TOP PICK
The Who Sell Out: Deluxe Edition
(Geffen/UME)
The Who’s 1967 concept album gets super-sized on this two-CD set
that includes more than 25 bonus songs. Released the same year as other
rock milestones (like Sgt. Pepper and Are You
Experienced?), The Who Sell Out plays like a pirate-radio
broadcast, complete with commercials. Songs like “I Can See for Miles”
steer the whole thing.
CD
Big Star:
#1 Record/
Radio City
(Ardent/Stax)
The power-pop pioneers’ first two albums have been available on one
disc for years. This latest reissue tags on a couple of bonus cuts. The
albums themselves — which were released in 1972 and 1974 —
remain essential listens, from Alex Chilton’s acoustic “Thirteen” to
the windows-down rave-up “September Gurls.”
DVD
Gran Torino
(Warner)
Clint Eastwood directed two great movies last year. This one’s the
best. Eastwood stars as a hard-drinking, tough-talking racist who
reluctantly befriends an immigrant Asian family next door, eventually
protecting them from gang members. It’s one his all-time best
performances. The Blu-ray and DVD include a look at the classic car in
the title.
VIDEOGAME
InFamous
(Sony)
After a big-ass explosion leaves Cole MacGrath with super electrical
powers, it’s up to him (or rather, you) to save the planet. This
PlayStation 3 game features tons of action — from zapping bad
guys to leaping off buildings. The story’s pretty good, but it’s the
gameplay itself that’ll help you lose hours of your life.
VIDEOGAME
Lego Battles
(Warner Bros. Interactive)
This cool little game for the Nintendo DS features 90 different
levels of colored bricks shaped like knights, aliens, castles and
pirates. It’s sorta like an RPG, as players build bases, teams and
vehicles to conquer other Lego armies. The fun multiplayer mode lets
you and a pal go at it until all that’s left are piles of broken
bricks.
This article appears in Jul 1-7, 2009.