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MLB 10: THE SHOW
SYSTEM: PLAYSTATION 3

Can you rattle off the lineup of the 1951 New York Yankees at a moment’s notice? If so, MLB 10: The Show is your game. The deepest baseball simulation in the majors returns with its signature game play, plus a few additions. The new Catcher Mode in The Show lets any wannabe Joe Mauer call games from behind the plate and gun down base runners foolish enough to test their arm strength, while the expanded All-Star Break festivities let you go against all-time greats like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in the Home Run Derby. Later, string together your own SportsCenter highlight package of web gems and long balls to share online with the new Movie Maker tool. Now if we could just get someone to deliver a beer and a hot dog to our couch.

Q & A WITH SHOOTER JENNINGS

The son of country music’s most famous outlaw discusses his apocalyptic new concept album inspired by equal parts shady politics, crumbling economy, and children’s programming.

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MATT POND PA
THE DARK LEAVES [ALTITUDE RECORDS]

Matt Pond PA may not have the same hype surrounding them that peers like Vampire Weekend do, but when it comes to sweetly satisfying indie rock, it’s hard to top Pond’s unique brand of heartbreak. Their eighth album doesn’t disappoint; from orchestral-tinged ballads such as “Running Wild” to ambient excursions like “Winter Fawn,” the album sees Pond evoking everyone from Death Cab for Cutie to Bon Iver (without copping too much from either artist). Those comparisons noted, it’s pretty clear The Dark Leaves isn’t ideal for a house party. But if you’re in the mood to wallow in your own sorrows, we can’t recommend a better soundtrack for suffering.

THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN
OPTION PARALYSIS [SEASON OF MIST]

Boy, have we missed The Dillinger Escape Plan. While some of the time since the prog-metal band released 2007’s Ire Works was certainly spent practicing guitar scales, it seems much of it was dedicated to songwriting, as Option Paralysis sees the band finally realizing their Faith No More obsession without abandoning their own schizophrenic sound. That doesn’t mean the band has gone soft, proven by the seizure-inducing tech metal masterpiece “Good Neighbor” and sinisterly syncopated “Room Full of Eyes.” The biggest surprise is the album’s closer, “Parasitic Twins,” a NIN-worthy track that (like other sonic experiments on the album) the band manages to make their own.

GOD OF WAR III

Don’t get on the Ghost of Sparta’s bad side. His rap sheet is the stuff of ages: He murdered his former boss (the god Ares), attempted fratricide, and kick-started a war against the rest of the Greek gods. The third and final chapter of his story finds Kratos knocking on the door of Mount Olympus. With the aid of the Titans and his deadly double-chained blades, Kratos has the necessary allies and tools to exact his vengeance upon Zeus—and drop any Greek god foolish enough to stand in his way. As with its instant-classic predecessors, God of War III presents jaw-dropping battlefields with a huge sense of scale. Armed with the most stylish combat on the planet and a control system its competitors are blatantly ripping off, this finale cements God of War’s membership in the video game pantheon.

SMOOTH OPERATORS

Tequila isn’t just for shooting anymore. It’s for sipping. Okay, fine, you can still shoot it.

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GOLDFRAPP
HEAD FIRST [MUTE]

Whatever Goldfrapp do—from thumping electronica to glammed up romps—they do it for the dance floor. The British electronic music duo’s fifth full-length, Head First, is loaded with pulsating pop gems, such as “Alive,” that are a step away from the baroque pop of their previous album—and tailor-made for getting down. While Head First does occasionally get close to disco territory, the synthesizer-driven romps like “Shiny and Warm” and “Dreaming” keep the album relevant, not retro. If you’re not an admirer of Goldfrapp, Head First probably won’t be the album that converts you; but if you are a fan, this is exactly what you’ve been waiting for your DJ to play.

DROPKICK MURPHYS
LIVE ON LANSDOWNE, BOSTON MA [BORN & BRED RECORDS]

The Dropkick Murphys’ St. Patrick’s Day shows in their hometown of Boston have become the stuff of legends—and hangovers. Live on Lansdowne, Boston MA captures this annual event so accurately that you can almost taste the Guinness. The 20-song compilation spans the band’s decade-plus career and showcases their Celtic-inspired punk, from upbeat traditionals like “Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya” to the piano-driven sing-along “Tessie” and crowd-pleasing “I’m Shipping Up to Boston.” Live on Lansdowne is teeming with fan favorites that prove the Dropkick Murphys’ brand of music translates just as well in an arena as it does in a musty barroom.