Edward's May 2022 Monthly Mix

 

 

Summer is finally here. It’s always been inspiring for me. This month I’ve been busying myself looking at acoustic guitars. Why? I have no idea. I have a decent beginner/mid-level Ibanez, but I’m wanting a Taylor or a Martin. But then therein lies a problem: I spend time looking at guitars when I should be spending time PLAYING my guitar. Despite my guitar distraction, I actually got a lot of stuff done in this merry old month of May: an out of state trip, a reconnection with my Nintendo Switch Lite, diving headlong into an RPG I’ve been working on for a year, and a special outing with Mrs. Burton to the IMAX.

 

Return of the Jedi on Blu Ray: I went to visit my grandsons in Austin this month, and was wonderfully pleased to find my youngest one, Eric, has developed an obsession for all things Star Wars. He was delighted when I mentioned wanting to watch Return of the Jedi with him. And when I left, I felt winsome when my daughter told me he was re-watching the movie because he missed me. I was never a big fan to be honest, but the movies are entertaining. I think The Empire Strikes Back will always be my favorite, but this one holds the most action. One astonishing thing I noticed in this one, something that slipped past me in previous viewings, was the scene in which C3-PO is telling stories of his adventures with Luke Skywalker and Han Solo, complete with authentic sound effects conjured up from his memory banks. This was a great scene. I’m surprised I hadn’t noticed it before.

Need for Speed: Shift 2 on PC: I’ve been playing this game for a while now. In grand EA “sim-cade” style this game answers the call for fans of both genres. Though I’m headed into the final races, the game states I’m only 55% done. As I mentioned before, the game is difficult. I had to dumb it down to the easiest difficulty, honestly, just so I can get through it. Best played with an X-box controller, I couldn’t imagine playing this with my wheel/paddle set. I’ve just discovered, unfortunately, this game is no longer available on any digital platform. I lucked out having the game on disc.

Billy Idol Whiplash Smile on vinyl: Released in 1986, this was the third release from Billy Idol, guitarist Steve Stevens, and producer Keith Forsey. This album has the same vibe that proved to the success of Idol’s first two albums, but I personally liked the songs on the previous two album over this one. “Sweet Sixteen” became a hit of sorts, and was probably the song I liked best on the album. Of course, the real reason I like any of Billy Idol’s albums is Steve Stevens. The guy is a guitar hero. Listen to his blistering solo on “Beyond Belief,” you’ll see.  

Glenn Miller: I Remember Glenn Miller on vinyl: This man was a true piece of Americana. With his studious bespectacled grin and his dapper and kind demeanor, not to mention the fact that he was awarded a posthumous Bronze Star for his service during WWII, in which he volunteered to entertain troops and was lost over the English Channel in doing so. He was responsible for the movement of old timey jazz music into jazz swing. I spun this disc on the turntable and found to my surprise I didn’t like it at all. I feel like a disinterested child enduring a boring history class, but I just found this album droll. It was my first exposure to Glenn Miller and my experience makes me feel as if I’m perhaps missing out on something obvious, but I’m not getting it. I was never a fan of jazz, but I respect the genre and I find some it listenable. I can’t say the same for this “jazz swing” type of music.

Man on Fire on DVD: When director Tony Scott saw this novel penned by A.J. Quinnell, he knew he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to make a movie out of it. Changing the setting from Italy to Mexico City (which, Scott said, became a third character in the movie), he assembled a stellar cast and made a quintessential action thriller. He cast his characters on gut instinct, and his intuition obviously struck gold for him. Dakota Fanning, in six weeks learned to swim, learned conversational Spanish and learned to play Chopin on the piano so she could be competent in her role. Denzel Washington, Christopher Walken and Mickey Rourke were also cast. Denzel Washington played a great lead in this odd love story/revenge tale. The love story involves the relationship between Washington, a troubled former CIA operative and Dakota Fanning, who plays the little girl Washington is hired to protect. It’s a love story, not of amorous love, but of a true connection between two people of different backgrounds, different ages. And when the little girl is kidnapped, the movie switches into a bleak tale of revenge and comeuppance. Tony Scott used an antique hand crank camera to introduce a stutter to some of the scenes, contributing to the film’s gritty dirty roughened look. Top Gun, Crimson Tide, Unstoppable and Days of Thunder were all great films directed by Scott, films that are a testament to his talents when it came to action movies.

