And, as usual with these kinds of things, you never know who you're going to run into--although it's a safe bet you're going to run into some music industry types, recognizable by their search for free booze. I ran into Robin Esrock, who hosts a travel show on OTN I believe, backstage at the Bacardi B-Live tent, and who I haven't seen since the infamous Global Warming pool party in March. (Overheard just now in the Fairmont Whistler Hotel lounge: "We came all the way from Chicago to see bears. What is the best way to do it?") Also hanging out--actually lying recumbent on one of the canopied beds set up outside--was Janine Jankowski, she of the nice stems, while her DJ boyfriend Jesse James did the rounds. Nearby, the B-Live tent, devoted to electronica and dancebeats, was a frenzied, sweaty barn-dance the couple of times I looked in on it. The musical highlight of the day was easily Kathleen Edwards rocking out (in a black evening dress, no less) on her great, funny, killer post-revenge track "Back to Me." This lady can rock, no doubt.

Meanwhile, the girlfriend-type-thing (a phrase coined by her own friend Rachel!) is also in Whistler, where I'm staying when not at the festival. But she's with five other girls as part of a stagette party. I'm hoping, so I have something interesting to report next time, for stories of decadence and debauchery with lingerie and battery-operated toys.

Band: Scars on Broadway
Album: Scars on Broadway
Erscheinungsdatum: 29. Juli 2008

1.	"Serious"	2:07
2.	"Funny"	2:55
3.	"Exploding/Reloading"	2:15
4.	"Stoner-Hate"	2:00
5.	"Insane"	3:07
6.	"World Long Gone"	3:16
7.	"Kill Each Other/Live Forever"	3:05
8.	"Babylon"	3:56
9.	"Chemicals"	3:13
10.	"Enemy"	3:03
11.	"Universe"	4:15
12.	"3005"	2:54
13.	"Cute Machines"	3:03
14.	"Whoring Streets"	3:01
15.	"They Say"	2:48

Funny

Funny ist durchgehend ruhig, der Song gefällt mir persönlich vom ganzen Album am besten. Eigentlich gibt es hier nicht viel zu sagen. Daron zeigt, dass er durchaus singen kann und die beiden Gitarren klingen einfach wunderbar harmonisch.

If I was there with you for long
Would you be singing me this song?
I'm holding on...

Exploding/Reloading

Wieder ein härterer Song mit einem Refrain, der aus den zwei Wörtern des Titels besteht, die in eine 0815 Melodie verpackt wurden. Der Text weiß überhaupt nicht zu überzeugen, da er nicht nur kurz ist, sondern auch langweilt. Dieser Song wäre es bei manchen Bands nicht einmal  Wert eine schlechte B-Side zu sein.

I am, I am Genocide
Mixed with Turkish lies, yeah!
I like, I like Jesus Christ
Mixed with suicide, yeah!

Kommt das wem bekannt vor? System-Fans sollten gelangweilt sein...

Stoner Hate

Hier kommen das erste mal definitiv Metalsounds zum Vorschein. Der Song ist sehr schnell und auch hier sind die Lyrics eher schwach. Ich sehe den Track als nervige Interlude. Es geht um einen Psychopathen, der in Kalifornien am liebsten jederzeit Morden würde.

Superfragilisticexpialadocious
Is a word to me
Mamma mia!
Losing all my patience
When we're all about to get it
It's so easy to say
Easy to say

Insane

"Insane" ist eine Ballade, die wenig Text bietet und fast nur aus dem Chorus besteht, allerdings weiß der Track doch zu überzeugen, da gewaltig viel "Ohrwurmpotential" vorhanden ist. Der Text spricht eindeutig für sich:

Dream, dream your broken dream
You'll see the things I never see

Let's go insane again
Bring back the pain again

World Long Gone

Endlich frischer Sound. "World Long Gone", bietet vielschichtige Instrumentenklänge gepaart mit einem Text der sehr direkt ist. Das Ende ist ein würdiger Schluss für den guten Track.

