View Full Version : Music and Film Recomendations
Matblack
04-07-2006, 09:55
This is a place to bung recomendations, have you watched a film or bought an album recently that deserves to be pimped? Just post a brief review and a scren shot and see what other people think.
I picked up loads of new stuff because of the Music Forum over at ocuk so I though we should have one here too
First up is;
Coheed and Cambria - In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3
http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/6400/coheedandcambriaiksse32vt.jpg
Taking their lead from the best progressive rock bands of the 70's and 80's Coheed and Cambria's albums are concept albums which fit together to form a running story. However this shouldn't put off someone from jumping in and buying this particular disc, the albums are perfectly capable of standing alone and can be enjoyed without being engrossed in the whole ethos.
Although these guys are difficault to pin down in a decade where prog rock is all but dead, I would liken them to a combination of Marillion, Yes (Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe) and Rush. The vocals are also similar to these last two bands with a lead singer in the high vocal range.
You'll probably find Co&Ca in the Heavy Metal section of music retailers although they should be along side bands like Led Zep and Pink Floyd.
This album is permenantly in my car CD player
Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead
http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/7374/6304106041l3du.gif
This much overlooked movie of the gangster genre is a real gem, it departs from the gritty realism of The Godfather by throwing comedy and a love story into the mix whilst retaining the kind of gritty violence that made this genre famous.
A group of semi-retred gangsters get pulled back into the underworld where 'the man with the plan' (Christopher Walken) hires 'Jimmy the Saint' (Andy Garcia) to perform an action (a beating) but when Jimmy hires a bunch of bungling idiots to perform the job including Pieces (Cristopher Lloyd) the results are terrible and 'the man with a plan' decides to eliminate the Jimmy and the boys in the worst way possible, he calls in Mr Shhhh (Steve Buscemi) to off the whole team in the most painful ways he can.
This is a great movie and it was also the inspiration for the name of this site :)
Highly recomended
MB
My two recommendations, I have no idea how good they would be but I like them:
Foo Fighters - The Colour and The Shape
http://www.halycopter.com/meep/foo.jpg
This album is an album I always return to having been introduced to it, and the band, years ago.
I know some people heard of the Foo Fighters due to the Nirvana connection but I was never very keen on Nirvana (Don't shoot me!) so I overlooked the Foo Fighters because of this. So I listened to it at a friend's not really expecting much, loved it so much I demanded he lent it to me. The style I would say is rock but that always seems a vague way of describing music, just hard to pinpoint otherwise. Certainly can get a crowd going I reckon, but the lyrics are as good as the music.
Honestly can't find a weak song on the album, although nothing could beat Everlong in my opinion :)
Leaving Las Vegas
http://halycopter.com/meep/vegas.jpg
I came across this film purely by accident. I was flicking around tv channels late at night when really i should have been asleep and this was on. Thought I'd watch it for 20 minutes or so before I fell asleep. In the end I stayed awake till 2am just to see what happened.
I'd not really considered Nicholas Cage as a very good serious actor before as I haven't seen many of his more serious films like this and Adaptation, but he really impressed me in this.
The film makes for some quite uncomfortable viewing throughout, I won't explain too much why, but it's not something you can watch lightly. But I think that makes it better. It makes a change to see a film with a realistic conclusion.
Only problem I found was I wanted to go discuss it with people and there wasn't anyone to discuss it with :D
Dymetrie
04-07-2006, 19:44
My two recommendations, I have no idea how good they would be but I like them:
Foo Fighters - The Colour and The Shape
http://www.halycopter.com/meep/foo.jpg
This album is an album I always return to having been introduced to it, and the band, years ago.
I know some people heard of the Foo Fighters due to the Nirvana connection but I was never very keen on Nirvana (Don't shoot me!) so I overlooked the Foo Fighters because of this. So I listened to it at a friend's not really expecting much, loved it so much I demanded he lent it to me. The style I would say is rock but that always seems a vague way of describing music, just hard to pinpoint otherwise. Certainly can get a crowd going I reckon, but the lyrics are as good as the music.
Honestly can't find a weak song on the album, although nothing could beat Everlong in my opinion :)
*agrees muchly*
plus, did you know that the original eponymous foo fighters album was recorded by Dave Grohl, on his own! (apart from a bit of guitar on one song and i forget which).
The man is truly a musical genious :D
My two recommendations, I have no idea how good they would be but I like them:
Foo Fighters - The Colour and The Shape
http://www.halycopter.com/meep/foo.jpg
This album is an album I always return to having been introduced to it, and the band, years ago.
