July: A Memoir

FILM OF THE MONTH: INCEPTION

I'm sure every review of Inception reads the same- Inception is a slick, intelligent, visually dynamic and multi-faceted piece of cinema. Well, I'm here to pretty much confirm all of the above.

The basic plotline for those of you who don't know is this: Leonardo DiCaprio is troubled. He's banned from America (where his kids live), his wife is dead, said dead wife persistently sabotages his work (trying to steal corporate secrets from peoples' dreams), and as a result, his company is trying to kill him because he's a failure. Now, he's got to work for a guy he doesn't like or trust to pull off the near-impossible feat of inception (planting a thought in someone's head to make them think it's their own). 

Don't worry though, it's not all doom and gloom- I, at least, found the stunning dreamscapes much more engaging than the doom and gloom. The scenes where Ellen Page bends Paris with her mind and the floating hallway fight in particular will leave you breathless.

This film isn't perfect- the supporting cast, although featuring big names, were largely undeveloped as characters- but it's pretty damn close.

ALBUM OF THE MONTH: UNITED NATIONS- NEVERMIND THE BOMBINGS, HERE'S THE SIX FIGURES

Ok, so technically this is an EP, but it would be a crime not to share this with you. Why? Because United Nations has the potential to be a post-hardcore fan's wet dream. I say 'has the potential' because the line-up is shrouded in mystery. The only known member (Geoff Rickly from Thursday) is rumoured to be accompanied by the likes of Daryl Palumbo (Glassjaw/ Head Automatica), Ben Koller (Converge), Jonah Bayer (Lovekill) and Eric Cooper (Made Out of Babies)- a formidable list to make even the most casual of hardcore fans salivate.

And as for the music, well, it's immense. This EP may only last 12 minutes, but it carries the clout of a much longer album. Prepare for twelve minutes of face-melting, ass-kicking, violent, messy noise- and prepare to love every second of it.

CELEBRITY SCANDAL OF THE MONTH: AnCo SHOWDOWN

Finally, a worthwhile artist mired in rumours for me to talk about! Basically, Avey Tare of Animal Collective is set to release a solo album 'Down There'. 'Big fucking deal,' I hear you cry. But his band mate Panda Bear was already set to release a solo album entitled 'Tomboy' at around the same time. This has prompted hipsters everywhere to jump to the conclusion that these two are no longer 'chill', and are declaring war on each other. Yeah, I know, this isn't really a story- two guys are putting out music and hip kids are turning it into a Twitter sensation. Hipsters are so fucking weird.
Also noteworthy: A bird shat on the Kings of Leon bassist and he threw a bitch fit or something. It's been a slow news month, k?

FASHION DESIGNER OF THE MONTH: SCARLET ROOM

From blog to fully-fledged store in two years, the Scarlet Room is a one-stop shop for beautiful accoutrements. Catering specifically for students, the Scarlet Room is both effortlessly chic and magnificently unique. Whether you're after beautiful lace-collared blouses or the perfect pair of ripped jeans, you'll find what you're looking for. And, unlike most of the beautiful collections I fall hopelessly in love with, they offer student clothes at student prices. The dresses above, for instance, mostly fall under the $30 bracket. Snap 'em up quick, girls.

POSTS OF THE MONTH

The Bands of Scott Pilgrim- As the anticipated release date of 'Scott Pilgrim vs. the World' draws ever closer, here's our guide to the bands- both real and fictional- you'll meet in the film, including the likes of Beck, Broken Social Scene and Metric.

10 Songs For a Way Cooler Prom- Yes it's that time of year again; that time where we get all dressed up, pay extortionate amounts to get in and spend the night trying (and failing) to dance in high heels and long dresses. If you want to make your prom more bearable, Charles has the solution- a killer playlist.

Underrated Albums of 2009- If you're not sick of '09 toplists, you should check out this retrospective list of some musical treasures released in 2009 that perhaps didn't receive the acclaim they deserve.

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Underrated Albums from 2009

I know it’s over halfway through 2010 and all, but I feel that I’m only just beginning to come to terms with 2009 musically in retrospect. Undeniably, it was a good year for music- even going in, new material by heavy-hitters such as Animal Collective and Yeah Yeah Yeahs had bagsied their rightful places in Top 10 Lists. Yet, the fallout from this was that fresh, new voices and more obscure sounds that were equally worthy of great acclaim slipped under the radar. My end-of-year list has gone through many mental alterations since then- and here are some of the best albums you may not have heard about.

1. POLAR BEAR CLUB- CHASING HAMBURGAfter releasing this near-perfect album, I honestly think PBC deserve to take their rightful place amongst the greatest punk/post-hardcore bands of this generation. The opening track ‘See the Wind’ is an aggressive, visceral hardcore outing with a clear message- expect the unexpected from this band. It proves that they not just capable of the catchy hooks and math-rock riffs fans came to expect of them, but can also compose devastating breakdowns with dexterity. A ferocious and flawless sophomore effort, and one that deserves to be cherished.