I look at the sky, faded,
I reach, the stars

Maybe I don't know
How many people are starving
In this world long gone

Kill Each Other/Live Forever

Auch einer der besseren Songs, mit einem lahmen Refrain, aber einem genialen Break. Die Gitarren setzen aus Daron singt weiter und wird daraufhin mit starken Backing Vocals (von sich selber) unterstützt.

We don't want to believe
That the world can still move on,
We don't want to believe
That the sun can still shine on.

Babylon

Der Song fängt wunderbar an, sehr ruhig und melanchonisch, bis ab 01:31 der Song erst richtig startet. Die Gitarren, Drums und der Gesang werden lauter. Der Song ist in Ordnung, aber in meinen Augen kein Überkracher.

Marooned again, you were the one that put me in defense
Marooned again, you were the one that took my confidence
I liked the way we slept on rooftops in the summertime
If we were all marooned again, I'd give my soul to save your life

Chemicals

Gesangtechnisch ganz schwacher Track, der dazu passend auch einen schlechten Text hat. Der ganze Text ist purer Nonsens und offensichtlich unter Drogeneinfluss entstanden. Da der Song anscheinend noch nicht schlecht genug war, gibt es unglaublich schlechte Synthsounds obendrauf.

Madness
No One Cared
Looking Around And Nobody There
When I Say Fuck The World Lets Get Ready To Rock
As I Piss On Your Face While You Suck On My Cock

Enemy

Der Mensch wird in dem Song als Feind der Erde dargestellt. Daron zeigt zu Beginn was mit der Gitarre so möglich ist, das war dann aber auch schon das Highlight des Songs. Die bekannte System-Interlude "Drugs" ist in den Song integriert. Ich finde jedoch, dass diese wenn dann in eine Liveperformance gehört und nicht in eine Studioversion eines Liedes, da jeder 12 Jähriger bessere Lyrics schreiben kann...

We're on drugs,
We're on drugs,
We're all on drugs,
We're on drugs,
We're on drugs,
Baby, we're all on drugs,
Do you like drugs?

Universe

Universe beginnt temporeich um dann wieder langsamer zu werden. Der Gesang in den Versen ist kein wirklicher Gesang, sondern erinnert an das Lesen eines Gedichtes mit ein wenig singen.

Comets falling for the earth,
Is this the end or a re-birth?
Never seen the sky like this,
You never want to die like this

3005

3005 ist das Jahr was die Menscheit laut Daron nicht überleben wird. Der Song ist allgemein wieder ruhig gehalten und ist vom Gesang her okay, doch finde ich ist alles was in diesem Song gesagt wird schon unzählige male gesagt worden.

Let's clap our hands,
for the president
and Jesus Christ
and did I mentioned Charlie Manson and everybody else, who was nice.

Übrigens Frage ich mich nach diesem Track, ob der Wortschatz von Daron über "Jesus Christ, genocide, president und motherfucker" hinausreicht.

Cute Machines

Der ganze Song besteht hieraus:

Cute machines,
That I love!
Cute machines,
I can't get enough

Ganz ehrlich, egal wie genial die Gitarren klingen könnten, das ist ja wohl ein schlechter Scherz 03:03 mit diesem Inhalt zu füllen. Mehr bietet der Song nicht, naja - schwachen Sound und Gekreische von Mr. Malakian.

Whoring Streets

Ist endlich wieder ein Song der gut ist. Die Gitarren sind ruhig und auch der Gesang bleibt ruhig, besonders gut sind die Backing Vocals zu hören, die diesmal nicht von daron selbst sind.

Whoring down your whoring streets,
Killing you while you're killing me.
It's time,
To show all you people you will never survive

They Say

"They Say" startet mit extrem schäbigen Gitarrensounds und ist ein richtig dreckiges Stück, welches am besten dem Metalgenre zuzuordnen ist. Als ich den Song einem meiner Freunde vorgespielt hab sagte er tatsächlich "Alter, das könnten wir ja besser!". Metal-Fans kommen bestimmt auf ihre Kosten, doch ich vermisse das was System ausgemacht hat.

