TOG's TOP TEN BANDS/ARTISTS

TOG's TOP TEN BANDS/ARTISTS

10. Metric

I don't fully remember how I discovered METRIC. But when I did I was completely hooked. With fun melodies with sometimes not so fun lyrics makes this band really good. I was able to see them in Vegas a couple years ago and that was pretty fun.

Songs to check out - Gold Guns Girls, Youth Without Youth, Synthetica, Sick Muse, & Black Sleep

Album to check out - Syntheica

9. Korn

During my angsty teenager years (compared to my current angsty adult years) this was my favorite music in the world. They are not the same currently as it was when I was younger but this band will always have a place for me. It perfect music for when I am angry and bitter. It was also the first live performance I seen on my 21st birthday.

Songs to check out - Got the Life, Freak on a Leash, Make Me Bad, Here to Stay, & Trash

Album to check out - Issues

8. Yeah Yeah Yeahs

This music is pure off the wall "corkiness". As soon as my friend suggested I listen to them it was all I played for weeks. They are still on a list of bands I still need to see live.

Songs to check out - 10x10, Isis, Zero, Heads Will Roll, Sacrilege

Album to check out - It's Blitz!

7. Metallica

Metallica has been making music since before I was born and they are still amazing at it. I prefer 90's Metallica after The Black Album to the 80s guitar epic Metallica which is considered wrong but whatever. Saw them in Vegas also and it was pretty great.

Songs to check out - No Leaf Clover, Nothing Else Matters, Until it Sleeps, Turn the Page, and Enter Sandman

Album to check out - S & M or Load

6. Rammstein

Angry German industrial metal music. After I moved on from listening to KORN with my angst, I moved on to RAMMSTEIN. I love the powerful beats and when the lyrics are translated it has has some great lyrics. I don't know if I ever want to see them live because they all scare me. They also have the best set of music videos ever.

Songs to check out - Ich Will, Du Hast, Engel, Mutter, Sonne

Album to check out - Mutter

5/ 4. Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails & How to Destroy Angels)

 Trent Reznor is my 2nd favorite musical god. Not many people know that he IS Nine Inch Nails. He writes it all. He has started a side project HtDA with his wife, who also has an amazing voice. Not mention he is doing the score for my favorite director's films (The Social Network, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and currently Gone Girl). I have seen both bands live and HtDA is my 2nd favorite show ever. The above image is from a live show and it was just so cool looking.

Songs to check out -  Head Like A Hole, Terrible Lie, Closer, Deep, Ruiner (NIN) / Welcome Oblivion, Parasite, The Space in Between, A Drowning, How Long? (HtDA)

Albums to check out - Pretty Hate Machine (NIN) / Welcome Oblivion (HtDA) 

3/2/1. Maynard James Keenan (Tool, A Perfect Circle, & Puscifer)

I mentioned above that Reznor was my 2nd favorite musical god. Here is number one. The man has no less then 3 separate musical projects. TOOL is the original and most popular with it's extended songs about abstract stuff, APC is the supergroup formed with many other artists from other bands. PUSCIFER (despite the childish name) is very experimental grooves with a sexual undertone in a lot of it. All of them have a distint sound to them but all share the amazing vocals of Keenan.  Keenan & Reznor were suppose to do a band together and I am sad it never happened. I have seen TOOL live once, a 2 day show for APC, and PUSCIFER twice. The first time is my favorite show of all time. 

Songs to check out - Schism, Lateralus, Vicarious, The Grunge, The Patient (TOOL) / Judith, Blue, Weak & Powerless, Vanishing, Gravity (APC) / Vagina Mine, Momma Sed, The Humbling River,  Tiny Monsters, Holiday on the Moon (PUSCIFER)

Albums to check out - Lateralus (TOOL) / The Thirteenth Step (APC) / V is Vagina (Puscifer)

Honorable Mentions : Lacuna Coil, Godsmack, Linkin Park, the Naked & Famous, TATU

TOG's TOP TEN PLAYSTATION 3 GAMES

TOG's TOP TEN PLAYSTATION 3 GAMES

I am not just going to list playstation exclusive titles but ones that I have played on the console. I have always liked games that had a good story on top of the other things that make a great game. Graphics, characters, gameplay, etc. Anyone of those things could be argued to be the most important aspect of a game, but it really matters on who plays it. I also excluded HD remakes from the list.

