have we seen literally any gameplay from any trailers at all

Missed EA, but I wouldn't presume it was worth it anyway.

Grookey would be lower than Sobble, because we have WAY too many monkeys at this point, but I decided to look at it from a vacuum instead. I've also changed my mind on Eldegoss; it's not a downgrade, I was just expecting Gossifleur to evolve into something else, rather than something we've already been shown previously in the Direct.

- I can appreciate more than ever the back-to-basics approach they're taking with this one
- Galar looks pretty
- James Turner seems pretty based, hopefully he didn't just spoil his best designs
- Wooloo is pretty cute, I might like it more than Mareep strictly in terms of design
- Gossifleur is even cuter, but Eldegoss is bit of a downgrade and reminds me of Jumpluff
- Drednaw is great, we have MANY turtles as it is but we've needed a snapping turtle
- Corviknight might be my favorite, idk, it's between it and Drednaw
- I'm glad they're sticking with a mixed generation pool of mons to catch, which is the best system
- The Wild Area is a welcome idea, open world concepts without being an open world game?
- Not really about this Dynamax thing, like CMD said it's a lazy substitute for megas, why not just bring megas back?
- Those legendaries are BAD
- those case covers are AWFUL, and i can't believe i still don't know which one to get
- November 15 is a good release date
- the Double Pack intrigues me, but it's probably gonna be $100 and i'm not sure if that's worth

overall good impressions, but there's a few iffy things

the fact that no villainous organizations were mentioned is interesting as well

Faith No More - King for a Day... Fool for a Lifetime
Alt metal
5th album

Showstealer Mike Patton was the best thing to ever happen to Faith No More. Without his insane vocals, much of which was likely to have inspired Serj Tankian three years after this record dropped, this would've been just another fairly standard, albeit highly eclectic, alternative metal album. Thankfully, however, the album does feature his insane vocals, which makes it easy for me to put my stamp of approval on it.

My only problems involve the album's overall messiness, because they did get a little experimental on this one by infusing their brand with a bunch of other styles, such as jazz or funk. Sometimes it kinda works, sometimes it kinda doesn't, and I find myself leaning towards the louder, faster, and more straightforward cuts. The pacing is also all over the place, and the tracks will shift dizzingly between two completely different tempos, making it seem as though very little thought went into the continuity or interplay between each track. In other words, there may not be a single dud in the track listing itself, but my problem is that they're just not organized very well.

It also kind of ends on a relatively unsatisfactory note, with the closing track being a slower ballad that doesn't feel like it even belongs on the record. Without these issues, this may have been a solid candidate for an 8/10.


7/10

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Big L - Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous
Hip hop
Debut (and only) album

Definitely one of the stronger '95 hip hop releases so far. L was a renowned emcee, known especially for his darkly witty lyrics and his punchy, aggressive flow. The soccer moms who generalize all hip hop music and think it's all just a bunch of violent, misogynistic drivel are probably referring to this album specifically. It's a pretty tough listen, especially for 1995.

Most of the tracks were produced either by Lord Finesse or Buckwild, and I have to say, they did a bang-up job, because the beats on this thing are pretty awesome. I feel as though, whenever I talk about these older rap records, I'm always having to tack on that "it's a little dated" caveat, but in this case, I honestly think the instrumentals are good even by 2019 standards.

Whether I give this an 8/10 in the future will likely depend on how much I'm willing to overlook the misogyny and homophobia in the lyrics. I'm not the type to completely dismiss an artist based on that kind of stuff alone, but it does factor into whether I can fuck with you as a person, and one's personality is obviously a huge component of what gives hip hop its appeal. So that's my biggest issue. I could never call myself a Big L fan, because I can't get behind half the shit he's actually saying on the record, no matter how well or fast he's able to spit it.

I'd be remiss if I didn't bring up that Big L hasn't actually been with us since 1999. His life was sadly cut short after being gunned down in a drive-by, so he never had the opportunity to mature as a person or an artist, in spite of his insane potential. Nonetheless, he still left his impact, even if he's only remembered these days by the inner circles of oldhead hip hop culture.

7/10

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Mudhoney - My Brother the Cow
Grunge
4th album

Grunge is one of my all-time favorite genres, and I acknowledge that we probably wouldn't even have it if not for early adopters like Mudhoney, but that doesn't necessarily mean I have to care for their particular brand of the style. Similar to other bands I've covered so far, like Railroad Jerk, this is a very spotty record that just sounds kinda half-assed to me. Not a very exciting or memorable listen at all, save a handful of cuts that have some mildly interesting riffs.

It pains me to say it, because I really do wanna love these guys, but their music just doesn't do enough for me to be able to say that.

6/10

---

Juliana Hatfield - Only Everything
Alternative rock
Sophomore album

Most of the time, Juliana's vocals have an infectiously playful spunk to them, but sometimes they don't. The album's at its best when it's fiery and energetic, but even then, I wouldn't be able to single out any specific track as a particularly good one, or even one that I'd be willing to necessarily share with anyone. It's basically a C-grade passable alternarock effort at the end of the day, but I can certainly hear the potential for something greater.

