Nobody talks to Billy Idol that way!

Yes, we're straying well in to Wedding Singer territory (and I like that - it's one of my all-time fave movies!) This guy just rocks the casbah. Really good, clean production, poppy (not that there's anything wrong with that) deceptively simple sounding songs, and gutsy vocals that light up a VU meter like the best of them. And you just know that he'll be one of those gems that grows old ungracefully. Onya chap!

Oh and this pick has absolutely nothing to with the lads at work calling me Billy when I come to work after having the living crap bleached out of my hair. I prefer Spike comparisons myself, but it's a little warm for a leather overcoat I guess...

Tags: AotW

Yes, I know, breaking another rule I'd set myself: no soundtracks. Thing is, I just finished Halo 2. Let me restate that:

I. Just. Fricken. Finished. Halo. 2!

<cough>on beginner level...</cough>

No really, call me a lamer but it's pretty hard even on that level! So, this one is a tip o' the hat, a 'well met, good sir!' and a general salute to the folks of Bungie for continuing the Marathon legacy, and, believe it or not, to little bits of M$ for backing up the Bungie lads with a big, if-we-don't-ship-a-to-die-for-title-for-xbox-we're-toast, production budget. The soundtrack alone is awesome.

Bungie have always liked their soundtracks. They rocked with Paul Sebastien's Power of Seven with Marathon 1, 2, and Infinity. Incidentally, Thomas Dolby did some stuff with Sebastien, but I digress...

You know, I've often said (repeated, actually, apologies in advance to whoever thought of it first) that the only thing that M$ could produce that didn't suck would be a vacuum cleaner. Well, I stand corrected, they can occasionally do some pretty awesome stuff. Thanks to Bungie - and I'm sure a bunch of equally crazy, gifted microserfs - Halo, Halo 2 (and I'm sure Halo 3) are masterpieces. The soundtracks do the games justice. I choose this title as AoW not lightly. Who the hell else ropes in a whole orchestral string section just for their soundtrack!? It's cinematic in quality, and yet somehow I'm not doing it justice by saying that. Nice work, ladies and gentlemen, nice work. And thank you.

Favourite track from this: Unforgotten - yes it's crappy YouTube mono low-rate quality, but you get the picture.

P.S. Hats off also to that crazy, brilliant, warthog jump master, Randall Glass for getting props in the credits!

Go Earth!

Tags: AotW

Reason# 238 for thinking RapidWeaver rocks: it changes splash-screen depending on the time of day you fire it up.

Nice.

It's the little things...

She. Said. Yes.

I've tried to stay clear of 'best of's' but this lad's work is masterful.

I'm just sayin'.

Tags: AotW

It's Kathy's birthday soon, so I did what any self-respecting Mac-head would do and got her one of these. The wired version that is. Romantic eh?

It's okay, I can actually talk about this here; when it arrived (and mighty quickly from the Apple Australia online store I might add, thanks guys!) I couldn't not give it to her straight away. I just can't keep any secrets from her (wouldn't even if I could - it's how things should be, IMHO.)

This has to be one of the most beautifully designed keyboards around. Perfectly made, thin enough that it could be used to cut vegetables if you were so inclined, and the keys (before any vege cutting that is) have a light but sure feel to them. Since I'm spoilt with the keyboard on the MacBook Pro (read: I think it's the best thing since toast) I'm mighty fussy with keyboards. Well, always have been really. Apple's original Extended Keyboard (the mighty Saratoga - we're talking Mac II era here, hey, you google it) for me was the go... until the AlBooks made their mark.

This one makes me almost wish I used my MBP with an external display and keyboard. It's amazing to look at too. Kathy likened it to comparing a thickly framed portrait to an edgy block mounted picture. The look - as is the Apple way - just engages, just works, and it perfectly suits the anodised aluminium/white polycarbonate mahjong tile that is Kathy's Mac Mini.

Now I just need to think of something else to surprise Kathy with for her actual birthday.

This is an iPod.

iPod touch to be exact. Looks like someone left an iPhone and an iPod in a room, dimmed the lights, piped in some Barry White and let nature take its course. And with parents like those, the offspring is bound to be beautiful.

In fact, the whole iPod line-up has been seriously revamped. The iPod touch has wifi, and can buy tracks from iTMS directly - that's going to be dangerous - and if you're in the one Starbucks that is so equipped, the critter will talk with their music server and let you see what's currently playing with the option to buy.

Of course, with us being in that pesky insignificant Rest of the World region, and the content cartels being what they are over here, the wifi/iTMS functionality will be available in oooh 2053...

Okay so by now you're rolling your eyes thinking "oh great, another heavy synthie lost in the 80's album" so here's a refresh for you:

Kathy introduced me to these guys a few years back. They've a really fresh light lounge-type sound. Have a listen.

Tags: AotW

Ah yes, real old school Depeche Mode. Makes me miss that Roland Juno 106 I briefly owned as a teenager...

Tags: AotW

If you've not heard their stuff before think along the lines of Deep Forest and Enigma. Entrancing is a good word for it. Grab the two-disk version if you can, some of the remixes are pretty special. Thanks go to my long time good friend (someone I love to bits and think the world of) Robin Hazen for introducing me to them.

Tags: AotW

Going by my reckoning I owe you, dear reader, three albums of the week. I won't wax lyrical about them, you'll just have to trust me on it, or see what you think.

Incoming!

Tags: AotW

Thought last night something that would mess with a vegan's head: doesn't oil come from animal remains?

Just sayin' is all, why some of my best friends etc.

So, time came to renew my subscription to Ryan Bliss' excellent Digital Blasphemy gallery. I do so gladly, of course.

The gentleman does brilliant art. Art that makes you stop. Breathe. Appreciate. Challenges your imagination. If you've not stopped by his site before, you really, really, really need to take the time to have a good look at the work this gentleman has done.

Ryan, once again, hats off to you, good sir; thank you for creating some truly special works.

It was hinted to me when I got to campus this morning that I've been a slack bastard again for not writing in a while. So, let's fix that.