Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells (original)

Somebody posted some prog old farts belting out a live version of this so I thought I'd give it a go. Part One is nice, solid progression until the sublime bassy part with Viv Stanshall calling out the instruments. Part Two is a bit pastoral for my liking, with only the lunacy of the mid-section keeping my interest. Fail to see how this could advance Branson's fortunes even if it is radical for its time.

Woody Guthrie - Dust Bowl Balladeer

Always wanted to check out early Dylan's main influence. Some songs clearly spelt out the direction of Dylan's first three albums - Talking Dust Bowl Blues, Pretty Boy Floyd and Tom Joad (Pts 1 and 2). Others are barnyard singalongs which aren't that interesting - Buffalo Skinners, Mule Skinner Blues, although they sound like they were responsible for the skiffle boom. And the Leadbelly songs are better done by ol' Led - Take a Whiff On Me and Go Tell Aunt Rhody.

Big Star - Third/Sister Lovers

I heard "Radio City" and "#1 Record" and wasn't very impressed. This unfinished record, however, is the bee's knees. Dark, depressing, volatile, it clinches a sound oft imitated never captured by the likes of The Replacements and R.E.M. on their slower songs. I could do without the generic bonus track Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On but otherwise stellar. Could see why Big Bri (poster on the message board I go to) loves 'em so much.

Vampyr

Pretty interesting watch. The dreamlike nightmarish slant gives it kudos in my book. I suppose things which aren't that scary in the first watch are much more scarier in retrospect - the horrible looking legless man, the ghost in the window, and who closed the flour mill gate? I saw the visual essay recounting these and was admittedly spooked. My copy is grimy and dirty (not digitally restored) but it adds rather than detracts from the atmosphere.

Crash (Cronenberg)

This is just a weird soft-porn film. I did get aroused every now and then but still fail to see the impact of a car crash on sexual freedom... Some nice gay and lesbian romps aside, all the kinesthetic wonder of the book (as again) is overplayed by sex, sex and more sex visually.

A Night at the Opera

Wow! A huge leap from the Paramount films. All the Groucho one-liners actually hit the spot (from the documentary, seemingly Thalberg (MGM head) took them on the road to test the jokes). Funniest bit - "How do I walk down THAT flight of stairs?" "I'll help you" BOOT!. Runners-up - "There ain't no Sanity Clause" and the overcrowded cabin. A comedy classic in every way.

Jaco Pastorious

Bit too much on horns and the legerdemain between Mintzer and Brecker aren't interesting harmonically. The bass solos are also wafer-thin and lacks any modal foothold (some industrial backing and Lou Reed-inspired "a bit of the fret here, fret there). Disappointing.

Dororo

Pretty good samurai anime flick. The amputations and regeneration can be a bit unsettling. As is the Japlish subtitling, albeit I can understand it all. Not too bad.

Prenom Carmen

The most interesting thing about this is the fading in and out of Beethoven's Quartets 9 to 16 with the conversations and sea sounds. Hardly recommended, although better than "Contempt". Godard acts in this as well. Too many dick-shots, also.

Long Khong 2

Incomprehensible. Thailish with long conversations missing. Still the set-pieces are disgusting although not up there with its predecessor. Directed by Art Thramtakul, and not the better "Ronin Team".

Portishead - Roseland NYC Live

Didn't get this the first time cos hated the second album. But it's not too bad. If Gibbons and Co. stuck to the analogue basics, without drum machines or samples, and with warm strings and horns, this would have been an excellent album, As such, only "All Mine" and "Sour Times" are completely analogue. The rest sounds too much like the studio versions. Highlight is the crescendo of "Sour Times". Nobody loves me, I know, not like you do......

Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Shaka Zulu

A replacement for my fungus-infected cassette. Not their best sure, but their best-recorded, probably. The warmth and depth of their voices are so deep it gives me a sense of complete well-being. The arrangements aren't as good as their other albums, and the English songs sound a bit inexact and simple. The Zulu songs are great, though, and "At Golgotha" makes me shed tears (Golgotha or "The Place of the Skulls" was the crucifixion site of Christ).

Weather Report - Collections

Half-listened to this. I wanted so much for this to be a lullaby but there's too much going on. Can see where Jaco's big-band aspirations came from, with "Birdland" being a swaying horny big-band arrangement, with repeated motifs. Otherwise, more wankery from Jaco on "Teen Town" which I love. I have also have a double album called "The Collection" with one or two track repeats, which I didn't like at first. It's growing on me, though. Any thoughts, Matt? This is your arena after all.

