Review: Nirvana - Bleach

Nirvana's much forgotten 1989 debut is something of a typical punk album, its very riff heavy and Kurt Cobain's course vocals about girls and authority are all throughout.  'Bleach' really is a nonstop thrill ride, unlike the albums that followed it 'Bleach' has no slower tempo songs to break up the constant head banging which isn't necessarily a bad thing on an album like this. It opens with 'Blew' which is a very fun and thrashing tale, following that 'Floyd the Barber' keeps the same formula up.  Album highlight 'About a Girl' is a poppy and Beatles-esque change of pace.  Although drummer Chad Channing is sufficient he really doesn't reach the highs made by Dave Grohl after Channing's departure. Other album highs include 'Negative Creep', 'Big Cheeze' and 'School'.  Although not as compelling as 'Nevermind' and 'In Utero', 'Bleach' is still a solid debut in anyone's books.

7.5/10

Tomm

Review: The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games has become huge, as does any teen-orientated novel-turned-film (Tomorrow, When The War Began, Harry Potter series) and the books have only become more popular since the movie was released. The Hunger Games follows Catniss Everdeen in a war-torn future America referred to as Panem. Panem is divided into 13 Districts and The Capitol. At one stage in Panem's history, a rebellion took place against The Capitol, in which The Capitol were victorious (and 13 was destroyed). To show their power, The Hunger Games are established. A male and a female from each district are selected at random and thrown into an arena to do battle where only one can come out and for the nation to watch on their nearest televisions. Catniss Everdeen is just another average girl who lives in the Seam, hunts outside the barriers of 12 and trades at the Hob to provide for her father-less family, until she is selected, under unusual circumstances, to represent 12 in The Hunger Games.
The Hunger Games has one of the greatest plot lines I've heard of. Genius. Yet it wasn't as well pulled off in the movie as the books. The acting isn't bad but not outstanding, the special effects are pretty good but there is a problem I have with this movie. The closing scenes are way too rushed to set up for the sequel. It feels a lot like a "Next time, on The Hunger Games" sort of thing and it just doesn't suit the pace of the rest of the movie. If you haven't read the book, this movie is probably going to be a lot more enjoyable than if you have. But if you have, there's still some enjoyment to be had here.

7/10

The Awesominator

Review: The Temper Trap - The Temper Trap

After the Temper Trap's breakthrough debut album 'Conditions' immensely high hopes have been developed for their self titled follow up. All of the staples established on 'Conditions' still remain here, lead singer Dougy Mandagi's ever present falsetto is all throughout here and so are the depressing lyrics about all kinds of heartbreak.  The album opens with the somewhat happy 'Need Your Love' and continues onto one of the records more ambitious tracks 'London's Burning' which samples various news reports about the recent London riots,  the track succeeds a little but just gets a bit stale towards the end. Guitar solos are less common here as the album seems to nod a lot to 80's synths and culture, although on 'Dreams' and the epic 'Rabbit Hole' Lorenzo Sillito's guitar playing is used to very good effect.  Album highlights here include the aforementioned 'Rabbit Hole', 'This Isn't Happiness' and 'Trembling Hands' which nearly succeeds in recreating stunning feel of breakthrough hit 'Sweet Disposition'.  Some of the lesser songs include 'The Sea Is Waiting', 'Where Do We Go From Here' and 'I'm Gonna Wait' which are all just rather dull.  Although the Temper Trap do have a more mature sound here, it is hard to know whether that is for the better or not and it will be interesting to see where they go next.  There is some good stuff here if you dig for it, but generic lyrics and meaningless filler bring this album down.

6/10

Tomm

Review: The Pirates: Band of Misfits

It's that time of year again. The Pirate of the Year Award and the Pirate Captain (voiced unrecognisably well by Hugh Grant) wants this award more than anything, taking on the more successful pirates Black Bellamy and Cutlass Liz. His quest to win the competition takes him from the exotic shores of Blood Island to the foggy streets of London. With his unusual crew forever by his side, the Pirate Captain takes on a pirate-hating queen and teams up with scientist Charles Darwin who needs more than a little help with the ladies.
There's laughs to be had from word go in this film-but when I say laughs, it really depends on what age you are or, more appropriately, what age your comedic taste is. I found this movie very funny, even the name of the Pirate Captain's crew are hilarious - The Albino Pirate, The Pirate With Gout and , my favourite, the Surprisingly Curvaceous Pirate who is indeed a woman pretending to be a male pirate. The geniuses (or genii?) at Aardman have struck again with a movie not as good as the classics they are known for but a great movie for the whole family, despite the surprising down-shirt jokes.

7.5/10

The Awesominator

Review: Snakadaktal - Snakadactal EP

Winning triple j Unearthed High must be a dream come true for budding high school bands, but some winners have failed to further their success, unable to release a song since their winning track. But less than twelve months since winning, indie five-piece from Melbourne have defied this curse and released their debut, self titled EP. With soulful vocals, soothing guitars and synth, rhythmic bass and the subtle-yet-annoying tempo changes of "Chimera", this EP is a real success. Although "Chimera" consists of said tempo changes, it is quite an enjoyable song, along with "Carnival (Lobster Mobster)", "Skin" and the 22nd best song of 2011 (according to triple j's Hottest 100 of 2011), "Air", but I enjoyed every song on here. This is a truly good release and a joy to listen to.

8/10

The Awesominator

Review: The Avengers

Possibly one the most awaited superhero films ever, 'The Avengers' finally hits our screens after seven years and five 'prequel' films.  Impossible as may seem director Joss Whedon has delivered a film that meets all expectations and sets the bar for superhero movies in the future.  'The Avengers' follows the story of villain Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and his plight to bring the human race to its knees (Loki mightn't seem like a typical bad guy, but Hiddleston plays the part well and for all its worth).  In order to stop Loki and his plans, S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) puts the previously scrapped "Avengers Initiative" into practice,bringing together the combined power of Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Dr Bruce Banner or the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.).  Where 'The Avengers' really shines is its ability to bring every superhero and their positives together and give everyone moment to shine, even S.H.E.L.D. agents Black Widow (Scarlett Johanssen)  and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) have some killer moments in the limelight.  Although each superhero had their drawbacks in their own movie, here they're all just forgotten about as the spotlight moves from one superhero to another before each of their weaknesses can show.  Also worth noting is Mark Ruffalo's fantastic debut as the Hulk, Ruffalo really nails the part and is a common audience favourite.  To summarize Whedon has fantastically blended all these complex characters into one of my favourite movies of the year so far.

Tomm

9/10

Review: The Naked and Famous - Passive Me, Aggressive You

'Passive Me, Aggressive You' is the debut album from indie rock outfit The Naked and Famous.  It made quite an impact upon its 2010 release with the lead single 'Young Blood' which is, quite a song.  It's songs like 'Young Blood', 'Punching In A Dream' (which sounds suspiciously similar to MGMT's 'Kids'), 'Girls Like You' and 'Jilted Lovers' that really make this record what it is. 'Eyes' is another good song that has quite a nice 80's vibe. The remainder of the songs are either alright or really quite bad.  The have either boring synth lines or harmonies that are in a word, annoying.  But just like most albums, you have to take the good with the bad and this one is predominantly good.

7.5/10

The Awesominator