wes – Page 6 – Blackprint

Boyz II Men: Full Circle Review

Who doesn’t remember Boyz II Men? They set a new standard for boy bands, they did it with class and style bringing their own flow of love. The Boyz managed to stay pretty consistent and peaked out on their second album “II” (which was outstanding to say the least), after that they mistakenly waited too long to put out another album and instead put out a Remix collection which was good, but untimely because their audience was beginning to forget about them. Well, several albums later we have their latest record “Full Circle”.

They begin the album with a really nice song “Relax Your Mind”, a very mood-setting song to groove to, full of harmonies that accompany a normal B2M song. Off to a great start, with a fantastic follow-up in “The Color of Love” which got minimal radio play. This is a very intimate song in a very non-sensual way, somewhat reminiscent of “A Song for Mama” (“Evolution” and “Soul Food” soundtrack). You can definitely sense that there was a lot of effort put forth on this track with the effective smooth transitions and various bridges alongside the beautiful harmonious background vocals.

Rob Jackson decided to step up next on “Ain’t A Thang Wrong”, basically another attempt at a club song. The only problem with this is that it’s way too difficult for them to be changing their image to allow fans to accept such a song from them. In other words, they’ve built their market solely on songs about love and a contrite heart, *not* on dance-floor songs so very few people are gonna want to hear this from their mouth, and in a sense they are hurting their credibility as passionate kindred-soul type musicians. Aside from that, the song is decent as it stands alone and Rob Jackson doesn’t necessarily help or hurt the track.

“Oh Well” brings us back to that traditional Boyz II Men song, and builds slowly and solidly which is almost certain to spark nostalgia in a grand way. A lot of strings and orchestral oriented music behind them makes this a beautiful song of longing. “Whatcha Need” pulls in a piano and trap set to call for a more K-Ci and Jojo presence mixed with B2M harmonies, which seemingly works but perhaps goes a little too long. “On The Road Again” ushers in a more urgent beat which includes a plethora of instruments, typical kick and snare mixed in with some very quick strings, and a little spanish guitar. Quite a nice rhythm and flow overall makes it a good addition.

The topic of the next track is quite obvious by the title “Makin’ Love”. If anyone recalls “50 Candles” off of their second album, this is very reminiscent of it through the beat, that is to say that it’s a slow spacey beat for a good interlude. “Roll Wit Me” is a very militant beat with some electronic add-ons, and is about picking up a girl. This should be a new and refreshing song, but it only manages to be monotonous and dull. “Right On Time” is a soul-oriented track, slow, steady paced and aimed at sensuality. Somehow they manage to slip in and out of the soul towards the end, there was also a mention of adultery in there, but overall not that bad of a song.

“Howz About It” is nothing new or noteworthy, and seemingly slips in and out of notice making you itch to scratch the Forward button. Perhaps it is the use of average instruments and vocal pitches and techniques that make this unbearable. “That’s Why I Love You” slows the pace down a small notch, and has a soothing piano but unfortunately they don’t utilize it nearly enough putting it as a more supportive instrument instead of a front and center role. While this is by no means a stand out track, it isn’t all bad either, instead it’s more of a song to listen to and think of your loved one.

“I’m OK, You’re OK” is more filler for the CD. It encompasses the standard kick/snare combination, and does not look to water you with anything new or worthy of attention. However, toward the end there is a nice little change in the bridge, but not nearly enough to save the monotony of the song. “Luv N U” isn’t exactly fulfilling or answering the cure for the anxiousness of hearing something outstanding or semi-loveable. It’s a slow love song and isn’t entirely bad, but it doesn’t build to anything that holds your attention making you want to hear it a few more times. The ending is also kind of unnerving, adding a little too much with the inclusion of Michael McCary’s sounds of lovemaking. “I’ll Show You” is a pretty smart way to end the CD, the beat is nothing new but the vocal sounds are more than two notes. A song of proposal, it’s a decent song between the ideal situation of lasting love but is this the same woman who is cheated on earlier in “Right On Time”? Hmmmmm.

Now I’m a BIG Boyz II Men fan, they rank on my top 3 favorite list. However, they seem to be trying too much and at the same time trying to little. What do I mean by that? They try too hard to broaden their audience with songs that wouldn’t even appeal to them if they were into their music in the first place, then when they make their marquis love songs they don’t always seem to focus on making the song good and refreshing as opposed to sticking to a formula of non-original lyrical content/chorus/verse/chorus/bridge/chorus/chorus. I want nothing more than to say that this album is fully worthy of a store purchase, but outside of tracks 1,2 and 4, I can’t say that any of them are worth their weight in gold. Now if you’re a huge Boyz II Men fan, you may have already bought this album expecting something along the lines of “Evolution”, sorry to disappoint you. It would seem that Boyz are attempting II become Men and have backslid a little bit, I give this 2.5 out of 5 stars.

Track Listing:

1. Relax Your Mind ft. Faith Evans
02. The Color of Love
03. Ain’t A Thang Wrong ft. Rob Jackson
04. Oh Well
05. Whatcha Need
06. On The Road Again
07. Makin’ Love
08. Roll Wit Me
09. Right On Time
10. Howz About It
11. That’s Why I Love You
12. I’m OK, You’re OK
13. Luv N U
14. I’ll Show You

2.5 out of 5

Common: Electric Circus Review

With a name like Common, one would perhaps expect some music of the regular sort. Yet, as average as the name comes across, Common is nothing short of irregular. Hailing from Chicago, Illinois, born Lonnie Rashied Lynn, Common made his solo debut in March of 2000 with “Like Water for Chocolate” gaining street praise and rave reviews. You may recognize him from hits such as “The Light” and more recently “Come Close” featuring Mary J. Blige.

Common decides to kick the album off with a very awkward introduction, what sounds like a cough soon turns into a beat (yes, you read correctly) and trust me when I say it does not end there. “Soul Power” kicks up next with a very straight forward laced beat giving the circus feel indicated in the title, however the lyrics are much more impressive and this track seemingly comes together with a hook that bears a chant that sounds like it came from a 70’s rally.

Bilal accompanies Common on “Aquarius”, a very majestic track with electric guitars and spewing thought invoking lyrics saying “guard your grill like George Foreman / time to build / as far as buildin I’m the foreman / open the doors / my blood I expose on the floors / tell ’em the game ain’t only the score” and says in response to the largely popular thought that he’s not given full recognition “they say I’m slept on / now I’m buckin in dreams / and rhyme with the mind of a hustler[‘s] scheme”. A very innovated track that brings a 70’s feel yet doesn’t rely fully on it.

