Unoriginal Soundtracks Podcast: Max Payne 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, world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for relevant terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and uncover hidden gems. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.

As mentioned in the episode that dealt with Max Payne as an entire series, Max Payne 3 takes place in Brazil. Along with the change of scenery, the ex-cop's life has slipped deeper into drug addiction, self pity, and suicidal thoughts. The melodramatic themes inspire an Americana-focussed podcast of hardcore, southern rock, soul, and folk.

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.

Show Review: Rob Cowen & The Dissidents

Thursday, September 23 @ Barfly (Camden Town, London, UK)

The idea of a singer/songwriter from the Bruce Springsteen School of Working Class Rocking that comes from northern England is a bit strange -- especially considering that the U.K. has its own fair share of blue collar rock legends. But Rob Cowen and his band (The Dissidents) are out to prove this idea might not be as strange as it sounds -- in fact, once you've listened to them, you'll be convinced.

After the opening act, Winterhours, was through with their set (a rather uninspired group of generic alternative rock tunes), Rob Cowen and his backing band (and the Barfly's sound engineer) set-up their gear as fast as possible in order to maintain whatever momentum the show had gathered until then.