Slay the Spire on Nintendo Switch Lite: PC Gamer magazine is always lauding high praises on this indie roguelite game. I found it for el cheapo on a sale at the Nintendo Store and thought I’d give it a try. Boy, I got hooked! It’s a simple concept. You choose a character and battle through a bevy of monsters, facing each other Mortal Combat style. Each or your blocks and strikes is dictated by a hand of cards. Cards are played out and new ones drawn. As you level up, you can upgrade cards, so for example instead of an initial card that states, “gives you 5 points of blocking” you may gain a new card that says, “gives you 5 points of blocking and does 5 points of damage.” At the end of each battle, you move up on a map with designated points depicting campfires (where you rest and regain hit points), boss fights, and question marks which may be fights in disguise or a safe haven with extra rewards (and the opportunity to buy more and better cards to draw from). And then of course, there’s the spritely art style which looks almost hand drawn and the catchy soundtrack. 

 

 

Doctor Zhivago Original Soundtrack on vinyl: This is one of the most haunting soundtracks I’ve ever heard. It’s no surprise it won three Academy Awards. The album runs a gamut of ethereally happy music to somber lugubrious dirges. Some of the songs sound almost like beer hall songs akin to polkas, and others evoke dismal Russian winters, toil and peasant strife. Though I was faintly familiar with Maurice Jarre’s film music, it’s when I heard his OST for Witness (1984) that I really began paying attention to him. He did numerous soundtracks for David Lean through the years and also worked with Alfred Hitchcock. When I found out he did the soundtrack for Doctor Zhivago, I’d always planned on revisiting it since I watched the movie as a child and it made such an impact on me (and traumatized me in one scene, ask me about it!) This is an old album my mother recently gave to me, and unfortunately, the disc reflects this. It harbors numerous scratches, pops and crackles. The gatefold album cover, however, is a gem. I’ll begin a pursuit for a better condition album to pair with the magnificent cover.

 

Pillars of Eternity on PC: This is the supposed spiritual successor to Baldur’s Gate was a Kickstarter project that pulled in 14 million dollars which at the time (2014) was the highest funded PC game ever on Kickstarter. Despite being a Unity game, the art style is beautiful, truly inspired by (but an evolution of) the classic RPGs we used to know and love back in the 90s – early aughts. I’m playing on Hard level and it is a challenge. The game is in three acts. I’m 73 hours in and still in Act 1. Oh, and I just hit level 7. I’m enjoying the game despite its difficulty, and its lack of intuitiveness. If you’ve played the venerable Bioware RPGs of old and enjoyed them, I recommend you give this one a go.

 

 

Top Gun: Maverick on IMAX: Production for this film started in 2010, and here, 12 years later we finally have it! Seemingly, any film with Tom Cruise is a film made with blood, sweat and tears, and this action flick is no exception. Critics liked it better than the original movie, and it’s not hard to see why. The 6K IMAX cameras used to make the film recorded over 800 hours of footage, which is more than the time spent to film the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy. I have to admit, watching movies on IMAX could ruin me for watching movies at a standard theater again. I was in my early twenties when the original Top Gun came out, a kid who’d just gotten out of the Navy. Watching this movie took me back to that time and made me feel young again.

 

Edward's April 2022 Monthly Mix

 

Spring is trying to squeeze in, but hey, this is Indiana. Weather is crazy here, and always has been. I’ll take what I can get, because frankly, I don’t care since I generally try my luck avoiding the elements anyway. In winter there’s a risk of frostbite and in summer there’s sunburn. Oh my! I much prefer playing PC games or reading or playing my guitar indoors where it’s so much safer. Who can blame me, so many good books to read, so many games to play, so much music to lose oneself to? Amirite?

 

Mission Impossible: Season 4 on DVD: Thanks to my lovely sister, Lisa, for loaning me this series set (she owns the whole series) I’m able to watch this series that aired when I was a kid (back when I thought it was too grown up for me) but in truth, these episodes are spectacular. I can easily see why these series episodes inspired the Tom Cruise movies, yes, they are that good! Campy in comparison, indeed, these shows are still compelling enough to have you on the edge of your seat. Leonard Nimoy makes his debut in this season, replacing the venerable Martin Landau, and boy howdy, does he do a good job. If you want to sample it, I suggest you look up the episode “The Submarine.” You’ll be amazed. It’s truly one of the best episodes of anything I’ve ever watched on television.

Age of Empires II on PC: This is a game that bypassed me back in the old days when I was too busy playing Starcraft and Commandos: Beyond the Call of Duty. It’s recently been re-released as a remastered rendition and I have to admit it’s pretty impressive. I’ve not tackled the single player campaign yet, though I’ve played with some friends online. Despite its redux, the AI still harbors its cruel pragmatic systematic mode of play, showing no mercy and not stopping until you’ve been curb stomped. The redux looks amazingly good on modern PCs. This game is a testament as to how reduxes should be done.  

