My Top 15 Favorite Albums

As you most likely already know, music is a massive part of my life, but it was only within the last few years that I began to really listen through albums. Here are the albums I've enjoyed most and have been inspired by the most, alongside a few personal favorites from each album.

15. The Outbreak - Zomboy

Zomboy takes the first spot on my list with an absolute banger of a trap album. Zomboy is the king of unique drops, filthy bass lines, and enticing melodies. Unlike Random Access Memories (which appears later on this list, this album is packed-full of festival ready bangers. When I'm in the mood for a car ride full of bass, The Outbreak is always at the top of the list. 

Highlights: Beast in the Belly, Nuclear, Outbreak

14. Because the Internet - Childish Gambino

Childish Gambino, also known as actor/comedian Donald Glover, came back into the rap game after a so-so first album with a sophomore concept album full of masterful production, genius couplets and similes, and an overarching storyline that was far richer and far darker than I could have ever expected. This underdog of an album secured Childish Gambino's spot among rap royalty, making himself the king of creative and brutally honest concepts. 

Highlights: I. Crawl, IV. Sweatpants, II. No Exit

13. METAL RESISTANCE - BABYMETAL

The sophomore album from J-Pop/Heavy Metal idol group BABYMETAL is a feat we haven't seen from the metal genre in years. It created its own form of digestible metal for those not privy with the genre, while taking everything that makes J-Pop so fun and enjoyable and weaving it together masterfully to form one absolutely epic album covering everything from karate, to bubble gum, to intertwining destinies. Textbook production values and ultra-catchy hooks help elevate this album from a great one to an incredible one. METAL RESISTANCE is easily one of my favorite albums from 2016. 

Highlights: KARATE!, Metal Resistance, Awadama Fever

12. Nevermind - Nirvana

Nevermind is the only grunge album I've ever truly liked, with more than half of the songs on the album used for all sorts of movies, TV shows, and advertisements, the album has made its way to all sorts of different media outlets. Kurt Cobain's anti-establishmentarian lyric structures and unbridled passion make for an overwhelmingly aggressive album, full of ear-shredding guitar solos and heart-pounding drum fills. If nothing else, the album contains "Smells Like Teen Spirit", which is one of my favorite songs, particularly thanks to Dave Grohl's face-melting opening fill. The album has gone down in history as one of the greatest ever made. 

Highlights: Smells Like Teen Spirit, Lithium, Come As You Are

11. Random Access Memories - Daft Punk

This entry is my most recent listen, and it was a captivating one. The only Daft Punk album to rely almost entirely on live recordings rather than samples, they robots wanted to create a true album. These aren't a bunch of dance-floor ready tracks, they're a collection of tracks that work together to create a synthesized sound that feels overwhelmingly human. The album feels multi-dimensional, and when you really sit down to listen to it, it shackles your brain into absorbing every last detail the robots and their cohorts have shoved into this masterpiece of an electronic album. Gracing the subjects of touch, love, and what comes after, the album stands tall as the duo's best work, as well as their most mesmerizing. The academy seems to agree with me as well, with the album winning five Grammys, including Record of the Year and Album of the Year. It has been the soundtrack to this the penning of this list, and "Touch" is one of the most complete, entrancing, and beautiful tracks I've heard in a very long time. 

Highlights: Get Lucky, Touch, Instant Crush

10. Hamilton - Original Broadway Cast

The cast album of Hamilton is the album that brought me back into the world of musical theatre after a summer without any sort of theatrical outlet. It renewed my faith in the future of musicals, and the genres that may inspire them. Lin-Manuel Miranda has helped me learn more about myself, and how I approach the creative process and how to evaluate what I have to offer. It is also the most well produced musical theater album ever crafted. If you're familiar with the artists that inspired the show and the characters, you can see their influences everywhere. You can find the likes of Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar in Alexander Hamilton himself, and 2Pac and Common in Washington, as well as Busta Rhymes and The Notorious B.I.G. in Hercules Mulligan. The list goes on and on. Aside from being the best musical of this century, it is also a love letter to those who inspired Miranda, and it is so evident within the confines of this album.

Highlights: My Shot, Dear Theodosia, History Has its Eyes on You, Guns and Ships, Wait For It, The World Was Wide Enough

9. Where The Light Is: John Mayer Live In Los Angeles

Before I was introduced to this album, I always thought of John Mayer as a pretty good pop artist, and never gave him much thought. Once people I respected as musicians began to tell me how incredible he was, I was so confused; I just couldn't see it within the confines of his studio albums. Over this summer, I was heavily encouraged by two YouthWorks staff members (shout out to you, Caleb and Sara) to listen to it, and even watch the documentary that was released alongside it. After listening though it, and watching the film, I immediately understood what I was missing. I discovered the raw passion and talent that came alongside exquisitely written songs. The guitar riffs and solos spoke to me, and his immaculate vocal ability was mind-blowing, and I appreciated blues in a whole new way. It is heralded as one of the greatest live albums of the 21st century, and I understand why. John Mayer's performance in Los Angeles will forever be immortalized within my mind, and within the walls of the album he's so carefully crafted. I'm still waiting on the day the "John Mayer Trio" released a studio album, because the chemistry there is so real. I just wish I could have been there. 

Highlights: Vultures, Out of My Mind, Who Do You Think I Was, Slow Dancing in a Burning Room

8. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Beatles

I love this album in the traditional music lover's way. The album was one of (if not the most) innovative albums of all time, and frequently takes the top spot on any "Greatest Albums of All Time" lists. There's no denying the masterpiece it is, and each one of the tracks on the album are listening to for their own reasons. But this album means more to me personally than I actually enjoy it. It taught me how to listen to music critically, and how to recognize influence from other artists. It taught me how to enjoy an album, and how to sit down and focus on an artists work and judge it properly. It's the album that started me on the path to create this list. And for that, I am forever grateful. If you want to start listening to full albums, and learn from them, start here. You'll be glad you did. 

Highlights: Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds, With A Little Help From My Friends, She's Leaving Home, Within You Without You

7. Five Score and Seven Years Ago - Relient K

Relient K is one of those bands I discovered at a young age and have loved ever since, and this album is the culmination of everything I love about Relient K. Each track is jam packed with Matt Thiessen's signature tone and level of detail. The way the band weaves classical elements alongside their trademark fast paced, off-beat pop-punk is remarkable, and Thiessen's vocal range and piano skills are unparalleled within the genre. As a Christian band, they've also done a remarkable job at creating true music. So many modern Christian artists focus on the message rather than the music to tell the story, and that has never been an issue with Relient K. The final song on the album, "Deathbed", is a perfect example of message and music walking hand in hand. The twelve minute epic is one of the smartest, most impactful, and varied works I've ever heard, and ranks very high on my list of favorite songs. When I discuss Relient K with anyone, this song always makes its way into the conversation, and I cannot help myself but show them, then and there, the majesty and brilliance the song has. Five Score and Seven Years Ago is the best Christian album I've ever listened to, and I know it'll be quite a while until I find another one like it. 

