(click to enlarge all images)

Character: Rey Mysterio
Brand: Mattel
Year: 2010
Series: Basic Series #2 (dark blue variant)

This particular Rey is based on a look he began sporting way back when he was drafted to Raw. While the flash of the camera doesn’t make it quite as obvious, this is the second-wave variant from Basic Series #2. The original is in light blue, which is accurate, whereas this one is simply a color change. It looks a little darker in person – very appealing, though.

Rey’s mask is his newer style, exposing the back of his head. Mattel gave him a nice and big back tattoo that even goes up to the neck where the mask mold obscures. It’s very detailed.

On his right leg is the skull/mask design he sported frequently in 2009. It resembles the cover mask he gives to kids at ringside. “Mysterio” is written in big letters the wrap around half of his leg.

On his left leg is “619″. The bottom cuff of the leg has a stripe, and he even has his own ridged boot mold. Nice touch!

Rey has a TON of tattoos on both arms. Not all are even pictured, as some are on the inner-side of his forearm. I’m not sure why his glove cuff is detached from his hand. I believe this is a factory error.

On his inner arm reads ” Aalyah” on one and “Dominik” on the other. These are the names of his children. Some tattoos are even hidden under his elbow pads! The only glaringly missing one that I can see is the recent religious prayer he got from a little girl at an autograph signing. He got it sometime in 2009.

While this figure does have a good amount of articulation, I did run into a bit of a problem…

Within just minutes of moving him around, his left leg fell off. And later when I went to photograph these shots, his other leg fell off! I do not play with my figures, only display them, so this is incredibly frustrating to see this happen after simply moving his leg up. I didn’t even get the chance to bend his knees before this happened. I have read other occurances of people having some problems with this particular Rey, so I’m guessing this isn’t an isolated issue. Perhaps it has to do with the pose he is packaged in?

Here is a picture to demonstrate the scaling differences between Mattel and Jakks. Jakks are on the left, Mattel on the right. Rey is just shy of being as tall as Kane for the Jakks figure. For the Mattel, Kane towers over Rey. He is a small man and properly scaled body parts (arms, torso, legs) make this figure that much more accurate. It’s remarkable.

It’s a very nice shot at Rey Mysterio. I don’t know if I can recommend it due to what happened to mine, but if you collect MOC or simply want to take a chance with it, this Rey figure is as good as any. As with all Basic Mattel figures, he comes with a display stand and sells for $10.

(read up on the S3 rating method used on this site right here).

Popularity: 5% [?]

In this past decade the gaming industry has gone through two different generations of video games. The bitter battle between Nintendo and Sega came to an end when the Sega Dreamcast died in the early 00′s. Who knew that in post-1999 Sega would be making games for Nintendo consoles? Not to mention co-headlining a game with Nintendo’s flagship character?  Gaming in general has gone from a niche hobby to a mainstream phenomenon (for better or worse) and now has its presence felt in seemingly every corner of entertainment.

The Dreamcast pioneered the first successful online platform for console games, leading the 6th generation into a new era of multiplayer. Sony and Microsoft took that bull by the horns by offering their take on online gaming, with Microsoft launching Xbox live and changing the way we communicate…or try to…through video games. As the 7th generation rolled in so did the popularity of HDTVs, allowing for clarity unseen in years prior, demanding a higher attention to detail. The consoles grew more powerful and became multi-functioned, centering themselves as a media center for living rooms that could display our pictures, house our music, and even surf the web all from the same couch you catch Fresh Prince re-runs on.

The Wii took the world by storm and even went as far as to break the record for most video games ever sold (Wii Sports), which previously was held by the original Super Mario Bros! Motion controls seem to be a prominent part of the future of gaming as we enter the next decade with new motion control devices coming from Microsoft and Sony. If the next decade is going to be as crazy as the last, we’re going to need helmets to make it to 2020.

Summing up ten year’s worth of great games isn’t the easiest thing in the world to do. When you say “ten years” it doesn’t truly ring a bell until you realize that the original PlayStation and Nintendo 64 were still around at the start of the new millennium. Yeah, we’re all old. The list I have penciled down, erased, penciled down, erased, penciled down, and finally wrote in pen was composed with a few limitations in mind: I have not played every critically acclaimed game of this past decade nor do I enjoy every game genre. Also, listing only one game per series makes the list less cluttered with sequels, prequels, etc.

Please remember that this is a personal list of preferred games. I do not care about over-hyped blockbusters or army recruitment games. I care about quality, originality, emotional value, or in some cases just plain fun. Omitting certain games that revolutionized a genre is an unfortunate part of the process when you list only ten games.

When the original SSX came out the Playstation 2 was fresh on the market here in North America. At this point in time we were all used to pixelated, muddled textures and limited at best graphical power. Enter SSX, one of the key games in making the original PS2 such a hit in its inception. SSX combines a welcoming level of accessibility with fierce competitive racing, and a flashy trick system that boosts your character straight to the finish line. Atypical from the genre, SSX stood out with its fluid controls, arcade style and colorful locations, which included such locales as Tokyo Megaplex, Aloha Icejam, Mesa Blanca, and a handful of additional areas. As your board carves through the glistening snow as you approach the last big jump, don’t be surprised if everyone in the room is waiting for their turn once you hit the finish line. It excels in everything, and that is why SSX earns the title of one of the best games of the decade.

Dead Space quite literally creeped out of nowhere when it came out in 2008. Borrowing isolationist elements from Metroid and the occasional feel of Resident Evil 4, Dead Space turned out to be a derivative, yet at times quite innovative game. Dead Space felt like a natural progression of the survival horror genre – far more than the latest installment of Resident Evil, and did so while creating quite possibly one of the most beautiful atmospheres to date in any video game. You will drop your jaw once you explore anti-gravity and see the regions of outer space. The polish and presentation is top caliber, which also applies to another area Dead Space takes advantage of: sound design. A unique gameplay feature that separates this game from others is the dismemberment system. You won’t be finding typical weapons aboard the Ishimura but instead plasma-powered engineering tools designed to cut through the toughest of materials. Dead Space belongs among the best of this decade for creating a mesmerizing atmosphere complimented by visceral scapes of sound. Dead Space 2 – here’s to you in the ’10s.

