Fall of Reach

Third Quarter Round-Up

2010-10-28T10:34:00.000+11:00

yes, i know, i'm running a little late on this one. bunker down yo, this may get lengthy!

John Vanderslice

Pixel Revolt | Emerald City | Cellar DoorPlymouth Rock | Time To Go | Fetal Horses

i had the absolute pleasure of watching John perform as the opening act for the Mountain Goats in Sydney during their Get Lonely tour of 2007.
a few days after the gig i went to JB and bought a copy of his album Pixel Revolt, his newest at the time, and loved it to bits.

a week or two back i had the pang to listen to his stuff, obsessively, and went and got all his other albums.
John Vanderslice an amazing lyricist and songwriter (and producer). one of the best in the indie rock crowd.
if you'd like to check out some of his work legitimately for free, he has some stuff for download here: John Vanderslice

Envy

Insomniac Doze

Crystallize

i've had Envy's album Insomniac Doze for a quite a while now, i generally tend to come back to it when things are not well.

Envy used to be a Japanese hardcore/screamo band, one of the first in their country. they have recently begun to blend post-hardcore and post-metal elements into their style with brilliant effect. this does mean that all of their lyrics are sung in Japanese. i've found that this tends to bother some people, claiming what's the point when you can't understand hat they're saying. personally i've never understood such sentiments. it's never bothered me whilst listening to Dir En Grey, Rammstein or Sigur Ros. music is understood on a base level that transcends more than words.
anyway, if it's that much of a problem you can just look up translations online... it's the internet, it's what it does.

this album is heavy, oppressive and burning and not to be taken lightly.

Emarosa

Emarosa

Broken Vs The Way We Were Born

i'm a massive fan of Jonny Craig, the lead singer of Emarosa, and this is his second album as front-man for the band (he joined the band after their first EP).

their sophomore effort picks off largely where their debut album left off and feels more of a continuation than second separate entity. indeed, similar naming conventions as well as the fourth part of I Still Feel Her are present on Emarosa's sophomore release (the first two parts were released on the previous album Relativity, the third part being released on Jonny Craig's debut solo album A Dream Is A Question You Don't Know How To Answer, which was released in the in between).

Jonny Craig has one of the best and strongest voices among the band's genre. it's piercing and almost cathartic to listen to.

Former Ghosts

Fleurs

Choices | Dreams | The Bull And The Ram

i found Former Ghosts while doing some research on another band, Xiu Xiu (who i will be getting to a little later). Jamie Stewart, the lead of Xiu Xiu collaborates heavily on Former Ghosts' Fleurs.
Fleurs is an odd gothic industrial/experimental electronica/synth pop beast, dark and brooding with an almost broken Joy Division-esque flair for beats and vocals.
listen to The Bull And The Ram and not fall in love. go on. dare you.

Because of Ghosts

Your House Is Built On A Frozen Lake | The Tomorrow We Were Promised Yesterday

You Fool | Fall Short Of Certainty

i was ecstatic to find that these guys exist! finally! an Australian post rock band. and their take on the genre is very sonically unique to our country. there's an odd jangle that isn't present in any other post rock band i've ever heard before.
Because of Ghosts hail from Melbourne and have achieved the kind of notoriety that has led to the band recording their latest album This Culture Of Background Moise at Thee Mighty Hotel2Tango in Canada. home of the one and only Godspeed You Black Emperor!

13 & God

13 & God

Perfect Speed | Afterclap | Soft Atlus

it took me roughly 5 years to find this album. with all the inner hype built up over it, i'm glad to say it did not disappoint. 13 & God are a collaboration between a german indie band (who dabble in electronica) called The Notwist and the Anticon hip-hop duo Themselves. the result is a sublime album of alternative or abstract hip hop. the perfect sum of parts.

perfect segue to:

Themselves

CrownsDown

The Mark | Gangster Of Disbelief | Daxstrong

yes, Themselves. in particular their album CrownsDown. i found Themselves through one half of the duo; rapper DoseOne, who i'm a big fan of. the other half of the duo being the producer Jel.
Themselves is much closer to hip hop than 13 & God. the flow of lyricism is much thicker, much more complex. the beats and breaks are also stronger grittier.

Das Racist

Shut Up, Dude | Sit Down, Man
Rainbow In The Dark | Hahahaha jk? | Return To Innocence

i found Das Racist through a remix that chiptune-punk band Anamanaguci created of their track Rainbow In The Dark that was offered as a b-side to single on their website (which i'll post more about later).
Das Racist skirt an ever interesting line between joke rap and utter seriousness, where no subject is out of bounds to breach. from cutting quips about Kanye West to racial profiling, drugs and the technological age's effect on youth.
both of Das Racist's album/mixtapes are free from their website:
Shut Up, Dude
Sit Down, Man

Perfume Genius

Learning

Look Out, Look Out | Gay Angels | No Problem

Learning is quite simply one of the most amazing, beautiful, depressing and triumphant albums i have heard so far this year, full of sparse instrumentation and personal stories.
words kinda fail me when trying to put across what this album is and does. what caught my eyes and made me want to hear it, i suppose, was a short review i saw instore likening it to an album akin to the Antlers quieter songs... so yeah, naturally i was going to curious (the Antlers album Hospice took out my personal award for album of the year, last year). the comparison is fairly warranted, i'd say that Perfume Genius is a little starker due to the way the vocals are effected, and that most times the only instrument present on the album is a piano.
if you like an album that can be difficult with subject matter and that will ransack your emotions, then you'll appreciate Learning.

