JK!

I've finally had a chance to check out Julien-K after their debut release earlier this month (I just turned 20, give me a break). Hailing from California, Julien-K is made up of former members of bands I've never listened to and have just released Death to Analog, their 14-track debut (although I've heard some are double-disced! Oo fancy!) I've heard a fair amount about them so decided to check them out... Upon listening, the bands that spring to mind in relation to them are the likes of Fischerspooner and The Presets, as they're basically rocky electronica with a hint of trance. If you reach further afield you might drag in Shiny Toy Guns or maybe Neon Neon. Honestly, I think I might have liked them a couple of years ago, but for me this music is clawing at the past a little bit. There's the possibility of potential rather than obvious actual potential here, but hopefully they will develop and enter the now. Of course, there will be some people their music appeals to and here I'm imagining goths coming of the age where they want to actually go and enjoy themselves properly, dancing in equally dark rooms, wearing equally terrible clothes, but with more strobes and less material.
Watch the video to their debut single 'Kick the Bass' below, or click the link underneath that to see the EXPLICIT version! OOH. LA. LA.



Kick the Bass explicit video

-Tubs

P.S. I'd like to point I hadn't actually watched the video before I made my goth comment, and really - how spot-on was I?

Movies and mixes

Here's some stuff that is happening...

Bloc Party are going to release another remix album. Hooray! Now, I'm not a big Bloc Party fan to be honest - I leave loving them to Lazy - but I do quite like their remixes from time to time. Intimacy Remixed will feature the music-messing abilities of Armand Van Helden and Mogwai, to name but a couple, and is out May 11th.

In crossover news, Dengler of Interpol is releasing a film. It is called My Friends Told Me About You and is about the nature of celebrity. Who knows if it will be any good! The guy that directed Control is helping out in some way though and that film made me want to die a little bit (hohoho!) because it was so fucking boring. I didn't actually end up watching the whole thing, just like Ian Curtis didn't end up living his whole life! The film won't be released globally as yet, but some people like Interpol, right? Right? And they're still alive, which is more than I can say for the members of Joy Division. (Hint: One of them is dead.) Find more info here.

- Tubs

¡¡EY...PENDEJO!!

Info: IMDB | Wikipedia

So last night was film night for me and my housemates, and whereas usually I am treated to an array of fairly dismal food, followed by atrocities in cinema (let's just say that She's the Man was one of the better choices, ok?), this week it was my turn to get my own back. And what better way to celebrate than with a mexican fiesta? So I slaved away at a hot stove for...ooh...35 minutes, and prepared a feast of nachos (complete with salsa, guacemole, AND soured cream), enchiladas and fajitas. And the film? Of course, it had to be Once Upon a Time in Mexico.

Now if you've not seen Once Upon a Time in Mexico, you're in for a real treat. Although the film is technically the 3rd in the "Mexico Trilogy" by writer/director Robert Rodriguez (the first being 1992's El Mariachi and the 2nd being 1995's Desperado), this film stands on it's own as the best of the series, and can quite easily be watched without ever seeing the first two films.

The film stars Antonio Banderas as 'El Mariachi', who is hired by a CIA Agent (portrayed excellently by Johnny Depp) to kill General Marquez, the very person responsible for the death of El Mariachi's wife and daughter. Marquez himself has been hired by local drug lord Barillo (Willem Dafoe) to kill the President, allowing for a coup d' état.

This film is pretty much pure kickass. Great visual effects as well as an astounding cast allow this film to truely shine as one of Rodriguez's best films to date, and is well worth a watch, if not just for the scene where someone gets both kneecaps blown off. mmmmm...tasty :D

~Lazy

So many films, so little time

So here we are, on this wonderful if not slightly chilly February evening. I can't believe it's Thursday already, it's kinda mental how fast this year is going. I mean seriously, I'm now in my 7th week of second term, with only 3 more weeks of teaching left. 3 more weeks! It's no wonder I always feel so rushed off my feet when time is flying by so fast! Obviously we have to forget the fact that I only have 9 hours of lectures (and still haven't managed to have a week with full attendance), and that I pretty much don't do any extra work. But hey, what's first year for if not for drinking, partying and...watching films of course.

