Daily Staff Writer

Album: “Sound of Silver”

Artist: LCD Soundsystem

Release: Tuesday

Availability: CD, iTunes, Ruckus and streaming on MySpace

LCD Soundsystem, the mostly solo band of James Murphy, is an eclectic blend of punk, funk and disco music that’s just plain fun. This sophomore album follows the same sonic path forged by the 2005 self-titled debut album, but is a clear development from there. The shorter, more intense (whether somber or aggressive) songs are gone from this record – tracks are long, upbeat and meandering. Even melancholy matter is handled with a light touch here – you’ll feel right at home dancing to every track on the record.

Murphy has also honed his hallmarks to a bleeding edge here. His deadpan delivery stands out ironically with the lyrical content, and his inflection is simultaneously reminiscent of Cake, They Might Be Giants and Talking Heads, bouncing freely through all registers and occasionally leaping into falsetto.

Despite the carefree approach to the music, there is substance to the record -it’s not just empty fun. Murphy brings his New York heritage into the music, lamenting the cost of living, the attitudes of others and the craziness of the city. Set alongside the other subjects, such as love and loss, this creates the persona of a jaded New Yorker. Even so, this is fun music – if you don’t like this, you have no soul.

By Steven Sifert

Daily Staff Writer

Game: “God of War II”

Platform: PlayStation 2

Developer: Sony Computer Entertainment

FYI rating: 10/10

After defeating Ares and claiming the throne of God of War in the original 2005 PlayStation 2 game, Kratos returns in the aptly titled “God of War II.” This time, he is betrayed by the gods and seeks the help of the mystical Sisters of Fate to turn back time and restore his lost power.

The game opens with an absolutely incredible battle against the massive Colossus of Rhodes. As the Colossus unleashes its fury, you’ll be mowing down soldiers, swinging on ropes, leaping up walls and launching yourself from a ballista onto the Colossus in order to take the titanic statue down. It’s a frenzied experience and gaming at its finest.

“God of War II” looks and plays very much like the previous game. You’ll jump, climb and swing your way to new areas and solve various puzzles to advance. Kratos again wields two blades bound by chains to his forearms, which he can essentially toss out and retract to impose bloody havoc. Button-pressing events return, in which button commands will appear on screen and you will have to quickly press the corresponding controller button in order to successfully evade harm or land a powerful blow on your opponent. Kratos will be able to dispose of each enemy type in several different ways, ranging from impaling them on their own weapon to ripping their eye from its socket. Defeating enemies will net you experience which can be used to power up weapons. This time however, Kratos will find several new toys, such as a massive barbarian hammer appropriate for crushings-a-plenty. Skilled players will also find scads of bonuses available for the unlocking.

The visuals in the game are fantastic. Of course the graphics can’t stand up to those featured on Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3, but developer Sony Computer Entertainment milks the PS2 for all its power. Backgrounds and game structures are incredibly detailed and varied – the artistry work is simply unparalleled in modern video games.

The music is brutal and tribal-sounding during intense scenes, adjusting level and mood appropriately to fit the current environment. The audio effects are great, never sounding out of place or detracting from the game experience. Voice acting is all-around fantastic and some might also find it interesting that Perseus is voiced by Harry Hamlin, who portrayed Perseus in the 1981 film “Clash of the Titans.”

Although the similarities to the original “God of War” are many, this sequel takes everything up a notch without even switching platforms to the next generation of game consoles. “God of War II” provides an amazing swan song for your old, lovable PS2.