• Madden ‘07 is too easy. Ridiculously easy. The graphics keep getting prettier and the features more intense, but the gameplay is still stuck in the same unrealistic tecmo bowl style malaise. With the difficulty setting on Pro (which isn’t even the easiest, I should add), I started my first season 9-0. I just lost my first game, and even that was lame. I was down by 12 with less than two minutes to go; managed to score two touchdowns (70 and 39 yard receptions) and a two-point conversion to take a three point lead, which I reliquished to a field goal and eventually lost in overtime. Still, take these stats into consideration: My kick returner is averaging almost 40 yards per return with 5 (yes, 5) TDs in 10 games. My QB has a rating of 145.4 with 3,000 yards, 26 TDs and 3 interceptions. His touchdown to interception ratio is 26:3. My top receiver (who is a rookie, by the way) has over 400 yards more than the next best in the league, and my top two receivers each have 10 TDs which is one more than next best in the league. In one game my QB easily threw for 499 yards with 5 TDs. I’m averaging over 35 points per game, which is 11 more than anyone else. Meanwhile, running is damn near impossible. My team is averaging about 80 yards per game rushing, which is ridiculous considering I run about 70% of the time. While I applaud the incredible evolution of graphics in the Madden franchise, I would prefer to play a realistic game. Even ten years after the first release in this series, you can still easily win a game using one or two main plays the entire game. EA Sports needs to change the game from 5 minute quarters to the real NFL time of 15 minutes. They then need to adjust for the user speed of the game and come up with a realistic speed for the clock so it lasts just as long as the 5 minute games. I mean, the 2 minute warning is completely worthless in a 5 minute game. Basically, it’s like the NFL having a 7 minute warning. So, EA Sports, I beg you: please care a little less about the graphics and useless features like “Create-A-Fan” and try to make these games a bit more realistic. Mmmkay??

• The top 500 list is not dead. I’ve just been struggling to find time to add vignettes at the moment. Don’t give up on it just yet.

• Trail of Dead’s (personally I liked the band’s …And You Will Know Us By The prefix much better) new album has leaked. This thing is worlds better than Worlds Apart. I’ll try to post a review of it in the coming days. But I will leave you with this: It’s weird as hell; it’s awkward; it’s addicting; it’s damn good.

• Sophia. Ever heard of this band? I can tell you one thing: I hadn’t either until I randomly checked out their new album, Technology Won’t Save Us a few nights ago. And it’s one of the better releases I’ve heard this year. Think Notwist style chill rock without the electronic lap-pop backdrop. Seriously, this is at the top of my list right now. Do yourself a favor and check it out.

• The Killers - Sam’s Town. If you know me, you know that i’m not an indie prick and that I will readily admit to liking such don’t-mention-them-to-indie-fans bands such as Linkin Park and even Avril. I can tell you right now that I loved The Killers‘ debut. But this? This might be the worst album I’ve heard since Courtney Love’s solo album. Or even Paris Hilton’s horribly pathetic attempt at making music making money. Seriously, this record is just embarrassing to listen to. The lyrics are nauseating, Brandon Flowers‘ voice has devolved and every song is disgustingly unoriginal and awful. Stay far, far away from it.

• -1’s to: Santana Moss, Marques Colston and Jerricho Cotchery for sucking balls this week and helping my fantasy football team get its ass kicked. Oh, and Ahman Green for not playing even though the Packers said “he will”. And also to Yahoo for changing the post-game scores and providing me with a 0.06 point loss in my other league. Yes you read that right, I lost by 0.06 points.