Album Review: John Denver And The Muppets - A Christmas Together

Welcome to the final post of 2017, fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

2017 was an awful year. Politics is at an all-time low, a string of terrorist attacks all over the world, Bullshit Justice gaining more & more ground, awesome celebrities & musicians dying, and plenty of other awful stuff just seemingly hitting the fan on a day to day basis. Not wanting to end my posts for 2017 on a serious note, I decided to take a page out of something more pure & innocent. Something that, shockingly enough, doesn’t come from the world of Heavy Metal. This time around, we’re going into the realm of Folk music to end this year on, and I could think of only one man.....John Denver.

That’s right, John Denver! From 1966 to 1997, this shining example of humanity has crafted some of the most kindhearted & emotional music ever put to vinyl, cassette, and CD. Even after his death, the legacy that John Denver created hasn’t died out even just over 20 years after he left this earth. I admit that I never appreciated his music back when I was young, but there was one album of his that always came out around the holidays. One album that’s stayed with me, and one I plan to share with anyone who’s interested. Today, I happen to be sharing it with all of you. So, let’s don our Christmas/Holiday hats, grab a nice cup of cocoa, and enjoy John Denver And The Muppets: A Christmas Together. Let’s begin!

Background
Taken from Wikipedia:

“Better known is the soundtrack album of the same name, which featured 13 tracks of traditional Christmas carols and original songs. This album, originally released on RCA Records in October 1979, was re-released on Denver's own Windstar label in 2000 as an abridged ten-track version; the original full-length CD was subsequently re-released in its entirety in 2006. (The previously missing tracks are "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", "When the River Meets the Sea", and "Little Saint Nick".) All releases of the album contain a different recording of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" than that featured in the TV special, along with their rendition of "Christmas Is Coming".

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", "We Wish You a Merry Christmas", and "A Baby Just Like You" was released as a red vinyl 45 rpm single (RCA PB-11767), while "The Peace Carol", "We Wish You a Merry Christmas", and "Deck the Halls" were issued on a radio-only promo single (RCA PB-9463).

A sheet music edition was also released containing most of the songs and musical scores from the special.”

Basic Description
Simply wonderful.

I admit I’ve never been much of a folk music fan, much less a John Denver fan. That last bit sounds like blasphemy to some of you, and I’m not going to disagree. However, this album has been with me since I was little, and it’s never left me. When I was very young I never fully understood the meaning of some of these songs, and it wasn’t until I was much older that I was finally able to comprehend what was on this record. Even when I wasn’t able to understand, John Denver’s voice was so soothing, and the Muppets always made me laugh even then. It’s obvious that the Christmas spirit is on here, especially when you consider that John Denver has done a lot of this kind of music before. This album always pops up when me & the folks are decorating the tree, and after getting a copy from them a few years, I’ll be carrying it with me until the day I die.

Best Track
This is a legitimately difficult choice. There’s such an incredible amount of love & care put into every song, that picking even a single song is a herculean task. Instead, I’ll go with my favorite tracks, which were much easier to pick out (Though still difficult). For me, my favorite songs are a 4-way tie between their take on the 12 Days of Christmas, the ode to 50s era rock with Little Saint Nick, the heartwarming medley about Alfie, and a humorous version of We Wish You a Merry Christmas. Though every song is worth your time to listen to, these happen to be my favorite out of the bunch.

12 Days of Christmas

Little Saint Nick

Medley: Alfie the Christmas Tree / Carol for a Christmas Tree / It's in Every One of Us

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Worst Track
Nothing on this album is bad. At all. The combination of John Denver’s folk music style, with the lighthearted humor of the Muppets, creates endearing music that has only gotten better as it’s aged. If there was any fault to be had, it would be how long it lasts. Only 2 tracks last for 4-something minutes and 3-something minutes, everything else ranges from 1 to 2-something minutes. It’s weird that each song is so endearing, when so many don’t play for a healthy length of time. All in all, this album plays for just over a half-hour. Just about 35 minutes to be exact. At the same time, the special was about an hour (Just shy of 50 minutes to be honest), so I can’t completely complain.

Other
If you’re curious about this album, click on the link below.

John Denver And The Muppets: A Christmas Together

Overall Impression & Rating
John Denver And The Muppets: A Christmas Together is an immortal Christmas classic. John Denver was always a kind & loving individual, and the Muppets were kind of in the same boat. Put these two forces together, and magic is practically guaranteed. Sure some of the songs might not play for long, but the emotion & memories they create more than make up for this. Do yourself a favor, and pick this album up. I’ll be willing to bet that you’ll like it immediately.

John Denver And The Muppets: A Christmas Together gets a 10 out of 10. An important Holiday classic!

So that was my look at an iconic Christmas album sung by John Denver & the iconic Muppets, and also marks the end of my posts for 2017 (Unless something awful happens before the new year and I talk about it.). It’s been an awful year, but we’re all still standing regardless. I look forward to seeing what 2018 has to offer, and I look forward to seeing all of you come January. Until then, have a great holiday, and stay safe.



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Fun Fact: the special that this music comes from has never been released on home video or DVD. From what little I gathered, this wasn’t a Muppet special that had John Denver as a guest, but instead was a John Denver special that happened to have the Muppets on it. If you’re curious about this special’s history, check out the links below. The first is the wikipedia article that goes into some detail, while the second is the special itself. Enjoy

John Denver And The Muppets: A Christmas Together (Wikipedia Article)

John Denver And The Muppets: A Christmas Together (Special)

The Top 10 Best Christmas Commercials Ever

Happy Holidays, fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

With the season now underway, our newsfeeds, spam E-mails, and Youtube videos are likely filled with some kind of Christmas commercial. Just lowbrow, cheap, and highly insulting crap. It might be hard to believe, but there was a time where Christmas commercials were legitimately magic. These commercials were really heartfelt, and it is/was pure joy to see them. Even in the 2010s, there are Christmas commercials that really have something behind them. After scouring Youtube, I managed to find 10 Christmas commercials that are simply the best. Without further delay, here are the top 10 best Christmas commercials ever. Enjoy!

