I don’t trust my friends to suggest new music. They’ll tout some new artist or song whose sound is identical to the same recycled crap from the week before. No, I don’t want to hear the new John Mayer song. No, I don’t care about Celine Dion’s latest film score. Gross.

Occasionally, they’ll wise up and suggest a track worth buying or a group worth checking out. Last year was one of those moments, and while on a trip to Houston I was introduced to Hyper Crush. Groovy.

Hailing from California, they belong to a genre called electronic hip hop. There’s been a revival lately, elevated by artists like LMFAO and the Black Eyed Peas. Hyper Crush is unlike any other group you’ve ever heard, though. Their music is a blend of elements from the 80s, 90s, and pop culture references from every year in between.

Its core members are rapper Donny Fontaine, vocalist Holly Valentine, and instrumentalist Preston Moronie, three cool cats pumping tracks at an unbelievably fast rate. Releasing a new title or mix almost every other month, Hyper Crush was born to entertain.

They’re intensely likeable and highly in tune with their fans. All three members actively broadcast from social networks on a daily basis, and photos of the group with hardcore fans (endearingly referred to as “The Zapper Gun Gang”) can be found all over the net. Simply put: they’re down-to-earth and famous.

They’re currently on tour, headlining their own show around the U.S., with a performance at the Lizard Lounge in Dallas this weekend. I was lucky enough to catch them on a break to ask them a few questions about themselves and their music:

Q. Songs like “The Arcade” and “Guile Stage” feature the likeness of old Nintendo classics. Games are an obvious influence on your music, so which ones are your favorites?

A. “Some of our favorites are T&C Surf Design, Final Fight, Double Dragon, Mike Tyson’s Punch Out, and of course, all the Marios [Super Mario Bros.].”

Q. The Power Glove you wear while performing is retrofitted with LEDs, making it one of the coolest accessories ever worn by a band. Do you think it’s fair that one band wield such amazing power?

A. “We asked ourselves the same question prior to constructing it. We thought, ‘Do we really want to dominate at a level of greatness not seen since Michael Jackson threw a quarter in the soda machine in smooth criminal?’ As we all know now, we decided ‘Yes!’ It may not be fair, but it is the way it is.”

Q. Mickey Finnegan directs a lot of your videos, and in a way, is like your fourth band member – his work is amazing and fits well with your style. Is he a long time friend or just some dude who knows how to work a camera?

A. “Yeah, he’s great. We did our first two videos with him. However, he did not do our most recent video for ‘Keep Up.’ We share a mutual friend named Matt Iwanoff who has produced all our videos. Mickey is not a long time friend but a friend none the less.”

Q. I bought tickets to your 2009 tour with Kevin Rudolf, which was canceled right before the day I was going to attend. I cried for a few days after that. Can you give details on why the tour was canceled and who we can blame?

A. “That was kind of a bummer. As far as we know, it was Kevin Rudolf’s camp’s decision and we are not sure why. The attendance at some of the shows was not fitting for some of the venues we were playing at. That might have been a big reason.”

Q. Donny has a bizarre resemblance to Vanilla Ice, and you even joke about it in your music. How do you really feel about the late, semi-great Robert Van Winkle?

A. [Donny:] “You know what, as a white rapper, I kinda’ hated him coming up. Although, I did like him when I was nine or whatever, when ‘Ice Ice Baby’ came out like most kids did. Once I started getting into hip hop, I grew to really hate what he had done for white rappers, especially since I wanted to maybe be one and prided myself on being skilled – not just rappin’ ‘cause it was cool. It’s to the point now that I dig the whole vibe that he embodied as far as early 90s style, which you might know we are really fond of. I’m not mad at the dude and as far as I’m concerned, if you’re hatin’ on him still, ya’ need to lighten up!”

Q. What’s the one song you perform that makes everyone go absolutely bananas?

A. “‘The Arcade’ is definitely a song that always goes off – probably one of our hypest songs live.”

Q. From Donny’s chiseled features, to Holly’s toned body, to Preston’s legendary mustache, did you intentionally set out to become sex symbols or did it just happen?

A. “Haha! I guess it’s something that just kinda’ happened. Although, we are aware of what we are doing and know how to use stuff like that to our advantage. We really wanted to become almost cartoon characters in a sense.”

