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Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men's Chest
(dir. Gore Verbinski)
another enjoyable high seas romp for cap'n jack sparrow, keira knightley and orlando bloom. pirates of the caribbean: dead men's chest is basically one long action scene. it's relentlessly noisy, clocks in at what feels like a good 2 and a half hours, but still manages to be fun, in a proper all-round entertainment kind of way. it's not dark, or clever or twisty, just pretty unpretentious summer blockbuster fare.
the first one was a v pleasant surprise for me: as much as i love the whole aaaaaarrrr vibe of pirates, there haven't been too many great pirate films recently, so i wasn't holding out much hope for it being any good. even though it's probably my favourite disney ride. so here, i had quite high expectations, and they were mostly met. doesn't have that law of diminishing returns you get w most sequels as such, but it is more of the same, without adding too much new stuff to the mix.
in a way they're setting it up as a star wars style trilogy, yes, it's staaaaaaaarrrr wars:
first film that reinvents a genre and is surprisingly good? check
anti hero who loves his ship? han solo + millenium falcon = jack sparrow and the black pearl
second part that does more of the same, shows more cantina-style monsters and extends the mythology? check
unresolved father issues? check
love triangle featuring feisty princess, rogue don't give a shit buccanneer and a slightly wooden pretty boy who's quite handy w a sword? check
etc.
bill nighy's lots of fun as the squid-faced davy jones, there's some big monster action, sneaky pirating and general double-crossing, some fun triple-sword showdowns and more comedy sidekick moments from mackenzie "gareth in the office" crook. plus there's a bit right at the end. apparently. i left too soon… aaaarrrrrrggghhh
not a classic, but really good fun if you liked the first one. just a bit too long and noisy. part 2 is definitely happening, hope it's not too return of the jedi-like. and be great if they get keith richards to show up…
28th Jun 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
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pirates of the caribbean: dead men's chest
aaaaaarrrr! caught pirates of the caribbean: dead men's chest tonight, pretty enjoyable romp that doesn't do much new with it, but doesn't get much wrong either. no keith though, which is a shame, hope the stones give him time off for the next one. sail over to the review here
28th Jun 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
The National Interview
Following their UK tour in support of Editors and a headline gig at Koko at the end of May, the artist formerly know as bear/chimp caught up with Matt Berninger of The National for an interview.
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27th Jun 2006 - 4 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Interview: The National
Following a UK tour in support of Editors and a headline gig at Koko in May, Chimpomatic's BC caught up with Matt Berninger of The National to talk about Alligator, Shakespeare and more. read article
27th Jun 2006 - Add Comment
The New KLF
Kick Out The Rock alumni and music journalist Matt 'Matalan' Allen has made the news, by pulling the wool over Alan McGee's jaded eyes and seducing him to court pseudo band Hope Against Hope.
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The Times
The Guardian
The Independent
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27th Jun 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
My Morning Jacket European Tour
My Morning Jacket are finally (hopefully) coming back to Europe for some shows in August/September, including a stint supporting Pearl Jam.
HEADLINE DATES:
22 Aug - Nottingham, UK - Rescue Rooms
23 Aug - Manchester, UK - Academy
25 Aug - Glasgow, UK - ABC
26 Aug - Edinburgh, UK - Cabaret Voltaire
29 Aug - Birmingham, UK - Academy 2
22 Sep - London, UK - Astoria
Tickets don't seem to be on sale for most venues yet (leave a comment if you spot some), but there's an unlisted Brighton gig available on seetickets.com
27th Jun 2006 - 2 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
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New Director's Showcase 2006
Some good stuff in this years New Director's Showcase, including some of the world's smallest video clips.