Starting from 2001, this decade has seen four different Mario Kart games and two arcade racers (of which should promptly be ported to Wii as a Club Nintendo reward). Two of that small handful have been shrunk down for the small screen: Super Circuit and the DS game. Both fine games, both better than their console counterparts, but nothing quite compared to Mario Kart DS. Mario Kart DS marked Nintendo’s first serious attempt at online gaming. The result was an already stellar single-player experience enhanced tremendously. Friend Codes, blue shells and cheaters aside, Mario Kart online was a huge hit. One of the strong points about this racer has always been replayability and with online and the ability to play with local DS owners who don’t even own the game, the Nintendo DS was granted its killer app. Nintendo also threw in the ability to change karts and unlock unusual characters such as Dry Bones and even R.O.B! Included for the first time in the series’ history was a collection of challenges and boss battles to top it all off. With tight controls and a plethora of new features, Mario Kart DS resides as one of the finest in the series as well as of this decade.

There are two things in the late ’90s and early ’00s that nearly every teenage boy was into. You had the WWF with the likes of The Rock & Stone Cold Steve Austin,  and you had the counter-culture world of skateboarding in full swing.  Tony Hawk 2 came out at the absolute best time imaginable and made the original Tony Hawk , a groundbreaking game in its own right, seem inferior in nearly every way. While it wasn’t quite as realistic as the unsung gem Thrasher: Skate and Destroy, it didn’t matter much. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 brought the goods. You could now create a skater, adjust his attributes and even create a skate park and name the gaps. There were more tricks, better graphics, a killer soundtrack, and it even had Spider-man and Venom as hidden characters. And don’t try and tell me that I’m the only one who was obsessed with nailing Geoff Rowley’s darkslide grind.  This game was absolute good old fashioned over-the-top madness, and that’s why I’d call it one of the most memorable and best games of this decade. There may have been vast improvements in Hawk’s next two outings, but nothing ever came close to touching what Tony Hawk 2 did for skateboarding. It introduced the manual to Tony Hawk. Think about that.

Set in ancient Greek mythology, God of War can best be described with but one word: epic. God of War took the gaming community by the tongue in 2005 when players across the world tried to catch their breath in unison. One thing was clear, and that was that an astronomical amount of work was put into every ounce of the game. God Of War did things most folks never thought the Playstation 2 could even pull off; gigantic boss fights, swarms of enemies, detailed environments, and an absorbingly fresh world that crumbled and rumbled beneath your very feet. Kratos became a staple character with just one outing – now that’s impressive! God of War caught controversy for its incredibly graphic nature and especially for its portrayal of topless women, which baffled anyone who knew a thing about ancient Greece. Nevertheless, God of War is a milestone for gaming, was incredibly fun to play from start to finish, told a wonderful story and simply put is one of the best video games of this decade bar none.

Remember Crash Bandicoot? The original Playstation mascot from 1996? Oh. Well, the same people who brought you Crash have found their legacy, and that is in Uncharted. The Playstation 3 was the source of ridicule and “FIVE-HUNDRED NINTY-NINE U.S. DOLLARS” jokes for the first year or so of its life. Naysayers promptly shut the hell up when Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune kicked the collective crap out of anyone who doubted what Sony’s ill-prepared console was capable of. The bar was set in both graphical splendor and in cinema-quality storytelling. Guess who set the bar again? Uncharted 2: Among Thieves just squeezed by at the end of this decade without losing a step. Wit is not lost on lead character, Nathan Drake, as this expedition has even more action and cinematic ‘wows’ than the first. Battling an armed helicopter while the room you stand in tilts, causing furniture to scatter across the room, as the building in which you stand in plummets several stories down below is a thing of ironic beauty.  Nearly every line is spoken with unparalleled delivery, making the treasure hunt one you’ll strive to finish. It’s sharp as a tack with a handful of laughs along the way for good measure  – and you WILL laugh out loud at the well-written dry humor. Whether knee-deep in snow or in a lavish forest, changes in setting prove to be a perk rather than a burden. Seeing it all unfold in high-def is almost celestial, and with how the game’s physics-heavy engine holds up for the entire journey, Uncharted 2 proves to be the front-runner in blurring cutscenes and gameplay seamlessly. Throw in a robust online component and you have, by landslide, one of the best games of this entire decade.

The Gamecube had a handful of heavy hitters. Eternal Darkness,  Rogue Leader, Super Mario Sunshine, the Resident Evil series, and of course Super Smash Bros Melee to name a few. All fantastic games, but there’s one that slips by far too often. That game is Pikmin. Pikmin has the heart and cleverness of a classic from the Super Nintendo era done in a completely unique, modern way. There is truly no other game series quite like it. Controlling up to 100 Pikmin to attack predators or pick up parts from your ship is a sensation gamers of all creeds should be able to enjoy. Visually, the game makes great use of earthly textures and water effects to help create a world that looks both familiar and alien. A day and night cycle caused this crusade to require strategy, as there are 30 ship parts to collect and only 30 days to find them all while simultaneously dodging overgrown beetles, ostrich snakes, and a spider made out of balls. …it’s a game best left to be played and not explained. Be sure to pick up the New Play Control Pikmin on the Wii, because Pikmin without a shadow of a doubt is one of the more innovative games to come out this decade, as well as one of the finest.

Here is a list of honorable mentions that DIDN’T make it to the top 3 of Game of the Decade.  These games are significant enough on their own merits to be recognized. Remember, one game per franchise.

I could expand this list into 20 more rock solid games, but these ones would fit well in any collection.