10. Prince of Persia

A reboot of the original PRINCE OF PERSIA games saw a new prince in a new setting. I am/was a huge fan of this game. I love the cel shaded look and the story was actually really good. The gameplay was pretty much the same throughout, climb here, collect light seeds, and fight this guy. But it was so much fun. They also had Elika as your companion throughout the game. She saves you from dying from enemies and falling. This might seem odd as there is no challenge but it's basically the same cause falling starts you back at a previous point. And when she heals you, the enemy gets healed also. I really wish that they made a sequel to this. 

9. God of War III

This game is brutal. You play as Kratos, a man of vengeance and rage who was wronged by the gods and now wants to kill them all. The first GoW was about killing Ares, then the sequels focused on Zeus and the rest. This was the first game released on the new consoles when 1 and 2 were on PS2. You fight and rip apart so many creatures and characters of Greek mythology. The highlight of the game is fighting a Godzilla sized Titan and taking him down.

8. Assassin's Creed II

There have been 6 main installments in the ASSASSIN'S CREED franchise. One a year since AC2 was released. But I feel every game since has been a copy of this one, the only one that really offered anything new was AC4. I enjoyed the first game alright but this one had me hooked. Any free moment I had was playing this game. I once spent a day off for 14 hours straight playing this (man I wish I could do that nowadays). I did everything I could in that game and really 100% it. 

7. Bioshock 2

Man all three of the BIOSHOCK games belong on this list. One of the others actually is, but I left out the first game. It is really great but I choose 2 over it because 1 had a protagonist that was just a plot device. 2 was better because it was more personal, the decisions you made during the game affected what another character does and acts at the end. It is some heartbreaking stuff. I have played it in both good and bad mode. The atmosphere in these games are insane.

6. Dead Space 2

Man these games are nightmares. I never could play a horror game until I tried Dead Space. I screamed and yelled a lot. The sequel was more action oriented then original. Like comparing ALIEN to ALIENS. But from the opening scene running down a hallway in a straightjacket, to the famous eye scene. It is just one insane moment after the next. Also exploding babies.

5. Heavenly Sword

Known by many as GODDESS OF WAR because it's similarity in gameplay to the GOD OF WAR series. But I think it's better because I really enjoy the overall narrative of it. Using motion capture of great actors to create the character. I also enjoyed at the end where I fought an entire army who was on the scene at once. I never seen that many moveable characters at once. This also never got a sequel and it's a shame. 

4. The Walking Dead - Season One

So many feels. This was more of interactive movie where you walk around, talk to characters, & interact with items that help you change the story. But the overall narrative is the same, it just changes you how to got there. This is better then the mediocre show and the comics that I actually really like. Need to play Season Two soon.

3. Red Dead Redemption

The game was designed to be GRAND THEFT AUTO in the old west and that's what it was. The game was a perfect homage to the gritty style we expect of Westerns. Full of great characters and full of so much to do. Shootouts, poker games, hogtying someone to the train tracks, you almost do it all. Plus it had one of the best DLC's in UNDEAD NIGHTMARE where zombies, chupucabras, sasquatches, the four horse of apocalypse, and a unicorn take over the old west. 

2. Bioshock Infinite

The first two BIOSHOCK's were set in the underwater city of Rapture. This time it was set in a new fictional city of Columbia, that is floating high in the air. You play as Booker who is a man with a debt. He is sent to Columbia to save Elizabeth. It then becomes a great story about redemption and possibility. Elizabeth was designed and modeled after a lot of Disney Princesses. 

1. Metal Gear Solid 4 - Guns of the Patriots

The MGS series is one of the my favorite things of all time. This was supposed to be the final entry to the game (it's not now). So it was set up to the big finale of the journey of Solid Snake and any loose ends. I have a hard time choosing which MGS is the best but this is a powerful contender. With the great stealth gameplay (might be too easy) & so many fantastic moments make this one of my favorite games of all time. 

HONORABLE MENTIONS : Batman - Arkham Asylum, Tomb Raider (2013), The Unfinished Swan, & DMC - Devil May Cry

GAMES I STILL NEED TO PLAY : The Last of Us, Heavy Rain, Uncharted 2 & 3, Mass Effect 2 & 3, Journey, Skyrim

TOG's TOP TEN FILMS

TOG's TOP TEN FILMS

10. Spirited Away

This may be higher on the list when I have revisited it a few times. But I love all of Miyazaki films and this is his best. PONYO is a pretty close second and I want a blu-ray of this already. 