2. TURBO FRUITS- ECHO KID

Turbo Fruits is led by ex-Be Your Own Pet member Jonas Stein, and appear to have been judged solely on this. Critics have argued that Stein’s vocals cannot keep up with the brattish snarl of Jemina Pearl (of BYOP), credited the guitar-playing, and dismissed it as a 6/10.
Yet, even when judged against their previous BYOP carnation, Turbo Fruits for me still come up trumps. Comparing ‘Echo Kid’ to Jemina Pearl’s new stuff, you see where the talent lay in Be Your Own Pet- Jemina’s own sound is bland, whereas Turbo Fruits is a frenetic, drug-addled, sun-drenched frenzy.
When judged on their own, you can’t deny the ridiculously brilliant guitars in ‘Broadzilla’, Stein’s Dylan-esque swagger in ‘Get Up and Get Down (Tonite)’, and the stoner-rock poignancy of ‘Mama’s Mad ‘Cos I Fried My Brain’. In some places, the childish lyrics let down the instrumental prowess, but you cannot deny this is a stonker of an album.

3. DANANANANAYKROYD- HEY EVERYONE!There are two things to be said about this band:
1. They’re utterly unique.
2. They’re immense.
What makes them unique? Well, the fact they’ve had to coin a phrase themselves to try and describe their sound is a dead giveway. ‘Fight pop’ is a bizarre mix of twee indie and melodic post-hardcore, and is probably best demonstrated by the fact Dananananaykroyd concerts don’t have Walls of Death, they have Walls of Hugs.
‘Hey Everyone!’ is a boisterous joy ride between chants and screams, melodic even in the face of perfectly-played musical chaos. In certain places (‘Song One Puzzle’, we’re looking at you), comparisons could be drawn with, say, Los Campesinos! ; in others (‘Some Dresses’), the only accurate comparison would be a punch in the jugular. A thrilling and joyous ride from start to finish.

4. BLUE ROSES- BLUE ROSESLaura Groves’ debut album appears to be a reflection on her- dainty, pretty, seemingly romantic. And yet, there’s something in this album- largely consisting of romantic tales and Debussy-esque piano stylings, eloquently accompanied by layered harmonies- that says more. In amongst the tenderness, there’s a sense of playfulness and adventure, a tinge of theatricality- the sort of elements that make this beautiful album stand proudly above many other singer-songwriter works of 2009. Sit back, listen, treasure.

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June: A Memoir

First of all, I have to issue an apology to all of our readers who have had to go a month without their ATS fix. We’ve been ridiculously busy with exams, but are now back to normal, and hopefully our posts will become a wee bit more regular.

ALBUM OF THE MONTH- Good Old War- Good Old WarFor some reason, holing oneself up in isolation seems to be a good way to make some great music- Good Old War is no exception. The album was recorded at a time when the three gents stowed themselves in the Pocono Mountains, learning new instruments and writing some of the most heartfelt material of their career. This album is packed with the usual indie-folk jolliness we’ve come to expect from the trio, but at its heart is a greater emotional vulnerability. You only have to listen to ‘I Should Go’ (below) to hear the true feeling woven into every track. It’s this sense of heart and soul that you can hear in their music that provide the backbone for this immense album.


FILM OF THE MONTH- EclipseYesterday, as we huddled down with our shared popcorn bucket in Row C, there was one question on mine and Chloe’s minds- how the Hell did we end up here?
As many of you will know by now, me and Chloe hate the Twilight Saga and everything it advocates- domestic violence, teenage suicide and Mormonism amongst the worst of it. And yet every time a new film is churned out, we always end up going to see it. I think that says alot about the almost magnetic pull of this franchise- it becomes compulsive viewing for even those who solemnly hate it.
Yet, obviously, the third film in the series (out of five, joy of joys) suffers from the same pitfalls as its predecessors. A shoddily-written source text, pitted full of narrative holes (for instance- how does Edward just ‘get over’ the fact he wants to drain his lover’s blood?), some pretty awful acting at times, and the cheesiest chat up lines I have ever heard.
So how does this film differ from the others? Well, there’s more action, a few extra pieces of guy candy and a few more back stories for the bit parts. But yet for me, this is still overshadowed by the fact that countless tweens will look upon Edward’s emotional blackmail, lies, and coercion into marriage as true love. And for that, Miss Meyer has alot to answer for.

