tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19615600959983725792024-02-07T01:33:56.397-06:00Reuben Horst's BlogExploring the world through pen and ink (and a keyboard).Arkatoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11039709923343918989noreply@blogger.comBlogger265125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1961560095998372579.post-27904728650225478792020-06-28T18:12:00.000-05:002020-06-28T18:12:27.689-05:00Complacency vs. DisabilityWho am I?<div>
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What is my place?</div>
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I want to help.<br />I don’t know how.<br /><br />Black lives matter,</div>
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because all lives matter.</div>
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Do I stay silent and let</div>
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more qualified people talk?</div>
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Is my silence harmful?<br /><br />I need to educate myself<br />on my lingering ignorance.<br />There is a lot.<br />But I don’t know how.<br /><br />It’s not easy.<br />Simple does not equal easy.<br />I’m disabled.<br /><br />My personal cognitive issues don’t compare to the systemic oppression of so many others.<br />But I feel like my disability is often overlooked or ignored,<br />or not believed,<br />and used as a weapon against me.<br /><br />I’m not lazy.<br />I’m disabled.<br />I want to educate myself.<br />I want to research what I need to know.<br />But I don’t know how.<br /><br />I know how physically.<br />I don’t know how mentally.<br /><br />I used to wonder about slavery. About the Civil Rights movement.<br />If I were alive then, would I choose the moral, the righteous side,<br />or remain complacent and just watch history as it happened?<br /><br />I’m a very complacent person.<br />I’m used to not being able to affect things.<br />I’m used to not taking sides.<br /><br />Often, taking manufactured sides is evil.<br />Politics, religion, any damn disagreement.<br />The Us vs. Them mentality is pure evil.<br /><br />But racism.<br />Racism is pure evil.<br />Fuck racism.<br />I want to be on the right side of history.<br />But I,<br /></div>
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I don’t know how.<br />I don’t know what to do.<br /><br />It’s not my place to speak out.<br />It’s not my place to be quiet.<br /><br />The things I think I can do,</div>
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I can’t.<br /><br />Disability.<br />It’s a descriptor, not a crutch.<br /><br />Black lives matter,<br />because all lives matter.<br /><br />This is a truth.<br /><br />Systemic racism is real.<br />Systemic racism is alive.<br />Systemic racism is evil.</div>
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Systemic racism is raging.<br /><br />Systemic racism needs to die.<br />I want to see it die.<br />Humanity needs to see it die.<br /><br />I want to help.<br />I don’t want to be complacent.<br />I want to protest.<br />I want to make a difference.<br /><br />But I just,<br />I don’t know how.</div>
Arkatoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11039709923343918989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1961560095998372579.post-67916150002202003432018-06-20T21:13:00.002-05:002019-03-18T23:12:43.216-05:00Elegy of ErmerosI didn't plan to die. I don't know who would, although I always knew it was a possibility. As I always told myself, I would either rise in glory or go down in flames. In the end, flames were the path fate chose.<br />
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In my final hours, it became abundantly clear that my ambition far surpassed what I was capable of achieving. In my final minutes, it became abundantly clear that I had a choice. I could fight for my survival, to no avail, or I could choose to die.<br />
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It’s two ways of looking at the same thing. There's truly no difference. Both involve hitting the bad guy as hard as you can, and both involve your dying breath. But only one involves failure.<br />
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So hit me with your best shot. I have my pride and my best friend at my side. What do you think you can take away from me?Arkatoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11039709923343918989noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1961560095998372579.post-23542764326460311012017-05-01T20:55:00.001-05:002017-05-01T20:55:41.376-05:00Soundtrack Feature: Jessica Jones<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS1xB-iI8EP5vsIDzXFJQzGXGr9Wm5Jho2O6an5KMYMVYjmx-Ub3rJlOcaePAqxJVVYulCki5M18rZi82d2CfrHm-OP7urbuZvfH-FGUkGE5IdadnXiZqiEJIiIuFf9NRsJwEm9takKg4/s1600/jjsoundtrack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS1xB-iI8EP5vsIDzXFJQzGXGr9Wm5Jho2O6an5KMYMVYjmx-Ub3rJlOcaePAqxJVVYulCki5M18rZi82d2CfrHm-OP7urbuZvfH-FGUkGE5IdadnXiZqiEJIiIuFf9NRsJwEm9takKg4/s320/jjsoundtrack.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Soundtrack of the Month: May 2017</b></div>
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The films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are not particularly known for their female protagonists. While they have strong female characters, they're often relegated to slightly lesser roles, and there has yet to be a film centered around a female character. Thankfully, if you're looking for quality material starring women, Marvel's television subcontinuity has you covered. <i>Jessica Jones</i> is the second entry in Marvel's series of interlocking Netflix shows, following <i><a href="http://rjhorst.blogspot.com/2015/09/soundtrack-of-month-september-2015.html">Daredevil</a></i> and directly succeeded by <i>Luke Cage</i>.<br />
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<i>Jessica Jones</i> is a very unique story for the Marvel universe. It's not about a superhero—it's about someone who has superpowers, tried out the superhero thing a long time ago, and had her world turned upside down and shattered. Many years later she works as an alcoholic private detective, estranged from everyone she cares about.<br />
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Sound depressing? It is. It's also extremely dark, and one of my favorite stories of all time. <i>Jessica Jones</i> is what actually made me start reading Marvel comics. I loved it so much that I went and purchased a massive, hardcover, 28-issue omnibus of <i>Alias</i>, the original comic series that introduced and starred the character.<br />
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The music of the show is composed by Sean Callery, and is quite different from any Marvel soundtrack to come before. It's very noir-esque to fit the style of the show.<br />
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<b>Featured Tracks</b><br />
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Track 1: Jessica Jones Main Title – The <i>Daredevil</i> theme was extremely impressive, and set a very high bar. Not only did the <i>Jessica Jones</i> theme meet the bar; some would say it surpassed it. If only the shows' successors had continued the trend.<br />
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Track 5: Fight at Luke's Bar – This sounds like it would've been incredibly difficult to compose. Though, probably pretty fun as well.<br />
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Track 10: Jessica on the Move – This and a few other tracks actually give me a bit of a <i>Halo 3: ODST</i> vibe. I guess I have an ear for genre-bending noir hybrids.<br />
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Track 21: Jones-Cage Match – I thought puns were Michael Giacchino's thing. Huh.<br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:album:0AQGkvIJ84lJkt7JfcIoP0" width="300"></iframe><br />
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Purchase <i>Jessica Jones (Original Soundtrack)</i> on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/jessica-jones-original-soundtrack/id1117096974" target="_blank">iTunes</a> or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Jessica-Jones-Original-Soundtrack-Callery/dp/B01G72V00I" target="_blank">Amazon MP3</a>.<br />
Or listen to it for free on <a href="https://play.spotify.com/album/0AQGkvIJ84lJkt7JfcIoP0" target="_blank">Spotify</a> or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLtt-qJ2Kvb6_jjOnM7SwlFudpXxRlBjX" target="_blank">YouTube</a>.Arkatoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11039709923343918989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1961560095998372579.post-26280877170948150842017-04-01T19:58:00.000-05:002017-04-01T20:08:10.588-05:00Soundtrack Feature: The Whispered World<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSg4vjxHKruQyxrXBeLy2vw6_zMM1ZyjnAYyPltMDSVcjzcUcIJH-uh2DzmK_E6SCtak6OFOZqqdu8P-0w-aaTUTQAyOp6ylywbc4oQHSQhMfSzucJNJs6cHU5U0dIP2X_SjPqKf9DtE/s1600/thewhisperedsoundtrack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSg4vjxHKruQyxrXBeLy2vw6_zMM1ZyjnAYyPltMDSVcjzcUcIJH-uh2DzmK_E6SCtak6OFOZqqdu8P-0w-aaTUTQAyOp6ylywbc4oQHSQhMfSzucJNJs6cHU5U0dIP2X_SjPqKf9DtE/s320/thewhisperedsoundtrack.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Soundtrack of the Month: April 2017</b></div>
