Monday, January 31, 2011

M.I.A @ the Metro

Well the Big Day Out has left town and the sideshows are now finishing up. After the interesting results after trying to do the two Sydney shows again we are Big Day Out free for another year.

The only sideshow I have managed to see is MIA and I was totally excited, I have been a fan since my days in Canada and he albums are a little N.E.R.D with the fact that their is always one or two killer tunes and the rest is questionable.

Her support or double header as it was billed was a new outfit who I hadn't heard much of Die Antwood. They were interesting and got the crowd really fired up.

MIA has done it all she has recently released a online mixtape called Vicki Leaks (very clever Ms MIA).

Now to the set, you basically couldn't hear her vocals over the loud club beats, it was for sure she had taken her boiler room headliner seriously. The set was so club focused a lot of her good time hits were missed which was a shame. The set featuring "Boyz" featuring 12 randoms from the crowd on stage with MIA and her two back up dancers, "Paper Planes" with her at the top of the Marshall stacks and various other tunes to a massive club beat.

I enjoyed the show but it wasn't great, MIA has such promise and potential I was expecting a little more.

Overall MIA rates 3 and a half stars.

Friday, January 28, 2011

Film Freak 2011 - True Grit

So it's only a few weeks into 2011, and I have noticed I have seen a shitload of films already, good grief!

So True Grit is the latest with the mumbler Jeff Bridges and the oh so annoying Matt Damon.

But hey this film has had a heap of award nods and got a lot of people talking so I thought it was well worth checking out.

So how was it, I think the start was a bit slow but it generated into quiet a good film, with some extremely tense moments. I wasn't expecting some of the violence that was featured in this film, also there is some scenes with animals that may upset/scare people who are animal lovers (particulary horses) like me.

Okay so True Grit was a good film and enjoyable, but the slow start and the run time were a little too much, 3 gritty stars.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Top 5 @ 5 - Thu 27 Jan 2011

The soundtrack to Summer starts here:

1. Dr Don Don - King of Stars
2. Beth Ditto - I Wrote the Book
3. Chromeo - Hot Mess {Ducksauce feat. Elly Jackson}
4. Little Dragon - Looking Glass
5. Katy B - Lights On

My thoughts on the Hottest 100 - Triple J's 2010 songs of the year

So Cee-Lo was my song of the year and I think the worlds song of the year, telling everyone to scream out loud some nice little four letter words, this song however only managed number 7.

Angus & Julia Stone did deserve number one but after seeing them live I think I would prefer to just listen to their CD's at home in my bed. Well done to Little Red, love "Rock it", great song and an Aussie anthem in the making. Ou Est Le Swimming Pool, sad year for the guys so good to see them do so well, a classy song too. Birds of Tokyo, yeah liked it when it came out now over it, Boy and Bear was a little disappointing cause it was a cover and "He Will Have His Way" is a one track wonder album (Boy & Bear - being that highlight).

6 Adrian Lux, love it! Cee-Lo Green already mentioned above, 8 The Wombats, could take em or leave em, Art Vs Science at 9, NOOOOOO loved them live, didn't love this tune. Mark Ronson - Somebody to Love me, Bang Bang Bang was the best song on his Record Collection album, not this one.

The remainder of the countdown, ABC News Theme Remix WTF, Rapunzel, LOVE Drapht SICK! SIA, Kanye and Duck Sauce, should all have been in the top 10 for sure!

Washington - Sunday Best should have been way higher! Dizzee Rascal & Florence and the Machine - You Got the Dirtee Love, should not have been in this countdown full stop. Darwin Deez is boring as bat shit.

Loving The Naked and Famous at the moment!

Yolanda Be Cool & DCUP, could have been higher, this is an anthem worldwide!

Example - Kickstarts, this was one of the only real surprises. Gypsy & the Cat did good this year. Kings of Leon suck now and don't deserve to be in the countdown.

Big Boi - Shutterbugg, party jam of 2010 for sure!

Evil Eddie - Queensland, deserved higher after the recent activities in QLD. Where was Kanye West - Power?

Muse @ 100 with Neutron Star Collision (Love Is Forever), not a great song, not a good band.

MIA - XXXO, number 101, great song should have been top 20!

Green Beats @ Camperdown w/ Itch-E and Scratch-E

I love to dance and it's been a while, so shaking my groove thing to Itch-E and Scratch-E at the Camperdown international bowling club was a dream.

Now the highlight of this was a woman wearing a t-shirt that had "I suck Cock for Satan" on it, and she was on a crutch. Loved it fully sick!

So Itch-E and Scratch-E have been awesome for years! They were fully sick yesterday too in the heat and at the bowls!

