tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65746133297760045782024-03-14T05:25:55.201+00:00Sync Up The CutsRoger Hollandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07055871892830829855noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574613329776004578.post-78834310941048960162011-04-11T14:41:00.002+01:002011-04-11T14:45:37.191+01:00Source Code Review<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hh3NWSBmbsQ/TaAbGev_EFI/AAAAAAAAFbg/NMQlpxM_U4Q/s400/source-code-poster.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 165px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hh3NWSBmbsQ/TaAbGev_EFI/AAAAAAAAFbg/NMQlpxM_U4Q/s400/source-code-poster.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />My review of Duncan Jone's sophomore effort Source Code is up now over at <a href="http://flickeringmyth.blogspot.com/">Flickering Myth</a>, click <a href="http://flickeringmyth.blogspot.com/2011/04/movie-review-source-code-2011.html">here</a> for a direct link.<br /><br />With Moon as his first feature, David Bowie's son set a pretty high standard for himself! I'd say he comes close though.<br /><br />Source Code is out now!Roger Hollandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07055871892830829855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574613329776004578.post-10124902441097563352011-04-08T23:56:00.002+01:002011-04-09T00:01:29.276+01:0013 Assassins Review<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QRfCyXONNuM/TZ3wwAOGUqI/AAAAAAAAFa4/kIPMmSY-5Kc/s400/13-Assassins-Poster.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 165px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QRfCyXONNuM/TZ3wwAOGUqI/AAAAAAAAFa4/kIPMmSY-5Kc/s400/13-Assassins-Poster.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />My review of Takashi Miike's latest samurai epic 13 Assassins is up now over at <a href="http://flickeringmyth.blogspot.com/">Flickering Myth</a>, click <a href="http://flickeringmyth.blogspot.com/2011/04/movie-review-13-assassins-2010.html">here</a> to head straight there.<div><br /></div><div>The third act of this film is ridiculously awesome, check it out if you get the chance!</div><div><br /></div><div>13 Assassins is released in UK Cinemas on 6th May, although most likely on limited release, so seek it out!</div><div><br /></div><div>Enjoy your weekends!</div>Roger Hollandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07055871892830829855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574613329776004578.post-58677848532015600182011-04-04T18:06:00.003+01:002011-04-04T18:11:07.351+01:00My Soul To Take Review<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8yZ0kw5vc1I/TZnxB9PdNqI/AAAAAAAAFYw/boMWgr_ZMcs/s400/my-soul-to-take-poster.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 165px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8yZ0kw5vc1I/TZnxB9PdNqI/AAAAAAAAFYw/boMWgr_ZMcs/s400/my-soul-to-take-poster.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />My review of Wes Craven's Scream 4 stopgap, 'My Soul To Take', is up now over at <a href="http://flickeringmyth.blogspot.com/">Flickering Myth</a>, click <a href="http://flickeringmyth.blogspot.com/2011/04/dvd-review-my-soul-to-take-2010.html">here</a> to go straight to the link!<div><br /></div><div>Really hoping that this one isn't an indication of how good Scream 4 will be, because if it is...</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh and despite what the poster might say, the DVD isn't in 3D! Mercifully. </div><div><br /></div><div>DVD/Blu Ray is out today!</div>Roger Hollandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07055871892830829855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574613329776004578.post-80428868654242216472011-03-10T16:52:00.002+00:002011-03-10T16:57:10.179+00:00Monsters Review (Jameson Cult Film Club)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-baV3QJVqTQ0/TXfFhpeYzOI/AAAAAAAAFFQ/jgnXXOWONfw/s400/monsters.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 149px; height: 217px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-baV3QJVqTQ0/TXfFhpeYzOI/AAAAAAAAFFQ/jgnXXOWONfw/s400/monsters.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />My review of the Jameson Cult Film Club screening of Gareth Edwards' excellent debut Monsters at The Royal College of Surgeons in Holborn is up now over at Flickering Myth, click <a href="http://flickeringmyth.blogspot.com/2011/03/jameson-cult-film-club-monsters-2010.html">here</a> to go straight over.<br /><br />The event was a lot of fun! Hopefully I'll get to go to more of these!<br /><br />Oh and FYI, Gareth Edwards next project is gonna be the Toho-approved Godzilla reboot! Can't wait! Here's hoping he's using the Roland Emmerich one as a 'How-not-to' guide...Roger Hollandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07055871892830829855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574613329776004578.post-9014113647061890722011-03-10T16:48:00.002+00:002011-03-10T16:51:47.456+00:00Drive Angry 3D Review<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5SNOjAgmKgk/TWKi_ZRojkI/AAAAAAAAE1o/rmv23QblhPY/s400/drive-angry-poster.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 174px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5SNOjAgmKgk/TWKi_ZRojkI/AAAAAAAAE1o/rmv23QblhPY/s400/drive-angry-poster.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Bit late posting the link for this, but my review of Nicholas Cage's most recent excursion into hilariously demented fare, Drive Angry 3D, is up now over at Flickering Myth, click <a href="http://flickeringmyth.blogspot.com/2011/02/movie-review-drive-angry-3d-2011.html">here</a>.