Rostam Batmanglij

I have been a fan of Vampire Weekend since their debut single way back in 2007. What always captivated me about this band was their ability to make pop music that had almost classical sensibility. It was intelligent music for the masses. Now the secret behind that classical sensibility is out. Rostam Batmanglij, the keyboard player and general multi-instrumentalist of the band, has released a song on his soundcloud page. I found it completely by accident this morning and have been listening to it almost none stop since.

The song is called Wood and has an almost Wes Anderson movie soundtrack feel. A good thing I reckon. So if you do one thing today follow the link at the end of this post. It will lead you to this wonderful song and also to Rotsam's Tumblr which is just charming. It makes me want to tour in the apparently genteel way that he does. Enjoy.

http://rostam.tumblr.com/

Covers that are better than the orignals: Part II

I heard the Dublin Gospel Choir's version of Mumford and Sons 'The Cave' for the first time today. It's a perfect example of a cover that's better than the original (see previous post). Mumford and Sons embody everything that is wrong with the 'nu-folk' movement with their stupid clothes and their stupid excessive use of the banjo and faux-folkness. But, they've written some good songs. I just can't listen to them because the band themselves are so annoying. This version makes it possible. So for anyone else out there who finds themselves strangely drawn to the song but can't bear to listen to it's creators sing it, here's an excellent alternative. What harmonising!

Lisa Hannigan-Knots.

Great new video from Lisa Hannigan. The song isn't too shabby either. I particularly like at the end where someone shouts "Okay, take two!" watch it and you'll see why.

How to foil an iPhone thief

There have been a spate of iPhone thefts around Dublin lately. Mostly, women are being targeted by young fellas on foot or on bikes who effectively stalk them for some time to determine whether the phone is really an iPhone. Apparently they have a high resale value, despite the assumption that once they're stolen and shut down by your network they all but self destruct.

A few months ago some little runt came running up behind me as I was walking up Eustace Street in Temple Bar. I was writing an email on my phone so had been walking along slowly for some time. Having heard of these thefts I was clutching my phone more tightly than normal, and that's probably why I still have it. But I like to think it's because of what happened next.

He ran at me from the side, grabbing hold of the phone as he passed and pulled at it with two hands. I ROARED at him with all the rage and fire of adrenalin, called him many unprintable names and possibly flailed at him with my legs. He finally gave up and ran off onto Dame Street hopefully feeling extremely sheepish for not being able to rob a phone from a girl. My phone bears the scar of a scratched screen cover and I grip it with all my might walking around town.

So, if you hear the patter of juvenile delinquent feet as you walk through town, iPhone aloft here's what to do:

1. Grip phone with iron fist

2. Terrify the little bastard with a roar so great you vibrate

3. Run after him and knock him to the ground and sit on him until the police show up (you may be there some time), if you're in heels all the better - pin him down with the point.

4. (Optional) Become a vigilante foiler of iPhone thefts.

I walked around town for the next couple of hours positively bristling with rage, ready to attack any brat who remotely resembled the attempted thief. When I went back to work later that day, word had spread and of course, someone grabbed me from behind and shouted "GIMMIE YOUR PHONE!" I nearly punched him.

Celebrity Mugshots

The wild pair that we are, Alex and I were at a table quiz last Tuesday. In one round we were presented with a selection of celebrity mugshots and asked to name them. Needless to say we found this to be highly entertaining and went trawling the internet for more mugshots. Here are some of the best we found. Particular favourites are the one with Hugh Grant and that prostitute. He looks unbelievably sheepish. Also Steve McQueen and Jane Fonda making the most of their moments. Frank Sinatra just looks as cool as they come. As for Johnny Depp we aren't sure of this is from one of his films or if it's real.

We did not win the quiz...

Handsome Furs - tonight - Whelans

Canadian husband and wife duo Handsome Furs (Dan Boeckner and Alexei Perry) return to Dublin tonight with a new album, Sound Kapital in tow. Months of touring has driven the pair to almost entirely abandon their guitar driven electro-rock for a more up-tempo, synthtastic sound. Their travels in Eastern Europe and the Far East have inspired a cacophany of sound that reflects the hot, bright, noisy metropolises of those regions. See them at Whelan’s tonight for a turbulent, beat driven, sweaty gig, like some sort of 21st century version of a riotous underground gig in 1980s East Berlin. Listen to Repatriated and Cheap Music to get into the album, but here’s hoping they play some of the excellent tunes from their first album Plague Park as well.

 

First published here.

My Week with Marilyn

Much has been made of this film and a trailer has not even been released yet. It can't be denied that Marilyn Monroe is one of the twentieth centuries greatest icons. Her appeal holds to this day due to her style, image, sex appeal and talent. Never fully realised, her talent was often hampered by her personal life. There have been endless biographies and documentaries aiming to give that all important insight into her world. However there has never been a film adaptation of any period of her life until now.


Directed by Simon Curtis My Week with Marilyn follows Monroe as she escapes the shackles of Hollywood and embraces British life with Colin Clark, an employee of Laurence Olivier who was assigned by him to keep an eye on her while filming The Prince and the Showgirl. The script has been adapted from Clark's diaries by Adrian Hodges. With an all star cast that includes Kenneth Branagh, Dominic Cooper, Judi Dench and Emma Watson, all eyes will be on Michelle Williams who will play Monroe. Unfairly she is most famous for her relationship with the late Heath Ledger, yet Williams has made quite a name for herself as a subtle and daring actor throughout her career. She has two Oscar nominations and yet is not a true household name. The most interesting thing about her as a choice for Monroe is that she has made a point of not cashing in on her sex appeal as an actress. For her to play one of the greatest sex icons of all time is a brave move on both her and the directors part. With very little circulating about the film I will leave you with stills and the rumour that Michelle Williams is the one to watch for Best Actress at the Oscars.