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Wednesday, 17 March 2010 |
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Life on Earth  Andy Croft (Paul Weller’s keyboard player) and Chris Ketley (The Rakes) have put together 12 very soulful classic English sounding pop songs. Very 60’s sounding “Don’t go Changin” starts the album in a style that stays throughout. All of the great influences are here, The Beatles, The Who, Weller, etc. This is what the Kaiser Chiefs have been dying to sound like from the very beginning but just never got it right. From the first note on the CD I knew that it would be a joyful ride and I’m pleased to tell you I was right. It really is worth a listen. Stand out track for me is The Doors sounding “Torn Between Two” pure class. 
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Wednesday, 17 March 2010 |
The Defamation of Strickland Banks  What ever this guy touches it turns to gold, whether it be acting alongside Michael Caine, rapping or singing his soul out. Which is pretty much what his doing on the new CD. It’s got to be one of the most exciting albums I’ve heard in a while. Each song is pure class. Coming from a guy who only four years ago gave us an album that once you had listened to it, you might have been scared to walk the streets, now gives us an album that would pull on your heart strings…
The style of his song writing is brilliant. From the opener “Love Goes Down” to the last track “What You Gonna do” he doesn’t put a foot wrong. If this is not a massive summer album I will eat my hat. Stand out tracks for me. “Writing’s on the Wall”, “Welcome to Hell” and “Hard Times”.
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Black Rebel Motorcycle Club |
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Wednesday, 17 March 2010 |
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Beat The Devil’s Tattoo
 I really feel that BRMC have lost their way. The first album was outstanding as was the second one but then it started to go wrong. In band fighting etc. It’s a shame because there was a time I thought they really were going to be the next big thing. Then Kasabian and now Detroit social Club have come along and stolen their thunder. I’m not saying this is a bad album just that it’s okay. It has not really moved along at all. The same dark Rock n Roll feel to it, but others do it better. “Beat The Devil’s Tattoo” really does move but just not enough. I’m really gutted not to be able to give a better review really. If you like BRMC then buy it, if it’s the first time head for the first album. (“Sweet Feeling” is worth a listen) 
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Corn Exchange 19th Feb 2010 |
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Wednesday, 17 March 2010 |
The Maccabees, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Big Pink and The Drums: Cambridge Corn Exchange 19th Feb 2010  Unfortunately I missed The Drums I heard them as I was trying to get in but hey these things happen. I’m sure I will catch them again. It’s a shame I can’t tell you I missed The Big Pink… I was really looking forward to seeing them, but found myself very bored after about ten minutes. Next up was Bombay Bicycle Club, opening song “Emergency Contraception Blues” started the set off very well, followed by the crowd pleaser “Magnet” the very catchy “Open House” was next the biggest cheer of the night so far came with the opening note of “ Always Like This” this was a really strong set. Next up where The Maccabees, having heard very good things about their live set, I waited to be blown away. I’m pleased to say I was, from the opening “William Powers” the crowd sang every word with them. The band were very tight as well. I feel they done it the right way as well just building up and up into a soon to be very big band. The set was mostly “Wall of Arms” tracks but that didn’t seem to be a problem with the adoring followers. “No Kind Words” really stood out for me tonight. You can say I’ve become a fan. The Drums: Missed Them The Big Pink:  Bombay Bicycle The Maccabees:  |
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The Princess and the Frog |
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Monday, 08 March 2010 |
Cinema
Directed by Ron Clements & John Musker
It is always a pleasure to see a Disney cartoon that really works and in fact takes you back to the good old days of Jungle Book and Lady and the Tramp etc, so why is this? I would cite three reasons, the studio has returned to the old format of hand drawing the characters rather than digital thus reverting back to the tried and tested.
Secondly, it has a really good script with wonderful characters including a jazz playing trumpeter, who’s an alligator, called Louis and his pal a Creole speaking firefly. Third it has a great musical score by Rand Newman.
Set in New Orleans in the jazz age, the tale is about a young lady who wants to own her place. A special restaurant, she and a real prince get turned into frogs and cross paths with evil before all is resolved.
Do let your kids drag you to see it, you won’t regret it.
4 stars
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Monday, 08 March 2010 |
Cinema
Directed by Joe Johnston
When I think of films like this my memory drums up black and white images, in what we used to call ‘BUG HUTCHES’ which were tiny cinemas only fit for fleas and bugs. Us post war lads in bombed site London would laugh and thrill to the antics of Bela Lugosi or Lon Chaney in these places.
So this latest revival of the genre, starring Benicio Del Toro as the hairy one howling at the moon is a little amusing. However, there are those of you out there who may think otherwise.
Beset with problems from the get go – one director left and another came in, Del Toro is a Victorian gent who comes to the eerie house which is close by to gypsy folk and low and behold he gets the curse and the dodgy hairstyle to match.
Detective Abberline (Hugo Weaving) and ‘Sigmund Freud’ (Antony Sher) have a hammy old time trying to catch the hairy one. Its ok, but not a classic like the 1941 movie it emulates.
2 stars |
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