I know some people heard of the Foo Fighters due to the Nirvana connection but I was never very keen on Nirvana (Don't shoot me!) so I overlooked the Foo Fighters because of this. So I listened to it at a friend's not really expecting much, loved it so much I demanded he lent it to me. The style I would say is rock but that always seems a vague way of describing music, just hard to pinpoint otherwise. Certainly can get a crowd going I reckon, but the lyrics are as good as the music.
Honestly can't find a weak song on the album, although nothing could beat Everlong in my opinion :)
*agrees muchly*
plus, did you know that the original eponymous foo fighters album was recorded by Dave Grohl, on his own! (apart from a bit of guitar on one song and i forget which).
The man is truly a musical genious :D
i'm pretty sure that the color and the shape were also recorded in his home studio, by him alone.
http://img354.imageshack.us/img354/9986/snotgetsome8wd.jpg
Get Some - Snot.
infamous debut (and only) album from LA punk/hardcore band Snot. Lynn Strait died of an overdose after recording this piece of genius with Snot. an album that fuses Hardcore Punk, Hardcore, Funk and Thrash to form some of the catchiest, instantly classic songs in my hardcore experience. it's popular with almost every person i've played it to - and Snot are very well-known and revered in the industry - a tribute album was recorded (Strait Up) by several musicians to celebrate Strait's life and contribution to the scene.
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/2140/primerdvd1lo.jpg
Primer
essentially, a duo of freelance scientists make an amazing discovery, and use it to benefit themselves in massive ways; but even the smallest changes can have massive repercussions.
The film has had a lot of comparissions drawn from Donnie Darko, and i must say i agree - my favourite "Like Donnie Darko for grown-ups" is possibly the most apt. if you're into mind-bending, thought-provoking dramas in the same vein as Donnie and Dark City, then give this a watch; it's totally amazing.
Matblack
05-07-2006, 07:15
I bought Primer a few days a go, its on the Tartan label which is always a good sign, Tartan Asia and Asia Extreme are also labels worth keeping an eye on, the choose little know but excellent movies.
MB
Matblack
05-07-2006, 15:02
Foo Fighters - The Colour and The Shape (7.99)
Bought that today along with Aeon Flux the Animated Series (9.99) and Trigger Happy TV series 1&2 for £12
Todays recomendation is
Sometimes by City and Colour
I'll bung up some info later
MB
You never heard TCOTS before :o
It's absolutely the definitive Foo's album, I thought everyone knew that :D
So many albums I could have picked! Finally decided on this:
Supernature - Goldfrapp
http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/5264/200pxsupernature7ua.jpg
If T-Rex and Kate Bush had a lovechild it would sound like this.
Film:
Blue Juice
http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/5664/14599237mj.jpg
Never fails to cheer me up.
You never heard TCOTS before :o
It's absolutely the definitive Foo's album, I thought everyone knew that :D
Indeed, go listen to it NOW :P
Dymetrie
05-07-2006, 19:58
Time to post something constructive in this thread...
For quite a while then one of my favourite albums has been Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds. The music is superb, combine this with the narration of the story by Richard Burton and you have to be on to a winner! I managed to see it performed at Wembley Arena earlier this year and to be honest it is absolutely spectacular :)
http://www.stormhawks.co.uk/pariahs/images/wotw.jpg
Still one of my favourite films due to the foolish tagline and wonderful rapport that the main actors have. Shaun of the Dead never fails to raise a smile for me. Inspired by George A Romero's Night of the Living Dead and Conceived in the first series of Spaced it's a wonderful romantic comedy... with zombies :p
http://www.stormhawks.co.uk/pariahs/images/SotD.jpg
I still get weepy when I hear Forever Autumn!
Dymetrie
05-07-2006, 21:00
I still get weepy when I hear Forever Autumn!
ME TOO!!!
*Huggles*
Matblack
05-07-2006, 23:00
Sometimes by City and Colour
http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/8797/cityandcolor2ek.jpg
City and Colour is Dallas Green of Alexisonfire
I'm not particularly familiar with the work of Alexisonfire however I tripped over Dallas Green's solo work on Holly35s myspace page, this is classic singer song writer magic, a man with a guitar and a story to tell.
The single track Save Your Scissors is a masterpiece, yes Dallas is a bit Emo and angsty but is you like good quaility song writing you can't go far wrong here
MB
Kell_ee001
05-07-2006, 23:53
http://www.avrev.com/gifs/dvdreviews/big_fish.gif
Throughout his life Edward Bloom (Ewan McGregor) has always been a man of big appetites, enormous passions and tall tales. In his later years, portrayed by five-time Best Actor Oscar® nominee Albert Finney (Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Erin Brockovich, 2000), he remains a huge mystery to his son, William (Billy Crudup). Now, to get to know the real man, Will begins piecing together a true picture of his father from flashbacks of his amazing adventures in this marvel of a movie.