Xiu Xiu

Women As Lovers | Fabulous Muscles | Dear God, I Hate Myself

I Do What I Want, When I Want | I Luv The Valley | Dear God, I Hate Myself

after seeing Xiu Xiu's Dear God, I Hate Myself on the shelf at the local and dancing around it for a good 2 months, i finally gave in and bought it. i didn't know a single thing about the band or the album, something about it just kept pestering me to pick it up and take it home.
i now own all... 9 of Xiu Xiu's records.
Xiu Xiu are an experimental indie band. and when i say experimental, i really do mean it. Xiu Xiu's sound is wonderfully unstable, which can sometimes lead to an interesting sense of urgency, for fear that some songs may indeed collapse upon you before they've run their course.

Gobble Gobble

Neon Graveyard

Ash Fountain

Where Is My Mind? | Lawn Knives | Eat Sun, Son

i was recommended this album by the infamous Alex. the video links are split above because videos from Neon Graveyard are scarce, and seeing as Ash Fountain isn't wholly indicative of the entire album, i found a few other videos of theirs including their cover of the Pixies' Where Is My Mind?
i think i listened to nothing but this album over and over and over for at least two weeks and struggled to do much else. sitting in front of the computer, out with the iPod, making food in the kitchen... Neon Graveyard was my permanent soundtrack.
it is a wonderful, addictive hybrid of post-punk/indie-dance/experimental electronica that will floor you with infectious, distorted beats, soothing effected vocals and piercing moments of sheer beauty (as demonstrated by Ash Fountain above and recurrent in the albums closer, Eggs In Carrion).

Crippled Black Phoenix

200 Tons Of Bad Luck | A Love Of Shared Disasters | I, Vigilante

Littlestep | Suppose I Told The Truth | When You're Gone | Bastogne Blues

Crippled Black Phoenix are a post rock band outta the UK. they are not a "super group". CBP describe their music as 'End-time Ballads', which sounds a bit wanky, but is for the most part entirely true. their albums carry with them a foreboding sense of collapse and are emotionally heavy.
Crippled Black Phoenix create those kinds of albums where upon their finish you feel like you've been somewhere.
yes, i suppose it all sounds a bit much, but it's a very rewarding experience.

Anamanaguchi

Power Supply | Dawn Metropolis

Helix Nebula | Mermaid

Mess

i found Anamanaguchi by (surprise) my love of videogames. Anamanaguchi created the soundtrack to Scott Pilgrim: The Game - available on the Xbox Live Arcade and Playstation Store. yes, i'm also a fan of Scott Pilgrim.
it would be a while between me reading about the soundtrack to the game and the game and it's soundtrack's release (yes, it's on iTunes!), so i looked them up on the innernette. turns out they were in the middle of their Free Singles Summer 2010 promo, so i took advantage and downloaded their "My Skateboard Will Go On" single. needless to say, i was impressed.
Anamanaguchi are a chiptune-punk band. for those not in the know, chiptune refers to music creating with hacked videogame consoles (most predominantly Game Boy's and Nintendo Entertainment Systems). also: it is awesome. awesome, awesome, awesome. Power Supply and Dawn Metropolis are packed full of nostalgia inducing power punk mayhem. all guitars blazing and 16-bit chirping glory.

And So I Watch You From Afar

And So I Watch You From Afar | Letter I Capture Castles | Mount Kailash | K Is For Killing Spree (An Ode To)

ASIWYFA are a fiery Irish 4-piece instrumental post-rock/post-hardcore band. that pretty much sums them up! they're fast, wild and absolutely crushing. at their most exuberant they are a force to be reckoned with, but that's not to say they don't have their quieter moments too - demonstrated above with the track Mount Kailash.
these guys also came from Alex. i don't think i got into them right away, shelving the album for a little while before digging it out again, obsessively listening to it and then finding the Letters EP.

Sweet! that's it. written through sleep deprivation and a kitten invasion. if parts seem muddled or incomprehensible then you know why... if you made it this far. and if you did, awesome, and i hope you pick up some new sweet aural threads.

Shower Scenes

2010-10-09T03:28:00.000+11:00

Nova FM got a few NRL players around and filmed them singing in the shower...

Beau Ryan

this year Beau has been one of those players polarizing the crowd. as a Tiger, the below kinda exemplifies why Beau is one of the greatest things ever. no, not (just) the willingness to ditch the gear, but to do the cutest/most retarded things, all the while ever ready to push the boundary a little further. he's a goof and we love him for it.

yes, the choice of track (and the pointing of the fingers) worries me too...

Matt Cooper

Matt Cross

Michael Hodgson

Nathan Hindmarsh

the Matty Johns Show S1E22

2010-08-31T16:19:00.000+10:00

I don't really dig the Matty Johns Show. it started off alright but has become progressively worse as time time has worn.
Since the first episode we've seen more and more cross-promotional advertising blatantly leeched into the program, along with an over-saturation of poorly written and supposedly comical character sketches. all to the detriment and waste of what we all supposed was going to be a rugby league centered television show, hosted by a much loved ex-player who was unceremoniously dumped from a rival network.

Why continue to watch it you figure. well, occasionally they do actually do things with current NRL stock that are fairly interesting... like actually talking to them, though the occasion is becoming rare. it's fairly easy to drift in and out of paying attention to the show and whichever segments feature players.

i snatched this episode up for a very obvious reason. cuteness. of course. the utter cuteness of Jarrod Mullen and Scott Dureau dressed up like Huck Fin to show us around their home town. and of Tim Mannah trying to come up with ways to cure the hiccups... including dressing up in a devil mask and cape!

let's start with...

