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Slingbox Lands In The UK
I'm still not quite sure what it does, but it sounds good and I want one.
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1st Jun 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
bus uncle v robocrouch
finding youtube more and more useful (in the never-ending search for blips of entertainment) here's bus uncle from hong kong, and robocrouch - he's not feeling pressure
1st Jun 2006 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
scale bunny
lots of reviews popping up for matt herbert's scale outing - including this one from, ahem, playboy
31st May 2006 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Afooustic Coo Fighters
The Foo Fighters are playing a one-off acoustic show at the Apollo Theatre in London on June 14th.... see eBay for tickets.
31st May 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
rolling stones songbook
This Wednesday May 31, The Stag O Lee Preservation Society & Drinking Club pays tribute to The Rolling Stones with a selection from their songbook as performed by the original artists. From 8.30pm, 57 Greek Street, W1
31st May 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
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lordi behind the mask
just in case you missed popbitch's unmasking of the eurovision champs…
30th May 2006 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
The Takeovers
Turn To Red
If you thought John Frusciante was prolific (releasing 6 records in six months), think again. Robert Pollard has just released 3 records in one week... and that's just his most recent stuff. As Guided By Voices, he was pretty much kicking out a record a year, alongside literally dozens of solo/side-projects - many under the banner of the Fading Captain series. Check out the excellent GBV Database for a thorough discography, as well as an exclusive collection of rarities to download.
With the demise of GBV in 2004, these releases have taken a more central stage, and with three at once you could never complain of non-proliferation.
The Takeovers is a collaboration with former GBV bassist Chris Slusarenko, with other guests such as Dan Peters from Mudhoney. On paper it is possibly the most conventional of the three new records. The record starts with news-headline-style spoken word track, bringing a sense of impending doom to the proceedings. It also starts the album off with a focus that is rarely seen from Pollard. Insane/Cool It is a lo-fi rocker, but from First Spill Is Free onwards the tone of much of the album is almost concept-like, with a sense of 'the end of the party', and the come-down (of America...?).
OK, let's back that up a bit, as I'm reading way too much into it. Although the news-headline-style voice comes up again later, the message is not carried through with much clarity, and the album quickly looses focus. Sweet Jelly and The Public Dance are highlights, with the instrumental The Public Dance in particular capturing the down beat vibe mentioned earlier, sounding like a club band playing to a near empty room at 3am in the morning.
With a bit more focus the record could have been classic, but unfortunately nothing quite comes close to the boni-fide classics contained on every single GBV record, and it is quickly superseded by the other two new releases.
...continue to Psycho And The Birds.
28th May 2006 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Read more 2.5 star reviews
Psycho And The Birds
All That Is Holy
Although it is the most lo-fi and rough edged of three new albums from GBV's Robert Pollard, All That Is Holy has some of the most promising moments. Recorded with long time collaborator Todd Tobias, the album was apparently done as home recordings by Pollard - who then sent on the demos to Tobias 'to dress them up'. That 'dressing up' is not particularly reflected in the sound, and in the age of the home computer there seems less and less need for the 8-track sound Pollard has long been enchanted by. The playing is distinctly amateur - sounding like a far from finished demo - but the songs are often inspiring and never dull.
The Killers is a unfinished rocker, which still sets the pace for the upbeat album. The 2 minute Father Is Good is a rough diamond capable of sitting on any great Guided By Voices album. The middle of the album is where it is at it's strongest, with a briefly coherent sequence of Alabama Sunrise, Jesus The Clockwork and Disturbed.... but ultimately things tail off again, and the album doesn't finish that strongly.
The demo sound is hard work, and occasionally grueling. Stick with it however, as the album contains some great material.
...continue to Keene Brothers.
28th May 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Read more 2.5 star reviews
The Keene Brothers
Blues And Boogie Shoes
Billed as 'pure pop magic', The Keene Brothers is a collaboration between GBV's Robert Pollard and one-time Matador alumni Tommy Keene. Although not exactly 'pop,' Blues And Boogie Shoes is far and away the most solid and cohesive of these three new records.
