Music: British Radio FTW?

Had a scuffle, back now though! 

Recently I have been listening to a lot of British radio, and it's really a different scene over there, even in the 'mainstream'. Honestly, unless all you like is dance/bubblegum pop/girl country/90s distortion derivatives (which is what you find over in NA), I would suggest you check out some British radio, you might just like it.

So in honor of this, I will be highlighting three tracks that I've discovered through my new found radio adventures.

Foster The People - "Pumped Up Kicks"

Genre: "Chilled" Groove Rock
Bio: Foster The People are a LA band formed in 2009, and have since been touring in support of their debut album Torches.
My Opinion: I'm really feeling this track. It's really reminiscent of a track you would find on a Gorillaz album, and that always a good thing. Hopefully they can produce some good follow ups and keep it up.

Cee Lo Green - "I Want You (Hold On To Love)"

Genre: Soul-Pop
Bio: Started up rapping with the group Goodie Mob, but moved on to form Gnarls Barkley with producer Danger Mouse. Since disbanding GB, Cee Lo has been touring and promoting his debut solo record The Lady Killer.
My Opinion: Everyone know's Cee Lo from he's epic "F**K You" radio smash, but in NA, that's all that they are playing from him. It's kind of sad when an artist is almost "limited" to his mega-hit, as stations think to themselves - "Why would we play a new song, if we could play THE HIT". So I was very surprised to hear this over the airwaves, which shows you the dedication some of these British stations have to the actual music.

Wolfgang Gartner - "Illmerica"

Genre: Electric-House
Bio: Started off as a Deep-House DJ, but has changed to the more mainstream Electric-House genre as of late. Started off as all DJs do, remixing hits for sets and releasing plenty of EPs every few months. Recently, he's been producing direct collaboration with the likes of DeadMau5 and Will.I.Am, as well as radio play of his solo work.
My Opinion: First off, this is one of the best done music videos I've seen. It's also great to see non-mainstream genres being features on the radio, so that people can experience all the genres and decide if they like it for themselves.

Funny thing is, not only were all three of these tracks were from one station's selection, but they were all from the 7-11am morning show! Imagine turning on your car radio and hearing Illamerica! Haha. 

• What's your opinion on British Radio?
• Did you like these tracks?
• Any music suggestions? 

Let me know!

TV: Wilfred - US (2011)

Today I will be discussing the new show Wilfred, starring Elijah Wood (LoTR) and Dorian Brown (Wilfred - AUS), which premiered last Thursday on FX Channel.

Tastes like Wood. Wait... what?

The show, based upon its successful Australian version, revolves around Ryan (Elijah Wood), a recently laid-off lawyer-turned-suicidal house slob, who, in one of his many attempts to kill himself, meets his new (and lovely) next-door neighbor Jenna (Fiona Gubelmann), and in a hazed conversation, accepts the role of doggy-babysitter while she is away at work. 

It is then that he meets Wilfred (Dorian), and to everyone in the show's world - Wilfred is a dog. That is, except Ryan, who instead sees, interacts, and talks to Wilfred as if he was a grown man in a dog suit.

Hilarity ensues. 

Yes, that is a dog drinking beer and smoking a cigarette. 

Was Ryan finally successful in killing himself, and this is some weird afterlife? According to Wilfred, the answer is no, and with this premise the show moves forth as Ryan and Wilfred explore the world, and learn new life lessons in the wake of his life collapse.

Thursdays on FX

So far so good. I am really excited what they can pull off with this concept, and hopefully they continue the originality that the premiere contained, because this show is going to be amazing. Definately adding this one to my viewing schedule, and my summer just got a little less boring!

• Did you watch the premiere?
• Like what you saw?
• Should I watch the original Aussie version, or would that ruin the plot? (Is there a plot? Haha)

Let me know below!

Music: Artist Spotlight - Two Door Cinema Club

Two Door Cinema Club, a young rock band from Ireland, has been receiving tremendous acclaim since breaking into the indie scene this past year.

After forming in 2007 at their British-equivalence of high school, Alex Trimble (vocals, rhyme guitar), Kevin Baird (bass), and Sam Halliday (lead guitar), began writing their first album Tourist History (2010).

Love this video.

Since then, they have been touring in support of their debut (with a hired drummer), performing in such major festivals such as Reading (2010), Leeds (2010), Coachella (2011) and the upcoming Lollapalooza (2011).

Probably my favorite of their tunes.

So far, their biggest hit has been 'Something Good Can Work', grabbing plenty of time on the British charts, and scoring preciously rare airplay for indie rock worldwide. Hope you enjoy:

Sound of summer.

• What do you think of the band?
• What's your opinion on the state of rock?
• Any good bands you'd suggest?

Let me know!

Movies: CFotW - Office Space (1999)

Note: I will try to keep Cult Film of the Week an actual weekly article as opposed to its apparent monthly appearance, haha!

Office Space

Date: 1999
Genre: Comedy
Director: Mike Judge (King of the Hill, Beavis & Butthead)
Starring: Jennifer Aniston (Friends), Ron Livingston (Swingers), David Hermen (Futurama, King of the Hill)
Concept: A group of young disgruntled office workers deal with their depressing jobs in light of office bureaucracy.

