The Beatles conquer another platform By DYLAN JOHNSON Staff Writer DJJSO43@PSU.EDU After capturing the world with their music in the 1960’5, The Beatles became the most successful and influential band of the 20th century. Not only did they create songs that society loved, but one could look around and see that The Beatles influenced everyday life. Beatlemania produced action figures, fan clubs, and The Beatles even starred in their own movies! Now, in the 21st century, we have hardly escaped John, Paul, George, and Ringo. Thanks to the latest version of Rock Band, The Beatles have reached an entirely different group of listeners. Upon placing the game disc into your preferred system, the TV screen (preferably hi-def) is immediately bombarded with the opening scene of the game. The artwork is, in one word, magnificent. The player watches as The Beatles jump out of their car, into a venue, and play music that Mew review, but Mew who? ByAUDREYCLARK Staff Writer ARCS229@PSU.EDU Mew is a Danish progressive rock band that creates incredible music sometimes referred to as “pretentious art rock.” No, Mew is not a choir of cats crying, but a brilliant kaleidoscope of unreal, sensational sound. The band has toured with the likes of R.E.M and is currently out with Nine Inch Nails and Jane’s Addiction. Mew is an underrated, overlooked group of musical masters who everyone should have featured on their iPod, or in their CD player. Since the release of their first full length album, A Triumph for Man , in 1997 they have grown not only musically (they are now on Columbia Records), but verbosely with their new album No More Stories/ Are Told Today / I’m Sorry/ They Washed Away/ No More Stories/ the World Is Grey/ I’m Tired/Let’s Wash Away. transforms London into a flower bedded acid trip. The boys then transcend from the stage onto the back of a giant bright blue elephant and parade through the city. From there, the main menu of the game is brought up and the playing begins Like all Rock Band and Guitar Hero games, there is a quick play mode and a story mode. The story mode on this game, however, sets it apart from all other games of its kind. The player follows The Beatles through different eras of their career. Each set list is comprised of four to six songs from the given time period and includes the era of Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, the Shea Stadium performance, and even the recording sessions at Abbey Road. Actual game play is not very different than any other Rock The title of Mew’s fifth, innovative record is quite the mouthful, yet the poetic, melancholic title is anything but hard to swallow. Since then last album, And the Glass Handed Kites in 2005, Mew has had fans waiting with bated breath for more dream-like, falsetto vocals and melodic instrumentation. No More Stories. .. exceeds expectations with slightly edgier music and is packed with gang vocals that Band game. The only change is that your “band” can plug in up to three microphones to enjoy singing the harmonies that completed The Beatles sound. This may sound Iricky at first but any experienced singer will catch on quickly. I found it quite exhilarating to be playing songs like “Twist and Shout”, “Dear Prudence”, “Get Back”, and especially “I Am The Walrus”. It almost feels as give goose bumps goose bumps. The exceptional intro to the album called “New Terrain” begins with powerful vocal-looping and rewinding that can be played forwards and then backwards as the song “Nervous” (That’s right. The song can be played in reverse). The mind-blowing affect of the opener splices into the record’s first single, “Introducing Palace Players.” Choppy guitar mixed with hard if you and your band mates are The Beatles. Other famous songs include “I Want to Hold Your Hand”, “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds”, and many more. As a reward for playing the songs well, your band collects photos. After collecting a certain amount of these photos, the players unlock videos of The Beatles. For example, a Beatles Christmas greeting card is shown as John’s voiceover reveals hitting percussion that speeds and slows down until the symphonic break of synthesized piano is beautifully crafted to rupture with the majestic, haunting sounding lyrics (“What is it/ that you do?/ You gotta get back up yourself.) The song is about saving someone from a relationship, starting one with the person who was saved, and it not working out. No More Stories... features songs with less inscrutable lyrics than Mew’s previous album work. Track 5, “Intermezzo 1,” is a 30 second rush of piano that sounds like it would accent the flight of a swarm of bees in an old cartoon. It is absolutely ingenious. A couple songs later, “Cartoons and Macrame Wounds” slows down the tempo of the previous half of the record with enigmatic vocals that poignantly recur in a magical, romantic melody (“Put you hand in mine/We will go skating./On the thinnest ice/that we can find.) If “Cartoons...” is not featured in an indie film during a scene while two lovers sleep in a hilarious side of the band. The only downfall to die game is its length- The 44 songs may seem like a lot but die game can be beaten in about three hours. Most of the songs included are under three minutes. However, this is the first time any Beatles song has appeared in a Rock Band or Guitar Hero game. Therefore, every minute playing this game, no matter how short it really is, is well worth the $6O to me. Overall, this is definitely my favorite game out of all of the Rock Band/ Guitar Hero games. The artwork easily gets a 10 out of 10. Also, like all Rock Band games, The Beatles Rock Band is addicting to play. Most importantly, this game is historic. The Beatles are one of the greatest bands to ever play and now any fan of Rock Band or Guitar Hero can experience the music that The Beatles have become so famous for. separate beds, I will be surprised. Although I am in love with the first seven songs on No More Stories..., one of my favorite tracks is lucky 13, “Sometimes Life Isn’t Easy.” The first minute of the song is packed with eerie, somewhat menacing team chorals and about 8 different instruments. At one point, a trumpet blows a measure that almost sounds like the siren of an ambulance. “Sometimes Life Isn’t Easy” has relatable verses, especially for a college student. The song should be the anthem for all of us at PSH. I have never been more thrilled with an album. I have waited since high school for some new Mew and I must say that I am thoroughly impressed. No matter what genre of music you prefer, anyone can appreciate the mastery of sound No More Stories... has to offer. Buy it, and whether you upload it to your iPod or pop it in your CD player, take a small road trip and listen to the record in its entirety. No matter where you go, No More Stories... will be the perfect soundtrack to your trek. It’s just that amazing.
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