The Postal Service Deluxe 10th Anniversary Edition

A few months ago, I recall vaguely hearing about something amazing. That The Postal: Service Give Up was being re-released in a Tenth Anniversary Edition that would include a wealth of brand new goodies. I shoved it into a file in the back of my mind; a reminder to "definitely purchase the heck out of this album when it was released". One day, while aimlessly surfing the iTunes shop, this beauty caught my eye. I had completely forgotten that this thing existed! How could I? How appalling! The original Give Up album, released now -you guessed it -10 years ago. At the time, it was such a magical thing for me. I played it nonstop until the disc warped and became unplayable.

My CD collection. Not Pictured: The Postal Service: Give Up

may you rest in peace...

A great number of these hundreds of albums courtesy of Jorge Felix

The new 10th Anniversary Edition has a whopping 25 tracks where the original contained a total of only 10. The majority of these are songs that were either initially released on a random assortment of other EPs or compilation discs. Some are fantastic remixes by other artists. Some I have no clue as to their origins. But it's all wonderful. The 10th Anniversary Edition gave me a great excuse to re-purchase Give Up and get a lot of extras a bonus.

After the lengthy post on Radiohead's In Rainbows album, I have decided to not talk about each song individually, but instead give you a taste of my favorites of the new tracks included with the Anniversary Edition.

The Postal Service: Turn Around

This song is one that is totally new to me. And it is so full of energy compared to a lot of the other tracks. Definitely a new favorite.

Such Great Heights (John Tejada Remix)

Please excuse the absolutely horrid video of random car pictures (apparently a BMW Z8). A more logical YouTube video for this song simply does not exist.

There is such a wealth of remixes and covers of this song that I just cant keep up with it. This one stands out to me however. It's hard to explain my fascination with it. It's just so beautifully broken.

The Shins cover We Will Become Silhouettes

This one caught me totally off guard. The Shins recently made a bit of a lackluster return, but I had no clue that they also did a cover for this song. It's a more casual tone for the song, but it's so refreshing as the original version of this song has grown a bit stale with age.

Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)

This last one isn't necessarily new, but I do think that it is a great cover by The Postal Service that is worth sharing. It takes about 2 minutes for it to pick up in energy, but it's still amazing throughout.

As with In Rainbows, you can listen to the album in it's entirety on Spotify for free! If you want to listen to some of the great new tracks or if you've never listened to the original album, I greatly recommend that you do so. I also highly recommend that you download Spotify if you do not already have it. DOWNLOAD IT HERE! I cannot stress enough how much you need it.

Thanks for reading The Sharkberry Blog. You are loved. Take care.

Scott Pilgrim vs The World (comic series)

as requested by Justin Huffman

There are very few comic series that can win my heart over quite like Scott Pilgrim vs The World. I became a fan after watching the 2010 film. I learned that the film was based on a series of comics. Now, while that move is absolutely stellar. I gotta say that the comics are truly the superior story. Which isn't surprising; that's just kinda what happens when you try to shove a 6-volume story into an hour and a half. There's so many more great character interactions and funny moments than ever made it into the movie adaptation.

If you don't know, Scott Pilgrim is about a boy named Scott. (Woo!) Scott quickly falls in love with this girl that he met in a dream named Ramona. He later meets this girl in real life and decides that he just has to date her! But before he can, he must defeat Ramona's seven evil ex-boyfriends. ("boyfriend" here is evidently a loose term).

I realize that sounds incredibly silly or downright idiotic. But it's completely intentional. I've met a few people who just do not like this series, and to be honest, I can see why. A major complaint about the series from some is that the protagonist, Scott is kind of a jerk and a scumbag. Which is completely true. But that doesn't keep me from reading. Especially since his being a jerk and a scumbag is used really well for comedic effect.

The series contains a lot of references from the video game and music world. These references range from blatantly obvious to incredibly obscure. The beginning of volume 4 has a clear nod to the start screen for Sonic the Hedgehog on the old Sega. Characters throughout the comic wear shirts with the names of some no-name bands.

It's not the story that has he hooked here. It's the fantastic sense of humor and the great anime-inspired art style. I couldn't really care much less for the ending. By the end of the story, Ramona just doesn't seem like she is somebody worth fighting for. But the ride to the ending is incredibly fun. And well, I can't say that I didn't enjoy the series immensely. I was very entertained. Entertained. That's what matters.