Star Trek Online: One of the few games I preordered.  I actually preordered this one hard, spending $80 for the collector’s edition. The game was released in a broken state and has gone through a few iterations. It ultimately became free to play. I’ve tried to get into NC Soft’s Guild Wars 2 but there is just so much going on it’s hard to keep up. It prompted me to revisit Star Trek Online which has since been fixed and is now priced just right: free. If you’re a fan of any of the Star Trek universe, the classic series or the next generation or Enterprise, it’s all here in some shape or form. The game even prompts new accountees to choose a genre/universe to begin. I created a character in the original series. It was astonishing to step onto the bridge of a dreadnought class ship that looked just like the beloved 1960’s TV Enterprise.   

Hell Let Loose on PC: Bloody, muddy, gritty and as bleak as a rainy day funeral, this is a game which will test your mettle. Depicting soldierly combat in World War II, this game is a verisimilitude of the fighting and stress that occurred there. Death is constant, and constitutes a five to ten minute walk back from a spawn point to get back to the action. Ranks are earned, literally, the hard way, but the pay off is worth it. You never see the bullet that gets you, which they say is a lot like real life. Best played with friends on live chat. The struggle is real.

Hammock Maybe They Will Sing for us Tomorrow on CD: One of the prettiest articles of music I’ve listened to. Hammock is comprised of two men from Nashville, Tennessee. Utilizing a mix of combining orchestral arrangements with electronic beats, piano and droning guitar, this duo takes ambient music to new levels. Give this album a listen and you’ll wonder why more of their music isn’t used on movie soundtracks and such. I could listen to them exclusively from this point forward and not be disappointed. I suggest a look up of the titular “Maybe They will Sing for us Tomorrow” on YouTube. You can thank me later.

Company of Heroes 2 on PC: You all already know the original Company of Heroes (2006) is one of my top three favorite real time strategy games of all time. Well, I’ve had Company of Heroes 2 in my Steam library for years and never played it. Now that Company of Heroes 3 has been announced I thought I’d better get busy. The wait was worth it. This theater of operations involves the German onslaught on Russia, you playing as the Russians. Their mode of operation was simple: fight the Nazis with whatever you had and if you didn’t have a gun, just pick up the gun of the fallen soldier next to you. And whatever you did, don’t think about retreating. Soldiers who took a step back were shot by their commanding officers. This game is a hamburger simulator. The brilliant sound design and game mechanics from the first game carry over.

 

Edward's March 2022 Mix

 

 

 I’ve lost touch since I boycotted US news media over a year ago. I feel I’ve not missed much, but sometimes some things do seep through. Hollywood Babylon. I guess there really is such a place. The Academy Awards just occurred. Always surrounded by some kind of controversy it seems to worsen every year. This year hosted Will Smith slapping Chris Rock and then spewing profanity at him, a really classy gesture in a place that is supposed to be the epitome of class. And then there’s the accusatory adage of the Academy being comprised of fellows lacking diversity despite how awards are fast tracked to minorities and people of alternate lifestyles seemingly for those attributes alone. I lost interest years ago simply because many of the movies recognized were movies I’d never heard of. It begs the question why we don’t have an annual Plumbers Academy Awards. Wouldn’t it be better to celebrate the efforts of a plumber who spent twelve hours on a frozen winter day chasing down a kitchen sink clog, digging through hardened earth, braving the elements, or perhaps an Oscar for a plumber who, laying PVC pipe for the construction of a new house, crouched most of his day away exuding a remarkable plumber’s crack to the amusement of local passersby? I’m glad my own ebullience is garnered in such simple ways: books, music, games and movies that aren’t Avant Garde. I think I do okay in my choices. Checking out this month’s Monthly Mix, I think you might agree.

 

Up on DVD: I had not seen this since its 2009 debut, back when my kids were, well . . . kids. Thanks to my wonderful guitar mentor, Michael Stevens, I’ve just experienced the pleasure of seeing it again. It’s not your typical Disney film. The director, Pete Docter sums it up best by saying:

“Basically, the message of the film is that the real adventure of life is the relationship we have with other people, and it's so easy to lose sight of the things we have and the people that are around us until they are gone. More often than not, I don't really realize how lucky I was to have known someone until they're either moved or passed away. So, if you can kind of wake up a little bit and go, "Wow, I've got some really cool stuff around me every day", then that's what the movie's about.”

