My (DELAYED) Verdict on Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2012

So Triple J had an interesting year with the Warmest 100 coming out early (another reason why we love Facebook & Twitter) correctly guessing the right number one and then when the number one was announced the Hottest 100 was ridiculed for not being indie enough.

Yes it was the first Hip hop number One and yes it's played on Nova and Today FM but it was a really great tune when it came out and also it does go wild in a DJ set.

Now to the songs that made it:

#100: Everything Everything - Cough Cough

#99: M.I.A. - Bad Girls - #DRIVING SEXY
#98: Kimbra - Warrior {Ft. Mark Foster & A-Trak} - #TUNE
#97: Jack White - I'm Shakin'
#96: Kanye West, JAY Z & Big Sean - Clique - #TUNE
#95: Last Dinosaurs - Andy - #HOMEBAKE HEROES
#94: The Gaslight Anthem - 45
#93: Snakadaktal - Dance Bear
#92: Lisa Mitchell - Spiritus - #I LOVE LISA.M
#91: Allday x C1 - So Good - #TUNE
#90: Two Door Cinema Club - Sleep Alone
#89: Chance Waters - Maybe Tomorrow {Ft. Lilian Blue} - #TUNE
#88: C2C - Down The Road
#87: The Bloody Beetroots & Greta Svabo Bech - Chronicles Of A Fallen Love
#86: Lana Del Rey - Summertime Sadness - #SEX SOUNDS LIKE THIS
#85: Purity Ring - Fineshrine
#84: Hilltop Hoods - Rattling The Keys To The Kingdom
#83: The Jungle Giants - She's A Riot
#82: Santigold - Disparate Youth
#81: alt-J - Something Good
#80: Frank Ocean - Super Rich Kids {Ft. Earl Sweatshirt} - #TUNE
#79: The Black Keys - Little Black Submarines
#78: Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs - Household Goods
#77: Feed Me & Crystal Fighters - Love Is All I Got
#76: Illy - Heard It All
#75: Muse - Madness - #GIVE IT UP MUSE
#74: The Shins - Simple Song
#73: Ben Folds Five - Draw A Crowd
#72: Regina Spektor - All The Rowboats
#71: Kendrick Lamar - Swimming Pools (Drank) - #TUNE
#70: The Presets - Promises
#69: Matt Corby - Lonely Boy {Like A Version}
#68: Avicii - Silhouettes - #TUNE
#67: Flume - On Top {Ft. T-Shirt} - #TUNE
#66: The Rubens - The Best We Got
#65: Grimes - Genesis - #TUNE
#64: alt-J - Tessellate
#63: First Aid Kit - Wolf
#62: Kid Cudi - Just What I Am {Ft. King Chip} - #TUNE
#61: Sticky Fingers - Caress Your Soul - #CARESS MY SOUL
#60: Jack White - Love Interruption
#59: Cosmo Jarvis - Love This - #I LOVE THIS!
#58: Mumford & Sons - Babel
#57: Seth Sentry - Float Away
#56: Frank Ocean - Thinkin Bout You - #TUNE
#55: Knife Party - Internet Friends - #RANDOM!
#54: The Bamboos - I Got Burned {Ft. Tim Rogers}
#53: San Cisco - Wild Things
#52: The Presets - Ghosts - #WHY???????
#51: Birds Of Tokyo - This Fire
#50: Asta - My Heart Is On Fire
#49: Thundamentals - Brother {Like A Version}
#48: San Cisco - Fred Astaire
#47: Of Monsters And Men - Mountain Sound
#46: Passion Pit - Take A Walk
#45: Chance Waters - Young & Dumb {Ft. Bertie Blackman} #BERTIE
#44: Xavier Rudd - Follow The Sun - #WAY BETTER THAN 44
#43: The Lumineers - Ho Hey
#42: MS MR - Hurricane - #GOTHIC LOVE
#41: British India - I Can Make You Love Me
#40: Arctic Monkeys - R U Mine?
#39: Alabama Shakes - Hold On
#38: Grimes - Oblivion - #TUNE
#37: Two Door Cinema Club - Sun
#36: Miike Snow - Paddling Out - #TUNE
#35: 360 - Run Alone
#34: Lana Del Rey - Born To Die
#33: Parachute Youth - Can't Get Better Than This - #TUNE
#32: Florence + The Machine - Spectrum (Say My Name) {Calvin Harris Remix} - #TUNE
#31: Alpine - Gasoline - #SO INTO U
#30: Bat For Lashes - Laura
#29: Loon Lake - Cherry Lips
#28: Django Django - Default - #TUNE
#27: Ball Park Music - Surrender
#26: Seth Sentry - Dear Science
#25: Skrillex - Bangarang {Ft. Sirah} - #TUNE
#24: Chet Faker - I'm Into You
#23: Ball Park Music - Coming Down
#22: The Temper Trap - Trembling Hands
#21: Disclosure - Latch {Ft. Sam Smith} - #TUNE
#20: Rudimental - Feel The Love {Ft. John Newman}
#19: The xx - Angels - #ROMANCE
#18: Hermitude - HyperParadise {Flume Remix} - #TUNE
#17: Flight Facilities - Clair De Lune {Ft. Christine Hoberg} - #CUTE
#16: Rudimental - Not Giving In {Ft. John Newman & Alex Clare}
#15: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Same Love {Ft. Mary Lambert} - #BROMANCE
#14: Icona Pop - I Love It {Ft. Charli XCX} - #TUNE
#13: The Black Keys - Gold On The Ceiling
#12: Flume - Sleepless {Ft. Jezzabell Doran} - #TUNE
#11: Calvin Harris - Sweet Nothing {Ft. Florence Welch} - #TUNE
#10: The Rubens - My Gun - #AMAZE BALLZ
#9: Tame Impala - Feels Like We Only Go Backwards
#8: Frank Ocean - Lost - #SMOOTH
#7: Tame Impala - Elephant
#6: Major Lazer - Get Free {Ft. Amber Coffman} - #TOP SHELF
#5: Mumford & Sons - I Will Wait - #ONETRICKPONY
#4: Flume - Holdin On - #TUNE
#3: alt-J - Breezeblocks - #SNOREFEST
#2: Of Monsters And Men - Little Talks
#1: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Thrift Shop {Ft. Wanz} - #STOP DA HATE