AFAS Arts on Sunday Series

If there's anything that's underappreciated, it's local artists! Every Sunday in May and October, the AFAS (Art For Art's Sake) group in Winston-Salem holds a festival of sorts where you come meet and greet other fellow artists. You can also purchase some of their arts and crafts.

There's a lot of cool things out here. From puppets, to paintings, to hand-crafted musical frogs to steampunk necklaces; things you never knew you wanted. There's food and music going on as well. If you live in the Winston-Salem area, I ask you to please come out and take a look. You'll have a good time even if you don't have the money for the amazing things you'll see.

If you're an artist in the area and are trying to get your name out or just want to make some quick cash, this is the perfect place. It is free to set up and sell your wares. If you don't want to sell things, it's also a great place to make connections with fellow artists.

I cant say that I actually know too much about the event, but if you're interested, please click HERE.

Pokemon X Giveaway Winner!!

It is Sunday, October 20th of 2013. As promised, today is the day that we announce the winner of the Pokemon X Giveaway!

The winner was randomly drawn from a list of names that I threw into a giant sombrero. (I wish I were kidding).

And! The winner is...(drumroll)...

Michael Rodgers from North Carolina!

Congratulations, Michael! And I look forward to playing some Pokemon with you. You'd better add me to your 3DS friends list.

Look forward to more giveaways in the future. Thanks for all of you who entered and thanks for reading The Sharkberry Blog. Good luck in your futures and have a nice day!

POKEMON X GIVEAWAY!

The Sharkberry Blog is giving away 1 (count it!) 1 free copy of Pokemon X!

Are you really excited to play the newest Pokemon game? Are you also really strapped for cash? Well then, here's your chance to swipe it up for free! 

To be eligible to win, all you have to do is hit "share" on this post on The Sharkberry Blog's Facebook Page AND "like" the Sharkberry Blog's Facebook page itself. Be sure to do both, or you wont be eligible to win. Also, be sure to copy and paste the following text into your post:

 The Sharkberry Blog is giving away a free copy of Pokemon X to one lucky individual! Click on this link to find out how you can win and to read up on the details!

A link to The Sharkberry Blog's Facebook page can be found at the top of the blog.

The winner will be randomly selected on October 20th.

Good Luck!

Hungry Howie's Pizza

What is that you say? This is not a work of art you say? I'm gonna have to disagree with you there. For not only is this art, it is perfection!

Flavored crust has to be a work of mad genius! Go and order an extra large cheese pizza with whichever of the 8 crust flavors you want. You're gonna have a good time. Tell them The Sharkberry Blog sent you! (don't tell them that. They wont know what you're talking about. You'll look like a fool.)

For those of you who do not live in the 21 states where Hungry Howie's even exists, I sincerely apologize, for you will never experience true happiness.

To find a little slice of heaven near you, click HERE.

P.S: They refused to pay me for this

Radiohead: In Rainbows

We are really going back in time for this one. Radiohead's In Rainbows was first released as a download in 2007 by the band itself in a kind of pay-what-you-want setup. Whether this means that the album could technically be taken for free or whether there was a minimum amount, I do not know. I can't imagine being able to get one of my now-favorite albums for no cost whatsoever. The album was later released as a physical copy through an actual publisher. I can only assume that this was the result of some sort of feud between the band and publisher. 

This is my first album review, and the setup here is going to be a little different. I believe that each song on an album deserves to be judged as a stand-alone piece of work. And so that's what we'll be doing here. In numerical order from 1 to X, I'll share my thoughts on each individual song. 

Track 1: 15 Step - This is a great start to the album. Some nice, juicy bass and blood-pumping drum machine. It creates a nice environment for you to simply let your mind wander and just kind of melt into the noise.

Track 2: Bodysnatchers - Maybe its simply the fact that it comes right after such a nice opening, but this is the one track that I often forget exists. It can get a tad annoying with the vocals, too.

Track 3: Nude - After the hectic noise of the track preceding Nude, it's softer flow and vocalizations are a welcome shift. A clear theme of lust and perversion.

Track 4: Weird Fishes/ Arpeggi - I love this one. The constant drumming as the song unfolds gives it such energy. This song is perfect for driving a long distance on a rainy day.

