a television series that tops the ratings. The show exudes state of the art death and dazzle, full frontal nudity and geysers of blood. Alan’s made it, enjoying success beyond his wildest dreams. But then terribly strange things begin to happen. The morning headlines start to read like grisly reruns of his action hit. And then plots which Alan White hasn’t written or spoken of yet begin to blood-blossom into reality. The main action anti hero that White has created takes on a dastardly life of his own outside of television. Matheson has talent and I'm surprised it's taken me this long to discover him.

4.   Gun on PC: Supposedly a good game with its all star voice cast: Lance Henrickson, Tom Skerritt and Kris Kristofferson. And not to mention an award winning screenplay writer at the helm of the game’s story. In truth, it’s a six hour game artificially lengthened by its outlandish difficulty spikes. For being a shoddy PlayStation 2 port back in 2005 with its mud graphics and wonky control scheme (made slightly better with an Xbox Controller) I could forgive its shortcomings. But I can’t. I got to the penultimate boss, a crazed outlaw in the guise of a bible toting preacher out to deliver God’s justice. The fight was nigh impossible. This “mini” boss hides out and his health regenerates. So, as you expend your bullets and health flasks (comically in the form of bottles of whiskey) he becomes impossible. I called up the last boss fight on YouTube and realized there was no way I was going to spend 30 minutes taking him down, especially not being able to take out the boss before him. This makes the 3^rd attempt I’ve taken to beat this game since it came out. I’m done. This game stomped me. I guess I'll fire up Read Dead Redemption on the household PS3.

5.   S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat on PC: It took me two rage quits and three installs to finally beat S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl but it was a ride well worth it. Now I’ve finally gotten to this game, the second in the series. It took me 39 hours to beat, which is good considering it’s a 40 hour game. The story line was a little slow to start but escalated to a great ending. The game looked pretty amazing in 1440P resolution, and it exuded the same haunting bleak look of the first game which helped with the immersion factor. I’ll look forward to moving onto the Metro games now.

6.   Sasha Airdrawndagger on CD: Alexander Paul Coe (born 4 September 1969), known musically as Sasha is a Welsh DJ and record producer. He is best known for his live events and EDM as a solo artist. I picked up this CD years ago and was at first put off by its heavy drum and bass. I remember thinking, “Is this all there is?” And then toward the end is two songs that sound amazingly good. Reviewer Glenn Swan gave it four stars out of five, summarizing his review with "Airdrawndagger has a sharp blade, and hovers with threat, but it takes almost half the album before it draws blood" But those two songs near the end, boy howdy! “Requiem” and “Wavy Gravy.” Both songs are the epitome of upbeat EDM, but imagine being in a starship and passing Heaven, and being physically able to see it, the beauty and the grandeur. This song is the sound of that.

7.   Conquest of the Planet of the Apes on Blu Ray: I’d seen this way back as a kid in the ‘70’s and not since. Detailing the ascent of the apes over man, this film is probably the most brutal of the series, and the screenplay was somewhat inspired by the racial riots of the 1960s. The violence in the movie almost caused it to earn an R rating, but producers were able to "trim" some of the rough scenes down and the movie was able to be shown to a full age audience.

Roddy McDowall plays Caesar, a less than friendly version of his usual Cornelius character. The transition to Blu Ray from DVD is gorgeous and a must have for any fan of this outstanding 1970s action series.

8.   Neverwinter Nights on PC: I finally beat it. I had to cheat on a few fights, and you know how I hate cheating, but if that’s what it takes. I just wanted to get the game over with. It took me 102 hours which is quite a lot for a 60 hour game. You can probably see why I was ready for the game to be done with.