Human Suffering

or People need water? Wait, Blink are getting back together?! Global tragedy! Think of the children!

Apparently Blink 182 are reforming. That is more of an anti-news item for me, being one of those music notes I have to report on but would rather avoid. Blink are a band that if you like them or have ever liked them then for me that acts as a permanent unfortunate semen-stain of bad taste on your character for eternity.

Now we've moved on from me being a snob, it is down to more brilliant business!


Twitter is the topic of the moment; with Twestivals all over the world looming, what is the whole deal with all that crap anyway? Artists anywhere between The Mae Shi to Lily Allen be tweetin these days, so if you haven't sorted yourself out there then, well, I'll be honest. I don't understand how you are reading this blog and your eyes aren't melting, because it is far to hip and fresh for you.
If you're not cool, then you'll have no idea what I meant when I said 'Twestival' back there. Don't worry, I'll clear it up. That's what we at T&L are here for! Making you suck less.
Well, it all began...

"In September 2008, a group of Twitterers based in London UK decided to organise an event where the local Twitter community could socialize offline; meet the faces behind the avatars, enjoy some entertainment, have a few drinks and tie this in with a food drive and fundraising effort for a local homeless charity."

This ended up as a 'twestival', supporting Charity:Water (providing safe drinking water for the needies) and has developed into global phenomenon, with Twestivals in all kinds of places! EVEN STOKE! While not quite having hit the big-time yet in terms of mainstream fame, the recent addition of artists like Bloc Party and Mystery Jets is sure to launch the venture into the public eye within the next couple of months, I'd reckon. There are tracks available on Twestival.fm to download and donate for until the 19th February, so get your boots on and make it rain. You can even upload your own tracks, you budding noise-makers!
Go follow the whole shebang @twestival and @twestivalfm once you've got yourself a twitter account, you absolute loser. Meanwhile, the Birmingham and London Twestival updates are available @brumtwestival and @ldntwestival; check Twestival.com for your local show, if you're not lucky enough to live where Tubs and Lazy think you should.

- Tubs

Dead Like Me

So it's been a bit of a busy week for me, with all the socialising and what-have-you, but I did manage to catch the Dead Like Me movie, Life After Death. Now if you don't know what Dead Like Me is, then take a step back. Look at your life and ask yourself "AM I TRUELY AWESOME". The answer is most probably no, unless you're me...or Barney Stinson.

Info: IMDB | Wikipedia

Dead Like Me was a TV show that ran for 2 seasons in 2003/4 on the Showtime (USA) network. Now if you've ever seen any Showtime programs (the best of which recently have been Dexter and Californication), then you'll no doubt love the deep dark humour that runs through this show. I'm still not entirely sure how I stumbled upon this show, but it's probably the same way I manage to find any of the stuff I watch...just pure luck. The premise of the show, following a group of Grim Reapers as they go about their day taking the souls of the soon-to-be-departed, was fresh and original. The reason the show got cancelled? NO IDEA.

So now we come to 5 years later and the release of a Direct-to-DVD movie which, unlike the series, lacks a lot of the humour and quirkiness that made the original series such a hit (with me at least). With the release of the movie, many of the questions that were left partially unanswered towards the end of the series finally get an answer. When most network shows get cancelled, it's usually because they're crap and no-body cares. When a show ends its run after many years, storylines get tied up and everyone lives happily ever after. Woo. But what happens to all the great shows that have problems with premature ecancellation? WHY WONT YOU JUST THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!

Now the real reason why I'm talking about this DVD isn't because it's that good. The plot is full of holes, 2 of the actors have left (one being replaced which was frankly a TERRIBLE move) and the entire film feels forced. But an end is an end, and who knows, maybe it'll spark everyone to petition to bring the show back and it will return to it's former glory. The real reason I'm mentioning this is because it's a great day for cancelled shows. With the return of Dead Like Me, and the impending return of ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT (BRING ON THE MOVIE!!), it signifies a shift. No longer will cancelled shows be left to rot in some fat guy's basement. If the fan's are behind it, why shouldnt good TV get its fond farewell? I've seen far too many decent shows being cancelled in recent years, only to be replaced with the the utmost tripe that i wouldnt even wipe my arse with. But slowly but surely, the fans are kicking back.

Futurama. Dead Like Me. and now Arrested Development?...all we need now is the return of Freaks and Geeks and I think i'll wet myself.

-Lazy

ITS NOT PORN. honest.

Info: IMDB | Wikipedia

Wet. Hot. American. Summer.


Sure, it sounds like a filthy wilderbeast, wallowing in the self pity and loathing that is the world of the internet. And I can't really blame you, with such an innovative title, who could suspect that such a film actually holds such genius. Directed by David Wain, who has recently brought us the wondrousnessnessness of 'Role Models' (and also The Ten, but that's not as good so shhhhhhhh), the film sets about detailing the last day of summer camp in 1981. Now, that's not really doing much to dispell the thoughts of PORN PORN PORN rushing through your head, but alas, you can but trust me. The film's stars range from Janeane Garofalo (Mystery Men, and the new series of 24) to Paul Rudd (comeon, you know what he's been in), from David Hyde Pierce (Frasier) right through to a stellar performance by Molly Shannon (Year of the Dog).