There simply aren’t enough words to describe how breathtaking Super Mario Galaxy turned out to be.  Those clamoring for a more traditional Mario game got their wish and so much more with Super Mario Galaxy.  Due to the cosmic setting, a completely new gameplay element has been designed, allowing for gravity and free form jumping to exorbitantly alter platforming as we know it. The first time you jump from one planet to the next will give you the “gonna fall  jitters” the series has embedded into our brains for the past 25 years. After getting used to this you’ll be spinning on sproutle vines and stompin’ goombas while upside down in no time!  It  isn’t all gravitational platforming, however. There are a few larger planets that test your more established tenure as a gamer. Galaxy has a ridiculous amount of  inventive level designs, and none of them have ever looked better. The vast vistas of outer space are beautiful. It is jaws to the floor, balls to the wall stunning to see just how powerful the Wii is when pushed to its limit. Even the levels that aren’t all stars and moons retain the spacey feel and are arranged in an ingenious way. Much like Dead Space, as oddly as that sounds, Galaxy has quite possibly one of the best video game scores of this generation to compliment and enhance the feel of the game. As you’re flying through the cosmos, or in particular the Gusty Garden Galaxy, the meshing of gorgeous visuals and emotionally uplifting orchestra is what gives Super Mario Galaxy its charm. Super Mario Galaxy is a gem of this decade and is one of the best damn video games ever created.

How do you top Super Mario Galaxy with a game that has a number of flaws that hold it back from untouchable greatness? Simple: Shadow of the Colossus is a grandiose magnum opus, even with imperfections.  It’s a game that tugs at your heart strings with a powerful, menacing musical score and like the aforementioned Galaxy, it has the visual artistry to back it up. The game itself is quite unique as there are not any real enemies, towns, or even other people you must encounter. Hunting the walking monoliths known as Colossi is your only objective. Saddled on a horse with a sword that guides your way, it’s no wonder some compare it to The Legend of Zelda. You’ll come to find that this game is a much darker, more hauntingly beautiful take on the adventure/puzzle style. Just riding your horse while searching the alluring landscape for these rare beasts is a calming experience…until you find one, that is. Climbing on these enormous creatures and having to hang on for dear life as they move about, as the music intensifies while tensions rise – it’s truly a testament to the power of interactive storytelling; not through words but through abstraction. This isn’t the kind of game most “gamers” have the attention span to appreciate.  Shadow of the Colossus transcends everything you’ve ever thought about a video game. The events that take place towards the end and the moral to be learned will rip your heart into shreds. One of the best games of the decade?  Without question. The Last Guardian, Shadow/Ico’s sequel, will be coming out for Playstation 3 next year. Do not miss it.

Well, here it is: number one. Trying to narrow down one of my “babies” in video gaming flat out sucked. I wanted all of them to be included but felt that it wasn’t fair to all the great games that were not apart of this franchise. While I chose this as my favorite game overall of the decade, any in the series are among the best of the 2000′s. They are all truly remarkable.

One of the most controversial video games of all-time tops the list?

MGS2 turned the industry upside down when it came out in November of 2001. The terrorist attacks of September 11th were fresh in everyone’s mind and even caused scenes at the end of the game to be left on the cutting board (only adding to the confusion). I’ve spent the last five minutes trying to think something other than “mindf***” to describe the game with one word, but alas, it is what it is. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty is a mindf***. It’s out-of-the-box, at times abstract storytelling  you either “got” or did not…and I use “got” loosely. Metal Gear Solid 2 focused on sociological engineering, information control, genetics and the adverse affects of expanding technology. Such themes are quite relevant in modern living, perhaps now more so than ever. Any medium of art or entertainment that can make you take something away from it and apply it to your real life is a feat in itself.

It is of importance to note that when MGS2 was released in 2001, the gaming landscape wasn’t like it is now heading into the ’10s.  The idea of interacting with the environment was a hot topic. There was a game called The Bouncer that had a bit of a following before it came out. Originally it was meant to be an interactive brawler with destructible areas, shattered glass, etc. The end result was a lot of pretty, but static, scenery. The backlash doomed the franchise and resulted in lead character Sion being redesigned into Sora from the Kingdom Hearts game series. Ouch. So why is this being mentioned so heavily? Because to understand the significance of Metal Gear Solid 2 as a game, you need to understand the times in which it was released in. MGS2 tore the roof off of E3 in the year 2000 when it was unveiled. The trailer depicted Solid Snake fighting guards inside of the tanker. In this gunfight a watermelon explodes, boxes topple over and everything just goes totally haywire all in real-time, not a pre-rendered cutscene. This blew peoples minds back in the year 2000. As did the idea of bodies not disappearing, stashing guards in lockers, tranquilizer darts with legible writing, hopping over ledges, throwing bodies off of said ledges, limb-specific animation alterations, cloth blowing in the wind, being able to move in FPS mode, shadows…need I go on with the list of credentials?  Many folks forget just how revolutionary this game is and instead focus on one certain character. One certain naked character.

Raiden.

Raiden was above all else the source of controversy in MGS2. Hideo Kojima, the series creator/producer, became nothing short of infamous for playing mind games with fans of the series and the press. Before its release the public was shown images of Solid Snake infiltrating both a cargo ship and an oceanic facility known as Big Shell. As gamers came to find out shortly before Metal Gear Solid 2 came out, that was not the case at all. Instead of playing as video game icon Solid Snake, players were forced to play as a feminine counterpart known as Raiden for 3/4 of the whole game. Kojima went as far as to doctor videos of Raiden in Big Shell with Solid Snake to cover up the secret. Thinking about it now, it fits in with MGS’s theme of information control and the whole “not everything is as it seems” approach this game in particular emphasizes.

I’ve spent the last 8 years of my life defending Raiden in MGS2, so all I will say is that he was a necessary part in telling the story from a perspective Snake couldn’t provide.

Metal Gear games are all sound in foundation – meaning, they all are excellent games unconditionally. From Metal Gear 1 on the MSX to Metal Gear Solid 4, the main cannon of games bring the goods. Metal Gear Solid as a series, though, thrives on its storyline. In Metal Gear Solid 2, the storyline became as convoluted as it gets. It is easy to get frustrated if you don’t know/care about character developments or past references to other events in the series. For this reason, on top of Raiden, MGS2 is widely considered to be the black sheep of the franchise. It must be hell playing these games expecting some sort of action shooter when the gameplay is stealth-based and chopped up between codec calls and cutscenes.

