NHL 15 Review: C+

Back in 2008, I bought a used PlayStation 2 for about 60 bucks and a copy of "NHL '09" for 30. It was the first time I had played the series after the only other hockey videos games I had ever owned were "NHL Stanley Cup" for SNES, and "NHL Hitz 20-02" for GameCube.

If you're not a hockey/video game fan, play one game of Hitz and it'll change your life.

"NHL '09" delivered, and I've had ever iteration of the franchise since. I had high hopes for this season, considering Patrice Bergeron was gracing the cover. "NHL 15" was the first hockey game for the next generation consoles, but unfortunately its arrival has been met with much negativity.

First, the good news: "'15" looks absolutely amazing. Graphics and out of this world and the NBC Sports presentation is spot on. Gameplay is pretty realistic, although compared to older versions, this game takes a while to find your skating legs. Playing online has produced very few problems (except for the fact that I still have trouble finding the back of the net, and then that one time I was winning and Big Cat hit the router with a basketball and I lost connection), and overall the game runs really smooth.  

Relatively speaking, more players look like themselves, although with over 700 players in the NHL alone, there are only around 250 realistic character models; last year I'll bet the total was around 100. The realism is bumped up a notch when you hear the "NHL on NBC" jingle, see a live shot of the arena you're playing in and see the real Mike "Doc" Emrick and Eddie Olczyk in the booth. Unfortunately, Emrick doesn't use over 50 different words to say "pass," but its still cool hearing him freak out for a late-game equalizer. 

The bad news: Missing game modes and too big of a learning curve. Since EA had to build the engine from the ground up on a new console, things just feel different. While the controls are solid, they just don't feel like the NHL's of old.  

The list of omissions is pretty large for this game, and people have been all over EA for it. I, for one, typically just play online and dabble with a created player, but its nice to have a season with the Bruins to fight for the Cup or to play outside in a Winter Classic game once in a while.

Can't help but feel as though all of the eggs went into the presentation basket, with not a single one to stash anywhere else. EA Sports has owned up to a just a few issues and will be patching in content over the next couple of months, but overall "NHL 15" just feels like a rushed project that really wears the player's patience thin.

Juicebox: First Cut

Juicebox describes themselves as "an infectious blend of rhythm and blues, soul and funk."  After seeing them perform live once and listening to their just-released six-track EP, there's no doubt that I would have to describe them as an undeniably infectious blend of rhythm and blues, soul and funk.

Based out of NYC, Juicebox is made up of seven musicians who have played together since 2009.  Their EP, "First Cut," marks the ensemble's first official release. Now, I've never been much at reviewing music, but when you listen to something and your immediate reaction is ".....DAMN!" then it warrants a little praise.

Saturday night, I caught them playing at the Rockwood Music Hall in the Lower East Side of Manhattan.  The venue heated up instantly when they took the stage.  Everyone was into the music and jamming out with every solo, including the one guy just off stage right who appeared to be getting taken to church by Lisa Ramey's vocals.  But all it took was a couple songs, and he had plenty of company.  The band had tremendous energy through their 45-minute set and even onto the one-song encore the crowd called for as Juicebox was about to exit the stage.

I've known organ and keys player Dave Mainella since we were kids, and I even took piano lessons from his dad.  He invited a few friends and me down for the show, and we jumped at the opportunity.  What sold it for me was probably when Mainella described the band as a mix between James Brown and Lauryn Hill.  It was the first time I had heard them play, and I was immediately drawn in (as evidenced by the conversation I had with Ramey following the set, who confirmed that she noticed my awkward eye contact as she sang...but its not my fault since her voice is killer).

Mainella held it down along with Isaac Jaffe and Alex Raderman on the bass and drums respectively, while sax player Nicholas Myers, trumpeter Aaron Rockers and guitarist Frank Cogliano cooked up some nasty riffs and solos to blend it all together.  You can just see how much fun they were having on stage, the type of fun that's, well, "infectious."

