ASG! Reviews: Viva La Vida

Now that I’m on the plane back from Mexico (Holy CRAP was the ocean nice!), I think it’s fitting that I give my thoughts on Coldplay’s newest album, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends.

The last Coldplay album, X/Y, was met with a resounding “meh”. It was too pop. Too mainstream. Singles like “Speed of Sound” and “Fix You” seemed tailor-made for big arenas and large venues, a far cry from the more intimate Coldplay standards like “The Scientist”. The once indie Coldplay had seemingly sold out on its own innovation.

But kudos to Coldplay. They tried something very risky with album number four. Viva La Vida is about as experimental an album as you’ll find from a major artist. They messed with the “Coldplay” sound, and the result is an almost schizophrenic (the two different titles should’ve been a tip off), but surprising success.

Coldplay’s latest offering is a music-lover’s treat. From the first track, the catchy instrumental “Life in Technicolor”, Coldplay seems to be flexing their muscles, experimenting with a repeating synth, sitar, and guitars as if to prove to their critics that they’re so much more than just piano and Chris Martin’s falsetto. Speaking of which, Martin’s falsetto is used pretty sparingly in Viva La Vida, and it really adds a lot of depth to hear him using the lower end of his register.

Throughout the album, Coldplay seems to bounce from style to style. A Spanish flair in “Cemeteries of London”, Middle Eastern strings in “Yes”, the orchestral “Viva La Vida” and a touch of harder rock in “Violet Hill”. Viva La Vida really has no style. It’s a grab-bag of different melodies and genres, all placed together with surprising accuracy that lets the album flow despite the otherwise erratic styles of each individual song.

Another trend is the bonus track, which is used heavily. Many of the songs end, only to have a completely opposite style start up on the same track. “Lovers in Japan” jumps from a bouncy piano rock to an intimate ballad in “Reign of Love” and “Yes” turns into “Chinese Sleep Chant”. Not all of these work well; the transition from “Yes” is particularly jarring and I find myself skipping the bonus track. But the final track, “Death and All his Friends”, uses its bonus track to perfection. “The Escapist” is an excellent coda that brings back the familiar melody from the first track with some haunting lyrics spiced in.

Of all the songs, “Viva La Vida” is probably the most quintessential “Coldplay” song on the album. The huge sound seems to suggest a whole orchestra behind the band. But unlike the mishaps in X/Y, “Viva La Vida” is precise. Each instrument is used with an uncanny accuracy. Even the church bells, which would sound corny and cheap by any other standard, are used just enough to make an impact, but not enough to become overbearing. Oh yeah, and it’s also Martin’s best work on the album.

“Violet Hill” was the biggest surprise for me. The piano in the beginning almost spelled out that this would be another Coldplay ballad. But after the first couple of lines a few fuzzy power chords and heavy guitars really give the song some balls. Even as Martin hits the falsetto, the song still rocks, and rocks hard. Only in the final chorus does it let up, with just Martin and a piano quietly finishing off the track.

All in all, Viva La Vida doesn’t redefine Coldplay, mainly because there’s too much going on to pinpoint what exactly their “sound” is. Too many artists have tried to “redefine” themselves to a new genre of style to reach new fans. Coldplay here seems to just offer up the album, not as an attempt to gain new success, but instead as a less mainstream exploration in music. Besides “Viva La Vida” there really isn’t a single that would work on its own. The album needs to be taken as a whole to fit. It’s not perfect and not everyone will like it, but with Viva La Vida or Death and All his Friends, Coldplay has returned to its indie roots, and I for one am glad to welcome them back.