Our next guest is Sonny of rock group P.O.D. who co-stars on “Electric Wire Hustler Flower”, and at this point Common has an amazing way to mix “odd” and “sweet” to arrive at “interestingly nice to listen to”. Sonny does a nice job of laying down some guitar rifts in coerence with Common’s great delivery. “The Hustle” features Omar and Dart Chillz, and brings the same kick/snare combination we have heard thus far, but the focus quickly shifts to the uncommon wit of our album’s lyricist, and Dart Chillz delivers a commendable appearance in verse 2 as well, the topic of the song is as expected it would be, given the title.

Mary J. Blige obliges “Come Close”, a spoken-word type of track which will leave you humming with it by the second time you hear it. Definitely a song to be heard, it depicts Common talking to his girl and how she’s affected him through the course of their relationship. “New Wave” sets it off with a track that feels like the theme song from the video game Spy Hunter, and is a very retro-track you’ll notice as soon as the chorus hits. Another nice edition that features Laetitia Sadier lacing the hook with that flower power feel.

For the second time (and not the last), Bilal is brought in to lay some vocals with “Star *69 (PS With Love)”, a very slow song with a deep R&B twinge where Common is calling his loved one coaxing her with sweet nothings. Not to be left off a CD, Pharrell Williams joins Common on “I Got A Right Ta” where they chant their rights to do illegal drugs, an irony really. The chorus is pretty catchy and sounds nice, some of the delivery doesn’t sound quite right and some of it is on point, a hit and miss track.

Being that this is a retro-style album, it wouldn’t be right without inviting Cee-lo to do a track as is the case on “Between Me, You & Liberation”. Common flows the first verse about after having sex with a girl she shares with him that she was raped by her father at age 8 and since then has tried freeing herself through sex. The second verse deals with Common’s aunt on her death bed, being liberated in her passing away, the third verse he talks about a childhood friend facing his homosexual tendencies. An interesting track definitely worth a listen.

Jill Scott chimes in on “I Am Music” setting from the get-go a very nice hook, Common spits his significance in the world of hip hop. Filled with a hodge-podge of brass sounds (muted trumpets and trombones), bass lines and piano rifts this is a very brilliantly produced track, Common, as always, doesn’t miss lyrically and blends smoothly with the flow of the beat. Erykah Badu is guest-starred on “Jimi Was A Rock Star” which is by far the biggest reach of the album. I would really have enjoyed to sit in on the creative process of developing this track, as in some parts there seems to be virtually no direction whatsoever (towards the end) and if you listen to this track it is determined to drain over 8 minutes of your life. “Heaven Somewhere” wraps up the album in a spoken-word style with a mellowed music background. Common talks about a conversation he holds with a friend, who has done something terribly wrong yet does what he knows he should as defined by biblical principle outlined somewhere in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 24. It finales with some soul-filled vocals, and Lonnie “Pops” Lynn speaking his ideas of what heaven is in his eyes.

Overall, this is a nice album albeit awkward at times. This could either be the album of the year or possibly the worst thing you’ve ever heard depending on your taste, there’s not much room for middle-ground here. The main prerequisite for enjoying this album is your soul-flavor, whether or not you enjoy soul will inevitably make or break this for you. Either way, Common has hit a rather nice mile-marker in his career with this release. In what I can only describe as soul-rap, this was a rather enjoyable trip and since the replay value is somewhat diminished my 3rd time through I donate a powerful 3.5 out of 5 stars to “Electric Circus”.

Track Listing:
01 Ferris Wheel
02 Soul Power
03 Aquarius
04 Electric Wire Hustler Flower
05 The Hustle
06 Come Close
07 New Wave
08 Star *69 (PS with Love)
09 I Got A Right Ta
10 Between Me, You & Liberation
11 I Am Music
12 Jimi Was A Rock Star
13 Heaven Somewhere

3.5 out of 5

“Eternal Darkness” Video Game Review (Gamecube)

One of the most anticipated games for the Nintendo Gamecube, but why you ask? Well, perhaps it is because it is a much more macabre game than Nintendo’s spot-free history and yet completely original and all new. Straight from Silicon Knights with the up and coming Denis Dyack at the ‘helm’, they have fully managed to create the first full “Psychological Thriller” where the person who holds the controller is at risk of losing their marbles, all at the hand of the newest innovation “The Sanity Meter”. This meter measures exactly how much of your sanity is left whilst encountering villains who also happen to be dead already, details on this magnificent idea to come.

Now probably one of the biggest questions from consumers is “How similar is it to Resident Evil?”, and as an enormous RE fan believe me, they are in two different leagues, only similar in the way their desire to scare, and they both use a mansion. That’s all. Storyline, weaponry, objectives and puzzles are all totally different.

As far as storyline goes, Eternal Darkness (ED from here on out) has one of the most impressive in-depth storylines I’ve ever seen. The premise of it (without giving too much away) is that Alexandra Roivas has just found out that her grandfather has been brutally murdered and since her parents died years back she is the sole inheritor of a mansion, and also takes on the task of finding out what happened to her grandfather since the police are clueless. She soon discovers an ancient book made from human skin called The Tome of Eternal Darkness, and she goes about finding missing pages of the book which act as chapters of the story. Each chapter deals with the history of an old war between humankind and The Ancients, the original rulers of Earth who desire to rule once more in the darkest of fashions. When a chapter is found, instead of merely reading it you get to act it out from the writer’s perspective, slowly revealing the history of the war and how it relates to Alex and her family. To say the least, the storyline is simply amazing and is interwoven with dark poetry such as Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Raven”. In all there is roughly twelve chapters, the first of which reveals your enemy and how he got to be what he is. I will leave the rest of the storyline for you to discover, since it is quite in-depth and fun to watch unfold.

Now the game mechanics are vastly thought out, seamlessly woven into the game, from the controls to the assorted meters. First off, the controls are so easy you will soon forget that you’re holding a controller, everything is where it should be and responds the way you desire. I know, I know, sounds too easy to be true, yet it is. You move with the left analog stick, the D-pad is used for storing quick-spells, the left trigger is used when you want to run, the right trigger is used for targeting, the Z button is to reload (if you don’t want to wait until you run out of ammo, otherwise your big green button will do that), B button is used for an assortment of tasks such as viewing an external item or picking up an item, and likewise is the A button which is primarily a button used for fighting, the Y button is used for storing spells for quick use, X is used for sneaking, and the Start button opens/closes the menu, the other analog stick (C stick) is rarely touched, used only to rotate items in the menu screen and move the map around once again within the menu screen. My only wish is that they would have flip-flopped the Z and X buttons to make reloading a tad easier, but it doesn’t make much of a difference since you spend little time with any weapons that require ammunition.