To me, their up-tempo songs are really where they make their money, as you can't help but want to get up and dance, but when that beat drops it can easily make your knees weak.  The songs are simply intricate, and are powerful yet a little sensual at times (just listen to the final track, Friday Morning Class, for a perfect example).

Listen and watch their video above, download their EP and follow them on Twitter.  These guys are good, I can't say it enough. And if anyone knows where a good spot in Boston would be for them to try to play out, let's hear it.

Justin Timberlake "20/20 Experience" - Strange But Good

Justin Timberlake hasn't released a new CD since 2006, but with his latest that came out Tuesday, "The 20/20 Experience" wait was worth it.

The 20/20 Experience combines pop, hip hop, soul, jazz, latin and rock into a 10-track seamless album.  What popped out to me at first is how long each track is.  The longest is "Mirrors" at 8:06 ranging down to "That Girl" at 4:48, my two favorites on the album as it turns out, but sometimes the songs can drag a little bit in the waning minutes.

"Don't Hold the Wall" and "Let the Groove Get In" are two such tracks that don't really do much for me.  They're interesting enough to listen to musically, but they just sound like JT is trying to do too much.  But hey, pretty tough to make an entire CD of just jams, so they balance things out.

The first track on the album is titled "Pusher Love Girl," which is a great way to introduce listeners to Timberlake's newest stylings, and things kind of rollercoaster up and down from there.  There are really only four or five songs I find myself really getting into, but listening to the album all the way through makes each track make sense a little more.  It is not a CD full of club songs, and if it was, I probably wouldn't even listen to it.

You can tell JT really took his time with these tracks, and really explored every direction that they could go, making it very easy to appreciate what he's done.  The best news about this 10-song album, is that Timberlake is working on another 10-song album to come out later this year.  If you want to listen, but don't want to buy the album, check out The 20/20 Experience on Spotify.

Supporter Submission - Coda on Columbus, South End

Last night, my uncles treated my sister, cousin and me to a wonderful holiday meal, because he will not be able to share Christmas with us this year. We went to Coda on Columbus Ave in the South End Neighborhood of Boston. The meal that we collectively devoured was one of the best I have experienced in a long while. From the appetizers to the main course to the after dinner spirits, everyone was glowing with satisfaction.

We arrived at this cozy little restaurant in the South End and were seated in a corner booth by the window that was intimate but still allowed us to be a part of the greater restaurant environment and feel the overlying energy (important because we are social diners). The menu was overwhelming at first because there were so many delicious choices available. 

We ordered the sweet and spicy citrus calamari and the charcuterie with pickled veggies for our appetizers. The calamari was perfectly cooked (not rubbery and tough) and wasn't greasy or heavily fried. I felt it was closer to a nice sauté. It was served in a sweet and spicy citrus sauce with a citrus aioli, but I don't even think it needed the aioli. It was a very creative take on traditional calamari. The charcuterie contained and assortment of cured meats (prosciutto, a ghost chili infused cured pork, and rendered duck fat spread) with spicy mustard, pickles, pickled carrots and onions, and some crostinis. The charcuterie was divine.

I had an extremely difficult time choosing my entree as there were many amazing sounding choices including: herb-crusted haddock with Quinoa and kale and a squash puree, a fisherman's stew and a chickpea stew with fried eggs. I ended up deciding on the braised lamb shank with mashed sweet potatoes and Brussels sprouts. 

Let me just say that my knife was unnecessary...

The perfectly cooked and seasoned lamb fell off the bone and melted in my mouth with every bite, and the sweet potatoes and sprouts provided a perfect contrast in flavor and texture. It was a meal that I wished would never end. The portion size was perfect. There were a lot of sweet potatoes and sprouts to supplement about 4-5 oz. of meat (not including the large bone). It was not overly-filling and settled nicely. With dinner we enjoyed a beautiful Qupe Syrah that paired perfectly with the lamb. My uncle and cousin ordered the smoked pork chop served with pork belly, creamy grits, and spaghetti squash. I tried a bite and it tasted out of this world, the fat perfectly blending with the pork, cooked "pre-war" style as my uncle pointed out.