"A MODERN DAY 'WIZARD OF OZ.'" - Scott Patrick, STARZ!/ENCORE
"AMAZING! 'BIG FISH' IS AN INCREDIBLE CINEMATIC JOURNEY THAT IS AS WONDERFULLY MAGICAL AS IT IS VISUALLY DAZZLING." - Shawn Edwards, FOX-TV
“ BIG FISH IS TIM BURTON’S MASTERPIECE.” -Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Daily News
IF you haven't seen it - it's a must! ;D
http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony_pictures/big_fish/
Music recommendation:
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000C6NNVA.01._SCMZZZZZZZ_V57082780_.jpg
Bitter Sweet : The Mating Game
Annoyingly it might be hard to get hold of this album in the UK. I found in while in Toronto. Its a great album. According to them its "Portishead meets Zero 7 with a bit of Serge Gainsbourg and Everything But The Girl mixed in for good measure."
Ooh you can check them out on the iTunes store (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=121465405&s=143444). Very good album, well worth buyin.
Kell_ee001
07-07-2006, 23:06
Specifically track 13 - Lyrics (http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/yellowcard/howigo.html).
:shocked:
I want!
But everybody knows The Nightmare Before Christmas was actually Tim Burton's masterpiece!
Porcupine Tree - Deadwing
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0007TX894.01._SS400_SCLZZZZZZZ_V1110578472_.jpg
I got into Porcupine Tree a few years ago when 'In Absentia' was their current album. Since then I've obtained the entire back catalogue and have listened with great interest to how their sound has progressed over the years. Deadwing is the most 'mainstream' album to date, but don't let that put you off!
Deadwing is nothing short of a masterpiece and holds the claim to having my favourite Porcupine Tree track on it - 'Arriving Somewhere But Not Here' which is an unusual track in that despite being 12 minutes long it is very accessible, helped out by a fantastic metaly section part way through. Some may say that it sounds out of place, but that is what Porcupine Tree music is all about - contrast.
When people ask me to recommend them new music, this is always top of the list. Both in terms of a good album, and also an introduction to a fantastic band.
10/10 - My album of 2005.
iicatsii
16-07-2006, 22:09
Trust me, this is the only DVD you'll ever need own:
http://img393.imageshack.us/img393/4575/streettrashdvdbu3.jpg
It's a horror/comedy/drama/war movie and one of the few movies that can class itself as a Melt Movie.
Matblack
16-07-2006, 23:12
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/2140/primerdvd1lo.jpg
Primer
essentially, a duo of freelance scientists make an amazing discovery, and use it to benefit themselves in massive ways; but even the smallest changes can have massive repercussions.
The film has had a lot of comparissions drawn from Donnie Darko, and i must say i agree - my favourite "Like Donnie Darko for grown-ups" is possibly the most apt. if you're into mind-bending, thought-provoking dramas in the same vein as Donnie and Dark City, then give this a watch; it's totally amazing.
I found this very interesting but ultimately unfulfillin and left me bloody confused :shocked:
MB
Trust me, this is the only DVD you'll ever need own:
Apart from boxsets of The Prisoner and The Rockford Files obviously.
iicatsii
18-07-2006, 15:29
that goes without saying...
I'm being dim again, whats a melt movie?
iicatsii
18-07-2006, 23:26
this explains it best:
http://www.badmovies.org/movies/streettrash/index.html
Only 3 random gratuitous breastshots? You're slipping!
iicatsii
18-07-2006, 23:53
nope, they've got it wrong... there's four.
Street trash sounds fun :D
iicatsii
19-07-2006, 00:06
here's my favourite bit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zewUniS26bg
That looks interesting. Have to see how cheap I can get it off ebay :D
iicatsii
19-07-2006, 00:19
Amazon are selling it cheap at the moment, you get a couple of stickers with it to make your own prop bottle of viper as well.
nope, they've got it wrong... there's four.
Maybe the last one was an integral part of the story.
Pffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffft!
Flibster
19-07-2006, 23:47
Currently listening to:
The Brian Setzer Orchestra - Live in Japan
Boogie, Swing, Jive and Rock and Roll big band goodness. :D
Most recently watched DVD:
Red Dwarf VIII
No comments needed on that. ;)
Have Grand Prix lined up to watch tomorrow night.
Simon/~Flibster
Dymetrie
19-07-2006, 23:48
I'm being dim again, whats a melt movie?
When were you me before?