Highlights: Forgiven, Must Have Done Something Right, Deathbed

6. Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd 

This is the album that reminds me of my father. It's not a very long album, track-wise. There's only five tracks. Granted, both halves on Shine On You Crazy Diamond push 12 minutes, but still. Pink Floyd has packed in so much content, so much emotion, so much innovation, and so much dedication into this album, it's impossible not to marvel at what an achievement it is. Dedicated to former lead singer and guitarist Syd Barrett, the album harkens back to the time where the band was struggling. They had lost the frontman, and had lost the initial spark. Syd was the driving force of the band, taking it to its initial fame and acclaim. Once Syd's addiction took over, he forced himself into hiding, and lived out the rest of his life a slave to his own follies. Now all that may contradict the statement I made originally about my father, but that's because it does. All that has nothing to do with my father, or the kind of man he is. This album reminds me of my father because when I try and think about him, and all that he's done for me, this album immediately plays in my head. My father is ambitious, and level-headed, as well as gracious, intelligent, and loving. He introduced me to music, and the importance of it. And when he talked about the greats, this was always at the top of the list, and it's always been so high on mine. It helped lay the groundwork for the man I was to become, and I'm glad my father chose this album as the the building blocks of my future. Whenever the day comes that I no longer have him, I'll have this, and I'll be able to remember every word he ever said to me, and all the crazy things he ever did for me, and that one time we heard it all live and it was everything we could have ever hoped for. This album will always remind me of my father, for all of the very best reasons. 

Highlights: The whole album, just listen to the whole album. 

5. American Idiot - Green Day

Dookie may have been the band's claim to fame, and the album held in highest regard by critics and fans alike, but this pop-punk rock opera is the album that encouraged me to pick up my guitar and learn some power chords. The opening chords set you up for a whirlwind of emotions, distorted riffs, political intrigue, and a reminder that this album made it to Broadway. The trio have crafted a love letter to concept albums, something that isn't often attempted in their genre. The heights of this album are dizzying, and it is full of varied and fleshed out characters and ideas. It's chock full of harsh realities, damning comments, and the idea that dreams aren't always fulfilled, but you should pursue them anyways. It was the album that sent so many youngsters, like myself, to pursue the rock and roll dream. It's one of the only albums I've ever seen that almost every single track has had significant air time, but that stands as a testament to how well done the album is. American Idiot defined punk rock for me, and still stands as one of the best things to come from the genre in a while. 

Highlights: American Idiot, St. Jimmy, Homecoming, Jesus of Suburbia

4. good kid, m.A.A.d. city - Kendrick Lamar

At the 2014 Grammys, this album was up for 4 nominations, and was shut out, with Album of the Year going to Daft Punk for Random Access Memories and Best Rap Album going to Macklemore and Ryan Lewis for The Heist. Both albums are excellent in their own regards, and I still think that Daft Punk should have won that year, but even Macklemore disagreed with his win over GKMC, claiming that "you got robbed". good kid, m.A.A.d. city is a genius album, full of fantastic jams that are stuffed with metaphors and not-so-hidden meaning. The album is relatable, certainly in regards to tracks like "The Art of Peer Pressure", as well as introspective and smart. It's not afraid to be loud, and fun, as well as being able to talk about one of the hardest things, losing a brother to gun violence. It's about the gang lifestyle, and how bad choices can create a false persona, that can quickly overwhelm the true you, depending on who you're with. It's very similar to a short film, and sonically it's just as vivid as visuals could be. Each character is distinct, and the true stories of Rosecrans he speaks of are packed with details, and he makes you feel as if you're there. Kendrick describes this album as great work, but not his best, and he's right, but if this is great work, and To Pimp a Butterfly is mastery, then I cannot wait to see what's next. With one album, Kendrick Lamar positioned himself to take over the rap game in one monstrous piece of art. And he wasn't even close to being done.

Highlights: Backseat Freestyle, Swimming Pools (Drank), Poetic Justice

3. ...Like Clockwork - Queens of the Stone Age

...Like Clockwork is arguably Queens of the Stone Age's best work, and it is also one of the most underrated albums of the 2010's. It met great critical success (as shown by a Metacritic score of 83),  but commercially, it was a bit of a failure, with only true fans of the band giving it a chance. It was probably the best rock album of the year, but was completely glazed over by the academy and other award shows. This album's blend of alternative rock and raw metallic decay make for a sonic experience unlike anything else I've listened to. It was the very first album I consciously listened to a the way through, and it was one of the best decisions I made that year. The lyrics are wrought with turmoil and introspective rage told beautifully through gritted teeth and watering eyes. Enticing piano melodies and spectacular synth additions make for more unique layers than an album like this would typically harbor. Its sound is unlike any other, and Josh Homme's voice is one unlike any other in the genre. His ability to form such dark and relatable thoughts and convey them with such a signature tone is a marvel, and it is so evident within ...Like Clockwork. But my favorite thing about the album, is that I've never met another person (to my knowledge) who has listened to it. It's almost my little hidden gem. It's the album I turn to when I want to brood, and it the album I turn to when I want to escape the confines of modern music and listen to something wholly original and unique. My first full album is very close to being my favorite, but there are a couple more that taught me more about myself than I could have ever thought possible.

Highlights: Keep Your Eyes Peeled, I Appear Missing, I Sat By The Ocean

2. Enema of the State - blink-182

Frankly, I only like about half of this album. I find half of it too juvenile. Now, I know that old blink-182 is super juvenile and that's part of the charm, but some of it is just a little too much. Now the other half of the album are the songs that shaped my musical career. Travis Barker is the drummer that I follow closest in terms of style, and it's because of songs like "The Party Song" and "Aliens Exist" that I am the drummer I am today. I have the ins and outs of these songs memorized on every instrument I play. On a more personal level, this album also contains the song that saved my life. Yeah, you read that right. It saved my life. There was one night I was very close to ending it, and "Adam's Song" came though my headphones. I then decided to listen to the song, as it could very well have be the last song I ever heard. And through the first half, I continued to cry, and I continued to the feel the emotions I felt, because the song was about exactly what I was doing and feeling. Once the final chorus starts up and the lyrics shift, I feel the Lord within me say, "You're not done yet. Get in here." I wiped the final tears from my eyes, turned off my iPod, put away my headphones, and got in bed. I've never thought about suicide since, and "Adam's Song" has always been an emotional song of sadness and success in my life. Without this album, I frankly may not be here, and I'm eternally grateful for it. 

Highlights: Adam's Song, All The Small Things, Aliens Exist, The Party Song

1. To Pimp a Butterfly - Kendrick Lamar

Anyone who has listened to this album can tell you that there is nothing else like it. The production is perfect. The beats, unabashedly influenced by jazz, fusion, blues, funk, and the golden days of hip-hop, are the secret sauce. The lyrics are immaculately crafted, and presented so poignantly and powerfully that you can't listen to it while doing anything else. The concepts are harsh, real, raw, pitch black, and politically charged. It's an album that takes its message seriously, but delivers it though spoken word as well as club pounding tracks. It's an album where the through line is a poem that expounds on itself with each track, and by the end you know the words by heart. And the end, what an ending it is. I really don't want to spoil it, which is something I never thought I'd say about an album. There's so much in it that is vulnerable, and worth discovering for yourself. 