There are three meters, health (duh), magic and sanity. Health is just what it sounds like, it measures how much life your character has left. However, the less health you have the more your character’s speed slows to a grinding halt (just like real life), let’s face it, if you’re an inch within your death you won’t be running a 4.0 second 40 yard dash like some other games. Also, even when you are fully charged with life, if you run a lot your character will still slow down from fatigue, how quickly your character’s energy drains (and how big the life meter is) is directly tied to each character’s physique and role. For instance, your old fat uncle may get tired fast and might not have a very large life meter, but perhaps he will have a bigger magick and sanity meter. You can refill your life meter by casting a spell, or finding an item that replenishes your life. The magick meter is straight forward, when you cast a spell, it depletes the magick meter, the only way to refill your magick is by walking or running around (there were times when I was forced to run in circles, kind of funny), pretty simple. Now the fun part is the sanity meter, every time you are spotted by an enemy, you drop a little on your sanity bar. The lower it gets the more “things” will start to happen, the punishment fits the crime, that means that if you’ve only lost a little of your sanity then the effects will be minor, they won’t go into the bigger dramas unless you’ve lost a whole lot of your sanity. I won’t spoil any of the effects for you since it is such a huge enjoyment throughout the game and adds some *serious* depth and levels of fun. You can refill your sanity by A) killing your enemies and executing a fatal blow to them, B) cast a spell that replenishes sanity, or C) if your character happens to have an item that refills your sanity (few and far between though).

The spell casting part is a bit more complex at first, but simple once you play with it a little. There are three levels of casting power controlled/used by three different circles of power, a three point circle of power (looks like a triangle), a five point (hexagon), and a seven point (septagon?). You collect these circles of power as you progress through the game. You also build a collection of Runes, which contain magickal powers, each Rune covering a different magickal area. For instance, one Rune will relate to “Creatures”, and another to “Summon”. There are three prime areas of coverage for Runes, 1) Alignment/Color, 2) Action, 3) Object it effects (could be you, an item, a room, etc.). Just finding a Rune is not enough however, it must also be deciphered through the use of a Codex before you can attempt to use it in an incantation, so you have to not only find the Rune, you must also find the Codex that matches the given Rune (each Rune has a matching Codex). Once you have at least one alignment (Red/Blue/Green), and at least two Runes, it is possible that you can create your first spell. To create a spell open the menu, go to the spell area and select the Create New Spell option, select a Circle of Power, then an alignment Rune and if it’s a 3-Point Circle of Power then you have a remaining two Runes you can add to try and create a spell. Not every combination of Runes and alignments creates a spell, and just because you do create a spell does not mean you automatically get to know what that spell does. Once you find a spell scroll it will tell you the correct combination of Runes and the spell’s effect to create ____ spell (the ____ being whatever spell scroll it is that you picked up). So basically, you could create a spell without a scroll, and even use it and not even know what it does (I experienced that quite a few times). It is definitely fun to play with though.

The graphics are pretty nice, of course at this stage of technology it’s pretty tough to make crappy graphics, ya know? My personal opinion is that game play overrules graphics (i.e. I’d rather play Dr. Mario than play Xbox’s Fellowship of the Ring). Keep in mind that this game was originally intended for the N64, so some of the graphics had to be ported and slightly upgraded (turned out rather nicely still though), but late in the game you will see some pretty extravagant graphics in comparison to some chapters, but the bottom line is that all the viewing is easy on the eyes. There is no control over the camera, which actually is nice, because Silicon Knights used it to their advantage to make the game a little more unpredictable. There are a few times when it creates a problem, but not enough times to get worked up over.

Not missing any details, Silicon Knights definitely did well on the sound portion. Any composer will tell you that music is the key ingredient in movies, and it’s no different here. While there isn’t much music, there are still tons of sound effects that will etch into your mind to tense your muscles and make you question what’s really happening. Very creepy stuff.

The attention to details is downright astounding. Each character you come across as you read the chapters has a distinct appearance, and even has a unique lineup of weapons all of which match the character’s era and status. The voice actors get an ‘A’, and they even throw in some Greek for added effect, very well done. The storyline is awesome, plenty of cut-scenes but not too many to make it boring. The game play is sweet, losing your mind is highly recommended, yet it will effect how you play and will be more than an added piece of candy. Lastability is there, even after you defeat the game, you can play through twice more to uncover something secret. Will you want to play through it twice more? Yes, it’s that doggone fun. This game is a massive sleeper hit and a soon to be cult classic. Would I buy a Gamecube just to play this game? Yes, but I’d also probably buy RE, Zelda and the upcoming Final Fantasy. This game is not only recommended, it’s a must. I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars.

4.5 out of 5

“Zelda – Wind Waker” Video Game Review (Gamecube)

Alright, raise your hand if you have not heard of Zelda. Hmmm. Just as I thought, not a single hand raised. Nintendo has done the best job of any gaming console to build up a quality stack of 1st party titles (Mario, Donkey Kong, Starfox, etc), and their latest update is on our pointy eared friend Link. The last installment (“Ocarina of Time”) took the world by storm and was heralded by many as the best Zelda of all-time (a pretty lofty statement) with the innovation of a 3-Dimensional world for Link to explore, it was to say the least, outstanding. Eyes really opened up for Zelda’s future when Nintendo first revealed the Gamecube at Spaceworld 2000 and showed a real-time clip of a fully rendered life-like Ganon and Link going head-t-head. The same eyes however, slammed shut wishing to wake up from a nightmare once the actual new Zelda had been revealed as nothing more than a cel-shaded cartoony kid, not the full grown down-to-business Link everyone had hoped for. Regardless of whether or not it was the right move, could it still be everything you were wanting?