26th Jun 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman
new haruki murakami short story collection out, july 6
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25th Jun 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
no more mind candy
tv genius aaron spelling has died, but the legacy of his mind candy lives on (and on and on) thanks to the magic of repeats: Beverly Hills 90210, Charlie's Angels, Dynasty, Fantasy Island, Hart to Hart, Love Boat, Starsky and Hutch, T J Hooker... they were all his
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25th Jun 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Chimpomatic Song of the Day: Volume III
Holy Funk, from the long overdue debut album by 'experimental Manchester three-piece' The Longcut. Another future Knife classic.
23rd Jun 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
iShit you not...
errrr, i think this is real. time to stop making ipod products now, surely?
features:
- 4 Integrated high performance moisture-free speakers deliver exceptional
clarity and high quality sound
- Integrated Bath tissue holder that can be easily folded as a stereo dock
- Easy to remove from Wall Mount
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22nd Jun 2006 - 6 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
sunshine
lots of techy onset stuff on the sunshine site - new sci-fi from danny boyle, with michelle yeoh, cillian murphy, rose byrne, the last samurai's hiroyuki sanada and the human torch from the fantastic four.
21st Jun 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
mugispansion
looks like mugi's grown some new limbs... details of the new mugi band are online, heard they're v good live. can't wait to check the new stuff
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21st Jun 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
popaganda
just stumbled across Ron English, there's a documentary about on him on artsworld next month
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21st Jun 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
apple eye movies
looks like jobs is getting closer to getting the job done with movie downloads
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21st Jun 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
stop of the pops
they're axing top of the pops at last...
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20th Jun 2006 - 4 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Fuerza Bruta
Went to the newly re-opened Camden Roundhouse on Friday to see current wonder-play Fuerza Bruta. It strayed a little too close to Stomp! in places, but was generally pretty amazing... the highlight being a basketball court sized overhead swimming trampoline with wave machine.
Also saw United 93, which I might review soon.
19th Jun 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
slappers
dani siciliano's great new album Slappers is not out until september, but there's a little preview here
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19th Jun 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Yorkie Bar Kid Speaks
mr yorke's in OMM this sunday. he's got a solo album coming out. and probably isn't watching the world cup
16th Jun 2006 - 4 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Lacking Lustre
Following England's shabby 2-0 performance last night, Argentina have just put in another lack lustre World Cup performance. Hopefully things will start to pick up in the last 16.
16th Jun 2006 - 2 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
piper smoked!
don't know if many chimps are hiding behind their sofas for the new doctor who, but here's a little spoiler for the season finale "Doomsday"
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15th Jun 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
consume!
"It seems only fitting that Hong Kongers, who have turned shopping into a fine art, would choose to dedicate a festival to it. Hundreds of retailers across the city have conspired to eliminate any excuse visitors might have for not splashing out. Special offers and prizes abound, and many restaurants have hopped aboard to ensure a consumer's appetite for food, not just shoes, is indulged as well.
Once your wallet is empty, head to the waterfront at Tsim Sha Tsui to witness Aqua Fantasia, a multimedia light show displayed on a curtain of water, which begins every half hour from 7.30pm-9.30pm.
Throughout Hong Kong. Visit the festival's website for more information."
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super diversity! chinese authentics! all weather shopping!
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15th Jun 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
the other world cup
the robocup is also going on at the moment... if only the bbc would stream that too
14th Jun 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
a scanner darkly
early word is that the new richard linklater film a scanner darkly is a really enjoyable cross between a stoner comedy and a paranoid thriller. yes, something for chimps to look forward to this summer
14th Jun 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Chimpomatic Song of the Day: Volume III
It's time for a new Song Of The Day compilation, and I'm starting things off with Old Friends No. 1 from Stuart A. Staples' new album Leaving Songs.
...like a moment from a western, where the apparently heartless gun-for-hire cowboys come back to save the town from bad guys.
12th Jun 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
World CUpdate
It's been hot, hot, hot this weekend in London - a factor which undoubtedly contributed to England's lacklustre 2nd half performace against Paraguay. Even though they must have been hot too.
If you've got a GMail log in, you can use it to get football news on your homepage at www.google.com/ig. Very handy.
