Month In Reviews: July 2011

A smattering of reviews appeared in July but on the album front, we had two particularly impressive efforts - one from Oneida and another from The Horrors. The month in cinema was a little more barren in terms of supreme releases although 'Bridesmaids' and the new 'Transformers' film provided sufficient entertainment. Read those reviews and more, after the jump.

Listen: Grimes - Beast Infection [New Video]

Words: Jack Thomson

Montreal’s Claire Boucher, aka Grimes, is set to have her debut LP 'Geidi Primes' re-released on the rather splendid No Pain In Pop. To announce the news of the re-issue, a new video has emerged for one of the more haunting tracks from the album, 'Beast Infection'.

DVD Review: Middle Men (2010)

DVD: 'Middle Men' (UK Release: 25 July '11) // Words: Matthew Paskins

'Middle Men' is an extravagantly boring and ill-conceived film which uses a series of noir clichés to tell the based-on-the-true story of the growth of payments for pornography on the internet. I would usually admit with some embarrassment that I cannot remember any of the characters’ names and look them up on IMDB but, faithful reader, that would be quite untrue to the 'Middle Men' experience.

Surfacing: Gentlemans Pistols

Words: Simon Opie

Not very much of the line-up at this year’s High Voltage Festival could be described as undiscovered talent. But one very pleasant surprise on the Sunday afternoon was the performance of Gentlemans Pistols. The Yorkshire band stormed onto the Metal Hammer Stage and delivered a set of great energy and good-natured goofiness, sounding like a combination of Led Zeppelin, The Darkness and Clutch, and looking like a combination of Biffy Clyro and Soft Machine.

Film Review: Horrible Bosses (2011)

'Horrible Bosses' (UK Release: 22 July '11) // Words: Saam Das

What would you do if you were subjected to frequent and systematic abuse by your employer? Probably file a complaint and think about litigation. Not in the world of 'Horrible Bosses' where Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis decide that the only way their life is going to get better is by killing their respective intolerable employers.

Split Festival: 2011 Preview

Split Festival (17-18 September, Sunderland) // Words: Emily Solan

Now in its third year, The Futureheads' curated festival has brought out its best line up to date when it hits Ashbrooke Sports Club on the 17th and 18th September. We're on hand to preview some of the excellent line up below.

BBC iPlayer: Cars (2006)

'Cars' (2006) // Words: Saam Das

(Click to read Ced's review of 'Cars 2')

SYNOPSIS: "Animated adventure from Pixar. After becoming stranded in a small town, an arrogant rookie sports car (voiced by Owen Wilson) finds love and discovers the meaning of friendship." (bbc.co.uk)

Surfacing: Black Black Hills

Words: Saam Das

You may well recognise the above photo from our recent post about the brilliant Pope Joan single, 'The Celebration'. Well, they've only gone and changed their name to Black Black Hills. A wise decision? A foolish one? I don't think we can say just yet.

Stream: Honour Before Glory - this is broken lines [Debut Album]

Words: Saam Das

Earlier this month, Honour Before Glory aka Whiskas Nicholls, unexpectedly and simultaneously announced and released his debut album, 'this is broken lines'. Stream it in full below.

Competition: Win Three Copies Of 'Middle Men' On DVD

To celebrate the UK DVD release of 'Middle Men', we have three copies of the film to give away. 'Middle Men' stars Luke Wilson, Giovanni Ribisi and James Caan, showing us "the guys who brought the XXX to the www". Nice tagline. Details on how to enter below.

Album Review: Gum Takes Tooth - Silent Cenotaph

Gum Takes Tooth – 'Silent Cenotaph' (UK Release: 13 June '11) // Words: Simon Opie

Dental references make me feel decidedly uneasy so Gum Takes Tooth are very well named in my book. They take what can be achieved with the duo format to the outer limits of rock and roll and way beyond. Savage opener 'Young Mustard' takes no prisoners on this, their debut album, showcasing in six minutes the primal fuel that propels their music, which is part Pink Floyd, part Aphex Twin, and as a whole quite startlingly original.

Film Review: Cars 2

'Cars 2' (UK Release: 22 July '11) // Words: Ced Yuen

'Cars 2' is preceded by 'Hawaiian Vacation', a short film set in the Toy Story universe. Despite the fact that 'Toy Story 3' was supposed to be the end of the franchise, Pixar seems reluctant to let go. It is not hard to see why - despite being only 6 minutes long, this appetiser manages to pack more Pixar magic than the main feature.

Remixed: The Go! Team - Buy Nothing Day (Chad Valley Remix)

Remixed is a column that will highlight remixes we actually think are worthy of praise, be they old or new. Because most remixes are rubbish. // Words: Saam Das

The Mercury Music Prize nominations were unveiled earlier this week to their usual debate-generating reception. Back in 2005, I was willing on The Go! Team to win the award with their innovative debut record, 'Thunder, Lightning, Strike' and I was particularly disappointed when Anthony And The Johnsons came out on top. Six years later, The Go! Team released their third album 'Rolling Blackouts' and we have a magical remix of one of the album's tracks downloadable below.

Teaser Trailer: The Amazing Spider-Man

Words: Saam Das

Marc Webb's debut feature '(500) Days Of Summer' received mostly positive reviews - it was my favourite film of 2009 - only to be lambasted by hipsters, who perceived it as try-hard. That level of criticism may pale in comparison to the fanboy reaction of his forthcoming Spider-Man prequel, 'The Amazing Spider-Man'. Watch the first footage from the film, in the form of a teaser trailer, below.

Live Review: Dawn Mitschele @ The Bowery

Dawn Mitschele live at The Bowery, London (7 July '11) // Words: Simon Opie

Dawn Mitschele is one of San Diego magazine’s ‘People to Watch’ and she has recently released her first album, 'In The Moonlight'. She played, accompanied by Two Spot Gobi’s Rob Lewis on cello, earlier this month at The Bowery, straight off the plane. If you like uncomplicated singer songwriters then you should have been there.

Teaser Trailer: The Dark Knight Rises

Words: Saam Das

I was particularly unimpressed with the recent reveal of the poster for 'The Dark Knight Rises' - just to offer an alternate view, FG writer Ced rather liked it - and Ultraculture's lampooning of its "cut a bat shape into anything" approach appealed to me much more. But posters are small fry, the first official footage from Christopher Nolan's final Batman film has appeared in the form of a teaser trailer.

Glastonbury: 2011 Festival Review

Glastonbury Festival (24-26 June '11) // Words: Saam Das

Following my participation in the judging of this year's Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition, I felt somewhat obliged to head to the festival. I'd never been to Glastonbury before and the ensuing rain/mud/intense hot weather during my first trip was quite the baptism of fire. Fellow FG writer Kieran also made his way there, and you can read his highlights of Glastonbury 2011, if the following thesis is too much to stomach.

Photo: Bohemian Rhapsoda

Source: Reddit

Album Review: Oneida - Absolute II

Oneida – 'Absolute II' (UK Release: 6 June '11) // Words: Simon Opie

Oneida are quite simply a phenomenon. Whether you like them or not, you cannot fail to be impressed by the scale of their ambition or the sheer magnitude of their output. 'Absolute II' is the final album in their ‘Thank Your Parents’ Trilogy which started with 2008’s 'Preteen Weaponry' – a difficult Can-influenced listen – and continued with 2009’s 'Rated O' which was a more varied and on the whole excellent triple CD length album, with almost dance tracks abutting almost noise tracks.

Surfacing: Paris Suit Yourself

Words: Saam Das

Last night, I went to see Pope Joan and Paris Suit Yourself at London's hipster hangout, The Old Blue Last. While the former put on an impressive show - much like the energetic performance I saw during The Great Escape - Paris Suit Yourself were astoundingly brilliant. They're punk. They're blues. They're jazz. They're metal. They're (experi-)mental.

BBC iPlayer: In The Loop (2009)

'In The Loop' (UK Release: 2009) // Words: Saam Das

SYNOPSIS: "Armando Iannucci's political satire about a British minister who backs military action and becomes popular in Washington." (bbc.co.uk)

Listen: The Vaccines - Norgaard [New Single]

Words: Saam Das

Earlier this evening, The Drums unveiled their comeback material in the form of new single, 'Money'. I wasn't really feeling it. As it happens, the new single from The Vaccines actually reminds me a bit of The Drums. Listen to the surf-punk of 'Norgaard' below.

Album Review: The Horrors - Skying

The Horrors - 'Skying' (UK Release: 11 July '11) // Words: Rajan Lakhani

Some critics commented that the success of The Horrors’ second album was more attributable to the production efforts of Geoff Barrow, most famous for his work with Portishead, given the huge leap from their debut album. However, their latest effort, 'Skying', produced by the band themselves, demonstrates this is a band of real talent in their own right and arguably the best band in the current British indie scene.

Surfacing: Funeral Suits

Words: Jack Thomson

Funeral Suits are a three-piece band from Ireland consisting of Brian James, Mik McKeogh and Greg McCarthy. If you were looking for a band full of fun, upbeat pop gems, Funeral Suits won’t be the band for you, although their name probably gives that away. They do, however, make dark, broody and interesting songs with seemingly minimal effort.

Photo: Arnold One Liner [Predator]

Source: Ian Glaubinger

Listen: Pope Joan - The Celebration [New Single]

Words: Saam Das

One of the best performances I saw at The Great Escape festival earlier this year came from local band Pope Joan in the small backroom of a pub about a bajillion miles away from the rest of the festival. They released the standout track from that evening, 'The Celebration', this week. Listen to both sides of the single below.

Film Review: Transformers Dark Of The Moon

'Transformers: Dark Of The Moon' (UK Release: 29 June '11) //
Words: Ced Yuen

"Transformers, robots in disguise! Autobots wage their battle to destroy the evil forces of the Decepticons". Simple lyrics, from the theme-tune of the 1980s cartoon, outline what 'Transformers' is all about: the simplicity of good versus evil, combined with the novelty of shape-shifting robots.

Download: Stephen Malkmus And The Jicks - Senator [Album Preview]

Words: Simon Opie

Whether with Pavement, as a solo artist or with his band The Jicks (their 2008 album, 'Real Emotional Trash' is outstanding), Stephen Malkmus has an amazing back catalogue of truly brilliant songs. There are few, if any, artists to match him. 'Senator' is the preview track from his fourth album with The Jicks, 'Mirror Traffic', due for release in August and produced by man of the moment, Beck Hansen.

Film Review: Bridesmaids (2011)

'Bridesmaids' (UK Release: 24 June '11) // Words: Saam Das

We already have had one too many version of 'The Hangover' (and I thought the first film wasn't too bad actually) but do we need a "female version of 'The Hangover'"? No, we don't. But then again, it's somewhat unfair and reductive to compare 'Bridesmaids' to that film. It's a farcical romantic comedy that demonstrates that successful films don't need big name acting talent but wit and heart can go a long way.

Singles: June 2011

Words: Saam Das

June, you have disappointed me with your relative lack of brilliant singles. Anything, however, is better than Cher Lloyd's upcoming single, 'Swagger Jagger'. I weep for humanity. Check out ten MUCH BETTER singles from last month below, and the photo above is a hint to our single of the month winner.

Glastonbury: 2011 Festival Highlights

Words: Kieran Toms

I'm leaving Saam to write a more comprehensive festival review (much like I did for Glastonbury 2010) but I've compiled a few of my Glastonbury 2011 highlights - namely the "secret" Radiohead and Pulp sets, as well as the bizarre Rabbit Hole experience.

BBC iPlayer: Gone Baby Gone (2007)

'Gone Baby Gone' (2007) // Words: Saam Das

SYNOPSIS: "Dark thriller. Two young private investigators (Casey Affleck and Michelle Monaghan) trawl through Boston's seamy underworld in an effort to find a missing four-year-old girl." (bbc.co.uk)

Download: Male Bonding - Bones [Album Preview]

Words: Simon Opie

Be careful what you wish for. When I reviewed Male Bonding's promising debut album 'Nothing Hurts' back in May 2010 I suggested their studio sound would develop – and apparently so it has. 'Bones' is an early release from their upcoming 'Endless Now' follow-up and download it below for free.

Buried Treasures: Sunshine (2007)

Buried Treasures is a column dedicated to things we feel have gone underappreciated, often both critically and commercially.

'Sunshine' (2007) // Words: Saam Das

I haven't been especially taken with either of Danny Boyle's last two films - the multiple Oscar-winning 'Slumdog Millionaire' nor '127 Hours' - and it pains me that a thought-provoking film like 'Sunshine' has been overlooked in favour of the aforementioned offerings. It's far from perfect sci-fi but the film counts Quentin Tarantino as one of its most prominent fans.

Month In Reviews: June 2011

It's fair to say we weren't overly prolific in the reviews department but with Glastonbury and general life getting in the way, I'm sure you understand. Emily's enthusiasm for the latest offering from a set of Northern tykes sees Arctic Monkeys go home with the album of the month, while 'X-Men: First Class' resonated with Ced plenty enough for film of the month. All those reviews and more are after the jump.