Foals - What Went Down Review

Foals' fourth album What Went Down was a bit of surprise release for me, I expected there to be a typical three year gap for development, but the announcement was a welcome one.

Despite the fact I fount Holy Fire a wee bit disappointing, it still had some tremendous songs, some that would easily sit in a top ten list had I ever bothered to write one and after hearing the title track, I was again left pondering whether the band could deliver another shot at the converted album of the year title.

The Maccabees - Marks to Prove It Review

It feels like ages ago when The Maccabees returned with third album Given to the Wild, which surprised and enriched me with a loud and immense experience which, even years later, I can still enjoy as much as I did before.

Tame Impala - Currents Review

I always keep a note on what albums I've listened to and what are on the proverbial pile. As the year has gone on, I've listened to many good, heck, even great albums. But nothing close to outstanding and although there are some records on the pile which I'm hyped for and can only hope they succeed beyond previous releases, I didn't know where to place Tame Impala's newest record.

Like many, I heard Elephant, liked Elephant, gave the album Elephant was on a spin, gave the album before the one Elephant was on a spin too, liked most of it although felt there was room for improvement and life moved on.

I never had a chance to listen to the singles preceding Current's general release but presumed it was more of the same and would get around to it.

Jurassic World Review

Like many, I was probably too young to watch Jurassic Park on first viewing. It wasn't the raptors in the kitchen which scared me, it was the dilophosaurus exploding at Newman, then spitting venom at him and then eating him in the car which disturbed and horrified me unlike anything I saw before it.

But like all kids, being scared is the ultimate form of entertainment and that's one of the reasons why Spielberg's masterpiece is still revered today. That and the groundbreaking special effects which even today look superb no matter how many times you think rose-tinted glasses play a role in it.

Jurassic Park never got the sequel it deserved. The Lost World: Jurassic Park was a mess which saw Jeff Goldblum return to try and save another island's free roaming beasts from an evil corporation which ends on a forty minute epilogue in San Diego which, even as a youngster, felt like padding.

Jurassic Park III in the meanwhile tried to streamline and make a simple rescue mission. What we got was an annoying female lead, special effects that looked better a decade earlier and non-inspiring set-pieces which, for intents and purposes killed the franchise stone dead for over a decade.

Thankfully, in an era of superhero movies, no ideas and nostalgia and much like the resurrected dinosaurs, life finds a way and the series is back; bigger, brighter and possibly...better than ever?

A Few Words on... Christopher Owens - Chrissybaby Forever

One can't fault the output of former Girls' frontman Christopher Owens, who, despite being involved in one of the more tragic break-ups of a band, has kept himself busy. Even after quiet release of America and hints towards more music with Selfish Feelings, I didn't expect much more but was thrilled when the news broke of a new album with sixteen tracks to boot!

Batman: Arkham Knight Review

"Why don't you run?" my wife asks, puzzled by my slow pace towards saving the city. I pause and ponder for a second and internally ask the same question. Except it's not really me asking myself, it's me asking the question to the man I'm playing as.

Conjure up times you remember him running aimlessly and it's always when he's most out of character. It's Adam West in 1966, running down a street at 60miles an hour with a greenscreen. It's the end of Batman Forever and Batman and Robin, where this Batman runs towards the fourth wall with Batsignal behind; a stark contrast to the neon nightmares before it.

Then I remember Batman '89 with Michael Keaton's iteration of the character walking up a bell tower; in stark contrast to the above, he's slow and methodical. Surely too far behind to save Vikki Vale and stop the Joker, but you know he'll catch up, because he's Batman.

As I step through the airship, the answer is clear and simple

Muse - Drones Review

Three years ago, Muse delivered a miracle when The 2nd Law turned out ok. Ok, more than Ok, actually decent. Ok, that's underselling it, turned out great.

Sure, it had its problems; it was cheesy, it didn't flow very well, lyrically minus Chris Wolstenholme's penned tracks poor, but considering what was preluded to and what was delivered, The 2nd Law was an enjoyable album, one that I still listen to occasionally and tried not to think hard about.