He was going to take the world back by storm. After a lengthy and hugely successful career, one that was filled with triumph and marred by controversy, was ready to make perhaps one last statement that he was, is, and will forever be the "King Of Pop." His presence in the music world surely has and can never be denied, but his physical presence in today's music world was one of elusive absence. I'm sure that he knew he could it, like he always did. Here we have a memento of what could have been. A dream that was dashed as a life ended prematurely in tragedy. This is it, Michael Jackson's final statement: "This Is It."

     This is a phenomenal film on so many levels. It opens with some touching interviews with his hand-picked dancers who seemed to be on cloud nine that they were getting the chance to perform with the legend on the world's stage. It was bittersweet to see only because these shows will never come to pass. Though, in a way, this film brings some sort of justice to all the hard work that was put in by everyone involved on the project. And what is great is that Michael Jackson genuinely appreciates all of the talent and enthusiasm surrounding him. He often throughout the film acknowledges his extensive team of dancers, technicians, fellow musicians and director Kenny Ortega. It's great to see that Jackson wasn't any sort of tyrant or primadonna among his crew. I didn't think he was anyway, but this film is a proof. Another great element is to see how MJ works with others. He listens to them as if they are his peers, but also is not afraid to articulate his own opinion and instruct others. He was indeed the leader and it was no doubt his word was highly respected.

     One of the most fascinating elements of this film is the knowledge and ability MJ had as a musician. As one of his accompanying musicians said of Jackson in the film, "he understands all of his albums, his music, every tempo, every key." That is  true in every sense of the word. I felt I was able to really appreciate him more as a musician after seeing him in this light. It was MJ raw and uncensored in dealing with his craft. He was so meticulous, but not rediculous. He showed such affection toward his performance, and it is a marvel to witness.

     The best parts of this film are clearly his performances. The rehearsal footage, filmed in HD cameras apparently, captured some terrific moments. You will see a great list of songs and they are performed essentially in their entirety which is simply put, awesome. You'll see some of the obvious ones like "Billie Jean", and "Thriller", but also some other fantastic hits like "Earth Song", "They Don't Care About Us" and "Jam." MJ was never off his game, he danced and sang as good as he ever has before in his storied career. At age 50, he was out-dancing his fellow dancers who were half his age. The obvious question is that, did he look like he was on any sort of drugs? I couldn't detect any hints of it. He seemed quite alert, comfortable in his surroundings, and of course, commanding of the stage.

     Watching the film, I was enraptured by his craft. And this film is a testament to it. It is a service to his fans around the globe, but also a definitive statement on what he was and will be remembered for. There is so much to say about this movie, and all the little things that were in it, and some of the surprises it contained; like new short videos for "Smooth Criminal" which featured MJ in the middle of a machine gun fight with Humphrey Bogart! This film is a marvel. It is pure entertainment, and you may feel a bittersweet sense of what could have been, but let's let the man, Michael Jackson, rest in peace. Let's enjoy and celebrate his craft. This is it, this is Michael Jackson.

-Kurt L.

     The Nintendo Entertainment System, commonly known as the NES, was in its fifth year by the time Super Mario Bros. 3 was released in 1990. It was third in the franchise series for Nintendo, and by far, the best, and most successful game of its time, and indeed, of all time. It is considered, and surely is without a shadow of a doubt, the pinnacle of perfection for the NES. No other game at the time was able to match its technical prowess and its innovative and intuitive combinations of level design, character design, music, and gameplay. It is no surprise why this game is indeed, until 2008, the best-selling video game of all time.

     I personally have nothing but praise for this game, as it is indeed my all-time favorite game. Almost 20 years later, I still play this game regularly because it is so enduring, and timeless despite its now-archaic 8-bit style. Well, perhaps not archaic, because, these days retro games are making a major comeback, and Nintendo is still catering to that crowd with such upcoming releases like NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. WII, which will indeed be a throwback to such classics like MARIO 3. I love this game, and everything about it. It is surely the one game where I can safely I have mastered, but, yet, somehow, I keep coming back to it to experience its timeless challenges.

     And why is this game so timeless? It's because this game is so fundamentally strong. It has a great classic story, a very familiar one for Super Mario fans, where Prince Toadstool is captured by the evil King Koopa (a.k.a. Bowser), and Mario much find her and travel across 8 treacherous levels to rescue her from his evil clutches; a wonderfully simple story that provides the foundation. The gameplay makes the game so fluid and playable, and re-playable. The controls are tight, very responsive, and with all the varying ways that you can beat this game, that is a leading reason as to why this classic endures. A flurry of power-ups, and a system of storing them, keep the game fresh and leave you with the choice and a strategy on how to win.

     The levels themselves, all eight of them, are all so different and unique from one another in their own special way. You have grass lands, deserts, water worlds, worlds filled with giants, the sky and clouds, worlds of ice, pipes, and fire and treachory. It surely broke the mold when it came out in 1990 with all of its creativity and innovation, but it also defined how the 2D platformer would be forever; and indeed it would heavily influence the 3D platformers as well (what else would have been a better model?).

     Music is often a strong point in many NES games including the Mega Man series, Contra, Bionic Commando, the Zelda games, and even lesser known games like Journey To Silius. Mario 3 is no different in this regard as it stands at the top of the soundtrack chain with some of many of the classic Super Mario themes as well as numerous new ones that will keep you humming along with them. And not only that, but don't forget about the unforgettable sound effects such as Mario powering-up, jumping, spitting fireballs, and kicking turtle shells about.