I successfully featured these ones in my BLOG's best 100 of the year:

#99: M.I.A. - Bad Girls

#98: Kimbra - Warrior {Ft. Mark Foster & A-Trak}
#96: Kanye West, JAY Z & Big Sean - Clique
#95: Last Dinosaurs - Andy
#92: Lisa Mitchell - Spiritus
#76: Illy - Heard It All
#73: Ben Folds Five - Draw A Crowd
#71: Kendrick Lamar - Swimming Pools (Drank)
#68: Avicii - Silhouettes
#62: Kid Cudi - Just What I Am {Ft. King Chip}
#59: Cosmo Jarvis - Love This
#57: Seth Sentry - Float Away
#56: Frank Ocean - Thinkin Bout You
#54: The Bamboos - I Got Burned {Ft. Tim Rogers}
#53: San Cisco - Wild Things
#51: Birds Of Tokyo - This Fire
#46: Passion Pit - Take A Walk
#45: Chance Waters - Young & Dumb {Ft. Bertie Blackman}
#44: Xavier Rudd - Follow The Sun
#43: The Lumineers - Ho Hey
#39: Alabama Shakes - Hold On
#36: Miike Snow - Paddling Out
#35: 360 - Run Alone
#34: Lana Del Rey - Born To Die
#33: Parachute Youth - Can't Get Better Than This
#32: Florence + The Machine - Spectrum (Say My Name) {Calvin Harris Remix}
#31: Alpine - Gasoline
#29: Loon Lake - Cherry Lips
#28: Django Django - Default
#27: Ball Park Music - Surrender
#26: Seth Sentry - Dear Science
#25: Skrillex - Bangarang {Ft. Sirah}
#22: The Temper Trap - Trembling Hands
#21: Disclosure - Latch {Ft. Sam Smith}
#20: Rudimental - Feel The Love {Ft. John Newman}
#19: The xx - Angels
#18: Hermitude - HyperParadise {Flume Remix}
#16: Rudimental - Not Giving In {Ft. John Newman & Alex Clare}
#15: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Same Love {Ft. Mary Lambert}
#14: Icona Pop - I Love It {Ft. Charli XCX}
#12: Flume - Sleepless {Ft. Jezzabell Doran}
#11: Calvin Harris - Sweet Nothing {Ft. Florence Welch}
#10: The Rubens - My Gun
#9: Tame Impala - Feels Like We Only Go Backwards
#8: Frank Ocean - Lost
#7: Tame Impala - Elephant
#6: Major Lazer - Get Free {Ft. Amber Coffman}
#5: Mumford & Sons - I Will Wait
#4: Flume - Holdin On
#2: Of Monsters And Men - Little Talks
#1: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Thrift Shop {Ft. Wanz}

And my BLOG also boasted Thrift Shop to be the number one song of 2012 and I will defend that tune, "Nah, Walk up to the club like, "What up, I got a big cock!", one of the opening lyrics, AMAZING!

Did I love the rest of the Hottest 100 though, well yes and no, they have copped abuse for very commerical songs featured but with 1.5 Million Votes it's a wonder Psy didn't make the cut, really people, popular isn't bad unless it's Taylor Swift.
I was super happy that both Frank Ocean and Flume did really well, Frank Ocean was a really under played artist on Triple J, "Channel Orange" made so many best of lists but didn't really get played until the years end.  And speaking of year's end, any songs played heaps during the voting period seemed to really kill it on the chart.  C2C was a real surprise with the very recent (Australian/local) release of "Down the Road".  It was a huge shame Azealia Banks didn't make the list with "1991" her debut EP the best EP by a long shot of 2012.

I couldn't vote for "212" as apparently it came out in 2011 despite having a local release of 2012, however of Monsters & Men indie folk gem "Little Talks" was released on Dec 20 2011 and still made the countdown, sad face.

Okay so the Hottest 100 is done but the list continues on Saturday with the unveiling of 200-101 (I did this recently also, such copycats LOL) and we will see if Hot Chip finally get in, if Azealia gets at least "1991" in the countdown and if Kanye gets to drop another jam.

The Hottest 100 is almost all done for another year and SMH and other publications are always going to have a crack but hey, Triple J still to this day plays the best music all day long, no ad's, no dodgy DJ's, no Kyle Sandilands and real news on the hour.  So maybe people should stop hating on JJJ we are lucky to have this station and a massive list fo songs celebrated by many from here and abroad every Australia Day.

TGIF for tomorrow y'all, tune into JJJ on Saturday for moire big tunes of 2012.

Australian Albums of 2012 - Summer Music Lists Special - Part Five

20 - Alpine - A is for Alpine

19 - Hermitude - Hyperparadise
18 - San Cisco - San Cisco
17 - Julia Stone - By the Horns
16 - Something For Kate - Leave Your Soul To Science
15 - Sarah Blasko - I Awake
14 - Seth Sentry - This was Tomorrow
13 - Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson - Wreck & Ruin
12 - Kate Miller-Heidke - Nightflight
11 - The Amity Affliction - Chasing Ghosts
10 - The Presets - Pacifica
9 - Xavier Rudd - Spirit Bird
8 - Parkway Drive - Atlas
7 - Tame Impala - Lonerism
6 - Angus Stone - Broken Brights
5 - Flume - Flume
4 - The Rubens - The Rubens
3 - The Temper Trap - The Temper Trap
2 - Missy Higgins - The Ol' Razzle Dazzle
1 - Hilltop Hoods - Drinking From the Sun

What’s On @ the Movies – The Guilt Trip

** Released late last year (2012) in the States.


So I went into this movie super nervous that it would be an old dog (some

would say like the lead), but I like This is 40 was seriously surprised. This film was so super nice it was not funny, I was almost brought to tears by the end at it's beauty and it's sheer lovely bonding between Rogan and well:



OK after that little musical interuption here is the remainder of the review:

The movie is a road trip movie with some fun along the way and the great
look @ Rogan and Streisand. Who would have ever thought that Barb's & Rogan would be so good together.