Now how, you might ask, did I manage to come across this gem? I'm not going to lie to you, it wasnt pretty. I found it.......in DVD form.......for 1 whole pound........in......

POUNDLAND!

obviously at the time I had no idea what I'd stumbled onto, but finding a DVD in Poundland which contains actors you've ever heard of is quite a rareity in itself. But not only that, but this was a double sided disc, with another film on the other side (The Independent...not really that great)...bringing the effective total to a meer FIFTIPUNCE. now that my friends, is a bargain.

So hey, if you ever happen to be leisurely strolling past a Poundland (If you're a student like me, in there buying everything you could ever need for £1), who knows, maybe you'll get lucky....or maybe you'll get groped by a homeless man, only time can tell. But go on, do yourself a favour and watch this film :D

And also....what Tubs said. (listen to her, she's wise - and small enough to headbutt you in the nads)

-Lazy

Welcome! Shut up!

Into the second month of the new year we bring a pretty, new, pretty great blog.
LET US BEGIN!

This month sees the release of two pretty impressive compilations. On the 13th February Dark Was The Night is released, raising money for the Red Hot organization supporting HIV/Aids awareness. The album features artists such as yeasayer, Sufjan Stevens, Spoon, Bon Iver, Cat Power, The Decemberists and even a song featuring both Feist and Ben Gibbard, to name but a few. It looks like it will be pretty good, and I'm definitely going to grab it when it comes out. If 31 songs over two discs for less than a tenner and doing good for charity doesn't help you ignore the fact that you spent Valentine's Day miserable and alone, crouched over the toilet, vomming up cheap vodka and self-pity, then I don't know what will.
Check out the myspace here.

A few days later, on the 24th, Heroes is released; a compliation raising money for War Child International. The album features songs by classic artists covered by contemporary musicans. The 'classic' artists actually chose which contemporary artist would cover them; an interesting concept - means you get to judge not only the people who put the album together, but also the people who they chose! FUN. The title comes from the song of the same name by David Bowie, which is being covered by TV on the Radio (nice choice, Bowie; I knew the Labyrinth signalled your greatness). In fact, I have the full tracklisting right here (how handy!):

1. Beck, “Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat" (Bob Dylan)
2. The Kooks, “Victoria" (The Kinks)
3. The Hold Steady, “Atlantic City" (Bruce Springsteen)
4. Hot Chip, “Transmission" (Joy Division)
5. Lily Allen feat. Mick Jones, “Straight To Hell" (The Clash)
6. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, “Sheena Is A Punk Rocker" (The Ramones)
7. Franz Ferdinand, “Call Me" (Blondie)
8. Duffy, “Live And Let Die" (Paul McCartney)
9. Estelle, “Superstition" (Stevie Wonder)
10. Rufus Wainwright, “Wonderful/Song For Children" (Brian Wilson)
11. Scissor Sisters, “Do The Strand" (Roxy Music)
12. Peaches, “Search And Destroy" (Iggy Pop)
13. Adam Cohen, “Take This Waltz" (Leonard Cohen)
14. Elbow, “Running To Stand Still" (U2)
15. The Like, “You Belong To Me" (Elvis Costello)
16. TV on the Radio, “Heroes" (David Bowie)

So some of these 'legends' chose some good people! Beck isn't a bad choice, nor is Hot Chip. You have to respect the choice of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and TV on the Radio. I think Peaches was a bit of a given.
However, I've got to be honest, some of them don't seem like legends to me.

I thought you might want to see what I would put up, given the same opportunity!
And so:

1. Not Paul McCartney (who from now on shall be referred to as The Beatles, since he basically claims as much on a regular basis)
2. Not U2
3. Not the Beatles
4. Not Bruce Springsteen
5. Pixies vs. George Clinton (that would be fun wouldn't it?)
6. Not the Beatles
7. How about fucking Clapton? It's not like he's dead like the real legend that is Jimi Hendrix
8. In fact, some of these people are dead! Fuck it: Jimi Hendrix
9. Stevie Wonder
10. If you're going to put these people in, why not put A-Ha in.
11. Not the Beatles
12. Continuing dead people: Sam Cooke
13. The Skatalites
14. Not the Beatles
15. Green Apples
16. Let's throw Johnny Cash in there, since we're allowed dead people.
17. Bonus track! (Yeah, fuck you, mine has a bonus track) Not U2.

All songs will be covered by the corpse of John Belushi.

IN STORES: SNOWBALLIN' AND TEABAGGIN' O' CLOCK!

- Tubs.



P.S. I'm still going to buy it! It's for charity you fucking selfish troll.