Features

Laura Jane Grace Isn't Going to Ruin Against Me, She's Going to Reinvigorate Them
Morning Glory's Recent Tour Felt Like a Symbolic Farewell to Ezra Kire's Past, Invitation to his Future
Handling Hecklers with MC Chris: An Exploration in Putting Up With or Putting a Stop to Bullshit

Recent Reviews:  To the Moon | Huebrix | Minus the Bear | Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD | Awesomenauts | The Real McKenzies | Breton | Suzanne Ciani

Subscribe to our Podcasts: Sophist Radio | Unoriginal Soundtracks | Shuffled

December 27, 2011

Sophist Radio Episode #56: The Sad Tale of Tadpole McRibbit


With real-world distractions in the way, James, Aaron, and Harold haven't been able to find time for their podcasting chairs for awhile. But even with only a few games to chat about they're getting back in the game, and squeezing every drop of conversation out of their three games; The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, and Uncharted 3. Certainly big releases for the holiday season, and the guys find plenty to discuss about them. Plus hilarious tangents on movies, douchebags, and plenty more.

December 21, 2011

Shuffled #24: A Shuffled Christmas

Every other Wednesday either Matt or Alex C-Y share their love of music in an assortment of ways. Shuffled is a podcast whose format is as varied as their tastes in music, so hopefully you won't ever be bored and everyone can find something to enjoy.

It's a whole Shuffled full of Christmas music! There is a lot of Christmas music out there these days, but you aren't going to hear these songs at the mall while you're getting that last minute shopping done. No, these are a different kind of Christmas song. Hopefully there's a bit of something for everyone. Enjoy!

December 20, 2011

Christmas Memories of Gaming Disappointments, Lessons Learned, and Traditions Gained


Christmas; the one time of year a nerd can list everything he or she has ever wanted in the vain hope that Santa Claus (most likely their parents) will bring them the gifts they so eagerly anticipated over the last 11 months. But not all wishes are granted in the same way. So join the fine staff of Cerebral Pop as we relive some of our best and worst Christmas memories.

Game Review: Oddworld Stranger's Wrath HD


Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath HD promises nothing more than 2005’s Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath with more pixels. But pixels are powerful things -- exit the Bounty Store after completing your tutorial, and a sharply detailed western-style high street justifies those extra pixels and forces you to take in the view for a spell. Stranger’s Wrath pulls this trick a few times -- you’ll be platforming in an area of planar structures painted with detailed textures, only to round a corner or crest a hill and look out onto a vista of prairie or jungle that forces the brain to readjust. This is what happens when a developer gives more pixels to a game from 2005 -- an odd mix of new and old.

December 16, 2011

Singer/Songwriter Kara McGraw Releases New Christmas Single Benefiting Hurricane Victims


Alright, you might think we have more than enough Christmas songs out there. Well, we do. But singer/songwriter Kara McGraw's new single, The Chandelier, is still worth a listen anyway. Why? Because it's not blatantly Christmas-y, the lyrics are contemplative and happy in a sort of solemn way (which I like), and it's absolutely beautiful. Oh yeah, and until January 1st 100% of the profits go to small local farmers in Vermont who were affected by the damage from Hurricane Irene.

"I wanted a song that really captured what Christmas means to someone like me, who is very spiritual, but not necessarily religious, and I wanted a song that doesn't gloss over the dark stuff, but instead unravels the beauty of the complete picture." - Kara McGraw

Go ahead and give it a listen after the jump. If you like what you hear, throw some money at those farmers by donating and add the song to your collection of holiday tunes to brighten up the house when the relatives are over.

December 14, 2011

Unoriginal Soundtracks Podcast: Grand Theft Auto 4 Edition




Every other Wednesday I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, songs about world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for random terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and rediscover old classics. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.

Grand Theft Auto 4 marked Rockstar North's first stab at a serious GTA game. The usual GTA problems -- missions that feel like errands, and a plodding 30-hour story -- spoiled it, but the shorter downloadable "episodes" provided much more focused stories. They also provided different perspectives on the city and more subject matter to inspire song picks in today's episode.

