Or will they?  I loved dollhouses and that didn’t actually change once I looked at them by the light of day.  Still, nearly any time you see a dollhouse in television, movies or even novels, they’re usually creepy as all get-out.  And that got me thinking: what else is fairly benign in the real world, but routinely besmirched by fiction?

Dolls

You may think dolls deserve to be lumped in with dollhouses; I disagree.  Dollhouses operate like another dimension, a contained world of their own.  Evil dolls, on the other hand, can come to get you at any time, and they’ve got the extra creep factor of something animated that shouldn’t be.  I don’t know when the first “evil doll” story was filmed or written – the earliest one I can think of is that Twilight Zone episode with Talky Tina – but dolls nearly always look disturbing on film.  In the real world, on the other hand, we wouldn’t give the majority of them a second glance – well, unless we’ve just had a viewing of Child’s Play.  I can’t be the only one who witnessed a My Buddy doll being defenestrated after one of those.

Old-timey music

In the real world, music from the past is considered annoying, or interesting at best.  Early recording methods left relics that sound scratchy, tinny and weak.  Most people would much rather hear a live performance of an old piece of music than an old recording.  So where does that leave these little samples of history?

To the horror fans, of course!  It doesn’t matter if it’s jazz, bluegrass, opera, or even early rock-n-roll; an old-timey recording sounds sinister without fail.  What would the Tower of Terror or The Shining be without a clarinet warped by the passage of time?  Would BioShock be half as creepy without its music?

Nursery Rhymes

What is it about children that we’re so easily freaked when we look at things from a slightly different angle?  All it takes is a recitation of a nursery rhyme to get people anticipating the worst.  Double that if it’s an actual child doing the speaking.  Sure, some nursery rhymes have disturbing origins – like “Ring Around the Rosie” – and some scary movies have written their own creepy rhymes, like Nightmare on Elm Street.  But let’s face it: stick a little girl in a pinafore and patent-leather Mary Janes and have her recite “Little Miss Muffet” in front of a camera, and we’re afraid to take another sip of our soda in case a sudden scare causes it to shoot out our noses (no? Just me, then).

Scarecrows

“Oh, come on, J,” you might be saying.  “Scarecrows are scary all the time!”  Really?  See many scarecrows, do you?  The fact is, scarecrows are few and far between nowadays, and almost the only time we ever see them is in film.  And almost without exception, they’re scary – in the movies.  However, have you ever tried to actually make a scarecrow, say, for Halloween?  It’s hard to make them as sinister as they are in your head, because in person, they’re… kind of dopey.  A silhouette, from far away, with the right lighting and right music is scary.  A lumpy dummy dressed in your dad’s old windbreaker?  Not so much.  Store-bought is no better – a few years back I wanted to do a spooky Harvest decorating theme, and the only scarecrows I could find had big goofy grins and neon clothes.  And that just takes us back to the “Dolls” category – most of the time they’re not scary at all.

What about you?  Can you think of anything familiar that has been made frightening by fiction?  Something you haven’t been able to see the same way since?  

Simply put, O Brother is a retelling of The Odyssey, set in Mississippi during the 1930s.  Despite rumors that the Coen brothers never actually read the source material, it’s loaded with references that make English teachers giddy, from a blind prophet to Sirens to a Cyclops.  However, it’s probably more widely known for its soundtrack: a mix of bluegrass (referred to in the movie as ‘Old-Timey’), gospel, and blues.

When you think about it, though the soundtrack is a perfect complement to this film, the genres seem an apt metaphor for most Coen films: Light on the surface, deceptively simple, but with a dark and macabre aftertaste.  At any rate, I loved the arrangements and usage in the film, and I was not alone: the next year, as a freshman music major, I watched my school’s top choir put on a concert of spirituals and similar songs.

It’s easy to geek out to O Brother, and not just from references to Homer; Film geeks, history geeks, and music geeks can all find something to love, too.  For a movie that doesn’t take itself too seriously, it brings serious research cred.

But why is it one of my favorite films?  Why do I like it so much more than any other Coen Brothers film, more than most other films, period?

Well, it hits just the right tone for me when it comes to humor.  From Clooney’s smart lines that consistently make me smile to slapstick that catches me off-guard when I haven’t seen it in awhile, it’s just perfectly balanced to my sensibilities.  There are certainly dark parts to the film – Mississippi in the 30′s wasn’t necessarily the friendliest place – but those parts are all more implied (the cow doesn’t count).

