Review: Various Artists - ReWiggled: Tribute to The Wiggles

I have always had a special respect for the Wiggles. To think that an '80s rock band that never really made it as much as some could turn into children's entertainment band is just awesome. So when I heard that there was going to be a Wiggles tribute album, I just couldn't wait. With Aussie bands like Bluejuice, Architecture in Helsinki, Frenzal Rhomb, Spiderbait and The Living End, excitement was an inevitability. Bands like Architecture in Helsinki are more suited for the record, with their former experience with whistles and other fun sounding instruments, but others like Frenzal Rhomb put a real spin on the classic songs we all know and love. The stand-out songs on here are The Living End's Rockabilly "Hot Potato", "Wiggly Party" done in true Architecture in Helsinki style and a welcome change to a harder "Captain's Magic Buttons" from Frenzal Rhomb. But a real standout to me on this compilation was "Getting Strong!" done by Jebediah. I'm not really a Jebediah fan but they really did well with this song. Steve Lane and the Autocrats made an awesome distorted guitar riff out of "Fruit Salad". But the album is full of covers that just don't work: when I heard Bluejuice were doing a song, I was expecting an fun party song but I got a slow, acoustic Latin-esque waste of time. Spiderbait had a female singer and some of the others just weren't on the spot. And I was very disappointed to see that my favourite Wiggles song, "Rolling Down the Sandhill" didn't get covered. Anyway, this is quite an enjoyable compilation of some great bands covering some great songs.

7.5/10

The Awesominator

Review: Napoleon Dynamite

Depending on who you ask, Jared Hess' 2004 comedy 'Napoleon Dynamite' was either hilarious or agonizing and I tend to agree with the former. The movies's story follow high schooler Napoleon (played hilariously by John Heder) throughout part of one of his school years. The movie starts with Napoleon finding out his grandmother has been put in hospital due to an accident while dune buggying and he has to be looked after by his weird uncle of which he very much so dislikes.  What follows is a very funny series of events that start with Napoleon meeting Pedro, a foreign student and deciding he should run for school president.  The plot pretty well based around Pedro's run for presidency, but most of the laughs come from Napoleon's terrible social skills and his off beat brother.  Not everyone will enjoy this movie, but if you do love the humor you'll find this movie a delight.

8/10

Tomm

Review: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

The Holocaust. A horific moment is the history of humanity. A time of death, despair and fear. Plus, it's a great topic for a movie.

Bruno (played by one of the greatest child actors of our time, Asa Butterfield) is the son of a Shutzstaffel officer whose family move from Berlin where his father, Ralf, is promoted to Commandant of a Nazi concentration camp. Bruno is told to keep away from the camp, from which he lives only a couple of miles, a rule that he disobeys. He befriends a young Jew named Shmuel through the barbed wire fence of the concentration camp. They meet there every day where Bruno brings his friend food and games to play through the fence. After building a strong friendship, Shmuel asks for Bruno's help in a plan to find his lost father inside the camp.

 Mark Herman has done a beautiful job bringing this book to the big screens. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is one of the best Holocaust films you could choose to see and the friendship between Bruno and Shmuel just shows you that nothing can stop friendship. An great movie.

9/10

The Awesominator

Review: Bluejuice - Company

I wasn't particularly excited anout Bluejuice's third record.  Don't get me wrong Jake and Stav from the band are hilarious and seem like nice people, but their songs are quite samey and struggle to have any real lasting impact.  Although 'Act Yr Age' is a good party starter and fun song but it just seems Bluejuice's whole aim was just to recreate those fun pop vibes.  Some of the better songs on 'Company' are 'The Recession' , 'Shock' and 'On My own', less memorable songs are 'You Haven't Changed', 'Aspen, New York' and 'Kindaevil' sounds like it came right out of a crappy nightclub. Bluejuice are like an iPhone game, fun to pick up and play occasionally but if you binge on them for too long you will cringe at the sight of them for the next few months.  Nothing is wrong with an upbeat pop song and these guys have nearly got it mastered.  If you aren't looking for much mental stimulation and just a bit of fun 'Company' will do you well.

7/10

Tomm