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ARSENAL 3 SPURS 0

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Back to back defeats has taken the shine off Spurs’ bright start to the season. One might argue that Spurs were unlucky against Stoke last week but against the Auld Enemy, Spurs let down their fans with a pathetic display. After more or less shutting up the vaunted Arsenal passing game for 40 minutes, a lapse of concentration results in a Van Persie goal at Gomes’ near post. But even more criminally, Spurs switch off at the kick off and Fabregas beats a slew of Spurs defenders to convert a quick second.

Game over? Well, considering that Spurs recovered from 2-4 down to salvage a point last season and the fact that in their last game, Arsenal threw away a 2 goal lead against West Ham, the game was still there to be played. Unfortunately, Spurs continued to plod along without any thrust and to rub salt into the wound, again lost concentration and fatally hesitated when the referee waved play on and somehow the cross beat both Gomes and King for Van Persie to finish.

Was the scoreline flattering to Arsenal? In a sense, because Arsenal did not play well enough to deserve it but certainly Spurs played badly enough to warrant being beaten by that score. No doubt, Spurs missed Modric, Defoe and Lennon but really the players Spurs had on the pitch should have done much better. Much better.

Disappointing but rather typical and expected at the end of the day.

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WOLFMOTHER

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WOLFMOTHER Cosmic Egg (Universal)

“Rock n roll is here to stay/It will never die”

Okay, I’m gonna make this short and to the point. It’s hard to be less than impressed by Wolfmother’s new album (their sophomore effort) being as it is, nothing more than a fascimile of all the Led Zep and Sabbath albums they’v e been listening to. I mean its well and good to be influenced by your heroes but surely this is too derivative for comfort? And isn’t 10,000 Feet a piss-poor attempt at mimicking Kashmir? C’mon!

Are we so starved of “genuine” commercial hard rock now that critics welcome with open arms any half-baked, two-bit hard rock band? I mean, if this had come out in the 70s, Wolfmother would not have made a dent on a rock scene that included such dynamic bands as Deep Purple, Free, Budgie, KISS and of course Led Zeppellin and Black Sabbath.

But seriously folks, whilst Cosmic Egg isn’t a bad album per se – tracks like Far Away and Violence of the Sun do possess certain redeeming features – its just not “original” or “distinctive” enough in my book to merit any high praise.

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PREVIEW: ARSENAL v SPURS

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The big one. Spurs do not have a good record away to the Arse, so a point at the Emirates will be a point gained. On the team front, Defoe is suspended and Modric is still injured, whilst King and Woodgate will have late fitness tests to determine if they can start.

The big story, of course, is the return of ex-Arsenal player David Bentley. After his goal of the season contender in the corresponding fixture in 2008-2009, it looked like good things were in store for Bentley. Unfortunately, that goal was the highlight of Bentley’s season as his form dipped sharply and he was relegated to a bit player in the Spurs squad.

Well, with the injury to Lennon and an encouraging performance in the 2-0 Carling Cup win over Everton (highlights below), Bentley is expected to start against his former club with a thing or two to prove. With both teams locked on 19 points (although the Arse have a game in hand), it’s yet another early test of this Spurs team’s realistic chances of doing well in 2009-2010.

I reiterate – a point would be good enough for me. But a win…. would be legendary. COYS!!!

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BUCKETFULL OF BRAINS

BoB#73 cover

Bucketfull of Brains is the only other place to find my music writing. Intrigued? Well, BoB is a great indie fanzine focusing mainly on powerpop and alt-country bands and artists. Like most other indie zines, its had a hard time financially in the last couple of years so here’s an earnest plea from editor Nick West.

“This is the cover of Bucketfull #73. It features Lucky Soul, The Drones, John Wesley Harding. Adventures In Sound, Rob Symmons, Roky Erickson, Peter Holsapple, Big Star, along with all the usual stuff. It will be published very soon.

But it’s been something of a struggle to get out. Not from content which we’re overflowing with, but finance. For reasons too convoluted and drawn out to rehearse here, though we will put a resume up on the blog shortly, we have been broke and hand-to-mouth (if that) for the last two years or more. How we’ve been able to survive is through our loyal subscribers, many of whom have stuck with us over more than a decade. But most of their current investment is dead, either spent on previous issues or the basic infrastructure of BoB .

So we’ve thought about what we can do to get a bit more cash. In fact to gather enough reserves to ensure we can pay for the next three magazines without even needing to solicit advertising. After doing a bit of basic maths we’ve realised that this is possible to achieve with 400 new subscribers. We suspended subscriptions about 18 months ago due to the uncertainty of continuance but we’re now reopening them in a revised fashion.

So from now Three Issue Subscriptions are now open. For the UK it’s £8.50, for Europe £11.50, and USA and ROW £14.50. You can start with #73, or with #72 (the Jesse Hector cover). Please pay by PayPal (it is easy to sign up for, as a number of our friends can now attest) to the usual email (bucketfull@blueyonder.co.uk).