Then there’s the Southern aspect.  I have never really considered myself a Southern girl, but between my immediate family and I, we’ve lived in every single state in the Southeast (south of Kentucky).   As such, I’ve got a pretty well-rounded view of the South.  And no, it’s not like it’s still Depression-era there, so I can’t directly relate, per se…  But the film itself wasn’t actually written or filmed in the 30s, so of course it’s informed, at least a little, by modern Southern culture.  And maybe it hasn’t changed all that much in 70 years.  Regardless, it’s possible that my experience allows me to like O Brother even more than someone who was raised in Oregon… but I’d like to think that the script is good enough that that’s not necessarily true.

I haven’t gone very much into the plot, because I want you to see this movie if you haven’t (The Odyssey is probably enough information, anyway).  Seriously!  Unlike some of my childhood favorites, which might come across as a little dated today, I really feel O Brother still holds up.  And I know some of my current favorites might be a little too dark or violent for some, but not this film (but if you’re going to watch it in front of your kids, I’d suggest… 10? 13?).

There.  I’ve spoken my piece, and counted to three.

Many people have told me over the years that Heavy Metal is the music of D&D. Somehow, I’ve never felt this was the case, probably because I’m just not a big metal-fan. A run of Metal anthems might work well for some combat scenes, but I tend to find that lyrics can be distracting, especially when they’re screamed or howled at Metal-esque levels.

Despite my Zeppelin and Metal-deficiency, however, I’ve been using music in my games for years, to the point where, if I play a game in a store or other venue, I often find myself missing the music. Music, like many other things, can be used to enhance the experience of playing D&D, but it can also be used poorly to your game’s detriment. In this article, I hope to give GMs some tips on how to use music wisely and well in your games.

Choosing Themes

One simple way in which you can bring music in right from the start is to pick a theme for your campaign. My Swords of the Amanar game had the song Valorian Ships from Ultima IX as its theme. With its initial horn note, its martial drumming sound, and the soaring trumpet pieces throughout, it made an excellent theme for a Spelljammer game. For my current campaign, I’m using the long version of the Pillars of the Earth theme. This music starts off energetic and bold, gets quiet, and then launches into a majestic sweep of rising chords, punctuated by church bells. Again, this theme fits perfectly with the feel of the campaign, especially the rise from Heroic Tier to Epic tier. If you listen to it, think Heroic Tier in the first half, then Epic tier in the second.

In a recent article on the Wizards of the Coast webpage, Chris Perkins mentions that he begins every game by saying “Previously, in Iomandra,” and then recapping what had happened in the last game session. This is like the part at the beginning of a TV series episode where they remind you what’s happened in previous episodes. I do this as well, usually using the phrase “As you may recall from our last tale of high adventure…” I also play the theme during this part, as it’s just about long enough to last through a recap. These are signals to my players that it’s time to calm down, put out of game conversations aside, and prepare to play.

Besides the main theme, I also have secondary themes for some of the main NPCs and settings in my campaign. Whenever Lady Alinora, the slowly blooming potential love-interest of one of the PCs appears, I play “Lady Marian” from the Clannad “Legend” album. This simple harp piece adds flutes and other instruments as it continues, suggesting a simplicity that evolves and grows. I like this theme for her very much. Similarly, when the PCs are being entertained by the tiefling bard Voldrotha Hasp at the Minstrel’s Tarry tavern that is their de facto headquarters, I put on an album called “Lute Music for Witches and Alchemists” to suggest her chosen instrument.

By choosing themes, you can add a subtle suggestion of connection between scenes. Let’s pretend, for a moment, that I had chosen “The King of the Golden Hall” from The Two Towers soundtrack to be the theme for a particular character. We’ll call him Lord Aconar. This theme is very distinctive (the violin theme of Rohan in the movie) and it occurs multiple times throughout the soundtracks of both The Two Towers and The Return of the King. If I later played “Merry’s Simple Courage” from The Return of the King, a piece that begins with a horn version of that same piece of music, when I introduce the young knight Sir Hallan, it could be a clue to the players that he may actually be Lord Aconar’s missing heir, whom they’ve heard about. This can be a subtle technique, but don’t be surprised if your players pick up on it. Mine have, occasionally.

What Kind of Music?

