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Riding the Brakes
Chimpomatic buddy Herbert has remixed chimp favourites Brakes' track All Night Disco Party
15th Mar 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Walk The Line
(dir. James Mangold)
Biopic of the young Johnny Cash, following his upbringing by his tough father following the death of his brother, his start in the music business, his being offered drugs by Elvis' cronies, addiction and constant pursuit of hottie singer June Carter.
Joachim Phoenix was nothing special and I can see why he missed out on the Oscar nod. Unfortunately the same goes for Reese Witherspoon, both were OK and you could even assume they put in reasonable impressions of their characters, it was just that the story itself itself just wasn't that interesting. There was no real drama, goal or end point and in fact it pretty much just finished after the famous Folsom prison show.
The execution was very dull, and cliched... so much so that I thought the first half was simply setting up things for some kind of dark twist which never came. When things were hard it was raining, when they were good everything was sunny. I expected more from James Mangold after Copland... but then he did also bring us Identity. He meanders us through the story, broadcasting the drama to us in cliched and obvious ways (on the phone: "Stop cryin', I can hardly hear what your saying!") and then it just comes to a fairly abrupt but not unwelcome end.
14th Mar 2006 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Read more 1.5 star reviewsSnow Report
This post is coming live from B.C, Canada, where chimp75 and marmot are hitting the slopes. Literally in marmot's case. The snow is good and weather is fine, but the crowds over the weekend were way bigger than previous trips... due to it being 'spring break'. The weekend warriors were in full effect.
Things will also hotting up in the natural heated outdoor spa later, followed by some live music in the Kicking Horse Saloon later tonight.
Updates are brought to you courtesty of the coffee shop, which now has wifi and Wilco playing on the stereo.
14th Mar 2006 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
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Panspermia
"There is a small bottle containing a red fluid on a shelf in Sheffield University's microbiology laboratory. The liquid looks cloudy and uninteresting. Yet, if one group of scientists is correct, the phial contains the first samples of extraterrestrial life isolated by researchers."
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Observatory
Panspermia
Fred Hoyle
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6th Mar 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Paris Fashion Column: Sunday
Things are finally winding down in Paris, and there has been very little last minute news to add. Puffa jackets are about as high profile as the Arctic Monkeys - often tight and sometimes using parka elements in the collar. Although they haven't lookedgoodonthedancefloor-sincenineteeneightyfouraah.
The music at this year's show has been a great improvement and although the chimp contingent arrived fatally early to the big party we were given a reprival by hearing them sound check the stereo with Clap Your Hands. However, the French still don't know how to do taxis and their sandwiches suck.
More next season. Allez!
5th Mar 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Loose Fur
Wilco are in the studio and working towards another album this year, but the Tweedy/Kotche/O'Rourke side project Loose Fur have a second album due out March 21st.
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4th Mar 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Paris Fashion Column: Friday
Not much news to report today. More custom All-Stars, with black skulls printed on black canvas this time. Nothing that Vans haven't been doing for years, but with the marketing muscle of their recent Nike takeover they're in a position to make us feel like we invented it personally.
A lot of people are wearing shoes where the toes curl up, which generally seem like they had 4 inch heels that have had 2 inches cut off making them sit back (springs and calipers optional). Almost as bad as hoofs in my book so stay clear.
The same goes for shoes where the heels are wide and flat, and come down from the back of the shoes, rather than the middle of the heel.
There's a cool stand here by a Brazilian shoe designer, that has a panel cut out of it where you can just see 3 pairs of feet. They have models in there, who all re-cross their legs at the same time every few minutes and you just see the shoes and feet...
More and more riding boots are about, but we're still advising that they be by-passed by the discerning buyer.
Last tip seems to be camoflauge prints, but using something unusual to create the print, like the silouette of a butterfly or something. Maybe the shape of a hand grenade. Hmm.
3rd Mar 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Pearl Jam
All-time favourites Pearl Jam are back in action with a new album, free single (for two days) and a world tour. It all starts on March 8th.
Plus, they have a new website, which has started already.
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3rd Mar 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Paris Fashion Column: Wednesday
So far, not much has really surfaced at the top of the fashion pile.
There's a lot of fur around... but not even nice fur. Mostly cheap looking patchwork jackets. Dunno what that's all about.
All-Stars have definitely dropped in popularity, after being the big thing (again) six months ago. The Japanese still seem to be rocking the All-Stars though, with many of them wearing almost patent-leather style, or in some cases metallic red. There's also some shiny puffa jacket action going on, and quite a few day-glo shoes, like boots in shiny yellow or stilettos in shiny bright green.
Footwear generally is all about boots - mostly riding-boot style.
There's a lot of army-surplus style things, although fitted shorts are noted by their absence.
The 'shift' style dress is getting a lot of attention, as it's blowing gently in a breeze and everybody wants to touch it.
Outside tip: Maternity-style dresses on regular ladies. Plus, French hems.
More to come.