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<i>The Whispered World</i> is an incredibly flawed point-and-click adventure game that has a very special place in my heart. It's about a depressed clown named Sadwick and his caterpillar named Spot, as they set out on an adventure to prevent the world from ending.<br />
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Seeing as today is April Fool's Day, this soundtrack seems like an oddly fitting selection. The game's protagonist is the antithesis of a clown, who thinks of himself more as a joke than a creator of jokes and humor. He adds a darker dimension to an otherwise lighthearted and colorful fantasy world.<br />
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The music, composed by Finn Seliger, is surprisingly beautiful, covering all of the game's various themes. The sound is very unique, to the point that I frequently have difficulty distinguishing what instruments are used. There is for certain a very strong presence of piano and wind-based instruments, but they're used in a way I haven't often heard. It makes for a very unique soundtrack.<br />
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Another reason for the timing of this feature is in celebration of the semi-recent release of <i>Silence</i>, the sequel of <i>The Whispered World</i>. The two games are incredibly different, yet surprisingly very similar. The music of <i>Silence</i> has a more orchestral approach, and was composed by Tilo Alpermann.<br />
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<b>Featured Tracks</b><br />
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Track 1: Main Theme – I adore this main theme, and I love that it was brought back for the game's sequel. I have a friend who learned to play it on piano, and suddenly I want to learn piano.<br />
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Track 2: A Sad Clown – Boy, this game is weird. This song frequently comes to mind when I'm asked about beautiful piano music.<br />
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Track 9: Asgilia – You are not in a very nice place. Not nice at all.<br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:album:3ZZ4SfcFrWT5jEVyj9Jpqc" width="300"></iframe><br />
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Purchase <i>The Whispered World</i> soundtrack on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Whispered-Original-Daedalic-Entertainment-Soundtrack/dp/B00N1O2SO8" target="_blank">Amazon MP3</a> or <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/whispered-world-original-daedalic-entertainment-game/id910094483" target="_blank">iTunes</a>.<br />
Or listen to it for free on <a href="https://play.spotify.com/album/3ZZ4SfcFrWT5jEVyj9Jpqc" target="_blank">Spotify</a> or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL867E55F40161A54A" target="_blank">YouTube</a>.Arkatoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11039709923343918989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1961560095998372579.post-86736754147774714542017-03-01T20:31:00.000-06:002017-05-01T18:16:20.711-05:00Soundtrack Feature: Much Ado About Nothing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGwWnoVtxWKlSVVS4D0jjGSMcR1bwXA7zdbE5lvgLrmMuxDGXUrNoae1YAl_5veCljgLQqaBiy_WWoh3Uqca7fmBLd0J5GWf2rYx4Hv35GjVpz6sjUSXh-fMvxIVElWYSOpWbinncP744/s1600/muchadoaboutnothing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGwWnoVtxWKlSVVS4D0jjGSMcR1bwXA7zdbE5lvgLrmMuxDGXUrNoae1YAl_5veCljgLQqaBiy_WWoh3Uqca7fmBLd0J5GWf2rYx4Hv35GjVpz6sjUSXh-fMvxIVElWYSOpWbinncP744/s320/muchadoaboutnothing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Soundtrack of the Month: March 2017</b></div>
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In 2011, during a contractual vacation from working on <i>The Avengers</i>, filmmaker Joss Whedon organized and directed an adaptation of William Shakespeare's romantic comedy <i>Much Ado About Nothing</i>, shot entirely in 12 days. The film starred actors from all throughout Whedon's career, and was released in 2013. Due to monetary constraints Whedon himself composed the music to the film.<br />
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Joss Whedon's career has been filled to the brim with projects <i>heavily</i> influenced by music. His first television series <i>Buffy the Vampire Slayer</i> had excellent score, frequently showcased real-world local indie bands at the often-visited club The Bronze, and even featured a musical episode written entirely by Whedon himself. Many years later he would create another musical with his brothers and sister-in-law, <i>Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog</i>. Nearly every project of his career has been heavily influenced by music in some way.<br />
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While Whedon had written songs before for the aforementioned musicals, <i>Much Ado About Nothing</i> is his first ever attempt at scoring a soundtrack. In short, it's enjoyable. It's very string-focused, with other soft instruments, and a subtle yet beautiful companion to the black-and-white, bizarrely genre-bending adaptation of this classic story. The soundtrack features two songs with lyrics taken from Shakespeare's original play, which are performed by Whedon's sister-in-law Maurissa Tancharoen, and his brother Jed Whedon.<br />
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<b>Featured Tracks</b><br />
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Track 1: Main Title – Peaceful. Though, I imagine someone slamming their finger on the piano pretty hard.<br />
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Track 6: Sigh No More – Lyrics by William Shakespeare; musical arrangement by Joss Whedon; performance by Maurissa Tancharoen and Jed Whedon. Now that's quite the superhero team-up.<br />
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Track 26: Heavily – Now, I know <i>Much Ado</i> is supposed to be a romantic comedy, but it's also kind of a tragedy. And <i>man</i> does Whedon nail that in his adaptation.<br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:album:0Kkb6DJvmPHmtTB9ePaWM8" width="300"></iframe><br />
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Purchase <i>Much Ado About Nothing (Original Score)</i> on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Much-About-Nothing-Original-Score/dp/B00D4B89R8" target="_blank">Amazon MP3</a> or <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/much-ado-about-nothing-original/id656717302" target="_blank">iTunes</a>.<br />
Or listen to it for free on <a href="https://play.spotify.com/album/0Kkb6DJvmPHmtTB9ePaWM8" target="_blank">Spotify</a>.Arkatoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11039709923343918989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1961560095998372579.post-46111101170368572792017-02-01T16:00:00.000-06:002017-02-01T16:00:01.540-06:00Soundtrack Feature: Tick Tock Isle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNXiT032i2UuHgCpxQj_UQlDr2qRMHzfOIPLoP8y08Vd7X8zJjjwDU6Wm4Pn8m4kCxhhuRd2_D51R8Y8M2U5uJnbjuxR1F8DyvSX0-t9ZT_W5yMuZrtq_CMJ_ExnWsN5VgYCe_mnYCvE/s1600/ticktockislesoundtrack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNXiT032i2UuHgCpxQj_UQlDr2qRMHzfOIPLoP8y08Vd7X8zJjjwDU6Wm4Pn8m4kCxhhuRd2_D51R8Y8M2U5uJnbjuxR1F8DyvSX0-t9ZT_W5yMuZrtq_CMJ_ExnWsN5VgYCe_mnYCvE/s320/ticktockislesoundtrack.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Soundtrack of the Month: February 2016</b></div>
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<i>Tick Tock Isle</i> is a short but enjoyable indie game about a time-travelling clock repairman and how he accidentally influences the lives of a family over many years. It has charm and humor and, if you don't get too lost in the family's maze of a mansion, can be completed in around an hour and a half<br />
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The music is a melodic chiptune soundtrack by Irish composer Kevin Carville. It's full of personality and frequents a main theme heard throughout many tracks on the soundtrack. It's diverse enough to remain interesting and beautiful throughout the game, but it's also soft enough that you could fall asleep to it. In fact—I have! Overall, the music is as lovely as the game itself.<br />
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<b>Featured Tracks</b><br />
