Why on Earth don't I love Clean Bandit's latest track.

I usually reserve my musical shit for Flashing off the Record (where this week I am featuring Justice's record WOMAN) but I just finished watching the UK X Factor elimination episode and I REALLY want to love the latest Clean Bandit single ROCKABYE, number one in many countries, but not even close to my number one tune right now.

It has all the ingredients for a HIT single for me, Clean Bandit tick, Anne-Marie tick and a revival to even test Craig David's (more on him below) sensational return, Sean Paul.

But something for me just does not click. Anne-Marie is sensational and put it down on solo singles Do It Right and Alarm, whilst being a surprise guest on Illy's hit single Catch 22. I first heard her on Rudimental's amazing single Rumour Mill and it's been all love from me towards Anne-Marie.

And Sean Paul, where do I start. Back in 2003 I was busy getting busy and getting down to some Queen Bey with Baby Boy. Recently Sean Paul also rebreathed life into Sia's hit Cheap Thrills sending the single all the way to number one in the USA.

So why does this song not click with me? I think lyrically it is rather weird and I have to say Clean Bandit's best tracks have been with the sensational powerhouse otherwise known as Jess Glynne.

I am hoping for better tracks from all three of the these folks on this UK Number One but for now as above I can not get Craig David's new tracks of my iPod. I am obsessed with 16 and don't get me started with some of his amazing recently collaborations.

Craig David along with the Weeknd's latest hit record Starboy are two of my favourite recent releases as we gear up to head into a sexy Sydney Summer.

RELATED AUDIO

Insecure Season One.

Oh the drama, the heartache and the sexy AS fuck men.

HBO continues to deliver outstanding drama and comedies and this is part drama, part comedy. Insecure follows the lives of Issa and Molly and I am so gosh damn happy after the finale a second series is in the works.

Based on a web series Awkward Black Girl this series was eight brilliant episodes with lots of laughs, sex and bad language. My kinda show.



If you like your ladies sassy and your men smoking hot, this show is outstanding.

This Summer/Christmas give yourself a laugh and give Insecure a go.

Looking the TV series finished it's run with a neat TV movie ending, but does life end in a neat bundle like a TV Movie?

Short answer NO, long answer, MAYBE..

HBO did right by it's fans but as far as storytelling goes sometimes life does not end up in neat parcels like the last scene of the homosexual drama does.

HBO took a risk on this series and gave it two full seasons, the TV movie and the show rated poorly and was nowhere near a Girls or Game of Thrones HBO blockbuster BUT it gave a voice to different types of gays. Multicultural gays, diverse gays and Jonathan Groff.



Murray Bartlett gave an Aussie take on the show and honestly it was interesting seeing different aged gays and how the gay world reacts to age. A once wise older gay once told me that the older you got the more invisible you were to the world. It's true as I hit my mid thirties.

Neat endings for shows are sometimes bitter sweet, you are happy the characters you have grown to love get the endings they may or may not deserve but at the same time some things will never be answered.

Looking did a great job in the tele-movie, one more racy sex scene, some closure and a celebration of gay marriage and how it does not break society or make people think it's okay to engage in sexual relations with animals.

Looking may not have reached the millions it intended to but in the end it was a solid body of work and another outstanding title HBO has given TV fans and gays like myself.

Goodbye LOOKING!

That Movie Gay #2016

Today I saw a thought provoking and interesting alien film, probably the most thought provoking and meaningful science fiction film I've seen. It's called ARRIVAL.



So not a lot can be said about my second Amy Adams film in what seems like as many weeks without giving anything away. I hate people spoiling shit for me, whether it be a film, a TV show (like now I am just catching up on Sons of Anarchy, and hell no I want to know where it ends, I am only up to season 4, shit!) so I will save you that drama.

Arrival is a beautifully shot film, it looks a million bucks (well it's budget was around $47 million) and Jeremy Renner is also spectacular in his role.

Amy Adams was outstanding, sublime and simply stunning in Nocturnal Animals, although this film she is more grounded, more real and her acting capabilities do both extremely well.

