The Men Who Stare At Goats

It’s not often that I’m genuinely disappointed with a movie but Grant Heslov’s ‘The Men Who Stare at Goats’ managed just that. Based on British Journalist Jon Ronson’s book on the U.S Military’s hilarious attempts to exploit paranormal abilities, the source material offered endless possibilities for the film adaptation. But although billed as an offbeat,quirky story of these military anomalies instead we are treated to a film which revolves more around self discovery.

The main problem is that the activities of the eccentric group of U.S Military ‘Jedi’s’ are not the focus of the movie. Instead it concentrates on reporter Bob Wilton (played by Ewan McGregor) much like Ronson’s position, and unnecessarily Americanized.

Life’s going all fine and dandy until his wife leaves him for a man with a prosthetic arm (should have acted as a warning) triggering him to do “what all men do when they have a broken heart” go to war, apparently. He meets Lyn Cassady (Clooney) who spends the evening telling stories of his time training as a psychic super-soldier, the most entertaining part of the film. The journey itself, a quest to find Cassady’s former mentor Bill Django (Jeff Bridges) in the Iraqi wilderness, just isn’t particularly interesting. A couple of entertaining moments are forgotten amongst the pedestrian plot and the extensive amount of voice over from McGregor, not helped by the fact his character is a little bland. There isn’t enough character development and what we’re left with is a series of unentertaining slapstick moments and an amusing incite into the U.S Military, already provided by the book.

Christian Allen

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Greets,

First time poster, long time follower here. Daviohead.

A month ago I came across the best album I have heard this year - Hospice by The Antlers. Hospice is a concept album about a 13 year old girl with bone cancer and her carer. Hearing the idea itself initially conjures a sense of distaste, as it's not the nicest thing to write about, but then you hear the music. The songs are tender and beautiful, think a mixture of bon iver with the sounds of arcade fire, and they cover the wide emotional spectrum the patient experiences with great skill and care. Highs and lows are covered, Imagining her 21st birthday (Bear), The carers denial (two) and her posthumous impression (Epilogue).

I never considered myself a sucker for a male falsetto, but it turns out it's a common denominator for my favorite albums both this year and last year (For Emma, Forever ago by Bon Iver). There is also another, deeper denominator at work here too - Social Isolation. Both Justin Vernon and Peter Silberman shut themselves off from the world (Wisconsin & New York respectively) in order to write their albums, both later recruited their bands and went onto great critical acclaim and on 'repeat all' in my ears over and over. So, going on this premise, I should finish a stonkingly good album by the end of the month. The antlers will shortly be playing a few dates in the UK, and Hospice is out now.

daviohead.

The Antlers Myspace

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Here's a short article I was asked to write for the Newcastle student paper The Courier, which I wrote on the ITV television program The Cube. They didn't use it. Maybe I'm just not Geordie enough.

But it seems a shame to let this go to waste, seeing as I spent an entire afternoon of my life writing it, so here we are...

Phillip Schofield’s latest vehicle is quite the departure from his Gordon The Gopher or Fern Britton wielding days. Dramatically low-pitched voiceovers, big money prizes, Matrix-style slow motion, and a format so suspense-filled it makes 24 look like Tots TV.

But what it does have in common with many of Schofield’s works, is that it leaves the viewer perplexed as to whether they’re watching the best program currently on television, or the worst...because it’s ostensibly both.

The very concept of The Cube is simultaneously brilliant and ridiculous; contestants must perform apparently simple tasks, which are somehow made incredibly hard to perform purely because they’re taking place inside THE CUBE. As such, the show treats us to the spectacle of watching grown men attempt to catch balls in order to win £10,000, which by its very nature makes for tense viewing.

But because these games are seemingly so simple, the actual playing of them doesn’t fill up much of the show’s hour, and so – for a Saturday evening primetime slot – there is a lot (and I mean a lot) of slow motion and deliberation.

Which is just as well really. Gives me time to try and work out whether I love The Cube or hate it.

Gareth.