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Track 1: Tick Tock Isle – The main theme of the game, heard multiple times throughout the soundtrack to accompany various different periods of time, seasons, and times of the day.<br />
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Track 12: Box Fort – Every so often, you'll come across a couple kids who've built a fort out of whatever they have lying around, be it boxes, sand or snow. Inside each fort is a short platforming level inspired a classic video game.<br />
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Track 32: Melody's Big Finale – Melody is a young girl, quite talented in musical instruments, but also quite bored and feeling uninspired. Throughout your adventure you'll find various instruments to give her, to try and spark her creativity.<br />
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<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2344033346/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 472px; width: 400px;"><a href="http://franticpanda.bandcamp.com/album/tick-tock-isle">Tick Tock Isle by Kevin Carville</a></iframe><br />
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Purchase the <i>Tick Tock Isle</i> soundtrack, or listen to it for free, on <a href="https://franticpanda.bandcamp.com/album/tick-tock-isle" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a>.<br />
Be sure to check out the game itself on <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/418440/" target="_blank">Steam</a>.Arkatoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11039709923343918989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1961560095998372579.post-48527284026040541652017-01-01T20:36:00.000-06:002017-01-01T20:36:48.126-06:00Soundtrack of the Month: January 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Happy 2017! I started this piece with the intention of it being a Soundtrack Feature, but as I was writing I realized I had enough content for a full Soundtrack of the Month piece. What does this mean? Is the series finally back in full? Well, we'll see. For now, enjoy the piece.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-l0NE51f_C1GmIArm09qexDgpVVdarOyOJWAoUIdvAp3Sh6vdfdTZV70KPTwdNF26LrULy2FR2IjxA50lSUUyefW4dxo_IYxSv-AvZL4lYfgxypAtm2-RL-ZP6O-BU8MTodyinzPzLvk/s1600/Doctor_Strange_Soundtrack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-l0NE51f_C1GmIArm09qexDgpVVdarOyOJWAoUIdvAp3Sh6vdfdTZV70KPTwdNF26LrULy2FR2IjxA50lSUUyefW4dxo_IYxSv-AvZL4lYfgxypAtm2-RL-ZP6O-BU8MTodyinzPzLvk/s320/Doctor_Strange_Soundtrack.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Doctor Strange</i> is one of the most ambitious films of the current era in terms of visual effects. We're shown bizarre worlds and mind-blowing effects as the world is morphed and manipulated around the characters, showcasing some of the most impressive visuals in filmmaking history. Creating a musical backdrop for a film such as this was an ambitious feat, and Marvel was wise in selecting Michael Giacchino for this task.<br />
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Some may argue that the Marvel Cinematic Universe scores aren't as memorable that they should be, but I don't entirely agree. A lot of the films' music unquestionably invokes memorable feelings of awe and beauty, and <i>Doctor Strange</i> is certainly no exception. Giacchino's score fits in with the rest, yet also stands out as entirely unique. The main theme, exhibited in the credits track, is one of the best themes from a Marvel movie.<br />
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<b>Featured Tracks</b><br />
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Track 3: A Long Strange Trip – A bizarre trip through space and imagination. I think God had a seizure.<br />
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Track 18: Go for Baroque – Michael Giacchino is known for incorporating puns into his track titles, when producers allow him to do so. He was able to sneak a few into this soundtrack.<br />
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Track 19: The Master of the Mystic End Credits – The full <i>Doctor Strange</i> theme, in all its creative and melodic glory.<br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:album:6wLxqu3cGnJoJZyiA3Pe10" width="300"></iframe><br />
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Purchase <i>Doctor Strange (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)</i> on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LXFVXYY" target="_blank">Amazon</a> or <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/id1164262375" target="_blank">iTunes</a>.<br />
Or listen to it for free on <a href="https://play.spotify.com/album/6wLxqu3cGnJoJZyiA3Pe10" target="_blank">Spotify</a> or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEL80kNZE_NVx8MafS_1yz9LOmONpvrua" target="_blank">YouTube</a>.Arkatoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11039709923343918989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1961560095998372579.post-65634295778399080842016-12-01T17:00:00.000-06:002016-12-01T17:00:05.780-06:00Soundtrack Feature: Hue<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMMzxzmRvgY5qXj371CvCU7jzH8PvSNLh7MkSMuZBnq0jK_5eLbGleCMrljK-65Rxe0xN6GJhYHLZ7t8wMZr8FE8VHbeMGZTTF2u1iLX_i6UbHiLVDmDwZPBg3oZknTxsAYQ88hYCjuV4/s1600/huesoundtrack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMMzxzmRvgY5qXj371CvCU7jzH8PvSNLh7MkSMuZBnq0jK_5eLbGleCMrljK-65Rxe0xN6GJhYHLZ7t8wMZr8FE8VHbeMGZTTF2u1iLX_i6UbHiLVDmDwZPBg3oZknTxsAYQ88hYCjuV4/s200/huesoundtrack.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<i>Hue</i> is a puzzle game that focuses on using colors to manipulate the world around you. It's packaged with an incredibly thought-provoking narrative, and a melodic soundtrack that beautifully captures the soothing atmosphere of the game. The music was scored by Greek composer Alkis Livathinos, and has an emphasis on melodic piano. <i>Hue</i>'s main theme can be heard multiple times throughout the album.<br />
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The <i>Hue</i> soundtrack can be purchased or listened to for free at <a href="https://alkis.bandcamp.com/album/hue-official-soundtrack" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a>. It can also be purchased on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hue-official-soundtrack/id1149027239" target="_blank">iTunes</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LKSIQ2O" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, and listened to on <a href="https://play.spotify.com/album/7HVGZnvYQbFQNWl3wO1mVS" target="_blank">Spotify</a>. The game itself is a very enjoyable experience. If you enjoy inventive and relaxing puzzle games you should <a href="http://www.huethegame.com/" target="_blank">check it out</a>. <i>Hue</i> is available for Steam, PS4, PS Vita and Xbox One.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">My full Soundtrack of the Month series has gone on hiatus and for the time being has been replaced by much smaller soundtrack features, which I am simply calling Soundtrack Features. Yes, it's quite original.</span>Arkatoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11039709923343918989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1961560095998372579.post-61800652853431153372016-11-01T19:03:00.000-05:002016-11-01T19:03:42.291-05:00Soundtrack Feature: Titan Souls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99dN9opx_BAlSqXcHZmQXOUb4dNqFXbTRtepzMaEOOQ9RZap7kGSLh3zZw-eYfc1ggCuLeZeLDNsUgb00urFa1Q54y7VrSUXzupo3DPSH-5fQhrchuA1ors2vcZEw3TOsLWNaoVofM7A/s1600/titansoulscover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99dN9opx_BAlSqXcHZmQXOUb4dNqFXbTRtepzMaEOOQ9RZap7kGSLh3zZw-eYfc1ggCuLeZeLDNsUgb00urFa1Q54y7VrSUXzupo3DPSH-5fQhrchuA1ors2vcZEw3TOsLWNaoVofM7A/s200/titansoulscover.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<i>Titan Souls</i> is an adventure game in which the player must traverse a vast overworld, defeating bosses with a bow and a single arrow. As there are many bosses and no ordinary enemies, the soundtrack is composed almost entirely of boss music, but also a handful of beautiful overworld themes for the various areas of the game world.<br />