They played all the hits from their fab CD of last year, "Hooray for Everything". They started with the very racy "Other Planets" and contined through with "R.E.F.R.E.S.H", "Back 2 Jack" & the highlight being their classic "Sweetness & Light".

So the day was a celebration of all things Australian and you couldn't get more Australian than Green Beats with people all dancing to the one beat and feeling the love.

Happy 29th birthday to Peta Patricia Perkins too!

Green Beats and Itch-E and Scratch-E rates a big 4 stars!

The best Aussie albums of 2000-2009

1 - Powderfinger - Odessy Number 5 (2000)
2 - Missy Higgins - Sound of White (2004)
3 - The Presets - Apocalspyso (2008)
4 - Angus & Julia Stone - A Book Like This (2007)
5 - Silverchair - Diorama (2002)
6 - The Avalanches - Since I Left You (2001)
7 - John Butler Trio - Grand National (2007)
8 - Sarah Blasko - As Day Follows Night (2009)
9 - Empire of the Sun - Walking on a Dream (2008)
10 - Killing Heidi - Reflections (2000)
11 - Wolfmother - Wolfmother (2005)
12 - The Vines - Highly Evolved (2002)
13 - Jet - Get Born (2003)
14 - Ben Lee - Awake is the New Sleep (2005)
15 - Eskimo Joe - Black Fingernails Red Wine (2006)
16 - Hilltop Hoods - The Hard Road (2006)
17 - Sarah Blasko - What the Sea Wants The Sea Will Have (2006)
18 - Sneaky Sound System - Sneaky Sound System (2007)
19 - Temper Trap - Conditions (2009)
20 - Alex Lloyd - Watching Angels Mend (2001)
21 - Bernard Fanning - Tea & Symphony (2005)
22 - John Butler Trio - Sunrise over Sunset (2004)
23 - Powderfinger - Vulture Street (2003)
24 - John Butler Trio - Three (2001)
25 - George - Polysernea (2002)
26 - Eskimo Joe - A Song is a city (2004)
27 - Silverchair - Young Modern (2007)
28 - Hilltop Hoods - State of the Art (2009)
29 - Lisa Mitchell - Wonder (2009)
30 - The Whitlams - Love this City (2000)
31 - Pete Murray - Feeler (2003)
32 - Cat Empire - Two Shoes (2005)
33 - Living End - White Noise (2008)
34 - Pnau - Pnau (2009)
35 - Bliss N Eso - Flying Colours (2008)
36 - Josh Pyke - Memories & Dust (2007)
37 - Kasey Chambers - Barricades & Brickwalls (2001)
38 - Goyte - Like Drawing Blood (2007)
39 - Kate Miller Heidke - Curiosuor (2009)
40 - The Grates - Gravity Won't Get You High (2006)
41 - Missy Higgins - On a Clear Night (2007)
42 - Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours (2008)
43 - Karnivool - Sound Awake (2009)
44 - The Panics - Cruel Guards (2009)
45 - Living End - Roll On (2000)
46 - Something For Kate - Echolahia (2001)
47 - Machine Gun Fellatio - Paging Mr Strike (2002)
48 - Spiderbait - Tonight Alright (2004)
49 - Cat Empire - Cat Empire (2004)
50 - Superjesus - Jet Age (2001)
51 - Paul Dempsey - Everything is True (2009)
52 - Little Birdy - BigBigLove (2004)
53 - Something for Kate - Offical Fiction (2003)
54 - Grinspoon - New Dentention (2002)
55 - Grinspoon - Thrills, Kills & Sunday Spills (2004)
56 - Faker - Be The Twilight (2008)
57 - Cat Empire - Too Many Nights (2007)
58 - Augie March - Moo You Bloody Choir (2006)
59 - Josh Pyke - Chimeys a Fire (2008)
60 - Gyroscope - Breed Obsession (2008)
61 - Birds of Tokyo - Universes (2008)
62 - The Waifs - Up all Night (2003)
63 - The Dissociatives - The Dissociatives (2004)
64 - Butterfly Effect - Imago (2006)
65 - Xavier Rudd - Food in the Belly (2006)
66 - Xavier Rudd - Solace (2004)
67 - Xavier Rudd - White Moth (2007)
68 - Grinspoon - Albisis & Other Lies (2007)
69 - Something for Kate - Dessert Lights (2006)
70 - Motor Ace - Shoot This (2002)
71 - 28 Days - UpStyleDown (2000)
72 - Kate Miller Heidke - Little Eve (2007)
73 - Powderfinger - Golden Mile (2009)
74 - Kisschasey - Hymns for the Non Believers (2007)
75 - Eskimo Joe - Inshalla (2009)
76 - Pete Murray - See the Sun (2005)
77 - Jet - Shine On (2006)
78 - Hilltop Hoods - The Hard Road Re-Strung (2007)
79 - The Whitlams - Torch the Moon (2002)
80 - Kasey Chambers/Shane Nicholson - Rattlin' Bones (2008)
81 - Urthboy - The Signal (2007)
82 - Grinspoon - Six to Midnight (2009)
83 - Waifs - Sun, Dirt, Water (2007)
84 - Urthboy - Spitshine (2009)
85 - Katie Noonan - Skin (2007)
86 - Paul Mac - 3000 Feet High (2001)
87 - Gerling - When Young Terrorists Chase the Sun (2001)
88 - Magic Dirt - What Are Rockstars Doing Today (2000)
89 - Sarah Blasko - The Overture & the Underscore (2004)
90 - End of Fashion - End of Fashion (2005)
91 - Jet - Shaka Rock (2009)
92 - Sneaky Sound System - 2 (2008)
93 - Powderfinger - Dream Days at the Hotel Existence (2007)
94 - Amiel – Audio Out (2003)
95 - Butterfly Effect - Final Conversation of Kings (2008)
96 - Little Birdy - Confetti (2009)
97 - Bertie Blackman - Secrets and Lies (2009)
98 - Waikiki - I'm Already Home (2002)
99 - The Sleepy Jackson - Lovers (2003)
100 - Bob Evans - Suburban Songbook (2006)