<br /><br />If you like your movies with tongues wedged firmly in cheeks, this one's right up your alley!Roger Hollandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07055871892830829855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574613329776004578.post-86680653444862371682011-02-07T22:48:00.003+00:002011-02-07T22:50:30.650+00:00Brighton Rock Review<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__BqlxfEVGSg/TUmgRhE9DuI/AAAAAAAAElU/P4t0NIUldyA/s400/brighton-rock-poster.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 165px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__BqlxfEVGSg/TUmgRhE9DuI/AAAAAAAAElU/P4t0NIUldyA/s400/brighton-rock-poster.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />My review of the new adaption of Graham Greene's novel Brighton Rock is up now over at Flickering Myth.<div><br /></div><div>Why not pop over, have a read and comment/ discuss? </div><div><br /></div><div>Clicky right <a href="http://flickeringmyth.blogspot.com/2011/02/movie-review-brighton-rock-2011.html">here</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Enjoy your weeks!</div>Roger Hollandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07055871892830829855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574613329776004578.post-53717987666865762232011-01-30T10:42:00.005+00:002011-01-30T15:47:56.518+00:00John Carpenter's The Ward Review<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://0.tqn.com/d/horror/1/G/q/l/0/-/Ward-poster.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 236px;" src="http://0.tqn.com/d/horror/1/G/q/l/0/-/Ward-poster.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />My review of John Carpenter's The Ward, his return to the silver screen after over a decade in the wilderness (well, TV) is up now over at <a href="http://flickeringmyth.blogspot.com/">Flickering Myth</a>, click <a href="http://tinyurl.com/4rs5ktv">here</a> to go straight there!<div><br /></div><div>Not to ruin it or anything, but anyone expecting the genius of Halloween, The Thing or even The Fog is gonna be a bit disappointed...</div><div><br /></div><div>Hope everyone has a cool Sunday!</div>Roger Hollandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07055871892830829855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574613329776004578.post-76718807644005542242011-01-18T23:31:00.003+00:002011-01-18T23:33:37.026+00:00I'm Still Here ReviewHey hey, my review of 'The-Joaquin-Phoenix-goes-mental-movie' I'm Still Here is up now over at Flickering Myth, clickety-click right <a href="http://bit.ly/hs7786">here.</a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Roger Hollandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07055871892830829855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574613329776004578.post-13475177579977098252011-01-15T15:33:00.003+00:002011-01-15T15:40:45.576+00:00More Punktastic Album ReviewsHey hey, my reviews for the debut albums from post-hardcore/soundscape outfit 'Amia Venera Landscape' and metalcore band 'Bury The Archive' are up right now over at Punktastic. Take a look <a href="http://tinyurl.com/66h37ur">here</a> and <a href="http://tinyurl.com/66otca9">here</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.punktastic.com/">Punktastic</a> is also having a bit of a redesign so check it out and keep up to date with all the latest news and developments in the world of Punk Rock.<br /><br />Enjoy your weekends!Roger Hollandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07055871892830829855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574613329776004578.post-89856107115816014032010-12-21T00:59:00.002+00:002010-12-21T01:02:50.515+00:00The Reef ReviewMy review of the new shark thriller 'The Reef' is up now over at Flickering Myth, click <a href="http://flickeringmyth.blogspot.com/2010/12/thoughts-on-reef-2010.html">here!</a><br /><br />The Reef is out on DVD on the 24th January.<br /><br />This might be my last post before Christmas guys so Merry Xmas everyone! Watch loads of movies, listen to tons of music and spend some time with the family! Go on, it won't kill ya!<br /><br />RogRoger Hollandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07055871892830829855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574613329776004578.post-9666456475813959422010-12-06T11:43:00.002+00:002010-12-06T11:49:22.138+00:00Tron Legacy ReviewMy review of Tron Legacy is up now over at Flickering Myth, click <a href="http://flickeringmyth.blogspot.com/2010/12/thoughts-on-tron-legacy-2010.html">here</a> to shoot on over. <div><br /></div><div>Happy Monday!</div>Roger Hollandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07055871892830829855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574613329776004578.post-23367482969525839192010-12-01T13:27:00.003+00:002010-12-01T13:33:13.229+00:00No Impact Man ReviewMy review of the enjoyably informative 'No Impact Man' is up now over at Flickering Myth, click <a href="http://flickeringmyth.blogspot.com/2010/12/thoughts-on-no-impact-man-2009.html">here</a> to go straight to the review.<br /><br />The film's just been released on DVD, check it out! I really dug it.<br /><br />Tron Legacy screening on Thursday!! Saw most of it already yesterday at work but can't wait to sit back and see the whole thing properly!Roger Hollandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07055871892830829855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574613329776004578.post-81475527371759014192010-11-21T19:59:00.002+00:002010-11-21T20:03:30.328+00:00The Next Three Days ReviewMy review of Paul Haggis' latest 'The Next Three Days' starring Russell Crowe is up now over at <a href="http://flickeringmyth.blogspot.com/">Flickering Myth</a>, click <a href="http://flickeringmyth.blogspot.com/2010/11/thoughts-on-next-three-days-2010.html">here</a> to go straight the review.