"a little subheader quote here."
|
The Ricky Gervais Show - The Complete First Series (2010)
posted on Tuesday, 10 August 2010 @ 11:46 | permalink
 Ricky Gervais has always split my opinion - I wasn't a fan of The Office, although I found Extras slightly more watchable. However, on a long car journey to Birmingham with some friends I discovered the Ricky Gervais Show podcasts. The insanely random conversations that the three of them have remind me of the strange conversations I often have with my friends – wonderfully entertaining yet quintessentially pointless. Following the success of these podcasts, which earned them a spot in the Guinness Book of Records for the most downloaded podcasts, the trio released their ramblings onto the DVD world, coupled with animated characters, which bear a stylistic resemblance to the Flintstones. Seth McFarlane, creator of infamous cartoon comedy Family Guy branded the show ‘the best animation [he has] ever seen’. The show is set in a cartoon recording studio, interjected with illustrations of their ramblings – often abstract, so very much suited to the tone of the show. A particular highlight is the ‘Monkey News’ feature, introduced by cartoon-Gervais pulling his shirt off and turning into a chimpanzee. The real star and centrepoint of the series is the irrepressible chump, yet undeniable genius of a man that is Karl Pilkington. Responsible for much of the insanity and leading many of the rambles, Karl’s animated persona sits at the end of the table, with a slightly bemused and vacant expression on his little cartoon face as Gervais and Merchant mock him senselessly. His train of thought is astounding, with a deadpan serious delivery, and it really makes you wonder what on earth goes on in his perfectly round little head. Although Gervais and Merchant are comedians and a vital part of the proceedings, it is the musings of Pilkington that really steal the show. Unfortunately, the series does not bring new material per se – instead, animation has simply been added to the original podcasts. The Special Features also give little extra – mainly just TV ads and trailers where additional material would have been very welcomed. The show is definitely worth a watch as the animation complements the podcasts brilliantly, but if you’re expecting something entirely new, you’ll be disappointed. Labels: comedy, dvd, ricky gervais show An introduction to...Silent Descent
posted on Friday, 25 June 2010 @ 12:17 | permalink
 Welcome to a brand new section of the blog, where I catch up with the best unsigned and up and coming bands and recommend them to you, dear readers! For the very first feature, I managed to catch up with Silent Descent, an up and coming metal outfit hailing from Dartford, Kent, a band who Metal Hammer magazine praised as 'the trance metal juggernaught the world has been waiting for'. After impressing the crowd at the Download Festival Boardie Takeover for the second year running with their innovative and exciting sound, I managed to ask a few questions! Looking back, how did your Boardie Takeover performance feel? After coming off stage in '09 we all felt that it would be a long time before we ever got to experience something like that again, but this year was bigger and better - it really felt like headlining one of the stages at Download. How did the crowd respond to your set?The crowd were amazing - looking out and seeing people sing along to your songs in such mass is an unreal feeling and seeing them all jump in unity as the songs climaxed was un-frikin-believable. How was you overall weekend at the festival? What were your highlights - musical or otherwise?! We all stuck it to the man whilst watching Rage and our vocalist managed to get back stage for Stone Sour, being Corey Taylor's number 1 fan (and he definitely is) he was ridiculously stoked. How did the band come together? We've been together a good few years now, but all started back in 2004 with our vocalist and guitarist in a shed with paint pots for drums and an Argos Yamaha Pacifica - surely how all good bands start out? Over the years I think we've gone through 40-odd members, so when you say 'band come together' it's been a long old search to find the right people. And what plans do you have for the future? With any luck get signed to a major label and get on tour? In failing that we'll try and win Britain's Got Talent. Finally, is there anything else you'd like to say to the readers of the website and those who attended the takeover? Thanks to everyone that came and saw us and supported us at the Boardie Takeover! It was the maddest gig we've ever played and will hopefully see you all soon if we get touring later this year. To hear more from Silent Descent (and I reccomend you do!), check out the band's Myspace! If you'd like your band featured in this new section, get in contact! Labels: interview, introduction, silent descent Download 2010 - Wellies, Wombling and Wonderfulness - Sunday
posted on Wednesday, 16 June 2010 @ 09:49 | permalink