Track 5: All I Need - The muted harsh vibrations that introduce this song always make me want to shut my eyes and just absorb it all. The lyrics may seem a little creepy, but I find something very relatable about this song. A song about deep, heartbreaking devotion for someone who will never return your feelings.

Track 6: Faust Arp - Not my fave song. In fact I dont know what to say for it.

Track 7: Reckoner - Cymbals introduce you to this image of long-abandoned civilization. A cautionary tale of what will become of us. We live our lives unaware of the damage that we're doing to our planet and to each other. Life is short, work on what matters, forget the physical, you cant take it with you.

Track 8: House of Cards - To me, this song is about the fragility of a relationship. The suspicion and the guilt of cheating on your spouse. Denial. The moment where you forget about the house of cards and let it all fall apart because you realize that all is not okay and its probably not worth saving. And the denial. The unwillingness to believe it.

Track 9: Jigsaw Falling into Place - This is another song that I really seem to neglect. By the sound of it, it concerns a woman being chased by a man who will do her some kind of harm. And how this relates to jigsaws falling into place I do not understand.

Track 10: Videotape - No doubt one of my all-time favorite songs. Period. So many times I've sung this in the car and began to tear up. It is SO powerful to me. It is the realization that you have died and now face GOD. You are somehow trying to send a message to a loved one who is still alive, to no avail. You see your entire life playing in your mind before entering into heaven and you re-experience everything with this loved one whom you cannot reach. It's a song that gets to me no matter how often I hear it. One that affects me in a way that most songs never come close to. And it is a most bittersweet ending to this album.

In Rainbows is one of the albums that I will always keep on me for when I need to make a long trip. For when I need to reflect. It's a heck of a lot more personal than any of the other Radiohead albums that I am familiar with. I treasure this album like few others.

There's a lot of conspiracy theories concerning this album, but they are very lengthy and weird. I'll let you look them up yourself if you're interested, because this post has gotten enormous. I may have to reconsider my formatting for reviewing albums.

Spotify is a great way to listen to this, or any other album. If you don't have it downloaded already, do yourself a favor and do so HERE.

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is a game that may not be everyone's cup of tea. It may look like everyone's cup of tea, sure. The concept is good. Who wouldn't want to take down ginormous creatures with a bunch of friends? It's the same kind of joy that comes from the PS2 game Shadow of the Colossus, one of my all-time favorites. Only in Shadow of the Colossus, you were always alone, facing beasts to survive. In Monster Hunter, slaying is more like a sport. One that you can enjoy with up to 4 players.

The reason that I say that Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate may not be for everyone is that it forces you to play it the way it was made to be played. Which is fine. No problem. You may learn to love it. Or hate it. The control scheme, though not bad, is not what you'd want it to be. A lot of things in this game must be done manually. Scrolling through items, using items, and healing yourself all happens in real-time. Which means that you have to be sure to keep your distance from the monsters to do any of these things if you want to stay alive. Once you get used to this fact, you begin to appreciate the extra tension and planning that goes into these tasks. Considerations that would have to be taken if you were actually fighting a giant monster.

Another thing that may detract some would-be lovers of Monster Hunter is its sharp learning curve. You begin the game with access to the weakest version of a handful of different weapon types. They do not explain the differences between them. They do not tell you how to use them. A player must learn through experimentation which weapon is right for them. Which can be difficult to do when you have to choose one to upgrade pretty early on in order to stand a chance against the large monsters.

Believe it or not, the thing that will keep you invested in Monster Hunter is item collecting. You gather bits and pieces of the monsters that you have defeated (gross!) and they then become resources for many things. They are used to supply the town with goods, to supply ships that go on voyages to trade for other goods, and most importantly, they're used to upgrade your armor and weapons. This is where I became addicted. "I just need one more Rhenaplos scalp to upgrade my sword".

The game is tons more fun when you have someone to play with. The Wii U version allows you to play online and you can most definitely always find someone to play with. The 3DS version does not, however have online play. On the 3DS, you must have a friend that also owns a copy of the game. And you must play locally. With friends. Y'know. Real friends. Despite this disappointment, I have to say that I actually prefer the 3DS version of the game. I have no idea why this is, by all means, the Wii U version should far outshine it, being in HD and having online play. I feel more comfortable playing it on the 3DS. The control scheme makes more sense. Having your friend next to you makes communicating and developing strategy far easier for me. It takes more getting used to than most games, but Monster Hunter should be a lot of fun for anyone who can have patience with it.

