Songs of the Week (24/06/2010)

Some more of my favourites this week...

Song of the Week: Metric - Monster Hospital

Monster Hospital is one of the first singles of Canadian band Metric... Absolutely cracking song, from a reasonably unknown band, but an excellent band all the same - check out the rest of their stuff...

Other Songs This Week:

• Idlewild - Love Steals Us From Loneliness
• Thirteen Senses - Gone
• Mumford and Sons - Sigh No More
• Slash feat. Andrew Stockdale - By The Sword
• Hal - Worry About The Wind
• The Presets - Are You The One
• Linkin Park - Faint 
• Travis - The Last Laugh of the Laughter
• The Fray - You Found Me

Look back through the archives for previous recommendations...

The Film Vaults #11 - The Princess Bride (1987)

We head back to the 80s for this week's pick in "The Film Vaults" for a true classic, The Princess Bride...

Based on the legendary novel by William Goldman, The Princess Bride is a film that covers a vast array of film genres including Comedy, Fantasty, Action, Adventure and Romance - ultimately its a bit like Shrek, but its live action and much much better...

A film that the entire family can enjoy and really shouldn't need to be recommended - you should have already seen it - but for all you heathens out there, I'm going to recommend it anyway...

Directed by Rob Reiner and featuring an all-star cast, with Cary Elwes as Wesley, Mandy Patinkin as Inigo Montoya, Chris Sarandon as Prince Humperdinck, Christopher Guest as Count Rugen, Wallace Shawn as Vizzini, Andre the Giant as Fezzik, Robin Wright as Buttercup, Fred Savage as the Grandson, and Peter Falk as The Grandfather...

So go watch it... Don't make me have to tell you again... Why are you still here?

"Anybody wanna Peanut?"

The Selection Box #11 - Freaks and Geeks

Since it's one of my favourite shows and possibly one of the most underrated shows of all time, I thought Freaks and Geeks would be a fine choice for this weeks, "The Selection Box"...

Before Judd Apatow was making movies like Superbad, Knocked Up, and Funny People he had an attempt at two tv shows, both of which were cancelled in their first season, but lived on to become cult classics... Freaks and Geeks was the first of these two shows and featured a lot of well known faces in both the main cast and in the guest cast...

Filmed at the end of the 90s, but set at the beginning of the 80s, Freaks and Geeks is a high school dramedy that focuses on the unpopular students rather than the popular ones... It lasted only 18 episodes, which is a crying shame, but they're 18 episodes that you can watch over and over...

Probably the most interesting thing about the show is the cast - most of whom were nobodies at the time and now are some of the most successful actors in Hollywood... The main cast included Seth Rogen (Knocked Up, Superbad, Funny People, Pineapple Express), James Franco (Tristan & Isolde, Pineapple Express, Spiderman Trilogy), Jason Segal (I Love You Man, How I Met Your Mother), Linda Cardellini (ER, Scooby Doo Films), Busy Phillips (Dawson's Creek, Cougar Town), Martin Starr (Adventureland, Party Down), John Francis Daley (Bones) and Samm Levine (Inglorious Basterds)... Guest stars included Ben Stiller and Shia La Beouf...

It might take a bit of detective work to get your hands on this series, but it's well worth it... Be sure to check it out...

Songs of the Week (17/06/2010) - TV Special

Decided to go for a bit of a theme this week, so all the choices are TV theme tunes...

Song of the Week: Alabama 3 - Woke Up This Morning (The Sopranos)

"Woke Up This Morning" from Alabama 3 is the iconic theme tune to one of the greatest TV shows of all time, The Sopranos... Every time I hear this song it reminds me of some of the greatest scenes from the Sopranos... You can't beat it...

Other Songs This Week:

• The Rapture - Echoes (Misfits)
• Jace Everett - Bad Things (True Blood)
• Lazlo Bane - I'm No Superman (Scrubs)
• Remy Zero - Save Me (Smallville)
• Cheap Trick - Out In The Street (That '70s Show)
• Cake - Short Skirt Long Jacket (Chuck)
• The Rembrandts - I'll Be There For You (Friends)
• Gavin DeGraw - I Don't Want To Be (One Tree Hill)
• The Solids - Hey Beautiful (How I Met Your Mother)

Check out earlier posts for some more tuneage...

The Film Vaults #10 - Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel (2009)

This weeks trip into "The Film Vaults" features one of the best Sci-Fi Comedies of all time, Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel...