 Some weird and wonderful people. A less bands-packed day than the previous one, we caught the last song from August Burns Red, Composure, which showcased their unforgivingly heavy style that has transferred them from a small tent to the second stage in the past two years. Switchfoot were next reminiscent of stadium rockers Nickelback. Slowing it down for movie-moment ballad Dare You To Move, they added deeper layers of instrumental to the song giving it a heavier sound, perhaps more appropriate for the Download crowd. Singer Jon Foreman's vocals were brasher and grittier than on record - however, this proved a positive thing as it gave the songs a new kind of depth. Ending on Meant to Live, featured on the SpiderMan 2 soundtrack, the crowd perhaps didn't know much about this band, but seemed to enjoy them nonetheless.  What do you get if you cross Anthrax, Fall Out Boy and Every Time I Die? New 'supergroup' The Damned Things consist of Rob Caggiano (Anthrax), Joe Trohman and Andy Hurley (Fall Out Boy) and Keith Buckley (Every Time I Die) on vocals. A strange mix, but one that seemed to work, with heavy riffs and manic drumming, a far cry from the sugary pop-punk of Joe and Andy's previous band.  One of my favourite flags of the weekend... During Dillinger Escape Plan, the gorgeous weather that had been working overtime turning me the colour of a mahogany dining table gave up, and the heavens opened. Having to head back to my tent for wellies, I managed to miss a fair few bands, including the inimitable Steel Panther, who covered Backstreet Boys track I Want It That Way (expect a post about that soon too!), so the next band I managed to catch were pop-punkers Zebrahead while sheltering in the Pepsi Max tent. Playing catchy and fun songs, even those who had simply ventured in for shelter from the rain were bopping along, and joining in the charming chant of 'MINGE'.  Closing the day's proceedings, and the festival itself, were the legendary Aerosmith. Opening with the classic Love In An Elevator, Steven Tyler gyrated around the stage in tight trousers and sequins. Despite being 62 years old, he had the energy of a 20 year old and a strange kind of sex appeal that I don't quite understand, but there were definitely plenty of ladies hot under the collar - especially when he stripped the sequins to reveal a tight vest. After a stunning rendition of Cryin' that showed Tyler's voice had certainly not diminished with age, Joe Perry took on lead vocals at points and gave the eager crowd 'a lot of blues in a short amount of time'. The lights went down, and some famililar opening strings were heard, and the crowd went crazy for power ballad Don't Wanna Miss A Thing. With lighters and glowsticks in the air, the mass singalong to the song gave me (and probably everyone in the arena) goosebumps. After a short break, their encore featured dramatic and theatrical Dream On, one of my personal highlights of the set, and had Walk This Way had everybody dancing. Thanking us and each other before they left the stage, Aerosmith were easily some of the best headliners I've seen in my 6 years of attending the festival, and more than worth facing the rain and mud for. A massive thanks go to all the people I camped with, met and spent time with this weekend. I love you all! Labels: download, festival, live Download 2010 - Wellies, Wombling and Wonderfulness - Saturday
posted on @ 09:46 | permalink
 Hanging out with two gorgeous ladies before Thursday's Boardie BBQ Up and about earlier than the previous morning, I paid a wonderful visit to the Luxury Loos hair straightening facilities for a very un-festivalish grooming session, before heading for the second day of music. Managing to catch 15 minutes of The Blackout playing an acoustic set at the Jagermeister truck, and despite the band's admission that it was out of their comfort zone, their songs translated well to the stripped-down session. This was cut short by a wander to the Main Stage, where Atreyu were playing early due to a switchover with Flyleaf, who were running late. When performing at the festival a few years ago, the vocal performance was poor, with drummer and clean vocalist Brandon Saller often out of tune. This year however, he showed his talent as a musician by keeping both the vocals and drumming perfectly tight. Combined with frontman Alex Varkatzas providing the more agressive, screaming vocals, the band gave a solid and exciting performance.  Everybody loves a man-train! Comparisons of Flyleaf singer Lacey Mosley are often made to Evanescence's Amy Lee, however Flyleaf blew Evanescence's shaky 2007 performance out of the water today. Mosley could well be one of the best female vocalists in rock, with not only a pitch-perfect voice with incredible range, but also the ability to emit agressive, angsty growls and screams. The rest of the band were energetic and engaging, with one guitarist climbing onto a speaker stack and diving off, all while keeping musically tight with the rest of the band.  Sticking at the main stage, Five Finger Death Punch brought the aggressive metal sound they are known for, with an attitude to match. A band that split the crowd, there were both cheers and boos when their set was cut short due to Ivan Moody inciting crowd mayhem during Dying Breed. Perhaps in a fashion that could be considered arrogant, the band wore their own t-shirts, but arrogance aside, the band's fans seemed satisfied despite the shortened set.  After casually taking in Lamb of God (not a massive fan, but clearly popular with the Download fans), avoiding Megadeth and taking some boys shopping (yep, I didn't even buy anything!), The Blackout gave their fourth performance in just two years. The sextet had a special addition, Kids In Glass Houses drummer Philip Jenkins, and a charming 'Fuck The Blackout' banner which summed up their faux-egotistical yet self deprecating manner perfectly. Singalongs were inevitable and rousing, particularly to the beyond infectiously catchy This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things. The band also gave an instrumental tribute to headliners AC/DC and Rage Against The Machine, as they had done in 2009 with the year's big bands.  