Brief Book Review for: 'The Golden City' (Author John Twelve Hawks) (2009)

 4/5 Stars ****
The Golden City is a novel by action/sci-fi author John Twelve Hawks. It was released in the USA in September of 2009, and it is the 3rd book in the Fourth Realm Trilogy. I highly recommend this series if you are a fan of sci-fi adventure books that have a fast pace and lots of action (eg Dan Brown books), because I can tell you by experience that you will not want to put this book down and will likely read the entire thing in one or just a few sittings. The 3 books in this trilogy follow a Harlequin-warrior named Maya and a Traveler named Gabriel, and many of the people around them as they fight an endless battle against a secret organization called the Tabula (aka the Brethren) who control the human population via most of the governments in the world, corporations, surveillance systems, financial transactions, and 1984-style Big Brother tactics. The whole lot of which is termed the Vast Machine. So they are the resistance fighting the never-ending struggle against this Vast Machine and those who seek total control and total force over all humanity. The themes are very similar to those of The Matrix, and they confront real life realities about many of the new technologies that have actually infiltrated our global society, the erosion of privacy and individual freedoms in the name of security, and of course what it all means from a somewhat schizophrenic point of view...its just a story kids....really...Check this trilogy out if you are into sci-fi, conspiracy thrillers, and lots of action.

Featured Song of the Day = 'Wilson' by The Salvadors

Today's featured song is Wilson by Adelaide based Australian indie-pop group The Salvadors. The Salvadors consist of first names only Tom ( vocals/guitar), Eddy (guitar), Jeff (bass guitar), Eugine (drums), and Cat (keyboards). The Salvadors certainly are making waves in Oz, and I recommend you check out this song as well as their others, which incidentally are available on ITunes and Amazon right now. Wilson is a more recent single, released in November, 2010. If you like what you heart I would also recommend that you to go to their Unearthed Page HERE for more band info as well as the fact that there are still some free and legal MP3 downloads by the Salvadors available on that page as well. Also, be sure to check out their Myspace page HERE. Everytime I hear the name Wilson, it makes me think of that Tom Hanks movie and the volleyball he names Wilson...I know, I know...just enjoy the song everybody. Misspent Youth Ep

Featured Song of the Day = 'I Look to You (feat. Kimbra)' by Miami Horror

Today's featured song is...I Look to You (feat. Kimbra) by Australian electro-pop-disco outfit Miami Horror. Yes, you have seen them on this vlog before, but this album is good and not that well known so I am posting another song from it. Miami Horror is a four-piece group out of Melbourne, Australia which has been active on the music scene since 2007 and consists of members Benjamin Plant (producer), Josh Moriarty, Aaron Shanahan, and Daniel Whitechurch. The group has released an EP titled Bravado (2008), as well as a full studio album titled Illumination (just released in August of 2010) from which today's song comes off of. Much of Miami Horror's music has been influenced by 70's and 80's dance-pop and electro-synth-pop, which makes for an interesting mixture going into the '10s. I Look to You features guest vocals from Australian singer/songwriter Kimbra who has a new album out titled Settle Down, so be sure to check out her Myspace page HERE for more info on her and her music.  Enjoy!

Brief Movie Review: 'The Kings Speech' (2010)

The King's Speech (2010)

5/5 Stars *****

Very well done movie, and I would be surprised if there aren't some Academy Awards in store here, and as I found out earlier tonight there already have been some Golden Globes awarded. I am pretty sure this is based on 'true events' and character portrayals of the British Royal family just pre-WWII. King George VI, who had a speech defect, and his trials with dealing with making lots of public speeches as well as the politics of an looming war with Germany. It is interesting how the little things, the small victories lead to larger ones, such as the development of the right leaders at the right times to ward off the complete dominance of Nazi-Germany in Europe. This movie has the highest quality acting I have seen in quite a long time, don't miss it!

#31 of VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown: 'Good Times' by INXS and Jimmy Barnes (1987)

Now for #31 of the Countdown...Good Times by Australian rock collaboration INXS and Jimmy Barnes. INXS were a bigtime 80's rock band that arose out of Sydney, Australia in 1977 and who would achieve international success with many albums and songs in the 1980's and 90's. INXS as they were in the 80's consisted of members  Garry Gary Beers (bass guitar), Andrew Farriss (guitar/keyboards), Jon Farriss (drums), Tim Farriss (lead guitar), and Kirk Pengilly on (guitar/saxophone). For twenty years, INXS was lead by Michael Hutchence as their lead vocals, and no doubt the icon INXS's rock star image. On Novemeber 22nd, 1997 Hutchence was found dead in his Sydney hotel room, later to be ruled by the coroner's and autopsy reports as a suicide whilst under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Following the death of Hutchence the band didn't play publicly for a year or so, but then they started up again and continue to play to this day, although never quite the same. Jimmy Barnes on the other hand, was a Scottish born-Australian rock-singer and songwriter. According to his Wikipedia page, Barnes currently holds the title of the Australian rock artist with the highest number of hit albums. In 1973 Jimmy Barnes joined a band named Cold Chisel, until the early 1980's when he began his solo career. In 1986 Jimmy Barnes and INXS recorded 2 songs together, Good Times (which was a cover of the original 1968 release-song by the Easybeats), and Laying Down the Law, both of which would appear on the 1987 teen horror film soundtrack of a true 80's-movie classic (one of my personal favorite 80's movies), a little Joel Schumacher film called The Lost Boys. Good Times would reach #2 on the ARIA charts, #16 on the UK Singles chart, and #47 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Good Times was also used to to promote the national Australia Made series of concerts that took place between Boxing Day 1986 and Australia Day 1987. This is one of those pub favorites that simply cannot be left off of this countdown, and it is most definitely dance-able. So there is #31, now we are getting down to it folks, #30 is next and then the 20's is in...stay tuned.

