This blog (headed by a bitter, cynical, observant countercultural fiend) shall make lists, make observations, create criticisms, and also recommend ideas concerning areas in music, movies, video games, television, the Walt Disney Company, and pretty much anything in particular that catches my interest.
Top-notch adventure masterpiece, The Last Crusade raises the bar and remains one of the best films you'll ever see., 18 December 2009
Of all the franchises in the history of film-making, not a single one boasts a better third film than The Last Crusade. Of all the sequels in this Earth, very few can quite measure up to The Last Crusade. This film set and raised the bar for all adventures following it—a bar that not a single film has yet reached. Indiana Jones becomes a movie legend with the third installment. This movie has it all: action, comedy, adventure, mystery, horror, romance, and a perfect way to end a nearly-flawless trilogy. The Last Crusade is not only an amazing sequel, but ranks in my list as one of the greatest films of all-time. Without exaggeration, this movie fires on all cylinders, hits all the targets without question, and quite frankly certifies Steven Spielberg as easily one of the greatest directors in the last quarter century.
It has all the elements of an incredible motion picture: likable characters, quality acting, amazing action set pieces, superb stuntwork, amazing direction, clever and deep writing, a perfect musical score (John Williams), nice cinematography, and great pacing. This movie is underrated because it's never quite mentioned in the same breath as other Spielberg classics like E.T., Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jurassic Park, Jaws, and Saving Private Ryan. Last Crusade did a beautiful job wrapping up the trilogy by dwelling into Indy's past, and tying him to his father that long-eluded him.
In The Last Crusade, we find Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) once again traveling overseas in search of the Holy Grail, a relic that for hundreds of years has eluded the most stubborn of archeologists. Along this journey, he also sets out to find and reconnect with his father. This adventure takes him through Italy, Austria, and Hatay. He also encounters Nazis, massive rats, under-the-radar religious cults, a man that is centuries old, and even runs into Hitler himself. Jeffery Boem writes the script of his life as he weaves a clever tale that contains many religious and family undertones underneath the massive adventure. This film was much lighter in tone than the second installment, and covers much more ground as well.
Harrison Ford IS Indiana Jones, it honestly is hard to imagine anyone else fill the role. While River Phoenix does a swell job portraying his younger self, this is Ford's film for the running. Equally as impressive is Sean Connery has Indy's father. The two share a delightful mix of tension, awkwardness, and humor as they try to put up with each other's antics and methods of survival. All the other small roles were done exceptionally well, with special kudos to Denholm Elliot as the hilarious Marcus Brody. In James Bond fashion, we have a different leading lady for the third time in the franchise, and Alison Doody does a great job combining feminine toughness with a bit of vulnerability.
Steven Spielberg runs this show and runs it perfectly. All the action set pieces were crafted and executed beautifully, with the best ones being the opening train chase and the epic showdown on the desert involving the German military tank. On both scenes mentioned above we see some of the best stuntwork in the history of film, especially with Indy jumping to a moving tank on horseback. Name a stunt from recent years to top that one. And whenever action and adventure isn't happening, Spielberg keeps the tension and suspense high, even when the two Indys go at it in humorous fashion. The scene when Indy is in a Nazi rally is one of the more tense moments you'll ever see, with the stakes being absolutely high and the result potentially chaotic and disastrous.
What I miss most about movies is that there is way too much reliance on special effects and CGI. While it does create shots and images that you couldn't imitate without computers, it also cheapens the look of the film and prevents it from ever becoming even remotely realistic. With The Last Crusade, the only reliance on special effects came in the final sequence, with the first two acts focusing on stuntwork, massive sets, and clever camera tricks. This prevents Indy's third outing from ever being over-the-top, and resembles classic adventures you wound find in old-old school comic books. That's what Indiana Jones is, a down-to-earth comic book hero always on a quest for adventure, history, relics, and answers. To this day he remains one of the coolest creations for cinema in history. His name is now synonymous with adventure, peril, and quality film-making. It is such a shame the franchise didn't end on the now iconic final shot because of the extremely disappointing fourth installment. The fourth just didn't have the grit, humor, quality adventure, and delightful subtle religious weight of this film and the original.
Bottom Line: One of the greatest films of all-time and by far the best movie of 1989 (highlighted by big summer flicks like The Abyss, Ghostbusters II, Batman, and Lethal Weapon 2), The Last Crusade overpowers the second installment by leagues and is right underneath the original as some of the best adventure/action film-making you'll ever see. There honestly isn't a single major flaw in here, as everything from the directing to the exceptional musical score was done beautifully. While Spielberg and Lucas have taken a different approach to film-making in this decade and leading up to the next, there is no denying what a powerful force they were in terms of success and quality back in the 80s. If you enjoy movies, it is your duty to watch this one and enjoy its epic adventure and pulp mayhem. If you want to make a good adventure movie, this is the film you must go by. Cinematic perfection is something that few movies achieve, and fewer franchises can achieve more than once. Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade fit both billings.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Disney Renaissance has returned., 11 December 2009
Michael Eisner will forever be known as the man that attempted to totally kill Disney animation. After the disastrous efforts of Home on the Range, what was once a staple of the Walt Disney Company was becoming a thing of the past. Traditional animation was dead in Disney, and this was definitely one of the major contributors towards the shift in upper-upper management and his departure. Now with Pixar and John Lasseter on board, Disney pulls absolutely no punches in their return to tradition. There's a new princess, she happens to be black, and they happen to twist a classic story so much that you have literally no clue in which direction the writers were going. The major question is: can Disney revive its Renaissance quality that it experienced in the 90s? Can they ever duplicate such magic again? The answer is a resounding yes.
Princess and the Frog is the best traditionally animated flick (from ANY company) since The Emperor's New Groove. Princess Tiana is the most sophisticated and most mature Disney princess since Belle. The villain here is the best since Hades from Hercules. Prince Naveen is the best prince since Prince Eric (and even then, Naveen is one of the better princes out there). The music here is actually some of the best music from any Disney movie past and present. The animation here is the best since The Lion King. Basically, to sum things up, Princess and the Frog is an excellent effort from Disney and a superb return to Renaissance quality that the company sorely missed and needed.
The movie focuses on a hard-working waitress (Anika Nosi Rose) that is saving money to open up her own restaurant, which was a dream her father had always been chasing. Her father also taught her that it's not enough to just wish for something, you have to also work to accomplish what you want in life. Tiana lives her life on this lesson, much to the disdain of others. After a few twists and turns (I don't want to spoil the plot too much), she becomes a frog thanks to Prince Naveen (Bruno Campos), whom is a prince that is very different from the norm in terms of personality and even royalty status. Along the way they will meet a wide assortment of characters, ranging from a charismatic magician (Keith David, in an amazing role), a friendly firefly (Jim Cummings), a music-loving alligator (Michael-Leon Wooley), and many others. The movie clocks in at less than 100 minutes, but moves at such a fast pace, you'll get a lot more material than your average hour-and-a-half movie.
