Subtitled the Best of the Oddfellows (For Now), Up in the Clouds is the long-awaited appearance of the Oddfellows’ music on streaming platforms. The Singapore indie rockers – which formed around singer-songwriter Patrick Chng – first came to prominence in the local music scene 40 years ago, with its debut album, Teenage Head.
Up in the Clouds features tracks from that well-received debut, sophomore effort Carnival, various film soundtrack albums and other odds and sods. The retrospective compilation does an excellent job in encapsulating the Oddfellows’ appeal viz. contagious melodies, jangly / crunchy guitars and pummelling drums – a fine distillation of 90s pop-rock, carried on the backs of the influences of R.E.M. and the Replacements.
Personally, of course, Patrick Chng and the Oddfellows were instrumental in jump-starting my return to music making in the late 80s. The Oddfellows (then with Stephen Tan on bass and Casey Soo on drums) were featured by Chris Ho in the national papers it certainly opened my eyes to the possibilities of the local music scene even as a 28 year old.
So yes, Up in the Clouds is hugely nostalgic (and sentimental) for those of us who lived through the Singapore pop revival of the 1990s and revered Patrick Chng and the Oddfellows as leading this new wave that caught the attention of the youth of that era. Every single song on this compilation turns me misty-eyed in remembrance of a very special time in Singapore pop music history.
Though Singaporeans are not known for their love for local music – not since the 1970s in any case – hopefully this timely compilation will provide the curious minority the opportunity to experience and savour classic Singapore rock from 30 odd years ago. The fact that the music itself sounds as fresh as it did when it first saw light of day surely recommends itself without too much prompting.
Rick and Morty S05E06 is the sixth episode of season 5 in this scifi fantasy action-adventure animated comedy created by Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon. The series follows the misadventures of cynical mad scientist Rick Sanchez and his good-hearted but fretful grandson Morty Smith, who split their time between domestic life and inter-dimensional adventures.
Dr. Death is an American crime drama miniseries created by Patrick Macmanus which is based on the podcast of the same name. The miniseries was released on Peacock on July 15, 2021. The eight-part miniseries is about a real-life arrogant, sinister doctor – Christopher Duntsch – who treats his Hippocratic Oath about the same way he treats his patients. As his malignant narcissism and sociopathy (antisocial personality disorder) escalates, his fellow surgeons and a young assistant district attorney set out to stop him.
McCartney 3 2 1 is a music documentary series streaming on Hulu, featuring musician Paul McCartney and producer Rick Rubin. Consisting of six 30-minute instalments, the premise of McCartney 3 2 1 is simple – the duo are ensconced in a darkened room shot in black and white, whereupon Rubin will play selections from McCartney’s storied career for the latter to react and respond to.
Rick and Morty S05E05 is the fifth episode of season 5 in this scifi fantasy action-adventure animated comedy created by Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon. The series follows the misadventures of cynical mad scientist Rick Sanchez and his good-hearted but fretful grandson Morty Smith, who split their time between domestic life and inter-dimensional adventures.
Loki Season One recently concluded its 6-episode run on Disney+. The first season of this scifi superhero action-adventure drama set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), starred Tom Hiddleston reprising his role as the God of Mischief, Loki Laufeyson. We analyse Loki Season One with a view to comparing the quality of its plot and characterisations against the value of the series in the context of the MCU as a whole.
Fear Street Part Three 1666 is a 2021 American slasher film directed by Leigh Janiak, with a script co-written by Phil Graziadei and Janiak, from an original story by Kyle Killen, Graziadei, and Janiak. Based on the book series of the same name by R. L. Stine, the film was released by Netflix on July 9, 2021 as the third and final instalment in the Fear Street trilogy.
How to Become a Tyrant is a Netflix documentary series based on The Dictator’s Handbook and narrated by Peter Dinklage. The Dictator’s Handbook: Why Bad Behavior is Almost Always Good Politics is a 2011 non-fiction book by Bruce Bueno de Mesquita and Alastair Smith, published by the company PublicAffairs.
Loki S01E06 is the sixth and final instalment of the first season of a scifi superhero action-adventure drama set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The series stars Tom Hiddleston reprising his role as the God of Mischief, Loki Laufeyson which Hiddleston had previously portrayed in the MCU, most notably as the main antagonist in The Avengers.