9. The Cabin in the Woods

This movie is insane. It takes all the paint by the numbers horror tropes used by so many films and explains why they exist in the most meta way. Written by Joss Whedon, the film is full of his wit and character. 

8. The Boondock Saints

Man this movie has a lot of haters. Considered a cult classic, I seen this movie when I was a teenager. I didn't instantly love it, but everytime I have seen it since I love it more. I think it really appeals to a sense of justice I wish existed in this world.

7. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The first of three David Fincher's films on my list. Which is probably why he is my favorite movie director. This movie gets compared a lot to FORREST GUMP but as I haven't seen that yet, it was new to me. Brad Pitt as always been one of my favorite actors and I think he also has three movies on my list. I am going to admit the ending makes me tear up a bit.

6. The Avengers

I have always been a fan of comic books and superheroes. I enjoy when these characters started seeing mainstream success with the X-MEN and SPIDER-MAN properties of the 2000's. Then came a lot of terrible to mediocre films like DAREDEVIL, HULK, and GHOST RIDER. I always wanted to see superheroes crossover which is a lot of the fun of the comics. Then Marvel started it's own studio with IRON MAN. It was fantastic, then when Tony Stark appeared at the end of THE INCREDIBLE HULK, I geeked. It was a bold move to pull off what they did but they did flawlessly.

5. Inglourious Basterds

Quentin Tarantino's masterpiece as stated by Brad Pitt at the end of the movie. Set in Nazi-occupied France during World War Two. The movie is full of other the top violence and ridiculous characters that Tarantino is known for. 

4. The Social Network

Here is the 2nd David Fincher film and this time it was scored by one of my favorite musicians, Trent Reznor. When I heard he was making a movie about Facebook, I was unsure. But when I seen it I was blown away. This movie inspires me to create something for myself in ways nothing else has done. 

3. Fight Club

And the best David Fincher film of them all. Based off the book from the weird mind of Chuck Palahniuk, which I should read sometime. This movie is the ultimate social commentary on the idea of 20th Century western masculinity. Also smart writing and a great twist makes this movie great. 

2. Lord of the Rings

I am counting all 3 as one giant movie cause it really is. Peter Jackson did a great job adapting something that seemed like a huge task. This is what I consider to be THE movie epic. To some it's Star Wars but that is overrated. Return of the King or Return of the Jedi. Haters to the left.

1. The Dark Knight

As in my last list, Batman was my favorite character. So it makes sense this is my favorite movie. It's more then a comic book film, it's also a gangster movie and noir film. It plays off the idea of order vs chaos in the trinity of Batman, the Joker, and Harvey Dent. Great stuff.

Honorable Mentions - Juno, Seven, Sin City, Up, and Pan's Labyrinth

TOG's TOP TEN COMIC BOOK CHARACTERS

TOG's TOP TEN COMIC BOOK CHARACTERS

10. Batwoman (Katherine Kane)

"After being dismissed by the military for being a lesbian, Kate Kane lived a directionless party-girl heirless life until, on a dark knight, a chance encounter with Batman inspired her to find a new calling in life, later adopting the mantle of Batwoman."

This is list is dominated by Bat-centric characters because there are so many good ones. This version of Batwoman was re-imagined by Greg Rucka is a fairly new character.  She is one of the best designed comic characters I have ever seen and you should do a quick google search of Batwoman and Williams III to see some amazing art. I really like the character because she is not a direct part of the Bat-family and was just inspired by the legend. She is also one of the first gay characters that it wasn't even a main focus of her character. Just an afterthought like all characters should be. 

Recommended Reading : Detective Comics #854-863, Batwoman #1-24

9. Scott Pilgrim

"Scott is the titular hero from the graphic novel series "Scott Pilgrim". He must defeat Ramona Flowers' seven evil ex-boyfriends in order to date her. He plays bass guitar in the band Sex Bob-omb."

Scott Pilgrim is the average person. The series of books that introduce him and his world are full of many characters that almost anyone could relate to. Scott Pilgrim is a character I relate too. A lovable buffoon that is down on his luck sometimes. 

Recommended Reading : Scott Pilgrims Volumes 1-6

8. Batgirl (Cassandra Cain)

"Daughter of assassins David Cain and Lady Shiva, Cassandra left her father as a child after she killed a man. After saving Commissioner Gordon's life, she was adopted by Bruce Wayne. Becoming the new Batgirl with Batman and Oracle's blessing."