It's the album that taught me how to listen to rap, and it stuck a flag in my mind as the piece of art I'd compare every other rap album to, and know that it'd be inferior. It's not as radio-friendly as good kid, m.A.A.d city was, but that's ok. It's something that is meant to be taken as a whole, and not segmented or broken up to fit our single-heavy society. I said before that Kendrick Lamar positioned himself to take over the rap game. With To Pimp a Butterfly, he did just that, and more, with 11 Grammy nominations and 8 wins. He was named the king of rap by the former kings of rap. To Pimp a Butterfly is one of the greatest pieces of art ever crafted.

Highlights: King Kunta, The Blacker the Berry, u.

So those are my fifteen favorite albums, ranked. I hope you'll take the time to listen to some of them, and I hope I've inspired you to begin listening to albums all the way through. In a world where singles rule the music charts, let's go back to the good ol' days of throwing on headphones and just studying an album. These albums taught me so much, and I'm hoping that through this little list I've put together, you can absorb some of what I have over my time with these spectacular pieces of art. 

Thanks for making it to the end, and thank you for continuing to support me and all these ramblings. 

Got Jazz? Musical Ethnocentrism

 I will never forget the day I heard it for the first time. I had read online of its greatness, and how “important” it was. They kept saying that over and over. The album was “important”. Why was it important? After all, it was just a rap album. With a name like To Pimp a Butterfly how can it be taken seriously? Even the title seems like a joke. It seems like it’s trying to hard too be philosophical but come on. It’s RAP.

            I can’t express to you how excited I was to be proven wrong.

            Kendrick Lamar’s fourth album, To Pimp a Butterfly is the greatest album I’ve ever listened to. A masterpiece through and through, I’ve never felt like I did when I listened through the album. It’s gut-wrenching, heart-breaking, and storytelling at its finest. It’s intelligent, thought provoking, and yes, important. “Why?” Some of you may be asking, “It’s just a rap album. How can rap be any good?”

            The rejection of music because of its cultural relevancy, geographical relation, or social image is a form of ethnocentrism. The idea that music is bad, or not music just because of the way it’s made or who makes it is disturbing to me. We all know the stereotypes. Rap is dirty. Dubstep isn’t music. Opera is boring. Musical theater is gay. Metal is satanic. You may or may not agree with some or all of these. Why? Because of ones geographical location, occupation, and social class, studies show that one most likely has had their musical interests influenced against people in other classes.

            A survey done by the University of British Columbia by telephone was lead by Gerry Veenstra and was published in the Canadian Sociological Association. Over 1,500 people participated, and the results are predictable to what you can see in every day life. Now, this study isn’t definitive, for, of course, there are exceptions. Those who study music, either for hobby or for their career, know how important each of these genres are to each other; they influence each other all the time. But what is it that is so divisive about these types of music, and who are the culprits?

Veenstra, said it perfectly when he said, “Instead I find a homology between class position and musical tastes that designates blues, choral, classical, jazz, musical theater, opera, pop, reggae, rock, and world/international as relatively highbrow and country, disco, easy listening, golden oldies, heavy metal, and rap as relatively lowbrow. Of the highbrow tastes, all but jazz are disliked by lower class people, and of the lowbrow tastes, country, easy listening, and golden oldies are concurrently disliked by higher class people. Consistent with the homology thesis, it appears that class position is aligned with specific musical likes and dislikes” But, what reasoning do people have for hating certain genres of music?

             Picture this: two young men in high school. They’re angry, and they feel that they need revenge for the crimes committed against them. They bring guns to school. Twelve of their peers now dead. Sound familiar? This is the description of the Columbine massacre of 1999. “Five days after the massacre, Tim Russert, host of NBC's Meet the Press, reported on the show that the Littleton killers idolized shock-rocker Marilyn Manson, described even by the music press as an "ultra-violent satanic rock monstrosity”” (Jipping) Ever since this incident, metal music, and the aforementioned Marilyn Manson, has many people concerned about, and prejudiced against, its depiction of violence and other acts. Professor Carl Raschke (Head of the religious studies department at the University of Denver) described the aggressive nature of metal music this way,

“Heavy metal does not mirror the violent so much as it artistically stylizes, aggrandizes, beautifies, weaves a spell of enchantment around what would otherwise be lesser and ordinary violent behavior.... Heavy metal is a true aesthetics of violence. It is a metaphysics. It is the tactic of consecrating violent terror, of divinizing it.”

Rap music has been demonized in the same manner. The political nature of the form is prone to controversy. In the 1990’s, hip-hop group N.W.A. were plastered as deviants and criminals due to certain lines in songs they had picked out. Lyrics like, “F*** the police coming straight from the underground, a young n**** got it bad cuz’ I’m brown” (Ice Cube) are pulled out without any attention given to the lines that come directly afterwards: “And not the other color and so police think they have the authority to kill a minority” (Ice Cube). These are politically charged lyrics based off of true incidents.

This media bias against these forms of music is enough for many people to demonize rap and metal in their own minds. Many people don’t take the time to do research for themselves, because after all, it’s only music. It’s only meant for entertainment. It’s not like metal and rap can teach us things.

            Personally, I’ve found that history is vastly more interesting when paired with the music that helped influence the history, or the history that helped influence the music. For example, 1970’s Birmingham was the birthplace of heavy metal. One wouldn’t really pay too much attention to that time period and that certain geographical location, unless something big came out of it. In fact, two really big things came out of Birmingham in the 1960’s, Black Sabbath and Judas Priest.

            Birmingham was a working-class area, with a majority of the populous working in large, loud factories. Life was a grind, day in and day out, and people looked for a new type of entertainment. Pop music at the time didn’t resonate with them, because they felt that it didn’t accurately represent the lives they were leading. Rock bands became more and more prevalent there, and those sprouting from Birmingham itself drew lots of inspiration from the factories themselves, specifically the noises they produce. Black Sabbath and Judas Priest became the defining bands of heavy metal, drawing massive amounts of credit from the factory-worn towns they grew up in. Rocks may be hard, but metal is harder. And just regular metal wasn’t even hard enough, they had to be described as Heavy Metal. This music helped those living in Birmingham discover and enjoy the music that relates most to them.