The reality is that if you’ve ever thought of subscribing to Bucketfull Of Brains now is the time to do it; certainly in England it’s going to cost around the same as three beers. We do sadly have to pass on carriage costs to our overseas readers, but in most places it is the only way you’ll be able to get it for a while.

Lastly we would ask you to circulate this on to all and any remotely relevant mailing lists or contacts you have or have access to. It’s our 30th anniversary year and we would like to see 31, and while we wouldn’t be quite ready to call ourselves an institution our continued existence does keep the editors out of one.

Thanks for your support over the years.”

Go on, support the BoB…

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SAY ANYTHING

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Say Anything was significant for being Cameron Crowe’s debut film as director and John Cusack’s breakout movie as well. In 2002, Entertainment Weekly ranked Say Anything… as the greatest modern movie romance.

Well, Say Anything 20th Anniversary Edition arrives on Blu-ray Disc (for the first time!) and DVD on November 3.  Starring John Cusack, Ione Skye and John Mahoney, and with an eclectic soundtrack featuring the classic In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel as well as Cult of Personality by Living Colour, Taste the Pain by Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stripped by Depeche Mode and more, it is a must-have for movie and music lovers alike!  You can sample the soundtrack here.

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JON AUER/CHEAP STAR

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JON AUER/CHEAP STAR Two for the Money (Z&Zoe)

Here’s a cool tidbit from France. A split CD between the legendary Jon Auer (the Posies, of course) and French powerpoppers Cheap Star. Six cool tracks altogether, three each from Auer and Cheap Star make Two for the Money a nice acquisition for fans of 90s powerpop.

Cheap Star’s contribution is steeped in 90s jangle pop and college rock, informed by Neil Young, the Byrds, REM, the Posies et al, which maintains your interest without relying on being (too) derivative. Jon Auer, on the other hand, comes across like the master with his acoustic-based, electronic keys-infused tracks full of sophistication and populist charm.

Any music that Auer produces is worth your time…so come and get it.

Jon Auer’s Myspace

Cheap Star’s Myspace

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PREVIEW: SPURS v STOKE

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A week before the North London derby, Spurs face emerging Stoke City at the Lane with the opportunity to start the match against the Arse above them in the table. On paper, of course, those three points should be there for the taking. Last week’s game at Pompey highlighted Spurs defensive frailties – though King was majestic as usual – yet Spurs still got the victory.

So, if nothing else, Harry Redknapp seems to have shaped this Spurs team into winners and despite rather middling performances at times, manages to pull the rabbit out of the hat. Mind you, this is much better than playing well and losing! Stoke will provide a stern test of course but are less dangerous on their travels, thus Spurs must take advantage.

With Defoe suspended, Crouch has the opportunity to impress once again. The key question is again, Robbie Keane. The Irishman has – notwithstanding his four goals against Burnley in the last home game – been poor by his own standards and surely, fit-again Pavlyuchenko must be knocking on the door for inclusion.

Stoke has strengthened its squad rather smartly with Huth, Tuncay & Diao coming in and their impressive start to the season (9th in the table!) is a tribute to manager Tony Pulis’ ability. Therefore, it will not be an easy game by any means but if Spurs can get a grip on the match with their quick passing attacking play and hit Stoke early, it could be a rout. If not, and the ponderous, plodding Spurs turn up, then it will be a close one.

COYS!!!

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A SIDE SHOW

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This weekend, we’ll be in for a musical smorgasbord coming from *SCAPE as an eclectic variety of bands from the Philippines and Singapore come together for *SCAPE PRESENTS A SIDE SHOW.

Having graced our sunny shores in August as part of the Baybeats lineup, Taken by Cars will be back with fellow Pinoys, Chicosci, this Saturday at *SCAPE’s Lab for a show presented by *SCAPE and Wake Me Up Music.At Baybeats, Taken by Cars wowed the Singaporean audience with their fun and upbeat music from their first album, Endings Of A New Kind. Citing their musical influences to Electro, Indie and New Wave, you can’t go wrong with music this good, especially when The Fire Fight’s front man, Josh, danced to most of their songs.

Having recently released their 5th album, Fly Black Hearts, Chicosci are back in Singapore for the 3rd time and better than ever! Their popularity in the region and the Philippines has been growing since they started out, winning for them Favorite Artist of Philippines from MTV Asia last year.

They’ll be sharing the stage with our local favorites, Plainsunset and The Fire Fight, representing our best in punk rock and indie respectively. With successful tours in the Philippines, Plainsunset are back with their exhilarating stage performances and their inspiring songs.

Following the SOLD OUT launch of Henri, our favourite quartet have been gigging regularly, having played for Ben Sherman, Gap and the Esplanade.

It’ll be an interesting mish mash of music featuring a few of the best bands Singapore and the Philippines have to offer from their respective genres. I look forward to the musical smorgasbord, and interviewing Chicosci before the gig.

