Songs I'm Hearting Right Now
Paris Hilton "Stars Are Blind"
Lots of people hate Paris Hilton and I can understand why. But this is easily one of the sweetest summeriest pop songs around at the moment, plus it has a video that actually (at times) makes Paris looks moderately more attractive than usual. Put aside your preconceptions and allow yourself to enjoy one of the cutest pop songs around
Lily Allen "Smile"
You can't escape this one at the moment and Lily Allen is yet anothe buzz artist feted by both the NME types and MTV/Radio. Still it's that rare buzz artist who's almost impossible to dislike. A chirpy sweet poptastic summer track with a wonderful bitter undertone, it's instantly hummable and instantly brilliant.
Alesha "Lipstick"
I was expecting something interesting from this ex Mis Teeq girl but not something this good. It's off the wall, utterly demented but still fresh and listenable. Plus the video is FIERCE (to borrow a Tyra Banks-ism). Hopefully this will be a huge hit.
Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland "Promiscuous Girl"
As I've sort of overplayed "Maneater" I find myself turning to this track for my dose of upbeat r'n'b club pop. It's a bit more straight forward then "Maneater" but it's got a sass and chunky beat all of it's own. Bound to be massive when released here.
Christina Aguilera "Ain't No Other Man"
Bringing fresh new stuff our way at the same time as her other big in 03 comrades Beyonce and Justin Xtina outdoes both of them with this punchy hip hop/r'n'b/soul/pop hybrid that rattles along at a fine pace while managing to sound utterly new. Loves it.
Dannii Minouge "So Under Pressure"
This has completely tanked on the Irish charts and that's a damn shame because I absolutely love this piece of slick dance pop that worms it's way into head more and more with every listen. It's deceptively simple and seems flimsy on first listen but this is every bit as good as all the other 80's dance rip offs knocking about at the moment, if not way better.
Madonna "Nobody Knows Me [Live]"
Taken from the live disc of the "I'm Goin To Tell You A Secret" DVD/CD pack that's just been released, this is one of a couple of live tracks I'm addicted to right now. It gives the American Life album track a much needed kick up the ass and makes it move at the kind of clip that makes it great to dance to and perfect to imagine Madonna kicking concert ass too (see video clip from previous entry). Other live tracks of note on the CD include "Like A Prayer", "Holiday" and "Music". And though it's actually the orignial demo version the tacked on at the end "I Love New York" is quite brilliant.
5 Fabulous YouTube Videos
As previously reported YouTube is quite fabulous. Here are 5 more video reasons why!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsJzwbFJYBI&search=paris%20hilton%20jealousy
Proof that a flat vocal can't stop a enjoyable crap piece of electro pop being enjoyable. Rather adorabely cut to footage from the Simple Life 3 this is a worth a look for both Paris and Nicole fans and the morbidly curious
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ8sW3hsQ9w&search=dannii%20minogue%20so%20under%20pressure
Effortlessly stylish new video from Miss Minogue (look above for a comment on the song)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onOL6xz46_M&search=Mary%20Cherry
Mary Cherry auditions for a Popstars type show. If there is a funnier video on YouTube I will be very very surprised.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkG5oNCBI3s&search=Madonna%20Spoof
Pitch perfect Madonna/Britney. Kinda dated but still oddly amusing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wr27dZxPHE&search=Ashlee%20Simpson%20Invisible
A masterclass in how to flaunt your new nose job.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
You Tube. The Greatest Website In the World
You could literally spend your entire life on YouTube.com watching videos of anything and everything EVER. Here are 5 videos from YouTube. Why not watch them?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=145E6w93B50&search=Madonna%20Nobody%20Knows%20Me
This one is Madonna's performance of Nobody Knows Me live from her Re-Invention Tour as captured in the documentary I'm Going To Tell You A Secret now available on DVD/CD.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4P6-r6m6xY&search=Kristen%20Bell%20MTV%20Punkd
Veronica Mars star Kristen Bell on MTV's Punkd. It's nice to see how nice and smart she seems in person, a helluva alot more intresting and likeable then the usual folk on Punkd!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Z-pem23BP4&search=MTV%20Movie%20Awards%202006
Prove positive that there are few things funnier then hearing Nicole Richie saying "Thanks bitch!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiVg0k1S848&search=The%20Simple%20Life
Just to prove that point again! (ignore the yawnsome bit with paris)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXwAZWHB64A&feature=Views&page=1&t=t&f=b
Teaser for Spider Man 3. Yay!
