Tuesday 21 September 2010

Down Is The New Up - A Review of In Rainbows



Let me start this off by informing you that from now on, whenever I review an album, I'm going to put it in a post on its own, instead of quickly moving onto Scott Pilgrim for the 900th time. I told you, I'm not mentioning it again. You just need to see it for yourself, without any more hassling from me. You don't need it.

And yes, before you say "Oi! In Rainbows was out ages ago!", I am aware of this, but I never gave it a proper listen until this week. I wasn't the person I am today then (musically, I mean, I'm not the Messiah or anything), so when In Rainbows was released, I thought "cool, you can pay what you like for it," and went about my daily business as normal. Which I'm sure consisted of playing the Xbox and doing fuck-all else, since I was at school. And I hated school.

Radiohead, are one of those bands of mine that I'll never stop listening to, even as my musical taste shifts from genre to genre, as it's well-known for doing.

Quick List:

Radiohead
U2
Arcade Fire
LCD Soundsystem
Daft Punk
The Smiths
The Beatles
Metallica
Pearl Jam
Queens of the Stone Age
Bruce Springsteen
and Vampire Weekend.

Basically, what I'm also trying to say, is that from a band that released such AMAZING albums as OK Computer and The Bends, I think that In Rainbows is even better. While albums can be perfectly fine sticking to the same type of sound for every track, In Rainbows has it all. It's taken a massive departure from the synth-laden sounds of Kid A, which I still loved, but it's such a sign that Radiohead's a band that don't just stick, they change their sound, which makes each album fresh, as though you're not just listening to spare songs that didn't make it on the album before.

Sure, the album has its weak points, very few don't - I'll leave you to find out for yourself, leave a comment with suggestions - Nude is the only song which is still pretty good (that most new bands would still probably kill to have written themselves), but something about it didn't sit right with me. That it was one of the singles was disappointing, I would have maybe preferred All I Need, or Down is the New Up, which is actually the finest bonus track I have ever heard, but then again, All I Need would not sell well at all on its own. Bangers and Mash, another bonus track, is probably not in the running order for a good reason. It just sounds a bit too... and it pains me to say this... shite?

That was difficult to do. Let me compose myself for a bit.

All better. Now, TO THE BEST SONG OF THE ALBUM!

...here it is. I present the video of Jigsaw Falling Into Place. Remember the chest rig thing I thought of for Henry Sugar? Yeah, well, it's like the helmet things in the video, but not focusing on their faces. Enjoy!



You're welcome. But before I go, one song deserves a special mention. You almost certainly will find this next paragraph in some way weird. Videotape, the final track, is one of the very few songs that has made me shed a tear. And no, I don't care if you find that funny. Just Thom Yorke and a piano, that's all it takes. I fell asleep to this song last night, and I can tell you it's the best sleep I ever had. You may not feel the same way about it as I do, but I'll say this now. Whatever you may think of the guy as a person, ignore that. Listen to the greatest singer of all time. Better than Buckley.



Darren out, saying this is my way of saying goodbye, 'cause I can't do it face to face.

Sunday 19 September 2010

Scott Pilgrim: The Final Post

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Domestic (USA) Opening Weekend:$10,609,795
Domestic (USA) Total: $30,645,535
Worldwide Total: $41,845,535
Production Budget (After Tax Rebates): $60,000,000

Seriously, has the world gone absolutely crackers? Do I really live in a world where New fucking Moon makes more money in ONE DAY than Scott Pilgrim does in just under a month? (For the record, NM made over $72m in its opening day in the US) I could break down. But what would that solve?

Even though SP was, in my opinion, very well-marketed (you saw each Evil Ex staring down at you for weeks at Cineworld, and with magazine ads and bus-stop posters galore) it's just not made the money that had been expected. Even Universal Pictures called its opening performance "disappointing." I don't know whether it's down to people streaming/downloading it online, ticket prices these days... actually, that's no excuse, people will pay upwards of a tenner to see Resident fucking Evil in 3D, and the fact it opened at No. 1 in the US box office kinda testifies to that, while Scott Pilgrim, at the time of writing, was barely in the top 30. Hopefully it might claw some more money back when it gets released on DVD.

Jesus, the public annoys me sometimes. It's just such a shame that it's very possible that one day, originality and real talent is going to get pushed to the wayside, just because it's not a sure thing. You may as well just show Roland Emmerich and Michael Bay blowing up different world landmarks, while Megan Fox plays with herself in the foreground for an hour and a half. That's what the world might end up coming to.

Also, the fact that the Con-Dem government has abolished the UK Film Council, as a result of George Osborne going all John Rambo on the government's spending, now makes it more difficult to get funding for independent films. Yes, there's going to be other options available, but look at some of the amazing films they've helped finance in the last few years. Goodbye Lenin, In The Loop and This Is England, among others, might not have even been produced to that standard, if at all, were it not for the UKFC. And now it's gone.