What kind of music works best is going to be determined by your style of play and the genre of your campaign. Despite my earlier comments, it could very well be that heavy metal and/or Led Zeppelin is the perfect music for your campaign, and I don’t use the same mix of music for my Gamma World game that I use for my D&D game. The three sources of music I’ve come to rely on most are movie and video game soundtracks, early or period music, and ambient or instrumental original pieces.

There are fantastic movie soundtracks to be plundered, but it’s best if they aren’t too recognizable, as this can work against you. With a little planning, however, you can even make this work for you.

A quick browse through my gaming music lists turns up many movie soundtracks indeed. Besides Pillars of the Earth and the Lord of the Rings trilogy, I immediately spot The 13th Warrior, Conan the Barbarian, Dungeons and Dragons (yes, the terrible movie had a decent soundtrack), Cutthroat Island, and Passion: Music for the Last Temptation of Christ. When I add in game soundtracks, we get Lord of the Rings Online (no surprise), Dungeons & Dragons Online (again…no surprise), Dante’s Inferno, God of War II, Dragon Age: Origins, Myst III: Exile, and Pool of Radiance. In my soundtracks for more modern or futuristic games, you’ll find Tron: Legacy, the new Star Trek movie, The Crow, K-Pax, Daybreakers, as well as Mass Effect 1 and 2 and Dead Space 1&2. And for my Star Wars games, oddly enough, you’ll find all the Star Wars movies.

Early and period music is invaluable for setting the flavor of your game. If my bards were playing Beatles songs, it wouldn’t sound very medieval. Instead, the music they play comes from albums like “D is for Dulcimer”, “Music for a Medieval Banquet” and “Music of the Crusades”. and my monks chant along to Gregorian chants, or Byzantine hymns, and I play albums of traditional sea shanties when the players are on an When I run traditional Call of Cthulhu games, I dip into collections of 1920s and 1930s music, setting the tone for the time period the game is in and my Deadlands game led to me discovering several collections of Saloon Piano music.

A number of bands are making a fine living producing albums of very theme-heavy instrumental music. Nox Arcana and Midnight Syndicate both have excellent albums of music without lyrics, making them prime candidates to be cannibalized for gaming music lists. Midnight Syndicate, in fact, created the official soundtrack of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. And for modern music, the albums by Blue Man Group have songs with and without lyrics and a very unique sound.

Using Music

Besides using themes, as previously mentioned, there are two excellent ways to organize and utilize your music. Organize it, and play to stereotypes.

Organizing your music is vital. Nothing spoils the mood more than when you’re playing a piece…say, “Evenstar” from The Two Towers…to evoke romance. And suddenly, the next track comes on: ”The White Rider.” Suddenly, your romantic scene is broken by an incredibly dramatic chorale, and you’re fumbling for a different piece of music.

In ye olden days, I used to make cassette tapes of different themes, recording tracks from albums and CDs, making sure that the music would stay fairly consistent in feel as a scene progresses. These days, you kids have your fancy iTunes and what not. You can create playlists of specific musical moods, sorting the music you want into them in order to create solid blocks of mood when you play them. If you’re very fancy (and yes, I am, before you ask,) you can load a program called Remote on your iPhone or iPad. Using this program, I can control iTunes from my iPad, changing playlists, adjusting volume, and never needing to walk over to my computer to do so.

I mentioned before that you should be wary of using music that’s too recognizable. When you do, you run the risk that your players will be pulled out of the scene, because they recognize the piece of music. I also mentioned that you can use this to your advantage. Certain pieces of music can really stir a specific feeling in your players, because it reminds them of when they’ve heard it before. On the soundtrack of the Return of the King, there’s a piece of music called “The White Tree.” It’s the music from the lighting of the beacons sequence in that movie. When that music comes on, as part of my Battle mix, everyone gets a little more intense. I recall one time when a player said, “I’m not sure what to do,” while this music was playing. “You have to do something amazing!” my husband exclaimed. “Don’t you hear the music?”

Be wary of allowing yourself to become enslaved by the music. When I was a younger and less wise DM, I ran a scenario based on The Phantom of the Opera. I used music from the Broadway show as the operatic sequences. This led to comedy when my players switched the tape while I was out of the room. When I came back on, I was trying to illustrate a scene with the music, only to realize they’d put on Les Miserables instead. I was so flustered, even though I found it funny, that the scenario kind of floundered for a while, to the game’s detriment.

It *was* funny, though. I’ll grant that.

Your Turn

Alright, then. I’ve spun enough words about being a DM/DJ long enough. Do you use music in your campaign? Do you have a favorite piece I totally failed to mention here? Do you think I’m sacrilegious for my lack of Zeppelin in my games? Let us all know about it.