A Eulogy for The Paper Chase, My Favorite Band


More than six years ago, on a now-defunct Internet fan-forum for the band The Mars Volta, I was introduced to The Paper Chase. "For fans of the weird." was the only description given, but it was all I needed to give them a listen. I downloaded God Bless Your Black Heart, their third -- and at the time most recent -- full length.

The opening track to that album, Said the Spider to the Fly, builds until at one point it sounds like the entire world is pounding out a beat together, as singer John Congleton spits out frenzied lyrics that sound like they're coming from an impassioned madman about to shoot someone. Keyboard, guitar, bass, drums, and a host of sound bytes that are nearly impossible to discern all meld into one gut wrenching pulse that causes an inescapable feeling of...dread. I didn't know why at the time, but I was hooked before the song was over.

December 07, 2011

How Louie and Other Excellent Shows Hint at a Bright Future for Television


We've gotten pretty used to television networks not taking risks. I mean, that's pretty much their whole M.O., right? Why gamble on something you aren't sure about when Two and a Half Men and its ridiculously cliché jokes and entire format is still one of the highest rated shows ever. But those days may be over.

Louis C.K. is a pretty big name, but mainly amongst comedy nerds and other comedians. If I mentioned him to my mother she would likely have no idea who he was. Of course, she might not even recognize a name like Jerry Seinfeld, but that's besides the point. The point being that FX definitely didn't have a sure bet when they gave him total creative control to spend their money however he wanted. But it didn't matter.

Shuffled #23: James Keyes Interview

Every other Wednesday I share my love of music in an assortment of ways. Shuffled is a podcast whose format is as varied as my tastes in music, so hopefully you won't ever be bored and everyone can find something to enjoy.

Time for another interview! This edition of Shuffled features James Keyes, a Worcester Massachusetts musician who has a knack for all things rock. We talk a bunch about his solo work, his other band the Numbskulls, playing the bar scene, and some tales from the road.

December 05, 2011

The November Music Wrap-Up Podcast

The Music Wrap-Up is a monthly summary of my favorite and other notable new releases. Having trouble keeping up with all the new music? Need some music suggestions? Then the Music Wrap-Up is for you. And please support these musicians as that's the reason I'm featuring them in the first place.

November is over and the end of the year is fast approaching. Which pretty much means all of the best music of the year has been released (very little gets released in December). But don't worry, this is about November still. There were plenty of great releases for me to feature. Sure, a lot of them were EPs, but just because they're shorter than a full-length doesn't diminish their quality any bit. Plus, there are still great full-lengths from the likes of Animals As Leaders, Childish Gambino, Florence and the Machine, Quilt, Steel Panther, and Jonathan Coulton. So let's dig in to all the November has to offer, shall we?

November 30, 2011

Unoriginal Soundtracks Podcast: Roller Coaster Tycoon Edition


Every other Wednesday I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, songs about world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for random terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and rediscover old classics. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.


PC gamers of a specific age will likely have happy memories of messing with the Roller Coaster Tycoon. It took management sims to the sandbox -- like The Sims was largely a toy for architecture and interior design, it was really about going nuts and creating crazy rides. It's also the subject of this half-hour playlist of great punk, folk, and prog music.

November 29, 2011

"Free"-to-play: Does the F2P Model Expand Audiences, or Rip Them Off?


It’s about two weeks before the release of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword and as a huge Zelda fan I am counting the days. The next week, after paying all of my bills and buying groceries I come to the realization that I cannot afford the $50 price tag of the game right now. Naturally feeling a bit deflated, I try to focus on being satisfied with games I already own and play. I plunge myself into my Steam library and launch my favorite free-to-play game to ease my financial aggravation. It’s at this point an epiphany slaps me across the face. If I were to add up all the money I’ve spent on this “free” game, it would equal almost $100!

Free-to-play games are a lot more expensive than I thought.

November 26, 2011

Game Review: Rochard (PC)


Daftly mixing clever puzzle elements with a brilliantly voice-acted cast, Rochard is a first-rate downloadable title and easily one of my favorites of the year. Rochard (pronounced Roshard) is the surname of the main character, an asteroid miner working deep space.

Business isn't going well for Rochard and company -- they haven't found anything worthwhile in the mines in quite some time, and the head-honcho isn't too happy. In fact, Rochard's little mining operation is about to be shut down. Of course, a discovery is made, and everything seems to be going well again.

