Album Review: Seether's Isolate and Medicate

Seether for me has been kind of a childhood enjoyment. I first heard them when I was 12 and I have constantly found myself going back and listening to them. They are also on of the bands that got me interested in the guitar company that makes the guitar I have in my current picture. So, I may be late to the party for this album, but I still wanted to take a good look at it and write this review.

First of all, every song is different; One song it has their signature, the next has Heavy Metal riffs, and the one after is kind of relaxing. I've mentioned before how much it bothers me to have every song on an album sound exactly the same and Seether doesn't do that. Most of the messages they have is very much like previous works. Seether is known for the more angst and anger in the lyrics and that is no different, whether it is about politics or personal experience, it is left up to interpretation. The lyrics are written to fit what is bothering you right now. I have very little to complain about.

The only gripe is the explicit language in two or three songs. That is what stops me from recommending to everyone, like I did with Chevelle. If the language is not a bothering factor for you, check it out. My verdict is a 9/10.

Favorite songs: Word's as Weapons, Crash, Suffer it All.

Least Favorites: Same Damn Life, Nobody Praying For Me.

Anime Review: Madoka Magica

As far as magical girl anime is concerned, it has the problem of being not only predictable, but also cliche. Ever since it's founding show, Sailor Moon, every magical girl anime has been pretty much the same thing. Madoka Magica is actually a step away from the cutesy, pretty magical girl genre.

Not only is it dark in art style and tone, but also in how the characters act. They all have tragic backstories that we learn early on and we get to experience their tragic ends. The anime is only twelve episodes long, so we don't get enough character development to really bond with the characters. You feel for them and start to care, but before you get to fall in love with them, they're gone. It makes you wish it was longer. Not only that, but they aren't unique characters in anime either. They are unique to the genre, but you see similar characters that are better portrayed in other genres. So you think about those other characters sometimes.

The worst one is the main character. It is very hard for me to like this character. She is not only emotionally unbalanced (which can work) but she is developed into that character that is self sacrificing and gives up everything for what they love. Kind of that Messiah (Savior) character. That is in a lot of psychological thriller anime and some action anime. She isn't unique at all.

Everyone else is okay. They all have definitive personalities and they are likable. I would just like to get to know them better. The problem is that it is short and feels kind of rushed. It is unique to the magical girl genre, but familiar in other anime in general.

My final verdict is an Emo Playhouse/10. It's like nothing we have seen in the genre, but the more you look at it, you can tell someone has done it before in other genres. I won't discourage or encourage anyone from watching it. If you are curious, check it out.