This film had me googling the meaning of the ending once I got home and as expected I was sort of on the right track. The film will stay for me for a while as it really got me thinking and I like that in a film. Arrival is pretty god damn impressive and I give it a solid 4 stars. Well done team beyond Arrival.

That Movie Gay #2016

Oh dear, in 2003 we meet Billy Bob in the original Bad Santa now it's time for BAD SANTA 2.



So the first one was original, crude and funny, this was was slightly less original, slightly more crude and at times funny but not full steam ahead funny. I didn't really know why Kathy Bates joined the cast and why they thought a second movie was in order.

Poor old Billy Bob he really looks worse for wear these days. Kathy Bates did a great job in American Horror Story this year but this was far from her best work.

The plot has the usual things going to shit, crude hook ups and some rather awkward scenes. I enjoyed it for the most part but I can only bring myself to pass this film as Bad Santa was highly enjoyable as a stand alone film, but there was really no need for a sequel.

2.5 Stars.

My picks for Triple J Breakfast Hosts - 2017

SO my computer flipped out last night, I drafted the below and wished to have posted it today, instead Triple J did press releases thoughout the day like THIS. So the below is like, good if you are not up to do with all the news posts and what not out there on the interwebs n shit:



Don't think I'm a no it all BUT I am so gunning for Kyran and Gen. The duo have been slaying on weekend afternoons and honestly they are two of the best and cute presenters on air right now.

I wanted to love Veronica and Lewis when they also had a similar shift to Kyran and Gen before transferring to Drive weekdays but some of their gimmicks this year have been shit that even Kiis FM would pass on.

Kyran and Gen seem to generally just love being in the same room as each other and I totally want to hear more of the two, but too be honest I never listen to Breakfast radio.

Weekend Arvos are way more my thing but if Kyran and Gen go to the early slot can the dreamy Michael Hing, Ronny Chieng or Nazeem return to Triple J weekends?

I have listened to Triple J since 1997/1998 and honestly Kyran and are up there with some of my favourites like Helen Razer, Chris and Craig doing Today, Today and the early days of Nina Las Vegas.

Matt & Alex have been fun but a change is really as good as a holiday so best of luck boys with wherever life takes you xo

Left Vs Right

I used to say I was proudly left leaning, dislike freaks like Andrew Bolt & Miranda Devine with pride but as I age I desperately want a more centred media, government and community.

Why?

Because the far left and far right are way too fucking extreme and both just feed off each others downsides.

The far right are pure evil, Mike Pence and Sir Donald Trump are scary mother truckers and let's not start on 2GB's dreamy announcers but the far left and the teams of professional protestors who attend any creep fests oooppppss I mean Reclaim Australia, United Patron Front rallies are only adding to the problem.

The far right and bloggers/columnists like Andrew Bolt love a "rude" and Leftist thugs, this only fuels his columns, his pathetic excuse for a nightly television drama and his rants in my favourite toilet paper the Daily Telegraph and Herald Sun.

So what do I want? People to agree, work together and put aside their differences and compromise. In all relationships, loving relationships, working relationships and families one needs to COMPROMISE and currently with the deadlock in Australian politics and the divide in the USA after the Trump election win is doing NO ONE any good.

In Australia with the lunatic One Nation party with Pauline Hanson at the helm and the Greens and team Xenophon either blocking or ignoring bills in front of them. Why are there trouble makers in the Senate like Ms Lambie? Because the people of Tasmania are sick of Kevin, they disliked Julia, they couldn't bare Tony and Malcolm is not living in real Australia, he lives in a mansion for fucks sake.

But the general public too need to come together, it's an uncertain time we face, but with unity and respect people power will rule. PLUR, Peace, Love, Unity and Respect thats what we need more of in the press, the parliament and in the public.

Come on Australia (world if you are reading) we are better than Trump, we are better than screaming Hilary, we are GREAT, we always have been and we don't need to be great again because as humans we have the potential to continue to be and always be great!

Triple J has had a GREAT Australian Music Month BUT...

It's been a HUGE year for Australian music, with my only two album of the year nominations being Australian:

1. SIA
2. Flume

Both artists have had incredibly BIG 2016's. Cheap Thrills and Never Be Like You have been two of the biggest anthems of 2016 and This is Acting and Skin have easily been the best two records of the year.