2nd Mar 2006 - 3 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Giant Squid
Links
...wraps it's tentacles around London
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28th Feb 2006 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Clap Your Hands Say OK
Links
CYHSY Review
Grizzly Bear Review
Twin Peaks Re-View
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28th Feb 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
That Creep Really Knows How to Roll
Look's like bowling is back in vogue, with a glitzy new lanes in Bloomsbury Place getting passed around as the place to go.
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28th Feb 2006 - 2 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Multi-National
The National's awesome album Alligator has been expanded and re-launched with some of their excellent b-sides and videos, presumably after snagging several top spots in the best-of-2005 lists. Not being ones to rip-off the early adopters however, you can use the UPC code on the original CD to log in and download the 5 bonus tracks and 3 videos.
Plus, they even have an OSX widget.
Plus, they're supporting Editors on a UK tour, then playing their own gig at the Scala on May 31st. (booked. boom.)
Links
Get the music. Get the widget.
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25th Feb 2006 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
After Chopper, it seemed like director Andrew Dominick failed to impress Hollywood, and was probably freelancing on Neighbours. Nope, he was just having meetings in L.A. and waiting until he could line up the right cast and make The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. A film seemingly titled to let people know this is a serious western.
I'm not saying that Chopper wasn't an excellent film, but this is just more evidence that you don't need much of a CV to hook the big fish...
24th Feb 2006 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Michael Jackson Glove
The Michael Jackson single glove is a custom handmade item, each of the stones are individually sewn on, no 2 gloves are identical. Each glove is a unique item in its own right. This particular example is even more unique as it has 3 fastners sewn into the wrist area other than 1 which is normally associated with the glove.
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22nd Feb 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
More Maps
I love maps and I love satellites.
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More Google Highlights
More Google Images
iPod Subway Maps
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22nd Feb 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
The New World
(dir. Terrence Malick)
As the first European settlers land in Virginia and begin to build the Jamestown colony, a native princess (Q'Orianka Kilcher) falls in love with rogueish adventurer - Captain Smith (Colin Farrell). As the two civilizations begin to understand each other, tensions mount and different mentalities drive them apart.
Anybody who has seen Terrence Malick's previous films will have a good idea what to expect here; long, slow shots of nature, extensive use of music to set the pace, disjointed, montage style editing and fairly minimal dialogue. You're either going to like that or you're not - and while I would rate The Thin Red Line as one of my personal favourites, I must admit that this one took me a while to sink into.
The initial tension of the European's arrival was handled well, but it was clear from the start that this film had been reduced in length and scope from what it could have been. Several name actors were spotted, but they often had little dialogue. Or none at all in the case of Ben Chaplin. The romance between Smith and Pocahontas popped up pretty quickly from nowhere, and then he was off. Considering this was only Terrence Mallick's second film in 7 years he could have benefited by giving himself a little extra time and space.
Things paid off nicely later, and the film found it's feet with the introduction of Christian Bale's character John Rolfe. He bridged the gap between the two cultures, and the narrative that developed was undoubtedly built strongly upon the previous scenes.
The contrast between nature and man, and then the almost alien contact between the two worlds of men form the heart of this unconventional film. The mood and atmosphere created in this film is amazing. Forget about convention and what you think you should be seeing and just relax and enjoy the ride.
Apparently the DVD will be 'extended'.
21st Feb 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Read more 3.5 star reviewsGone Darko
Free Donnie Darko DVD with The Sunday Times yesterday. Nice.
Sure, it steals the best bits of the 80's (i.e. the Cobra Kai's skeleton costumes) and re-forms them into a pretentious load of claptrap, but it's still quite entertaining. And it has a great website.
20th Feb 2006 - 2 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Big Shot
Will it never end? Now even Billy Joel is jumping on the musicals bandwagon... although he doesn't have the charismatic sales presence of Robert De Niro to get bums on seats.
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19th Feb 2006 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Brakes
Give Blood
I've been reassessing the Brakes album Give Blood on the back of Clap Your Hands' recent acceptance into chimp rotation. The good news is, I was hasty in dismissing them so early. It's a mixed bag sounding a bit like Pavement, a bit like Galaxie 500 in places, a bit like Clap Your Hands, and even a bit like Operation Ivy - but still retaining something quite English... she was earning 10 grand, p.a.
It's not a heavy concept album, but it is just a bit like a bunch of guys playing fun songs and having a good time.
15th Feb 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Read more 3.5 star reviews
Idle Playboys
Chimp neighbour Dan Keiran was spotted in the Observer recently, debating life without air travel. He's also recommended Michael Smith's book The Giro Playboy, which I've been enjoying as a mid 90's Hoxton version of Generation X.
UPDATE: It seems I was a bit hasty with my 'mid-90's' it's more like 2002. A little late in the game some might say.
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14th Feb 2006 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Houston, We Have A Problem.
Routine chimpomatic surveillance has turned up a weird glitch in Google Earth. Check out the satellite data and you can see that the buildings have different perspectives, heading up and out in un-natural directions.... but you can't see any joins.
13th Feb 2006 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Heroes
We've got a new little gimmick on our front page today. Heroes - mostly from the 80's so far. We'll be adding more as and when.
Enjoy.
UPDATE: Added a load more, not so punk anymore.