Details:
Sat 24 Oct. Doors open 730pm
*SCAPE Youth Centre: Lab
$18 entry
Limited tickets!
( CONTACT _Con-3936AC451 \c \s \l Rebecca Lincoln)

Taken By Cars
Myspace
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Chicosci
Myspace
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YouTube

Plainsunset
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The Fire Fight
Myspace
Facebook
Twitter
Official site

Latest Music Video of Chicosci’s song, Diamond Shotgun.

Latest Music Video of Taken by Car’s song, Shapeshifter.

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POWER OF POP INTERVIEW – THE CAMERAWALLS

The-Camerawalls

(Answers by Clementine)

Who are The Camerawalls and how was it formed?

The band comprises of Ian Sarabia, Law Santiago and myself. It was formed after my stint with Orange & Lemons (a short lived local pop sensation), with an ardent desire to channel whatever creative juices left in my system with the help of two long time friends and aficionados back in 2007.

Who are the influences for The Camerawalls?

Our obvious influences include The Beatles, The Smiths and various guitar pop bands from the 80s and 90s.

What’s the dynamics of the band?

Ian occasionally co-writes and shares eureka moments with me but spends more time behind the drum kit. Law is our silent lucid bassist. I’m the melody maker and chief songwriter of The Camerawalls. I do vocal duties and perform the following instruments on our recordings: acoustic/electric guitars, the indigenous octavina and banduria.

Why do you play music?

Aside from the usual rationale like money and fame, we play music as a creative outlet to give a home to our songs, including exciting ideas and musical prospects. Performing also refines our act and gives us a lot of contacts. We see it as a profession but at the end of the day, we do it because it’s fun. Our music will eventually stagnate if we do not play it. Personally, I do this as a legacy. When you’re worn out and old, it’s nice to look back 20 or 30 years knowing you did something special, if not great.

Your previous album, “Pocket Guide To The Other World,” released in July 2008, was well received in the Philippines. Any plans to record another album? And if there were plans, any idea what it would sound like? Would it be very different from “Pocket Guide To The Other World,”?

We just recorded two new songs intended for a compilation album under Lilystars Records, my indie record label, entitled “The Sight of Love” and “Longevity.” It’s just a matter of time before we release it, maybe before Christmas when everything gets back to normal after a couple of deadly typhoons, which placed the Philippines under a state of calamity. A new full-length album is also in the works come 2010. It’s not a habit of mine to repeat what I did from previous works, so it’s safe to say that the sound would definitely evolve.

What was involved in the recording process for the album?

Normally, the lyrics come first. It’s much easier to put proper dynamics, melody and arrangement to a song when you already know what you will be singing about.

What was the lyrical process for making the album?

For “Pocket Guide To The Otherworld,” the lyrics are very personal. It was mostly related to current experiences and sentiments during the times we were developing the album and the band. Some of the lyrics hide facts behind profound words while others portray real emotions. We try to be real as much as we can and challenge ourselves in the process.

How much has changed since the album was released?

A lot has changed. We are happier now, more confident and very open to different musical stylings. We are still promoting the debut album and doing a lot of small gigs. Being indie gives us limited exposure and attention. A lot of people haven’t heard of us yet and we try to reach out to as many people as we can. And we hope this Power of Pop interview will make a difference. 🙂

Do you have any plans to play in Singapore?

We were once invited to play in Esplanade by a local promoter from the Philippines a few months ago but our bassist encountered problems with his passport so we were regretfully unable to make it. Given another opportunity, we won’t say no to playing in Singapore or the neighboring Asian countries.

What’s the future plans for The Camerawalls?

Our long-term plan would be to release and record 10 albums. 1 down, 9 to go. We also want to perform in at least 20% of the total number of countries in the world. There are more or less 195 countries in the world, which gives us a figure of around 40 countries. 1 down, 39 to go. 🙂

(Rebecca Lincoln)

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Pix by Charles Buenconsejo

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MONTY PYTHON: ALMOST THE TRUTH (THE LAWYER’S CUT)

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MONTY PYTHON: ALMOST THE TRUTH (THE LAWYER’S CUT”)
(Eagle Rock)

Anyone who is a serious student of pop culture would be aware of Monty Python – a group of British comedy writers-performers who changed the face of comedy in the late 60s and the 70s. Consisting of John Cleese, Michael Palin, Eric Idle, the late Graham Chapman, Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam first came to prominence with Monty Python’s Flying Circus, a BBC TV series that ran from 1969 to 1974. After the demise of the TV show, the group moved into film and produced the critically acclaimed Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the controversial Life of Brian and the Meaning of Life.

Almost the Truth is a 6-part comprehensive documentary series detailing the history of the Pythons. The doc includes interviews with all the Pythons (even the dead one – as the box irreverantly states) along with prominent folk who have been “touched” by the Pythons work viz. Dan Ackroyd, Steve Coogan, Russell Brand, Eddie Izzard, Seth Green as well as snippets of the TV show and the movies.

