I'm there!

Two words:  Denzel Washington

Couple more words:  The Book of Eli, out 1/15/2010

Justice - A Cross The Universe (Review)

Cross by Justice was easily one of the best debut albums I will hear during my lifetime.  No exaggeration.  It was one of those albums that just swept me right off my feet.  The first time I heard "Waters of Nazareth" drop...let's just say I'm happy no one else was in the car.  For me, '07 belonged to Justice.

After such a great album, expectations stay high.  It doesn't matter whether it's a remix here or there or an EP teaser for a new album.  That success is almost expected to be duplicated.  I'm sure you can think of more than a few albums that came across this way for you.

When I got this live set of Justice, I kept my expectations low so my disappointment would be low as well.  Like an idiot, I browsed through the 14 or so tracks, listening to the first couple seconds, fast-forwarding a bit, then skipping to the next song.  It sounded mediocre at best, so I put this CD in the "better luck next time" pile and just kept it moving.

I had a long drive to do (Northeast PA to Pittsburgh, roughly 5 hours), so I put in some CDs to ride out with.  I got a 6 disc changer in the car, and I burnt about 4 CDs, so I threw them in and pushed the other two to the back of the changer.  3 or so hours in, after skipping around from track-to-track on the first couple CDs, I told myself, "Wayman, you have music ADD, next CD that comes on, you can't skip a single song" (I said this in my head, I don't talk to myself).  This CD comes on...

This is probably the album that proved to me one quick scan through doesn't give you much at all.  From start to finish, I felt like I was a part of the crowd.  When the crowd roared, so did I.  When it got quiet, you got quiet.  You could almost feel the tension when the track was building, and when it dropped, you'd go nuts (i.e. end of "We Are Your Friends (Reprises)" is BANANAS!).  Instead of just yapping on and on about it, here's one of their big singles (care of Youtube) so you can see if the album does anything for you:

This live set definitely isn't quite as bright and as happy as D.A.N.C.E. or DVNO, but it hits a good balance between the two.  Stuff you can dance to, and songs that should be playing in a fight club.  As a matter of fact, the last track ("Final") sounds like it ties into a metal song (Iron Maiden maybe?).  Trust me, it blends together very well.  Do yourself a favor:  look it up on iTunes, buy it, and enjoy!

Rating : 4 out of 5 stars (just because I didn't catch how sweet it was the first time around!)

New album review coming soon.  Check back!

SFIV - MegaMan Style!!

I've looked at a whole bunch of stuff on the internet today, but this might've been the coolest thing I've seen all day:

A member of the Capcom forum who goes by Speedbrkr took my favorite fighting game and gave it a retro classic look.  Most gamers can't say they were any good at the Mega Man (or Rockman depending on where you live) franchise titles, but nearly every gamer can appreciate the style, big pixelated eyes and everything.  He even went as far as organizing the roster in proper order but with the classic "blue warp" stage select backdrop!

Much respect to Speedbrkr for gracing the net with his skills.  You can check out the original thread on the Shoryuken forums here.

[via Technabob]

I'll let you be the judge...

I'll let you be the judge...is it real?  PopSci.com did a scientific analysis and I guess it is possible...after 543,234 takes...

When polls go bad!

Yesterday, somebody made a new post on Facebook using one of the many Facebook Applications that supports posts, polls, and ratings of all things in all sizes.  You're probably familiar with these.  If the question is boring or insipid, you don't pay it much attention, and it eventually gets lost in the black hole that is Facebook.  If it's semi-inspired or somewhat interesting, you might vote on the poll yourself and take to a friend about it in passing.  Well, this poll got the US Secret Service's attention:

 

751 people actually voted on this post, which was quickly removed and service to the third-party application was halted for investigation.  It doesn't surprise me really.  The internet is a playground for those who love to post inflammatory material and have no accountability.  There is only one think I liked about this article:

"An ancillary poll has also popped up: "Should the person who created the 'Should Obama be Killed Poll' be arrested?"

