Pads & Panels

Top Staff Music Picks for 2010

All right, so with music, I believe more than video games or film, different genres and sounds relate to different people in so many different ways that it would be absolutely ridiculous, with the general entertainment offerings we provide (i.e. we’re not just a “punk” or “metal” or “pop” site), to create a numbered “Best of” list for music for the year. Instead, with our varied tastes, I challenged our writers to pick one album apiece that stood out to them more than anything else last year, and then explain why and describe it a bit so readers would know where they are coming from in terms of taste. Several answered the call, and these are our recommendations, depending on your tastes, for the album’s that caught our attention in 2010. We hope you enjoy it, and give a few of them a try.

–Bill

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My Chemical Romance

Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys

Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys is My Chem’s follow up to 2006’s widely popular The Black Parade. The theme of this album focuses on the band’s fictional alter egos, the Killjoys, and their exploits in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. The songs are decidedly more energetic than with the previous effort, and both vocals and the guitars seem much more confident when compared to past albums. Once I started Danger Days, I immediately noticed it sounds more like an honest-to-goodness rock album. The album’s first single “Na Na Na […]” is a prime example of this, and the fun, up-tempo anthem starts the album off with a bang. While it is true that songs like “Bulletproof Heart” and “Save Yourself, I’ll Hold Them Back” sound like evolutions of the music fans came to love with albums like Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge and The Black Parade, tracks like “Scarecrow” sound far different than anything the band has done before. This track in particular evokes a sound reminiscent of the Beatles, with frontman Gerard Way layering softer and more subdued vocals over the slower-paced track. Although MCR has defiantly changed the feel of its sound, Danger Days is great album that gets better and better with repeated plays, and deserves a spot in any collection. (more…)

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Title: Bragging Rights 2010

Format: DVD

Studio: WWE Home Video

Review by: Bill Jones

Bragging Rights – another chance for a big tag battle squandered by World Wrestling Entertainment. The company’s annual event features a 7-on-7 tag team elimination bout between the rosters of Raw and Smackdown. But there are no great team ups, or interesting situations presented by the eliminations – only poorly handled storylines and bad wrestling. Meanwhile, Kane and Undertaker end the current incarnation of their brotherly battle in a disappointing Buried Alive match, and John Cena is forced to stand in Wade Barrett’s corner during a title match with Randy Orton. But when the announcers spend the last few minutes of the broadcast trying to explain what went down, the in-ring storytelling clearly isn’t getting the job done. (more…)

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Title: Hell in a Cell 2010

Format: DVD

Studio: WWE Home Video

Review by: Bill Jones

The Devil’s Playground. Satan’s Structure. Whatever you want to call it, Hell in a Cell matches have a storied history in World Wrestling Entertaining, with a slew of classic moments. But those days are long gone, and nowadays Hell in a Cell has been relegated to a pay-per-view event, devoid of blood and (most of the time) even any big risks or moments. Here we see two of WWE’s most famous demons, Kane and The Undertaker, do old-man battle inside the structure, with a finish that is poorly planned and executed. Meanwhile, John Cena becomes a member of The Nexus, and Randy Orton and Sheamus slug it out in another 4-star match (Note: On a 5-star scale. Note 2: By today’s standards. Note 3: Considering the competitors). Daniel Brian vs. John Morrison vs. The Miz is by far the best match on the card, and even that leaves this reviewer without any fond memories. (more…)

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Title: Night of Champions 2010

Format: DVD

Studio: WWE Home Video

Review by: Bill Jones

Night of Champions is a wholly better pay-per-view than Summer Slam (which preceded it), largely do to its fantastic main event, a Six-Pack Challenge Match for the WWE Championship between Sheamus, John Cena, Randy Orton, Edge, Chris Jericho and Wade Barrett. With the match, WWE’s writers and wrestlers pull together the (nowadays) rare feats of telling good stories though the match and offering plenty of interesting wrestling team-ups with the six competitors in the ring. Kane vs. Undertaker is underwhelming though, looking exactly like what it is, an aged version of an old storyline between two guys who have been around for a long time. Many of the other matches are lackluster, but the United States Championship Match between The Miz and Daniel Bryan shines. And again, the main event nearly makes it worth the price of admission on its own. (more…)

