Month: February 2012

Posted on: February 25, 2012 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Dynasty Warriors Next (Playstation Vita)

I believe that the Dynasty Warriors series has been one of the most successful in video gaming history because it takes little time to learn and bundles a tremendous amount of martial history in each level. Dynasty Warriors Next is the latest iteration in the Dynasty Warriors franchise, and it is also the first DW game that has been released for the Playstation Vita. I believe that the transfer over…

Posted on: February 24, 2012 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympics (Nintendo 3DS) Review

Few games have taken full advantage of the Nintendo 3DS console. There seems to be a desire for companies to cut corners and use only the lowest amounts of the console’s power; Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympics, on the other hand, pushes the console to its limits. I believe that the 3DS version of Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympics is also special because it…

Posted on: February 24, 2012 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 1

PROLAB Advanced Caffeine Supplement Review

There are so many different supplements currently on the market that look to take the herbs and mixtures of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), but it seems as if verifiable medical reports have proven only the effect that caffeine has in providing energy and weight loss to those that take it. Prolab has created this product and has taken caffeine from a wide variety of sources – Cocoa Extract, White Tea,…

Posted on: February 24, 2012 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

The Duke Spirit – Bruiser (CD) Review

I believe that it has taken The Duke Spirit a few years to get a proper amount of traction. This is not to say that their previous albums have been weak, but that Bruiser represents a coherent effort that exemplifies what the band is and what they want to do on their releases. Cherry Tree is the opening effort on Bruiser, and its blend of Blues and rock will appease…

Posted on: February 24, 2012 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Kevin Kern – Enchanted Piano (CD)

Pastel Reflections is a delicate track that immediately invites listeners in to Kern’s inimitable style. With each composition building with craftsman-like precision, listeners will be touched. There needs to be nothing more than Kern’s piano to create a richness of sound that emanates through rooms. Kern’s greatest strength on Enchanted Piano is in the arrangements. Each of the album’s cuts works well as an isolated track, but they provide ample…

Posted on: February 24, 2012 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Frank Steiner, Jr. – Into Forever (CD)

Frank Steiner, Jr is a brave performer. On Into Forever, Steiner’s new title, things get started with a ten-minute opening track (Love’s Whisper). It is due to Steiner’s ability as a musician and as a composer that this gambit pays off. Love’s Whisper has a panoply of different elements, establishing the track as something scintillating. Different movements provide listeners with a constantly-changing experience; the one constant that Into Forever possesses…

Posted on: February 24, 2012 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Thierry David – Stellar Connection (CD)

The opening track to Stellar Connection, Portal Quest, does a tremendous job in setting up the rest of the album. The haunting melodies and urban soundscapes that issue forth provide a foreboding sense of dread. David’s ability to speak directly to his listeners is why this disc gets off of the starting blocks with such momentum. Plenty of Space builds off of Portal Quest, and it is this six-minute track…

Posted on: February 23, 2012 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 1

Psycroptic – Inherited (CD) Review

The sheer amount of different bands that are trying to make a name for themselves creating some variant of metal is astronomical. One would be shocked if they saw the sheer amount of flotsam that we had to wade through before picking up Psycroptic’s latest album, Inherited. I believe it is the determination of the act that makes this album so strong. Carriers of the Plague is the album’s first…

Posted on: February 23, 2012 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Metta Quintet – Big Drum / Small World (CD) Review

There is a sense that jazz as an art form is something that is stale and stagnant. Metta Quintet looks to challenge this conception of the genre through their Big Drum / Small World EP. This disc, which collects five distinct tracks, is the best way to familiarize oneself with the music and style of the act. Big Drum / Small World begins with From Here Onwards, an expansive effort…

Posted on: February 23, 2012 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Rosie Thomas – With Love (CD) Review

Thomas is a performer that has been tirelessly doing their work for over a decade. On With Love, eir newest album, Thomas is able to reinvent eirself and keep the following 10 tracks as fresh as possible. This is done by sticking one of the disc’s most memorable tracks, Where Was I, up front and center on the release. By sticking a hook into listeners, Thomas is able to take…