Let's just put this out there: Disney treated Tiana and her surroundings perfectly and without overdoing any boundaries whatsoever. New Orleans has an incredibly energetic look, and just enhances the themes and plot of the movie. Accompanying the Louisiana flavor is the incredible score of Randy Newman, which uses a wide variety of sounds and genres from the Deep South (and also is mixed in with a little Newman touch).
Can we praise the animation one more time? Sure, why not. The movie looks absolutely beautiful, and doesn't rely on just a simple palette of colors. Thanks to technology and an obvious overload of effort, this is one of the most (if not the most) colorful and vibrant-looking Disney animated movies of all-time. Some of the added computer effects only enhance the sophistication of the animation (I rhymed). One final note, the visual humor in Princess and the Frog is very fast-paced, to the style of the severely underrated Emperor's New Groove. You need a watchful eye on certain scenes to catch all the jokes.
If there was anyone that was going to save Disney's traditional animation, it would be Ron Clements and John Musker. These two were the most responsible for the Disney Renaissance, directing Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and Hercules. They once again provide a beautiful story, and direct the movie with plenty of flair and energy. The musical sequences fit the pacing of the flick, and while there wasn't an outstanding track like "Be Our Guest," "Friend Like Me," or "Under the Sea," the repertoire of musical numbers overall was quite impressive. A key part to a great animated movie is having a villain just as complex and/or engaging as the heroes; and the "Shadow Man" not only has the best musical number, but also has the most flair of any of the supporting characters. Now we can forgive them for directing Treasure Planet.
The biggest reason for the successful quality in Princess and the Frog comes from the Pixar touch. Pixar obviously lent a hand here, as this movie contains some of the most sentimental and touching animated footage since the epic heartbreak moment in Lion King when Simba sees Mufasa motionless. While the movie never nails the emotional torture that Up succeeded (then again…few films ever will), Princess and the Frog will make you cry just as easily as it can make you laugh. Don't let that bring you down though, because this movie carries an upbeat tempo throughout the entire run.
Bottom Line: If you enjoyed the Disney Renaissance (From Little Mermaid to Tarzan, before the downfall spiral started), then it is up to you to watch this movie. This movie has all the energy, quality, sentimentality, and superb animation of the 90s Disney flicks, and is inches away from Pixar status. Pixar has saved Disney altogether, and Princess and the Frog is hopefully going to save Disney traditional animation, granted it gets the praise and success it truly deserves. Unlike what we have been seeing in the past, Disney did not half-arse this time. Blending the old-school qualities with a new-school outlook on where the status of animation and storytelling is headed, Princess and the Frog is a fun, entertaining, and fulfilling ride from start to finish.
What happens when a franchise succeeds for so long with so many games? The expectations become higher and higher to a point that it cannot be reached. This is where New Super Mario Bros. Wii comes in. The game has received minimal criticism for being too much like the other 2-D Mario games. And it was also picked on because of lack of online. Then it was picked on for not being fresh. Of course, these are the same critics that praise Halo 3, Modern Warfare 2, Grand Theft Auto IV, Fable 2, among other sequels that greatly resemble the original. Does that make all the games I mentioned bad? No, it just means that the gaming critics from all over the internet are not being consistent in their critiquing. For crying out loud, GTA IV got perfect scores all over the place, but it looks and breathes exactly like Vice City and San Andreas; its just been expanded immensely.
This is what New Super Mario Bros. did: took the well-known Mario platforming concept and didn’t change it, but expanded upon it. Why is this an issue? Did the magazines and website expect perfection from this game? Why is the game being off-line such an issue? Are we afraid of having more than one person playing on the same television? Nintendo hasn’t been a fan of online gaming, and we’ve noticed this time and time again. Some of the Wii’s best works can be so much better with a superior online feature (Super Smash Brothers Brawl: best example ever). However, Nintendo is the well-known king of offline multiplayer, and sticking to what you are best at should never be an issue.
Some of the best multi-player games of all-time didn’t need online, they needed multiple people playing each other at the same time, and you let differing styles of play, differing personalities, and differing skill levels provide the fun and nirvanaian (I made up a word, deal with it) frustration provide all the mayhem of the evening. Goldeneye 007 and Mario Kart 64 are two games that I would still prefer to play over most of the XBox Live offerings. This is where New Super Mario Bros. Wii comes in. This game feels, smells, and frustrates just like the classic 2-D Mario games of the 90s, and the difference is the art style, and the ability to have up to four people join in on the fun. The end result is yet another fun 2-D Mario game that is sure to become a classic just like the other ones. The difference is, now four people can experience the Super Mario magic. While it doesn’t have the fresh new feeling of Mario Bros. 3 or Mario World, this game is just as fun, just as chaotic, and just as creatively clever.
Why even explain the plot? Peach gets kidnapped again and Mario must save her. The single-player alone is longer than most quests on any of the big three systems today. While most franchises and video games rely on multi-player for the lasting effect, New Super Mario Bros. Wii contains one of the deepest and longest singer-player quests since BioShock back in 2007. There are 8 worlds to explore, and a hidden 9th one lurking about. Within these worlds lies a heavy variety of levels. While you will feel like you’ve played this type of game before, you will also realize that the processing power of the Wii allows for 2-D platforming to reach new levels. I don’t want to spoil the surprises as to how, but let’s just say the barrage of enemies at some instances is something that could not happen on the SNES.
The worst part of this game has got to be the graphics. The art style doesn’t really contain the artistry or pizzazz of Mario Galaxy, Yoshi’s Island, or even Super Mario World. It’s the 3-D sprite of Super Mario in a 2-D world. The game doesn’t look sloppy, but it doesn’t really contain an art style moreso than it’s a sprite thrown in a pretty-looking environment. Remember the sketchy, seemingly hand-drawn colors of Yoshi’s Island? New Super Mario Bros. Wii lacks that personality. But the game runs well and controls beautifully. While a lack of ability to use the Virtual Console remains puzzling, the game’s rendition of the Wiimote serves fine, with the holding of the controller resembling that of the old-school NES. The game is kept simple, and so are the controls. You can learn how to play this game in a heartbeat.
Your typical Mario music is present here, with new songs and classic mixes joining in. The soundtrack is not as epic as Mario Galaxy (in terms of quality, composition, delivery, and theming) but it’s still a fun game to listen to. The sound effects are also Mario-like, with nothing outstanding, but nothing distracting either. We should hear Bowser and his kids talk more often though. One final note: it is great that we see the return of Yoshi and the kids to the 2-D franchise, but where is the love for Wario and Waluigi?
The gameplay is essentially flawless. Each world after the first contains a great mix of easy and excruciatingly difficult levels. Most levels contain their infamous moments and memorable frustrations. The game sometimes feels like the original Mario Bros., then can sometimes run like Mario Bros. 3 and to an extend Super Mario World. Many classic enemies are back and there are some new ones meshed in as well. If you are a fan of good platform action, this game a must-buy from the get-go. If the single-player isn’t enough, then there is the multi-player to win you over.