"Uh, I'm going need you to come on Saturday. Yeah."

Why You Should Watch:

• One of the few truly unique comedies in the age of remakes and plot derivation.
• The film presents fresh faces that allow the viewer to immerse themselves even further into the plot, as it is not filled with the over-used "comedy actors" you see in every damn comedy.
• Contains every type of comedy, may it be one-liners, dry humor, situation comedy, and a good swear here and there.
• Ages well over the years, with timeless comedy, and jokes that aren't as timeless morph from current-fad jabs to classic nostalgia quips.
• Actual character development - a rarity, as most comedies these days sacrifice character development for gimmicks and cliche.
• Overall, a good time - a movie you can sit down and watch you parents, your better half, and of course your best buddies.

The Trailer:

"I believe you have my stapler?"

• Have you had the chance to see this film? When it came out?
• Yes or No?
• What's your favorite line? Scene?
• Any cult movies, less known movies, or just good movies you would suggest?

Hope you enjoyed it, and feel free to leave a comment below!

TV: Game of Thrones Finale

For those of us following Game of Thrones, you will know that the season definitely ended off ... interesting. I've still yet to make up my mind on if the show's first season ended off as successful as it began, but I can say that the writers definitively tried to shake things up!

"I can't move, this armor is too heavy!"

Season One Finale Spoilers: You've Been Warned! 

As fans will remember, in the second to last episode of Game of Thrones titled "Baelor", our hero and apparent lead Ned Stark, played by Sean Bean (LoTR), was unexpectedly and gruesomely beheaded in a twist that only those who read the book could expect. This feat brought controversy left and right for the show, as many fans 

publicly protested the move; as can be seen from this hilariously 

accurate portrayal by Downfall's Hitler:

This brings us to the series finale"Fire and Blood", which, after watching, can be seen as an episode that's main goal is to set up all the plot lines for next season's story. If the next season was coming in September or October, I would have probably enjoyed this episode more then I believe I have, as opposed to its scheduled Spring 2012 release. This is because I felt that there was too much setting up taking place, and not enough closure on the major plot lines from the first season. 

As the writers are almost directly adapting the series from the books, they are forced to abide by the book's pacing, and because the book was written in a way that Book 1 (Season 1) and Book 2 (Season 2) should be considered simply part 1 and 2 of a much larger book, there are no conclusions at the end of book 1, and in turn, no real conclusions in the TV series.

"I can't hold off all this hate!"

I guess it comes with the turf, but because of this issue, I felt that the finale was one of the more weaker episodes in the first season. Joffrey bringing Sansa to see her father's head - We already know she's angry. Robb Stark learning of his father's death - definitely 

necessary but expected. The Lannister army retreating - Kind of a disappointment, you'd think there would be some sort of epic battle. The wise old man lord dude goes to the brothel and is really flexible - Rather not have seen that. 

I would say that there were three highlights in the episodes, that of Arya 'becoming' a boy to escape north, the Nightwatch going on the offensive, and finally the Drogo burning scene and the birth of the dragon brood.

"Check out my ride!"

All in all, a decent end to a great show. Hopefully the creators keep the quality up in the second season, and that the wait is not too long.

• Do you watch the show?
• If so, did you like the finale?
• What did you think about Ned's death in the previous episode?
• High expectations for the second season?

Let me know in the comments below!

Music: Clarence Clemons Dead At 69

Sad news today in the world of music, as famed Saxophonist
Clarence "Big Man" Clemens, most well know for his work as a founding member of the E Street Band and key influence on Bruce Springsteen, passed away today due to complications from a stroke.

Clemons faced many health struggles at the closing of his life, multiple health scares, hip surgery, and a massive stroke a week prior to his passing. 

However, he remained active in his craft in his late years, most notably in Lady Gaga's newest album Born This Way, collaborating with her on tracks "Hair", "Highway Unicorn (Road to Love)", and her most recent single, "Edge of Glory".

In honour of his passing, here's the Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band classic "Born to Run" featuring Clemons on his Sax.

R.I.P Big Man

Music: Lou Reed + Metallica = Win?

The fine people in Metallica revealed yesterday that they have completed an album with legendary musician and rock icon Lou Reed.

Lou Reed, founding member and lead songwriter of the influential The Velvet Underground (check out my previous article on them here), and weathered solo artist, has created such classics like "A Walk on the Wild Side", "Heroin", "Berlin", and the first album totally created from white noise and loud sound samples, aptly named Metal Machine Music.

Audio has yet to be released from the album, but I would expect the sound to lie closer to Load-era Metallica, more so heavy classic rock then the band's early thrash sound or the latest Metallica record Death Magnetic.

The best I can give in regards to what the album might sound like would be this joint performance at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary Concert, where Metallica backed Lou in a rendition of his Velvet Underground songs "White Light/White Heat" and "Sweet Jane". I would say the WL/WH performance was the better job, but as there aren't many quality copies available, here's the Sweet Jane performance.

• What is your reaction to this news?
• Do you have a favorable opinion of Metallica these days?
• LOOOOOUUUUUUU.

Haha! 

Hope you have a great day, and be sure to leave a comment below. 

Thanks!