FASHION DESIGNER OF THE MONTH- The Cassette Society
It is often the curse of the young and the cool to be alienated by designers. Most of the designers I could name certainly do not scream ‘young and edgy’- the gently whisper ‘sophisticated and elegant’- and, most crucially, ‘rich’. Step in The Cassette Society- two ladies with a vision of breaking out and designing their own label. A few years on, and they have hipsters everywhere drooling over their unique, sexy designs. And, best of all, you can pick up TCS clothes for comparatively modest prices- the blue fringed dress above, for example, it $14.99. Snap it up whilst you can.

POSTS OF THE MONTHLookbook.nu- A Man Market- The three ladies of At the Sinema share their thoughts on the styles and bods of Lookbook.nu’s finest gentlemen. Warning: may contain shameless objectification.

A Remedy for the Reviser- Exams may be over, but I’m sure we can all still appreciate Chloe’s collection of Youtube phenomena, ideal for procrastination of any kind.

Playlist 13: Instrumental- It’s so easy to convey meaning through lyrics. Yet, when words are thrown out of the window, the results can be just as moving- as proven by this playlist of Tri’s favourite instrumental tunes.

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May: A Memoir

TV SHOW OF THE MONTH: Lost
Six years ago, JJ Abrams pitched an idea for a TV show to ABC. He said the show, whilst having an overall story arc, would be comprised of easy to follow story lines and allow viewers to dip in and out each episode with ease, not needing to know what came before it to understand what was happening. If you watched Lost, whether it was just one episode you found yourself not knowing what the hell was going on, or whether you were a devoted fan for the past six seasons, you would know that JJ Abrams lied. And I, like the millions of like-minded Lost fans around the world, am thankful for it. First Abrams, then Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof took us on an adventure of epic proportions, in the truest sense of the word. They made us laugh, cry, theorise for hours over what was in the hatch, who the Others were and whether Tom Friendly was gay. So, when it came to the finale, many of us were on edge over whether it would be a fitting finale. It was. They gave it full closure, but still left plenty open for interpretation, and whilst everyone had been fretting over the mythology and possible clashes of alternate realities, they made us realise one of the true reasons why Lost was as successful as it was: the characters. And it gave them just the send off they deserved.

-Charles

CELEBRITY SCANDAL OF THE MONTH: Hayley Williams Gets Naked!
So, this feature died a few months ago, but I have decided to resurrect it, because it’s awful and fun.
Tweens everywhere were having a Riot! as a topless snap of Paramore’s lead singer, Hayley Williams, emerged on Twitter. You could say we saw the previously wholesome and Christian Hayley with Brand New Eyes- ok, I’ll stop now. However, a few questions have been raised:

1. Hayley claims her Twitter account was ‘hacked’- that may be, but how did the alleged hacker get hold of the picture in the first place? Could it be a little bit of Paramore-produced salacious gossip to keep the wemo-train rolling after we all got fed up of ‘The Only Exception’?
2. Surely Hayley should know that lying on your back is the most unflattering tit pic pose ever, as said mammary glands have a tendency to roam to the sides?
3. Does this mean redheads are cool again, and I no longer have to live in fear of MIA exterminating me?

-Eileen

FILM OF THE MONTH: Prince of PersiaThis month saw the Disney video turned movie hit the scenes and man, was it awesome. In the movie, Dastan, played by the uber sexy Jake Gyl-something, is taken from the streets and turned into a prince. His country, Persia, are known for their miltary prowess and guerilla tactics attack the holy city of Alamut, overseen by Princess Tamina's, played by my favourite actress Gemma Aterton. Course, things are never simple and after the intinal celebration of Alamut's fall, things start to go terrible wrong. Cue a magical dagger, orstich races, poisoned cloaks and lots of sand. All the ingredients to a fantastic movie, I must say. The Prince of Persia, is a movie of hair breath fight scenes, amazing CGI, fantasticly interesting plot twists and a love affair that will made you swoon, not vomit. Oh and lots of sand.

-Chloe

ALBUM OF THE MONTH: High Violet

‘High Violet’; The National’s fifth album, was released on May 10th. Pitchfork reviewed it as "the sound of a band taking a mandate to be a meaningful rock band seriously," giving it a score of 8.7 out of 10, only 0.1 marks higher than their most well known album ‘Boxer.' To be honest, my expectations for this album were unreasonably high, due to a love for ‘Boxer,' leaving me slightly disappointed. However, in its own right ‘High Violet’ is an outstanding album from an outstanding artist, and almost certainly deserves a place in this year’s album charts.

-Tri

FASHION DESIGNER OF THE MONTH: WhitIf I (God forbid) end up having to put in my nine to five in some office somewhere, Whit would be my first choice for smart yet awesome attire. Whit is the debut line from Whitney Pozgay (Kate Spade’s niece), and is said to be influenced by Henry Darger, Nouvelle Vague and Birkin. Combining playful with timeless, polka dots with silk screen and classic cuts with kooky headwear, every piece in this collection is a show stopper. Grab it from July here.

