Miss A...So Addictive - Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse

Back to Black

When I first saw the image of a big-hair woman (think Marge Simpson) with thick lashes, I laughed. This woman looks like a total wreck and joke. What I didn't know was that I would eventually be addicted to Amy Winehouse's Back to Black. Like the last song on the album, she's like a drug herself.

Unabashedly loud and trendy, Amy Winehouse has the sort of smothering voice that absolutely belittles her 23 years of age. Back to Black has the voice and soul sensibilities of a mature veteran. But here, we have a young woman bucking all the current trends in R&B without the need for senseless featued rap guest star and dishing out all the unsavoury aspects of her misaligned life thus far. And that's the richness and diversity of the album.

Amy rocks and she knows it. She sings of love and pain from personal experience, all nothing we have not heard of but she does it so well in that old swinging 60's Motown style that every beat and note eventually gets stuck in that head of yours. Think of Rehab, you can't help but dance to that addictive beat. Think of You Know I'm Not Good and you might also feel that her unfaithfulness is justified. He Can Only Hold Her, Back to Black and the bonus Addictive further consolidates her position as the new star! (A)

Quirky Webby

We have seen websites that you can send greetings to others.Now, there's even one that sends greetings to yourself...

Yes, to yourself indeed... For $0.99, it seems that the website will send you a customized message to brighten your day. Sounds quirky!

Anyone willing to give it a shot?

Patrick Wolf: Magic Magic!

Patrick Wolf

The Magic Position

Along with Feist's The Reminder and Mika's Life in Cartoon Motion, Patrick Wolf's 3rd outing The Magic Position is nothing short of being charismatic. The album is a whimsical mix of electro-pop, dance, rock and classical music. As an young artiste who single-handedly plays over 40 instruments, his music is immediately varied and arresting.

The opener Overture begins with some serious deep beats before breaking into a rock song. The title track is a boisterous child-like track that brings with it a cheerful disposition. Accidents and Emergency contains an irresistible hook consisting of horns and sirens. Magpie perfectly demonstrates his classical leanings. His deep baritone voice is a stark contrast to his flamboyantly loud image on the album art.

With The Magic Position, Wolf shakes off the dark imagery of his previous releases and emerges with greater faith and conviction. One of the year's best! (A+)

The Timely Reminder

Feist

The Reminder

With The Reminder, Feist wants us to remember her, for good that is. And what a timely reminder and follow-up to 2004's splendid Let It Die. The Canadian chanteuse produces yet another solid masterpiece that's both delightful and melancholic.

The uniqueness of her deep sensual voice works well for the tracks. Several of the tracks have a jazzy feel to them such as the breezy So Sorry which finds Feist in an apologetic mood after the departure of a lover. Soon, the mood is lifted with the upbeat I Feel It All. Then there's the ode to her man My Moon My Man and the slightly achy-break The Limit To Your Love.

At the end of the record, it feels like a feast on the ears. The Reminder further cements Feist's position as a talented solid-songwriter of the 2000's. (A+)

Charged Björtage

Björk

Volta

Seeing the cover of Volta where Björk is clad in a bird-like suit, one can't help but think of the weird outing she made in the form of Drawing Restraint. In 2007, Björk has decided to re-embrace the earthly land by presenting Volta. While Volta is not groundbreaking, it returns Björk to more familiar ground with tracks that borrow from each of her albums from the past.

First single Earth Intruders, a song that seemingly talks about aliens but is really about humankind, is the result of an unlikely collaboration with Timbaland. Vaguely resembling the hot beats that Timbaland so often churns out for popular artists like Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake, Intruders is a quick and urgent track that gets one trampling along to its infectious beat. Second single Innocence should please a few more fans for its Homogenic and Post infusion. Similarly, it boasts of a thumping bassline that is strangely irresistible. I See Who You Are with the traditional Chinese instrument, Gu-zhen, could be what an extension of Vespertine might sound like. Dull Flame of Desire and My Juvenile, featuring guest vocalist Antony Hegarty from Antony and the Johnsons, are mesmerizing for Björk's quirky vocal and Antony's Thom-Yorke like sound complements each other. Vetabrae by Vetabrae represents an outtake of Restraint.

