"Watergate: A Summary" & further tunes.

Only joking, the post title is only mere a connection to the fact at some point in the next few weeks i want to see Frost/Nixon. Specifically to view and look at comparisons of both leading actors, Frank Nigella for his portrayal of President Richard Nixon and Michael Sheen staring oppositely as the plucky British (bah good ol'British) journalist David Frost.

Don't get me wrong i don't doubt Nigellas skills as an actor, and from screen clips i've seen so far his performance is surely nothing short of brilliant and the most realistic impersonation i've heard in a long time of the Nix. However what i'm quite annoyed about is the current nominations for the 2009 academy awards, which rightly nominates Nigella for best male actor but for best supporting male disregards Sheens presence completely when clearly he is equally as talented.

I rarely watch tv nowadays and catch up with programs online (good ol'british invention the Internet, bah - note: i don't know if this statement is actually correct), but the past few years way before the Queen with Sheen as Tony Blair was released (which most of America seemed to soak up again his opposite counterpart Dame Helen Mirrons acting!) he is even more astounding in smaller screen roles such as his part in the tragic tale of Emperor Nero in BBC drama series Rome. Highly overlooked in most cases..which some i can agree quite a bit, but at peak points when Sheen has screen time the degree to which Nero as a character seems to be on the verge of insanity when confronting his people is a startling insight to what Sheen is clearly capable of.

So in conclusion to this news - "staff it up ya jacksy Oscar!" Although some recognition is due to the makers and actors who took part in slumdog Millionare which i also want to see at some point, showing that all good movies don't need to have a extenuous budget or 'the magic of hollywood' to produce great films.

Finally to round off here are some more tunes that are currently getting me through the exam period:

The Aggrolites - Lets Pack Our Bags

Reggae Hit L.A (2007)

Tom got me into these guys. Originally i was very cautious of this band thinking that most of the stuff would be fast ska/punk which is ok but not my personal favourite all the time. When i think of reggae and ska music i think laid back songs, simple messages, good melodies and with a bit of funk thrown in. Aggro complete this equation perfectly and i'd recommend this rising band.

This track to me is different to the rest of the songs on this record as it harks back to a lot of the early 70's records being produced, and the vocal harmonies are pretty tight and original for this type of band. Great stuff, i see great things to come.

The Bad Plus - 1972 Bronze Medalist

These Are The Vistas (2003)

Somehow i manage when going through my tracks to come back to them. And always their original debut with columbia records, being drastically different in tone of a jazz record and drastically (and critically shunned) different in the way the guys have been recorded. Overall all the tracks sound down right nasty and would guarantee to blow your head off infront of a large set of amps. I won't go on and i will start working on a large TBP post.

1972 Bronze Medalist is the tale of Jacque a french diving champion who now retired in the south of france walks proudly down to the seaside town where he lives, still wearing his swimming costume he wore all those years ago, sun shining onto his swaying bronze prize around his neck as he plods through the town to the beach with the towns people cheering him on. Dave King the drummer of TBP however mentally challenging with his compositions and multi-rhytmic talents likes a lot to compose by story, and this song uses that very well. 1 & 3 beat bar stabs make it seem like Jacque is strolling big time, and overall is the kind of song to do a victory walk to and punch the air in triumph - "giving it up for the bronze medal and third place winners".

Medeski, Martin & Wood - Chubb Sub

Friday Afternoon in the Universe (1995)

I've known of MMW a long time but only recently after listening to some Rick Wright organ music, The Wailers and Rick Waterman from Yes doing their thing on hammonds, rolands, and manic synthesizers made me realise i need to give them a chance. So after listening to a few songs on youtube this song instantly stood out to me, and when i get the chance i shall order this album. Also check out 'Uninvisible' if you want a starting point into this fine trio which has more accessible elements taking bits from hip hop and rock.