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Title: SummerSlam 2010

Format: DVD

Studio: WWE Home Video

Review by: Bill Jones

World Wrestling Entertainment’s annual SummerSlam pay-per-view hit right at the peak of a feud between the WWE’s core roster and the invading up-and-comers The Nexus. As such, the main event is a 7-on-7 bout featuring Team WWE vs. The Nexus. And it’s ultimately disappointing. We see a weird Bret Hart elimination on account of his relative inability to perform in-ring nowadays, Michael Cole harp on the return of Daniel Bryan, and a group of green characters in a main event match. Meh. The WWE Championship Match between Sheamus and Randy Orton is a decent slugfest between two big dudes, and the World Heavyweight Championship Match between Kane vs. Rey Mysterio gets a real finish despite the ridiculous Undertaker storyline surrounding it. Still, when the Divas Championship Match features some of the most standout wrestling of the show, that’s never a good sign. (more…)

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2010 Holiday Gift Guide – Beyond the Games and Books: High-End Tastes

By P&P Staff

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The Art of God of War III Special Edition

For the Ultimate God of War Fan, Ballistic Publishing’s The Art of God of War III lives up to the standard set by the company’s Uncharted 2 book. The Special Edition is beautifully bound in black-suede leather, with embossed lettering and the iconinc image of Kratos’ eye up close. Inside, 272 fantastically-printed pages feature different stages of character, environment and gameplay design, plus some really awesome commentary and extras. For some truly “epic presentation,” as Ballistic puts it, the super-limited Folio Edition is fantastic, but runs with a price tag of $300. A paperback is also available, with almost identical content, at a more reasonable $65. (more…)

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2010 Holiday Gift Guide – Beyond the Games and Books: Fun Collectibles

By P&P Staff

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Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Play Arts Kai Snake “Jungle Fatigues”

It may cost a little more than the Toys R Us packaged-variety action figures, but Play Arts Kai makes a meanly detailed figure for the hardcore fan. Its Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Snake in Jungle Fatigues is a perfect example. With accessories and plenty of ways to pose the combat veteran, this camouflaged figure will blend right in with the rest of your collection. (more…)

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2010 Holiday Gift Guide – Beyond the Games: Accessories

By P&P Staff

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SteelSeries Siberia V2 Full-Size USB Headset

Many companies make outlandishly-priced, mediocre headsets with all of the aesthetic frills, but you’d be better off spending the $110 on this SteelSeries set. It sounds phenomenal with 7.1 virtual surround sound, offers integrated volume control in the cord and features a USB driver to make it work perfectly with your PC. But if you’re a console gamer, it can easily be plugged into anything with a standard audio jack, and SteelSeries also offers an adapter to make it the go-to headset for all of your Xbox Live interactions. (more…)

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2010 Holiday Gift Guide – For the Home Video Fan…

By P&P Staff

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Back to the Future: 25th Anniversary Trilogy [Blu-ray]

Ever since Greedo shot first, Back to the Future has been promoted to the official definitive geek trilogy. Finally released on Blu-ray, this version is bursting with special features, including a screen test for Eric Stoltz, the original actor cast as Marty McFly. Early adoptors will even be treated to a download code for a chapter of the soon-to-be-released BTTF video game from Telltale Games. (more…)

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2010 Holiday Gift Guide – For the Action Gaming Fan…

By P&P Staff

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Call of Duty: Black Ops

(360/PS3/PC/Wii/DS)

Activision’s popular shooter series is back this year with the Treyarch-developed Call of Duty: Black Ops.  If the shooter fan on your list wasn’t already camped out for a midnight release of the game and doesn’t already own it, this one is essential.  A brand-new single-player storyline, as well as new multiplayer levels and the return of the zombie mode from World at War will guarantee plenty of Prestige ranking, zombie killing, multiplayer fun. (more…)

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