2015: Then is Now Too
Published on December 23, 2015 7:28 AM
4 minute read
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Yes, my plan to spend each week of the year thinking about a specific year in the past has finally got to its end, and now I'm on this very year. 

MUSIC

Then: You know, I got a Steve Wilson album, a They Might Be Giants album, and a Of Montreal album this year, but with my retro playlists taking up all my listening time, I really haven't given them a good listen yet until this week. I really liked a track off Steve WIlson's Hand. Cannot. Erase. that reminded me of why I like listening to prog rock guitar solos; and I liked some tracks from the Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold soundtrack that were suitably evocative of fantastic worlds. 

Now: I'd love to get my hands on this Ozric Tentacles album Technicians of the Sacred. Good prog rock is hard to find. 

GAMES

Then: I played very little of what actually got released this year, but I did manage to play the heck out of Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell. Mark and I played this co-op and had a blast in old Crackdown style: going berzerk in a city sandbox. 

Now: So much I want to get to, but I think most of all might be Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. on 3DS. It's comparison to the gameplay of Valkyria Chronicles is all I needed to hear to buy it. Now I just need to find the time for it. My project to play and trade my backlog in order of shortest to longest playtime, has put a lot of more recent games on hold - recent games tend to be long games. That's just the times for ya. 

BOOKS

Then: Only Halo: Last Light, which I'm reading now and almost finished. 

Now: I want to read this book I saw in the library one day in the new release section called Destruction was My Beatrice: Dada and the Unmaking of the Twentieth Century by Jed Rasula. I'm fascinated with art of the time between the world wars. Artists were reacting to the near world ending chaos, and looking to break down the art traditions of a culture so clearly flawed. I love the wild creativity, comedy, and experimental nature of Dada and Absurdist plays. 

FILM/TV:

Then:I have a few favorites, but if I had to pick one it would be Mad Max: Fury Road. There's not a whole lot to this movie in the way of dialog, or even story, but I love the visual style of this movie so much. It seemed heavily inspired by Cirque du Soleil with its acrobatic action scenes; and the variety of cars pieced together from post apocalyptic junk was a sight to behold. It's just plain fun to watch. 

Now: There are a few more movies coming out I'd like to see like Hateful Eight, but recently a friend recomended Ex Machina from early this year. So I'd like to see that. 

What did you like most this year?

Comments
0
Posted on December 23, 2015 4:30 PM

I just added that Dada book to my amazon cart.  Thanks for the recommendation, sounds really neat. 

I liked Mad Max too, but I haven't watched again since the theater.  I bought it for my brother for xmas, so we'll probably watch it after the holiday. 

Posted on December 24, 2015 6:27 AM

I love the cover with the guy in the abstract shape costume. 

destruction

I wish I could see Mad Max on IMAX 3D right now. 

Posted on December 23, 2015 10:41 PM

2015 wasn't one of my better years.  I'll have my Game of the Year 2015 blog up in early January.

Posted on December 24, 2015 6:29 AM

I didn't play enough that was out to have a best of the year, but I'll read your blog for sure. I think I'm going to do the numbers on all the media I gobbled up in 2015 next week. 

Posted on December 23, 2015 11:37 PM

Which Steven Wilson track are you referring too? That whole album is awesome. 

 I don't watch many movies. I watched Fury Road 8 times. In a week. It's good shit.

Posted on December 24, 2015 6:34 AM

I forget the track, but I've heard other tracks now and, yes, it's all awesome. 

8 times! Wow. I wish I'd seen it in IMAX 3D. I'd go tomorrow if it was still around. I've been listening to the soundtrack this week too. 

Posted on December 24, 2015 12:19 AM

Honestly, Macklemore and Adele comin back was all I really noticed for music. I don't have either of those CDs, though I might get them.

My favorite games of the year are gonna be told in the upcoming Lower Level podcast.

I kinda want a Nook or whatever e-reader. Didn't read much outside content for my Master's.

I'm looking forward to Star Wars, Joy, and The Big Short. I saw the last HUnger Games the other day. It was ok.

Posted on December 24, 2015 6:38 AM

I'll have to figure out how to get Lower Level on my iPod. 

Posted on December 24, 2015 1:37 PM

Gat out of Hell is on the PSN store for like $8.00 which I plan on buying if I get a card for Christmas! hahahah

Posted on December 25, 2015 5:11 AM

It was super fun. I got all the achievements for it.