I like an eclectic assortment of music. On a daily basis, my playlist can range from country to classical to classic rock. I’ve seen shock rock legend Alice Cooper live, caught the eye of Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen and got a thumbs (well, thumb) up from him, and was just three rows back from country dreamboat Kenny Chesney. But for as many different types of music as I like, there is one that really speaks to my heart: geektastic music.

That’s right, geektastic music. Everything from traditional filk to nerdcore to parodies, if it’s full of geek culture references, I’m bound to listen to it over and over. The songs are catchy, usually light and fun (though there are some tear-jerkers), and are another way to get all fan-girly over the things I love.

Geektastic music is nothing new – Dr. Demento’s Star Trekkin’, Buckner & Garcia’s Pac-Man Fever, Leonard Nemoy’s “classic” The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins, and hello, Weird Al, anyone?! – but thanks to the internet, it’s had an explosive expansion, even including some really well done videos. Here are some of my favorites – some you may have already heard of, some that might be new to you. (All links are to videos, and not all are SFW.)

Hey There Cthulhu by Eben Brooks

Eben Brooks was my introduction to true filk, and I’ve been lucky enough to be serenaded by him at the past two MisCons (alright, alright, he wasn’t serenading me specifically, but let me dream a little, kthanx?). It was at MisCon in 2009 when I first heard Hey There Cthulhu (to the tune of The Plain White T’s’ Hey There Delilah), a sweet ode to the great tentacle monster. If the cultists of Cthulhu had a theme song, this would be it.

Nerdy Girls Need Love Too by Amy Lee Radigan

“If I was a time lord, both my hearts would beat for you…” A nerdy girl, her guitar, and her quest to find love. This beautiful acoustic number rings so true for any geek girl who’s ever searched for a geek guy to share her life with. I found my geek guy years ago, and this song reminds me how lucky I am.

G33k & G4M3R Girls by Team Unicorn (Probably NSFW)

Odds are you’ve heard of or already seen this parody of Katy Perry’s California Girls, but the eye candy may distract you slightly from the lyrics. (Those girls are hot. Hard not to be distracted.) But that song is such a tribute to girls who love comics, sci-fi, manga, and games, I feel frakking empowered when I listen to it. Plus there are Stan Lee and Katee Sackhoff cameos, and Seth Green rapping. What’s not to like? “Browncoats represent, we aim to misbehave!” Indeed. (Note: my link is to the director’s cut.)

Fett’s Vette by mc chris (NSFW)

mc chris (who you might also know as the voice of MC Pee Pants on Aqua Teen Hunger Force) wrote this awesome rap in honor of everyone’s favorite bounty hunter, Boba Fett. This is an example of what some call nerdcore hip-hop, and though mc chris doesn’t care for that term himself, I think it’s an accurate descriptor. (Note: not an official video.)

Do You Wanna Date My Avatar by the cast of The Guild

Joss Whedon is my master now, and Felicia Day is my mistress (not that way, you pervs!). I adore everything that geekgirl does, and even though I’m not a MMORPG player, The Guild resonates with me. I absolutely adore the video she and the rest of the cast did for Do You Wanna Date My Avatar. The song’s fantastic, and it’s great to see the cast in their avatar costumes. After seeing this video, the guy in the weird red and blue cosplay outfit at Valley Con finally made sense.

Tonight I’m Frakking You featuring Kunal Nayyar and Matthew Brian Brown (Probably NSFW)

I’m not exactly a dance music girl, but I can’t get this Break Originals single out of my head. The song references everything from Big Bang Theory (no surprise with Kunal Nayyar involved) to Dr. Who, and the video features Caprica’s Alessandra Torresani in a Slave Leia bikini, Richard Hatch as a bartender, and Chad Vader. It’s a whole lot of awesome.

It’s the End of the Verse as We Know It (and I Feel Fine) by Eben Brooks

Another shout-out to Eben for his wonderful Firefly filk. Imagine condensing the entire Firefly/Serenity story into about three and a half minutes – that’s what this fast-paced R.E.M. parody does. You haven’t lived until you’ve heard a hundred con-goers belt out, “What the hell, Joss?!” in unison.

F**k Me, Ray Bradbury by Rachel Bloom (Absolutely NSFW!)

