Randomly Crap Out Your Opinions Thread

[Ultimatum]

Just found out I might get to meet The Jesus and Mary Chain tomorrow after the show.

[Runesmith]

mine would be Lana del Rey

She's great, too, even if the accusation that her producers write all her songs is true.

There's a reason I don't particularly enjoy Andrew W.K.

Sometimes it can be difficult to spot the line, though, between quasi-intellectual bullsh*t and truly intellectual lyrics. I've never really been a fan of the "anti-intellectual" movement that has run through popular music since its inception. At the same time, however, I'm not exactly a prog purist; lord knows I enjoy me some stupid, slightly self-indulgent new-wave and 80's pop.

I've never spotted anything particularly profound in any of Incubus' lyrics, though. But hey, at least he's trying, unlike the guys who have no problem writing profoundly stupid lyrics

Oh, and Runesmith, while I have your attention... I noticed you said in another thread that you'd say Rock Band 3 is your #2 favorite video game. It would be very high up for me too. Out of pure curiosity, what's your #1?

Absolutely. The line between pseudo and honesty is a difficult one to spot, as well as a subjective one. Most of us on this forum, for example, think everything Paul Westerberg put on tape is strikingly profound, but I can see how some people would interpret his lyrics negatively, like a punk kid attempting poetry.

The first few opening lines in "Wish You Were Here" by Incubus is the biggest offender. In Keanu Reeves-like fashion, Brandon sings about these images and metaphors that have been to death like he's just stumbled upon the meaning of life. Honestly, I like Incubus, but sometimes they should just stick to rocking out instrumentally (though I do enjoy Brandon's voice and vocal melodies most of the time; maybe he should just make up his own words so we don't have to suffer through the bro).

Ah! My top game is an odd choice - Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire...%93_Bloodlines

To me, the story and characters are more important to me than anything else in a game, including gameplay (I come from a text game background with MUDs so graphics and sound, too, are generally unimportant to me). I want to feel immersed in the game's world. The writing in VtMB is perfect - it has depth, black humor, horror, the supernatural, intelligence, and tragic heroes, the way vampires should be. Writing is sadly the most overlooked component of any game in favor of pretty much everything else (especially with modern games). Plus, I've never felt so engrossed doing a simple sidequest in a game, of which there are many. I'm a huge fan of the VtM source material, though, so I'm obviously a bit biased.

I'm curious to know your top game, as well.

[afterstasis]

I want to replay Bloodlines some day. It had some cool moments and I still think the World Of Darkness is/was interesting.

[Lameboy19]

I still need to play bloodlines

I've put it off for way too long

[BohemianMatt]

You know you're a terrible cook when you don't even have the proper ingredients to make macaroni and cheese.

Screw it, I'm going out to buy a sandwich.

[Insane3]

About diva pop : Janelle Monae for me.

[darkwinterbeast8]

Just found out I might get to meet The Jesus and Mary Chain tomorrow after the show.

Cool. Let us know how that goes.

[Cubecubed]

Adventureland has a really good soundtrack you guys. Also, it isn't a bad movie, even Kristen Stewart is really good in it.

[instantdeath999]

I prefer more intelligent lyrical content over moronic lyrical content. hen again, I also prefer musicianship and bands making songs for the art rather than the money.



Wasn't the song "Pardon Me" about him lighting his farts on fire, only to fail and burn himself?

I'm not a big enough Incubus fan to confirm or deny that. Interesting if true.

She's great, too, even if the accusation that her producers write all her songs is true.



Absolutely. The line between pseudo and honesty is a difficult one to spot, as well as a subjective one. Most of us on this forum, for example, think everything Paul Westerberg put on tape is strikingly profound, but I can see how some people would interpret his lyrics negatively, like a punk kid attempting poetry.

The first few opening lines in "Wish You Were Here" by Incubus is the biggest offender. In Keanu Reeves-like fashion, Brandon sings about these images and metaphors that have been to death like he's just stumbled upon the meaning of life. Honestly, I like Incubus, but sometimes they should just stick to rocking out instrumentally (though I do enjoy Brandon's voice and vocal melodies most of the time; maybe he should just make up his own words so we don't have to suffer through the bro).

Ah! My top game is an odd choice - Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire...%93_Bloodlines

To me, the story and characters are more important to me than anything else in a game, including gameplay (I come from a text game background with MUDs so graphics and sound, too, are generally unimportant to me). I want to feel immersed in the game's world. The writing in VtMB is perfect - it has depth, black humor, horror, the supernatural, intelligence, and tragic heroes, the way vampires should be. Writing is sadly the most overlooked component of any game in favor of pretty much everything else (especially with modern games). Plus, I've never felt so engrossed doing a simple sidequest in a game, of which there are many. I'm a huge fan of the VtM source material, though, so I'm obviously a bit biased.

I'm curious to know your top game, as well.

Heh, reading the lyrics, Wish You Were Here is pretty funny. Very stock descriptions there, and I can definitely see getting the impression that he's singing with the sense that he's the first one to make these observations.

And yeah, I'm definitely in the camp that loves Westerberg's lyrics. One advantage Westerberg has, I think, is that he doesn't convey that sense that is so typical of alternative lyricists, the sense that they are poets and are burdened with the responsibility of enlightening their listeners. That's not to say that rock music isn't poetry- I firmly believe it is- but you're certainly not supposed to shove it down our throats. Westerberg's lyrics, at least to my ears, come off as naturally spoken, and while not always 'profound', they're almost always genuine. And hell, I would personally list "Bastards of Young" in the "profound" category.

Y'know, I've heard nothing but good things about The Masquerade Bloodlines, and it's been on my "to play" list for I don't know how long now. I really need to find time to play it. I need a good RPG.

My favorite game? Sheesh, tough one. I'm currently playing Planescape: Torment, and I can already tell that that's a very strong contender. It's definitely not for everyone- I like to read, and I still want to skip through a lot of the mountain of dialogue- but damn, I haven't been this interested in the plot of a video game in a long time. Damn solid writing. Of course, I'm not comfortable considering a game I haven't even beaten, though I've heard the ending is the best part of this game, so I'm not expecting a ME3 situation (though I still love ME3, even with the questionable ending; didn't ruin my experience like it did for others).

If we're allowing nostalgia come into this, then Metal Gear Solid 3 has to be considered. It was the first and, to date, is the only game I have beaten in one sitting. Loved it. Knights of the Old Republic also gets major nostalgia points. Mass Effect would probably be my favorite game series.

[Ultimatum]

William Reid and Phil Knight (Jesus and Mary Chain) are some of the coolest people I've ever met. William is ridiculously funny too. Actually took them to an after party after the show at a local bar and drove around town until about 530, crazy night.