RPS

What is with all the hate on Vampire Weekend? Hate them for the real reasons - they rip off Paul Simon mercilessly!

I think a lot of the critiscm generated towards Juno is warranted, but I think in spite of that, it was a good movie. The performances were top notch, as stated earlier. The script was good, but weighed down a bit by HEAVY cultural references. It did try a bit too much to be hip, but they must have done something right. All in all, though, I think that given the demographics of this board, it is bound that a lot of people are going to dislike it. I don't think the movie was necessarily made with this demographic in mind. It was a very woman-orientated movie, and I'll tell you must people who I know that loved it were females.

It is not Whitney Houston. It doesn't sound ANYTHING like that at all.

So I heard a song at work today. Basically its a slower song, very soft, a female singer. Sounds like some sort of African/Indigenous tribe drumming. I can't remember the lyrics at all, but I believe the chorus goes something to the extent of "there will be hope; only when you believe" or something to the extent of that. My memory is hazy, and it could be a variation on that, however. Thanks if anyone can identify.

I fucking love them. They are very out there, and unlike anything else, but that what makes them so great.

I never said the music was bad. I never even slighted it. I never said my music tastes were superior. I just asked what about the music people liked. I didn't mean it as "this music is so bad, how can anyone like it?" I meant it more like "I don't get this music so tell me why you like it so I can better understand it.". I've never gotten the appeal of it and don't really know any one who does like it. Obviously people like it for a reason, and they have every right to like whatever music they like. I just didn't know what that exact reason was.

I actually have a question. Its not me trying to be a musical snob, or whatever, but I just don't get it. What is it about Nickelback and the other alt rockers that people like? I just don't... get it? To me, its just boring music that straight, white college guys listen to while drinking beer.

The Bee Gees covering Enter Sandman. Because the Bee Gees would do it better.

I think there are layers of intentions in movies and thats its hard to classify movies as one thing or another; some movies can't even be classified as a genre at all. Obviously Amelie is a romantic comedy, but its a comedy nonethless. It may not be it's main intention, and but I think that the way it integrates comedy into the plot makes it a comedy nonethless. Some would argue that humour is not the main intention of some of the other movies I listed (Pink Flamingos, in particular), but I think that there is enough comedy in both that warrant it being called a comedy.

Amelie, Adapation, Annie Hall, Pink Flamingoes, The Holy Grail, The General, The Great Dictator, American Beauty, Borat, Rushmore and Dr. Strangelove. In my opinion, the best comedies of any kind genre (from gross out, to mockumentary, to romantic) that aren't just classic comedies, but classic films.

M.I.A, Final Fantasy, Bloc Party, Feist, Buck 65 Justin Timberlake, Good Charlotte [x4], The White Stripes, Fall Out Boy [x2], +44, Cobra Starship, Elton John, Death By Stereo, Big D and the Kids Table, Mustard Plug, Protest the Hero [x3], The Constantines, Dillinger Escape Plan [x2], Between the Buried and Me, Bad Religion [x2], Anti-Flag, Sam Roberts, Sum 41 [x2], Bombs Over Providence, Autopilot Off, Blink 182 [x2], Green Day, Saves the Day, Jimmy Eat World, Simple Plan [x2], Sloan, The Trews, The Offspring, The Transplants, My Chemical Romance, The (International) Noise Conspiracy, Alexisonfire, Rancid, Pennywise, Dropkick Murphys, Less than Jake, Mad Caddies, Bouncing Souls, Billy Talent, Coheed & Cambria, Bedouin Soundclash, Millencollin, MXPX. Might have left some off...

I just saw Funny Games. I loved it. Such a good director. Heck, I'd say that it even surpasses the original. Never before have I been so anxious during a movie. Michael Haneke basically torments the audience for an hour and a half and than basically goes against everything the audience expects. "You shouldn't forget the importance of entertainment" pretty much sums up the entire movie. Spoiler: Click here to view The only thing I had reservations about was the Rewind scene. Too me, it just went a bit too far. The instances of direct address? PERFECT. Having characters rewind the movie? Not so much.

Love Actually. Gets my heart strings each and every time.

So I just downloaded their new CD, Funplex, and listening to it - its suprisingly really good. I mean, the band are pushing their 50's and they haven't lost a step. They are largely seen as a "joke" band, but I mean, these guys wrote some great pop tunes meant to have fun and dance too. A bit gay, but who the fuck cares? Their self-titled debut is fucking brilliant, and since than they've been a largely strong singles band. Roam? Party Out of Bounds? Devil In My Car? Strobe Light? Give Me Back My Man? Private Idaho? Fucking brilliant stuff. I recommend anyone who enjoys some fun music to download their first album, their best of album and new one. Seriously good times.

Daft Punk - Human After All. It was HATED by the critics when it first came out (its score on Metacritic is in the 50's) but I think many have gone on to realise that its really a piece of brilliance. Especially in reference to Alive 2007, you kind of get a sense that the album was created to be heard live.

I must third the love for Hercules and the Love Affair. Fawking brilliant. I have no idea why this album is so deep and amazing.