Tim Mannah:

n

Jarrod Mullen & Scott Dureau
how Scott Dureau doesn't have some kind of modeling contract is beyond me...

Michael Ennis

Anthony Minichiello

Matty Johns & Shane Webke

Beau Knows Robbie

2010-08-19T12:34:00.001+10:00

In this episode of Beau Knows, Beau Ryan gives us his top facts about his captain Robbie Farah.

watch the video below, complete with Faff taking a kebab to the face and something i'm sure someone somewhere calls dancing.

and a few pictures. the rip was of bung quality, so there's not a lot to come out of the vid.

Dan Carter - Jockey Sport Performance Model

2010-08-12T11:41:00.001+10:00

New Zealand All Black and Canterbury Crusader Dan Carter is the official spokes model of Jockey's performance underwear line including Jockey Sport Performance and Jockey Euro Sport.

Jockey released the video below of Dan putting the gear through its paces:

and caps:

The Matty Johns Show: Home When You're Away - Wests Tigers

2010-08-03T23:34:00.006+10:00

On the 18th Episode of the Matty Johns show, Tigers captain Robbie Farah and Lote Tuqiri guested alongside underrated funny-man Chris Heighington (he says, using any chance he can to talk the guy up. 'cause let's face it, it's the truth) for the Home When You're Away segment.
And yes, i couldn't sleep last nite so, being the committed "arrow" (don't you love an obscure reference) i am, i decided to do this Blog up; whilst listening to every John Vanderslice album in backward order of release.

Watch the segment here:

Robbie Farah
(you see it too... right?)

:P
Lote Tuqiri Chris Heighington

Justin Hodges (for art)
and a shot of Matty

Beau Knows Leichhardt Oval

2010-07-11T10:25:00.004+10:00

in this episode Beau is joined by Tiger of Tigers Chris Heighington to explore the history and workings of arguably every Tiger fans favourite home ground, Leichhardt Oval before their 2010 season debut match against the Canberra Raiders.

Beau Knows Surfing

2010-07-11T07:13:00.003+10:00

in this episode of Beau Knows, Wests Tigers winger Beau Ryan shows us all we need to know to become a successful surfer:

Wests Tigers Trend Micro Ad

2010-07-10T23:45:00.003+10:00

Trend Micro are one of the sponsors for the Wests Tigers. not too long ago Trend Micro borrowed a handful of the boys (Chris Heighington, Beau Ryan, Gareth Ellis and Bryce Gibbs) to make an television advert. you can watch it here:

you can also look at pictures here:

Trend Micro do all thing antivirus and innernette security. their website is located here: Secure Your Web World

Tigers v Raiders 20-06-10

2010-07-06T08:05:00.008+10:00

what i can still remember from this game:

i wanted the new hat.
the sound system made me stabby.
it was Wade McKinnon's debut as a Tiger.
i couldn't find the shoe laces guy.

yup. as spruiked on The Footy Show the thursday before, the Wests Tigers had launched a new series of proper swank caps.

here is mine:

now, i've seen a bit of an uproar come about from these caps, mainly over their cost. yes, they are $60 (well, the 59FIFTY's are $60. the 39THIRTY's are $45), but people seriously need to learn about what they're bitching about before they open their mouths or rant with their fingertips.
these caps have been custom made to order and shipped by the Tigers from an American company called New Era, a very reputable brand responsible for making caps for various American sporting groups, most especially baseball (and Marvel, they also make caps for Marvel; including Venom and Wolverine etc).
i doubt such an excursion would prove to be without cost, add the usual "on top" of NRL gear so turning a profit is a factor and the price sits about right.

also speaking of people knowing what they're on about before going off; the sound at Leichhardt had me quite cranky. i've never walked out from a footy game with sore and battered ears before - from the sound system, just to clarify. the volume level and sibilance was off the charts and the constant pounding from the incessant loop of advertisements before the first grade game and during half time really took its toll. i've never had to yell over such a drone to talk to my mate beside me.

okay. next thing, Wade McKinnon. we nabbed him before we pummeled his former team into the turf of Campbelltown Stadium, and this game was his debut for the Orange, Black and White in the Fullback position, and things looked pretty fitting. one thing i really enjoyed seeing, as a result, was Beau Ryan with the no.5 on his back again.
i was tentatively excited about Wade coming to the Tigers, as he is a player that i've liked for quite some time and have payed attention to his career. this game was very much about him beginning to find his feet, which i think he's beginning to do quite nicely and i look forward to now watching his career from a little closer.

this round was the Call To Arms round. an event that the Tigers hold every year to raise the awareness of cancer in men and to gather some donations to the cause.
it was announced that yellow shoelaces were being sold at the game, but alas i could not find them, and simply went with the emptying of some gold into a bucket... not as exciting, but still just as good.

phEw! words! lots of the buggers! enter photographic evidence:

oh! also, this game had me absolutely loving Daniel Fitzhenry for more than just being obscenely handsome as his try from the back of the scrum sealed the game beautifully.

okay, this time for sure:

My Kevvy

2010-07-03T00:15:00.003+10:00

well, not my Kevvy, but Eric Grothe Jr.'s Kevvy. after the success of his first parody song about Fui Fui Moi Moi stealing everyone's thongs at training, for the Matty Johns Show, Eric Grothe Jr. returned not long after with another song, a love song dedication to former Eels teammate and now Panther Kevin Kingston.

