POP CULTURE PURCHASES

 

Black Ice
AC/DC

Aging rock group AC/DC recently released their
album Black Ice, which features the single “Rock ’n
Roll Train” and is soon to be followed by their first
world tour in over seven years. With the same basic
standard rock riffs, there is really nothing new to be
expected. AC/DC have made a career out of being
the standard for riff rock groups, and continue to do
so on their latest album. Recorded in Vancouver’s
own Warehouse studios (owned by Bryan Adams)
the quality on certain tracks such as “Anything
Goes” seems a tad bit over-produced and lacks

the edge that their 1970s heyday once had. Classic
songs about getting drunk and doin’ it seems a bit
out of place amongst Australian gents in their mid
50’s. This album is definitely good for a listen and
a special mention to Brian Johnson’s vocals which
have aged especially well.

—Jay Schreiber

Why
Courage
Matters

i$:

THE WAY TO 4 BRAVER LIFE

John McCain

Mark Salter

 

READ BY JORN MCCAIN

Why Courage Matters
John McCain

With the American presidential race nearing its end,
Chapters bookstore has put up an election display
in Metrotown, with a number of books on Barack
Obama, John McCain and Joe Biden (interestingly,
Sarah Palin hasn’t written a book yet...). One of

the best selections you can make is Why Courage
Matters, by John McCain, the Republican nominee.
Now, contrary to popular belief, not everything
McCain does is George Bush-like in terms of

being partisan. In fact, there is virtually no political
narrative in this book.

What McCain talks about are the best examples of
courage from his amazing life. He tells spellbinding
stories about his experiences in Vietnam and
incredible tales of outstanding courage and heroism
from some of the best people he’s encountered.
McCain also goes deeper into the reasons why we
need courage today and the role it plays in modern
society. Without a doubt, this book is worth every
penny you pay for it.

—Garth McLennan

Chloé Bach
arts@theotherpress.ca

 

A Hundred Million Suns

Snow Patrol

Snow Patrol’s latest album has a concept that’s a
little bit hard to understand. Most of the songs are
about being in a loving relationship, but at the same
time, most of the songs are also about disaster and
destruction. The opening track, “If There’s A Rocket
Tie Me To It,” is a perfect example. Listening to

an album of songs about doom being mixed with
overwhelming joy left me a bit confused about what
I was supposed to take away from it. All I know

is that the only song that I liked is the extremely
catchy lead single “Take Back The City,” but the
rest of the album is nothing like it, so don’t buy

this album just because you like that one or you’ll
be very disappointed. I suspect that people who are
already big fans of Snow Patrol will probably love
this album, but if you’re not one of them, A Hundred
Million Suns isn’t worth a listen.

—Mark Fisher

Turning Point: The Fall of Liberty
Spark Unlimited/Codemasters

If you’re looking for a good, first-person, non-stop action game, look no further than Turning Point: The Fall of
Liberty, from Spark Unlimited. The game just came out this year and is available on PS3, PS2 and PC. Turning
Point takes place back in the 1940s, at the tail end of World War II. Only, the game goes from the standpoint of
what would happen if Winston Churchill had died before the War began. The game begins with you as a nameless
New York construction worker, just before the Nazi invasion of New York. In Turning Point, the Allies lose
WWIL, and you, along with a small group of resistance fighters, have to battle back and try and save America. As
you run around New York, you get to kill a lot, and I mean a lot, of Nazis. That’s probably the best thing about
old-school video games: Nazis always make the best bad guys. As you’re running around a crumbling New York
City, the graphics make the fallen Metropolis look amazing, and you find yourself having to continually thwart
Nazi plans.

—Garth McLennan

®

codemeasters”

 

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