Has Ireland finally grown up?

We had our much longed for general election here in Ireland on Friday.

A nation historically very attached to our parliamentary system, we exercised our electoral power and demolished the ruling Fianna Fáil party, reducing their representation in parliament from 78 seats to a mere 20. The Greens, coalition partners with Fianna Fáil, are now on the brink of extinction, winning no seats. They compromised their ideological integrity and appeared apparently unconcerned (up until last November) that they were helping to shore up a failing and despised government.

In power for the past 13 years, Fianna Fáil presided over the now fabled 'Celtic Tiger' boomtime, and as we now know, disasterously mismanaged it. Sadly, it has taken an economic collapse that has the country on the edge of bankruptcy to force a major shift in the political landscape.

We are attached to our parliamentary system because it was hard won, and we are, or were, attached to political parties because of lingering divisions from those days of civil war, of family allegiances four generations old. This election has shown that those parochial, 'civil war politics' can no longer work - the party entrusted with ruling this country for the good of it's people have destroyed it, and with it the shining future the young of the country were led to believe awaited.

The Republic of Ireland is a young country. Perhaps now, after civil war, terrorism, recession, boom, and more recession, the nation's imagined community has reached the end of adolescence and can begin to recover on the domestic and international stage and behave as a responsible member of the international community.

The likely coalition of Fine Gael and Labour have a very difficult job ahead of them. It will be largely thankless (just look at how Obama's doing) and having done all the hard work to get the country off it's knees, they will probably be booted out of government after two or three terms by an electorate disillusioned with further belt-tightening policies. At least, this election has shown we can hope that if Fianna Fáil do return to power one day it will be because they have policies that appeal and ideas that will work, and not because one's great-great-grandfather fought on their side over a century ago.

Rolling Stones Promote Black Ops.

Now this isn't new news, but those of you with a TV may have noticed an advertisement for the multi-million selling computer game Call of Duty: Black Ops. This excellent bit of selling candy manages to make the game seem like a movie with it's excellent choice of footage and use of editing. But what really makes the ad is the inclusion of what is probably The Rolling Stones best song, Gimme Shelter. This has seen a resurgence in interest in the song and subsequently in sales. In fact sales of the song are the highest they have been since it's release in the sixties. If you look at the comments under the multiple videos of the ad on the internet you will see a generation who were unaware of Gimme Shelter asking what this song is that so perfectly compliments the action. This is one of the savviest bits of business the Stones have done in a pretty business savvy career. Actually I was wondering why my younger brother, who had shown very little interest in music I had shoved his way, had come asking for my copy of 40 Licks. He had booked Black Ops months in advance. Mystery solved. Whatever you make of the medium of promotion, it's heartening to see the comeback of a truly brilliant song.

All hail democracy

In honour of our general election tomorrow we photographed some of the defaced posters around where we live. 

He actually looks better with the moustache.

The classic missing tooth.

Lots of these were defaced, the rebuttal nailed on top is just priceless.

My mother was a fashion illustrator...

And she was one of a very few working in Dublin in the seventies and eighties. She illustrated ads for Dublin department stores such as Switzers and Boyers and perhaps most interestingly for Penny's who had just opened and were as cheap as ever. I've been digging through her old portfolios and drawing books and found some that I thought were lovely...

Lucy Nuzum and the pictures she takes

She has a lovely way of capturing the light, movement and a sense of beautiful surreality.

See more here...

http://www.facebook.com/lucynuzumphotography

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutr

Manneken Pis "Honours" St. Patrick

The Manneken Pis, Brussels' pride and joy, is one of many landmarks "going green" this year in honour of St Patrick's Day. Around the world various landmarks including the White House and Table Mountain will be lit green on our "Brave Catholic Banishes Snakes" day. However Belgium's finest will take it a step further by donning some Irish tweed. Try and picture it.

This is the Buzz Cat

The Strokes New Song and Artwork

To follow up on my article about the new Strokes album, here is the first release from their upcoming record. Undercover of Darkness is classic Strokes. It's what people want from a band they love and grows on you every time you listen to it. Some of the mastering and the new inclusion of backing vocals show the input of the other members of the band. However this has made me really excited for the album. The artwork was revealed yesterday, check it out.

