Well that's it. I will be leaving O2 in August. They have recently decided to charge me on calls that I thought were inclusive of my free minutes. These data calls were made since March 2005 but they have apparently treated me like a kid, not billing me (they shouldn't in the first place) until today, luring me into false sense of security and then bam - a 'courtesy sms' by them reminding how much my unbilled charges are with all the backtracked calls since March.
I won't divulge anymore details because I am currently considering what legal options I may take next. But to put it bluntly - O2, formerly known as BT Cellnet, sucks. The way they go about their business is exactly like that fat bunch on the new Nationwide Building Society adverts in Britain. It is as though the company openly and actively practice fraud. Just look at how awful they are.
Where next? T-Mobile? I heard their customer service sucks. Vodafone? I was with them for four five years but got screwed by them until I left two years ago. Orange? Not sure. Three? Who bloody knows.
The White Stripes - Get Behind Me SatanA moderate new album after their fairly averagy Elephant. The crew made up of Jack and Meg has turned up a notch in the production department but the songs are not up for it. Sewn together are tracks mainly made up by predictable combination of rock & roll blues, disco, piano and what have you. A new direction maybe but they really need to get Satan's guidance to make this work.5.5/10Mylo - Destroy Rock & RollOkay Pete Tong, you win. Your constant promotion of Drop The Pressure, a thin easy to listen get jiggy dance track has finally won me over. You have misused your power base on Radio One to influence me and now I have been brainwashed to purchase the bearded's one compilation album. Can't say I am disappointed tho. The other two hit singles - In My Arms and the funny (IMO) Destroy Rock & Roll are present as well. Euphoria tracks dominate the album and are not too rough and should prove a satisfying summer album for chilling out.6.5/10System Of The Down - MezmerizeI have never been a huge fan of Nu-Metal, a sub genre mutated from melodic industrial metal fused with punk and hip hop. The genre was pioneered by Korn, Soulfly et al. in the late 1990s. And Mezmerize won't change my opinion on the 'downgrading' sound churned out by such Nu-Metallers. The production is as good as any modern and successful band could afford, pretty much expected by fans of the style - clean, simple, precise and clear. Formulaic chaos is a key present in most tracks as does pompous energy. There are hilarious moments as expected from the quirky American Armenians. The fact that this was supposed to be a double album but fans are forced to pay again to get the second CD pisses me of even more. And ever heard of Slayer?5/10Eminem - The Slim Shady LPDon't ask me how this came into my possession. It just did. But rest assured, I did not ask for it. The LP made waves in the hip hop world when it was released in 1999 and Eminem broke through to commercial stardom courtesy of the MTV generation. Tracks like My Name Is and Bitch made sure that he became a household name by anyone who ever owns a FM. General pretentious dominates his lyrics. I wonder if it stood the test of time even among hip hop fans, I don't know nor do I want or need to know.1/10
I saw this film on a very old battered VHS many many years ago but it was an English dubbing version with Americanised accent. It was painful to watch because I have always hated dubbing in any films, especially one that doesn't match with the performers lips.
So thanks to Chris for lending me this DVD. This DVD is a re-issue of the 1981 film with the cleaned up digitally remastered original German language with English subtitles. The picture quality is excellent as far as DVD goes.