Q. You’ve toured in the States, as well as overseas. What’s next for Hyper Crush?

A. “Probably another U.S. tour but first we are working on getting ourselves in the position to release an amazing album. The album is pretty much done and we are releasing singles. The next step after that is to drop the album which is one of the main things on all of our minds.”

Put down your controller, the phenomenon known as Video Games Live is fast approaching. Arriving on June 11th at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center for two days only, Video Games Live is the creation of Tommy Tallarico, a composer and pioneer of video game musical scores. It aims to recreate music from old and new titles via local symphonies, and it’s every nerd’s wet dream. Thanks to Tommy, that wetness is now a reality.

I was lucky enough to catch the tour last year at Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth, and I’m pretty sure I shat pocket protectors during the entire show. It was truly one of the most magical experiences of my life – even more so than being born. I won’t blame you if you spend the next ten minutes hating me.

As a tribute to Video Games Live, I’ve prepared what I believe to be the top ten video game music tracks of all time. I used no special formula, and as with all lists of this nature, this one’s purely subjective. I simply chose songs that have resonated over the years – ones that continue to make an impact, and songs that continue to find their way into my daily playlist.

The inclusion of some of the artists will be pretty obvious, like Nobuo Uematsu, whose name is always on all lists of anything music related. Others are more obscure, like Yasuhiro Nakano and Michiru Yamane.

#10 – “Reality” (2001) by Hiroshi Luchi for Ikaruga

Often regarded as the hardest game of all time, Ikaruga will have you pulling nose hairs in frustration.

In Ikaruga, you pilot a ship that can alter between two polarities (black and white, go figure). Changing polarities changes your weapon, but also allows you to absorb enemy fire of the same likeness.

It’s the baby of Hiroshi Luchi, a graphic designer and music composer and all around creative genius. Along with only two others, he developed this critically-acclaimed and successful cult classic shooter as a sequel to Radiant Silvergun. He slapped together one of the most brilliantly composed musical scores ever made while making dinner or worse, probably while sleeping.

Listen to “Reality”

#9 -“The Thrill of the Hunt” (1995) by Gregory Alper and Jeehun Hwang for Mechwarrior 2 Mercenaries

When you’re piloting a 60 ton, nuclear-powered ‘Mech, any problem can be solved with more firepower.

Alper and Hwang’s musical score went along with Mechwarrior 2 Mercenaries, each track fitting perfectly with the mission at hand, and one of the best examples of harmonious collaboration between a design and sound team.

Despite an expanding franchise, no other Mechwarrior title was able to match the score found in Mechwarrior 2 Mercenaries.

Listen to “The Thrill of the Hunt”

#8 -“Hidden Strike” (1997) by Frank Klepacki for Command & Conquer: Sole Survivor

A spin-off of the original Command & Conquer series created by Westwood Studios, Sole Survivor’s premise revolved around single-unit play. Players could control only one unit, traversing maps while accumulating power-ups, unlike previous Command & Conquer titles where massive armies would typically win you the game.

Known for his work at Westwood Studios, Frank Klepacki scored most of the music for the Command & Conquer series at the age of 17. His most recent tracks can be heard on Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3.

Listen to “Hidden Strike”

#7 -“Fear Factory” (1994) by David Wise, Eveline Fischer, and Robin Beanland for Donkey Kong Country

How could anyone forget Donkey Kong Country’s loveable duo, Donkey and Diddy Kong? It’s just not possible.

As one of the first console games to use pre-rendered dimensional effects, Donkey Kong Country included an atmospheric musical score that changed from level to level, the same way in-stage themes changed as the player progressed through the game.

Listen to “Fear Factory”

#6 -“Magus Confronted” (1995) by Yasunori Mitsuda, Nobuo Uematsu, and Noriko Matsueda for Chrono Trigger

Every great villain deserves a great theme song and Chrono Trigger’s Magus is no exception. As one of the only characters in the game with the ability to command all four elements of magic (fire, ice, lightning, and shadow), the demon king becomes an invaluable asset to your party as the story unravels.