10) Welcome to Overwatch's Winter Wonderland! 2016 (Commercial) & 2017 (Commercial) & Heroes of the Storm: Winter's Veil 2017 (Commercial)

We start off this list with some fairly recent commercials. In it’s inaugural year, Overwatch hit some pretty big milestones just months after it’s release. It gained millions of players in the span of a few months, and thanks to the release of new heroes, maps, and special events, it keeps people coming in. Although the summer games & Halloween events are fun, it’s the trailers for the game’s Winter Wonderland event that’s the best. Blizzard really captured the magic of the season: there’s merriment about, lot’s of yuletide cheer, and it shows off the content it provides quite nicely. Good job Blizzard, and season’s greetings Overwatch!

Another great trailer is for Heroes of the Storm's 2017 Winter's Veil event. Though their 2015 & 2016 trailer, it's their video for this year's event (Which coincidentally came out today) that really stands out to me. It depicts Valla & Malfurion at a bar (JoeyRay's Bar II, oddly enough), and the atmosphere is rather dour. In comes the bundle of Protoss happy Probius, and he doesn't like what he sees. So, he readily speeds around the bar, bringing in some great holiday cheer, putting of great music, laying down some cookies, giving Valla an elvish makeover, the works. All seems fine, except Malfurion still seems incredibly down. After a few seconds, Probius come up from behind with a gift, and the gesture of kindness warms the druid's heart. I was genuinely surprised by how touching this trailer was, and no lie......but it actually got me to shed a single tear. It might do the same for you as well.

(BTW: I delayed this post a day to wait for the Overwatch & Heroes of the Storm's trailers until today)

9) The Santa Clause (1994) Original Trailer (Commercial)

Since I included some game trailers, I thought it was only appropriate to include something related to cinema. If you were a kid of the 90s, chances are you probably remember this movie trailer. In fact, I bet that a majority of 90s kids went and saw this movie in theaters (I know I did). If there was a reason why kids saw this movie back then, it was probably because of this trailer. Capturing the childhood essence of the holidays, while simultaneously showing off a little bit of the story’s seriousness. Though it’s been ages since I last saw this Christmas movie trailer (As well as the movie itself), finding it recently brought back a lot of nostalgia for me, and I bet it will for you as well!

8) Coke-Cola Polar Bear Commercial (Commercial)

For a long while, I’ve had the coke drinking Polar Bears pop up around this time of year. Their playful antics, coupled with the love they have for one another, makes for something really sweet. However, I’ve always been slightly confused by these, as for the most part they’re not really Christmas-ey. A select few are definitely, but they’re really not. If anything, these fuzzy polar bears just seem to be living it up in the north pole, and Coke Cola somehow manages to come their way. That said, it’s always a treat to see them on my TV screen, and it strangely makes me want a coke sometimes. Guess it’s doing it’s job.

7) Budweiser Christmas Advert 1987 (Commercial)

Continuing on with simplicity, we’ve got the classic Budweiser Clydesdales. To be perfectly honest, I’ve never really had an attachment to this commercial. It was never in my childhood, and since I obviously couldn’t drink when I was younger, I wouldn’t be able to even if I saw this! That being said, it’s a nice commercial. Though there’s a 2006 version, it’s shorten down, and somehow feels less special. The original from 1987 is the one to watch, as it’s a nice minute long piece. The Clydesdales are hooked up to a big sleigh, a tree is put into the sleigh, and from there it’s just a nice trip with the horses. Down the road, past a few houses, it’s just a sweet glimpse of the holiday season, and it just makes me smile.

6) Hershey Kisses Christmas Commercial (Commercial)

Sometimes a Christmas commercial is a lengthy affair, but other times it’s a bite-sized piece of wonder. Case in point is the iconic Hershey Kisses commercial. For just over 10 seconds, a cute group of kisses (Holiday colored of course) complete with a conductor, perform a quick rendition of We Wish You A Merry Christmas. It’s a really sweet commercial, and it’s made all the more remarkable when you find out that it first aired in the 80s (It technically wasn’t even supposed to exist). Since then, an updated version of the commercial has aired on TV ever since, and that’s cool if you ask me.

5) M&Ms Christmas Commercial: THEY DO EXIST! (Commercial)

What the Hershey Kisses commercial was to the 80s, the M&Ms commercial is to the 2000s. Like the previously mentioned commercial, it’s a few seconds long, but at the same time those few seconds were all that was needed. In this case, it’s the red & yellow M&Ms walking into a living room with a bowl of red & green M&Ms (Cannibals maybe?), when they stumble upon Santa who just got in. Both sides get startled, and then the famous lines are spoken:

“He does exist!”

“They do exist.”

The two faint, and the yellow M&M is all alone, holding the bowl that was to be offered to Santa. He simply says “Uh, Santa?”, and the commercial ends. Short, sweet, and to the point. Perfect!

4) Chrismahanukwanzakah - Virgin Mobile (Commercial)

For the longest time, I had the world/phrase “Chrismahanukwanzakah” stuck in my head. For an even longer time, I recalled that I first heard this since 1999. Since then, I kept constantly trying to find the commercial it came from, and while I knew it was from a cellphone commercial, I didn’t know which one. Cut back to a few weeks ago, and low & behold I finally found the commercial in question! It happened to be for Virgin Mobile, and aired in 2007 instead of 1999 (Although I might be wrong). Mistaken year aside, I’m quite surprised by this commercial. As they say in it, it’s all inclusive. There’s a Scientologist (A girl wearing a cellphone outfit), a caveman, 2 Rabbi, 2 African Americans (1 is dressed in Kwanzaa clothing, and the other I’m assuming is Muslim), and a few others I can’t remember. Keep in mind, this display of inclusiveness occurred in 2007, years before Bullshit Justice began taking over. It seems quite genuine, and not at all fake like what I was talking about a second ago. There’s a weird charm to the spectacle, but I guess that’s how it worked so well. What can I say, but to give it a look. Speaking of inclusive.....
                   