Christiane F. is based on a true story, that of a fourteen year old Christiane and her life in 1970s bleak and depressive Berlin and her being drawn into the drug world. The film is dark, provocative and as arty as any non-Hollywood film would dare be. The soundtrack by David Bowie is excellent and fits into the whole film as the 'sound'
There are not many drug films that plays as well as Christiane F. The whole film portrays the drug scene as authentic as it could possibly be. Hollywood film it isn't as the performers were genuine teenagers. The message is clear. Addiction to drug is bad. Try H but think you won't get addicted, but you will eventually. Just like a junkie friend of mine. (He should have watched this)Whatever you do, do not get the dubbed version. The 2000 issued DVD UK region 2 version comes with English subtitles so it shouldn't confuse you. Plus you will be able to enjoy the performance of the then young actors.8.5/10
Don't Believe The Truth is Oasis's sixth studio album in three years and what has changed since Heathen Chemistry? Absolutely nothing what so ever (that I can perceive). The usual anthemic sing-a-longs are still present which may be a positive thing - if it is good in the first place. But it isn't.Some has voiced that this album marks a comeback for the Manchester band's domination after years of Britpop decline. While this is just my opinion - but what the fuck? Sure this may be a comeback album for them, but comeback from what? Some even has the audacity to compare this to the 'great' What's The Story (Morning Glory). Okay Morning Glory isn't that great, but it was an interesting album and average as far as Oasis is concerned. On the other hand the only memorable track here was Gem's A Bell Will Ring, which was brilliant. Note it was written by Gem, not by Noel or Liam. And again it sounded like the Beatles.Then there is Lyla. Anybody who ever owns Marconi's most popular invention will probably die out of boredom now. The first single from this album shot to the number one position in the chart. And it was a rubbish laddish song.I can never understand Oasis. Do they actually know more than five sets of guitar chords? And does Liam has any other vocals other than the constant whining about his miserable (but rich) life? Liam and Patsy. How they used to grip the nation's tabloid. Liam still makes the headlines from time to time with his latest antics, probably just to remind us that Oasis still exists. They probably do. But do they still matter? I doubt so. Only thing is we only now care more about Pete and Kate.This album just doesn't cut it for all the hype that has been thrown at us - for me at least. But then again nothing Oasis ever does. If you are into 'old school' rock bands such as Rolling Stones or The Beatles, then this album should be on your CD collection. But that is the problem innit? Oasis will forever be just pretenders to The Beatles.3/10
I love Virgin. They have these listening posts with either preloaded album tracks or those with barcode scanners that allow a shopper to try out tracks before purchasing an album. Plus they have a huge collection of diversified album collection outside specialist stores.
So I was at this Virgin store the other day. I was actually there looking for a couple of horror DVDs. I decided to give Gorillaz another go on the listening post. As reviewed here, I thought the album was a little shit, and at the end of my ten minutes of torture listening to Damon Albarn's horrific 'singing' I am standing by my conclusion that the album is still a little shit.
Then there was Coldplay's X&Y. The album isn't actually out yet but the listening post is. Listening to X&Y actually gave me goosebumps, I felt I have sinned. It was that crappy. I can see how and why Speed of Sound lost humiliatingly to Crazy Frog Axel F. The single was, despite its emotional singer, just plain bad.
And...then there was Maximo Park's A Certain Trigger. Now this is something. Something amazing that is. Despite being their studio debut, A Certain Trigger already comes in a limited edition package - inclusive of a Live in Tokyo CD. This Northern English band sure goes around. Either that or they are damn cocky. Well the Japanese aren't exactly known for their sophistication in musical taste so the bonus CD was taken with a pinch of salt and did not influence my decision to try out the album.
I do have to confess that it was pretty difficult getting through the first track. With a weird looking chap on the Oasis listening post and being surrounded by four ten-year old 'hoodies', it was a nerve wreaking experience. The fact that Virgin has placed the posts on the edge of the top floor enabling me a bird's eye view on the many passing hotties did not help either.
Signal and Signs, the first track wasn't a great opener but I sort of half expected it. Nobody puts their best track down front to be trampled upon by immature reviewers like me. Fortunately by the time I got into Graffiti, I was nodding my head positively. Unfortunately for me, those fat kids were really starting to annoy me. I would have thrown them down but it would be illegal and I didn't have the strength to hurl oversized babies.
So here I am lying on the bed listening to the album while writing the review to be published later today. Jennifer just bought a 19" LCD TFT that was a pain to set up because of a defective ATi display driver. She is a sleep now while I am free to enjoy my second run on the album.
A couple of misses but the majority are worthwhile. Graffiti was truly enjoyable while Apply Some Pressure is a catchy power rock track. I Want You To Stay with its great vocals by Paul Smith and very nice guitar interludes. The vocals are typical of Northern English accent and lacks the fake punchiness of other vocalists (like Oasis's).