Sigur Ros - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust

Half-listened as well. Generally less bombastic than "Takk". More diversity and electicism. "Festival" seems to go back to "Agaetis Byrjyn" even if there's a brassy coda. Definitely losing their indie skin and aiming for a wider audience. Haven't heard the English track yet - "All Alright".

The Stones - Let it Bleed
Threw my old CD away in one of my mad fits, due to the offensive title, I finally got a replacement. This one has Direct Stream Digital and supposedly captures all the tiny effects in the original studio analogue tapes even if the track list is jumbled on purpose. I have always had mixed feelings about this album. Sandwiched between the more satisfying and consistent "Beggars' Banquet" and the grittier dirtier "Exile on Main Street", this is a mostly a transition album. And Brian Jones is too wasted to play anything and only appears on one track. Here's a track-by-track rundown:-

"Gimme Shlter" - Always disliked this song, due to its draggy feel and connection to the Altamont incident (doc named after it) but DSD changes my mind. The background vocals are totally in your face. Cool!

"Love in Vain" – Instead of mimicking the G-tuning of the original, this turns out to be quite a beautiful love song even if "Stop Breaking Down" on their next album is more worthy of its genesis.

"Country Honk" – Like this somewhat more than the single version. The pedal steel is all over the place and reminiscent of The Byrds' "Sweetheart" phase.

"Live With Me" – Generic romp. Pass!

"Let it Bleed" – My fave song on the album. "Well, we all need someone we can bleed on... And if you wanna, you can bleed on me" Genius.

"Midnight Rambler" – Excellent as well. With the call and response holler bridge, it's wonderful!

"You Got the Sliver" – Keef sings. And refreshing too. Brian's Autoharp is barely audible.

"Monkey Man" – Can't figure out the love it gets here. Nice vibes, though.

"You Can't Always Get What You Want" – Second fave song. A pompous choir intro aside, this one is hugely satisfying. The verse melody is simplistic. The coda with the escalating choir voices is superb, though.

Barely anything that surpasses the lo-fi of "I Just Wanna See His Face" on "Exile" but this will do nicely.

Metal Gear Solid 3 : Snake Eater (PS2 game)

Wow! Just got this on Saturday and played it till 4 am that day and 12 yesterday. Managed to complete it.

I totally hated Sons of Liberty but this is really great. Highlights include the cat n mouse game with "The End" using sniper rifles and the atmospheric "Sorrow" walk in the depths of Hell.

Was a big bother getting read of that robotic nuclear weapon but quite fun anyhow. Never once got stuck.

Will play it the second time without stealth, with all guns blasting and in a tuxedo. Fuck camouflage!

Erm, this is on the PS 2, BTW. MGS 4 ahoy!

Solaris (1972)

I'd think if there was any good way for intelligent life to make contact with us, they'd do it it like they did here, making for a very palpable scenario. Atmospheric and laden with meaning, I'd say that this is very intelligent sci-fi. However, something bugs me about the way Kelvin sent his encephalograms to the Solaris Ocean thereby erasing the need for memories to sustain him. Just doesn't make sense - present wipes past, conscious eliminates unconcious? Cool twist ending, though. Two thumbs up!

There Will Be Blood

Is there any more a blacker depiction of capitalism? I had the choice to exchange this for another when the first copy I got didn't work but nah, too caught up with the sub-plot of the money-hungry pastor so I got a second copy. However many shots at redemption there is, he just doesn't take it and I kinda admire him for that. There's a great sense of bleak honesty to the character of Daniel Plainview that other films just won't protray. He's not necessarily evil, just the sorta person that is needed for the kinda work that there is and also the times. Hah! I drink your milkshake.

Batman: The Movie (1966)

In this age of angsty portrayals of the flying rodent, it is a refreshing breath of fresh air to return to the campiness and silliness of the Adam West era. Hey! The Joker doesn't kill people, he just makes bad jokes.

I'd think there was something in me to have liked "Batman Forever" which has some throwbacks to this oft-forgotten era. It's colourful, it's vivid, it's some overweight guy in a cotton Bat-suit.

The best bit here is where Adam tries to get rid of a bomb, in a river of cute ducks, boating lovers, and a pier of musicians, nuns and ladies with babies. Hilarious!

I loved this and so should any of you.