Coming soon: pop music chatter as promised.
You could literally spend your entire life on YouTube.com watching videos of anything and everything EVER. Here are 5 videos from YouTube. Why not watch them?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=145E6w93B50&search=Madonna%20Nobody%20Knows%20Me
This one is Madonna's performance of Nobody Knows Me live from her Re-Invention Tour as captured in the documentary I'm Going To Tell You A Secret now available on DVD/CD.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4P6-r6m6xY&search=Kristen%20Bell%20MTV%20Punkd
Veronica Mars star Kristen Bell on MTV's Punkd. It's nice to see how nice and smart she seems in person, a helluva alot more intresting and likeable then the usual folk on Punkd!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Z-pem23BP4&search=MTV%20Movie%20Awards%202006
Prove positive that there are few things funnier then hearing Nicole Richie saying "Thanks bitch!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiVg0k1S848&search=The%20Simple%20Life
Just to prove that point again! (ignore the yawnsome bit with paris)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXwAZWHB64A&feature=Views&page=1&t=t&f=b
Teaser for Spider Man 3. Yay!
Coming soon: pop music chatter as promised.
Monday, June 26, 2006
ok. I'm back again. yadda yadda yadda. I think I need to craft some writer-y discipline hence another crack at this blog lark.
Anyway on with the "show"
TV Watch
Desperate Housewives
I go back and forth on how much I actually like this show sometimes. For every wonderfully etched moment of dark soapiness theres another howlingly bad piece of scripting or more Stupid Bloody Susan. Still I'd been following this show on and off enough to watch the big final season blowout. Which thankfully was, for the most part, great TV. There were plenty of key moments for each of the housewives (except, strangely, Edie) to shine. I didn't even hate Susan in this episode which is a good sign. The storylines were myriad (sorry to be all pretentious by using that word!) but boiled down to: BULLET POINT ALERT..
Susan: told Carl to move on and finalised her divorce with him even though he bought her a house, she also got ready to propose to Mike but he failed to turn up for their "date". Not because he stood her up but because he was run over by Susan's creepy dentist friend who is also making his move on Bree at the end of the episode. Which I still can't figure out is a genius twist or just a desperate move to sustain viewer interest.
Bree: Escpaed from her asylum place in time to save her daughter from creepy Matthew who it turned out had killed that girl all along and ended up shot dead by police in an end to the highlight of the whole finale. Bree's facing down of Matthew and reclaiming her daughter (and her sanity) was easily the surefire highlight of the episode and a neat reminder of the talent Marcia Cross has in more than just being incredibly uptight.
Gabrielle: found out that the maid chick (forget her name!) was sexing Carlos and promptly threw him out but magically managed to keep maid girl in the house threatening her in a way that suggests a steeliness we've yet to see in Mrs Solis.
Lynette: saw Tom with another woman (gasp!), promptly did her best to let him "go" emotionally (aw!), then found out that he was actually meeting the mother of the daughter he didn't know he had (shock!). So.. (and this is almost as tedious to write as it is to read I assure you) mother of said daughter asked for mucho moolah and Lynette also displayed new found steeliness (and/or bitchiness) by successful putting said mother in her place even though she's moving into a house close to them.
Also joining the various plots was some guff about Zach I cannot be arsed reliving here and some rather neat flashbacks which managed to join the various plot points together and give fresh insight into the main characters and their first meetings with their fellow Wisteria Lane residents.
Overall it was a sharp and mostly satisfying end to an up and down season for one of the most overrated if still enjoyable shows on TV.
Lost
Not long left in the second season on Irish TV and thankfully it's managed to keep up it's work as an engaging mix of mystery, suspense and general wierdness. There's no doubt that it's fiercely overhyped and at times dangerously close to losing the run of itself but there's been enough juicy twists, interesting flashbacks and fan pleasing character moments to make Lost still well worth the effort.
Highlights so far include any Kate, Locke, Jin+Sun,Rose centric episodes/moments and the way the survivors on both sides of the island have been slowly linked together. And there's the twist at the end of episode 20 which is just too good to give away. Overall it's still a show that requires effort but one that (thankfully) rewards that effort.
