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.