<br /><br />Hope everyone's enjoying their Sundays!Roger Hollandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07055871892830829855noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574613329776004578.post-18270109762594550822010-11-17T02:20:00.006+00:002010-11-17T02:30:10.718+00:00Casiotone for the Painfully Alone @ Cargo, 15th November 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://cftpa.org/MARCH09PHOTOS/Hannah%20Persson%20Thumbs/DSC_8932.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://cftpa.org/MARCH09PHOTOS/Hannah%20Persson%20Thumbs/DSC_8932.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;color:#99FFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;color:#99FFFF;"><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCFFFF;">Unfortunately I arrive too late to see support band 'Munch Munch', Transport for London and Southern Rail letting me down once again. Seriously, their automated tannoy apologies are so insincere as to be almost insulting, but thats a rant for another day.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCFFFF;">Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, aka Owen Ashworth, has for thirteen years now built himself a cult fanbase playing super lo-fi music on cheap, vintage keyboards (hence 'casiotone') and utilising plastic beats, coupled with disarmingly frank lyrics delivered in a low almost-mumble. He's decided to make this his last tour, and is retiring his moniker to work on new musical projects. So with this being considered his farewell tour, a sizeable quantity of fans have come out of the woodwork to sell out Cargo tonight.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCFFFF;">He arrives on stage dressed in a long-sleeved red check shirt, instantly recognisable in his thick-framed glasses and bushy beard (currently a popular look among the indie circuit, a brief glance around Cargo tonight confirms this). Greeting the audience shyly, he launches into a solid forty minutes of classics, including singles 'White Corolla' and 'Young Shields', before opening the show up to the audience, essentially turning the remaining hour and a half of the show into a request session. Owen greets each shouted song title with either 'Yes', 'I'm sorry no', or 'We'll get to that one later' although he largely accepts most of the songs asked of him.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCFFFF;">On one requested song, which he explains he didn't write the lyrics to, therefore can't actual remember them, he appeals to the audience for someone to take the stage and sing instead. Greeted by silence however, he concedes to play a few more songs first “while you all decide”. Eventually a girl volunteers herself, apparently a 'veteran' of previous Casiotone... shows and ascends the stage to great encouragement from the crowd. She does herself proud, seeing the song word-for-word and note-to-note, while Owen backs her on his various vintage synths.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCFFFF;">His initial shyness opens up to a wryly amusing stage presence, as he recounts various comedic stories to a rapt audience, including how his German tour booker (“He's German, so he's very funny'), being aware of his preference for carrot cake, put on his rider that “Owen would like some water, and a carrot cake”. Being unaware of this, Owen then had to eat carrot cake every day of the tour! In fact another cake story, after an audience member enquires about a cake he ate in Glasgow, is followed by someone else from the crowd handing him a tiny tupperware box of cake! Every bit the anti-rockstar, Owen accepts the gift excitedly, but declines to eat it on stage, stating, “I don't like eating in front of lots of people”.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCFFFF;">Other tales he shares with us are more heartbreaking (although not devoid of humour), such as the story behind a song which he wrote for someone he knew who worked as an 'escort' of sorts at an airport. He would spend his work days taking people to their connecting flights and keeping them company while they waited for said flight. He spent an hour with a finnish masters student and completely fell in love with her, before having to put her on a plane and never see her again. In a bar, he was drowning his sorrows, commenting “Man, fuck minnesota, it's so cold. I'm gonna move to Finland!” </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCFFFF;"> </span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCFFFF;">The punchlines make the stories he imparts no less touching, an effect he also achieves in his songs. A line in 'Calloused Fingers Won't Make You Strong, Edith Wong' - “You can hide in the cinema, you've got the money to spend. But the movies always end, then its your life again.” in particular caught my attention, a tribute to escapism but also a grudging acceptance that real life must be returned to eventually.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCFFFF;">Playing just the one encore, Owen leaves us with a brief explanation of his future musical endeavours, including his new project, departing on, “See you in 2012” and leaving the stage to rapturous applause. It's comforting to know that while we won't hear these particular tender, raw outpourings of emotion again, there will be more from Owen Ashworth. I'm willing to bet he won't leave his keyboards to gather dust, whatever music he makes in the future.