Second Quarter Round Up

2010-06-13T18:55:00.008+10:00

yes, another three months has almost passed, so i'm jumping the gun a little to get this dusted as i've been finding and rediscovering so much stuff lately that i thought about, and might even go ahead with, turning this into a monthly deal.

first off the rank is:

mc chris - Goes To Hell

my most awesomest of brothers ordered me this album from mc's indiemerch store for my birthday last month. Goes To Hell is somewhat of a remix and compilation album, taking songs from mc's 3 Part Six EP's and giving them a new mix, chucking some new tracks in along with two new skits.
the new mixes are fantastic as are the new tracks Drinkin' Blunts, Smackababy and Bossk on a Segway.
so if you don't mind hip-hop, and love video game, candy and Star Wars references then maybe it's time you went to hell!

this should have been in the first round up... but better late than never,

Thee Silver Mt Zion Memorial Orchestra - Kollaps Tradixionales

i lived within this album for almost an entire month. it may come off as a little heavy or morose to look at, and to a degree it is. Kollaps Tradixionales is a lesson in seeing darkness as its own source of light. It is heavy, depressing, rapturous and full of a sense of glory that i've never found anywhere else. from the hymnal weight lifting of There Is A Light (Part 1 & Part 2), the barely contained clatter of I Built Myself A Metal Bird - with it's companion piece I Fed My Metal Bird The Wings Of Other Metal Birds - to the sheer rolling thunder storm of 'Piphany Rambler (Part 1 & Part 2), this album has all the hallmarks of an album of the year contender.

"let your good foot swing!"

next we have an album that a Mr. Davis recommend to me;

Giant Squid - The Ichthyologist

The Ichthyologist, (Ichthyology is the zoological study of fish), is a post-metal album that tells the tale of a man's adaptations to survive being stripped of humanity and being left with nothing but the sea in front of him.
i've never heard a cello used in the same fashion as on this album. it.is.beautiful. yes, a cello... on a deconstructed, metal influenced album... and it's not a facepalm worthy (*cough*gothicmetal*cough*) gimmick.
case in point: Blue Linkia and also; Sevengill

so if you'd like to see what became of metal after it became awash with boring, long-haired, nordic Opeth wanna-be's and 'look how fast i can play my solo' wankers, churned up and spat out by dross labels like Roadrunner... then have a go at Giant Squid, because this is where the talent went after it got as frustrated and sick of the metal "scene" as i did.

another band with a dedication to Alex, as well as Thom and Aiden, is Porcupine Tree and of course Steven Wilson.
for ages they spoke of how awesome Porcupine Tree were. the name sounded familiar, as i found i had about 4 or 5 of their albums laying around, but just never really got into them or indeed actually sat and listened to the albums.
stupid move on my behalf.

Porcupine Tree - Fear Of A Blank Planet | Nil Recurring

these two are the first i listened to, as they carry a relationship with one another, and we're the ones i first picked up when the band took my interest.
brilliant albums by brilliant musicians. they play a style of progressive metal/rock that draws influence from bands as reaching as Pink Floyd and Tangerine Dream.

My Ashes | Sentimental | Way Out Of Here | Normal

Steven Wilson is the front-man for Porcupine Tree, and he released a solo album (and companion remix album) entitled Insurgentes.

Steven Wilson - Insurgentes

Insurgentes fits quite well with his work with Porcupine Tree as it is familiar enough to be comfortable and different enough without feeling alienating.

Significant Other

its companion remix album is also full of excellent reworkings of the original tracks. indeed there is not a week remix among them... something that few remix albums seem able to pull of these days.

next on the list is Harvey Danger. that name sounds familiar doesn't it? it should!
back in the late 90s Harvey Danger had a very famous outing with their song Flagpole Sitta from their debut album Where Have All The Merrymakers Gone?
unfortunately, after that hit single their further efforts were treated with a blind eye from the public.
after their debut, Harvey Danger went on to release another 2 albums and a final self circulated album before breaking up.

Where Have All The Merrymakers Gone? | King James Version | Little by Little | Dead Sea Scrolls

Problems And Bigger Ones | Pike St/Park Slope | Little Round Mirrors | Sometimes You Have To Work On Christmas (Sometimes)

i had a passing interest in Harvey Danger when they first hit the scene, but was never able to find their album until a few years later. however, i let that chance to own it slip by. stupid move.
Where Have All The Merrymakers Gone? is one of the finest indie rock albums in existence and belongs in every beard sporting, neckerchief wearing, pavement watching indie kids album collection.

ok. because i have about 11+ more albums i could ramble on about, i'll cut it short and end it on the next one and turn this into a monthly trick. it'll probably turn out better this way; easier on the memory, easier on the eyes.

so! lastly... but not least-ly? another band i've had around but never gave a chance until recently... Android Lust.

Android Lust - The Dividing

Kingdom Of One | Stained | Burn

i'd had Android Lust's album The Dividing for years, tried to listen to it and just couldn't find the connect. a few weeks back i got the urge to rummage around the room and find the album and subsequently put the album into iTunes and was able to find another 3 of their albums.

Stripped & Stitched | Devour, Rise and Take Flight | Resolution

Sin | Refuse (Acoustic) | Lover Thine | Wicked Days

Android Lust have been referred to as the "female fronted Nine Inch Nails" for a long time now, and yes the similarities are apparent, but Android Lust tends to veer into the Gothic and EBM side of Industrial. while still keeping to the harsh and violent nature of the beast, Android Lust twists itself into dark, dirty and sexual territory. the touches of EBM tend to make sure that you feel compelled to move in some form whilst listening to their album.