Now into their 60s, the Pythons are separately interviewed to give the skinny behind the origins of the group, the popular sketches and of course the movies. Its all good fun, of course, and an excellent reminder of why there is still so much fuss made about Monty Python. If you’ve never even heard of Monty Python, then this DVD is a good introduction and once your appetite is properly whetted, go and check out the complete TV series and the three movies (which are all available on DVD). You will not regret it…

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PREVIEW: PORTSMOUTH v SPURS

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All the press has been about Harry Redknapp’s return to his former stomping ground. But really, its all about the need for 3 points at polar opposites. Pompey need points to get off the bottom of the table and Spurs will be desperate to maintain their good start.

From a Spurs perspective, this has to be a must-win with Pompey having lost every single home match thus far this season. But with the obvious hostile reception to be faced by ex-Portsmouth players like Defoe, Crouch and Kranjcar, not to mention Redknapp, of course, much will depend on whether the Spurs team will rise to the challenge or wilt under the pressure.

Spurs have been exceeding all expectations with their recent form and although Palacios will not be starting, I think the Spurs team will indeed give a good account of themselves and hopefully bag another 3 points.

COYS!!!

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THE POWER OF POP INTERVIEW – RIVERMAYA

Rivermaya

(Answers by Mark Escueta, Mike Elgar and Jayson Fernandez)

Who are Rivermaya and how was it formed?

Rivermaya is Mark Escueta (drums, vocals), Mike Elgar (guitars, vocals), Japs Sergio (bass, vocals) and Jayson Fernandez (vocals, guitars).

Mark: In 1993, our original manager wanted to form a show band but that didn’t work because we had written original songs so the direction of the band changed because of that. When we open for The Eraserheads, the band mates and I chose the name Rivermaya for that gig and it stuck.

Who are the influences for Rivermaya?

Mark: Collectively, Radiohead, The Beatles and U2 influence us. Personally, when I was starting out, I listened to a lot of the music from The Police, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins and Toto.

Jayson: Pop-rock music, Linkin Park and Queen.

Mike: When I was much younger, I listened to Incubus, Van Halen, Led Zepplin, Deep Purple and a lot of guitar-based music.

What’s the dynamics of the band?

Mark: The decisions we make as a band have to be unanimous. The team makes decisions for everything, like how songs would sound like. Anyone can do anything but our decision-making is always unanimous. Most of us are multi-taskers who are open to opinions and inputs from the others. We value the opinions of each other and try and come to a compromise if needed. I also do the graphic designs for the band.

Mike: We’re all team players.

Jayson: I do the t-shirt designs.

Why do you create music?

Mark: We love to play own musical instruments (Mark started playing the drums at 11 years old and Jayson singing in public at 6 or 7 years old). We enjoy what we do and love performing live and doing music. As a band, we have great chemistry, which makes it easy to create music. We always try to create something new every time, and it keeps it fresh and always exciting. Music is our personal expressions about life and experiences we’ve faced.

Jayson: I can’t live without it.

Mike: I discovered music at 6 years old and started playing the guitar at 10. We’ve sacrificed a lot to live our dream.

Are there themes for each album that’s released and how do you decide what goes into a new album?

Mark: There are no central themes which each album we release; the theme usually comes as the songs come together. Each person comes up with songs that are based on a certain mood and our releases are also dependent on what came out previously. We try and make albums that are different from the previous ones.

An example would be when we released a tribute album of ’80s Filipino bands that were very talented but overlooked during their time. We rerecorded their songs as a way to share our rich musical history with the current generation. Technology is better now and has helped played a big part in helping us to stay true to the ’80s vibe. We also split the vocals duties between the members for our last album, which is not a common occurrence.

How long does it take to produce an album?

Mark: A lot of it depends on how quickly the individual sounds are done. The fastest time we’ve taken to record and rehearse and album has been 2 months. The songs are roughly written before hand but sometimes, it can take you 2 years to record an album.

Mike: It can take 5 months just to record the album alone!

Why release a free album online?

Mark: For our 6th album, we released it online for free. It was something we’ve always wanted to do and a lot of musicians think it’s the way it’s supposed to be, music being heard by a large group of people. The biggest challenge was not earning so there wasn’t a marketing budget and there were problems along the way. Technology was a big help and it was a great feeling throwing albums into the crowd.

Did you start out expecting to be big?

Mark: Nope, we started out as a college studio for a hobby. It’s still a hobby that we enjoy with all the performances in small clubs and playing during the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix. Our music enables people to enjoy themselves and at the end of the day, work ends up being play.

How does it feel playing regionally for festivals?

Mark: it’s an honour to be invited to perform there. It’s different from the usual gigs because we get to meet other artists and learn from them. Sharing cultural differences has also been fulfilling when meeting other people from other regions. Music is a universal message and it’s worth what one went through. Because of that, it inspires us to write new songs and create new albums.

