May 2013

A follow-up is inevitably going to be compared to the first one, right? And in Shortstraw’s case, You’re Underfed, I’m Wonderful is a highly-rated and popular debut album to live up to. Listening to their follow-up, Good Morning, Sunshine, it’s a relief to hear that they’re hitting all the familiar notes and delivering more of the same good old Shortstraw that we gave an MK Award to.

Robert Downey Jr.’s stumbled narration in Iron Man 3‘s opening seconds makes it immediately apparent that director Shane Black (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang) took over the ‘Iron Man’ franchise from Jon Favreau. Aside from a new director’s touch, the filmmakers also incorporated some lessons from recent successes in the superhero genre.

Review: Munkinpure – A Different Kind Of Beat

They’re called Munkinpure. Which reminded me of boo!’s self-invented genre, Monki punk. Are they a tribute band? A cross-dressing glam punk trio? Actual monkeys playing instruments?

No, no, and (very unfortunately) no.

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May 6, 2013 0

The positive outlook flowing from their lyrics make Red Light Stereo an easy-on-the-heart listening experience. Elements of dance music, like the drumming in What I’ve become, pull them slightly away from the exact middle of the pop-rock genre, while still staying firmly within the bounds. And different sounds, often reminiscent of bands like Coldplay, differentiate the tracks from one another. Running for now, for example, has a distinct melody running throughout, that won’t allow me to stop thinking of Coldplay’s pianos.
Four tracks might not be enough for everyone to display all aspects of their music, but Red Light Stereo seems to have used the EP format pretty well – these tracks show off their abilities, and has more than enough variety to keep listeners going for 15 minutes. The band seems technically flawless. Clear, distinct guitars, vocals, and harmonies, with consistent and balanced drums create an easy and radio-friendly sound.

All the checkboxes can be ticked off for Red Light Stereo. They did it, and they did it right. But right isn’t always best. They pop-rock in just the right way, and influences like Coldplay, The Naked and Famous, and One Republic are obvious. But it feels like they’re lacking something special. Maybe the X-factor that an alternative rock edge would bring. Or more aggressive guitars. Maybe just lyrics that speak to me, personally. If straight, healthy, pop-rock that your mother would approve of turns your wheels, Red Light Stereo provides. These are skilled musicians that will pop-rock your pop-socks off.

MK Awards 2013

I’m waiting for a beer at the bar at the State Theatre in Pretoria. They don’t have my brand. Probably cause the joint is too classy for me. But I saw it coming, so I settle for the only beer they have. While the barman is opening the bottle and pouring lemonade into little plastic cups, he asks “So… how was the show?”
“Good,” is my first reaction. But that’s a bit bland, so I embellish with “Tight. Smooth. Well-organised, you know.”
Trying to read his facial expression, I can’t tell if he’s satisfied with the answer. But I still have to pay for my drink, so he asks “Who won?”
What a hard question. Who won the MK Awards? They don’t exactly give out an “MK Award to rule them all.”
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May 4, 2013 0

Review: Anna Karenina [Themovieroom.co.za]

Joe Wright knows what he’s doing. His previous films, like ‘Atonement’ and ‘Hanna’, are certainly examples of excellent directing. In those films, as well as ‘Anna Karenina’, the actors’ performances, narrating cinematography, exquisite art direction, inspired sound design and top-notch editing is smoothly blended into first-class entertainment.

Wright is not only a good storyteller, but also a master of using all the filmmaking tools at his disposal in interesting ways, and he delivers movies that are more, bigger, or different than what is expected.