Sometimes, there’s nothing better than a good book. Nothing. And apparently Rachel Bloom is even more passionate about reading than I am. I don’t know what Ray Bradbury thinks about this song in his honor – for his 90^th birthday, even – but I think it’s pretty damn cool. (But I like Kurt Vonnegut, too. Hope I don’t get bitch-slapped.)

Neutra Face (A Bearded Poker Face Parody) by DD40

OK, if you haven’t worked with typesetting or graphic design before, this one might not be your cup of tea. But if you’ve ever ripped your hair out over seeing yet another newsletter/blog/whatever in Papyrus or Comic Sans, you’ll love Neutra Face. Even if it’s bold italic. (This is so not what Lady Gaga ever intended.)

But Wait, There’s More!

Beyond the filk/nerdcore/parody genres, let’s not forget the world of geeky soundtracks! From theme songs to background music, the soundtracks of geektastic movies and TV shows are in constant rotation at my house, and probably at yours, too. My husband, who normally hates musicals, can’t get enough of the soundtrack to Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. We own all the Star Wars tracks (ladies and gentlemen , the John Williams Orchestra!), as well as those for the old and new Battlestar Galacticas. And there’s a reason The Hero of Canton has taken on a life of its own.

Naturally there are many great geektastic songs out there I’ve never heard of, and I’d be glad to take a listen to any recommendations you all might have! I hope you like the ones I’ve listed here!

What’s your favorite geektastic song?

When I was growing up, modern movies that had flashbacks meant going back to the sixties or maybe early seventies.   You know, like the movie Now and Then, or Dazed and Confused – movies that had a “soundtrack that defined an era,” that kind of stuff.  Flashbacks meant going back to an era when roller skates had keys and toys were made of wood.

Then, recently, Back to the Future had its 25th anniversary.  And someone mentioned that if they were to reboot the movie in the next few years and set it in modern times, Marty McFly would be going back to 1985, not 1955.  And then I felt old.

It doesn’t stop there, though.  Last year Hallmark redesigned Rainbow Brite, someone I watched endlessly in my earliest memories (is it any surprise that my favorite character was Shy Violet, the nerdy one with a bun and glasses?).  Strawberry Shortcake was updated a few years ago.  Still, though, an update just implies… outdated.  So last season.  And sure, it was something from my childhood and I am an adult now.  Doesn’t mean I’m old… right?

Does the name P.J. Sparkles ring a bell?

Chances are it won’t, unless you were either a girl of a very specific age or watched a lot of TV commercials at a very specific time.  P.J. Sparkles was the doll to have when I was around six years old.  She was big – 15 inches tall – and heavy, because she carried a battery in her back.  When you “hugged” the not-so-huggable doll (really pressed a panel in her back) she’d turn into a walking disco, flashing lights out her hairbow, bracelet, earrings, and heart on her chest (think Iron Man).  Yes, I had one.  Of course.

So, in the last year PJ Sparkles has been reintroduced, albeit in a smaller form, with little friends and playsets.  Honestly, looking at it now it all seems derivative and I probably wouldn’t purchase it for a kid unless she specifically asked for it.  But the press release was what got me:

“Moms of today grew up playing with P.J. and have fond memories. They’re now looking forward to sharing those fun experiences with their daughters and P.J. Sparkles.”

Ahhhhhhhh. That’s me, running around and yelling with my hands over my ears.

Yes, I understand that I could be a parent.  Some of my old high school classmates are working on their third kid.  Yes, I understand that Mom is not a dirty word, and I’m not one of those people who still tries to shop in the teen section.  But there’s something about the phrase “Moms of today,” talking about one of my childhood toys, that turns the concept in my head from “individuals are having children” to “you are becoming the middle-aged generation.”

Ahhhhhhhhh. Oops, there I go again.

But in-between waves of panic, I sort of want to embrace this trend.  I want to say to myself, “Albert, you pierced the toast.  So what?” And most importantly, I want to suggest and dictate the terms of these re-releases so that they don’t get butchered like my beloved Rainbow Brite.

For example: instead of PJ Sparkles, who didn’t really have personality to begin with and now has less, what about something like Jem?

