BlizzCon 2010 Song Contest: The Queen of Blades

Blizzard video games have long been known for two things: their virulently addictive qualities and their impassioned musical scores. So it's no surprise that this year's BlizzCon song contest produced some startlingly brilliant winners (except for the fact that the creators managed to pull themselves away from Azeroth or the Mar Sara Sector long enough to write and record their entries - that IS surprising).

Galt Aureus, a rock duo fronted by Saher Galt won this year's BlizzCon original song contest with a sweeping composition, titled The Queen of Blades, woven of dark, sinister orchestral passages and shining, anthemic choruses. A tumultuous, beautiful piece of music that struck me by its emotional power - this is about a video game? Wow. Here it is in all its glory:

I would like to kick you in The Shins

The Shins is one of those bands that's completely irresistible to the 'too cool for you' musical snob type.

But Wincing The Night Away is replete with a retro-pop sound that's inane and childish and a clean-cut, sweetsy musical aesthetic that makes this record exceedingly shallow. I'm left wondering just what it is about abusing yourself with this ultra simple, uninspired droning that gives anyone the right to turn up their nose. I'd ask, but I've already bored myself to sleep with this record.

Save yourself. Don't be brow-beaten, guilt-tripped, or bush-whacked (?) by your neighborhood d-bag into listening to Wincing The Night Away or anything, ever, by The Shins.

Dear Lady Gaga

The 1980's called and they want their pretty much everything back.