I think if your a major mummy's boy like me this film will totally float your
boat, it's sweet, it's simple and super easy to watch:



I can't believe still hours after seeing this film that I enjoyed it so much, The Guilt Trip is my recent guilty pleasure it rates 4 super guilty stars.

Also the Open Air Cinema session I was due to see was totally flooded out
so hopefully I will see Silver Linings Playbook soon, watch this space.....

Happy Australia Day - it's the BIGGEST 200 of 2012 - Part Two

101 - Flight Facilities - Clair De Lune {Ft. Christine Hoberg}

102 - The Black Keys - Dead And Gone

103 - Alabama Shakes - Hold On

104 - Hilltop Hoods - Rattling The Keys

105 - The Temper Trap - Rabbit Hole

106 - The Presets - Promises
107 - Passion Pit - I'll Be Alright
108 - Cosmo Jarvos - Love This
109 - Shockone - Chaos Theory
110 - Best Coast - The Only Place
111 - British India - I Can Make You Love Me
112 - Knife Party - Centipede
113 - Temper Trap - Need Your Love
114 - Muse – Madness
115 - Tame Impala - Apocalypse Dreams
116 - Snakadaktal - Dance Bear
117 - Gypsy and The Cat - Sorry
118 - Bertie Blackman - Mercy Killer
119 - Julia Stone - Let's Forget All The Things We Say
120 - DZ Deathrays - Dollar Chills
121 - Rufus - This Summer
122 - Charli XCX - Nuclear Seasons
123 - Bleeding Knees Club - Nothing To Do
124 - Two Door Cinema Club - Sleep Alone
125 - Ladyhawke - Black White and Blue
126 - Haim - Don't Save Me
127 - Hungry Kids Of Hungary - Sharp Shooter
128 - Chance Waters - Maybe Tomorrow
129 - NAS - The Don
130 - Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs - Household Goods
131 - Gossling - Wild Love
132 - Angus Stone - Broken Brights
133 - Dappled Cities - Born at the Right Time
134 - Kimbra - With My Hands
135 - Calvin Harris/Ellie Goulding - I Need Your Love
136 - Alt-j – Something Good
137 - Saskwatch - Your Love
138 - Hot Chip - Don't Deny Your Heart
139 - Purity Ring - Fineshrine
140 - Thelma Plum - Father Said
141 - Santigold - Big Mouth
142 - Bloc Party - Octopus
143 - Electric Guest - This Head I Hold
144 - Mat McHugh - Go Don't Stop
145 - Frank Ocean – Forrest Gump
146 - Bertie Blackman - Boy
147 - His Majesty Andre – Hymn
148 - Polica - Dark Star
149 - Hilltop Hoods - Shredding The Balloon
150 - Van She - Idea Of Happiness
151 - Ladyhawke - Sunday Drive
152 - MSMR - Bones
153 - Deep Sea Arcade - Seen No Right
154 - Metric - Youth Without Youth
155 - Skrillex - Kyoto
156 - Bob Evans - Don't Wanna Grow Up Anymore
157 - Courtney Barnett - Lance Jr
158 - Flux Pavillion - Daydreamer (Ft. Example)
159 - Ball Park Music - Coming Down
160 - Major Lazer - Jah No Partial {Ft. Flux Pavilion}
161 - DCUP - I'm Corrupt
162 - San Cisco - Beach
163 - Crystal Castles – Wrath of God
164 - Seth Sentry - Room For Rent
165 - Chemical Brothers - Theme For Velodrome
166 - Bleeding Knees Club - Girls Can Do Anything
167 - Dr Don Don - Good Thing (Ft. Amali Ward)
168 - Polica - I See My Mother
169 - Hilltop Hoods - Lights Out
170 - Allday x C1 - So Good
171 - Yung Warriors - Standing Strong
172 - Sleigh Bells - Comeback Kid
173 - Azealia Banks - Liquorice
174 - Elton John V PNAU - Sad
175 - Flume - On Top (Feat. T-Shirt)
176 - Stonefield - Bad Reality
177 - Kingswood - Medusa
178 - Bat For Lashes – Laura
179 - Sarah Blasko - God-Fearing
180 - Regina Spektor - All The Rowboats
181 - Ladyhawke - Blue Eyes
182 - Aston Shuffle - Can't Stop Now
183 - Kate Miller Heidke - Humiliation
184 - Tame Impala - Mind Mischief
185 - The Bloody Beetroots & Greta Svabo Beach - Chronicles Of A Fallen Love
186 - Yeasayer - Longevity
187 - The Vaccines - No Hope
188 - Dappled Cities - Run With The Wind
189 - Velociraptor - Riot
190 - Die Antwoord - I Fink U Freeky
191 - Peking Duk - The Way You Are
192 - Wiley - Boom Blast
193 - Arctic Monkeys - R U Mine?
194 - Julia Stone - It's All Okay
195 - Delphic - Good Life
196 - Asta - Escape
197 - Seth Sentry - My Scene
198 - Angus Stone - Wooden Chair
199 - The Presets - Push
200 - Charli XCX - You're the One

Australian Album of the year (2012) & the winner is......

After announcing on Boxing Day that the biggest and most exciting release of 2012 was Frank Ocean's terrific album (which has finally sold over 35,000 copies in this country) "Channel Orange" it's time to celebrate all things Australian and all things Australian album.