Your music has been featured on Star World for Heroes. Are you fans of the show and how did it happen?

Mark: We were surprised and we didn’t know it had been chosen to be the on TV until people started texting and we saw it for ourselves. It coincided with promotional activities for our song, ‘You’ll Be Safe Here’ with Warner Asia Pacific. During that time, it took several English songs to come up with an Asian Compilation album. The music video for that song was shot in Jakarta and it received a lot of airplay in Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand. That song started it off when it was performed during the MTV Asia Awards 2006, where Kelly Rowlands introduced us! We did rounds promoting album in Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand, and had TV guestings as well, which was great!

How different is it playing here and back home?

Jayson: Different preparations are needed whenever we play in a different country.

Mark: We have to prepare more English songs because of the audience here but we still play Filipino songs and there’s still the element of fun.

Mike: There are lots of similarities between playing here and back home, be it the similarities in performances or the way we do things. A major difference is the people who don’t speak Tagalog. We worked hard and people have noticed us because of the effort we’ve put in. Performing overseas feels special, it’s something that’s unattainable back home and there is more appreciation for Tagalog songs. Overseas, we perform songs that are not usually played back home.

What are the future plans of Rivermaya?

Mike: We recently just released an album and we’ll be doing album promotions and a video over the next few months. We have plans for a Philippine tour & a few other places. We want to continue making music as a band.

Mark: We’re thinking of ways to make it available elsewhere.

Jayson: We’re in the midst of promoting the new album.

(Rebecca Lincoln with Ranne Sanedrin)

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THE BEATLES BOX OF VISION

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The Beatles Box Of Vision® is the deluxe companion to the newly re-mastered Beatles CDs, and will be available as the ultimate Beatles gift in the UK and Europe this Christmas from www.BoxOfVision.com and www.HardDaysNightShop.com, plus select retailers.

Click here for the official full colour UK press announcement.

Officially licensed by The Beatles’ Apple Corps Ltd., the stunning collection, previously only available in North America, includes the following Beatles’ collectible content: The first book in the box is the LP Sized Album Artwork Book includes 200 pages of the Beatles’ LP artwork – the first time all the Beatles’ UK and US album artwork has been collected together in one LP sized book. The Album Artwork book includes front and back covers, gatefolds, inserts and the complete LP booklets from Magical Mystery Tour and many more.

The second book, ‘The Catalography’, is an extensive, all-new, full-colour guide jam-packed with photos, text and track-listings providing the first-ever side-by-side presentation of the U.K. albums and their U.S. counterparts.

The third book is entitled the ‘The Box of Vision Storage Book” – a highly collectible, unique and stylish way for Beatles fans to organize and display all 32 discs of The Beatles’ core catalog. Beatles fans will have the opportunity to insert CDs and booklets from their existing Beatles collections or the recently released digitally re-mastered versions.

Ideal for fans, collectors and Christmas gift giving, all three Beatles books are housed in an elegant black, linen-covered box with silver embossed Beatles logos and faux Beatles LP spines. The 13” x 13” box features the iconic image of The Beatles photographed by Robert Freeman.

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POWER OF POP INTERVIEW – THE AMBASSADORS

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Who are The Ambassadors?

Bai: The Ambassadors are Bai Nuñez (vocals, guitars), Joseph Agura (bass, backing vocals), Dennis Suarez (drums) and Chris Janulgue (guitars, backing vocals).

How was The Ambassadors formed?

Bai: We were friends in high school and liked punk rock from the 1990s.

Why do you play music?

Bai: Without music, my life would be incomplete.

Joseph: My grandfather was once in a band and that inspired me to be in one.

Dennis: Music was something I inherited from my great, great, great grandfather who used to play in a disco.

Chris: It’s one of the things I do very well.

What are The Ambassador’s influences?

Bai: 80’s pop, 90’s punk rock, everything.

Joseph: Anything heavy.

Dennis: Punk rock.

Chris: Pinoy rock, and the common influence for the band being punk rock.

What’s the dynamics of the band?

Bai: It was my first time as a vocalist because the previous vocalist left after the third album. It was the first for all of us so it was different for all of us. Chris was also a recent addition to the band.

Chris: I was a friend for a long time with the band mates while I played for other bands before joining The Ambassadors.

What’s involved in the recording process of the latest album?

Bai: It starts with basic chords and then lyrics are added. It’s then introduced to the band mates and additions are included. Like any band, there are conflicts over areas such as food but we’ve learnt to be open-minded and compromise. It was the first album that was recorded in Manila so that itself was a different experience altogether.

How much has changed since the last album?

Bai: The songwriting process because the lyrics take on a different style. We started with chords, and then added the lyrics, and it was the first album with effects. The lyrics are about personal experiences and struggles as a band and of life experiences. We moved away from writing love songs for the album.

How does it feel playing in Singapore?

All: We enjoy playing here and we love the food! We played here last year for 3 days with Urbandub.

