Review: Claire Bowditch at The Hi-Fi for Tom Magazine

Clare Bowditch and The New Slang/ Glenn Richards/ Little Scout

The Hi-Fi 08/10/2010 

 




















Clare Bowditch brought her ‘Lady Garden’, her Julia Gillard impersonation and an unfortunate case of "throatitis" to her set at West End’s The Hi Fi, touring her fourth release, Modern Day Addiction. Opening acts, local four-piece Little Scout, and Glenn Richards of Augie March, got a raw deal, as the rain seemed to keep most of the punters at bay. By the time The Hi-Fi’s glowing steps started filling, Glenn Richards’ evocative set, pre-empting his solo record release next month, was already winding down. Even the ears attentive to Richards’ considerable vocal work wouldn’t have heard too much over the din of rest of the crowd, concerned with finding a spot to perch or a drink. Following final number, ‘This Train Will Be Taking No Passengers’ the relaxed chatter from the lounging crowd grew until the stage lit up nearly twenty minutes later.

Review: 'Flamingo' by Brandon Flowers for Tom Magazine

I have been busy with Frock Paper Scissors (which is entering an exciting stage at the moment - it's starting to come together!) so haven't done much else recently, bar a few reviews.

BRANDON FLOWERS

Flamingo-Deluxe Edition (Island/ Universal)
Flowers takes a gamble with this Vegas vs. Jesus themed solo record, presenting a somewhat-wilted version of what could have been. On Flamingo, The Killers’ frontman goes it alone for the first time, telling the story of Las Vegas, Nevada, where he spent much of his formative years. More than with any of his work with The Killers, the influence of Flowers’ strong religious beliefs is also evident. With such different circumstances and style than his previous offerings, the record is more reflective and acoustic, but not as bright, or memorable as it should be.

The temptation and sin of Las Vegas provides a perfect contrast for tales of loss, desolation, and ultimate redemption. It’s then fair to expect the multiple gambling and ‘neon-light’ references that pepper the ambitious lyrics. Opening track ‘Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas’, ‘On the Floor’, ‘Only the Young’, as well as lead single, ‘Crossfire’ all seem to touch on a limbo-like physical or emotional state, the search for faith or your place in the world. Then there are lovelorn pleas and narratives to add to the metaphor-heavy mix

Unexpected highlights are the close-to-anthemic ‘Jilted Lovers and Broken Hearts’, and ‘Magdalena’, where beautiful lyrics and a classic Flowers chorus meets gospel, and they are on agreeable terms. The only possible reason to pick up the extended Deluxe Edition, which boasts four extra tracks - mostly country-twanged rock - is for ‘Jacksonville’. "The sky was blue and the night was all I wanted/ Let me be your comet, I will fly", Flowers sings on the well-packaged track.

He has the sweeping melodies, and clever, yet ostensibly touching lyrics perfected;  there’s some great vocal work and guest spots by Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley. There’s something about the clean-edged Flamingo, however, that leaves me wanting; it dies down into radio fodder just when you think it’ll pick up.
(Anna Angel)

Updates and inspirations: Frock Paper Scissors

Being the editor of Frock Paper Scissors online has been full on: hundreds and hundreds of emails, lots of chasing up different people, and liaison with various departments who all have their own agendas, contributors blowing you away with their creative talent, or going AWOL. This is exactly what I had expected, and it's been very rewarding.

I think even as a writer, it makes me appreciate how many hands my work passes through, and how much behind-the-scenes work happens after I've submitted copy. I think if nothing else it's make me consider that all editors have standards, and deadlines to strive for, and are juggling so much in any one day that it's often nothing personal if your work doesn't make the cut. I'll also never again be too afraid to clarify something, to email an editor with questions about the work I'm submitting or what's expected of me, as the worst thing I've found is people who don't ask for help when they need it.

I've also discovered that fashion kids do everything with style, not just clothing.

 Golf clap for my learning curves?

Interview: Joel Edmondson for Rave Magazine

Interview with Joel Edmondson in Issue 959.

JOEL EDMONDSON chats to ANNA ANGEL about his departure from Brisbane, and the record that’s seeing him return.


Joel Edmondson might have been a pivotal player in the formation of one of Brisbane’s best-loved live venues and labels in Lofly Hangar, but he hung up his Brisbane boots last year in favour of Melbournian loafers. Originally performing with his band under the name of Calvara, Edmondson returns this month to launch his debut full-length record, Invisible Steps. This is not, however, a sign of a permanent homecoming.

“You stay somewhere for as long as it suits you and I do want to embed myself in the scene here,” Edmondson says. “It takes time for people to know who you are.”

He says that while Brisbane will always be home, “once you’ve played Ric’s and The Troubadour so many times, it feels like you can only reach so many people.

Read the article here.

Review: 'Easy A' for Tom Magazine

Whoops! Forgot about this one, was published on Tom Magazine last week.
Easy A

Director: Will Gluck.
Starring: Emma Stone, Amanda Bynes, Penn Badgley, Dan Byrd.
Reviewed By Anna Angel.
Fodder for pun-embracing reviewers like myself, Easy A calls for an old-school style of grading. Gluck makes a near-faultless pass at smart modern comedy - self-referential and tinged with an obvious nostalgia for yesteryear, with imperfect and therefore likeable characters - but falls short of flying colours. The film is the strongest release in its genre perhaps all year, however it relies too much on its predecessors, particularly John Hughes’ teen masterpieces, seeming content to pay homage rather than blaze a new trail. Let’s call it a big, red, embroidered A-minus sewn onto Ferris Bueller’s t-shirt, with extra credit for the talented and sassy cast.

Review: 'The Disappearance of Alice Creed' for Tom Magazine

The Disappearance of Alice Creed

Director: J Blakeson.