Instead of the traditional storyline of rescuing Princess Zelda, there’s a slightly different approach taken this time around. You are still the adventurous Link, but you are now rescuing your sister from the claws of the one and only Ganondorf, and instead of the typical dirt covered map you will be investigating a world that is primarily composed of water. The problem? Well, Ganon is at it again, he’s kidnapping children for some mysterious use, either that or he’s searching for a particular child, one who could grant him power… did you really expect me to tell you which? Play the game lazy bum. So you will spend your time sailing, and you better learn to love it because once you type in your name it’s all H2O baby. At the start of the game it’s your birthday, at which time your mother tells you you’re at the age to wear the “Hero’s Clothes” (all green of course), shortly after that a gigantic bird is navigated to your homey little island and decides to snag your little sister. You attempt to rescue her to no avail, and then decide to take the Master Sword into your hands, but to do that you must collect three pearls. While it does sound simple, there are plenty of little quests you must do in order to complete said objective, and believe me, it will take a few hours. Once you get the pearls, you’ll have to find the broken Triforce which has been scattered throughout the vast sea, so just like any other buried treasure, you find a map to guide you to each Triforce shard. Along the way though, you discover that the ancient seas have been hiding a very deep secret… Now despite what you may think, it takes much more computer to beautifully depict a cel-shaded environment. The graphics are absolutely astounding, there are tons of minor things to gaze at, such as near the beginning you enter a volcanic area and the wind is blowing around ashen-lava particles, simply gorgeous. Once you are out to sea though, there really isn’t much to do with water, so they focused on the sky and did the best they could. The sun, moon and stars are all there, and if you look up at night you can even see constellations up there, pretty cool. The excellence does not quit there though, the lighting is sweetly done as well. Every shift in the sun will produce shadow, or even torches in the darkness will have a glow of their own. It doesn’t stop there, the environment is fairly active as well, for instance if you’re fighting an enemy and you knock him into a vase, the vase will break, and if you pound your head into a wall, if the wall has a shelf it is likely to break (which is taught to you early on in the game).

Now the game play is pretty well thought out. You have maps, items (even items that hold items), plenty of sword swinging and grappling grabbing mixed in with boomerang banging. The controller has not changed much since Ocarina of Time, the principle is still there, you can hold several items plus your sword and shield. The left analog stick allows you to move/run/jump (the jump is automatically triggered when you run over a ledge), the right analog (C-stick) is used to control the camera angle, a magnificent benefit, the D-pad is used for viewing maps. The left trigger allows you to target (the old Z-targeting method, well, I guess it’s L-targeting now) and center the camera on Link, the Right trigger lets you crouch, defend or grab/pull a block. The X, Y, Z buttons store items for use, A is the action button (open, drop, speak, grab/throw, check) which the top right of the screen will notify what you are able to do in the given moment, the B button swings your sword (hack away my friend) and the start button takes you to your subscreens.

The game screen is pretty simple, the top left has your life and magic meters, the top right has your items, the bottom left has your map, and your rupees/money is on the bottom right. The map screen is pretty awkward at first, but its simplicity will seep through eventually. You usually draw up the world map first which is composed of a large square grid (7 x 7) of 49 squares in all. Each square contains a main island of some sort (and usually a few tiny islands), they begin undiscovered but once you get going you can begin filling in the squares with actual drawings, but in order to do this you must visit your sea-friend the fish who draws on your map and tells you a secret about the area! However, in order to do that you must feed him bait, and in order to get bait you have to have a bait bag, which holds two kinds of bait, fish bait and bird bait, and while it is called “bait”, don’t get your hopes up because you will be eating neither of the two. The other map screen from the overworld viewpoint is the t treasure maps (you switch over by pressing “Y”), this is where filling in the map squares becomes useful. As you get a map whether, it’s a treasure map or Triforce map, or even a map to get a Triforce map, (oh yes they did) you will get a view of the treasure map on the right screen which is a very zoomed in view of a square detailing the location of the treasure with an “X”, this is on the right side of the screen, on the left you have the overworld map to compare your treasure map to so that you can match up the zoomed in shapes with the zoomed out shapes and find out where the heck that treasure is. Unlike most Zelda games, money does play a big factor in this game, because some maps are unreadable (which happen to be the maps that lead you to Triforce maps) and you must take these pesky maps to get deciphered by an expert and this will cost you some grip (money). The underworld map is just like it has been since “A Link to the Past”, you have the floor level on your left, and the map on the right detailing where you are and where you’ve been. If you have the dungeon map then you can also see where you’ve been, go and get the compass to tell you where the boss and treasure chests are hidden then snag the Big Key and you’re practically done!

The subscreen is composed of two primary areas, the “Item” screen and the “Quest Status” screen. The item screen is just what it sounds like, contains your selectable items of choice. The Quest screen contains your “Save” and “Options” selections, as well as your equipment (sword, shield), the Pearls and Triforce you’ve found, heart fragments you’ve collected (if you find four then you get an additional heart container which lengthens your health), amount of treasure charts you have, and finally your Wind Waker songs.

Near the beginning of the game you gain a Conductors baton (music conductor that is), as you go along you learn different songs which allow you to do different things, it’s fun at first but later on in the game becomes slightly annoying. You typically learn a song through finding a stone that contains the spell’s notes. Some of the songs have to do with manipulating the wind, but not all of them. It’s fairly easy to use once you practice a few minutes, the songs are not as easy as OoT (Ocarina of Time), there are different tempos you can conduct at which can create a challenge at times.

You do have a little friend that can accompany you on your quest, his name is Tingle and he’s accessible through the Gameboy Advance, he doesn’t spice it up much or make a huge difference, but it’s slightly entertaining if you have a friend watching who is getting bored and wants to participate.

The fighting in this game is quite entertaining and doesn’t get old any time soon, the best part is the new addition of a sword technique called the parry, which is a counter-attack. There’s also been an upgraded spin attack called the Super Spin attack, believe me, it’s super fun and super useful, some enemies can only be penetrated by such an attack. There is a plethora of enemies to munch on as the game flies through, not very many are new, they’ve only been renovated for further use. One of the cooler enemy features is that they are not limited to hitting only yourself, they are also able to strike each other, pretty nifty! The bosses can be somewhat entertaining, but none of them present the slightest challenge (which is fine by me). The magic bar is used very little, it only applies to a few items, such as a magic leaf (I’ll let you reveal what this leaf does) and magic arrows. There are two ways to extend your health bar, and it roots back to the roots of the first Zelda, you can 1) defeat a boss and gain an extra heart container; 2) go out and find a heart container.

There aren’t nearly enough items to discuss them all without spoiling some of the fun so I will leave it as an enigma for you to discover, just remember this clue: if it can grab a branch, it can grab a buried treasure. Yeah I know, not too subtle.