Anno 1800 on PC:  I bought this on Uplay when it first released. I stumbled through it, not sure of what to do or where to go. This is what I miss about the old days of gaming when games came with physical discs and maps and manuals. But now we have forums and YouTube Let’s Plays. I’m trying to get back into it. It’s a city builder taking place in the 19^th century. It’s a gorgeous game that looks like a Thomas Kinkade painting come to life, but it’s certainly not intuitive to play. Game developers, you can do better and you should.

Kiss: The Early Years by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley: For a time, the Canadian prog rock band Rush was touring the states with KISS. In an interview Rush’s bassist, Geddy Lee stated he’d never seen a band work so hard to please their fans than KISS. This book is the other side of that coin. Penned by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, it’s obvious the pair are wearing rose tinted sunglasses looking in hindsight. “I wasn’t a ham; I was the pig!” states Stanley. He writes, “Although I was a fan of many of the bands we played with, I believe that friendship ended when we hit the stage. Only one band should be left standing.” It’s a wonder these guys’ egos fit on the stage with them. They were loud and proud and not ashamed of it. These aren’t necessarily bad attributes, but they could have displayed a bit more humility. Maybe they did when they discussed the album, The Elder. The album was a major disappointment, both to KISS and the critics. Still, as a kid when the band was hitting it big, they were like a troupe of superheroes to me, and this book took me back to that time.

Inside on Nintendo Switch: This game should be rechristened to “Impossible.” Quite deceptively, it’s offered as a simple button masher platformer, but I’ve had to watch a walk through for every incident in the game. The game revolves around a boy trying to get somewhere, escaping from a hostile environment. Every wrong turn or misstep results in the boy’s rather macabre death. Despite its amazing art style and its seemingly simplistic gameplay, I’m finding it to be a chore simulator at best. Games are supposed to be fun! I’ll see it through to the end even if I have to continually consult YouTube. It’s a short game, an average playthrough consisting of 3 hours. The ending is abrupt, and I can’t wait to get there.

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara: Weighing in at 814 pages, this will probably be the biggest book I’ll read this year. I’m nearing page 200. Reading this at my daughter Robin’s suggestion, I have to admit this will also probably be the saddest book I’ve ever read. Each time I crack the binding it’s as if I stepped into a funeral home for a visitation being held for someone I once loved. And yet, I can’t put the book down! Has a book ever made you feel that way? It concerns the story of four men, best friends in college, and follows their lives into their 30s and 50s.

Star Trek on 4K Blu Ray: This is the best movie I’ve seen this year. It’s almost embarrassing that I took this long to watch it, but man, was it worth it! I didn’t consider myself a J.J. Abrams fan before. I’d seen his Lost. It was interesting but a bit convoluted. This movie is somewhat an homage to the old television series, and the attention to detail reflecting that is amazing. The set designers were inspired by Pierre Cardin’s art design of the 1970s and everything was an evolution of the original show as if it had been created in 2009 instead of 1966. The Romulans were shabby looking compared to any iteration I’ve seen of them elsewhere, but Abrams made it work. I watched an interview with Michael Giacchino, who scored the film. He said he wanted to include Alexander Courage’s famous (and universally recognizable) theme in the movie. Everything was so “busy” in the film that it isn’t presented until the final part of the film. He said, in effect, the audience gets to “earn” Courage’s wonderful theme song, and it’s so fitting where it’s placed in the movie. I’m told there are two other movies in this series. I can’t wait!

Batman: Arkham Asylum on PC: Finished this way back in 2010 but I wanted to reacquaint myself with it since I plan to play the other games in the series. I remember this is the game that taught me how to play with an Xbox controller. The fist fighting is truly visceral (and just about vicarious!) The game features a colorful cast of characters (mostly the bad guys, it’s always the bad guys with all of the panache) but the main star of this show is Arkham Asylum. Depicted solely at night with lightning and decrepit buildings, it’s a game plucked right out of Halloween. If you’ve never played this one, you’re missing out on the beginning game of a great series.

 

Edward's February 2022 Mix

 

 

 

These crazy last days. It seems the world has gone mad. Kindness is gone out the window. Jump into any Steam gaming forum, you’ll see. Hate is the new Love on the Interwebz. Vladimir Putin is making the world a scary place right now. (I personally think he’s going to ostracize his own country, making it once again, an insular place.) Netflix is raising their prices (for the third time in three years.) I want to draw the line, but there is just so much stuff to see there. I’ve been a member since the early aughts. I had DVDs mailed to my house. I should draw a line and sever the relationship. But I hate saying goodbye.

 

House of Cards on Netflix: Frank Underwood is one of the most scheming, conniving, dastardly men on the planet. And he’s the President of the United States. Yet, he’s so unctuously charming, you can’t help but to root for him. He’s so nefarious I feel guilty watching the show and feeling about him like I do. Unlike his real-life counterparts in Washington, he admits his lust for power and his reluctance to let it go. If this show really depicts genuine politics of the American democracy system, then Heaven help us.

Quantum Solace on Netflix: This, the second Daniel Craig James Bond vehicle, takes place six hours after the first movie. Talk about a segue!  This one has the usual flair, the world wealthy bad guys, the beautiful women who make you wonder if they’re going to poison Bond as they kiss him, and the over-the-top villainous world domination schemes. The villain in this one doesn’t carry the usual charisma. As a matter of fact, I kept wanting him to get his just due as I watched the movie. And Bond’s boss, M, leaves me with a sort of ambivalence. I know she means well, but I just can’t stand her. She treats James Bond with mistrust and condescension. I think it’s time they put her out to pasture.

The Enemy (Jack Reacher #8) by Lee Child: The movies are decent; I’ll give them that. I even like that they’ve cast Tom Cruise as the titular hero of the books. (Although, Cruise’s stature is way off. Jack Reacher is 6’5” and weighs in the neighborhood of 230 lbs.) This, the eighth book in the series is a prequel. And, oddly, told in the first-person sense. So, we really get into Jack Reacher’s brain. This book is also a sort of turning point for me. It’s the one book making me realize, Lee Child doesn’t just throw words together. The guy is really a talented writer. If you have any interest in men’s action fiction, I suggest delving into the Jack Reacher series. This one being a prequel may be the perfect one to start with.

Pat Benatar Icon on vinyl: I just picked up this Walmart exclusive transparent blue album and boy howdy, is it a winner! It’s a greatest hits compilation and it certainly doesn’t disappoint. There were a few cracks and pops on my first listen which surprised me, but the album sounds superb. It’s a relatively new release. It’s not even listed on dr-loudnesswar.info yet, which is where I go to check out the dynamic range compression of just about every album, CD, HD file ever released. Neil Geraldo’s guitar prowess shines on the album, and given this listen, it never dawned on me just how good Pat Benatar’s voice is. No wonder the woman won multiple Grammy awards. This is an album I’ll listen to again and again.

World of Warships on PC: You’re probably getting tired of me writing about this dangerously addictive game, but I just can’t get enough. If someone banished me to an island and told me I was restricted to one game only, this would be it. It’s an easy enough concept. Join an armada of guys piloting warships and attack a group of guys doing the same thing from the other side. It’s as simple as toy boats in a bathtub. Easily said, but then you look at the clock and realize two and a half hours have passed. There’s been a recent graphical update, so the game looks gorgeous. Heck, there’s even extensive work done on the soundtrack. And submarines are on the horizon. I had a chance to test them. They’re not overpowered like you think they would be. They’re actually fun and challenging! All if this in a game that’s free to play. With that said, however, be warned. You will spend money.

Ultimate General: Civil War on PC: I’ve now restarted this game three times. This time I’m playing on the least difficult level, and abiding by my new rule, if I fail this time, I’m done. Time is limited and I just don’t have enough of it to commit to the masochism of enduring games I can never beat. (Not to mention a Steam library that will last me into my nursing home years) This game is your chance to prove your mettle as a Civil War general heading either the Northern or Southern side. You are awarded prestige points with each victory which enables you to purchase better weapons and veteran soldiers. The maps are beautifully and accurately recreated and the whole game looks reminiscent of a time period painting come to life. The only real con is a lack of multiplayer which seems a glaring omission considering this company’s first game, Ultimate General: Gettysburg had an excellent multiplayer option.

Guild Wars 2 on PC: One of the few games I actually preordered that turned out to be okay. Coming out in 2012, this was the successor to the popular Guild Wars which made its debut in 2005. Continuing the storyline, this game is a much more involved massive multiplayer online game. With its many modes, maps, tasks, and abilities you could stay busy in this game for whole months of non-stop playing. I always stay much longer than I anticipated when I log in. The environments are grandiose and breathtaking, and the game’s music (which can be found for exorbitant prices on Amazon) is nothing short of stellar. This game has been called one of the friendliest MMOs on the planet. It’s still relevant in the world of online gaming and hosts 500, 000 players on any given day.