This game, as long as you have the right people, is absolutely hilarious and fun when other people are involved. With the others playing as Luigi or a Toad, the game actually becomes harder because you have your own allies getting in the way or distracting you from reaching the goal. Teamwork is a must and if you all have differing styles of play, then it’s going to lead to funny arguments and hilarious fights within the levels themselves. The levels do not really change when four people are involved, but the flow and pacing becomes affected if you have a slower one ruining the run of the current level. If they lag too behind, they die, which will lead to more arguing and more hilarity. There is even a subtle trick system that can lead to extra points.
Bottom Line: The game is fun alone, with a friend, or three of them. New Super Mario Bros. Wii takes gameplay elements from generations of platform gaming and packs it all into a nice long quest full of challenges, secrets, and fun. The hardcore old-school gamers should be pleased as Mario returns to his roots after all these years dwelling into 3-D on home consoles. Despite all the little nitpicky things said about this game from other critics they all agreed to one thing: this game is fun and feels like the older games. That alone should tell you that it is a worthy purchase.
While the game lacks a graphical personality like the NES and SNES counterparts, the game is still a well-crafted package of Super Mario fun. Mario has survived all these years because Nintendo always finds different ways of enhancing and changing the Mario experience. While in this case the change is just an addition of more players, it’s a welcoming change and one that’s never quite been handled by any other franchise. All this complaining from gaming critics is proving a couple of things:
1) They hate the Wii’s current mammoth success (And this is indeed true, just look at the Wii bashing you find nowadays. 2) They set the bar much higher for Super Mario games, while giving other games (Like GTA IV) a pass on flaws. 3) Unlike most franchises, everyone has their personal taste as to how a 2-D Mario game should look and feel.
Some complained over lack of Yoshi. Some complained over lack of Peach. Some complained over lack of Wario. Some moaned that the game wasn’t hard enough. Some thought that this was a mere rehash. Basically, everyone has their personal interpretations of what would be the perfect Mario game—and shouldn’t be so harsh when these expectations were not met. This game boasts over 70 creative levels, 200 Star Coins to collect, a multi-player mode to boot, and you still find reason to say there was minimal effort? Plus this lack-of-online complaint is really lame. Why on earth would you want to play Super Mario with a random stranger? Mario platforming wasn’t meant for online gaming when compared to other games and genres; it just wouldn’t be that satisfying.
To me, the perfect 2-D Mario game would be one that features over 150 levels and can allow for you to play updated versions of classic levels found in previous installments. Despite my dreams of that Mario game currently not being met, my expectations for this Mario game were, and then some. As long as you enjoy a really good video game with the old-school touch, then there is no reason why you couldn’t enjoy New Super Mario Bros.
Modern Warfare 2 is starting a dangerous trend in gaming. Some game franchises and companies are creating a new way of making its money; and it’s a method that does not require as much effort from the execution part when compared to the setup portion. I personally call it the Blockbuster Hype Effect, which is when a video game is hyped so immensely, so intensely, it generates enough sales to make back its money and then some by the end of the week. Hollywood movies do it all the time, and beginning with Halo 2 certain video games are puling off the same feat. Modern Warfare 2 makes over 550 million within the first few days. Did Activision have to improve the game over the previous installment to make it a success? Of course not, what it needed was hype, heavy marketing, and the rest is history.
Does that make Modern Warfare 2 a bad game? Of course not, the game is still one of the better shooters you’ll see on the XBox 360 and the PS3. Could it have been better? Yes. Could the game have benefited more from changing the rules a little? Yes. Is this game better than the original Modern Warfare? No. Is it all Activision’s fault? Nope. Am I asking too many questions? Yep.
The plot of the game is over-the-top yet simple: evil Russians framed an American spy for staging a massive massacre in Russia’s homefront, staging a chain reaction leading to Russia attacking the United States beginning on Washington D.C. The goal is to find a way to reveal that America did not attack Russia, and that someone from the side of the United States may be in on the framing. The plot alone sounds like that of a massive blockbuster film. Adding to the Hollywood Blockbuster image of the game is the musical score being composed by Hans Zimmer, whom has scored Pirates of the Caribbean, Gladiator, The Lion King, The Rock, among other movies.
One of the biggest weaknesses of the franchise is your inability to truly be attached to the character you are controlling simply because you play so many of them, and because most of them die off within a couple of missions. Gaming franchises like Zelda, Grand Theft Auto, and Final Fantasy rely a lot on storytelling and characterization to progress the video game along. With Call of Duty, the plot and characters are nothing more than mere setting, basically mapping out why you are doing what you are doing. This approach to gaming on one hand allows for a less-talk-more-walk approach to gaming; but on the other hand you won’t find a single moment in this game that comes close to hitting the emotional impact of Majora’s Mask’s end of the world, Final Fantasy VII’s most popular death, or Super Mario RPG’s finale.
The game isn’t all bad though. Modern Warfare 2 boasts a shorter single-player campaign than previous installments, but its still one heck of a trip. And hey, at least it’s not Halo 3. Modern Warfare 2 throws you all over the world, in multiple different settings, and a good portion of the game has you performing other activities that don’t involve mass shooting. There is a bit of espionage involved as well. The game flows beautifully in terms of graphics and playcontrol, as Infinity Ward didn’t deviate too far from the original Modern Warfare in terms of how the game handles. The game is quite relentless, and very intense. You will die multiple times, but luckily for the less-skilled, the game sprinkles all sorts of checkpoints throughout the missions, taking away a bit of the challenge and frustration.
There is plenty of negativity in this review, and that’s partially a shame since the game does play well and is worth the price tag especially if you are affiliated with Xbox Live. The more you enjoy multi-player online, the more worthy this game will become in your collection. But all this comes at a price: the multi-player in the Xbox 360 hasn’t been lacking. As a matter of fact, people are still playing Halo 3 and the original Call of Duty. So what is going to make this multi-player shooter any different? Its immersive, but just how long can you run with that excuse?
Age of the long single-player campaigns is a bit on the dying side; as there are very few video games that can truly boast a massive single-player. This is a trend that will have an effect on the blockbuster-style of releasing video games. With multi-player suddenly being the driving force, there is much less focus on other aspects of the game. How much better would Modern Warfare 2 be if they put forth the same amount of effort on their single-player as compared to their multi-player? The Xbox Live aspects of this game are fun, addicting, and just as good as Halo 2, 3, Call of Duty 4, Gears of War. But notice this: all the previous games mentioned, with the exception of Call of Duty 4, are known much, much more for multi-player. What happens when you can’t connect online? While it’s not an issue that most people have to ponder, it’s interesting when you realize just how much of the game you actually get to play once the internet is involved.
The last first-person shooter to truly bring something fresh and amazing to the genre is BioShock. And here is where the new technique of selling games succeeds: it doesn’t matter, people will still buy it. Just like how most people went to see Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen before the bad press and word-of-mouth spread, Modern Warfare 2 was destined to be a smash hit. Luckily for us the game isn’t bad, but down the road, who knows what filth will sell within the first weekend before we realize what a crappy game it truly is. Halo: Reach, I am looking in your direction.