Deftones on the main stage were a big draw for the crowd, with their trademark etheral vocal style teamed with heavy riffs and musical backing translating perfectly to the festival setting. Their set proved an excellent opportunity to sit and relax while taking in their unique, melodically intricate songs.  Headlining the Ronnie James Dio Stage were US rock outfit 30 Seconds To Mars, fronted by actor Jared Leto, who sported an outrageous pink mohawk. Theatricality definitely proved a part of their act, with constant guitar swapping and the inability to stand still from Mr. Leto himself. During a few songs, he left it to the crowd to sing along with the choruses of well-known hits such as Attack, perhaps leading to questions on whether he could remember the lyrics he had written himself...luckily, the fans seemed to know what they were doing! As well as filming for their new video, and a Happy Birthday singalong to a friend, the band were joined by a special guest for breakthrough hit The Kill, Deftones' Chino Moreno, whose vocal complimented the chorus perfectly. For the finale, Leto invited fans to 'come on stage' (yes, I laughed. Quite a lot) and sing along to perfect summer anthem Kings and Queens - and plenty took him up on this offer, making the performance one to remember for plenty of them - and a stunning ending to a stellar day of music. Labels: download, festival, live Download 2010 - Wellies, Wombling and Wonderfulness - Friday
posted on @ 09:34 | permalink
 All aboard the shuttle bus! All over the web, there are probably plenty of blogs cropping up about the weekend - and plenty of pictures. So I've decided to illustrate mine with a personal touch. Instead of professional looking pictures of the acts, expect to see shots of what really made my weekend - the people, the moments, the things that made the weekend truly memorable, accompanied by little anecdotes from the weekend. They're likely to be posted on the wrong days, as they cover the Wednesday and Thursday too, but hopefully they'll give you all an insight into how it's so much more than the bands that truly made it a fantastic weekend. 36 Crazyfists were on their usual excellent metalcore form, despite below par sound quality, and the personal peeve that their best known track, Slit Wrist Theory, was played at a faster speed - something which seems to often happen at their festival performances. They also showcased new tracks from their upcoming release, however it was clearly the oldies that had the afternoon moshpit fiends working overtime.  After a run (well, a leisurely stroll via the hog roast stand!) over to the second stage, this year named the Ronnie James Dio stage as a tribute to the fallen metal superstar, A Day To Remember played a storming set. Two years ago, the Florida clan were playing to a small but devoted crowd, but this year presented a huge mass of bodies extending back into the space, showing how far these guys have come in such a relatively short time. During their set, it's easy to see why, as their mix of catchy tunes and crunching breakdowns had the crowd singing, stomping and causing a riot.  Chilling with boardies at the Download Forums Boardie BBQ. And yes, that gorgeous vision in shocking pink is my boyfriend. Back to the main stage, Killswitch Engage (replacing Wolfmother, who were forced to pull out due to illness) showed exactly why they are considered a Download favourite. Despite yet more problems with the sound, a seemingly running problem, the crowd's voices were in full force for their closing track, their cover of Dio's Holy Diver, not unusual as a closer, but this year, it felt understandably more poignant.  When it comes to supergroups, Them Crooked Vultures hold some of the rock world's most prestigious stars, drummer Dave Grohl, . However, their set was middle of the road, relatively dull and certainly didn't put the 'super' in supergroup. A newish conception with just one album to their name, most of the punters seemed to know exactly WHO they were, but when it came to what they were playing, it was a different story. The set did serve as a nice opportunity for a few to indulge in a nap though, before the evenings headliners...  Now, I'm torn on AC/DC. Before discussing the set, lets look into their appearance with regards to Download Festival itself. Their name was missing from merchandise, they didn't appear on the lanyard or programme, and it generally felt as if they were playing a gig at Donington Park, that happened to coincide with the festival. Fair enough, the band are a massive coup for the organisers to book, especially as they vowed never to play a festival, but many seemed to feel the band were snubbing the festival. Controversy aside, the band blew the majority of the festival punters away. Issues with vocals and a ridiculously long solo were thrown aside as the band blasted out their biggest hits, sending the crowd wild to Back In Black, You Shook Me All Night Long and the other songs that have made a massive impact on the history of rock music. The stage show was as epic as expected, with a large train and blow up doll - 'Rosie' to those who know a bit about the band. As someone who's not a massive AC/DC fan, I probably didn't appreciate it all as much as the die-hards, and disagree with their snubbing of the festival. Despite this, they managed to impress me and entertain, giving a performance that could easily be remembered as legendary. Labels: download, festival, live The Kraken Wakes...or does it?