You can also watch the England matches live on your desktop from www.bbc.co.uk.
12th Jun 2006 - 4 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
The Wedding Present
Koko, Camden
A great set from The Wedding Present tonight at Koko. Didn't get around to catching them when they were john peel's other favourite band, but karaoke cowgirl assures me they were just as good. Quite glad we didn't fall into the mosh pit this time around though, as it was in full flow from the get-go. No Interstate 5, which was what i was really holding out for, or Felicity, but excellent versions of Brassneck and Mars Sparkles Down On Me both made up for it. And no encore either, which I didn't quite believe until the lights went up and everyone started piling home.
9th Jun 2006 - 5 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
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The Wedding Present Koko
A great set from The Wedding Present last night at Koko - a quick review here.
9th Jun 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Peerflix & La La
I can't believe no-one thought of this sooner, but Wired is reporting on two new sites in the US that let you trade unwanted CD's and DVD's. Must be a good way to pick up those deleted hard-to-find discs is what I'm thinking.
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8th Jun 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
The Longcut: Gravity In Crisis
The excellent Longcut are this week's free single on iTunes. They have finally got an LP out, which we'll hopefully get our hands on soon.
The band are playing the Lovebox Weekender in Victoria Park on Sun 23rd July, and at Lock 17 (what was Dingwall's) on Tuesday 25th July.
8th Jun 2006 - 2 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Stuart A. Staples
Bush Hall, London
In support of his latest album Leaving Songs, Tindersticks' Stuart A. Staples played this small show in London, as well as a few dates around Europe.
The show started off well, with my current favourite song Old Friends No. 1 setting the pace, before moving onto a healthy chunk of the new album and 2004's solo album Lucky Dog Recordings, such as Marseille Sunshine, Shame On You and Already Gone. Staples was backed by superb drumming, a keyboard, lead guitar (from Tindertsicks) and double bass - and when the band was at full steam they were superb, like rock and roll Mariachi's (check surveillance for a drumming clip).
Although Staples seemed a bit under the weather it seemed more likely to be hayfever or flu, rather than the whiskey. Where early Tindertsicks songs seemed drunk, troubled and biographical, his solo material seems more general and is presumably informed by more current experiences. Like Hal Hartley's lack of good movies since he was married, perhaps the happiness of later life has put the fire out. The raucous days of Whiskey & Water somehow seem likely to have been replaced by a self-imposed night on the study sofa after too much congnac.
Although he was determined to play only his solo stuff (apart from one Townes Van Zandt cover - Sixteen Summers, Fifteen Falls), you could tell that the crowd were hoping for the nostalgia of a few Tindersticks favourites. Where certain bands (e.g. Radiohead) seem to keep moving forward and enlisting new fans, other bands seem to retain the same dwindling set of loyal fans - who just grow old together. Where this can make for a fantastic loyal atmosphere at a concert (e.g. The Wedding Present), in some cases (Fugazi included) it can just mean that the energy has gone from the crowd, leaving a subdued performer - unsure of how things are going. As Staples himself commented "I have no idea if you are enjoying this or not."
Click here for more pictures.
8th Jun 2006 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Read more 3 star reviewsThe Brown Bunny
Brown Bunny review now online, but I really just wanted to post this great still.
8th Jun 2006 - 2 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
The Brown Bunny
(dir. Vincent Gallo)
Motorbike racing loner Bud Clay (Vincent Gallo) travels across America for a race in Los Angeles, meeting several girls along the way - all the while looking a replacement for the love that he has lost, haunted by the memory of the last time he saw her.
Prior to seeing this film there were two forces governing my expectations:
1. The awesome trailer, laying Jackson C. Frank's song Milk And Honey over a split screen montage of an empty highway and an accident at a party.
2. The literal barrage of negative press following the screening at Cannes, and mostly regarding the edit of the film and the X-Rated sex scene with Gallo and Chloe Sevigny.
