The Return of Doctor Who (September 2012)

The wait has been too long but it is finally here.  Doctor Who is back everyone! This is a roundup of the first three episodes that have been shown. (WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS!)

Asylum of the Daleks

WOW. What a way to open the series! With a fantastic script this is definitely one of the best Dalek stories and might just be the best opener since the show’s revival in 2005. Full of action packed sequences, running up corridors, brilliant acting and more exterminating pepper pots than ever there was never a dull moment.  Let’s not forget the surprise unveiling of the Doctor’s new companion five episodes before we were told she was to appear! Then it turns out she was a Dalek! What!? We will have to wait till Christmas for some resolution and I bet even then we won’t get the whole answer. That Steven Moffat (the man who runs the show) is one crafty guy. The only complaint is that the promise of classic Daleks resulted in them just being used as cameos in the background. However not even this could take away the sure genius and brilliance of the episode as a whole. An instant classic! 10/10

Dinosaurs on a Spaceship

Following such a brilliant (and rather serious) first episode successfully was always going to be tricky but the second instalment of the series did not disappoint. The light-hearted direction chosen was certainly the way to go. I loved the idea of the Doctor having a ‘gang’ as it produced a whole new dynamic for the show to work with especially when Amy became the Doctor figure of the sub-gang. For all the humour though there was also a dark undercurrent such as the un-doctor-like decision to leave the bad-guy to his death. Full of witty dialogue, a truly detestable villain, some camp robots, an Egyptian Queen and the Doctor riding a triceratops (all in space) we have been graced with one of the most fun yet still satisfying Doctor Who stories yet.  8/10

A Town Called Mercy

This reminded me so much of Firefly (one of the greatest but sadly cancelled sci-fi shows ever!). Not so much in content but the feel of the Wild West mixing with sci-fi which, for the most part, has worked rather well in this instance. The story was littered with typical Western themes but never felt too clichéd. The colours and sets were all fantastic and really helped to progress the story and the cyborg Gunslinger was also a neat touch and made a truly awesome monster. This episode had some more adult atmosphere touching on the Doctor’s moral uncertainty on what to do with the alien scientist responsible for the cyborg. Seeing the Doctor with a gun was very uncharacteristic and made for a truly unsettling image. The result is a mature story that still entertains with plenty of action and a gorgeous setting. 8/10

Overall this is turning out to be a truly memorable series. The whole scope of each episode has been so big and cinematic and yet it has not felt at all bloated. I can’t recall a series that has been so consistently good for the first three episodes and I certainly hope this quality is sustained. If it keeps it up it will definitely be the best series with Matt Smith as the Doctor and might even be the best since the shows revival. With Amy and Rory set to leave for good in the fifth episode at the hands of the Weeping Angels I eagerly anticipate the following instalments which are promised to be heartbreaking. The best show on TV is back maybe better than ever!

Bruce Springsteen at Hard Rock Calling, Hyde Park, 14/08/12 (July 2012)

There aren’t enough superlatives in the English language to describe how fantastic “The Boss” was at Hard Rock Calling. I could use up my entire world limit gushing about how beautiful and special the set opener “Thunder Road” was with Bruce and his harmonica accompanied only by pianist Roy Bittan. Springsteen and the band were on fine form with a set that lasted well over 3 hours. Tracks from the new album “Wrecking Ball” fitted in seamlessly with regular crowd pleasers such as “Born to Run”, “Dancing In The Dark” and many more, with highlights including a blistering performance of the Patti Smith collaboration “Because The Night” and a seminal “Land of Hope and Dreams”. Something must also be noted of the special guests that came onstage including John Fogerty and some outstanding guitar work from Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello. The biggest surprise of the night came when Paul McCartney was called up for some truly stunning duets. The climax of the show came when Bruce and the former Beatle belted out a euphoric rendition of “Twist and Shout” while fireworks graced the evening sky. The only slight disappointment was that after this the organisers pulled the plug, resulting in the band having to say goodbye without the aid of a microphone. However not even this (or the rain) could change how superb the show was as a whole. Definitely one of, if not the best concerts I have ever seen.