Cassandra is the second person to take the Batgirl mantle after the injury of Barbara Gordon some years before. She is the first person to be introduced as "sidekick" that was more fighter then intelligent. She was trained to read body language instead of any other. She didn't know how to read write, or even talk. That gave her amazing fighting abilities. I like the character cause of her background and search for redemption. It is shame that DC just forgot about the character after a great solo series. I heard they brought her back in the new 52 but I have let to read it."

Recommended Reading : Batgirl Volume 1 #1-73

7. Robin (Damian Wayne)

"Damian Wayne is the son of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul. Trained by the League of Assassins all his life, Damian joined with his father's side in  the war on crime by becoming the fifth Robin." 

  

Damian Wayne is one of the best created characters in the last decade or ever. All the Robin's before him were created as fun, carefree characters to contrast Batman's dark attitude.  But after the death of Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson took over the mantle of Batman. The tones of the both characters switch. Batman was the fun character and Robin became the grump. It was a great switch and I wish they kept it going for longer. 

Recommended Reading : Batman Volume 1 #655-658, Batman & Robin Volume 1 #1-26, Batman Incorporated Volume 2 #1-13, Batman Streets of Gotham #1-12

6. Daredevil (Matt Murdock)

"As a child, Matt Murdock was blinded by radioactive waste while trying to save a stranger about to get hit by the truck carrying the dangerous material. In turn his other senses were heightened to superhuman sharpness and he gained a form of "radar sense"."

Most people's only knowledge is that crappy movie from years ago starring The Affleck. That was really my first real knowledge of the character also. I knew who he was before that but never read any of the books. Then I read the famous run on the title by Brian Michael Bendis. He outed the identity to the world and just created a storm for Murdock. Then came a string of fantastic runs by great writers to just make a great character. No matter how bad his life gets, he will always fight back and protect the innocent.

Recommended Reading : Daredevil Volume 3 16-19/26-512, Volume 4 1-36

5. Death

"One of the seven Endless, inconceivably powerful beings, Death is both lord and personification of all life and death. She is well known for being the opposite of what most people think Death is like, rather then being an ominous figure, she is a friend to all those under her auspice."

Neil Gaiman's The Sandman introduced us to another great character that is Dream of the Endless, but I always liked and loved his older sister Death. She is there for you in your last moments to help anyone move on. Always cheerful and happy for someone with such a great task. 

Recommended Reading : Parts of The Sandman #1-75, Death: The High Cost of Living, & Death: The Time of Your Life

4. Lucifer Morningstar

"Once the proudest and the most beautiful of all angels in existence, Lucifer was sent by The Presence to rule over Hell after he rebelled. After governing Hell for more then 10 billion years, he left to look for a way out of predestination, to escape Yahweh's grand plan."

The character was first introduced in The Sandman but later was given his own series by Mike Carey. Not only is it my 2nd favorite comic series but the star character Lucifer is one of my favorite characters. Yes he is the fallen angel and former ruler of Hell. He is not the personalization of all evil, he is a prideful being trying to find his own way outside of his father's influence. Yes he is a dick and yes he is a selfish prick at times. But he completely honest with you, which could be a bad thing on it's own.

Recommended Reading : The Sandman #22-28. The Sandman Presents: Lucifer #1-3, Lucifer #1-75, Nirvana

3. John Constantine

"John Constantine, Hellblazer, is a working class magician, occult detective, and a golden-tongued con man. He is known for his scathing wit, endless cynicism, ruthless cunning, and a constant chain smoker."

There are a lot of dickish characters on this list but he is the best. A master manipulator who is sometimes good and sometimes bad. They made a film about him starring Keanu Reeves that wasn't exactly the character. They have a new show coming soon that seems more like the original. I hope it's good. 

Recommended Reading : Hellblazer #1-300 (notably #177-215)

2. The Punisher (Frank Castle)

"After his family was killed by the mob, US Marine veteran Frank Castle became an old man army in the war against organized crime. The symbol of death's head emblazoned on his chest, he is now the violent force of nature known as The Punisher."

Frank Castle is not just a character. He is a force of nature. He exists strictly as punishment for those who do harm to others. Mobsters, nazis, rapists, criminals, crooked cops, slavers, child molesters, and more. They all meet their end at the hands of the Punisher. 

