Music and Game Reviews by Young Adults
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Listen up! Two Dixies go to the hounds, Muse rules on the Eclipse soundtrack. Thumbs ready? Iron Man or War Machine, Shrek or Rumpelstiltskin?-lots of choices, lots of fun.
The Court Yard Hounds (Columbia Records)
Two of the Dixie Chicks, sisters Emily Robinson and Martie Maguire, have recently teamed up to create The Court Yard Hounds. Robinson steps up as the duo's principal singer and delivers the same folk-rock sound that originally made them so popular. There are no gimmicks or hidden agendas with this album. The mood is somewhat dark and brooding with wistful harmonies, and the tracks have a breezy, almost aching romantic feel. The powerful opener "Skyline" sets the tone for The Court Yard Hounds and the subsequent tunes are like a journey in search of the answers. Tracks to watch for are "Delight," "Fairytale," "April's Love" with Jakob Dylan, and the compelling "Fear of Wasted Time."-Christine H., Grade 12, Floral Park (NY) Memorial High School
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Soundtrack (Chop Shop/Atlantic)
This soundtrack does not disappoint, and of all the "Twilight" movie soundtracks, it's by far the best. Its combination of big-name artists and newbies creates a sound that has a little of everything. It's soulful, quirky, and ballad-like with some techno, alternative, and indie sounds as well. Muse, Meyer's inspiration group, leads the way with their Queen-like futuristic sound in "Neutron Star Collision (Love Is Forever)." Other great songs include Florence + The Machine's edgy gospel track "Heavy in Your Arms," the short but powerful "Chop and Change" by The Black Keys, the rock/opera "Jonathan Low" by Vampire Weekend, the very catchy "Eclipse" by Metric, and the heartbreaking "Jacob's Theme" by Howard Shore. This is a must for fans of the movie or just fans of the music.-Ellie R., Grade 11, Floral Park (NY) Memorial High School
Iron Man 2 (Sega of America)
Iron Man 2 combines familiar elements from the movie with the comic book series. The game is a third-person action adventure that enables players to truly feel the power of Iron Man. Players can choose between Iron Man and War Machine as they battle villains not found in the film and try to save the world. This entertaining game allows players to use weapons with intense artillery power, fight in hand-to-hand combat, face epic enemies as well as build and customize an ideal suit and weaponry for themselves. The appeal of the game is the campaign you undertake, and a big plus is the player's ability to increase the level of difficulty, making the game more challenging. Unfortunately, once you've played the game a few times, it loses some of its appeal. Still, it's definitely a plus for Iron Man fans and it comes with a great soundtrack to boot. Rated T for Teen, For X360, Wii, PSP, DS-Malik N., Grade 9, Floral Park (NY) Memorial High School
Shrek Forever After (Activision)
This action-packed video game reunites Shrek fans with their favorite characters-Fiona, Donkey, Puss in Boots, and, of course, Shrek. Rumpelstiltskin has sweet-talked Shrek into signing a pact that lands him in a world where ogres are hunted. Gamers will journey through different scenarios in the Shrek world, battle new enemies as they change between Shrek's real world and Rumpelstiltskin's alternative one, and solve challenging puzzles-all for the purpose of defeating the craft villain, Rumpelstiltskin. Each character contributes his own expertise to save our hero, Shrek. The game offers a cooperative multiplayer mode that gives family and friends a fun-filled, team playing experience. It's definitely a good time for all who play. Developed by XPEC for Wii, Xbox 360, PS3, by Griptonite for Nintendo DS and for the PC.-James M., Grade 7, Floral Park (NY) Memorial High School