11/10

David Byrne & St. Vincent - "Who" (June 2012)

When you hear the word “collaboration” I wouldn’t blame you for being sceptical. They can be awful (Dappy & Brian May), confusing (Lou Reed & Metallica) and brilliant. This collaboration, between David Byrne of Talking Heads (if you don’t know who they are, what have you been doing with your life!?) and the beautiful Annie Clark aka St Vincent, is thankfully brilliant. With a full album due in September, this first (free) single only whets the appetite. With a bit of funky brass to get things rolling, the song kicks in with a pounding bass drum before getting even more interesting. It is always brilliant to hear Byrne sing in his usual gawky style and Clark’s soft vocals only compliment them. When they intertwine it is mesmerising. Overall the song is superb! So go on, download it! (It is free on lovethisgiant.com) It might just be the best song of the year so far.

Rating: 9/10

Getting things going again...

Nobody is reading this but I'm back anyway! I will hopefully be putting some more posts up and I will be posting articles I have written for my schools e-magazine. Enjoy!

Deeper Understanding - Then Vs. Now

OK so as I have previously posted, next month Kate Bush will be releasing “Directors Cut”, an exciting new album which sees Kate revisit a selection of tracks from her albums “The Sensual World” and “The Red Shoes”. Also previously mentioned was that tomorrow Kate will be releasing an updated version of "Deeper Understanding" as the albums lead single. Today however, BBC Radio 2 aired the exclusive world premier of this single and it was later posted in full on Kate's YouTube channel. Not that you really care but I was walking to school with my old mp3 player that i had to dig out because my ipod doesn't play the radio and i was waving it about trying to get a good signal! But don't worry i got the signal and heard it! So can you if you scroll down to the bottom of this post where I have put a link to the YouTube video.

Anyway to mark this unique single, Ive decided to rate and review the song whilst comparing it to its original version from 1989. So let's begin with the new version...

 Deeper Understanding (2011) 

Firstly lets go over whats actually different with it from the original. So to begin with it's a fair bit longer running to 6 minutes and 32 seconds compared to its previous length of 4 minutes and 46 seconds. However the biggest difference you will notice is the major change of vocal style during the chorus! It has drastically changed from that very melodic tender chorus to an automated voice which makes it sound as if a robot is singing the lines. The melody has slightly changed also but it must be added that this doesn't necessarily worsen the song. If anything it doesn't mean it improves the song but adds something to it, giving it a colder feel, yet retaining all the tenderness and warmth from the original if that makes any sense at all. Another difference is that all Kate's vocals are new takes, and personally i prefer this new take and some of the instrumentation if new too. One negative is that we lose some of that marvelous backing harmonies and vocals from the original that made it so good although some of these are kept. Although it is clear to see that they wouldn't really work with this new version. All in this is a fine reworking of a already fine song. Its not better than the original and doesn't try to be but instead helps to update it and bring it straight into 2011. Lets hope the rest of the album goes this way!

Any who I thought I would leave you with some more information about "Director's Cut" that was announced today. I have to say I'm most excited about the completely brand new version of "This Woman's Work" one of my personal favourite Kate Bush songs! But yeah here's the facts:

"A new short film to accompany the track [Deeper Understanding] will be premiered in a few weeks. Its directed by Kate and stars Robbie Coltrane, Frances Barber and Noel Fielding and Kate's son Albert plays the role of the computer programme. He is also featured in the song, singing as the computer programme.