Bottom Line: Modern Warfare 2 is just like the typical recent Xbox first-person shooter: its good, has a strong multi-player, short single-player, yet doesn’t really bring anything new to the table. The Call of Duty franchise still lacks the character appeal of Halo, and has yet to really distance itself from the other shooter franchises. And its extreme hype is a bad sign of things to come, when companies may not dwell as much effort to a game and prefer to maximize its hype for ultimate profit before the realizations occur. Call of Duty is still the best in the shooter business, with Halo being a bit overrated and the other franchises still trying to topple Call of Duty 4.
But, with the competition heating up from BioShock, Halo, and even Metroid (see their latest trailer? Wow), who knows who may emerge as leader come the end of 2010. The competition in this genre is much too strong for the games to become more and more similar to previous installments, you have to really aim high in order to stand out. Call of Duty 4 accomplished this. BioShock accomplished this. Modern Warfare 2? Fell just a bit short. Graphics are amazing, so is the music, and so is the little amount of gameplay featured, but it missing something special to stand out. Despite that small setback, the overall production of Modern Warfare 2 is impressive, as a massive story is unfolded right in front of your eyes and you get to participate in it in a variety of ways with a variety of characters.
I am just afraid of crazy hype and what it can do to a business that’s currently experiencing the best years quality-wise since the SNES era. I am afraid that video games will dwell the path of movies: reviews won’t matter, because the first weekend denotes a profitable product. And while Modern Warfare isn’t a Transformers-like turkey, I fear as to what other heavily-hyped games in the future may bring. In the meantime, I’ll continue enjoying the first-day-received Call of Duty.
New Super Mario Bros. has just come out on stores to high acclaim, minimum criticism (which most of it is absolutely nuts by the way), and high sales. It is sure to hold the Wii owners over before the potentially-epic 2010 gaming year that the Wii is going to deliver. Upon first impressions, I have absolutely loved this game, and the multi-player is a mix of absolute addicting fun and incredible frustration. Where its going to place among the best Mario games in history, I’ll need more time to decide this.
But wait? What are the greatest Mario games in history? That’s a baffling mystery. But have no fear, I am here. Using the sophisticated power and technology of my computer (and a box of crayons) I have compiled a list of the best of Super Mario. They range from his platform classics, to his sports games, to his underrated classics, and even a Mario game without his name on the actual title.
Without further interruption, it’s yet another list!!
#25: Dr. Mario
This underrated puzzler was Super Mario’s response to Tetris. While the game doesn’t have the addiction and depth of Tetris, it still boasts a tougher challenge and also a much groovier soundtrack. There has been a version of Dr. Mario in every single system and is becoming more a staple to Nintendo gaming then Tetris is.
#24: Mario Party
This game was the surprise hit that absolutely nobody saw coming. Adding to the obvious premise that the Nintendo 64 was the ultimate multiplayer experience for the last part of the 90s, Mario Party combined multi-player thrills with baseball-its-ain’t-over-until-its-over gameplay. The game is mapped out like an interactive board game, and long after you’ve found every single game board you still have a high replay value with the extensive amount of mini-games you can collect and other small goodies. This was the perfect game for anyone with plenty of siblings and friends.
#23: Super Mario Land
The very first Mario game on a handheld system was by far the most unique. Without the touch of Miyamoto, Nintendo RD&1 provided 12 levels of bizarre gameplay as Mario is thrown into a brand new universe that gamers had never seen before. None of your typical enemies are present, and Mario can be seen flying a plane and navigating a submarine! Like I said, it was different, but was still a nice bit of fun and a grand way to start Nintendo Game Boy’s historic run towards total handheld dominance.
#22: Donkey Kong 94’
Nintendo Game Boy is full of forgotten gems (as I had described in a previous article nobody read) and this one by far is one of the best forgotten gems out there. While the game starts out in a similar Donkey Kong manner, after the fourth level you are thrown into a massive world with over 90 levels to fight through, encounters with Donkey Kong, and even some mayhem with Donkey Kong Jr. It was long, difficult, and plenty of fun. That’s what she said.
#21: Mario Golf
Golf games rarely work. The only exception is the wonderful Golden Tee Golf series you can find in arcades everywhere. However, Nintendo (the kings of making boring and unpopular things bearable) transformed the sport of golf into a delightful Mario game with enough simplicity for your beginners and plenty of depth for the experts. This little blend of simple depth is a formula repeated in most sports games nowadays, and especially in latter Mario sports games (some of which will make the list further down)
#20: Super Mario Kart
The original that started it all. This game revolutionized gaming with its stellar gameplay and background work, which used Mode 7 technology. There has been dozens of imitators, and none of them can top even the original, which is over 17 years old. Selling 8 million copies on the Super Nintendo, this is one of the best-selling video games in the early years of Nintendo, and remains one of the favorites of the old-school gamers. There is a massive franchise that started because of this polished gem.
#19: Super Mario Bros. 2
So this isn’t the ACTUAL Super Mario Bros. 2 (the real one is excruciatingly difficult) but it’s still an incredibly fun game to play, and would be the first to give Luigi his modern-day appearance and abilities.
#18: Mario Golf: Advanced Tour
Mario Golf’s sequel was a small hit in the Gamecube, but the Game Boy Advance version was far superior for multiple reasons. First off, the game was deeper with its gameplay. Second off, the game carries an RPG-like quest that allows for improvement on your game. Third off, it just has much more replay value than the Gamecube counterpart. Developed by the underrated madmen company Camelot, Mario Golf: Advanced Tour is a game that should be imitated much more often.
#17: Mario Strikers Charged
Remove those annoying cheap shots, and this could have been the best Mario sports game of all-time and one of the better sports games you’ll ever play. Nonetheless, the game carries a gritty attitude, a gritty art style, and contains gritty gameplay that’s just absolutely brutal for a Mario game. You can slam characters to electric fences, trip them, throw bombs at them, etc. Oh by the way, this is soccer. A sport never embraced in America, the Mario Strikers franchise has actually seen decent success in the states, but much moreso around the world. This game is addicting fun, and definitely a step away from the norm in Mario gameplay.
#16: Mario Kart Wii
If you want frustration, then look no further. The only racing game in which you can go from first to last and then back to first in a matter of one lap, Mario Kart Wii allows for the most unskilled of gamers to still look like pros as long as you have enough luck and willpower. While the game boasts pretty much no learning curve, the tracks themselves are very fun to race in, the items add to the mayhem, and the customizable options add the little bit of depth that this Mario Kart desperately needs. What makes this game one of the biggest success stories of all-time is its amazing multi-player mode, which finally allows for the Wii to compete with the competition in terms of online gaming.
#15: Mario Tennis
The best Mario sports game of all-time, and one of the best sports games you’ll ever play. Mario Tennis is incredibly easy and fun to learn, but only the truest of true can master the game and nail every trick shot. There is a large assortment of characters to choose from and an extensive amount of secret ones as well. Adding to the fun is that each character has their specialties, which depending on who you have alters your strategy in the game. This game put Camelot on the map and finally provided Virtua Tennis some competition.
