Sunday, 26 March 2017

Days Forty-Seven to Fifty-Four

Last Sunday I started to re-watch Prison Break (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prison_Break) ahead of the new season starting in a couple of weeks (not sure when it’ll be on in the UK, but assume that it’ll be a day or so after it airs in the States). Although I’d watched seasons 2 – 4 I’d never seen the first season (except for the first and last episode) as this was before the age of Tivo and when I had a social life 😊and it’s really good. The body tattoo/map doesn’t seem to play as big a role as I remember it, yeah there are regular mentions/references, but I remember it almost being a character of its own.

This Sunday is Mother’s Day and we had a special lunch for Mum, on top of Saturday’s special Mother’s day lunch, which has got me slightly panicky about putting on to much weight and not doing enough exercise to balance it all out.

Saturday also started the Buffy 20th Anniversary rewatch (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffy_the_Vampire_Slayer). Two thirds of the way through season one and it is as good as I remember. One thing that I had forgotten was how dark the show went. It’ll be interesting to compare Xander’s attempted rape of Buffy, when he was taken over by a hyena spirit and Spike’s attempted rape in season six (although the show had grown a lot over the seasons and was up for exploring things in more detail/keep things dark), e.g. why the former has been forgotten/forgiven and the latter hasn't when both Xander and Spike were not completely whole/'in control' (one having been taken over and one not having a soul).

On Monday I listened to the special edition of Pink Floyd's Ummagumma (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ummagumma), which in theory I should have liked. Trippy, spacey, ambienty head music is right up my alley, but it doesn’t hit the mark. I like the separate elements but together they just make a dull album, too dull even to fall asleep to! I think ebay will be in its very near future!

We also played, and won, our Hassra Bowling League match. It was good to get out of the house and catch up with how everyone is doing in the new DH/retirement. Seems like things are settling down, but with people having a heavier workload.

I finally watched Drive (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drive_(2011_film)) on Tuesday and it’s pretty good (but not quite as good as the hype says it is). It’s a lean film, every character is fleshed out and every scene keeps the story moving forward (I’m tempted to say that each scene drives the story to its conclusion!). I liked Drive so much that I saw The Driver on Thursday (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Driver), which from its synopsis sounds like the 70s version of Drive, but the characters in The Driver are completely one-dimensional, and not in a good way, and the driving scenes aren’t that dramatic (and some don’t make any sense – at one point the driver has dodged the police cars, but hides in a darkened alley for them to come back so that they can play chicken, instead of driving away). So, I had to watch Southern Comfort (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Comfort_(1981_film)) on Friday to get rid of the ‘taste’ of a bad Walter Hill film, which still stands up to how well I remember it. With the tension building as the characters are wilted down one by one.

Wednesday was New Comic Book Day and there was plenty of good comics to pick up:


It wasn’t till I was on the train home that I saw the news alerts about the attack on Westminster Bridge and Parliament, so there were a few frantic emails/texts to friends still working in Westminster to make sure that they were ok (which they were), but (like 7/7) it was weird to be so close to such a terrible event, but far away enough to not know that it was happening when it was going on. At least the authorities reacted quickly and kept it to a ‘small’ event, compared to similar attacks on other countries (it’s also weird/disconcerting to think that one can qualify four deaths as a ‘small’ attack, when the families and friends of those people will be affected for the rest of their lives).

Saturday, 18 March 2017

Days Thirty-Eight to Forty-Six



It’s been a quiet week or so.

Last Friday I brought some of the early EPs from the Catskills Record label (http://www.catskillsmusic.com/). Catskills started in the late 90s and I would describe them as the missing link between Skint Records and Mo’ Wax and Nina Tunes, but without being derivative. My musical life would be lacking without having Catskills, the music they’ve released has soundtracked everything from parties to introspective moments.


Last weekend was spent reading, watching shows/films and listening to music (as per usual) (this weekend will mostly be spent watching Iron Fist!).