For a moment.

November 22, 2011

Shuffled #22: Carl Sagan Tribute


Every other Wednesday I share my love of music in an assortment of ways. Shuffled is a podcast whose format is as varied as my tastes in music, so hopefully you won't ever be bored and everyone can find something to enjoy.

Alex is getting a bit of a break from the show, so I am assuming direct control now! I decided to take a break from musician interviews, and seeing that everyone is celebrating what they are thankful for, I made a show centered around one of my heroes - Carl Sagan. 

The Impending Doom of 3D: Can Hollywood Save its Savior?


What seems like quite a long time ago, the talk of the town was that 3D would be the savior of the film industry. The reincarnated effect was going to make the movies fun again, make new and exciting experiences that couldn't be recreated at home and (most importantly) bring in new revenue for studios that had begun to flounder and stagnate. 3D was going to solve all of their problems, forever. Remember?

So what the hell happened?

November 16, 2011

Unoriginal Soundtracks: Halo Combat Evolved / Anniversary Edition


Every other Wednesday I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, songs about world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for random terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and rediscover old classics. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.


This November is special for fans of purple sci-fi shooters; it's Halo: Combat Evolved's tenth birthday. Microsoft is celebrating by releasing Halo: Anniversary Edition, but I'm celebrating with a playlist of songs about the game that saved Microsoft's console launch.

November 15, 2011

Book Review: The Indie Cred Test


We are a generation of people trying to be cooler than those around us. This trend goes hand in hand with the excess we live in, so sometimes we get a little out of hand with our, coolness. It can happen to the best of us, we get carried away and start thinking we’re the epitome of cool, the essence of style. All it takes is one moment to show our awesomeness and just one line to display our supreme wittiness. We seek these opportunities to let others know just how cool we are. Yet the ability to poke fun at ourselves also determines our level of cool. And yes, if you can’t laugh at yourself then, who can you laugh at? But at what point does wittiness turn to self-deprecation? I believe The Indie Cred Test is exactly that point.

Cerebral Pop Contest: Win an XLBA or PSN card


We know. Our impromptu hiatus has left you feeling down? Sorry. The staff at Cerebral Pop has been pretty busy lately, but as we speak emails are being sent about getting some more content back on the site. Still, while we've been busy with other hassles of life, our podcasters have been trying their best to keep you entertained, so we think a contest is in order to help give them the thanks they deserve. There are two ways to enter! Here are the details:

November 12, 2011

Sophist Radio Episode 55: Weird Sex Stuff


After a bit of technical delays, the Sophist Crew assembles to praise, critique, and outright tear down some of this Fall’s videogame offerings. The bad comes first as Harold and Aaron talk of the great disappointment that is the single player campaign of Battlefield 3. James takes some time to highlight a few games that may not normally get the spotlight in such a busy season; Rock of Ages, Drawn 3, and Keyboard Drumset Fucking Werewolf. In traditional Sophist fashion the guys wrap things up with a three-way lovefest over Rocksteady’s Batman Arkham City. Not all is well in Batmanville, though, as James brings up a troubling theme in this otherwise fantastic title.

November 11, 2011

Shuffled #21: Interview with God & the Devil

Every other Wednesday week I share my love of music in an assortment of ways. Shuffled is a podcast whose format is as varied as my tastes in music, so hopefully you won't ever be bored and everyone can find something to enjoy
.
Matt is back in the hosting chair, which mean a new interview. This week he has an existential discussion with God and the Devil. The three talk about far out things like divine intervention, the meaning of life... Oh wait! Sorry, this is not a religious interview at all. God & the Devil is an Austin, Texas rock band and the subject of this week's episode! There is a lot of blues and spacey music to this episode, so please relax and enjoy the conversation.

November 02, 2011

Unoriginal Soundtracks Podcast: Batman Arkham City Edition

Every other Wednesday I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, songs about world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for random terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and rediscover old classics. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.

Sneaking past the bigger spoilers, pouncing on bad songs and knocking them unconscious, and with a British accent in your ear throughout -- it's the Batman: Arkham City edition of Unoriginal Soundtracks. Only the best music about one of the best games of 2011.