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Hey so this year's birthday will be spent in....

Dallas, mother flipping Texas, stay tuned for my road to the States, starting real soon. I am also thinking of starting a BLOG based story "The Man with the tramp stamp" in vein of the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, hmmmmmm so maybe that will start up soon.

Also Thursday I will publish the best 100 Aussie albums of the last decade 2000-2009, so check it out and comment let me know your thoughts.

Until then happy Australia Day for tomoz!

Film Freak 2011 - The Green Hornet

2010 was the year of big action films and 2011 may have it's first massive action film. The Green Hornet stars the extremely busy Seth Rogan, doing a comedy but mixed in with action. It's extremely well done but LOOONNNNGGGG

The bromance vs romance stuff with Cameron Diaz, kinda ruins it in parts but you just want them to blow shit u[p and be void of emotion, but maybe that's just the inner boy in me.

Overall the film had a believable-ish plot, great action scenes, however it is another 3D movie that is pro bally better in 2D. I saw it in 2D cause I'm fully povo and on tight arse Tuesday too, LOL

The Green Hornet, it's action, it's part drama, a wee bit of romance (yuck!) but overall it's satisfying, 3 green stars.

Film Freak 2011 - The Fighter

Okay this was described to me from another movie buff as his film of 2011, only 19 days in. Well it could very well be one of mine too. The acting, the story, the passion behind this film. Terrific!

Christan Bale and Marky Mark are outstanding as brothers and Amy Adams is terrific. We can't forget the rest of Marky Mark's family, they are delightful, well not really but they made me smile.

This film is all sorts of tops, top acting, top fighting scenes, top drama and most of top story.

The Fighter will please all who see this and after the mega hype of Black Swan this film sort of goes under the radar but shouldn't it's a masterpiece. 4 and a half monster stars, it's a knockout LOL!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Best albums of the last decade 2000-2009

Aussie albums coming in the next week so stay tuned bitches!

Top 5 @ 5 - Wednesday 19 January 2011

1. Burlesque Soundtrack, loves it! (co writtern by SIA)
2. Little Dragon - cuts from their ace disc from last year Machine Dreams
3. Kid Sister - Kiss Kiss Mixtape, it's dancetastic
4. Dr Don Don - King of Stars
5. Beth Ditto - I Wrote The Book

Film Freak 2011 - Black Swan {PREVIEW}

Well a massive line of mainly angry and scary lesbians at the Newtown Dendy can only mean two things, a dykes on bikes doco is screening or a movie with random lesiban relations is screening and I go to point two for my film review of one of the sold out preview screenings of the Golden Globes fav film "Black Swan".

Now it has taken me days to work out if I liked this or hated this. It was strange, it was nothing like the preview and Natalie Portman was terrific, but super skinny, is she really up the duff?

Anyway this film has lot's of interesting moments and lot's of times where I sat there thinking what just happened and who did that?

Overall I think I liked it, I don't know if it falls under a drama, a thriller, horror (yes there are some put your head in your hands moments) or fanny basher romance?

Not sure still, but it's a well done film buffs film so like Morning Glory from my weekend of films 3 stars.