If you were me, could you defend
The given rights to all of men?
Let's fuck the world with all its trend
They say it's all about to end
They say it's all about to end
They say, they say

Fazit

Und so komme ich zu meinem Fazit, Scars on Broadway hat einige gute Songs, jedoch viel zuviele schlechte. Das Album hat 15 Tracks, bei denen ich viele für überflüssig halte. Und nein, ich höre nicht nur die ruhigen Songs, wie man eventuell nach dem Review vermuten könnte. Es sind nüchtern betrachtet einfach die besseren Werke. Ich bin begeisterter System of a Down Fan, doch Scars on Broadway schaffen es bei weitem nicht zu überzeugen. Serjs Album ist in meinen Augen/Ohren fantastisch, es wirkt rund und hat eine Message, während Scars on Broadway so wirkt, als hätte es das alles schoneinmal gegeben.

Weiterführende Weblinks

Offizielle Website
Scars on Broadways MySpace
Wikipedia - Scars on Broadway (en)
Wikipedia - Scars on Broadway (de)

Amazing!

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Was in Wacken, Scheeßel oder anderen Kleinstädten schon funktioniert hat, wird auch in Lüdinghausen aufgebaut. Das Area4 Festival ist zum zweiten Mal zu Gast. An 3 Tagen wird geschwitzt, getanzt und sich geliebt, aber bitte nicht geduscht! Alles was ein Musikfestival ausmacht. We came to Dance, so der Titel des amerikanischen Geheimtipps The Gaslight Anthem, die bereits Freitag für Furore Sorgen könnten. Der Titel könnte zum Motto des Festivals werden. Wie bereits im letzten Jahr geben sich die Acts die Klinke in die Hand.

Headliner des Freitags ist die kleine Berlin Combo von Die Ärzte. Nach einer Mamuttournee von über 60 restlos ausverkauften Shows feiern die drei Berliner ihren Tourabschluss in Lüdinghausen. Eine von zwei exklusiven Shows in Deutschland spielen Slipknot. Mit neuen Masken und bald erscheinenden Album präsentiert sich die neunköpfige Kombo um Frontmann Corey Taylor dem deutschen Publikum. Andere Töne schlagen Blood Red Shoes an. Viele Vergleiche zu den White Stripes sind fehl am Platz. Erstens ist die Frau (Laura Mary Carter mit Namen) an der Gitarre und Steven Ansell trommelt drauf los. Zweitens sind die Lieder tanzbar und melodisch. Drittens lässt Laura Mary die Herzen mancher Männer garantiert höher schlagen, die sich tolle „Girls who play Guitars“ wünschen. Wer lieber auf Frauen am Bass steht, bekommt seine Möglichkeit bei den Subways. Vor 3 Jahren schmetterte Rock´n Roll- Queen durch die Indie-Diskos dieses Landes. Dass die Band jedoch wesentlich mehr drauf hat, beweisen die drei Briten mit ihrem neuen Album „All Or Nothing“, dass sie auf dem Area4 vorstellen. Musik der etwas anderen Art kommt von Gogol Bordello. Die Gipsypunk-Band aus New York City mit Karl Alvarez (All, Descendents) am Bass. Eine Mischung aus osteuropärischer Folklore und tanzbarer Punkmusik macht diese Band so einzigartig und beileibe nicht schlecht. Unverkennbar ist die Stimme Serj Tankian. Eigentlich Sänger der legendären System of a Down sorgt auch sein Soloausflug für strahlende Gesichter. Einen Unterschied zur Band wird man beim ersten Hören kaum feststellen, nur kann man ihm nicht böse sein, da er das macht, was er am Besten kann. Seine Stimme zum Gänsehaut Feeling trimmen.