posted on Wednesday, 26 May 2010 @ 06:51 | permalink
 However, today I paid The Kraken (the Krak?) my first visit, after handing in a lengthy piece of coursework and fancying a bite to eat and a quick drink. Upon entering, my first obervation was just how dead the place was - granted, The Reg wasn't often bursting at the seams with bodies at 12.20pm, but it was often populated with students having a mid-day chat over a cheap burger. The new decor is, quite frankly, overdone and fussy and the music playing in the background was some dull minimalist sounds that sounded like the worst kind of elevator music. We decided to ignore this negative start and check out the food menu. £4.95 for a burger, seems like a good deal. However, when said burger comes with no bun, no chips....basically, a meat patty with a little bit of rabbit food on the side. Anything else was around the £7-£7.50 mark...for a burger and chips. Not including a drink. Ridiculous. It's a pub in a student area, not a restaurant. When a beer and burger can be purchased at nearby pubs such as The Fleet (which seems to have taken on a lot of the 'old Reg crowd') and Wetherspoons for under a fiver, it's a wonder this place sells anything... Now, I know I haven't been there on a busy night, and all the fanboys and girls will bleat on about the 'atmosphere being amazing, you can't get that in the day!', but I also picked up a programme of events happening throughout April/May. With the exception of an oddly out of place metal night and Southsea Mafia live band/DJ night Awesome Noise (the only reason I'd visit this pub again), all the music events seem to gravitate towards indie/trendy types - the old days of hearing all sorts played through the jukebox is long gone. Previous DJs played alternative and rock - but clearly the venue's preferred clientele has changed radically. I wanted to like it, I really did. The building itself is gorgeous, and in a brilliant location. Perhaps I'm just not enough of a hipster, as overall, the Kraken Wakes reminds me of some pretentious indie bar in a 'trendy' central London borough. However. We are not in Soho, but a heavily student populated area of Portsmouth. Like many I loved the Reg, but this is not complaining for the sake of complaining. I'm not adverse to change - if the place had been somewhere more welcoming and relevant to student budget, then perhaps I would have discovered a new favourite haunt. Verdict? Dear Kraken, go back to sleep. Not much love, Milly. Labels: kraken wakes, portsmouth, pub The Stepfather (McCormick, 2009)
posted on Thursday, 6 May 2010 @ 03:44 | permalink
 In contrast to the truckloads of identikit slasher flicks bombarding our screens, The Stepfather gives a real sense of suspense building - reminiscent of 2007's Disturbia (Caruso). The premise behind the film plays on the belief that one's home is a place of safety, and the fact that this safe haven can be infiltrated by a killer is extremely unsettling. Incidentally, the film is based upon the true story of John List, who killed his family then disappeared - we discover 'David' has done this on multiple occasions, in his bid to find a family who don't 'disappoint' him. Another difference to the common slasher movie, which are often ambiguous of the killer's identity, is that we know from the outset that 'David' is a killer - thanks to a particularly disturbing scene in which 'David', at the time going by the name Grady Edwards, prepares to leave his current residence. As he casually makes coffee and toast to the perfectly chosen sounds of Silent Night, the camera slowly tilts to a shot of a young boy sat at the kitchen table...a normal family scene...except that the boy is dead. The film's attention to small details, such as 'David' rearranging the children's toys before he leaves reinforces his psychotic persona. Walsh plays the 'evil stepfather' perfectly, showing a happy, family man mask when he is interacting with the Hardings, but (with particular credit to the cinematography), when he turns away we see his face mutate into the monster he truly is. The opening revelation creates a high dramatic tension - we see the entire family (except Michael, that is) taken in by this stranger - and from this, we notice his little slips. The fine subtleties in his facial expressions and the build up of his anger and sociopathic nature creates a powerful tension. The Stepfather is a truly disturbing movie - and McCormick, although having only one other feature film to his name (although extensive work in television), seems to have a knack for creating a movie that is suspenseful, disturbing, and actually genuinely scary - without resorting to blood, gore or cheap thrills. Labels: 2009, film, review, The Stepfather The Pretty Reckless - Make Me Wanna Die