Rick and Morty S05E04 is the fourth episode of season 5 in this scifi fantasy action-adventure animated comedy created by Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon. The series follows the misadventures of cynical mad scientist Rick Sanchez and his good-hearted but fretful grandson Morty Smith, who split their time between domestic life and interdimensional adventures.
Fear Street Part Two 1978 is a 2021 American slasher horror drama film directed by Leigh Janiak, with a script co-written by Phil Graziadei and Janiak, from an original story by Kyle Killen, Graziadei, and Janiak. Based on the book series of the same name by R. L. Stine, the film was released by Netflix on July 9, 2021 as the second instalment in the Fear Street Trilogy.
Black Widow is a 2021 American superhero action-adventure drama film based on the Marvel Comics featuring the character of the same name. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is the 24th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The movie was slated to be released in 2020 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Here Today is a 2021 American comedy drama film directed and produced by Billy Crystal, from a screenplay that he wrote with Alan Zweibel. It stars Crystal, Tiffany Haddish, Penn Badgley, Laura Benanti, and Louisa Krause. The film concerns itself with the rather depressing subject matter of growing old and suffering from dementia. But more than that, Here Today is a film about family and friendship.
Loki S01E05 is the fifth instalment of the first season of a scifi superhero action-adventure drama set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The series stars Tom Hiddleston reprising his role as the God of Mischief, Loki Laufeyson which Hiddleston had previously portrayed in the MCU, most notably as the main antagonist in The Avengers.
Rick and Morty S05E03 is the third episode of season 5 in this scifi fantasy action-adventure animated comedy created by Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon. The series follows the misadventures of cynical mad scientist Rick Sanchez and his good-hearted but fretful grandson Morty Smith, who split their time between domestic life and interdimensional adventures.
Fear Street Part One 1994 is a 2021 American slasher film directed by Leigh Janiak, with a script co-written by Phil Graziadei and Janiak, from an original story by Kyle Killen, Graziadei, and Janiak. Based on the book series of the same name by R. L. Stine, the film was released by Netflix on July 2, 2021 as the first installment in the Fear Street Trilogy.
The Tomorrow War is a 2021 American science fiction action film directed by Chris McKay in his live-action directorial debut. The movie stars Chris Pratt, Yvonne Strahovski, J. K. Simmons, Betty Gilpin, Sam Richardson and follows a group of present-day soldiers who are sent into the future to fight an alien army (called the White Spikes).
A Quiet Place Part II is a 2021 American scifi horror film, and the sequel to 2018’s A Quiet Place, following the family from the first film as they continue to navigate and survive in a post-apocalyptic world inhabited by blind aliens with an acute sense of hearing. If you have read our review of the original movie, you would be aware that we found the premise to be critically flawed. Obviously that flawed premise has not changed but there are even more problems with the story of A Quiet Place Part II, as our analysis reveals.
Loki S01E04 is the fourth instalment of the first season of a scifi superhero action-adventure drama set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The series stars Tom Hiddleston reprising his role as the God of Mischief, Loki Laufeyson which Hiddleston had previously portrayed in the MCU, most notably as the main antagonist in The Avengers.
The Hand is a 1981 American psychological horror film written and directed by Oliver Stone, based on the novel The Lizard’s Tail by Marc Brandel. The film stars Michael Caine as Jon Lansdale, a comic book artist who loses his hand, which in turn takes on a murderous life of its own.
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Logan’s Run is a 1976 dystopian scifi action thriller drama film directed by Michael Anderson, and starring Michael York, Jenny Agutter and Richard Jordan. The screenplay by David Zelag Goodman is based on the 1967 novel Logan’s Run by William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson.
What’s the point of a fucking rule if it’s not there to be broken, eh? Glad to make an exception for a review of beabadoobee Our Extended Play the new EP from our favourite new singer-songwriter. Anyone who is able to bring guitar pop back with proper big choruses deserves to have her name shouted from the rooftops! And that describes beabadoobee to a T!
Rick and Morty S05E01 is the first episode of season 5 in this scifi fantasy action-adventure animated comedy created by Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon. The series follows the misadventures of cynical mad scientist Rick Sanchez and his good-hearted but fretful grandson Morty Smith, who split their time between domestic life and inter-dimensional adventures.
Loki S01E03 is the third instalment of the first season of a scifi superhero action-adventure drama set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The series stars Tom Hiddleston reprising his role as the God of Mischief, Loki Laufeyson which Hiddleston had previously portrayed in the MCU, most notably as the main antagonist in The Avengers.