So there were three big albums of 2012 in Australia, Missy Higgin's comeback album "The Ol Razzle Dazzle" was superb, "Everyone's Waiting" was a great single and really put her back into the spotlight. Then we had the almighty Hilltop Hoods from Adelaide's Hills with yet another big album. In 2011 their collab with Sia was a monster single "I Love it" and in 2012 the singles from the album continued to drop with "Speaking in Tongues" with some help from a former Jurassic 5 member Charli 2na and then "Shredding the Balloon" which was super chilled and the re release of "Rattling the Keys to the Kingdom". Huge album and sales in excess of 70,000.

Now to the third and final Aussie album of the year nomination it's Flume outta Sydney's amazing self titled debut and damn it is DOPE! Sitting @ number one on the iTunes chart now as it's the $9.99 album of the week and with "Holdin On" currently at 11 and placing well in the Hottest 100 he is on top @ present!

"On Top" featuring the rapper T-Shirt is also killing it @ 64 on the iTunes chart, crazy! This kid is killing it and although the album was released in 2012 I think 2013 is going to be Flume's year and what better way to start things off with his album being my BLOG's Australian Album of the year. It's epic, it's awesome, it's the BOMB Flume today is one of the best Aussie albums in years, it's got great tracks it's amazing production (he was one of two super producers last year) and he topped the Hottest 100 with the most tracks (3 of his own and one killer remix).



So there it is, the AUSSIE ALBUM of the year: FLUME - FLUME

Stay tuned in just over an hour 101-200 the songs of 2012 revealed, oh hell yes!

SYD 2 CBR, CBR @ SYD - Australia All Over in four weeks journey one Countdown Sun 27 Jan 2013

20 - The Bloody Beetroots - Chronicles of a Fallen Love




19 - Haim - Don't Save Me
18 - Flume - Holdin On'
17 - Adele - Skyfall
16 - Avicii & Nicky Romero - I Could be the One
15 - Disclosure - Latch
14 - Mumford & Sons - I Will Wait
13 - Calvin Harris/Florence Welch - Sweet Nothing
12 - Chiddy Bang - Happening
11 - Ed Sheeran - Give Me Love
10 - David Guetta/SIA - She Wolf (Falling to Pieces)
9 - Swedish House Mafia - Don't You Worry Child
8 - Rudimental - Not Giving In {Feat. John Newman & Alex Clare}
7 - Of Monsters & Men - Little Talks
6 - Calvin Harris/Tinie Tempah - Drinking from the Bottle
5 - Icona Pop - I Love it!
4 - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Thrift Shop
3 - Birds of Tokyo - Lanterns
2 - The Lumineers - Ho Hey
1 - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Same Love

Coming up around Noon after my first movie of the day "Guilt Trip" lol dedicated to Vinnie, I will announce the Australian Album of 2012 a follow up to 2012's Album of the Year - Frank Ocean.

Also later on I will be seeing "The Silver Linings Playbook" so expect a double film review sometime soon and the second part of my monster year's best list, I will publish 101-200 later on tonight to finish up the Australia Day Long Weekender.

Live - Australia all over - Canberra

Leaving Sydney for a long weekend is perfection and heavenly and Canberra ain't half a bad three hour drive south of Sin City.

So on Monday my blogs 200-101 Aust Day public holiday list will be revealed as well as my Aussie album of the year so check back here Monday for loads of updates.

Tomorrow a new countdown as I head into Australia all over (three cities, roughly three weeks) tour.

And next week loads of new movie reviews, until then from the nations capital, good freaking night Australia and well done to the Thrift Shop number one in the JJJ hottest 100 as predicted by my blog and the Warmest 100.

XOXO

What’s On @ the Movies – This is 40

** Released late last year (2012) in the States.


This film will divide audiences, if you like silly fun and leaving your brain at the door, hello you’ll be pleased as punch, if you like more bite in a film this might not grab you. I was in the first bunch of people, I loved this film, I have liked a lot of Judd Apatow’s work and the team involved in this film is an achievement from Paul Rudd (who is a surprise package in the looks department) to a small spot by the wonderful Melissa McCarthy from
Bridesmaids. Also popping by to say hi Megan Fox, John Lithgow, Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day), Chris O’Dowd & Lena Dunham (Girls fame, side note – how good is Girls Season 2 – You go HBO!).

If you liked Bridesmaids (I know I always reference this film for Comedy Films) you will like this, like me you might even laugh out loud. The reason is the characters are so flawed it’s just so refreshing to see characters who can laugh at their short comings and still smile. The two main daughters are great, Leslie Mann as Rudd’s wife is priceless.

I walked out of this movie straight into a concert and there was no better party starter, so with the long weekend in mind, if you want to blow your friends minds at hottest 100 parities with some one liners, you will find them all here.

I think the movies should be fun and this is loads of it, This is 40 rates a strong language alert 4 stars.

The Real Sydney Summer Festival {PART FOUR} - Vampire Weekend

The Big Day Out has left Sydney, done the Gold Coast and all that's left is a few sideshows to wet our festival appetites.  Never fear though, Laneway is on the Way, the sold out Soundwave is getting it's metal ready and Future Music is set to go Gangnam in March, but last night it was Vampire Weekend's turn, to literally turn it on.

And boy did Vampire Weekend kick it, Yes they did!  Opening with the amazing fun of "Cousins" with a set list more looking like a best of hits set list this was all killer and no filler.  With a third disc on the way Vampire Weekend are totally the indie darlings of New York.

After seeing the Sleigh Bells turn it up to 12 @ the Metro on Saturday it was time for some indie pop to make Sydney's indie kids weak at the knees with killer sing a longs and pure pop fun.

With songs like "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa", "Holiday", "A-Punk", "Horchata", "Oxford Comma", "Giving Up the Gun" & "One (Blake's Got a New Face)" it was a total Wednesday night party!  I even felt under 30 again toe tapping away to the sublime sounds of the indie kids.

You couldn't help but smile and laugh at the tunes, the crowd's dancing and lot's of good times.

So Vampire Weekend with a killer set and then an awesome 3 tune encore really killed it at the Metro last night, I think everyone who left the gig will be smashing out some VW on their iPhone, iPOD, iPAD or portable device today, SMAZING!