</span></span></p> </span><p></p>Roger Hollandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07055871892830829855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574613329776004578.post-16058863779815242562010-11-14T14:55:00.006+00:002010-11-14T15:14:12.480+00:00The Skints @ The Peel, Kingston, 21st October 2010<span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Bit late posting this one, again! My bad!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://content.bandzoogle.com/users/rebelalliancerecordings/images/content/SKINTS.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzuvyAS6Rh8IAh2H08HXD3R6zcmsbXLrtn9EeCxytUuBm4llvQjIWffYX76pKPySz7bThzB0Y8Akh-viLcrkNIG0csPkvwNafh4AwGq1aPc9PNQoWmWGJU0n-2o-Fr4D1i3U9iybJReGxX/s200/The+Skints+HALLOW.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a></i></span> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">With support from Random Hand, Mouthwash and JB Conspiracy</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">We arrived just as JB Conspiracy's set was coming to an end, but what we saw was bouncy, energetic ska-punk with driving horn sections. Strong melodies ran throughout but we didn't really see enough of their set to get a feel for them. Hopefully catch them again soon. 3/5</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">Mouthwash are on next, and they kick off with a decidedly 'old-school' tune, 'Drop the Bomb' from their 2001 Hellcat debut '1000 Stories', which whips the now-packed Peel into a frenzy. The majority of the material played is from second album, 'True Stories', arguably their more well-known release, which after a “Is everyone up for a good dance?” from vocalist Nipa gets us all skanking away gleefully. At one point Josh from the Skints appears on stage to adlib some reggae-style rapping, which blends in with the song so well you'd presume it was on the record. Definitely one of the tightest and most enjoyable bands on the London scene, Mouthwash deserve to be massive. To be fair, they're well on their way. 5/5</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">Second support Random Hand play their own fired-up brand of ska-punk & hardcore, with singer/trombone player Robin splitting the crowd up into girls & guys, before instigating huge circle pits from the two groups. Leaping into the fray himself, Robin crowdsurfs trombone in hand, which prompts guitarist Matthew to leap in as well, almost losing his guitar in the process! Certainly the most intense band on the bill, these social-political Yorkshire guys definitely know how to tear it up. 4/5</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">Headliners The Skints are hotly anticipated by the time their slot comes around. Having played an intimate acoustic performance at Banquet Records earlier that day, they appear just as excited about the show as the eager crowd. Their blinding take on reggae-dub-punk has been building a decent following for a while, aided by some hardcore touring and straight up amazing tunes. Every time I catch them live they seem to have somehow got even tighter, with multi-instrumentalist Marcia taking centre stage alternating between keys, flute, melodica and vocals. Her sweet, melodic voice backs up Josh and insanely-talented drummer Jamie's reggae-rap vocals, while bassist Jonathan grins away through the smooth dub basslines. Smart, talented and with a good ear for a tune, The Skints represent the very forefront of London's underground ska-punk scene, wearing the rich musical influences of the capital proudly on their sleeves. 5/5</p>Roger Hollandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07055871892830829855noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574613329776004578.post-43492063761791638342010-11-09T11:25:00.003+00:002010-11-09T11:38:40.603+00:00Surviving Life ReviewMy review of Jan Svankmajer's latest (and potentially last feature) 'Surviving Life (Theory and Practice)', which was part of this years BFI London Film Festival, is up now over at Flickering Myth - have a butchers <a href="http://flickeringmyth.blogspot.com/2010/11/54th-bfi-london-film-festival-surviving.html">here.</a> If you've never heard of Svankmajer, you're really missing out! Add some surrealist genius to your week! <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuBwXfg3Mr4">Here's a link</a> to one of his early short films on youtube to get you started.<div><br /></div><div>Hope everyone has a good week!</div>Roger Hollandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07055871892830829855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574613329776004578.post-7760474855702419672010-11-08T23:15:00.002+00:002010-11-08T23:25:13.725+00:00Record ReviewsMy next batch of record reviews are all up over at Punktastic, there's reviews of <a href="http://www.punktastic.com/reviews/3873">The Rookie League</a><a href="http://www.punktastic.com/reviews/3874">,</a> <a href="http://www.punktastic.com/reviews/3875">The Dead Agenda</a>, <a href="http://www.punktastic.com/reviews/3876">The Last Republic</a> and <a href="http://www.punktastic.com/reviews/3874">The Misery Addicts & Beast split 7"</a>, all for perusal, just have a clickety-click on the band name you wanna read about.<div><br /></div><div>Hope everyone enjoys their weeks!</div>Roger Hollandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07055871892830829855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574613329776004578.post-34546354183147300772010-11-03T08:12:00.002+00:002010-11-03T08:20:11.332+00:00Kaboom ReviewMy review of Gregg Araki's pseudo-return to form 'Kaboom' is up over at Flickering Myth, take a look see <a href="http://fb.me/IZKQTWPS">here.