Appleseed Grows Creative Trees

Appleseed is one of the most amazing pieces of Japanese animation in modern years. Sure, there was a sequel, and even the stunning films Vexille and Karas, that followed after this film. But, that’s just the point, it followed after ApSe. Much like it’s “Sister” film, Ghost In The Machine, ApSe totally blazed a trail in the action department of Anime. With an opening segment that drops jaws and soil draws, it’s hard to feel like you’re not in for the ride of your life. I mean, yeah, sure, the storyline isn’t on the scale of Akira or a charming film by Hayao Miyazaki, but the action + soundtrack easily makes up for that. They didn’t just rely on drawing out the sequences then digitally mapping them with a 3D render. No, not for this film. They went ahead and used motion capture technology to have it as life-like as Sci-Fi Fantasy animation would allow.

Here’s a quick rundown on the story:

There’s this badass legend-in-the-making special forces chick named Deunan Knute who gets rescued and then “captured” to help run things over at Olympus, which is a virtual metropolis utopia created after the Third World War in 2131. Olympus is 50% Bioroids, which is basically extremely human-esque androids. The Bio’s are peaceful and passive. Humans, not so much. Deunan’s ex-lover/ex-squad leader, Briareos Hecatonchires, is now like a super Robocop type dude who also works on the military side of Olympus. Some “outsiders” come to bring bullets and explosions to Olympus, and stuff just goes down the traditional road from there.

I’m not going to sit here and type out the whole synopsis of the film. Why? Because I know some of you folks still haven’t seen this marvelous flick. To that, I say SHAME ON YOU! And I urge you to go and check it out IMMEDIATELY . . . or as my Spanish speaking friends would say “RAPIDO, MUCHACHO!” Oh, did I mention that it has a devastatingly good soundtrack? I did? Well . . . allow me to dwell on that for a moment, shall you? Good.

The soundtrack features work from various Big and Small names in the electronic music department. From All-Across the board Electronic Japanese duo Boom Boom Satellites to the world-renowned dance music master Paul Oakenfold, the soundtrack just trumps. Even the musical score by Tetsuya Takahashi is stunning and soul stirring. The deluxe version of the bloody thing houses both the Score and the songs featured in the film. If anything, opt for that one, folks.

Though it wasn’t the first in its field to be created, it was definitely one of the best. Some can argue that Advent Children was better. To which I couldn’t argue there. But, the fact remains, ApSe was released first. So, AHA! Not to mention the designs were completely different, but that’s just too obvious to point out, isn’t it? Still, ApSe allowed folks to look deeper into what was created here, and, then, go forth and multiply on top of that. The last hallmarking Japanese Animation movie to do that was, again, it’s “sister” film Ghost In The Machine which inspired the monumental feature film franchise The Matrix. So, don’t be surprised if you see something live-action that, somehow, reminds your action taste buds of a little old seed from an Apple.

Puscifer’s Viagra Enhances Vagina

Yes, the title of this remix album, “V” Is For Viagra, is as outrageous as the title of the original was for those who are my “straight and narrow.” But, this album, nor the original, was created for those types of people. Maynard James Keenan of Tool & A Perfect Circle fame created his own little personal outlet through Puscifer. Offering up some insane music as well as some pretty groovy threads for you, your lover, and even your animal companion. This album features redone tracks by contributors to the original album, as well as other’s who weren’t included in Vagina’s creation. Since the eager release of “V” Is For Vagina, MJK has been sitting cool without the houndings of the demands from a major label. Yes, he self-released the album, as he has done again with this little remixed gem. Viagra opens up with one of the smoothest remixes I’ve heard in a long, long time. Half of the New Orleans-originated/Chicago-based Electronic act Telefon Tel Aviv, Josh Eustis, conjures up pure experimental bliss with his JLE Dub take on the song “Indigo Children.” With the lush layered ambience sitting underneath earth-splitting bass, the song just takes on new breath. The Dirty Robot Mix of “Country Boner” by Mat Mitchell & Contradicktator(aka Troy Van Leeuwen of Queens Of The Stone Age, A Perfect Circle, Failure & Enemy fame) is a serious stand-out track. Sounding absolutely NOTHING like the original song, the duo of remixers teamed up to make a very dance-heavy Synth-Pop/Industrial track from the spoof country song. Using the line “It won’t go down on me” as the chorus, it leaves it open to add in extra thoughts of “going down” . . . if you know what I mean. MJK and Lustmord must have created a very strong relationship as Lustmord remixes 2 of the songs, as well as has a speaking role on the album on PSR, LOL!. Lust’s Desert Porn Mix of “Trekka” closer resembles his normal sound than his Guns For Hire Mix of “DoZo.” “Drunk With Power”’s Hungover & Hostile In Hannover Mix by Joey Jordison(aka Member #1 of Slipknot, Murderdolls & KoRn fame) is a more disturbing take on a song about a Pimp named Pooh Bear missing his girl named Hunny. Featuring samples of feet marching, and sounds that bring to mind a sort of dim-lit torture chamber, the song just grabs at your more obsessively dark regions of mourning for a lost love. The Deflowering Mix of “Vagina Mine” by Paul Barker(of Ministry fame) sounds more like a song from Barker’s former band than it does something of traditional MJK flare. Even equipping the song with sound-bites and a steady tribal-trance drumtrack, you’re waiting for Uncle Al to hop on the song and make it a duet. Danny Lohner(of Nine Inch Nails, A Perfect Circle & Black Light Burns fame) cooks up a Late For Dinner mix of the satirical track “Sour Grapes.” Housing piano riff similar to the band where he mainly got his industry start(NIN), Lohner opts to sing on the latter half of the track, as well. Belting out “You know it’s going to be sour grapes for you boy, until you get right with Jesus,” Having Maynard’s original vocals providing backup in the background. This is one of the most stand-out remix albums that I’ve ever come across. Done very well to the point of the some of the songs sounding like they hold little-to-no connection to their Vagina companions . . . aside from the lyrics, of course. Fans of MJK’s main and secondary bands might have tiffed over Puscifer’s first full-length, but after listening to it multiple times, they’ve come over to let the mad genius have his fun. With this album, he lets others have their fun with it, and hopefully it won’t take fans as long to warm-up to this masterful remix collection.

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