Do you like to laugh? Have you ever seen any film or tv series featuring time travel? If you've answered yes to either of these questions, you should probably have a look at this film...

It's set primarily in the mens toilets in a quiet english pub, and while that may sound restrictive in the creative sense, this film is in no way restricted when it comes to creativity...

It's a clever take on the whole time travelling experience and there are guaranteed laughs with this fantastic cast, which includes Chris O'Dowd, Dean Lennox Kelly, Mark Wootton and Anna Farris...

As always, I don't want to give too much away, but trust me this film is a must see, so hop in your Tardis and head back to April of last year and check out this film in your local cinema... Or if you've misplaced your Tardis keys, go rent the DVD instead...

"Nerd is the word they use to keep us down... You should use the term, 'Imagineer'..."

The Selection Box #11 - The IT Crowd

Since the 4th season is kicking off in two weeks time and I'm currently rewatching the first three seasons, I thought The IT Crowd would be a good choice for this week's edition of "The Selection Box"...

For those unfamiliar with the show, it's from Graham Linehan, the man who's brought us some of the world's greatest sitcoms, including Father Ted and Black Books...

This time the setting is the basement office of Reynholm Industries, where IT geeks Moss and Roy, as well as their relationship manager, Jen, spend their days...

The writing is genius and the acting is fantastic and one of those shows that you can watch again and again and again, and the jokes still seem fresh...

You don't have to know anything about computers to watch this show, so fear not technophobes, even you lot can enjoy this...

"Hello, IT. Have you tried turning it off and on again?"

Songs of the Week (10/06/2010)

Some fantastic choices this week, even if I do say so myself... Get out there and start buying some music...

Song of the Week: Morning Hush - Romance

Debut single "Romance" from dublin based band Morning Hush - only released last Friday and its an epic tune and currently available from iTunes... Cracking video too... Become a fan of them on Facebook and all that jazz, because they're deadly... Spent about an hour on Tuesday morning in a queue with Sean and Rachel from Morning Hush and it was the most interesting queue I've ever been a part of... Good times...

Other Songs This Week:

• Metric - Help I'm Alive 
• Theory of a Deadman - Santa Monica
• Pendulum - The Other Side
• Hoobastank - Inside of You
• Band of Horses - Is There a Ghost
• Lifehouse - Halfway Gone
• Death Cab For Cutie - Grapevine Fires
• Our Lady Peace - In Repair
• Breaking Benjamin - Away

Check out previous posts for some more tuneage...

The Film Vaults #9 - Cool Runnings (1993)

A family comedy about Jamaica's first Bobsleigh team - sounds like a definite winner to me and it really is, which is why I've choosen Cool Runnings for this week's trip into "The Film Vaults"...

I was about 6 or 7 years old when I first saw this film and remember laughing my ass off through the entire thing...

It's a simple premise and its really enjoyable to watch, so really there isn't much I have to say about this one, because if you haven't already seen it, you truly are missing out on possibly the greatest family comedy in the history of film...

It does exactly what it says on the tin, so just get out there and watch it...

Its also a perfect movie for a bank holiday Monday, which just happens to be tomorrow, so no excuses...

"Hey Sanka, You dead man?"

The Selection Box #10 - Stargate SG-1

This week's venture into "The Selection Box" will pay homage to one of TV's longest running Sci-Fi's, Stargate SG-1...

Stargate SG-1 had the perfect mix of Sci-Fi, Comedy and Drama, which is probably why it managed to run for 10 years and spawn two spin-off series', Stargate Atlantis and Stargate Universe, as well as continuing its own story via a series of films...

The concept of the series is quite simple, the Stargate leads to many different planets in the Universe, and SG-1 is one of the teams that explores these planets. The team originally consisted of Colonel Jack O'Neill, Major Samantha Carter, Doctor Daniel Jackson and Teal'c, a member of the Jaffa race who rose up against the Goa'uld... In later series' Jack left the team and was replaced by Lt. Colonel Cameron Mitchell. They were further joined in the final series by Vala Mal Doran, an alien scam artist and thief...

Many say that once Richard Dean Anderson left the show at the end of series 8, that the show was doomed, and while obviously the absence of Jack was noticeable, Ben Browder made a great replacement as Cam, and of course Richard Dean Anderson continued to pop up throughout the final two seasons as a special guest star...