Finally, we finished off with a couple of 12-year scotches, Glenlivet for my uncle and Glenfiddich for me, Prosecco for my sister, and genuine good conversation. The experience was everything I could have asked for, and I will definitely be back. I would recommend Coda to any foodie or civilian alike.

Aerosmith: Music From Another Dimension Review - B-

Rock legends Aerosmith, fresh off a live performance on Commonwealth Avenue, have released a new studio album.  "Music From Another Dimension" marks the band's first studio release since 2004, and the first release with completely new and original music since 2001.

At first glance, the CD's 15 tracks (18 on the deluxe edition) seem a bit overwhelming.  At times, listening felt like a chore because there is so much to take it, but Aerosmith hasn't been making a living for this many years putting out bad music.

The opening track, titled "LUV XXX," opens with a goofy voice-over explaining that "there is nothing wrong with your perception of reality," and sets a strange tone for the album which is luckily smashed seconds later by classic clashing guitars provided by Joe Perry and Brad Whitford.  When we hit the chorus, however, the melody gets a little strange which will quickly become this album's overarching theme.

The tracks "Beautiful" and "Tell Me" confused me at first, because they didn't sound like true Aerosmith songs, but rather like another band from their heyday.  When the final power chord rings out on "Tell Me," the album really starts to hit its stride.

"Out Go the Lights" right to "Street Jesus" are probably the CDs best tracks, showing off the band's versatility while being able to bring out what makes this band who they are.  A good mix of horns, nasty guitar solos, Steven Tyler screams and the band's single "Legendary Child" give "Music From Another Dimension" some serious bite.  The single features some lines like "took a chance at the high school dance," bringing back that old Aerosmith feel with a nice full sound topped off with another one of Perry's face-melting solos.

The songs "What Could Have Been Love," "Can't Stop Lovin' You" and "We All Fall Down" sound like continuations of "I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing," which isn't necessarily a bad thing and provides the album with a much needed step back.

What I really liked about this album was when things started to get shaken up.  Perry steps in as the front man, singing "Freedom Fighter" and "Something," with Tyler falling back to the drums on the latter track.  American Idol alumni Lauren Alaina and Carrie Underwood get in the mix as well, appearing on a couple songs, while actor Johnny Depp backs Perry on "Freedom Fighter."

Aerosmith performed on "The Today Show" Nov. 2, then another morning gig on the streets of Boston in anticipation of their new album and even though they look like they've aged 100 years, they still know how to rock a crowd and this new album is all the proof you'll need of that.

Dan & The Wildfire - Smoke Signals

Dan & The Wildfire, formally known as Dan HL released their second album Tuesday titled "Smoke Signals."  The nine-track album packs a solid punch right off the bat, with a good mix of quick, fun songs later balanced out with some softer, lyric-heavy tunes.

Songs like "Wood and Wire" and "Keep Myself Alive" alone provide me with everything I've been looking for out of this band, and its no accident that they chose these songs to open and close the album respectively.  The singability of the lyrics, the harmonies, the horns -- they're such an easy band to get into, and with a constantly growing audience, I think they're really starting to hit their stride as a band.

"Good Enough" is a fast, in-your-face jam complete with a message embedded into chorus that everyone can relate to, making it one of the true highlights for me on the album, and the song I'm most looking forward to when I see these guys play live.  Its followed by two tracks, "Western Time" and "Sunday" that slowed things down and really drew me in, allowing me to catch my breath before it was all over.

The nine songs on "Smoke Signals" prove that Dan & The Wildfire is a much more dynamic band than their fist album, and solidifies them as one of the best up-and-coming bands in the Boston area.  You can check them out on iTunes, or catch them on Spotify, before they come back and play live in November.