November 01, 2011

The October Music Wrap-Up Podcast


The Music Wrap-Up is a monthly summary of my favorite and other notable new releases. Having trouble keeping up with all the new music? Need some music suggestions? Then the Music Wrap-Up is for you. And please support these musicians as that's the reason I'm featuring them in the first place.

With the end of Halloween comes the end of October, and that means it's time for us to look at all the great music that was released over the last month. There may not have been as much as September, but the quality was still there. There was the always-beautiful sounding Feist, the sloppy, garage-rock sound of The Spits, releases from indie darlings Surfer Blood and M83, promising newcomers like Gospel Music and PUJOL, and some heavy hitters like Coldplay and Justice. Plus, Lance Darnell joins me to talk about Pearl Jam's 20th Anniversary and why we should care. Oh, and more. There's always more.

October 26, 2011

Shuffled #20: Halloween Edition

Every other Wednesday I share my love of music in an assortment of ways. Shuffled is a podcast whose format is as varied as my tastes in music, so hopefully you won't ever be bored and everyone can find something to enjoy.

It's Halloween time, so I've put together a Halloween-themed playlist for your listening pleasure. Hope you like punk, because this is a punk band's favorite holiday. Celebrate the witching hour with some appropriate music.

October 21, 2011

Music Review: Noah and the MegaFauna


As I shuffle past the huddled crowd clogging the bar I make my way into the stuffy lounge. Dimly lit tables stretch out to the walls as a persistent film of smoke forms tonight’s ceiling. Nestled against the far wall I see a small stage with an eccentric cast of musicians who stand at the ready. As the band begins to play, feelings of repose and nostalgia come over me. I take a seat at the nearest open table, light a cigarette, and embark on the journey that is Noah and the MegaFauna.

This is the scene the band's music paints for me. Anthems for a Stateless Nation, their debut effort is a genuine piece of storytelling that marries an indie, folk sound with a strong gypsy-jazz influence. Noah Lit and his MegaFauna have crafted some very unique, very picturesque landscapes with this record. The band is able to achieve this with their strong technical skills but also an ability to make each song its own unique adventure.

October 19, 2011

Unoriginal Soundtracks: Outtakes Special


Every other Wednesday I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, songs about world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for random terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and rediscover old classics. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.


Breaking from the usual themed-playlist format, this episode looks back at some songs that didn't quite make it into past episodes. Some weren't quite appropriate, were instrumentals, or were just not English. As usual, though, the half-hour playlist is a solid, eclectic selection of great music.

October 18, 2011

Eufloria and the Challenges of Zen Gaming


As games have become increasingly ubiquitous, they have naturally branched out to appeal to demographics that were previously ignored. One of these new—but rapidly expanding—markets consists of players who want games to provide an experience closer to meditation than escapism. Rather than taking out their frustrations in a night of deathmatches or horde mode, these gamers are more likely to chill out with titles like Flower or The Undergarden, that occupy your mind just enough that you can forget about the world and just zone out. While there's no agreed-upon label for this category, some have appropriately called it "zen" gaming.

Now I actually think that stress-reduction is a perfectly valid use for games, and have no problem with developers exploring low-engagement game designs. But they should realize that in doing so, they’re walking a fine line. Requiring too much of the player can kill the relaxed mood, but so can requiring too little. That was what I discovered while playing Eufloria, a PSN and PC release that takes its zen qualities to such an extreme that the best strategy for most levels is just to lay your controller down and go do something else for a while.

Review: Psychic Babble's My Brother's Ears/My Sister's Eyes


Last month, Colin Frangicetto (guitarist for the band Circa Survive), released a new solo project under the name Psychic Babble. The light psychedelic tunes of My Brother's Ears / My Sister's Eyes make for some nice easy listening that will surely stay on repeat once it infects your ear buds.

Many of the tracks have an almost dream pop inspired quality to them. While most of the effects are heavy compared to some of this year's other releases, the LP finds a good balance between the excremental and a more pop feel. The song “Follow Your Bliss” illustrates this very well, starting off with a light guitar track and building upon the momentum. None of it feels like it is trying to overbear the listener with too many weird sounds; the results being hypnotic but also quite peaceful, and ending with a somewhat fuzzy transmission coming from the far out reaches of space.