</a><br /><br />Also if you want more of my thoughts on Araki (don't lie, of course you do) an old review of his previous film Smiley Face is on this very blog! Fancy that! Click <a href="http://syncupthecuts.blogspot.com/2009/05/smiley-face-gregg-araki-2007.html">here.</a> You know you want to. There's even an 'out of ten' rating for it, which I totally don't do anymore.<br /><br />Hope everyone is having a dandy week so far, there should be some more of my record reviews on Punktastic soonish.Roger Hollandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07055871892830829855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574613329776004578.post-50620993539408940372010-10-31T22:02:00.003+00:002010-10-31T22:11:00.048+00:00Update time!So yeah, it's update time. I suppose you already discerned that from the title. <div><br /></div><div>Well the big news is I've started writing for the mighty <a href="http://www.punktastic.com/">Punktastic!</a> Yeah I'm pretty damn stoked about it too! My first two reviews are up <a href="http://www.punktastic.com/reviews/3853">here</a> & <a href="http://www.punktastic.com/reviews/3854">here</a>, there'll be much more to follow, don't y'all be worrying. </div><div><br /></div><div>Hope everyone's enjoyed / still enjoying their Halloweens! ; )</div>Roger Hollandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07055871892830829855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574613329776004578.post-21009307211924312982010-10-28T10:20:00.002+01:002010-10-28T10:23:28.499+01:00'Tron Night' 25-Minute PreviewSo I managed to catch the 'Tron Night' 25 minute preview two days early (there's certain perks to being a projectionist), read my review of it over at Flickering Myth <a href="http://tinyurl.com/3xe6293">here.</a><div><br /></div><div>Hope everyone going to see it today enjoys it! It's amazing!</div>Roger Hollandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07055871892830829855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574613329776004578.post-3240249006584051162010-10-23T22:49:00.005+01:002010-10-23T23:00:46.279+01:00Abe Vigoda @ Cargo, 13th October 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.thisisfakediy.co.uk/images/uploads//abevigoda300.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 250px;" src="http://www.thisisfakediy.co.uk/images/uploads//abevigoda300.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.45cm; widows: 2; orphans: 2; "><span style="font-size: 9pt"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" >Bit late posting this one, my bad.</span></i></span></p><p style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.45cm; widows: 2; orphans: 2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >With support from Echo Lake and Naked on the Vague</span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 0.45cm; widows: 2; orphans: 2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >Even though we don’t get to the venue until pretty late (a frequent personal trend I’m afraid!) we arrive in time to see the first band, so either they’re all running late or it’s just cool to be late on. Either way, first support Echo Lake take the stage to a depressingly quiet Cargo, the venue only being about a quarter full. Even more unfortunate is that the venue doesn’t get any busier for headliners Abe Vigoda. But I’ll come back to that. Echo Lake play an enjoyable, catchy form of poppy shoegaze, with sweet female vocals and memorable synth lines coupled with fuzzy guitars. They’ve got a big sound that flourishes when combined with Cargo’s excellent sound system. These local London kids could be on to something big.</span></span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.45cm; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span style="font-size: 9pt"><span class="Apple-style-span">Next up are Naked on the Vague, a four-piece playing their own brand of shoegaze. Unfortunately, they’re awful. I rarely describe a band that harshly, but these guys have a lot of problems. Firstly, the female lead vocals have way too much delay and reverb on them, turning the singer’s voice into a low drone. They may well have been going for this kind of sound, but some uninspired guitar work, a simply terrible bass player (wearing a single leather glove?) and that they even fall out of time with each other renders them pretty unlistenable. According to the audience reaction though, this opinion went no further than myself and my accompanying friend. Their keyboard broke mid-set leaving them standing around dumbly while the singer tried to fix it, a couple of things were mumbled to the audience but the lack of charisma was jarring. Their drummer was pretty good though, so at least they had some redeeming qualities.