Alias
Phew! It may be a few weeks away from finishing but Alias is most definitely going out with a bang throwing in enough returning favourites and shock twists to make fans both weepy at it's demise and proud to be in on one of the most sharply written, well acted and underrated shows on American TV. From surprise deaths to typically Alias (and typically ridiculous) twists that let Jennifer Garner to flex even more acting muscle (and there was me thinking that we'd seen her do everything on this show) this is a show determined to go out on a high. This is probably the most I've ever both dreaded and looked forward to a series finale in my whole life!
The O.C.
While the 3rd season was nowhere as up, down and at times utterly shit as sesaon 2 it was still a frustrating stop start watch with some unnecessary storylines (did anybody give a shit about Sandy's yawnsome office politics? I didn't. And don't get me started on *voimit* Johnny) and evn more unnecessary characters (like those floaters from Marisa's new school. Snore.). Still there was lots to enjoy. Rachel Bilson still shows her unbeliveably sharp comic and dramatic talents in her endlessly appealing portrayl of Summer, new character Taylor is the first post season 1 character to fit perfectly with the show bringing a hint of the much missed Popular with her and strangely Mischa Barton finally learned to make Marisa watchable and likeable. Strange. Unfortunately too often this good stuff took a lot of work to get to and unless Josh Schwartz's planned kick up for the ass for season 4 works out I can't see myself being particularly interested in this show much longer.
Prison Break
Maybe, just maybe, this is the most under whelming pilot I've ever seen. A guy getting into prison to break out his brother, a 12 twists per second average, great production values etc etc. This should be the best thing ever, having me completely hooked after 10 minutes. Except..it isn't. I cannot warm to this much hyped new show at all no matter how much I try. I'm putting it down mostly to Wentworth Miller whose slightly fey distant performance completely stops me from buying into the show's premise or any of it's numerous ridiculous twists. Maybe I should stick with Prison Break but in all honesty when something this hyped is so underwhelming what's the bloody point?
Charmed
Oh jesus. Don't get me started. All I have to say is the final episode of Charmed was possibly the most braindead, hackneyed, lame ass, insulting hour of TV I've ever had the misfortune to sit through. If I were a fan of this show I would have vomited profusely having watched that episode. As it was I just felt bored and deeply violent. NEXT!
Veronica Mars
all I have to say is the following
*Kristen Bell is amazing. Give that woman an Emmy!
*This show is full of the best lines since Buffy was in it's prime
*This shits over everything else on TV right now
*I really wish I didn't know the big end of season 2 twist so I could watch this twist-y, clever, engaging teen noir/soap/romance/melodrama/comedy/thriller unfold in all it's glory.
Coming soon: Pop Music Chatter and anything else I feel like throwing in!
Anyway on with the "show"
TV Watch
Desperate Housewives
I go back and forth on how much I actually like this show sometimes. For every wonderfully etched moment of dark soapiness theres another howlingly bad piece of scripting or more Stupid Bloody Susan. Still I'd been following this show on and off enough to watch the big final season blowout. Which thankfully was, for the most part, great TV. There were plenty of key moments for each of the housewives (except, strangely, Edie) to shine. I didn't even hate Susan in this episode which is a good sign. The storylines were myriad (sorry to be all pretentious by using that word!) but boiled down to: BULLET POINT ALERT..
Susan: told Carl to move on and finalised her divorce with him even though he bought her a house, she also got ready to propose to Mike but he failed to turn up for their "date". Not because he stood her up but because he was run over by Susan's creepy dentist friend who is also making his move on Bree at the end of the episode. Which I still can't figure out is a genius twist or just a desperate move to sustain viewer interest.
Bree: Escpaed from her asylum place in time to save her daughter from creepy Matthew who it turned out had killed that girl all along and ended up shot dead by police in an end to the highlight of the whole finale. Bree's facing down of Matthew and reclaiming her daughter (and her sanity) was easily the surefire highlight of the episode and a neat reminder of the talent Marcia Cross has in more than just being incredibly uptight.
Gabrielle: found out that the maid chick (forget her name!) was sexing Carlos and promptly threw him out but magically managed to keep maid girl in the house threatening her in a way that suggests a steeliness we've yet to see in Mrs Solis.
Lynette: saw Tom with another woman (gasp!), promptly did her best to let him "go" emotionally (aw!), then found out that he was actually meeting the mother of the daughter he didn't know he had (shock!). So.. (and this is almost as tedious to write as it is to read I assure you) mother of said daughter asked for mucho moolah and Lynette also displayed new found steeliness (and/or bitchiness) by successful putting said mother in her place even though she's moving into a house close to them.