            This parallel of the working-class and heavy metal continues even into today’s society. A majority of those who listen to metal are people like construction workers, farmers, servicemen (plumbing, landscaping), and, of course, factory workers. They use the music as a release of the pressures they have built up inside. Wouldn’t you feel a little tense too if you pressed sheets of metal for ten hours a day on union wages? There have been several occasions where I’ve had to explain the roots of a certain genre, or band, or song, so people understand what the artists are trying to portray. It’s this lack of understanding of music that’s so frustrating to me, and it’s also what creates this musical ethnocentrism. It’s really not that hard to take a second and Google the meaning of a song, or a short biography of a band, or genre. Most people do it today when discussing political topics, maybe it’s time we took time to do the same with music. The authenticity of music or the cultures they stem from aren’t important enough to people, even though many of us listen to music more than we listen to your own family. These complaints aren’t only laid against the “lower-brow” tastes, the upper class isn’t safe either.

            Imagine: a freshman in high school. He’s an actor, and he loves it. He’s finally found the one thing he’s good at. Attending a private school, surrounded by athletes, he’s never really found where he fit in, until he stepped into theater. His best friend is also an athlete, and until now, he’s never really thought his friend disapproved. They sit at lunch one day, and our freshman makes a comment about how his athlete friends should try out for the musical next year. They all turn and look at him and say, “Why? That’s so gay.” Including his best friend. He asks why they think it’s gay, and his best friend replies, “You’re up in front of a whole bunch of people singing and dancing with a whole bunch of girls. That’s literally so gay.” Our freshman says, “Then do me a favor, never watch a movie, TV show, or listen to a song ever again. Oh, and continue sliding around a field with a bunch of boys, slapping each others butts, and not think THAT’S gay.” And he stands up and leaves, losing his best friend.

            That is my life. And all throughout high school, I dealt with this. But as I continued to grow more confident in myself, I taught people what choral music and musical theater could do for them. As I helped teach chorus classes full of jocks who didn’t want to be there, I strove to make sure they understood the privilege they had been given. I was also influential in getting kids who wouldn’t normally do activities in the arts, to try, and learn how much they liked it. I got our valedictorian (and football, wrestling, and track star) to take a speaking part in our production of Fiddler on the Roof my senior year, as well as encourage him to join show choir. And he loved every second of it. With a little handholding, one can easily become engrossed in these “higher” forms of music, even if they are newbies to the idea. Even against the strength of social classes, it’s easy to open your mind to new music with a little bit of help. One roadblock that is being lifted is how we now access and discover new music.

            In my time with music, there are five main music sources that we all draw from: iTunes, Spotify, Radio (including internet radios such as Pandora), YouTube, and word of mouth. Streaming is now the world’s most popular form of accessing and listening to music. At the tail end of last year, the app analytics firm App Annie released a report on the massive growth in music streaming and the drop in music download sales.

“There is little doubt that across the world, the digital music market is moving away from downloads and toward streaming services. In 2014, sales of digital song downloads were down 12% from the previous year. Meanwhile, streaming services are seeing big gains in user and subscriber numbers” (App Annie).

This rise in music streaming has made accessing all types of music much, much easier. Spotify in particular is full of all different genres of music with a massive selection. Spotify also has a very popular radio service, which has an excellent algorithm in determining what new music you may or may not enjoy. It’s a vast and immersive experience that lets you create a radio station based solely on one song, an album, artist, or genre. While Pandora leads in the internet-radio service category, I prefer Spotify’s radio service.

Another largely popular music source that is helping break down barriers is the marvelously diverse YouTube. While YouTube isn’t exclusively for music, it has an overwhelming amount of music related content, whether it’s talk shows, short clips, covers, or music videos. In fact, the top ten most watched videos of all-time are all music videos, with the top spot being claimed by South Korean Internet sensation Psy. Facebook and YouTube have become an excellent duo in the sharing of astounding young talent of all different styles.

Word of mouth is still, and always will be, one of the strongest forms of music discovery. Many of my favorite artists have been relayed to me through people I know and love. Hearing word about a concert near by, or seeing your favorite artists and discovering the opening acts is a great way to discover more and more new types and genres of music you may have not been willing to listen to on your own.

An entry in the International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences explains some of the relationship between music, society, and technology. “Recent developments in sociomusical scholarship, heavily influenced by popular music studies, have advanced the enormous significance of modern musical and communications technologies for a vast range of contemporary musical practices, focusing on the diverse ways technological mediation shapes and is shaped by commercial, aesthetic, political, and cultural imperatives. Ethnomusicology in particular has focused on the emergent category of world music and, in turn, the central modern social scientific subject of cultural, economic, and political globalization, a focus that brings together perspectives on “art,” “folk,” and “popular” musics under the umbrella of a broader theory of cultural modernity and the global circulation of musical commodities and styles” (International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences). Basically this is saying that the technology we access it with, as well as its uses in commercial, aesthetic, political, and cultural scenarios shape the way we ingest music. So then one might ask, “Well since these are all such great and easy ways to discover more music, why do you claim there is still a large amount of musical ethnocentrism?”

Even with this easy access to new music, you can’t hide from the place you were raised, or are most familiar with. Music geography is a concept many may not be familiar with, but it emphasizes the study of music and how it has shaped the earth and its cultures. The Journal of Cultural Geography describes the criteria like this: “Music phenomena that geographers have studied are divided into nine general categories: (1) styles, (2) structure, (3) lyrics, (4) performers and composers, (5) centers and events, (6) media, (7) ethnic, (8) instrumentation, and (9) industry” (Journal of Cultural Geography). Each of these nine categories varies depending on where one lives. Is it a slummy area or an upper class suburban neighborhood? Inner city or the middle of nowhere? High police brutality or a safe neighborhood? Excellent nightlife, or a spectacular beach scene? All of hold the answers to the type of music that comes to life inside of it. That’s why there’s a difference between east coast rap and west coast rap. It’s also why you can tell what type of music comes out of Seattle, or Nashville, or even Chicago. But there have been stereotypes created out of these cities for certain genres. Stereotypes for the aforementioned areas include: east coast rap is all about partying, west coast rap is all about Compton, Seattle puts out only depressing music, Nashville is home to country music and Nickelback (one of the most hated acts in all of music), and Chicago is home to Jay-Z and Kanye West (the most ego-centric rappers of the Midwest). These stereotypes are ruining the means in which we enjoy music.

I challenge you to ask your family and friends these four questions:

1.)   How do you feel about metal music? Why?

2.)   How do you feel about rap music? Why?

3.)   How do you feel about electronic music? Why?

4.)   How do you feel about classical music? Why?

Take note of how they respond. Are their answers more than stereotypical

answers such as, “Oh it’s trashy” or “It’s not real music”? Take a closer look at yourself. Are your natural responses to these questions similar to those mentioned above? I also challenge you to take a closer. Do research for yourself. Discover for yourself what makes each genre tick, and create a better understanding for yourself about the cultural representation of each song, or each album, or each artist.

It’s time to end this ethnocentrism against music. Music is one of the most beautiful experiences we as people can take part in. When music speaks to you, it’s a feeling unlike any other. It creates a connection between you and the artist, and, upon closer inspection, the culture in which they stem from. Music is special. Let’s not let those who enjoy it most ruin it for each other with our bigoted views.

Who knows, maybe once we look past the stereotypes in music, maybe we can look past the stereotypes in the rest of our world.