So why is it one of my favorites and why did I give it the nod over so many other deserving games? Part of it is simply personal preference, and part of it is because Metal Gear Solid 2 was a transcending post-modern masterpiece. I don’t want to say it “changed my life” but really…it kind of did. I was only 14 when I completed it for the first time and at that point in time I was never so emotionally invested or interested in a video game. The original Playstation MGS came close I must say, but that plot was a bit more straight-forward and not as heady as MGS2. Towards the end of the game when Raiden evolves into  Naked Raiden, and you were inside of an area called “Ascending Colon”, and the Colonel and your girlfriend were revealed as A.I. that would shout out things such as “turn the game console off right now” and “I hear it’s amazing when the famous purple stuffed worm in flapjaw space, with the tuning fork, does a raw blink on Hari-Kari Rock. I need scissors! 61!” (all from my memory), it was the absolute most hilariously frightening thing in the world. When you figure out your true role – that is, mission, it was genuinely intriguing how much thought was put into “just” a video game.

Harry Gregson-Williams, composer, made his debut with the Metal Gear Solid games with MGS2. Prior to Metal Gear he scored movies such as Armageddon, The Rock, (this is beginning to sound like a WWF PPV circa 1999) and Enemy of the State. His impact in the series was huge, and his rendition of the Metal Gear theme song took over as lead theme after the first theme was outted as being  influenced by Russian composer Georgy Svirdov’s beautiful piece, “Winter Road”. Another notable song from the game was sung by jazz vocalist Carla White, whom I just found out while researching for this article died in 2007 .  Out of respect to her, here is a link to “Can’t Say Goodbye to Yesterday”.

There’s so much to say about Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and its meme theories and social musings, but I’ll save that for another day. I’d like to share a quote that helped me become the guy I am. Snake tells Raiden this at the conclusion of the game:

Life isn’t just about passing on your genes. We can leave behind much more than just DNA. Through speech, music, literature and movies… what we’ve seen, heard, felt …anger, joy and sorrow… these are the things I will pass on. That’s what I live for. We need to pass the torch, and let our children read our messy and sad history by its light. We have all the magic of the digital age to do that with. The human race will probably come to an end some time, and new species may rule over this planet. Earth may not be forever, but we still have the responsibility to leave what traces of life we can. Building the future and keeping the past alive are one and the same thing.

Game of the Decade.

Not to reiterate this so much but this was not the authoritarian gavel on the past decade of video games. I know I left out the groundbreaking Resident Evil 4, all the Zeldas, countless Guitar Hero iterations, and a slew of other favorites. That’s just the way the cookie crumbles. For those of you who are new to Living Vicariously and enjoyed my Game of the Decade feature, thanks!  Check out the FAQ for any questions and feel free to comment below. You already know mine, so what was your top ten of this decade?

-DZ

Popularity: 1% [?]

ARTIST: Dredg
ALBUM: The Pariah, the Parrot, the Delusion
RELEASE DATE: June 9th, 2009
LABEL: Ohlone Recordings/ILG

TRACKLIST:
01. Pariah (04:09)
 02. Drunk Slide (01:28)
 03. Ireland (03:42)
 04. Stamp Of Origin: Pessimistic (00:50)
 05. Lightswitch (03:31)
 06. Gathering Pebbles (04:59)
 07. Information (05:45)
 08. Stamp Of Origin: Ocean Meets Bay (00:31)
 09. Saviour (03:57)
 10. R U O K ? (02:12)
 11. I Don't Know (03:45)
 12. Mourning This Morning (05:42)
 13. Stamp Of Origin: Take A Look Around (00:59)
 14. Long Days And Vague Clues (01:53)
 15. Cartoon Showroom (04:19)
 16. Quotes (06:05)
 17. Down To The Cellar (03:41)
 18. Stamp Of Origin: Horizon (02:21)

Hailing from the bay area of California come Dredg, an art rock/pop/experimental band whose inception can be traced back as far as the mid-1990s. Fans have awaited the much delayed 4th studio album, “The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion”, for quite some time before it saw release in the summer of 2009.

Following up on 2005′s “Catch Without Arms”, Dredg have found themselves in quite a transition in their career.  While “Catch Without Arms” was released on a major label (Interscope), “The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion” brought the band back to an independent record company (ILG). A band as artistically adventurous as Dredg can only benefit from such a bold move.

“The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion” is an 18-track auditory identity crisis. It brings in the streamlined accessibility of “Catch Without Arms” but incorporates the more eclectic moments of Dredg’s past. Every so often the listener will feel the elements of “El Cielo” brush through the matted canvas. And like that particular record, there are several dividing segues in place. The brushstrokes of yore have transformed into Stamps of Origin.

Of the eighteen songs on “The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion” there are four Stamps of Origin. These stamps/songs serve as cornerstones to the record; dividers. They are very short in length (under a minute for all but the final one) but allegorize the concept of the album, which deals with understanding uncertainty and the never ending quest for answers, hence the traversing motif with the letters and stamps.

Things kick off with a choir of children in “Pariah”, a song that seemingly concerns the justifications of a suicide bomber. The ballad of “Ireland” begs the question, “where is your intrigue and interest?”  The song “Cartoon Showroom” presents an option of ‘choice’, urging to move onward and take advantage of the knowledge gained throughout life. This subject matter is prevalent with the theme of living and the choices that come along with it. The album dares the listener to tip toe into unfamiliar territory. While it is legitimately compelling to listen to this album from a lyrical standpoint, be aware that it is a bit straight-forward at times both in predictability and in structure.

“The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion” is an extremely catchy collection of songs, and very rarely can a band retain their own integrity and intelligence whilst writing such open melodies. Vocalist Gavin Hayes forms extraordinary hooks complimented by lush harmonies. His pleasant style of singing and delivery is easy on the ears, but plays it safe – too safe. It would be misleading to say “Pariah” is on par with “Leitmotif” (their first album) or “El Cielo” in terms of the raw expression seen in those albums, as this one is much more focused, less emotive (overall) and could conceivably garner widespread recognition with just the right push of the wind.

There are a number of instrumental songs on “Pariah”. One that stands above all else on its own monolithic stone is “Down to the Cellar”. Dredg absolutely hit their strong point with this winding, weaving opus.  Dramatic and adventurous, this passage is merely hindered by its short length and otherwise epitomizes what these guys are all about. One can only hope they choose to go in this direction for their 5th album.