As Buffalo 66 had been so enjoyable I was at the very least intrigued to see what could have gone wrong with this alleged train crash of a movie. Things start of OK, with a slow sequence following Bud Clay as he competes in a race in New Hampshire. The shooting style seems like a mid 70's documentary, using grainy handheld footage. Clay then packs up his bike into his van, but before heading out on the open road he meets a young girl and convinces her to come to California with him. As she runs into her house to pick up a few things, Bud Clay changes his mind and drives away. Cue 20 minutes of Gallo driving. No dialogue. Repeat.
While Gallo is quite effective and watch-able, a lot of the interest is based upon some knowledge of his off screen personality - plus you are always waiting to see if nothing really does happen. The shooting shooting style is nice (and occasionally great), but you can't help but feel it's not quite how it should be. A long shot will focus on Gallo driving, while an out of focus landscape rolls past in the background. Except the foreground will be slightly out of focus too. The DVD was presented in the original aspect ratio of 1.66:1 (leaving black bars on the left and right), but then some shots of the film seemed like they had been spliced back into the film after some some time literally on the cutting room floor... to no apparent effect.
The hype around the movie is mainly due to it's explicit nature, but if Gallo really wanted to improve the film he could have started by chopping that entire scene out, as it really does provide no further exposition or depth to the characters. The scenes following the x-rated scene do make the film somewhat more worthwhile, making the viewer think back over what they have been watching and draw some kind of sense - but the trailer was just as effective as the movie, setting up the tragedy and creating the same emotional impact in a mere two minutes. The poster is great too.
8th Jun 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Read more 1.5 star reviewspuma v adidas town
thanks to the prawn for this puma v adidas story…
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8th Jun 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
new old school?
could this be the new old school?
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7th Jun 2006 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
RIP Billy Preston
"5th Beatle", played w the Stones, all-round dude.
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7th Jun 2006 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Darth Chicken Wars
You've got to love Palpatine's ring tone.
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7th Jun 2006 - 3 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Stuart A. Staples
Leaving Songs
Leaving Songs is the second solo album from Tindersticks front man Stuart A. Staples. Where 2005's Lucky Dog Recordings: 2003-2004 was a loose collection of songs written over some time and recorded at Staples' home studio, Leaving Songs is a collection of songs written over the last year and recorded at Mark Nevers' studio in Nashville, with Dave Boulter, Neil Fraser and drummer Thomas Belhom.... followed by a bit more recording back in the UK featuring Tindersticks' stalwart Terry Edwards and longtime collaborator, Gina Foster.
For me, things started to tail off for the Tindersticks with Simple Pleasure. The songs became less urgent and relevant, presumably due to the maturing years and situations of the band. Leaving Songs starts off on a different note, with Staples strong baritone voice accompanied only by an acoustic guitar on Old Friends No. 1. However, as the song progresses one by one another guitar joins in, followed by strings, a hammond organ - and before you know it you are back in the classic Tindersticks territory of a song like Drunk Tank. This is no complaint, in fact this song has everything that for me has been missing in Tindersticks' more recent albums. It seems like a moment from a western, where the apparently heartless gun-for-hire cowboys come back to save the town from bad guys.
The song builds up such a fantastic layered atmosphere, that it sets the bar for the album almost as high as it can be, and unfortunately it is moment that isn't topped. The Path, Which Way The Wind and The Road Is Long are weak, methodical affairs, that have lyrics that are less than revolutionary, mostly seeming to be about moving on, making decisions and so on zzzzzz. The duets on the other hand (with Maria McKee and Lhasa de Sela) sound like they are trying to re-create the good-old-days of songs like Traveling Light, but not quite making the grade.
Things pick up a bit with Already Gone and This Old Town, creating the kind of run-down-seaside-town-crossed-with-a-spaghetti-western atmosphere I'm always looking for. While Old Friends No. 1 is currently nudging at the top for title of "my current favourite song" I'm afraid the album as a whole doesn't come close to Tindersticks at their best.
