So a friend of mine is a rather big Muse fan (I merely enjoyed their last album, "Absolution". The only other thing I've heard is "Origin of Symmetry" which is average at best for my tastes), and informed me that there was a "leak" of their July release, Black Holes And Revelations.

He spent a great amount of our conversation last night fawning over the initial tracks until, already tired and quite bored, I told him that we'd discuss it more tomorrow after I listened to it prior to getting a few hours of rest. As you may have ascertained from this blog's presence, I indeed listened to it today and was quite pleased with its overall merits. I'll spare you all from my (likely undesirable) opinions of the work in an overly verbose critque and just sum it up in a single sentence.

Muse has created an album that actually warrants repeateded critical listens.

That, ladies and gentleman, is an altogether rare quality in contemporary, mainstream music.

Now that Muse is out of the way, there are a few bands remaining on the short list for new albums that I'm anticipating in 2006:

- The Mars Volta's "Amputechture", the lyrics will astoundingly be even more cryptic, and ultimately vapid, I'm beting.)
- Thom Yorke's "The Eraser"
- The Fall of Troy (more likely for the beginning of 2007 though)
- Primus' album MAY end up coming out this year - Claypool's recently released solo, "Of Whales and Woe" is quite good as well by the way.

After being disappointed (relatively, at least) by Tool and The Flaming Lips' (I apologize to TFL for this nonsense, this album is actually quite good ha) latest efforts, I'm cautiously anticipating those albums listed above.

Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and The Tower of Mirrors for the Nintendo Wii was announced earlier this week as a launch title, but little else in way of actual details were divulged. However, this little bit seeped out soon after the unveiling:

Product Summary
Scenario and Game Design: Yuji Horii
Character Design: Akira Toriyama
Music: Koichi Sugiyama

Which made me view the potential "seriousness" of this product in an entirely new light. Could this possibly be more than just another Dragon Quest spin-off?

What do you think?

Well, it was certainly a surprise when I read the following treatise on a forum I frequent quite often. Consider the following for yourself:

(For the sake of your sanity, meaning that it's quite long, I've refrained from adding my own retort alongside this blog. If people actually being to respond here though, I'll do so in the comment section - I'd rather not potentially bias anyone.)

As you guys know, I'm a KH fan. One of the reviews I read about KH suggested that it dealt with Existentalism. I thought that was the craziest claim anyone could ever make. But now...


Lately, in English class, I've been studying Existentalism according to Jean Paul Satre. The other day we learned about the three parts that make up the self:

Being in itself-Knowing that you are aware of yourself

Being for itself -Being aware of your physical existence

Being for others-Gaining your identity by how other people view you.

Now compare those to the requirments one must have to be a complete being in the KH universe:

The soul=Being aware of yourself

The shell=Being aware of your physcial existence

The heart=something that gives you feelings or at least the illusion.

Everyone knows that in the KH universe, once someone becomes a heartless, their heart is seperated from their body. This new heart becomes a heartless, while their soul and body are left over to become a nobody. Notice that this is called a "nobody". Yes, according to Satre, if you are not complete with all three parts of yourself, are not entirely there. So, to become a complete being, they need to get back their heart. The Nobodies are said to be missing hearts, and yet, it seems that they can show feelings. After thinking about it for awhile, I've come to the base that nobodies do not need to go about getting hearts from KH, but just need to let other people see that they have hearts, by getting others to realize their own feelings. Roxas and Axel both exhibit sadness in their last moments, and I feel that this is when they have come closest to becoming complete beings.

There's also some other things I've noticed just strewn about the game:

For one, there is a room called Proof of Existence. For another, I could of sworn that the boss battle before the final boss, the boss says "No Exit", which is a play written by Satre.

So, what do you think? Have I gone crazy? Or is there some connection here?

Well, is he crazy?

In a few hours, regardless of your respective time zone, Microsoft's Japanese division will be holding a conference in order to detail the future of the X360. While I am not necessarily a fan of the console at this point, as a gamer I find any situation where a significant annoucement (or annoucements) is due to be had. There are several rumored issues that have the potential to be discussed in the course of whatever speeches occur, some of the more intriguing ones are:

- The rumored Tales of... title.
- The rumored Phantasy Star Universe port.
- The rumored June relaunch for the Japan region.

These are some potentially weighty annoucements for the X360 console as a whole. What will come of them? What kind of tricks could Microsoft having resting up their sleeves in attempt to turn the tide of their lackluster Japanese fortunes?

I also look forward to hearing more about Mistwalker's projects, and would be quite suprised if at least one of them wasn't there in video form.

Bits and pieces:
- I think I'm going to give in and purchase a DS now, rather than wait for the DS Lite. The price is significantly cheaper (plus various bundles), and while I do adore the aesthetic upgrade the DS Lite was so graciously blessed with, I'm growing impatient in getting the hardware ha. I do have a question for you knowledgable DS owners however - is there anyway to emulate the GB/GBC games on the DS? 16-bit era?

- I picked up Wind Waker for the first time since December according to my save file... I was subsequently treated to both the brilliance of it (excellent, basically unparalleled puzzle design) and its utter incompetence (sailing the goddamn 900 seas).

- South Park made fun of Family Guy today... that's irrelevant. What I'd like to know, however, is when South Park became a soapbox for Matt and Trey's idea of right and wrong? Did I miss something in the last 5 or so years since I stopped watching it?

Back to Wind Waker it is. Well, after a little more Sportscenter.