Tigers v Warriors 28-05-10

2010-06-08T12:49:00.004+10:00

first off, i'd like to extend an apology of sorts to the New Zealand man who sat, with wife and child, beside me. we're not all like the dude who sat behind us... i swear.

what an entertaining night! from the joys of seeing your team dominate a bitch like you know they can, to the ultimate LOLs of the loud and sporadic commentary from the young man sitting near by with down syndrome... complete with post try hip gyrating.

yup. there's something i'll NEVER be able to get out of my head.

at one point i could of sworn that i was sitting behind a somewhat butch lesbian... turns out it was just a pretty and well groomed bogan.
oh! Campbelltown, you're always fun...

from the kick-off things felt troubling for the Tigers, and a relapse back to the previous game played at C-town Stadium was an initial fear. but once those gears started to warm, the motion became like an unstoppable kingdom of death traps.

Tigers 50 - 6 Warriors

so, not only do we pinch one of the best fullback's the Warriors have had, but we pummel them into the turf all in the same week.
nice.

i'd also like to point out that Simon Mannering of the New Zealand Warriors has the sexiest walk i've ever seen on field. that boy knows how to swing those hips! mesmerizing. - and can i say, thank fuck that beard's gone!

it seems my camera was being the most inappropriately selective of monkeys on the night. what didn't end up out of focus or obscured by JERKS who kept standing in front of Benji so no-one could ever see him line up and convert is presented below.
this may be a sign to upgrade the camera, at least that's what i'll use as justification.

Beau Knows Beauty

2010-06-04T04:31:00.005+10:00

The Video

The Caps

Tigers v Rabbitohs 16-05-10

2010-05-17T10:43:00.002+10:00

i don't even want to talk about it. instead i will take some quotes from the Captain:

“As captain, I'd like to apologize on behalf of the players to the fans and to the past players that have put this jersey on. It is pretty embarrassing.
“In saying that, we will stick together as a group and we will work hard. We will bounce back.”

and from Lote:

“Souths played alright but we certainly didn’t play the way we wanted to. We just gave away the ball, didn’t complete our sets. We were all guilty, 1-17.
“It is pretty ordinary when you are walking off and kids are booing.”

but what i would like to say is; the Wests Tigers and South Sydney Rabbitohs and those at the SCG were gracious enough to keep tradition alive on the afternoon of the Heritage Round by letting those that attended onto the pitch after the match.
the deal was that after the 80 minute siren there would sound a second siren. that second siren would signify our chance to take to the field our beloved teams had just waged war upon.
it was disgraceful to see that, before the players had even had the chance to leave the field parents were lifting their children over the fences.
one man in particular, so set on obtaining the corner post, had also jumped the fence not once, but twice to the dismay of the security staff who had to drag him off the field as he struggled and threw his body limp against their arms.
indeed the field was full of goers before the bulk of the Souths players were granted time to have safe passage from the field and were swarmed, Nathan Merrit and Jason Clarke among them.
a bulletin was later issued by the Wests Tigers by the time i had arrived home later that evening calling for a review of this procedure.
don't you just love it when a handful of over-zealous fans potentially ruin the future for everyone else who respect the rules as set by their club?!
sure, i can understand the fervor that accompanies the gap between one side of the scoreboard to the other by the Souths fans - 'cause let's face it, the bulk of we Tigers fans had walked away quite some time before, aside from those of us set to wait patiently by protocol to take the rare opportunity granted us that day and walk out on the field - but that's really no excuse.

p.s. www.menofleague.com

i set aside a small collection of gold coins for the day and made my donation to a nice gentleman, who was interested by the fact that i keep my wallet attached to my pants by a short chain, as i exited the stadium yesterday afternoon and received my badge.

The primary objective of Men of League is to support former players, coaches, administrators, referees, officials and their families who have fallen on hard times.

from the website above you can make donations if you missed doing so during the Heritage Round. you can also become a member of the Men Of League Foundation for $20, which covers you for life.

Halo: Reach Beta - Invasion

2010-05-09T23:46:00.004+10:00

yep, another Blog about about the Reach Beta.

first off, i'm now a Sergeant, with about 15 hours play under my belt

this... update however is not to gloat (tehe!), but rather to nerdgasm over the release of Invasion into to the games playlist. and.it.is.neat.
within Invasion you have, at this point, two modes of play and a new map to play them on.

first is the standard Invasion.

this mode pits a group of Spartans against a group of Sangheili. as the Sangheili you must make your way to capturing a set of Spartan held territories and then capture and make off with a "Core", allegedly containing pertinent UNSC data.
as the Spartans it is your job to stop any of this from happening.
essentially the mode is just two games of King Of The Kill strung together followed by Capture The Flag, but it's a hell of a lot of fun.

the second mode is a Slayer variant. this still has a group of Sangheili pit against a group of Spartans, yet the objective is simply to rack up 100 kills before your opposing team does.
to make the game more interesting throughout the game territories will appear, ready to be captured. capturing these locations will give the captor an advantage over your rivals.
at first the result is as simple as a weapons drop... the weapons obviously sync with the locations captors. Covenant weapons for the Sangheili and military stock for the Spartans.
as the game progresses however, the drops become more significant... first a Ghost or a Warthog with be airlifted in, then Scorpions and Wraiths!!!

yes, you heard it!.. well, read it. Invasion ushers in our first glimpse of vehicles. and yes, there are Banshees as well.
they handle pretty well so far too, apart for some odd slide with the Wraith.
this opens up more Medals for your Chest and new Commendations! such as:

Vehicle Asset

also included within Invasion is the invention of tiered load-outs for the Sangheili. there's also new load-outs for the Spartans too.
you unlocked these load-outs as you progress through each match, depending on how well your team is doing.