</span></span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.45cm; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span style="font-size: 9pt"><span class="Apple-style-span">Abe Vigoda take to the stage shortly after, but as I mentioned, the venue is still sadly under-attended. Taking it in their stride though, they introduce themselves and quickly belt into material from their new album, playing excellent new single Throwing Shade as their second track. Right from the opening, we see the difference their new drummer makes. Their old drummer fused the band’s reverb-heavy noise punk with tropical rhythms, making them one of the most original and intriguing bands to emerge from California in recent years. New sticksman Dane Chadwick has the tropical beats down but is also heavily into his electronics & drum machines, making for an absurdly talented addition to the band. During Throwing Shade he sets the drum machine going, then comes out from behind his kit, picks up a guitar to play the extra guitar parts, then half-way through scurries back behind his kit to switch over to live drums seamlessly. Very impressive! </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.45cm; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span style="font-size: 9pt"><span class="Apple-style-span">The rest of the band don't disappoint either. The guitarist/keyboard player switches between instruments frequently mid-song while leaping about the stage and the singer/guitarist jolts up and down to the rhythms, except with his mouth acting as if its glued to the microphone! </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.45cm; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span style="font-size: 9pt"><span class="Apple-style-span">With the addition of Chadwick, the band have moved into a new direction, evidenced here and on new album 'Crush'. The calypso rhythms, jangly, reverb-soaked guitars and fuzzy vocals are all still present but the electronic beats and lush keyboards push the songs to new, soaring heights, with the band establishing an extremely unique sound on top of one that was already very much their own. With the exception of a brief keyboard glitch (“I still don't know how this thing works!”) the band play the songs with an intensity and confidence earned over years of touring and simply having infectious, original songs to play.</span></span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.45cm; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span style="font-size: 9pt"><span class="Apple-style-span">Requests for older material is strangely met with an apology and “It's just not really what we're about anymore”, rather unusual a response, for a band to deny their previous material in such a way. They're not spiteful about it, just very matter of fact, and it's about half-way through the gig that the band start to look tired. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p> <p style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.45cm; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span style="font-size: 9pt"><span class="Apple-style-span">They play a relatively short set, and when yells for an encore start to erupt the majority of the band aren't keen, stating their exhaustion as an explanation. It takes the singer to persuade them to play one last song, which they do reluctantly, but you can see on their faces that the tour has really worn them down. They clearly love what they're doing, the new songs are fantastic and they play them superbly, but a heavy tour playing to semi-empty rooms must begin to take it's toll on a band who I suspect are living rather hand-to-mouth. Keep going though guys, because you're right on the cusp of hitting it big. </span></span> </p>Roger Hollandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07055871892830829855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574613329776004578.post-9776993384151850302010-10-17T19:41:00.002+01:002010-10-17T19:47:50.099+01:00Crystal Castles @ The Roundhouse, 15 October 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pinpointmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Crystal-Castles-2010-Album-Cover1-290x300.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 290px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.pinpointmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Crystal-Castles-2010-Album-Cover1-290x300.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotoptimizeforbrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <p face="arial" class="MsoNormal">Due to some ticket switching / organisational issues (Ok, we thought they’d be on way earlier) we manage to miss support bands Team Ghost and Health. I was particularly looking forward to seeing how mental Health would be live (I had their crazy <a href="http://pitchfork.com/tv/%23/episode/2536-health/1">Pitchfork TV ‘Don’t Look Down’ set</a> as an idea of what to expect) but I’ll have to catch them another time. </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Crystal Castles appear onstage wreathed in smoke so thick you can barely see the tiny frame of Alice Glass, but as they break into their first song, she emerges from the smoke wearing an oversize hoodie and clutching a bottle of vodka. New single ‘Baptism’ is played second, with Alice seeming to feed off the ecstatic reaction from the audience, and from here on in, she’s as hyperactive as we’ve come to expect. </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Producer Ethan Kath remains an intriguing opposite to Glass onstage, hunched over his electronics, hood up, beard obscuring face. He occasionally steps out from behind his equipment to play guitar or provide vocals on some tracks, but he largely remains tied to his synths and drum machines. Their live session drummer obviously stays behind his kit too, but Alice more than makes up for it, catapulting herself from one end of the stage to the other, leaping into the audience, crowd-surfing and hopping up onto the bass drum and bashing crash cymbals all while screaming her lungs out and swigging from various bottles. </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Musically, the band are absolutely spot on, so tight that we could well be listening to the record, were it not that the beats, synths and Alice’s vocals sounding even harsher and abrasive live. The sound at The Roundhouse is excellent (quite an achievement when you consider the height of the ceilings) and the mix is punishingly loud, the kick drum and bass hits bludgeoning the audience with a ferocity only matched by Glass’ delivery. </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Equally worthy of merit is the excellent light show, strobing and pulsating along to the music, starting with just white flashes but progressing to other colours as the set continues before returning to black & white. The white flashing lights conjured up images of grainy nuclear-bomb test <span style="font-family:arial;">videos, an association I’m sure the band would be pleased with.