Volta, in short, is highly charged and intriguing. It's Björk's most accessible album since Homogenic and truly a welcome addition to her vast and competent catalog. (A)

The American Schizo

Tori Amos
American Doll Posse

Like the cover of the album and its concept, American Doll Posse renders Tori Amos a schizophrenic of sorts. Most tracks sound brimming with energy and life but find Tori divided in direction, singing from the persepectives of 5 different women (Santa, Pip, Isabel, Clyde and Tori) . Splendid tracks include the country-sounding Big Wheel, the upbeat Bouncing Off Clouds, the melancholic Dragon, Dark Side of the Sun and an extremely solid bonus track Miracle that should have been on the album.

Interspersed along the way are short interludes of which several like Programmable Soda and Fat Slut resonates brilliantly. Elsewhere on the album, the tracks feel indistinguishable after several listens, relegating them to an almost-elevator music-like status. This is somewhat unfortunate since these tracks may stand well on their own but on an ambitious concept album like Posse, the results are often mixed.

The problem with Tori Amos these days is a lack of a distinct direction. Her last two efforts Scarlet's Walk and The Beekeeper already suffered from thin and repetitive melodies. It's disappointing that Tori has not been able to return to form with an album that measures up to her 90's body of work.

Children of Hope

Children of Men
Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine, Claire-Hope Ashitey
Adapted and Directed by Alfonso Cuarón

Children of Men has a lot going on in it - political insurgence, mistrust, racism and the end of humankind. Set in a surreal futuristic world, jaded bureaucrat Theo played by Clive Owen becomes an initially reluctant activist when his ex-wife played by Julianne Moore ropes him in to escort a black woman who is pregnant with the first child in 18 years to safety.

The journey is fraught with danger and violence as a political uprising is taking place and various factions are vying for the unborn child. Julianne Moore's role is short lived (as she dies in a gunshot battle) but pivotal in the film's development. Clive Owen, as usual, displays his flair for brooding characters as the righteous protector of humankind. Michale Caine who plays the scientist that Theo can turn to is surprisingly witty. Still, I think the protagonist of the film, Kee played by the fresh-faced Claire-Hope Ashitey deserves more praise than is given. Her sublime performance as the mysteriously pregnant girl is both strong and hopeful.

The film may be about the end of the world but the birth of the first child in 18 years is akin to the rebirth of Christ and the start of a new world. Alfonso Cuarón's Children of Men is ultimately engaging and also thought-provoking. (A+)

Noteworthy Scandal

Notes On A Scandal
Judi Dench, Cate Blancett
Directed by Richard Erye

One of the best films 0f 2006 mostly fueled by searing performances from its two leads Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett, Notes on A Scandal is a top-notch dramatic tale of obsession and desire.

Dame Judi Dench gives an exquisite performance as an overbearing and scheming elderly lesbian, Barbra Covett, whose love for her objects of desire very often borders on the side of maddening fixation. And it's no different with new teacher colleague, Sheba Hart, played by Blancett. There begins Barbra's intense feelings toward Sheba until she discovers Sheba's infidelity towards her husband by having an affair with a 15-year-old teenage student. Dench's character then works to keep the friendship with Sheba by emotionally blackmailing her. Dench's performance is every bit riveting and powerful as her expressions fully convey her strong will to make Sheba hers by going all the way out. Barbra must be the one of the most repulsive lesbian stalker on screen.

Cate Blancett is very competent as the weak-willed Sheba who gets herself into a dilemma that threatens to destroy both her career and family. While she juggles to keep her secret, prevent her family from falling apart and placating the elderly Barbra, her character seemingly has to either relent to Barbra's demands or head straight into her arms.

While the film contains not even an onscreen kiss between the both, the scene where Barbra tries to seduce the helpless Sheba by feeling down her hands is enough to invoke lust and sensuality.

