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Just some random stuff that I’ve enjoyed over the weekend and past few days that I thought I’d give a shout out for. These are by no means brand new or anything like that. It’s just stuff that finally made its way into my experience and I figured I would give a brief recommendation.

Mass Effect (game) – Upon the urging from a friend I bought this game on Saturday and have been playing it almost nonstop since. It’s an RPG that takes place in the future during a time when space travel has become possible. At first I was a little hesitant but once I learned more about it and started playing, I realized just how sweet this game is. You play as Commander Sheppard, a soldier in whose hands the destiny of the galaxy rests. But here’s the sweet part, not only is his appearance fully customizable, you can choose a back story for him and then go on to make decisions throughout the game that will slowly define your characters morality. Supposedly the first of a trilogy, this game is big enough on its own with up to like 200 planets you can visit and run missions on. Oh, and the choices you make not only determine the outcome of this game but will go on to shape your role in the next two games. 4/5

The Darjeeling Limited (film) – Wes Anderson’s latest and a strong follow-up to 2004’s Life Aquatic. It’s a typical Wes Anderson flick in all the usual ways, including colourful cinematography, obscure subtle humour, a great soundtrack, and a brief Bill Murray cameo. In it, 3 estranged brothers (Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, Adrien Brody) meet up on a train in India to embark on a spiritual journey in which they make a pact to “say yes to anything” no matter how strange or painful. It is an attempt to reconnect and become friends and brothers once more. It will have you to the point of laughter and sadness as their relationship fluctuates and is shaped by each enlightening situation. Wes Anderson never fails to disappoint and this is no exception. Most definitely worth a rental. 4.5/5

Gnarls Barkley – The Odd Couple (music) – The sophomore follow-up to St. Elsewhere. I just started listening to it and although I was not too impressed with St. Elsewhere, this one is growing on me. Pulling in a variety of styles and sounds beneath Cee-Lo’s soulful wail this album seems to be of much stronger quality. Although it seems to lack any sort of annoyingly catchy radio hit the likes of Crazy, that might actually be a favourable aspect, contributing towards a stronger album overall. I’ll be interested to see how the sales go and also whether or not I’ll still be enjoying it within a week. Either way, give it a listen (itunes).
Standout tracks include Going On, Run, Blind Mary, and A Little Better. 3.5/5