It's been a mix this week, went to the cinema for the first time in a while. Unfortunately I went to see 'Confessions of a Shopaholic' (not my choice, I was dragged, dragged I tells ya!!). It's pretty much your standard romantic comedy. I laughed, I cried, but most importantly, I found out that they actually use the words 'unexpected leakage' in tampon adverts. Wonderful :)

Following on from such wonders, I had a little mini-80s marathon the other day, when I realised that I've never seen the Breakfast Club or Sixteen Candles [TUBS: How is this possible?!]. Now I'm familiar with John Hughes' work, as Ferris Bueller's Day Off is one of my all time favourite films (Honest, I've got a poster on my wall and EVERYTHING), and I've heard of most of his other stuff, yet somehow they've managed to slip the net. It's not hard really, there's so many films out there that I tend to watch all of the really crappy ones (most of which are random indie and cheap production films that no-one has ever heard of) and forego many of the "classic" films of the last century. Hey, it's not my fault, I was born this way (accidentally, apparently). HOWEVER, I did manage to catch Zulu the other night, whilst heavily intoxicated. I voted to watch Die Hard 3, but it's kinda hard to get your voice heard when you're sitting on an inflatable chair sipping on whisky. Good times.

Now I spose I should say something about my outlook for the year. Yup...looks alrite. There's a couple of films that I'm looking forward to, but most of those are pretty standard (Watchmen, Transformers 2, X-Men Origins, Terminator: Salvation) but lately I've found myself perusing through Apple Trailers, just looking for something semi-decent to watch. And here's what I found:

Crank 2: Now...don't get me wrong, I'm not saying this is going to be the best film of the year, and if you've seen the first film, you pretty much know exactly what's going to happen. Bald man with big muscles goes round trying to get his adrenaline high by punching people in the womb, having sex in public and jumping out of airplanes. But honestly, as cheesy and stupid as the first film was, there was definitely something about it that was just...awesome. If films are meant to be entertaining, then Crank is really all you need in life, and I'm sure the 2nd installment (however ridiculous the plot line) is sure to be just as good. Plus I really love the cinematography, the angles and the colours, so it's got that going for it.

The Soloist: This looks like it's going to be one of the better films of the year. One of those really heartwarming stories, based on the real life events of one Nathaniel Ayers, a gifted musician who ends up scizophrenic and living on the streets. With Jamie Foxx starring as Ayers, and Robert Downey Jr. as Steve Lopez, the LA Times reporter who befriends him, I'm pretty certain it's going to be excellent. It'll probably end up getting slated on Rotten Tomatoes or something, but I prefer rooting for the underdog. What can I say, I like shit films, it's what I do. I'm just hoping this one really does live up to all the hype that I've just this second created for it and doesn't dissapoint me as much as that happy ending from Mr. Lee's massage parlour. It's fine tho, they have a cream for it now.

Fast & Furious: PLEASE DON'T LYNCH ME! After the abysmal 2nd and 3rd films, can the 4th really compare to the 1st Fast and the Furious? Probably not, but hey, at can at least give it a go! It really can't be any worse than Tokyo Drift, my word that film was the dog's bollocks. And I mean those big hairy ones in Van Wilder. Just...dangling. Looking at the trailer, there are a few points where I let out a small sigh of disbelief (the bit with the rolling oil tanker? seriously? are you kidding me?), but it does look fairly promising, especially as they seem to have got a large portion of the original cast together. I do however have a feeling, down at the bottom of that deep dark endless pit I call a belly, that they're really only making this film cus neither Vin Diesel or Paul Walker have anything to do in their free time, which they seem to have lots of recently. Oh wait, Diesel-head was in that film, whats it called. Oh yeah...IHAVEAMONKEYFACE A.D.

There's probably a few more that I havn't mentioned that are gonna be FAR more entertaining than the ones mentioned, but whatever, go write about them in your own blog. I'm tired, and I seem to have misplaced my ovaries.

~ Lazy

[TUBS: Christ! Maybe I should do a film post and cover some worthwhile moving-pictures? What say you, kiddywinks?]

Youtube

Really youtube has much more effect on EVERYTHING than anyone thought it would; let's be honest. Everyone uses it for all the things they do.

Quite obviously, and not that surprisingly, music is one of the areas that has really taken off under this Time magazine cover feature, but little did we know it would truly launch musical artists. The first one I ever noticed was The Wrong Trousers (if you read my old blog then you'll no doubt remember me gushing over them):



And if you haven't heard of them yet (stop hanging out on the moon. Seriously. There isn't even anything there.) then First Aid Kit will deserve your attention as a more recent entry. This video even led to me going to see them with two of my homies! They had their parents with them which was sweet (beardy and tall) and supported Slow Club and James Yuill (Rod Thomas helped him out so it was the time when I exploded in a fountain of lust and died happy, my eyes burnt out by FIRE). Here they are with their hit video cover of Fleet Foxes:



Newest to my venacular is 'Danielle Ate The Sandwich'. While not being the most exciting musician, she is certainly beautifully talented and is bound to feature on some hipster advert about some stupid phone or car in the near future. I bet you she'll get more interesting in time, unless she gets hella famous and conceited and doesn't think about her music anymore. But that never happens to anyone!!! WATCH AND LISTEN:




By the way, I think all these people seem great to hang out with and I am jealous of them all!
Now I just bide my time 'til the VIP passes and exclusive interviews come rollin' in...