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David Fenn is the composer for this incredible album of music. It can be purchased or listened to for free at <a href="https://davidfennmusic.bandcamp.com/album/titan-souls" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a>, or also listened to for free on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTSIqhWP1gKXn0VFlEK8F6dIXO9QLQxAu" target="_blank">YouTube</a>. If you're interested in the game itself, which feels like a hybrid between <i>Dark Souls</i>, <i>Shadow of the Colossus</i> and 2D Zelda, you can check it out on <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/297130/" target="_blank">Steam</a>, PS4, PS Vita, or Android.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">My full Soundtrack of the Month series has gone on hiatus and for the time being has been replaced by much smaller soundtrack features, which I am simply calling Soundtrack Features. Yes, it's quite original.</span>Arkatoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11039709923343918989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1961560095998372579.post-15522967094381881062016-10-30T23:32:00.001-05:002016-10-30T23:32:24.872-05:00Six YearsSix years ago today I created this blog. That's kind of a long time. I think when I started it I had the expectation that by the time I turned 20 I'd be a published author with a small, but dedicated, fanbase. At the very least I'd have multiple completed novel drafts that I could look back on, and laugh at my amateurity, before moving on and creating better stories. Little did I know how... little I'd accomplish with my life.<br />
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It's funny how different reality is from expectation. In the present time, I'm surprised I'm able to live as productive a life as I do. I have three part-time jobs (the most difficult of which is entirely volunteer), a place to stay with a loving family that doesn't mind helping take care of me, a driver's license (acquired far too recently), and <i>loads</i> of free time. Plenty of people would kill for a life as simple as that, and yet I struggle through each day because of my dysfunctional body and mind.<br />
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I spend a lot of time gaming and watching shows. As thus, I get a lot of ideas for projects of my own. Unfortunately, none of them are feasible at this time or the foreseeable future because all of my energy is taken up by living. However, there are those ideas that stick with me, that I keep thinking about and expanding on, that I hope someday, under different circumstances, I'll be able to breathe life into and share for the world. At the current time, however, no progress should be expected.<br />
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While I've found much of my life to be quite difficult, I really am thankful for the things that I have. I'm sorry to everyone I've let down, but I am enormously grateful to everyone who still cares about me. You're a large part of what helps me through each day. Thanks for the support, and I pray that one day your faith in me will be validated. Until then, I'll just keep my stick on the ice.Arkatoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11039709923343918989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1961560095998372579.post-58345208955712670062016-10-01T23:01:00.001-05:002016-10-01T23:01:44.034-05:00Soundtrack Feature: Stranger Things<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvbn8oOP-0AX9uZzF7Cp-HfAbcdFJB1UDll_kpXgw9ItRw-XJ0QitLTcicP7qxXUkU4fi5YszzEDsKCeAMTArIa9frJ1fpNE-DGjqJUuhHSRb009t9fonhNI3KGjzTvtSvXcwTQd1EepY/s1600/strangerthingsvolumeonecover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvbn8oOP-0AX9uZzF7Cp-HfAbcdFJB1UDll_kpXgw9ItRw-XJ0QitLTcicP7qxXUkU4fi5YszzEDsKCeAMTArIa9frJ1fpNE-DGjqJUuhHSRb009t9fonhNI3KGjzTvtSvXcwTQd1EepY/s200/strangerthingsvolumeonecover.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<i>Stranger Things</i> is an embodiment of 80s nostalgia, with incredible acting, directing and presentation, told through a 2016 filmmaking style. It's been universally praised, for good reason: It's really good. The soundtrack, based on 80s synth, is critically acclaimed. It's a fantastic score showcasing a wide sense of emotions, ranging from joyful times to deep horror. Having the music evoke feelings of nostalgia is not uncommon.<br />
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The soundtrack to the first season of <i>Stranger Things</i> was released in two volumes. You can purchase them digitally from iTunes (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/stranger-things-vol.-1-netflix/id1143131526" target="_blank">Volume 1</a>, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/stranger-things-vol.-2-netflix/id1145500376" target="_blank">Volume 2</a>), or pre-order them physically from Amazon (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JVW2TVA/" target="_blank">V1</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JVW2TV0" target="_blank">V2</a>). You can also listen for free on Spotify (<a href="https://play.spotify.com/album/1puplOrvmUGoq2VxsB0ENJ" target="_blank">V1</a>, <a href="https://play.spotify.com/album/5d1hWmBYkAkVAE9XG5njrz" target="_blank">V2</a>) and YouTube (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBEE44tKcIzXPCkYNVtu_vsIbQwkm1lz4" target="_blank">V1</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBEE44tKcIzX7-vKMpZjLKrelAVfsDmMy" target="_blank">V2</a>). The second volume features a 5-minute extended edition of the show's critically-acclaimed main theme.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">My full Soundtrack of the Month series has gone on hiatus and for the time being has been replaced by much smaller soundtrack features, which I am simply calling Soundtrack Features. Yes, it's quite original.</span>Arkatoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11039709923343918989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1961560095998372579.post-33656036629583682072016-09-01T22:12:00.000-05:002016-09-01T22:12:44.623-05:00Soundtrack Feature: Ant-Man<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvZ85XWQWif77oaf2J159vwcAr3_3zzVlC8ZK8RvvzkuSIvybyuTMRGSo9tqhyh1fX28xj33rpbzAG-SG22cpmXA3R5gDtO9YMFEqHTIjLv0PAbXTr7Z5Dzq5pUbpwssMZAMRlZqspH0/s1600/antscoreman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvZ85XWQWif77oaf2J159vwcAr3_3zzVlC8ZK8RvvzkuSIvybyuTMRGSo9tqhyh1fX28xj33rpbzAG-SG22cpmXA3R5gDtO9YMFEqHTIjLv0PAbXTr7Z5Dzq5pUbpwssMZAMRlZqspH0/s200/antscoreman.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Some would say that the <i>Ant-Man</i> soundtrack isn't nearly as epic or grand as the music for other films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but I think it really does stand out as something special. The main theme of <i>Ant-Man</i> certainly sounds the most like a comicbook-esque superhero theme, and it works wonderfully with the film and its themes. Additionally, the soundtrack was scored by legendary composer Christophe Beck, of <i>Buffy the Vampire Slayer</i> fame. A very enjoyable listen.<br />
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You can find the soundtrack on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/ant-man-original-motion-picture/id1017080757" target="_blank">iTunes</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YJKRJ38/" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, and you can listen to it for free on <a href="https://play.spotify.com/album/72mY2C05rfAbkHOax2gJYf" target="_blank">Spotify</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLze0fuqTD5cxGFdj1FWayYZjFFumhax2w" target="_blank">YouTube</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">My full Soundtrack of the Month series has gone on hiatus and for the time being has been replaced by much smaller soundtrack features, which I am simply calling Soundtrack Features. Yes, it's quite original.</span>Arkatoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11039709923343918989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1961560095998372579.post-75124393528432676462016-08-01T22:56:00.000-05:002016-08-01T22:56:35.082-05:00Soundtrack Feature: Overwatch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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My most recent addiction is surprisingly not a television series, but an online multiplayer video game called <i>Overwatch</i>. The game itself has no story mode to play through—only online matches—but the developer Blizzard has released a multitude of story and lore for the game through the means of comics, animated shorts, and other methods.<br />
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<i>Overwatch</i> contains many memorable melodies, including a grand main theme and various level themes inspired by different parts of the world, scored by a fantastic team of composers. While the soundtrack sadly doesn't feature the scores of the incredible animated shorts, it does include the score to the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqnKB22pOC0" target="_blank">original cinematic announcement trailer</a>.<br />
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You can check out the soundtrack on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/overwatch-collectors-edition/id1096615556" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, and you can also find it by searching on YouTube. This one's not on Spotify. Sorry about that.<br />