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The Cluny, Newcastle Upon Tyne

Interview For NSR:

21st September 2009

Gone are the stereotypes of middle aged, grass chewing, check-shirted men finger picking banjos to the delight of a gaggle of flowery dresses. Mumford and Sons are surely the figurehead to a new generation of lively folk acts, armed with beautiful vocal harmonies, talented musicianship and mood-altering, poetic lyrics. This is by no means a ‘scene’ more a community of musicians who join each other on tour and contribute backing vocals more often than an England football team on a novelty tournament song.

Tonight is a welcomed return for Marcus Mumford and Co, with various sound issues marring their last visit to Newcastle at an intimate Cumberland Arms gig. They announce their arrival with a hushed, almost acapella version of ‘Sigh No More’ before breaking out into ‘Awake My Soul’ which does more than just wake a dozen members of the crowd who seem intent in barn dancing, and strangely pogoing their way through the set.

Latest single ‘Little Lion Man’ is greeted with a merry chant along from the sold old crowd and looks set to become the bands anthem, the sort of song fans will pester them to play throughout their career. Indeed the band, like a conductor, has the crowd in their complete control. When the instruments cut out the gathering fall silent, hanging on every lovelorn word. Then as the banjo, drums, bass and guitar take over, the audience can’t help but stomp their feet along. The set finishes on the perfect final song, ‘Dust Bowl Dance’. A personal favourite of mine, it’s a track which comes into its own live with Marcus Mumford putting any of his remaining energy into the drum kit.

Tonight we’re treated to a set which plays almost the complete track listing of M&S’s debut album ‘Sigh No More’. A fitting name for an album which, live, perfectly expresses both a broken heart and sorrow before offering hope and optimism. Although the album has received mixed reviews, Mumford & Sons show tonight their gift for storytelling and performance which leaves the crowd spellbound and promises much for their future.

Christian Allen

Mumford and Sons Myspace

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Rose Elinor Dougall - Fallen Over

Rose Elinor Dougall must already be fed up of reviews linking her current project to her pokadot past as the lead member of the Pipettes, alas the transition from band to solo isn’t as easy as Phil Collins would make out. The Pipettes arguably were the first act of recent times to acknowledge and embody the sound of pre-rock/mid-60s girl-group pop which has now proved so fruitful for Duffy, Amy Winehouse and co. They brought back a forgotten girl group sound and made it contemporary and fun again before falling apart after one album and a handful of singles. They became perhaps a little too twee, almost a novelty act for the indie crowd. However Rose Elinor Dougall has successfully disassociated herself from this with her own work and this latest offering due out in November.

The first to go solo, I originally became aware of Dougall’s work with her previous single “Stop/Start/Synchro” and “Fallen Over” can only further her fan base. A nostalgic pop track, Dougall’s vocals float over the descending bassline and pacey drums perfectly as she sings of the difficulties that come with a relationship. How we often stumble, but these troubles are continually worth it.

Dougall has been careful to take her time with her return. Quietly making sure her sound grows organically with limited release singles, bedroom recordings and the like. She admits this single itself has gone through a few incarnations before its recording and right now she sounds like she's trying to find her own sound and style. But this single is encouraging stuff and with an album ‘Without Why’ due out next year, it seems Rose Elinor Dougall will dispel any notion of the difficulties that come with going solo.

Official Myspace

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Here's a shameless plug for mine and Chris' band Candidates.
Sorry.

We recorded a couple of demos a few weeks back, and so we just thought we'd post them up here for you to listen to :)

01 My First Pair Of Sondicos by Candidates

02 Procrastination by Candidates

Let us know what you think in the old comments section there.
Cheers!
Gareth
x

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Not only are Japandroids a garage rock two-piece, but they’re from Vancouver, whats not to like? Two members playing the loudest and fastest they can, this band has all the enthusiasm and velocity of a 5 piece punk outfit. The recent trend for no thrill, lo-fi recordings and indeed a two man setup obviously suits this band but there’s more to Japandroids. Their energy and enthusiasm is matched by their ear for a catchy melody and relaxed, often amusing lyrics ‘Let's get to France, So we can French kiss some French girls’. They embark on their first tour of the U.K late October.

Christian.










Japandroids Official Myspace

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