Death Of The Party and Island Of Lost Lucys are classic mid-90's-style Guided By Voices. The album has far fewer of the throw-away tracks of the other two new albums, and Keene's polished guitar work adds a layer of sonic quality and sophistication to Pollard's often rough-and-ready recording style - particularly on instrumental tracks like The Camouflaged Friend.
THe album occasionally treads the line a bit to close to FM radio A.O.R., but Pollard's eclectic lyrics always pull things back from soft-rock meltdown.
This Time Do You Feel It? is a masterpiece, borrowing heavily from Pinball Wizard (perhaps Pollard's most overt tribute to heros The Who). The song is followed by A Blue Shadow, another great Pollard song, which brings the album to a worthy close.
So, as usual, 41 new songs from the over-active mind of Robert Pollard has yielded a number of classic tracks, easily distilled down. In the case of these three albums however, those gems are often unpolished rocks.
28th May 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Read more 3 star reviewsLive Chili Peppers
The BBC are screening an extended version of the Red Hot Chili Peppers Top Of The Pops mini-concert tonight on BBCi. Finally, a good reason to press the red button.
Now that the new album is settling in, the gig is making a lot more sense too. Snow (Hey Oh) is a future Knife classic for sure.
28th May 2006 - 3 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Once In A Lifetime
(dir. Paul Crowder, John Dower)
…the extraordinary story of the New York Cosmos
Once In A Lifetime is a tightly shot documentary tracing the story of how the Warner Bros execs tried to sell "soccer" to the States by packing a team full of 80s galacticos - Pele got on board first (after intervention from Henry Kissinger), then Italian striker Giorgio Chinaglia, Franz Beckenbauer, Carlos Alberto etc etc.
Great soundtrack, Matt Dillon narrating, Mick Jagger, Warhol and Robert Redford hanging out in the changing rooms, a Cosmos table waiting for them at Studio 54, and the resistance of US TV to this "upstart" non-baseball sport make for an entertaining pre-World Cup experience. Good goals too…
28th May 2006 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Read more 3.5 star reviewsthe cellar
THE CELLAR
FOLK ROCK SUMMER SPECTACULAR
SATURDAY NIGHT, JUNE 3. 9pm-2am.
For one night only, 1965-1967 folk rock 45rpms: 12-string ravers, raga madness, moody teen jangle and garage combo Dylan-copyists, selected for maximum Sunset Strip flip-out effect.In the cellar bar at The Constitution, St Pancras Way NW1. Close to Camden Town tube, even closer to Camden Road BR. Boozers take note, The Constitution serves real ale.
27th May 2006 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Notes From What Should Be A Small Island
Dispatches coming in thick and fast from Dr. Chimp today. Seems like it's all gone a bit crazy on the wrong side of the Wye.
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26th May 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
The Eagle Has Landed
New laptop has just arrived. Updated TNT status report attached.
26th May 2006 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
The Windmill Of Your Mind
We're off to Brixton's favourite venue on Saturday for The Windmill Of Your Mind. 1965 Records are putting some bands on, including The View, The Draytones and John Stammers.
£5
26th May 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
R.I.P. Desmond Dekker
Reggae legend and one time Honor Oak Park resident Desmond Dekker has died suddenly from a heart attack, aged 64.
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26th May 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
United Sounds of ATP
Camber Sands Holiday Centre, Sussex
Before going to the All Tomorrow's Parties music festival (at Pontin's Holiday Camp) I wasn't sure what to expect - and leaving a few days later I'm still not sure what I made of it all. Staying in a chalet as opposed to a tent had it's obvious benefits, especially as the rain was fairly relentless the entire weekend - making those swimming trunks I packed optimistic at best. But the constant grey skies and rundown look to the place gave it an Apocalypse Now feel - a surrealness not lightened by having to negotiate 'Funland' to get to the bar (my funland). The winner of ATP however, is that it truly is all about the music. Each headlining act allowed to choose their favourite bands to play bill - so the opportunities to discover something new were high.