Draft Day... Round 2

A shorter post today, with not as much anger:

The second draft day has come and gone, and was pretty successful for the Isles. They managed to pick up some promising players with all those picks, including Kirill Petrov. If they can pry him away from Russia in a couple of years, he will be a very very good player for them.
Looking back after all is said and done and the coals have cooled, I can't call this draft a success. Yes the Isles did restock the shelves of their farm system, so to speak. But they passed on some great talent to do so. I get the feeling that Islander fans will be remembering the Round One debacle in a few years when Nikita Filatov is lighting it up the score sheets for Columbus. Passing up on those four players who they traded down past is going to hurt in a few years. No question.

Also, I can't imagine any free agents are going to want to come within spitting distance of this franchise. Watch for more stop-gap moves in a week when the free agency opens up. They're not going to land any of the big names, but probably just pick up some Vasicek or Fedotanko one-year deal players to fill in spots until the Isles make the case that they're legitimately in it to win.

And, perhaps most importantly, the Islanders have done a wonderful job of alienating a whole new batch of fans. That the whole Coliseum stormed out in disgust at the draft party is a bad bad sign. It's going to be very hard for this organization to lure them back in. Attendance will probably be in the pits again this year, and had the Isles not mis-fired in the first round, that might not have been the case.

The Islanders are going to have a rough season next year. It's a damn good thing that the Islanders did stock up in the farm department. Because in order for them to lure in a superstar, not to mention a fanbase, the Islanders are going to have to build from the inside.

Draft Day...

So I know I promised a Viva la Vida review and my impressions of Spore. I've been pretty busy though, but let me say both are outstanding. I really can't get enough of Coldplay's new album, and Spore is addicting and fun as hell. There will be a post on them soon, I assure you.

But first, I need to rant. Specifically, about my favorite hockey team, the New York Islanders. Please bear with me...as this may be a bit messy.

I've been a fan of the Isles since the early 2000's, and let me say that I have seen this franchise do some outright stupid things. Yashin's deal, Kvasha, pretty much all of Milbury's moves, the Smyth trade. And for the most part I have defended each one. There was a hope, somewhere in this cynical heart that the Isles would one day rebuild, and I could proudly say that I was a fan since those dark days.

But today, Draft Day 2008, topped them all. For a bit of background, the Isles had the #5 pick in the draft, and it was considered a valuable commodity. As the Isles went up to pick, there were two excellent prospects available: Filatov, a Russian sniper who I was hoping they would pick to help their bottom-of-the-league offense, and Schenn, a huge D-man that would be a welcome addition on a rebuilding blue-line.

Of course, the Isles chose neither. Despite GM Garth Snow's insistence that they would need to see a blockbuster trade to consider giving up the pick, give it up they did. And what was this blockbuster trade? A spot two picks later and a second rounder (the number 60 pick, basically a third) and a third. Imagine my frustration/shock as Toronto picks up Schenn and Columbus grabs Filatov. Before my eyes, the two best players left, excellent prospects at the least and franchise players at the best, were snatched up..for a couple of extra picks.

It gets better!!

The Isles weren't done yet. They traded down again! To #9 from #7 this time for another second rounder, and watched as the last of the first-tier elite talent was picked up. Now the Isles are up, and they have a few good players left to choose from. Who do they pick? Joshua. Bailey.


Who? Exactly. Bailey is a center and was rated at #15 the Red Line's draft rankings. He is, by most scouting reports, a "safe pick": a solid 2-way center who has some great playmaking, and will likely net a good amount of points.

I'm not mad about picking Bailey. He looks like a decent player. He will be a very good 2nd line center, and I wish him luck in the majors. Had we drafted him at #15 or #16, I would be happy right now.

But compared to Filatov or Schenn or Wilson or Boedker, who all went before him, he's not even close. Not to mention his play making skills will be wasted on an Island devoid of talent (with the exception of Okposo).

I've got to feel for him. Right now, behind GM Snow and owner Charles Wang, he is the most hated person in this organization, only because he will never live up to being a player of the caliber that was passed for him.