#14: Mario Party 2
Everything that was wrong and was right about Mario Party was improved upon in Mario Party 2. The most underrated Mario game on this entire list, Mario Party 2 is so much fun, a Friday night back then just wouldn’t be complete without a 30+ turn showdown against some friends. The mini-games were better, the maps were better, the cutscenes were better, the amount of secrets was better, and the game itself is easily the best game of its kind. Every other Mario Party absolutely pales in comparison to this one, and why its not in Virtual Console baffles the mind.
#13: Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
The handheld sequel to the original smash hit is also an improvement in every possible way. Super Mario has a crisper look, the classic enemies have returned, and yet Super Mario Land 2 still carries the unique and bizarre gameplay that the original was known for. Super Mario in this installment gets to enter a whale, gets to fight in outer space, enters a robotic version of himself, and even becomes extremely small and fights ants. Games like this just aren’t made anymore, whether by Nintendo or any gaming company.
#12: New Super Mario Bros.
It took 14 years before Super Mario returned to the side-scrolling action, but the wait was nearly worth it. In a time in which 3-D is conquering the gaming industry and even the 2-D classics, New Super Mario Bros. reverses the trend by going back to the basics, while maintaining a new look. 70+ levels and multi-player modes galore later, we have a worldwide smash that continues to sell today. The gameplay is old-school but fresh, the music is chipper, the graphics are phenomenal, and the success and impact pretty much guarantees that this will not be the last time we see Mario in 2-D, and it won’t take over 10 years before it happens again.
#11: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Of all the Paper Mario games in the series, this one stands as the best, funniest, and most successful one to date. The plot of Mario rescuing Peach takes a different turn and throws Mario into a massive quest full of whimsical gameplay, clever visuals, and fun usage of the paper effects you see throughout the game. One (of many) of gamecube’s flaws can be traced to the lack of RPGs, and this game nearly filled the void by being so much fun. It’s a shame Super Paper Mario drifted away from the formula.
#10: Super Mario Sunshine
Nintendo is known for drifting away from the formula for some experimental gameplay and risky gambling. Super Mario Sunshine is one of these examples. Instead of expanding upon the flawless gameplay mechanics of Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine instead equips you with a muck-cleaning weapon, a tropical overworld, and a new style of platform gaming. The game, despite being so different, runs smoothly, has a lot to do, and reunites you with Yoshi, a Nintendo staple. Where the heck is Luigi though?
#9: Super Mario Bros. DX
I know most gaming magazines and websites will list Super Mario Bros. as one of the best Mario games of all-time. I mean duh, of course. However, while the original Super Mario Bros. did definitely re-introduce the world to gaming and would forever change the industry, I am instead giving it to the Game Boy Color version for one main reason: Super Mario Bros. 2: The Lost Levels is included. This Game Boy Color remake of the original classic is not only a good translation, but also throws in all sorts of goodies including hidden Yoshi coins, fortune cookies, printable stickers, and even an entirely new game. This wasn’t just an incredible game, it was a must-own and truly worth every penny.
#8: Mario Kart DS
This game not only is the deepest of the Mario Kart games, its also the very first extremely successful Nintendo online game. The tracks are incredible, the music is excellent, the amount of unlockables is fantastic, the amount of skill required was the most demanding in the entire franchise, and of course the online mode was something not to be missed. This Mario Kart hit all the right notes, and to this day is considered one of the premiere racing games in history.
#7: Mario Kart 64
Perhaps it’s the nostalgia talking, but even after all I’ve said about Mario Kart DS, Mario Kart 64 is my absolute favorite of the Mario Kart games. Surely the DS version is tougher, longer, and contains more stuff, but Mario Kart 64’s racing tracks remain the best one of them all, and the best collection of courses in the history of racing games. You get the absolutely goofy tracks like Moo Moo Farm and Wario Stadium, but then you have the killer-tough courses like Banshee Boardwalk, Yoshi Valley, and the power slide-friendly Mario’s Raceway. The items were at their best and non-cheapest here, especially with the red and green shells proving much more damage than a wimpy flip. And unlike the cruel blue shells in later installments, the purple shell is actually avoidable. And I didn’t even touch the multi-player mode, which not only is among the best in history, but was the first to prove that 4-player gaming at one time is possible, is fun, and is incredibly addicting.
#6: Super Mario Bros. 3
Prior to the Wii, this was the best-selling video game of all-time, and the most-beloved of the Mario games. However, as time moves on, the nostalgia of the SNES version seems to age better than this instant classic. Nonetheless, Super Mario Bros. 3 is an extremely fun game full of killer items, dozens of secrets, very varied gameplay, and a fun multi-player mode to boot. Super Mario Bros. 3 was the beginning of Nintendo thinking bigger and bigger in terms of where to take the side-scrolling Mario franchise.
#5: Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
For anyone that truly knows me, they know I have a deep fondness of this classic title. Mario’s first array into RPG gaming remains one of the best RPG experiences I’ve ever had the pleasure of facing. I’ll never forget the first time I rented this game back in 1996, not quite sure how to handle Mario in such a different environment. The music is amazing, the characters and humor is memorable, there is so much to do, there are so many secrets and hidden goodies, so many Nintendo (and Final Fantasy) references, and overall, its just a gaming treat. Of the 5 remaining games on this list, this is the least played by far, and hopefully with Virtual Console everyone will realize just how special this game is. Where in the heck is Geno and mallow these days?
#4: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island
It hurts a lot to place this down at #4, when it is a fantastically flawless game. Heck, the top 4 Mario games each deserve a perfect score. This game is massive, it’s colorful, and its very different from your average Mario game. Instead of controlling Mario, you are controlling Yoshi as you navigate him through over 50 huge levels full of details, puzzles and surprises. The egg-throwing mechanics is something not used enough in video games, and the coin collecting side-quests warranted nice rewards. The boss battles were extremely creative, and the overall tropical theming of the game is just a delight to witness.
#3: Super Mario Galaxy
The old-school gamers are fuming right now because this Wii title has hit so high on the list. But the explanation is simple: Super Mario Galaxy combines old-school gameplay with a totally new-school look. For the first time ever, we are seeing Mario in not just a quest to rescue Peach, but an epic quest in outer space, with creativity and incredible details around every corner. Of all the games on this list, this is the one that should be experienced on an HDTV the most, and of all the games on this list, this one boasts the best soundtrack and some of the coolest levels you’ll ever see. Platform gaming yet again hit a new peak as Miyamoto and company outdid themselves in this production. The only setback (which was a microscopic one) was the difficulty, but granted its everyone first time playing as Super Mario in space (with clever gravitational pulls) and with the Wiimote, its a bit understandable. Imagine making the first Mario game compatible with the Wiimote difficult--it merely wouldn't be duplicating the same amount of acclaim, praise, and success. We can only imagine what Super Mario Galaxy 2 will bring us.
#2: Super Mario World
While Super Mario Bros. 3 expanded Mairo gameplay to new heights, Super Mario World improved upon everything Mario 3 contained, and then added some. The graphics and art style was superior, the soundtrack was superior, the level design was better, the game was somewhat tougher, and the overall game was just much bigger. The introduction of ghost houses, fortresses, sunken ships, and the infamous Star Road would influence Mario games for years to come. This game has so many secrets, it would be argued for years just how many levels were actually in Super Mario World. And then there’s the introduction of Yoshi. Super Mario World isn’t just one of the best Mario games ever, but its easily one of the 10 greatest video games of all-time.