Day 1
So heading to stage 2 (downstairs) on the Friday and lifted by the news that Guinness was coming in at a reasonable £2.70 a pint, The Magik Markers were a good place to kick things off. I'd read a bit about this Hungarian/American three piece and was definitely loving the fact they only played two songs in their 40 minute set (I preferred track 1) allowing me to catch up with mates, whilst dipping in and out of their (at-times) fairly rocking jam sessions. I was told however, that Dead Meadow upstairs (stage 1 of 2) were awesome, with a particularly excellent drummer -a vital ingredient for any self-respecting rock band. So upstairs we went -happy with the fact you could walk to a fairly good spec in the crowd relatively hassle free. Broken Social Scene were excellent -the surprise package of the weekend. I'd heard the name, but didn't really know their sound - they reminded me a bit of Mercury Rev - how they would allow a euphoric brass section to creep up and get you grinning by the end of each song. Also, it's the sign of a great band when you are thinking 'There's no way they can top that tune' then halfway through the next you've already forgotten the previous one (if you know what I mean). We were also treated to an early glimpse of Friday's curator J. Mascis - with long grey hair, shades and adidas shell suit. The man is a hero. He came out for a bit of a guitar duel with Broken Social Scene. Odds were stacked heavily against BSS though, as J's guitar sounded like it was turned up to 14, drowning out allcomers. Still, that whetted the appetite for Dinosaur Jr. later. Next up, indie stalwarts Teenage Fanclub. Although they opened up with personal favourite 'Mudhoney' I thought I'd go and check out The Brian Jonestown Massacre instead. Shouldn't have bothered. I liked their music in Dig!, but they were a bit boring really. I guess I was as guilty as many others, down there for the 'Car Crash' effect - waiting to see if Anton Newcombe was going to crack and kick anyone in the head (he didn't). I was told that Teenage Fanclub were great though - fair play to those lads.
A drum kit flanked by 10 Marshall Stacks; Dinosaur Jr made their intentions clear from the off. They were extremely loud, but equally awesome. What happened to Lou Barlow? From nerdy Sebadoh boy, to some sort of pumped up uber-bassist - he easily promoted himself to Lead Bass in my fantasy super group. A fairly healthy split between Lou's and J's songs - with all the 'hits' in there, they are certainly a band I'd make every effort to see whenever they are in town. A blinding set to round off day one.
Day 2
The day started with a hair of the dog in the pub at twelve and ended 17 hours later being kicked out of the ATP disco. As a result, my memories of Saturday's bands are sketchy at best. The Fiery Furnaces were pretty good. Spoon reminded me of Wilco, but didn't really do enough to lift me out of my stuper. Main act Sleater Kinney were really good though (I think). They certainly rocked the house, with some powerful drumming being a prominent recollection. Worth checking out more of their stuff to plug those holes. Highlight of the day though has to be R Kelly's bizarre Hip-Hopera 'Trapped in the Closet' - showing on the ATP TV Channel (each headliner also gets to create a days schedule of TV). A 40 minute epic with R. Kelly lending his golden tones to the story of various dudes getting caught with each other's girlfriends and threatening to blow everyone away and shit. Was it for real? Who knows - but he did rhyme Bridget with Midget (the midget in question, was uncovered hiding in a cupboard by a policeman returning home early to his wife - bizarre indeed, but try and check it out).