3) Priest & Imam Amazon Prime (Commercial)

Yet another recent Christmas commercial that also happened to air back in 2016. I’m not exactly sure if I should call it a Christmas commercial, as it actually aired weeks before December, and there’s really no holiday imagery. At the same time, I can see why people would call it a Christmas commercial. A Christian/Catholic Priest and a Muslim Imam (Who are real life friends) meet for tea, talk, and have a nice time. Shortly after, it’s shown that both suffer from knee problems, and as a act of kindness, the two ship the other a pair of medical knee pads. Again, this commercial doesn’t come across as holiday-related, but the act of pure love & kindness is just so charming, it’s hard to not smile. Definitely a commercial people should watch.

2) 7UP Christmas Commercial 1988 (Commercial)

Storytime: long before DVD, my folks had a recording of Rudolph on tape. Every year, all 3 of us would sit down & watch the movie, commercials & all. The one commercial I always remembered was for 7up. The stars of the commercial were the classic 7up dots, and as usual they were in some kind of shenanigans. In this case, Santa happens to be leaving a house, when a toy firetruck falls out of his sack. Knowing that the toy was for a deserving child, the dots drive it back into the house. Wacky hijinks ensue, as they drive into a tree & pop out the otherside. They get back inside the house, almost running over the family cat, before finally stopping in front of the tree. The dots are flung into the tree, just as a little boy comes into the room, his face sparkling at the sight of the toy firetruck. The commercial ends with a quick pan to the tree, with one of the dots hanging upside down, giving a little “Hush” so as not to disturb the boy. This commercial is really heartwarming, as it feels like it comes from a far simpler time. Even though my Mom, Dad, and myself watch a DVD rendition of Rudolph, I’ll always remember the 7up dots making a night special for one little child.

Before we get to my number one, I wanted to briefly talk about some honorable holiday mentions. Commercials that, while incredibly charming & devoted to the season, don’t quite seem to make it to the main list. Maybe they’re too strange, maybe they’re too obscure, or maybe they don’t hold up as well as more iconic commercials. In any case, let’s take a look at some honorable Christmas commercial mentions.

HM1) Frankenstein Gets A Very Special Christmas Night (Commercial)

There have been Christmas commercials that have, in the past, been odd, but nothing has ever made me scratch my head so hard as this one. Released in November of last year, it’s a holiday commercial for the Iphone. This is nothing new, but the owner of the phone in the commercial happens to be Frankenstein, who is played by Brad Garrett. WTF!?

Anyways, he’s at his home on the mountainside, recording a little bit of music box music onto his phone, all the while sitting next to a fireplace. Come the next day, he happens to find a small package on the ground near his mailbox. Picking it up, he heads into the town below, and proceeds to head towards the main square. With shocked citizens looking on, he inserts a red light onto one of his neck bolts, and a green one onto the other (The package contained the lights). He gets out his phone, and starts up the song he recorded. It turns out that the song in question was There’s No Place Like Home For The Holidays, and Frankenstein begins to sing. Shortly after, the green light goes out, and he stops singing. The crowd of people begin for some reason to get angry, and then a little girl comes over to fix the light that was broken. The two begin to sing, and then the rest of the people sing along as well.

Again, this is perhaps the most bizarre way to advertise for a phone. An Apple phone no less! However, it has so much love & charm put into it on the level of an old-school commercial, that it’s somehow endearing. I’ll never buy an Apple product for myself as long as I live, but I can’t deny how surprisingly touching this commercial is. What else can I say but give it a watch.

HM2) Folgers Incest Commercial - Extended Cut (Commercial)

Alright, I had to have at least one parody commercial on this list. I think by now we’re all familiar with the Christmas commercial for Folgers from 2009 (Correct me if I’m wrong about the year): A young man comes back from a trip, and he’s greeted by his sister. The two seem happen to see each other, and they go into the kitchen for some coffee. After a little small talk, the brother gives his sister a gift, only for her to take the bow, put it on him, and say “You’re My Present This Christmas”. From there, it’s the most creepy few moments on television ever, as the two stare at each other in which looks like an incestuous moment. The intense look in their eyes, all the way to the movement of their lips, give the impression that they may have.....you know.

Anyways, this naturally gave the internet fuel for countless parodies. The one I happen to like is the so-called “Extended Cut” version: it starts out with the original commercial as the setup, then it cuts to the parody. The two parents walk in like usual, and then begins the most embarrassing conversation a family around the holidays ever had. It’s eventually revealed that the brother & sister happen to be going at it, and the present that the brother was going to give was a ring. From their, even more bizarre things occur, and the end result is a hilarious pile of WTF. If you’re in the mood for darker humor, then this parody is for you!

1) Sainsbury Christmas Advert 2014 (Commercial)

Not going to lie, but I’m ripping off the Nostalgia Critic for this one!

For anyone not in the know, Sainsbury is a very old & very famous British grocery store chain. Since 1869, they offered quality products to the people of England, and have effectively become the second de-facto store franchise in the United Kingdom (Think Wal Mart but with 1/4th of the evil or less). Since 2013, the company has put out some phenomenal Christmas commercials. However, it’s their 2014 ad that really tugs at the heart strings, and delves into some incredible history.