#1: Super Mario 64
The list has come to this, Super Mario 64. The old-school side-scrolling fans are screaming bloody mary and wondering why a 3-D Mario game has entered the top position. I have argued this for years upon years, but Super Mario 64 is still the best game I’ve ever played. Its influence on gaming can be felt to this day, from the platform games to shooters and even Grand Theft Auto. 3-D gaming was proven possible and not a chore at the same time thanks to Super Mario 64. Goldeneye 007, Ocarina of Time, GTA III and above, Metroid Prime, and even Halo probably wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the graphical, technical, and gameplay achievements that were accomplished with this perfect game.
The story is the same, but the means in which you must save her are different. You no longer have a beginning to an end, you have to walk around, find objectives, explore, collect, discover, and take multiple leaps of faith. Super Mario 64 had 15 massive worlds full of exploration, traps, pitfalls, surprises, and things to collect. The worlds range from a place full of lava, to a massive maze, to a very creepy haunted house, to a pirate ship in the sky, to a world in which you can be incredibly small or incredibly big, a sunken ship, and even a world that takes place inside a massive clock. The variety was incredible, from the level design to even the amount of moves you had. This remains the only Super Mario game with more than 30 possible moves and combinations. He can backflip, crawl, moonwalk, triple jump, sidejump, punch, wall kick, body slam, and so much more. Grand Theft Auto IV’s biggest issue was that the main character still performs only a small handful of fighting moves. 1996 Super Mario can take on 2008 Niko.
Super Mario 64’s impact on gaming, Nintendo, and Super Mario himself cannot be avoided, cannot be duplicated, and should be celebrated everytime a new Mario game comes out. This is the best of the best, a must-own, and to this day, the most rewarding experience any video game can possibly offer. Potentially until Super Mario Galaxy 2, that is……
Well, I hope you enjoyed my list of Mario games. If you didn't, oh well. Super Mario has been around for generations, and his appeal is as strong as ever. He is a video game character that will not go away for a very long time. And as long as games like Mario Galaxy and New Super Mario Bros. Wii continue appearing with his face on it, I would not want to see him go away.
(Note: Facebook readers of this blog entry, in order to see the videos of the songs on my list, you’d have to scroll down and find “View Original Post” or just YouTube the songs yourself.)
For those that know me best, definitely know that in my opinion the 2000s were severely lacking in music. Whether it’s the now-screamo metal, the hip-hop that’s trying so hard to be party music, the rap that’s narcissistic and bland, the unbearable pop music, or the constant attempts of older artists to re-enter the limelight, this decade hasn’t been the best for the ears. However, I’ve assembled a list of the best music I have heard this decade. The genres range from pop to rock, to rap, some hip-hop, a little jazz, and even a few instrumental tracks. This is my list, and I am sticking to it. But first, some honorable mentions:
#1: DJ Hero Soundtrack
Dear DJ Hero,
Thanks for proving that there are definitely still some good remixes out there and some clever remixers lurking about.
Sincerely, Milton
#2: Mona Lisa Overdrive by Juno Reactor
Best song to play in a movie this decade—this is the song during the infamous car chase in Matrix Reloaded
#3: Barcelona by Giulia
Absolutely the cutest song you’ll ever hear.
Now, on to the list!
#25: Beyond the Sea Tagline: Charming way to end a charming movie Artist: Robbie Williams Year: 2003 Chart Peak: None
Finding Nemo is one of the greatest movies this decade, and one of the best animated movies of all-time. However, there is little mention of its equally-amazing soundtrack. The musical score was superb and relaxing, but the end song during the credits just sweetened the deal. Usually covers fail to match the original but this is one exception. The smooth vocals, the nice melody, and the overall subtlety charming production makes this one of the few standout jazz tracks of the last 20 years.
#24: Bat Country Tagline: Best guitar solo of the 2000s Artist: Avenged Sevenfold Year: 2005 Chart Peak: #60 Billboard Top 100
While this band definitely could improve its singing skills, the drumming and guitar work propel this track into a new heights. Backed by a killer guitar solo that’s the best since the early 90s, Bat Country is a throwback to 80s British metal and classic stoner cinema (Fear and Loathing)
#23: American Boy Tagline: Kanye West: best in tiny doses Artist: Estelle fe--YO ESTELLE, I’M REALLY HAPPY FOR YOU… Year: 2008 Chart Peak: #9
This little groovy British track contains beautiful vocals, cutesy melodies, charming lyrics, and even a bearable introduction by Kanye West. Any song that can make Mr. West bearable deserves a spot on this lis---YO ESTELLE, ONCE AGAIN, I’M REALLY HAPPY FOR YOU, BUT I HAD ONE OF THE GREATEST SONGS OF ALL TIME! (Sigh) I’ll move along.
#22: I Wrote This Back in 1994 Tagline: He wrote it back in 1994, I promise Artist: Dave Chappelle Year: 2005 Chart Peak: Perhaps #4…back in 94.
There was good humorous music this decade, coming from Weird Al and the spoof band Dethklok. However, Dave has the funniest song of them all with his take on the 2Pac unreleased music still coming out to this day---over 10 years after his death. Plenty of quotable lines in these 2 minutes of brilliance. Makes me miss the show all over again, darn you Comedy Central.
“I told you….stop hitting the table”
#21: My Apocalypse Tagline: Welcome back Metallica. Artist: Metallica Year: 2008 Chart Peak: #67
After the amazing success of The Black Album, Metallica lost all footing as to what made them famous, successful, and incredible in the first place. After a lot of rebuilding, fighting, and delays, Death Magnetic hit stores with little disappointment. This was Metallica’s best album since 1988. The main reason why is this loud, thrashy, rapid, furious, yet satisfying metal song that blends the elements that made Metallica such a hardcore innovention.
#20: Hollaback Girl Tagline: The new generation version of “Hey Mickey” Artist: Gwen Stefani Year: 2005 Peak Position: #1 in many, many places
Insult all you want, I honestly don’t care. The fact of the matter is, Hollaback Girl ended this crazy reign of hip-hop complicating and increasing the volume on their beats. Simple is sometimes the best way, and the Neptunes proved this with Snoop’s “Drop It Like Its Hot” and this gem. The beat is infectious, easy to learn, and difficult to get out of your head. The song itself is bananas, b-a-n-a-n-a-s.
#19: Soarin’ Over California Tagline: Epcot’s “It’s a Small World” Artist: Jerry Goldsmith (R.I.P.) Year: 2003 Peak Position: N/A
The man wrote the song for free supposedly, since he loved the attraction (then silent) Soarin’ so very much. This was one of Goldsmith’s last scores and easily one of his best ones. The quiet beginning transitions into 4 minutes of beautiful, moving music that mixes strings, horns, fanfare, and a perfect companion to the images of the attraction. You can close your eyes, months after riding Soarin’, and more or less figure out which section of the song belongs to which scenery that was presented. Beautiful indeed.