And a HUGE thanks to my girl Ms Lamb for being the sexiest date EVA

And tomorrow tune in pre Vampire Weekend I got my "This is 40" on, such a surprising film, so tomorrow check this out!

Until then, Vampire Weekend continue The Real Sydney Summer Festival rating a whooping 4.25 STARS @ Sydney's AMAZING Metro Theatre.

PS - Thanks to Google for making images work again XO

Australian Singles of 2012 - Summer Music Lists Special - Part Four

20 - Missy Higgins - Unashamed Desire
19 - Clare Bowditch - You Make Me Happy
18 - Knife Party - Centipede
17 - Xavier Rudd - Follow the Sun
16 - Birds of Tokyo - This Fire
15 - Parachute Youth - Can't Get Better Than This
14 - Illy - Heard it all
13 - Angus Stone - Bird on a Buffalo
12 - Hilltop Hoods - Rattling the Keys to the Kingdom
11 - British India - I Can Make You Love Me
10 - Hilltop Hoods -  Speaking in Tongues
9 - Flight Facilities - Clair De Lune
8 - Temper Trap - Need Your Love
7 - Flume - Holdin On'
6 - Temper Trap - Trembling Hands
5 - The Rubens - My Gun
4 - 360 - Run Alone
3 - Missy Higgins - Everyone's Waiting
2 - 360 - Child
1 - Knife Party - Internet Friends

 

And tonight, the REAL Sydney Festival continues @ Sydney's Metro Theatre... VAMPIRE WEEKEND Y"ALL!

 

 

What's On @ the Movies 2013 - The Impossible {Australian Preview}

This film was released in Spain late last year as this Spanish film in English directed by Juan Antonio Bayona and stars some pretty impressive actors.  Naomi Watts is so killer in this role, she definitely deserves any nominations/awards that roll her way.  Ewan McGregor is great and young Tom Holland is just spectacular.

After seeing Les Mis and feeling nothing for the main characters this was the total opposite during "The Impossible".  You feel the every injury, every emotion you just sit there and try to hold back the tears when Naomi Watts is on the screen.  Tom Holland also has moments where your heart just breaks.

The massive scenes in this movie are done so well the moment the wave hits it's just this huge cinema moment that if you saw this movie on DVD @ home it would lose so much.

This movie is totally engaging and such an emotional roller coaster, I really hope for Naomi Watts she takes home some awards for this role as this could be the role of her career, true story, amazing tale of survival, just amazing.

I can't simply say enough good things about this film, yes in parts it was hard to watch, the over crowded hospitals in Thailand, the peoples injuries after the waves hit.  This could easily be my film of the Summer, so engaging, so real and such human spirit.

Remember the tissues, remember this really happened to one of the most beautiful countries in the world.



Even watching back the trailer stirs up emotions, the Impossible, possibly a contender for my favourite film of 2013.

4.75 heartbreaking stars.

I found a wallet with $400 in it, Countdown - Sun 20 Jan 2013

And I gave it back to it's rightful owner, in the meantime we have a new Aussie massive hit and a new number one, hooray 4 Monday & boot camp for me (not!):

20 - Flume - Holdin On'
19 - Avicii & Nicky Romero - I Could be the One
18 - Haim - Don't Save Me
17 - Disclosure - Latch
16 - Of Monsters & Men - Mountain Sound
15 - Adele - Skyfall
14 - Mumford & Sons - I Will Wait
13 - Calvin Harris/Florence Welch - Sweet Nothing
12 - Chiddy Bang - Happening
11 - Ed Sheeran - Give Me Love
10 - David Guetta/SIA - She Wolf (Falling to Pieces)
9 - Swedish House Mafia - Don't You Worry Child

8 - Birds of Tokyo - Lanterns



7 - Rudimental - Not Giving In {Feat. John Newman & Alex Clare}
6 - Calvin Harris/Tinie Tempah - Drinking from the Bottle
5 - Of Monsters & Men - Little Talks
4 - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Thrift Shop
3 - Icona Pop - I Love it!
2 - The Lumineers - Ho Hey
1 - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Same Love

The Real Sydney Summer Festival {PART THREE} - Sleigh Bells

The wall of sound otherwise known as Sleigh Bells rocked out the Metro Theatre on George Street.  Now I have been to the Metro many times, I've seen Spiderbait, the Superjesus, Veruca Salt, Lisa Mitchell, the divine Roisin Murphy & many others grace the stage of this mighty fine live Sydney venue.

Now the Sleigh Bells were supported by ARIA award winning Brisbane band DZ Deathrays (best hard rock/heavy metal album) and they rocked the set.  They played their hits that earned them massive radio play in 2012.  "No Sleep" was a great stomper and "Dollar Chills" was a great little tune.

Them along with 12 Marshall stacks it was the almighty Sleigh Bells, I saw them upon the release of their debut "Treats" at the Forum (now the Hi-Fi) a few years back.  Hailing from Brooklyn, New York, these kids ROCK and loud!

That wall fo sound they bring with them is so BIG it's insane.  They played lot's of hits from their latest album "Reign of Terror", "Comeback Kid" was a definite highlight and "Born to Lose" with a great light show rocked!

Their hits from "Treats" were ace, "Tell Em", "Infinity Guitars" & "Rill Rill" (complete with lead singer crowd surfing) all got the crowd pumped!

I had such a ball and I love my lamb chop, Mrs Lamb for hooking me up and my little Cannon for being introduced to a much hyped and loved indie band who took on the heat @ Sydney's BDO on Friday.

What a sound, what a Saturday, now it's Sunday and I am beat, so check em out below:



OK so tune in early tomorrow AM for the biggest and most fun countdown with a new number one and a BIG comeback Aussie tune.  And Tuesday it's a look @ the new Naomi Watts movie which opens this Australia Day Long Weekend "The Impossible".

