Watered Down: A Music Review

The Bronx - The Bronx
(8.3 of 10)






The Bronx's debut album (also self-titled), back in 2003, blew my innards outwards and then back in with their raw, disorganized, hardcore music. Now back with their sophomore effort, their music seems to have matured, or should I say watered down.

It might come as a surprise to someone who's been listening to the band who gave us the song "Heart Attack American" and then deliver us the poppy sounds of "White Guilt" on their second album. Some other songs are more radio friendly as well but there's still enough rouch stuff in here that makes the album worth listening to. "Shitty Future" for example fits with my current dystopian mood and the plain rock n' roll sound of "Transexual Blackout".

A lot of former fans, the one who got used to their hardcore and disorderly music, will most likely hate this album. Nonetheless, it's still find this album entertaining enough and would suggest to those who are unfamiliar with The Bronx to get it.

Other Reviews

Head Automatica - Popaganda
(8.7 of 10)



Head Automatica's second effort is also a let down. But it's still good compared to what's out there right now. They've eschewed most of their dance/disco rock theme -though some of the tracks like "K Horse" and "Egyptian Musk" still retains the dance rock elements- in favor for a new powerpop sound of the late 70's and early 80's, as their album name suggests. Like their first album, Decadence, the sounds are really retro but with gritty lyrics and vocals.

A.F.I. - Decemberunderground
(8.5 of 10)



AFI's follow up to their exemplary work in 2003's Sing the Sorrow is also another let down. It's different and it's underwhelmed by Sing the Sorrow, but I like it better than their previous works. Most of the sounds in the album pays homage to new wave. Songs like "37mm" and "Love Like Winter" reminds me a lot of New Order and Depeche Mode.

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus - Don't You Fake It
(8.0 of 10)



The debut album from The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus is mediocre, nothing special or artsy soundscapes whatsoever. But sometimes, it's just the simplicity and the sincerity of the music that draws us in. TRJA is an upstart pop rock band that incorporate little elements from punk, alternative, emo, and metal. Most of the songs are catchy, espeically "False Pretense" and "Face Down", and would probably get much attention from teen hipsters out there.

Comics and Gonzo Journalism

I got the two first volumes of the graphic novel, Transmetropolitan. The graphic novel is cyberpunk themed set in a distant and -once again- dystopian future, filled with dark humor. The story is about the writings and adventures -or misadventures- of Spider Jerusalem, the most interesting character I've read in recent years.

Spider Jerusalem is a fearless gonzo journalist -armed with the truth, a typewriter, and a bowel disruptor- that scratches the society’s surface to expose all the crap hidden underneath it. Together with an odd company that he keeps around: a gecko-hunting, three-eyed, two-headed mutant cat that smokes unfiltered cigarettes, and an ex-stripper that acts as his bodyguard and student of journalism, they fight the corruption to make their city a better place.

The first volume, Back in the Streets, featured of how Spider, a mountain hermit at the start of the story, came back to the city to write a book and avoid the pending lawsuit that was thrown at him by his publisher. The second volume, Lust for Life, revolves around, the exaggerated truth and ridiculousness, of religion, television, and preservation (cultural and body). It was a bit dragging but it really paints the atmosphere of a dystopian society.

I believe that most things in the graphic novel, like in most dystopian fiction, could happen in a distant future. The world will, eventually, become smaller with faster travel and better communications. Thus, assimilating different cultures and creating new ones. New religious factions and sects will sprout everywhere. Some might be real, some are for power, and most for money. Ad-wares will not stop in our e-mails and phones but will finally haunt us even in our dreams.

Transmetropolitan was a fun read, and I definitely plan to complete all ten volumes. I laughed my guts out at Spider’s insane rhetoric and eccentric personality. Yet, it also made me realize that if we don’t do something now, our future would be grimmer and more fucked up than the present, very much like in Transmetropolitan.

Farenheit 451

I'm currently reading a book called Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. It is a dystopian fiction about censorship and a conformist society where intellectuals are shunned. It was written around the 1950's and the setting closely resembles this time, the information age.

Books are entirely illegal, and are confiscated and burned, in this story. It is considered as a dangerous weapon for the reason that they can cause discord. A well-read man can belittle another man who hasn't read anything. Two men can write a book on the same topic, but with varying opinions, can create confusion and split the society. Instead of learning from books, every people are equally feed with "facts" through their "walls" and "seashells" so each one knows no better than the other. Critical thinking and reasoning has also been removed from the individuals. The people are just taught "how to do it" but not "why they do it", and those who question "why" instead of "how" are being treated as odd, an outcast, and anti-social. The same treatment goes for the people who don't do what the norm does, like driving fast for example.

In a way, I guess our society now is similar, though not entirely. While books are still being read by a lot of people, some do prefer watching Lord of the Rings in the "walls" (movies), because of the blond elf, rather than reading the book and digging its meaning. Some stare countless hours at their "walls" (flat-screen TV) watching silly shows without texture. Some listens to their "seashells" (iPod, portable radio) because most people does, but are oblivious to their context and meaning.

That said, this book is a very enjoyable and thought-provoking read. I'm still amazed of how Bradbury had predicted the flat screen TVs on the walls or the portable radios. Though I'm glad that he's wrong on his "book-banning future" aspect. Or is it that his book created a lot of Guy Montag, the protagonist in the story, in the last 50 years to prevent the "book-banning future" from happening?

Non-RPG RPGs. What the hail?

Someone decided to become the god of role-playing and wrote an article about non role-playing games, that are role-playing games. While I haven't played some of the games listed in the article, I still consider it bullcrap based on the ones I played.

Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos

"Yet Blizzard managed it by the introduction of Hero Classes - powerful, unique units that could keep inventories, learn new abilities, and level up as you progress through a campaign with numerous side-quests available." -- eToychest

What a moron. First it was Warlords: Battlecry that introduced the hero system to the real-time strategy game. I've told and explained it to a thousand of peoples about a thousand times by now. While inventories, abilities, and leveling up is a trademark of role-playing games, it's not the essential element of role-playing.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

"The Grand Theft Auto games have always been fairly open, but it is in the state of San Andreas that you could really play a role." -- eToychest

There's a fine line between playing a role and role-playing. Playing A role is somewhat pre-determined and written, like an actor reading a script. Role-playing is much more open for improvisation.



Deus Ex

"...the world of Deus Ex is as robust and varied as the best RPGs in the market, rife with character interactions, as well as actual conversations that can influence your progression through the game and net you helpful items. Couple that with [...] a skill system that allows you to customize your abilities, and you're about as far from the standard run-and-gun FPS." -- eToychest

You know why? Because Deus Ex is a role-playing game. Not a non-RPG role-playing game but a role-playing game. Speaking of which, I've installed this game just last Sunday and having a blast.

So, non-RPG RPGs does not exist, and the statement is a paradox. There's only role-playing, none other. Once again, this article is bullcrap. Printing and wiping my ass with this article is not even worth.