Jem was edgy for her time and could still be.  I’m picturing her boyfriend, Rio, with some post-emo hair.  The enemy band the Misfits, of course, are about getting rich, so maybe they’re a band of Ke$ha/Katy Perry-inspired mean girls.  Meanwhile, Jem and the Holograms could be a band that rises from their humble indie roots when they’re suddenly given this flashy technology, and they have to struggle with the questions of musical integrity v. all the production they could ever want…

Sounds over-the-top for a cartoon, I know, but I look at old episodes of Jem and their MTV-inspired storylines and I wonder what I was getting out of that as a four-year-old.  But maybe all that mattered was that I knew I wasn’t being condescended to (unless you count the fact that the whole cartoon was designed to sell toys… oh, whatever).   And hey, wouldn’t you like to own a Jem-themed set of Rock Band instruments?

Anyway, TV, movies and toys from our generation are popping up all over the place.  I see Goonies sequel rumors are making the news, and let’s not forget the always-rumored Ghostbusters 3. So what I want to know is: if you could bring about a sequel, relaunch, or reboot for the next generation, what would you want to see?

My Rock Band setup is kind of a motley assortment.  I’ll be honest – I never got used to the Rock Band guitar controller, so I still use two wireless Guitar Hero 3 controllers.  The drum kit is the Ion setup, the mic is original Rock Band, and now I’ve got the keyboard from the latest iteration.  A little bit of everything.

Naturally, the thing I was most interested in was trying out the keyboard part.  I’ve taken some piano (I played poorly) and I used to love rocking out to Beatmania, so I’ve been waiting for this – particularly the Pro Keys feature – for what felt like forever.   I settled down in front of the 360 immediately.

First impressions: a great improvement over Rock Band 2.  The customizable band is adorable, and the storyline of the struggling band is more interesting – more like Beatles Rock Band.  That being said, seeing the same little cut scenes before each song gets old, fast.

The initial music list feels a little short when you’re used to viewing the massive list comprised of two games and a metric tonne of downloads, but I quite like the variety and mix.  I’m an unabashed 80s pop fan – “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” is one of my all-time favorite songs – and this list has songs from The Cure, INXS and even my long-time favorite.  After all, what goes better with keyboard than 80s pop and new wave?

Lest you think it’s an all-80s party, the rest of the list of 83 songs includes Slipknot and Elton John, Marilyn Manson and Queen, Rammstein and Tegan and Sara.  I think most people will be pleased with the mix – and there are always downloads to flesh out your own personal mix.  My personal suggestion for a novelty download?  Let’s get some music from The Mighty Boosh!  “Future Sailors” or “Spider Lovin’,” anyone?

Playing the regular keys setting on Expert is very much like playing guitar on Expert.  It’s all one-handed; some songs are thick with two-and-three-note chords, while others keep your fingers dancing with fast-moving countermelodies.  If you can sightread any level on guitar, you should probably be able to sightread the same level on keys, once you get used to the keyboard.  Fun fact: I’m not left-handed, but years of playing French horn with my left hand has left my left hand slightly more developed than my right – so I feel a little clumsy on the keys, but not enough to do a lefty switch.

Some of the more difficult songs are a blast to sightread, and leave you feeling almost like you’re actually playing the song – in particular, “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Imagine.”  But, of course, it’s not actually like playing the part… as the Pro Keys setting demonstrates.

It’s possible, with quite a bit of practice and scales and who knows what else, that one will be able to sightread Pro Keys.  Maybe it’s a piece of cake for those who can actually play piano well.  As for me?  Not so much.  Sure, some parts aren’t all that hard and could be quickly learned in one or two sittings… but sightreading is something else again.  Many of the Pro Keys parts utilize the full range of the keyboard.  Even when they only use half, it’s still a lot of space to cover at full tempo.  I’d only advise turning on Pro Keys in a band setting if it’s a song you’ve already practiced.

As for the other instruments, nothing has changed drastically in play.  Bass and guitar parts aren’t much easier or harder than before; since I have an Ion kit, I’ll have to get an extra cymbal before I try all that out.  Oh, and you can play songs that don’t have keys parts – looks like they might assign the guitar part to the keys as well.  This works relatively well – as I said, the game play is similar – except that when you strum back and forth, you’re essentially using half the energy, right?  Up and down.  Not so on keys, which can make it a bit of a pain when you get into fast, repeated notes.

One thing HAS changed in game play that I love.  When I tried out the Pro Keys setting, I first put it on Expert (might as well go whole-hog, right?).  Well, after a few seconds I’d had more than enough of that, and wanted to try an easier level of difficulty.  So – I paused it, changed the difficulty, and picked up again right where I’d left off!  There’s also an option to restart the song.  How cool is that?  You can also now add an instrument pretty much at any time in the menu – before, you’d have to go back to a certain screen, which was annoying.  Other fun features: no-fail (for rocking out with the whole family, even the non-musical types) and extended and improved ways to learn your instrument (scales!  I’m not joking!).

