JON HEX REVIEWS...The War for Infinity

The War for Infinity

Artist: Adam WarRock, featuring Tribe One

Producer: Ruckus Roboticus

Geek fandom/culture has seen an explosion in popularity in the past ten years and with it, a trend of blending geekdom with other influences. While geek hip hop is not entirely new, Adam WarRock’s The War for Infinity may be the first time it was exceptionally brilliant.

Adam WarRock is the alter ego of Eugene Ahn, who left a law career to devote himself full time to hip hop. After listening to Infinity, you will agree it was for the best. The lead track, I Am Him, tells the backstory of the character Adam WarRock and certifies WarRock’s geek credentials to anyone who gets the reference. It also serves as prologue because the album (with the exception of a few tracks) is a story in rhyme, each serving up a chapter in the battle between WarRock and his archenemy Demonos (played by Tribe One).

WarRock has an impressive way with words. His voice stays clear, keeping the story from taking backstage to the stunning beats laid down by Ruckus Roboticus. Tracks like Heroes Requiem show off his storytelling ability, which is a rarity in mainstream hip hop. Requiem not only name-drops dozens of superheroes and iconic character, but presents them in a character-true cosmic battle sequence. Crooked Deal shows a Faustian deal with allusions to shady record company practices.

The strongest songs are when WarRock and Tribe One play off each other, a meta battle of words between characters and artists. Battle (Introductions) is a cosmic rap battle that only serves to fuel Demonos’ rage and give a glimpse of the awesomeness of Battle (Finale), the ultimate showdown between the two cosmic adversaries. It feels like a sonic mega event and you will listen to it again and again.

Some may be put off by the idea of a story concept album, but shouldn’t be. This is hip hop as it when meant to be: a demonstration of a love, whether it’s of a people, a culture, the streets or the way stories are presented. For an even deeper experience, drop the cash for the Deluxe version, which contains exclusive remixes of songs from WarRock’s Tracklog, his musical sketchbook offered free on his website AdamWarRock.com. Listen to the track log, buy the album.

Rating: A+ An engaging story backed by superior beats.

Purchase The War for Infinity CD at http://adamwarrock.bigcartel.com/product/the-war-for-infinity-cd

Purchase The War for Infinity CD/Digital Deluxe Download at http://adamwarrock.bandcamp.com/album/the-war-for-infinity-deluxe-edition

Jon Hex Gets It Together...

...To bring you his review of the last volume of Bryan Lee O'Malley's Scott Pilgrim:

This is JON HEX REVIEWS...

From the start, O'Malley has been throwing readers a curve. When you start reading Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life, you're not really prepared for the craziness and the awesomeness that the story has in store for you. Subspace highways, evil ex-boyfriends (sorry, evil exes), long sword proficiencies, 2 second punk rock masterpieces and vegan psychics come blasting towards you, hooking you into what is the underlining story of how a slacker gets a handle on growing up and falling in love.

Volume Six begins with Scott stuck in limbo, playing PSP Go on his couch waiting for any definitive word on the whereabouts of his love, Ramona V. Flowers. For four months, Scott has been neglecting his job, friends and anything from his life pining for a girl who may not come back, avoiding the final confrontation with Ramona's last evil ex, Gideon. From the earlier volumes, you know Scott can get sidetracked, but without a clear mission, Scott is completely rudderless, moving like a zombie through his life without any sense of what he's doing or what he's going to do.

To me, one of the best parts of this book is Scott's meanderings throughout the beginning of this volume. We get a sense of the what the "lost year" was like, after he broke up with Envy Adams and before he met Knives Chau. Like any finale, we get answers to questions we had from previous volumes and O'Malley delivers here, showing why Scott sees himself a little differently than everyone around him sees him and for his spotty memory.

But life won't wait for Scott to get ready for it. Gideon is opening his new club in Scott's town. Scott's friends are moving on without Scott's participation. Knives Chau is no longer 17 Years Old. Scott tries to get back in the game and finds the road to maturity is not without pain, but it will get him to what he's been looking for.

The greatest thing about this series is how well formed O'Malley's characters are. They're not just props in the story of Scott Pilgrim, they grow and change with the protagonist. You get a sense of how life is changing for Scott by the changes of his friends and it just heightens the story. The emotional center of this series is what makes people into such avid fans.

Rating: A+ This is a finale that does not disappoint and pays off big. Read the whole series. Now.