Film Freak 2011 - Morning Glory

A cheesy, predictable rom com this ain't, this is cute, funny and at times a little cringe worthy but still on a whole this is a perfect leave your worries at the door, sit back and relax kinda of movie going experience.

Harrison Ford is looking a million, Patrick Wilson is looking sexy and Diane Keaton was actually quite amusing as a ditzy morning television host.

If you think Sunrise is lame and morning TV is a real drag (yes 90% of people believe Breakfast TV is for the people of Penrith and beyond) then you will enjoy this piss take on how terrible and dumbed down Breakfast News (more like celeb gossip and dodgy cooking scenes)will suite you to a T!

Morning Glory was a surpise hit for me gaining 3 solid shiny breakfast stars.

Friday, January 14, 2011

Me @ old NERD the other week, yeah live music rocks n shit

OMG New Years Eve pic to share

Film Freak 2011 - Burlesque

Where do I start, I love Xtina, she has the best voice out of the teen divas from my era. Britney, can't sing or dance, Lady Gaga is a carbon copy of any shock jock artist of the last 50 years and many more have come but Christina has come out shining after a massive flop of an album (Bionic - I personally liked 3 songs from it).

Cher looked like Marilyn Manson when she first came out which was a little scary and a little in the style of Friday the 13th, but she was okay.

The support cast was awesome with lot's of familiar faces from TV and film.

I loved the numbers in this picture, this was when the movie was at it's best. Christina made Beyonce's appearance in Dreamgirls seem as dull and lacklustre as ever. Still to this day Dreamgirls is one of the worst films ever released.

I can't say a bad thing about this picture, leave your brian at the door and kick back and enjoy the most camp movie of 2011.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Film Freak 2011 - Blue Valentine

If a depressing anti romance film is for you, then this is your film. Ryan Gossling and Michelle "Dawson's Creek - I don't wanna wait for our lives to be over" Williams star in this anti rom com with Michelle Williams getting my award for actor/actress of the month.

This movie is filmed in past/present tense with flash backs showing the good times and current times showing the terrible times this couple and their daughter are facing.

It shows the slow but steady decline of what once was a great love story between Williams and Gossling to the point of her hitting him and calling him the C bomb.

This movie will not be every ones cup of tea. Ryan Gossling annoys me in every thing he does but I must look past this. It's a good drama and has some very tense moments.

Blue Valentine rates a solid 3 and a half stars

Monday, January 10, 2011

I love Live Music in January - Sleigh Bells

OMG a wall of sound and my ears are still ringing, what? Who? aaaaerrrrrggghhhh it's the Sleigh Bells!

Yes from N.E.R.D on Friday to the sounds of New York's latest IT band the Sleigh Bells it was certainly a live music weekend! And the Sleigh Bells Supports turned it on! The Purple Sneakers DJ's are always awesome and I loved both their tight and simply sweet sets!

Rat V Possum were next and my dreamy friend I went with made a claim they are her new favourite band!

Then came the Sleigh Bells and did they bring it! They were on fire from word dot! They were loud, they were having a good time and they didn't do an encore, I love it! Awesome.

The Sleigh Bells were ace and the highlight was definatelty a crowd friendly version of Rill Rill. Came back soon Sleigh Beslls youse rock!

4 stars

I love Live Music in January - N.E.R.D

Okay Pharrell and his team of NERDS has been like one of my favourite bands for the longest time, "Lapdance" one of the best crossover cross genre tracks ever penned, so what happened last Friday @ the Hordern?

Full N.E.R.D review to come but first I caught around half the set to Chromeo and boy do these Canadian Canucks know how to break an 80's jam. Loved it! "Fancy Footwork" was some stellar stuff and their sound and vibe were electric through the part of the set I caught.

Boy Noize were next on this monster 4 group event and I must say full on disco was not my cup of tea on the night so I had a breather while Boy Noize did his thing, much to the enjoyment of the wide ranged crowd which rocked up on this wet Summer night.

Then came Pharrell and the N.E.R.D tribe. Now they started with two rather woeful slow jams which I thought was a little bit of a concern. They then busted a move with "She Wants to Move" which lifted the roof and got the crowd a little more into it. The highlights continued with "Rock Star", "Everyone Nose (All the Girls Standing in the Line for the Bathroom)" and the finale "Lapdance". The new tracks from the album Nothing including the Daft Punk produced "Hypnotize U" all fell flat with their older singles being the crowds big faves.

Overall the energy was there but it seemed to be lacking something, like a N.E.R.D album, there was good bits, filler and okay bits, I think these boys should maybe produce some more hits for Brits or the Gaga.