For a more comical review, here's Egoraptor reviewing the game with a mouth full of habanero pepper.

HERE

Attack on Titan!

I cannot believe that I have taken this long to talk about something as dear to my heart as Attack on Titan.

I have never seen an anime become so popular, so quickly. It literally became a complete phenomenon just overnight. And justifiably so! Sometimes, -rarely- but sometimes, something is popular because it just DESERVES to be so loved. 

From the moment that you hear the intro, you're hooked. It really is spectacular and sets the show up incredibly well. You come into the show feeling like "alright! new episode!", but after the intro plays you are so ready, so pumped, that you're about to explode in excititude! THE INTRO ITSELF HAS A FANBASE FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! Which is nothing new for anime. Anime nerds love their openings. But this one really reaches into levels of absurdity. There are countless parodies, the most hilarious of which is HERE. The second half introduces a new intro that is not as widely celebrated. In fact, most hate it. I myself learned to like it, but it took quite a few episodes.

The characters in the show are also great. Its amazing how connected you can get to them despite their limited screen time. Perhaps its the fact that they're constantly in danger, that you just gotta sympathize with them. You really feel the helplessness of humanity against something so seemingly unstoppable. As a fair warning, however: No one is this show is safe. With most shows you can be assured that your favorites will be spared. Attack on Titan is a different beast. Anyone can die at any moment, and it lets you know it. And its wonderful.

Something that is very noticeable with Attack on Titan is its unique pacing. The show, which at this moment is 25 episodes long, consists of a handful of long arcs. These arcs focus on different "attacks". And each "attack" takes quite a few episodes to complete. This is obviously done deliberately as the episodes are titled "The Battle of whatever parts 1,2,3,4,9". The show also isn't afraid to skip ahead years into the future without warning. Its a scheme that I do not believe that I ever seen in any other anime. The show does this to great effect. It gives itself time for its audience to really feel the weight of these events and the heavy emotions that come with them.

Without spoilers, at this moment, the series just kind of ends. No answers, no cliffhangers. Nothing. Which if you do some research, is totally understandable. Attack on Titan is based on a manga that at this point is not much farther into the story than it's animated counterpart. It doesn't help that the Attack on Titan manga has one of the slowest release schedules in the history of manga. A lot of times, producers of  anime will simply create their own story. This usually ends in disaster by the time the manga gets to a point where the anime can continue since the anime may have gotten itself to a point of no return to make sense of the manga storyline's inclusion. So I can respect the studio's decision to simply cut off where it did and wait for more content to animate. I can only hope that when the show finally returns, it can maintain the insane levels of quality in animation, music, and emotional content that this show has displayed so far.

Watch it in glorious HD on Crunchyroll!
PS: Huge crush on Mikasa

The Legend of Korra Season 2!

Everyone has been looking forward to this! Korra Season 2! The first season left us with no cliffhanger whatsoever, so all of us were confused as to what a Season 2 could possibly be about. Understandable, since the original Avatar series had an overall purpose: for Aang to learn to use all 4 methods of bending and defeat the fire nation to bring peace to whatever the world of this series is called.

I don't have cable, so thank goodness that the entire series is up for free streaming on nick.com. For a premiere that had so much hype behind it, the beginnings of this season may feel a little slow at times. It's by no means a deal-breaker. I'm still enjoying that the show is finally back, but I can see why some may be a little disappointed. I particularly feel that kids will either not understand what is happening or find it downright boring. I wont spoil anything here, but I will say that things get a little more serious and political than the first Avatar series ever did.

Another thing is that not only do I not know what the main focus of The Legend of Korra is as a whole, but the first few episodes of this season also seem to be a little confused about this. This may just be a reaction to the show's sometimes awkward pacing (sometimes an episode just kinda ends, no real sweet note to end on). I find myself wishing that the antagonist from the first season, Aman, had escaped to become the continuing focus of the series. Aman was such an interesting character with interesting motives. 

Korra has a lot to live up to when compared to not only its first season, but also the amazing first Avatar series. I'll continue to watch as Avatar The Last Airbender is one of my favorite series of all time, but I can only hope that the second half of the season picks up.

You can watch all episodes HERE!