Guy Walks Into a Psychiatrist's Office...

I've not been watching too many movies in the last few weeks as me and the other half have decided to watch The Sopranos again right from the beginning, the whole lot of 'em.  We've got the episode 3 of series 2 so far - there is so much of it I forgot about.   I watched it for the first time in 2006, around the time season 6 aired.  It had been recommend to me by several friends, before I had just dismissed it as a Goodfellas rip off/re-hash - and I never watched any TV shows at the time - I didn't have the attention span when I  could just stick on a movie and get the whole story in 2 hours.  

Then I was converted and it turns out it was arguably the best TV show ever. Ever. There's is just so much going on - rich characters, outstanding and believable acting, references all over the place to pop culture and, obviously the mafia.  And as for James Gandolfini, he really makes it complete.  If you've never got into it, give it another go.  But you need to watch, I'd say at least 3 or 4 episodes to really get it.  To the un-trained eye it can be kind of slow in places but it's so worth it in the long run. Did I mention Steve Buscemi is  in it too?  Reason enough to watch it alone!  Of course I've since got into The Wire, Dexter, The Shield, 24, Six Feet Under, True Blood - but The Sopranos remains the greatest TV drama series I've seen to date.

Don't shock Me. Scare Me.

Ok, after having watched the two movies that are suppose to be the most shocking of the year, please - can someone give me hope that there is more to offer?  I want to see a scary movie, not one that only relies on shock tactics alone.  I like blood and guts as much as the next hardcore horror fan, and maybe it's just me, but I need something more......

I saw The Human Centipede a few weeks back - allegedly the most horrific movie of the year - who says?? The fucking Sun newspaper, that's who.  It was more of a comedy-horror I thought, and it was ok, and it had a few shock value moments but surely not worthy of the this hype.  And as for '100% medically accurate' as the tag line?? Gimme a break.   The Camp German doctor was almost laughable - and as for the planned sequel - I really can't see where it can go from here. 2/5 stars.

Last week I got to see A Serbian Film.  Not really what I would consider a horror movie - yes it had a few violent and shocking moments, and I'm usually a fan of Europeon Horror - and I thought the dvd cover art was excellent. Horrific maybe, but it was surely not a horror movie.  And yes I know, this debate will carry on for ever.  I'm lead to believe that there is some kind of under-lying social commentry about the Serbian governement here but I'm not buying it, I think some critics are looking too much into it.  However this movie is interesting and worth a watch as it is a bit different.  3/5 stars.

Salt (2010)

Watched Salt last night, have to say not too impressed.  I thought it was a cross between a Bond movie and a Bourne movie, but with a female lead.  Some good looking action sequences, and it seems there's not too much CGI which is always a good thing - but I have to say it was pretty ridiculous in places.  Ok for a bit of mindless action though and for all the hype that surrounds her, Angelina Jolie makes for a decent action star, as she did in Wanted.  The story is half interesting but not quite as intriguing as Bourne.  I'd give it 2 stars.

The Devil Dogs

I just need to write something about one of my favourite, and probably one of the most under-rated bands ever, The Devil Dogs.  If you have any interest in garage punk rock you need to check these guys out.  I regret never having got to see them in person but their legacy is there for you to find on vinyl and cd - and good luck finding some of it! 

Formally known as The Rat Bastards, they existed  between '89 - '94 and recorded several full lengths and 7", every one a gem.  I first heard them on the first Cheapo Crpyt Sampler cd in about 1993, along with many other great garage bands I'd not heard before - Gories, Oblivians, Pagans and Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.  So I then managed to get hold of Big Beef Bonanza and Saturday Night Fever - both essential listening in my opinion.  You can get Big Beef on the 30 Sizzling Slabs CD, also including We Three Kings and their debut self titled LP.  But you gotta be careful which release you get of Saturday Night Fever because there's one on Crypt, and one with some bonus tracks on Sympathy For The Record Industry.  Either way you need this bad boy...