What’s the difference playing in Singapore compared to the Philippines?

The crowd’s different, there are new faces, the stage equipment’s different from what we have back home and everything’s very professional.

What’s in store for The Ambassadors in future?

Bai: We recorded the video for our song, ‘At The Hospital’ and it’s already out on channels in the Philippines. We also hope we’ll be able to come back again to play a show.

Chris: We definitely want to come back.

(Rebecca Lincoln)

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Pix by Indios Bravos

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CALIFORNICATION: THE FIRST SEASON

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CALIFORNICATION: THE FIRST SEASON

As cable TV allows actors, writers, producers and directors to throw off the restraint of mainstream viewing sensibilities and delve into um meatier subject matters, the quality of TV is now easily outstripping film in many ways. With the luxury of time to develop characters and plots – not to mention the freedom to express human behaviour without censorship concerns, talented creators have in the past couple of years produced such wonderful shows as The Sopranos, The Wire, Dexter, Battlestar Galactica, The Tudors and others.

Californication is a dramedy detailing the misadventures of troubled writer Hank Moody (David Duchovny), whose move to to LA, coupled with his writer’s block, complicate his relationships with his ex-girlfriend Karen (Natascha McElhone) and 12-year-old daughter Becca (Madeliene Martin). Along the way, Moody has to deal with Karen’s fiancee Bill (Damien Young), Bill’s daughter Mia (Madeline Zima), his agent Charlie Runkle (Evan Handler) and a bevy of one-night stands.

Bascially, Moody is an addict – drink, drugs, sex, cigarettes, you name it, Moody does it. And he’s an asshole as well. Cynical as hell and not afraid to speak his mind. Which is a superb receipe for loneliness. And that is Moody’s main problem – he’s hollow and empty inside and he tries to escape from his personal hell by filling it with every hedonistic whim possible. The one thing that keeps him alive is his family – Karen and Becca – and even that is slowly slipping away due to Karen’s impending marriage to Bill and the formation of a new family nucleus, which excludes Moody.

This first season of Californication is pretty much self-contained and it seems to resolve Moody’s dilemmas at the denouement with a pseudo “happy ending” but throughout the season, you will be assaulted with vulgar language, debauched conduct and twisted intentions but despite all that (or because of it) Californication has more heart and soul (and morality!) than the movie of the week on the Hallmark Channel. It succeeds because the creators do not flinch from telling “realistic” stories as they see it and permitting the plots to flow through to “logical” conclusions. Bottom line is that the series is about family, relationships and the meaning of “love” in a world without soul.

The performances are all top class, Duchovny gives Moody a likable charm despite his flaws (which are Legion), McElhone plays Karen with a sensitive steel and smoky appeal, Martin provides a depth and maturity that belies Becca’s relative youth whilst Zima (whom I remember as a little girl on the Nanny) plays the sex-crazed 16-year-old Mia who haunts Moody’s every misstep.

Oh, and I almost forgot, as if all that wasn’t enough… the music selection is simply note-perfect! E.g. the Stones’ You Can’t Always Get What You Want during Moody’s opening dream sequence, My Morning Jacket’s version of Rocket Man at the outro of the pilot and Steve Earle’s Reconsider Me and many more nuggets

Remember, folks, there’s loads of naked people coupling and nasty talk throughout this series so if that upsets you then Californicaton is not for you. Be warned!

Season one promo below…

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RICK WAKEMAN

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RICK WAKEMAN The Six Wives of Henry VIII: Live at Hampton Court Palace (Eagle Vision)

Wakeman is probably best known as the keyboards player of progressive rock pioneers/legends Yes. But certainly, Wakeman’s pseudo-classical style set the standard for all progressive rock keyboard players to come. At the height of Yes’s success, Wakeman released The Six Wives of Henry VIII LP in 1973, his 2nd solo album.

Loosley based on the titular characters, this instrumental suite really had nothing to do with Henry VIII’s six wives, rather they served as musical inspiration for the songs that Wakeman composed for this album. The significance of Hampton Court Palace, of course, is that it is the building that is most associated with Henry VIII in modern day England. Apparently, Wakeman had attempted to stage a concert of the album for 36 (!) years and finally in May of 2009, his wish was granted and this live DVD is the recorded result of that special concert.

Obviously aware of this, Wakeman pulled out all the stops and so not only does he have a full band to back him (including his son Adam) but he also ropes in actor Brian Blessed (for narration), the English Chamber Choir and Orchestra Europa to flesh out these intriguing and influential songs.

So prog rock fans should really thrill to this release as the concert is immaculately staged with Blessed, in particular putting a human face (and voice) on the proceedings. Considering the recent popularity of the Tudors TV show (about Henry VIII, of course, and yes, his many wives), it is a good time for the well-known monarch and this concert DVD is the icing on the proverbial cake.

Check out the video of Kathryn Howard below.