Blu's Day: Nod your head, it's Blu & Exile in your ears

To try and follow up an album like "Blind Joe Death" with anything in the same genre just wouldn't work, because well...it's so good. The only option, as I can see it, is to get a leeetle bit out of the box. Thus, I give you one of my underground hip-hop personal favorites, Blu & Exile.

Left coast rapper/producer team, Blu & Exile, came onto the scene in 2007 with their out of this world debut collaboration, "Below the Heavens (<------full stream linked).  Blu raps over Exile's homemade beats and the team puts out an atmospheric first effort.  Nostalgic of the powerhouses in the Native Tongues movement, Below the Heaven's is the 90's revival hip-hop heads begged for for years.

Blu's lyricisms RUN. THIS. JOINT. He spits about everyday things like empty pockets, bumming drinks and cutting out on good times when the mic calls or the studio's free.  The whole album's introspective without being indulgent or isolating, a rare feat that solidifies it's status as a slept-on underground hit. Look at his flow on the opening track "My World Is"...  

"I don't pack stadiums yet, I still rock em/ and they still spell my name fucked up on they flyers, it's B-L-U/ and if you see the E, drop em/ it's like they droppin E from the beats E is droppin/ got you peeps eavesdroppin/ and the world keeps watchin him."

Don't miss out on Exile's flavor holding this album together. His fade outs and patience with the samples are a thing of beauty.  
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On the fourth, Blu & Ex released a re-issue of their long awaited follow-up album "Give Me My Flowers While I Can Still Smell Them."  A previously leaked version of G.M.M.F.W.I.C.S.S.T. suffered from poor sound quality and a couple klunkers so the guys went back and gave the record a second polish.

I caught some of the tracks when the album leaked in December; they didn't stick. This release is much better.  While Blu's lyrics starred on Below the Heavens, Give Me My Flowers is where Exile really comes alive.  The beats are weird, samples are everywhere and seamlessly layered over the laid back style that the duo has cultivated in the 5 years since we've seen them.  Don't buy it? Pop on "Good Morning Neighbor." Yeah, that's Mister Rogers getting dopified, BANG.  Stick around for Fashawn's verse on "Everybody Nose" (probably the best cut of the bunch) and get funky with the horns on "Money."

While it's more than worth a couple laps around a turntable, the album ultimately falls into the traps a lot of sophomore records come across; success and over expectation. The talent's still there. Clever raps are littered all over and Exile works the beats left and right but something falls just short.

It's hard to have an sleeper hit when everyone's waiting for the next tour and scouring blogs for any new material that pops it's head above water.  "Give Me My Flowers" swung for the fences and fell just shy.  With substance that goes miles and beyond the top 40 charts and style that's overflowing out the ears, I think B&E pushed the arsty envelope a little too hard on this one. 

No matter what it's issues are G.M.M.F.W.I.C.S.S.T. is not the last we'll hear of this pair. While Blu & Exile don't put out the clubbangers or boast raps and their style's unassuming compared to most mainstream artists, these two are always on point.  Get lost in a set of earbuds on the T or a burnt copy waiting in rush hour traffic and absolutely stay tuned for the B&E third installment; it has the potential to blow the world apart.

DMB "Away From the World" Review - B+

Dave Matthews Band released their eighth studio album together on Tuesday titled "Away From the World."  Its a very eclectic mix of new and classic DMB sound from start to finish, which makes it pretty sweet journey to listen through multiple times.

Right off the bat, the CD opens with "Broken Things," introducing the album with a tricky guitar riff and a heavy baritone sax.  After Boyd Tinsley and his violin took a backseat on their last album, "Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King," he comes in with a classic solo after the second chorus.

The mood gets picked up fast on the second track, "Belly Belly Nice."  Its a quick and funky track, with a sound Dave Matthews has been working to perfect since his album "Everyday."  The electric guitar, strange lyrics, horns and an awesome hook?  I can't get enough.