Für weitere Gänsehautstimmung wird garantiert zum Ende des Sets von Pennywise gesorgt. Doch auch vorher werden die 4 Jungs aus Kalifornien zeigen, warum sie, wie keine andere Band, die Punkszene seit Jahren dominieren. Ihr neues Album Reasons to Believe gab es für einen bestimmten Zeitraum zum freien Download und mehr als 600.000 Menschen nutzen diese Chance. Und Pennywise präsentieren sich so wie man sie kennt, nur noch perfektionierter! Den Mittelfinger zum American Way of Life und immer geradeaus durch. Man darf sich freuen!

Weitere Bands im Line-Up: APOCALYPTICA, MILLENCOLIN, MADSEN, SCARS ON BROADWAY, DREDG, PLAIN WHITE T'S, LESS THAN JAKE, I AM KLOOT, GOLDFINGER,  THE BLACKOUT, SMOKE BLOW, LOUIS XIV, KILIANS, YEAR-LONG DISASTER,BLOODLIGHTS, BETA SATAN

Die Eckdaten: 29 - 31. August 2008, Flugplatz Borberge bei Lüdinghausen (Dülmen), Ticketpreis 89€,  der Vorverkauf läuft! Für weitere Infos einfach auf das Area4 Logo klicken und schon landet ihr beim Festivalprogramm.

Martin WhiteTapes

Bildmaterial: Pressefreigaben

YRB Magazine releases its Politics Issue, #84, guaranteed to spark up conversation and indefinite controversy. The issue revolves around the upcoming presidential election from the point of view of hip-hop stars, musicians, young wounded Iraqi veterans, and every day people. Featured artists and rap legend Nas takes the cover, and features include The Game, Morgan Spurlock, Serj Tankian and Emmanuel Jal. The Politics Issue is sure to press some buttons, open some eyes, and offer guidance to people craving real insight to tough issues our country is faced with.

The upcoming issue tackles the tough world of politics, and in true YRB fashion, it is a no holds bar debate. The issue covers everything from a break down of hard-hitting issues, the war in Iraq, cool ways to support your favorite candidates, and how to wear your heart on your sleeve with politically incorrect fashion statements. 

The following features are broken down in the issue:

YRB Radar introduces readers to the latest up-and-coming artists in the music world. These individuals all represent different parts of the music industry, as well as different parts of the world, and will be making their mark on us soon. Artists include jazz sensation Esperanza Spalding, hipster rappers The Knux, Estonia pop star Kerli, Akon prodigy Colby O-Donis, and hip-hop rock MC’s Saturday Knights.

YRB Profiles rapper Emanuel Jal, Boston band Street Dogs, reality TV winner from Survivor Africa winner Ethan Zohn and independent documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock to ask them tough questions about their personal views on the condition of our country, and what they are doing to help make the world a better place.

The Game talks to YRB about everything from growing up in Compton, how his California roots shape his identity and the rap he creates, as well as his run ins with the law. He discusses how he is changing with the times and how his music will reflect that.

Nas is interviewed about his 9th and most controversial album to date, and his justification behind focusing it around the “N” word. The motivation behind the album is about uniting people, regardless of race or ethnicity, while not caring who he offends in the process. He offers his political opinions and hopes for the future election.

The Voices section is sure to hit an emotional note by showcasing young wounded Iraqi veterans, and the hardships they have endured off and on the battle field. These veterans let loose by giving us a true insight as to what their struggles were, as well as how they have changed physically and emotionally as a result. Also, regular, everyday people give us their views on everything from the War in Iraq, President Bush, who they think would make the best future president, and more.

Top 20 Ways to Spark Change by Johnny Mundo offers advice to wannabe advocates of the political world to get involved and ways to achieve positive change. Ways include Going Green, Get Rowdy at a Protest, Don’t End Up in Jail, and more.

As always, YRB has the sickest graphics and the best of what’s new on the art scene in their Visual Anarchy section.  The politically driven artwork represents the artists’ views (and dismays) of our current economic status. These pieces show the struggles everyday Americans endure, from rising gas and oil prices, to oppression and widespread political corruption.

In addition to the special features in the Political Issue, YRB shares with you its album, gadget/electronic, and video game reviews keeping readers on the cutting edge of technology and music and the latest must haves they can’t live without.

