First Impressions - Infinity Overhead

Minus the Bear recently posted the entirety of their new album on their website for their fan's listening pleasure, and I've gotta say, from what I've gathered in my listens so far where OMNI could be viewed as a stumble (not by me personally) Infinity Overhead sees the band back in full stride.

If there is one way to describe Infinity Overhead, it would be this: it is essentially an aggregate of all their past works, the best elements of all of their past LPs and EPs working in harmony. As a result of that, you can actually single out single songs as representing Minus the Bear's past albums. To give a couple examples, Zeroes seriously sounds like it was taken straight from Menos el Oso while the album's closing track Cold Company would fit in perfectly in Planet of Ice.

As previously mentioned, some view OMNI as something of a stumble by the Seattle-based band. While I don't necessarily share that same view, I can empathize with it. OMNI represented a more accessible and mainstream sound with a very strong pop influence. While that sound is still evident (see Lonely Gun), Infinity Overhead represents a return to form for Minus the Bear.

Expect my full review once the album drops next week.

Facebook Facing Potential Competition

Currently Google has removed the ability to send out invitations, so unfortunately I can't hand out any invites. However, I do plan to update this post once invites become available again so keep watch.

A screenshot of my Google+ profile

Today Google opened up the Beta for their new social network, and clearly intended competition for the giant that is Facebook, Google+. Now you may be about to point out their past attempt at entering the world of social networking Orkut, and while I'm not all that familiar with it, based upon what I've experienced so far of Google+ Google certainly has a winner on their hands.

Everything about Google+ is just slick, from the overall presentation to the various functionalities like posting updates and photos. If you're at all familiar with Facebook, when asked to think of a color to associate with the site blue would more than likely pop into your head. If just for that one reason Google+ is refreshing. No more blue, just a black navigation bar and everything else is just white or grey. You're probably wanting more reasons than just color to be interested in Google+ and there are plenty others. For starters with that refreshment of color comes a fresh new aesthetic. Everything looks incredibly clean and slick compared to Facebook, not that Facebook is that ugly of a site to begin with though. I think what really makes a difference is the welcome lack of the clutter created by chat on the left and those pesky page and friend suggestions on the right. Granted this is a beta, but for the time being it is a definite step up from Facebook. On a side note, apparently Google managed to nab an Apple designer that worked on the original debut visual operating system and I've gotta say based upon how clean and slick that Google+ is it definitely shows.

In terms of features Google+ is essentially like for like with Facebook, including the ability to like or +1 posts, create groups, and chat with friends. What really sets Google+ apart from Facebook on this front, however, is integration with existing Google services like Google Voice to allow for much more.
What more could a social networking have you may ask? Well, Integrated voice/video through a feature called Hangout. You can set up a Hangout with a specific Circle, say friends, and then have your friends join you in a video chat which is also accompanied by instant messaging chat as well to allow you to easily sends links to those who you are chatting with. One interesting feature with the Hangout feature is the apparent ability to collectively watch Youtube videos with those you're video-chatting with. I tried this Hangout feature with a couple friends of mine and it works fantastically, one nice touch is when you're chatting with more than one friend the main video automatically switches to the friend that is currently speaking. I did attempt the group Youtube viewing feature but disappointingly either the feature is currently disabled or me and my friends simply could not get it to work.

 Now that I actually consider it, Google+ offers competition to not only Facebook but Skype as well with it's integrated video chat feature. As one of my friends brought up the seamless integration into the social network itself brings great ease when it comes to video chatting because you just need to have the person who you want to chat with in one of your Circles rather than having to separately download and own the Skype application and have to hunt down their screen name.

Overall I'd have to say that both Facebook and Skype should definitely be nervous at Google's true entry into social networking. Google+ is absolutely fantastic as it is right now, but the fact that it is was literally just released as a beta means there is potential for future changes and additions allowing for the possibility for even more killer features.

If you've had the opportunity to experience Google+, what are your thoughts?

Early Impressions - Downtown Battle Mountain 2 (Dance Gavin Dance)

Thanks to pre-ordering via iTunes, I was able to obtain the album late last night and begin a play-through.  absolutely love what I've heard so far. Sure I was a big fan of Kurt Travis, but there isn't any denying that Johnny Craig is an amazing vocalist. This is evident throughout the entire album, though most notably on Purple Reign. Jon Mess has returned as well, taking back the reigns on the screaming from Will Swan, and he has made a significant improvement, sounding overall more shrill. In terms of instrumentals, they are reminiscent of those of the original DBM, but they have taken the experience and growth that they've acquired (they mostly being Will Swan and Matt Mingus) from the past two albums with Kurt Travis and applied it well. The sound from Happiness even shines through here and there, most notably Spooks.