6th Jun 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Read more 2.5 star reviewsBonachela Dance Company
bit off the chimp path, but if you're feeling cultural next week and want a break from the world cup, "contemporary composer Matthew Herbert" has done the music for the Bonachela Dance Company's new ballet at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, tuesday and wednesday, 13 and 14 June
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6th Jun 2006 - 6 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
MES vs Sven
is there no end to mark e smith's skills? he's even had time to come up with lots of handy advice for sven today…
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5th Jun 2006 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Omar Comes Out Of The Closet
I thought our boy Omar was out of the closet already?
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5th Jun 2006 - 2 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Jack Penate and The View
saw this guy playing at a warehouse party last week, really got the spirit of C86 going on… heard he's "going to be big" but don't let that put you off. nice set - solo electric guitar, which i've always been into. followed it up with another highly entertaining windmill of your mind night at brixton's premier flat roof pub, the windmill. great acoustic set from john stammers (if a little too quiet for a chatty audience), punky energy from the lodge, ok retro rock from the draytones, and an outstanding headline set from the view - never seen people crowdsurfing in a pub before…
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jack peñate
the view, the view, the view are on fire
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4th Jun 2006 - 2 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
R.I.P. Clarence Beaks
....hold on a second, "Fck Off."
2nd Jun 2006 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Zappa Plays Zappa
Manchester Apollo
finally getting to hear zappa's music live is a pretty special thing if you've grown up with it, and I assumed it wasn't going to be possible after the great man smoked his last cigarette. wasn't quite sure what to expect with this dweezil zappa-fronted band - mawkish nostalgia? natalie cole plays nat king cole style weirdness? slightly embarrassing outing from someone who can't actually play as well as frank?
the set starts with some live footage of zappa and the mothers from the 1973 live at the roxy set - montana and another one i hadn't heard before (there's always the odd fifty albums or so to catch up with in the zappa archives)... then as frank retunes his guitar, dweezil and the band walk out, and kick into a storming version of hungry freaks, daddy followed by help i'm a rock - tracks i really thought i'd never hear live.
things just kept getting better from there - great sound, the band have been seriously drilled by dweezil (who's also nailed the style of frank's solos - inca roads was truly awesome - not a note-for-note transcription, but like he's absorbed the sensibility of the zappa tone and is channeling him on that trademark SG) - he's got them to the point that zappa had with his bands where he can direct them to change time signature, feel, who's soloing etc etc with a hand signal - jumping from bass to sax mid-bar - really impressive musicianship, but also highly entertaining (yes, humour DOES belong in music when the jokes are this good). having napoleon murphy brock who sang on loads of the 70s classics made it even more authentic - he's the voice of that great era, and is a real performer, as well as a great sax player.
the only downer came when the power on dweezil's mega guitar rig disappeared. rather than throwing a strop about it, he kept the audience in the loop, looked visibly disappointed and apologised profusely - you could tell he just wanted to put on the best show possible for his dad's fans, and the fact that the ability to switch from one cool sound to another was going to throw him off his game. the band launched into pound for a brown which they hadn't tried before, but eventually they had to power down the whole venue to sort it out.
bar time.
this could have been a drag, but the fact that they then came back with steve vai for some extra insanity on the solos front made it all ok. having someone who can literally do anything on a guitar is sometimes too much, but in this context, where the rest of the band are up to the challenge of making zappa's avant garde rock work, it's what you want. squeezing crazy notes out of his signature ibanez jem guitars, he's a joy to watch, freaking out, noodling at 100 miles an hour, then trading licks with dweezil in a real guitar-fest showdown. actually prefer dweezil's solos, but it's pretty cool to see someone going that far out. as chimp north points out, vai's the devil to dweezil's ralph macchio in crossroads.
the time lost meant that we missed out some other highlights that they had planned like city of tiny lights which we would have loved to see. also no terry bozio who has been playing trying to grow a chin, i'm so cute etc from the sheik yerbouti era.