Am doua mega-stiri :D

1)Red Hot Chili Peppers nu se despart!
Formatia Red Hot Chili Peppers s-a razgandit in ce priveste decizia de a lua o pauza de activitate.si :)

Red Hot Chili Peppers vor aborda insa o noua directie muzicala in ceea ce priveste viitorul lor album de studio. Rockerii au ales drept producatori ai viitorului LP pe componentii duo-ului francez dance, Justice.

Xavier de Rosnay si Gaspard Auge vor produce viitorul material discografic RHCP, desi nu au mai facut acest lucru pentru nici un alt artist, mentioneaza The Sun.

Albumul de debut intitulat + al celor de la Justice , aparut in 2007, a fost nominalizat la Grammy in acest an in cadrul categoriei Best Electronica Album, iar piesa D.A.N.C.E. a intrat in cursa pentru Best Dance Recording si Best Video.

2) Serj Tankian, solistul System Of A Down, a lansat un nou EP care se intituleaza Lie Lie Live. [yay :D ]
Tracklist-ul EP-ului este urmatorul:

01. Lie Lie Lie (Live From MySpace's "The List")
02. The Unthinking Majority (Live From MySpace's "The List")
03. Empty Walls (Victorious Club Mix)
04. Sky Is Over (Fawk Yeah Remix) (EP Version)
05. Empty Walls (Dub Remix)

una din melodii, Sky is Over. E superba, mai ales pentru un fan SOAD for life ;)

Toxicity estaba en el nº1 de varias listas norteamericanas cuando se produjeron los trágicos ataques del 11-S.

Cruel coincidencia.

The awesome band "System of a Down" who have been on a break since 2006, have pushed their comeback/reunion to the side for the time being because they are all too busy working on their own projects.   

Serj Tankian is releasing his solo material.  Daron and John are performing with the band "Scars on Broadway."  They say, if it feels right for them to bring SOD back, then they will but they are all pretty content with the way things are right now. 

 I love you Serj, you rock!! -Nurse Cherry

Read more HERE.

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Hij stond onlangs in het voorprogramma voor Smashing Pumpkins in België en staat ook op een hele resem festival-podia deze zomer.

Hoewel hij solo nog niet zoveel bewezen heeft, spreekt zijn stijl mij wel aan op het eerste zicht, en lijkt hij mij op zijn minst een fotogeniek persoon te zijn. Op zijn minst de moeite om hem het voordeel van de twijfel te gunnen. Het meest bekende nummer volgens mij is 'Empty Walls'.

Serj Tankian - Empty Walls

En live op Rock am Ring ziet dat er goed uit, en klinkt dat ook niet slecht!

 
Serj Tankian - Empty Walls (live @ Rock am Ring 2008 )

Het bekijken waard dus! 

01. Lie Lie Lie (Live From MySpace's "The List")
02. The Unthinking Majority (Live From MySpace's "The List")
03. Empty Walls (Victorious Club Mix)
04. Sky Is Over (Fawk Yeah Remix) (EP Version)
05. Empty Walls (Dub Remix)

Podem fazer o download do EP neste local.

To really understand who they are it is helpful to watch interviews that they have done over the years. Now there are some pretty messed up interviews as people try to box them in and get definitions out of them that are not there originally.

But to see someone interview them who really understand where they are coming from is a beautiful thing. If you can get past the crassness and the language... there is so much truth in this video series... so much depth...

I don't know the exact punctuation and layout, but here's my interpretation. Corrections are welcome as are thoughts on who or what Jeffrey represents.

I'd also like to add that "who pays the bills sets the ways" applies not only to foreign policy. It's fundamental in capitalism and although it has its benefits, there are dire consequences when unrestrained.

Serves plenty of food for thought and the word play is delightful.
 

Jeffrey, Are You Listening?

Blessed are the criminals that pursue crime as a hobby,
as soldiers who kill the enemy for fun,
as hookers prostituting for joy,
tall trees and submarines,
skin deep abrasions.
Gods children serving dearly should be forgiven.