Kate's new album Directors Cut is released on May 16, the first album to be released on her own label, Fish People, which will be distributed by EMI. The track-listing for the album, which sees her revisit and, in some cases, re-record tracks from two of her classic albums is:

FLOWER OF THE MOUNTAIN (a new version of the song originally titled The Sensual World)

SONG OF SOLOMON

DEEPER UNDERSTANDING

LILY

RED SHOES

THIS WOMAN'S WORK

MOMENTS OF PLEASURE

NEVER BE MINE

TOP OF THE CITY

AND SO IS LOVE

RUBBERBAND GIRL

Kate says: Originally when I wrote the song The Sensual World I had used text from the end of Ulysses by James Joyce, put to a piece of music I had written. When I asked for permission to use the text I was refused, which was disappointing. I then wrote my own lyrics for the song although I felt that the original idea had been more interesting. Well, I'm not James Joyce am I? When I came to work on this project I thought I would ask for permission again and this time they said yes. It is now re-titled Flower Of the Mountain and I am delighted that I have had the chance to fulfill the original concept.

All the lead vocals and drums on Directors Cut are new performances, some of the tracks featuring guests including Steve Gadd, Danny Thompson and, on backing vocals, Mica Paris. Three songs have been completely re-recorded, one of which is This Woman's Work.

Kate adds: For some time I have felt that I wanted to revisit tracks from these two albums and that they could benefit from having new life breathed into them. Lots of work had gone into the two original albums and now these songs have another layer of work woven into their fabric. I think of this as a new album.

Kate Bush is currently working on her new album of brand new material.

Plus a radio interview on Radio 2 to come next month!"

 

David Bowie's Toy has finally been leaked!!!

TOY

Finally, after 10 years, David Bowie's unreleased album has been leaked! Bowie fans worldwide feel liberated!!!



Info

Artist: David Bowie

Release Year: Unreleased although was planned for 2001

Producer: Mark Plati & David Bowie (let me know if Im wrong, details are still pretty shady)

Track listing

1. Uncle Floyd
2. Afraid
3. Baby Loves That Way
4. I Dig Everything [* track pick]
5. Conversation Piece
6. Let Me Sleep Beside You
7. Toy (Your Turn To Drive)
8. Hole In The Ground [* track pick]
9. Shadow Man [* track pick]
10. In The Heat Of The Morning
11. You've Got A Habit Of Leaving
12. Silly Boy Blue
13. Liza Jane
14. The London Boys

10 years ago, David Bowie recorded Toy, a collection some of his old songs from the 60's revamped and rerecorded with a few new songs thrown in too. Tentitavely scheduled for release mid 2001, its release date kept being put back and back by Virgin (Bowie's then record label) until it was never released at all. Furious Bowie left Virgin to set up his own record label. But it seems this album was a casualty of this period because to this day it still lacks an official release.

Well it's been 10 LONG years but finally we can listen to it in it's entirety. Toy has finally been leaked onto the web in its full form! For years Bowie fans have searched high and low for any traces of this mysterious unreleased album, to only have 30 second clips, some b-side different mixes and some full tracks but not always in perfect quality. But alas, we have it. But has it been worth the wait?

In short, yes. This album is just superb with not a bad track on it. We start with two new songs recorded for the album specifically. First "Uncle Floyd" (later rerecorded in a very different way as "Slip Away" for Heathen) which begins with about a minutes worth of talking from the Uncle Floyd Show. Then the track slowly builds and has a rather great stripped back feel with Bowie's vocal on top form, crooning through the lines. Next is "Afraid" which was remixed later and too was included on Heathen. Its not massively different to the later remix but is good all the same, with a different instrumentation and backing vocals, giving it a new sense of energy.

"Baby Loves That Way" was officially released as a b-side in 2002 but was a different mix to the original for Toy. Its a fun song, set to a slower pace than the 60's original. "I Dig Everything" is just brilliant, one of the best tracks, with Bowie's voice sounding great. It far surpasses its original form and is very much how this song should have always sounded. Full of life and energy that makes the use of the word dig seem cool! Now thats impressive! A lovely rendition of "Conversation Piece" follows, with Bowie's older voice making this song so much more heartwrenching than it's original. "Let Me Sleep Beside You" brings back that life and energy from "I Dig Everything" on this awesome guitar heavy track. If Toy ever does get a release, this should be the lead single.

