Media

Review > Media Mix
A roundup of this month’s hottest new releases.

words by > Scott Steinberg

>MUSIC

Depeche Mode
Best of Depeche Mode (Reprise/Warner Bros.) $18.98
There may never be another band like Depeche Mode. Since the UK synth-pop act’s 1980 inception, it’s undergone several personnel changes and more musical U-turns—still, its legacy thrives. Trimming the fat from the old Singles compilations, this 18-track retrospective offers the hottest songs from the band’s three-decade career. Cuts range from 1981 bubble-gum dance hit “Just Can’t Get Enough” through moody middle-age smash “People are People” to last year’s surprise love song “Precious.” The Best gets better—the album also contains a bonus DVD featuring 23 music videos, letting you browse classic black-and-white clips at your leisure.

Sufjan Stevens
Songs for Christmas (Asthmatic Kitty) $22.98
Indie folksinger Sufjan Stevens recorded 42 new/classic holiday tunes over the last half-decade, using several curious instruments (banjo, oboe… even sleigh bells). Now the eclectic collection is yours to own. “Did I Make You Cry On Christmas Day? (Well, You Deserved It!),” is a winning track and a clever antidote to seasonal goodwill.

>DVD

It’s A Wonderful Life: 60th anniversary Edition
(Paramount Home Entertainment) NR $19.99
This cornerstone of domestic cinema, recently dubbed the most inspiring movie of all time by the American Film Institute, is now immortalized in a gift-wrap-ready collector’s edition. Revisiting director Frank Capra’s classic reveals it to be equally as enticing as when first unveiled in 1946, thanks to ageless charisma and performances by Hollywood greats James Stewart, Donna Reed and Henry Travers. In case you missed the last midnight marathon: at the end of his rope, depressed everyman George Bailey seriously considers checking out and ending it all. But lo, unto him comes guardian angel Clarence, who—in a series of touching vignettes—reveals what life would be like without his much-loved presence. As much cultural milestone as a defining moment for motion pictures, the film rightly deserves its place in history, as well as in your home.

EXTRAS: Making-of documentary; tribute to Frank Capra; original theatrical trailer

>GAMES

Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania
Blue Fang and PC, E, $29.99
Build attractions, train animals and choreograph submarine shows in the latest expansion for Zoo Tycoon 2. In conjunction with the game, AirTran Airways is sponsoring a contest with a grand prize of a trip for four to Atlanta and a special behind-the-scenes tour of the Georgia Aquarium. To enter, students in grades six through eight must submit a 250- to 500-word essay on why conservation of marine animals and the ocean is important. For details, visit www.zootycoon.com

Guitar Hero II
(RedOctane) PlayStation 2, T, $79.99
Dream of playing power-chord-shredding solos to sold-out arenas? Live out all your rock star fantasies using a plastic controller capable of turning any geek into a musical maestro. Strumming along to 55-plus alternative, classic and hair-metal hits such as Van Halen’s “You Really Got Me” and Rush’s “YYZ,” keep time with on-screen prompts to produce righteous-sounding jams. A sequel to last year’s hit, the game is suitable for all ages and even adds new features such as practice options, two-man multiplayer and support for playing rhythm, bass or lead. Just don’t forget us when you’re opening for Aerosmith.