I've gotten my hands on some new pop culture, rifled through some old stuff at long last, and here are my reviews:
Everclear, Slow Motion Daydream
Everclear's music is so formulaic. Granted, this album sounds nothing like Sparkle and Fade, but their sound has very slowly evolved into this modern, tame, I-have-a-daughter-who-means-the-world-to-me sort of pop sound instead of their introductory my-girlfriend-died-of-an-overdose rebel sound. This newest one is a sort of ultimate evolution of the pop sound that started with Soundtrack to an American Movie, Vol. 1. Sometimes the album even starts to take the band in a new direction that sounds like easy, timeless rock like Springsteen or either of the Dylans. It's definitely not the Everclear of old, but it is confident, easygoing, and strangely still easily identifiable as Everclear. Recommended for fans, everyone else give it a single listen.
Call of Duty
What the hell? This game's practically a year old. Well, like many games, I finally finish it way after it fades from the public eye. It's one of many World War II FPS's, even designed by most of the team responsible for the original Medal of Honor. About half of the original MoH crew from 2015 broke away from the pack at the end of the MoH project and formed Infinity Ward, and this is their first baby. The inspiration from MoH is definitely there: artwork and architecture are very familiar; many objectives play out in the same fashion. What's new is the game's simplicity and absolutely amazing production value.
Gameplay: The inclusion of three distinct campaigns gives the gameplay three separate impressions: the Americans rely on teamwork (provided amazingly by some very convincing combinations of AI and scripted teammates), the British SAS prefer to keep quiet, and the Russians simply pray for survival as you watch your comrades get mowed down by the dozens. I can't count the times when ambushes leave you clueless as to where to go, or your commanding officer gives you an order only to be taken out seconds later by enemy fire. There's a noticeable lack of plot in this game, but it's not really a problem. The game is more of a war immersion than a storytelling experience, and it works very well. From the first American entry into a French village the day after D-Day, you're in the very middle of the fight.
Graphics: A year ago, they were great. Right now they're not the best-looking thing out there (blame Doom3 and Far Cry) but they're thoroughly modern and it'll be about another year before they look even the slightest bit aged. Expect the Quake III technology to crank out a few more good experiences before the Doom3 engine really gets put into widespread use.
Sound: Amazing. Bullets and explosions everywhere, teammates bark at each other and crack the occasional joke, and it's downright scary when you hear sniper fire but you can't pinpoint where it comes from. Creative uses Call of Duty to demo its newest hardware and it's obvious why when you try the game out - even more so when you get a high-end 5.1 or 7.1 system going. The entirely orchestral score is reminiscent of MoH (and, yes, Saving Private Ryan) and it gets better as the game gets along. By the time you're a Russian storming the Reichstag in the game's final level, it's such a beautiful and moving moment that the weak-hearted FPS player might start to tear up.
Production value: At the top of the ladder for modern FPS games. There's never a gap in objectives, tension, sound quality, attention to detail, animation, level design, variance in art......
Final verdict: An amazing FPS and a very solid game. Recommended for everyone except those who hate FPS games. If you haven't played it yet, give it a spin.
What's next: An expansion developed by Gray Matter (creator of the decently-produced but boring-as-hell Return to Castle Wolfenstein single-player segment) has just hit stores this week. It includes new gameplay sequences including on-rails shooting and air combat, but the biggest improvements will be hailed by the thriving multiplayer community. Infinity Ward is at work on a sequel but no details are available.