-Eileen

DANCE OF THE MONTH: Diversity

This month’s best dance routine comes from the first semi final of this year’s ‘Britains Got Talent’. Last years winners; Diversity, graced our screens with yet another outstanding performance that shows their...well, their diversity. The things most notable about this routine, other their trademark imaginative choreography, are the way they combine shapes, are always in unison when dancing together, and the little kid with curly hair – so talented and so cute!

-Tri

POSTS OF THE MONTHZooey Deschanel- Charles shares his fool-proof plan to finally get close to the girl of his dreams. To follow this plan, you will need to buy fake sideburns and partake in a bit of good old-fashioned breaking and entering. Trust us, it’s as creepy as it sounds.

Random Thing I Want: One Sketch a Day Journal- So far, in her ‘RTIW’ series, Chloe has brought us edible facial hair, poultry, and launched a campaign to prevent cruelty to lobsters. This edition shares a common ATS love- notebooks.

5 Vintage E-Bay Sites- E-Bay isn’t just a domain for used lawn furniture and tat you couldn’t flog at a flea market. A select few sell exquisite vintage clothes, and Eileen has trawled through the used bathrobes and authentic Shatner toupees to bring you the best of the best.

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April: A Memoir

ALBUM OF THE MONTH: SIX GALLERY- BREAKTHROUGHS IN MODERN ARTOk, so technically speaking, this album was released in March, not April, but it would actually be a crime not to share this with you. The few who were familiar with Six Gallery before ‘BIMA’ were acquainted with a supremely talented instrumental math-rock band, known for their ridiculously complex rhythmical structures and downright amazing guitar skills. What’s been added to the mix this time around, surprisingly, is a young vocalist by the name of Daniel Francis. It’s a decision that could’ve completely compromised the core sound of Six Gallery- fortunately, it’s allowed them to scale all new heights of genius. Francis’ voice acts as a soothing lullaby when accompanying the fleetingly soft percussion, and as a commanding roar as the guitars rage on in a cavalcade of perfect, delicious noise. It’s difficult to remember as you’re smacked in the face with their sheer musical prowess that this is a debut album- and it’s easily the best debut I’ve ever heard.


FILM OF THE MONTH: KICK-ASS
It was one of my ‘Could-Go-Either-Way’ film picks, and it definitely went in the right direction. What I wasn’t expecting, though, was how dramatic this film was. When watching the trailer, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were about to watch a comedy film- well, you’re not. As well as feeding the more violent appetite in turns both bloody and brutal, it would take an audience with a heart of stone not to be touched (or slightly disturbed) by the father-daughter relationship between Big Daddy (Nicholas Cage) and Hit Girl (the talented Chloe Moretz). If you’re looking for something light-hearted, this potentially isn’t the film for you- but if you’re looking for violence, kick-ass stunts, laughs, sex, bazookas, and maybe a tear or two, you’re onto a winner.

TV SHOW OF THE MONTH: GLEE (MADONNA SPECIAL)
I'm doing it a little different this month when it comes to TV- why? Because I can. Instead of a show as a whole, I'm zooming in on just one episode and I'm doing 'Glee' again. Why, you might ask once more? Because it was fucking AWESOME. Last week’s episode saw the cast turning to the pop goddess that is Madonna and I don't think anyone in the whole world cannot appreciate that pointy boobed, trend setting, leotard wearing, gyrating wizard of music. With amazing renditions of Marge's best loved hits including 'Like a Prayer', 'Express Yourself' and 'Like a Virgin', it was an almighty hour's TV to behold. I got very excited. However, the cherry on top of this momentous episode had to be Sue Sylvester's copy of the almighty 'Vogue' video. Watch it below- enjoy!



FASHION DESIGNER OF THE MONTH: LEWIS

It’s pretty difficult not to fall in love with Lewis’ Spring/Summer collection just for the pictures- bright, gorgeous images that capture all the fun of the fair. But the collection itself is just as playful- by turns both delicate and bold, capturing the pastel shades of ice cream with clashing block colours straight from the big top. Not only that, but the collection taps into the floral trend, and the sudden vintage fetish that’s swept the high street. It does come at a price- each piece costs upwards of $200- but still, we can dream, can’t we?

POSTS OF THE MONTH
Spotify Discoveries- Chloe shares some hidden musical treasures discovered through Spotify.

5 Male Artists I Have A Man Crush On- In this post, Charles finally puts rumours of his sexuality to bed. Expect naked pictures of Kevin Barnes, and footage of Ryan Dicks ‘Ridin’ tha Chillwave’. Whatever that means.