All in all, I’d say that Rock Band 3 has the same fun and gritty feel we’ve come to love from Harmonix, but the game itself does not feel like “just more of the same.”  I haven’t even delved into the world of pro guitar and bass, but it’s there when I want to get the controller and try it out (and as I don’t know how to play guitar at all, this will truly be alien to me).  Most importantly, I know I have hours of fun awaiting me!

After the very first episode, my Facebook news page was alight with people talking about this show.  You could say that because I was a music major in college and a band/drama geek in high school, all of my friends and acquaintances fall into the early adopter and target demographic categories.

Still, I just never got around to seeking it out.  And then it was the middle of summer and a friend came to visit.  When she found out I hadn’t seen Glee, she literally sat me down and made me pull up hulu.com on my TV.  Several of the early episodes were available (I think they corresponded with summer repeats) and we watched them all.  A few weeks later, my friend had gone home, I had ditched cable, and I had more time to catch up – and catch up I did.

Now, I’m not going to lie; part of the reason I like Glee is that I am a music nerd.  I might not have been a singer, but there’s plenty that’s familiar.  Some of my favorite plot lines revolve around getting ready for competition; no matter what you were in high school, there was always some other amazing school that seemed to be populated by robots.

Most of the music is a pretty good mix of popular music from the last 40 years, with a sprinkling of Broadway on top.  I might not recognize every song, but most are beloved and well-known tunes.

However, even if you’re not a huge music dork, there’s still something to be gained from watching this show.  The plots are a pretty good balance of lightheartedness and serious drama.  The roles are, for the most part, acted well – Jane Lynch totally deserved the Emmy she won this year for her consistently hysterical performance, and Mike O’Malley absolutely should have won one for his sincere and heart-melting guest role.

Honestly, it’s a show that manages to be fun and lighthearted while still well-written and well-acted – something that seems to be harder and harder to find nowadays.  Trust me, I like getting immersed in darker shows like Mad Men or LOST, but sometimes it’s nice to come up for a breath of fresh air – and Glee manages to be that without killing brain cells at the same time.  A few of my non-musically inclined, male friends decided to give it a shot, and they like the show for these very reasons (and maybe the pretty girls don’t hurt).

The first episode of the second season aired last night, but it shouldn’t be hard to find if you missed it – just head over to Hulu. I’ve got some ideas already about where this season might be headed – and one of the good things about Glee is that they don’t drag plots out for years. Last year they wrapped up some stories in half a season, while other shows probably would have dragged it out for a full 24 episodes or more.

Am I the only person geeking out over Glee? Were you in chorus/musical theater/band/AV/etc in high school? Do you ever feel like breaking into song? I want to hear your thoughts!

Looking for an inexpensive, geeky gift this holiday season?  Whether you’re playing Secret Santa or looking to fill some stockings, here’s 10 geeky gifts at or under $10, and guaranteed to thrill a geek down to their toe socks.

Doctor Who Cell Phone Alert Charm, $9.99, ThinkGeek – Maybe you have to leave your phone on silent, or maybe you’re like me and eventually tune out whatever ring tone you have.  Stick this little Dalek nearby (you can attach him to bags and the like) and he will flash and spin when your cell gets a call.  When a Dalek moves, you pay attention.

Three Keyboard Cat Moon Tee, $10, Threadless – A perfect storm of Internet memes, this shirt is perfect for the geek who “gets” every Internet joke.  Ever.

Exterminate Tote Bag, $10, Etsy – geekboypress – Back in the day, shopping on the Internet meant you’d find cool stuff that no one else in town had.  This is one step further – handmade!

World of Warcraft Soundtrack, $9.99, Blizzard – Anyone who’s played WoW has an opinion of the music (personally, Grizzly Hills is my favorite for epic ambience).  If your geek is a fan of the scores for the original game, this is right up their alley.

Against the Fall of Night, $9.95, Amazon  An Arthur C. Clarke novel that, frankly, I absolutely love.  Wonderful for geeks of pretty much any age, as long as their reading level is appropriate.

NASA Kitchen Astro Mitts, $9.99, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Space Shop – Do you know someone who likes to narrate their cooking experience?  These mitts are for them – and maybe thinking of the slow-moving astronauts will save a spill or two.