You already know you vote on that poll!  Check the link below to TPM Livewire's take on the whole situation...


[via TPM Livewire]

This is like the apex of the vortex of PC case engineering!

Easily the coolest factory-built case I've ever seen.  It's called the Thermaltake Level 10, it's available in the US sometime in October, and it'll run you back $700!  Just so you know, $700 is the low-ball price for the components needed to design an entire computer tower.  My last tower cost me $60, so this is definitely a premium product here.

"Thermaltake certainly package the Level 10 well, with the case not only getting foam padding but a branded slip-case to prevent scuffs.  There’s also a design book explaining the company’s partnership with BMW Designworks."


Hmmm...considering the price of Bimmers nowadays, that price tag sounds about right.


[via SlashGear]

BMW M5's biggest upgrade is a...downgrade?

Looks like the 2011 BMW M5 will be getting a sweet new engine.  In this case, bigger is not better, and despite the speculation of their super-sedan continuing to house a twin-turbo V10 engine, looks like this isn't the case:

"...with CO2 concerns, fuel economy standards and the fact that the V10 isn't available in much of anything else in BMW's lineup, it seems like the next-gen M5 will probably find its motive power supplied by a V8 instead...With 555 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque, it falls right in the ballpark with other supersedan outputs."

To me, it's still swag on wheels.  The .5, .6, point-whatever second difference in acceleration would only really matter if you're counting that stuff.  Moral of the story:  still bad-ass!

[via Autoblog]

Justice - A Cross The Universe (Preview)

Live set based on Justice's Cross album.  The review is coming soon!!

For the baller in all of us

Ever wish you could put out that fat wad of cash à la (insert rich celebrity here)?  Well, now it's your turn!!

Why would I just show off some stacks?  Because it's not what you think...

It's called The Loaded Wallet.  It's easier to get than a winning Cash 5 ticket, but you might sigh every time you reach for a Benjamin and only pull out Washingtons.  At least I would...

[via Toxel]

Boys Noize - Power (Review)

I'm not one of those people who has "runners".  You know, the sound that seems to always be in heavy rotation wherever you go, be it the iPod on the CD rack in the car.  When you're constantly on the hunt for new music, there's few tracks that really grab me for weeks on end.

Take this concept, apply it to an entire album, and that's how Boys Noize first album Oi Oi Oi came across for me.  It was like a personal soundtrack for months.  Turns out they featured one of the big singles on the GTA IV soundtrack, which added to its popularity.  Stealing cars, shooting cops, AND good tunes?  Overstimulation...

Anyways, this is the second album (excluding the various EPs, remixes and what not) from Boys Noize, and it doesn't disappoint if you're patient.  It lacks a bonafide club banger to start out the LP (Power's "Gax" vs. Oi Oi Oi's "& Down"?  No contest.), but once "Jeffer" rolls in, you'll start feeling déjà vu.

From there, high points include "Starter", "Nott", and "Sweet Light", high-energy tracks that are bound to be screwed, chopped, and remixed by all the hot producers out there.  Speaking of remixes, be on the look out for a Jeffer Remixes LP that should be dropping within a month or two.

If you're new to the genre and are looking for a reference-standard piece of electro, this is a great place to start.  I can't rate this one as high as Oi Oi Oi, but it's definitely worth more than a couple spins.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars (Definitely above-average)

Check back for a new album review sometime soon.

Boys Noize - Power (Preview)

Review coming this evening.  I'll going to listen to it a couple times.  Check back later!!

First Post!

Ladies and gentleman, welcome to what may be your new favorite spot on the Internet!

My site is an ode to Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World", except nowadays the future they dreamed about is commonplace.

Be ready to get an exclusive look at the hot items of today and the showstoppers of tomorrow.

Gadgets, geek stuff, music of all genres and the random craziness that is the world wide web.

Expect a new post every day on so. I'm new to the blogging game, so bear with me...Rome wasn't built in a day, right?