Stargate SG-1 is also one of those great shows that doesn't mind taking the piss out of itself and is something that became a plot device for several episodes throughout the show such as 'Wormhole X-Treme!' and '200'...

Ultimately if its a good Sci-Fi series you're after, check out Stargate Sg-1...

Songs of the Week (03/06/2010)

Got some more tunes for the ears of the people who read this...

Song of the Week: Finger Eleven - Paralyser

Canadian based Finger Eleven's "Paralyzer", is a single taken from the album Them vs You vs Me... An absolutely cracking tune and anyone who listened to me on The Late Night Breakfast, will probably recognise the instrumental version of this song, which I frequently used as a sound bed during links...

Other Songs This Week:

• Three Days Grace - Last To Know
• The Exies - Baptize Me
• Travis - Pipe Dreams
• Framing Hanley - Hear Me Now
• Breaking Benjamin - So Cold
• Sigur Ros - Hoppípolla
• Travega - The Walls
• Puddle of Mudd - Blood on the Table
• Placebo - Every You Every Me

As always, look back through the Archives for previous tuneage recommendation...

The Film Vaults #8 - Cop Out (2010)

Once again, this week's choice for "The Film Vaults" is a film currently out in the cinemas, Cop Out...

Cop Out has received mixed reviews from the critics, but when it comes to films I always say, fuck the critics, they generally don't know what they're talking about (for example critics are claiming Sex and the City 2 is great - why the hell would you listen to anyone who says shit like that)...

Basically what you need to know about this film is Bruce Willis and Tracey Morgan play cops who've been suspended from duty, Sean William Scott plays a petty thief, and Kevin Smith is the director (albeit not the writer, so don't be expecting anything along the lines of Clerks or Dogma), and its an absolutely fantastic comedy that'll have you laughing from start to finish...

Unfortunately, due to a film I've already mentioned one time to many in this post, which stars Sarah Jessica Parker and her posse of slappers, Cop Out's run in Irish cinemas only lasted a week, because apparently that other pile of shite film, needed to be shown in every single cinema screen in the fucking country...

Because of this, I strongly urge you to go to what ever measures possible to see Cop Out, even if that means downloading it via means I would not usually condone (not out loud anyway)...

Cop Out is brilliant, make sure you see it... Don't go see that other crap film or they'll only end up making a third one, which may lead to me gauging my eyes out with a cocktail stick...

The Selection Box #9 - The Wire

Critics claim its the greatest show in tv history and it is my own personal favourite, so its about time that The Wire makes it into "The Selection Box"...

Its rare that you get a show that is as complex and amazing as The Wire - every episode feels like a feature lenght movie and as each episode ends disappointment sinks in because its over, but then you remember its a TV show and I've got all the episodes on DVD, so you can go straight into the next one...

While The Wire has overall storyarcs that the show revolves around, its the characters that the viewers care about, whether they be the good guys like Jimmy McNulty and Bunk Moreland or the bad guys like Avon Barksdale and Stringer Bell - although its tough to categorise people into good and bad categories in the wire as the majority of the characters fall into the grey area...

The acting in this series is next to none and as a viewer you really feel like these are real people and not just characters on a TV show...

I'm always feel jealous of people who haven't seen the show yet, because they have the opportunity to experience the show with fresh eyes and can have those, Fuck, that did not just happen moments and not know what is coming next, although even knowing how it all ends, the show is still one that you'll want to watch over and over again...

Wait, what's that? You haven't seen the Wire? "Shiiiiiiit!!" What are you waiting for - get out there and start watching...

Songs of the Week (27/05/2010)

A tad late again this week with this blog post, but better late than pregnant... Here's my favourites of the week - some are well known, some less so...

Song of the Week: Pete Droge - If You Don't Love Me (I'll Kill Myself)

Pete Droge's "If You Don't Love Me (I'll Kill Myself)" is featured on the album, Necktie Second, but is probably best recognised from the Dumb and Dumber Soundtrack... Despite the slightly depressing lyrics, it's an amazingly upbeat song and fast becoming one of the most played on my iPod...

Other Songs This Week:

• Muse - Time Is Running Out
• Kaiser Chiefs - Ruby
• The Prodigy - Invaders Must Die
• Shinedown - Devour
• Weezer - Dope Nose
• Three Days Grace - Animal I Have Become
• Coldplay - Violet Hill
• Blink 182 - What's My Age Again
• Seether - Remedy

Check out previous posts, for more tuneage...

The Film Vaults #7 - Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)

A new one, but a good one, Hot Tub Time Machine has a brilliant concept is consistently funny and definitely worth the price of a film ticket, making it an easy choice for "The Film Vaults"...

Went to see this film last week and honestly felt it ticked all the boxes of a great movie - time travel, check... comedy, check... hot girls, check... a decent cast, check... quotability, check...

Basically (for anyone wondering what the film is about), it does exactly what it says on the tin - four guys get into a hot tub and travel back in time, where they must attempt not to alter the future, but since their future lives suck, maybe altering the future isn't a bad idea... Simple premise, easy enjoyment...

Not much else needs to be said about this film, its still in the cinema, so go watch it in all its big screen glory while you still can...

Great White Buffalo...

The Selection Box #8 - LOST

As the critically acclaimed series, LOST, sings its Swan Song this weekend, it felt apt to choose it for this week's edition of "The Selection Box"...

If you haven't heard of LOST, you've obviously been living on a desserted island for the past six years, and ironically so have the characters in the series...

As soon as Oceanic 815 crashed onto our screens in 2004, I was hooked on the TV phenomenon that LOST has become and was one show I watched as soon as possible via the interweb, because even waiting 2 days to see it on RTÉ or SKY was just too long a wait...

I'd like to say that LOST has been consistently amazing for all 6 seasons, but I'd be lying if I didn't say they've really dropped the ball this year and the final season has been just about tolerable - having said that I really hope the finale can pull something out of the bag and make up for a lackluster final series of the show...

Regardless of the drop in quality this season LOST is still up there with one of the best TV series of all-time and the poor final season is still a billion times better than most of the crap on the box these days...

Songs of the Week (20/05/2010)

10 more tunes to add to your music device library...

Song of the Week: Europe - The Final Countdown

Europe's 1986 rock classic "The Final Countdown" from the album of the same name... Everyone knows this song, it's a classic and if you don't love it, you're weird... This is the song that got me through the Leaving Cert - thanks for that Europe...

Other Songs This Week:

• Foo Fighters - Wheels
• Travis - Re-Offender
• Travega - Swim While You Can
• Staind - Zoe Jane
• Linkin Park - Bleed It Out
• Oasis - Morning Glory
• Three Days Grace - Never Too Late
• AC/DC - Thunderstruck
• Men At Work - Down Under

Check out earlier posts for more song recommendations...

The Film Vaults #6 - Stand By Me (1986)

One of my all-time favourites, Stand By Me, is this week's choice from "The Film Vaults"...

Any film based on something written by Stephen King is bound to be amazing, but as Stand By Me stays very true to the novella, The Body, on which it is based, it is even more worthy of praise...

Many people won't realise its based on a Stephen King story, since it doesn't necessarily adhere to the usual Stephen King genre...

This is one of the first films I remember seeing as a kid and honestly, what can be more exciting to a child than watching four lads trek along a railway track, dodging trains and getting into all sorts of trouble, in order to go see the dead body of one of their peers? That to me was the peak of excitement and till this day remains one of my most loved films...

It also features and array of well known actors including Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell and Kiefer Sutherland...

It really is a must see... If you've already seen it, watch it again...

The Selection Box #7 - Land of the Giants

We go all the way back to 1968 for this weeks trip to "The Selection Box" for the sci-fi classic Land of the Giants...

Land of the Giants was decades ahead of its time in regards to special effects and production costs - setting a record for the most expensive show to produce at the time...

The premise of the show was basically about a group from Earth whose spacecraft, 'The Spindrift', crashlanded in the Land of the Giants - with the Giants being about 72 feet tall.

The greatest thing about the show is that there is no overall story arc, meaning every episode has a beginning, a middle and an end and you really don't have to invest a whole lot into the show if you don't want to...

It was created by Irwin Allen, who was responsible for some of the best Sci-Fi shows of the '60s and '70s, including Lost In Space...

This show used to be repeated when I was merely a young boy and for years I dreamed of visiting the Land of the Giants, so that I too could have adventures like Steve, Dan, Mark, Valerie, Betty, Fitzhugh, Barry and Chipper, but alas that dream was shattered about the same time as Santa Claus was, so I have to settle for watching repeats of the show on dvd - which is still better than living in the real world...

Songs of the Week (13/05/2010)

Slightly later than usual, but here's another 10 songs that are worth checking out...

Song of the Week: Simple Minds - Don't You (Forget About Me)

Simple Minds' "Don't You (Forget About Me)" which is best known as being the title track in 1985 film classic, The Breakfast Club... One of my favourite songs from the 80s, from one of my favourite films of all time - they don't make them like this anymore...

Other Songs This Week:

• Three Days Grace - Time of Dying
• Shinedown - Breaking Inside
• The Prodigy - Omen
• Travis - Somewhere Else
• Travega - The People
• Muse - Supermassive Black Hole
• Wheatus - Leroy
• Violent Femmes - Blister In The Sun
• Amy McDonald - This Is The Life

Check out earlier posts for more song recommendations...

The Film Vaults #5 - Snakes on a Plane (2006)

Considering I ofter sport a Snake on a Plane t-shirt, it was inevitable at some point it would be my choice in "The Film Vaults"...

Easily one of the greatest blockbuster films of the last 10 years, Snakes on a Plane does exactly what it says on the tin, and while it had received many negative reviews, it has easily become a cult classic, because lets face it, what's not to like - it's got Samuel L. Jackson, one half of Kenan and Kel, hundreds of Snakes, and an airplane. Put that all together and you've got a film that everyone should see...

Now its not the type of film that was likely to win any awards and it didn't, but its still a great film that you can watch over and over and still realise how awesome it is -  a bit like Die Hard but with Snakes and a Plane, rather than Alan Rickman in Nakatomi Towers...

However, whatever you do don't watch Snakes on a Train expecting it to be similar, because its not - its awful and is no way connected to the brialliance that is Snakes on a Plane...

The Selection Box #6 - Friends

A controversial choice in this weeks edition of "The Selection Box" with Friends...

First hitting our screens in 1994 and being a hit all round the world, six year after its ending Friends is the sitcom equivalent of marmite - you either love it or hate it, and unfortunately due to an excess amount of repeats over the years, being a lover of Friends has become quite unfashionable as of late - which leads to people secretly liking it, but its becoming less and less common that one will admit it publicly that they like the show...

I am not one of those people shamed to admit it - Friends is hilarious and always will be - no matter how often I've seen a certain episode, I still find it funny and can easily be cheered up by popping on a Friends DVD after a rough day...

So while its currently quite unfashionable to be a Friends fan, if you enjoy the adventures of Ross, Rachel, Chandler, Monica, Phoebe and Joey, don't be ashamed to admit it, because sooner or later it will come back into fashion, and many of those naysayers will soon be jumping back on the bandwagon and saying the show is cool again...

Songs of the Week (06/05/2010)

Another 10 songs that are worth checking out...

Song of the Week: Travis - Something Anything

"Something Anything" is the first single taken from Ode To J. Smith, the 2008 album from Scottish Band, Travis... Travis were one of the first bands I ever started listening to and this is probably one of their best songs, and easily my favourite...

Other Songs This Week:

• Three Days Grace - Wake Up
• Elbow - Grounds For Divorce
• Muse - New Born
• The Primitives - Crash
• Alice Cooper - Poison
• Peter Gabriel - Down To Earth
• Seal - Kiss From a Rose
• Face To Face - The Devil You Know (God Is A Man)
• Nickelback - Something In Your Mouth

Check out earlier posts for more song recommendations...

The Film Vaults #4 - Into The West (1992)

My choice for "The Film Vaults" this week is possibly my favourite film of all-time, Into The West...

Why is Into The West one of my favourite films of all time? Well, first off its Irish... Secondly, its got Gabriel Byrne, Colm Meaney, David Kelly and Brendan Gleeson all in the same film, as well as many other fantastic Irish actors... Thirdly, it's a film about two travellers making their way across the country on a stolen horse because they think they're cowboys... What more can one ask for in a film?

Ultimately, Into The West is just a fantastic film that absolutely everyone in the family can enjoy and is packed full of fantastic scenes and great quotes...

If it wasn't for my fear of horses I may have tried to recreate the events of this film myself at one point, but alas it was not to be...

I'd write more about the film, but I'd much rather go watch instead - I suggest you do the same...

"Tito! Tito! Don't leave me Tito!"

The Selection Box #5 - Saved By The Bell

Bit of a blast from the past this week for "The Selection Box" with Saved by the Bell...