Coke addiction

News this week that Coca-Cola sales are up comes as no surprise - the stuff has some sort of addictive property. It's one product where I can definitely say that advertising is doing it's job. I just have to see one of their ads filled with mouthwatering shots of delicious looking glasses of iced coke and I want to dash out to the nearest shop and get some, preferably from a glass bottle. But just a sup or two is enough. It's not just me this is happening to, I'm hearing it from people all over the place. Have they put something new into it or has it always been this way I wonder.

Ooooooh delicious

Who wants some?

James Dean and Paul Newman Screentest

Two greats together. It's a screen test for Elia Kazan's East Of Eden, they were to play brothers in the adaptation of the John Steinbeck novel. James Dean landed the part and was subsequently nominated for an Oscar for the portrayal. Newman didn't get it. But what makes this a great bit of footage is the candid banter between the two actors. My favourite bit is when Dean says "Kiss me" to Newman. Note Dean playing with the flick knife, a weapon which would become synonymous with the kind of delinquent he would portray in Rebel Without A Cause.

Levi's New Fits.

I received a sup of spam today telling me that Levi have released three new styles of jean. Great, I am a big fan of Levi's, I think I have only one pair of jeans that aren't made by them. I am a particular fan of their 510s and of course 501s. I followed the link. I was disappointed.
First there was the awfully titled "Ex-Girlfriend Jean" an unappealing jean both in name and appearance, too legging like for anyone but emo kids. Stick to the 510s.
After this came "The Skinny Carpenter Jean". Now these are quite simply appalling and should be banished from the face of the earth.
Finally there is "The Taper Jean". A perfectly nice cut for those with the sense to avoid boot-cut and aren't into the skinny look. I feel however that they are somewhat pointless and if you are considering these just get 501s, they are a classic and will always be cool.

This place has become impossible. Nothing to eat, freezing cold and now a madman on the prowl outside with eels.

White Stripes No More

It was officially announced today that The White Stripes are no more. Jack and Meg White stated today that they were ending the band on a high note having no desire to release material that they felt would disappoint fans. This decision shows a huge amount of integrity on the part of the band. Their raw blues and rock and roll will be sorely missed in a music scene which is lacking the invigorating sound and spirit of the genre. I will miss them. This is one of my favourite moments.
They wouldn't let me embed it but nothing else would do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnBZ3MKhdOk

The Strokes New Album.

So it's finally here; after nearly five years The Strokes fourth studio album entitled Angles is due for release on March 21 in the UK and March 22 in the US. The album has been a fraught process with several sessions scrapped. The album which will hit shelves is the first of their albums to be produced by the band. It is also the first album on which the songs will have been a collaborative effort by all five members.
With the three previous albums singer Julian Casablancas was the sole writer of both music and lyrics. This has seemed to lead to resentment among the other members of the band who have demanded a creative input on this record. So this leads to the question of whether it will be good or not? Footage was released of the rest of the band in their studio sans Casablancas, he was asked to record vocals separate from the rest of the band. He was asked to leave due to his perfectionism and "making the whole experience too much like work". As a huge Strokes fan I have to wonder isn't it arrogant of the rest of the band to question and then exclude the person who is at the crux of their success and the brilliance of their previous releases? Here is the footage of the Julian-less Strokes in the studio, think of it what you will.



At the same time in an interview Julian Casablancas said that the band were only playing their summer festival dates for the money. In a recent interview guitarist Nick Valensi has said
"Everyone needed money or something. We gotta pay our mortgage so may as well get this going again." he then went on to say there are still "undertones of hostility and resentment" in the band. So let's see what happens, here is the track listing.

1. Machu Picchu
2. Under Cover of Darkness
3. Two Kinds of Happiness
4. You’re So Right
5. Taken For A Fool
6. Games
7. Call Me Back
8. Gratisfaction
9. Metabolism
10. Life Is Simple In The Moonlight