Also joining the various plots was some guff about Zach I cannot be arsed reliving here and some rather neat flashbacks which managed to join the various plot points together and give fresh insight into the main characters and their first meetings with their fellow Wisteria Lane residents.
Overall it was a sharp and mostly satisfying end to an up and down season for one of the most overrated if still enjoyable shows on TV.
Lost
Not long left in the second season on Irish TV and thankfully it's managed to keep up it's work as an engaging mix of mystery, suspense and general wierdness. There's no doubt that it's fiercely overhyped and at times dangerously close to losing the run of itself but there's been enough juicy twists, interesting flashbacks and fan pleasing character moments to make Lost still well worth the effort.
Highlights so far include any Kate, Locke, Jin+Sun,Rose centric episodes/moments and the way the survivors on both sides of the island have been slowly linked together. And there's the twist at the end of episode 20 which is just too good to give away. Overall it's still a show that requires effort but one that (thankfully) rewards that effort.
Alias
Phew! It may be a few weeks away from finishing but Alias is most definitely going out with a bang throwing in enough returning favourites and shock twists to make fans both weepy at it's demise and proud to be in on one of the most sharply written, well acted and underrated shows on American TV. From surprise deaths to typically Alias (and typically ridiculous) twists that let Jennifer Garner to flex even more acting muscle (and there was me thinking that we'd seen her do everything on this show) this is a show determined to go out on a high. This is probably the most I've ever both dreaded and looked forward to a series finale in my whole life!
The O.C.
While the 3rd season was nowhere as up, down and at times utterly shit as sesaon 2 it was still a frustrating stop start watch with some unnecessary storylines (did anybody give a shit about Sandy's yawnsome office politics? I didn't. And don't get me started on *voimit* Johnny) and evn more unnecessary characters (like those floaters from Marisa's new school. Snore.). Still there was lots to enjoy. Rachel Bilson still shows her unbeliveably sharp comic and dramatic talents in her endlessly appealing portrayl of Summer, new character Taylor is the first post season 1 character to fit perfectly with the show bringing a hint of the much missed Popular with her and strangely Mischa Barton finally learned to make Marisa watchable and likeable. Strange. Unfortunately too often this good stuff took a lot of work to get to and unless Josh Schwartz's planned kick up for the ass for season 4 works out I can't see myself being particularly interested in this show much longer.
Prison Break
Maybe, just maybe, this is the most under whelming pilot I've ever seen. A guy getting into prison to break out his brother, a 12 twists per second average, great production values etc etc. This should be the best thing ever, having me completely hooked after 10 minutes. Except..it isn't. I cannot warm to this much hyped new show at all no matter how much I try. I'm putting it down mostly to Wentworth Miller whose slightly fey distant performance completely stops me from buying into the show's premise or any of it's numerous ridiculous twists. Maybe I should stick with Prison Break but in all honesty when something this hyped is so underwhelming what's the bloody point?
Charmed
Oh jesus. Don't get me started. All I have to say is the final episode of Charmed was possibly the most braindead, hackneyed, lame ass, insulting hour of TV I've ever had the misfortune to sit through. If I were a fan of this show I would have vomited profusely having watched that episode. As it was I just felt bored and deeply violent. NEXT!
Veronica Mars
all I have to say is the following
*Kristen Bell is amazing. Give that woman an Emmy!
*This show is full of the best lines since Buffy was in it's prime
*This shits over everything else on TV right now
*I really wish I didn't know the big end of season 2 twist so I could watch this twist-y, clever, engaging teen noir/soap/romance/melodrama/comedy/thriller unfold in all it's glory.
Coming soon: Pop Music Chatter and anything else I feel like throwing in!
Friday, January 20, 2006
I'm baaack! (again)
Hello bitches! I'm back, desperately trying to give this blog malarkey a proper chance yet again. I want to actually regularly update this thing this year and get some writing practice etc so with that in mind I've decided to establish 3 sparkly new regular features that will (I hope) be seen in this fair blog every week (or so).
Those are: News: tidbits about music, movies, tv etc that I find interesting and/or informative
Album reviews: Every week I will review an album from somebody. From old faves to newbies, anything in my collection or that I'm passed on could crop up.