Though initially hesitant at the spurning of Travis and the re-acceptance of Craig, I couldn't be more happy with what I've heard of this album. I may even go so far as to suggest that this may rank as my all-time favorite DGD album.

I'll post a complete review soon.

Early Impressions - Beast (by DevilDriver)

I just purchased the special edition of the album from iTunes last night, and based upon my first listen through there is only one word that is sufficient enough to describe this album: beast. I don't know how they do it, but DevilDriver seems to get heavier and more extreme with each album, and Beast is without a doubt no exception. Dead to Rights kicks things off with a bang and the album just builds from there, never losing momentum, never relenting. It will grab you and refuse to let go until it's conclusion, a live recording of Fury of Our Maker's Hand track Grinfucked. So far I am most impressed by two songs in particular, Talons Out (Teeth Sharpened) and Blur. Talons Out gets recognized for it's pure ferocity and Blur for how impressive the musicianship is, especially towards it's conclusion.

Expect a full review soon.

Early Impressions - Pokemon Black Version

The day has finally come...today marks the release of Black and White. I'll post my early impressions here later once I pick up my copy of Black and get a chance to play it. Expect a couple pictures as well.

UPDATE:

I have played up until just past the second Gym, and from what I've experienced so far I am very impressed by Black Version. The menu interface is fantastic, definitely preferable to that of HeartGold/SoulSilver and the fact that there is a shortcut menu activated by the Y button in placed of a registered item is just awesome, you can even register shortcuts for menus. The C-Gear and all of the functionality that it brings is just fantastic, though I don't quite take to the fact that it wants to be online all the time. As for the adventure itself, so far it's the pretty typical Pokemon though I do like where the storyline is going with Team Galaxy.

One negative that I encountered, the first gym was incredibly brutal. He would just buff up his Panpour and then proceed in sweeping my entire team. It took an unusual amount of level-grinding at that level of the game, but after five attempts I was finally able to come out on top. I barely made it through the second Gym Leader as well, though thankfully my Herdier was a martyr for my party and took out her Watchog with a Take Down that took the last of it's health.

I've reached Castelia, and I am speechless at how sheerly immense that the city is. The more dynamic camera really shows itself off here, most impressively when you're cross the Sky Arrow bridge to reach the city.

After seeing it in action, the C-Gear and it's utilization of infrared for Tag Mode is absolutely ingenius. Other games with tag mode features use the DS's wireless capabilities which unfortunately means that you can do nothing while the game is in tag mode. With Black's usage of infrared, tag mode is always on and active (unless of course you choose to turn the C-Gear off) while you're playing. In fact when you come across other people you can tap on their sprite and see where they are in the region. Playing into the constant presence of tag mode are surveys, which allows you to see what game other people around you are playing, which starter they chose, and how long they've been playing. It's absolutely fantastic.

I am absolutely loving the fact that the only Pokemon that you will come across in the Unova region are brand new. Not only does that mean no more pesky Geodudes and Zubats in caves, but also a much greater sense of discovery. I love both the feeling of walking out into a route without the knowledge of what will come next and coming across a Pokemon's name in battle right before it's released and thinking to myself "Who the hell is that?".

I just finished playing through the game earlier, and I am thoroughly impressed by the challenge posed by the Elite Four and the final battles (I won't spil anything). They definitely had me cheering, the final battles especially, when I took down one of their Pokemon. I haven't done much in terms of post-game content yet, though I have made brief visits to the now open Black City and towns in the upper right of Unova. I'm a little underwhelmed by Black City, the camera perspective certainly makes it look big, but it sure doesn't feel big in terms of content (though according to Serebii with repeated visits and battles with it's citizens it will grow). I took the opportunity to go on  the cruise ship that can be seen ported at one of the docks in Castelia, and man am I blown away. I completely ignored the fact that there were trainers aboard to battle, my attention was on watching the scenery from the deck. To see the Sky Arrow bridge and the city in all their glory from a distance is an absolute treat.

As I play through the game expect me to keep recording my thoughts here.