Day 3
With the rain still coming down and the hangover a large one Sunday was always going to be about re-grouping. So, finding a spot on the back wall to nurse some beers was the order of the day (although this is obviously much more pleasant on a sunny last day of an outdoors festival, as opposed to an airtight bingo hall after a three day rock festival). To be fair to the bands, it was going to take something special to rouse me from that position. Aussie band The Drones had a good stab with their better than average pub-rock. The Decemberists were clearly a crowd favourite, reminding me a bit The Levellers, Placebo and the Polyphonic Spree - but not at all as bad as that sounds. They did manage to get the whole crowd to sit down for a quiet number (no problems for me) then getting them back up for a rousing finale. The lead singer of 70's style rock Dungen also played a flute. Then the highlight of the weekend, The Black Keys. Two songs in and I was up off my ass and into the crowd. The drum and guitar two piece played heavy blues and once again made me wonder what all the fuss is with the White Stripes. Following them was going to be extremely tough and so it proved for biggest disappointments The Shins. The band I was most looking forward to seeing, as I'm a great fan of both their albums, were let down by a number of circumstances. Following Black Keys, early sound troubles, being shy and too quiet. They almost lifted it a couple of times but not enough. Maybe I hit a wall, but I never thought I'd be walking out of The Shins early. That was that - some serious drinking and some damn fine bands. The music-first policy is clearly a winner, could do with a bit of sunshine though.
Probably worth a 4, but the rain and my own laziness in not checking out other bands knocks it down a half.
Top 5
1. The Black Keys
2. Dinosaur Jr.
3. Broken Social Scene
4. R. Kelley
5. The Chappelle Show
Bottom 5
1. Rain
2. Hangover
3. Eating too many crisps
4. The smell of the main room Sunday night
5. The disappointing Shins.
26th May 2006 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Read more 3.5 star reviewsDynamite Delivery
Got a new replacement laptop en route after months of delay. Luckily TNT's excellent website lets me keep track of exactly what's happening. Check the picture for status.
26th May 2006 - 2 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Georgie Boy
We try to remain non-political at Chimpomatic, but are thoroughly enjoying this screensaver at the moment.
"apparently the most popular screen saver in the US"
If he gets stuck, just prod him with the mouse.
26th May 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
X-Men 3: The Last Stand
(dir. Brett Ratner)
When a scientist disovers a "cure" for mutancy, the government thinks it's a good thing. Understandably, the X-Men aren't too thrilled. Neither are Magneto and his gang. Everyone fights.
Very disappointing way to round up this trilogy. Loved the first two, thought they were one of the best comics-to-films translations - smart, well-shot, focused films with something to say. This one takes most of the same characters, adds in a few new ones (Beast, Angel, Callisto), then reimagines the whole thing as an 80s TV movie. Cheesy storyline, lame dialogue, pointless stunts and lots of messy explosions - nothing comes close to the fluidity of the X2 opening action with Nightcrawler for example (and he's wisely chosen not to show up).
Jean Grey returns to stand around a lot as Phoenix while everyone wonders, ooh, is she bad or good? The army don't seem to be that bothered about the mutants anymore so they're not in it much. Halle Berry's Storm seems to have developed a Wonder Woman-like ability to spin around quite fast. The big action scene, in which Magneto moves the Golden Gate Bridge over to Alcatraz could have been one of those "wow" moments, until you think: hang on, what's the point of doing when you've got lots of dudes in your evil gang who could just fly you over?
Frasier as Beast is quite fun, but it's an underwritten role; Hugh Jackman's Wolverine gets less to do here as well. A flashback scene with Magneto and Xavier meeting a young Jean Grey is quite good, and features the obligatory Stan Lee cameo. There's also a cameo from Shohreh "Beyrooooz!" Aghdashloo (aka Dina Araz from 24 day four).
There's a really dumb extra scene after some dull credits if you feel like dragging it out for even longer - yes, they're leaving it "open-ended" so it might not really be the Last Stand after all.
Overall verdict? suX
26th May 2006 - 2 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
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New Young Pony Club
caught the new young pony club at a modular night; hitting that new wave of newer wave again vibe pretty well
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26th May 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
(dir. Andrew Adamson)
Phone call from Hollywood Powersuit to prospective director of The Chronicles of Narnia…
‘.....we’re all going nuts here over the massive success of Jackson’s Rings Trilogy. Adapting much-loved children’s books and turning them into fantastical action movies is the shit du jour. So, how do you feel about the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe?’
‘What? The CS Lewis classic about 4 children evacuated from WW2 London; sent to live in a big stately home they stumble through a Wardrobe and into the magical world of Narnia, where animals talk. Unwittingly, they become drawn into a war between good and evil. That could be a really good film.’