With hints of the catchiness usually associated with the other eccentric band - Kaiser Chiefs and the guitar style of Bloc Party, I believe this to be a magnificent debut. Never have I actually heard anything this raw in the indie-rock scene since The Libertines stormed their way through the underground scene. The production value isn't solid but it does lend to its authencity.
The bonus live with seven tracks was weak though. It lacks some of the energy usually associated with live performances plus the sound is too 'clean', too 'perfect', as though recorded in a studio. The Japs were actually clapping! What were they thinking?
Album: 8/10
Bonus live: 4/10
"And you can catch the new series of Desperate Housewives early next year..."
That was the teaser Channel 4 gave viewers after last night's season finale.
Yes, Desperate Housewives finally ended yesterday and it was a satisfying end after months of teasing by the producers of the series and Channel 4. Episodes after episodes we were led craving for more explanations to the mysterious hidden secrets of Wisteria Lane and man did we get one.
The black comedy drama started and ended with the mystery of series narrator Mary Alice Young and the reason why she shot herself dead. For many months now, the four desperate housewives of Susan Mayer, Gabrielle Solis, Lynette Scavo and Bree van de Kamp began their investigation into the suicide of their close neighbour only to end up with a scandal, a murder, shootings, burglary and more scandals.
* spoilers ahead *
We found out that Mary Alice Young was known as Angela Forrest and she 'adopted' baby Dana from an addict called Deirdra. She changed name and along with her husband Paul Young, moved to Wisteria Lane where years later a sobered up Deirdra returned to demand the return to her children. In the row, Mary Alice stabbed her and she ended up in the toy chest.
A leading character was also killed off. And Susan is confronted by a pistol wielding Zach. While loose ends were tied, plot holes were left all over the final episodes. There are two new mysterious characters who just moved into Wisteria Lane who may or may not be criminals. Is Mike the father of Dana/Zach? Will Zach kill Mike? What will happen to Paul Young, who was actually innocent of murder?
Before the double bill finale started I boasted to Jennifer about my superior knowledge in American TV production by attempting a couple of predictions. Most of them failed but one I did hit - that of Lynette's decision to return to her former high flying executive career.
* spoilers end *
Still while I only got one out of five predictions correct it does mean that this was one of the most gripping drama that has been exported out of America for a while. The fact that it managed to replace the dull Sex and the City as a hit on Channel 4's prime slot and managed to gain a couple of male fans is a testament to the quirky show on suburban America.
Well seven more months to go before it all begins again. All is not lost though to fans of black comedy. The second series of Nip/Tuck begins on Channel 4 Wednesdays at 10.50pm from next week. And judging by the early trailer, Sugar Rush seems to be a promising local production which story is based around a sexually confused 15-year old Kim and her infactuation with sassy Sugar. That's on Channel 4 Tuesdays at 10.50pm.
My DVD-ROM has finally gone kaput. I got this more than three years ago in one of the many dodgy Tottenham Court Road shops for £50. Back then that would be considered pretty cheap. It is an OEM drive by a Taiwanese company called BTC. It was alright for the first few months but later on it started skipping. It was so frustrating that at times I had to copy DVDs first to my harddrive before watching them.
Well last night I was trying to watch Silence of the Lambs and the drive kept spinning nonchalantly. Windows XP would lock up whenever it couldn't detect the disc inside. After many tries with different DVDs I finally pronounced the drive dead.Well it gave me the perfect excuse to start looking at purchasing a DVD writer. Prices are at an all time low. This Philips for example costs 35 squid and is able to write to 8.5Gb DVD+R DL discs. Plus it has a black front. Me likes that colour. But this Toshiba seems to be a little faster especially when writing Dual Layer for the same price.To tell you the truth my knowledge in DVD writing technology is a little suspect. I do not know which is the better of the two, DVD-R or DVD+R. Reason I have been ignoring the technology was I had hoped that high capacity optical disc writing technology like Sony's Blu-Ray would be released to the UK soon. But I doubt I can wait that long.
Btw, here is a picture that probably summed up our bank holiday:
