Monday, August 25, 2008

Top 5 @ 5 - Monday August 25th 2008

Well let's go an all girls top 5 this week after the sensational Broad:

1. Elana Stone - The Pirate Song
2. Laura Jean - Yellow Moon
3. Stephanie McKay - Jackson Ave
4. Holly Throsby - A Heart Divided
5. The Grates - Carve Your Name

There is too many talented girls out there at present so get amongst it!

A Night at the Opera House: Broad

OMG!

That could be the entire review, this annual event is simply terrific, I so need to go next year!

This year featured a very diverse range of women:

Laura Jean - The beautiful Gosford girl (now calling Melbourne home) really put on a stunning show, her haunting new single "Yellow Moon" is simply amazing, it almost makes me cry, her voice is like an angel. Her old favourite "I'm a Rabbit, I'm a Fox" was simply sublime.

Elana Stone - OMG, my new favourite artist! This girl has a lovely set of lungs, her first song "The Pirate Song" was Jazz at it's best! She has a simply beautiful voice, beautiful persona and lovely dress sense, this girl is a marketing dreamboat! She is also sister of Jake Stone from Sydney's Bluejuice. Definitely can expect big things from this little pocket rocket! Especially now she is working with her brother (could this be the next George or Angus & Julia Stone!)

Deborah Conway - Props for organising this, she is a true wonder for bringing this fantastic artists together for one amazing night, I can take or leave her music though.

Liz Stringer - OMG, loving this blues and rootsy babe from the country! Great voice, funny and could well be the next big lesbian icon! They all loved her!

Dianna Corcoran - A lovely country find, who sung a song that nearly brought me to tears (NEARLY!).

This night out rates a BIG 5 stars!

Film Freak: Taken

Well this is one hell of a ride! Liam Neeson is quite good in the hero role of the film and the story is quite disturbing at the best of times.

The idea of the film is people smuggling through Europe. Now this is not a new topic and especially when it links to hookers & sex trade workers.

Their is an Australian film called "Jammed" that did this topic much better, but the whole action part of this movie is fairly flawless.

Ava Moore (or whatever her non-Nip/Tuck name is) is a great mother and is only getting hotter with age! From playing a five star tranny to a soccer mom this woman has it all.

This film was exciting from the start and moved fairly seamlessly across the globe and through it's terrific action scenes.

Taken rates 4 kidnapped stars.

Shit Before The Get Go (Panic @ The Disco)

Well it's a wet,cold and miserable Friday night in Sydney and even further out (way out) at ACER Arena it's bitterly cold and vile. That lead in very well to the kind of creatures at the Panic at the Disco (half full) event.

I like to call Panic at the Disco (Penis stuck in a car window - say it out allowed and it rhythms), now I must say the lead singer has a good voice but the songs are so forgettable I left empty. My ears were also bleeding from all the 12 year olds screaming near me.

I can't believe a band like this attracts 12 year girls who stink of BO and periods.

Let's just say Panic at the Disco's first album was much better than their dreadful second attempt (Pretty Odd).

I must say this definitely wasn't the gig of the year but it was mildly enjoyable, 1 star.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Film Freak: Pineapple Express

Well well well, another stoner flick and another flick from the guys who brought you Knocked Up, Forgetting Sarah Marshall,Super Bad & the list goes on....

This one stars Knocked Up star Seth Rogen and the dreamy James Franco (oh James!) in a stoner flick where weed should be allowed in the cinema.

This film is a lot more violent than there other films but follows the same formula, it is good, but could be a lot better!

James Franco is a nice fresh addition to these films with his cute looks and hot body allow even during the boring bits you mind to (as mine is now!).

This film could be great but it never quite reaches it's peak, the Pineapple Express rates a baked 2 and half stars, oh and did I mention the weird start to this film?

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Top 5 @ 5 - Sunday August 17th 2008

Click on the pic below relating to the first and I wish final week of the Olympics, it's a classic!

Now my top 5 this week is a little different than usual, I am looking at the top 5 acts playing this years sensational Homebake (Tickets on sale tomorrow bitches) line-up:

1. Pnau
2. Cut Copy
3. Pegz
4. Bliss N Eso
5. The Vines

Top 5 I wish were playing at the Domain in December:

1. The Grates
2. Melissa (from E-Street)
3. Paul Mac (gotta love him)
4. The Presets (I love you Kim & Julian!)
5. Empire of the Sun (come on Nick Littlemore is already on the bill with PNAU!)

I just hope Vanessa Amorosi just doesn't join the bill, man she makes my ears bleed!

Film Freak: The Strangers

Well what can I say, well much about nothing comes to mind.

The reviews for this film have been mostly positive, and yes Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman do the horror thing very well, however, they don't have to do much, as not much happens.

The suspense is keep well the whole movie, by use of mood music and a creepy soundtrack, featuring the equally freaky Joanna Newsome.

There is not too much gore in this film which also gets my thumbs up as too many recent horror movies believe gore is the key too horror, but guess what, that's not true! See my previous review of the Orphanage for reference to this.

Gemma Ward (Australian model and connected to Heath Ledger) plays one of the strangers who are masked at virtually nearly all times.

The ending is rather ordinary however this movie (as it's based on true events) does scare the living pants off you, however it never reaches it's fever pitch. The Strangers rates a strange two and half stars.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Top 5 @ 5 - Wednesday 13th August 2008

1. Faker - Sleepwalking
2. Muph & Plutonic - Beautiful Ugly
3. Empire of the Sun - Walking on a Dream (Nick Littlemore & Luke Steele NEW PROJECT)
4. Ladytron - Ghosts
5. Girl Talk - Various cuts from "Feed the Animals"

Other disc's on high rotation:

MGMT - ORACULAR SPECTACULAR
The Living End - WHITE NOISE
The Grates - TEETH LOST, HEARTS WON
Birds of Tokyo - UNIVERSES
British India - THIEVES
Gyroscope - BREED OBSESSION

Rocky Horror Take 3

Well as we are set to farewell the Rocky Horror from Sydney and let Melbourne embrace the Rock n Roll musical I had to see it for the third time with the inclusion of Gretel Kileen.

Unfortunately old Gretel was as stiff as an ironing board, John Waters was a must better narrator and let's just see Melbourne readers how Derryn Hinch goes as he takes over the role in the Melbourne season.

The show each time I have seen it has got better and better. Sharon Millenchip is terrific and Iota you can not say enough about! He is one amazing talent and has one of the most amazing voices in Australian musical theatre.

The show is a bit of a must see mainly just to see how talented Iota is, he really has reached a whole new audience.

Rocky Horror show, or it should be called the Iota one and a half rates a big three and half stars.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Embrace PNAU now!

Hodern Pavilion, Friday August 8th 2008


Well another Pnau event at a much bigger Sydney's Hordern Pavilion.


Unfortunately the great support act Operator Please cancelled on the day :( and were replaced by up and coming Sydney band Bluejuice.


I was pretty disappointed about Operator Please pulling out at the last hour, but Bluejuice did a fairly good job warming up the crowd. Their two hits "Phantom Boogie" and "Virtol" were well received however poor sound and repetitive tunes in the middle of their set left a few people missing the high school stars from the Gold Coast.


Pnau came on to a huge response. This band (well duo plus a drummer) have come a long way since they released their debut album Sambanova in 1999.

Their set included all their hits from their highly acclaimed third self titled released "Lover", "Baby", "Wild Strawberries", "Embrace", "With You Forever" & "No More Violence".

They really are the ultimate live act and it's no wonder they are Elton John's new favourite band! Forgot Billy Elliot Elton,pump some more money into Sydney's PNAU!

Pnau rate a massive 4 stars for live Wild Strawberry action!

Film Freak: Wanted

Now playing, EVERYWHERE

I didn't know it but this film was based on a comic book, that would have helped before I stepped into this high octane action film.

James McAvoy is a terrific actor even in the train wreck Atonement. His newly found American accent is slightly distressing, but he is good along side Angelina and Morgan Freeman.

The film is unbelievable at the best of times but it is highly entertaining.

Wanted is an all star cast and rates 3 three stars.

The tired old VALLEY SONG

Seymour Centre, Sydney and then travelling regionally.

With a cast of just Alexandria Steffensen and Phillip Hinton playing three different roles this is another small production (see 39 Steps review) swinging into Sydney's crowded theatre market at present.

The story is below:

In a tiny village in the South African countryside live seventeen year old Veronica and her aging grandfather, Buks.Her strong desire to leave the valley and follow her dreams is matched only by his determination to protect her and to resist the inevitable changes enveloping them. A newcomer to the village further threatens the simple life they have lived for so long.
This play from Athol Fugard, South Africa’s greatest playwright, resonates not only as a touching personal tale but as a metaphor for the emerging South Africa.

Look it's all nice and cute, however this one act wonder is slightly on the dull side and the story is quiet predictable.

The Valley Song is a sweet story, but after doing my research on South Africa it is hardly a sweet place.

The Valley song is definitely a one hit wonder, Valley Song grabs two stars.

NEWS.COM

http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,27753,24141375-5012426,00.html

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Top 5 @ 5 - Tuesday 5th August 2008

1. The Grates - Carve Your Name
2. The Black Ghosts - I Wanting Nothing
3. Cold War Kids - Something Is Not Right With Me
4. Bloc Party - Mercury
5. Lykki Li - I'm Good I'm Gone

Make sure you check out the new Grates disc "Teeth Lost, Hearts Won" it's a hit!

Tune in for more top 5's soon!

Film Freak: The Square

Well the newest Aussie film created by Joel Edgeton and directed by brother Nash is a smash! I love to rhyme. Maybe I should become the next Lil John.

Back to the movie, the story tells the tale of how one wrong can lead to many many more wrongs. The acting is flawless and even without a soundtrack for most of the movie, they create a real tension leaving you the viewer wondering what else can go wrong.

Basically this film really kicks a lot of goals with me and the soundtrack was penned by the lovely Ben Lee and sang by Jessica Chapnick (ex Home and Away bird!).

This is a film I reckon you should see and then do an hour of Yoga afterwards to relax.

Till next time the Square rates a smashing 4 Aussie all stars.

The Theatre: 39 Steps @ SOH

Thursday 31st July 2008, The Playhouse SOH

Well this play starring only 4 exceptional actors (one actress) is amazing! The staging of this show deserves a Helpmann. I don't won't to spoil it for any potential people who want to run off and see it, but this is an Alfred Hitchcock comedy, with some murdering, some romance and most important for the theatre, some DRAMA!

Great acting, great everything really, especially when the ushers didn't know there was an interval and the bar was shut down, not a program to be sold in sight and basically a very thirsty crowd! LOL!

39 Steps rates a big 4 steps.