CD Reviews
Neil Young
Prairie Wind
This is a handsome collection of songs from one of our music legends. Whether it's rock, country, folk, Young is always worth listening to. Prairie Wind is a terrific music/video package that should make please Neil Young fans. The music is hit and miss for our tastes (with only a few misses), but there are some wonderful songs here. Whether or not you dig all the material, you will have a greater appreciation of it all once you view the DVD of the recording session. This is must-see for recording fans and, in our opinion, the best way to listen to the music on Prairie Wind. So make use of your video system.
DVD Reviews
Street Fighter: Alpha Generations
Although the animation is awesome, the story of Street Fighter: Alpha Generations leaves something to be desired. Perhaps if it were longer than the 45-minute television format, the plot could have been more developed. Nonetheless, if you're a hard-core Street Fighter fan, you'll enjoy this DVD.
Alanis Morissette
The Collection
This compilation of the singer/songwriter's songs starts from her 1995 release of Jagged Little Pill to the present day. Since it's not a greatest hits album, you haven't been subjected to hearing every song countless times on the radio. That's a plus if you aren't an Alanis enthusiast, but it's a deficit if you want those recognizable songs all in one place. If you want one of those compilations, you'll have to buy all her albums and make your own playlist. www.maverickrc.com
Tupac
Live At The House Of Blues
The man lives on, thanks to unreleased songs and concert DVDs such as this. While various House of Blues concerts have left us feeling a little unsatisfied (the recordings aren't always the best and the footage is lackluster), Tupac's, perhaps because of his performance and the material, makes a much more entertaining DVD. With some appearances by Snoop, Nate Dogg and more, along with bonus music videos, this is an absolute buy forTupac fans.
The Go! Team
Thunder, Lightning, Strike
It's a strange mix on paper: a high-energy UK combo that makes liberal use of both high school cheers and '70s, up-with-people sampled melodies, and somehow manages to do it completely without irony. The Go! Team are something like the Avalanches, with dense loops, old-school hip-hop leanings and a kitchen sink approach to song craft, but they round things out with an actual band that plays their own instruments. "Get It Together" sounds like your grandmother's record collection in a tornado colliding with an entire squad of prize-winning cheerleaders. Actually, every song sounds like that. Pretty amazing. www.columbiarecords.com -Douglas Adams
5.1 Revie
David Bowie
David Live & David Bowie StageIf there's a rock band or solo artist who deserves a 5.1 remix, it's David Bowie. Not just because of his stature and not necessarily because his music would translate better than others in terms of the surround sound format, but because there's always been a slightly off-the-beaten-path quality to his songs. It seems fitting to hear them in new ways. Even his "straight-forward" rock songs are a bit crooked. Put these two discs together and you have 41 of Bowie's best numbers, live and in the studio in glorious 5.1.
Dead Kennedys
Fresh Fruit For Rotting VegetablesThe Dead Kennedy's debut album gets its billionth re-release, finally done right. The original cover art is here with the flames and burning police cars. The music is just as incendiary, and even better than you remember. The digital remastering may have something to do with that, but the Dead Kennedys were also way ahead of their time, marrying punk, politics and art in a way that has yet to be bettered. "Holiday in Cambodia" and "California Uber Alles" are particularly devastating. They were playing much closer to traditional rock than, say, PIL, but that just made the message all the more poignant. The CD is packaged with a DVD documentary about the making of the album. www.manifesto.com -Douglas Adams
PS2
Tiger Woods PGA Tour '06
PS2
Strangely enough, this new Tiger Woods game on PS2 isn't as fun as last year's game for Xbox. Most of that really has to do with the graphics. We anticipate that when the new Sony platform is released, these discussions of graphic superiority will fade. For now though, it's key to game enjoyment; and because of that, this '06 iteration just isn't a must buy.
FIFA '06
PS2
One of the better soccer games out there, this version on PS2 is made for the real football fan who subscribes to satellite TV just for the coverage of the European clubs. The great gameplay experience is closer to the real thing than, say, basketball or American football games that are sometimes frustrating.
Game Reviews
Xbox 360
Project Gotham
Xbox 360
The latest iteration of possibly the most popular driving game on Microsoft's newest game platform, Project Gotham has a hyper-real quality to it, thanks to the tireless efforts of the programmers and the engineers behind the 360. The graphics are startling in their realism with incredible details of the track and surrounding environment. More importantly, driving physics are improved. And now you have more driver views as well, adding to the overall experience.
Xbox
Moto GP 3
Xbox
Taking the Moto GP franchise beyond the limits of Grand Prix racing, Moto GP 3 enters street racing in the Extreme Mode. While experiencing the atmosphere following the Grand Prix Championship, gamers hone their skills on the streets with 16 tracks, 16 bikes, a currency system and full bike customization. Circuit racing includes 17 original tracks and a new seeding system for moving up the ranks. www.thq.com
PSP
Gretzky NHL '06
PSP
Now that hockey is back, fans can indulge in some video games as well without too much resentment. Hockey, like soccer, translates well enough into a video game. This one is the only one available on PSP; and certainly the only one offering Gretzky, Gretzky and more Gretzky. He's so great his name deserves repetition. And if you're a hockey fan, this will be more than just Ice Capades.
World Championship Poker 2
Featuring Howard Lederer
PSP
Over time, poker games will (we hope) be on par with advanced chess programs. WCP2 isn't quite there yet, but it is an improvement over past versions. The poker face/tell/bluff feature is problematic but not too annoying. Once you build up your poker chops, you can play against some of the game's greatest, including of course Howard Lederer and Annie Duke, et al. There's also a variety of games, not just hold 'em.