Nine Inch Nails return to our world was always going to happen, but that’s not a fact that made it any less sweet when it finally did. The return of Trent Reznor and co was always going to be a big event and because of that any album they released is destined to be picked over with a fine tooth comb. Thankfully, Mr Reznor is a man used to pressure and having done quite well for himself in his time off, even picking up an Oscar, he was obviously willing to take on the task and rebirth his baby with the release of Hesitation Marks.
Download Announcement 4
So Download are not going to get my money this year, apart from a possible day ticket if one day shapes up in a particularly pleasing way. Despite that, they are continuing as a festival! Who’d have thought it? Anyway the most recent announcement was actually quite an exciting one and I am, as usual, going to give you a quick round-up of my thoughts.
Some real ramblings about football
While – if my ode to John Terry didn’t make it clear – I am a Chelsea fan, the team closest to my heart when it comes to football is Aberdeen, it’s where I was born, raised and I’ve spent many a cold day huddled up at Pittodrie, miserable and bored as I watched a selection of awful Aberdeen players trudge around a football pitch. Therefore, this season has been a bit weird. Mainly because we seem to actually be quite good.
Sonisphere Announcement 2
So the final headliner is out and it’s another solid booking, that completes a good year for Sonisphere. This is a very short post as there is not much to say but the final act is rock/dance crossover legends The Prodigy. Now I personally don’t really do the whole electro, dance, whatever it is bands like The Prodigy are, thing but I’m happy with this one (as someone who has bought a ticket). They were at Download 2012 but I was watching Slash so this will actually be my first time seeing them and I have never heard of anyone failing to have a good time at a Prodigy show.
Frozen
Following last year’s Wreck it Ralph Disney have gone back to what they know best with their recent animation Frozen as it see’s them returning to the good old princess and prince story, but this time with a twist. Based, very loosely, off of Hans Christian Anderson’s Snow Queen the adaptation was directed by Chris Buck (Tarzan) and Jennifer Lee (who was a writer on Wreck it Ralph). It’s release has seen it break a collection of records in North America, all of which it has to be said are the kind of records that no one really cares about, but nevertheless has still made a nice sum of money and appears to be doing very well critically as well.
Carcass – Surgical Steel
Carcass, their very name screams pure bloody metal. The British grindcore legends were favourites of the brilliant John Peel and reigned supreme in their original run between 1985 and 1995. Their return in 2007 was therefore greeted with glee while the announcement they were to write and record an album, which was released earlier this year. induced full blown delirium. With Daniel Wildling (Trigger the Bloodshed) coming in on drums and Ben Ash (Pig Iron) on guitar to join original original members Jeff Walker and Bill Steer Surgical Steel was created.
Kill Your Darlings
Since the end of Harry Potter Daniel Radcliffe has shown himself to be a man who can pick a role. Obviously desperate to avoid being typecast, his films since the teen wizard hung up his wand have included roles in the ongoing revival of Hammer Films, with The Woman in Black, and now the decision to portray the talented Alan Ginsberg. Kill Your Darlings is the debut feature film from director John Krokidas and portrays the formation of the Beat movement and the murder of David Kammerer. I should warn you before I get into this review that I do have a personal attachment to many of the characters. The Beats is a literature movement that I have a lot of love for and I actually wrote about On the Road and Naked Lunch for my dissertation. With the former standing as my standard answer to the ‘what’s your favourite book?’ question.
John Terry – Captain, Leader, Hero
Last weekend John Terry made his 400th league appearance for Chelsea and scored his 34th league goal. This took his Chelsea tally up to 594 appearances and 57 goals. In that time he has won 3 EPL titles, 5 FA Cups, 2 League Cups, 2 Community Shields and has played a part, if not actually playing in the final, in a Champions League and a Europa League title. Yet there are still people who would argue with you whether John Terry is a world class player. Do you know why? Because he’s a cunt. There is no denying that fact, history proves it. However, right here right now, I am going to make the case that that doesn’t matter. And John Terry the footballer still deserves your respect and your admiration.
Dream Theater – Dream Theater
Dream Theater used to be so ingrained with the idea of Mike Portnoy that to have an album that doesn’t incorporate any of his ideas seems strange. However, that’s exactly what they’ve done and they’ve only gone and made it a self-titled release. With Mike Mangini in from the start this is the album that will represent exactly where a Portnoyless Dream Theater will be going in the future and their fans will be desperate for them to smash it out of the park.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Ben Stiller is a hard actor to like. When you look back over his filmography there is an awful lot of crap. Even his supposed good films, aren’t really that good. However, his latest effort seems to be outside his normal remit. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is an adaptation of a short story that was originally made into a film in 1947. In it’s current incarnation it has been around for a long time with it having been in line to be directed by everyone from Spielberg to Ron Howard. While Jim Carrey and Sacha Baron Cohen are just two of the actors who have been in line to play the central character. It has finally come to fruition however, with Stiller fulfilling both roles.
Ramblings About Wrestling 