Month: January 2018

REEL TO REAL : BASED ON A TRUE STORY [REVIEW]

By Yong Shu Hoong

First of all, a declaration: I might have been slightly in love with Eva Green ever since she graced the big screen as Bond girl Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale (2006). So despite some bad reviews plaguing Based on a True Story, I decided to watch this latest film of hers, which is billed as a psychological thriller and directed by Roman Polanski (perhaps a name you’d resist, given the current #MeToo climate). Oh, and it’s in French too, so you’ll get the chance to watch Green act in her native tongue.

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GEEK OUT!!! | SUPERHERO MOVIES : ANT-MAN & THE WASP [TRAILER]

The first trailer for the upcoming sequel to the thoroughly enjoyable Ant-Man has arrived!

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GEEK OUT!!! STAR TREK : DISCOVERY – “WHAT’S PAST IS PROLOGUE” [SPOILERS]

There was a moment – the briefest possibly – where it seemed that the writers/producers behind Discovery were going to reboot the entire series using the escape from the Mirror Universe as the plot device.

Perhaps then Discovery would exist in a reality more aligned to the original series (which is supposedly a decade away from the events depicted so far.

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LANEWAY FESTIVAL SINGAPORE 2018 – YOU CAN GO YOUR OWN WAY!

Wolf Alice

Music festivals – like any other entertainment platform – are an intensely personal experience.

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THE LISTENING BOOTH | POP POWER !!! : FIONA GREY – “DIRTY DREAM”

Dirty pop? Might be a bit of a misnomer when you listen to Fiona Grey‘s new single, “Dirty Dream”.

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THE LISTENING BOOTH | THE NEW ROCK N ROLL : ROLLING BLACKOUTS COASTAL FEVER – “MAINLAND”

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever

Melbourne-based Rolling Blackouts Coast Fever make their bow on our shores tomorrow at the Laneway Festival. Which makes sense that the band has premiered a new single “Mainland”.

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GEEK OUT!!! STAR TREK : DISCOVERY – “VAULTING AMBITION” [SPOILERS]

After the shocking reveal in the previous episode concerning Tyler’s outing as Voq, nobody quite expected that fans would get an even bigger twist in “Vaulting Ambition”.

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LIVE NEWS | LANEWAY FESTIVAL SINGAPORE 2018 – WHO POWER OF POP WILL BE WATCHING

The schedule is out (see above) for the 2018 edition of Laneway Festival Singapore on Saturday 27th January.

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PoPTV | PoP LEGENDS : GUIDED BY VOICES – “SEE MY FIELD” [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

Check out the video for Guided By Voices’ new single “See My Field.” This track comes from the new album Space Gun, which will be released March 23rd on GBV, Inc.

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MUSIC NEWS | PoP LEGENDS : YO LA TENGO RETURNS WITH NEW ALBUM, THERE’S A RIOT GOING ON

Photo Cr: Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams.

Indie stalwarts Yo La Tengo return with a new album due on March 16 (via longtime label, Matador Records) and yes, that is the same title as Sly and the Family Stone’s seminal 1971 album!

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THE LISTENING BOOTH | THE NEW ROCK N ROLL : THE HIGH DIVERS – FALL IN LOVE SO FAST

High on the agenda of Charleston quartet The High Divers is a soulful brand of rock ‘n’ roll that will get the listener moving for sure!

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BOOK REVIEW | FIRE AND FURY : INSIDE THE TRUMP WHITE HOUSE [GOODREADS]

Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White HouseFire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House by Michael Wolff
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

“Fire and Fury” so named as a reference to Trump’s rant against North Korea, is a White House tell-all that is somewhat spoiled by the fact that most nobody reading it would be surprised by its revelations. Though it does confirm the fact that White House is a mess, populated by predatory ego-maniacs out to outdo each other in manner recalling Game of Thrones-like scenarios. Strangely enough, the main character of “Fire and Fury” does not seem to be Trump but Steve Bannon – with the book ending with an ominous characterisation of Bannon’s own Presidential ambitions.
But considering how events seem to have overtaken Bannon with his quick decline in fortunes since the book was written, Wolff seems less prescient and relevant. Still, a rollicking read that does nothing to dispel the common negative connotations about politics.

… still there’s more …

MUSIC NEWS | PoP LEGENDS : NEW ALBUMS FROM EELS AND THE DECEMBERISTS

Good news for the PoP faithful as Eels and The Decemberists announce new albums!

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PoP RECOMMENDS | THE NEW ROCK N ROLL : STARCRAWLER – S/T [REVIEW]

By now, you should be aware that we think that this young L.A. band is the face of the New Rock N Roll at the moment.

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BOOK REVIEW | PoP LEGENDS : BILLY JOEL BY FRED SCHRUERS [GOODREADS]

Billy JoelBilly Joel by Fred Schruers
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The biggest question when thinking of Billy Joel is – why hasn’t he released a new album in 20 over years? This biography does not seem to answer that question satisfactorily. This makes the final third rather difficult to get through as it covers the period where Joel becomes an oldies act basically – living off the glories of his past. But before that the book is riveting – providing details during Joel’s successful time as a singer-songwriter/recording artist. For fans only, though.

… still there’s more …

GEEK OUT!!! STAR TREK : DISCOVERY – “THE WOLF INSIDE” [SPOILERS]

Photo Cr: Jan Thijs/CBS © 2017 CBS Interactive. All Rights Reserved.

As if it was not enough that the Discovery were lost in the Mirror Universe with the Terran Empire – the evil version of the Federation – threatening their very existence, “The Wolf Inside” unleashed a startling revelation!

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PoP20 | THE NEW ROCK N ROLL : FLEET FOXES – S/T (2008)

FLEET FOXES Self-titled (Sub Pop)

This is probably one of the toughest reviews I’ve ever written. Ever since I first listened to this debut full-length from Seattle’s Fleet Foxes, I’ve been wondering how in the world I would be able to string together a couple (or more) sentences that would do justice to this masterpiece! For a band to be able to meld the rustic melodic beauty of Brian Wilson/Van Dyke Parks’ Smile and the heartfelt echoes of 70s singer-songwriter movement, is almost unbelievable.

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THE LISTENING BOOTH | THE NEW ROCK N ROLL : PHILLIP PHILLIPS – “INTO THE WILD”

More pop than rock perhaps, Phillip Phillips’ new song has a strong early Coldplay vibe that is somewhat irresistible to listen to.

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PoPTV | PoP LEGENDS : DAVID BYRNE – “EVERYBODY’S COMING TO MY HOUSE”

Another legend returns to bless us with a new album. This time it’s David Byrne!

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THE LISTENING BOOTH | THE NEW ROCK N ROLL : DRYSPELL – “YOU WITHOUT ME”

Dryspell’s “You Without Me” is a pulsating, driving melodic rock track that demands your attention!

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THE LISTENING BOOTH | THE NEW ROCK N ROLL : TENDERFOOT – “SEMIPRECIOUS LIFE”

Dreamy folk-rock with a country tinge is Tenderfoot‘s modus operandi.

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