Raycevick Recommendations: October 2018

Fine by SONOIO

Last year, I recommend Sonoio's debut album for its entrancing electronic melodies, but shortly after producing that album's sequel, Red, Sonoio seemed to vanished. Probably because the Italian behind it, Alessandro Cortini was neck deep in work with Trent Reznor on both How to Destroy Angels and Nine Inch Nails.

But it's been nearly seven years, and now Cortini is back with an superb album. It has the same uncanny ability to make its use of electricity have the grand scale of an orchestra. Listening to this while walking made me as introspective as I was enraptured, and increasing the volume as a result.

Dirt Rally by Codemasters

Most have a company that was a constant in their childhood. Some it's Lego, others its Nintendo, for me, it was Codemasters. Toca 2, and Colin Mcrae Rally got plenty of mileage in my Sony consoles, even the those that only came out in Europe.

Shush.

But while DIRT was meant to carry on that franchise after Colin's tragic death, it's got plenty of its own unique qualities separate from the series that inspired it. This has left a few hardcore fans alone in the dark however, and Dirt Rally is the answer.

I'll go more in-depth with this in Randomly Mine, but long story short, this game is what I think popular franchises should have. A lower budget spin off built for the niche's that love what existed previously. This game doesn't have the licenced soundtrack, fancy presentation, or production value of the main-installments, but it's still far ahead of the 6th gen classics. It brings what those games delivered with the sophistication and fidelity that hadn't existed previously.

Fast and Furious Franchise

I used to hate this series. Growing up as a kid really into cars, I couldn't stand the first two movies. The original with its lackluster drag races, and gimmicky stunt of driving underneath an 18 wheeler, and the second's CGI inferior to Need for Speed Underground. Tokyo Drift was the only film I didn't mind despite its mediocre acting and cliche plot, because its racing was quite well filmed and the majority was done on camera.

But I was always curious on how the hell it became what it is today, $100+ million budgeted action films with a large ensemble cast. So quietly I binged the series from FF4-8, and was rather taken aback by how I enjoyed it more the further it went.

Justin Lin, James Wan, and F. Gary Grey, all cement themselves as great action directors in these films with excellent pacing, filming, and blending of spectacular on-camera stunts and CG.

This franchise is like slamming drinks that taste better and better the more you chug, and it's impressive how the hangover still hasn't hit yet.