In the week leading up to Christmas 1914 during World War 1, French, British, and German soldiers crossed into No Man’s Land all over, and exchanged gifts & pleasantries with one another. The commercial in question sees English & German forces engaging in such activity, and it’s all started by two young soldiers. You see a soccer game, gifts are exchanged, soldiers talking to one another, and I think there’s even someone getting a haircut. Unfortunately, mortar fire signals both sides back into their respective trenches, but not before one last moment of kindness occurs. I won’t say what happen, but suffice it to say you’ll feel a little sniffly when it’s done.

What makes this commercial so remarkable is just how devoted to history Sainsbury was when making this. For just 3 something minutes, the company put in an incredible amount of time & detail. They had an incredible amount of respect for the story, and given that this was released near the 100-year anniversary of the original truce, makes it that much more significant. I can’t say anymore, other than to go watch it.

So those are what I consider to be the top 10 best Christmas commercials of all time. Coming from different eras, it’s a safe bet to say that Christmas commercials will be with us until the end of the world. So, the final post of 2017 for the Heavy Metal Otaku blog is near us, and in a first, it will be a review for a non Heavy Metal album. I’ll leave now, and let the suspense rise.




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If you’re interested in the history of the Christmas Truce, check out the link below:

Christmas Truce (Wikipedia)

Anime Review: Love Hina Again

Hello fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

Today’s post marks the end of a tradition here on the Heavy Metal Otaku blog. Since the earliest days of this site, I’ve taken a look at the Love Hina franchise. In 2014 I looked at the main series, 2015 involved the Christmas special, and last year I reviewed the Spring special. Today marks the last release from this series. A 3 episode OVA that concludes all the zaniness of the crew that lives in the Hinata Apartments, and wraps up the story of Love Hina rather nicely. Let’s not waste anymore time, and check out the mini-series known as Love Hina Again. Let the review begin!

Story/Setup
Taken from the back of the DVD case:

“Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the Hot Spring! Keitaro and Naru have finally begun college life at Tokyo University! After a long period of studying, bizarre happenings, random trips, and misunderstanding upon misunderstanding, their dream has finally come true! However, their feelings for each other are still a little muddled. And with a newer, stricter, manager to run the Hinata Apartments - Will anyone survive Hinata Boot Camp? It’s Love (Hina) Again. Welcome back.”

This is more or less what happens in Love Hina Again. Unlike the more serious nature of the Spring special, this OVA is far more silly & jovial, although there’s still a little bit of seriousness around. The mood and atmosphere is much more like the original Love Hina series, but in a few moments it hasn’t completely shaken off the Spring special’s tone. Luckily, the happy nature more often than not is what you see when you watch Love Hina Again.

Animation
Like the main show & the previous 2 OVA specials, the animation in Love Hina Again is typical Ken Akamatsu. Luckily, that weird color fade issue from the Spring special seems to be gone, and thus the colors come across more like their old selves from the main series & Christmas special.

Voice Acting
As with pretty much every other entry in the Love Hina franchise, the voice acting for the most part is good (Apart from the select few characters I’ve complained about before). With the introduction of Keitaro’s step sister, Kanako, we get some new voice acting blood. Melissa Fahn, the American voice actor for Kanako, does a pretty good job for the most part. At times she does seem whiny (More on this below), but overall does a really good job of representing the character.

Characters
As with the last special, the crew of the Hinata Apartments are back, front & center. In a very welcome change, everybody isn’t quite so serious or whiney as they were in the Spring special. There is a sliver or two of their Spring special personality that creeps in once in a while, but for the most part they’re just like their old selves. With Love Hina Again, we gained a new character in the form of Kanako Urashima, Keitaro’s step sister. I’m legitimately conflicted on Kanako: on the one hand she’s a selfish little brat. Throughout most of the OVA, she only thinks of herself, and isn’t really concerned about the rest of the girls at the apartment. On the other hand, she is a little endearing, and by the end of the show she actually gets over her bad attitude for the most part. She still thinks of herself, but realizes that some things aren’t meant to be.

Availability & Pricing
Along with the prior 2 OVAs, Funimation never picked up Love Hina Again for re-release. I bought my copy all the way back in December of 2013, the day after Christmas. Excluding shipping and handling and tax, the DVD costed $14.99 used, which is pretty good all things considered. Unfortunately, finding copies to buy is almost impossible at this point. Amazon has hardly any available to buy, but the pricing of 14 dollars to about 25 dollars for used copies isn’t half bad.

Overall Impression & Rating
Love Hina Again definitely manages to recover from the blandness that was the Spring special. Regaining much of what made the main show & Christmas special so good, it’s a perfect way to conclude the anime. There are still some shortcomings to be had, but they pale in comparison to the positives that the OVA provides. If you were dissuaded by how weak the Spring special was, then you’ll enjoy Love Hina Again. Definitely recommended.

Love Hina Again gets an 8 out of 10.

And that was my look at the final Love Hina OVA. Better than the Spring special, but just a few inches behind the Christmas special, these final 3 glimpse into the lives of those at the Hinata Apartments are more than enough to satisfy the fans of Love Hina. See you next Monday or Tuesday, as I take a look at some classic Christmas commercials. Until then, stay warm!





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If you’d like to take a look at my review for the Spring special from last year, here’s a link:

Anime Review - Love Hina Spring Special

The Top 5 Albums of 2017

Here is the final top 5 list, fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

We’ve looked at games & movies, so you know what today’s list happens to cover. As with the previous two subjects, there was a great plethora of Heavy Metal albums that came out in 2017. No top 10 this time around: as fun as assembling that list was, thinking of 10 albums & where to place them was a bit of a challenge. Strangely enough, doing it as a top 5 is somehow easier. With that out of the way, here are my top 5 albums of 2017. Let’s rock!