Jeffrey, are you listening?
Are you listening?

Out of their fierce bellies
like a swordfish dance hall metholyptus cough drops you on your ass.

I'm encountering a strange revival:
that of the mind.
Thinking, unobsessed, scrutinising
mechanism of our human experience
unlike the staggering loop forced contemplations
of the ego-based mind of trouble and canoes.
I am re-encountering the thriving pinnacle
of the expansive existential thought processes.

Jeffrey, are you listening?

Out of their fierce bellies
like a swordfish dance hall metholyptus cough drops you on your ass.

On the other foot,
why not laugh?
Laugh of well being
for it is that which drives us men to evolve.
It's the trick of life.

Jeffrey, are you fucking listening?

We are freezing
standing in front of our electric heaters, nuking our food.
We are tired of your transparent "Who pays the bills sets the ways" foreign policy.
We are tired of sending our troops to foreign soils to die,
not knowing why
and who's interest they were sacrificed for.
We are ashamed to see the way you take care of your people
by cutting social services and aid to those most in need.

Explain me something:
How could the richest country in the world have starving children?

Here's the fucking point:
Nations and their governments should provide, protect and serve its citizens.
Not the interest of the multinationals.

Jeffrey, are you listening?

Their self-titled, 5-track debut EP is set to be released mid July on Epitaph's Anti- label, and the sound has allegedly been described as "a hybrid of Led Zeppelin and Dr Dre."
The band, who described themselves as a "warning delivered and a promise kept," take their name from a photograph taken in 1970 by George Rodriguez of some graffiti saying "It is better to live one day as a lion than a thousand years as a lamb."

In other Rage Against The Machine related news,  Tom Morello's follow up to 2007's 'One Man Revolution' is set to be titled 'The Fabled City' and due for release September 30 on Epic Records.
Tom Morello: The Nightwatchman will have eleven tracks and will feature Shooter Jennings, System of a Down's Serj Tankian and will be produced by Brendan O'Brien (of Pearl Jam, RATM and Audioslave fame).
Morello describes the album saying "There is a much more rocking quality to this record, solos and riffs, mixed with darker acoustic songs."

Will the parts be better than the whole? Will we get two great acts for the price of one?
Morello and Serj - thats gonna be intense! Zeppelin and Dre - thats gonna be interesting to say the least!
I can't wait!

More Cowbell!

O guitarrista do Rage Against The Machine vai lançar dia 30 de setembro seu segundo trabalho solo, desta vez teve participação de Serj Tankian (System Of a Down), sabe-se que Tom Morello é um cara que respira musicalidade, isso ele demonstrou no Rage Against e no Audioslave, banda formada pelos instrumentistas do RATM e por Cris Cornell, ex Soundgarden. Apesar de tanto envolvimento no  rock, Tom jamais deixou de lado as causas sociais, provando que se cada pessoa fizer o mínimo possivel pelo próximo nós poderemos viver num mundo melhor.

Bem, Audioslave não existe mais, porém em agosto vai rolar show do Rage Against em solo norte americano, vai que dá uma sorte e eles aparecem por aqui, para dar o ar da graça em terrritório tupiniquim, vamos aguardar por novidades.

Ouça Tom Morello: www.myspace.com/tommorello

Ouça Rage Against the Machine: www.myspace.com/ratm

Ouça Audioslave: www.myspace.com/audioslave

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Serj Tankian - Empty Walls

Your empty walls
Your empty walls
Pretentious adventures
Dismissive apprehension
Don't waste your time
On coffins today
When we decline
From the confines of our mind
Don't waste your time
On coffins today

Don't you see their bodies burning
Desolate and full of yearning
Dying of anticipation
Choking from intoxication
Don't you see their bodies burning
Desolate and full of yearning
Dying of anticipation
Choking from intoxication

I want you to be left behind those empty walls
Taught you to see from behind those empty walls