Having only worked as a sound engineer at Squaresoft (now Square-Enix) for a short time, Mitsuda threatened to leave the company in 1994. He was subsequently allowed to compose the score to Chrono Trigger, turning it into one of Squaresoft’s most successful role-playing titles.

Listen to “Magus Confronted”

#5 -“Brothers in Arms” (2001) by Martin O’Donnell and Michael Salvatori for Halo: Combat Evolved

You’ll probably cry knowing I didn’t choose Halo’s main theme from the original score to go on this list. While I do believe it’s one of the most recognizable themes in a game, and probably Martin O’Donnell’s best work, the honor of inclusion went to another track.

“Brothers in Arms” plays as you descend into Halo’s orbit. Not only is it the very first time the characters encounter the mystical ring, it’s the first time you truly realize the potential behind controlling the game’s protagonist, Master Chief Petty Officer John-117.

Crash landing on Halo inside a pod that nearly disintegrates on the descent, most of the accompanying crew is killed on impact, with the exception of Master Chief, who doesn’t need teammates anyway.

Listen to “Brothers in Arms”

#4 -“Lost Painting” (1997) by Michiru Yamane for Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Castlevania, just like the Super Mario Bros. and Sonic series of games, is one of those franchises that simply won’t die. The series revolves around the Belmont family and their perpetual quest of defeating Dracula every 100 years, or whenever he just happens to wake up in the middle of the night to take a restroom break.

A departure from previous titles of the series, in Symphony of the Night you take control of Alucard, Dracula’s son, due to some bizarre shift of power between good and evil.

Now an independent composer, Yamane is one of the only female musicians on this list. She currently tours overseas, playing impromptu performances of her Castlevania-inspired music.

Listen to “Lost Painting”

#3 -“Last Dungeon” (1997) by Nobuo Uematsu for Final Fantasy VI

Considered by many as the best video game composer to ever land on Earth, Nobuo Uematsu began writing music for Squaresoft while in his early 20s. He composed music for fellow designer Hironobu Sakaguchi’s very last game, one you might know as Final Fantasy.

Through some sick twist of irony, Sakaguchi’s last title actually became the first in a long-running series that now holds a record for being among the top ten best-selling franchises of all time.

Now on permanent god status, Uematsu tours the world while groupies like me poop in their pants at the very mention of his name.

In one of the last scenarios of Final Fantasy VI, the player ascends to Kefka’s Tower in order to encounter the game’s villain, Kefka. Having become an uncontrollable god-like being in part due to his Nazi-like experiments on humans and magical entities, the crew of the Returners set out to destroy Kefka, restore order, and grab a bite to eat if there’s time.

Listen to “Last Dungeon”

#2 -“Gaia’s Theme” (1994) by Yasuhiro Nakano, Makoto Mukai, and Fumio Tanabe for Battle Arena Toshinden

Battle Arena Toshinden was one of the first titles to employ polygons in a fighting game. While fighting games before it largely focused on hand-to-hand combat, like bitch slapping and kicking, Toshinden placed emphasis on combat with weaponry, like swords and whips.

In the game’s final battle, you face off against Gaia, the contestant responsible for organizing the tournament. Fighting in some bizarre vortex-like battlefield, the majestic-sounding theme of Gaia begins to play, followed by a moment of shear panic as you realize your ass is about to get handed to you.

Listen to “Gaia’s Theme”

#1 -“Warpath” (1997) by Jeremy Soule and the Northwest Sinfonia orchestra for Total Annihilation

In 1997, Cavedog Entertainment’s real-time strategy title, Total Annihilation, took the entire galaxy by storm. It was the first of its kind to feature 3D units and environments, and went on to win over 50 industry awards, including more than a dozen Best-Game-of-All-Time and Best-Game-of-the-Year honors. It really was the best game of its time and only a real loser would be caught playing anything else.

To add to the madness, Jeremy Soule’s accompanying soundtrack took home enough awards to put your kid’s display of soccer trophies to shame.

Largely inspired by the moods of war, Soule’s soundtrack is a trumpet-blasted, audio glory that has yet to be rivaled by another real-time strategy title. In fact, no other score will ever match the grandiose compilation Soule created with the Northwest Sinfonia orchestra, and that’s why “Warpath” is the best video game track of all time.

