News on Album 54!

The album art for 54 is out, and the characters are from left to right Priscilla, Jay, and Barrett. I'm not convinced that this is the final however because some spots look more like a rough draft. But this is exciting because all three of these characters we haven't seen drawn before.

This was posted on the album 54 page:


"Twelve all-new entertaining and character-building episodes based on 1 Corinthians 13. The album will teach kids what authentic agape love is and how to express that love to others. Featuring secret word/code access to new content on WhitsEnd.org and a fold-out Whit’s End map."

Odyssey Connection: Lately I've been loading myself with a lot. Keeping this blog going, frequent visits to Campbell County and Town of Odyssey, experimenting with different techniques in Gimp, keeping up with Senior stuff, and the list seems to go on. One thing I have trouble with is making sure I have time for the things I have to do, and squeezing in time for the things I want to do. Today I was reminded of the NO factor, a purposeful reference to the episode The No Factor. Sometimes it's better to say no than to try to pile yourself with a lot. So much I like to do, so little hours to do it. I need to work on prioritizing my time and get the stuff I have to do done first. I haven't been posting as much lately due to this. But senior project is about over. Yes! So I may have a teensey bit more time than I do at the moment.

Head to Head 53 vs 25 : 2

Note: This comparison is from someone who has heard the entire album 53. I will do my best to only refer to info in this specific episode. But remember there is a lot of info packed into these episode and I may mention something you may or may not have caught before.

Overview:

Small Fires, Little Pools:
Episode starts with a report of vandalism at the odyssey
first church. I like Pastor Barclay's statement: It just doesn't make
sense. Why vandalize the church? Jack has weird dreams, that cause him
not to sleep, followed by a phone call telling him to go to Whits End.
Upon arrival, he sees that Whits End was vandalized, and it somehow
has to do with his dream. His dream was about little fires popping up
and pools of water appearing to douse them out. Sam and Lucy see Whits
End in disaster, on their way to go fishing at trickle lake. Connie
talks with Jack about the vandalism and mentions Sam's input about
'Super Sam'. Jack replies with "not a super hero, but little pools of
water." A reference to his dream. Tom then answers several questions
at a conference bout the vandalism. Sam and Lucy when done fishing,
went to get their bikes and they weren't there.
Sam and Lucy go back to Whits End where Sam gets a mysterious call
telling him to go to Wonder World. He then meets someone who will lead
him to their bikes. Upon getting to the bikes, Sam manages to get the
ski mask off the stranger and finds out that it's Butch. Butch leaves
and Sam is intercepted by Jack and someone else. The episode ends with
Jack saying we have lots to discuss.

The GRC, Part 2:
This part opens with two new characters, Mr. Skint and Buck talking. And by their conversation, we can tie Monty and Dirk to Skint. But what were they meeting about? Also we learn that the mysterious person that Dirk called in Part 1 was Skint. Are they somehow tied to the counterfeit money? Also, I meant to mention in part 1, the plane was leaving Odyssey when it crashed. So apparently they were in Odyssey to meet Skint. The next scene goes on Whit and Dr. Graham at the Hospital. Monty working for the secret service? This makes perfect sense. First Whit and Jason work for the NSA, then Monty for the secret service. Monty gets to carry on the family workstyle: adventure. Nelson returns as the same jumpy Nelson we saw in part one. And Matthew tries tinkering with the appleberry to try to find it's owner. Which we can assume that it's Dirk's phone. Skint calls the number of the phone that dirk had, of course Matthew has the phone now. Eugene discovers that the money in the back pack is counterfeit. Eugene's statement: A lie is supposed to look as much like the truth as possible, is a good thing to keep in mind. Detective Polehaus interviews Haggler as if he's the bad guy. That's unprofessional of him. He shouldn't base his opinion of Wally based on what he did in the past. Polehaus' statement "Stay close Haggler. We're not finished with this. Not by a long shot." is similar to line's that Both Blackgaard and Glossman have used. After Polehaus' conversation with Haggler, we find out that Buck had listened to the whole thing. Buck makes the comment that Polehaus thinks the entire Haggler family is up to no good. In reply Skint says well he's half right. Who could Polehaus be referring to?
Gasp, Skint would stoop to using Haggler to their advantage? Buck seems to know too much about Odyssey. But I spose he could be around longer than we've known. Episode ends with security saying that Monty has disappeared from the hospital.

Comments/Thoughts:

Small Fires, Little Pools:
This episode really builds the beginning of the album. It gets us asking all sorts of questions that will be answered later on. It grabs our attention by cutting into our hearts with the fact that the town that we hold so dear to our hearts is under vandalism attacks by some unknown group.

The GRC, Part 2:
This episode isn't as heavy as Small Fires, Little Pools. It answers a bunch of questions asked in the first part, such as who Dirk was talking to, and part of what Monty is doing in Odyssey. But a secret service agent? Great add-in. The remark from Eugene about how a lie is supposed to look as much like the truth as possible is a good one.

Winner:

Small Fires, Little Pools.