‘Exactly. So we want something similar to LOTR, but working with a far smaller budget.’
‘Oh. So who’ve we got to play the children? Some gifted child stars? An Elijah Wood type figure?’
‘Afraid not. Just a bunch of kids straight out of drama school, all of whom are extremely posh and extremely punch able.’
‘Really. But you must have some stars involved’
‘Well Tilda Swinton is down to play the Ice-Queen. Only, if you ask nothing of her, allowing her to coast through the film with the odd look of embarrassment. You can also have a really good cameo from Jim Broadbent.’
‘Great’
‘But only if you use him for less than 5minutes.’
‘Oh. And for voice-overs?’
‘Well the highly skilled Liam Neeson is on-board, so skilled in fact that he can make Aslan, the Mighty Lion King, seem more irritating than heroic.’
‘We must have some money for CGI.’
‘There’s a bit of cash for a couple of scenes. You’ll have to make do with fairly cheap looking sets and costumes for the rest. Can you bring it all in close to the two hour mark as well’
‘But won’t trying to squeeze all that into 2 hours, mean we leap from one ‘action’ scene to the next, without developing character or building tension.’
‘Maybe, but little children will love it.’
‘Shouldn’t we just not bother, save the money and not fuck up Pullman’s Dark materials Trilogy?’
‘Are you still there?’
25th May 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Read more 1.5 star reviewsThe Wire: Who's On Third?
Just realised in a moment of party-shuffle clarity that I have the Tom Waits song Way Down In The Hole on the album Frank's Wild Years. I somehow didn't realise it was him singing the theme tune on The Wire (season 2 only, but it's his song sung by The Blind Boys of Alabama and The Neville Brothers on seasons 1 and 3 respectively. Check out the Neville Brothers catchy URL).
Not only that, but it's clearly the song sampled for the 3rd Bass classic Soul In The Hole.
25th May 2006 - 2 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
More Spoon: Telephono and Soft Effects
Spoon will be re-releasing missing LP Telephono and EP Soft Effects on Merge Records on July 25th.
"Both releases will be nicely packaged together for the usual price of one."
This isn't Gimme Fiction though, it's Heavy, Heavy Spoon.
25th May 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Drop Some Eaves
Check out this great little Paul Auster-ish website where people can post snippets of conversations that they've overheard in New York:
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24th May 2006 - 2 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
iTunes Catalog
It may eventually just become a johnson-swinging contest, but iTunes Catalog is a cool little app to let people know what's on your iTunes, how you rate it and every other detail. Handy for when you can't remember if you bought something already. $25.
23rd May 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Time Of The Wolf (Le Temps Du Loup)
(dir. Michael Haneke)
This is a powerful film which not only lingered in my thoughts for days, but which gave me, and those who saw it with me, vivid nightmares. Although the story of people trying to survive in the aftermath of a disaster is nothing new, Haneke's bleak vision of an imploding society packs not only a punch but also a long, increasingly unbearable squeeze. The cinematography lends a stunning realism: night shots really look like night, the fog shots are eerily beautiful - these all conspire brilliantly to drag you further into the nightmare. Rhythmically, Haneke is masterful, and the acting - especially by Isabelle Huppert - is excellent. From start to its hair-raising, Tarkovsky-esque finish, Temps du Loup is something of a miracle, capturing our disparate natures down to the core.
22nd May 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Read more 4.5 star reviews
The Broken Family Band
Cold Water Songs
I only recently discovered this band with their latest release Balls so am now working my way back through their discography. I have arrived at this 2003 release to find the standard still high. From the outset it pours water on my theory that a lot of modern rock’s lyrics wouldn’t stand up once the music is removed. On ‘(I Don't Have The Time To) Mess Around’ we get the classic line, “There’s a dog sleeping in my bed, if I tickle his balls he gives me sweet head.” Genius. This album has all the trademarks of their subsequent works, self-loathing and relationships that have ended on less than amorous terms. The stand out track would be the beautiful ‘Devil In The Details.’ The hatred in this album is more down played than the others and this song embodies that, presenting such a sad disappointment one feels when discovering the deep-rooted faults of someone you used to love. The majority of the album is very much in the country vein and is generally more sedate than their more recent releases, except for the raucous ‘Don’t Leave That Woman Unattended’ which explains just why this guy gets himself into so many disastrous relationships.