           

Works Cited

Carney, George O. "Music Geography." Journal of Cultural Geography 18.1 (1998): 1.Expanded Academic ASAP. Web. 29 Mar. 2016.

"Class position and musical tastes: a sing-off between the cultural omnivorism and bourdieusian homology frameworks.." The Free Library. 2015 Canadian Sociological Association 29 Mar. 2016

Harrison, Leigh Michael. "Factory music: how the industrial geography and working-class environment of post-war Birmingham fostered the birth of heavy metal." Journal of Social History 44.1 (2010): 145+. Expanded Academic ASAP. Web. 29 Mar. 2016.

Heisler, Yoni. "10 Most Viewed YouTube Videos of All-time." BGR. BGR Media, 17 Jan. 2016. Web. 13 Apr. 2016.

Jipping, Thomas L. "Rap Music Leads to Youth Violence." Media Violence. Ed. Louise I. Gerdes. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2004. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Diagnosing the Cultural Virus." The World & I 14 (July 1999): 80. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 17 Mar. 2016.

Kot, Greg. "The Music Industry Has Been Revolutionized." What Is the Future of the Music Industry? Ed. Ronald D. Lankford, Jr. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. At Issue. Rpt. from "Interview: Greg Kot of Ripped: How the Wired Generation Revolutionalized Music (Part 1)." Hypebot.com. 2010. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 17 Mar. 2016.

"Mobile Music Streaming: Driving the Next Digital Revolution." App Annie. App Annie, 1 Dec. 2015. Web. 13 Apr. 2016.

"Music." International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences. Ed. William A. Darity, Jr. 2nd ed. Vol. 5. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2008. 342-345. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 17 Mar. 2016.

Solace (07/2016, 11:00PM)

The pages in which I write these words have such a dense grain that it's quite the challenge to assume mitosis with the ideas I've scribbled upon them. I work to make each line and each phrase palpable, worthwhile. While I feel like I've achieved this so far with modest success, I can't help but fear my personal ambition and steps toward credibility fall short due to a lack of compelling ideas. 

I struggle to mold creations worth sharing. I'm beginning to forfeit belief in myself as I look back on a beautifully bound leather journal full of, what seems like, mediocre ideas. I've taken it upon myself to study the inspirations and works of a certain writer and performer who's been in the public eye for about a year now, I see much of myself in him. He speaks in a similar manner and cadence that I do; his positive outlooks seems a synonym to my own. He draws from his influences and cites them as frequently as I cite my own. The key difference is his current standing. 

He has access to the people and things he needs to make his ideas reality. I don't have access to the resources I need in order to make my dreams possible, nor do I know that to be looking for or why I'm looking for them. I don't know the steps I should be taking. The only thing I can think to do is just go to college and maybe it'll work itself out there. 

I'm frustrated. I feel as if I'm building a house, and the foundation is sand. The house is nice, and it is very capable of serving a family and any of their needs, but it doesn't matter because no mater what, the foundation will let it slide into the sea. 

I need creative solace.

I need inspiration. I didn't grow up in a tough environment. My parents are happily married and are the best anyone could ask for. My family is unbelievably close. I don't have enemies many enemies. I haven't been struck with severe tragedy. I'm white. I'm straight. I'm a Christian. My problems don't seem to matter in the grand scheme of things. If I wanted to pay homage to the rap/hip-hop artists I've studied, I'd be brushed aside as a white boy trying to be thug. If I pursue the genre I want to, I'd be swept under the rug as another Ed Sheehan/John Mayer rip-off (both of which happen to have heavily influenced me). 

I want the words to say, and I want to discover the middle step where creativity/talent/content meets success. I want my words to mean something, but these are nothing more than just a stream of consciousness. 

I fear that my personal contribution to the world of the arts will most likely mean nothing. 

I fear that the talents and ambitions the Lord has blessed me with will end up wasted.

I fear my ambition.

I fear my desires of success and credibility that I've dreamed of, and how, most likely, I will achieve neither. 

I fear the creations I will breathe life into and the fact that they will most likely matter to no one. 

I long to create a meaning for myself that others can subscribe to and understand in the way I understand the art of others I've discovered. 

I.

i.

It's my vain wish. I wish to leave my impact on the masses. A positive impact on the masses. I want the works I create, and portray, and influence to be that of love and understanding. I want a legacy. My mind is hung up on if that's vain, sinful, or just an incorrect dream. I wonder frequently if that is what the Lord has in store for me. I can never seem to find the answer. I know that means to wait, and see, but I've struggled with this for long, and I'm sick of waiting. 

I just want to know. 

I long for the understanding of my future.

He says ask and you shall receive, then here is what I ask. 

I ask for the influence, artistic abilities, and prospects I've dreamed of in the dreams you've placed within me.

I ask that in those times you hold me close to you, and you fill me with the wisdom and strength required to be the kind of influence you tell us, as your followers, to be.

I need this creative solace.

Lord, I ask for your creative solace.

I ask for my dreams.

~JM

A Return to Form

As I set myself down to write this post that's long overdue, Bon Iver and a light rain set a somber tone. There's not much to be somber about though, seeing as I'm surrounded by the best friends i could have asked for, and just finished a show that turned out to be far better than I had anticipated.

The somber tone remains even still.

Maybe it's the realization that I'm becoming an adult. I filed my taxes the other day. It became a startling revelation that responsibilities that mean life or death are beginning to eclipse child-like optimism and ambition. Slowly (very slowly), I'm beginning to become more independent. My time is becoming my own, when it's not filled with work or college.

Maybe it's the fact that college is has started up again after an immensely satisfying winter break.
Maybe it's both.

Maybe it's because I'm feeling lonely. What I said earlier about being surrounded by the best friends I could have asked for holds true, but they just feel so far away. Even after tech week and a weekend of shows,  a time where community is at a high, I still felt separated from the ones I love. I feel as if I never see my friends anymore. And it's by no real fault of their own; my friends are notoriously busy. But I hardly see my own brother, my best friend, anymore, and we sleep with one wall between us.
I go to school alone. I don't know anyone in my classes. I take 40 minutes to drive to work, alone, and usually end up working a 6+ shifts alone in the drum department. Then I go out to lunch alone because the one person I'd usually like to go to lunch with has to cover the department while I'm gone. Then I drive home alone, and go to bed.

Yes. That's it. I feel alone.
Though I know I'm not, in fact most people would love to be in my position.
I can't shake the feeling nevertheless.
Radiohead's, "Creep" seems to strike a chord harder than ever before lately.
But it'll get better.
It always does.

"I remember you were conflicted, misusing your influence. Sometimes I did the same, abusing my power full of resentment. Resentment that turned into a deep depression. I found myself screaming in the hotel room. I didn't want to self-destruct. The evils of Luci was all around me, so I went running for answers."
~ Kendrick Lamar



If you're reading this, I appreciate you. After such a long hiatus (8 months and 10 days), I've decided to finally return and continue to author The Blackboard Journal.
Thank you.