The third new song for the album is "Toy (Your Turn To Drive)". It has been available as a download off Itunes for quite a while under the name "Your Turn To Drive". A more fitting name as "Toy" doesn't even feature in the song. A nice little piano led song with Bowie's hushed vocals creating a sound thats rather dreamy. Next is "Hole In The Ground" which starts with a sublime pounding intro before setlling down a bit. It was supposedly originally a demo but hasn't been heard before but more than stands up, helping to keep the album from drifing off in the middle. This is followed by the painstakingly beautiful "Shadow Man". Originally it was a demo from around 1971 and was a favourite of many. The rerecorded version was also released as a different mix in 2002 featuring Tony Visconti's string arrangment and never deserved to be a mere b-side. Instead it should be commended as one of Bowie's most beautiful recordings ever. The Toy version lacks these strings and has a different vocal mix but is still as fantastic, retaining some gorgeous piano from Mike Garson. Bowie's vocal performance is just to die for. Literally melts the soul. A stunning track and definately a highlight of the album.

"In The Heat Of The Morning" bears resemblance to its original but again is set to a slightly slower pace. It makes use of a harmonica rather fittingly and the guitar sound is more prominant, all of which are positives. "You've Got A Habit Of Leaving" is similar to "Baby Loves That Way" but with a quicker pace. It too was released as a b-side in 2002 in a slightly different mix. It has been said "Silly Boy Blue" was set to close the album and one can see why. It is a fitting closer, with its atmospheric feel that makes this a stately reworking of the best song from Bowie's debut album. It is probably the most heart touching track after "Shadow Man".

It too has been suggested that "Liza Jane" and "The London Boys" were intended as b-sides or bonus tracks of some sort. "Liza Jane" was Bowie's first ever proper record and this newer version is almost unrecognisably different. Set to a far slower pace, it has a rather 50's swing feel it could be said. "The London Boys" is just like a modernised verison of its original although it has a slightly brighter feel to it compared to the dark tone of the 60's version.

In all it has definately been worth the wait. Even though it is technically about 10 years old, the songs feel fresh and exciting as if they were recorded yesterday, making the album more than a sum of its parts. It has a life and energy of its own and gives it quite a different atmosphere from other Bowie albums. In a way Toy is reminiscent of Station To Station in its transitional feel. Just as Station To Station was the stepping stone from Young Americans to Low, Toy is the stepping stone from hours... to Heathen. Yes Toy is more of an album for Bowie fans, but it doesn't take away any of its charm. Its layed back and a whole load of fun with some tender moments thrown in. Bowie really sounds like he's enjoying himself too! Its just a travesty its never given the official release in so desperately needs and deserves! After 8 years of no new music, it almost feels as if Bowie has come out of his "retirement".

Kate Bush to release unusual new album!

So just as I was talking about the possibility of something new from Kate Bush, a couple of days later we get this... (info from her facebook page)

"Kate Bush releases an unusual new album “Director’s Cut” on May 16 on her own label Fish People, in conjunction with EMI.


On “Directors Cut” Kate revisits a selection of tracks from her albums “The Sensual World” and “The Red Shoes”, a process that presents a fascinating portrait of an artist in a constant state of evolution. She has re-recorded some elements whilst keeping the best musical performances of each song – making it something of a director’s cut but in sound, not vision.

A new version of “Deeper Understanding” will be released as a single in April. Although written some twenty years ago, the song may be more relevant today than ever…
Kate is currently working on new material although no release date has been set for this.

“Director’s Cut” will be released in the following formats:
Digital Album, Standard CD in a case-bound book, Deluxe CD (three disc package, including Director’s Cut, The Sensual World and re-mastered The Red Shoes) in a case-bound book and two-disc vinyl.

Other digital and vinyl formats will be made available on katebush.com. Details will be published shortly."

This sounds great and unusual! I love the album The Sensual World and I will be reviewing it shortly to celebrate the news of this new album, so watch this space! Also I look forward to some new material too... lets hope that doesn't take to long!