Macgirl Media Pick of the Week: Ministry

This week we re-visit my youth...back to the teen-angst filled, moody days of highschool...and one of my (still) favorite bands.   It's a great industrial band to whet your whistle:  Ministry.  I'm choosing to highlight the 1988 classic Land of Rape and Honey.  We could talk about the album Twitch, (also a fav of mine), produced before Rape and Honey, but that album had more of a dance/snyth feel.  The Land of Rape and Honey LP is just more intense and powerful...and long overdue for a new listening with my non-teen, less angsty (is that a word?) and just as moody (sorry BF) ears.  Of course, you can download a copy for yourself on iTunes:  Ministry's Land of Rape and Honey.

Macgirl's Media Pick of the Week (6/13/09)

Time for a throwback- to one of my favorite songs, by one of my favorite artists, with one of my favorite videos, by one of my favorite directors.  Whew!  Any guesses??

So the picture on the left gives it away.  My pick this week is an oldy but a goody- Let Forever Be, by the Chemical Brothers. 

It is simply a great song, on one of their best albums, Surrender.  But, equally genius, is the music video by Michel Gondry. 

Check it out:

Macgirl's Media Pick of the Week (6/11/09)

I've got a live one this week.  Well actually, it's more like a dead one. An undead one.

I have been obsessing over the DVD release of True Blood - Season 1 . How can you not get sucked in?  Great acting, great writing, lots of sexy scenes, and a nice sprinkle of humor and fun throughout. 

It's based in a world where vampires are coming out into the mainstream, and fighting for equal rights.  They are supposedly "safe" to society now, as there is a new product on the market:  Tru Blood...a synthetic blood substitute. 

If you have any interest in vampires you will love this series, I promise.  If you haven't joined on the bandwagon yet, order the first season now, so you can catch up before season 2 starts on June 14 at 9pm on HBO.

 Order it from iTunes, and help TDL too:True Blood Season 1

Macgirl's Media Pick of the Week (5/30/09)

I was thrilled the other day to find Birthdayclause left me a copy of the new Wii game by EA Sports, Active, under the birthday tree.

I have been Wii Fitting for the past year, standing on the balance board, doing my hula-hooping, and stepping in an advanced manner.  One year later, and I have only maintained my existing fitness level.

Enter EA Sports Active.  Holy crap!  Active is an appropriate title for this game. It is a real workout.  The first time I played, my thighs hurt for two days!  It was quick, easy, and I felt immediate results.  The trainers are likable and do a great job representing the moves expected of you.  One mode is a 30-day challenge that adjusts the routines for you each day, allowing for various parts to recieve focused attention.  Another mode which I like is the pre-set 30 minute workout.  You can chose the intensity and length of your workout.

For a game that actually makes you break a sweat, it is enjoyable, easy to use, and the graphics are neat and relaxing. The fast pace of this game beats Wii Fit with a bat.  Expect to keep moving, and enjoy the results!

PROS:  *Fun, strenuous, lots of different challenges.

CONS:  *The rubber band can be inconvenient to balance in your hands with the Wiimote and Nunchuck.  *I really liked the fit of the leg band, but another TDL tester had difficulty keeping it in place.

Macgirl's Media Pick of the Week 4/25/09

Spring is finally here and I'm spending this weekend re-living my youth, mostly through music. (some kite-flying may also have taken place.) 

I am in love with the latest Depeche Mode single, Wrong, and its fabulous video.  Even better that the song, is the album option through iTunes- they are offering an iTunes pass for the album "Sounds of the Universe" from now until June 16.  Along with the album, the pass includes extended singles, remixes, videos and more.  At $18.99 for the iTunes plus version of an album, it's a little steep, but I think its well worth it for the best music to come from Gahan, Gore, and Fletcher in a long time.  Roll down the windows and blast yourself back to the early 90's...