Recent Posts
Don’t underestimate the impact of “doo doo’s,” “wah wah’s” and “tra-la-la’s” in recreating and reinventing the soft pop rock and acoustic songs made popular by Nashville native Ben Folds, and the equally renowned group, Ben Folds Five over the last 15 years.
Collaborating with 14 choral groups spanning the United States of America from Washington to Wisconsin, Ben Folds gets in touch with his inner Choir Master and dares to be different with his latest album release, restoring the faith in many that being part of a choir is not always synonymous with geek as 8 part harmonies, near-perfect diction and pronunciation as well as sharp beat-boxing dominates the University A Cappella record. This departure from earlier works since his decision to go solo in 2001 marks a major change from his debut release “Rockin’ the suburbs” (2001) and last release “Way to Normal” (2008) as he goes back to school to play teacher and music mentor to students who, going by their powerful, melodically smooth and soulful sound, thrive on making music as much as he does, albeit in a much different capacity compared to thrashing the piano, throwing his head and garnering audience participation to sing with him that is seen regularly in his packed concerts.
A collaboration of this nature is not new for Folds, since working with Symphony Orchestras’ throughout America on recent tours but this time; he trades the orchestra for a cappella. Replacing potent and powerful piano for mere voices has the potential not to live up to the high standard and reputation of the man Ben Fold’s himself, however innovatively capturing the balance of emotion, meaning, irony and instrumentation manifested in Fold’s tracks, University Choirs such as Greensboro’s ‘The Spartones,’ Ohio University’s ‘Leading Tones’ and The University of Chicago’s ‘Voices in your Head’ do great justice to tracks ‘Not the Same,’ ‘Brick’ and ‘Magic’ striking a chord with many hardcore Ben Fold fans around the globe as they too, get in touch with their inner baritone, tenor, alto and soprano with the album sitting comfortably at #9 on the ITunes Music Charts in the first few weeks of its release alone.
It is hard to escape the stereotyped mould that a majority of Choirs are glued to today, however Folds attempts to break the mould and despite the odd occasion when the “doo doo’s,” “wah wah’s” and “tra-la-la’s” become a tad monotonous, the beauty of Ben Fold’s latest album release is the great range of audiences it can appeal to, including your own Grandma, if you minus the mild profanity or two. Consider the geek mentality associated with Choirs dispelled, if only all could collaborate with Mr. Folds.
British singer-songwriter Natasha Khan, better known as ‘Bat for Lashes’ is enchantingly haunting and melodically emotive and her second album entitled ‘Two Suns’ is no exception. Drawing influence from various artists over time such as the lyricism of Annie Lennox combined with a score-like quality, Bat for Lashes’ sound is invigorating and innovative in a music scene that is becoming increasingly saturated by mass produced pop.
Building on the experimental electronica, poetic piano and soft percussion eminent from her previous album ‘Fur and Gold,’ Khan continues to be musically and visually stimulating and engaging as she follows the same experimental path collaborating again with David Kosten and continuing to produce mysterious, psychedelic and soul wrenching sounds on tracks like ‘Siren Song’ and ‘Pearl Dream’ as well as acoustically endowed piano and percussion tracks such as ‘The Big Sleep’ featuring Scott Walker and ‘Moon and Moon.’
Bat for Lashes’ first track release entitled ‘Daniel’ combines dark electronica and strings with Khan’s lyrical and hypnotic voice featuring an eerie upbeat tempo reminiscent of previous tracks from ‘Fur and Gold’ such as ‘Trophy’ and ‘What’s a girl to do’.
Touring Europe at present, increasing in popularity in the UK and recently making her US debut, ‘Bat for Lashes’ is conquering the music scene with her unique and dark dream-like sound and omnipotent presence. ‘Two Suns’ is out now under She Bear, Parlophone and Astralwerks records as well as being available on Itunes.
If you could mix the comedic physicality of Billy Connelly and John Cleese, the lanky stature of Lurch from ‘The Addams Family,’ the hair growth of both Mario Bros, the sex drive of a rabbit, the style of Captain Jack Sparrow’s civilized long lost brother, the uncanny vernacular of Ben Elton, Prince Charles and Gordon Ramsay as well as the effeminacy of Dame Edna Everidge, the end-product would be nothing but diabolical and rather psychotic. In this instance however, it merely describes a mild resemblance to the ostentatious, sex addict-come-sex god, British-born and ever so controversial Russell Brand who recently performed to sold-out crowds in his stand up comedy show entitled, Scandalous.
After professing his outrageous love for blondes, the uterus, ‘spermination,’ ejaculation, threesomes and orgies in a manner that cleverly combined vulgarity and hilarity, Brand executed his scandalous routine to constant fits of laughter and dropped jaws, winning over the audience of women and their partners alike.