As the ARIA's loom and both Flume and SIA are highly tipped to win their respective categories Triple J has also been sharing the love with some Australian music lists (Unearthed 100) and announcing the J Awards during the week. I have to say I was highly disappointed SIA didn't receive a nomination for the instant pop classic record This is Acting and when Flume was beaten by DD Dumbo for the album of the year, well.

Yeah I get it DD Dumbo is a rising star but so is Flume, he is still hella young and his album has been an international and local smash record.

Oh well.

I usually reserve the right to BLOG about music on Flashing off the Record but I have been busy with countdowns, Sleigh Bell's brilliant new album Jessica Rabbit and this weekend I bring back the music lists. All music lovers love a list right?

Let's look at the Unearthed 100 best discoveries what a great list of new and upcoming Australian artists and so diverse. Honestly Australian music (thanks partly to this site and JJJ) has never been healthier and never with more internationally successful acts.

From #1 Flume to #2 Courtney Barnett and #3 The Rubens the list is brimming with outstanding talent. With Tash Sultana taking out this years Unearthed Artist of the Year it is gonna be another big year for the site and artists lifted off it.

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard not only have the best name in the biz but took out two awards and capped off the awards for the year.

Below for your Saturday is a mixture of Sia, Flume and JJJ favourites to recap the musically (Australian) week that has passed.

Rose Byrne is delightful, shame her play..

Isn't.

The reviews have been less than glowing and that isn't a new thing in Sydney and the usual suspects love a good scathing review!

Look Rose Byrne is sublime but this play is anything but. It's dated view of women in the workplace and honestly I am not 90% sure the movie biz works like it is portrayed in this play I am 100%.

Lately movies have been all about profit margins and no substance, the last School Holidays was a perfect example of this. Sequels are greenlit ahead of stories with a real message.

Speed the Plow is not what I am going to talk about, I am here to be positive and say how outstanding Rose Byrne is and how outstanding her career has been and continues to be.

Following an outstanding run on Damages with none other than Glenn Close for 5 seasons, Rose became a Hollywood heavyweight. Become a surprise comedy legend in Bridesmaids, Spy, the Neighbours films and Get Him to the Greek (actually that was one of the films I didn't love of hers to be 100% honest). Not only becoming one of Hollywoods leading women in comedy, Rose took her turn in the horror genre, becoming a leading lady once more in the Insidious series.

After Horror Rose again gave a crack at something fresh in a revisit to the musical hit Annie. Then to cover all bases Rose became an X-Men star.

Rose is an outstanding Australian and next to Sia one of my long time favourites since back in the Two Hands days with the late great Heath Ledger.

It was great seeing Rose live on stage (and so close Row F in the Stalls) she is a real star, you can feel it, even from Row F in the stalls!

Thanks Rose for a lovely Thursday evening last night, Speed the Plow is an opportunity to see this Hollywood legend in her former hometown now, she is stunning and fresh, more info HERE

Please Like Me Season 4.

Now in it's fourth season the ABC (and sorta Pivot (USA)) show that has been for gays and Australians what Girls in the USA has been for twenty something trendy ladies.

Please like Me, started off well and has grown in episodes but for it's fourth season it is a slim 6 episode season. With Pivot closing in the States last month and the ABC cutting costs it could spell the end for Please Like Me and Josh Thomas on the ABC. Thank god we have have Benjamin Law's The Family Law returning to SBS next year.

Gay Australians are rarely seen as raw as they are presented to the audience as in Please Like Me and as a gay it is refreshing to see this representation on Australian free to air TV. Foxtel gives lesbian love a great go with Wentworth and free to air tries to give gays a go in series but Please Like Me is all about the gays.

Josh Thomas is great in stand up and after last week's episode of the series I found myself falling for this awkward breakout hit all over again.

Well it's 9:30pm on Wednesday night RIGHT NOW, so why not flick over to ABC and give it a go, or if your reading this at a later time, feel free to switch on iView.

Looking forward to seeing Rose Byrne too on another note in Speed-the-Plow tomorrow night, lets hope the show is better than the reviews :(

The Affair Season 3.