*confused*
New reccomendations..
Hmm..
Ryan Adams, Gold.
http://www.paulgraydon.co.uk/images/ryangold.jpg
A stunning album I nabbed through Napster a couple of weeks ago following someone mentioning the song "La Cienega just smiled", which is a beauty in its own right, but one that requires you to turn the volume up, cut out all distractions and just listen to. Love it :)
The entire album is full of great tracks that seem to have been sensitvely picked and ordered on the album, not a track feels out of place.
Its hard to pin the genre down, its a kind of alt-country/pop/blues hybrid that for some reason for me just works. At just £4.95 from Amazon, its a steal too.
As my favourite album of recent times (Coheed and Cambria) has already been recommended I would like to put forward these two:
Mars Volta - De-Loused in the Comatorium
Its a pretty insane concept album, it certainly isnt easy to listen to the first time you hear it - I couldnt "get" it at all on my first pass. The second time I heard it through I grabbed a hold of "this apparatus must be unearthed" in my head and instantly the whole album fell into place. "Drunkship of Lanterns" and "Take the veil cerpin taxt" are both glorious tracks. Give it a chance and you shall be rewarded.
The follow-up album Frances The Mute isnt anywhere near as good though, but Amputechture looks to be very promising indeed :)
The Mars Volta were formed after the breakup of At The Drive In, who are next on my list!
At The Drive In - Relationship of Command - This is an easier to get along with album than the one above but it is still fantastic. Highlights of the album are the tracks "Quarantined" and "Mannequin Republic". Absolutely fantastic and well worth listening to.
Matblack
11-08-2006, 13:10
Counting Crows: This Desert Life
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/20/CountingCrowsThisDesertLife.jpg/200px-CountingCrowsThisDesertLife.jpg
I keep coming back to this album
Theres something special about CC, Adam's lyrics are brilliant and the music is that of a singer songwriter it has a completeness to it and an emotion which seldom comes across this coherently from a normal five piece band.
CC were doing something years ago which has had experienced a renaissance recently, the songs are about emotion and the lyrics concentrate on love and pain and love and pleasure. These are the songs we longed for whilst we we're learning about love, that we sang to ourselves whilst walking along canal banks in the rain, wondering if we could ever have a proper relationship.
I will listen to this when I am 70 and still remember how intensely life could move me and probably still sing to myself and cry a little.
MB
Have Grand Prix lined up to watch tomorrow night.
I've got that on at the moment, is it right that Jim Rockford did all his driving using F3 cars? The on track footage is superb.
/edit - watching the making of. omg. yes.
Flibster
12-08-2006, 23:54
There was several real GP cars used, but most of the driving by the stars was in Lotus F3's. :D They also modified the all the F3's too look like the correct teams as well - the exhausts, suspension and bodywork is all correct for the 1966 teams.... :shocked:
Where they show the 1966 Belgian Grand Prix - he really did film the 1966 Belgian Grand Prix and used it.
Absolutely fabulous film. It's almost a documentary tbh.
All the stars spent a couple of months at a race school as well to learn what they were meant to do.
Was also filmed on 65mm film and the dvd is from a fresly made print from the restored negative. :D
I want a 1080p version now. ;)
Simon/~Flibster
Interesting fact
The camera car they used was a Ford GT40 *which was a current Le Mans car* and was driven by Phil Hill who was a F1 driver at the time. :D
The Shins - Chutes Too Narrow
http://eil.com/newgallery/The-Shins-Chutes-Too-Narrow-277193.jpg
Fantastic singing and lyrics, and some great hooks in the songs. It's in baroque style, but to be honest I wouldn't know what makes it so :o There's a real range of music from the insanely catchy So Says I to the slower and flowing Saint Simon.
The music is very easy to get into, and it's quite surprising that they are not more popular and mainstream given their songs are pretty radio-friendly. It's quite a shame, that, as they're a really fun sounding group.
If that's not reason enough to get the album, the singer looks exactly like Kevin Spacey.
The music is very easy to get into, and it's quite surprising that they are not more popular and mainstream given their songs are pretty radio-friendly. It's
I think its because on their own the song hooks don't really make sense and the lyrics are a bit more complex than you would find with radio. Chutes Too Narrow is a really nice album because of that though.
Gonna go out and recommend one of my weird bands, eve6. I'm desperatly trying to think of what to classify them under, the closest is an american indie band. Their music has varied vastly across their albums eve6, horrorscope, its all in your head.