Even though it only ran from 1989 to 1993, repeats throughout the '90s ultimately resulted in Saved by the Bell moulding me into the person I am today - a smooth talker who's scams always go awry, just like Zack Morris, although he always seemed to have better luck with the ladies...

Obviously I was disappointed when I eventually got to secondary school and it was nothing like Bayside High - not a bright orange walk-in locker in sight and the closest thing I ever got to The Max was Eddie Rockets...

No matter how many times I see a single episode of Saved By The Bell, it still manages to bring a smile to my face and since I managed to wrangle up the entire collection on DVD, even on a rainy day I can take a trip to sunny California and the brightness of the Bayside High corridors - possibly the cheesiest sentence I've ever written in my entire life...

So maybe you're thinking, its just an old school kids show with stereotypical characters who represent different American High School cliques, and that's exactly what it is, but its also amazing and has a cracking theme tune... "It's all right, because I'm Saved By The Bell!"

Songs of the Week (29/04/2010)

10 more songs for your listening pleasure...

Song of the Week: Foo Fighters - Everlong

"Everlong" is the second single taken from The Colour and the Shape, the second album from the Foo Fighters, released in 1997... Everlong is my favourite song of all time and probably one of the best songs I've ever seen performed live...

Other Songs This Week:

• Mumford and Sons - Little Lion Man
• Bruce Springsteen - Radio Nowhere
• Three Days Grace - Lost In You
• Dave Matthews Band - Dive In
• 3 Doors Down - Ticket To Heaven
• Weezer (feat. Lil Wayne) - Can't Stop Partying
• Florence and the Machine - Howl
• Nickelback - How You Remind Me
• MGMT - Electric Feel

Check out earlier posts for more song recommendations...

The Film Vaults #3 - Kick-Ass (2010)

This week's choice for "The Film Vaults" is extremely current as Kick-Ass is still in the cinema, but after getting my second viewing of it this weekend, I felt it deserved a place in the Vaults...

The film is incredibly funny from the word 'Go' and maintains a good flow of laughter throughout, but also manages to have a great action packed storyline...

I had my reservations at first about the cast - on the one hand we had the likes of Christopher Mintz-Plasse (aka. McLovin), the beautiful Lyndsy Fonseca (one of my former choices for "Babe of the Week") and the hilarious Clark Duke (the funny guy from Sex Drive) which really made me want to see the film... On the other hand however the film also heavily features Nicholas "can't act to save my life" Cage, whom I generally can't stand and try to avoid any films he's in...

As it turned out however not even the ever annoying Mr. Cage could ruin this film for me and as well as Mintz-Plasse, Fonseca and Duke, you also get some great acting from relative newcomers (I hadn't seen them in anything before anyway) Aaron Johnson as Kick-Ass and Chloe Moretz as Hit-Girl...

All in all its a fantastic film and well worth going to see, although if you're the type of person who gets an uneasy stomach when faced with blood and gore, be warned some of the scenes are filled with gory violence...

The Selection Box #4 - Survivor

While the majority of reality tv shows are pure and utter tripe, the original reality series, Survivor, is pure quality and therefore this week's pick for "The Selection Box"...

This year Survivor celebrates its 10 year anniversary and 20 seasons of the show...

When Survivor first aired back in 2000 it was a type of show no one had ever seen before - this was even before Big Brother hit the screens... From the first season onwards it has been fascinating to watch the strategic, social and physical game that is Survivor as well as watching contestants live through harsh conditions in the most simple scenarios...

At first Jeff Probst was just like any other presenter but as the series progressed it was clear that Probst was a pivotal part of the show and without him it just wouldn't be the same...

The current season, "Heroes VS Villains", sees the return of some of the best players of the previous 19 seasons and it is easily the best series so far - each week leaving me on the edge of my seat with amazing blindsides and epic gameplay...

Already guaranteed for another 2 seasons, this is one of the best shows out there in TV Land... Be sure to watch it next time its on...

Songs of the Week (22/04/2010)

10 more songs for your listening pleasure...
Song of the Week: Mumford and Sons - White Blank Page

"White Blank Page" features on Mumford & Sons' debut album, Sigh No More... Saw these guys live in March and to be honest the album doesn't do them justice and even the album is amazing... Unbelieveable band to see live... The smaller the venue the better...