This is a very consistent bunch making good quality music spanning many genres (well, two) and I intend to work my way through the lot.
22nd May 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Read more 3.5 star reviews
Grandaddy
Just Like The Fambly Cat
I don't know what it is about this band but their strange tales of childlike melancholia told with such charm and unrivalled innocence do something beautiful to me and I am so upset to hear that this will be the last little gem they will be offering the world. This fact considered, it is hard to listen to this without getting all sad and retrospective. This feeling is laid on thick from the first track; 'What Happened..' is a simple yet effective opener comprising of various children asking the question “What happened to the family cat?” This summons up all the emotions necessary to make this album work for you, a sense of regret, loss and a childhood long passed. However we are soon firmly shaken out of this self-pity by ‘Jeez Louise’ and we remember all the good times we had with this band. It is impossible to listen to this album and not interpret Jason Lytle’s lyrics as explanations for the break-up. ‘Rear View Mirror’ hints at the frustration of a journey spent forever looking back and once you get over the initial disappointment that this is not a cover of the Pearl Jam classic of the same name it soon becomes the standout track on the album. ‘Elevate Myself’ is a fantastic casio-drumbeat manifesto on exactly why Lytle is doing what he’s doing. Among his wants and don’t want’s he claims “I don’t wanna be a part of all the quality that falls apart these days.”
Initially I was quite disappointed with 2003’s ‘Sumday’ feeling it lacked the quirky elements I so enjoyed in ‘The Software Slump.’ I soon revised this opinion as the beauty took hold and although a lot of the songs on ‘…Fambly Cat’ would fit comfortably on ‘Sumday’ it does go some way to bridge the gap. It’s a pretty up and down affair in general, with Little feeling sorry for himself one minute then, as in the glorious semi-instrumental ‘Skateboarding Saves Me Twice,’ telling us that everything will be just fine.
I cant help listening to the last track ‘This Is How It Always Starts’ without thinking of those terrible compilation moments that Gary Lineker shows us as England inevitably and unjustly exit the World Cup. The songs they pick (usually REM’s ‘Everybody Hurts’) guide us through the highs and lows of a great yet ultimately tragic journey and you could imagine a similar compilation of Grandaddy’s best moments set to this beautiful and soaring finale marking the end to a truly wonderful journey. And this album as a whole could be those highlights. On ‘Elevate Myself’ Little states “ I’d rather make an honest sound, watch it fly around and be on my way.” And that’s exactly what he has done. His sound will continue to fly and I wish him good luck.
22nd May 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Read more 4 star reviewsGood Lordi
Finnish band Lordi walked away with the Eurovision contest at the weekend. Described on the radio as "Heavy, Heavy Metal" we reckon they're a cross between Gwar and Predator. Better then Buck's Fizz though.
22nd May 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
News Feed
Update your RSS links readers, we've upgraded and the news RSS is now here. Click the RSS button at the top on Safari, or bottom in Firefox.
22nd May 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
x3
…sucks. in a kind of not-so-fantastic four way. really thought it might be ok. ah well.
21st May 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Radiohead Hammersmith Review
Bear/Chimp is all over last night's Radiohead gig at the Hammersmith Apollo, with a review and some snaps. Support from Willy Mason. The touts made out like bandits.
I've been enjoying At War With The Mystics, and the three new Fading Captain releases from GBV's Bob Pollard.
19th May 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Radiohead
Hammersmith Apollo, London
OK, what you are about to read is a totally 100% biased, one-sided opinion masquerading as fact but I don't care. This was a perfect gig. All morning I have tried my hardest to pick holes in it and find some kind of fault but I'm afraid I concede, simply perfect. Whenever people ask me what was the best gig you have ever been to I get nervous because I feel my answer should be some seminal moment in music history, like "Sex Pistols at St. Martins" or the "Stone Roses at Spike Island", when all that really ever came to mind was "MC Hammer, Wembley Arena supported by the mighty Snap". But now I have an answer to be proud of.