I really need to get better at describing bands as i'm useless at the moment.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000638F/sr=8-1/qid=1155852777/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-8146235-1873703?ie=UTF8
Have a look there for some sound clips, they were a break out for me when everyone was first going mad with Green Day and Feeder. If you don't like the songs at first listen... give it a couple of days and suddenly you'll find yourself humming the tune :D
^
I've got one of their albums somewhere, Horrorscope I think. It didn't really grab me last time I listened to it, but I'll go back and have another crack after the BBQ :)
I can see why, horrorscope is their kinda off the wall odd album. Personally its eve6 -> its all in your head -> horrorscope
http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/9051/b000egct5o02lzzzzzzzxu4.jpg
If you like Snow Patrol, you'll most likely be aware of their new album, Eyes Open. If you haven't heard them, it's time to start.
This album is sheer brilliance, containing some of the most emotive and atmospheric tracks I've heard in a long time.
Reccomended tracks.
You're All I Have
Overplayed now slightly by the major radio stations, but still a fantastic song. Full of energy, movement and brilliant lyrics which kept me enthralled right until the end of the song.
Chasing Cars
This song, is an anthem. Starting slow with beautiful lyrics, "If I lay here. If I just lay here. Would you lie with me, and just forget the world?". Gary Lightbody’s voice reflecting these lyrics perfectly. The song does give the false appearance of being quiet and slow, but the key changes towards the middle keep the listener poised for the next part of the song. As the chorus blasts in for it's last attempt the song comes alive right until the end. Playing this song on low volume on your way to church does not work, this is the kind of song that needs to be turned up loud to fully appreciate it.
The Finish Line
A short, but sweet track. Beautiful vocals go hand in hand with the elegant and almost mystic music. The kind of song you see played over people dying in slow motion. Despite it's slow nature and lack of any crescendo usually found in a SP track, the song is warm, uplifting and addictive.
Open Your Eyes
Right from the beginning you can tell this song is a one way street, slowly building up to something special. Captivating lyrics matched with the increased progression of the drum beats show the listening that whatever is coming is going to be big. Once the crescendo arrives the lyrics stop and a simple uplifting rift is played, again, another song that should be played loud to appreciate fully.
Set Fire To The Third Bar
Martha Wainwright carries this song, each verse is executed greatly and gives the song a strong sense of passion. Probably my least favourite, but still an awesome song.
Headlights on Dark Roads
Another dramatic song with some lovely lyrics, constant key changes and strenghening vocals prevent the listener from getting bored. Not the best here, but a very worthy song.
http://www.boat-drinks.co.uk/showthread.php?t=133 ;)
Nice review although I'm biased as I like the album :)
I disagree with the bit about Set Fire To The Third Bar though, I thought that was one of the best tracks on there.
Funny eh, I agree with him, its the one song I skip. Open Your Eyes is my fave, I never ever tire of it.
A very emotive album with a lot of lyrics that seem to fit into the last 6 months of my life pretty well (I expect most people can say that though). Love it.
To keep things tidy I've merged the similar threads.
Matblack
24-08-2006, 12:19
Will buy it at lunchtime, now in fact :)
MB
It's a good album for sure, but I still prefer Final Straw tbh. And agreed with Jen, Third Bar is one of my favourite tracks. Though Jen probably has a more legitimate reason (if there is such a thing) for liking it than I do, as I'll wager she can relate to some of the lyrics better than me.
I hadn't actually thought of it like that till you said, although I see what you mean. A while back I would have listened to it for those reasons a lot.
But now I just like it because it sounds good and has sweet lyrics imo :)
Admiral Huddy
29-08-2006, 09:55
Munich
Director - Spielburg
Follows the events the followed "black september" in the Munich Olympic stadium in 1972, were 11 isreali atheletes were killed by Palestinian terrosits (not much changed there then).
An Isrelli agent is sent to assassinate those that plotted and planned the killings.
Top stuff .. good film..
goldilocks
31-08-2006, 10:24
http://www.londonist.com/attachments/sizemore/unleashed.jpg
or 'Danny the Dog' as it's also called
watched this at the weekend, and it's amazing
great plot, great fight scenes and a gives a real tug on the heart strings
i'm not going to write a review, i'm just going to tell you it's REALLY worth making the effort to watch :)
http://www.nora.ncse.pl/images/exits.jpg
Exits - by The Boxer Rebellion
I have a serious thing about this band
Dropped by their label just days after the release of exits (their debut album) it left a great album VERY under publiscised
I don't want to compare them to Radiohead, but every review of them seems to choose that line, the music is melodic, the vocals are haunting and there a few real catchy, sing along tunes on there
there are a few sample tracks on their website and their myspace page
the album should be on iTunes, and i have seen a few lonely copies hanging around the odd HMV - treat yourself ;)
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