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...