The Sex Playlist- Our most viewed post this month (wonder why) featured Eileen discussing the dirty and depraved depths of her musical tastes. Giggidy giggidy.

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The Short and Skinny I

Ok kids, I've formulated a new feature in which I aim to give voice to the more concise side of music- EP's, Mini Albums, B-Sides- which are I feel are too often overlooked in favour of bigger, meatier albums. So, let's get down to it, shall we?

1. WE ARE SCIENTISTS- RULES DON'T STOPRaise a cheer, We Are Scientists are back in town. They bring with them this single, which is pretty much everything we've come to know and love from the California trio- a stomping indie dancefloor hit, that you'll be humming for weeks. The B-Side, Down the Hall, largely follows suit, with a slightly more intimate vocal. But the inclusion of an acoustic version of 'Rule Don't Stop' adds another dimension. This isn't a throwaway, careless guy-and-guitar reworking with little else added to the mix- it's an ambient piece that stands up as a song in its own right. Overall, this single and B-side is short and sweet, but definitely worth a listen.
MP3: Rules Don't Stop (Acoustic)



2. THE ROYAL CHAINS- BEAR ISLANDPinning down the nature of this EP is a puzzle in itself- straddling the lines between indie, pop and rock, and throwing in a few lo-fi and retro riffs for good measure, 'Bear Island' can be savoured on most musical palettes. Confused? You won't be. This band offer something innovative that still gives a nod to their musical predecessors- and boy, does it sound good. Some of the tracks- such as the standout, 'The Wolf'- have a polished edge to them that you simply wouldn't expect from a band as new as this. Watch this space- I have a feeling you're going to be hearing about 'The Royal Chains' alot more in the future.
MP3: The Wolf


3. BOYS WITH X RAY EYES- OH MY! HOW WE TERRIFYWhen you click play, prepare for a riotous, electric barrage of noise delivered with equal parts aggression and youthful exuberance. There's little here that deviates from a tried-and-tested hardcore format- explosive guitar riffs, heavy drums, and a snappy beat- but it does make for good, gory fun. There is of course room for improvement- for me, the balance between singing and screaming hasn't yet been struck- but a highly impressive listen, from a group who are definitely going places.
MP3: Electro the Human Lightning Bolt


4. SASHA IS ACOUSTIC- WHAT EVERY YOUNG MAN SHOULD KNOWFor an album played entirely on a guitar and a drum machine, this is pretty good stuff. What can be deciphered almost immediately is that this young London-based boy is a dreamer, penning songs about lost loves and human will. Such ideas are expressed in some rather eloquent touching lyrics- in 'This Year', he goes from 'sending my head to sweet decay' to contemplating the bigger questions: 'Have you ever thought this was all a test?' Something sweet and simple just in time for summer.
MP3: Celia

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US Singles Chart - Music From Across The Pond

You may remember a few months ago I took on the UK singles chart, explaining in my opinion why I think they got where they did. I would like to retract my statement about Lady Gaga from that by the way. But anyway, its that time again, but this time I'm taking on the land of the free, the home of the American dream, Uncle Sam's kingdom. That's right, the US of A. Bring it on bitch!

1. Rihanna - Rude Boy
Ohmydeargodilovethissong. Its absolutely fantastic. But then again I have always loved Rihanna, ever since the bass of 'Pon De Replay from the speakers' first flowed through my sneakers. (See what I did there, I don't even wear sneakers, well, trainers as we Brits call them, its a right pain when i want to go to the gym...) This song is a great song to dance to, its got that thumping repetitive beat that makes drunken people think they can move to. I tend to flick my hair around a lot to it. But the whole song is about sex. "Come on rude, rude boy, can you get it up? Come on rude, rude boy, is you big enough?" No wonder the album is called 'Rated R'. And whilst its nice to see a woman asserting her sexuality, its worrying that a large amount of Rihanna's fan base will be young girls, can you imagine your 11 year old sister belting out these lyrics? No, I didn't think so either.
2. Need You Now - Lady Antebellum
I must say this one stumped me. Who the fuck are/is Lady Antebullum? Like a new more complicatedly named Lady Gaga or what? So I stumbled over to my beloved youtube (over all not too happy about it, seeing as I'm currently listening to the new Laura Marling album) to listen. Is it just me or does the guy on the left look like a hairy version (oh shit, don't show him to Eileen) of that guy from N Sync, Lance Bass and do they other two look like extras from Hollyoaks? But no, they don't sound anything like N Sync, they just sound like Taylor Swift singing with Miley Cyrus' dad. Not sure it would sell over here, but then again Miley and Taylor have done quite well. Its very country and western, something American's love, something I'm not over all impressed with and this song isn't a lyrical masterpiece. But its a sweet love song, that's my only explanation.