The album never really slows down, but there are some tight turns to take into consideration around the track, "Mercy," released as a single a few weeks ago.  The song is very lyric-heavy, straying away from what listeners are used to from Matthews and company.  Its saving graces in Carter Beauford and Rashawn Ross on percussion and trumpet/keys respectively situate it nicely early on in the album, but should not represent the album as a single.

Its nice to hear guitar riffs as the driving force behind most of the songs on this album, something that led Matthews to his huge success early on.  Steve Lillywhite produced the album after working with the band on their first three studio albums, so I estimate some of that can be attributed to him.

"Sweet" is just a great song.  It almost seems like it doesn't belong in the album, especially the fifth track in, but its such an easy-going song, that comes together at the end with some percussion and a horn riff that I can't stop listening to it.  Closer to the end of the album, "Rooftop" brings back memories of "Drive In, Drive Out" and "Satellite" simultaneously in its intro, then hits heavy with a little bit of a breakdown in the chorus.  It has everything you're looking for on this CD.

Stefan Lessard (bassist) completes the original band members along with Matthews, Tinsley and Beauford. Ross, Jeff Coffin (saxophone, flute), and longtime collaborator Tim Reynolds (guitar) round out the group featured on the album.  "Away from the World" is available on iTunes, and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone, even first-time DMB listeners.  Not the best spot to start, but has enough mix to at least be able to give fans a few songs to chalk up as all-time favorites.

Highlights: "Belly Belly Nice"
                   "Sweet"
                   "Rooftop"
                    Beauford's percussion
                    Back to true Tinsley violin sound
                    Horns found their sound

Lowlights:  "Mercy"
                    Lyric-heavy songs, almost political at times
                    
                   

NHL 13 Review: A-

After playing the NHL 13 Early Release until about 4am on Saturday, I think its safe to say that this is the best hockey game since Blades of Steel.

As I've said in an earlier post when the demo first came out, I've been playing the franchise since 2008, and those games have all been a build-up to this.  More realistic, more fair, more accurate puck play and more beating up on the Canadiens and Canucks.

When you start the game, the first thing you'll notice is the ability to choose your favorite team for the menus.  While it doesn't affect the game play at all, its cool to see your team's logo with the team lines flashing in the background.

Onto the real stuff, now.  The game still offers basic modes like "Play Now," "Be a GM" and "Be a Pro."  It also has the popular "Hockey Ultimate Team" mode, which I have never been a fan of (too much thinking), and the new "GM Connected" mode.  I'm most anxious to try out the GM Connected mode, because it let's you and virtually as many friends as you want play together or against each other in a giant league.  You can play with up to 25 user-controlled players on a team -- the entire roster of an NHL team, front to back -- or you can simplify it and just make it so each one of your friends has a team and you go head-to-head through the 2012-13 season.

You no longer have to play meaningless "Play Now" games against your friends or the computer, instead you can log into the league, set everything up the way you want it, right down to your breakout strategies, how aggressive you want your third line to play, and how cautious your goalie will play even when you simulate a game.

Another awesome new mode is the "NHL Moments" feature, when you can play the best performances from NHL history and either re-create them, or completely re-write them.  The NHL franchise had been missing a mini-game-esque feature, and they completely nailed it here.

The graphics have definitely improved a lot, as well.  It seems like last year, the developers didn't even spend time working on character models, and instead just threw a random face on a player.  This year, they spent more effort, at least on the more popular players, to make them look realistic.  The skate sprays, the visible breath when you're playing outdoors in the Winter Classic mode (which you can play at either Heinz Field or Citizens Bank Park this year), and the improved animations on checking and goalie play makes this game stand above the rest.

As far as sports games go, its tough to get a game that's truly realistic to the sport.  In NHL, poke checking the puck may cause it to appear spring-loaded at times, or checking someone might result in them flopping around with what appears to be a dislocated neck, but all in all, its very easy to overlook these things.