5) Septicflesh - Codex Omega (Sample)

We start off the list with an album that I was definitely excited for. Given my love for their smash hit Titan from 2014, it made said excitement all the more intense. Then, on the first of September, Codex Omega finally came out, and.......I’m not sure what to think! In no way do I hate this album, as the band’s production quality & effort from the last few records is front & center. My issue comes with how all over the place it is. Like I said in my overview back in October, Septicflesh seems to take songs from their previous 3 albums, and stick them on here. Some from Communion, some from The Great Mass, and some seem to have come straight from Titan. Codex Omega might not be consistent when it comes to it’s personality, but it’s quality in no way diminishes how badass Codex Omega is. Good on you Septicflesh!

4) Turmion Kätilöt - Dance Panique (Sample)

Much like my top 5 games of 2017 list from last week, this list shares parallels with another. In this case, it’s my top 5 albums of 2015 that this has connections to. I admit, I didn’t know that the Industrial Metal titans from Finland would crank out another record. It wasn’t until the very beginning of this year that I saw some previews show up on Youtube. After listening, I was intrigued by their next offering. Little did I know that a mere 2 months later (It was originally supposed to be released in February, but there was a delay into March), they would release perhaps a masterpiece of an album. In many ways, listening to Dance Panique was almost like listening to their earliest material from the early/mid 2000s. Though a little bit of the “Dance” element from their prior 2 albums was still around, they in no way diminish how heavy & brutal the record is. Industrial fans, this is the album for you!

3) Moonspell - 1755 (Sample)

Far in a way the most unique & intriguing release from the Portugese masters of Gothic Metal, Moonspell hit it out of the park with their 11th release. A love letter to their native Portugal and the 1755 Lisbon Earthquake, 1775 is sung completely in Portugese to add more flavor & identity to the album. Although the language barrier is a hindrance for those that don’t speak the language, none the less I respect this decision that Moonspell went with, and this helped result in the creation of a great record! It’s far stronger than Extinct from 2015, and I’m far more likely to listen to this album on repeat. Definitely a great album for Goth fans!

Also, Moonspell, if you happen to see this, please put out an English edition later on down the line. Fans of you guys here in the states would greatly appreciate it!

2) Mastodon - Emperor Of Sand (Sample) & Mastodon - Cold Dark Place (Sample)

For a while, I had considered prog masters Mastodon’s 2017 release to be the number one album of 2017. For the first time ever, I finally understood the appeal of this band, and their ability to turn tragedy into a unique & fascinating story with funky and heavy music is incredible. That being said, given how politically charged this year was, there was one album I thought was far more appropriate to put at the number 1 spot. Regardless, Emperor of Sand is a wonderful album. It’s usage of real life issues really makes the record rather personal to Mastodon, not to mention listeners. I would say what specifically affected the band.....but it would ruin the twist as it were. I cannot say anymore, other than for all of you to seek out Emperor Of Sand. It’s worth your time.

Also worth your time is Cold Dark Place. Though it’s only a 4 song LP, these tracks are pretty good in terms of quality. Recorded during the Once More Round The Sun (First 3 Songs) and the Emperor Of Sand (Last Song) sessions, it’s a shame that the tunes weren’t put on the albums previously mentioned. At the same time, it’s cool that we got these songs on something, and they have the same high quality from Mastodon as we’ve gotten for a while. A Cold Dark Place indeed!

Before we get to my number one album of 2017, I want to take time & talk about some honorable mentions. These albums are in now way awful, but they have elements they prevent them from making it onto the main list. Maybe it’s an odd quirk, or maybe it’s something else. Regardless, I would recommend these albums, flaws & all. With that out of the way, here are 2017's honorable mentions.

HM1) Paradise Lost - Medusa (Sample)

I was hoping that I wouldn’t have to put this album here. When I heard that Paradise Lost was putting out an album this year, and it would be a return to more of their Doom & Gothic Metal mentality, I was excited. Then the album came out, and......to a degree I got what I wanted. The instrumentation & atmosphere definitely comes across as very doom-laden and gothic, but the vocal work still seems centered in their Death Metal past. To a degree this makes sense given what their last album was, but at the same time Nick Holmes’s vocal work is far more suited to his smoother singing when the band goes goth. Regardless, Medusa is a beastly record, and should easily satisfy fans of the band.

HM2) David Bowie - No Plan EP (Sample)

What Made In Heaven was for Queen, No Plan was for David Bowie. Like Queen’s last album, listening to this EP made me feel like I was listening to a ghost sing. This EP is even more haunting than Made In Heaven or Blackstar for the simple fact that these 4 tracks.....almost come across as the last gasps of a dying man. Even with this heavy emotion behind it, I simply cannot deny the quality of each song, and as such, I still would recommend this to any David Bowie fan that hasn’t given it a try....or any other fan of music for that matter.

1) Kreator - Gods Of Violence (Sample)

2017 was perhaps one of the most politically charged years in recent memory. Left & Right tearing each other apart, the rest of the world going to hell in a handbasket, and bullshit justice oozing all over everything makes it that much harder to go through each day. Given everything that’s happened, it seemed necessary that one of the big 4 of German Thrash Metal would headline this list, and Kreator was happy to oblige! Released at the end of January of this year, Gods of Violence might be the Teutonic legend’s most politically charged album they’ve ever made. In fact, it almost seems like much of the material on the record is geared towards political issues. With song titles like Satan Is Real & Totalitarian Terror, it’s obvious that Mille Petrozza & the rest of Kreator had a goal in mind......and they succeeded at it. Raising a middle finger to all of what’s weighing the world down, Gods Of Violence is an essential modern day metal classic, and one you shouldn’t avoid!