So to Sleigh Bells rating, it's a glowing 4 STARZ as the big Summer of music continues! ****

@ SOH's House 4 Summer - BLAZE

So summer is well and truly on and Blaze @ the Opera House so sadly finishes this weekend, sad face.

It's hard in this city for people to drop the attitude and say hey let's put on a show that will entertain people and make them smile.  I find this past year theatre has been a social status not a form of entertainment, I find I hear people say were going to the theatre, oh! Did you actually enjoy it, did you really want to go, no usually follows these two questions.

Blaze puts fun and enjoyment first up and encourages the crowd (audience to engage) and have a wicked time.  This show for me on Friday night was the perfect party starter with a great soundtrack and some ace as moves as below:



If you like dance and you like Step Up films, great music, this is so for you and you must see this before the weekend is out.

You can grab a ticket here and get your dancing shoes set for a fab Summer @ the House night!

I am so happy this show came to Sydney and so excited to see how the Summer @ the House programming goes as the place looked beyond amazing, pop up bars, 45 degree hit, Sydney's Summer starts @ the iconic Opera House and Blaze my favourite show in the Concert Hall for ages rates a glowing, blazin mo fucken 4.25 STARZ

Blaze Tonight, Sydney Melts Today & Weekend Story Times

So Sydney is melting right about now, I am about to head off to some Summer @ the House and then hopefully tomorrow get my dance on to some Sleigh Bell action!

Summer is definitely in full swing with the Big Day Out in Sydney town today and then travelling this fine brown land.  This Sunday night though tune in the BLOG has a hot as new number one with an ace message brought to you by what I thought was a novelty act, any ideas???

Also Monday sees me off to the movies for "The Impossible", so gosh damn excited!

So hold onto your hats, slip, slop & slap.

Until tomoz, unless I melt.....

What's On @ the Movies - Jack Reacher

- Film released in 2012 (Boxing Day Blockbuster, I think LOLZ)

So I finally caught the latest Tom Cruise thriller "Jack Reacher" which I really enjoyed.  The older ladies near me and my man hated it but if you strip back the violence and some corny lines, this was a decent thriller, something really lacking at the cinema lately.

Yes it's kids movie central, it's corny Seth Rogan movie central, it's super violent shock film time but no real thriller.  Jack Reacher was fun, well shot and the twists are turned kept me on the edge of my seat.  Tom Cruise has had some really decent films lately and I think his career is looking on the way up again.

Could I recommend this film to everyone? Probably not but the movie was a really fun good cinema experience, the action scenes, the car chase scene and the initial crime was full one but very well done.

Jack Reacher rates a solid 3.75 Tom Cruise Come Back Stars. Well done dog.

Summer telly is almost history (ditto to Summer, today is tThis he halfway mark)

So this usually means the networks roll out the big guns for the new year and in 2013 I am more excited about the returning series which are winning Golden Globes as I write this.

Girls took out Comedy or Musical Series beating "Smash" & three other shows I have zero to little interest in.

Season Two of Girls hit the US yesterday and the hot as soundtrack also hit the stands recently, lets take a look @ this ace Golden Globe winning HBO nugget of gold!



I am super excited about Shameless (US Version) landing on a TV set near you too.  The last season was epic, and here is what the third season has on offer:



The adult version of Glee "Smash" (mentioned above losing out to "Girls" for a Golden Globe) starts up it's second season real soon too, here is a little look below:



The new series on a lot of people's lips is the male version of revenge with a comic book twist, it's Arrow and the CW in the USA has struck gold I think with this one, being a ratings hit, I think Australians as Americans have already done will fall for this tried and tested show.  Take a peak below:



To keep my Australian content quota here is a look at another tried and tested formula it's the latest Underbelly offering.  Will it be any good? Judge for yourself below:



Also making music news Justin Timberlake released his new tune today teaming up with Beyonce's main man Jay Z:



Did you ever think Birds of Tokyo could out do "Plans" well their new single is not just the music featured in Channel's Sevens super average Revenge Season Two promo it's a BIG tune, "Lanterns" will be featured on their new disc landing in March.



This is great new music from one of my all time favourites it's Dizzee BONKERS Rascal:



Okay so that's it for your Monday wrap up, Happy Golden Globes, Happy mid point of Summer and happy two weeks away from another public holiday, Australia Day FUCK YEAH!

A Stormy Sunday Countdown - Sun 13 Jan 2013

20 - Birds of Tokyo - This Fire

19 - Of Monsters & Men - Mountain Sound



18 - Flume - Holdin On'
17 - Haim - Don't Save Me



16 - Adele - Skyfall
15 - Avicii & Nicky Romero - I Could be the One



14 - Disclosure - Latch
13 - Calvin Harris/Florence Welch
12 - Chiddy Bang - Happening
11 - Mumford & Sons - I Will Wait
10 - David Guetta/SIA - She Wolf (Falling to Pieces)
9 - Ed Sheeran - Give Me Love
8 - Calvin Harris/Tinie Tempah - Drinking from the Bottle
7 - Rudimental - Not Giving In {Feat. John Newman & Alex Clare}
6 - Swedish House Mafia - Don't You Worry Child
5 - Of Monsters & Men - Little Talks
4 - The Lumineers - Ho Hey
3 - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Same Love
2 - Icona Pop - I Love it!
1 - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Thrift Shop

Shit that comes through my inbox and random weekends

So it's been a monster week I feel like I am getting hookers throat and the week ahead is looking equally large as bands continue to roll into Sydney and those hot Summer days look like they are here to stay.

First up some funny shit that come through my inbox, thanks mummy Sharda:



So Dizzee Rascal is back with some new music and this excites me just a little:



Plus Skrillex is also back on the scene with another new jam for y'all to check out and see what you think below:



And finally some local content Clubfeet outta Melbourne are about to drop their new disc and here's a preview below:



Stay out of the heat today and happy belated birthday to Nicole and welcome home Peta Patricia Perkins, wedding soon y'all.