As for “Pariah” itself, the instrumentation is a hodgepodge of alternative, ’80s pop choruses and art rock, with bits of disco beats and strings. While that hardly sounds remotely appetizing to the ears, it works. The band’s drummer and keyboardist, Dino, perhaps shines the most on the entire album. “R U OK” is a good example of  drumming that could’ve been interpreted as lethargic if it wasn’t so tasteful and perfect for the unusual song that it is.  On the dramatic “Long Days and Vague Clues” the groove hits the mark dead between the eyes.

If there is one main shortcoming this album has, it’s that it doesn’t reach the full potential Dredg are capable of. There are songs on here that are absolutely fantastic such as the aforementioned “Down to the Cellar” or the emotional “Light Switch”, but then there are oddities such as “Mourning This Morning” and “I Don’t Know” that sound like a sophisticated adaption of Panic! At the Disco meets Dredg. Notwithstanding, these songs will have you humming them all day long. One thing you’ll quickly discover is that this album has replayability, and lots of it. It’s ridiculously catchy as a whole. That’s not to say there aren’t some serious hitters on this album, because there are, there are just a few of tracks that aren’t up to the usual ingenuity that is distinctly Dredg.

FIRST, TRY:

“Pariah”, “Light Switch”, “Information”

BEST SONG:

“Down to the Cellar”

BEST LYRICS:

“You have created a falsehood,
a focused and closed minded view.
There’s no telling where we’ll be
at this same time next year
But I do know one thing,
it wont be far from here.”
from IRELAND

RECOMMENDED FOR:

Fans of modern alternative or pop rock who want more artistic versatility without the expense of accessibility.

The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion” is an impressive, well-layered variety album of differing styles. It has enough soul to attract fans of passionate art rock and enough accessibility to reach mainstream audiences. You may find yourself putting it on repeat. A lot. Disgruntled fans may feel as if the compromises made have put Dredg further into a durge. The band still retains much of its acclaimed core elements while maintaining the delicate balance of pop and art.”The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion” is more polished than anything preceding it, with crystal clear production and a greater sense of maturity. If you can accept this direction, this package is very worth the price of admission

Click here to purchase this album. Click here to visit Dredg’s website.

The 3 minute audio snippet above is an excerpt from the album reviewed on this page. It is a sample of songs from the album assembled for the purpose of exhibiting the music for this review. It is used within fair use and appropriate links to purchase this album are listed within the review. The audio is in NO WAY property of Delta Zero or Living Vicariously. The audio is hosted on an external site, so if you’re representing an artist and do not like free promotion, give me a notice at deltazero@living-vicariously.net and we’ll talk.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Wrestlemania only comes around once a year, annually being held sometime between March and April. In 2010, the 26th edition of pro-wrestling’s SuperBowl takes place on March 28th at the University of Phoenix Stadium, Arizona.

• ECW CHAMPIONSHIP SCRAMBLE MATCH
  Christian vs Ezekiel Jackson vs Shelton Benjamin (c) vs William Regal vs Goldust

Kicking off Wrestlemania 26 would be a Scramble Match. The conditions of a Scramble go as follows: two men initially begin the contest. Every five minutes a new man enters until a total of 5 men are in the ring at the same time. Any time someone scores a pinfall/submission they are herald as the interim champion – meaning, if they last the full 20 minutes of length they will become the champion. The winner is the wrestler who last got the pinfall or submission. He will then be crowned the official champion!

Going into this match as champion would be Shelton (although it really doesn’t matter). Christian has been the top dog of ECW ever since he returned in February 2009. As of this writing he is still champion. Let’s just say he takes a loss to Shelton and drops the belt to him prior to Wrestlemania. His story going into the match will be wanting to reclaim the crown that he carried for so long. Then you have Goldust who has been consistently having good matches, plus he’s a vetern. Ditto for William Regal. Jackson just split from Regal/Vlad (as of this writing it happened a few hours ago). He’s got a great build and can most certainly be a big name someday. A Scramble Match between all 5 of these guys would be a good way to represent ECW in a positive manner. Not a squash or an afterthought, an exciting show opener.

PROPOSED WINNER: Shelton, retaining the ECW championship!

• INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
  Matt Hardy (c) vs Dolph Ziggler

The coveted intercontinental championship title has been breathed new life once it got drafted to Smackdown post-WM25. Before that it was stuck on Raw and used more as a prop than anything else, an example being the hilarious and infamous “Honk-a-Meter”. Dolph Ziggler has been chasing the IC title throughout the better half of 2009, always coming up short. He’s had so many fantastic bouts against Rey Mysterio and John Morrison, all of which left him empty handed. They can weave him in and out of the intercontinental title scene in early 2010 to keep his struggle always on the forefront.

John Morrison as of this writing is the IC champion. Let’s say he drops it to Matt Hardy either at the Royal Rumble or on Smackdown. Matt can take the title, have the mandatory bout with Kane and walk away victorious, and then begin a program with a super ticked off Dolph Ziggler. They can have a title match on Smackdown with Ziggler losing to emphasize his everlong tragic lust for the title, which will spark the Wrestlemania 26 battle between Hardy and Ziggler.

PROPOSED WINNER: Ziggler! Ziggler finally gains what he has longed after for so long in his Wrestlemania debut. Perhaps Ziggler can even gain face sympathy for reaching this milestone in his young career.

• MONEY IN THE BANK LADDER MATCH
  Yoshi Tatsu vs Evan Bourne vs The Miz vs Kofi Kingston vs Sheamus vs R-Truth vs Jack Swagger vs Kane

Lot’s of Wrestlemania firsts in this match. We have ECW’s lone representative, Yoshi Tatsu, high-flying Evan Bourne, Raw’s resident douchebag, The Miz, the white hot Kofi Kingston, the…just plain white Sheamus, the truthfully talented R-Truth, a future champion in Jack Swagger, and then there’s Kane. You have some big guys (Kane, Swaggmeister, Sheamus), sound regular guys (Miz, R-Truth), and agile risk takers (Kofi, Yoshi, Bourne). It’s a blend like this that keeps a match as hectic as Money in the Bank from being just a spotfest. MITB is always a fun attraction and with all the young/fresh guys on the cusp of a much bigger future, this MITB in particular is pretty important.