It was a close call, but somehow I like the approach to Small Fires, Little Pools over GRC, Part 2. Small Fires, Little Pools seems more serious. With it being pretty much the opener for the escapade, it definitely provides a good start. In GRC , Part 2 Buck is a good potential character and I'm looking forward to seeing if they bring him back in future albums.

Score

Album 25: 01
Album 53: 01

They have revealed the cover art for album 54. I sorta like it, but I'm not convinced that it's the final. Some spots on it appear more rough-draft like than final. Hmmm...it's been a long while since I've done an Odyssey connection... Perhaps I'll have one for next time.

Well that's all for now. This is Freddy Jay saying "Come back to see how this battle turns out."

Head to Head: 53 vs 25 Part 1

I realize I've gotten behind on the news lately... With being so busy I haven't been able to post. And I'll get back with latest news as it comes. Don't forget to listen to Part 1 of the Green Ring Conspiracy. Since Album 53 is a continuous story line like 25, I thought I'd do something interesting and do a head to head type of thingy/review, Each Saturday.

Album 25 Opener:
A Little Credit Please:

Although this isn't exactly part of the dbd saga, it's still part of the Album.
Connie receives a credit card and that in itself has a predictable
story line to it. This episodes counter story lines includes Simon a
one time character. Both story lines have a common theme of
responsibility. Eugene is in the process of handling Katrina's
departure. Connie begins spending on her credit card like crazy. Then
later realizes her bill will catch up to her. Simon , Bernard's
apprentice, really wants to use the power sprayer but Bernard feels
Simon needs more experience before given more responsibility. Connie
and Eugene have a heart to heart conversation about Katrina. Eugene
then decides to grow a mustache. Even though Bernard insists that
Simon not use the power sprayer, Simon decides to try it anyway
without Bernard's approval. And learns that Bernard was right in not
letting him right away. Connie ends up going over her credit limit, and learns the importance of responsibility.

     Album 53 Opener:

GRC, Part 1:

This episode has an interesting feel to it's beginning. The fact or urban legend game that Matthew attempts to play with Emily is a great way to start out the whole mess to come. The fact that a duck's quack does echo is very interesting and has been debated. (Also, a ducks quack does indeed echo. Snopes and mythbusters proves it.) Although Emily's slightly rudeness toward Matthew seems a little harsh, it's understandable considering she doesn't like being left out of the Square One Club. I like that they kept the Tinkerers group, and that they gave it such a fitting name. Jay's entrance saves this scene immensely. His style is funny in a Rodney Rathbone sort of way, yet he has his own uniqueness to it. The mention of a plane crash is perfect for this type of sequence, not only that. But a backpack full of money too? It seemed kinda odd to me that Emily would shout "It's full of money!" in the middle of the woods. Connie's going to college for art classes seems very fitting. And it connects with her Dreams by Constance endeavor. With the plane crash, someone saying Whit's name just adds to the intrigue. Who would say him by name? My first thought was Jason, or maybe Richard Maxwell, or maybe even Mitch... My favorite quote from this episode is "Loudly exclaimed euphemisms escape me!" I most certainly will use that phrase sometime. The little section with Dirk on the phone is intriguing. Who exactly is he talking to? Then it goes to Jay at the scene of the plane crash. Detective Polehaus is an interesting sort. Although, he seems to be the type to judge a whole family for who their related to. Why was Wally in prison? Dirk then proceeds to Haggler's Junkshop. Second best line of the episode: "You come into my shop and pull a gun on me? Where'd you learn your manners?" The scene with Nelson seems so... eh. I do like his comment that suddenly the world seems so fragile when a plane can just fall out of the sky. Matthew seems so practical while Nelson seems so jumpy about everything outdoors. Love the name of the smart phone: appleberry. I can say there are a lot of minor things in this album that if missed will throw you later on. Just warning you now. Eugene is smart. Loads of money in a bag? Not likely someone would just carry that much around. Bank robbery is a good place to start. What a way to end this episode. The mystery victim from the plane is Monty? Gasp! What a twist! Very clever too.


Theme: 4/5
Humor: 5/5
Music: 5/5
Interest level: 5/5
"Like" rating: 5/5
Total rating: 4.8/5 = 5/5

Winner:

GRC, Part 1.

The Green Conspiracy earns an early lead over DBD. Partly due to the fact that A little Credit Please has so little to do with the rest of album 25. And The Green Ring Conspiracy has so much excitement early on. A little Credit please includes great lessons, and has Eugene's battle with Katrina's departure, but little excitement. It is very humerous though.

Score:

Album 25: 00
Album 53: 01

And so begins the epic tale of the Green Ring Conspiracy and the battle between GRC and DBD. Who will win? What answers will we get to those hard hitting question? Be sure to listen to Green Ring Conspiracy, Part 2 this Saturday.

P.S. I have heard all of album 53, but am doing best to give my first impressions of the episodes. Also for another head to head 51vs01, watch my sub blog, Day in Odyssey.