two other little features implemented in Invasion is the "buddy" system and selectable spawn point system.
when playing in Invasion you are paired up with a buddy. so while the game is 8v8, everyone is also split into pairs. this ties in with the selectable spawn points, as one choice is to spawn next to your buddy, along with noticeable points on the map.
the buddy system helps to promote a higher sense of team play, as traveling in pairs within a larger scale of warfare tends to do.

just a note; if you die and your buddy is in a Banshee DO NOT spawn on your buddy!!!! as you will fall to your death! change your point quick!
also, if you buddy is piloting a vehicle and you die, it is a VERY good choice to spawn to your buddy as you will spawn in in the vehicles passenger seat/turret.

i should also note that there is no extra download to play Invasion. just load up the Beta through ODST and it'll be in there to select.

Halo: Reach Beta

2010-05-05T22:47:00.004+10:00

the Beta download is 1.12GB.

it's pretty good. i've had a good time playing with some of the GS/Lounge crew so far!

Stats tells me i've played 34 games so far in Standard and 2 in Arena. I'm also a Corporal Grade 1 with 4hrs 23mins play.

it boasts a new XP system, armour rewards and customization. new game modes. assassination moves are kinda neat. new game tech (stealth, jetpack, scout, guard) and weapons - some of which are wAy cool.

with every game you play you will accumulate CP and level up. you spend CP on armour permutations and additions. so far i've gained 3000+ CP of which i've spent 2000 on a visor and new helmet. some permutations you can't buy until you have gained a certain level. i'm not aware of any bonus you get from these pieces, aside from just looking different from the crowd.

the new tech are classes of sort, each (for the Spartan) boasts a personal effect that can be used in-game at will for a period of time. once that period of time lapses, you can use it again after a short recharge time.

Scout - gives you the ability to sprint.

Guard - grants you a momentary super shield. the downside being that you cannot move while you use it.

Stealth - makes you invisible and jams radar. the invisibility isn't that fantastic and really doesn't do that much in the way of hiding you very well.

Jetpack - of course, gives you a jetpack.

when it comes to playing as Sangheilli you only have 2 choices of class both with the same special 'tech' - being a leap and roll forward. the difference in class is the weapons load-out. one type gives you a Plasma Repeater, the other equips you with a Neelder Rifle.

Repeater:

Rifle:

at the moment the monotony can get a touch rife, with only 2 maps to play on, but i've heard more content will be available in due time.

Powerhouse:

Sword Base:

i wrote about lack of online stats tracking once, but i've since found that there is Stat Tracking on Bungie's website if you know where to look. however, the page doesn't load properly for me... displaying everything in a long line on the left of the screen. there's also a link to a Beta Feedback page, so you can give feedback about the Stats Page.

my favourite thing i've achieved so far is a double kill from the grave... which i've done twice so far! after each i have had this icon pop up on the screen:

Technician

and i've found that it means; Perform an incredible feat in matchmaking. SQUIRREL!

one thing i'd love to see in MP would be playable Jiralhanae. how sweet would it be to have Sangheilli v Jiralhanae turf wars and such!

or they could borrow something they did in Bioshock 2's MP with the playable Big Daddy... except the character being a Lekgolo, of course. it'd have to be a separate game mode, you wouldn't want it over everything.

i also hope they open up Sangheilli customization.

i was always going to purchase the game, so nothing was really riding on the Beta.

i doubt this'll be the last we hear of the Halo franchise, but who knows where they'll go after? just mining out the books - which essentially Reach does, albeit from a different angle it seems - would be a misstep.
though saying that, who wouldn't want to play out Ghosts Of Onyx? maybe putting the focus on the Spartan III's whilst the Spartan II's remain as supporting characters... it'd be pretty cool to actually see Dr. Halsey in a game too.

there you go! how would we feel about Halo: Spartan III or Spartan III: Onyx?

and you know there's just too much money in Spartan 117 to leave his story floating out in

space, although i'm sure Bungie

would/should go for a title name change.

i honestly will continue to buy everything Bungie put out in this gaming universe (books, graphic novels, games), 'cause i love it. the characters and stories.

final note:

if you open up Halo: Waypoint once you've had a go at the Beta you will unlock this sweet as Avatar Award hoodie:

Tigers v Roosters 02-05-2010

2010-05-02T21:00:00.001+10:00

i've been to every Tigers home game so far this season, yet have written about and shared none. this year i have been letting apathy get the better of me. but no longer. who knows, i may even go backward and post-date some blogs about the Tigers games at the SFS... if i can remember that far back! as we should know that hand in hand with apathy comes a complete blur of time.

the Sunday for the newly redeveloped and upgraded Campbelltown Stadium in Leumeah's first game of the season was as good as any Sunday afternoon football lover/attendee could hope for, with the sun rebelling against the seasonal change.
and the place looks neat - apart from the slabs of chicken-wired up chunks of greyish brown stone stuff which make the place seem a little final and opposing. With a packed out crowd in tow i was lucky that, being by my lonesome (sadface.jpg), i managed to find somewhere to sit.
Maybe next time someone can have a look at redeveloping the exit strategy, as thousands of goers swarmed and choked the singular over-rail pass outside the stadium after the game in the rush to get to their cars.
Me, i found a fence to lean against for a good hour or so while i listened to MC Chris on my iPod and watched people before even trying to get onto the train platform to send me back to the city, with my trusty book - The Wonderful Wizard OF Oz - planted promptly in front of my face.