I suppose the only slightly less-than-perfect point was that they opened with a new song Videotape that Thom Yorke plays on the piano so no one can actually see him until the second song. But that was National Anthem and the show was under way. This was followed by 2+2=5 which is when the crowd really found their legs or lost them depending on where you were standing. I had heard that this tour was going to be an opportunity for the band to air some new songs and some of the lesser played ones. This was true but they still managed to treat us to such classics as Karma Police. This is what I would refer to as 'A Platoon Moment' where I assume a Willam Defoe, hands-in-the-air-euphoric stance only this time not being gunned down by the Viet Cong. This pose was invented for this band and for this moment. It was nothing less than spectacular.
Three of the most impressive moments were the opening tracks to 3 of their best albums. Everything In It's Right Place, Airbag and best of all Planet Telex. Here the band arranged a supped up version of such magnitude that it was almost unrecognisable and sounded like something off Kid A or Amnesiac. The set list didn't seem to be set in stone either and after repeated crowd requests for OK Computer's epic Let Down they finally obliged. Maybe it isn't a song that is often played as half way through the second verse Thom seemed to forget the words and backed away from the mic looking confused. The crowd soon came to his aid and rose with a crescendo of straining voices bringing a grateful smile to the front man. What was also very evident is that we are in for a treat judging by some of the new stuff that was played. Arpeggi being a particular highlight, a slow building number that evolves into a power house finale making full use of Ed O'Brien's impressive backing vocals which are fast becoming Radiohead's secret weapon.
So two encores later and a string of classics having delighted and exhausted the worshipping crowd we are eased down from the clouds gently with Everything In It's Right Place, which saw Yorke come to the front of the crowd and dance along with us with a big smile on his face. I will end this review by apologising again for my rather over emotional sentiments but I am not of sound mind. If you want an over technical and slightly cynical opinion go read Pitchfork but as for me, if I was Sam Becket from Quantum Leap, I could definitely 'leap' now.
19th May 2006 - 6 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Read more 5 star reviewsNot All That Keane
Keane have got a new album out soon, reviewed in detail by one loving fan (note 'lost it' ?) on Amazon.
Oh dear...I've just heard the new Keane album and all I can say is they've lost it. It's just so derivitive and depressingly familiar. In fact, it coud be the worst album I've ever heard.
18th May 2006 - 6 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
george strikes back again
yes, guess which one's the cover of the new old prequel sequels dvd releases?
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18th May 2006 - 4 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
fast food nation
trailer up for chimp hero richard linklater's new outing fast food nation mmmm burger
18th May 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Da Vinci Code Movie Review Scoop
The Evening Standard seems to think they had the scoop, but I'd tend to disagree.
18th May 2006 - 5 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
saxondale
steve coogan's got a new sitom on bbc2 in june called saxondale. he's "an ex roadie with anger management issues and his own pest control business in Stevenage."
17th May 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Da Vinci Decoded
saw foucault's pendulum for dummies last night, an experience enhanced by will self sitting in front, laughing sardonically all the way through. Tom Hanks is a highly respected Professor of Symbology (is this even a real word?), Audrey Tatou some kind of cop, and Gandalf is on hand to crack impossible clues like backwards mirror writing.
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dude, turns out it's not a cup
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17th May 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
The Da Vinci Code Movie
(dir. Ron Howard)
Vite! Ou est la Mona Lisa? Ah oui, it's over 'ere! Zere must be another clue 'ere, non?
Tom Hanks runs around Paris with Audrey Tatou looking for medieval clues, with Jean "Leon" Reno and kerrrazy albino monk Paul Bettany on his tail. Gandalf helps them out a bit with some Biblical history and a quick Photoshop guide to the Last Supper. He's also got a private jet which totally comes in handy at the last minute. Phew. Doctor Octopus is one of the secret society head honchos.