TV Update: I love my TV. And in this section I will give a wee update on what I've been watching recently. From my opinon on current plot arcs to comments on how pretty/unpretty the leads look this week. Fun.
NEWS
The Return of Lost
Finally! Got news of the screening date for Lost season 2 in Ireland. It's returning to RTE Two on the 13th Feburary (a Monday) at 10pm. We get to find out what's in the hatch in episode 1 (YES!!!) and see the exploits of the survivors from the tail end of the plane. Whoo.Hoo. Safe to say the spot on the sofa is already booked. This better deliver!!
Comeback Queens
Both Nelly Furtado and Pink have potentially ace sounding new material headed our way in the next few months. Pink's new album I'm Not Dead sounds like an attempt to re-establish her popularity especially in the wake of Kelly Clarkson's success recently and I'm excited about a possible return to widespread success not least because Pink's last album was so cruelly ignored. I may not be as big a Nelly Furtado fan but I'm pretty excited to hear Maneater, her forthcoming new album which features production from Timbaland and Lester Mendez. It's tipped as a return to form for both Timbaland and Furtado and I can't wait to hear it.
Popjustice gets a makeover!!
My favourite website www.popjustice.co.uk is getting itself a swanky new look with tons of extra content and a new messageboard. I've seen the preivew thing-y and it's all terribly exciting. Will probably go live soon. Wow.
eh that's it on the news front so far. Oh well. We all have to start somewhere..
Album Review
I'm cheating a bit here. I've already submitted this for the college newspaper but bah it mightn't be printed so I'll stick it here aswell:
Shakira “Fijacion Oral Volume 1”
When Shakira accepted her award for Best Female at last year’s MTV Europe Music Awards she wasn’t the only onewho was surprised. Many a viewer in the UK and Irelandraised their eyebrows and wondered how someone who’dapparently done nothing all year had won such an award.
It’s simple. While she may have cast aside the UK andIreland on her promotional circuit last year Shakira enjoyedconsiderable success with her new Spainish language album“Fijacion Oral Volume 1” across Europe and the US thankslargely in part to “La Tortura” the infectiouspop-reggaeton hybrid smash that crossed language barriers inthe US charts (first Spainish-language song to be sent intorotation on MTV, VH1 and US Mainstream radio and receive MTVVideo Music Award nominations for example) and beat DaddyYankee by going one further and sticking the immenselypopular reggaeton beat to a decent tune. The album is wortha look for this infectious track alone but thankfullyShakira manages to craft an album that holds then more thanjust one killer single.
Opening track “En Tas Pupilas”is a gorgeous ballad the kind female pop stars so rarely getright, “Las De La Intuicion” is fantastic bubble-yelectro pop like Kylie gone all eccentric and Spainishspeaking and “Obtener Un Si” has an interesting Sinatravibe. It’s a tad overwrought at times and some might beput off by the language barrier, but if you’re wonderingwhere Shakira was all this time or just want to clueyourself in before the release of Oral Fixation Volume 2later this year then this album is well worth a look.
TV Update
Ah January. I love you bring new televisual goodness into my life. Here's a quick round up of some of the stuff I've been watching..
Desperate Housewives
RTE Two, 10pm, Tuesdays
I do like this show but it's vastly underrated. Still I enjoy it's frothy mix of sex, black humour and silliness each week even if it's nowhere as clever as all the critics would like to think it is. Season 2 has had any huge plot points so far but seems to be slowly getting us hooked on the various misadventures of the residents of Wisteria Lane.
Gabrielle (my favourite) seems to have moved on from John the Ridiculously Overrated "Pretty" Boy and is willing to make things work with Carlos, who's busy doing time while Gaby spends his money and not look the least bit pregnant. The scene at the end of episode 3 where she actually apolgised was surprisingly heartfelt and a nice reminder that Eva Longoria has more acting chops then people would like to give her credit for.
Stupid Bloody Susan (I really don't like her) manages to be as irritating as ever. She's dumped Mike because he's Zack's son and he can't be anywhere her daughter. She's found out her ex husband is going out with Edie, ran Edie over by mistake (how hilarious.not), nearly rumbled the creepy new neighbours, been jealous about Edie's relationship with her daughter and acted like a gobshite in a church. New season, same Bloody Stupid Susan.
Lynette has gone back to work in one of the most potentially interesting storylines for the new season. It hasn't amounted to much yet but Lynette trying her best to balance work and family but Felicity Huffman manages what she did last year, taking a underwritten but likeable character and making her ten times more charming with her winning performance. Huffman is aces in the role, I just wish Lynette was a bit more well written.