The explosiveness and the turning capabilities have been completely revamped to give skating a much more "real" feel.  You can no longer blast down the side boards, and slam on the breaks for an easy spin move (like my roommate used to do), because you'll fall flat on your face, or send yourself into a long slow turn where you'll meet a hungry defenseman.  Instead, the new physics-based skating will slow you down when you are turning, and account for speed in your turns so that the faster you go, the tougher it is to cut.

Of course all of these new features give the game a slight learning curve, even if you are very familiar with the franchise.  It makes for a much more even game among friends, but accounts for a lot of frustration when you are expecting to do things you knew you could in earlier NHL's.  Still, I can't get enough of it.

Overall, I would give the game an A- rating.  A tough learning curve and not enough time for fighting are about the only blemishes on this game, and I would highly recommend it to anyone.  Especially if anyone would like to join my GM Connected league... just let me know.  Game comes out on Tuesday.  Good luck.

New Single From Dan & The Wildfire

If you like music, you'll like Dan & The Wildfire.  If you don't like music, well, then they'll make you like it.

Dan, Kyle, Matt, Sam and Thom are back with their second album, expected in October.  It will be their second release, after the first "Nothing. Anything. Everything.," was released under the band name Dan HL.

While we all have to wait patiently for another month to hear the entire album, they have released their first single, "Californ-ia," available for streaming and download on Soundcloud.  Its got everything you need to get your feet wet with this band if you haven't already -- some nice harmony, a killer keys solo and all-around brilliant songwriting.

As always, don't forget to check out their Facebook page, and scope out their first record on Spotify.

NHL 13 Will Be The Greatest Sports Game to Date

Right after NHL Hitz 20-02 that is, but that's in a completely different league.

The NHL 13 demo was released yesterday for Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.  With its new physics-based skating and improved AI and character models, even with 20 days before its official release, it is being labeled a front runner for Sports Game of the Year.

The NHL franchise has evolved drastically over the past several years.  I started playing the franchise back in 2008, back when Eric Staal graced the cover, and have bought the newest version every year (with the exception of 2011) since.  This year's edition seems to have maximized all of the efforts made for a more realistic and challenging game, while still having that fun, replayability (not a word, but it is now) that brings gamers back.

Certain presentation aspects have not changed much like the crowd and the sometimes ridiculous announcing by Gary Thorne and color commentator Bill Clement.  Luckily, it doesn't detract from the game.  Playing the game is almost a completely different experience from last year outside of mere presentation flaws.  The in-game animations and the character models have vastly improved from last year -- where Brad Marchand had a Jay Leno-sized chin with light brown hair.

The skating is the best part of the game for a few reasons.  It makes you really think about every inch of ice you cover when you skate, whether you're sprinting, gliding or attempting to change directions.  Turning will cause you to slow down, gliding will allow you to turn a little quicker, and sprinting will allow you to blow past defenders, but at the risky of sloppier puck-handling.

From playing the demo, the AI works pretty well, although the computer seemed to dump and chase every other possession.  Other modes, such as NHL Moments Live, will allow you to re-live historic hockey moments, such as the Kings Western Conference clinching game against the Coyotes.  And GM Connected boasts the ability to connect 750 players in an online league.  You can play as one team, join up to five other players on a completely user-controlled team, or watch from the bench and set your teams AI to your play style.

From the demo, I would give NHL 13 a solid 9.  Well, probably a 9.5 considering the varied game modes, added Winter Classic stadium and Zombie Nation being in the playlist. Go download the demo now.

If You Haven't Seen Bruce Springsteen Live, Buy a Ticket Right Now

Tuesday night, Bruce Springsteen opened up a two-night stint at Fenway Park.  The Boss played a killer set, featuring 29 songs that lasted three and a half hours, concluding with a fireworks show and a cover of The Isley Brothers "Twist and Shout."

I've been to my fair share of concerts, from Dave Matthews Band to Guster, Zac Brown Band, Dispatch, Roger Waters, Ben Folds, Rufus Wainwright and State Radio.  Never have I ever seen a show with as much energy, and a band have as much fun as Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band did last night. 