Tasty Jam Spotlight: My Type by Saint Motel

          In this edition of Tasty Jam Spotlight, we explore the funk/pop-rock infusion of Saint Motel. The California based four-man band have created a fresh and, well, tasty track with a brass section in the vein of Uptown Funk and the rest in line with New Politics' "Harlem". Take a listen, you won't regret it.

The Book of Mormon: A Brutally Satirical Masterpiece

The Book of Mormon: the Grand Theft Auto of musicals, the Pulp Fiction of Broadway...
The South Park of stage shows.
Trey Parker and Matt Stone have done it once again. The fantastically funny show has received 27 total awards in its three full years of running, and for good reason. Parker and Stone have created the most wholly entertaining show I've ever seen.
Now, that's not to say it does not have its fair share of over-the-top, shocking moments with a few times that push the boundaries of taste. This is a double review, one from an entertainment perspective, and one from an appropriateness/Christian perspective. Let's first look at the things you should watch out for. I'll break it down song by song, because they are the main offenders, while trying to keep the story relatively spoiler free.

The Content

The Book of Mormon was created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of the infamous South Park. That is clearly evident in TBOM, as pretty much nothing is safe. That being said, it is SATIRICAL. For those of you who do not know what satire is, or need a refresher on what it truly means, here's the definition.

"the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues."

This definition makes satire seem like a bad thing, or something mean and harsh. In the case of TBOM, that is only partially true. I never felt as if my beliefs were being attacked. Trey Parker and Matt Stone have learned from 17 seasons of South Park about how to write witty, sharp, and carefully thought out satire, and it shows here. Instead of making TBOM a mockfest of organized religion and Mormonism, it seems more like a celebration of being able to laugh at ourselves in the things that we are strongly attached to. Now with that little exposition out of the way, let's get to the actual content.

Act One

The first three songs are clean, beautifully sung, and immensely funny.

Hello! is one of the greatest show openings in the history of musical theater.

Then we land in Africa.

The Mormons are introduced to an amazingly awful place with a warlord who shoots people in the face, AIDS, and very strong language. This strong language is evident throughout the show, ranging from basic "hell" to the taboo "c--t", which is used at least ten times. If you are easily offended by language, Hasa Diga Eebowai will pick you up from your seat and throw you out the window. 

Hasa Diga Eebowai is the first example of pushing the boundaries of taste. The first half is pretty chill, and phrase similar to Hakuna Matata, but then you find out what it means. When the Africans are upset with life, they are actually saying "F--k you God". Then the second half dances with middle-fingers to the sky. The Mormons are horrified, and this song is the proof that Uganda needs saving BADLY. It is a buoy for the progress of the Africans becoming believers at the hand of Elder Price and Elder Cunningham. 

Turn It Off has some touchy subjects that may remind certain people of bad events that happened in their life, but it taken lightly, as the Mormons of District 9 have learned to just "turn off" bad (or gay in Elder McKinely's case) feelings. 

The rest of Act One is relatively clean after that besides language and some brutal references made by General Butt F--king Naked. 

Man Up is simply one of the funniest, and fantastic Act One finales of all time. 

Act Two

Making Things Up Again features Elder Cunningham teaching the Africans after Elder Price has ditched. While is moral compass is sound, trying to convince the Africans to convert and believe is harder than he imagined, and they aren't listening, so he makes things up to convince them that Mormonism is the way to go. He says some weird things to tide them over, and help them believe. 

*SPOILER ALERT*

Most of the Africans, besides Nanalungi, take these stories as metaphors we find out later. Elder Cunningham truly does give the real truth to the Africans without having to explain the boring stuff

*SPOILER OVER*

Spooky Mormon Hell Dream is mostly clean and funny, but at a point, it says that Catholics and Jews should be in hell too alongside other infamous historical figures. That was a bit too much in my tastes. It is a VERY cool looking scene though. 

I Believe's ending is a bit rough. I don't wanna spoil it, because it is funny, but pretty gross. 

Baptize Me in its entirety, is a sexual innuendo. Nothing actually happens or close to anything, but it is inferred that they are having sex, but never actually do. Cunningham is too derpy for it. It's innocent enough. 

I Am Africa is a little racist.

Joseph Smith American Moses is the low point of the show. It's a retelling of all of the stories Elder Cunningham told them. Featuring huge, fake *ahem* private parts and frogs, it's a gross song that crossed the line too much. It wasn't completely unnecessary though, it was essential to move the plot forward.

So that's the content. There's quite a bit, I know, but there is less there then I thought there would be. That list is missing six or seven songs. There is a lot of things that are quite innocent because the Mormons are so bent on following the rules and not having the Spooky Mormon Hell Dream. The Mormons do not swear, (until the last five minutes), and are very clean. Now that all that is out of the way, we can get to the real reason you go in the first place. Is it entertaining?

YES.

The Review

The Book of Mormon is the funniest and most thoroughly entertaining show I have ever seen. Trey Parker and Matt Stone have mastered comedy and The Book of Mormon is an excellent example of their expertise. 

The cast was absolutely solid, through and through. Elder Price (David Larsen) and Elder Cunningham (Cody Strand) were a phenomenal pair. While Price is the protagonist, Cunningham stole the show the moment he stepped on stage. His voice reminded me of comedian Gabriel Iglesias, mixed with Borderland's Claptrap. His comedic timing was impeccable, and his voice was surprisingly gorgeous. Man Up was a highlight of the show. 

Speaking of show highlights, there are a TON. Hello! is the perfect show opener. You and Me (But Mostly Me) is the amazingly funny Bro duet. Turn It Off's tap number was astounding. Spooky Mormon Hell Dream was a technical and choreographical marvel. I Believe was the perfect show climax, and Baptize Me was the perfect comedic foil. And the ending was so funny and unexpected, that it made me cheer halfway through. 

Book of Mormon is a very guy-heavy show, so male harmonies abound. I have never heard better male harmonies in my entire life. The score is excellent, and there are only a few songs that "lack". and by lack, I mean that the best numbers are just so incredibly entertaining, that the ones that would be standouts in any other show are kind of anticlimactic by comparisons. 

The set was small, but effective. Everything was detailed, and had multiple uses. Set changes were instantaneous and ingenious. Lighting was well implemented, and can change the mood of the scene instantly. 

My only complaint with the overall show, was that the second half of the second act seemed to lose a bit of steam. But then picked right back up for Joseph Smith American Moses. 

The show was phenomenal, massively entertaining, and laugh-out-loud funny. If you can handle the abundant mature content, and are able to take satirical content as it is meant, The Book of Mormon is a must-see. 

Entertainment Score: 9 out of 10 (10 being best ever)

Appropriate Rating: 4 out of 10 (10 being cleanest)

(If taken the way it is intended: 6 out of 10)

My 25 Favorite Games of All-Time

I like video games. I like them a whole lot. I've also played a lot of them. Like a whole lot of them.