</span></p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotoptimizeforbrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Crystal Castles have managed to maintain a certain air of mystery and aloofness around themselves, an approach that suits the obliqueness of their music, creating an air of ‘pure performance’ about their live show. The impression is that of a band only there to play their songs then leave, to entertain but not interact, existing in their own nihilistic headspace. It’s only right at the end of the show that any of them address the audience, with Glass garbling ‘Thank-you London’ through her distorted microphone before she and Kath skulk off stage to a deafening cacophony of electronic feedback. The screeching echoes out across the venue, drawing comparisons to My Bloody Valentine’s (and more recently Yuck’s) end-show habits of propping their instruments up against their amplifiers and letting the feedback ring out. Pure performance, and an incredible one at that.</p>Roger Hollandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07055871892830829855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574613329776004578.post-3609295604441078132010-10-12T23:52:00.003+01:002010-10-13T00:01:51.449+01:00It's Kind of a Funny Story ReviewHey so my review of Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck's latest 'It's Kind of a Funny Story' is up now over at Flickering Myth, have a butchers <a href="http://flickeringmyth.blogspot.com/2010/10/thoughts-on-its-kind-of-funny-story.html">here</a>.<div><br /></div><div>Also, if anyone's got a spare minute, scooch on over to <a href="http://411movienews.blogspot.com/p/411blog-contests.html">The Movie411</a> to vote for Flickering Myth as your favourite blog! Because it'd be awesome if we won it. I'd be your best friend and all that jazz. </div><div><br /></div><div>Hope everyone's enjoying their week!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Roger Hollandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07055871892830829855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574613329776004578.post-72817931789291857262010-09-07T13:57:00.004+01:002010-09-07T14:05:33.967+01:00Buried ReviewHey there, my review of the stunningly minimalist 'Buried' (ninety minutes of Ryan Reynolds trapped in a box) is up now over at Flickering Myth. Take a look-see <a href="http://flickeringmyth.blogspot.com/2010/09/thoughts-on-buried-2010.html">here</a>, and go ahead and comment! <div><br /></div><div>If you get a chance, go check it out, you won't be disappointed! I believe it's getting a small release at the end of this month, so track it down!</div><div><br /></div><div>BTW There's probably won't be any posts or reviews from me for about two weeks because I'm heading to the South of France for a well deserved holiday! Huzzah! Keep reading <a href="http://flickeringmyth.blogspot.com/">Flickering Myth</a> though for other great film reviews and check out this blogs archives if you fancy it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ok, so Au Revoir and have a fun fortnight people! See you in two.</div>Roger Hollandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07055871892830829855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574613329776004578.post-66290287169622182422010-08-31T23:24:00.009+01:002010-09-07T13:59:05.294+01:00Against Me! Instore Acoustic @ Banquet Records, Kingston and Live @ The Fighting Cocks – 26th August 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4143/4942711756_c3d58213e4.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4143/4942711756_c3d58213e4.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Against Me! have been favourites of mine for a couple of years now, I’d finally managed to catch them live earlier this year (see my review <a href="http://themusicvent.wordpress.com/2010/06/22/against-me-at-the-relentless-garage-london-1st-june-2010/">here</a>) at The Garage in London and they were absolutely fantastic. My expectations were naturally very high, for both the show at The Fighting Cocks and the earlier ‘unplugged’ instore at Banquet Records, especially considering the bands acoustic beginnings.<br /><p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Florida’s finest actually started out as the one-man acoustic act of frontman Tom Gabel, before eventually expanding to a four piece. As such, the bands first album, ‘Reinventing Axl Rose’ was an acoustic-based, politically charged effort in the vein of folk-punk which shone with raw, aggressive energy. These origins have always existed as a strong base with Tom Gabel’s incredible, punchy voice and scathing political lyrics being the driving features of the band for their subsequent releases.