These were my top 5 albums of 2017. My least weird of the top 5 lists, but strangely enough I’m thankful for that. I’ve got 3 more posts before this month’s end, so come back Friday for the first of this trio. Until then, turn the volume up to 11!



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If you like to know what I thought of last year, check out the link below:

Top 10 Albums of 2016

The Top 5 Movies of 2017

The end of the year continues, fellow Otaku & Metalheads.

A few days back, I showed you what I thought were the top 5 games of 2017. It was a fun list, but we leave the world of consoles & controllers, and may our way to the realm of cinema. Like video games, 2017 hit it out of the park when it came to films. I saw a bunch of movies this year, and many of them I liked a lot. However, I can only pick 5, as tempting as it was to expand the list this year. With that out of the way, here are my top 5 movies of 2017. Enjoy!

5) XXX: Return of Xander Cage (Trailer)

We begin this list with the first movie I saw this year, and boy oh boy was it a dumb one....but in a good way!

To be perfectly honest, I was never fond of the original XXX films. I didn’t necessarily think they were bad, but I always thought they took themselves a little seriously to a degree (1st one a little more than the 2nd one). With this 3rd film? It’s very obvious that they know what’s going on, and the actors revel in the stupidity. Everything is over the top, goofy, and silly, but the fun factor is maintained to such a degree that I never felt bored at any point throughout this movie. Return of Xander Cage harkens back to a time when action movies were about hokey fun, rather than trying to have some kind of serious message (Thanks Bourne movies). If you want some “Brain Turned-Off” time, the Return of Xander Cage will fulfill this urge.

4) Saban’s Power Rangers (Trailer)

Now here was a movie that was a big surprise to me!

When I first heard about this film, I immediately shook my head. At a time in which the Power Rangers are clearly beyond their moment in the spotlight, it was shocking to see it still going. When I saw the trailers, my fears were heightened. The look of everything was just bizarre, and that was when I said I wouldn’t see this film. Then, when the reviews came out by nerds that said the movie was surprisingly well, my curiosity got to me, and thus I saw the film. After watching it, I was shocked by how much I enjoyed it! It has some small issues, but I found that this incarnation of the Power Rangers managed to do it’s own thing, while simultaneously showing respect towards what came before it. If you want to hear your inner 90s child cheer, take them to this movie.

3) Wonder Woman (Trailer) & Thor: Ragnarok (Trailer)

I’m.....genuinely conflicted on Wonder Woman.

On the one hand, I loved it! For the first time in a long time, DC made a great superhero film. Gal Gadot was a wonderful choice for the featured heroine, and the rest of the cast was no slouch either. The sets were great, the action & pacing were top notch, and the story (Despite some small snags) really kept me in my seat! On the other hand, gender politics came in like normal it seems. Given that it’s a movie about Wonder Woman, it’s understandable. My problem lies from the “Women Only” viewing a little before the release (You know the one). Only girls/women at a movie screening I don’t necessarily have a problem with, but not letting the male employees work that night? Really!? Would even one male employee really have ruined the experience for every female patron there!? Despite that, Wonder Woman is an awesome film. My suggestion: throw gender politics aside, and just have fun with this film!

Now, a superhero movie that doesn’t have gender politics is the fantastic Thor: Ragnarok! Compared to Captain America: Civil War from last year, I thoroughly enjoyed this 3rd entry far more. Unlike Civil War, Ragnarok had a far more comedic bent to it that most other Marvel films, although there were still some serious elements to the story. The interactions between Thor and the Hulk were an awesome & even mix between silly and serious, and the cast was a wonderful selection this time around. Even the few scenes with Karl Urban weren’t bad, as he had some scenery to chew on. Wonder Woman was definitely fun, but Ragnarok is the movie I’d be more tempted to see twice.

2) Dunkirk (Trailer)

My number 2 & number 1 share a weird parallel with my original top 5 movie list from way back in 2014. Namely, World War 2 & kids movies occupy this portion. I have to admit, I wasn’t interested in Dunkirk at first. It seemed to take itself much more seriously than Fury from 2014, and there wasn’t anyone I recognized in the film. However, interested slowly arose overtime, and when my folks when to the theater (Forgot what they saw), I went to see this movie instead....and I liked it! It’s not quite as action packed as Fury from 3 years ago (Despite having some great firefights), as it opts for more of a storytelling route instead of an action flick, but it works. Dunkirk shows of 3 different stories, and each of them are intertwined with one another. There’s the air force, the navy & civilian ships, and the soldiers that are waiting to get rescued. My serious movie of the year, I cannot recommend Dunkirk enough to anyone who’s a fan of World War 2 history.

Before we get to my number 1, let’s go over 3 honorable mentions. The movies here were definitely great, but maybe they weren’t quite as good as the rest of the films on this list. Perhaps it was timing of the film, or maybe it was because of the writing or some other factor. In any case, here are my honorable mention films of 2017.

HM1) Star Wars: Rogue One (Trailer)

If this was released in November last year, and I saw it in November, chances are it would have appear on that list somewhere. However, Rogue One was released in late December, and I watched it with my folks 2 days before Christmas 2016. It was so late last year, that I could only include it on this list in the “Honorable Mentions” section. As to what I thought of it? I enjoyed it....for the most part. As I sat through the film, I was amazed as to how few of the characters I actually liked. With the exception of the 4 I liked (The droid, the Indian pilot, and the two Asian guys), I really didn’t feel a connection to anyone. Even the female lead I thought was boring for some reason, as she came across as dry with her acting. That said, Rogue One was fun! It was interesting to see the story of the Death Star plans getting into the hands of the Rebel Alliance, and despite my dislike of almost all the cast, it was fun to watch their interactions. This wasn’t quite as good as The Force Awakens was from 2015, but I would still recommend Rogue One to any Star Wars fan that was interested.

