In the weeks to come I plan to blog quite a bit about Suda 51 and his new game No More Heroes. Let's start with some of the game's influences.
Above is the trailer for Pistol Opera -- a surreal action flick by Seijun Suzuki. The Japanese director is best known for his experimental yakuza pictures from the '60s like Branded to Kill and Tokyo Drifter. His stark use of colors and spare sets influenced "The House of Flying Leaves" sword fight at the end of Tartantino's Kill Bill Vol. 1.
Both Pistol Opera and its predecessor Branded to Kill are about hit men trying to climb the ranks by taking out their competitors. Travis Touchdown, the lightsaber-wielding protagonist in No More Heroes is looking to do the same. In the game there's a group, the UAA, who oversees and ranks assassins -- they're kinda like Zagat for killers.
Something For the Ladies: 25 Songs With Female Vocals That Should Be in Rock Band
A couple weeks ago at a Rock Band party my friend's sister was pretty vocal in her disdain for the song selection -- too much testosterone. And I can see where she's coming from. Rock Band's play list is woefully lacking when it comes to songs sung by women. It's also fairly short in tracks with mainstream appeal. There's a reason why pop minded ladies would rather play SingStar. So here are 25 songs with female vocalists and karaoke appeal that would make great Rock Band downloads.
1. Blondie: "One Way or Another" 2. Bow Wow Wow: "I Want Candy" 3. L7: "Pretend We're Dead" 4. Feist: "One, Two, Three, Four" 5. Kate Bush: "Running Up That Hill" 6. Ladytron: "Destroy Everything You Touch" 7. Nancy Sinatra: "These Boots Are Made For Walking" 8. Portishead: "Sour Times" 9: Rainer Maria: "Ears Ring" 10: Bratmobile: "Panik" 11: Concrete Blonde: "Bloodletting (The Vampire Song)" 12: Kim Wilde: "You Keep Me Hangin' On" 13: The Breeders: "Cannonball" 14: Heart: "Magic Man" 15: The Go Gos: "We Got the Beat" 16: Joan Jett and the Blackhearts: "I Love Rock and Roll" 17: Pat Benetar: "Heartbreaker" 18: Nico & The Velvet Underground: "All Tomorrow's Parties" 19. Kim Carnes: "Bette Davis Eyes" 20. Mickey: "Toni Basil" 21. Cyndi Lauper: "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" 22. Eurythmics: "Here Comes the Rain Again" 23: Bikini Kill: "Rebel Girl" 24: Elastica: "Stutter" 25: Cansei Di Ser Sexy: "Fuck Off Is Not The Only Thing You Have To Show"
Patton Oswalt on the Spike Game Awards: "Godawful"
The worst thing about this show was the fact that I'm the cheap, money-grubbing asshole who agreed to do it. The producers wanted me to do "a little bit of stand-up" before I presented the award for "Most Addictive Video Game". Oh wait, I forgot -- "The Most Addictive Video Game...Fueled By DEW!" That's because Mountain Dew was "sponsoring" the award. I had to say "Fueled By Dew". I will also be saying it on my deathbed, when I'm begging my relatives to unplug by respirator.
More sell out gold at the comedian's blog. It should be noted that Oswalt seems fully aware that awards shows are shit by their very nature. To expect one to be anything but a kick in the teeth is the textbook definition of insane.
Songs That Need to Be In Rock Band: Part 1 - The '00s
I've used this space to bag on the lame, new songs that made the cut in Rock Band. So now I'm putting my money where my mouth is. Here's a list of awesome songs, recorded in the last decade, that would make ideal downloadable tracks. Sure, most people haven't heard of half of these bands. But, you know what? It's about time they did.
Call the Lawyers:
1. Art Brut - "Formed a Band" - Duh, right? 2. Spoon - "I Turn My Camera On" - I wish so many of their songs weren't all sparse and piano-y 3. The Black Lips - "Veni Vidi Vici" - I find this song imminently singable 4. LCD Soundsystem - "All My Friends" - There's a single edit that's a little shorter. It was a toss up between this and "New York I Love You" 5. Liars - "Mr. Your On Fire Mr." - Easily their catchiest song. They've been running from it for the past five years 6. Death From Above 1979 - "Blood on Our Hands" - I know, these guys are a trio. Sue me 7. TV on the Radio - "Young Liars" - Rock Band could use some nice, down-tempo tracks 8. My Morning Jacket - "Off the Record" - I always think Joe Jackson when I hear this 9. Wolf Parade - "I'll Believe in Anything"- I like the idea of everybody pitching in to sing this one 10. The Decemberists - "Sons & Daughters" - Jeez. I'm thinking that song about Los Angeles would be pretty hot too. 11. Raconteurs - "Steady as She Goes" - If they wanted they could get those versions of the White Stripes songs with bass parts added in by the guy from Redd Kross 12. Entrance - "Grim Reaper Blues" - Rock Band needs more psyche 13. The Sword - "Winter's Wolves" - I always hoped that Guitar Hero II would help blow this band up 14. Tool - "Schism" - For the prog metal geeks 15. The Mars Volta - "The Widow"- To make the Pitchfork guys scream. I really dig this as a single 16. The Thermals - "Here's Your Future" - For guys who like Fugazi, Bad Religion, etc. 17. The Hold Steady - "Chips Ahoy"- I was tempted to pick something from the older record 18. Arcade Fire - "Wake Up" - What a racket you could make with this one 19. The Rapture - "House of Jealous Lovers" - Dance punk is perfect for Rock Band 20. Wilderness - "End of Freedom" - A little moodier than your typical track 21. The Ponys - "Exile on My Street" - A straight rocker. The vocals reminds me of Faith No More's first singer 22. Klaxons - "Magick" - I could do with their whole album as a download 23. Early Man - "Death is the Answer" - For the guys who can channel Ozzy 24. !!! - "Heart of Hearts" - Another dance punk jam 25. McLusky - "To Hell With Good Intentions" - Only a sample on imeem, but damn does this song rock. Albini.
Here's an imeem playlist with all of the songs:
Next time: Songs That Need to Be In Rock Band: Part II - Something For The Ladies