It actually makes me want to give up on Henry Sugar, because, and yes, I know theres was a risk anyway, but there's an even bigger chance now that the thing I've worked on for so long might never be made the way I want it to, because it'll be so difficult to get proper funding. You never know, things might change, but it just worries me sometimes. Unnecessarily, sure, it's not the end of the world, but when I want a career in the media more than anything, it's harrowing to see funding for projects cut left right and centre, it really is. At least I rewrote my opening credit sequence yesterday, and I love what I've done. That does give me some form of a boost, I guess.

Sorry for possibly bumming you out, but it's the truth. The British film industry is hardly fit to compete with Hollywood as it is, and getting rid of one of the major sources of funding for independent productions is going to make it even worse.

Darren out, saying the last one to leave, turn off the light on your way out.

Thursday 16 September 2010

Time Flies, When You're Having Fun...

Here's a picture of Weezer's latest album, Hurley.


And here's my review of Weezer's latest album, Hurley.

Firstly, Rivers sings Viva La Vida better than Chris Martin does. This is a bonus track on the Deluxe Edition, so you should get that, but as far as I'm aware, HMV only stocked that version, so it's all good, baby! I'm losing interest in Coldplay, now that I've heard a better version of their best song (Yellow's still up there, but for other reasons.)

Just like Raditude, which admittedly I didn't listen to more than once, there's been some outside help in writing a couple of the songs. Mac Davis, who once wrote a song for Elvis (it's bound to interest someone, I suppose. I should actually make this clear. I really don't like Elvis in the slightest. His acting makes me want to vomit.) co-wrote Time Flies, arguably the best song on the album that doesn't feature Michael Cera on it. It's very different from the Weezer of old, with more of an acoustic focus, but with some catchy drumming for good measure.

Hang On, the best track on the album, features Scott Pilgrim himself, Michael Cera on mandolin and backing vocals. To be clear, this isn't why I love the song, but the chorus is nice and catchy, and a welcome addition to my FEELGOOD PLAYLIST. Rivers sings especially well on this one, and the presence of the mandolin is a welcome one. Don't take my word for it, give it a listen. You've no excuse, it's on Spotify. I'm not going to sit and go through every song in the album (there's 14) and say how awesome they are, because that would take ages.

It's not The Suburbs, but Weezer's Hurley is certainly one of my albums of the year. It's also a timely reminder of just how good a band they are, and gave me the perfect excuse to delve into the back catalogue, with the Blue Album in particular. Listen to My Name is Jonas and Buddy Holly, and try telling me they're not good songs. I dares ya!

And folks, by the time I make my next post, I should be a member of Air3, Stirling Uni's student radio station. Now this isn't to say I'll be on a show (I haven't decided yet,) but I definitely want to be part of it in some capacity. It sounds epic, plus I've still got that 10-point plan to fulfil!

Darren out, saying thanks for all you've shown us, this is how we feel...

Wednesday 8 September 2010

It's In The Water, It's Where You Came From...

Wow, I am VERY impressed. If Radioactive, Kings Of Leon's latest single, from Come Around Sundown, is a sign of things to come, then this album may just be the one to beat Aha Shake Heartbreak as their finest work. It's probably one of the only songs which I find the choir section at the end to actually improve the song, and not just fit some Cowell-esque trend. After Only By The Night, I was concerned they would dilute their sound further, and basically try to repeat the success of Sex on Fire, but they might not need to. Apparently they've had the song written for years, but never put it onto another album. I'm glad.

And this is my second post of the day, and it's not ever 4:00! This is quite cool, I'm feeling very good today. Upon buying Kick-Ass on Blu-ray in HMV, I was pleased to discover that it's god an extract from the script in it, which should prove very helpful in getting the layout right for Henry Sugar.

Ah, I should be in moods like this more often.

Anyway, before I forget, here's that all important video...



Darren out, saying just drink the water where you came from...

And The World We See, Belongs To You And Me...



Y'all must watch This Is England '86. I'm not just saying that because I'm a massive Shane Meadows fan, but because the episode was extremely well written, the cast is all back, even Combo (admittedly only for 5 minutes at the start,) but it's a welcome return to the TIE story, and hopefully the other three parts are just as good. Shane Meadows is only directing two, with another guy (whose name slips my mind,) doing the other two.

The whole episode's on 4OD, so off you go, after you finish reading this, of course.



And this is probably one of the best songs in the entire soundtrack to the Scott Pilgrim game. Fantastic stuff. In fact, pretty much the whole thing is amazing, it fits in with the game so well. And no, I probably won't ever shut up about how amazing Scott Pilgrim is. I'm just so annoyed by the fact it's made something like $35million, when its budget was closer to $80million. Not cool.

Also, I wasn't really impressed by my last post, something about it felt a bit crap, which is why I've written this one so soon.

And in music news, last night saw The XX win the Mercury Prize. And I'm pissed off by it. That's twice in a row that a shite album has been picked. Speech Debelle won last year, what's she done since? And sure, the NME's been singing the xx's praises for months, but as you may well know, I don't care. Paul Weller, Mumford and Sons (my personal favourite), and Biffy Clyro were all equally deserving winners. Yet they lost to three arseholes in skinny jeans. I despair for the British industry, I really to. When Mumford and Sons lose to a walking Topman advert, you know something's not right. I'm not happy about this at all.