#18: The Lonely Shepherd Tagline: Best. Pan. Flute. Song. Ever. Artist: Zamfir Year: 2003 Peak Position: N/A
The final song in Kill Bill Vol. 1 is an even more impressive instrumental, mixing the quiet aura of spaghetti westerns with the complexity and difficulty of a modern-day track. The song starts out slow with just the pan flute, and gradually builds until you can hear strings, horns, flute work, and subtle drumming. This song contains no lyrics but carries more heart and emotion than most music you hear. While Kill Bill Vol. 2 was the superior film, Vol. 1 had the superior closing song.
#17: Que Me Quedes Tú Tagline: Shakira strips down…and I meant it in only a musical sense Artist: Shakira Year: 2002 Peak Position: #1 (In Latin countries)
Somewhere in her phenomenally awesome bilingual album Laundry Service lies two songs that in Shakira terms can be classified as a power ballad. The first was the delightful “Underneath Your Clothes,” and the other is the far superior and more touching “Que Me Quedes Tu.” The difference is the language, the guitar work, and Shakira never over-singing throughout the track. Shakira sings better in Spanish, of course, that’s her native tongue. But, the song has more powerful lyrics, and it never raises volume. Last but not least, the song holds a special place in my heart for reasons that shall not be discussed simply because this is a public blog and anyone can read this and use it as potential blackmail. Yes, that was a run-on sentence. And yes, this song is the seventeenth best song of the decade.
#16: My United States of Whatever Tagline: Whatever… Artist: Liam Lynch Year: 2002 Peak Position: #34 Mainstream Rock
If there is a song that can describe the 2000s, it’s this short yet sweet track. The song is short, makes no sense, has an attitude, appeals to those with ADD (ooh, skateboard), doesn’t really hold a point, its quite random, and appears much distorted. My United States of Whatever was filmed in one take, and it clearly shows because it sounds improvised on the spot. The song would be a precedent for all the online viral stuff that usually consists of short sound bites and songs that are stupid, lame, yet somewhat addicting. This song carries that persona, there’s really nothing clever or complex about it; it’s just a fun one-and-a-half minutes or stupidity.
#15: Don’t Tell Me Tagline: Madonna reinvents herself….again. Artist: Madonna Year: 2002 Peak Position: #1
While most carryovers from the 90s changed their image only to make money (Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Metallica, Busta Rhymes, etc.), Madonna changes her image only to be one step ahead of the game. She’s gone through so many transformations; its impossible to pinpoint when one trend ends and the other one begins. In this song, she goes to country with a mix of techno and pop and provides one of the best pop songs within the last 15 years. The lyrics are bubbly and simple, the singing never loses its welcome, and Madonna knows exactly how to keep her fans asking for more. She may have lost some of her chart-topping power, but quality-wise Madonna remains the queen of pop music.
#14: Boulevard of Broken Dreams Tagline: The end of Green Day’s punkness, and the rise of their mainstream fame Artist: Green Day Year: 2004 Chart Peak: #2 (Only 2??!?)
Despite Oasis screaming that its from their overrated as flip “Wonderwall,” Green Day hit a new stratosphere with this smash hit. The song was loud enough to appeal to the rockers and punkers, but was melodic and soft enough to flood the mainstream gates. The song contains a grand guitar solo, and an even better finale. With the finale, it was the end of Green Day’s boyish punk roots and the beginning of more adult, mature music. Whether you like this change or not, its definitely happening, and its here to stay. It’s a shame because the next song on the list is them at their punkish best:
#13: St. Jimmy Tagline: Brings me back to the 90s all over again Artist: Green Day Year: 2004 Chart Peak: N/A
Very few people know this track, but boy do I know how good it is. The song is excessively short, but starts quickly, and before you know it, rampages into a punk melody at its fastest since “Jaded” by Green Day eons ago. The song is a furious blend of awesome drumming, awesome guitar work, great vocals, and a rousing finale that’s sure to bring you back to the mid-90s, when punk and ska had a brief moment of glory. We can only dream of that coming back.
#12: Feuer Frei Tagline: German heavy death metal...sounds fun. Artist: Rammstein Year: 2001 Peak Position: It’s a German death metal song..does it even have a chance in the United States?
The German language is not exactly romantic. The cousin of the equally unromantic English language, its very hard to sing melodic music with the tough, gritty word pronunciations of Germany. But if you can sing death metal in German, the results will be beautifully insane. Rammstein is easily the best German band out there today, and this song is greatest evidence why. The song is fast, relentless, heavy on vocals, heavy on guitar, and heavy on the chorus. Their constant shouts of BANG BANG (read it loudly please) are addicting and never ever gets old. Of course, the song slows down just for a little, only to transition to the epic finale. Your hair will stand by the time the musical mayhem is over.
#11: Breaking the Habit Tagline: Linkin Park’s peak maturity…the rest is downhill. Artist: Linkin Park Year: 2003 Peak Position: #20
Linkin Park could have conquered the entire decade if it weren’t for the hiatus and if it weren’t for the fact that they decided to dedicate themselves o remixing every song already released and then losing sight of what made them good in the first place. While their first album remains the best, Meteora was by no means a musical disaster. As a matter of fact, Linkin Park’s two best songs of all-time are here. We have the loud Faint, and then the electronically and vocally impressive Breaking the Habit. Combining a slick guitar/electronica riff with heavy lyrics and superb vocals, Linkin Park was at the peak of their game right here. Whatever happened afterwards, we’ll never understand. Curse you Transformers, look what you’ve done.
#10: Don't Know Why Tagline: A new queen of jazz has arrived Artist: Norah Jones Year: 2001 Peak Position: #30
What happens when a genre has no competition? It becomes easier to hit #1 and make money. Norah Jones’ success can be mostly attributed to her abilities to combine beautiful relaxing melodies with calm vocals, but an ounce of her fame attributes to the lack of competition. Name another jazz artist this decade. I know, its hard. Don’t Know Why was Norah’s first (and only) big hit, yet her Grammy wins and diehard fanbase allows for her to be the most successful female artist of the entire decade. She does deserve it though. Sit back, relax, sip some wine, and listen to her albums. Thank me later.
#9: Chop Suey! Tagline: Grababrushandputalittlemakeup! Artist: System of a Down Year: 2001 Peak Position: #76
Nu-Metal hit its peak in the 90s with Limp Bizkit and Korn leading the way with their MTV smash hits. However, the 2000s brought us two other nu-metal artists that were grand and influential. The more-popular Linkin Park and the much-crazier System of a Down. Evidence? Chop Suey. This song is inexplicably awesome, and we can never pinpoint why. The song rarely ever hits a consistent riff, the lyrics are meshed together, the vocals range from melodic to borderline-demonic screaming, and the overall presentation is something you just don’t see in music. Despite all this, the distorted reasons why the song can’t work are the reasons why the song does. System of a Down’s Toxicity album is easily one of the top albums of the decade, and this fun trippy song is the light that shines the way to the band’s success. It would have been a bigger hit but…the song came out during 9/11.