Listen to “Warpath”

Deli-News
17062 Preston Rd
Dallas, TX 75248
(972) 733-3354

Rating:

I’ll never understand the fascination with New York. It’s densely populated, teeming with crime, and has more pretentious people per square mile than any other metropolis. If that isn’t bad enough, it’s also home to Jimmy Fallon, the worst host to ever helm a late-night talk show. The only thing more awkward than Jimmy is your aunt’s cleavage at a Sunday morning church service.

It’s also highly impractical to own a car in New York. Without a car, how are men expected to fornicate? Women don’t dig men who ride on anything having less than four wheels. All I ever knew while riding my Big Wheel was rejection.

As Southerners, though, we’re stupidly obsessed with New York, especially the food. We love anything remotely emulating New York-style cuisine, from bagels and donuts, to pizza, soup, and even sandwiches.

Delicatessens are common in areas like Manhattan. Not only do they sell meat by the pound, they’re known to supplement their front with colossal sandwiches, packed with cold cuts like ham, turkey, pastrami, and salami. They’re the kind of sandwiches that almost make you feel guilty for living in America.

In Texas, New York-style sandwich shops are rare, and while slapping a piece of meat between two buns is a great way to describe my past relationships, it just doesn’t make for an authentic delicatessen. Luckily, there’s one in North Dallas called Deli-News, with plenty of awards on display to backup their realness.

Deli-News reminds me of that coffee shop from Seinfeld. It’s compact and simple. Even the artwork on the walls is haphazardly placed. There’s absolutely nothing fancy going on, and that’s just fine.

In the dining area, all of the chairs are mismatched, with every group of four seemingly from a different set. Nets of garlic hang from the ceiling, hoping to ward off future Twilight vampire sequels. In the back is a deli counter where you can order meat by the pound, just like in The Big Apple, minus the prostitution.

The menu includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and the selection is vast. Assuming you were to eat one entrée per day, it’d take you over two months to eat your way through all the choices. Since I don’t have that much time, I ordered one regular half pound burger – The Hillcrest – with onion rings, and a Pastrami sandwich with chips.

The burger was cooked well, but a little dry, topped with lettuce, tomato, and plenty of onions. While it had some flavor, I prefer my burgers juicier, like a steak. It’s a delicatessen, after all, so I wasn’t expecting the burger to win me over like a drunken prom date. The onion rings were crispy, only slightly overcooked – no harm done.

Overall, there are more than ten burgers to choose from, including the Avocado Burger, Bacon Burger, and the Veggie Burger, for the stiffs.

Regarding sandwiches, Deli-News is generous with their portions. The sandwich was loaded with pastrami and topped with mustard. Initially, I wasn’t sure how to approach it. Should I eat it from the front, or side, or cut it into quarters with my bayonet? You know it’s a big sandwich when you have to formulate a strategy to dictate your first bite.

Sandwiches are the reason to visit Deli-News, and there are over 20 different options, from the “The Coney Island” sandwich to the “Gobble, Gobble,” a Thanksgiving-inspired creation.

The Pastrami sandwich definitely had the juiciness I was after. The best part is I only ordered a regular portion. The Triple Decker sandwiches are dauntingly massive, almost inhuman. If you’re willing to expend all available energy and risk landing in a coma, order anything off the Triple Decker menu.

Urban Eatz
5910 N MacArthur Blvd #151
Irving, TX 75039
(972) 869-3533

Rating:

Well-baked bread is a requirement for creating the perfect sandwich. Without it, you’re left with just a pile of meat and condiments, and that rarely makes for a good lunch. Unfortunately, more places than not go against this gluten-inspired adage.

Being a sandwich elitist and on somewhat of a great streak lately, I decided to scout the Irving area for a new sandwich depot. MacArthur Boulevard, running through Irving, is a restaurant trove for local information technology management and commission-only subservient bootlickers, and also relatively close to my office. The less I have to travel for a good sandwich, the better.

A lone deli-style restaurant and the only location of its kind, Urban Eatz seemed to have potential. It’s always a full house at lunch, but the wait for a meal is never long. There’s even a makeshift patio with a view of nothing more than a concrete lot full of middle class transportation, hardly the summer-style scene you’d hope to enjoy.