Other Songs This Week:

• Three Days Grace - Life Starts Now
• Dave Matthews Band - Spaceman
• Weezer - Put Me Back Together
• The Prodigy - Warrior's Dance
• Travis - Sing
• Saving Abel - New Tattoo
• Daughtry - Life After You
• Ham Sandwich - St Christopher
• Lily Allen - 22

Check out earlier posts for more song recommendations...

The Film Vaults #2 - I Love You, Man (2009)

Although it's only been out a year, I Love You, Man is one of my favourite films of all time and I didn't have to search too far into the vaults to find it for this weeks "The Film Vaults"...

First off, two of my favourite comedy actors, Paul Rudd and Jason Segal, are the two leads in this Bromantic Comedy, so I had high expectations when going into the cinema last year... Usually when my expectations are that high I end up being disappointed after the film, but I Love You, Man did the opposite and I went around chanting "Slappa da Bass, Mon" for about a week and people thought I was insane until they got a chance to see the film themselves, and then we were all slappin' our bass'...

The entire cast are excellent and the film is well written and well paced, so that you don't leave feeling that it dragged a bit in the middle or that it was too short... You've also got a classic soundtrack, which heavily features Rush...

As I say about everything here, if you haven't already seen it, go watch it...

The Selection Box #3 - The Inbetweeners

E4's hit comedy series The Inbetweeners is easily the funniest shows on television in the last 5 years and therefore a fine choice to be picked for this week's "The Selection Box"...

I think the reason The Inbetweeners is so popular because the characters are charicatures of people everybody knows.

The show has already spun out two seasons of six episodes each and a third season, also of six episodes is currently being filmed, as well as plans for a feature film being made...

From the moment someone shouted "Briefcase Wanker" in the first episode of the show, I was hooked and can easily watch the same episode five or six times in a short window of time and still find it funny on the sixth viewing... which isn't something easily achieved by a show Graham Linehan is not involved in...

Neil punching the a fish to death is only one of the scenes you don't want to miss in this show, so if you haven't already seen it - go over to 4oD right now or purchase the box sets... You know you want to...

Songs of the Week (15/04/2010)

10 more songs for your listening pleasure...

Song of the Week: Three Days Grace - Get Out Alive

"Get Out Alive" is featured on One-X, the second album from Canadian band Three Days Grace... An excellent song from one of my favourite bands, who aren't too well known this side of the pond, so be sure to check out more of their songs...

Other Songs This Week:

• Prefab Sprout - The King of Rock 'n Roll
• Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer
• Picturehouse - Everybody Loves My Girl
• Morning Runner - Gone Up In Flames
• Daughtry - You Don't Belong
• Dodgy - Staying Out for the Summer
• Efterklang - Caravan
• Saving Abel - Addicted
• Kate Nash - Foundations

Check out earlier posts for more song recommendations...

The Film Vaults #1 - Pretty In Pink (1986)

Being a huge fan of '80s movies, the Brat Pack, and John Hughes films, Pretty In Pink is a good movie to kick off 'The Film Vaults'...

Directed by Howard Deutch, written by John Hughes, and starring Molly Ringwald, Andrew McCarthy and Jon Cryer, Pretty In Pink puts current high school films to shame - while it deals with the same issues as 21st century teen movies such as, love triangles and school dances, Pretty In Pink does it in a way that isn't vomit inducinlgly cringeworthy and the viewers can relate to the film's characters...

Cryer steals the show as Duckie, a character very different from his current role as Alan Harper on Two and a Half Men...

Pretty In Pink is an '80s cult classic, so if you haven't seen it yet, get out from under your rock and go watch it...

The Selection Box #2 - Oz

Possibly the most underrated and amazing drama ever to have graced the small screen with its presence, Oz was an obvious choice for 'The Selection Box'...

It kicked off in 1997 on HBO as the networks first self produced hour long drama. Set in Oswald State Penitentiary, Oz puts all other prison dramas to shame and ultimately scares the beejaysus out of its viewers, causing them to live life on the straight and narrow, so they never have to be subjected to life behind bars...

The show has such a huge cast and is one of the first TV dramas where no character was safe from being killed off or written out, no matter how pivotal they seemed to be in regards to the plot, which only added to the excitement of the series...

Oz opened doors for many actors who later went on to star in shows such as The Sopranos, The Wire, Lost, Dexter, 24 and Fringe, amongst others - kisckstarting careers for people such as Harold Perrineau, J.K. Simmons, Dean Winters, Kirk Acevedo, Lauren Velez, Christopher Meloni, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, David Zayas, J.D. Williams, Seth Gilliam, Lance Reddick, Reg E. Cathey, John Doman, Domenick Lombardozzi and Edie Falco...

