i ar CALIFORNICATION SEASON ONE David Duchovny stars as Hank Moody in the 2007 breakout hit television series Californication. Now available on DVD, it has met much controversy due to its awesomely scandalous nature. The lobby group Family First called for a boycott of the show describing it as “drug, sex and vomit-laden.” Who in their right mind wouldn’t want to watch that?! Hank Moody is a womanizing, functioning alcoholic who is still in love with his ex and struggling to find work following his one-hit wonder novel. The show contains dark and complex character plots, infused with quality dry humor; Hank is even as arrogant as Duchovny seems in real life. I'd be lying if I said Californication was anything short of the most inappropriate show on television; yet it’s so addictive! The plot is intelligent, twisted and quirky and will make most want to kick back and watch the whole season in one sitting. —Chloé Bach peenngnnsieennte oo asiamnenyaacnsnsminae iter sie MARIO KART WII As if Wii wasn’t addictive enough, we now have to contend with infuriating and ridiculously fun original remakes like Mario Kart. In April of this year, the geniuses at Nintendo released the game for which you need the separately sold, freestanding miniature steering wheels, not to mention some patience. The ascending speed levels are deceiving; at the 50cc level your skills are top notch, but when you get to higher levels it’s a challenge to even stay on the mini kart track. Necessary practice aside, it’s a fun game. Old fashion type fun, sans gore and doom. In typical Mario style, the noises are happy, the colours are bright and the worst you can do is chuck a red shell. Topping that off, the graphics are impressive and the varying racetracks even more so. From treetops to underwater adventures, Mario Kart Wii is bound to provide good times and entertainment. —Chloé Bach August 5, 2008 Saul Williams The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust! Saul Williams got a lot of press a few months ago with the Radiohead-style free release of this album. Problem is, the very man who hosts the release, Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, hijacks the album. Reznor serves as the album’s producer, and his overbearing presence is felt on all the beats, which are heavy-handed and graceless. Take a cue from the Last Poets; there’s something to be said about restraint when you're making beats for political hip-hop. Williams is capable of some good rhymes (check out the wordplay on “Black History Month”), but too often he gets smug and prefers sticking religiously to a song’s too- clever concept rather than playing around within it. Worst offence of all is his cover of U2’s “Sunday, Bloody Sunday.” It sounds so note-for-note like the original it might as well have been done for a karaoke night. —Liam Britten Elvis Costello and the Imposters: Momofuku It’s great that Elvis Costello is back to a productive phase in his career again after slowing down throughout most of the ‘90s. This is the best Elvis we’ ve heard in a while; he’s still clever, sarcastic and mean, but he’s loosened up a little too. None of his stuffy exercises in chamber pop here, just the dark pop-rock Elvis was legendary for. “American Gangster Time” is probably the standout track, with its joyfully sloppy guitar work and gorgeous chorus backed up by Steve Nieve’s ballpark organ. Even when things slow down, like on “Flutter and Wow,” it’s still engaging; it’s one of his usual ultra tense love songs, but it seems like age has given him a little bit of perspective on these things. For the angriest man in rock and roll, he sure knows how to have fun. —Liam Britten Ashley Dearborn Shoes 2008 Fall Line Ashley Dearborn creates a fun and unique lines of shoes that will make any fashion minded woman (or man) an instant fan. In fact, her slogan is: “bringing color, femininity, attitude and individuality to your shoes.” And it’s true! Celebrities love them and you will too. The Vogue-featured collection, all beautifully manufactured in Italy, ranges in colour and style from flip- flops to flashy stilettos. The ultra feminine styles provide a fresh alternative to the oh-so-typical Aldo-type shoe fashion and will spice up any basic or neutral outfit. Although the boutique designer brand shoes do retail for a more substantial amount than your basics, the quality, originality and style make them well worth it. So splurge, you deserve it! The savvy shopper will be able to find great clearance deals from her 2008 summer line, or regular priced fall items both on Ashley Dearborn’s website and others. —Chloé Bach The Beat of Urban Art The art of Justin Bua falls under the style category of Distorted Urban Realism and is probably unlike anything you’ve ever seen. In his stylized paintings, he depicts his childhood memories of growing up in the then rough-and-tumble Upper West Side of Manhattan fed with a hip-hop vibe. The distorted characters, deep colours and soulful expressions make for fascinating pieces that must be respected despite personal preference. Justin published a book entitled The Beat of Urban Art, a visual narrative autobiography and social commentary that pays homage to his culture and era. Christina Ricci, Eva Longoria and Tony Parker are fans of his originals; however, the posters of his originals are a great and affordable option to liven up your living space. Posters of his newest or limited edition works are always updated and for sale on his website, www.justinbua. com. And while you’re there, check out his specially designed kicks! —Chloé Bach Robot Chicken: Star War As both a Star Wars fanatic and a Robot Chicken lover, to see both worlds combined was, dare I say it: utterly orgasmic. Though previous Robot Chicken episodes are spotted with Star Wars references, this special focuses solely on the magic of the Force. Within this episode, executive producers Seth Green and Matthew Senreich offer a “behind the scenes” approach to the saga, showcasing the Emperor’s response to the Death Star’s destruction, unveiling Boba Fett’s lust for Han Solo, and, among many other things, clarify what truly occurred in the Cantina in episode four between Ponda Baba and Luke Skywalker. Also, if you thought it was impossible to loathe Jar Jar Binks any more, I assure you, after watching this you'll feel hatred towards him like never before. Like any Star Wars parody, if you’re unfamiliar with the territory, I don’t recommend watching it. For those of you in tune with the Force though, I highly recommend this satirical twist on the Jedi, Sith Lords, and George Lucas alike. —Lisa Bellano Dungeons and Dragons Fourth Edition D&D has always been re-inventing itself in an effort to make role-play gaming easier and less time-consuming; after all, gamers want to be busy selecting the next target of their sword attack, not busy calculating the total attack bonus of an enemy who has two- thirds cover and the “Blur” enchantment cast on them. Fourth edition attempts to make things easier by cutting out as much of the fat as they possibly can; it’s often effective, but sometimes they’re fixing things that really aren’t broken. Some characters, like wizards and rogues are more fun to play, but clerics, conversely, are pretty boring to play as. If you want a game that’s easy to pick up and wastes no time getting to the action, this is for you. But if you like your role-playing experience to have a little more nuance and depth, stick to third edition. —Liam Britten