Aural: Don't Look Elsewhere - Gnarls Barkley

Gnarls Barkley
St. Elsewhere

Every once in a while, a surprise and unexpected collaboration yields stunning results. Under the coruscating lights of the music world where increasingly any nobody can be a star, Gnarls Barkley is a breath of fresh air, bringing together established hip-hopper Cee-Lo (one part of Goobie Mob) and ace producer Danger Mouse (Gorillaz' Demon Days).

Reminiscent of Outkast's polished and neurotic sound, Gnarls Barkley has the additional edge of a modern hip-hop sound mashed with refined electro-beats. Whether it's soulful singing on the wonderful first single Crazy or funky rap-song on Transformer, Cee-Lo demonstrates impeccable sensibilities like hip hop is running through his veins. Danger Mouse complements all these with equally perfect arrangement and production of cool electronic beats and stutter.

The album has quirky lyrics, is sometimes funny, sometimes serious but quite unquestionably a dull moment never exist. Some might find such neurotism to be an inconsistency but when you put on the record, you'll be drawn in by the pomposity. (A)

Visual: Project Runway - The Devil Wears Prada

The Devil Wears Prada
Directed by David Frankel
Adapted from the novel by Lauren Weisberger
Starring Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci, Emily Blunt

Whoever's idea to buy the rights to Lauren Weisberger's novel is a genius. Despite a rather abysmal novel, The Devil Wears Prada shines on screen. Indeed, The Devil Wears Prada is an example of how some storylines work much better on the big screen than in print.

The film's stylish success is due largely to the over-the-top character Miranda Priestly played by Meryl Streep, the incredible actress who has wowed us with many impeccable performances. Streep revealed a well-kept secret - her gene for comedy which has so far been demonstrated in 1992's Death Becomes Her and last year's Prime. Anyone else might have turned Miranda into a noisy empty vessel but Streep gives Miranda life and great stature.

Miranda is the go-getting and ridiculously demanding-cum-bitchy editor-in-chief of Runway magazine. And incidentally, the matron of this acclaimed magazine house is the head of many like-minded employees including an overzealous first assistant (Emily Hunt) and second-in-command (Stancy Tucci). So when the just graduated wide-eyed Andy Sachs played by Anne Hathaway assumes her position as the second assistant to Miranda, Streep's deadpan no-nonsense stance combined with her ultra-acerbic tongue make Andy's life indeterminately difficult. Not willing to give up, the young lass transforms herself from a dowdy girl to a glamorpuss who satisfies every of Miranda's whim and fancies. Intertwined with all these tow sub-stories of love and of finding who you really are and want to be.

Streep's comic brilliance makes the character of Miranda Priestly so illuminating and unpologetic while complementing the innoncence of Hathaway's Andy Sachs whose only aspiration is to be a proper journalist rather than a fashion junkie. Stanley Tucci's performance serves to add more zest to the already fetching film. Last of all, the dazzling couture pieces that appear so frequently is bound to make Devil the ultimate fashion accesory of 06.

The Devil Wears Prada could be seen as life's superificality but Miranda is true on one thing: everyone wants to be like them in the movie. Seriously, who doesn't? In the end, The Devil Wears Prada is highly entertaining with an Oscar-worthy performance from Streep whose artistry is in turn undeniably and undisputedly ace. (A)