The Rockin' Crypt version 

Smokin' Sympathy version

The Devil Dogs used to get some shit for their, ahem, admittedly sometime sexist lyrics, but I think tongues are firmly in cheeks - I mean take at look at those covers for fucks sake! Do they look serious?  Anyway, along with these you should look out for any of their slew of 7" releases, namely LBMF e.p., thats Laid Back Mother Fuckers to you, a play on The Heartbreakers LAMF lp, who the DDs are clearly influenced by, along with The Ramones, The Dictators and some Phil Spector in the mix.  The split 7" with the New Bomb Turks is hard to find but well worth it - DDs do NBTs Tattooed Apathetic Boys and Turks do a DDs Medley.  The Choad Blast ep are some a few tracks that didn't make it onto Saturday Night - but that don't mean they still ain't great! Then there's the Get Down On Your Knees 7" and  Blue Moon Of Kentucky 7". There's also quite a few comp only tracks to find, and a respectable live lp No Requests Tonight.  And who could forget......Stereodrive!  Get up for rock'n'roll!

You should buy everything you can get your hands on, but you can sample it here. If anyone knows where I can get a Devil Dogs T-shirt, I'd love to know!

The Dwarves - 14/8 The Croft, Bristol

I managed to get out and see The Dwarves last week - I've loved this band for a good number of years - last time I saw them was in 1997 and they were damn good then.  Had a three band wait until they went on - missed the first, but watched Bristols own FUK featuring Gabba from Chaos UK and my mate Corb is on vox.  If you know Chaos UK, you know what yer gonna get with these guys.  '82 inspired thrash, and  no fucking about.

Next was The Dangerfields who have been the support on the tour. For some reason I'd never heard them before - think the name put me off a bit but they were a pleasant surprise - pretty much an Irish Zeke but balls out rock'n'roll was delivered.

Now for The Dwarves.  First of all, where the hell was Hewhocannotbenamed?  The legendary guitarist was strangely absent tonight - I'm well aware The Dwarves have a number of revolving members but surely the mighty Hewho should be part of the Dwarves package?  Anyway - towards the end there was an impostor that crowd surfed who was introduced as the masked mystery man, but I know for a fact it wasn't him.....anyway The Dwarves were pretty great - although it took a few songs to get the sound mix right, but they played an excellent set - lots of older numbers too with a few from the forth coming The Dwarves Are Born Again album.  I have to say I didn't really feel the menace of the old legendary dwarves gigs tonight, where-by anything could happen - there's many a story of riots and mayhem of the early days - and the last time I saw them my friend got the microphone pounded in his forehead - for grabbing Blags scrotum I believe, and quite rightly so! He is still a great front man though and they have such a good mix of raging fast punk, but with the tunes to match.  I hope the new album is better than the last though.  Too experimental for me, stick to the script boys.....

Weekend movie round up

Pretty good few days of movies - Friday watched Centurion.  I can usually take or leave these sword and sandal efforts, and this one was no different.  But as a fan of the director Neil Marshall earlier work, and the two leads, I gave it a go. While Michael Fassbender is as good as in anything else he's done, Dominic West is pretty under-used.  But for me, like his previous effort Doomsday, it relied too much on the action and gory imagery than the story.  Give me The Descent or Dog Soldiers any day.

Next was You're Gonna Miss Me (2007)- Documentary about ageing all round, literally, crazy guy Roky Erickson. The former member of the 13th Floor Elevators is clearly not all there. Interesting enough stuff but I would have preferred more info and footage from his career than present day medical analysis.  Check out his 1981 album The Evil One though, great stuff.

Saturday- watched The Secret In Their Eyes - Argentinian Oscar winner and probably rightly so - got a bit slow in places but on the whole good solid crime thriller.  Next  up was The Killer Inside Me. Michael Winterbottom's controversial update on film noir is well worth a look.  It does get violent in places, but it's not as excessive as I was let to believe.  Cast is excellent, especially Casey Affleck who is fast becoming a better bet than his older brother, although I have to say I've seen the trailer for his new one The Town and it does look promising.

Roky Erickson- Have Always Been Here Before is on the ipod on shuffle.