HM2) A Silent Voice (Trailer)

No dub. The only reason that this movie is in the “Honorable Mentions” part of this list is that it’s only in Japanese. Despite that, A Silent Voice is hands down one of the biggest feels trains I’ve seen in a long time. Though it has an issue or two, this anime feature film is one of the most mature titles to have ever come out of the land of the rising sun. It’s a heartwarming & heartbreaking tale of friendship, loss, bullying, redemption, and has a high level of respect for it’s audience. Even for those individuals who aren’t anime fans, A Silent Voice should really be watched by said individuals. Those who are anime fans....well, this movie is a given to view.

HM3) It (Trailer)

Their aren’t many exceptions I give to the world of horror. The 2017 revision of It is one of those few exceptions. Though it still isn’t quite as accurate as the book, it is far more connected to the novel than the 90s incarnation. The shift in time to seeing the kids in the 80s rather than the 50s is an interesting change, as are a host of other things. The effects were great, the acting from the kids (And even the adults) was subperb, and the overall mood felt more believable that how it was presented in the 90s. I sadly didn’t get the chance to see it a second time, but once the DVD comes out, you sure as heck will bet that it comes to my movie collection!

1) Lego Batman (Trailer) & Lego Ninjago (Trailer)

Are any of you surprised by this?

To be perfectly honest, I was quite surprised to find out that 2017 would get two Lego movies instead of one. To be perfectly honest again.........I don’t care! I love the original Lego movie from 2014, and the quality of that film came over to these two. Much like the previously mentioned film, Lego Batman & Lego Ninjago are incredible films for modern kids to watch, but for those who are older & love childhood nostalgia, they’re great too! As with The Lego Movie, these two features look as if the toys came to life, and while the lessons in each aren’t quite as strong as the first, they’re still great. Lego, you hit it out of the park again in 2017. I look forward to what’s next with great anticipation!

So these were my top 5 movies of 2017. An interesting & intriguing list, but the movies I saw this year were all over the spectrum. At any point, I would probably watch any of these all over again. I’ll see you all this coming Wednesday, when we’ll take a look at my top 5 albums of 2017. Until then, sit down with a bowl of popcorn why don’t ya!




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If you like to know what I thought of last year, check out the link below:

Top 5 Movies of 2016

The Top 5 Games Of 2017

Welcome to December, fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

Well, somehow we’re still here. Despite having one of the most corrupt presidents in our country's history, despite left & right going at each other’s throats, and despite everything going to hell in a hand basket......we’re all alive. 2017 was actually a pretty strong year in the world of entertainment. Games, movies, and music were damn good in 2017. Since this is the last month of the year, it’s time for my annual top 5 lists & holiday-related posts. I’ll start off with what I consider to be 2017's top 5 games. All of the following titles I enjoyed in various capacities, but I enjoyed them all the same. Let’s begin.

5) Dark Souls 3 (Trailer) & Five Nights At Freddy’s: Sister Location (Trailer)

If you recall my list from last year, you might remember that both of these games were on the “Honorable Mentions” section. I didn’t play either of these games, and instead watched playthroughs of each game on Youtube. The reason they’re on the list here this year......is because I finally decided to sit down & actually play these games!

Let’s start off with Dark Souls 3, and holy crap this game was terrifying! Watching it is one thing, but playing it is another. The legend of this game’s difficult was known to me, but I didn’t heed the warnings. Upon my first few hours, the warnings were shoved into my face hard. Once that was over with, I was treated to a highly gothic & atmospheric RPG, with a sliver or two of realism put in. The bosses were immense, and even some of the regular enemies could prove troublesome. Coupled with a tragic & immense story, and you have a game that will give you hours of enjoyment. 3 cheers for Dark Souls 3!

Sister Location, on the other hand, has a slightly funnier tale. I had actually bought the game in October of last year, but not long after, Markiplier began his playthrough of the game. In addition to being scared shitless, I was surprised to see how much more involved it was compared to prior entries (Still annoyed at FnaF 4). Seeing how much more you had to do, I decided to ultimately skip it. However, around late August of this year, I finally decided to give Sister Location a go, and......wow, I don’t think I was wrong about the game. This game is hard! I can certainly see the appeal of each game, and this one is no different. Each night has you doing different things, from understanding the ropes of the factory, to slowly crawling your way towards the circuit breaker to get the power back on, it gets harder as you progress throughout the game. FnaF 4 made me rage quit hard, so I’ll do the best I can to not rage qu.....aww man, I rage quit again!

4) Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (Trailer)

I think it’s been a few rough years for Call of Duty. After the release of the abomination known as Ghosts, hatred towards the franchise has gotten incredibly worse, and this hatred has become incredibly apparent with the release of Infinite Warfare’s trailer, much less the game itself. Make no mistake, this game has issues: Steam & Windows edition are incompatible, hacking & exploiting wasn’t properly punished early on, and the supply boxes can still be a jip. Despite that, I found Infinite Warfare to be one of the most refreshing Call of Duty entries in a long time.

The sci-fi might be a bit overwhelming this time around, but traveling around space & fighting on the various planets was awesome. Each of them felt alive & unique, and they all looked incredible. Zombies was a considerably goofier & sillier affair, yet it didn’t lose any of the intensity that Treyarch’s & Sledgehammer’s offerings provided. The multiplayer, while problematic in certain aspects, can be incredibly fun. Yes, Call of Duty nowadays certainly deserves the criticism, and many titles in the franchise haven’t aged well, but Infinite Warfare actually has some effort & love put into it. If you’re still loyal to the franchise but haven’t played it, or if you’ve been away from Call of Duty for a while and you want to get back into it, then Infinite Warfare might be what you’re looking for.