Starring: Gemma Arterton, Martin Compston, Eddie Marsan.

Reviewed By Anna Angel.
Paranormal Activity taught us you don’t need a blockbuster budget and CGI effects to keep audiences in suspense. The Disappearance of Alice Creed, by J Blakeson, pipes up that you don’t need a spacious or varied set, or more than a few players, either. This British film borrows a formulaic kidnap scenario  -  but how it unfolds from there is worth discussing. Or, it would be, if it wouldn’t ruin the movie for you. All I can say is that when Danny and Vic, your thugs for the evening, go to kidnap and hold Alice Creed, a millionaire’s daughter, for a large ransom, it doesn’t quite go to plan. Vague enough for you? 

Read more at TOM Magazine.

Review: 'Love at First Bite' for Tom Magazine.

For Tom Magazine. This is possible the most tentatively-linked Twilight merch available.

Title: Love at First Bite  -  The Unoffical Twilight Cookbook

By: Gina Myers

Publisher: iUniverse

Reviewed by: Anna Angel
Like oversized boom boxes and most hipster fashion, Love at First Bite: The Unofficial Twilight Cookbook straddles the line between ironic statement and practical use. I can’t speculate whether the Twilight merchandise industry (I think they’ve formed their own union) based on Stephanie Meyer’s saga, is too oversaturated for this cookbook to appeal to its target market. It is, however, quite amusing in a ‘coffee table collection of Lolcat pictures’, kind of way. Author Gina Meyers attempts to take the reader through a culinary exploration of every food ever mentioned in the series, plus some basic recipes renamed to sound vampiric.

A disappointing omission is the food choice of the Cullen family, which would have helped determine that this is indeed meant as a smart satire on the ridiculous list of unofficial Twilight goodies available. After the dismal failure of the new Vampires Suck movie in the US, maybe this is what we’ve all been craving? At the back of the cookbook, a list of cast members for all three Twilight movies and a guide to having your own Twilight party are included. Are they merely fighting for the bucks of Aunt Glenda who knows nothing about her preteen nieces except that they heart Taylor Lautner, thus gifting them the one related thing they won’t already have? What of the large list of cocktails, with names like ‘Bella Loves Edward Punch’, the highly alcoholic, ‘Never Die’, and ‘Charlie Swan Sergeant Drink’?

Interview: Josh Pyke for Basement Birds, Rave Magazine

Interview with Josh Pyke for The Basement Birds. Issue 953.

ANNA ANGEL develops a bit of a crush on one fourth of the BASEMENT BIRDS project, singer-songwriter JOSH PYKE, and discovers that getting four established musos together in one place is harder than having them collaborate on a record.


Since the days of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, the term ‘supergroup’ has come to mean any number of vaguely accomplished musicians coming together in any fashion to whack out a record. The original sense of the word is making a fighting recovery with the introduction of Basement Birds, a harmonious union of four renowned Australian artists. The group comprises Kevin Mitchell (Bob Evans, Jebediah) up-and-coming singer-songwriter, Steve Parkin, Eskimo Joe’s frontman, Kavyen Temperley and singer-songwriter, Josh Pyke. While not the most obvious mix of sounds and personalities, Pyke assures it was a “pretty organic meeting of minds, on the creativity side of things”.

Updates and inspirations: Frock Paper Scissors Magazine - Online Editor 2010

I am very excited to be announced as Frock Paper Scissors Online Editor for this year. Working with a team of eds, we will be in charge of the web component of the magazine. Keep tabs of our progress here. It's going to be an amazing experience.

Review: Splendour in the Grass 2010 for Tom Magazine

Did a festival wrap up for Tom Magazine, the amazing folk who sent me to Splendour this year, and to stop the problem that I had last year, where the mammoth review took up the whole page, I'll just use a link this time. It was a three and a half day event, mind you. Read of the adventures here.

Splendour In The Grass 2010

Woodford 29.7.10 to 1.8.10

This year’s Splendour In The Grass festival, which marks the tenth anniversary for the revered music and arts event, has been discussed for months. The excitement has been tangible since the line up was announced, and it was revealed the event, temporarily moved to Woodfordia in Queensland, would now be over three days. This year everything seemed oversized - more acts, more venues, a larger labyrinth of an event site and thousands more tickets (from around 18,000 to 30,000). Long time attendees were complaining it wouldn’t be the same with such a large crowd, and with such commercial elements as a tent city dedicated to shopping and a day spa. They were right, after all, but with a line up like that, nobody would opt out just to avoid the raving, singleted, beer-stacking festival tools. When all was said and done, the memories you left with in the stagnant rows of cars early on Monday morning would be worth putting up with a lot worse. There were more standout acts than can be listed, but headliners included Ben Harper and Relentless 7, The Temper Trap, Grizzly Bear, Scissor Sisters (pictured), The Strokes, Band of Horses, Midnight Juggernauts, Empire of the Sun, Mumford and Sons, and Pixies.


The imminent crowd control issues became obvious in the wee hours of Thursday, as the punters struggled to secure a camping spot, and those already set up camp tried in vain to rest up for the days ahead. By Friday night, the site was buckling under the pressure of a mind-boggling number of sweaty bodies. Navigating the crowds turned out to be the only downside of the extended weekend, aside from doing a mad dash in the middle of a set, elbowing your way through to see another ‘must see’ act scheduled at the same time. Anyone who got tired of being a human sardine had numerous tents to chill in, though, from the Chai Lounge, to foam parties and workshops, to the returning Tipi Forest and Guzman Y Gomez tent. The best way to get your money’s worth though, was to get in amongst the throng, and carry your mid-strength drink of choice gingerly.