What's On @ the Movies 2013 - Gangster Squad

Wow the first film to be released in 2013, what a violent and powerful way to start the year.  This massive cast do so well in this rich man's Underbelly, it is big elaborate and that cast.

Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling are delicious, Sean Penn is a creepy bad guy you just want to see brought to justice, Josh Brolin is fantastic & Michael Pena is a fantastic talent.

This film has one of the most graphic intro's around and the actions that follow are pretty much full on.

I have to say if you don't like violence or bloodshed avoid this @ all costs, if you like a gritty film and think Underbelly can do much better than check this out.

Crime stories are done over and over but when done well and they can get the action sequences down pat.

I can't say enough good things about this, so check the trailer below and make up your own mind:



Gangster Squad is choice first film release for 2013 it rates a solid as Ryan Goslings rock hard abs 4 stars.

The other Sydney Festival 2013 - The Blind Date Project

Have you ever had a bad or random date, well Bojana Novakovic is about to have heaps as she conducts the random and fun Blind Date Project.  After rave reviews and articles on SMH this play was the thing to do or see during the Sydney Festival or the Other Festival happening in Sydney.  Cause really let's be honest, Big Day Out, Soundwave, side shows, Field Day, it's kinda got a lot more Sydney appeal than random art house epics.

Anyway enough on that, that's for another day and another day brings another random Blind Date and Bojana Novakovic gets to meet another partner on the dating game (which after being on Grindr can get a little dull after while) and I think this is the perfect city for this as we have all dated, there have been good, bad and even ugly ones, so really I am not going to wreck this for you, if your a serial dater or you like something that thinks outside the smalls arts box check it.

More info can be found here and to be honest with you it's probably the most interesting piece of theatre you'll see this year.

4 Blind as a rat on ecstasy STARS.

The Real Sydney Summer Festival {PART TWO} - Hot Chip

OMG how hot was it yesterday SYDNEY???

So Hot was the theme yesterday, the weather hit new levels, the crowd was mighty fine and the action on stage, electric!  The light show was damn trippy and the best damn light show I have ever seen for a show of this style.  GREAT!

Can I just say Hot Chip could not have done a better Greatest Hits so if they tried.  "Over and Over" completely cleared the main bar, there were fist pumps, they was jumping, it was like a madhouse and everyone forgot the heat to get loose, "Boy from School" from their second album the Warning was a nice addition to the set early on.

"Ready for the Floor" & "One Life Stand" were really popular too, it was hard to believe their first release came out in 2004, cray cray hey??

The hits from their new album were also really well received "Flutes", "Night & Day", "How Do You Do?" & "Don't Deny Your Heart", they totally aimed to please!  So amazing, the latest album "In Our Heads" which was self produced totally impressed me late last year, it was a real grower and to hear it live and sound so close to the record with live instruments, amazing.

So the Sydney live music pulse continues to be at a mega level with Sydney's Enmore Theatre again turning it up to 12, let's just hope I get through Summer without passing out and the shows remain at the M.I.A & Hot Chip standard, not too mention Nina Las Vegas sexy DJ set.

Hot Chip + 40 Degrees + Nerdy Dance Tunes = a 4 STAR HOT experience.

Till the next concert or maybe film, laters....

What's On @ the Movies - Les Misérables

- Film released in 2012 (Boxing Day Blockbuster)

So I have for a long time thought musicals don't work on the big screen, however the Sapphires, to an extent Pitch Perfect slightly changed my opinion.  Les Misérables sent me back to my original thinking. It was a good movie but it did lack that something that musicals on screen do seem to that live theatre has.

Live theatre is great when done well and when it's not it's bad so a movie can hide all this "bad stuff" as it's not live and heavily edited.  Les Misérables at the theatres would have had an interval which would have been sublime as this film clocks in at 158 minutes! FML!

Now to the actors, old Rusty has copped a lot of criticism, Adam Lambert (when I first heard his hit, "If I had You", I thought it was Mary J Blige or another similar female vocalist) has pubically criticised the actors on Twitter but really it's a fab cast and with so many people in their it's hard to point people out for being amazing and others for being terrible.  Although it's a long movie it doesn't lag (like the Hobbit - or so I hear) it moves along at a real pace and the actors do well to get through all story lines.

The main thing I was hoping for was this does well so the Miss Saigon movie gets green lit, that is truly my favourite musical and as much as this was sad but I really was not that upset by anyone in the movie.

Okay so our hometown star Hugh Jackman was impressive, Anne Hathaway was good, Amanda Seyfried man she has landed on her feet, Rusty so not that bad he was better in the Man with the Iron Fists thought (great film!), Baron Cohen and Bonham Carter were the disappointments for me & the rest of the cast all good.

So this is getting long and my attention span is short so I will sum it up, tomorrow in Sydney = 43 degrees, a movie on Tuesday costs around $11.00, three hours of cheap air con = good value and a pass mark for Les Misérables 3 death filled stars.

A Second Serving of Pitch Perfect Countdown for the First Time in 2013 - Sun 6 Jan 2013

20 - Frank Ocean - Lost




19 - Flight Facilities - Clair De Lune
18 - Disclosure - Latch



17 - Ellie Goulding - Anything Could Happen
16 - Birds of Tokyo - This Fire
15 - Flume - Holdin On'
14 - Chiddy Bang - Happening
13 - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Same Love
12 - Adele - Skyfall
11 - Mumford & Sons - I Will Wait
10 - Calvin Harris/Tinie Tempah - Drinking from the Bottle
9 - David Guetta/SIA - She Wolf (Falling to Pieces)
8 - Calvin Harris/Florence Welch - Sweet Nothing
7 - Ed Sheeran - Give Me Love
6 - Rudimental - Not Giving In {Feat. John Newman & Alex Clare}
5 - The Lumineers - Ho Hey
4 - Of Monsters & Men - Little Talks
3 - Swedish House Mafia - Don't You Worry Child
2 - Icona Pop - I Love it!
1 - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Thrift Shop

Welcome to 2013 and welcome to Frank Ocean to the countdown, well done old chap. And as the title suggests for today's countdown it was round two of seeing the terrific sing a long music number Pitch Perfect today. What a way to chill in the heat at the lovely cinema with big tunes and the below epic moment:



Anna Kendrick what a superstar!