3) Dream Daddy (Trailer)

2017 was an interesting year for gaming. You saw iconic franchises come back with an infusion of new life, and you saw brand new games come to the fold to offer something new. Enter the dating game known as Dream Daddy. I have to admit, I was rather hesitant about this one. One singer father, moving to a new neighborhood, meeting many other fathers, and eventually starts to date them. It’s a really odd & goofy premise to be sure, but one that’s also highly intriguing as well. Usually with a setup like this, it tends to be over-the-top & silly, but there’s an incredible amount of maturity involved. Granted, there’s a little bit of ridiculousness (A Goth dad.....really?), but the way everything is portrayed is done as realistically as possible. Though this isn’t one of my absolute favorites of 2017, I still recommend it for anyone who wants a visual novel more on the realistic side.

2) Nekopara: Vol 3 (Trailer) & Slime Rancher (Trailer)

With the world going to hell in a handbasket, sometimes it’s right to take in some sunshine & rainbows, and these two games provide a hell of a lot of sunshine & rainbows!

Let’s start off with part 3 of the story of a bakery owner, and his harem of catgirls. I had volume 2 on my list for last year’s list of games, and I still stand by that choice. This time around, part 3 in my view is a much stronger entry. In addition finishing up some parts of the story with the previous 4 girls, volume 3 deals with Maple & Cinnamon. The last 2 girls that Kashou forms a relationship with, their tale is a little goofy, but it’s got some lighthearted humor, fanservice, and some drama to even it out. If you haven’t, play the other Nekopara entries before you give this one a try. After that, play what seems like the last entry in the Nekopara series a go. It will be a purrfect time!

And then we’ve got Slime Rancher. This game is nothing but pure smiles, and it seems like it gave smiles to a lot of other people. This game is adorable to the 10th degree: there’s no blood & gore, no grittiness, no bleak outlook on things, and no dark themes. Smile Ranchers is the very embodiment of putting a rainbow into a video game, and letting people plays with the colors. All you do is find slimes, raise them in your farm, feed them, improve said farm & equipment, and look for more slimes to research & raise. A simple game with simple goals, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Before we get to my number 1, I’d like to talk about some honorable mentions. Games that, while fun, just weren’t quite as high on the totem pole. Maybe it was because of my own personal views, maybe it was because of it’s design, or some other reason. With that out of the way, here are my honorable mentions of 2017.

HM1) Tattletale (Trailer)

How the hell do you make Furby terrifying!? This game, that’s how! Tattletale’s detriment is two-fold: exceedingly low replay value (It’s only worth playing twice), and incredibly stressful moments (Play the last part. You’ll understand!). With that said, holy cow was this fun! It’s momentary & fleeting most definitely, but the tension this game builds is impressive, and even the jumpscares were very well earned (Apart from the last level). If you’ve got 5 dollars in your wallet, and you just want to blow that cash, then Tattletale isn’t that massive of a waste.

HM2) Diablo 3: Rise of the Necromancer (Trailer) & Shadow Warrior 2: Bounty Hunt 1 & 2 (Trailer for BH 1)

Among a plethora of gamer terms, the letters “DLC” often cause one’s blood to boil. Often considered a sign of greed, there have been plenty of pieces of downloadable content that have been utter garbage. However, when a piece of DLC actually works.....people take notice. In the case of the first DLC, I was excited for it. Having been announced at Blizzcon 2016, the Necromancer was asked for since Diablo 3's initial release, simply due to sheer nostalgia. When it finally came out back in July, said nostalgia flooded my mind. The Necromancer gave me another reason to play through D3 again, and I was impressed with how nostalgic the class was, while at the same time showing off the ways in which it was changed. With Shadow Warrior 2, the Bounty Hunt DLCs were special because of two factors: they were both free of charge, and they added new guns & skills. Unfortunately, both of these didn’t add anything to the story, but like the Rise of the Necromancer DLC, Bounty Hunt 1 & 2 game me excuses to go back to one of the most over-the-top FPS games in recent years (Not to mention one of my number 1 games of 2016). Again, DLC can be awful, but when it’s done right......it’s great!

HM3) Super Mario Odyssey (Trailer)

I’m a member of the PC master race. Ask anyone who knows me even on a casual level: I have had a keyboard in my hand since the early 90s, and there’s one with me now. However, if there was ever a reason to go back to consoles (Long story), it would be the most recent journey of the Italian plumber from Japan. Much like Slime Rancher, Super Mario Odyssey is a rainbow put into a video game, and the player is allowed to play with the colors. Also like Slime Rancher, Mario’s latest game is made of pure smiles, as I had a constant happy face as I watched a playthrough of it. Super Mario Odyssey, you know how to make a bad mood go away!

1) Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (Trailer)

I am not a horror fan. Outside of a select few games, anime, & movies, I stay the hell away from it. However, even though I don’t like the horror genre, every once in a while something comes along, and I just have to give it some props. The seventh entry in the Resident Evil series was a much needed return to form, as well as an adrenaline boost to the arm. 5 & 6 were big deviations from the old formula, so to see the survival horror aspect come back was incredibly refreshing. One interesting change was it’s usage of first-person perspective instead of the traditional 3rd-person. You have to scrounge for weapons & ammo, supplies, and items to advance. There’s hardly any monster variety, and you constantly watch out for the head of the Baker family, lest he kills you in a gruesome fashion. This tension follows you constantly, from the Baker residence all the way to the mines, and never lets up. So Resident Evil 7, for going back to the tied & true, you get my number 1 spot. Congrats!

So that was my list for the top 5 games of this year. Possibly one of my more stranger lists of 2017, but these games are anything but. Give them a go, and enjoy. I’ll see you all next Monday, when we’ll look at my top 5 movies of 2017. Until then, game on!



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If you like to know what I thought of last year, check out the link below:

Top 5 Games of 2016