Brief Book Review for "Island" (1962) by author Aldous Huxley

Island (1962) by Author Aldous Huxley

"Attention, Here and Now boys!!" I am not much of a book critic or whatever its called, but I do want to add some more content to this blog so here goes another book review. I just recently finished English author/writer Aldous Huxley's Island, which was published in 1962 and actually was the last book he released before he died in November of 1963. I would definitely recommend Island to anybody who is looking for some interesting reading, although it is not a fast-paced entertainment book by any means, however, it may leave you thinking critically about society and its many structures and why they are the way they are and if there could be a better way to do many things. The story is set on a fictional utopian-island-society called Pala, where an English oil-company ambassador (main characater Will Farnaby) becomes shipwrecked, while illegally surveying the coastline. Naturally may oil-companies are vying for a shot at winning the oil/industrial development contracts for Pala, but the society is yet to conform to the industrial-western model. The locals take him in and treat him medically at first, and he gets a good look for a few weeks at the society and starts to actually fall in love with it a bit. Much of the book isn't about plot so much as a peek into what an ideal society might look, as well as how transcendental experiences (drug-induced in many of his books) can open one's mind up to new ideas and better ways of living (or shake up some of the rigid and closed-off structures at least). Now, this may sound somewhat familiar to Huxley's other books/essays, such as the renowned Brave New World, or Doors of Perception, but I would personally say that this is my favorite of his books I've read so far, although I haven't read too many others to be honest, so take my reviews with a grain of salt full-stop. Be sure to check out the wikpedia page on this book HERE if you are interested in learning more about the book. And there it is, more brief book reviews to come!

LOCK3DOWN MASHUP: "Gorilla Idol" Billy Idol vs Gorillaz

Song for December 4th, 2010: "Gilgamesh" by Gypsy and the Cat

Today's song is....Gilgamesh, by by Aussie electro-pop duo Gypsy and the Cat. Gypsy and the Cat formed back in 2008, and the duo consists of Melbourne DJ's Xavier Bacash and Lionel Towers who are currently based out of London, UK (London is where they are currently based, though they both are originally from Melbourne, Australia). I have posted a couple of their previous songs on this vlog, and now they have released their debut album titled Gilgamesh just last month (November of 2010 for those of you reading this after the fact)!! This band has a unique sound, and the more of their stuff I listen to, the more and more I am really enjoying it. It is a bit difficult to find their stuff if you aren't in Oz or the UK, and I must say here that it would be fully-sick if they would release their album in the Itunes USA store! If you like this song I would highly recommend you check out their new album for yourself, especially the singles Jona Vark, and Time to Wander. Jona Vark is still available as a free mp3 download at their Unearthed page HERE, and you can check out their other works at their myspace page HERE. Gilgamesh

Brief Movie Review for "$5 a Day (Five Dollars a Day)" (2008)

$5 a Day (Five Dollars a Day) (2008) 

3/5 Stars ***

Not a serious movie, but not total comedy either. Christopher Walken plays as the main character's hustler of a father who refuses to pay for anything by scamming, dealing, hustling, and picking up freebies of any kind he can left and right. Actually, the many ways his character finds to get free things is probably the most interesting part of this flick. Sharon Stone and Amanda Peet have very minor roles in this one so don't expect much there. It makes me wonder if all of those vehicles driving around with big adverts on them are actually just "freebies" that someone has discovered...I always thought that they were company reps driving them around, oh well. The movie is worth watching once, but I doubt I will ever watch it again.

Song for December 2nd, 2010: "Lost My Nerve" by Jebediah

The song for today is....Lost My Nerve, by Australian alternative rock group Jebediah. Jebediah formed back in 1994, in Perth, Australia and currently consists of members Kevin Mitchell (vocals and guitars), Chris Daymond (guitars), Vanessa Thornton (bass guitar), and Brett Mitchell (drums). Between the years of 1997-2004 the group produced 4 studio albums, at which point they went on hiatus for a few years, but Lost My Nerve comes off of their newest album titled Kosciuszko, which is set to be released in April of 2011.

#38 of VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown: "Is This Really Love?" by Narada Michael Walden (1987)

We are back, in the 80's once again, and this time we have a gem, at #38 its.....Is This Really Love? by  American producer, drummer, singer, and songwriter Narada Michael Walden. Now many of you might be asking yourselves questions like "who the hell is that?" or "what song is that?" Well, I must admit that I did not know of this song or artist in the 80's, and in all actuality it has been later on (since about the year 2000 or so) that I have actually been into 80's music, movies, and media again. You know, I went through that same 90's music stage that the rest of us did only to end up in the "noughties" with not much happening musically, only to rediscover the upbeat and just plain more interesting music of the 80's decade. But now, I have noticed an influx of new-energy, especially on the music scene coming in, which is quite exciting...But that really is a tangent, so getting back to the artist....Walden started out on his musical career in the 1970's and produced 9 studio albums between the 1976-1988. Walden has collaborated with many other major talents that achieved #1 Awards, such as Whitney Houston's How Will I Know and I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me), or Aretha Franklin's Freeway of Love, to Diana Ross's Take Me Higher.  He has also owned and managed the renowned Tarpan Studios in San Rafael, California since the mid-1980's. Is This Really Love? can't be found on any of his studio albums however, as it was produced and featured in the 1987 Meg Ryan/Dennis Quaid/Martin Short film Innerspace (another 80's classic fo sho). So if you are looking for it and can't find it, the soundtrack is where you will find it. If I remember correctly from the film, this is the song they play in the dance club scene when "the Cowboy" character is dancing with/hitting on Meg Ryan's character. If you like this song I would also recommend another 80's classic song of his (which sadly won't be featured on the countdown as I have filled all the spots, so I will mention it here) caribbean-sounding Ain't Nobody Ever Loved You track, found on his 1983 Looking at You, Looking at Me album. And there it is kids, now go out and watch Innerspace, we could all use some good 80's comedy in our lives these days after all, and stay-tuned for #37!http://your80smusicauthority.blogspot.com/