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My full Soundtrack of the Month series has gone on hiatus and for the time being has been replaced by much smaller soundtrack features which I am calling... Soundtrack Features. Yes, I know it's original.Arkatoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11039709923343918989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1961560095998372579.post-26476407584228246662016-07-01T16:00:00.000-05:002016-07-01T20:11:52.223-05:00Soundtrack of the Month: July 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOmcYQFIvanwUUtUPlU86JDbUNIeCEwbLgri-Z-g208Re76wXImIb8JGlWAc8xh8AqFIOno39cShIxy6NnTtG6uyfC_WeqIWn5SE_6KckIb6jpIf6ZTFT3r8i07qnc-tHT38K6VBZvzVI/s1600/Bastion_CDART_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOmcYQFIvanwUUtUPlU86JDbUNIeCEwbLgri-Z-g208Re76wXImIb8JGlWAc8xh8AqFIOno39cShIxy6NnTtG6uyfC_WeqIWn5SE_6KckIb6jpIf6ZTFT3r8i07qnc-tHT38K6VBZvzVI/s320/Bastion_CDART_01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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To close up year two of the Soundtrack of the Month series, I decided to feature something very near and dear to me, a game called <b><i>Bastion</i></b>. Settling on an apt description for the genre of the game's setting is, in itself, quite difficult. Perhaps, a post-apocalyptic steampunk fantasy story which takes place on a nation consisting of floating islands. The music is masterfully written and composed by Darren Korb, who also serves as the singing voice for the character Zulf.<br />
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The album, like the game itself, is a superb mix of genres, described by Korb as "acoustic frontier trip-hop." It's incredibly unique, and matches perfectly with the bizarrely unique world of <i>Bastion</i> itself. The album opens up with the game's narrator and deuteragonist, Rucks (voiced by Logan Cunningham), giving an introduction, after which the listener is treated to the music of the game.<br />
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There are three sung songs in the game, and four on the album. All of them are sung by characters in the game. "Build That Wall" is Zia's theme (sung by Ashley Barrett), and "Mother, I'm Here" is Zulf's theme (sung by Korb). "Setting Sail, Coming Home" is the ending theme, which is an amazing duet hybrid of Zia and Zulf's themes. The final, album-exclusive song is "The Pantheon", sung by Logan Cunningham as Rucks.<br />
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<b>Featured Tracks</b><br />
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Track 2: A Proper Story – A proper story's supposed to start at the beginning. Ain't so simple with this one.<br />
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Track 12: Build That Wall (Zia's Theme) – When Zia's world literally crumbles to dust around her, her only solace is to sit and play music, and pray that one day help will arrive.<br />
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Track 16: The Mancer's Dilemma – A number of the songs can sound quite haunting, highlighting a feeling of tragedy and fleeting hope during gameplay.<br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:album:2r4a3PREYIRF2QdbcPnrEO" width="300"></iframe><br />
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Purchase <i>Bastion (Original Soundtrack)</i> on <a href="https://supergiantgames.bandcamp.com/album/bastion-original-soundtrack" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a>, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/bastion-original-soundtrack/id459457260" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005IJ1G0Q" target="_blank">Amazon MP3</a>.<br />
You can also purchase a physical CD on the <a href="http://store.supergiantgames.com/" target="_blank">Supergiant Games Store</a>.<br />
Or listen to it for free on <a href="https://play.spotify.com/album/2r4a3PREYIRF2QdbcPnrEO" target="_blank">Spotify</a> or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC26D4FE16FA60595" target="_blank">YouTube</a>.<br />
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<b>Bonus:</b> In celebration of the conclusion of this series' second year, I put together another playlist of various great soundtrack pieces. Some of them are from soundtracks I've featured; many are not. You can check out the playlist <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeEh-sXHHSLJcvK7Z-FxieUatrv-Etaby" target="_blank">here</a>, and last year's playlist <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeEh-sXHHSLJOd-dmt3lIwszBVuy_Syd2" target="_blank">here</a>.Arkatoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11039709923343918989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1961560095998372579.post-63029034990665541602016-06-30T22:38:00.000-05:002016-06-30T22:38:24.484-05:00TeaserHere's an obscure teaser for tomorrow's Soundtrack of the Month.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Ztg7m0Xor65Ug5tk-5CL4Po6_LPF5ijTR9PJigABR5czkJav2Ys_ZrEKxPnjvLTqzGY8aNIyrzTh93i0Fyd92vlXsxTkyVdyphFHmqwtWJYNfcoSu72N6jG04muTLo-dlpNmrAZG_iw/s1600/bastion-teaser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Ztg7m0Xor65Ug5tk-5CL4Po6_LPF5ijTR9PJigABR5czkJav2Ys_ZrEKxPnjvLTqzGY8aNIyrzTh93i0Fyd92vlXsxTkyVdyphFHmqwtWJYNfcoSu72N6jG04muTLo-dlpNmrAZG_iw/s400/bastion-teaser.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Hint:</b> It's <i>not</i> Overwatch.<br />
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As you can tell, I put a lot of effort into this tease, and I definitely didn't think up something to post at 10:30 the night before. Toodles!Arkatoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11039709923343918989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1961560095998372579.post-78032828780127141732016-06-01T04:00:00.000-05:002016-06-02T18:58:23.728-05:00Soundtrack of the Month: June 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_j-7nIXmA9mIV50XVIyxaoe2raT8iiGFuyOEmbGhCg3UyBuSDkOqrBujp6nf4PlaMl2pL4Sy9He27t_t5G-WDM10g2snddViuqCITYql1rQZTHmybSwT6TvDinNj7aemzmyuyl-I2jE/s1600/infinitecover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_j-7nIXmA9mIV50XVIyxaoe2raT8iiGFuyOEmbGhCg3UyBuSDkOqrBujp6nf4PlaMl2pL4Sy9He27t_t5G-WDM10g2snddViuqCITYql1rQZTHmybSwT6TvDinNj7aemzmyuyl-I2jE/s320/infinitecover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">Infinite</i> was composed as the soundtrack to a science fiction exploration-survival video game called <i>Grimm Odds</i>. The game was far in development, but publishing plans fell through last-minute and the game was unfortunately cancelled. Only the soundtrack, composed by Mike Raznick, remains.<br />
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The album has a wide range of sounds, from ambient to cinematic. At times it reminds me of another soundtrack Raznick composed, that of <i><a href="https://mikeraznick.bandcamp.com/album/spate-original-game-soundtrack" target="_blank">Spate</a></i>, a very dark and atmospheric game. <i>Infinite</i> has much lighter themes, but still contains the same kind of ambiance from time to time.<br />
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<b>Featured Tracks</b><br />
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Track 2: Despair Theme – This is the song that most reminds me of the <i>Spate</i> soundtrack. That melancholic cello—so good!<br />
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Track 9: Climbing the Peak – The soundtrack was supposed to invoke a sense of awe as the player explored a strange and beautiful alien world. I feel the music accomplished this feeling even without the game to accompany it.<br />
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Track 20: Liftoff – This incredible theme was likely to be used for the end of the game, as the player finds a way to leave the alien planet.<br />
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<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2125708562/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 472px; width: 400px;"><a href="http://mikeraznick.bandcamp.com/album/infinite-original-soundtrack">Infinite (Original Soundtrack) by Mike Raznick</a></iframe><br />
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Purchase <i>Infinite (Original Soundtrack)</i>, or listen to it for free, on <a href="https://mikeraznick.bandcamp.com/album/infinite-original-soundtrack" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a>.Arkatoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11039709923343918989noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1961560095998372579.post-48836902446775198602016-05-22T16:00:00.000-05:002016-05-22T16:11:19.910-05:00Writer's Block<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrRYR4eLDLj6CRL3_4PesSWUTfhfzJ6HB6iEC1yuDmcXaYkEyb9a2Dnm6Ven_k8SNLj5jcuuYXpO1UfHUdgrhiydH4qyxjENUzwhOGjVBdYldtkaL0mKWldIZNE2wwWjIiwxMhS8RD2g/s1600/M0A6888png.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrRYR4eLDLj6CRL3_4PesSWUTfhfzJ6HB6iEC1yuDmcXaYkEyb9a2Dnm6Ven_k8SNLj5jcuuYXpO1UfHUdgrhiydH4qyxjENUzwhOGjVBdYldtkaL0mKWldIZNE2wwWjIiwxMhS8RD2g/s640/M0A6888png.png" width="498" /></a></div>