. Break Your Heart - Taio Cruz ft Ludacris
An English R&B artist breaking America? I'm impressed. He has done what Robbie Williams so many others failed to do... (and hopefully what Cheryl Cole also fails to do, lets not spread that torture even further) Although this song is all about being a player. I'm not sure why people would want to identify with a song which repeats the line "I'm only going to break, break your heart". Nice guy. But it features a big named rapper, which seems the general way to break America. And its the repetitive, R&B sound that the masses like. It makes me want to break his heart... but in a more sadistic way. But hey, gotta hand it to the guy. He broke America.

4. Imma Be - Black Eyed Peas
WHY? WHY? WHY? I loved 'I've got a feeling' and 'Meet me halfway', but why do they feel the need to ruin Fergie's already shitty voice by making it robotic. It seems like Will.I.Am makes the rest of his band mates into cyborgs and keeps his own voice completely natural, surely that's a bit mean? But this song has a thumping bassline which the uneducated music listeners seem to like. And maybe they like appalling english to? I mean what the fuck does 'Imma Be' even mean? It it some other language? The language of the peas with black eyes? I have no clue, I just know I don't like it.

>5. Nothin' On You - B.O.B & Bruno Mars
Firstly, why do they feel the need to get rid of the 'g' in nothing. Is that asserting there gangster powers or something? I was taught that proper english will get you everywhere, but apparently spelling like a twat gets you onto spots number 4 and 5 on the US singles chart. Also, B.O.B? You're name is Bob, deal with it. Unless its something different, cos again, I don't have the faintest idea who these people are. To Youtube once more! The songs quite nice, but its very much like every other R&B song, it features a gorgeous black guy with a lovely voice and a less gorgeous rapper and they sing about love. Come on guys, be original. I heard this years ago when Neyo was so sick of love songs and Chris Brown wanted the lovy-dovey kiss kiss.

What can I derive from this information? Americans like R&B/rap music. In fact number 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 18, 20, 21, 22, 24, 27, 31, 33 and 35 are also all R&B/rap songs. At least America's consistent.

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No-Fuss Reviews 4

Sick of music reviews that go on forever and ever? Tired of being bombarded with more information than you could ever possibly need? Fear not- I present to you my no-mess, no-fuss music reviews.
Get it? Got it? Good.

I. BEACH HOUSE-Teen Dream
On the surface, it's a perfect dream-pop album; an anthology of love stories that sit so easily on the ears. Yet, there's something in there- in the echoing, quietly powerful vocals- that transforms this album into something shadowy and surreal, into a precious and blissful reverie to be enjoyed time and time again. Maybe a little too sedate in places, yet still pretty damn beautiful.
8.5/10


II. LIARS- Sisterworld
I opened my heart to Liars after falling for 'On the Other Side of Mt. Heart Attack' when it was used in The Nines. The bluesy vocals and ethereal harmonies in the opener, 'Scissors' suggests we're in for a similar journey. Yet, as it furiously descends into the guitar line, we enter 'Sisterworld'- a dark, dystopian realm, allegedly based on LA. Expect shrill violins and apathy twinned with rage. But I feel what makes this a stand-out album for me is that it doesn't rely on the joyous, electronic soundscape that dominated many of the great experimental albums of '09. They mix up the formula, sometimes unsuccessfully (see the rap/chanting on 'Scarecrows on a Killer Slant), and sometimes to dazzling effect- 'Pure Evolution', for instance, is absolute perfection.
8/10.


III. SCREAMING LIGHTS- Like Angels
It has got to point where 'indie' these days can almost be taken as an insult. It's a word that no longer conjures up images of visceral chants in pokey studios- chants with heart and with meaning; instead, it has come to be affiliated with the monotonous musical output of a group of British lads with asymmetrical haircuts, Topman loyalty cards and not a clue about original music-making.
Thus, NME describing Screaming Lights debut output as 'goth-disco crossover' should be taken as a good omen. However, that's where the good news ends with this album. Commanding vocals, an atmosphere of the early 80's and a few solid songs- check. Yet, like all 'indie' albums of this ilk, there seems to be little in the way of heart, of charisma, of longevity. Words have been crafted to describe albums like this: solid, average, uninspiring. Not without its good moments, but swathed in mediocrity.
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February: A Memoir

FILM OF THE MONTH: Youth in Revolt“I Want To Tickle Your Belly Button… From The Inside”
The words of a genius? I definitely think so! This line is from the hilarious new film ‘Youth In Revolt’ starring the boy who have made his money off being awkward, Michael Cera, as well as host of others; Jason Long, Zach Galifianakis (the guy from ‘The Hangover’) and ‘new star’ Portia Doubleday- at least, that’s how she keeps being described. It tells the story of Nick Twisp, your stereotypical sensitive virgin who lives his mother who can’t hold down a stable relationship and her idiot boyfriend who rips off three sailors. Because of this they flee to a cabin for a week, where Nick meets Sheeni. Cue the madness. In order to get back to the cabin when they eventually venture back, Nick invents Francois Dillinger, his evil alter-ego with a pedo mustache and the freakiest fucking eyes I have ever seen. But setting fire to his town with his mums car, old caravan and a lot of petrol is just the tip of the iceberg. The best movie I have seen so far this year!