     I can't stress enough how perfect Super Mario Bros. 3 actually is. If you haven't played it by now, or perhaps, weren't around when it actually was released, it is time you play it. You can find Mario 3 in many others places: on Super Nintendo as part of the "Super Mario All-Stars compilation", or on Game Boy Advance titled "Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3", or of course on Wii's Virtual Console for a steal of five dollars. I'd of course recommend hunting down an original Mario 3 NES cartridge somewhere and playing on an old NES for the best experience, but, regardless, it is a game to be played.

     It's no wonder why this game is so good.

-Kurt L.

     It has been 14 years since their last true studio recorded album. Their lead singer passed away in 2002, and their names had gone from the spotlight of MTV and rock radio to shadows in obscurity. Their legacy as part of the indelible "grunge" movement of the 1990s had faded, and they now return in 2009.

      They come back well after their hey-day, but, they return in form, and with a new sense of purpose. In many ways, it also seems that they never left at all. That they are picking up right where they left off, except of course, without the aid of their most popular member, lead singer Layne Staley, who unfortunately died too young of a heroin addiction back in 2002. An addiction that sadly closed the door on the bands future, and punctuated the fact that Alice In Chains would never see the light of day ever again.

     However, that had changed when Alice In Chains, reunited, and decided after all this time, they would be a band again. Jerry Cantrell, one of the main brains behind the band, who had a fairly successful solo career in AIC's absence, decides to give it a go once again with his flagship band of the 90s. They even found themselves a new lead singer; a feat that not many bands can pull off with much success, with the exception of Van Halen when Sammy Hagar replaced David Lee Roth. AIC found William DuVall, and they all teamed up again to record a new album.

      BLACK GIVES WAY TO BLUE says a lot about Alice In Chains as they are today. It is a fine album, one that conveys and encompasses many different elements of the band. From the outset, the album starts with a nice opening track that broods in with some heavy guitars and the harmonizing vocals of leader Jerry Cantrell and new lead singer William DuVall. The two actually sing together exceptionally well, and frankly, the strengths of this album are from their vocal performances.

     It isn't until the third track, "Last Of My Kind" where William DuVall gets some solo singing time. And because of that, I couldn't help but think that Cantrell was perhaps a little afraid to let go and just simply let DuVall sing by himself. He is indeed talented, but, there isn't enough of DuVall by himself on this album. However, as I had said earlier, the two sing BETTER together. Speaking of vocals, Jerry Cantrell himself just continues to improve as a distinguished singer. To be perfectly blunt, I suggest that Cantrell is actually a better singer than DuVall.

     Some other elements that ring deep and true about this record is that it echoes and references Layne Staley, the band's late lead singer, often. I was hoping for that, and thankfully, it came through strong. What is most startling perhaps, is that, speaking of Staley, the duo of Cantrell and DuVall sound so much like the late singer it is eerie. It is mesmerizing to hear because it is so profound. In fact, one of the album's finest tracks, "When The Rose Sun Again" sounds as if all three, Cantrell, DuVall, AND Staley, are singing together. Like I said, VERY eerie. Overall, the musicality of the album is quite strong. Cantrell, who in the past didn't think of himself as a great guitarist (though he always was), is in fantastic form here and has some blistering guitar solos like that in the opening track "All Secrets Known." Not to mention some nice licks in "Take Her Out" and "Private Hell." The rythym section is always a strong point, as I have personally always been a big fan of drummer Sean Kinney. The ryhtyms are not quite as unique as they were on past albums such as JAR OF FLIES, but, still very good indeed.

     Perhaps the most memorable song on this album is the final track. It is the title song, and it is Jerry Cantrell's ode to his late departed friend. It is a touching tribute, and also quite brief as it clocks in at under three minutes. Perhaps it is meant to be so short, as to infer that Layne Staley's life was cut too short. In any case, it is beautiful, and for that reason alone, the album is worth getting. It also features Elton John on piano, which is another interesting, and emotional touch. I would only hope that because of Elton's appearance on the title track, it would bring extra attention to the album.

     BLACK GIVES WAY TO BLUE is not perfect, but, it is indeed a long awaited comeback that many thought would never come due to Staley's untimely death. And it just isn't merely a comeback, it is a statement that Alice In Chains have returned to the musical scene with a mission; determined to provide the world with some new ambitious music. I surely recommend this album to any fan of the band. Fans will always miss Staley, and while DuVall doesn't replace him, the band itself knows it shall never forget his memory. As Cantrell sings, "lay down, I'll remember you."

TRACK HIGHLIGHTS:
"Black Gives Way To Blue"

"When The Sun Rose Again"

"Your Decision"

"Check My Brain"

"Private Hell"

"Take Her Out"

-Kurt L.

Mood:  energetic

This is my first entry in my new website, which I have titled "Ethos Reviews." The word "ethos" derives from Greek language and it means a representation of ones characteristics, and traits. And indeed here, on this website, perhaps through my writing, and my opinions on certain matters, the reading public will then truly see my very own "ethos."

It is astounding how much freedom there is on the internet, particularly in the means of expression. Any person, anyone with a drive to get their names out there, or someone who simply feels like doing some cathartic writing, has the ability to do so in todays age. There is so much material to see and read out there, and I am sure, there will be so much that we will never see, but, the very idea that  all of this work is out there, is a testament to our progressive lives as human beings.

What writing is worth reading and what isn't? Well, that is not up for me to decide, I humbly hope that some will read mine, and perhaps make them think, or inspire them, or that it will be interpreted as entertainment. Regardless of what level my writing strikes you, I appreciate being read. And I thank you for coming to my website. But going back to what is worth reading or not, it makes me think of John Milton's "Areopagtica" where he felt that everything had the right to be published, and put out there, and let us, the people, the readers, decide for themselves.