Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Link
The Guardian has a lovely tribute to Jeremy Beadle, the UK’s numero uno prankster, who died this week.
PopMatters gives another ringing endorsement to Vampire Weekend.
Thurston Moore is releasing an iTunes live EP.
Flight of the Conchords’ Jermaine Clement is to star in Gentlemen Broncos.
Slate well, slates those stupid movie spoof things with focus on Meet The Spartans.
This passed me by but ladies and gentlemen, Falco the Movie.
This is a little old but for all of you looking to get some ideas of new books to take in as part of that new year’s resolution to read more, here’s the best books of 2007 from The Boston Globe.
Thieves… watch out how much salami you consume. It’ll be ya downfall.
The New Yorker explores Johnny Greenwood’s adored soundtrack to There Will Be Blood.
Come on now- everyone wants more Seventeen Again info – Zac Efron, Matthew Perry, Melora Hardin – it’s all good! Here’s a more detailed plot synopsis, and here’s some info from a set visit, all via ComingSoon.
Britney had a bad night last night which ended in her being committed. Lets hope she gets better soon. PopSugar has more details.
And finally, here’s Justin Timberlake’s funny new Pepsi ad…
The Coal Linker’s Daughter
Clarification for you on this week’s punnage… women of country.
Former Galaxie 500/Luna dream-pop genius Dean Wareham makes nice with The AV Club and lets them in to his iPod den.
Thanks to PopCandy for this one. A cheat sheet to aid understanding amid the return of Lost.
The classic Dennis Wilson record Pacific Ocean Blue is finally being reissued to allow youngsters to undertstand the true genius of post-Beach Boys psych-soul mastery.
The Guardian picks out some shows which went too soon. No mention of Andy Barker PI though.
John Edwards has left the race. But who will this help? Slate investigates.
CHUD has a review of Hamlet 2 which is causing quite a fuss at Sundance.
Sasha Frere-Jones takes in some Chromeo.
The Wire‘s fifth season has been utterly breathless so far. Therefore, why not another article about it, this time from The Atlantic.
Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus is everywhere today. USA Today has a whole host of stuff about the little pop moppet.
Betty-icon Gwen Stefani is pregger-saurus folks.
Entertainment Weekly has a list of reasons why we should’ve forsaken the talkie.
D.I.V.O.LINK.C.E
“Step by Step. Grraaaaargh” – Just one of my highlights of the NKOTB song Step By Step. Here, PopJustice states what their return means for you, reminding us they paved the way for greats like ‘Take That and Freefaller.’ Oh yes.
What?? Alexa Chung is getting more presenting work??? I do prefer it when she’s in magazines writing her Company column and looking pretty in the latest kooky fashions. Still, lets not write it off, she’s a clever girl… – take over, PR people…
BBC’s amazing new music comedy, chat show THE WALL, presented by Popworld’s ALEXA CHUNG, this fantastic new live show will feature comedy, sketches, chat and top, top music performances. Joining Alexa will be sketch troupe WE ARE KLANG, comedians SIMON BRODKIN and LUCY MONTGOMERY, ones-to-watch in 2008 THE YOUNG KNIVES, and the inimitable KELLY OSBOURNE. This is gonna be a top night of entertainment!
There’s an intervention going on in Britney-land…
1 Star?? Maddy Costa of The Guardian really doesn’t like Cat Power it seems. In comparison, last time I saw her live she was sublime…
Got a bit of extra cash in your pockets? Well Net-A-Porter has snapped up the new relaunched Halston line before it has even shown on the catwalks. They have such faith in it that they’re going to be putting each item up for sale the day after the catwalk show. Not a bad investment if you ask me – it will fly off the e-shelves on February 5th.
A new TV series based on the movie Crash will be coming to our tellyboxes in the future.
On the 25th Feb the Take That Beautiful World Live DVD will be released! Featuring classics old and new as part of the main show, a documentary following the boys on the massive tour AND a commentary where no doubt Barlow will be imparting much wisdom this DVD is going to be a must for me!!
Harry Judd of the band McFly is one of many people entering the London Marathon this year on April 13th for the Teenage Cancer Trust and Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust. If you can’t work out which one he is, he’s the drummer and the one who supposedly spent a little time with Lindsay Lohan (Who hasn’t? Oooh, ouch…) Anyway, if you would like to sponsor him on this 26 mile exhaustion creator then click here - you could also win tickets to the pre-Marathon pasta party and spend some time with the teen heartthrob himself! (Harry, that is, not Zac Efron or anyone like that…)
“Pa Pa Pa Paye Yeh Dil” – that’s how you sing HSM’s Bop To The Top in Hindi, in case you were wondering. The New York Times has a really interesting article about the spread of the High School Musical phenomenon internationally and how Disney are doing it by localising the films as much as possible to ingratiate them within each culture.
Did you know Lost‘s Jorge Garcia (Hurley) has a blog? Me neither. Well – here it is!
In light of the WGA strike, fashionable teen drama Gossip Girl‘s first season is being rerun already in the US – but the CW are being super-clever about it by repackaging the episodes with extra footage, the Los Angeles Times reports… -
“…the CW gathered the cast at a posh Hollywood club on a recent warm morning to shoot segments for the new campaign. The winsome young stars — dressed in Chanel and other top labels — lounged on a sea-green ottoman in an ornately gilded room, delivering lines written by the network’s marketing staff. The group hadn’t been together since production in New York shut down in December, and they giggled and bantered as producers conferred between shots.
“Save the energy for the takes, please!” shouted a harried director.
The material will be used in “Gossip Girl Revealed,” a package of DVD-like extras such as outtakes and cast interviews that will be wrapped around the first few repeats.”
Skins Series 2 Preview…
9 to link, what a way to make a livin’
Dolly songs this week. For literally no reason at all. (Except the overruling reason that they’re FABULOUS! – Beth)
Let’s kick off by going all proggy with a select group of ridiculous album covers.
Dude… I gotta read the news more. You gonna eat those Cheetos??
Guillermo del Toro is reported to have entered talks to direct The Hobbit. Awesome.
Sparks are playing 21 shows in a row. The Guardian salutes the genius of Mael.
Pitchfork loves the Afro-pop indie of Vampire Weekend. So do I! Pitchfork and I should become BFFs!!
Slate reviews Breaking Bad. I watched the first episode of this last night and I’m undecided as yet.
The really quite lovely Marion Cotillard’s career is really kicking off post La Vie en Rose. Now she gets to meet Depp.
Wilmer Valderrama and Rosario Dawson make out in a dramatic telenovela about VOTING! Come on Americans – Declare Yourself!
The world is really being kind to me lately – now there’s going to be a HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL… erm… musical, live in London at the Hammersmith Apollo. There is a god. And his name is Zac Efron*.
(*I’m guessing Zac will not actually be in it. I’ll just take my contact lenses out and pretend it’s him up on stage… ahem.)
Erm – NOOOOoooooooooooo… McFly are parting ways with their record company. (Although still making music apparently.) They’re going the way of Busted… oh good lord, I’m still not over the demise of Busted… where are you Matt Willis? Get back on my tellybox!
NBC is casting for contenders for the second season of American Gladiators – BuzzSugar wants to know what your Gladiatorial name would be. Ponder carefully…
MMM…. Beer Link
Quotes all over about Barack’s storming victory last night. Slate has a good one.
Also, Bill Clinton is making no friends right now. Salon reports.
Louise Erdrich donates some fiction to The New Yorker.
Ashley Tisdale is filming a different movie? I am so out of the loop.
I know two people who like cat stories so there must be more. Enjoy.
Entertainment Weekly has a list of 21 great crime thrillers.
I honestly do not understand the Jessica Biel thing. She looks like a boxer. Anyway, this picture has been bloomin’ everywhere.
The Coens brought home the booty from the DGAs.
Chud has a review of Choke, the Palahniuk adaptation at Sundance.
In more Sundance news, Spout has the winners listed.
The Guardian has an article on Morgan Spurlock’s search for Osama.
Smirnoff Link
My new favourite singing sensation – the super-fun and French Yelle.
The Guardian has a superb interview with the gorgeous and wonderfully down-to-earth actress Allison Janney.
Anna Wintour is disappointed in Hillary Clinton’s fear of being feminine in her latest Vogue editor’s letter.
The Soup‘s Joel McHale says the thing we’ve all been thinking re: the coverage of Heath Ledger by some parties.
They’re coming baaaaaaaaack! After the underwhelming success of Upper Street, ex NKOTB-er Danny is rejoining New Kids On The Block!!
A Times writer attempted to be Morrissey’s roadie, and lasted just a day – read more here…
Girls Aloud‘s Cheryl Cole has kicked out her footballer husband Ashley since The Sun‘s revelation that he recently cheated on her. I hope she gave him a piece of her mind too… what an idiot he must be…
Now I’ll be working from home, I might have to get myself one of these wooden bed desks… how fab! Thanks SavvySugar!
Guest Diggin’
So here’s out first guest Diggin’ article, from Rate This Day head honcho John Doree (above). You can check out some of his musical creations at Soundclick right here.
Music
Generally anything that required some degree of thought and effort in committing it to tape. I’m mainly in to electronic music and heavy rock/metal but choice artists at the moment would be Björk, Venetian Snares, Autechre, Xanopticon, Led Zeppelin, Slayer, Camille, Boards of Canada, Mogwai and quite recently I’ve been made aware of the existence of The National and Pony Up. Massive shouts however go to classic rawk, big up the Journey! Toto as well!
Films/TV
I hardly watch films these days thanks partly to rising ticket costs and mainly due to my depressing lack of an attention span. I’m not ashamed to admit that I like rubbish films and my line-up in 2007 proved exemplary: District 13, Transporter 2, Crank, War… What can I say? I like to be entertained. Go watch your black and white thoughtful melodramas, I’ll drink a beer and watch a series of explosions and ridiculous gunfights. Although I can’t write this section without mentioning how No Country for Old Men is possibly the best film I’ve seen since Primer (my current favourite film of all time, please watch both of these, thanks).
There’s so much to choose from TV-wise, although maybe not at the moment due to the writer’s strike. I love a good TV series and America has long been the world’s greatest exporter of well-written shows. Anyone who maintains that Britain has the highest quality output is hideously wrong in so many ways. In particular my current favourites are Battlestar Galactica, The Office, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, American Dad and South Park.
Books
I was introduced to Cormac McCarthy towards the end of last year and I’ve just started my fourth title of his, The Border Trilogy. This man can write, honestly there’s no-one in the same league or even approaching his level. Like my taste in films there’s always a place for adrenaline-fueled popcorn-fests so I absolutely love the work of Harlan Coben. He writes books that are pure crack; chapters only five pages long, twists at the end of every one and a host of characters that are less trustworthy than all the players in a season of 24. I’ll pretty much read any comic that gets thrown my way but for the sake of this article I’ll just say that my favourite author Alan Moore has produced some truly outstanding and in every sense of the word, groundbreaking comics. V for Vendetta is still my favourite graphic novel of all time and I also can’t recommend Robert Kirkman’s series The Walking Dead highly enough. Otherwise my first love is pure science fiction. I’ve been reading stuff about robots and time travel since I was a kid and I don’t think this is ever going to change. I’m currently trying to go through the SF Masterworks series which is a collection of seminal and genre-defining work from the likes of Philip K Dick, HG Wells, John Brunner and Alfred Bester. The series is a great introduction to the world of SF and currently stands at 70 awe-inspiring titles.
Anything Else
I like lists of things so to finish here’s what I’m currently digging: writing reviews of random stuff for my site, my new record player, Oxfam record and book shops, American Gladiators, coffee by the pint, Samuel Smiths pub chain, my housemates, Radio 4′s coverage of the US election, zombies, my new headphones (Sennheiser HD600, yay), dinosaurs, Guitar Hero, dancing the robot to embarrass my friends, Hello Kitty, Tesco Value branded food (it’s quite nice actually), working on a radio show with lovely people and writing music.
Thanks for reading everyone!
John
Link on the rocks
Yesterday’s American Elf is just lovely as usual.
This, inspired by Abu Ghraib recollections, is not lovely but is equally good.
Slate has a great review of this year’s long-awaited return of John Rambo.
The AV Club has a list of all the promotional crap they get sent.
The Atlantic has a photo-essay on Guantanamo.
Mother Jones has an essay on Barack’s love for The Wire.
PopMatters re-enters the list realm with its favourite books of 2007.
Sasha Frere-Jones has been thinking through his opinion on Feist.
Is John Edwards destined for second at best? Salon elaborates.
Terri Cheney discusses Britney’s place as a poster child for bipolar awareness.
Scarlett Johannson’s set of Tom Waits covers is coming in May.
Guardian readers suggest their own Razzie contenders.
The editorial board of The New York Times is backing Hillary.
Sam Mendes is going to direct Dave Eggers’ movie.
Marlinki on the Rocks
Heath Ledger tributes in quotes from the BBC.
Pitchfork is enjoying the new record by Black Mountain. And so am I.
Nathan Rabin on The AV Club reviews his year in flops.
Gareth McLean believes all ITV dramas are flawed and misconceived.
Sasha Frere-Jones hears good news about Franz Ferdinand.
Who likes beards? You? Well here you go then, the top ten in music today.
After seeing him on Jonathan Ross, then reading this, I’m pretty sure Ringo Starr is a prick… said Thomas.
More details have emerged about the album coming from Zooey Deschanel and M Ward. A video of the two is on this link also.
There is no mourning in a capitalist society.
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