Bree, this show's real asset despite what the Teri Hatcher loving press would like to say, seems to be getting the real juice plotwise this season. Rex is dead, his mother has turned up to over react, Bree is suspected in killing Rex and George, the freak a zoid who actually killed, looks set to win Bree's heart and get away with Rex's murder. The combination of twist and turns coupled with the idea of an already emotionally stunted woman grieving means the Bree is the heart of this show right now and it's her story that along with the new neighbours is driving the show
Edie, is still a bit flat and one dimensional this season, still seeming to be in the show to show how "sexy" she is and annoy Susan. Yawn.
But my favouritest thing about the new DH season so far is the new neighbours. Not only does Betty Applewhite look like Oprah's evil twin, her and her son seem to be keeping some guy, (Betty's husband? her brother? Some guy who was rude to her a few years ago she really wanted to piss off?) in their basement. So far he's managed to escape the basement and nearly kill Betty and son and make lots of noise but of which have aroused the suspicions of Stupid Bloody Susan, who'll probably be the one to rumble the mystery of what's the what in the Applewhite basement before the season ends. I am hooked on this story and am quite literally desperate (no pun intended) to find out what the deal is..
So in conclusion, the 2nd season is off to a slow but intriguing start. There's enough ammo in some of the current storylines to give us a strong 2nd year but certain elements could still do with a bit of a kick in the ass plot wise. Still Desperate Housewives is setting out to be as riveting viewing.
Veronica Mars
Sundays, 6pm (times vary slightly) Living Tv
I am really really buzzed about this show. All signs have pointed to at this logical successor to Buffy, my fave show ever. I'd seen episodes 5 an 10 when LivingTv aired them in their frankly ridiculous weekdays at 6 slot but now that it's being repeated at a slightly more manageable time I've managed to catch the first 2 episodes.
The pilot introduces us the the titular character. Once part of the in crowd in her well to do Californian high school Veronica Mars now works with her dad who's a private eye in the town. Her dad was the Sheriff but when Veronica's best friend (Lily Kane) died and he fingered Lily's dad as the main suspect it backfired and he lost his job and Veronica her social status. Not only was Lily Veronica's best buddy but she was dating Lily's brother Duncan. Plus not long after Lily's death Veronica was date raped at a party. Throw in the disappearance of her mother and Veronica's life begins to sound ridiculously complicated.
And it is. But thanks to deft scripting and sharp performances the show has set up a number of brilliant mysteries, who killed Lily? Who raped Veronica? Where is Veronica's mother?, that the show promises (and actually does) wrap up at the end of the first season.
The dialogue and tone are very similar to Buffy's. Tongue and cheek and ironic but still rich, well written and compelling. But the key thing is it's has a freshness and a wit that comparisons aside are hard to grasp until you watch it. I'm thoroughy impressed with this show. Hopefully the season long plot will enthrall me as muc as these initial episodes. And I didn't even mention the biker gang that helps Veronica out on occassion
The Comeback
Thursdays, Living Tv 9pm
This went out last year on US cable network HBO (home of Six Feet Under, Sex and the City and The Sopranos to name a few) and it stars my favourite Friends actress Lisa Kudrow. The plot is (not that) simple.
Kudrow plays Valerie Cherish, an out of the limelight actress who is being followed around by a camera crew that documents her part in a new hip sitcom. It's shot in a documentary meets reality show style and though it's not big on laughs or twists it's got an addictive quality that's got me slowly hooked on it.
The behind the scenes look at the putting together of a sitcom, Valerie's attempts to be hip, her cocky writer bosses and her nubile co-stars, it's all mixed together in one addictive package that plays like an episode of the Office meshed with a parituclarly in depth reality show. Kudrow is excellent too. Unfortunately only 13 episode's thanks to cancellation by HBO, so the Comeback is an acerbic, enthralling treat to be savoured before it disappears.
Well that's all for now. Hopefully my work here will be regular, fun and all that stuff.
bye for now!!
Hello bitches! I'm back, desperately trying to give this blog malarkey a proper chance yet again. I want to actually regularly update this thing this year and get some writing practice etc so with that in mind I've decided to establish 3 sparkly new regular features that will (I hope) be seen in this fair blog every week (or so).