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Arkatoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11039709923343918989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1961560095998372579.post-48113711318312345282016-05-01T16:00:00.000-05:002016-05-01T16:00:00.624-05:00Soundtrack of the Month: May 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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I am a vocal fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The quality of Marvel movies has far exceeded that of most other films in the industry, and has remained consistent in this top-notch quality for half a decade. The storytelling and direction has been absolutely superb, and beyond industry standards nearly every step of the way. Along with this impeccable level of presentation, we have the music.<br />
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">Iron Man 3</i> is a subject of much controversy among Marvel fans. I may value it as one of my favorites, but many people don't feel the same way. Even if you found the film less than satisfactory, you'll undoubtedly still very much enjoy the music. Brian Tyler paints an incredible backdrop to the story and Tony Stark's struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder, following the events of <i>The Avengers</i>.<br />
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When it comes to film soundtracks that could be described as "epic," the names of a few composers often get tossed around. They're typically from past generations, known most prominently for works from decades ago. Brian Tyler, on the other hand, has only been rising to fame in the last decade, and stands on his own among long-time legends in the industry.<br />
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Brian Tyler is the perfect fit for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the scale of its films. After <i>Iron Man 3</i>, he would also return to score <i>Thor: The Dark World</i> on his own, and <i>Avengers: Age of Ultron</i> with legendary composer Danny Elfman. No further collaborations with Marvel have been announced, but it'll be no surprise if he returns to the film universe in the future.<br />
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<b>Featured Tracks</b><br />
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Track 1: Iron Man 3 – Epic. Epic, epic, EPIC. That is the word the comes to mind when I listen to the main theme of <i>Iron Man 3</i>: Epic!<br />
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Track 3: Attack on 10880 Malibu Point – I'm not sure, but this might just be the most intense soundtrack cue in my library.<br />
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Track 6: New Beginnings – On the contrasting side, we have softer, more melodic music to accompany the less active and more hopeful portions of this film.<br />
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Track 20: Can You Dig It – This song admittedly took some time to grow on me. It's a more active, energy-pumping rendition of the film's main theme, used for the film credits. It's the kind of music you could work out to.<br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:album:7x6etI9jQ2ePxZUOQaPrbi" width="300"></iframe><br />
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Purchase <i>Iron Man 3 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)</i> on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B9JDAYO" target="_blank">Amazon</a> or <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/iron-man-3-original-motion/id637046545" target="_blank">iTunes</a>.<br />
Or listen to it for free on <a href="https://play.spotify.com/album/7x6etI9jQ2ePxZUOQaPrbi" target="_blank">Spotify</a> or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBASPOd7e-FLmQraW6fQdE7hZ1cTGQEMU" target="_blank">YouTube</a>.Arkatoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11039709923343918989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1961560095998372579.post-48890400232961794072016-04-24T16:00:00.000-05:002016-04-24T16:00:06.034-05:00Game Review: Momodora<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFjwQyYLLvQZ04Fy1UhAPAUL-RRBxbpfkHHSKsrny5rEYk8eGWWMRyfg8S9P-cpcFEKh1SV9J-ru4kWxeRD9lzj-ms_i_vwHubi4K6Pmr26mUF5mfS-Q2nC7K-lfM012BO6s4LY8PIes/s1600/momodoratitle.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFjwQyYLLvQZ04Fy1UhAPAUL-RRBxbpfkHHSKsrny5rEYk8eGWWMRyfg8S9P-cpcFEKh1SV9J-ru4kWxeRD9lzj-ms_i_vwHubi4K6Pmr26mUF5mfS-Q2nC7K-lfM012BO6s4LY8PIes/s1600/momodoratitle.png" /></a></div>
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I’ve had my eye on a particular game series for some time now. It's called Momodora, and it's a series of action platformer games that just released its fourth installment. While <i><a href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/428550/" target="_blank">Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight</a></i> looks to be a highly sophisticated and polished game, the original <i><a href="https://rdein.itch.io/momodora-i" target="_blank">Momodora</a></i> was released in 2010 with a far more <i>amateur</i> look and feel to it. For me, however, this was a very nostalgic period for indie games, especially those created with Mark Overmars' Game Maker, as <i>Momodora</i> was.<br />
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<i>Momodora</i> is an intentionally, and sometimes frustratingly, difficult game. The creator even suggests that players skip this game and move on to its sequels, as it was inspired by the difficulty of early arcade games. I, being the gamer that I am, and knowing that I’ve probably played much more frustrating games from the same era of the industry, promptly ignored this warning and played the game anyway.<br />
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Throughout <i>Momodora</i> you get access to a number of different weapons that you can cycle through, although you'll probably just end up alternating between a couple of them. Players are also given two secondary items you can cycle between that you’ll find yourself using quite frequently. One creates an easily-breakable shield around the character offering more defense, and the other is a boomerang that basically works as a secondary weapon, which comes in handy a lot.<br />
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The story... is almost entirely in a text document. It's not actually addressed in the game until the end. This, as well, may have been inspired by early titles in the game industry, whose stories would be almost entirely restricted to the games' manuals. The graphics well fit the era and style of game, as sort of a medium between <i><a href="http://www.cavestory.org/" target="_blank">Cave Story</a></i> and <i><a href="http://sandbox.yoyogames.com/games/34165-theseus-and-the-maze" target="_blank">Theseus and the Maze</a></i>. The music is good, and fitting. The entire soundtrack (and all of the other sound effects) are included in the game's zip folder as .OGG files.<br />
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While I was able to get through the game and I very much enjoyed it, it's most certainly not for everybody. If you're looking for a more sophisticated experience that's not so much of a frustrating challenge, perhaps you should just jump ahead to a later game in the series as the developer suggested. I might be a little more sympathetic towards this game if it weren't for the fact that it uses one of my least favorite tropes, which is to have a very difficult boss battle after the final level of the game, with no save in-between.<br />
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If you want to try your hand at the game, you can check it out for free <a href="https://rdein.itch.io/momodora-i" target="_blank">here</a>. Look for my reviews of <i>Momodora II</i>, <i>Momodora III</i>, and <i>Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight</i> in the coming months.Arkatoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11039709923343918989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1961560095998372579.post-54567253684861552452016-04-01T16:00:00.000-05:002016-04-01T16:00:12.473-05:00Soundtrack of the Month: April 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">Escape Goat 2</i> is a platforming game about a goat navigating a labyrinth, rescuing sheep, and trying to escape to the surface. Is this a joke? No, it's not. This is a real thing. It's a lot of fun, and the music is amazing.<br />