#8: Snowblind Tagline: The excellent cover nobody listened to Artist: System of a Down Year: 2000 Peak Position: N/A
In terms of covers, it doesn’t get much better than Snowblind. It is impossible to top anything written and performed by the amazing Black Sabbath, but System of a Down hits one out of the ballpark with their rendition of the song about cocaine. Black Sabbath was loud, but not too loud. They were crazy, but not too crazy. System of a Down was able to be loud, but it didn’t reach their typical nu-metal level. This band toned down their vocals, their drumming, their guitar work just enough to give this song the perfect touch. What’s this, System of a Down even had some string work done to one of their songs? This would definitely influence their later work, as you hear pianos in Chop Suey and strings in Lonely Day.
#7: Kryptonite Tagline: The carryover from the 90s begins Artist: 3 Doors Down Year: 2000 Peak Position: #3
In terms of lyrics, this is the best song of the decade. A song about a person asking another as to what would happen if he/she were to fall in life, if the other person would be there to support. 3 Doors Down had a strong debut with their megarock hits “Loser” and this superb mature track. Kryptonite is a perfect blend of rock and pop, as neither element crosses over the other and they appeal to the headbangers and the radio friendly audiences. It was a great transition from 1999 to 2000, as we began a new decade with uncharted frontiers, many unanswered questions, and a new millennium to look forward to---it was time to see who can and will be there to survive and fight it all.
“If I'm alive and well, will you be There holding my hand”
#6: The Real Slim Shady Tagline: Eminem’s conquering of rap begins here Artist: Eminem Year: 2000 Peak Position: #4
Anyone remember when Eminem busted into the scene? He took over MTV and rap music altogether. There was nothing like him ever in the history of music; someone who can be extremely funny and comical one moment, and deathly serious in another moment. With this song, Eminem was at his comical best as he spits out lyrics with incredible flow, insults anyone that gets in his way, and pretty much exclaims his personality and his desire to never change for the media. It was the perfect Slim Shady sequel to “My Name Is” and made “The Way I Am” that much more shocking considering it’s the same guy that rapped about Agulera, Fred Durst, and Carson Daly in the same sentence. Dr. Dre knew he had talent in his hands, all he did was provide the slick beats, and Eminem takes it from there.
#5: Crazy Tagline: What is the genre to this song anyway? Artist: Gnarls Barkley Year: 2006 Peak Position: #2
You know a song is impressive when it can reach rock stations, hip-hop stations, and adult contemporary stations at about the same time. This British track contains a very unique tune, very unique lyrics, unique lyrics, and a unique chorus. You can’t really compare this song to anything else, its just in a league entirely on its own. However, its addicting, fun, and one of the better productions in a long time.
#4: Lose Yourself Tagline: The Peak of Eminem Artist: Eminem Year: 2002 Peak Position: #1
This is without a doubt the most successful rap song of all-time. With 12 weeks on top of the American charts, a #1 spots in 24 total countries (another record), an Academy Award win, 2 Grammy awards, and 6 platinum certifications around the world, Eminem hit a level that neither he nor any other rapper could ever duplicate. Everything about this song was brilliant, the beat (which allowed for the song to reach the rock charts), the lyrics, the flow, the pacing, the chorus, and the final verses. Eminem is best when he is serious, and this was him at his most personal, and most impressive.
#3: The Hardest Button to Button Tagline: When simple is enough to be amazing Artist: The White Stripes Year: 2003 Peak Position: N/A
Of all the American artists on this list, White Stripes is easily the most underrated by far. This duo creates amazing music together; with Meg White’s simple yet effective drumming, and Jack White’s incredible guitar work, fun guitar riffs, decent vocals, and simple lyrics. This incredible team from Detroit has launched garage rock into the limelight, even if their success is mildly limited. In this song, everything about it was simple: the guitar riff, the drumming, the lyrics, the introduction, the ending, the singing, and the range of volume. But its so brilliant and catchy, you can’t bash them for never being complex. They have proven to be technically impressive if they have to be (Blue Orchid, Icky Thump, Black Math) but White Stripes is at their best when the difficulty is at its worst.
They had three other songs that almost made the list (We Are Gonna Be Friends, Black Math, Fell In Love With a Girl), but I am satisfied with at least one making it, and being nice and high in the top 3.
#2: Bombs Over Baghdad Tagline: Being so far ahead of its time, it predicted the future Artist: Outkast Year: 2000 Peak Position: This is embarrassing….#68 on the Hip-Hop chart
Release this song today, and it would have been a #1 smash hit. Release this next year, and it would have been a #1 smash. But, Outkast is so far ahead of the game, they released the song during a time in which hip-hop and pop had not quite evolved to become the party-music frenzy that it is today. This song is a mesh of hip-hop, rap, rock, jungle, techno, alternative, soul, and pretty much any other subgenre that has not yet existed. The style is insane, the pacing is even more insane (BPM: 155), the rapid changes in tone is crazy, the lyrics are wowzers, and OutKast themselves spit the song in two different speeds, yet it doesn’t deviate from the overall frantic speed of the 5 minutes of genre-bending insanity.
Nowadays, hip-hop consists of all these so-called musical artists that are trying to break loose with a dance hit, dance craze, or combination of the two. OutKast was just experimenting with what they can do with music, and the end result is an incredible display of talent that most rappers can only dream of achieving. Not only is this one of the best songs of the decade, but also one of the best singles in the last 25 years. If you don’t own this song, then you have not yet fulfilled life.
#1: Diablo Rojo Tagline: Did you just hear that? Artist: Rodrigo y Gabriela Year: 2006 Peak Position: N/A
Back in 2006, my brother introduced me to this duo, which was introduced to him through another friend. The first song I heard from the artist was this song. Three years later, it still amazes me. What amazes me more is that they could not find success here in North America, so they had to travel to Europe to gain some well-deserved recognition. It is still baffling how such talent cannot receive the recognition that they truly deserve.
In this song, you have two guitars dueling, working together, becoming temporary drums, progressing the song from one stage to the next, and engaging in one of the most epic finales in any song you’ll ever hear. The song doesn’t need lyrics, all it needs is a title and the guitars work out the lyrics through their melodies, riffs, changes, and dramatic chords. The song is about a roller coaster, and the song plays like a wild and fun coaster. Rodrigo y Gabriela has the attitude of Santana, the experience of metal, the culture of Paco De Lucia, and the skills of the best classical artists. The songs themselves are a perfect mix of classical guitar, acoustic metal, and Spanish flair.
Two of among the best albums in the last 15 years come from Rodrigo y Gabriela (Diablo Rojo, 11:11) and they have crafted six of among the best instrumental works in the last 30 years (this song, Captain Cassanova, Tamacun, Buster Voodoo Hora Zero, Santo Domingo). It has become my mission to make this gifted duo more popular (at least in the United States and Mexico) and one way to do this is by giving the #1 greatest song spot to their best work.
One can only wonder how many guitars they’ve gone through.