PROPOSED WINNER: Kofi Kingston. WWE has a really special guy here, and they’ve made all the right moves in showing his potential. Money in the Bank means a guarenteed title shot that expires in one year. Within one year’s time after Wrestlemania 26, Kofi Kingston will be ready to help carry the company into it’s next era and potentially the next boom (boom boom!) period.

• SINGLES MATCH
  Chris Jericho vs Edge
  

With Edge and Chris Jericho’s brief run as Unified Tag Team Champions, an opportunity is here to capitalize on Edge’s absence. Edge has been out since July with a torn Achilles tendon. He left while being one-half of the tag team champs with Jericho. After he got injured, Jericho assigned Big Show as his replacement and proceeded to cut a promo about Edge being the weak link in the team. This was, presumably, a setup for a possible Wrestlemania return for Edge to get back at Jericho. The timeframe is almost perfect with the expected amount of time Edge has to spend on the shelf in recovery. It would be a cool moment to see Edge return as a face to take out a heel Jericho.

PROPOSED WINNER: Edge. The outcome of this match isn’t as important as seeing how much Edge can “go” in the ring post-surgery. He’s gone on record to state that he isn’t sure how much longer he has in the business, and that he has saved his money very smartly. Should Edge be on his way out in 2010 or 2011, which would be unfortunate, he should go out on the best note possible. A career ending feud with Christian at Wrestlemania 27, passing on the belt for the first time for Christian, would be ideal and epic in every sense of the word given their history together. That’s getting too far ahead though.

• WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
  Beth Phoenix (c) vs Natalya Neidhart

This one is one of the few female feuds that could be a special encounter. You have the two all around best female wrestlers, not divas, in the business. They are experienced and skilled in just about every area. Natalya is the daughter of wrestling legend Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart, Beth is very strong and dominating.  Natalya  represents the legendary Hart family and as such The Hart Dynasty will accompany her at ringside. The match as of this text has not occurred yet. Knowing WWE they’ll blow it on Smackdown before then, but if not this could change people’s mind about female wrestling – it’s good when the performers are good, not just eyecandy.

PROPOSED WINNER: Beth Phoenix. Why Beth? Because I think she may one day be more than just a female wrestler. I think down the road when WWE is more about regular sized guys, which is the road it’s thankfully heading, that perhaps we could have another Chyna on our hands (minus the unwarrented self-importance). What does that mean? Another female intercontinental champ? Maybe so, maybe more…

• TRIPLE THREAT MATCH
  Randy Orton vs Ted DiBiase vs Cody Rhodes

The inevitable imploding of Legacy is due at Wrestlemania 26. All 3 members of what became The Legacy have always had a volatile relationship. Here you have 3 men who are the sons of legends, all three of which have been involved in the pro-wrestling biz at an early age. These guys are young and still progressing in their career. While Cody and Ted still have a bit more to improve on, they’re ready for the next step in their careers. Orton has corralled these two young stars for nothing but his own gain. They’ve dealt with Orton’s demeanor for well over a year now only to remain successful. Perhaps after this triple threat they’ll realize that they do not need Orton any longer. They stood their own with DX, afterall.

PROPOSED WINNER: Cody Rhodes. Why Cody? Because he needs the win more than Ted and Randy. The real money match is Ted DiBiase vs Randy Orton. That program can take off after Wrestlemania 26. At the event itself, Cody getting the upset would give him a boost and only cause more turmoil in the saga between the trio.

• RETIREMENT MATCH
  Dave Batista vs Rey Mysterio

Batista and Rey have had a storied history together in the WWE. At Survivor Series in November, Rey was taken out by a freshly turned heel Batista. Rey is said to be undergoing surgery again, which would put him in Kennedy-league at this point. It’s not believed either of these guys have much time left. If Rey recovers quickly enough (4 months) they can try to put together one last bout between the two former friends. It’s not gonna be a pretty match but it would be one heck of a way to go out for either man.

PROPOSED WINNER: ??? I nor anyone really knows what’s going on with Rey and Batista. Batista said in interviews that he felt he had one more good year left. The interview took place last March. Wrestlemania 26 is in March.  Rey has had so many nagging injuries that he’d be foolish to keep going and going when his body won’t let him. Considering his style is fast paced and high risk – high reward, he’s not going to be one of those guys wrestling into their 40s. The outcome would be unpredictable, and that’s good for marketing a PPV.

• WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
  John Morrison vs CM Punk (c)

There’s the Cubs vs White Sox, good vs evil, peanut butter vs jelly, and John Morrison vs CM Punk. Punk and Morrison used one another to elevate their careers in ECW in 2007. One of the few positives to come out of the Benoit tragedy was a then Johnny Nitro getting his first world championship title. Morrison/Nitro replaced Benoit and defeated CM Punk to win the belt. Since then they’ve had a number of matches with very few making it to pay-per-view.

Morrison has been the breakout star of Smackdown this year (2009), having top notch matches with the entire Smackdown roster. While on the rise, Punk established himself as a main eventer in his classic feud with Jeff Hardy, who in kayfabe and in real life wound up leaving the company at its conclusion. Morrison went face and Punk went heel. There’s a brand new dynamic to work with and with neither man having a singles match at Wrestlemania, it only seems right to pull the trigger on another big time bout between the two.

PROPOSED WINNER: CM Punk retains his title. Morrison is at his absolute best right now, as is CM Punk. There’s no reason why they can’t have the absolute most amazing match at Wrestlemania with both men looking like a million bucks regardless of the outcome. Punk going over has to do with what I want to happen post-WM26. Keep reading.

• SUBMISSION MATCH:
  The Undertaker vs John Cena

Considered to be a must-happen match, Cena and Taker would blow the roof off of the Phoenix Stadium. They’ve wrestled a few times in the past but haven’t been involved in a real feud since around 2003. Even then their big match was at Vengeance and not one of the “big 4″ PPVs. And to top THAT off, this was so long ago that Undertaker was still under the biker persona and Cena was some new kid rapper – Taker was face, Cena was…was…Cena was a HEEL. Now that’s a liberal amount of time! Undertaker has since further established himself as WWE’s premiere legend. Cena went on to become the face of the company. There’s one thing Cena and Taker pride themselves in, and that’s not backing down from a challenge; not giving up. Having a submission match between two of the biggest stars WWE has to offer in a highly anticipated feud where both guys are known for never submitting? That is the definitive Wrestlemania match.