The Affair is one of those shows that desperately needed a name change after series one, the affair happened, season 2 the divorce happened and now, well now who knows...

The Affair is interesting it's award winning (Golden Globes & Satellite Awards), well cast and a Showtime instant classic.

Leads Dominic West, Maura Tierney & Ruth Wilson are all brilliant! Joshua Jackson has also grown up a lot since Dawson's Creek too.



There is a lot happening in episode one and like last season episode one aired online earlier than Showtime in the US. This means I now have to wait till either 21 November or 27 November for the next instalment of this great US drama.

This show is like Divorce and Insecure not one to watch with partners, it's crazy, sexy & cool but covers some themes you may not wont to bring up with your better half.

Dominic West is also strangely sexy for 47 year old gentleman and that is a plus.

Showtime currently has a great roster with Shameless proving to be outstanding in it's 7th outing, Homeland will be outstanding when it returns and Ray Donovan just concluded and addictive season.

This is much watch TV and I cannot believe we are almost saying goodbye to some US shows that fall into the 2016-2017 TV season. American Horror Story will conclude this week and I already fell head over feet for Atlanta, so I need The Affair in my life right now.

Till next time, BYE!

That Movie Gay #2016

Isabelle Huppert as ELLE is fabulous!



In all honesty I usually do not like foreign films (call me an uneducated Trump voter if you will) but I loved, loved, loved this film.

It was full of inner city left leaning older folks at a 10.15am session in Newtown the day of the Newtown Festival so every hair dyed, tattooed, green voting Inner Westie was out.

This film was dark, interesting and a graphic subtitled look into modern and complex relationships.

Elle is honestly a great little thriller that almost has a whodunnit feel to it as well so in saying that, no spoilers HERE!

Isabelle Huppert is flawless as the lead, stunning, brilliant and such a lead! I cannot highly recommend this film enough, after seeing the god awful Jack Reacher film this week, this was high class and definitely in line for a US remake in years to come, outstanding.

4.75 Stars.

American Horror Story Season Six is easily the best to date.

I have been impressed by this years American Horror Story since it commenced a couple of months back and as it wraps up this series has honestly held my attention the entire run.

American Horror Story is known to jump the gun a bit and the later episodes tend to draw around half the viewers the early episodes draw but Roanoke has been a revelation. It almost recreated itself mid way through the series and got a whole new lease of life.

Hotel was completely off the rails towards the end and the sex and Lady Gaga factor just sent it over the edge however I hope this almost thriller version this years wraps nicely.

It's been a bloody blood fest but we have seen worse on US television recently with the return on The Walking Dead.



You don't get much from the finale promo (spoiler alert if your not up to date), but I think this will be a classy end to a truly brilliant season.

10 episodes seems to suit Murphy and let's hope with Scream Queens season 2 wrapping with ten this season it may get back on track as it finally returns after the election and World Series Baseball.

To be honest I am hoping the already renewed seventh outing will be titled American Horror Story: The Trump Years, however apparently Murphy already has a plan and the wheels are well and truly in motion.

In my eyes this season has easily been the most consistent and enjoyable by far, well done Ryan Murphy, credit given where credit is due.

That Movie Gay #2016

As unbelievable as yesterday was I let belief and any sense of reality slip out the door when I stepped into a dark theatre to watch JACK REACHER: NEVER GO BACK



After America fucked up yesterday (royally) why need see some dumbed damn American trash in the form of the latest Tom Cruise film. The sequel to the Jack Reacher this time is titled Never Go Back.

I actually think we should never haven gone back because really this was a lame and uneventful B (maybe C) grade action film.

The action scenes felt forced, the storyline was piss weak and the days events made my head hurt and the lame dialogue in this Tom Cruise produced film did nothing for my headache.

The recent Mission Impossible films were SO much better than this and Tom has it in him but this was rather lame and I am not surprised this film has not done big business.

Hopefully the next film I see is more like the last two (Nocturnal Animals & The Accountant) as this was a bit of a BLAH cinema moment, 2 Stars.

That Movie Gay #2016

What happens when a film looks so damn good, you cannot divert you're eyes, you must be watching NOCTURNAL ANIMALS.



An all star cast joins writer, director and producer Tom Ford. After his 2009 film a Single Man, Ford returns with this dark and delicious tale.

Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhall, Laura Linney, Michael Shannon, Isla Fisher, Armie Hammer and a list of supporting actors who are equally amazing.

This tale is dark as fuck, but I was hooked by visions played out in front of me.

Again like yesterday not going to give anything away as this film takes you on a massive ride. Nocturnal Animals is not for the faint hearted with an opening credits scene to make ones eyes water. Jake shines as does Amy, 4.5 Stars for this physiological thriller.

That Movie Gay #2016

Well haven't I had a break from my regular movie going self, so it was heaven on a Sunday morning to buy a soy latte and settle in with THE ACCOUNTANT.



Ben Affleck is now a certified adult male action star, he is the latest Batman, he is Christian Wolff. I cant give too much of the plot away as this thriller takes a few fabulous twists and turns!

John Lithgow and JK Simmons make up the older male cast members and Anna Kendrick is again versatile and divine in this role.

This movie is part thriller and part drama, it builds slowly but gets to where it has to, and then end you have no idea where it is going!

Ben Affleck is starting to redeem himself after some questionable past roles. There is a new and improved Daredevil, He's Just Not That into You was Meh and let's be honest I am hoping Justice League is a better outing than Batman Vs Superman as really that was ALL about Wonder Woman.

The Accountant was a well return to adult films at the cinema, The Accountant is a great thrilling ride, 3.75 Stars.

Melbourne Cup, Halloween are OVER, what's next??

What a week it's been and there is a reason I ain't be posting, medical tests, working it, finally returning to the movies, catching up on my shows, heading back to the gym to complete 3 body balance classes and god only knows what else.

Man I love body balance, what a class, what a way to relax and think, use your body for good and just chill.

So the bogan fest that is Melbourne Cup is done and dusted. Yes I'm un-Australian but now the rest of the world thinks we are drunken fouls. Actually if you look at who we look to govern the country drunken fouls is a kind description.

Back in 2010 the fabulous Marieke Hardy wrote this piece about steering clear of the Cup and now more Australians are following in her delightful footsteps. The world has spoken according to the reliable News.com.au and we fir in with Hilary's basket of deplorables.

And speaking of Hilary and the USA when did Australia fall head of feet for Halloween, even in my inner city suburb houses were decorated like at Christmas time and kids got ready to get fat (fatter).

Is it just me getting old and hating the world or do we seem to celebrate the most moronic events in Australia nowadays?

I'm not big on Christmas nor Easter either but can't we celebrate and unite like young Vanessa Marian is currently doing out at Auburn? Something like this and contributing to our future and not just our present to me seems like a more fulfilling reason to celebrate. Maybe that's just me.

I do however want to celebrate the beyond brilliant Samantha Bee again this weekend, what a diva, so fab, here is another cut from this weeks episode.

That Movie Gay #2016

I finally returned to the cinema for a strange experience, it was, well.. DOCTOR STRANGE



After a long run of Marvel films and super hero films ahead of Doctor Strange we need something new, something different and well Benedict Cumberbatch and Tilda Swinton sorta bring it. Swinton and Cumberbatch not two names I thought I would say with Marvel in the same sentence but here it is.

With Marvel now running out of big names to cast in their franchises it's an interesting experiment this Doctor Strange film, part Inception, part every other super hero film, this looks great but the story (particularly the beginning) is a bit WTF!

Will they even bother with a sequel to this film? Will this live up to other Marvel films that have come before it? Well maybe not but our next outing is not until 2017 with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Oh how will we cope till May 2017.

At least there is Iron Fist coming to Netflix in March 17, 2017 (otherwise known as St Patricks Day).

So is Doctor Strange any good? My last film The Girl on the Train was outstanding, this was far from outstanding but from having a few tests and a camera down my mouth and up my ass this was a far more exciting evening my day.

Cumberbatch, Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Swinton and Mads Mikkelsen (Hannibal) lead a fab cast, but there is something missing or is it just we have seen this all before and honestly there are moments this films morphs into Inception Part Two.

I enjoyed this for the most part, but it isn't as great as Deadpool or as action packed as an Avengers film, so I'll give this one 2.75 Stars.