Those empty walls
When we decline
From the confines of our mind
Don't waste your time
On coffins today

Don't you see their bodies burning
Desolate and full of yearning
Dying of anticipation
Choking from intoxication
Don't you see their bodies burning
Desolate and full of yearning
Dying of anticipation
Choking from intoxication

I want you to be left behind those empty walls
Taught you to see from behind those empty walls

Want you to be left behind those empty walls
I taught you to see from behind those empty walls

From behind those empty walls
From behind those empty walls
The walls
From behind those empty walls

I loved you yesterday
Before you killed my family

Don't you see their bodies burning
Desolate and full of yearning
Dying of anticipation
Choking from intoxication
Don't you see their bodies burning
Desolate and full of yearning
Dying of anticipation
Choking from intoxication

I want you to be left behind those empty walls
Taught you to see from behind those empty walls

I want you to be left behind those empty walls
I taught you to see from behind those empty walls

From behind those empty walls
From behind those fucking walls
From behind those god damn walls
Those walls
Those walls

Read more HERE.

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IGN: Do the PS3 or 360 versions of World Tour boast any features not included in the Wii build?

Karthik: Other than the obvious graphical differences, we've really tried to keep the Wii on close parity. The team has been working really hard to deliver a deep, rich experience for the Wii consumer. We're not copping out with a simple port.

A simple port being exactly what the last entry in the series was. After reading that article, it looks to me like Activision realized that the Wii market is large enough to actually cater to them. Downloadable content is a huge plus, and it sounds like the game will be able to read it off of SD cards so you can actually download more than two things without filling your system memory, something Nintendo itself either hasn't or doesn't want to figure out how to do. With this confirmed, I'm significantly more interested in getting this game, so long as the song list is up to par (and it has "Santeria" on it, so I have my hopes up). Also interesting is that, though not confirmed, there's a possibility of being Nintendo songs in this game.

IGN: Have you thought about licensing Nintendo music for Guitar Hero: World Tour? Imagine rock-style remixes of classic Mario tunes.

Karthik: This is another great idea we have discussed already, but right now there's nothing we can announce for Guitar Hero World Tour.

So hopefully all the character customization stays in too, because none of the characters ever interested me.

Also in the band-game market (that's what I'm calling it now), Konami recently announced Rock Revolution, which, although they've technically been established in the music game genre longer, doesn't look like it adds much to arouse interest.

So this third competitor in the battle of the band games has guitar, drum, and vocals, and adds a Jam Mode, which is interesting. On the other hand though, like I've probably made clear by now on my blog, a music game is nothing without a good track list, and Rock Revolution sports a 40-song set list... of covers. As much fun as System of a Down's "Chop Suey!" sounds, is it really going to be all that great without Serj doing vocals? The set list actually sounds pretty good so far (Metallica, The Ramones, Motley Crew, The Killers, Soundgarden, Fall Out Boy), but all covers? I'm skeptical. Not to mention that the screenshots show far less visually appealing... falling note areas (what are those things called?) that almost scream "knock off" which this entire game sort of feels like. I'm not sure just how well this latecomer is going to do, what with Guitar Hero and Rock Band already so strongly established and Rock Revolution not looking like anything all that competitive.

I was also going to do a post about the Spore Creature Creator, but I downloaded it and learned that evidently my computer doesn't have a good enough graphics card to run it...

Also, I totally didn't realize Final Fantasy Tactics A2 was coming out next week. Maybe I'll try to pick that up when I go get GNV FLA next week (by the way, the next part of my Less Than Jake history will be posted tomorrow).

And as long as I'm adding tiny snippets to the end of this post, I have a request. If you're somewhere where Guitar Hero is set up in public, say a fundraiser or fair or something, and people are waiting in line, please don't play "Through the Fire and Flames" on expert on pro face-off, especially if you can't play it. That song never ends, and you're not as funny as you think you are. The joke was old before you even started, and the people waiting for you to finish your seven minutes of thinking you're being hilarious are aware of this.

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SERJ TANKIAN tour dates:

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