Those are: News: tidbits about music, movies, tv etc that I find interesting and/or informative
Album reviews: Every week I will review an album from somebody. From old faves to newbies, anything in my collection or that I'm passed on could crop up.
TV Update: I love my TV. And in this section I will give a wee update on what I've been watching recently. From my opinon on current plot arcs to comments on how pretty/unpretty the leads look this week. Fun.
NEWS
The Return of Lost
Finally! Got news of the screening date for Lost season 2 in Ireland. It's returning to RTE Two on the 13th Feburary (a Monday) at 10pm. We get to find out what's in the hatch in episode 1 (YES!!!) and see the exploits of the survivors from the tail end of the plane. Whoo.Hoo. Safe to say the spot on the sofa is already booked. This better deliver!!
Comeback Queens
Both Nelly Furtado and Pink have potentially ace sounding new material headed our way in the next few months. Pink's new album I'm Not Dead sounds like an attempt to re-establish her popularity especially in the wake of Kelly Clarkson's success recently and I'm excited about a possible return to widespread success not least because Pink's last album was so cruelly ignored. I may not be as big a Nelly Furtado fan but I'm pretty excited to hear Maneater, her forthcoming new album which features production from Timbaland and Lester Mendez. It's tipped as a return to form for both Timbaland and Furtado and I can't wait to hear it.
Popjustice gets a makeover!!
My favourite website www.popjustice.co.uk is getting itself a swanky new look with tons of extra content and a new messageboard. I've seen the preivew thing-y and it's all terribly exciting. Will probably go live soon. Wow.
eh that's it on the news front so far. Oh well. We all have to start somewhere..
Album Review
I'm cheating a bit here. I've already submitted this for the college newspaper but bah it mightn't be printed so I'll stick it here aswell:
Shakira “Fijacion Oral Volume 1”
When Shakira accepted her award for Best Female at last year’s MTV Europe Music Awards she wasn’t the only onewho was surprised. Many a viewer in the UK and Irelandraised their eyebrows and wondered how someone who’dapparently done nothing all year had won such an award.
It’s simple. While she may have cast aside the UK andIreland on her promotional circuit last year Shakira enjoyedconsiderable success with her new Spainish language album“Fijacion Oral Volume 1” across Europe and the US thankslargely in part to “La Tortura” the infectiouspop-reggaeton hybrid smash that crossed language barriers inthe US charts (first Spainish-language song to be sent intorotation on MTV, VH1 and US Mainstream radio and receive MTVVideo Music Award nominations for example) and beat DaddyYankee by going one further and sticking the immenselypopular reggaeton beat to a decent tune. The album is wortha look for this infectious track alone but thankfullyShakira manages to craft an album that holds then more thanjust one killer single.
Opening track “En Tas Pupilas”is a gorgeous ballad the kind female pop stars so rarely getright, “Las De La Intuicion” is fantastic bubble-yelectro pop like Kylie gone all eccentric and Spainishspeaking and “Obtener Un Si” has an interesting Sinatravibe. It’s a tad overwrought at times and some might beput off by the language barrier, but if you’re wonderingwhere Shakira was all this time or just want to clueyourself in before the release of Oral Fixation Volume 2later this year then this album is well worth a look.
TV Update
Ah January. I love you bring new televisual goodness into my life. Here's a quick round up of some of the stuff I've been watching..
Desperate Housewives
RTE Two, 10pm, Tuesdays
I do like this show but it's vastly underrated. Still I enjoy it's frothy mix of sex, black humour and silliness each week even if it's nowhere as clever as all the critics would like to think it is. Season 2 has had any huge plot points so far but seems to be slowly getting us hooked on the various misadventures of the residents of Wisteria Lane.
Gabrielle (my favourite) seems to have moved on from John the Ridiculously Overrated "Pretty" Boy and is willing to make things work with Carlos, who's busy doing time while Gaby spends his money and not look the least bit pregnant. The scene at the end of episode 3 where she actually apolgised was surprisingly heartfelt and a nice reminder that Eva Longoria has more acting chops then people would like to give her credit for.
Stupid Bloody Susan (I really don't like her) manages to be as irritating as ever. She's dumped Mike because he's Zack's son and he can't be anywhere her daughter. She's found out her ex husband is going out with Edie, ran Edie over by mistake (how hilarious.not), nearly rumbled the creepy new neighbours, been jealous about Edie's relationship with her daughter and acted like a gobshite in a church. New season, same Bloody Stupid Susan.