6/10

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Ol' Dirty Bastard - Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version
Hip hop
Debut album

Speaking of dead rappers, ODB actually had his own debut in '95 as well (as a solo artist—obviously, he's better known as a member of the Wu-Tang Clan), and it's yet another rock-solid rap album.

I'm cognizant that I've given a 7/10 to most of the rap albums I've covered, so here's how I'd rank it among the rest:

1. The Roots - Do You Want More?!!!??!*
2. Big L - Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous
3. Ol' Dirty Bastard - Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version
4. Smif-N-Wessun - Dah Shinin'
5. 2Pac - Me Against the World
6. E-40 - In a Major Way
7. DJ Quik - Safe + Sound
8. Too Short - Cocktails
*If Tricky's Maxinquaye could be considered a hip hop album, I'd rank it above The Roots.

What makes this particular record special is the sheer character of ODB. He's easily the most colorful and unhinged member of of the Wu-Tang Clan, and what he lacks in technical skill, he makes up in personality. He delivers all of his bars with a deranged yelp, kinda like Danny Brown, and his lyrics are known for their uninhibited crudeness, trashy subject matters, and an unmistakable air of drug-addled degeneracy—but unlike a Too Short, he actually has a great sense of humor, and comes across as genuinely funny.

My inability to take the album seriously, however, is perhaps the source of its biggest weakness. ODB's drug abuse would end up getting him killed in 2004, demonstrating that his lifestyle is not one to be imitated or glorified—which he thankfully never really does on this record, but unlike a Danny Brown, there is a distinct reluctance to talk about the darker side of being a user. It's not all fun and games, and ODB's general apathy towards that notion is mainly what is stopping me from giving this one a higher score. I'd still recommend it, though.

7/10

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Skid Row - Subhuman Race
Heavy metal
3rd album

Sebastian Bach and the gang tried going heavy on this album, since the glory days of glam were long gone at this point, and they were too cool for the grunge bandwagon. And while Bach's vocals are still as good as ever, much of the instrumentation here leaves much to be desired. Uninspired songwriting, boring riffs, piss simple song structures, and tired lyrical cliches abound. It's frustrating, because I can't outright call it a bad album, but it's just so unmemorable and painfully bereft of everything that I strive to hear from a rock record that I struggle find anything positive to say about it.

5/10

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Suddenly, Tammy! - We Get There When We Do
Indie pop
Sophomore album

Refreshingly, the music on this indie release features NO guitars. Songs are instead driven mainly by pianos instead, with a vocalist who sounds eerily similar to Juliana Hatfield, who I just covered in this very post.

Unfortunately, the album isn't really all that interesting beyond that, and I don't have much to say about it. Kind of a lame one to end the month of March on, but what can you do.

6/10

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Just one amendment: I'm gonna go ahead and drop that Tea Party album from an 8/10 to a 7/10. It's teetering on the edge of both numbers, but right now, I simply can't justify putting it on the same level as other records that I've also given an 8/10. It would be easier if the lyrics weren't so fucking bland, but they are.

So, here's what March '95 is looking like for me in terms of best albums:


Honorable mentions:
Radiohead - The Bends
Faith No More - King for a Day... Fool for a Lifetime
2Pac - Me Against the World

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Coming up next to rep April:

Daddy Yankee
Guided by Voices
Sugar Ray
John Prine
Strapping Young Lad
KMFDM

Frank Zappa had his 63rd album, but it was also his first posthumous album, and I don't know if I want to count those.

that's not to say you should ever make personal life decisions based on what other people want, or anything

but it's still an argument for circumcision, and i'm going to use every argument possible

Quote from: Verbatim on June 01, 2019, 05:39:41 PM

what is the best godzilla movie

I’m pretty sure the original one is the only one that’s supposed to be taken seriously.

so i've heard, it's definitely the one i'd watch first anyway

what is the best godzilla movie

Falcon's knee is almost like it was in Melee now

sweet

I can't believe they're dragging out Modern Warfare's corpse to try and make money

can't you

can you really not believe that

i play video games

not because i don't have a life

but because i choose to have many

unironically a pretty cool quote

Oh ye, I forgot to mention, I main Ganon now. Please scold me....

at least he's easier to beat than mewtwo

Quote from: Verbatim on May 18, 2019, 01:04:17 PM

dude i need more info on gen 8, like fucking NOW

Nintendo direct on June 5th 9 A.M E.T.

based

Not that different where being polite “gets you nothing”. You shouldn’t be polite to get something in return, that’s just what you should strive to do as much as you can.

you're not wrong, but i never said you should get anything in return

i'm just stating the fact that you don't, which sure as fuck doesn't make it any easier (and you should know)

It absolutely is something to ban you over. If you invite some dude to a community and he starts talking shit to you and everyone else why wouldn’t you ban him?

literally and unironically because it's a free country, or at least that's the idea

that's why i want to find a community that allows me to do these things—but not even 4chan, with all its scumfuckery, will even allow you to be too much of a shithead before you get banned

you always say interactions are the same on the internet as they are in real life

no, i've always said that the internet is a part of "real life," they're not separate, and that people are more fake offline than they are online

the fact that people interact with each other differently doesn't put it on a different plane of existence or reality

it just makes it so people can express themselves without being fettered or inhibited by social consequence, which they wouldn't NOT do if they could without the internet