-Chloe

ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Los Campesinos!-Romance is Boring'In Media Res' kicks things off with the heart-wrenching first line, "Let's talk about you for a minute." It builds into an angry, brooding middle section before again threatening tears in what has to be one of Gareth, and indeed the band's, finest moments: "If you were given the option of dying painlessly in peace at forty-five/But with a lover at yr side, after a full and happy life/Is this something that would interest you?"
From then on, the album takes us on a roller-coaster journey of emotion and musical styles, ranging from traditional Los Campesinos! twee pop such as 'There Are Listed Buildings', to the more rockier title track 'Romance Is Boring', eventually culminating in the final, devastating Coda, which leaves me swallowing sadness I feel every listen. It is a record crafted from the heart, and an early and surprising contender for album of the year.

-Charles

TV SHOW OF THE MONTH: CSI TrilogyThis spectacle was for CSI lovers what Jesus’ resurrection would be to Christians. Millions of us tuned in to watch Laurence Fisburne (Grissom-replacement-extraordinaire) travel the country, and with the help of a few of his CSI buddies, try to take down a trafficking system responsible for some of the worst atrocities CSI has ever shown us- illegal organ harvesting, sex slavery, and even making girls who weren’t fit for prostitution become surrogate mothers for cash. Despite being a little disappointed that there wasn’t more interplay between the three CSI teams, this trilogy was as compelling as it was shocking, and I loved every moment of it.

-Eileen

DANCE ROUTINE OF THE MONTH- Rufus Hound's 'Fight for This Love'.

As its coming to the end of this month, I’ve chosen my favourite dance clip (so far) from the first episode of Sport Relief’s ‘Lets Dance’ – basically a mick take of all the other serious dance shows, where celebrities dress up like other celebrities and raise money for charity by making fools of themselves. Genius.
I don’t really have much to say about this video, other than Cheryl Cole if you saw this, you should be worried, because a ginger man in his 30’s wearing split trousers and less than half a top made this song much more entertaining than you ever could. Sorry love.

-Tri

DESIGNER OF THE MONTH- Peter Piloto



Come spring and summer, you may find your high street stores bursting with all the usual classic cuts and work wear staples, but with a twist- a splash of colour here, a few ruffles there. If this is the case, the man to thank for this is Peter Pilotto. But the real reason this fledgling London-based designer really caught my eye is That Dress (on the left). Although gaining a reputation for being a dab hand at the tunic, this dress is something else- part bird of paradise, part firework, this dress is a melange of colour in irregular, painter-esque swathes. An absolute dream.

-Eileen

FUN FACT OF THE MONTH- Women in Horror MonthSeeing as how I know how much my pointless trivia enthrals you, I’ve decided to give you a fun fact about every month. FUN FACT TIME!: This February was the first official Women in Horror Month. This may seem quite trivial, bit it couldn’t have come at a more crucial. In this month’s ‘SFX Magazine: Horror Special’, which claimed to be an ‘ultimate guide’ to horror in all media, not a single woman was mentioned. Not one. Meaning the hard work of writers from Mary Shelley to Poppy Z Brite was completely ignored. I for one feel it’s about time that the stigma of women only being seen in hotpants screaming in the horror genre clears up for good. Find out more about it here.

-Eileen

BEST POSTS OF THE MONTH
Tri's Guide to Toe-Tapping: In a new series here At the Sinema, Tri introduces us to the exciting world of dance. Not one to be missed.

5 Presents to Lose Your Partner- No stranger to scaring people, Chloe shares the secret to making people think you're crazy through the art of tactless gift-giving. Expect bed-wetter covers and toupees.

Lost Knives in a Basement- Charlie's review of up-and-comers Lost Knives, whom he saw in a basement. Because he's that indie.

High Heel Hunt- Eileen embarks on the daunting quest of finding a pair of comfy, clumsy-proof yet beautiful shoes. This may be quite a long series...

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Lost Knives In A Basement

Sometime last week, Manchester band Lost Knives announced a rather secretive low key gig at an unknown location in Manchester. Naturally, curiosity got the better of me and on Wednesday night found myself outside the venue, 117 Oldham Street, home of Butterfly Records, who were more used to band practices than gigs. As we entered we were directed down to the basement, where the band's gear was laid out at the far end of the room, with an eerie static projection onto the back wall.