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SARAKULA

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SARAKULA City Heart (Self-released)

Aussie powerpop is one of the best on the planet. No disputing that. Too many to mention, in fact.

Add Sydney singer-songwriter Joel Sarakula (or just plain Sarakula) to the list, who like Billy Joel and Ben Folds favours subtle keyboards over guitar crunch. So maybe more soft pop than powerpop. Whatever.

The vital ingredient is of course, a melody that rings true in your heart and soul. Sarakula’s approach is easy on the ear with emphasis on jazz chords and mid-tempo rhythms. 60s/70s pop music is a weighty influence. Certainly a light Beatlesque touch is evident throughout (circa Let It Be/Abbey Road).

Bottom line is that its good old fashioned pop music that sadly, goes too much under the radar in these modern times. It’s jaunty, heartfelt and vibrant mostly with the highlights being the dynamic Cold War Love, the pulsating City Beat, the driving Matchstick Girl, the Lennon-channeling Driving with the Devil and the ornate Marlene.

For true pop buffs, Sarakula is worth investigation.

Official Site

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SUICIDE SOLUTION

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SUICIDE SOLUTION Shake Well Before Abuse (Mediacorpse)

Growing up as a teenager in the 70s, my concept of heavy metal (or hard rock, if you will) was shaped by the popular bands of the day i.e. Deep Purple, Led Zepellin, Bad Company, KISS etc. What most folk today would describe as “old school” or “classic rock”. As regular visitors to the Power of Pop will be aware, for me, its all about the tunes and for the hard rock bands of the 70s, melodies blended with nasty riffs were the order of the day… along with lyrics about sex, fantasy and the like.

The 80s was probably metal’s biggest decade as the genre evolved (“devolved”?) and went mainstream with the now much-aligned genre – pop metal (or hair metal). At the same place, the hard rock of the 70s had found favour with the glam & punk rock kids to birth bands like Guns N Roses, Skid Row, LA Guns etc.

That era is long gone and metal is now an entirely different beast. But 80s metal is alive and well in bands like Singapore band Suicide Solution. Named after the Ozzy Osbourne song and formed around the nucleus of Joe Ferdinands (aka Joe Suicide), Suicide Solution began life in the 90s and over the years, amidst several personnel changes, has simply kept the hard rock faith.

Now, backed by a young, hungry group of musicians (viz Evigan X, Faust and Rudolf Stryker), Suicide Solution has been reborn with a cracking new album – Shake Well Before Abuse – which captures well the zietgiest of 80s rock without being irrelevant to today’s metal kids. Tracks like the infectious Drugs N’ Kisses (a radio hit if I’ve ever heard one), propulsive Ain’t Missing That Much & the fret-happy Hellspawn, make Shake Well Before Abuse a comprehensive rock-metal feast for fans of the genre.

Don’t be too bothered about the fairly  standard heavy metal lyrical concepts – you know what to expect – although the social commentary of Zombie Nation and Dead Men Walking (about certain harsh realities in Singapore) is to be applauded. Instead, fasten your seat belts and get ready for the ride…

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Check out the video for Drugs N’ Kisses below.

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ELVIS COSTELLO LIVE IN SINGAPORE

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“Oh I just don’t know where to begin…”

Indeed, where do I start? I have been a fan of Elvis Costello ever since I bought the Armed Forces LP about 30 years ago and to finally see him in the flesh was an emotional experience. Playing to a positively packed Esplanade Concert Hall, Elvis was in fine voice and form, looking lean and dapper in a suit.

Mixing up classic favorites with selections from his new album Secrets, Profane and Sugarcane, the set list was well thought through with highlight following highlight. Accidents Will Happen, A Good Year for the Roses, Radio Sweetheart, Veronica, Everyday I Write The Book, God’s Comic, Alison, Oliver’s Army, Pump It Up… the hits kept coming.

The best part was that Elvis really appeared to be enjoying himself as he delievered his excellent songs with aplomb, grace and good natured fun. It was inspiring watching him in action – the consummate entertainer – over two hours of sheer joy and pleasure.

Yes, folks, I’m gushing and this is probably the best concert I’ve ever witnessed since David Bowie’s second show in Singapore. 2009 has been a great musical year … and there’s more …

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BOLTON 2 SPURS 2

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Whilst there were certainly positives to take from this game e.g. first goals for Kranjcar and Corluka, good character shown in coming back from behind twice, overall the team’s performance was poor. In the first half, Spurs were non-existent as Bolton created enough chances to be running away with the game. Luckily for Spurs, Bolton’s finishing was just not good enough. And with the only chance Spurs had (in that dismal half), Kranjcar struck with aplomb from Crouch’s knockdown.

