musings@deadgodsdreaming.com

ARGH! The right hinge on my DS Lite broke. There goes 130 bucks, ‘cuz I really can’t live without one.

Anyone who bought Okami for Wii doubtlessly noticed the horrid cover - marred with a baked in “9.5 from Play Magazine!” review blob on the front, and an IGN watermark on the image. Capcom has heard the cries and is, I bet, justifiably embarrassed. Enough so that they’re offering replacement covers for the game. I like them all and wish I could have all three, but I’ll settle for the first one - it’s so nice I might just hang it on my wall instead of slipping inside the Okami case.

Science fiction trailblazer Arthur C. Clarke has died. Despite my mixed feelings about many of his books, Mr. Clarke will always have a place in my heart for saying “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” Such tremendous insight in so few words.

Today is a good day. Why, you ask? It’s because I discovered that Toni Halliday, ex of Curve is finally making music again (and not just a guest spot on a Christmas song by the tremendously underwhelming Killers). Toni’s solo project is called Chatelaine, and there are two tracks up on her myspace page - and they’re gorgeous. Welcome back, Toni - I’ve missed you since 2005, and I’m overjoyed to have you back.

Have you bought yourself a copy of Nine Inch Nails’ Ghosts I-IV yet? No? What the Hell is wrong with you? Go get it! NOW!

I opened my email today to find a message from PHD Records (I’m on the mailing list) informing me that Killing Joke bassist Paul Raven died of a heart attack on October 20, 2007. For as long as I can remember, Killing Joke’s been one of my favourite bands, and Paul Raven one of my favourite bass players. In fact, his work on “Night Time” was one of the things that inspired me to pick up the bass. My condolences go out to his family, friends, band mates, and fans. Farewell, Paul. I only knew you through your music, but I miss you already.

(Paul Raven Tribute Page)

Absolutely everyone should watch The Shock Doctrine, a short film by author Naomi Klein and Children of Men director Alfonso Cuarón. The film is an accompaniment to Ms Klein’s new book of the same title and it’s a deeply moving work. I’ve just watched it twice and it’s horrifying and edifying and has left me thoroughly shaken. With little exception, we live our lives so blissfully unaware of the horrors our governments perpetrate on the world and the range of their effect. I’m thankful for work like this which peels the filters off our eyes and shows us what truly shapes our world. Take the time, watch the movie - it’s just six minutes, but maybe you’ll learn something that’ll change your world.

Is it just me, or is the fauxhawk the lamest form of “rebellion” ever? I keep seeing kids wearing their hair in fauxhawks, and I think it’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen. I’m going to sound like a crusty old man here, but I remember the mohawk being about rebellion - you know, make yourself look thoroughly unorthodox and place yourself outside of normal society. Furthermore, shaving the best part of your head meant there was no way out, short of shaving your head bald (which was also a fairly rebellious thing to do - far more so 20 years ago than it is now). The fauxhawk, though, is a joke - there’s no commitment involved. It’s spray-on rebellion. Maybe it’s just me, but I think I’d rather look stupid than look gutless.

I am referring, of course, to Ministry. Ministry’s next and final album, “The Last Sucker”, is due out on September 18th. I’ve managed to hear a promo copy of the album, and it’s a monster. I need more time to savour over the lyrics (the last album, “Rio Grande Blood” had some of the most vicious, angry, potical lyrics since Rage Against the Machine) to get the full feel of the album, but I’m really digging it. I grew up with Ministry and I’m sad to hear that, save for one final tour, it’s over now. Still, all good things come to an end, and Ministry has (mostly) been a great thing - so, a tip of the hat and a raise of the glass to Al and company.

On a happier note, there are beginnings for every ending, and if their debut EP is any indication, Day For Night is at the beginning of a truly glorious career. The all-too-short EP is three tracks of pure aural ecstasy - I always find myself hitting repeat over and over every time I listen to it. I cannot recommend it highly enough! (I grabbed my copy from eMusic, by the way.) If you miss the spirit of Siouxsie, and you dig the vibe of Sonic Youth, but don’t want a cheap rehash of either, you’ve got your perfect prescription right here.

It’s barely three months into the year and it already seems like I’ve found two good candidates for favourite album of the year! The first is Conqueror by Jesu. Conqueror continues with the overall style of Jesu’s previous EP, Silver - that is to say it errs on the My Bloody Valentine side of Jesu’s My Bloody Valentine vs Godflesh sound aesthetic. (Yes, I know, aesthetic is visual - humour me and pretend to be synaesthetic, okay?) Unlike every other Jesu release, Justin Broadrick’s vocals are much further forward in the mix, which makes Conqueror the most personal sounding Jesu album yet.

The second early candidate for favourite of the year is Small Town by Sky Cries Mary. Small Town is the first album of new music from SCM since they disbanded on December 31, 1999 - a very sad announcement for devotees like myself. Seven years later and they’ve still got it. Small Town is filled with rich, warm, comforting sounds. It’s not as quirky as their masterful Moonbathing on Sleeping Leaves, but that doesn’t detract from it all. A terrific return by one of my favourite bands ever. (I have to admit that I’ve been so starved for new SCM that they probably could have wrapped a slice of mouldy ham in a jewel case and I’d have proclaimed it the next coming. The jewel case? It’s not filled with mouldy ham.) One last thing - Small Town is a limited issue - only 500 copies on CD. Once those are gone, you’ll have to settle for the MP3 download version, so act fast.