Aside the Catskills Eps, I listened to the new Spectres LP, Condition, (a solid continuation of their sound, shoegazery with a dash of metal/noise) and the last (so far) Beady Eye LP, BE (which was better than I thought it would be (I had brought it as I’m slightly obsessive about completing collections and I’ve got all the Oasis LPs and Noel’s solo stuff and because it was on special offer) and there are some great tracks on here. Plus, loads of the lyrics can be read as being directed at Noel and as Liam saying sorry let’s get back together!).

I also watched Justice League Dark, with Matt Ryan from the Constantine TV show doing the voice of Constantine, so it’s all most a continuation of the TV show. As suggested by others it’s also a good promo for how the live action version should be handled, i.e. just jump right in, play the magic in a straight forward, matter of fact way and have Batman make little jokes along the way.

I also watched Clive Barkers Lord of Illusions and Drive, which were both decent and kinda reminded me of films that Alex Cox would present on the old BBC2 show Videodrome – cult and/or B-Movies with something a bit extra.

Most of the working week was spent fretting about how much weight I’ve been putting on since a left work. I never realised how much walking I did (getting to the train station, to the office, at lunchtime and getting home). So, I’m trying to get back onto the metaphorical (and literal) exercise treadmill!
Or wondering if the PM realises how much of a hypocrite she is being when she criticises Nicola Sturgeon’s call for a new Scottish independence referendum, that everything she says applys equally to Brexit:

 


Wednesday’s NCBD was jumbo packed:


lots of good reading ahead of me. 

On Thursday I did a couple of drawings for my nephew (he didn’t quite like the Hulk one!):



On Friday I brought myself a little laptop/notebook, mainly so that I can go out and about and still look for (and apply for) jobs, watched a few episodes of Archer (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archer_%28TV_series%29), possibly the best TV show are air (or at least tied with iZombie (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IZombie_%28TV_series%29)).

Today (Saturday) is my 42nd birthday. I’ve finally reached the age of being the being of life (according to the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy), which is a good point to redouble/restart my job hunt and the next stage of my life (aka middle age!). I’ve identified a job vacancy that I could do so I’ve got a new application to get complete. So the plan is a bit of prep work today and tomorrow, write it up on Monday and submit it.

Thursday, 9 March 2017

Days Thirty-Four to Thirty-Seven

Brought Doctor Strange on Monday and it was as good as I remember it being, although still some issue with replacing the Asian ancient one with a Celtic ancient one. Were there no Asian actors available? But on the other hand, Tilda Swinton is a very good actor. Maybe there could have added a line about how the ancient one is reincarnated and that is why ‘he’ is currently a woman. Would have avoided a lot of the claims of racism. Once Doctor Strange has possibly my favourite joke/line in all of the Marvel films:

Kaecilius: How long have you been in Kamar-Taj, Mister...?
Dr. Stephen Strange: Doctor!
Kaecilius: Mister Doctor?
Dr. Stephen Strange: It's Strange!
Kaecilius: Maybe, who am I to judge?

And the scene were Doctor Strange’s astral body is sent flying around the universe/multiverse is still trippy as flip and disorientating as heck.

Tuesday was pretty much a ‘day-off’ chilling, sorting out a load of tapes to mp3s and not much else.

Wednesday was new comic book day:


I also ordered the ‘The Thing’ artbook (http://printedinblood.com/artbook_thething.html), the preview art and sneak peeps have left me very excited to see the art ‘live’, and I sent time thinking about the new job application, but not actually typing up the application!


Thursday was also sent thinking about the new job application, but not actually typing up the application!!! Must remedy this tomorrow.