But to cheer myself up a bit, I'm buying Kick-Ass this afternoon! Yay!

Darren out, saying let me see, let me know, let me see the world...

Listening To: Doves - Andalucia / Mumford & Sons - The Cave / Metric - Monster Hospital

Tuesday 7 September 2010

Hello, Again, Friend Of A Friend...



This is Metric. They are awesome. If memory serves, with pretty much the exception of Alanis Morrisette or Yeah Yeah Yeahs, they're pretty much my favourite artist/band with a female singer. Sure, there's the odd song by others, but I've never really felt strongly about many bands with female singers. Mostly it's because some of them just suck, take Florence & The Machine and Paramore, for example, or because some tried to copy bands like Nirvana in the 90s, sing about feeling sad and lonely without having any real musical ability. I think of it as shite punk. Don't get me wrong, I'm not discriminating in the slightest, but aside from Nirvana, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam, not very much good came from the whole grunge movement, and many girl bands were just riding on their coat-tails. The introduction of the Spice Girls, and the oncoming flood of manufactured pop, didn't help either.

Metric, on the other hand, are fantastic. If you've played FIFA 10, or seen Zombieland, you'll have heard them, as Gold Guns Girls is on both. And if you've seen Scott Pilgrim vs the World, which you bloody should have by now, then when The Clash At Demonhead performs, that's actually Metric playing.

Overall, they're just a very good band.

That was it, really, just to let you know that Metric are well worth a few minutes of your time. Next time they play in Glasgow/Edinburgh, I'll be there.

Darren out, saying our common goal was waiting for the world to end!

Listening To: Metric - Black Sheep

If You Were The Inventors Of Facebook, You'd Have Invented Facebook.

I have a theory. And many short film ideas. And a new phone. And Brandon Flowers' debut album is horrific. And my blog is apparently read in quite a few countries across the world. But I'll tackle these subjects, and more, one at a time, instead of overloading you all with information.

First, my theory. Basically, there's some kind of supernatural force that's stopping me from getting any further on Henry Sugar. Whenever I get a good train of thought going lately, I come up with other short film ideas, and by the time I write them down, I lose track of what I was doing on Henry Sugar. Yes, you could say I get distracted too easily, but that's the thing. I like having distractions, they help my creative process, if you can call it that. For example, designing a chest rig for someone to wear (so you can see the person when they move) had made me totally forget the scene in a casino that I was writing. Grr.


Sorry, but you'll need to turn your head to see this very basic sketch, which might make the idea a bit more clear.

Yeah, so I have a new phone, yay!

Also, a word of warning. Don't think of buying Brandon Flowers' solo album, Flamingo. It's horrific. It's like a lame version of Sam's Town. Just listen to that instead. At a push, download Crossfire, but ignore the rest. Jesus, it's dire.

Last night, I've also applied to a couple of work placements at the BBC, one of them being TV and radio production in Glasgow, and the other being to work at BBC Films in London, which would be awesome, on so many levels...

Also, looking at the page view counts, it turns out that there's a lot of people from pretty far off places reading this. If you like, drop me an email! (dhunter91@gmail.com). Cool.

And on another note, I can't wait until The Social Network, the film about the founding of Facebook, comes out, and here's the trailer, with a fantastic choral version of Radiohead's "Creep:"



Andrew Garfield (The new Spider-Man,) Jesse Eisenberg (Adventure/Zombieland) are in it, and Justin Timberlake might be surprisingly good for a change! It's directed by David Fincher, so it's certainly got the talent behind it. I'm very much looking forward to this, so much so, that I bought The Accidental Billionaires, the book on which the film's based.

Darren out, saying a million dollars is cool. You know what's cool? A billion dollars.

Listening To: The Scott Pilgrim soundtracks (game and film), OBVIOUSLY.

Thursday 2 September 2010

Ah, The Internet.

This is a small collection of things that make me thank Science that Tim Berners-Lee came up with the World Wide Web...



The funniest (and cutest) fail. EVER.



This one's technically from a TV show (30 Rock, one of the best ever,) but the full version's been posted online. "Boys becoming men, men becoming wolves!"



This one's more cute as all hell than anything else, but it's worth posting to brighten your day for about 20 seconds or so. Until you view it about another 150 times...



And finally, this one will haunt your dreams forever. I'm sorry.



And in incredibly puzzling, yet hilarious news, my blog has 3 views in the Ivory Coast, 2 in Russia 7 in Canada, 35 in Denmark, nearly 250 in the USA, and 1 in Latvia! It's weird, but I like it. If i find any more views from further afield, I'll let you know! xxxxxxx

Darren out, saying women are lovely, I use them to have sex, oh. (Please watch the first video to get the joke, I'm not just some rampant misogynist. I love you, Kirstie.)