Doing their best to win over contemporary diners, the restaurant’s overlords tagged a “z” at the end of the name. It’s a cheap attempt at trying to appeal to a crowd already bombarded with overused Internet slang and poorly written hip-hop lyrics.

I ordered the California Club, Ham and Melted Swiss, and Southwest Chicken sandwiches, hoping at least one would hit the mark. It takes a lot of real effort to screw up three sandwiches.

The ingredients looked fresh, but the bread must’ve put in its two weeks’ notice the day I decided to dine in. It was broken and dull, and flatter than my ass in a pair of skinny jeans. It had that slightly leftover floury residue, or maybe it was powdered cocaine, a sure sign the bread had truly given up hope and was now snorting its way further into depression.

The Ham and Melted Swiss sandwich was average at best, barely putting up a fight against anything I could whip up on my own kitchen counter.

The Southwest Chicken included avocado, tomatoes, and Swiss cheese, the only thing redeeming it from a flavorless existence. The California Club had similar fillings, as well as bacon, despite not being listed on the menu. Bacon, like chocolate, improves the quality of any meal, so the California Club sandwich wasn’t a total bust. I’ve had long-lasting relationships because of bacon.

While the sandwiches failed to impress my taste budz, Urban Eatz also offers burgers and salads, and I’m considering giving them a try on a separate outing. There has to be at least one item that continues to draw a lunch crowd and I’m willing to find it.

I can see myself really liking Urban Eatz in the future, but only if I was homeless and starving.

Taco Grande
397 E Southwest Pkwy
Lewisville, TX 75067
(972) 219-5804

Rating:

If you’ve ever met white people or are fortunate enough to have white friends, you know they try their hardest to blend in with the ethnic community. They snatch up low fare cruise specials to places like Cancun or Cabo San Lucas, enroll in Spanish classes, and spend a lot of money on things like ponchos, salsa, and tamales.

To capitalize on this spending, Mexicans have strategically placed taco stands throughout Dallas and surrounding cities. Often located in the most unassuming places, like vacant street corners or gas station parking lots, they beckon the common American with truly authentic street-style sustenance.

After recently moving to Lewisville, some of my friends unintentionally ran across Taco Grande, a taco stand at the corner of East Corporate Drive and East Southwest Parkway in Lewisville.

Sporting signage painted with shoe polish, Taco Grande is a small, multi-colored shed offering burritos, enchiladas, gorditas, quesadillas, and of course, tacos. I always go with my favorite: two barbacoa tacos served with cilantro, onions, and a splash of lime. At a little over a buck a piece, they’re not as cheap as those at other taco stands I’ve tried, but the portions are slightly more substantial.

Also, don’t bother with the plastic peso: this location only accepts cash.

Our favorite place for vintage wear, Zola’s Everyday Vintage, has been nominated under the shopping category at D Magazine’s “The Best of Big D.” Voting opened today and you’re allowed to vote once a day until the polls close on May 16^th, so get crackin’.

Vote here: The Best of Big D

I caught an intimate performance of Mount Righteous at Double Wide last night. A local band from Grapevine, Mount Righteous is an eclectic mix of nine artists, each wielding instruments ranging from a guitar to a marching bass drum. Their performance was extremely technical, with a set consisting of several energetic musical numbers.

For a truly unique experience, try catching one of their shows while they’re in town. The tuba is making a comeback.

Dude, Sweet Chocolate
408 W 8th St #102
Dallas, TX 75208
(214) 943-5943

Rating:

Chocolate is godly, and you don’t have to be pregnant to enjoy it. As a sauce, it can improve almost anything: breakfast, dessert, fruit, and even certain people. It happens to be one of the most consumed foods on the planet, and as a bonus, it’s a natural stimulant that can turn you into a happy, hyperactive blockhead. If you ever find yourself face-to-face with anyone who despises chocolate, distance yourself from that person immediately, then spend an evening defriending them from all of your social networks.

Inside a small storefront in a corner of the Bishop Arts District, you’ll find Dude, Sweet Chocolate, home to honey, lavender, and ginger-based chocolates, among other truly unique creations. I’d bet a truffle they’re unlike any you’ve ever tried. If you’re just a casual chocolate fan, go for it, but this place is for those who really love chocolate – dark chocolate to be exact.