The Wrecking Ball tour has been going since mid-March, and will continue until early December.  The band featured six songs from that new CD, plus old favorites that no one gets tired of listening to.  The encore featured "Born to Run," "Rosalita," Glory Days," "Dancing in the Dark" and "Tenth Avenue Freeze Out" one after the other.  His regular set featured classics like "Atlantic City," The Rising," "Badlands" and "Thunder Road."

If you've never seen The Boss live, buy a ticket now.  Its absolutely incredible, and I can't wait to go back Wednesday night.

Love In Stockholm Rocks Lizard Lounge Again

Love in Stockholm just completed their Thursday night, June-long residency at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge, and after seeing them for a third time, they just keep getting better and better.

During their residency, shows has been broken up into two sets.  Last night, lead singer Charlie Rockwell informed listeners that if they wanted to hear Love in Stockholm, they'd have to wait until the second set, because for their first, they covered The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band from front to back.  Their cover of "When I'm Sixty-Four" was, for my money, the best song of the night, kicking up the tempo but still interpolating the original song's sound late, which was pretty damn impressive.  They put their own spin on every song with their unique style mixed with Rockwell's flawless wailing vocals.  I never second-guessed one of their arrangements -- Too busy jamming out and drinking some Golden Monkey, but we'll get to that later...

The second set was a mix of everything they have to offer, starting with the opening track off their first album, "The Buzzard." They featured a couple new songs that will hopefully appear on their new CD coming out at some point this year.  This was vintage LIS at it's best.  Harmonies were killer, the crowd was constantly getting into the music, clapping and dancing right along with the beat, and each song was sharper than the last.

One of their last songs of the night was the band's anthem, "Allston," which nearly brought down the house.  And no LIS review is complete without a shout-out to Evan Sanders, the simultaneous trumpet and keys player.  During "Beauty Fades, Pt. II," I was trying to figure out who was doing that insanely low harmony, and I've come to the conclusion that it must be him, but whether it was or not, you're not going to find many better musicians.

Wondering why I brought up Golden Monkey?  The guys came out for their second set, half featuring navy blue t-shirts with the Golden Monkey logo, a beer from Victory Brewing Company.  The beer is 9.5%, and packs a pretty serious punch, not that it was going to stop drummer Jesse Humphrey from admitting he had six...

If you haven't gotten down with LIS yet, check them out on their website, follow them on Twitter, or listen to them on Spotify.

London 2012 Video Game Actually Not Terrible

With 28 days til the 2012 Olympic Games in London, the U.S. Olympic Trials are going on in full force.  Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to quell my need for the competition.  London 2012 is available for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC, and compared to its predecessors, its actually a pretty fun and challenging game.

I'm sure everyone has played an Olympic game at some point, whether it be the old school Track and Field or something like Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games.  Both are awesome in their own right, but after a while you realize you're tired and sore and sweating profusely from the button-mashing or waving the Wii-mote around.

London 2012 takes button-mashing and makes it into more of a timing mechanism.  Rather than mash during a 100-meter sprint, now you will have to pace your tapping to fill up a meter and keep it above a line, or else your sprinter's strides will be affected.  In the swimming events, you use the left and right sticks to mimic the swimmers' arms through the water.  It works surprisingly well, and the learning curve to it makes this game a lot more enjoyable.

The game has 46 sports to offer, although a lot of them can be repetitive, like the diving and gymnastics events comprising of timed sequences in which all you do is hit a button at the right time.  All of the track and field events are awesome, the shooting events are just a fun, and even the repetitive sports like swimming (having both the 50m and 100m freestyle, men's and women's) keep you into it because you just want to crush everyone with the USA.

Overall, I'd probably put this game around a 7, maybe a little lower.  It can get repetitive, but if you play with multiple people, it makes it pretty awesome.  Only 50 bucks, too, as opposed to the normal $60 for a new game.  Go USA.