Recommended Reading : Punisher MAX #1-60 / The Cell / The Tyger / The End, Born #1-4

1. Batman (Bruce Wayne)

"Bruce Wayne witnessed the murder of his billionaire parents as a child, swearing to avenge them. He trained extensively to achieve mental and physical perfection, master martial arts, detective skills, and criminal psychology."

I'm not even going to explain this one. Batman always wins.  

Recommended Reading : Anything by Grant Morrison, Paul Dini, Scott Synder, or Frank Miller

Honorable Mentions : Wolverine, Snow White (Fables), Supergirl, The Joker, Magneto

TOG's TOP TEN TV SHOWS

TOG's TOP TEN TV SHOWS

I have watched a good number of television shows over the last decade of so. Not that many before that. I think my first real obsession show was the old HERCULES and XENA shows. I still need to revisit that. Once I start a show I will usually continue it even when the quality slips, unless it gets really bad (looking at you HEROES & SONS OF ANARCY). This is list, and as with all lists, it constantly evolving as some shows on the list haven't even finished yet. Or there could be others I don't like as much when you revisit them later or some I like more. I also excluded cartoon and anime as I can make another list with that at another date. 

10. Orange is the New Black

I have seen most of OZ and all of PRISON BREAK, the other big person shows. But just the first season of OITNB makes them their bitch (See what I did there...shut up). I still need to re-watch the first season and then watch season two. 

9. The Wire

Man this fucking show. If you ever wanted to be depressed about real life then this is the show for you. The detail and characters portrayed is what I imagine a big city is actually like. Each season reveals another layer of the city with adding another dynamic to the show. It never feels convoluted. It really should be higher on the list but I have only seen it once and really need to go out and buy the box set. Hopefully the rumors of a HD marathon in the works mean a blu-ray set coming.

8. Breaking Bad

The story of an average man as he becomes something dangerous. Walter White is diagnosed with cancer and decided to cook and sell meth. While that sounds pretty weird, this show crafts moments with such suspense and uncertainly you just scream at the screen. 

7. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Are you a fan of SEINFELD? Like when a group of friends just nonchalantly ruin people's lives? What you mean that show is too vanilla for you? You want something more insane and dark? Well I have the show for you. Always Sunny is one of the funniest thing on the planet and every main character has it's own humor that just plays off each other well. Charlie Day is my freaking spirit animal.

6. Fargo

I only just finished this the other day and I might be insane to put it on the list so soon and so high. But I have not been this inthralled in a show in awhile. Lightly based off the Coen Brothers movie of the same name but using elements of other films of theirs. The most noticeable element is Billy Bob's character seems to be the same spirit of Javier's Bardem character from NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN. He just commends a presence that scares me. 

5. Sherlock

I just love stories where two overly smart people just try to outdo each other. I have read every Sherlock book and this show captures the spirit pretty well. It is such a fresh take at the same time. I still haven't finished season three though. 

4. Arrested Development

Look at that cast of characters and tell me that they don't just arouse your interest. A story about one of the most dysfunctional families ever (I can relate). Michael Bluth is an average man with the most insane self-centered family around him. This show is just packed with the most clever humor and plots. It was so well received that it was the first original show from Netflix that they brought back and released in a full season.  

3. Lost

Lost is full of so many problems. It drags on in some parts and the final season is a little weird. They don't answer every "mystery" but that is not why you should watch LOST. You should it for interesting characters and conflict. The suspense driven show keeps you watching. The finale is highly debated on if it's good or bad. While I think it could have been better, I was satisfied. I did just re-watch the entire series in a 3 weeks span. 

2. Buffy the Vampire Slayer / Angel

I know what you are thinking, that this is technically two shows. Well you know what this is my blog and I don't know.  The two series is really a companion series. Full of fantastic characters and great drama. The monster of the week formula is a little weak and can get tiresome. And I do think if you compared them that ANGEL is the better show. The fifth season is one of the best television ever made. 

1. Game of Thrones

I am obsessed with this show. It combines the epic fantasy nature of LORD OF THE RINGS with the huge ensemble cast and mysterious nature of LOST to create just a whole weird. Based off the A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE books, they are portraying the land of Westros and beyond in such epic fashion. You never know what is going to happen and to you. The show is brutal and just shows the cynical nature of the human race. 

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Veronica Mars, Deadwood, Parts of both Prison Break & Supernatural.