The sound is good for what it is, it’s used in dungeons and the overworld, but minus the typical Zelda music. Very disappointing to say the least, the overworld music is extremely chipper and is precisely what you’d expect to hear a small elf-child to be listening to while sailing his magic boat. However, there is a classic remake buried deeply in the game, waiting to be revealed toward the very end and it is everything you’d want it to be and more, I just wish they didn’t use it so sparingly.

The fun factor is fairly decent here, plenty to do and plenty to see, but it feels remarkably like busy-work teachers used to give me at school, just something to keep me occupied until the next big event. “Run here! Run there! Now go grab that so that you can grab this and use this to open that which will allow you to take this there to push that!” However, there are a few outstanding battles and sights that simply must be viewed if not played, the final battle is simply amazing and there’s a building buried underwater that is great, and the graphics are pretty darned sweet.

My impression as I reflected once the game ended was not what one would hope or expect from a Zelda game. It was short, not nearly enough levels or dry land to explore, not enough bosses to battle or weapons to choose from. For me, this will always be the game that could have been, a perfect opportunity to take it to the next level, the only thing they give enough of was seawater. Yuck. I know I know, there was plenty of sea to explore, but it felt so much more tedious than rewarding, I mean come on, there’s only so many treasures I want to find full of 20 rupees. There is hope though, there is another Zelda in the works by Capcom, now don’t get your hopes too high since it will more than likely be using the same engine as this one (read: cel-shading), but that has a huge upside of not taking too long to design another game, because let’s face it, the Zelda we want won’t be close to being done until the next console. Until then, I’ll just go pick up the Gamecube version of Ocarina of Time.

4 out of 5

Amerie: All I Have Review

Who ever would have guessed that Alaska would produce a woman with beauty, charisma, innocence, sincerity and a talent to sing R&B? Unbelievable as it is, Amerie is native to Alaska. Not that she’s exactly a newbie on the hip hop scene anymore, since she has been having some grand appearances with the likes of Nas, Royce Da 5’9″ and LL Cool J, along with hosting a show on BET now. Her potential is clearly seen, but is it clearly delivered on her debut album “All I Have”?

She starts the CD with her first release “Why Don’t We Fall In Love”, and it has a very nice feel to it with nice complex harmonies and excellent background instruments. The premise of the song is pretty simple, falling in love with a person she’s been hiding her feelings for, although not lyrically complex in the least it does ring true to life. Next is “Talkin’ To Me” which also happens to be her second solo release. Once again, the lyrics are nothing to concentrate on as much as the general feeling the song helps create with its heart-spoken songstress. A very mellow production really generates a sense of love-filled presence.

“Nothing Like Loving You” is right on par with the first two tracks, the chorus is nothing short of lovely to listen to but that’s almost all you hear for the entire song. A set of quads in the background, and some chimes here and there are still going for that aroma of emotional reminiscence. “Can’t Let Go” starts right off with a harp and piano rift that shifts straight over to the slightly up-tempo laced beat. Unfortunately this song does not really work due to the lyric/notes/flow of her words, it doesn’t compliment her all that well and comes off slightly forced. While her voice is still good, it definitely isn’t at its peak.

“Need You Tonight” is the attempt at the party starter joint, however it simply gets tiring by the time the fourth measure hits. The beat gets old quickly and she’s still singing in the same key that she’s been in since the start of the CD, towards the end she goes for some Mary J. Blige style stabs. The next song on the track list is “Got To Be There”, and it manages to hit some beautiful harmonies, but she’s still in the same dang key and singing the same pitches. At this point the beats are also managing to blend together, not a good sign. There needs to be an amount of refreshing ingenuity when the next song starts up, but not so much that it won’t fit well into the track listing, and so far this has not been accomplished.

The next selection is “I Just Died”, and finally there is a fresh beat and this is a fresh breath of air and demonstrates a better dexterity for her vocals. She assumes for the most part a whispered voice and the chorus is nice, using an analogy of falling in love with that of dying as if to say she loves her man to death, and does not desire to be brought back to life. There are once again some real nice melodic mixtures with her vocals which makes you pay attention and wish you could sing. “Hatin On You” is just a track filler, nothing to make special note of and something to just add onto the CD. It is actually the lyrics and style that makes it such a boring song that you may drift off while listening, I did, ain’t I supposed to be reviewing this?

The intro to “Float” definitely builds up a good bit of hope with a mixture of talking and her voice drops a little before the beat hits, and it is a nice beat. She gets another chance to flip up her style and it works pretty well, but now the only problem is that the harmonies are beginning to feel overdone yet it still remains beautifully sung making this a nice addition. “Show Me” has a traditional beat similar to “Nothing Like Loving You”, a very ordinary R&B rhythm. Apparently in the studio it never gets tiring to use a harmony for the chorus and sing over it, because it’s been done on every track thus far. This song fits into the selection a little too plainly.

My last hope rests on “All I Have” for something great to happen on this CD, which is for the most part a success with the intro laced with a few guitar rifts gently laid down, very nice. The chorus is a pure delight (yes, it is very harmonious) but it brings a somewhat unique feel with a more urgent beat yet she lays back on it to bring in her own vibe. It’s very R&B, but not cliché. The “Outro” is a quick reflective track with a hard piano and a few touches in the back from an organ, a nice beat and the lyrics point to a basic shout out to God, thanking him for her blessings.

Overall, the disc becomes boring at spots due to the overuse of the vocal techniques used. It would have been much
better if they had kept “Why Don’t We Fall In Love”, “Talkin’ To Me”, “I Just Died”, “Float”, “All I Have” and the “Outro” and just brought in a more thought-out seven tracks to leave a much more lasting impression on the audience. With the exception of those songs, the rest are sub par and may not even need a full listen before anxiousness sets in. However, potential is clearly seen here and for a debut album this is not horrible but it does reveal weaknesses that will undoubtedly be worked on before a future release. Due to the points of total repetition, I give this 2.5 out of 5 stars.

Track Listing:
01. Why Don’t We Fall In Love
02. Talkin’ To Me
03. Nothing Like Loving You
04. Can’t Let Go
05. Need You Tonight
06. Got To Be There
07. I Just Died
08. Hatin’ On You
09. Float
10. Show Me
11. All I Have

2.5 out of 5

Amerie: All I Have Music Review

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony: Thug World Order Review

You say the name Bone Thugs, my mind immediately springs to “East 1999 Eternal”, or perhaps I hear a female voice chanting “It’s the thuggish ruggish bone”, yet even still the enchanting “Crossroads” may come to mind. One step further? Sure, how about Mo Thugs “Family Scriptures”? My point? Well, the Cleveland group has a pretty astonishing track record, but latter releases such as “The Art of War” as well as independent releases did not seem to have the same impact as their incredible start. These men need no introduction, what they do need however is redemption which is what they are hoping to bring with their latest release which signifies their official regrouping “Thug World Order”.