Song for December 1st, 2010: "Doncamatic (feat. Daley)" by Gorillaz

Today's song is...Doncamatic (feat. Daley), by English alternative/hip-hop group Gorillaz. Gorillaz was formed in 1998 by British musician Damon Albarn and British Cartoonist Jamie Hewlett (in Essex, England), as an idea of a fictional cartoon band in a fictional reality. The fictional band consists of fictional members 2D (as lead vocalist and keyboards), Murdoc Niccals (bass guitar), Noodle (guitar, keyboard, and occasional vocals), and Russel Hobbs (on drums). The Gorillaz follow the "dream within a dream," or "fiction within a fiction" concept, but in reality their music comes out of collaborations between Damon Albarn (the only permanent member of the band) and many other musicians. Doncamatic is a recently released single featuring British singer Daley as the guest artist. Doncamatic was released on November 21st, 2010 and has been added to a re-released version of the latest Gorillaz album titled Plastic Beach. This song has the definitive electronic Gorillaz sound, and is quite good, so if you haven't already, be sure to check it out, and get ready for X-Mas...I can't believe we are already in flippin December, it will be 2011 before we know it folks!

Steve Judd's Global Forecast for December 2010

http://stevejudd.com/

POMATIC Mashup: Lady Gaga vs. Kardinal Offishall - "Numba 1 Game"

Song for November 30th, 2010: "I'm Not the One" by The Black Keys

Today's song is....I'm Not the One, by American blues-rock duo The Black Keys. The Black Keys have been around for awhile now, they formed in Akron, Ohio back in 2001 and have released 8 studio albums a 2 EP's in that time. That is including the collaboration album they did just recently with several R&B and hip hop artists titled Blakroc, which I would highly recommend checking out if you haven't already. Also, the Black Keys are a duo consisting of vocalist/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer/producer Patrick Carney. I'm Not the One comes off of their latest album release titled Brothers (released in May 2010). I highly recommend checking out the whole album if you like this style of music, as well as their past albums. Keep it real.

Brief Movie Review for "Gigante" (2009)

"Gigante" (2009) 

3.5 Stars ***"

This is not a move to watch if you are seeking action, as it is very slow-paced, however, that is what makes it interesting in my opinion. It is not a typical formula movie, as it follows some pretty ordinary people who work at a 'Wal-Mart' type store in Montevideo, Uruguay, and specifically a night-shift-security guard who develops a crush on one of the night-cleaners by watching her over the security cameras, and then semi-stalking her for months before ever developing the courage to actually talk to her face to face. I can relate to this character somewhat, as sometimes it is much easier to live in your own mind with a fantasy idea of what a relationship or a person you have a crush on is (although it is really just an idea in one's mind and nothing more), than it is to actually meet that person and realize its all just an illusion in your head. That goes for places too, actually, the idea that a place or a person can fulfill you, or help you to be more "fully yourself." Well, that was a long review, check out the movie!

Song for November 29th, 2010: "Take Me Over" by Cut Copy

Today's song is...Take Me Over, by Australian indie-synth-pop group Cut Copy. Cut Copy originate in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia) and consists of Dan Whitford (vocals, keyboards, and guitar), Tim Hoey (bass guitar and sampler), and Mitchell Scott (drums). Cut Copy started out in 2001 with Dan Whitford who is both a DJ and a graphic designer, and in fact Whitford released the first single and EP on his own before he recruited the other band members that comprise the band today. I have had the privilege of seen Cut Copy live on two occasions, and I highly recommend checking them out live if you ever get this chance, a very good show. Take Me Over is the the second single release from their upcoming third studio album Zonoscope, which is set to be released in full on February 8th, 2011. Both of these singles are quite good in my opinion which bodes well for the album (although it should also be noted that the band has stated there may be different final versions of these singles appearing on the actual album upon its release), although I would be pleasantly surprised if they could out do their 2008 In Ghost Colours album, which I also highly recommend checking out if you like this one. Paste!

Song of the Day for November 28th, 2010: "Coming Around" by Hungry Kids of Hungary

The song of the day is....Coming Around, by Australian four-piece indie-pop band Hungry Kids of Hungary. Hungry Kids of Hungary formed back in 2007, comes out of Brisbane, Australia, and consists of Dean McGrath (lead vocals, guitar), Kane Mazlin (vocals and keyboards), Ben Dalton (bass guitar and vocals) and Ryan Strathie (drums and vocals). Coming Around is the latest single released in August of 2010, which will appear on their upcoming debut full-length studio album titled Escapades. If you like what you hear be sure to check out their myspace page HERE, and their Unearthed page HERE.