Opened for business in December of 2009, Dude, Sweet Chocolate is the undertaking of Katherine Clapner, a pastry chef with over two decades of experience. Not only has she been mastering her craft for almost as long as I’ve been alive, she’s drawn influence from acclaimed chefs like local food celebrity Stephan Pyles.

It was the shoppe’s name that first caught my attention, but there’s nothing intentionally enigmatic about it, Katherine says. “There was no master plan with the name. Once I got the name, I realized it gave me a way to create two lines of chocolates,” she tells me over e-mail.

“The Dudes are more savory and complex, and although the Sweets are not necessarily sweeter, they are brighter and more user friendly,” she says. Each chocolate goes by a name, like the “Oaxacan” – one of the Dudes – made with guajillo and Spanish paprika, or the “Marley” – one of the Sweets – made with butter, hemp seed, and oil.

Some of the chocolate names, like the “Chubby Nuts” and “Crack in a Box,” are great ammunition for a barrage of really corny jokes, and that’s even more reason to visit.

Obviously, there’s nothing conventional about Katherine’s recipes, and that’s the best part. Gathering influences from “the global world of ingredients,” her chocolates incorporate unorthodox elements, like basil, curry, and lime.

All of the chocolates are handmade, and even the basic brown packaging is a tribute to how simple and raw Dude, Sweet Chocolate aims to be. My personal favorite is the Orange Soda Pop sweet bar, made with orange pop rocks. Dude, trust me, it’s sweet.

We spent last weekend at the Bishop Arts District Urban Bazaar on Bishop Avenue, an outing with full-on eating and shopping.

Blu Ginger Thai Café
6550 N MacArthur Blvd #150
Irving, TX 75039
(972) 373-9799

Rating:

I love fried rice. It’s easily the cornerstone of all Asian cuisine and I’ll impulsively order it when available, like some grain-enthralled junkie. Beef, chicken, shrimp, or whatever – if it’s mixed with fried rice, I’ll eat it. I even threw a tantrum once after visiting an allegedly Asian-inspired restaurant that didn’t offer it on their menu. Outraged, I jumped on my rickshaw and got the hell out of there.

The best fried rice comes from Thai cuisine, and unlike its Chinese counterpart, it’s distinctly flavorful and often spicy. You can find my favorite kind, basil fried rice, at Blu Ginger Thai Café in Las Colinas, located in a shopping center alongside MacArthur Boulevard. It’s popular with corporate lunch groups, but the crowd moves fast enough so you’ll rarely have to wait for a table.

My co-workers introduced me to Blu Ginger last year, and since then, it’s become a frequent stop on our daily lunch train. It’s owned by couple Alisa and Pote Pruettiangkura, former information technology professionals who left the industry to become restaurateurs. Nowadays, they’d rather serve up a meal than chug away on senseless TPS reports.

About a week ago, my brother and I decided to head to Blu Ginger for an early dinner pit stop, where we had most of the place to ourselves. Having seen us countless times before, we met with Alisa to praise her culinary skills, hoping she’d divulge her secret to cooking fried rice. As it turns out, it’s really no secret at all.

“We cook our rice in a high heat to seal the taste,” she explained, but it’s a technique many restaurants employ with little success. Regardless, I’ve considered buying a wok and giving it a try. Unfortunately, I don’t trust myself with fire, or anything sharp, and especially not anything mechanical like a can opener or a grenade launcher.

We ordered veggie spring rolls to start off our meal, packed with glass noodles and vegetables, accompanied by a savory sweet and sour dipping sauce. Of course, for dinner I went for the basil fried rice, a robust combination of basil, broccoli, chicken, chili, egg, garlic, onions, and snow peas. If poultry’s your enemy, try it with beef or shrimp.

They also serve salads, pan-fried noodles, and desserts (people swear by the sweet rice with fresh mango). For those not on a company lunch, order a beer, some sake, or a glass of wine with your meal.

My brother ordered “Tom Kha Gai,” or coconut chicken soup, a bowl of chicken and mushrooms in a spicy hot and sour coconut broth. He’s obsessed with it, but I think soups are for the elderly and I refuse to order broth as a meal when I can have something more substantial like a chicken or a cow.