The Isles have already put the spin machine in full gear, saying "Josh was the player we targeted from the beginning," and they they figured they could pick him up later while stocking picks. But in a draft this rich in talent, you don't go trading down! They passed up on Grade-A certified young talent for a guy most had pegged for the 15 spot at best. And worst off, they planned this from the start.

The Isles had a chance to do something right, for the first time in a long time. And they royally blew it. The management wonders why the team is last in attendance, can't get approval for a new arena, and can't attract the big name agents; but then they pull stupid stunts like this. To think that the Isles were so high on Bailey that they chose him over Filatov and Schenn is mind-boggling. They had a great chance to restock the Island with a top young sniper, or a touch-as-nails defense man and they passed it up for what? A couple of second round picks and a 2-way center who on the best reports is put at the number 15 spot in terms of talent.

For a sad bit of perspective, here's what the rest of the league thought of Josh Bailey:
Only ONE OTHER TEAM had him come in for an interview, the #16 pick, the Boston Bruins.

The Islanders are truly the laughing stock of this league. The punch line to a bad joke.

To think that Islander fans will have to watch Filatov and Schenn in the future and think "we could have had him...he could have been wearing our jersey,"...it's too much to bear. We're a tough bunch, and loyal as anyone and right now I truly feel for my fellow fans. Before our eyes, the organization and team we care so deeply and passionately stabbed us in the back, then twisted the knife in the wound. We expected to end today proud that Filatov or Schenn would be donning an Islanders jersey soon and that this franchise was turning itself around. Now, once again, we must bang our heads against the wall and be the butt end of jokes as our team passes up a sparkling opportunity to restore some faith in this circus of a franchise.

Reports are that at the draft party being held at the Coliseum, half the fans left after the Isles passed up on Filatov, and then most of the rest left after the second trade. The rest were reportedly left in stunned silence as we watched Bailey put on our jersey. Who can blame them?

I'm hoping that overnight, the sting of this failure will go away. Perhaps by the morning, I can watch the 2nd round and see who they pick and have faith again.. that maybe, just maybe, this will all work out and Luke Schenn, Nikita Filatov, Colin Wilson, and Mikkel Boedker will all turn out to be flops. Maybe, the Isles will have some sort of deal up their sleeves and will trade those extra picks for a superstar to restore some honor to this franchise. I can hope beyond hope that perhaps one of those second round picks will become something 2 or 3 years from now, and that Joshua Bailey will be a key asset to our team. Then maybe the Isles will win the Cup, the sky will rain gumdrops and Skittles, and I'll hit the lottery.

Congratulations New York Islanders. You're clearly content to remain the pinnacle of mediocrity.

Have fun. I will not be watching.

Ready For Launch...

Well, after weeks of planning (and slacking), I finally present the inaugural post in my blog, All Systems Go! This blog will mainly focus on the video game industry, but I reserve the right to post on whatever has caught my eye, be it music, movies, politics, or whatever. I'm going to post as often as I can depending on what has peaked my interest and when.

I suppose I should start off with a little introduction...

About Me:

My name is Paul Squire and I'm a journalism student at Syracuse University in New York. I've been gaming since the age of 11 or so (the first game I owned was Yoshi's Story). I mostly play PC games, but also indulge in Nintendo when they put out a new first party title. I also get around to playing the occasional Xbox or PS3 game by mooching off my buddies' systems. I currently own a Nintendo Wii that has been gathering dust since the last Super Smash Bros. Brawl match. I enjoy RTS's, the occasional FPS, and every once in a blue moon, an RPG. In addition to gaming, I'm also somewhat of a movie fanatic and have a love for playing the piano.