As for the days onfield proceedings:

the Premiership game was kicked off with a moments silence for the recently deceased, one-time secretary of the Balmain rugby league club Kevin Humphries, who was instrumental in starting State of Origin, with the late Ron McAuliffe.
after this was a ribbon cutting to re-open the stadium. the kid charged with cutting ribbon did the most adorable thing when asked "do you think you'll play 1st grade for the Tigers one day?", his meek reply, "No." - cutest.thing.ever.

the game:

if the Tigers were indeed scratching their heads over how they managed to lose this game, then only 2 incidents during the match could be raised.

1) Benji missing a penalty goal conversion.

this was the second (and last) time during the game that the Tigers opted to kick for goal from an awarded penalty.
the first was after Keith Galloway was held for too long in tackle during the 3rd minute. Benji's conversion was successful in this time, pushing the Tigers into the lead at 2-0.

2) the fairly dubious Benefit Of The Doubt try awarded to Todd Carney after Anthony Minichiello tackled Beau Ryan without the ball with 5mins left on the clock.

this try pushed the Roosters to the front and subsequently won them the game at 12-8. our Captain, feeling the sting in the hearts of greater portion of the 19,901 crowd, later made the remark, "How do you come up with the benefit of the doubt? It is either a try or not a try."

still, it was a crushing game and good to watch. the Defense out of both sides was off the chizart in this glorious warm afternoon, which i think is clearly reflected in the overall score.

Footy Show Episode 1 - Season 2010

2010-04-05T03:29:00.005+10:00

Beau Ryan

Ben Te'o

Ben Te'o with Corey Parker

Ben Te'o with Darren Lockyer

Ben Te'o with Israel Falou

Benjamin Smith

Daniel Mortimer

George Rose

Jamie Soward

Braith Anasta

Michael Hodgson + Luke Patten

with Andrew Ryan

with Jarrad Hickey

with Josh Morris

with Steve Turner

Brett Kimmorley|Michael Ennis

Preston Campbell

Roy Asotasi

Sam Burgess | Dave Taylor | Jason Clark | Beau Champion | Jamie Simpson

Scott Prince

Tom Learoyd-Lahrs

Built Then Burnt [Hurrah! Hurrah!]

2010-04-03T23:30:00.003+11:00

this should technically be post dated to 8th March, when i wrote it and posted it on a parallel... i can't remember why i decided not to cram it in here too... there was probably a good reason, something to do with expansion. an expansion that never came and thus was never delivered.

alas;

rejoice in the burning warmth of the darkness! a corner is a spark! all glitching and blue!

*ahem*

Tigers Training Members Day was last saturday (6th March). i got myself out of bed in the early morn to walk to the bus stop and travel out to Concord Oval to what would be a great day. for a day that was supposed to overcast and periodically raining, i can say that i have never sweat so much whilst sitting down.

yes, it had to have been getting close to 30 degrees in the sun by 11am! and i got burnt. rather. on the plus side i finally have an excuse to lather myself in all that Living Nature product that i won in the last Gods of Football promotion. i've never smelt so lavender + honey-ey...

the Tigers ran through their regular training drills as we all sat and watched. their media manager coming out every now and again to introduce people and explain stuff, until Sheens told him to keep it down.

oh yeah, i signed up to be a member with Wests Tigers this year. Tribe Bronze 12, yo. after spending last season with them i couldn't not. over such a short period, in hindsight, i fell... and fell hard.

Wests Tigers have their post-training hug. led by winger Beau Ryan.

after training most of the boys stuck around for a signing event. with the amount of members that turned up, as it drew to a close the bulk of the Tigers got up from behind their allotted desks and walked the line signing stuff and giving the members a what-what.

i personally got a media shirt signed by the boys, got to say hi to my favourite, Chris Heighington, and meet the new import Mark Flanagan, formerly of Wigan Warriors... who i must say is looking all kinds of cut and ready.

i also tried my hardest to finish a piece of lyricism that i had been working on that day on the way out. i've been pushing myself to write, as i haven't written anything... at least not of value... in months. all the while striving hard not to be derivative.

with segues like diving boards where gravity reigns redundant:

saturday was also a day to mourn the passing of one Mark Linkous. lead singer of the band Sparklehorse, who was found by his family after a single self inflicted shotgun blast, apparently to the heart. in the scale of things his passing probably won't even register but this, to me, is right up there with the ever-missed voice of Jeff Buckley. Mark was a rare one, forever evident in his music.

Someday I Will Treat You Good

Rugby League Summertime - Melbourne Storm

2010-04-02T15:43:00.003+11:00

Ryan Tandy

Ryan Hoffman

Ryan Hinchcliffe

Luke Kelly

Kevin Proctor

Greg Inglis

Cooper Cronk

Cameron Smith

Brett Finch

Billy Slater

Anthony Quinn

Storm

First Quarter Round Up

2010-04-01T22:55:00.005+11:00

it's been a while since i've reviewed an album in here, and i've really been meaning to. but this year seems to be the year of Laze as a back log of Blogging material piles up in random locations across my hard drives.
i figured instead of doing a bunch of wafting, time consuming individual reviews, i would do a wrap of all the albums that have had me infatuated for the first three months of the 2010 year, from new releases to new discoveries. with the intent of carrying forth the fractured tradition throughout the rest of the year.

first cab off the rank:

Wintersleep

Canada's Indie Rock band Wintersleep won a Juno award in 2008 after the release of their album Welcome To The Night Sky;

and it was well deserved. Wintersleep are my current crush, i've rarely played an album that hasn't been by them in the past fortnight.
indeed, Welcome To The Night Sky is the band's third album, being preceded by their 2005 album Untitled (which is playing as i write):

and their 2003 selftitled debut:

Wintersleep play a kind of indie rock that exudes a warming and subtle brand of 'soft grandeur', easily being able to lead from acoustic fire-gazers like Faithful Guide into the grit-rock dirge of Danse Macabre.

from all three albums there is not one weak link that i can find, as each track flows like a rapturous and cathartic fire.