Lynette has gone back to work in one of the most potentially interesting storylines for the new season. It hasn't amounted to much yet but Lynette trying her best to balance work and family but Felicity Huffman manages what she did last year, taking a underwritten but likeable character and making her ten times more charming with her winning performance. Huffman is aces in the role, I just wish Lynette was a bit more well written.
Bree, this show's real asset despite what the Teri Hatcher loving press would like to say, seems to be getting the real juice plotwise this season. Rex is dead, his mother has turned up to over react, Bree is suspected in killing Rex and George, the freak a zoid who actually killed, looks set to win Bree's heart and get away with Rex's murder. The combination of twist and turns coupled with the idea of an already emotionally stunted woman grieving means the Bree is the heart of this show right now and it's her story that along with the new neighbours is driving the show
Edie, is still a bit flat and one dimensional this season, still seeming to be in the show to show how "sexy" she is and annoy Susan. Yawn.
But my favouritest thing about the new DH season so far is the new neighbours. Not only does Betty Applewhite look like Oprah's evil twin, her and her son seem to be keeping some guy, (Betty's husband? her brother? Some guy who was rude to her a few years ago she really wanted to piss off?) in their basement. So far he's managed to escape the basement and nearly kill Betty and son and make lots of noise but of which have aroused the suspicions of Stupid Bloody Susan, who'll probably be the one to rumble the mystery of what's the what in the Applewhite basement before the season ends. I am hooked on this story and am quite literally desperate (no pun intended) to find out what the deal is..
So in conclusion, the 2nd season is off to a slow but intriguing start. There's enough ammo in some of the current storylines to give us a strong 2nd year but certain elements could still do with a bit of a kick in the ass plot wise. Still Desperate Housewives is setting out to be as riveting viewing.
Veronica Mars
Sundays, 6pm (times vary slightly) Living Tv
I am really really buzzed about this show. All signs have pointed to at this logical successor to Buffy, my fave show ever. I'd seen episodes 5 an 10 when LivingTv aired them in their frankly ridiculous weekdays at 6 slot but now that it's being repeated at a slightly more manageable time I've managed to catch the first 2 episodes.
The pilot introduces us the the titular character. Once part of the in crowd in her well to do Californian high school Veronica Mars now works with her dad who's a private eye in the town. Her dad was the Sheriff but when Veronica's best friend (Lily Kane) died and he fingered Lily's dad as the main suspect it backfired and he lost his job and Veronica her social status. Not only was Lily Veronica's best buddy but she was dating Lily's brother Duncan. Plus not long after Lily's death Veronica was date raped at a party. Throw in the disappearance of her mother and Veronica's life begins to sound ridiculously complicated.
And it is. But thanks to deft scripting and sharp performances the show has set up a number of brilliant mysteries, who killed Lily? Who raped Veronica? Where is Veronica's mother?, that the show promises (and actually does) wrap up at the end of the first season.
The dialogue and tone are very similar to Buffy's. Tongue and cheek and ironic but still rich, well written and compelling. But the key thing is it's has a freshness and a wit that comparisons aside are hard to grasp until you watch it. I'm thoroughy impressed with this show. Hopefully the season long plot will enthrall me as muc as these initial episodes. And I didn't even mention the biker gang that helps Veronica out on occassion
The Comeback
Thursdays, Living Tv 9pm
This went out last year on US cable network HBO (home of Six Feet Under, Sex and the City and The Sopranos to name a few) and it stars my favourite Friends actress Lisa Kudrow. The plot is (not that) simple.
Kudrow plays Valerie Cherish, an out of the limelight actress who is being followed around by a camera crew that documents her part in a new hip sitcom. It's shot in a documentary meets reality show style and though it's not big on laughs or twists it's got an addictive quality that's got me slowly hooked on it.
The behind the scenes look at the putting together of a sitcom, Valerie's attempts to be hip, her cocky writer bosses and her nubile co-stars, it's all mixed together in one addictive package that plays like an episode of the Office meshed with a parituclarly in depth reality show. Kudrow is excellent too. Unfortunately only 13 episode's thanks to cancellation by HBO, so the Comeback is an acerbic, enthralling treat to be savoured before it disappears.
Well that's all for now. Hopefully my work here will be regular, fun and all that stuff.
bye for now!!
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