10th Feb 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
The National Tour
The National are playing London again on May 31st, at the Scala. Already breaking my no-bands-every-time-they-play resolution.
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10th Feb 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Foo-Tang Clan
Foo Fighters playing in Hyde Park on June 17th, supported by Queens of the Stone Age (Dave Grohl on drums ayone?) and Motorhead.
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10th Feb 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Songs Ahoy!
Jason Molina of Songs:Ohia and Magnolia Electric Company, plus guests
Wednesday April 5
The Luminaire
311 Kilburn High Road
London NW6 7JR
www.theluminaire.co.uk
Details to be found at www.knom.co.uk
Tickets can be bought right now at www.wegottickets.com/event/9064.
8th Feb 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Tie-In
Nice article on 1001 ways to tie your laces over at Sound Theory.
8th Feb 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
The B.O.B. Pollard
GBV's Robert Pollard has a new solo album out - From A Compound Eye. Listen to it all here, or read about it here. If you buy the LP you get a free mp3 version too. Handy.
8th Feb 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Spartan
(dir. David Mamet)
A Secret Service agent (Val Kilmer) is called in to lead the investigation into the inadvertent kidnapping of the President's daughter by white slave traders.
Playing out like a high-brow, super-condensed, 100 minute version of an entire series of 24 (it's not that hard, drop the Presidential sub-plot, Kim Bauer and most of the explanatory dialogue), this super taught thriller from David Mamet was a refreshing take on the action/adventure genre. Val Kilmer makes an enigmatic lead, generally dishing out ("don't make me zero you out") or even totally dispensing with Mamet's snappy dialogue and just getting on with the job at hand. Characters pop up and go with little introduction and we only ever hear what is heard by the men in the field... but that feeling of being on the inside only adds to the immediacy of the situations the Ice Man finds himself in. The riviting pace and atmosphere make this one not to be missed.
"I am dangerous" Grr.
7th Feb 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Read more 4 star reviews
Austin City Limits
It's only in the jackass Real Player format, but there's a sneak peak from My Morning Jacket's upcoming performance on PBS's Austin City Limits here. Love the logo.
6th Feb 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Crockett & Tubbs
Nicely updated, with a bit of Jay-Z smoothing over the cracks, Miami Vice is back in town.
6th Feb 2006 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
The Dream Is Alive
A sneaky firmware update to Apple's Airport Express now allows you to stream music to multiple speakers around you house (at last), or to a set of speakers and the computer's built in set.... a perfect fix for the two-room-party-music-clash-scenario.
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3rd Feb 2006 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
I Have Felt Your Presents
TICKETS FOR THE WEDDING PRESENT
Where: Koko, London
When: THURSDAY, 08/06/2006, doors at 19:30, starts at 19:30 - £18.50 incl fees
31st Jan 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Nam Jun Paik R.I.P.
Fluxus video art legend Nam Jun Paik has died, aged 75.
30th Jan 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Accidental Goes Digital
The Accidental family catalogue has finally reached the Digital domain and can now be downloaded from the following sites:
24/7 | 7 Digital | Aim4Music | ATS Digital | Audio Jelly | Band Wagon | Beatport | Bleep | Click Groove | Dance Tunes | DJ Download | DJ Power | DX3 | eMusic | EUK | Fnac | FRS | iTunes | Juno | Karma | Lyzia | MixAlbum | Music Minutes | Musicnet | Napster | OD2 | Pocket Group | Playlouder | Sony Connect | T Online | Tune Tribe | Universal Music France | Vidzone | VirginMega | Wippit | Xpress Beats
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30th Jan 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
More Flavour
The Hayward's website for the Dan Flavin is great. Check it out.
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30th Jan 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Video Blog
Not sure if the chimpomatic media empire has time to set up one of these, but here's a quick article on video blogging.
27th Jan 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
Flying Cars
People have been spotting all sorts of anomalies on Google Earth, as listed over at The Register. Scroll down to the bottom of the page for a host of related stories.
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Flying Car Backlash
Lancaster Bomber
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26th Jan 2006 - Add Comment - Tweet
The Peel Tapes
Great archive of cassette taped John Peel radio show episodes on this website.
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25th Jan 2006 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Flavour Flavin
Went to see the excellent Dan Flavin exhibition at the Hayward Gallery yesterday. Just a load of strip lights basically, but the moods it creates in the Hayward's amazing spaces is great.
Links
Excellent Flavin Site on Hayward.org.uk
Dia Center
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24th Jan 2006 - 2 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Let's Rock
I still haven't quite grasped this news item, but I like it.
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24th Jan 2006 - 2 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
CYHSY
If it wasn't already sold out I might have considered breaking my own don't-bother-seeing-any-bands-who-haven't-had-3-albums-or-more resolution for February's Clap Your Hands Say Yeah tour. The jury's officially still out on the debut album, but it's looking good once you get past the tedious intro.
21st Jan 2006 - 2 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Scamera
Here's a nice site features photos taken on a camera the guy built from an old scanner. 100 megapixel images apparently.
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19th Jan 2006 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet