Subscribe
Home Blog Page 922

The Breeders Return After Seven Year Break

Uncut
-
0
The Breeders Return After Seven Year Break
The Breeders, led by Pixies bassist Kim Deal, are set to release a new album after a seven year wait. “Mountain Battlesâ€, out on April 7, features the same line-up who performed on 2001’s “Title TKâ€, including Deal’s sister Kelley on guitar. The album was in part recorded by legendary ...

The Breeders, led by Pixies bassist Kim Deal, are set to release a new album after a seven year wait.

“Mountain Battlesâ€, out on April 7, features the same line-up who performed on 2001’s “Title TKâ€, including Deal’s sister Kelley on guitar.

The album was in part recorded by legendary producer Steve Albini and recorded in Chicago and Dayton, Ohio.

The tracklisting is:

“Overglazedâ€

“Bang Onâ€

“Night Of Joyâ€

“We’re Gonna Riseâ€

“German Studiesâ€

“Sparkâ€

“Istanbulâ€

“Walk It Offâ€

“Regalame Esta Nocheâ€

“Here No Moreâ€

“No Wayâ€

“It’s The Loveâ€

“Mountain Battlesâ€

The Breeders head to Europe after “Mountain Battlesâ€â€™ release, calling at:

Glasgow ABC (April 8)

Leeds Metropolitan University (9)

Nottingham Trent University (10)

Sheffield Leadmill (12)

Birmingham Academy 2 (13)

Manchester Academy 2 (14)

London KOKO (16, 17)

Guillemots Ready ‘Poppier’ New Album

Uncut
-
0
Guillemots Ready ‘Poppier’ New Album
Guillemots have announced details of their second album, the follow-up to 2006’s "Through The Windowpane". "Red" apparently sees the band heading in a more mainstream direction, demonstrated by the lead single "Get Over It", out March 17. The album, produced by Adam Noble, who has previously wor...

Guillemots have announced details of their second album, the follow-up to 2006’s “Through The Windowpane”.

“Red” apparently sees the band heading in a more mainstream direction, demonstrated by the lead single “Get Over It”, out March 17.

The album, produced by Adam Noble, who has previously worked with U2 and Paul McCartney, features writing credits split between all four members.

“Red” is set to be released on March 24, after Fyfe Dangerfield and co. head out on a short UK tour:

Manchester Ritz (March 9)

Oxford Academy (10)

London Shepherd’s Bush Empire (11)

Heath Ledger, 1979 – 2008

Uncut
-
0
Heath Ledger, 1979 – 2008

The shock death of Heath Ledger in New York yesterday (Tuesday January 22) was not just a tragic loss for friends and family, but also for cinema. The 28-year-old Australian actor had only recently begun to prove his emotional range in complex and challenging films, including Todd Haynes' Bob Dylan biopic I'm Not There. Shunning his pin-up past, he was entering a fruitful and promising new career phase. Ledger was found naked and unconscious at his Broome Street apartment, in downtown Manhattan, by his housekeeper and a masseuse. An emergency medical team pronounced him dead around 3.30pm EST. Wrapped in a black body bag, his corpse was later carried out in front of huge crowds. Speculation continues in the media and online as to whether the actor's death was self-inflicted or accidental. New York City Police are awaiting an autopsy report, but claim they do not suspect foul play. "We are investigating the possibility of an overdose," said police spokesman Paul Browne. "There were pills within the vicinity of the bed." According to the New York Post, these pills included the prescription anti-anxiety drugs Diazepam and Alprazolam. In November last year, Ledger told the New York Times that he had tried the sleeping pill Ambien to combat insomnia. "Last week I probably slept an average of two hours a night," he said. "I couldn't stop thinking. My body was exhausted, and my mind was still going." Five years ago, the Perth-born Heathcliff Andrew Ledger was just another junior beefcake actor with a CV of mostly colourless surf-bum roles and supporting turns. But froth like A Knight's Tale and The Order convinced him he had hit a "plateau of nothing" and needed to raise his game. Defying advice from agents and managers, Ledger resolved to pursue work that prioritised depth and quality over obvious commercial appeal. The fruits of this new strategy paid off handsomely in Ang Lee's drama Brokeback Mountain in 2005. Ledger's quietly powerful, mostly internalized performance earned him an Oscar nomination and his first serious industry respect. He also began a romance with co-star Michelle Williams, who gave birth to their daughter Matilda in October 2005. Settling in Brooklyn, the couple announced their engagement last year, only to separate in September. After Brokeback Mountain, Ledger continued to impress in further offbeat, anti-heroic roles. He played against type as Matt Damon's nerdy sibling in Terry Gilliam's ambitious but flawed The Brothers Grimm, and as a messed-up junkie rent boy in Neil Armfield's low-budget Australian heroin drama Candy. Todd Haynes then cast Ledger as one of his metaphorical Bob Dylans, a cocky, swaggering actor, in I'm Not There. His performance arguably provided the film's emotional centre. At the time of his death, he had also just completed his much-anticipated turn as The Joker in Christopher Nolan's new Batman blockbuster, The Dark Knight. Ledger recently described The Joker as "definitely the most fun I've had with any character... a psychotic, mass-murdering clown." The Dark Knight will now be Ledger's swansong, but his commanding performance in Brokeback Mountain will most likely be his lasting epitaph. STEPHEN DALTON

The shock death of Heath Ledger in New York yesterday (Tuesday January 22) was not just a tragic loss for friends and family, but also for cinema. The 28-year-old Australian actor had only recently begun to prove his emotional range in complex and challenging films, including Todd Haynes‘ Bob Dylan biopic I’m Not There. Shunning his pin-up past, he was entering a fruitful and promising new career phase.

Ledger was found naked and unconscious at his Broome Street apartment, in downtown Manhattan, by his housekeeper and a masseuse. An emergency medical team pronounced him dead around 3.30pm EST. Wrapped in a black body bag, his corpse was later carried out in front of huge crowds.

Speculation continues in the media and online as to whether the actor’s death was self-inflicted or accidental. New York City Police are awaiting an autopsy report, but claim they do not suspect foul play. “We are investigating the possibility of an overdose,” said police spokesman Paul Browne. “There were pills within the vicinity of the bed.”

According to the New York Post, these pills included the prescription anti-anxiety drugs Diazepam and Alprazolam. In November last year, Ledger told the New York Times that he had tried the sleeping pill Ambien to combat insomnia. “Last week I probably slept an average of two hours a night,” he said. “I couldn’t stop thinking. My body was exhausted, and my mind was still going.”

Five years ago, the Perth-born Heathcliff Andrew Ledger was just another junior beefcake actor with a CV of mostly colourless surf-bum roles and supporting turns. But froth like A Knight’s Tale and The Order convinced him he had hit a “plateau of nothing” and needed to raise his game. Defying advice from agents and managers, Ledger resolved to pursue work that prioritised depth and quality over obvious commercial appeal.

The fruits of this new strategy paid off handsomely in Ang Lee‘s drama Brokeback Mountain in 2005. Ledger‘s quietly powerful, mostly internalized performance earned him an Oscar nomination and his first serious industry respect. He also began a romance with co-star Michelle Williams, who gave birth to their daughter Matilda in October 2005. Settling in Brooklyn, the couple announced their engagement last year, only to separate in September.

After Brokeback Mountain, Ledger continued to impress in further offbeat, anti-heroic roles. He played against type as Matt Damon‘s nerdy sibling in Terry Gilliam‘s ambitious but flawed The Brothers Grimm, and as a messed-up junkie rent boy in Neil Armfield‘s low-budget Australian heroin drama Candy.

Todd Haynes then cast Ledger as one of his metaphorical Bob Dylans, a cocky, swaggering actor, in I’m Not There. His performance arguably provided the film’s emotional centre. At the time of his death, he had also just completed his much-anticipated turn as The Joker in Christopher Nolan‘s new Batman blockbuster, The Dark Knight.

Ledger recently described The Joker as “definitely the most fun I’ve had with any character… a psychotic, mass-murdering clown.” The Dark Knight will now be Ledger‘s swansong, but his commanding performance in Brokeback Mountain will most likely be his lasting epitaph.

STEPHEN DALTON

Just in — 2008 Oscar nominations

Michael Bonner
-
0

The nominations are just in for the 2008 Oscars, so here’s my first impressions of what’s what in the major categories. It’s no great shock to see No Country For Old Men and There Will Be Blood leading the field (8 nominations a piece), but there’s certainly a few surprises… Here, anyway, are the nominations in the main categories. FILM OF THE YEAR Atonement Juno Michael Clayton No Country For Old Men There Will Be Blood No major surprises here. No Country For Old Men and There Will Be Blood are both the kind of prestige pictures Academy voters favour, and Atonement ticks all the right boxes in terms of intelligent, classy period drama. I’m mildly surprised to see Michael Clayton in there – a good film, certainly, but not a great one. And, if you’ll permit me a moment’s rare excitement – hurray for the mighty Juno! BEST DIRECTOR Julian Schnabel (The Diving Bell And The Butterfly) Jason Reitman (Juno) Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton) Joel and Ethan Coen (No Country For Old Men) Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood) The Coens – Joel and Ethan taking joint director’s credit for the first time – and PTA both delivered major career peaks here, so I suspect it’ll be a two-horse race. But Schnabel’s film about French journalist Jean-Dominique Bauby, partly paralysed after a stroke, is the kind of story of folk struggling against adversity that also finds favour with the Academy. Brilliant to see Jason Reitman up for Juno, though I don’t think either he or Tony Gilroy stand much of a chance against this heavyweight competition. BEST ACTOR George Clooney (Michael Clayton) Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood) Johnny Depp (Sweeney Todd) Tommy Lee Jones (In The Valley Of Elah) Viggo Mortensen (Eastern Promises) Clooney’s done better films, but this is a really strong performance. All the same, it’s going to be hard to better Day-Lewis or Tommy Lee Jones, who both deliver powerful performances in their respective films. Nice, too, that Depp and Mortensen get nods, but it’s not really their best work. BEST ACTRESS Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth: The Golden Age) Julie Christie (Away From Her) Marion Cotillard (La Vie En Rose) Laura Linney (The Savages) Ellen Page (Juno) In what’s been a conspicuously weak year for strong female characters in films, though I suspect that Julie Christie will win for her sensitive and graceful performance of an Alzheimer’s sufferer. Blanchett gets a nod for Elizabeth here, and also a Best Supporting Actress for her “Dylan†in I’m Not There – a far better peformance, and one more likely to be recognised come Oscar night itself. So, surprises: no Keira Knightley for Atonement, and apart from Cate Blanchett, nothing for I’m Not There (I’d thought Todd Haynes would have got some acknowledgment of his fantastic, impressionistic take on the life of Bob Dylan). Also, surprised to see The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford pretty much left out in the cold, aside from a Best Supporting Actor nomination for Casey Affleck. Anyway, the awards themselves are on Sunday, February 24. So, what do you think? Any glaring omissions? Who do you think’s likely to walk home with a statuette on the night..? Let me know your thoughts.

The nominations are just in for the 2008 Oscars, so here’s my first impressions of what’s what in the major categories. It’s no great shock to see No Country For Old Men and There Will Be Blood leading the field (8 nominations a piece), but there’s certainly a few surprises…

Here, anyway, are the nominations in the main categories.

Continue

Yeasayer Add Another London Show To March Tour

Uncut
-
0
Yeasayer Add Another London Show To March Tour

One of our favourite new bands from the flourishing Brooklyn scene, Yeasayer, have added another date to their forthcoming UK tour thanks to what is being described by their publicist as "an overwhelming demand for tickets". The quartet - a curiously wonderful cross between TV On The Radio, The Beach Boys, African music, Lindsey Buckingham and Peter Gabriel, more or less - now play a second London show on March 10 at the ICA. Tickets are £8.00 advance and you can get them from www.livenation.co.uk / 0870 400 0688. The full tour now looks like this: Mar 5 - Birmingham Bar Academy Mar 6 - London ICA Mar 8 - Glasgow King Tuts Mar 9 - Manchester Night & Day Mar 10 - London ICA Yeasayer's acclaimed debut album, All Hour Cymbals, is out now.

One of our favourite new bands from the flourishing Brooklyn scene, Yeasayer, have added another date to their forthcoming UK tour thanks to what is being described by their publicist as “an overwhelming demand for tickets”.

The quartet – a curiously wonderful cross between TV On The Radio, The Beach Boys, African music, Lindsey Buckingham and Peter Gabriel, more or less – now play a second London show on March 10 at the ICA. Tickets are £8.00 advance and you can get them from www.livenation.co.uk / 0870 400 0688.

The full tour now looks like this:

Mar 5 – Birmingham Bar Academy

Mar 6 – London ICA

Mar 8 – Glasgow King Tuts

Mar 9 – Manchester Night & Day

Mar 10 – London ICA

Yeasayer’s acclaimed debut album, All Hour Cymbals, is out now.

The Fourth Uncut Playlist Of 2008

John Mulvey
-
0

A fair number of reissues in this one, that I've compiled over the past day or so. But there's also a couple of auspicious new releases just in, that I'll be writing more about in the next few days. One is the new album by Be Your Own Pet, which confirms them as an immensely entertaining cute/gonzoid pop-punk band. The other is "Mountain Battles" by The Breeders, which is playing for the first time as I type. We're on Track Five, "German Studies", right now. I'll report back when it's fully digested. For the time being, here we go. . . 1. Hans-Joachim Roedelius & Tim Story - Inlandish (Gronland) 2. Mike Nesmith - The Wichita Train Whistle Sings/Timerider (Edsel) 3. Laura Nyro - More Than A New Discovery (Rev-Ola) 4. Grand Archives - The Grand Archives (Sub Pop) 5. The Rascals - Anthology 6. Various Artists - Imaginational Anthems Volume Three (Tompkins Square) 7. Pegi Young - Pegi Young (Warner Bros) 8. Be Your Own Pet - Get Awkward (XL) 9. The Triffids - Beautiful Waste And Other Songs (Domino) 10. The Triffids - The Black Swan (Domino) 11. Beck - Odelay: Deluxe Edition (Universal) 12. The Breeders - Mountain Battles (4AD)

A fair number of reissues in this one, that I’ve compiled over the past day or so. But there’s also a couple of auspicious new releases just in, that I’ll be writing more about in the next few days.

Continue

Morrissey Returns To London For Live Residency

Uncut
-
0
Morrissey Returns To London For Live Residency

Morrissey's week of shows at the Camden Roundhouse in London began last night (January 21) with a cry of "Good evening, West Ham!†He and his band then launched into "How Soon Is Now?", the first of four Smiths songs performed in a wide-ranging set, along with "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before", "Death Of A Disco Dancer" and "Stretch Out And Wait". Along with rarely-performed early b-sides like "Sister I'm A Poet" and the enduringly controversial album track, "The National Front Disco", Morrissey also found time for four new songs. The sold-out shows continue this week on January 22, 23, 25, 26 and 27. Morrissey's "Greatest Hits" album, meanwhile, is out on February 4. Last night's setlist: 'How Soon Is Now?' 'First Of The Gang To Die' 'I Just Want To See The Boy Happy' 'That's How People Grow Up' 'Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before' 'Sister I'm A Poet' 'Something Is Squeezing My Skull' 'All You Need Is Me' 'The National Front Disco' 'Death Of A Disco Dancer' 'Life Is A Pigsty' 'The Loop' 'Billy Budd' 'Mama Lay Softly On The Riverbed' 'The World Is Full Of Crashing Bores' 'I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris' 'Why Don't You Find Out For Yourself?' 'Stretch Out And Wait' 'Irish Blood, English Heart' 'Last Of The Famous International Playboys'

Morrissey’s week of shows at the Camden Roundhouse in London began last night (January 21) with a cry of “Good evening, West Ham!â€

He and his band then launched into “How Soon Is Now?”, the first of four Smiths songs performed in a wide-ranging set, along with “Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before”, “Death Of A Disco Dancer” and “Stretch Out And Wait”.

Along with rarely-performed early b-sides like “Sister I’m A Poet” and the enduringly controversial album track, “The National Front Disco”, Morrissey also found time for four new songs.

The sold-out shows continue this week on January 22, 23, 25, 26 and 27.

Morrissey’s “Greatest Hits” album, meanwhile, is out on February 4.

Last night’s setlist:

‘How Soon Is Now?’

‘First Of The Gang To Die’

‘I Just Want To See The Boy Happy’

‘That’s How People Grow Up’

‘Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before’

‘Sister I’m A Poet’

‘Something Is Squeezing My Skull’

‘All You Need Is Me’

‘The National Front Disco’

‘Death Of A Disco Dancer’

‘Life Is A Pigsty’

‘The Loop’

‘Billy Budd’

‘Mama Lay Softly On The Riverbed’

‘The World Is Full Of Crashing Bores’

‘I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris’

‘Why Don’t You Find Out For Yourself?’

‘Stretch Out And Wait’

‘Irish Blood, English Heart’

‘Last Of The Famous International Playboys’

Roger Waters Brings The Dark Side To Coachella

Uncut
-
0
Roger Waters Brings The Dark Side To Coachella

After yesterday's news that Portishead, My Morning Jacket, The Verve and Rilo Kiley were confirmed for this year's Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, the full line-up has now been announced. Roger Waters will close the festival - which takes place at the Empire Polo Field in Indio, California between April 25 and 27 - with his full-scale recreation of "Dark Side Of The Moon". Other names that stand out in the massive and eclectic line-up include Kraftwerk, Spiritualized, The Raconteurs, Hot Chip, The National, Animal Collective, Battles, Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks and Black Mountain. Vampire Weekend, MGMT, Black Kids and Holy Fuck are among the hotly-tipped new American bands set to play the event, often praised as the American equivalent to Glastonbury. Tickets for the event go on sale Friday (January 25) at 10:00 am Pacific Standard Time via Ticketmaster. The complete line-up is: Friday (April 25) Jack Johnson The Verve The Raconteurs The Breeders Fatboy Slim Tegan & Sara Madness The Swell Season The National Animal Collective Slightly Stoopid Mum Pendulum Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings Stars Battles Aesop Rock Midnight Juggernauts Does It Offend You, Yeah? Minus the Bear Spank Rock Dan Le Sac Vs. Scoobius Pip Diplo Adam Freeland Santo Gold Jens Lekman John Butler Trio Vampire Weekend Dan Deacon Architecture In Helsinki Sandra Collins Busy P Cut Copy Black Lips Datarock Professor Murder Reverend & The Makers The Bees Porter Rogue Wave Modeselektor American Bang Lucky I Am Saturday (April 26) Portishead Kraftwerk Death Cab For Cutie Cafe Tacuba Sasha & Digweed Rilo Kiley Dwight Yoakam M.I.A. Hot Chip Cold War Kids Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks DeVotchka Flogging Molly Mark Ronson Turbonegro Scars On Broadway Islands Enter Shikari Calvin Harris Boyz Noise Junkie XL Cinematic Orchestra Jamie T The Teenagers VHS or Beta Carbon/Silicon Erol Alkan Yo Majesty! Little Brother Bonde Do Role St. Vincent Akron Family MGMT Institubes DJs Surkin, Para One And Orgasmic James Wabiela Sebastian Kavinsky Dredg The Bird And The Bee Grand Ole Party New Young Pony Club 120 Days Yoav Electric Touch Uffie Sunday (April 27) Roger Waters 'Dark Side Of The Moon' Love And Rockets My Morning Jacket Spiritualized Justice Gogol Bordello Chromeo The Streets Metric Danny Tenaglia Simian Mobile Disco Booka Shade Murs Dmitri From Paris Autolux The Field Linton Kwesi Johnson Les Savy Fav The Cool Kids Sons & Daughters Sia Holy Fuck Black Kids Black Mountain The Annuals Kid Sister With A-Trak Man Man Duffy I'm From Barcelona Manchester Orchestra Deadmau5 The Horrors Austin TV Shout Out Louds Platiscenes Brett Dennen

After yesterday’s news that Portishead, My Morning Jacket, The Verve and Rilo Kiley were confirmed for this year’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, the full line-up has now been announced.

Roger Waters will close the festival – which takes place at the Empire Polo Field in Indio, California between April 25 and 27 – with his full-scale recreation of “Dark Side Of The Moon”. Other names that stand out in the massive and eclectic line-up include Kraftwerk, Spiritualized, The Raconteurs, Hot Chip, The National, Animal Collective, Battles, Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks and Black Mountain.

Vampire Weekend, MGMT, Black Kids and Holy Fuck are among the hotly-tipped new American bands set to play the event, often praised as the American equivalent to Glastonbury.

Tickets for the event go on sale Friday (January 25) at 10:00 am Pacific Standard Time via Ticketmaster.

The complete line-up is:

Friday (April 25)

Jack Johnson

The Verve

The Raconteurs

The Breeders

Fatboy Slim

Tegan & Sara

Madness

The Swell Season

The National

Animal Collective

Slightly Stoopid

Mum

Pendulum

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

Stars

Battles

Aesop Rock

Midnight Juggernauts

Does It Offend You, Yeah?

Minus the Bear

Spank Rock

Dan Le Sac Vs. Scoobius Pip

Diplo

Adam Freeland

Santo Gold

Jens Lekman

John Butler Trio

Vampire Weekend

Dan Deacon

Architecture In Helsinki

Sandra Collins

Busy P

Cut Copy

Black Lips

Datarock

Professor Murder

Reverend & The Makers

The Bees

Porter

Rogue Wave

Modeselektor

American Bang

Lucky I Am

Saturday (April 26)

Portishead

Kraftwerk

Death Cab For Cutie

Cafe Tacuba

Sasha & Digweed

Rilo Kiley

Dwight Yoakam

M.I.A.

Hot Chip

Cold War Kids

Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks

DeVotchka

Flogging Molly

Mark Ronson

Turbonegro

Scars On Broadway

Islands

Enter Shikari

Calvin Harris

Boyz Noise

Junkie XL

Cinematic Orchestra

Jamie T

The Teenagers

VHS or Beta

Carbon/Silicon

Erol Alkan

Yo Majesty!

Little Brother

Bonde Do Role

St. Vincent

Akron Family

MGMT

Institubes DJs

Surkin, Para One And Orgasmic

James Wabiela

Sebastian

Kavinsky

Dredg

The Bird And The Bee

Grand Ole Party

New Young Pony Club

120 Days

Yoav

Electric Touch

Uffie

Sunday (April 27)

Roger Waters ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’

Love And Rockets

My Morning Jacket

Spiritualized

Justice

Gogol Bordello

Chromeo

The Streets

Metric

Danny Tenaglia

Simian Mobile Disco

Booka Shade

Murs

Dmitri From Paris

Autolux

The Field

Linton Kwesi Johnson

Les Savy Fav

The Cool Kids

Sons & Daughters

Sia

Holy Fuck

Black Kids

Black Mountain

The Annuals

Kid Sister With A-Trak

Man Man

Duffy

I’m From Barcelona

Manchester Orchestra

Deadmau5

The Horrors

Austin TV

Shout Out Louds

Platiscenes

Brett Dennen

Leonard Cohen to tour Europe in 2008?

Uncut
-
0
Leonard Cohen to tour Europe in 2008?
Leonard Cohen is strongly rumoured to be touring Europe in the summer. A posting on Leonardcohenforum.com from one of the moderators, jarkko, reads: “The following advance notice is posted with Leonard's permission. Leonard Cohen will be touring with his band in Canada and US in May and in Europ...

Leonard Cohen is strongly rumoured to be touring Europe in the summer.

A posting on Leonardcohenforum.com from one of the moderators, jarkko, reads: “The following advance notice is posted with Leonard‘s permission. Leonard Cohen will be touring with his band in Canada and US in May and in Europe in the summer. More details will be announced in February.â€

If the statement is true, then it will be the first time Cohen has toured in Europe for fifteen years.

Cohen’s financial situation could be behind the decision to tour – Cohen has accused his business manager Kelley Lynch of defrauding him of $5million.

However, there has as yet been no word on the matter from Cohen or his associates.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street

Uncut
-
0
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street

Dir: Tim Burton | St: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman A man can grow tired of ice sculpture. Imagine twenty years of solitude up in that castle: deep into middle age, goth coiff shot white, old Ed Scissorhands turns to brooding. The memory of that one chance of happiness, the one woman he loved, cruelly taken from him! Sooner or later, even the most innocent man could curdle into bitterness. Even Johnny Depp might find a use for those lethal blades... Part of the murderous fun of Sweeney Todd, Tim Burton's first great film in almost fifteen years, is how richly it slots into the auteur's oeuvre. You could easily imagine it as a Hammer sequel to the Disneyweird fable of Scissorhands. You could see it as a variation on Batman - the vigilante who sides with sick vengeance rather than sober justice. Or you could even see it as the latest instalment of the Burton/Depp surreal autobiography – the darkness that a decade of Hollywood remakes might lead you to... Burton may not have been many people's first choice to bring Sondheim's revenge tragedy/splatter musical to the screen. But though not generally a fan of showtunes (as anyone who recalls the drab numbers from Corpse Bride might have guessed) he was an early admirer of Sweeney Todd, having been impressed with its gore and gusto as a student, finding it not so far from his beloved b-movie gore and black and white horror. Perhaps because the story is so simple - one wronged man's vengeful drive to dementia and doom - and Sondheim's songs are so strong, Burton is freed up to focus on the atmosphere. With Dante Ferreti, he's created a magnificently bleak London, a 19th century capitalist hellmouth. And his cast go at the revenge tragedy with great gusto - none of them trained singers, but all great dramatic performers. Depp is remarkable, a cross between Dave Vanian and Bogart in The Return of Dr X. Alan Rickman and Timothy Spall are superbly loathsome as Judge Turpin and Beadle Bamford. And Sacha Baron-Cohen makes an audacious show-stealing bid as the macaroni rival barber. Helena Bonham Carter has a good go at humanising the pie-eyed pie-shop slattern Mrs Lovett, and Burton claims to see the story as another doomed romance. But it's the giddy, relentless nihilism of the film that will thrill even the most showtune-phobic. Tim Burton seems finally to have grown out of fairytales. STEPHEN TROUSSE

Dir: Tim Burton | St: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman

A man can grow tired of ice sculpture. Imagine twenty years of solitude up in that castle: deep into middle age, goth coiff shot white, old Ed Scissorhands turns to brooding. The memory of that one chance of happiness, the one woman he loved, cruelly taken from him! Sooner or later, even the most innocent man could curdle into bitterness. Even Johnny Depp might find a use for those lethal blades…

Part of the murderous fun of Sweeney Todd, Tim Burton’s first great film in almost fifteen years, is how richly it slots into the auteur’s oeuvre. You could easily imagine it as a Hammer sequel to the Disneyweird fable of Scissorhands. You could see it as a variation on Batman – the vigilante who sides with sick vengeance rather than sober justice. Or you could even see it as the latest instalment of the Burton/Depp surreal autobiography – the darkness that a decade of Hollywood remakes might lead you to…

Burton may not have been many people’s first choice to bring Sondheim’s revenge tragedy/splatter musical to the screen. But though not generally a fan of showtunes (as anyone who recalls the drab numbers from Corpse Bride might have guessed) he was an early admirer of Sweeney Todd, having been impressed with its gore and gusto as a student, finding it not so far from his beloved b-movie gore and black and white horror.

Perhaps because the story is so simple – one wronged man’s vengeful drive to dementia and doom – and Sondheim’s songs are so strong, Burton is freed up to focus on the atmosphere. With Dante Ferreti, he’s created a magnificently bleak London, a 19th century capitalist hellmouth. And his cast go at the revenge tragedy with great gusto – none of them trained singers, but all great dramatic performers. Depp is remarkable, a cross between Dave Vanian and Bogart in The Return of Dr X. Alan Rickman and Timothy Spall are superbly loathsome as Judge Turpin and Beadle Bamford. And Sacha Baron-Cohen makes an audacious show-stealing bid as the macaroni rival barber.

Helena Bonham Carter has a good go at humanising the pie-eyed pie-shop slattern Mrs Lovett, and Burton claims to see the story as another doomed romance. But it’s the giddy, relentless nihilism of the film that will thrill even the most showtune-phobic. Tim Burton seems finally to have grown out of fairytales.

STEPHEN TROUSSE

Supergrass reveal new album details

Uncut
-
0
Supergrass reveal new album details
Supergrass have revealed details of their forthcoming sixth album, “Diamond Hoo Haâ€. The record, set for release on March 24, was produced by Arcade Fire and Yeah Yeah Yeahs producer Nick Launay and recorded at the historic Hansa Studios in Berlin. The album will contain lead single, “Diamon...

Supergrass have revealed details of their forthcoming sixth album, “Diamond Hoo Haâ€.

The record, set for release on March 24, was produced by Arcade Fire and Yeah Yeah Yeahs producer Nick Launay and recorded at the historic Hansa Studios in Berlin.

The album will contain lead single, “Diamond Hoo Ha Manâ€, alongside the forthcoming release “Bad Bloodâ€.

Supergrass have also announced they are to tour, after being forced to take an extended break when bassist Mick Quinn broke his back while the band were recording in France last summer.

The band will play:

Edinburgh Liquid Rooms (March 11)

Liverpool Carling Academy (12)

Cambridge Junction (13)

London Roundhouse (14)

U2 review their own 3D extravaganza

Uncut
-
0
U2 review their own 3D extravaganza
U2’s new concert film, ‘U2 3D’, has screened at the Sundance Film Festival, with the band in attendance viewing the completed project for the first time. The movie, which viewers must watch with special glasses to appreciate the 3D effects, was captured on the band’s South American Vertigo ...

U2’s new concert film, ‘U2 3D’, has screened at the Sundance Film Festival, with the band in attendance viewing the completed project for the first time.

The movie, which viewers must watch with special glasses to appreciate the 3D effects, was captured on the band’s South American Vertigo tour in 2005 and 2006.

Reaction to the film from the band was positive, with The Edge saying: “I was really hoping we weren’t crap after all these years. Luckily we weren’t.â€

Bono was visibly impressed by the fervour of the South American crowds, paying tribute to them by telling the Associated Press: “When people are screaming and roaring and shouting, the humbling thing is to realise it’s not really for the band on the stage. It’s for their connection with the songs. A song just can own you.â€

However, the frontman seemed to have some reservations about the 3D medium, complaining: “It’s kind of horrific. It’s bad enough on a small screen. Now you gets to see the lard arse 40 foot tall.â€

‘U2 3D’, the first live action film ever shot and produced entirely in 3D, will only be screened in 3D cinemas and is not likely to see a DVD release after its main cinema release on February 15.

The songs performed in the film are:

“Vertigo”

“Beautiful Day”

“New Year’s Day”

“Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own”

“Love and Peace or Else”

“Sunday Bloody Sunday”

“Bullet the Blue Sky”

“Miss Sarajevo” / Reading of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

“Pride (In the Name of Love)”

“Where the Streets Have No Name”

“One”

“The Fly”

“With Or Without You”

“Yahweh”

The Breeders, Portishead and MMJ confirmed for Coachella

Uncut
-
0
The Breeders, Portishead and MMJ confirmed for Coachella

A host of bands have been confirmed for 2008's Coachella festival, including My Morning Jacket and Rilo Kiley. Portishead will also play their first Coachella, following their recently-announced tour, their first since the 1990s. The reunited Verve are also set to play, and The Breeders will perform songs from their forthcoming album “Mountain Battles†at the festival, held near Indio, California. According to Billboard, The Raconteurs will join them at the event, which is set to take place between April 25 and 27.

A host of bands have been confirmed for 2008’s Coachella festival, including My Morning Jacket and Rilo Kiley.

Portishead will also play their first Coachella, following their recently-announced tour, their first since the 1990s.

The reunited Verve are also set to play, and The Breeders will perform songs from their forthcoming album “Mountain Battles†at the festival, held near Indio, California.

According to Billboard, The Raconteurs will join them at the event, which is set to take place between April 25 and 27.

Songwriting legend John Stewart, 1939-2008

Uncut
-
0
Songwriting legend John Stewart, 1939-2008
John Stewart, singer, songwriter and musician, has died this weekend (January 19), aged 68. Stewart died from a large stroke or brain aneurysm after collapsing in his San Diego hotel room. Most famous for composing one of The Monkees’ most famous songs “Daydream Believerâ€, Stewart had a long...

John Stewart, singer, songwriter and musician, has died this weekend (January 19), aged 68.

Stewart died from a large stroke or brain aneurysm after collapsing in his San Diego hotel room.

Most famous for composing one of The Monkees’ most famous songs “Daydream Believerâ€, Stewart had a long career as a solo artist and with his early folk group The Kingston Trio.

Stewart was a member of the Trio from 1961 until 1967, when he began his solo career while writing songs for other artists, including The Monkees, Joan Baez, Rosanne Cash and Nanci Griffith – it’s estimated that he wrote more than 600 songs throughout his career.

Stewart suffered a number of minor strokes and was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in his later years, although this has only just been disclosed.

His wife, folk singer Buffy Lord, is expected to announce plans for a memorial to the singer.

Portishead announce tour

Uncut
-
0
Portishead announce tour
Portishead have announced a short UK tour, their first since the last decade. The group, who recently debuted a number of new tracks at ATP’s The Nightmare Before Christmas festival, are set to play in Manchester, London, Wolverhampton and Edinburgh in April, in addition to a number of gigs in Eu...

Portishead have announced a short UK tour, their first since the last decade.

The group, who recently debuted a number of new tracks at ATP’s The Nightmare Before Christmas festival, are set to play in Manchester, London, Wolverhampton and Edinburgh in April, in addition to a number of gigs in Europe.

The group returned to live work in 2005 at a tsunami benefit concert, but their appearances have been sporadic since then.

Portishead are set to release their third album, their first since 1997’s “Portisheadâ€, in April. The tracklist is as yet unconfirmed.

The full tour is as follows:

Porto Coliseum (March 26)

Lisbon Coliseum (27)

Milan Alcatraz (30)

Florence Sashall (31)

Manchester Apollo (April 9)

London Hammersmith Apollo (10)

Edinburgh Corn Exchange (11)

Wolverhampton Civic (13)

Paris Zenith (May 5)

Barcelona Primavera Sound Festival (29-31)

Tom Robinson returns to Rock Against Racism

Uncut
-
0
Tom Robinson returns to Rock Against Racism
Tom Robinson, a veteran of the original Rock Against Racism Carnival, held in 1978 at London’s Victoria Park, is to take part in a gig celebrating its 30th anniversary. RAR – Hope Not Hate, which takes place at London’s Brixton Academy on April 30, has been designed to raise awareness of the ...

Tom Robinson, a veteran of the original Rock Against Racism Carnival, held in 1978 at London’s Victoria Park, is to take part in a gig celebrating its 30th anniversary.

RAR – Hope Not Hate, which takes place at London’s Brixton Academy on April 30, has been designed to raise awareness of the dangers of fascist groups in the hope people will vote against them in the London elections on May 1.

Other acts so far confirmed for the gig include Alabama 3 and Misty In Roots, while Tony Benn will speak at the event.

The original 1978 event also featured The Clash, The Buzzcocks, The Ruts and Generation X alongside Robinson and his band, and saw 80,000 people march through London to the free festival.

Hans-Joachim Roedelius & Tim Story: “Inlandish”

John Mulvey
-
0

In spite of the current enthusiasm for Krautrock round these parts, I must admit to being a bit sceptical about the new album from Hans-Joachim Roedelius: one half of Cluster, one third of the recently reformed Harmonia, and now collaborating with an American called Tim Story on a highly pretty CD called “Inlandishâ€. My wariness, I guess, was based on a hunch that “Inlandish†might turn out to be pastel-shaded, bland ambience, not least because Story – who I confess I haven’t come across before – is described in the press notes as a “neo-classical composerâ€, which sounds a bit woolly. As it turns out, I was both right and wrong. “Inlandish†is a fantastically inoffensive collection of digitally-augmented nocturnes, with Roedelius playing a kind of supper-club Satie role at the piano, while Story hovers round him with all manner of decorous electronic shading. I haven’t listened to this sort of thing much since the early ‘90s when, for a while, I’d play Irresistible Force records last thing at night a lot. With hindsight, those records felt like the musical equivalent of gateway drugs, a way into the gnarlier, creepier and more jarring worlds of avant-electronica, drone and minimalist composition. “Inlandishâ€, though, turns out to be rather beguiling, too. It’s romantic instead of challenging, a very downy and cushioned listen, but one whose precision and subtle melodic richness raise it above the bulk of what we could vaguely describe as leftfield easy listening. I guess Eno is a fairly inevitable comparison, though I’m reminded of Harold Budd, too – or I think I am; in truth, it’s been so long since I played any of his albums, they could sound like Cecil Taylor compared to this, for all I know. Anyway, it works very well as a sedate start to the week, and as a reminder that, come April, Roedelius will be back with Moebius and Michael Rother for the Harmonia reunion show at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. See you there, hopefully. . .

In spite of the current enthusiasm for Krautrock round these parts, I must admit to being a bit sceptical about the new album from Hans-Joachim Roedelius: one half of Cluster, one third of the recently reformed Harmonia, and now collaborating with an American called Tim Story on a highly pretty CD called “Inlandishâ€.

Continue

Elvis Costello to reissue extras-laden ‘This Year’s Model’

Uncut
-
0
Elvis Costello to reissue extras-laden ‘This Year’s Model’
Elvis Costello’s 1978 album ‘This Year’s Model’ is to reissued, boasting a treasure trove of extras, including b-sides and a live set. The release, originally produced by Nick Lowe, will now feature 11 extra b-sides and unreleased studio takes, including a live version of “Neat Neat Neatâ...

Elvis Costello’s 1978 album ‘This Year’s Model’ is to reissued, boasting a treasure trove of extras, including b-sides and a live set.

The release, originally produced by Nick Lowe, will now feature 11 extra b-sides and unreleased studio takes, including a live version of “Neat Neat Neat†and a never-before-heard take of “This Year’s Girlâ€.

The second disc of the release contains all 17 songs performed by Costello and The Attractions at Washington’s Warner Theatre in February 1978.

The complete tracklisting is as follows:

Disc One

“No Action”

“This Year’s Girl”

“The Beat”

“Pump It Up”

“Little Triggers”

“You Belong to Me”

“Hand In Hand”

“(I Don’t Want To Go To) Chelsea”

“Lip Service”

“Living In Paradise”

“Lipstick Vogue”

“Night Rally”

“Radio, Radio”

“Big Tears”

“Crawling to the USA”

“Tiny Steps”

“Running Out Of Angels” (demo version)

“Greenshirt” (demo version)

“Big Boys” (demo version)

“Neat Neat Neat” (live)

“Roadette Song” (live)

“This Year’s Girl” (alternate Eden Studios version)

“(I Don’t Want to Go to) Chelsea” (alternate

Basing Street Studios version)

Disc Two

“Pump It Up”

“Waiting For the End of the World”

“No Action”

“Less Than Zero”

“The Beat”

“(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes”

“(I Don’t Want to Go To) Chelsea”

“Hand In Hand”

“Little Triggers”

“Radio, Radio”

“You Belong to Me”

“Lipstick Vogue”

“Watching the Detectives”

“Mystery Dance”

“Miracle Man”

“Blame It on Cain”

“Chemistry Class”

Van Morrison reveals details of first new album for nine years

Uncut
-
0
Van Morrison reveals details of first new album for nine years
Van Morrison has announced details of a new album, his first release of all-new studio material since 1999’s “Back On Topâ€. The veteran singer-songwriter will release “Keep It Simpleâ€, the follow-up to 2006’s country covers set "Pay The Devil", on March 10. The album, which is nearly ...

Van Morrison has announced details of a new album, his first release of all-new studio material since 1999’s “Back On Topâ€.

The veteran singer-songwriter will release “Keep It Simpleâ€, the follow-up to 2006’s country covers set “Pay The Devil”, on March 10.

The album, which is nearly Morrison’s 40th studio release, will reportedly feature songs including “Entrainmentâ€, “Soulâ€, “Song Of Home†and “How Can A Poor Boyâ€, as well as the title track.

The album was produced by Morrison.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL – TOMMY LEE JONES

Uncut
-
0
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL – TOMMY LEE JONES
UNCUT: Had you read any of Cormac McCarthy's books before you did this movie? TOMMY LEE JONES: Yeah. Do you like his books? I think Cormac is the finest living prose stylist in America. You seem to be made to play one of his characters. Oh good. I'm glad I gave that impression. I know Cormac an...

UNCUT: Had you read any of Cormac McCarthy’s books before you did this movie?

TOMMY LEE JONES: Yeah.

Do you like his books?

I think Cormac is the finest living prose stylist in America.

You seem to be made to play one of his characters.

Oh good. I’m glad I gave that impression. I know Cormac and saw him while I was in New Mexico, but I never saw him on set. We know one another from the past.

You seem very like your character Ed Tom Bell: you choose your words wisely, you don’t bullshit, you say how it is. Was it easier for you to play this guy, because it’s closer to home?

Well, what I like about him is that he’s a character out of Cormac McCarthy’s book. That’s what I like the most. The language is just beautiful and that’s really something to work with. And it’s flattering to me that he would think that I am like that character. I am nothing like that character. But it’s very nice that you think that that is the real me because that means that I’m doing my job, it means that I’ve disappeared, which is definitely my job. When you begin to take these things personally you are not meeting your responsibility in my opinion.

What about the Coens? Were you a fan of their work before they came to you?

Of course.

What are they like to work with?

They’re well organised, thoroughly prepared and open-minded. They’re rather generous, and highly professional.

They are reputedly very exact about their scripts – is there room for improvisation?

Oh I hate improvisation, it’s a very small interest. Preparation is very important, rehearsal is very important. Of course, spontaneity is important, but what you want to do is labour as hard as you can to create an inarguable illusion of spontaneity. The real thing is dangerous.

So what is the real you?

I don’t have to tell you!

You seem to be working less these days is that because you want to relax more or because there are less good scripts coming your way?

I don’t know about less. I made three movies this year.

What do you do when you’re not working?

Well we’re in the cattle business and we work at that everyday whether we’re shooting a movie or not. We raise and train and sell horses and I work at the movie business in one way or another everyday also.

Can you give us the number of cattle or horses you have on your ranch?

No.

Is that for tax purposes?

No. I just don’t look upon that as any of your business.

Do you like the movie Giant?

No.

Why?

It didn’t look like real life to me.

Did it reflect Texas to you?

Part of it did, because it was shot just west of my place. On Clay Evans’ ranch. In fact the framework for the house is still there. It’s nothing but telephone poles. You wouldn’t recognise it as a movie set.

Can you talk about some of your career highlights, or if you regret doing anything, or things you might have done differently?

I have no regrets. I can’t imagine any highlights, other than today.

There must be some highlights, how about Men In Black?

Oh, I love Men In Black.

When are you guys going to get back together and do another one?

That would be great. I’d love to see that. It was a highlight working with Clint Eastwood [Space Cowboys], it was a highlight working with Larry Olivier [The Betsy], it was a highlight working with Debbie Reynolds [Heaven & Earth]. Every day is a highlight.

No Country For Old Men hardly concludes conventionally – some might consider it pessimistic.

Well it’s a cerebral movie, but I wouldn’t say that it’s pessimistic. The last speech is a contemplation of hope, a dream about however dark and cold the world might be, however long the ride through it might be. That at the end you know that you will go to your father’s house and it will be warm, or to a fire that your father has carried and built for you. The last sentence of the movie is, “And then I woke up.” It’s a contemplation of the idea of hope. Is it an illusion? Is it just a dream? And if it is, is the dream real? I think it asks very good questions and I believe that an assumption by Cormac, by Ethan and Joel, and certainly by me, is that the very best questions are more important than anyone’s wide variety of answers.

IAN NATHAN

Click here to read Uncut’s review of No Country For Old Men.

1...921922923...1,269Page 922 of 1,269

SHOP UNCUT