- Tubs (deceased)

Part Of The Weekend Never Dies

I'm finally doing it. 13th March. Custard Factory, Birmingham.

2many DJs!! EFFIN A.

After missing out on NYE with 2manyDJs and Simian Mobile Disco, i've just been waiting for an opportunity to see the belgian duo rock my world. And now it's finally coming, and I just can't wait. If anyone is going to be in Birmingham for this fateful weekend in March, I highly reccomend you come along, and don't be suprised if you spontaneously start crying, it's only natural.

Although David and Stephen Dewaele have been around since the mid-90s, making up half of the rock band Soulwax, it was only recently that I discovered this musical masterpiece. I can't tell you the specific date, and I'm not very good at telling stories, but one fateful day back last year, I happened to stumble across a little film called 'Part of the Weekend Never Dies', and my life hasn't been the same since.

The film, shot over 120 shows using one single camera, follows the band as they toured the entire world, from the USA to New Zealand and everywhere in between. Back in 2005, Soulwax released an album called 'Nite Versions', which is Soulwax remixing their own 2004 album, 'Any Minute Now'. Now, the idea behind the tour is based around 'Radio Soulwax', which is the band, Soulwax, playing the Nite Versions album, live. A rock band, playing electro versions of their own songs. Live. Add to that the DJ set 2manyDJs would perform after the show, along with special guests such as Digitalism, Justice, Tigo, LCD Soundsystem and the Klaxons, and you've got pretty much got the best night of your life. Better than that time you got herpes from that "girl" in Singapore. She told you her name was Tim, you should have figured it out.

So I really can't wait. I managed to see Fatboy Slim at V Festival a couple of years back, and I'm just really hoping that 2manyDJ's can surpass my expectations. OH, and it only costs £10. TEN. WHOLE. PUNDS. quite frankly that's a bargain of epic proportions. So I shall leave you with one of my favourite songs of the moment, it's a Soulwax remix of Ready For The Floor by Hot Chip. CLICKETY and enjoy!

~ Lazy

[EDIT: So last friday has been and gone, and what can I say really, other than "HOYLCRAPTHATWASANIGHTOFCOMPLETELYEPICPROPORTIONS". Totally blew me away with some amazing remixes, which all seemed to mesh together so nicely to form an absolutely stellar night. I didn't get home till 7am. 'Nuff said]

WWNPHD?

WHY DO I NOT OWN THIS?!?

I know this post isn't really relevant, but both me and tubs are agreed on one thing...Neil Patrick-Harris is amazing. I suppose the correct thing for me to do at this point is to talk about something that covers both the film and music genres, and is also just amazingly ingenious:

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog !!

A true masterpiece of the technology-era, this 43 minute long musical, produced during the Writers Strike of 200quityourbitchingandgetbacktowork by Joss Whedon, stars NPH as the title character, Dr Horrible. The plot revolves around Dr Horrible's quest to join the Evil League of Evil, led by the evilest of the evil, Bad Horse, to which entry will be obtained after he successfully completes his next crime. Shown also is his real-life alter ego, Billy, who happens to fall in love with a girl (Penny, played by Felicia Day) at the laundrette. However, thwarting his evil plans (seriously, you would not believe how long it took me to find the correct spelling of thwart. that's dedication right there) is the unstoppable Captian Hammer (Nathon Fillion)

Now I know this isn't recent news, and if you've seen it before, congratumalations to you squire, here's a cookie (Tesco value, I'm not made of money). But if you have yet to see it, then I don't think I can honestly look you in the eyes anymore. You could moan and whinge about not liking musicals (come on, we know you've seen high school musical, I saw you humming along to the songs), but when in the past couple of years can you say you've seen something that mixes both comedy and music to such an extent that it truely appeals to both sides of the audience? (no, the eurovision doesn't count, it's neither funny nor musical. GET OVER IT). So the moral of this story is go ahead and watch it, yeah?

So I wrote most of this entry a couple of days ago, but never got round to finishing it, so now it's VD I spose I should make some sort of effort:

Satisfied?

-Lazy