The CD kicks off with “T.W.O. Intro”, the tympanies roll and we hear an intro reminiscent of “East 1999 Eternal” which rolls right into “Bone, Bone, Bone”, having an old school feel of Bone, a bouncy bass-line and the speedy flow that brings back memories, the chorus leaves much to desire however, very plain and there is not a single extra word outside the name of the track.

“Guess Who’s Back”, I’ll give you one chance to guess what this song is about. A 1980 chorus loop from “My Boyfriend’s back” (I think that’s the title), and Bone Thugs are back and we are apparently going to be in trouble. A smart mix of laid back and uptempo at the same time, once again, pretty decent flow, no lyrical complexity but it sounds nice, however the hook is scary. Next, we have “Home”, watch out for 80’s flashbacks when you hear this beat, but it is actually done in a way that doesn’t hurt my ears which is a first for any song from the 80’s. The chorus borrows another loop from the 80’s, I do not know the song it samples though, but it does sound far superior than anything thus far. I’m definitely feeling this joint.

After hearing “Home” I am optimistic once again since popping in this CD, the next track “What About Us” features some light organ music with an attempt at thought provoking lyrics and a self-reflective beat. They don’t really pull it off though it isn’t a bad track, it just doesn’t have the full effect they were going for, but it is one of their better songs on the line-up. “Get Up & Get It” featuring 3LW & Felecia is the first official release from “Thug World Order” and does what they set out to do, which is to reintroduce Bone back into the hip hop mainstream, blending a feel of pop and that thuggish ruggish bone we all remember.

“All The Way” is a very melodic soulish type of track, with a beat that just may have come from an R&B song, not too shabby, there’s some flow that is a must-hear, not that there is something that is just tight lyrically but it just sounds so nice that I have to push rewind just to let it tickle my ears again. The chorus is lacking but at this point it is to be expected.

Switching the pace from easy flowing, we shift gears right into “Pump, Pump”, full of shotgun pumps as the name would indicate, a thin beat filled out mostly by vocals. Once again, the chorus could have used a little work but the verses meet that crave for Bone’s fast and furious style. Next we are definitely going to “Set It Straight”, another song dealing with their identity, great production work here. I’m feeling the beat, but there is some out of place singing out the end that puts a big hurt on the track.

“Money, Money” finally has a decent chorus that I just may find myself chanting after the end of the song. I love the beat, there is a jazz type singer in the very back that adds tremendously to the effect. Our Cleveland friends spit about being broke and triumphing in their life, really nice production work once again.

Unfortunate. My point of reference? This next track “Not My Baby”. What exactly is unfortunate you ask? A waste of a perfectly good beat, it’s a nice beat too, yet it is without a doubt wasted on a garbage song. From the topic of a “lovechild” that isn’t theirs, to the excuse for a chorus to the verses, it’s all trash with the exception of the beat. Avant joins our notorious thugs on “Cleveland Is The City” although Avant doesn’t show up until over halfway through the song. The beat goes by unnoticed, the chorus never produces anything worthwhile since it is oversimplified and Avant is never really utilized except as a finishing touch, this track is quickly forgettable. We finish the journey with “If I Fall”, a tribute to streetlife. The hook is one of the better ones, most of the verses are just okay, not quite as nice as most of the other verses on the cd.

I have always been a huge fan of Bone’s style of light and quick flow, and they once again showcase it in a lot of good ways with very few verses not meeting the standard. Not much to look forward to as far as a “complete” song goes, but there are exceptions such as “Home” and “What About Us” that make valiant attempts at stepping up their game. Depending on where you’re from and your taste, the bad may outweigh the good since there are at least 3 tracks that cover the same topic of “We’re bone, you better recognize” which gets very old almost as fast as their speech, and also most of the CD’s choruses are so dang forgettable. Redemption? Not quite, maybe the next release will offer something more memorable. Big points taken off for lack of variety and creative approach, but I have to give big points to production since there is a good selection of nice beats, and I also love their style and group dynamics, 3 out of 5 stars.

Track Listing:
01 T.W.O. Intro
02 Bone, Bone, Bone
03 Guess Who’s Back feat. LaReece
04 Home
05 What About Us
06 Get Up & Get It feat. 3LW & Felecia
07 All The Way
08 Pump, Pump
09 Set It Straight
10 Money, Money
11 Not My Baby
12 Cleveland Is The City feat. Avant
13 If I Fall

3 out of 5

Grits: Art of Translation Review

Positive. That’s right, positive. I’ll start and end with just that, positive. I’m positive you have heard GRITS before, whether or not you recognize the name, but true hip-hop heads will automatically know the name. Hailing from Nashville, Tennessee and bringing their own flavor of hip hop to the board every time they touch a studio or microphone, their voices are easily recognizable in an ever-growing genre tainted with fly-by-night artists. Bonafide and Coffee form GRITS, creating a creative powerhouse that brought songs you have doubtlessly heard, such as “Ima Showem” that made an appearance on hit TV Show Boston Public, and you have more than likely heard other strong hits “Time Is Passing” or “They All Fall Down”. If you don’t recognize the title, then just download the tracks and you’ll instantly recognize them, then go buy the CD, because burning CDs is thievery.

Their latest CD “The Art of Translation” leaves with many more positives, but I’m getting ahead of myself already. The translating opens up with no intro, we dive head-first into “Here We Go”, thick with a latin vibe evenly mixed with some nice kicks. Great lively chorus, the style is on point and you have no choice but to bob your head. Rolling right into “Ooh Ahh” which features Tobymac, and already feeling the laid back beat which is ridden perfectly by a chorus that builds from the start to show the intricacy of the hook. Tobymac does okay, but is outshined by the heroes of our album, brilliant track covering the woes of life. A very relatable track that majestically dazzles, a must-hear.