So, without further babbling, here are my top twenty five favorite games of all time.

25. Double Action Boogaloo

Double Action Boogaloo of a free (not free-to-play) game on steam of stylish proportions. Any time I play, I can't help but smile as I slide ridiculously off a skyscraper shooting at another bro falling off the same skyscraper. It's nothing but pure, unadulterated fun.

24. Super Mario Galaxy

From the tight controls, to the excellent graphics, to the astounding soundtrack, and the amazing amount of content; Super Mario Galaxy is the epitome of excellent platforming. Nintendo's solid first party games are always a joy to play, look at, and own. Super Mario Galaxy is an excellent example of Nintendo in action.

23. Mirror's Edge

DICE's foray into the unknown world of gaming parkour was a resounding success. No game has ever been like Mirror's Edge, and no game will ever be like Mirror's Edge. That is, until the heavily expanded sequel/reboot thing releases "When It's Done" says DICE. 

22. Bioshock Infinite

Booker Dewitt's journey through time and space is an absolutely memorable one. Excellent voice acting, tight shooting, and gameplay choices aplenty make Bioshock Infinite a treat to play through. The ending also blows your mid so hard you don't know what to do with yourself.

21. Sonic Adventure DX/Battle 2

I couldn't decide which of these two classic GameCube games to put on here, so I made them a single entry. These games were my jam when I was eight. The high speed gameplay was far from broken (at least when I was eight. Not so much now) and the sense of adventure and fun made my child mind stay glued to that screen for dozens of playthroughs.

20. The Stanley Parable

This game doesn't really classify as a game. Starting as a mod for Half-Life 2, the ridiculously ingenious story experiment took my concept of storytelling to new heights. Kevin Brighting's voice commentary on your actions make the game forever enjoyable, and the multiple paths make the game incredibly replayable. It is, without a doubt, the best non-game I have ever played.If you enjoy a good story, with multiple outcomes, you owe yourself a $10 purchase of this excellent title.

19. Saints Row: The Third

Saints Row's outlandishness lends well to my sense of humor. Its over-the-top violence and overall whimsy makes for an open-world experience unlike any other. The well written story, superbly varied missions, crazy characters with excellent voice acting, Nolan North, ridiculously expansive customization, and maniacal gameplay make this one of the most enjoyable titles I've ever played. It's also one of the only games I have ever 100%ed. 

18. Halo 4

I sing the praises of Halo 4 daily. In normal gaming discussions, whenever it turns to FPS's, I will ALWAYS bring up my favorite entry in the Halo franchise. The gorgeous graphics, thundering sound design, excellent gunplay, solid voice work, and an emotional storyline make for an exceptional shooter. With 343 Industries at the reigns of Halo, I have no doubt that the rest of the series is in for an expanded life span of awesome. 

17. Left 4 Dead 2

If I'm playing a game on my Mac, it's most likely this one. Even playing alone with capable AI companions, I have a blast slaughtering the horde and all that it is. Varied weapons, lovable characters, an able modding community, and the best co-op of any game I've ever played makes the zombie apocalypse something to look forward to and not to fear. Though you should probably fear them anyways. You don't want to die. 

16. Rock Band 2/3

I. LOVE. ROCK BAND. I play music lots. This helped my fulfill my dream of being in a rock band. I've spent so much time on this game that I can now sing and play guitar on expert at the same time. 

I am #21 on expert drums on 21 Guns by Green Day. 

Enough said. 

15. The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD

The Legend of Zelda is one of my favorite game series. And this one is arguably my favorite, even though Ocarina of Time is technically higher on this list. Wind Waker has this sense of charm and child-like wonderment that the rest of the series doesn't have. The score is whimsical and sea-faring, the aesthetics are cartoony and colorful, and the dialogue is witty, derpy, and adorable all at the same time. The combat may have been a little easy, but the puzzles, the open-ended exploration, and the many side-quests with brilliant outcomes make it the best in the series. And the HD port on Wii U only heightens what I felt on the Gamecube at eight years old. Wind Waker is a masterwork, and if you haven't played this excellent title, buy a Wii U and play the crap of it. It's worth it. 

14. Dead Space 2

I don't like horror movies. I really hate them. But I absolutely fell in love with the horror genre of gaming thanks to Dead Space 2. I had a friend who showed me this to try and scare the pants off me, but only succeeded in making me love the game. There's so much atmosphere, so much grit. And violence. There's a lot of that. The overarching story of religion vs society vs sanity is what drives the game in astronomical direction. It's what makes the necromorphs that makes them so horrifying. And the fact that they are horridly ugly and demonic things. 

13. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

This game created me as a true gamer. As a child I loved games. But I didn't understand what made them so great until I downloaded this title on the Wii Virtual Console. The story, the setting, the combat, the gosh dang Water Temple, all of it was supplement to this world of genuine adventure. Sure you were told where to go and were told to do meaningless tasks kind of often, but there's such an adventure to it, that it doesn't feel like that mattered. If I had not ever played Ocarina of Time, I would not be writing this list right now on my love for all things video games. 

Though, I really do hate Navi.

12. Luigi's Mansion

As a child, Luigi's Mansions scared the crap out of me. Yet I loved it. The cartoony ghosts were my worst nightmare, and the dark has always been something I haven't enjoyed. But I loved it! The idea of the "loser" brother of Mario, vacuum strapped to his back, walking through a haunted mansion, and trying to save his star brother was irresistible! The tank controls actually worked, the vacuum action was great, and the silence was always deafening. Ive played through Luigi's Mansion fully around five times, and if I still had a GameCube, I would be more than happy to do it a dozen more. Luigi's Mansion holds a place in my heart like no other game does. 

11. Batman: Arkham Asylum

BATMAN. I LOVE BATMAN. Anyone one who knows me remotely well knows that I love Batman with all my being. Arkham Asylum was the first game to capture the essence of Batman. The world's greatest detective, gadget guru, martial arts master, and persuader finally made mark in a substantial way. The combat in Arkham Asylum/City is regarded as the best melee combat in any third-person game, and I absolutely agree. The stealth, action, and trickery made the Arkham games a resounding success. Though there were two other things that made them stand out farther.

1.) The asylum's memorable atmosphere

2.) Scarecrow. If you haven't played this instant classic, you must. I refuse to spoil the greatest
sections of this game. 

10. Just Cause 2

I think I have more hours in to Just Cause 2 than any other game I own (though maybe less than Skyrim). I have invested a solid hundred-some-odd hours into demolishing the tyrannical island of Panau. Granted, the story was awful, and the voice acting is cringe-worthy, but the action and driving segments are just so outstanding, the rest of it doesn't matter. The game gives you plenty of tools and reason to blow up EVERYTHING, so why shouldn't you do just that? Lush jungles, dry deserts,  and snowy mountains keep things varied and fresh. Gunplay is tight, brutal, creative, and fun, while driving is the perfect mix of arcady and realistic. JC2's flying mechanics are also the best I've played in any game. Though the real star of the show is Rico's grappling hook. It's versatile, it's fun, and altogether badass. Just Cause 2's massive destructive romp is one I come back to time and time again, and if you're looking for a new open-world game to play, this one it the one for you. Provided you like fun of course. 

9. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

It's Skyrim. Dragons, fantasy land, brilliant lore, open-world freedom jam-packed with thousands of things to do and explore, character customization out the wazoo, and arrows to the knee. It's a game you HAVE to play if you indeed love video games. I've spent over 120 hours in Skyrim and haven't even finished half of the overall content. Bethesda has also said that is it impossible to 100% Skyrim thanks to continually generated side content. Need I say more?

8. Half-Life 2

First-Person Shooters no longer compare to Half-Life 2's level of outlandish perfection. The graphics from 2004 (remastered by the 2010 Source engine of course) look better than most games that are releasing on Steam, the story is planet spanning, the characters delve deeper into the human element than most games I've played, the sound design set the bar for video games, the pacing is perfect, the gunplay is nothing shy of excellent, progression is constant, variety abounds. It redefined the FPS genre, and nothing has surpassed it's perfection since. 

7. Sleeping Dogs

This open-world game set in the underbelly of Hong Kong is unlike anything I've ever played. The story is dark, riveting, and suspenseful, while also being able to take moments of real life optimism and comedy. No one's life is dark and brooding all the time, there are always moments of joy, no matter what your life is like. No game (except one) has captured real life emotions like Sleeping Dogs does. Wei Shen's undercover cop tale is brutal, full of twists and turns, that left me screaming at my screen when tragic things happened. The martial arts combat is comparative to the Arkham games, which is compliment enough in and of itself, but it also layers brutal end kills and special attacks. When people ask me what game the should get, and they like open world games, I always recommend this one. 

Always.

6. Batman: Arkham City

It builds on the already excellent foundation laid by Arkham Asylum, and makes everything better. Smoother combat, bigger world, crazier storyline, more Joker, side quests, atmospheric grunt chatter, and the excellent R'as al Guhl section of the game makes this the definitive Batman. Mark Hamill's Joker is one of the greatest voice over's I have heard in my whole life. For some reason, I cannot express my love for this games adequately into words. Just play the game. I love it with my soul.

5. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

"History is determined by the victor."

Soap McTavish, John Price, General Shephard, Ghost (sob sob), Roach. 

No Russian. 

There are just so many unbelievable moments in MW2, it's hard to explain the overwhelmed feeling you get when playing the campaign. So many civilian deaths. So many loved character deaths. Death inducing (not death defying) situations. This game truly captures the essence of war, and most people don't see that. The rest of Call of Duty abandoned this afterwards, trading realism for spectacle. The shooting is beyond excellent, the graphics were bleeding edge, multiplayer was focused and perfected, and the campaign is easily the most memorable and respectable campaign in any military shooter. I can easily remember every single mission in that game, and I haven't played the campaign in three years. Each moment, each second had purpose. It's something we lack in newer titles. 

"Remember, No Russian"

4. Portal 2

Portal 2 oozes with charm. Dialogue (well, GLaDOS insulting you and Wheatley babbling) is witty, brilliant, and incredibly well voiced. Puzzles were true puzzles. They made you scratch your head, they made you think outside of the box you are so ironically placed in.
It made you think with portals.
The storyline took jarring twists and turns, with each few test chambers presenting something different that just adds to the flavor of Portal. Graphics were astounding, detail was excellent, and sound design was fittingly quirky. GLaDOS is easily one of the greatest video game characters ever created. Testing may have been Chell's prison, but it was something you were eager to take part it. You loved the rush of completing a room. You loved defying GLaDOS.

You Monster.

3. Red Dead Redemption

The wild west isn't something that is explored often in video games. Every single game that has explored it has failed, save for Red Dead Redemption. A drastically different turn for Rockstar following in the wake of Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead rose above and beyond its calling. Realistic and gritty graphics, some of the greatest writing in anything I've ever seen, fantastic horseplay, dangerous firefights, gratuitous side content, and some of my favorite characters in anything ever make for a fantastic movie. 

It makes for an even better game. 

John Marston's tale of love and revenge is something seen nowhere else in the video game landscape. He doesn't fight back because he was wronged, he fights back because he wants to finally live a simple life with his wife and son. The depth shown in John Marston and his actions are unlike anything I've ever seen. The open-world multiplayer of banditos and officers is fantastic, letting you roam around with your buddies slaughtering all manner of evil.

It's not only one of my favorite games, its is also one of the greatest games ever made.

2. Bioshock

"Would you kindly..."
AUGH.
PLOT TWISTS.
ANGUISH, SADNESS, BETRAYAL.
There is so much to relish in Bioshock. The absolutely unbelievably realistic setting of Rapture is the most atmospheric and interesting of any setting in video games to date. Andrew Ryan is one of the most competently written villains in any game. This game will make you question everything. It will make you think about the nature of trust, about the nature of greed, of violence, and of inspiration. It will make you ponder about what art is, and why it's important. I'm looking at you Sander Cohen, you sick twisted being. If Bioshock's setting and character doesn't pull you in, the varied, open-ended gunplay should. You've got dozens of options at your disposal for dispatching enemies in any fashion you see fit.
"A man chooses. A slave obeys."
Be my slave and get yourself a copy of this game if you don't already have one.

1. The Last of Us

"Joel, you wouldn't lie to me would you?"

"No Ellie."

"...Ok."

Credits

[Insert Jon Mickel in a sobbing mess]

The Last of Us is art. It is the masterwork of human form. It made me care about characters as if they were my own family. It suspended my belief that I was playing a game. It told me that I was experiencing life. The life of a middle aged man, and the life of a fourteen year old girl, and their struggles. It exposes human weakness, while also building it up with the resilience of the human soul. It embraces the darkness, while shining a flood light through the core. Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson deserve awards, because Joel and Ellie are the most realistic and likable characters in all of video games, and maybe beyond. 

The Last of Us truly is the essence of humanity.

This may sound like over-exaggeration, and it may very well be, but I mean every word. I have never thought harder about my real life, and why my human element is, until I played through the end of The Last of Us. The acting is so rich, so well done, and the story is perfectly paced, and riddled with purpose, that I cannot help but shout it's praises on rooftops. 

I haven't even gotten to the actual game part yet.

In terms of being a video game, it excels in every area. Stealth is important, and perfectly done. Crafting is vital, and realistic. Gunplay is raw, brutal, and meaningful. Sound design is flawless, making every sound important and needed for survival. The graphics push the boundaries of anything ever created. Multiplayer is different, unique, and well executed. It doesn't feel like a last second portion of the games like so many story-driven games have. 

The Last of Us is a resounding achievement. If you own a PS3, or a PS4, you have to buy this game. I truly mean that. I actually had to borrow my friends PS3 so I could play this game, and it was worth it, and I love him for it. 

The Last of Us is my favorite game of all time, and most likely will be for a long time to come.

So that's my list! Let me know what you think.