Review of 2007!

Well I haven't updated much of late so I thought I'd kick things off with a belated look back at my favourite things of 2007. Starting off with the ubiquitous Top Ten Films list...

TOP TEN FILMS OF 2007
Again, didn't get to the cinema as much as I'd have liked, especially in the latter half of the year, and there were plenty of films that would likely grace alot of Top Ten lists that I didn't get to see. Even still, here's my pick of the ones I did see.

10. Live Free or Die Hard
The fourth film in the relatively consistent Die Hard franchise raised a few eyebrows when it was announce - Brucey was getting on a bit and he'd chosen Len Wiseman as his director, the man responsible for the atrocious Underworld films. Would the film (known in the UK simply as 'Die Hard 4.0) be an appropriate send off for John McClane, or was it just a cheap way to push through sales of white vests? It was actually neither, and ended up being nothing more (or less) than an entertaining action flick.

9. Sicko
Another intriguing documentary from Michael Moore, goes a long way to show that America isn't necessarily the 'land of the free', and certainly far from being the land of the free healthcare. Over-exaggerates the successes of our dear old NHS but makes its point well.

8. Zodiac
Based on the true story of the Zodiac killer who stalked San Francisco in the '70s. Worth viewing solely for Robert Downey Jr's performance.

7. Hot Fuzz
Everything to say about Hot Fuzz has been said by millions of other people. An instant classic of British Comedy but over-eggs the pudding towards the end.

6. Knocked Up
First classic of the year from Judd Apatow's production company, a cross between a 'gross-out' film and a Rom-com sounds disastrous but this is no ordinary gross-out rom-com. It's a clever, sharp and witty film...

5. Superbad
...but not as clever and sharp as this. Never before have I laughed so loud in a movie theater. Comedy of the year without a doubt.

4. Breach
Amazing performances from Chris Cooper and Ryan Philippe who portray the traitorous FBI agent and the rookie out to expose him. Based, very closely I'm led to believe, on the true story of Robert Hanssen who was convicted of espionage in 2001. A cracking thriller.

3. Half Nelson
Officially a 2006 film but it came out in '07 in Australia where I saw it. Ryan Gosling portrays the young, enthusiastic but drug-addicted teacher who befriends one of his female pupils in a non-pervy way. Dramatic and touching.

2. Amazing Grace
The story of British MP William Wilberforce, a leading abolitionist of slave labour in the British Empire. Brilliant script, and worth watching to see just how little the House of Commons has changed in 200 years.

1. The Bourne Ultimatum
It's the third part of an action blockbuster trilogy and thus has no right at the top of any 'best film' list but this bucks (almost) all the trends. Expensive photography is eschewed in favour of Paul Greengrass' 'documentary' style of directing. Film of the year, action franchise of the decade.



TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 2007
As I spent most of the year travelling I didn't get much chance to get hold of new music, and when I got back in September I was playing catch-up, nevertheless, here's my top ten.

10. Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna Are You The Destroyer?
With more personal lyrics than its predecessors, it's a brave and gutsy change of pace from frontman Kevin Barnes. Maybe a touch too serious but a splendid record.

9. Phoebe Kreutz - Big Lousy Moon
New York folkie Phoebe Kreutz specializes in cute and clever lyrics with stupidly catchy melodies, and this album is a joy from start to finish.

8. Rachael Dadd - The World Outside Is In A Cupboard
Haunting effort from Bristolian Rachael Dadd, with several shades of my favourite female songwriter Lisa Germano. Rachael Dadd is fast becoming my second favourite.

7. Scout Niblett - This Fool Can Die Now
Fantastic voice and fantastic song structure, doesn't deviate in style from previous efforts but somehow manages to continue getting better. Only placed higher than Rachael Dadd because I've listened to Scout more.

6. Die! Die! Die! - Die! Die! Die!
First heard of these guys when I was in their native New Zealand last year, and coincidentally they'd just signed with Dundee's own Pet Piranha records. Noisy and dischordant and sounds fantastic.

5. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
Would win a 'best album title of the year' poll if it was up to me, felt Spoon's latest album didn't quite hit the heights of 2005's 'Gimme Fiction' but still a damn fine record from a band who seem to be revelling in the creative freedom their label is allowing them. The songs are finely tuned to the verge of perfection.

4. Emma Pollock - Watch The Fireworks
Great voice and great tunes from former Delgados vocalist. Being Scottish has earned her bonus points too. Combines pop sensibilities with ethereal moments. Splendid!

3. Les Savy Fav - Let's Stay Friends
First album in six years or something and it's clear they've been saving up. Solid, raw, but ultimately catchy.

2. McGazz - McGazzprom
Very hard to choose between this and my number one, McGazz has upped the ante with his latest (and still free to download) offering of poppy electronica. The songs are incredibly well written and has enough clever little word plays to keep you smiling every second line. The samples never detract from the overall song and are used to great effect. Catchy as fuck.

1. The National - Boxer
What can I say? Hardly the most upbeat album of the year but it is moody and anthemic in a way that Snow Patrol can only dream of. Very 'indie' but in all the right ways - an absolute joy from start to finish. Album of the year.


(Incidentally, here is my top ten of 2006, admittedly I was a bit more detailed with my reasoning last year. I can't find last years top ten albums list, probably because I forgot to write one.)

I've added a new album to the photo page, this one is from the first half of our trip around New Zealand in May. Click 'photos' on the right!

