A curmudgeon writes.
Tex by Tex Perkins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
TEX IS SEX, or so read the graffiti I used to see sometimes. Everyone kind of knows the guy – Greg to his mum – whether it’s because they used to see the Beasts, or because of that fight at the ARIAs, or because he’s the dude who makes albums with Don and Charlie, or because of that time he suggested it might be time for legal advice. You know – that guy.
Continue reading “Book review: Tex”
I’m just back from a couple of days in Melbourne at the Supersense festival, and am kind of exhausted but mostly happy. So I figured while it was fresh I’d note some thoughts on the whole shebang.
The festival bills itself as an examination of the ecstatic experience, and that pretty accurately covers the couple of days I spent in the phone coverage-free bowels of Arts Centre Melbourne. Like other festivals it’s run to a timetable, sure. But this one saw performances enacted in familiar venues seen from unusual perspectives: foyers, rehearsal rooms and, notably, viewed from an enormous stage (and not the stalls). Throughout, I saw and heard a dedication to pushing music somewhere that transcends the idea of mere performance – sometimes unsuccessfully, but often brilliantly.
TLDR version? Goes orright, mate.
Continue reading “Supersense, Melbourne: August 18-20, 2017”
Like the end of the world? Enjoy walking around? Hate people?
Well, have I got the game for you.
Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture is a game by the developers of Dear Esther, probably the best-known walking simulator game. Where that game focused on paths around a small island, Rapture allows you to wander around a fictional Shropshire valley, ostensibly at the end of Something Really Catastrophic. Continue reading “A Shropshire apocalypse”
Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth by Chris Ware
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Chris Ware’s almost-autobiographical tale of a meek man and his familial foundering has been on my to-read list since it started winning a bunch of awards in 2001. I’m kind of glad I’m reading it now, because I’m not sure I would’ve had the emotional fortitude to survive it back then.
Continue reading “Book review: Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth”
The Decagon House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Imagine a ten-sided house. Add to it murder mystery enthusiasts, each bearing a famous crime writer’s nickhame. Add a sprinkling of weird fiction ghostliness and gothic murder. Then kill everybody.
Continue reading “Book review: The Decagon House Murders”
After the extended session that was my Batman: Arkham series experience, I figured I needed something to clear out the cobwebs a bit. A short thing that I could zoom through that was completely different to the face-punching and gliding I’d been doing.
Giant Sparrow’s What Remains of Edith Finch was what I chose. It’s not something that requires a lot of playtime – I think I completed the game and about 80 per cent of its trophies in just under two hours – but it was quite a thought-provoking experience. Some spoilers probably follow, so if you’re considering playing, maybe do that first. Continue reading “What Remains of Edith Finch (2017)”
Well, after over one hundred hours of playtime, I’ve made my way through the Arkham series of Batman games. So here’s some thoughts about them. (If you want to read about my experience with Telltale’s foray into Gotham, go here.)
Undoubtedly, there’ll be spoilers aplenty, so if you haven’t played – and really, you should – proceed with caution.
First, though:
(Longer version. Originally from PVP.)
Wolf in White Van by John Darnielle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The short review? Songwriter writes book. Book digs a bit deeper into some of songwriter’s peccadilloes. People who like songwriter’s work will like book. EXEUNT.
I have to admit I was predisposed towards liking this book given that I am a fan of Darnielle’s music. Knowing how good the writing is in The Mountain Goats – an eclectic, honest and nerdily funny combo who’ve produced some of the best songs about a) peanuts, b) relationship decline, c) abusive adolescence and d) insurance fraud ever (I’m not covering goths, road trips, wrestling, Michael Myers or religion here, but take my word for it, they’re there) – I expected good things.
Continue reading “Book review: Wolf in White Van”
Outcast, Vol. 4: Under Devil’s Wing by Robert Kirkman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
So we remember what I said about the first volume of this series? And the second? And the third? Again, we can spin it out to the fourth: developing, slowly, with enough subtlety in the presentation to keep me reading.
This trade brings us pretty much up to date: at the time of writing there’s been four additional issues, so we’re still two off another collection. The show based on the property has been and gone, and is seems Kirkman is interested in keeping the slow-burn nature we’ve become accustomed to thus far. But this volume seems to feature more explaining than previous collections, and ramps up the fuck-is-all-the-town-involved? weirdness level.
Continue reading “Book review: Outcast, Vol. 4: Under Devil’s Wing”
Outcast, Vol. 3: This Little Light by Robert Kirkman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Third volume through and we can pretty much take the previous thoughts I’ve had on this series and stretch ’em out again.
Once more, the story of possession and high stakes starring Kyle Barnes, his mate the Reverend Anderson and that blow-in who manages to look like a cross between Roger from Mad Men and an escapee from a Norman Rockwell painting.
See? Continue reading “Book review: Outcast, Vol. 3: This Little Light”
Yeah nah. 