See you again soon and maybe for a film review on one of Boxing Day's biggest blockbusters!

The Real Sydney Summer Festival {PART ONE} - M.I.A (and a special mention to Nina Las Vegas)

So last night @ Sydney's iconic live music venue the Enmore Theatre it was on for young + old.  On the Eve of Sydney Festival's launch the real Sydney Festivals hit the town, Big Day Out, Future Music, Soundwave and all the really ace sideshows like this one...

So I didn't love M.I.A @ the Metro either last summer or the previous one, but tonight she made me get on the floor J-Lo style!

So I was devo to miss Nina Las Vegas @ 7:30pm but then to my surprise as I arrived Sam & the Womp were finishing (who sounded a little scary) and then the sexy lady Nina Las Vegas (picture unavailable due to my BLOG being unfriendly, GOOGLE!) made her way back to her funky old decks!

Then girl put it down!

I always have this internal discussion with myself re; Triple J and where it's headed, last year was bleak, they featured the worst feature album (Parkway Drive), the Doctor continued to host Drive, Tom & Alex have completely lost my interest and Lewi went from being a fun from time to time weekend guy to a weird middle of the day, don't put me off my lunch.  On the bright side though Nina Las Vegas and her House Party show continued to shine and with that came a great compilation release and her weekly show continued to impress.

Nina was their shining star along with the ever bright Sarah Howells and BTW can Veronica & Lewis always do Drive they are amazing!  What great summer programming, sad it's all over :(

Anyway this is a gig review not my personal opinion of still Australia's and possibly the world's best radio station JJJ.

So Nina did put it down, her hits were big and there were many, from Frank Ocean to some well weekend dubstep lady cover of "Pony" so fab!  Highlights were the crowd loving sick "Thrift Shop" (this blog's number 1 song of 2012) and also a huge highlight was of course "212" being dropped in the mix, AMAZING! Love you Nina!

Then the stage literally looked like Christmas, two tents on stage, light installations everywhere and a podium, oh boy this was going to be big for the UK born M.I.A.

She came on stage with two back up dancers and a killer back up vocalists, all in red and some hot dope outfits!

So she opened up with some killer dance gems and the night just went off instantly, after a very Bollywood intro, the music just kept going and going with tribal beats and killer jams.

M.I.A did own it tonight with big hits "Galang", "Bucky Done Gun", "Paper Planes", "Sunshowers", "Boyz" (complete with around 50 randoms from the crowd on stage) & the big finale "Bad Girls".

The lack of tunes from the "Maya" album was interesting, no "XXXO", oh the sad face, but hey she killed it when she was on that stage!

I can't flaw the show even with technical difficulties, Nina Las Vegas started the party, M.I.A kept it up till close to midders, the room was full of greedy gays, young cool kids, older people following her interesting and varied career since 2005 (she performed with Madonna WTF???) and the usual summer gig suspects.  Some great costumes too in the crowd.

Well here is hoping I get me some Hot Chips next Tuesday.  The live music calendar is really full at the moment, head over HERE or HERE for the best live music this great city has to offer.

See you around for another awesome gig review (hopefully soon....)

M.I.A rates a UK top rating and hard to beat for 2013, 4 stars, you go girl, can't wait for the new disc in March 2013 (fingers crossed)!





Laters....

Australia Day Public Holiday is SOOOOO Close

And we need another public holiday don't we?  How hard was a three day week, who forgot to have money in their accounts to pay direct debts? Maybe me but this short week is now over and tonight I look to M.I.A for a Friday dance off.



So excited BTW

So yeah Australia Day Public Holiday I will list for you the second list of BIG songs for 2012, from 200 to 101 and also announce my personal Australian Album of 2012, what will it be, will it be a debut from a spunky young Sydney producer (a recent SUPER producer):



Or maybe a comeback album from another spunk rat Mistress Higgins or as she is more commonly known Missy Higgins:



Or last up a solid album from Aussie Hip Hop royalty The Hilltop Hoods who are currently surviving their 50th straight day above 45 degrees in the always sunny Radelaide:



Not long till the winner is revealed so stay tuned, stay tuned also for a full review of M.I.A tonight @ the Enmore, it's gonna be DOPE!

It's only Jan 3 but I spotted this bit of new music & I'm in a kinda sharing mood

So Azealia Banks is one of the first artists to release a new tune in 2013 and although it's no 212 or Van Vogue, I think it will grow on me, her album is out this year and already has one of the titles of the year "Broke With Epensive Taste".

Azealia Banks had the EP of the year last year with "1991" according to this
very BLOG so let's check out the new tune "BBD" below:



Also a very dear friend sent off these little treats for some Summer slack reading, Enjoy!

Until tomorrow or the next day Happy Summer Slack & Happy New Year!

@ the Movies 2012 (one final last time) - Liberal Arts

Directed by, starring & a screen play by Josh Radnor you would be thinking man, does this guy do it all, well no Zac Efron (heart stops beating for a tick) also makes a delicious cameo and I can hardly start on young Elizabeth Olsen she is the real deal. Who would think she is related to those weird twins from Full House.


At the heart of this film is romance & indie days at Uni so I think it’s relatively easy to fit this into its 90 minute running time. And Josh does well, playing a uni admin officer really excited (not) by his role and finding a reason to visit his old home town where he finds love. Look it sounds like 999 other films released in 2012 but this film has heart and soul and for me it was so well written an acted a lot of the flaws can be overlooked.

If you are wanting a really easy to watch and fun film I think look no further than this little hidden gem. However it may be hidden now as there was only one session a week when I saw it on New Years. So check y’all guides.

Overall the last film I saw in 2012 Liberal Arts rates a Liberal 3.5 Zac Efron dreamboat stars.