Arresting behaviour

So, London was a blast, but then it always is. I didn't actually do a great deal, I was trying to watch my money and hanging out with Callum is free anyway (despite his protests!). But now I'm back it's time to get down to the serious business of finding somewhere to live and somewhere to work. The work part should be easy - I just ring up Tesco and tell them I want to come back and they find me a position. It may take a wee while but my cash situation is okay at the moment. Finding somewhere to live might be a bit harder though - there seems to be a dearth of places that meet our requirements in Dundee. But we've got a viewing arranged for Friday so I'm optimistic about that, even if it would have been nice to have maybe two or three places to choose from.

Well, I have nothing else of interest to say, so here's a story my Mum told me this evening.

Last week sometime my Grandma was arriving home from the shops or something and was parking her car in her garage when she was aware of four young guys walking down the hill from the school that she lives near. She felt a little apprehensive - as any older person would - but tried to think nothing of it when she noticed two of the guys had disappeared. Before she had time to think about it, she realised they've just reappeared from the garage just down from hers, and one of them is riding a bike. She knows whose garage it is and decides to go up and tell her neighbour that someone has just stolen a bike from them. Her neighbour, Felicity, is outraged and wants to chase after them but doesn't have her car - her husband has it for work. "Don't worry though" says my Grandma, "I'll drive you - they can't have gone far..."


Now, my Grandma is pretty healthy and fit for someone in her mid-seventies, but the thought of her and her next door neighbour playing Starsky and Hutch is still ridiculously funny. Apparently they caught up with the boys at the end of the road whereby Felicity jumps out of the car (with my Grandma close behind "for backup") remonstrates with the youths, retrieves the bike and returns home happy.
"You should have seen them though" my Grandma complained. "They weren't the least bit shame faced about being caught..."
No, but I bet they were a bit shocked to see my Grandma steaming down the road after them in her car. Just goes to show that you can lose alot of things as you get older but pluck isn't necessarily one of them.

Weekend in London

Well, I'm off to London for the weekend tomorrow, and I'm very excited about it, for several reasons. Mainly it's because that's where my girlfriend is and we haven't seen each other in six weeks or so. But I'm also excited because I love London. In the time I spent there I was amazed by how many Londoners hadn't been to or done any of the excellent things London has to offer.

My old colleague Glenn had never been to the museums at South Kensington, never been to a West End show or caught a gig at the Comedy Store. People that have lived in London their whole life would ask me things like "So what's Greenwich like?" and "Isn't the theater expensive?". Well, Greenwich is lovely, and yes the theater is expensive but it's not like you go every week. Once a year will do fine.

It's underappreciated by the people that live there, partly because it's so full of tourists and tacky gift shops that people are maybe scared to venture out, but also because it has the worst public transport system in the world. And I'm including warzones in this. The tube is underfunded and overcrowded and buses are so random that at times you'd be forgiven for thinking they were part of a Monty Python sketch. There's also far too many cars, and it's about time they pedestrianised Regent and Oxford Streets - shopping for new shoes or a computer game should not be a risky activity, but it is in London.

But I'd implore Londoners to look beyond this - because there's always something going on. Whether it's a gig or a club or a bar or a museum you can't fail to find somewhere that you like in London, and if you're still having trouble, well, you should probably just move.

Weekend at Jimmy's

I never fail to have a good time when I visit my brother, mainly to do with the fact that I enjoy my brothers company a great deal, but also because Aberdeen has a wonderful concentration of different pubs and clubs all relatively close together in the city center. It makes pub crawls varied but easy at the same time. And as we staggered back to his flat at 3.30am on Friday night I was grateful that the alcohol coursing through my blood stream was protecting me from Aberdeen's trademark breeze.

Now, to change the subject completely, I always thought I would die knowing that the worst piece of music I'd ever heard in my life was when Avril Lavigne decided to start rapping on her last single. I almost felt embarrassed for her but the money she's made from being every thirteen year old emo kids wet dream will probably distract her from the bile that she lays down on record. But never being the sort of guys that care about things like originality or creativity, boyband McFly have stolen her crown. Oh dear god. I was watching ITV by mistake on Saturday night when they appeared (straight from a GAP advert, presumably) and filled my ears with the worst nonsense I ever hope to hear. They've taken the turgid Snow-Patrol anthem style of songwriting, digested it and vomited up an omelette of mediocrity. They couldn't look more awkward wearing those guitars if they were covered in honey and standing in a bear pit. No wonder kids aren't buying singles any more when this is the kind of guff they have to choose from.

Anyway, I feel alot better now that that's off my chest. My brother and I went to see Run Fatboy Run at the weekend, it was okay, and you can read my full review here. Click this.

Beam me up, Scotsman!

As a Star Trek fan who is also Scottish, for me the most interesting casting choice for the upcoming movie will be that of Scotty. Encouraging then, that Paramount have actually been casting in the UK, they seem to be keen to get an actual Scot to play the role as opposed to an American with a dodgy accent. The biggest name being mentioned is James McAvoy, he's the right age and his stock is fairly high at the moment. Martin Compston (of Monarch of the Glen) has auditioned, as has Chewin' the Fat's Greg Hemphill, who, at 38 is probably too old. Although he has had practise - remember the 'Taysiders In Space' sketch? "In amongst yis!"

New site!

Well, kind of. Everything is now supported and powered by Blogger as opposed to the feed I was using from LiveJournal. This is still a work in progress so bear with me but there's some photos from my recent Australia trip, click photos on the right there to have a peek.