RiDATA Flash Drive, $9.99, Newegg – Pretty much any computer-user will need one of these at some point.  Might not be glamorous, but it’s extremely useful – something a geek will appreciate.

eStick Drumsticks, $7.99, Sam Ash – One you start getting good at Rock Band, the inevitable next step is to get better drumsticks.  These are specifically designed for electric drum pads.

Husky Precision Ratcheting Screwdriver set, $4.88, Home Depot  – Small, inexpensive, and useful in endless ways.  Any geek worth their salt will need one of these – if they don’t have their own set of screwdrivers already.

Energizer Rechargeable Batteries and Charger, $7.99, Walgreens – The holidays mean toys, and toys mean batteries.  You’d think this would die down as we age, but instead, our toys go wireless, and we need batteries all the more.  Rechargeable is better.

Bags

• T-Rex Messenger Bag by happyfamily – Okay, it’s obvious why I might choose the T-Rex bag, but seriously I want practically every design they offer – robots, pirate ships, and more.  They offer the designs on T-shirts as well, but I love the messenger bag.
• ’68 Mustang Interior Backpack by thingsbuilt – This isn’t to my taste, but it’s just too cool to leave out.  It’s a backpack made of bits of leather, automotive carpeting and vinyl, plus the real interior emblems of the Mustang.
• Classic Video Games Screenprinted Tote Bag by fauxsure – I spy with my little eye a Coleco controller!  I like tote bags because I inevitably need them for groceries, so they have a guaranteed purpose, but they’re cute enough to use for anything else.

Jewelry

• White d20 Cufflinks by Cufflinks – Not only do these come in a range of other colors, the seller has a ton of other cool cufflinks, including those made from Legos and Star Wars bits.
• Blue Screen of Death Belt Buckle w/ Reversible Belt by Bare Tree – Not quite sure what message you’d be sending with a BSoD at your waist, but it looks pretty cool.
• Nintendo Game Cartridge Key Chain by TheClayCollection – I’m a sucker for miniatures, and this seller’s got everything you can think of – even the Portal Companion Cube.  All hand-made out of clay.  Well, I’m impressed.

Clothing

• Impossible to Play Sheet Music T-Shirt by isotope – Has sayings like “with pesto” and “use the cat handle” on it.  Too cute.
• Gnome NYC Alien Invasion Shirt by TeeShirtGnome – A gnome watches as aliens invade.  This seller also has more traditional arcade-themed shirts, among others.
• Hat for the man in a galaxy far far away by BabbidgePatch – A knit hat featuring everyone’s favorite small and sassy droid.

Have you found any cool geeky etsy produts?  Link them in the comments!

We’ve all been there.  In fact, I’ve often been the one left entertaining the less-geeky relatives and friends of people I know.  Luckily, though, I have a pretty good sense of what’s appropriate to talk about, and what will even draw in the less geeky.  Here’s some of my favorite icebreakers.

Movies:

• Back to the Future – Well-loved by geek and non-geek alike, pretty much everyone aged 15+ has seen this movie, thanks to DVD.  They might not have ever thought about time travel in any other context, but they understand that if Marty makes out with his mother he won’t be born.  Also, that the whole idea is pretty gross.
• The Fifth Element – It’s an action movie – or is it?  This movie is funny and exciting enough to hold the attention of most, if they haven’t seen it before.  And if they really like it, you’ll be right there to recommend more.

TV:

• Heroes – Many who don’t want to see movies about comic book mutants are perfectly willing to watch this batch of network superheroes, for reasons I haven’t quite determined.  And now that Zachary Quinto is in Star Trek, you have a perfect segue into that subject.
• Quantum Leap – You can still catch this in syndication, as well as on DVD (though the music isn’t the same in some seasons, I believe).  Again, time-travel, but in a light, fun way.  Also, lots of cute nods to actual events in history.  Also, nice segue into Battlestar: Galactica, since Al is in both.

Video Games:

• Rock Band – I found that Guitar Hero didn’t always work in mixed-company parties, since people who might even want to give it a shot would feel intimidated by Expert Players.  In Rock Band, however, you can sing, help out with the cowbell or just dance around like a backup singer.  The important word to remember here is “fun” – don’t expect to be getting any achievements that day.
• Kingdom Hearts – In the non-party game category, this one is great for drawing people in on a one-on-one basis.  Most people are familiar with at least some of the Disney characters, and I have witnessed more than one person get into Final Fantasy after completing this game.

What are your tried and true gateway geek products?