Media
words by > Scott Steinberg
>MUSIC
America
Here & Now
(Sony/Burgundy)
“You Can Do Magic.” “Ventura Highway.” “A Horse with No Name.” You might not instantly recall this chart-topping band, but, four decades into its career, the act boasts one of music’s most impressive catalogs. On its first album of new material since 1998, founding members Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell update their summery sounds with help from today’s most respected artists, including Ryan Adams and members of Smashing Pumpkins. The old-new mix proves unexpectedly engaging. With standouts like the upbeat “Always Love” and “Ride On” (one of the best “car anthems” written in years), America’s poised to reclaim the heartland.
Rickie Lee Jones
Sermon on Exposition Boulevard
(New West)
Two-time Grammy-winning adult contemporary star Rickie Lee Jones explores spirituality, country and classic rock on her 14th album. While still an original, the artist’s countless influences shine through—listen closely, and you’ll hear how Janis Joplin, Fleetwood Mac and even Velvet Underground fueled her creative growth.
>GAMES
SingStar
(Sony) PlayStation 2
Everyone 10+
Belting out your favorite hits in the shower is so last century. Instead, grab a USB microphone and croon along to hundreds of all-time favorites, from Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love” to Avril Lavigne’s “Complicated.” This cutting-edge karaoke simulator actually assesses your performance and offers feedback as you enjoy catchy videos, record your own tracks and serenade chagrined neighbors. It’s a blast to play, especially during multiplayer sing-a-longs.
Wii Sports
(Nintendo) Wii
Everyone
Tennis, baseball, boxing, bowling, golf?
Thanks to Nintendo’s new movement-tracking system, anyone can send balls soaring out of the park or over the net with a flick of the wrist. Just clear some free space in front of your TV and mimic each activity’s real-world gestures. Swing the TV remote-style controller to hit a hole-in-one; make scooping motions to score a strike. Call it an unexpectedly modern take on Twister.
The Sims 2: Pets
(Electronic Arts) GameCube, PC, PlayStation 2
Teen
Finally, Fido and Co. join the cast of the world’s best-selling social simulator, with this latest update letting you add cats, dogs, guinea pigs and birds to new and existing households of little computer people. Personalize a computerized companion using custom create-a-pet features, then dress your new best friend in critter-friendly duds or teach them to sit, roll over and play dead. Just be careful: as in real life, the pet’s urge to claw and chew precious belongings may occasionally strike.
>DVDs
The Book of Cool
(Ocelot Productions)
PG
Here’s a novel idea: gather 55 international experts and world champions, tap their singular knowledge base to compile hundreds of jaw-dropping instructional segments, and package it all in a deluxe nine-hour, three-DVD collector’s set. Ever wondered how to land trick shots while playing pool? Master breakdancing or advanced skateboarding techniques? Step-by-step instructions and recorded performances guide you through the process of becoming a jack-of-all-trades. EXTRAS: 320-page full-color book
Casablanca
(Warner Home Video)
PG
This Hollywood classic—featuring cinematic legends Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman as star-crossed lovers—is old. Nearly 65 years to be exact. Thanks to a new high-definition HD DVD transfer, fans will fall in love all over again….
EXTRAS: Documentaries, commentary, radio version, trailers