Other escapes involve some doves showing up to scare off some gun-wielding baddies with their powerful symoblism; using the old "chuck the tracking device out the window" trick; and er, shutting a van door. (if anyone can explain what actually happens in this scene, i'd really like to know...)
At one point Tom Hanks utters the immortal line "Get me to a library!" But Audrey manages to find a kid on a bus who's actually figured out how to make his 3G phone work. This is possibly the most unbelievable scene.
It's competent, trashy, stupid fun, packed with some hilarious lines, corny plot "twists" and the odd noisy shock. And it saves you the trouble of reading the book. Be great if it flopped, but it won't.
17th May 2006 - 2 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
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9/11 pentagon video
the pentagon's released their 9/11 attack video
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17th May 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Election
(dir. Johnny To)
Slow-boiling Hong Kong thriller about two candidates competing to be the new head of a triad society. Simon Yam's the more businesslike of the two; Tony Leung Ka Fai's the flashy gangster prepared to split the crime family up if the "uncles" won't put him in charge.
Unusually for a Hong Kong triad thriller, Johnny To concentrates on the political behind-the-scenes arguments rather than the bloodthirsty shootouts - they're still there, but this is a much more talky affair than you might expect.
With the two splitting the family, the old boys decide to retrieve the triad's symbolic dragon head totem from its hiding place over the border in China - whoever's got it is in charge.
Some great scenes where the cops have chucked everyone in jail together, and told them to sort out the dispute, a cold twist towards the end (setting up the sequel) and a nice sense of style make up for some of the scenes where you're not quite sure who's trying to run over who on who's behalf. It's also apparently the first time actual triad rituals have been shown on film. Bit like the masons, with more joss stick and less stupid trouser action. Great theme music too.
Johnny To's likely to be the next HK director to break through in the west - films like Running On Karma and PTU have been big hits in Asia - Election won Best Film at the HK Film Awards this year, and the sequel's already out and doing well in HK.
16th May 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Read more 3 star reviewsElectric Taster
The Electric Soft Parade have a new EP out, and you can download a preview track here.
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eraser head
no radiohead album this year after all, but thom yorke's got one ready all by himself, the eraser
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New Macbook
Apple's attempts to woo over more Windows users continue with the release of the Macbook (Amateur as opposed to Pro?). Good pricing for a powerful Intel laptop... starting at £749.
16th May 2006 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
A Bigger Scale
As if www.matthewherbert.com and www.matthewherbert.net weren't giving you enough informations, K7 have launched a mini-site for upcoming album Scale, with some video, sounds, notes.....
15th May 2006 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Brick
(dir. Rian Johnson)
Following the mysterious disappearance and murder of ex-girlfriend Em (Emily De Ravin), high school detective Brendan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) delves deep into the dirty underworld of a San Clemente high school to solve the crime. With help from a snitchy sidekick, a femme fatale and a mysterious drug lord (Lukas Haas) the case turns up many twists and turns in the style of a 40's film noir.
While taking the easy option would have made this a winking, nodding smart-ass movie (or even worse Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid), the technique of taking most of the plot-style from an imaginary Bogart movie is what really gives this movie legs. There's very little irony, meaning when you are reminded of the unusual situation "You're finished in this school!" it usually brings a laugh.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt is good in the main role, making a surprisingly non-weakling high school loner, who can hold his own. Lukas Haas on the other hand shows a vulnerable side to the apparently ruthless drug-lord 'Kingpin'.
I'm not quite sure what a viewer who wasn't trained in the art of film noir would make of this, as it might not stand up without that little titbit of PR. The script is a little hard to follow in places, and the movie does possibly rely a little to much on the dialogue for exposition. The film has excellent photography, bringing a surprising film noir film to colourful, day time, high-school Southern California. Winning the Special Jury Prize at Sundance, this is a very promising first feature from director Rian Johnson - who graduated from USC in 1996. There's hope for us old folks yet.
15th May 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
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