FourPlay with Digital Journal: Rating Sites, Sounds, Words and Games

SOUNDS
Alexisonfire, Moneen, The Switcheroo Series (Vagrant)
Two Canadian bands cover each other’s songs in an innovative EP sure to light up fans of both Alexisonfire and Moneen. When AOF scream-sings Moneen’s tracks, it’s unusual but energetic, while the whispering in AOF’s songs lend a more haunting vibe to the band’s usual hard-rock tone. The only downside is the EP breaks from its concept to include two original tracks — where’s the switcheroo there?

Hip Hop Essentials, 1979 – 1991 (Tommy Boy)
Blinging b-boys, pay attention. Tommy Boy’s 12-volume compilation is the “for-dummies” guide to hip-hop roots, digging out classics such as Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power” and the Beastie Boys’ “Hey Ladies.” In 144 songs, you’ll hear the funk, soul and rhyming prowess straight from the innovators of an art form often copied but rarely perfected. Bonus goodies are the discs’ liner notes, which serve as mini-essays on hip-hop’s influence on our culture today.

WORDS
The Rough Guide to Horror Movies by Alan Jones (ISBN 1-84353-521-1)
Before creepy kids in Japanese remakes crowded the horror-flick landscape, characters such as Pinhead and Leatherface scared the sleep out of everyone’s eyes. With a nostalgic nod to both classics and up-and-comers, this encyclopedic book reviews 50 essential slasher films, while loading the back pages with insight into how different countries stylize their zombies and vampires.

Google Power: Unleash the Full Potential of Google by Chris Sherman (ISBN 0-07-225787-3)
Every tidbit of Google minutia gets dissected in this hefty book designed to make power-searching as easy as double-clicking. The Google amateur can learn how to find stock quotes and email addresses while the Google expert gets the lowdown on corralling content that has been released from the Web. The author doesn’t just dry-hump Google’s offerings; he expands his scope by suggesting competing search engines and tools for a thorough Internet romp.

GAMES
Call of Duty 2 (Xbox 360)
The sequel blows away the original in a WWII first-person shooter ideal for the HDTV-ready Xbox 360. Call of Duty 2 improves on several fronts: auto-saving during missions, smarter AI, updated multiplayer maps. Consider this game a thinking man’s Doom — accurate shooting and battlefield strategy are required skills. Weapon nuts will appreciate more toys to choose from, including smoke grenades when the fog of war won’t cut it.

Project Gotham Racing 3 (Xbox 360)
Have racing games really improved since the Gran Turismo days? We can all nod our heads “yes” with PGR3, a blissful marriage of gorgeous graphics, detailed modelling and realistic sound. Every aspect, from the in-car view to the cheering bystanders snapping photos, add to the visual beauty of this game, while the controls are easy enough for a 10-year-old to master. Best played while trash-talking competitors on Xbox Live.