Touching on fame, fortune and various body parts, Brand addressed his failure at the American MTV awards, admitted to his sex and drug addiction and accepted the blame for the outrageous hullabaloo sparked by his sexual encounter with the Granddaughter of British actor, Andrew Sachs (better known as ‘Manuel’ from ‘Faulty Towers’) whilst harboring the point that there is a distinction between the angelic title of ‘Granddaughter’ and ‘Satanic Slut,’ (his sexual conquests’ dance troupe which he admits is appropriately named.)
Building on the overnight success of ‘My Booky Wook,’ Russell Brand circumvented reason and ridicule, proving to audiences that not only is he outlandish and eccentric but also a comedic pleasure to watch in more ways than one. Brand not only welcomes but attracts controversy, frenzy, and multitudes of women into his world and Scandalous was no exception!
This season is a dark time. A dark time for all. Everywhere you look, darkness inhabits the fashion world only to be distorted ever so rarely by flashes of minimal colour here and there.
I’ve fought an addiction, an addiction that has been prevalent in my life since my early years of adolescence. It is an addiction that I have grown to accept, no, not only accept, but love. This love was not easy and was reluctantly accepted after numerous bouts of resistance over many years, until now.
[ Click here to read more ]
The atypically kooky filmic style of the one and only Tim Burton is once again exhibited in his latest film, “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”. Featuring components that are ever so “Burton-esque” in his own right, every avenue of the film continues to live up to the high, amusing and abstract perceptions that the Depp-Burton collaborations have attracted over the years with films such as Edward Scissorhands, Sleep Hollow and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
The target audience for a film such as this seems to be a lot smaller compared to the audience Depp attracted for movies such as the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, but nonetheless he continues to live up to the high expectations and speculation surrounding the film. Depp’s characterisation of the Demon Barber is mesmerising, even throughout the most gruesome of scenes. His characterisation allows the audience to completely immerse themselves in the many sides of the multi-faceted character and as such find it more than difficult to turn away from the screen, even in the extremely realistic throat slitting scenes.
[ Click here to read more ]
Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening.
'Culture Carnivale' is designed to be my blank technological canvas for writing on a multitude of topics, concerns, scribbles and aspects in relation to the dynamic and constantly changing form of Popular Culture
[ Click here to read more ]
For those who are not located in Australia, the film and television industry is extraordinarily minute and is somewhat barren when it comes to big budget, high popularity mini series’, films made for television and television series’ alike. As such, when a series or film is advertised that seems to possess a considerable amount of potential, such as the current epic crime biography “Underbelly” that has attracted even more attention due to it being prohibited for air in Victoria because of an on going court case; audiences are intrigued.
[ Click here to read more ]
Over the last 4 decades, the story of the boy who never grew up has reached children and adults alike around the globe. Whether it be in form of novel or play, or the eventual transition to what is considered the original film by Walt Disney in 1953, one cannot discuss at length their childhood or adolescence without mentioning at least the story of Peter Pan; no matter what form it may have taken and the effect it has had throughout their years. For some, the effect has been merely at face value, reading,re-enacting and/or watching the story for sheer entertainment purposes; whereas others find a more profound value inherent in the story and subsequently associate themselves with a higher and more complex level of understanding of the story and the tale that is told and referred to throughout many a remake. It is these remakes that keep the story of Peter Pan alive, for entertainment value or for that something else.
[ Click here to read more ]
The atypically kooky filmic style of the one and only Tim Burton is once again exhibited in his latest film, “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”. Featuring components that are ever so “Burton-esque” in his own right, every avenue of the film continues to live up to the high, amusing and abstract perceptions that the Depp-Burton collaborations have attracted over the years with films such as Edward Scissorhands, Sleep Hollow and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
[ Click here to read more ]
Every season we, as consumers of fashion, are bombarded by particular styles and trends deemed fashionable by high fashion brands and institutions on the catwalk. Many of these styles and trends are exquisite in their design and make, but there are always some designs that really make an audience as the consumer think… “What the?!”
As fashion conscious citizens we continue in our attempts to replicate these trends so as to remain up-to-date and to resist the fear of slipping into that dreaded category that many fall into everyday… the dreaded title of “unfashionable”. (bom, bom, BOM!) [ Click here to read more ]
|
|
|
Add Comments
Read More
Comments (1)
Comment by Latoyah
on Michael Clayton (2007) - Trailer Included
Culture Carnivale
Your blogs and posts are great, looks like you've been a member for a long time! Im still new to this, but it looks very good indeed.
Thanks for reading, means a lot!
Latoyah