Next, we’re “Runnin'” with a beautiful chorus sung by great female vocalists V3, which consists of Latoya, Sasha, and Shelly Vinson. We see more relatable topics covered here, and this is overall a beautiful song with a memorable hook. Bouncing right into “Tennessee Bwoys”, not feeling the hook too much, the dirty south induced chorus feels a little forced but it is a great style to bounce to, which is easily assumed to be the primary purpose. The beat is decent, and the hook is in your face. We slow it down a tad with “Be Mine” and jump right out with a very smooth hook which does what it’s intended to do, hook you. Careful listening reveals a positive message rare in the rap game today, which is faithfulness in a relationship leading to marriage. Snaps off for braving the topic and doing it in full quality. “Ill Coined Phrase” is an out of place interlude which sounds good, just out of place.

“Seriously” adds on a thick mix of guitars giving the rock ‘n roll spice, but the mix doesn’t seem to work well. The chorus feels a little off, the attempt at something new is applauded but it ultimately fails. “At The Video Shoot” interlude is entertaining, and gives the sense that you’re eavesdropping on some girls at the scene of a video shoot as it rolls into the next track “Video Girl” featuring one of my more favorite artists, Knowdaverbs. We start off with the hook which makes a valiant attempt at a catchy hook but is a little forced, and will eventually have you humming it to yourself, whether you like it or not doesn’t matter. Verbs kicks off the first verse and knocks it down without question and everyone seems to hold their own here. Once again, props are given on handing out a positive (there’s that word again) message trying to give value back to women.

The next track flows ridiculously tight with Jennifer Knapp on “Believe”, another magnificent chorus, delivered this time from GRITS’ fellow Gotee artist. We travel through some deep meditation on where our lives are and what we base our lives on. An A+ is given here for a terrific track, well balanced between a perfect tone set by the beat, the chorus and the thought invoking rhymes. Another must-hear followed closely by the interlude “What Do You Believe?”. A nice follow-up indeed, laid back beat filled out with organs, piano rifts, and nusoul vocals.

Next we’re supposed to “Get It”, an upbeat song with a rather repetitive chorus, an all around okay track. A definite banger of a follow-up hits us on “Make Room”, sweet beat with that good ol’ southern bounce. Brings some fire here lyrically and the chorus hits the spot filling out the instrumental to a “T”. If you like hot beats mixed with style and lyrics, check this song out. In tune with the interludes we have “Keep Movin'”, very soul-filled with a beat that sounds straight from a relaxed Timbaland studio, great addition here though it’s short.

Never to get dark, light is shed with “Sunny Days”. The beat gives its effect of an upbeat song yet manages to stay away from the spotlight. Rarely slipping on the chorus we’ve got another hook that meets expectations with Nirva Dorsaint spilling her intoxicating vocals throughout the track. Here hearts are lifted to give reflection and thanks to their maker. Like a fairy tale ending, we polish off the disc with the last song “Lovechild” accompanied by Antonio Phelon singing melodically, he’s sure to have you singing this as soon (if not before) the song is through. Not only is there a great beat and flowing melody, but the words will probably hit a piece of your heart. Yet another must-listen. Ending our escapade through the creative direction of our Nashville heroes is the last interlude and track “The Art of Translation”, a hypnotizing melody with some beautiful words even though I have no idea what is said, and be sure to keep listening to catch the hidden ending, because it gets better.

Do I really need to say what I think of the CD as a whole? Is that actually necessary? Have you been paying attention? I hope so, because history is in the making and I expect this CD to have a lot of influence on a lot of people, both musical and non. An astounding album with innovation & creativity deluxe. I cannot think of a better way to drop a $20 when it comes to music. A superb blend of guest appearances without ever detracting from the main event and never emitting the feeling that there’s too many guests. Do you like lyrics? Just listen. Do you like a great beat? Well, do you prefer latin, dirty south, unidentifiably unique or other? Just listen. How about a positive output that will leave you with a deposit rather than taking away any joy you already had? I’m fully convinced that we have a certified jam session that will meet all occasions and emotions.

Massive points given for style, music choice, great choruses, lyrical content, and ingenuity. Points detracted from the few choruses that didn’t meet the quota. 4.5 stars out of 5. Am I sure? Heh, I’m positive.

Track Listing:
01 HERE WE GO
02 OOH AHH FEAT. TOBYMAC
03 RUNNIN FEAT. V3
04 TENNESSEE BWOYS
05 BE MINE FEAT. NIRVA DORSAINT
06 ILL COINED PHRASE (INTERLUDE)
07 SERIOUSLY
08 AT THE VIDEO SHOOT (INTERLUDE)
09 VIDEO GIRL FEAT. KNOWDAVERBS
10 BELIEVE FEAT. JENNIFER KNAPP
11 WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE? (INTERLUDE)
12 GET IT
13 MAKE ROOM
14 KEEP MOVIN’ (INTERLUDE)
15 SUNNY DAYS FEAT. NIRVA DORSAINT
16 LOVECHILD FEAT. ANTONIO PHELON
17 THE ART OF TRANSLATION (INTERLUDE)

4.5 out of 5

Misshapen Body

Pregnancy can be a wonderful moment. You wait nine months to receive two things: a beautiful baby and 25 extra pounds. Most women tend to lose a few pounds or so after having their baby. If you breastfeed you tend to shed more pounds because more calories are being burned. However, most women tend to gain more than recommended depending on what pregnancy this is or their diet. These are the women who feel misshapen after their delivery and desperately want to gain their body back.

The one question that strikes a cord with every woman after having a baby is to be mistaken pregnant again because of bulging bellies. Tummy muscles are weakened from the pregnancy due to stretching. This tends to make the belly area soft and sometimes hard to regain. But honestly ladies we have to come to grips that our stomach will never be the same. Things change in our life that we have no control over. The best thing to do is to start off slow and try to regain your body knowing that it will never be that perfectly firm again but it can be beautiful.

The key is to start off slow and remember that Rome was not built in a day and things take time. It took nine months to get this pregnant and it will take time to get “unpregnant”. The ideal thing is to start with a small plan and after you have a clearance from you doctor (usually after your six weeks checkup) put it into action.

Most moms do find it hard to work in a full exercise routine with a new baby. One way moms have learned to incorporate their baby and exercise is to walk. Lots of moms pick the local track or even get up early to walk around the mall before it opens. Walking indoors does seem to be a better way to beat the cold or extreme heat. The most important thing is to do something you enjoy that way it is great for mom and enjoyable for baby. There are several ways to help get that body back to its pre-pregnant self. One is by doing “baby exercise.” These are exercises that you can do that include your baby so that way you can work on bonding as well as getting in shape.