Featured song of the Day = 'Since You Left Me' by Positive Motion

Today's featured song is...Since You Left Me, by island-reggae group Positive Motion. Now, I have yet to find an artist bio on Positive Motion other than the fact that they are based out of Pahoa, Hawaii. If you are looking for that information I don't have it as of yet, sorry. Do be sure, however, to check out their Myspace page HERE, and you can find this single and another one titled Table for Two, up on ITunes now. Enjoy!

Acousticica: 'Back to Back" by Wolf Gang

Check this one out, already posted the recorded studio version, now here is an unplugged one..good stuff, stoked for the record to come out! (Wolf Gang, from London, UK).

Be sure to check out their Myspace Page at:
http://www.myspace.com/thisiswolfgang

Brief Movie Review for 'El Triunfo' (2006)

El Triunfo (2006)

4/5 Stars **** 

Quite a passionate movie, and not for the timid, it is a Spanish/Catalan film after all. The film takes focus on a lower-class Barrio in Barcelona, Spain in the 1980's, which is run by a mafia-esque group of ex-Spanish-legionnaires, which involves the younger (and very musical) generation who is coming to age and their trials, dreams, and tribulations to come to a very predictable conclusion, you leave the barrio, only to come back to the barrio. Won't give away anymore then that..don't miss this one. 
Trailer "El Triunfo" de Mireia Ros

Mireia Ros | Myspace Video

Feature song of the Day = 'Click Your Heels' by The Former Love Pirates

Today's song is...Click Your Heels, by Australian indie-rock band The Former Love Pirates. The Former Love Pirates come out of Sydney, Australia and consists of members Alex Keith, Alexi Collins, Glenn Buchanan, Jay Hitches, Kyle Lane, and Matt Kneller. Not a lot of info out there on this band, but if you want to look for yourself check out their Myspace page HERE, or head over to their Unearthed page HERE to find a free and legal mp3 download of this song and one other by this band. Cheers!Triple J Hottest 100 Vol 17

Featured Song of the Day = 'Don't Steal Our Sun' by The Thrills

Today's featured song is...Don't Steal Our Sun by Irish indie-rock group The Thrills. The Thrills originally formed in Dublin, Ireland back in 2001 and the band consists of members Conor Deasy (vocals), Daniel Ryan (guitar), Padraic McMahon (bass guitar), Kevin Horan (pianist), and Ben Carrigan (drums). Don't Steal Our Sun was the fourth single off of their 2003 debut So Much for the City album. This song reached would peak at #45 on the UK Singles chart. So this one is already over 7 years old, but still worth posting here. If you like what you hear be sure to check out their Myspace page HERE.

Brief Movie Review for 'Night Train to Munich (Gestapo)' (1940)

Night Train to Munich (Gestapo) (1940)

4/5 Stars ****

I enjoyed this one, and if you liked 'The Lady Vanishes,' you will like this one. This was even earlier, released in 1940, and at that point the War was still raging. The whole time I kept thinking how Rex Harrison reminded me of Jemaine Clement, and kept picturing him in that role, and Paul Henreid really reminded me of Kevin Spacey too...strange. Margaret Lockwood reminds me of someone too, but I can't quite put my finger on it. The scene on the Funicular/Teleferic was pretty awesome too, and the ending might surprise you too. Check this one out, especially if like older films. Sorry, couldn't find a trailer for this one....

Feature Song of the Day = 'Got No Charm' by The Words

Today's song is...Got No Charm, by Australian alternative-rock band The Words. The Words come out of Bunbury, in Western Australia, and consists of members Ben Macri (Lead Vocals, Guitars),  Clint Macri (Guitars, Backing Vocals), Dylan Macri (Guitars), and Ryan Mcdonnell (Drums, Percussion). Got No Charm comes off of their 2008 debut EP titled Running In a Maze, which is available on ITunes and Amazon, but if you want a lower quality free and legal mp3 download of this song (or a couple others) you can head over to their Unearthed page HERE, or just check out their Myspace page HERE for more info. Now, I am not for certain but their musical style reminds me personally of a mix of Third Eye Blind and Counting Crows, but I am referring to just a few elements in a few of their songs as they clearly have their own energy and unique sound. Check it!

Today's Featured Song = 'Easy to Love' by The Jezabels

Today's song is...Easy to Love, by Sydney-based Australian indie-pop-rock group The Jezabels. The band formed originally back in 2007 where the members met at University and started up the group, which consists of Hayley Mary (vocals), Heather Shannon (piano/keyboard), Nik Kaloper (drums), and Samuel Lockwood (bass guitar). Easy to Love came off of their She's So Hard EP, which was released back in 2009, so its not a new song anymore, and they actually have more recently released another EP titled Dark Storm. If you fancy what you hear then head on to their myspace page HERE, or even their Facebook page HERE.