Sunday, 5 March 2017

Day Thirty to Thirty-Three

Thursday was spent mostly:

Listening to music – early EPs from the Catskills record label (first released in the late ‘90s with a sound midway between big beat and trip-hop, a kinda cross between Mo’Wax and Skint), the new Brian Jonestown Massacre album, Don’t Get Lost (which has a more dubby/krautrocky sound to it than previous BJM albums), Elvis’ Promised Land LP (as the old album says 50 million Elvis fans can’t be wrong!), a collection of Earthling tracks (an underappreciated group with the ‘90s Bristol sound) and Citizenn’s Songs of Praise + Worship EP (dub techno like back in the early '90s, e.g. Sabres of Paradise, Hard Hands and Secret Knowledge)

And reading comics:


I also got confirmation that my job application had been received and is being assessed, so fingers crossed.

On Friday I went up to London for a ‘Pay Day Pint’ with some friends, party to check in with how the DH is doing a month after losing 500 people (hint – not so well for those on the ground, doing the actually work) and to ‘Logan’ (defo is the best Wolverine film, mostly because it isn’t caught up with cramming in as many cameos as possible and trying into previous films or setting up future films).

The new 6th Borough Project album (Find Your Rhythm) arrived digitally (with the physical copy arriving tomorrow) and I also, got a NHS Jobs email alert highlighting another job I should apply for, so that will keep me busy for a few days.

Saturday was mostly spent with a hungover from Friday and not much else! The cd of 6th Borough Project’s Find Your Rhythm arrived with a free tape of exclusive mixes from The Revenge and OOFT (which left me wondering who has a tape player to hand anymore and then remembering that I’ve got a Tape to mp3 converter tape deck, so I got a load of faffing about to do to setting it up so that I can listen to the tape and to make it into a mp3!).

On Sunday I listened to 6th Borough Project’s Find Your Rhythm, some great house music with a timeless feel (it sounds like it could have been made at any time in the last 30 years, but it doesn’t sound nostalgic or like it’s aping/mimicking someone else), well worth getting.


And there is just under a month until iZombie (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IZombie_(TV_series)) returns, or at least in the US, not sure when it’ll air in the UK.

Wednesday, 1 March 2017

Day Twenty Nine

Kill Them All – A Review

I really enjoyed Kill Them All by Kyle Starks (http://kylestarks.com/), it carried me from start to finish in one action-packed go.

In a nutshell Kill Them All is about a lone wolf cop (and his partner) taking down the big crime boss on the same day that the big crime boss’s top assassin takes revenge on him (and her ex) for trying to kill her. 

The best way that I can describe Kill Them All is that it’s a cross between your favourite action movie and John Allison’s (and Max Sarin, Liz Fleming, Whitney Cogar, Jim Campbell and Lissa Treiman) Giant Days (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_Days). 

It has all the best parts of action movies (snappy one liners, kick ass action, set-pieces, etc.) and combines it with the heart (and fun) of Giant Days. It's kinda like a comic book version of Spaced (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaced) during an action movie episode.

By this point you’re probably realising why I’m not a professional writer, but I’ll persevere (and hopefully you will too) and describe some of my favourite parts.

As mentioned above they are just loads of great one liners that ring true (to the genre and are up there with Arnie and Bruce’s best, like ‘I’ll be back’ or ‘Welcome to the party pal’ or ‘I’m here to chew gum and kick ass, and I’m all out of gum’) and that are dying to be quoted by kids in schoolyards during playtime:



‘Fuck every part of today’ should be the next ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ and is up there with Archer’s jungle tirade (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faLDEUS61fk).




Then there are just the funny moments:





I think ‘Carsenal’ is my word of 2017



And sound effects:


 I love ‘Dial toned’ as the sound effect for when the guy gets clobbered

And great artwork:


I think this is my favourite page/panel, I just love how it conveys the brute strength of Iruka and the agility of Adla

And set pieces:




Basically, I could just show the whole story, but I think that might breach the copyright!

I would completely recommend Kill Them All to anyone, if you want a good action story that’s also funny and has characters you care about you need this book. ‘Nuff said.