Pilot Speed

Pilot Speed, once known as Pilate, also hail from Canada. I'd had their album Into The West (also known as Sell Control For Life Speed) for probably close to a year before i finally decided to sit down and give it a listen - something i have, quite retardedly, been known to do.

Pilot Speed's Into The West is a sparkling and beautiful Indie Rock album, and i feel kinda stupid for not hooking into it when i first got it. The album burns with an almost locomotive sense of optimism, even in its more splendid, quieter moments (see: Alright).
It wasn't long after that i had in my possession their other two albums, the debut Caught By The Window (as Pilate) and most recent, Wooden Bones.
this time it was only a matter of hours before i had devoured the new acquisitions.
Caught By The Window bears a resembles to mid-90's brit rock, reveling in a hazy intimacy.
Wooden Bones is much more of an immediate album, kicking in with the immediate and slightly quirky Put The Phone Down, setting the pace and tone for the rest of the album to come.

Frightened Rabbit

Frightened Rabbit released their third album The Winter Of Mixed Drinks on the first of March this year:

another Indie Rock band for the list, this time from Scotland. the Australian version of The Winter Of Mixed Drinks comes with the bonus tracks Fun Stuff and Learned Your Name.
The Winter Of Mixed drinks is a much different affair to their previous album The Midnight Organ Fight. less traveled is the Folk sound, making room for fuzzed out guitars.
on an engineering/mixing note the album almost carries the sound and feel of being played within a pub setting, full of smoke and vulnerability.
The Winter Of Mixed Drinks is an easily understandable and identifiable album.

The Twilight Sad

The Twilight Sad's debut album, Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters teetered close on the border between Indie Rock and Post Rock.
their sophomore album Forget The Night Ahead looses the ties to that post-rock pier and burns within a dark and furious Indie Rock.

If I had of purchased this album last year it would have, without a doubt, made it into my top 10 list for 2009. but alas, i did not know it existed until January 2010.
forged from from loss and alcohol, Forget The Night Ahead is a particularly heavy experience, but a rewarding one;

The lyrics for the album were written during a two-month period after a close family member of Graham died. "I didn't handle it very well at all, I started drinking far too much" said Graham in an interview with Planet Sound.

My Latest Novel

The second album for Scottish Indie band My Latest Novel, Deaths And Entrances, had me captivated for the bulk of January. from the opening All In All In All Is All, with it's slow, stringed build and layered vocals; the grand warmth and luster of I Declare A Ceasefire to the soft and gorgeous closer The Greatest Shakedown - which carries with it an interesting sentiment - it's difficult not to be wholly devoured and disappear into the majestic surrounds of Deaths And Entrances.

Jónsi

most should know Jónsi either from his work as front man for Sigur Rós, or from his project with his boyfriend Jónsi & Alex.
well, we were taunted for ages about talk about the prospect of a solo album from Jónsi, and he has without a doubt delivered.

Go is Jónsi's most joyous outing thus far, full of pop sensibility, yet instantly recognizable.
In an interesting turn, the bulk of Go is sung in english.
As a taste test last year, Jónsi offered the wonderful and skittering track Boy Lilikoi to anyone who signed up to receive his newsletter. not long after though, the entire advance album was leaked onto the internet... and yes i will admit, upon hearing that i went on to YouTube and had a nose about at the videos posted there of the full album version tracks.
i was instantly blown away by the intimate Volcano, the dizzying Sinking Friendships and the filmic Kolniður.
i simply cannot wait until my pre-ordered Limited Edition arrives!!

Rugby League Summertime - Manly

2010-03-20T16:23:00.005+11:00

Anthony Watmough

Ben Farrar

Brent Kite

Des Hasler

David Williams

Jamie Lyons

Jason King

Matt Ballin

Rugby League Summertime - Titans

2010-03-19T03:09:00.004+11:00

Preston Campbell

Mat Rogers

Mark Minichiello

Greg Bird

Ashley Harrison

Anthony Laffranchi

Before You Wake Up - YouTube Update 09

2010-03-01T14:31:00.001+11:00

it's been a few months since i've really wanted to post some songs up on YouTube for the peeps. it can't be from lack of inspiration. we'll just call it a major bout of spiralling apathy and go down another bottle of pepsi max huh?

right on.

but after being asked if i could learn to play an acoustic version of Bjork's Hyper-ballad by my brother, and finally getting around to it and half-assing a video together, that actually didn't turn out too bad, here is my latest update.

Hyper-Ballad - Originally by Bjork

Maine Island Lovers - Originally by Okkervil River

happy to finally have an Okkervil River song in there. and if you like pole dancing Asari, you'll enjoy the video...

no idea what's coming next. wouldn't be surprised if it was a huge flood of Bright Eyes songs. as every time i pick up my guitar i either instantly start playing one of their songs or the Smashing Pumpkins' To Forgive.

Rugby League Summertime - Eels 2010

2010-02-14T05:21:00.003+11:00

Tim Mannah

Nathan Hindmarsh

Justin Poore

Jarryd Hayne

Eric Grothe Jr.

Daniel Mortimer (aka Puppy)

Eels