Album Review: Dear and the Headlights-Small Steps, Heavy Hooves

The album I’m reviewing is pretty old, and it’s not even the band’s latest album, but I’ve been listening to it a lot lately and I felt so inclined to give my opinion on Dear and the Headlights’ “Small Steps, Heavy Hooves.”

Dear and the Headlights is a unique 5-piece indie rock band from Phoenix, Arizona. In 2007 they released their first full length album "Small Steps, Heavy Hoove"s on Equal Vision Records. The album is an emotional rollercoaster offering blissfully happy tracks as well as dark depressing ones.

The album begins with a slower acoustic track, "Oh No!", but quickly moves into their upbeat high tempo sound with the second track, “Sweet Talk,” an lyrically interesting track where the singer expresses distaste for his former love’s new boyfriend. Ian Metzger has a wonderful way of making his vocal melodies really define a common sound on all of their songs.

The album continues with soulful melody in “Hallelujah,” and the utter hopelessness of “Happy in Love.” The next song on the album, “I’m Bored, You’re Amorous” is a melodic journey with multiple picking guitar parts and inspiring lyrics. The middle tracks on the album showcase P.J. Waxman’s creative leads and Patrick Taylor’s groovy bass lines.

The album’s 10^th track is one of the most emotional songs the group has written. “Run In Front” one of the first three songs the group recorded and truly showcases how Metzger puts his heart and soul into his music. It’s followed by one of the albums slow ballads, “Mother Make Me Golden,” and then by the heartfelt love song, “I Just Do,” which is sure to melt the hearts of listeners everywhere. Even my girlfriend claimed it as “One of the sweetest songs of all time.”

Finally, the album closes with “Midwestern Dirt,” an emotional expression of Metzger’s desperation and hopelessness. It’s a metaphorical play on his roots and lost love.

Small Steps, Heavy Hooves is truly one of the most interesting albums from one of the most interesting bands I’ve heard. I assure you, the music is not like anything you have ever heard. Dear and the Headlights is a unique blend of talent and creativity that is sure to please any listening ear. Check out the album at www.myspace.com/dearandtheheadlights.

---Cameron Whitlock

We will Remember Reach...

Bungie's "supposed" final installment of the Halo Series: Halo Reach dropped into stores almost a month ago, and after having plenty of time to soak in countless hours of game play, I have decided to give a review for the franchise finale.

Story 8/10

I'll admit that at first, I was a bit unhappy with the story, being that you do not get to play as Halo's traditional protagonist, Master Chief. But once you dive into the game, a darker, more personal storyboard unfolds within the prequel to the Halo saga.

You are Noble Six, the newest addition to Nobel Team, a group of six Spartan super-soldiers. Unlike previous games, your character is completely customizable, which adds a bit more of a personal touch to the game. You continue on to follow the story of Noble Team, as they discover that their planet of Reach has been invaded by the alien sect known as the covenant. The story takes a look of how a few soldiers found hope in the darkest of hours.

All the way through, you'll be on an emotional joy ride. This gave made me laugh, grit my teeth, gasp for air, and even tear up a small bit.

Gameplay 10/10

Every Halo to date has been full of exciting missions, from driving tanks through the streets, flying banshees through the air, or mowing down hordes of enemies on foot. Believe it or not, Halo reach introduces several entirely new exciting elements into the game.
With the new armor abilities, your spartan can sprint, produce a shield, or even zip around the map with a jet pack. And, for the first time ever in a Halo game, you can battle a covenant fleet via spaceship.

Not only have features been improved, the AI on Reach has been drastically changed from the latter Halo games. On legendary difficulty, the enemies can be incredibly crafty and intelligent. When you are backed into a corner, they charge you, when you have the upperhand, they duck, dodge, and dive. They are a much more formidable foe than the previous goofy elites and brutes.

Multiplayer 10/10

Ah mulitiplayer. The competitive gamer's greatest challenge. Reach allows a player the true chance to put himself to the test by playing a slew of online games and several different categories. There are traditional playlists such as objective, swat, and slayer, but Bungie has also introduced a few new perks to spice up the game.

The new playlist "Invasion" puts players in a 6 vs 6 spartan vs Elites game where different weapons and vehicles are available as time in the match passes. Also, the armor ability loadouts are available in most game types, except classic slayer formats where all players can only sprint.

Perhaps the best addition in multiplayer match-making is the ability to vote and choose from up to 3 different maps each game.

Multiplayer also has game types such as Fire Fight from ODST and the ability to create your own unique maps in the massive forge world.

Graphics 10/10

This game has pretty typical Halo textures and graphics, yet when you take a deeper look, this game is incredibly more detailed. The scenery and mapscape in Reach is massive, and the backgrounds and settings throughout the game are truly beautiful.

The explosions are amazing, the cinematics are jaw-dropping... This game is a feast for the eyes, especially in high-definition. It's just staggering how awesome this game looks. You can't really explain it. You just have to experience it.

Sound 10/10

Not really much to say about sound here. Composer Marty O'Donnel is back with a few more wonderful scores, creating an epic soundtrack as you traverse the battlegrounds on Reach.

Basically, the music, the sound effects, and the voices are all crisp, clean and absolutely brilliant.

Overall 10/10

I have to give credit where credit is due. Halo: Reach truly sets the bar for 1st-person-shooters. A completely customizable character, a gripping and fun-filled campaign, one of the largest online multiplayer communities in the world, and too many more features to count.

I hate to see the Halo series end, but if it does end with Reach, then it truly went out with a bang. Bungie is a giant step closer to their goal of world domination.

-Cameron