PROPOSED WINNER: Undertaker’s streak is far too important to waste on an already made man like John Cena. Taker can make Cena tap and they can show respect by shaking hands afterwards…or Cena can turn heel and take Taker’s extended hand and turn it into an Attitude Adjustment. The latter would be nothing short of spectacular. Too bad Cena is a human shill machine for merchandise or else it would be more likely. They’re going to wait until Cena becomes stale(r) and then turn him when nobody cares anymore. Sad, but true. As far as Taker’s streak? If anyone should end it, it should be Ted DiBiase at Wrestlemania 27. Ted’s father brought him into the WWE at Survivor Series 1990, it would be ideal for his son Ted DiBiase Jr. to take him out of it. But that could also appropriately happen at Survivor Series 2010 to mark the 20th anniversary of The Undertaker.

• WWE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
  Triple H (c) vs Shawn Michaels

Here we are: the absolute main event of the evening. In any other circumstance I wouldn’t book Triple H in yet another world title match main event. However, it’s the battle of the degenerates. When Shawn came back in 2002 after missing the bulk of the attitude era, his first opponent was none other than Triple H. It was an epic encounter to say the least. They spent the remainder of 2002, part of 2003 and part of 2004 as bitter rivals. In 2006 they reformed D-Generation X and everything has been gravy since. Nearly 4 years later comes Wrestlemania 26.

I’m not sure how to split or who to turn (and we already have face vs face in Cena/Taker), but somehow DX need to find themselves in opposite corners. A very easy and true to life idea would be to have Shawn fed up with Triple H’s juvenile demeanor. Shawn’s a born-again and it would be realistic if he didn’t want to associate with DX, albeit a neutered DX, any longer. The turn would make Shawn a heel for being prudish, so I’m not sure if that would be something he’d be comfortable with doing. It was Triple H who always turned on Shawn in the past so this would make for an interesting scenerio. It’s one of those matches that have happened a dozen times in the past but considering they’re two icons with so much history, it only seems right to have a one-on-one encounter at Wrestlemania.

PROPOSED WINNER: Shawn Michaels, Shawn Michaels, Shawn Michaels. Triple H going over Shawn for the title in the main event would be sacreligious. Shawn HAS to win this one, and he HAS to take home the title for the first time since 2002′s brief victory. My ideal situation would be for Shawn to beat The Game, win the belt, and carry it all the way to SummerSlam. That would give him several months and a handful of PPVs to have some big matches on. At SummerSlam he would take on a determined John Morrison (who lost at WM against Punk) in a one-off ladder match as the first encounter between the two gifted athletes. A passing the torch takes place and Morrison wins his first world title. Shawn can disappear until WM27 or whenever he sees fit to help put over Morrison as well as to maintain his aging body.

And there you have it: my take on Wrestlemania 26. That was way longer than I expected so I apologize about the length! I just think there are so many cool possibilities for this year’s event, and with many of the old top dogs on borrowed time things are going to change drastically in the next 2 years.

Popularity: 13% [?]

© Savoiaphotography (SW & Colin 9.15.09 Seattle)

Porcupine Tree are an English progressive rock/experimental band whose roots can be traced back all the way to 1987.  Within their two decades of existence, they’ve produced 10 full length studio albums alongside countless other releases, including compilation and live albums.

It wasn’t easy for Steven Wilson, Porcupine Tree frontman and mastermind, to give up his well-paying  job in computers to pursue a professional career as a musician. In the early 90s, at the height of grunge and at the low of the guitar solo, Porcupine Tree was clearly not a project made to make millions of dollars. In fact, only recently has the band began to expand into a larger entity. From their beginnings of psychedelia and local crowds to a more contemporary sound and worldwide venues, this band has clearly paid its dues and evolved throughout the course of their history.

Porcupine Tree embarked on a tour in support of their latest album, The Incident,  in September. I have only seen them once before, at Park West in support of their 9th album, 2007′s Fear of a Blank Planet. For that show, they played the entire FOABP album along with a few rarities such as “Sever” (off of 1997′s Signify – this reviewer’s favorite Porcupine Tree record) and the b-side  “Drown With Me”.  Now well over two years later they finally came back to the windy city.

All in all we waited probably over 2 hours in line before the doors opened. To our amusement, which rest be assured there was little of, Porcupine Tree drummer Gavin Harrison walked from the venue to his tour bus all but completely unnoticed. This happened only minutes after the folks behind me in line were discussing his recent work with King Crimson. Not long after this the doors were unlocked. The first thing I did was dart to the merchandise booth. Sadly, there wasn’t any exclusive tour merch this time around but rather the same stuff you’d find on their website. I did pick up 2 t-shirts, a pin set and a car sticker. All of these items will be pictured at the end of this review.

The opening act was a band called King’s X. Not unlike Porcupine Tree, they’ve been around for a long while.  Lots of positive energy emanated from their lyrics, including a very long period of time where the lead singer broke into a quasi-sermon about following your dreams. He then began to shriek in the highest pitch you can imagine. I’m not too sure how to take King’s X but the Chicago crowd loved them, and they seemed genuinely happy to be there. The drummer was nothing short of intense on percussion, and the lead guitarist, Ty Tabor, effortlessly played well. Their set lasted around an hour. Oh, at this point I should mention that we were no more than 3 or 4 feet from the stage!

© Black Dog Photo (SW 9.29.09 Montreal)

Behind the curtain Porcupine Tree’s gear was all set up and ready to go. As the lights dimmed and images of The Incident flickered on stage, the crowd erupted into a frenzy. The intro segue, “Occam’s Razor”, sporadically cut through the speakers, building up to “The Blind House”. Light dispersed across the stage and illuminated the band for the first time of the night. The sound resolution was much clearer than King’s X’ set. Everything sounded sharp and precise, nothing less you’d expect from Steven Wilson and Porcupine Tree.

“The Incident” was played in full from front to back not counting the second disc of songs outside of the main song cycle.  Steven greeted the crowd and continued on with “Great Expectations”, following up with “Kneel and Disconnect”. The lovely “Kneel and Disconnect” brought out the piano. At this point Steven switched his instruments about 4 times. This record must be very difficult to perform live with the many different guitars and other varying instruments.