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Ian Stocker, the game's main developer and soundtrack composer, used to work in the mainstream game industry as a sound designer and composer. So players not only get to navigate a goat through a bunch of crazy puzzle-platformer levels, but they get to do it while listening to <i>totally rad music</i>.<br />
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You still think I'm joking. The joke is that I'm not. I'm dead serious.<br />
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<b>Featured Tracks</b><br />
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Track 1: Restoration – <i>Escape Goat 2</i> features a graphics style very different from the pixelated style of the first game. The music style gets a renovation as well, to better mach the new visuals.<br />
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Track 5: Reunion – This track is used for the game's secret levels. Yes, you are headbanging to music about a goat.<br />
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Track 8: Peaceful Sheep – Did I mention that you're trying to rescue sheep?<br />
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Track 14: Caper Erratus – The credits music of the game, and one of the greatest masterpieces I've had the pleasure of listening to. Not only is it a reprise of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ud2RLFTEb0" target="_blank">my favorite track from the first game</a>, but it was also given words, sung by a choir, in <i>Latin</i>!<br />
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"Caper Erratus" roughly translates to "The Wandering Goat."<br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:album:5Yk4Ptz55y9MfCU6uyKOVJ" width="300"></iframe><br />
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Purchase the <i>Escape Goat 2</i> soundtrack on <a href="https://magicaltimebean.bandcamp.com/album/escape-goat-2-original-soundtrack" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a>, <a href="https://loudr.fm/release/escape-goat-2-original-soundtrack/yKyM5" target="_blank">Loudr</a>, or <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/escape-goat-2-original-game/id860995187" target="_blank">iTunes</a>.<br />
Or listen to it for free on <a href="https://play.spotify.com/album/5Yk4Ptz55y9MfCU6uyKOVJ" target="_blank">Spotify</a> or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8Dx6pJBhUr3apaWrkqMLmn-lf0CMvpFs" target="_blank">YouTube</a>.Arkatoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11039709923343918989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1961560095998372579.post-63685516236371914022016-03-28T16:00:00.000-05:002016-03-28T16:09:12.769-05:00Miscellaneous Update #483Hey you. Yeah, you. You're beautiful, you know that? Seriously. Just thought you should know.<br />
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It's been a year and a half since I just posted a miscellaneous update. I figured I'd scramble around and try to come up with something new to report about my life. I'm doing plenty of nothings, but also some somethings here and there.<br />
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First off, I got a writing gig! A friend approached me to write some content for a sci-fi/fantasy entertainment site. I have some ideas brewing, but there's currently nothing of mine up on the site. Let's hope I don't botch this like the last time I got a writing gig. If you're interested, you can check out the site, <a href="http://www.legendariummedia.com/" target="_blank">Legendarium Media</a>. (I love that name, presumably taken from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tolkien%27s_legendarium" target="_blank">Tolkien's legendarium</a>.)<br />
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Secondly, I have a secret project brewing that I'm excited about which involves music. I'm hoping I can get it off the ground, and then pull through once I get it started. It'll probably be harder than I imagine it in my head, but I won't know until I try. Hopefully more information on that in the future, but no promises.<br />
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When it comes to entertainment I engage in, you can of course see everything I'm currently watching, playing and reading on my <a href="http://rjhorst.blogspot.com/p/status.html">Status</a> page. What you can't see there, because it's constantly fluctuating, is what music I've been recently listening to. Right now two of my favorite albums are <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00064LP22/" target="_blank"><i>Haunted</i> by Poe</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I32F35Y/" target="_blank"><i>The Human Contradiction</i> by Delain</a>. I've also really been digging a four-track EP I found on Bandcamp called <i><a href="http://music.adventuresinpixels.net/album/unexpected" target="_blank">Unexpected</a></i>, which is completely free.<br />
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For television shows, I most recently finished the second season of <i>Daredevil</i>, which was sooooo good. In the last year I also watched the entirety of <i>Lost</i>, and <i>Veronica Mars</i>, along with pretty much everything Joss Whedon ever made (<i>Buffy the Vampire Slayer</i>, <i>Angel</i>, <i>Firefly</i> rewatch, <i>Serenity</i> rewatch, <i>Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog</i>, <i>Dollhouse</i>, <i>Much Ado About Nothing</i>). Okay, yeah, I still have a little ways to go. At least I've got his TV shows covered.<br />
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For what shows I'm currently watching, as I said, check out the Status page. Which, strangely enough, I <i>love</i> updating. I update the Status page every chance I get. I don't care that nobody reads it. I love doing it! I don't even know why!<br />
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The last topic I want to touch on is why this post is labelled as the 483rd miscellaneous update.<br />
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...Because I wanted to call it that. Now get out.Arkatoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11039709923343918989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1961560095998372579.post-35239386993816738432016-03-01T16:00:00.000-06:002016-03-01T16:26:32.791-06:00Soundtrack of the Month: March 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh15-VE2jyRDw7jyMFkUnMuFJACIGizrAVFySR4_eWXYBcKAQaRfRvurczvFHep35wpcKPZeYYbSNY6iyoJNQ6uvK10lFon4dMgO-P5ncJ7a0139hFLT8qja5x3TuBWfulk8Jbi3l2KLnc/s1600/angellivefastdienever.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh15-VE2jyRDw7jyMFkUnMuFJACIGizrAVFySR4_eWXYBcKAQaRfRvurczvFHep35wpcKPZeYYbSNY6iyoJNQ6uvK10lFon4dMgO-P5ncJ7a0139hFLT8qja5x3TuBWfulk8Jbi3l2KLnc/s320/angellivefastdienever.jpg" width="312" /></a></div>
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It's all Joss Whedon's fault, honestly. If he'd stop making so many diabolically brilliant television series and movies, I wouldn't have to spend so much money on their incredible soundtracks. <i style="font-weight: bold;">Angel: Live Fast, Die Never</i> is the official soundtrack to the television series <i>Angel</i>, created by Joss Whedon and David Greenwalt, which acted as a spin-off to Whedon's television series <i>Buffy the Vampire Slayer</i>.<br />
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Robert J. Kral served as the primary score composer for <i>Angel</i>, although the album features a handful of other individuals and artists as well. The soundtrack very much reflects the dark and twisted themes of the series, but also the prominent, ever-focused theme of atonement; of searching for redemption, but knowing you may never truly find it so long as you walk the Earth.<br />
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Initially, Robert Kral began work on the series as an assistant to longtime <i>Buffy</i> composer Christophe Beck, who acted as main composer for the first season. One of Beck's compositions made it onto this album with the track "I'm Game", which occasionally acted as a heroic theme throughout the series, from the very first episode. It can be heard for the final time in the penultimate episode of the series.<br />
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<b>Featured Tracks</b><br />
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Track 1: The Sanctuary (Main Theme Extended Remix) – An extended version of the series' outstanding opening theme, composed and performed by the band Darling Violetta.<br />
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Track 6: Hero – One of the most memorable episodes of <i>Angel</i>'s first season, and possibly the entire series. First soldier down.<br />
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Track 15: Through the Looking Glass – One of five tracks that cover the several-episode arc that takes place in the mystical, demon(ish) dimension of Pylea, toward the end of <i>Angel</i>'s second season.<br />