Overall Chromeo were the clear highlights of the evening with there 80's dance floor smashes, loved it!

3 stars (most of which for the Chromeo)

Friday, January 7, 2011

Film Freak 2011 - Unstoppable

Oh heavens above Chris Pine and Denzal Washington! I think this movie requires two reviews, one for a leave your brian at the door and one for the real film buff:

Leave your brian at the door review:

Oh heavens a train on the loose and a rescue sequence that leaves you on the edge of your seat. The big action scenes and big budget for this film is evident but some of the scenes are almost ruined by the constant news crossovers.

If your in for a dumb night at the cinema this one is for you, it's a basic plot with a few little twists and a big of character development that you don't see coming but other than that it's a fairly standard action/thriller picture.

Film Buff Review:

My friend who I saw this with said it was the worst film he ever saw. So it had it's faults, the pliot, the daughters of Denzal working at Hooters.

So yeah this film is fairly basic and nothing ground breaking, but it's also non offensive film so maybe lets give it 2 and a half stars

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Live Music I love it - this weekend

So this weekend marks a major weekend ion live music, with N.E.R.D Friday night and then New York's (well Brooklyn) new it band the Sleigh Bells. Should be damn awesome, reviews etc comign early next week so check it!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

2010 in Film - The best, no worst, just the best

So instead of my best and worst films of 2010, I decided to just focus on the best, you can read my BLOG from last year and see what truly sucked!

So best, late release has to go to Love & Other Drugs for coming out of nowhere at the end of the year and being a truly terrific piece of cinema.

BEST hyped film of 2010 - The Social Network, who knew JT could act and be a complete tool at the same time.

BEST jump out of the seat film, Paranormal Activity 2, finally a good sequel in 2010!

BEST Teen drama/coming of age/comedy blah - Easy A, leaps and bounds ahead of the competition.

BEST low budget film - The Disappearance of Alice Creed - This could be the most perfect and suspenseful film of 2010, catch it on DVD, it's awesome!

BEST blockbuster of 2010 - Tomorrow When the War Begun, great to see the Aussie's making a kick ass big budget action film

BEST NZ/small film - Boy, love, love, loved it fully sick as bro

BEST 3D movie - By a million and one dance moves Step Up 3D

BEST Aussie Movie - Animal Kingdom - Hopefully the producers of Underbelly were watching how too make crime drama without four million tits involved.

BEST Music film - The Runaways - the bitch from Twilight can actually act.

BEST controversial film of 2010 - Kick Ass, an 11 year old girl who murders people and says the C word, my kinda film. She made me want to have kids.

BEST drama - Precious - Mariah Carey, also an act, fantastic and very sad film, but well acted and inspiring.

BEST musical on the big screen - this generally suck but Bran Nue Day was a fun and star studded affair, Missy Higgins, the Debutt queen, Dan Sultan, Geoffrey Rush and more, AWESOME!

The Moscow Circus is now on at Darling Harbour, check it!

So after a few times seeing this baby, I never get sick of it, I loved seeing this in the new year for a 2011. It's in the awesome Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour and makes the Darling Harbour prestinct look a lot more exciting and inviting than it nmormally does.

You can grab some tickets below:

HERE

If you like motor bikes, whacky family fun, amazing artists at a world class level then you will love the Great Moscow Circus so check it out, it rates 4 and a bit stars.

A Photo Journey Through 2010




Film Freak - The Kings Speech

Okay blog readers, you know I hate Colin Firth but even I can't fault him in the Kings Speech. Alongside Aussie icon Mr Geoffrey Rush, he is flawless and likewise with Mr Rush himeself. Helena Bonham Carter was terricfic as well as Colin Firths supportive and at times simply blissful wife.

Guy Pearce also was decent in his lesser role giving him two awesome flicks in a row (first being the terrific Animal Kingdom).

So The Kings Speeh is a film lover and reviewers dream, it's well acted, has a great script and it's sucks you in from the early moments.

The Kings Speech is an early 2011 BLOG fav rating 4 solid shiny stars.

New Years Eve @ a little park called Luna Park

An ideal New Years is spent at home for a nana like me but an ideal new years in 2010 was spent with a lovely boy and the party goers at Luna Park this past year for me.

Luna Park was completely the most perfect place to catch up with the Fireworks, so great rides and have a dance and a jig to the likes of the FAB Nina Las Vegas or Sneaky Sound System.

This New Years X was my favourite new years of all time and I owe a lot of it to Luna Park and it's magic party atmosphere, it's rides and it's easy in and out to end the night on a high by getting home easily and without too much fuss and bother, love it!

Luna Park at New Years definitely my pick already for NYE 2011/2012, 5 stars!