Bolton’s game plan was simple enough – high balls pumped up to Kevin Davies – and taking advantage of the second ball. That said, Bolton’s second goal was well-crafted although Assou-Ekotto’s failure to challenge Davies at the far post was pathetic. However, with Defoe (with hand in cast) on for the ineffectual Robbie Keane, Spurs looked more potent. In the miss of the season, Crouch somehow contrived to hit the bar from six yards out from Jussi Jääskeläinen’s spilling of Defoe’s initial shot. However, the miss was forgiven when Corluka got on the end of a Kranjcar corner to equalize not long after.

Both sides had chances to win the game after that but were probably content with the draw at the end. Harry Redknapp commented post-match that Spurs played into Bolton’s hands by giving away too many free kicks. Surprisingly, the worst offender was Wilson Palacios who – together with Jenas – had an off day in the middle of the park. Again, I was impressed with Niko Kranjcar who already looks like the bargain of the season. With Modric due to return in the next match (away to bottom club, Portsmouth), Redknapp may want to consider playing Kranjcar in the centre with Palacios with Modric on the left. Hopefully, by then, we’ll have better news on the central defensive crisis and that either Woodgate or King (or even both!) will be able to start.

Spurs now have 16 points from 8 games (compared to 2 points last season) and if we maintain this points per game average, this should be an enthralling season. COYS!!!

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THE BIG PINK

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THE BIG PINK The Brief History of Love (4AD)

Believe the hype?

By now, it’s easy to be cynical about the “next big thing” that’s touted by British music mags, every six months. One of the current flavours of the moment is The Big Pink viz. Robbie Furza and Milo Cordell. Named after the debut album of The Band – Music from Big Pink – the duo is all about the word “big”.

Big sound, big guitars, big beats, big music…

It’s not too difficult to suss out Big Pink’s agenda – a combination of the cutting-edge music of the early 90s i.e. electronica (Chemical Brothers), shoegaze (Ride) and dance rock (Stone Roses) – how could such a diabolically assured plan go astray. Well so far so good…

I’m certain that this cheeky, choleric debut album will divide listeners down the middle. You will either embrace the unashamed channeling of the aforementioned 90s styles or you will reject its confident assimilation as crass and derivative. Whatever. There’s no denying the power of songs like Crystal Visions, Too Young To Love, Velvet and the title track to capture your attention, heart and soul.

Brash and exciting, the Big Pink is one Brit-rock band to keep a close watch on.

Official Site

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PREVIEW: BOLTON v SPURS

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When it comes to this particular fixture, the conventional wisdom would be to put your money on the home team. Spurs has a wretched record at the Reebok Stadium, we have not beaten Bolton there in the last nine seasons! In fact, until recent turnaround of form at White Hart Lane, Bolton had the upper hand over Spurs rather too consistently for comfort.

That was then and this is now.

Spurs are flying high in the league, having won 5 out of 7, and after the morale-boosting 5-0 thrashing of Burnley will be travelling to the Reebok with confidence. That said, will Spurs be able to handle the physical tactics of Bolton this time round, having failed so many times before.

Corresponding fixture last season saw Spurs claw back from a two-goal deficit (with goals from the now-departed Darren Bent, predictably doing the business at Sunderland) only to lose the game due to sloppy defending at set pieces. And this is where the game will be won or lost – Bolton are set piece specialists and thus Spurs must ensure that they give away as few free kicks and corners as possible.

The central defence and Wilson Palacios will be then be key components. Expecting Dawson and Bassong to form that partnership, though Harry Redknapp might be tempted to throw Huddlestone into that mix to match the physical presence of Bolton’s strikers.

WIth Defoe and Pavlyuchenko injured, the forward selection is more straightforward for Redknapp this time around. I firmly believe that attack is the best form of defence and if we can hit Bolton where it hurts, Spurs just might record their first Premiership victory at the Reebok Stadium in a decade.

COYS!!!

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KID CUDI

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KID CUDI Man on the Moon: The End of Day (Universal)

As regular visitors to the Power of Pop will be aware, I’m not that big on rap. But I know enough about music to appreciate that once in a while, an artist comes along to transcend the limitations of his (or her) chosen genre. Typical hip hop is relatively easy music to make, utlizing stock beats and standard phrasing. The equivalent of aural wallpaper.

That’s why Kid Cudi with his new concept album, Man on the Moon: The End of Day, is such a refreshing breath of air! This experimental and distinctive debut album is chock full of left-field sonic ideas and deep concepts. Don’t get me wrong, its still rap but Kid Cudi embellishes his tracks with different rhythms and intriguing progressive approaches.

For instance, Simple As… plays around with spoken word in a manner reminiscient of Kraftwerk, the hit single Day N Nite (Nightmare) is brash with bright keyboard sounds, Enter Galactic (Love Connection Part I) comes across like vintage Barry White disco, Pursuit Of Happiness is full-blown 80s electro-pop with guests MGMT and Ratatat and Hyyear has a smooth loverman vibe that is irresistible.

It’s ambitious and harbours widescreen intent and that is pretty good in my book for someone who is very much rap-phobic. Check out Man on the Moon: The End of Day, even if you hate rap.

Official site

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