October 17, 2011

The September Music Wrap-Up Podcast

The Music Wrap-Up is a monthly summary of my favorite and other notable new releases. Having trouble keeping up with all the new music? Need some music suggestions? Then the Music Wrap-Up is for you. And please support these musicians as that's the reason I'm featuring them in the first place.

I know, I'm late again, but can you blame me? There was a ton of new music released this September! I dug through 26 albums and picked out a sample track from each. You won't find any long diatribes on a particular artist. You won't find any guests discussing a new release. Instead, it's jam packed with music from start to finish. 110 minutes long and only about 7 of them have my voice. Pack yourself in and turn the volume up, because September had a lot to offer.

October 16, 2011

Shuffled Podcast #19: Chiptune Edition

Every other Wednesday week I share my love of music in an assortment of ways. Shuffled is a podcast whose format is as varied as my tastes in music, so hopefully you won't ever be bored and everyone can find something to enjoy.

This week, Matt Giguere joins Alex for the umpteenth time. Chiptune music is on the docket for discussion today, and discuss it they shall. Hear about the tech behind it, the stage show some of the artists put on, and some great samples. A love of video games is not required to appreciate this burgeoning genre, just an acceptance of creative new ways to create music.

October 06, 2011

Unoriginal Soundtracks Podcast: Rez/Child of Eden Edition

Every other Wednesday I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, songs about world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for random terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and rediscover old classics. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.


Rez and Child of Eden are both, loosely, about the internet, the evolution of mankind, and pure joy. With that in mind, here's the Unoriginal Soundtracks Two-Dozenth Episode Spectacular, featuring songs on those very topics.

October 04, 2011

Shuffled #18: Marnie Stern Interview

Every other Wednesday week I share my love of music in an assortment of ways. Shuffled is a podcast whose format is as varied as my tastes in music, so hopefully you won't ever be bored and everyone can find something to enjoy.

This week's episode of Shuffled, we are trying something a little different. For starters Alex has handed the reigns over to Cerebral Pop writer, Matt Giguere (don't worry, Alex will be back next episode). Also, this is the first episode of Shuffled where we have an actual musical guest. Matt was able to catch up with master guitar shredder Marnie Stern for a quick one on one interview at Boston's Middle East Upstairs. So please enjoy this departure from the norm and bask in the face-melting licks from one of music's craziest guitarists.

September 26, 2011

Sophist Radio Episode 53: The King of Jersey City


In their continuing efforts to provide you with the best in video-game podcasting, The Sophists again pick up their headsets and beers to gather around the proverbial Internet camp fire and regale you with tales of video-game conquest. James shares his experiences with Vanessa Saint-Pierre Dellacroix and Her Nightmare. Also, he does his best to talk about The Stanley Parable. Not to be outdone, Aaron dives deep into the world of the RTS to praise Frozen Synapse. Harold has to eat a little crow...actually, Harold has to eat a whole plate of crow as he returns to heap some acclaim on Catherine. All that plus a chance meeting with a king.

September 22, 2011

Unoriginal Soundtracks Podcast: Mass Effect 2 edition

Every other Wednesday I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, songs about world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for random terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and rediscover old classics.

It's a big, scary galaxy full of ethical ambiguity and killer robots. Huddle up to you favourite gal/guy/asexual being and listen to this playlist of songs about Mass Effect 2.

September 19, 2011

The August Music Wrap-Up Podcast

The Music Wrap-Up is a monthly summary of my favorite and other notable new releases. Having trouble keeping up with all the new music? Need some music suggestions? Then the Music Wrap-Up is for you. And please support these musicians as that's the reason I'm featuring them in the first place.

I know that September is over halfway over with, but let's wrap-up August, shall we? There wasn't a whole ton of new releases this month -- It seems everyone is waiting for September -- but there are still great ones. We've got Her Space Holiday, Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, Psychic Babble, The Adolescents, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Cerebral Ballzy, and more. Plenty of good tunes to enjoy.

September 17, 2011

Shuffled Podcast #17: Tyler Abstract's Fave 5

Every other Wednesday I share my love of music in an assortment of ways. Shuffled is a podcast whose format is as varied as my tastes in music, so hopefully you won't ever be bored and everyone can find something to enjoy.