Perhaps one of the easiest songs to sing along to in Porcupine Tree’s immense catalog is “Drawing the Line”.  It works wonders in a live environment. The title-track of the album is part industrial, part ballad. I can’t recall specifics about the video package shown, but I do recall it being fairly disturbing – quite fitting given the perennial theme of an album about disenchanted and otherwise desolate reporting of life altering occurrences; incidents. Conversely is “Your Unpleasant Family”, proving that Porcupine Tree do have a sense of humor even with the heavy subject matter of the album. The solo is reminiscent of something off of Lightbulb Sun.  Another segue track was next:  “Yellow Windows of the Evening Train”.  A beautiful video played during this “rest song” which used Tool-like stop motion to tell a story. It was mesmerizing.

“Time Flies” is the first single from The Incident and as such the crowd immediately shot up for it. This concert took place only a week (exactly) after the album came out. It was clear most in the audience weren’t too familiar with the material, but they knew “Time Flies” very well…well, sort of.  The full length of the song exceeds 11 minutes. The single goes on for about 5. Falling in place in the middle of the full version is an atmospheric storm fit for a night in the middle of nowhere on darkened roads. Seeing it live alongside a yet-to-be-released full music video only added to the experience.

© Black Dog Photo (John Wesley 9.29.09 Montreal)

Another segue known as “Degree Zero of Liberty” served as the lead-in to one of the better songs on The Incident, “Octane Twisted”.  It’s quite the unique track that translates well live.  Clocking in at only two-and-half minutes, “The Seance” softly entranced the crowd for in my opinion a criminally short while. I say this only because it’s my favorite song on the new album. It’s just Steven on acoustic guitar with small contributions in electric guitar and keyboards. The song is so well-written that this bare bones approach is all it needs. Channeling into the heaviest material the band has to offer (“Circle of Manias”) is a contrasting transition. The entire stage bloomed of light while this song played. Steven came right towards my section and probably looked me in the eyes.  Glancing over the audience in this light exemplified just how diverse the audience is that Porcupine Tree attracts. You have your metalhead guy right next to middle-aged folks of prog shows past. Porcupine Tree can best be described as demographicless.

The final song of the cycle is “I Drive the Hearse”. All of the different keyboard elements by Richard Barbieri enhance the song tremendously, live. I’d consider it to be one of the stand out performances of the night. As the song faded out, we were presented with a time bomb on the video screen. Ten minutes later the band returned full of energy and ready to play some old(ish) tunes.

Things kicked off with “The Start of Something Beautiful”. By this time I think we were all craving something off of their other albums, so the combination of that with it being a crowd favorite made this an excellent second opener. “The more I show the way I feel the less I find you give a damn.” TSoSB disintegrates into this musical exploration of piano notes culminating with a powerful build to the final chorus. It’s just the perfect live song…it really is.  The dust settled a bit as Steven grabbed a strange guitar. The guitar itself wasn’t strange as far as sound or framework goes, though. A spiraling circle of light shined out of the body of the guitar as if it was filled with molten lava!

© Pebble (SW 9.24.09 New York)

The spacey beginning of “Russia On Ice” echoed though the Vic.  Dating back to the year 2000 with Lightbulb Sun, this was the oldest track they played all night. Hopefully for the 2nd leg of the tour they’ll dig deeper into their ’90s material. Hearing “Russia On Ice” live is a must for any fan of Porcupine Tree. I’ll always hope for “Last Chance to Evacuate Planet Earth Before it is Recycled”, but Russia is no small feat. Instead of playing the heavier portion at the end we were treated to the middle of “Anesthetize” , a long song from 2007′s Fear of a Blank Planet. People went nuts.

We were apart of Porcupine Tree history in Chicago. Steven Wilson spoke to us about constant rehearsal for the song they were about to try out for the very first time.  This brought on “Remember Me Lover”,  off the second disc of The Incident. I can see this song being regarded to as one of their modern classics so to be among the first to experience it live is a nice feeling. It came out flawlessly.

Another medley followed, this time a meshing of “Strip the Soul” and “.3″, both courtesy of the critically acclaimed In Absentia album. “Way Out of Here” lead to the infamous encore. The band waved goodbye and left the stage for probably 20-30 seconds. Comically, they returned while waving hello to the audience. There were still two songs left on the plate – the first being the lyrically relevant “Sound of Muzak”.

“The music of the future
Will not entertain
It’s only meant to repress
And neutralize your brain”

While I’ve heard this song one times too many, I understand completely why they play it so much.

© Joe del Tufo (Full band 9.26.09 Philly)

And here we are, the last song of the evening. The show I saw at Park West (May 17th) was missing the absolute most recognized Porcupine Tree song, “Trains”. This is the song they closed with, bringing the total of songs from 2002′s In Absentia to three. Everyone in attendance was all on-board for “Trains” (pardon the pun).  What’s great about this particular song is the justified popularity- it’s just a REALLY good song with equally marvelous lyrics. A portion later on in the song invites audience participation in rhythmic clapping.  As exhausted as we all probably were there’s a certain energy when they perform “Trains”. Very happy to hear it!

The band took their bow, and the show was over. Overall it was a satisfying experience with only a few complaints about the audience’s mannerisms. As Porcupine Tree grow in popularity they’re going to attract more and more people…some of which don’t quite understand the kind of band this is, resulting in screaming out “MOTHER F***ER YEAH!” and talking during the quiet portions of the music. Most people in attendance were mature and polite outside of the drunks. My view however, was heavily obstructed with a few tall folks up front. I’m about 6’0 so imagine how it was for someone a few inches shorter than myself. It’s annoying but there’s not much you can do about it. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t take away from the experience. Oh well, the show was excellent regardless of these flaws.

Here’s some swag!

car sticker (click to enlarge)

 
pin set (click to enlarge)

PT bag (click to enlarge)

tour t-shirt front (click to enlarge)

tour t-shirt back - Chicago 9/22! (click to enlarge)

incident art t-shirt (click to enlarge)

Popularity: 1% [?]

(standard video coming soon)

From the Vault: Wii Kids! Our most well known video is back and has new footage with better quality!

Popularity: 19% [?]