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We arrived at Banquet Records just as the band had started their set and with the tiny record store being crammed with other excited fans we were stuck at the back, but the sound system that had been rigged up by the shop was excellent, all the instruments and most importantly Tom’s voice coming through clear as a bell even from the back.laying mostly a mix of their old material (obviously) and stripped-down versions of tracks from their new release ‘White Crosses’, each song drawing rapturous applause and sing-a-longs from the majority of the crowd. Old favourites ‘Pints of Guinness Make You Strong’ and ‘Sink, Florida, Sink’ (video <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNrk5_p1u8Q&feature=player_embedded">here</a>) get the best response, most of us punching the air and singing along to every word, with Tom stepping back from his microphone at points to hear the words being sang back at him. The White Crosses material sounds fantastic acoustic, with the band treading new ground themselves, having not played some of the new songs acoustic before!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Bizarrely though, there seems to be a few people present who aren’t singing, aren’t enjoying the music, aren’t even clapping after songs! Strange that such a tiny, intimate gig would not be crammed with nothing but die-hard fans. But they don’t damage the atmosphere, which is one of a crowd completely adoring of the band and most refreshing of all, a band completely adoring of their fans. After the show we all file out and queue up outside Banquet for the band signing, which, when we get inside to meet them, confirms the stories we’ve heard about Against Me! - that they’re the nicest bunch of guys in a band you could ever hope to meet.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Fighting Cocks is somewhat of a punk staple in the music community that has built up around Kingston. Comprising of a bar with a tiny venue out back, they have a growing reputation for booking some big name bands, a reputation further galvanised by tonight’s show.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We just manage to cram ourselves into the Cocks as the band are heading in and they literally have to squeeze past all of us to get to the tiny stage, which is barely a foot off the ground. Thankfully, myself and my friend have got ourselves in a prime position for the gig, only about one or two rows back from the band, and at one point during the show me and another guy are literally right in front of Tom, yelling the words back at him!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4073/4941405642_33cfe8fcd7.jpg" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 332px; height: 500px;" border="0" alt="" /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Anticipation for the show has been running at an all time-high (the tickets sold out in 4 minutes!) and as soon as the band takes to the stage, the whole crowd erupts. What follows is one of the most electric and energetic gigs Kingston has ever seen, with the entire room going crazy, arms in the air and voices singing along in unison. The band showcase material across their entire life-span with each song’s lyrics being spat out and screamed with fiery passion from Tom. Andrew, George and James back him up with thunderous bass-lines, taut drumming and searing lead, the band operating like a tight, muscular machine. ‘White People for Peace’ is my personal choice of the evening, but it’s great to hear the new album material sound just as epic and powerful in such a tiny venue as it does on record. The Fighting Cocks capacity is only about 150, and the venue gets extremely hot, especially when its packed to the rafters like it is tonight. Both the crowd and the band are absolutely drenched in sweat, but this only adds to the intimate spirit of this incredible show.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The best element of the Cocks is partially owed to its aforementioned tiny stage height and intimacy – there is practically no divide between the band and the audience. You are right in the band’s faces, singing the songs back at them in an exuberant display of music and comradery. One of the original ideals of punk rock was the breaking down of boundaries between musicians and fans and Against Me! have always been advocates of this, from playing tiny, intimate shows to being open and friendly with their fans. The perfect venue to see the most vital punk band on the planet right now, tonight’s show was nothing short of incredible. I know I said the same thing about their previous show at The Garage, but Against Me! at The Fighting Cocks was simply my best gig of the year so far, a sentiment the band themselves agreed on, with Tom Gabel responding to my Tweet of “best gig of the year” with “<span class="entry-content">Best gig of my year for sure. I'm still out of breath!”.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="entry-content"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="entry-content"><span style=""> </span>See what I mean? The barrier between band and fan is simply not there.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Photos by Maryam Hassan of Maryam Photography. Used with permission. Check out her website for more great photos from this gig and many others -<a href="http://maryamphotography.co.uk/">maryamphotography.co.uk/</a></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic;">Note - The video I link to was not filmed by me. I'm not sure who filmed it, but it's great that they did! You can find in on the Banquet Records Website - <a href="http://www.banquetrecords.com/">banquetrecords.com</a></span><br /></p><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Roger Hollandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07055871892830829855noreply@blogger.com0