Lasting 56 episodes and ending in 2003, this gritty drama is a must see...

Songs of the Week (08/04/2010)

Here's ten songs that I've been listening to a lot lately and are worth checking out if you're not already familiar with them...

Song of the Week: Toto - Africa

"Africa" is the trademark song of one of the finest rock bands of the 1980s - Toto... Easily the greatest song of the 80s and up there with the greatest songs of all time... You can't beat a bit of "Africa" to get you in a good mood...

Other Songs This Week:

• Mumford and Sons - Hold On To What You Believe
• Crossfade - Already Gone
• Seether - Like Suicide
• Creed - One Last Breath
• Kansas - Carry On My Wayward Son
• Rush - Tom Sawyer
• Three Days Grace - Scared
• The Lynchburg Mob - Edgar Town
• 3 Doors Down - Loser

Check out earlier posts for more song recommendations...

The Selection Box #1 - Doctor Who

Over the course of the foreseeable future I'll be selecting my favourite shows from the box, whether they be past or present, and blogging about them here at 'The Pink Banana Hypothesis'...

As Matt Smith embarked on his first adventure as the Eleventh Doctor this weekend, it seemed only apt that Doctor Who would be my selection for the first edition of 'The Selection Box'...

Doctor Who is a well known institution at this stage and anyone who doesn't know about it has probably spent the last several decades curled up in a cave...

Eleven have officially played the role of the Doctor over the course of time and I'm sure there'll be more to come in the future... William Hartnell was the first to step out of the TARDIS and onto our screens way back when dinosaurs still roamed the earth... He was followed by Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davidson, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy before the BBC cancelled the series in 1989 after over a quarter of a century on the box... In 1996 the Doctor returned for a TV movie, this time in the guise of Paul McGann, who many fans, myself included try to forget about as often as possible - hence my refusal to include him in the above pictures... Almost a decade later in 2005, the series returned to the BBC with Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor and a much bigger budget for the show... Eccleston dropped out after only 13 episodes and was replaced by David Tennant, who had a successful 4 year run until he was succeeded by Matt Smith this year... While many fans argue over who portrayed the Doctor best, the two names that come to the forefront the most are Tom Baker and David Tennant, who coincidentally are the two Doctors who have clocked up the most screentime in the course of the series...

The Doctor rarely travels alone through time and is ofter accompanied by several companions at once, whom he constantly has to rescue from dangerous aliens...

While the cast continuosly changes on the show, the one constant is the exterior of the TARDIS, which has always been a blue 1950's Police Box, while the interior of the TARDIS has undergone several changes...

So, what makes the show so great? It's about an alien being who travels through time and space in a police box, who regenerates into a new body every time he dies... It's the perfect mixture of adventure, comedy, drama and sci-fi... What more do you want?

Songs of the Week (01/04/2010)

Here's ten songs that I've been listening to a lot lately and are worth checking out if you're not already familiar with them...

Song of the Week: The Heathers - Remember When

"Remember When" is the debut single from Dublin based duo, Heathers... Most people will recognise the song from the 2010 Discover Ireland ad... It's a cracking tune and they're from Dublin, so its always good promoting a bit of home grown music...

Other Songs This Week:

• Mumford and Sons - Liar
• Dave Matthews Band - Baby Blue
• Three Days Grace - Let It Die
• Trapt - Echo
• Thirteen Senses - Into The Fire
• Crossfade - Colors
• Travis - Love Will Come Through
• Placebo - Running Up That Hill
• Vampire Weekend - Cousins

I'll definitely be posting many more song lists, because not only do I love music, but I also love lists...

New Blog - Wahey!!!

So, boredom got the better of me and I decided to give the blogging thing another go... Rather than revamping the old blog, I decided to start afresh and The Pink Banana Hypothesis was born - don't ask me why I came up with that name, I just liked it...
Pretty much for the time being, I'll be mostly posting about Music, Movies, TV Shows, Books and stuff that I like, but depending on my mood, who knows what I could end up writing...

Follow me on twitter ( http://twitter.com/cian_taaffe ) for updates on comedy gigs and whatnot or find me on Facebook...

I think that's all the formalities out of the way, so lets get this shit underway!