The Greatest Games:

I could go on and tell you more about myself, but since this is a gaming blog, I think the best way to introduce myself further is give a bit of insight into what I think are the best games I've ever played. A nice little peek into my gaming psyche, no? And so, in no particular order:

1.) Half-Life 2
Valve hit this game out of the park by far. The story is engaging, the physics engine was revolutionary, the voice acting is great (I'm looking at you, Alyx Vance), and most importantly, the gameplay is phenomenal. From that first step off the train, to boating through canals and getting the piss scared out of you in Ravenholm, to the final assault on the Citadel, Half-life 2 nails every element of gameplay, and does so while immersing you in a beautifully created and completely believable world. When you could swear you heard a Fast Headcrab Zombie howl as you walked home last night, you know a game has sucked you in. An excellent game, and easily one of the best I've ever played.

2.) Portal
I've already kissed up enough to Valve, I know. But you cannot say Portal is anything less than spectacular. The gameplay, in typical Valve fashion, is spot on. The thrill of shooting yourself out of a portal across a bottomless pit and landing safely on the other side is one of a kind. But what truly made Portal stand above the rest was the script. GLADOS, the smarmy supercomputer who acts as your companion and later your enemy, is both hilarious and unsettling. On too many occasions I would run straight in front of a gun turret for no other reason other than to hear its adorable/creepy voice: "There you are.....are you still there?" Say what you will about how the intro puzzles were far too easy; it's instantly overcompensated by the incredible and funniest script I've ever heard in a video game. The cake is a lie.

3.) Starcraft
Enough cannot be said about Starcraft. After over a decade, it still stands toe to toe with any strategy game. Starcraft's gameplay set a high standard for the RTS genre that in many ways has yet to be matched. Blizzard (before indulging in the addictive powers of World of Warcraft) was the king of the RTS, and Starcraft stands as it's crowed jewel. Zergling Rush be damned, this game was an absolute gem. Now with Starcraft 2 right around the corner, Blizzard has set a high standard for itself. I hope they can catch lightning in a bottle twice. Seeing as they've put it off for 10 years, they better.

4.) Rome: Total War
When only the sunrise can snap you out of a game, it's beyond addicting. Rome: Total War is one of those games I would start playing at 10 o'clock and not stop until 6. It plays like a far more complicated, ancient version of Risk, where instead of countries there are provinces to be upgraded, and instead of die are huge armies of bowmen, legionaries, and cavalry going at it on the field of battle. Even if the game were not as polished as it was, there is a certain sophisticated joy that comes from amassing a legion of Roman troops to march on your enemies. The battle mode is really a blast to play, but includes an auto-resolve function for those, less blood-thirsty gamers. One of the most enjoyable parts of the game comes not from the strategy, but purely from the polish. In battle, you can zoom in to the troops and watch as they individually fight. It's easy to get distracted from the larger strategy of the battle when you're watching your calvary charge out of the forest and expertly flank that phalanx unit to send your opponents flying. There's really no story to speak of: essentially you're an ancient faction and you have to take over everything under the Mediterranean sun. But there's almost a maniacal pleasure that comes from watching your grand strategies work and cities fall to your might.

5.) Super Mario 64
See: the perfect platformer. Nintendo struck gold in this Mario adventure and single handedly invented the 3d platformer. No attempt, even by Nintendo, has ever been able to live up to the perfection of Super Mario 64. While the story is nothing to speak of (it's Mario...what did you expect?), the game is a classic, through and through. 120 stars and hours of fun, Super Mario 64 is the pinnacle of platforming, and remains the greatest of the genre.

6.) Tales of Symphonia
Tales of Symphonia is an RPG...and not only that, but a JAPANESE RPG. And a damn good one. The Gamecube was very lucky to nail this exclusive title from Namco. Symphonia solves one of my greatest criticisms of RPGs, no turn based combat. I always found it silly to think that in this huge boss battle, everyone just stands around and takes turns beating the snot out of each other. But Namco went a different route, and using it's fighting game credentials, came up with an unique battle system based on real time combat. Your character battles in real-time to build up combos using special techniques or you could pause the game to use items and order your teammates to cast spells. While the plot was a bit convoluted and filled with enough sappy morality lessons to cause seizing, Tales of Symphonia is still a 50 hour game that breaks the mold a bit from other more traditional RPGs.