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Track 21: LA Song – This song is performed by actor Christian Kane, written by Kane and series showrunner David Greenwalt. It's performed in-series by Kane's character, Lindsey McDonald.<br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:album:4DGgMAU8dXRciy49lub5QH" width="300"></iframe><br />
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Note: The physical version of this soundtrack contains four additional songs by other artists that were featured in the series. These songs are well worth the physical purchase.<br />
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Purchase <i>Angel: Live Fast, Die Never</i> on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Angel-Live-Fast-Never-Music/dp/B0008FPJ7Q/" target="_blank">Amazon</a> or <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/live-fast-die-never-music/id258547697" target="_blank">iTunes</a>.<br />
Or listen to it for free on <a href="https://play.spotify.com/album/4DGgMAU8dXRciy49lub5QH" target="_blank">Spotify</a> or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEE8D3C90B2BF3672" target="_blank">YouTube</a>.Arkatoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11039709923343918989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1961560095998372579.post-69699866990691068462016-02-20T16:00:00.000-06:002016-02-25T16:57:40.354-06:00Cat Getting Out of a Bag and Other Observations by Jeffrey Brown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Cat Getting Out of a Bag and Other Observations</i> by Jeffrey Brown is, to put it simply, the greatest thing ever. It's literally a bunch of random, hilarious, and adorable cat videos, in the form of 9-panel (or occasionally 18-panel) comics, instead of actual videos. That's the whole book.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Cartoonist Jeffrey Brown has created over 30 books, about all sorts of different subjects. He even released a follow-up to this book, called <i>Cats Are Weird: And More Observations</i>. This man has way too much time on his hands, and that's why his work is brilliant.</span></div>
Arkatoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11039709923343918989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1961560095998372579.post-75382706308366525332016-02-01T16:00:00.000-06:002016-02-01T16:15:32.093-06:00Soundtrack of the Month: February 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">Remember Me</i> is one of the few incredible games I actually discovered <i>through</i> discovering their soundtracks. I found it one day while browsing Amazon. I'd never heard of the game, but the soundtrack was composed by <i><a href="http://rjhorst.blogspot.com/2015/08/soundtrack-of-month-august-2015.html">Alone in the Dark</a></i> expert composer Olivier Derivière, so I knew that at least the music aspect had to be good. Several months later I acquired the game, played it, and absolutely loved it. I bought the soundtrack very soon thereafter.<br />
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I fell in love with <i>Remember Me</i> from the very beginning. I entered the game knowing next to nothing about it, which was intentional as the game begins with the protagonist losing all of her memory. The game takes place in the cyberpunk, dystopian future city of Neo Paris, and has a major emphasis on memory-related technology. The story is unique and highly thought-provoking, and the soundtrack is among the greatest I've heard, with a superb blend of orchestral and electronically altered score.<br />
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Derivière composed the entire soundtrack, which was then fully performed and recorded by the Philharmonia Orchestra. He then digitally processed and manipulated the music with multiple layers and effects to create a beautiful, half-orchestral, half-electronic sound which perfectly fits the world and story of the game. I love the amount of detail poured into the world, and the music was a major aspect of that.<br />
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<b>Featured Tracks</b><br />
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Track 1: Nilan the Memory Hunter – The jaw-dropping main theme of <i>Remember Me</i>. Our protagonist is Nilan, who used to be the most skilled Memory Hunter in the world.<br />
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Track 3: Still Human – I consider this as one of the main themes of Neo Paris, even though a different track is specifically named after the city. Perhaps this is more a theme of the slums.<br />
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Track 6: The Enforcers – One of the combat themes for <i>Remember Me</i>, playing when you get into a hassle with the law enforcement, called Enforcers.<br />
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Track 10: Our Parents – While Nilan begins with no recollection of who she is or was, her proceeding quest does provide some answers. Which or how many, I will not say.<br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:album:6rqgb726zE5CQOcwi30MMQ" width="300"></iframe><br />
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Purchase <i>Remember Me (Original Soundtrack)</i> on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/ie/album/remember-me-feat.-philharmonia/id655683287" target="_blank">iTunes</a> or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DJROANE/" target="_blank">Amazon MP3</a>.<br />
Or listen to it for free on <a href="https://play.spotify.com/album/6rqgb726zE5CQOcwi30MMQ" target="_blank">Spotify</a> or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYc7TXsCpBi4qOhqQGGYr5qVtZ_eOUrkV" target="_blank">YouTube</a>.Arkatoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11039709923343918989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1961560095998372579.post-26868198518110426132016-01-16T16:00:00.000-06:002016-01-16T17:28:56.596-06:00Orc Stain by James Stokoe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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The world has been overrun by orckind for a million millennia. Kingdoms rise and fall in a matter of months—or days. The world is chaos, but chaos is all the world's ever known.<br />
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However, one day an orc rises to power—and doesn't fall back down. He manages to unite kingdoms never thought uniteable, and conquer lands never thought conquerable. Timeless borders are abolished; ancient lands are littered with the corpses of any who stand in the way of the southern world's new tyrant. Nothing can escape the wrath of the Orctzar.<br />
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Far up north lives our protagonist, a one-eyed orc nicknamed "One-Eye". (None of them have actual names, but the greatest are given numbers post-mortem.) One-Eye likes to stick to his own business—busting locks, and surviving. He lives in a part of the world that's mostly at peace—or as much at peace as a province filled with orcs ever <i>could</i> be—doing what he can to stay out of trouble.<br />
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Unbeknownst to One-Eye, the Orctzar has learned from an ancient prophetess that in order to find an object of great power that he seeks, he must find an unspecified one-eyed orc in the north. Eager to obtain this object, and be supreme ruler of the entire world, the Orctzar sends multitudes of troops to round up every one-eyed orc in the northern hemisphere of the planet. One-Eye obviously wants nothing to do with these goings-on, and hightails the hell out of there.<br />
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This is the premise to the first volume of <i>Orc Stain</i> by James Stokoe, a beautiful, crazy and vulgar graphic novel about a brilliant and insane world. Stokoe is the creator, writer, artist, colorist, and letterer. Seeing as this is a top-quality graphic novel with incredible art, hilarious writing, and an tremendous amount of worldbuilding, that is mightily impressive.<br />
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Stokoe takes us on a highly fantastical tale though incredibly intricate lands, full of strange creatures and odd whatnots. It's a very unique concept, and the amount of content packed into this book (168 full-color pages) is impressive. The fact that it was all created one man is awe-inspiring. If this seems like something you'd be interested in, definitely check it out.<br />
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<b>Caution:</b> <i>Orc Stain</i> contains adult content and is intended for mature readers.Arkatoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11039709923343918989noreply@blogger.com0