Umbrella - Rihanna Crazy In Love, Irreplaceable by Beyonce Cry Me A River, Sexyback by Justin Timberlake Golddigger - Kanye West Music, Hung Up - Madonna Crazy by Gnarls Barkley Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson Boulevard of Broken Dreams - Green Day Hey Ya by Outkast In Da Club - 50 Cent The Real Slim Shady, Lose Yourself - Eminem Hot In Heere - Nelly How You Remind Me - Nickelback Destiny's Child - Independant Woman In terms of chart performance, longevity etc. I'd say thats a pretty decent list. Some of the stuff on the list I kinda hate... but whatevs. I'd say its a pretty great list in terms of being able to contain 7-8 years worth of music.

1. The Clash 2. R.E.M 3. Elton John 4. The Bee Gees 5. David Bowie 6. Elvis Presley 7. Booker T and the MGs 8. N.W.A 9. James Brown 10. The Sex Pistols

So I'm writing an essay on the Clash for my Music Course. Basically, the jist is that I needed to choose a band not covered in the course, explain why they SHOULD be in the course. I've read the Wikipedia and various links I could find on there, plus have a butt load of books on them, so I am good in terms of the sources. However, the hard part is I need to choose TWO songs by the band that represent their style and sound and explain the song in terms of sound, the songs influence and the songs cultural/social importance. So.. So, I was just wondering what other people thought I should do. Obviously London Calling is almost a dead lock, however, I am kinda thinking there are a lot of other better tunes to use. I'm not sure. I can think of maybe 5 songs I'd include - Should I Stay Or Should I Go, London Calling, Police and Thieves, White Riot, Clampdown. But I was just thinking that if I got some other peoples input, than it'd help to narrow down my selection... see what the general public likes and go from there type thing...

I loved the open endings of the movie. Pretty much from the small FAQ's I've read, I heavily disagree with what some say. In particular, when they say that Chigurh wasn't at the hotel and that it was Sheriff's Bells imagination. But there was two hotel rooms blocked off - I saw the situation as being comparable to the heads or tails, however, with rooms. Sheriff Bell simply choose the "right" hotel and lived. As well, the endings of the movie, to me, put Chigurh and Bell at very different locations. Chigurh had fulfilled his word - he had gone through with everything, including his promise to Moss that he would kill Moss and his wife and get the money back. However, Bell on the other hand, was unable to fulfill his word. He couldn't save Moss or his wife, he was unable to ultimately catch Chigurh, he failed to live up to the same lawmen he talked about intially, and that he was left only for judgement. Whereas Chigurh, the villian, was true to his word and able to gain some sort of closure from the situation, Sheriff Bell gained none.

New Cadence Weapon is alright. The first single, In Search Of The Youth Crew, is pretty ace but everything else is meh. I agree with the Pitch4k review.

Anything Justice touches is gold. Lovestoned, Me Against the Music... just gold. MSTRKRFT has a shit load of amazing remixes - Monster Hospital, Two Years, Flux, Woman, Tenderoni, Kennedy Killed The Hat... etc, etc, etc. Boys Noize also have some ace remixes for My Moon My Man, Personal Jesus, Phantom I & II and Banquet.

Fucking amazing stuff. Reznor topped Year Zero for sure. Instrumental is always fun because you have FREE ability to experiment with all sounds and that sounds like what Reznor is doing here. The first three tracks? Orgasm worthy, ESPECIALLY Ghosts I, Third Track. Man, just so fucked!

Like A Prayer hands down in both categories! I mean, True Blue is meh, especially the album, and Like A Virgin is alright. But I mean, Like A Prayer. Epic shit right there.

1. Only Lovers Gonna Be Left Alive by the (International) Noise Conspiracy As a young impressionable youth, this song was incredible. It was new, it was challenging, it was revolutionary. Dennis Lyxen half screaming, half singing "only lovers gonna be left alive" made me truly believe in the world. 2. Take Me Out by Franz Ferdinand At first, I hated this song. At that stage in my life, I was deeply addicted to punk and didn't want to think about anything else. After a while, I realised how truly brilliant the song was. Was it rock? Was it dance? What was singing he about? Who did he want to take him out? So ambigious, but so good. 3. The Little Heart Beats So Fast by the Field One of the most overlooked and beautiful bands ever. 4. Beautiful by Damian Marley My dad loves this song. He is a big fan of reggae, so I told him to check out Damian Marley. Although he isn't a big fan of rap, he loves teh reggae and I think that speaks volumes about Damian Marley's work. He is a shapeshifter and never fits into one category. 5. Where's Your Head At by Basement Jaxx One of the most exhilerating songs ever. It is just this amazing combination of moods, sounds and styles to create this jumbled up, almost schizo song. 6. Can't Stop by Maroon 5 Call me a sucker for a falsetto, but Maroon 5 IS my new guilty pleasure. There new CD is great when its great, and this is one of those upbeat dancey tracks. Call me crazy... 7. Anyone Else But You by Michael Cera and Ellen Page I don't know why, but I find this to be a fantastic song. They aren't good singers, they can't carry a tune, but its somehow amazing. 8. Dance Hall by Modest Mouse On sheer intensity alone, this song scares me. But I just think the song is eery in every sense of the word. 9. Toop Toop by Cassius Pure rock and dance sex. They play this song at my work, and everytime I nearly have to stop myself from dancing. Truely great track. 10. Just Another Story by Jamiroquai Although I do like Jamiroquai's more recent work, this right here is what sets him apart from his peers. The guy can make a bitching ass tune that makes you shake your hips. Fucking amazing.