TimGilbreath.com

Take my favorite band of all time, and let them release a version of one of my favorite games of all time, and you’ve got a recipe for me waiting for the doors to my local gamestop to open last Sunday.  The latest version of the Guitar Hero franchise has arrived, and although the gameplay hasn’t changed, the tonal assault delivered surpasses anything Activision has given us to date.

You already  know what to expect with Guitar Hero: Metallica….fast, furious, heavy, and challenging riffs and leads throughout.  The most attractive point about this game is that the songs are difficult, but not impossible….unless you want them to be.  A new difficulty level allows you to bang away at the drums on Expert+, supporting an additional foot pedal to emulate Lars’ exact style and patterns.

I wanted to wait until I had progressed further before I wrote a review, but I can already tell you what a gem this game is.  The premise is a bit cheesy, of course; you are inspired by Metallica to start your own band, and lo and behold, you manage to get an opening spot for the metal gods (don’t we wish it was that easy?).  The game features almost 50 songs, 28 of which are Metallica master tracks.  When you play a guest act song (and there are some incredible ones here, including “The Boys are Back in Town” by Thin Lizzy and a live version of Bob Seger’s “Turn the Page”), you play as yourself, and when a Metallica track is selected,  you come onstage as the band themselves.  The models are accurate, with crisp graphics, and although the standard Guitar Hero “cartoony” type feel is present, the band members look like themselves.  One dissappointment, although real-life musical characters can be unlocked, you will not find Jason Newsted or Cliff Burton in the lineup, for obvious personal reasons to the band.

Songs rage from moderate to insane, with plenty of their toughest tracks available to play, including “Master of Puppets”, “Mercyful Fate”, “Fade to Black”, and others.  You can pretty much bet that anything from the Master of Puppets, Ride the Lightning, and Kill ‘Em All albums will be tough.  Although a solid “Hard” difficulty player on Rock Band 2, I found myself failing some of the tougher songs on Guitar Hero: Metallica on that level and had to stoop to Medium (which at times I found a bit boring, depending on the song).

Online play is here, with everything Guitar Hero World Tour offered and a bit more, including a slightly more involved online band play component, which is much welcomed.

Even if you’re not a Metallica fan, but just a Guitar Hero afficianado, this game will provide plenty of entertainment.  If you’re like me, and spent a portion of your life (or still do) living and breathing the world of Metallica, this is a buy, not a rent.

This week, I have been in a nostalgic mood, musically. My musical journey has consisted of Sly and the Family Stone, The Eagles, Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, etc. However, I had to give tribute to my favorite era of music, the 90’s, with the Track of the Week, “Erase/Rewind” by the Cardigans.

Yes, the Cardigans, who you probably recognize by their top 40 song “Lovefool,” which is indeed the epitomy of cute. The song “Erase/Rewind” allows their grown-up side to shine. You may remember hearing this song in the movie Never Been Kissed with Drew Barrymore. It is the song she dances to after being crowned prom queen.

Enjoy here. Let me know what you think. My comments sections have been bare lately, people!

Ahhh…Sia Furler. What can I say? I treasure Sia music. Her voice is so expressive and exquisite, she could sing about a opening a can of peas and interest me. Luckily, her songwriting capability parallels her vocal talent.

In the Track of the Week, “You Have Been Loved,” Sia puts in her two cents about heartbreak. If you have ever been unlucky in love, you will listen to the lyrics and nod emphatically. Disclaimer: If you have recently been jilted, steer clear . Fair warning! =)

Listen here on Sia’s Rhapsody page.

These days, I do not often listen to hip-hop or R&B much due to their mostly explicit language and content. However, I recently stumbled across a gem of a track,

“Take off the Blues (feat. Darien Brockington)” by the Foreign Exchange. It was featured about a month ago on iTunes as their free single of the week. The harmonies, chill grooves, and neo-jazz vibes make this tune one of my new favorites. All R&B should sound this way.

Check it out here on the Foreign Exchange’s Rhapsody page. You can also visit their website. Enjoy!

When you think of Colbie Caillat, you probably think of her breezy, sweet, summer-warm style of pop, as showcased in her popular songs “Bubbly” and “Realize.” In this week’s track, Colbie pairs up with German electronica artist Schiller on “You.” The combination is an ambiant, relaxing number which showcases Colbie’s angelic vocals and her ability to shift genres seamlessly.

Go somewhere quiet, crank up your iPod, and….breathe. Enjoy. Listen here. You can also watch the video on YouTube.