The band made their way slowly forward through the crowd to the stage, where, after little introduction, they burst straight into one of three new songs they showcased. The first was a long, brooding crescendo reminiscent of - dare I say it - Godspeed You! Black Emperor themselves. A far cry away the other new songs - one, a raw, aggressive number that proved the band didn't need their fancy electronics and samples to sound good; and the other, written and sung by guitarist Steven McInerney - a slow sombre affair with xylophones and tender vocals.

Although blighted by problems including detuned guitars and missing xylophone beaters (I don't know how this happened, but it did), Lost Knives still put on a worthy performance. In such a short set in a basement in Manchester they proved that they had it all - the long, large epics, short, simple guitar songs and even a slow sombre number to start the waterworks. Oh, and they also proved that playing gigs in unusual venues is fucking cool. I hope to attend and put on shows in similarly obscure venues in the future. Read More......

January: A Memoir

The first month of the year has been and gone, which is a bit bleak since I've basically done nothing. If you, like me, have been a bit of a cultural hermit this month, here is our concise round-up, giving you all of the best bits of January without all the snow and coldness and misery. This way, you can get up to date with all of the latest stuff, and your friends will never have to know you spent the entire month in your room, watching Tarantino movies and progressively becoming wider- or what that just me? Anyway, moving on...

TV Show of The Month: Glee

Glee, for us British, has only just hit our screens, but has already caused quite a stir with the public. And apparently that's not just with us, after only 11 episodes airing on American TV is managed to scoop a Golden Globe. Get them! So whats the hype? Glee is a musical spectacular set around a normal high school glee club who are desperately trying to hold it together to get to sectionals and eventually nationals. It has your stereotypical 'musical drama' crazed fangirl, played by Lea Michelle, who was in the original cast of 'Spring Awakening', so me and Eileen already loved her. It has the gay kid, shown rocking out to Beyonce's 'Single Ladies', the black girl with a voice as big as heaven and the sporadically placed 'other nerds with good voices'. Enter the 'cool kids', Flynn and his cheerleading girlfriend, and you've got a club worth listening too. Throw in a sarcastically evil cheerleading coach, a germ-fearing guidance councilor and a stupidly gorgeous spanish teacher to run it all and by god, you have a hit! Definitely worth a watch.

-Chloe

Film of the Month: Up in the AirNominated for five academy awards, 'Up in the Air' tells the tale of Ryan Bingham (as played by the ever-so-handsome George Clooney)- a man hired to fire people, who can fit his entire life in a suitcase- and completely loves his emotionally-stunted existence.
That is, until a plucky young upstart in his company (Anna Kendrick, the chick from Twilight) threatens his way of life. The relationship that pans out between them reveals them both to be pretty damn childish- Bingham shuns all connection and responsibility, and Kendrick's character lives in a much more idealised and naive world.
I guess what makes this film different is that after this journey of self-discovery, the end is still bittersweet. The lesson here is not 'Open up your heart, and you WILL find love!', it's 'Win or lose, you have to play the game'- and I for one quite like that.

-Eileen

Album of the Month: 'Heartland' by Owen PallettSet in the fantasy world of Spectrum, Heartland is a tale of an ultra violent farmer, Lewis, and his struggle to come to terms with his creator and main deity of the land, our very own Owen Pallett. An ambitious project, but nevertheless, despite the mythologies and stories Pallett has created, he never loses sight of the single most important feature: the music. A lot denser than He Poos Clouds, Pallett has maintained his personal charm whilst at the same time adding electronics and orchestras to create something that sounds, for want of a better word, epic.
Read full review here>>>

-Charles

Fashion Designer of the Month: Hayden-Harnett
It's the age-old conundrum- you want to look sophisticated, but also capable of fun. Regal, yet playful. Basically, not a slut, but not boring.
Step in Hayden-Harnett. They primarily make (awesome) handbags, so they bring a completely different perspective to the table. You can expect patchwork, metallics, and detailing to make you dribble, but all finished off with a certain undeniable decorum.
The collection (including the Pandora Dress and the Cambria Patchwork Silk Skirt, above) may set you back a bit, but come on- it's totally worth it.

-Eileen

Posts of the Month
A few of the cool things that have been going on here At the Sinema:

At the Sinema's Best of 2009- They said it couldn't be done. They were wrong. The ATS writers have managed to cram all the juicy bits of 2009 into one epic post. Check it out- you won't be disappointed.

What Does the Nation Listen To?- Chloe wrestles with that unknown beast- the UK singles chart. Not for the faint-hearted.

Should I Listen to Last.Fm?- Millions use Last.Fm, but how useful is it, actually? We find out.

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