but we did get to see them trying something they hadn't before - the screen dropped down, to let frank back on stage, filmed in a nutty 80s jumpsuit - soloing with dweezil's band playing. bit elvis, but still cool.
giving it 4.5 due to the lost time etc, but we're not holding it against them. if you love zappa, this band are kiling ugly radio.
other trivia facts from chimp north:
he's playing an SG because that's what he thinks of when he thinks of frank playing and it gets him in the frank zone
they're not frank's actual guitars though - didn't want to risk losing them on tour
they're in talks with gibson to produce a signature zappa model.
ps pic from manchester coming soon…
2nd Jun 2006 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Read more 4.5 star reviewszappa plays zappa
caught the zappa plays zappa show at manchester's apollo last night - great venue, only 2700 seats, full of old mothers fans - lots seemed to have recruited their sons as well which was cool. great set from the dweezil-plays-frank band, full of c71 and chimp north favourites, mainly from the one size fits all era. and steve vai is officially the master of the noodly freakout solo. totally entertaining.
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2nd Jun 2006 - 2 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
The National
Koko, Camden
"The English are waiting and I don't know what to do." Sings Matt Berninger of The National at Koko last night. This line seemed all too true for the charismatic lead singer who looked visibly stunned and overwhelmed at the rapturous applause that greeted him and his band. While cracking open a bottle of champagne he admitted, "this is the first time we have played to this many people who have just come to see us." I too was quite surprised at the frenzied response to every song and the general hysteria that resided in the hall that night. And it was well deserved.
Opening with the glorious Secret Meeting and just about playing every song they know, as well as a few new ones, this soon evolved into a truly stunning and memorable gig. It's such a treat these days to see a front man with a personality, who is genuinely reacting to the passion and emotion of the songs - rather than assuming an act. On songs such as Daughters Of The Soho Riots, Berninger whispers into the mic as if he was holding his lover, his hands gently yet firmly clasping the neck whilst he pours his heart out as if they were the only two in the room. In between verses and songs he would pace around nervously, biting his nails like a troubled man waiting outside his lovers door, rehearsing the devastating words he is about to utter. After screeching the repeated mantra 'My mind's not right' on Abel, Beringer looked genuinely shaken at the power of his own voice.
As is often the case at great gigs, the crowd is treated to revamped and reworked versions of familiar favourites. The achingly beautiful Wasp Nest smouldered like the cigarette permanently burning between Berninger's clasped fingers, then gradually rose to a mighty crescendo that morphed into the awesome Murder Me Rachel. The highlight of the set, and the moment that brought this gig into four-star territory, was the mighty Mr November. If much of the night saw Berringer straining to keep his emotions under wraps, this was the point where he lost the fight. Clearly feeding off the crowds unified and deafening chant of "I'm the new blue blood, I'm the great white hope," the front man gave it all he had, screaming over and over "I wont fuck us over, I'm Mr. November." Fantastic. And all this while being flanked by two twin hobbits from Lost's Driveshaft.
Click here for more pictures, and here for a review of November 2005's gig at ULU.
1st Jun 2006 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Read more 4 star reviewsbopp till you dropp
The Wolfgang Bopp presents Lucky Soul + Autokat + Wolf Gang DJs playing out twisted rock n roll, retro grooves and bleak disco… Date: Friday 2nd June, Doors: 8pm – 12.15am (bands finish 11pmish) Price: 3 quid. Venue: The Montague Arms , 289 Queens Road, New Cross, SE15 2PA Nearest Tube: New Cross Gate
Nearest BR: Queens Rd, Peckham
1st Jun 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
The National at KOKO
Last night's National gig at Koko was fantastic. Hang tight while Bear/Chimp types it up...
UPDATE: Review now up, with a picture gallery, plus some snaps and movies in surveillance. Sound quality leaves a lot to be desired.
1st Jun 2006 - 3 comments - Add Comment - Tweet