When you invite a self-described "lover of the fine herb" onto your podcast and tell him to pick out five songs from artists that really affected him, it tends to turn into a themed playlist. In this extremely late episode of Shuffled (Sorry!), Tyler Abstract of the abstractjapan.com podcast joins me once again. There are plenty of classics you've no doubt heard of, and others that you might not have. Sit back with whatever substances you may or may not partake in and enjoy.

September 07, 2011

Unoriginal Soundtracks Podcast: Mirror's Edge Edition


Every other Wednesday I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, songs about world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for random terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and rediscover old classics.


Shorter than average but just as satisfying, it's the Mirror's Edge Edition of Unoriginal Soundtracks.

September 06, 2011

Sophist Radio Episode 53: I Was Just Cleanin' it, Dad!


This week’s show can be summed up in two words: Embarrassment and Frustration. The embarrassment comes into play as Harold, James, and Aaron share tales of being caught at their most vulnerable by their respective parents. The frustration comes into the forefront as Harold informs the guys of his short and frustrating time spent with Catherine. All is not doom and gloom as the guys do actually have some love for games such as Ubisoft's Outland. The crew wraps things up with a pretty thorough break down of their likes and dislikes of Deus Ex: Human Revolution.

August 24, 2011

Unoriginal Soundtracks Podcast: Fable 2 Edition


Every other Wednesday I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, songs about world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for random terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and rediscover old classics.

You only have room in your head for about 10 great podcasts; I want this to be one of them. Plant a podcast in your childhood and it'll grow into this punk-infused podcast.

Mentioned in this episode: Abstract Japan.

August 22, 2011

Sophist Radio Episode 52: Silver Fox with a Box


With the impending onslaught of Fall releases, the crew spends this week shining the spotlight on off-the-radar games again. James heads into the way-back machine to share his short lived adventure with Planescape Torment. We're more kinde to Krystian Majewski's Trauma and Ignition Entertainment’s character action game El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron. Also on the show, the final Summer of Arcade game -- as far as Sophist is concerned -- Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet. Things wrap up with a look to the Fall and an attempt at figuring out which titles will succeed and which will fail to meet expectations.

August 17, 2011

Shuffled Podcast #16: Factory Edition

Every other Wednesday I share my love of music in an assortment of ways. Shuffled is a podcast whose format is as varied as my tastes in music, so hopefully you won't ever be bored and everyone can find something to enjoy.

I felt like there was too many talk-centric episodes in a row, so I made a music-filled episode. This time, I tried my hand at hand-picking a playlist of music based around a topic, much like Alex Martin does with Unoriginal Soundtracks, though, my topic is my new job, not a video game. Hop on the rollercoaster of emotions that is my day-to-day grind, and enjoy the tunes that describe those emotions.

August 15, 2011

Sophist Radio Episode 51: I Look to the Sky With My Mouth Open Wide


This week the guys push the boundaries of podcast title length, and acceptable conversation for children's programming. Before things get too awkward, James and Aaron hop in to provide commentary on a couple of games from this year’s Summer of Arcade; Bastion and From Dust. The crew continues to shy away from most of the major new releases, as James shines the spotlight on a small game called Recettear: An Item Shop Tale. Finally, they wrap things up by debating the potential effects of Diablo 3’s plans to use real money in their auction houses.

August 10, 2011

Unoriginal Soundtracks Podcast: Persona 3 Edition


Every other Wednesday I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, songs about world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for random terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and rediscover old classics.

Persona 3 -- which features teenagers shooting themselves in the head to summon demons -- somehow managed to escape widespread condemnation from religious and "concerned parent" groups. To celebrate that triumph, listen to this show featuring songs that could be about the paranormal, Japanese, teen drama.

August 07, 2011

Shuffled Podcast #15: The Japanese Way

Every other Wednesday I share my love of music in an assortment of ways. Shuffled is a podcast whose format is as varied as my tastes in music, so hopefully you won't ever be bored and everyone can find something to enjoy.

In this episode of Shuffled, I welcome the Japan-obsessed Tyler Abstract on to explain to me exactly what is so special about the Japanese music culture. Most Japanophiles are lured by the video games or anime, but Tyler really sells their music scene.