7.) Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Kudos to Infinity Ward. While everyone and their grandma was hyping up Halo 3, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare came out of nowhere and shocked many by being *gasp* a better FPS. Call of Duty 4's success was so surprising partly because of the series' history. Call of Duty had become synonymous with the World War II shooter, and along with the Medal of Honor series, had thoroughly beaten that horse until it was bleeding from every orifice. CoD4, however took things to the present day, with nukes, air strikes, and AK-47s. And it succeeded in almost every way. Infinity Ward crafted a gem out of what was once a mediocre FPS franchise. CoD4 didn't really revolutionize the FPS, but it is one of the sharpest. The controls were tight and comprehensive and the multiplayer was the real kicker, with a system of unlockable and customizable weapons and perks that made Halo 3's multiplayer look juvenile and unsophisticated by comparison. While Halo 3 was on everyone minds at first, CoD4 quickly stole the spotlight and the accolades, turning "the best selling video game of all time" into the runner-up. CoD4 is really the story about how a gaming David toppled the Halo Goliath.

(cue Halo fanboy flaming......now!)

8.) Beyond Good & Evil
I'll file this under "The Best Game No One Played". After almost no marketing from Ubisoft, BG&E was a commercial flop of epic proportions. It's truly a shame though, because the game itself is a diamond in the rough. You play as a photojournalist named Jade, who has her suspicions while trying to protect her world from an evil alien race called the Domz. The story is first class, and the constant twists and turns makes this a game I never wanted to put down. The supporting cast are a group of characters that you won't soon forget. If you've never played it, get off your computer and get out there! You can find it on Steam or in a bargain bin for about $10....TEN DOLLARS! I don't want to hear excuses, just go out and buy this game.

9.) Roller Coaster Tycoon
I normally don't like Sim games. Sim City confused me. The Sims were far too annoying (You have to go to the bathroom, SO WHY ARE YOU WATERING THE PLANTS?!). Zoo Tycoon never sparked my interest. But Roller Coaster Tycoon... designing roller coasters and trying to build that perfect theme park was perhaps one of the most addicting experiences of my childhood. I'd play for hours, tweaking my coasters to just make it over that second hill and fulfill those sometimes challenging mission objectives. Micro-managing your own version of the ideal amusement park never got old; on the contrary, each new scenario was a challenge in designing and placing your rides in just the right place on your plot of land so your peeps could seamlessly hit ride after ride, then relax in the food court after blowing their chunks.

10.) The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
That little woodwind instrument was never again so famous. Not only did it put ocarinas on the map, but OoT was adventure perfection. Earlier I said that Super Mario 64 revolutionized the 3d platformer; OoT revolutionized video games in general. At a time when most games were light on story and heavy on pick-up-and-playability, OoT broke the mold. Amazingly, Nintendo took an entirely new genre, the 3d platformer, and defined it with the greatest game ever made. Link's adventure from the Kokiri Forest to Hyrule Castle was epic in every sense of the word. This really was a Legend you were creating as you saved village after village and region after region from Ganon's evil grasp. There are just so many parts of this game that are forever cemented in gaming history: The Water Temple, the Fishing Hole, Lord Jabu-Jabu, those damn Golden Skullutas, and of course, gaming's greatest horse, Epona. The musical score was also top notch. Every little ditty that was whistled out of Link's ocarina instantly became a classic universally recognized by gamers across the globe. Simply put, OoT was not only a fantastic game, but it redefined gaming forever. It showed that games could deliver the epic story of a fantasy world while remaining fun to play and engaging. Since then, no game has come close to the revolutionary excellence of OoT. It was, and still is, the greatest game ever made.

Well that's it for the first post. I'll be posting again tomorrow eventually with my first impressions of the Spore Creature Creator and maybe the new Coldplay album. Thanks for reading.