posted on Wednesday, 28 April 2010 @ 09:40 | permalink
 Make Me Wanna Die, featured in the box-office smash superhero flick Kick-Ass, follows the very tried 'grrl-rock' path, however Momsen's vocals are more memorable than many offerings seen in the past. The vocal delivery seems less Avril Lavigne, teen queen of whiny chick-rock in her heyday, but more of a homage to the likes of Courtney Love and Juliette Lewis. Most of the buzz surrounding the band has centred upon Momsen herself and not the music, however one of the track's strongest points is its crunching, dark riffs, not quite a million miles from the likes of old-school grunge. It's hard not to be impressed when you find out that Momsen is just 16 years old - with a successful acting and modelling career under her belt, and this track looking to be a success in the US and beyond, with an album due for release in September. Unfortunately her career away from the music world is a potential pitfall - can people really believe in her angst? This aside, Make Me Wanna Die is, overall, a suitable and competent offering, however with the grass roots talent displayed, the band have all the potential to really make incredible music. Labels: music, single, the pretty reckless Fake-Up: The Con of Counterfeit Cosmetics
posted on Monday, 26 April 2010 @ 07:48 | permalink
Apologies for the lack of content, I've been busy with a Phil invasion, lots of Uni work and a lovely trip to London. New new content coming soon, including a film review, however, for now here's something recently published in Pugwash News...I recently decided, after excellent reviews from friends and a trial of some myself, to treat myself to a new eyeliner, in particular, a MAC Fluidline gel liner. Officially priced on the website at £12.50, I was excited to find one on Ebay priced at just £10, with free postage and packing – being a skint student, that saving of £2.50 meant an extra drink on a night out – fantastic! Fast-forward to a few days later, a parcel was stuffed through my door, which was of course instantly ripped open to reveal the eyeliner I’d been lusting after since testing it out. I applied it straightaway, even though I was going nowhere and my plans involved sitting around the house all day. But unlike my previous experience of the liner, 10 minutes after the application, I resembled a hybrid mutation of a panda bear and the result of ten rounds with Mike Tyson (this may be exaggerated slightly. But you get my point.). Disappointed, I remembered hearing about fake cosmetics beforehand – when making my purchase, I looked for obvious examples of counterfeiting, such as the MAC logo on the box. Logging onto the internet to find out more, I stumbled upon a plethora of sites with information about how to spot fake cosmetics, particularly on Ebay. The problem with buying from auction sites such as Ebay, or unofficial internet stockists, is the product not being in front of you – so any opportunities to check for the more subtle signs of fakery before you make your purchase are limited. And the downsides of these counterfeits can be more serious than panda eyes-unlike the real thing, some of these products will be peddled untested – so who knows what they could do to our faces...not to mention the detrimental impact they cause against legitimate manufacturers and the beauty industry itself. My advice? Go to the source and buy from the official stockist – it may well involve paying more, but you’re guaranteed the quality that comes from the real deal. And as for my experience, I received a message from Ebay informing me that the auction had been declared to be breaking Ebay rules, and I’m hoping a refund will be on its way - £10 which will go towards the purchase of a genuine Fluidline! UPDATE: After this article was submitted, I recieved my refund, and didn't even have to send back the fake product, and went out and got myself the real thing. And was not disappointed! Perhaps I'll review it...haha. 30 Seconds To Mars - Bad Romance
posted on Tuesday, 6 April 2010 @ 21:20 | permalink
Already winning the poll for the Radio 1 Ultimate Live Lounge Cover with their radical reworking of Kanye West's Stronger, 30 Seconds to Mars have been in the Live Lounge again, this time choosing Lady Gaga's Bad Romance. Changing the tone of the song to produce a more melancholy and sinister sound than the original, they once again create a unique and exciting take on an already-popular song.Labels: 30 seconds to mars, live lounge |