August 06, 2011

The July Music Wrap-Up Podcast

The Music Wrap-Up is a monthly summary of my favorite and other notable new releases. Having trouble keeping up with all the new music? Need some music suggestions? Then the Music Wrap-Up is for you. And please support these musicians as that's the reason I'm featuring them in the first place.

The July Music Wrap-Up is finally here! I apologize for the delay, but this new job is taking up a lot of my time. Anyway, there was a lot of great music last month, but I spend the first part of the show playing catch up on albums a few months old that I somehow completely missed. That just makes for even more awesome music all in one nice little package, though. If you enjoy any of them, pick up the stinking albums! I'm certainly enjoying them.

July 31, 2011

Sophist Radio Episode 50: Gary the Triple Pimp


It’s a CELEBRATION!...kinda. After 49 episodes, many laughs, some sweat, and thousands of bottles of beers, The Spohist crew convenes again to mark a very important occasion...a pimp’s birthday. With the important things out of the way, talk of video games power the engine that is Sophist Radio, and this week’s show features such heavy hitters as; Octodad, Man vs. Wild, Kill Team and Resistance 2. Okay, maybe these games won't be burning up the sales charts anytime soon, but they provide the fodder for conversation this week. Lastly it wouldn't be a a proper show without talk of the one game that has been on the minds of the Sophists since even before it ever existed: Marvel vs. Capcom 3.

July 27, 2011

Unoriginal Soundtracks Podcast: The Sims Edition


Every other Wednesday I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, songs about world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for random terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and rediscover old classics.

Simulate domestic bliss, or torture miniature, Simlish-speaking victims. Live a mundane life or shoot for the stars. Make friends and be succesful, or listen to this podcast of songs about Maxis' hit dollhouse-game The Sims.

July 20, 2011

Shuffled Podcast #14: The Rap Connection

Every other Wednesday I share my love of music in an assortment of ways. Shuffled is a podcast whose format is as varied as my tastes in music, so hopefully you won't ever be bored and everyone can find something to enjoy.

On this episode of Shuffled, I do my best to remedy a big gap in the music I feature by inviting on someone who grew up listening to rap. Brian Shirk joins me to discuss how he discovered rap, why he connected to it so much, and some of his favorite artists. It's an all rap edition of Shuffled! Which might never happen again, unless Brian wants to come on again. Because, frankly, I'm out of my element here. I think I said something about hoes. Oh god, that's embarrassing.

July 13, 2011

Unoriginal Soundtracks Podcast: Worms Edition


Every other Wednesday I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, songs about world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for random terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and rediscover old classics.

This podcast contains no songs about concrete donkeys, or banana bombs, or aqua sheep. Now that your expectations are tempered, I present to you a mix of songs about the other weapons you'll find in the British classic of hotseat multiplayer.

July 11, 2011

Video Round-Up: Awesome Ads Edition

Video Round-Up is a weekly post collecting an assortment of videos from around the web. Whether they be music videos, creative viral marketing, just plain cool, or just plain ridiculous, they will all be found on Video Round-Up.

This week in the Video Round-Up we have a collection of awesome commercials. Whether they are great viral internet ads, awfully hilarious commercials for dumpy local stores, or ingenious send-ups of big company ads by the Davids of the world, we've got them here. So sit back and enjoy being sold to.

July 07, 2011

Shuffled Podcast #13: New Ways to Listen

Every other Wednesday I share my love of music in an assortment of ways. Shuffled is a podcast whose format is as varied as my tastes in music, so hopefully you won't ever be bored and everyone can find something to enjoy.


Not only do I have a guest this episode, but I have two guests! Evan Killham and Alex Martin both join me to discuss some new trends that are affecting the way we listen to our music. Evan brings turntable.fm to the discussion, or as he has dubbed it, anxiety.fm, and Alex joins us from across the ocean to talk about Spotify, the music streaming service that is all the rage in Europe and completely banned over here in the states. Could either of these services change the way mainstream music listeners consume their tunes down the road, or are they fads that are doomed to being sued into the ground? Find out what we think and then share your own thoughts in the comments below.