This is truly a masterful film with solid acting performances. (A)

My Year's Best Films

Babel
Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu
Starring Brad Pitt, Kate Blanchett, Rinko Kikuchi, Adriana Barraza, Guillermo Arriaga

One of the two subtle yet powerful films (the other being Little Children) of 2006, Babel is a cleverly scripted, beautifully acted tale of communication (more the lack of it) across different cultures. Along the lines of Crash and Little Children where the story is interlocked by characters who are related to one another in one way or the other. Where the actors all have limited screen time alloted to them, each gave solid performances especially Rinko Kikuchi whose vulnerability leads to vicarious sexual abandonment.

Little Children
Directed by Todd Field
Starring Kate Winslet, Patrick Wilson, Jennifer Connelly

Todd Field succeeds once again with his delicate treatment of the original book. Despite all the pain, loss and heartbreak, the film leaves a feeling of hope as it ends with the trusty advice, "You can't change history, but the future is a different story. You have to start somewhere." Starring the impossibly impeccable Kate Winslet (Golden Globe Best Actress nominee).

V For Vendetta
Directed by James McTeigue
Starring Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving

V (Hugo Weaving) fights oppression in a futuristic totalitarian society using terrorist antics while enlisting the help of a young lady (Natalie Portman) from the secret police. Powerful performances and stellar screenplay courtesy of the Wachowski Brothers bring the Alan Moore novel to life.

The Devil Wears Prada
Directed by David Frankel
Starring Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt
The otherwislight and frivolous novel by Lauren Weisberger is transformed into an entertaining film about the seemingly shallow world of fashion and personal beliefs. All made possible by a stellar performance from the incredibly believable and utterly cold Meryl Streep as Runway magazine editor Miranda Priestley as well as a strong supporting cast of Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci.


Little Miss Sunshine
Directed by Jonathan Dayotn & Valerie Feris
Starring Toni Collette, Greg Kinnear, Abigail Breslin
Lighthearted, quirky and ultimately heartwarming film about an ultra dysfunctional family beating all odds on a road trip to enter their youngest daughter in a beauty pageant. Great performances and a wacky finale from the vivacious Aibigail Breslin make this the indie comedy-drama of the year!



Blood Diamond
Directed by Edward Zwick
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly, Djimon Hounsou
Well-crafted storyline about the politics of illegal diamond trade with loads of tough action and sobbing melodrama makes Blood Diamond an absolutely absorbing watch. Diamonds may be a girl's best friend but you may have second thoughts about buying the next one if you care about what happens in reality in order for many of those diamonds to surface.

My Year's Best Music

ALBUMS

Thom Yorke, The Eraser

The year saw Radiohead end their contractual obligation with their record company. While the group's future took a backseat, Thom Yorke gallantly released a solo album which made everyone wonder what took him so long. The Mercury Prize-nominated album consists of electronic beats and dark melodies that underline Yorke's enormous talent.


Damien Rice, 9
Coming three years after O, 9 may seem questionable to some as a worthy follow-up. Well, the truth is and many don't know, it is every bit the undisputable successor to O. Dark, brooding and lyrically emotive, Rice has expanded his sound to reveal slight rock leanings though the evocative and heartwarming ballads still resound long after they are played.



Snow Patrol, Eyes Open
It took these guys 3 albums and some song licensing to hit series Grey's Anatomy to score gold both in their homeland and the US. Their 4th album Eyes Open comes across as the most polished of the lot and lead man Gary Lightbody sings of the confusion in relationships like you would feel it. Great hooks and poignant lyrics make this one of the best breakout records of the year.


Muse, Black Holes and Revelations
Epic-sounding Muse returns with Black Holes and Revelations like seasoned rock stars. There's just about everything they have tried. That includes the minimalist angst of opener Take A Bow, the heady space-disco of Supermassive Black Hole, the grandness of Invincible and the New Wave synth of Map of The Problematique. With so much that Freddie Mercury and his band would have approved of, Muse prove their case as to why they are big back in the UK.


Justin Timberlake, FutureSex/LoveSounds
Mouseketeer-turned-respectable musician Justin Timberlake spares no effort on making his sophomore album a grand affair. Working with the everywhere Timbaland, the line between funk and sensuality is blurred and the resulting concoction is fatal (is like what you get when Michael Jackson meets Prince). Makes you wanna groove, jive and gyrate to every single beat.




Fiest, Open Season: The multi-faceted Fiest has her original Let It Die album remixed with great splendor. Featuring remixes from K-OS and The Postal Service. Postal Services' remix of Mushaboom is the best hybrid to have spawned in this collaboration.





Basement Jaxx, Crazy Itch Radio
Just when everyone thought the duo had floundered a little with Kish Kash, they prove us wrong by kicking a big ruckus with their 4th effort Crazy Itch Radio. Ranging from diva-like OTT tunes to hip-hoppy dance and straight- out electronic, Basement Jaxx invites us on the dancefloor with flair and little effort. A classic return to glory which was criminally ignored.


KT Turnstall, Eye To The Telescope: Better late then never. KT finally lands herself in the limelight by rocking like a true folk rock chick. Suddenly I See and Black Horse and the Cherry Tree are two of the mesmerizing tunes off her debut. A resplendent live rendition of Missy Elliott's Get Ur Freak On on BBC Radio 1 can be found on one of the Suddenly I See singles.

Charlotte Gainsbourg, 5:55: French-actress and occasional singer sings to the sounds of Air and Jarvis Cocker though the record might be mistaken as an Air album. Still, the touch is unmistakable.



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SONGS

Thom Yorke, Harrowdown Hill
A song on Dr. David Kelly who apparently committed suicide after being identified as the source of a controversial BBC story about a British dossier on whether Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. Spellbinding electronics and haunting lyrics make this a highlight of The Eraser. The accompanying video is visually provoking as well.
Recommended too: Cymbal Rush


Gnarls Barkley, Crazy
A collaboration between Danger Mouse (producer for Gorillaz) and Cee-Lo (Goobie Mob and co-writer of Don't Cha) yields one of the best singles and albums of the year. Crazy is a heady mix of funk and soul. Terribly catchy and grand, the song caused mass hysteria in the UK (#1 for 9 weeks) way when it was leaked online.



Snow Patrol, Chasing Cars
Chasing Cars could have been just another alt-rock song that played on Modern Rock radio but thankfully Gary Lightbody, lead singer of Snow Patrol delivers the tuneful song with his heart along with the group's aptitude for soulful lyrics.
Recommended too: Open Your Eyes, Finishing Line




Justin Timberlake, My Love

From frivolity to master of pop supremacy, Timberlake has moved on with much ease. Second single after the absolutely sexed up Sexyback is smooth and funky with its futuristic hip hop beat. Lending a hand is T.I. which provides the almost obligatory rap that actually works rather well with Timberlake's Prince-like falsetto. While Sexyback may be hogging all the limelight, My Love is unmistakably the song that keeps you gyrating through the night.
Recommended too: FutureSex/LoveSound, Sexyback, Lovestoned/I Think She Knows

Scissor Sisters, I Don't Feel Like Dancin'
Who would have thought that this would come after the quirky self-titled debut from the Scissor Sisters. Teaming with Elton John, the band re-creates a piece of the late 70's musical pie with much camp and energy. Despite the title, you can't help but want to dance.




Scarlett Johansson, Summertime
Hailing from an album Unexpected Dreams where actors who don't normally sing perform covers, it's certainly a pleasant surprise that the beautiful Scarlett Johansson has not only the voice but the penchant for performing jazz. The way she does it fits the mood of the George Gershwin composed song. Now, the final verdict till we hear Johansson record an album of Tom Wait covers.


Sarah McLachlan, Wintersong
Those at risk of depression over this X'mas season, stay away from Wintersong (or the album of the same title). Indeed, Wintersong is probably one of the saddest X'mas tune you'd ever hear - an ode to loneliness and yearning, reminding you of that lost loved one you've been sorely missing. Tearjerker.
Recommended too: River




Moby featuring Debbie Harry, New York New York
Moby's best single in years to come, the collaboration with Debbie Harry of Blondie is a welcome return to the neon lights of the dance floor and more importantly an ode to New York. Stylish and hypnotic, the soaring vocals of his special guest complement the killer hook. Watch out for that uninhibited video featuring a bunch of ne'er-do-well making it big in where else but New York.


Madonna, Sorry + Jump
KT Turnstall, Suddenly I See
Josh Groban, Now or Never
Imogen Heap, Hide and Seek + Glittering Cloud
India.Arie, The Heart of The Matter
Damien Rice, The Animals Were Gone
Muse, Take A Bow
Gwen Stefani, Wind It Up

Visual: The Confused Noises - Babel

Babel

Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu
Starring Brad Pitt, Kate Blanchett, Rinko Kikuchi, Adriana Barraza, Guillermo Arriaga
One of the two subtle yet powerful films (the other being Little Children) of 2006, Babel is a cleverly scripted, wonderfully directed and beautifully acted tale of communication (more the lack of it) across different cultures. Along the lines of Crash and Little Children, the story is interlocked by characters who are related to one another in one way or the other.

There's the American couple (Pitt and Blanchett) who meets with an unfortunate shooting incident vacationing in Morroco due to two boys' mischief with a rifle that's from a Japanese hunter. At the same time, their nanny brings their children out of the American border to Mexico without permission and meets with trouble at the customs. Meanwhile the ex-Japanese hunter has a broken relationship with his deaf daughter whose emotional turmoils are upended by her mum's suicide.

Where the actors all have limited screen time alloted to them, each gave solid performances especially Rinko Kikuchi whose vulnerability leads to her vicarious sexual abandonment. Brad Pitt reaches a level of sensitivity previously unseen of while Adriana Barraza plays the delirious nanny whose one moment of folly throws her life out of order.

Through all these little stories lie the message of the power of communication - the lack of it in all the situations, creating misunderstandings and culminating in unnecessary tragedies. (A+)

[7x Golden Globe nominee, Oscar hopeful.]

Visual: Little Children

Little Children
Directed by Todd Field
Starring Kate Winslet, Patrick Wilson, Jennifer Connelly

After an excellent debut directorial effort with In The Bedroom (based on Andre Dubus' short story), Todd Field puts his hands on bringing Tom Perotta's Little Children to the big screen. Little Children is the kind of film that deals with very the simplistic and even banal issues in life yet still succeeds at revealing the plethora of emotions within. Such is the challenge for both the director and the cast. In Little Children, no one fails.

Central to the film are two characters, Sarah Pierce and Brad Adamson. Sarah is a suburban housewife who gave up her job to bring up her little girl. Married to a frequently absent and porn-obsessed husband, Sarah thirsts for her long-lost freedom. Brad is a third-time bar exam bound househusband who has put his younger days of glory behind while his beautiful wife (Jennifer Connelly) makes documentaries for a living (Watch Connelly in the scene where her suspicion of an ongoing affair between the two leads her to crawl under the dining table to check if Sarah and Brad were playing footsie with each other; it's kind of bittersweet yet funny). When both Sarah and Brad meet one day at the playground in the park with their children in tow and later begin their ritualistic visits to the town pool, both fall in illicit love like never before to regain the lost days of adolescence. Interspersed throughout the film are smaller but cogent stories of related characters such as a psycho child pervert with a doting mother and a once-errant policeman full of rage.

The delightful Kate Winslet plays Sarah Pierce with gusto. Immersed in the role, she shows a gradual keenness to break out of her long-suffering marriage to a loveless man by guiltlessly engaging in secret trysts with the very attractive but somewhat deadpan Brad played by Patrick Wilson. Though both are hardly each other's type, they fell madly into the kind of love that sought to liberate them from all burdens. The love scenes between both could be best described as raw fiery passion. Everything ends with the realization that this love wasn't headed for anywhere more than their hearts desire. Equally mesmerising are the subplots of a doting mother (Phyllis Sommerville) trying to fix her just-released pervert son (Jackie Earle Haley) who eventually lost his only lifeline to the raging cop who's out to humiliate him. The commentary-style of the film also works well to explain some of the hidden thoughts of the characters.

Todd Field succeeds once again with his delicate treatment of the original book. Despite all the pain, loss and heartbreak, the film leaves a feeling of hope as it ends with the trusty advice, "You can't change history, but the future is a different story. You have to start somewhere." (A+)