Dreams given form

I started this post a few months ago, just now getting around to posting it.

Music Review: Newsted "Heavy Metal Music"

I had the pleasure of seeing Jason Newsted perform as part of the Gigantour last month and he was incredible and I have been eagerly awaiting his full album release since I heard the 4 track EP this past spring. If you don't know who Newsted is, then stop reading this for a second, go google his name and when you realize who he is come back, I'll wait. Back? Good, now I'll get on with it.

The album released on Aug. 6 on iTunes (and probably other places too, I just don't get my music anywhere else honestly) and I immediately sat and listened to the whole thing all the way through. Overall it's a very good album. Not great, but very good. There are some skip-able songs on the cd, mainly on the slower ones where his limited vocal range seems to show itself more clearly. Now, I know that sounds harsh to say, but it is true. This is his first time being the front man and lead vocals for a group. He did perform lead vocals on Metallica songs occasionally, but that was only one or two songs. He did almost no vocal work with Echobrain that I can tell and I haven't listened to Voivod during his time with them to know what he did or didn't do. My point in all of this (yes, I do have one) is that despite his many years in the music industry this is a new experience for him and I'm willing to give him a lot of credit for that. He is still (and will always be) in my top 5 bass players and one of the reasons I picked up a bass for the first time.

So what are the highlights of the album? Well, the two songs from the EP that made it in are two of my favorites "Soldierhead" and "King of the Underdogs" are both really good, solid songs both lyrically and musically. I would also place "Heroic Dose" and "The Differents" in that top tier as well. "The Differents" has this kind of bluesy feel to it and is one of the "slow" songs to actually sound good. With the exception of "Nocturnus" and "Futureality" the rest of the album is really good. Those two songs though are pretty much an instant skip IMHO, I just don't like them at all.

Overall I'd give this album a B+. It's good, it's got the ground work though to be even better. I just hope this brings him better fortune than his last couple of endeavors so that we can have more music from a very talented artist. 

I'm baaaaaack!

The low hum of a massive server system can be heard throughout the complex. A lone figure enters and begins systematically turning on the fluorescent over head lights adding their slight buzz to that of the servers. Heavy foot steps echo down the long hall. "Been a while" he thinks to himself. "nothing's been moved at all I see, those locks held up well." Walking at a brisk pace he makes left and right turns deeper into the complex, dust flying with each foot step. He stops when he reaches the door marked "Control Room", takes out his key and unlocks the door. Light spills in the previously dark room. There, covered in dust, sits the object he seeks. The monitor, keyboard and mouse he once used to speak to thousands. Smirking he announces to the darkness. "I'm back!"

Giving Thanks

Just wanted to take a moment from gaming on this Thanksgiving day and offer my thanks for everything I have. Too often in this world we look over what we have looking only at what we want, lord knows I'm guilty of that. In light of that I would like to say "Thanks" to my family who give unconditionally, my friends who are always there for me, and God for all that He has given me. Hope you all have a happy Thanksgiving. 

The Slow Grind of Time

Made a trip back to my southern Illinois home this weekend to see the family and got kind of a shock. When I grew up down here I got to listen to one of the best rock stations I've ever heard on the radio period. I've always listened to it every trip back down here even though I have satellite radio in the car, I still switch over to Rock 105.1 WTAO. Till this trip. I haven't been as vigilant listening as I first was and when I turned the station on, I didn't hear Godsmack, Metallica, or Slipknot blasting the speakers. No, what I heard instead was top 40 pop music. You know Lady Gaga and the like. I was sick, one of my favorite stations of all time, a bastion of hard rock had fallen. I don't know what happened, if they sold to a new company or just decided to change formats, but the effect was still the same. I'm starting to believe the phrase "you can't go home again" time just keeps marching along and changing everything in it's wake.

Beginnings

Ok, so one of my non-gaming hobbies is computer repair/building. I love it, probably cause I don't have anyone but myself to answer to if it screws up or doesn't work. Anyway. My mom, knowing what a genius I am ask me to put a system together for her. I got most of the parts in today and will get the rest tomorrow. I plan on putting together a how-to on this just because. For now just enjoy the pretty pic of some new shiny parts.