The first one is squats. This can be done while you are holding your baby. You get your back up against the wall so that way you will have something for firm support. Next you spread your legs about hip width apart and then slowly bend your knees and come down. Then when you have reached the sitting position you come back up. This way you are tightening up your thighs and working the lower part of your body and arms. Also take time to smile and talk to the baby to keep him/her happy.

Another exercise that can be done with your baby is leg lifts. You lie on the floor and place your baby on your stomach facing you. Next you take either one leg at a time or both at the same time and you raise them to about a 45-degree angle and then slowly lower them. This works your legs, glutes, and stomach muscles. This exercise can be a great way to look at your baby and keep him/her entertained while trying to shape that misshapen body.

Getting on all fours and doing leg lifts can your third exercise. You can place your baby under you so that way you can look at them and keep them happy but yet working each leg at a time. This will again work the lower part of your body and want be to stressful on the body after your six-week check up.

The main thing is to keep going and know there is light at the end of the tunnel. The idea that your body will be perfect again is not a crazy one but to understand that things change once you have a child is a more realistic approach. Looking at that beautiful baby everyday should be the best reward for the few pounds you have gained. Also know that with each child comes its own set of pounds so getting off pounds before more pregnancies is also a body saver later. Stretch marks are considered to some as battle scars but today we are going to rename them something more pleasant like icing. So consider ladies that they are icing on the cake to the wonderful thing we call a “slice of motherhood.”

by Sherita Smedley

Fibromyalgia: An “Invisible Illness”

In the past few years, I have become a professional patient. I have been in and out of the doctor’s office and hospital. There are times when I felt like I should just move in. I have dealt with the pain of the doctors pushing on me, and the medical tests that they have put me through. I have reported any new symptoms that have come up. It does not take a degree to become a “professional patient,” it just takes an illness. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia about two years ago.

According to the National Fibromyalgia Association (NFA), it is estimated that 5-7% of the United States population has it. There are many people out there who do not know they have Fibromyalgia. When I was told what I had, I blocked out a lot of what was being said. Mainly it was because I did not know what it was. The only thing that I did know was a friend had the same illness, but I was happy to finally have a name of what I was going through.

Fibromyalia is a chronic illness that is mainly found in women. It is known for its wide spread pain throughout the body, fatigue and tender points. In some cases, even the smallest pressure can cause the person to have pain. So a pat on the back, for someone that has Fibro, is not a good idea. Even though there are theories, doctors do not know what causes the syndrome. There is also not a cure yet. There are many things which could make the symptoms worse. For example: stress, the weather and physical activity.

I am slowly learning about the many symptoms which can go along with Fibromyalgia. Keep in mind there are many more symptoms than what I am going to list. The primary symptoms of Fibromyalgia are widespread pain throughout the body, fatigue and sleep disturbances. There is also brain fog/ Fibro fog, Irritable Bowel Syndrom (IBS), headaches, facial pain, sensitivity to noise, bright lights and touch. People also suffer from morning stiffness, cognitive or memory impairment, blurry vision, dizziness, rashes, muscle twitching, Raynaud’s Syndrome, difficulty concentrating, painful menstrual period, Interstitial Cystitis (IC), dry eyes, skin and mouth.

It is hard to diagnose Fibromyalgia because it mimics other diseases like Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Lyme Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Some patients not only have Fibro, but also have one or more of these diseases. For some people Fibromyalgia can be disabling. At this moment, I cannot work outside of the house, and I need a cane to walk. Even though I have started, it is hard for me to exercise. I have also learned, even though I do not like it, I need to cut down on the list of things I want to do. I just do not have the energy to do it. If you feel that you may have Fibromyalgia ,check with your Primary Care doctor and they can direct you to where you need to go. No matter what people may say, it is not in your head.
by Jill Sheets

Web Sites:

National Fibromyalgia Assocation (NFA)
www.fmaware.org

Mayo Clinic
www.mayoclinic.com

Fibromyalgia Network
www.fmnetnew.com

To Stretch or Not To Stretch: That is the Question

In my last article, we talked about how to gradually begin running. In this article, we will talk about what to do right before you actually go run; in other words, stretching.

If you ever happened to have a physical education class in school, you are probably familiar with a stretching routine of some sort. Feet together; then, touch your toes. Sit with the soles of your feet facing inward, and press your knees toward the ground. Assume Downward Facing Dog, and transition into the Open Lotus position while simultaneously attaining enlightenment.

It seems that no matter the sport, the general belief is that this same stretching routine is beneficial to both improve performance and reduce the chance of injury. Well, I am here to tell you the truth. Listen carefully: stretching before running does not improve performance or reduce the chance of injury.

Here is how it breaks down. Flexibility is a good thing. Flexible people have a greater range of motion than people who are not flexible. A greater range of motion both improves performance and reduces the chance of injury. Well, if that is the case, why does stretching before running not improve performance and reduce injury? Here is the second part of the secret: you can only become more flexible when you are stretching at the limit of your range of motion.

Stretching before running does not improve flexibility because your muscles are not warmed up. They are tight and tense. Many people think the point of stretching is to loosen their muscles up. This is not the case. Elite athletes do not step out on the track and do toe touches before running the 5k. They go for an easy run to loosen up their muscles; then they stretch a little bit.

This is not to say that you should go for an easy run and stretch before you go out for your daily jog. For all intents and purposes, if you are going out for a regular run (whatever that may be for you), just start out easier than the pace you wish to sustain for the entire run. This will give your muscles a chance to warm up before you accelerate to your regular pace.

The time for stretching is after the run. After you have run, your muscles will be warmed up and stretched out. Any stretching you do then will be near your maximum range of motion. By stretching properly after you run, you will increase your flexibility, which improves performance and reduces injury.

The important thing is to not become bogged down in pre-run routines and rituals. If your goal is to run, get out there and run! An elaborate and time-consuming pre-run stretching routine makes it more difficult to carve out a patch of time in your day to get your endorphin high. If you just start out easy, everything will be fine.

Running is about running, not about stretching. If you want to stretch all day, go do some yoga; if you want to run, throw your shoes on and get out there. After you have trotted around town dodging dogs, waving at friends, and having a great time, if you feel like it, give that Open Lotus position another try. Happy Running!

by Carl Roberts

Carl ran Track & Cross Country through Jr. High, High School, College and now enjoys running in his free time. He has been ranked in the Top 10 in Indiana and has won many conference titles.

*It is recommended to speak to a physician regarding new exercise regiments.