A Brief Movie Review for 'The Power' (1968)

Movie = The Power (1968)

Director = Byron Haskin

Rating = 2.5/5 Stars **'

An interesting old sci-fi movie from 1968 starring George Hamilton (a little less tan, and much younger in those days) and Suzanne Pleshette, and by the same director who made the 1953 War Of The Worlds movie. A group of top-secret scientists working on calculating human pain-thresholds in space travel discover that someone amongst them has a far superior brain power and IQ, as well as the amazing power to control others, perform telekinesis, and even to kill other people with their mind. After one of the top scientists who uncovers this fact is found dead in the laboratory George Powell takes it upon himself to discover who the superman is and get to him before he kills all of them off. A bit nerdy and the plot seems a little weak, but its entertaining enough to watch once. The cinematography really makes California seem like a nice place and reminds me of the early James Bond movie sets from the same time period.

Feature Song Of The Day = 'The New You' by Convaire (2011)

Today's feature song is The New You, by Australian indie-electro-pop group Convaire. Convaire is a 4-piece band from Sydney, Australia which consists of John Towey (guitars), sisters Liz and Jane Slattery (keysboards) and Dan Talbot (bass guitar). The New You is a new single release by the group and if you find you like it you can listen to more of their songs their Myspace page HERE, and for even more general band info be sure to head to their Unearthed Page HERE.  THE NEW YOU by Convaire

Feature Song Of The Day = 'Phantastic Phone Call' by Alexander Dexter Jones (2011)

Today's song is called Phantastic Phone Call and its by British DJ/producer Alexander Dexter Jones. Alexander Dexter Jones is the son of Foreigner founding-member Mick Jones, as well as a brother of uber-successful  British musician/producer/DJ Mark Ronson. For more information on this artist you can check out this article on him HERE, or this article HERE. Phantastic Phone Call can be found on the French music Label Kitsuné Maison Compilation 11  album which was just released on May 17th, 2011 and which I also recommend checking out.

A Brief Movie Review for 'Pandorum' (2009)

Movie = Pandorum (2009)

Director = Christian Alvart

Rating = 2.5/5 Stars **'

The basic plot for this film is that 2 flight crew members on a deep-space mission wake up out of their extended sleeping pods to discover their spaceship and crew have disappeared and that something is very wrong. This movie wasn't quite what I expected it was going to be as I was expecting more a psychological thriller as opposed to a super-zombies in space movie (I suppose I should have watched the trailer in this case), and basically this is 'Resident Evil' in space (although if you watch it to the end you realize they aren't actually in space at all), and the super-human zombies look the same as the ones in that movie. If you like sci-fi action/thriller movies such as 'I Am Legend,' 'Aliens,' or 'Resident Evil,' with the graphic violence and suspenseful chasing scenes then you will at least find this one entertaining to watch through once, and that is what the movie is like if you didn't already know. I wouldn't watch this one again.

The Last Days Of House (weekly edition): 'Doctor Pressure' by Mylo vs. Miami Sound Machine (2005)

And now for another edition of The Last Days Of House we have a legendary mashup-track from 2005 called Doctor Pressure, by Scottish record producer/DJ Mylo. This is without a doubt one my personal top 20 house tracks of all time, and it was originally released as a bonus track on the 2005 re-release DJ Mylo's Destroy Rock & Roll album. This track involves the 1984 track Dr. Beat by American band Miami Sound Machine, and it has been mashed together with Mylo's 2004 house-track Drop the Pressure. 
The version being featured here is the Dirty Club Remix, so be sure to check that out.

Feature Song Of The Day = 'Desert Island' by Architecture in Helsinki (2011)

Today's feature song goes to Australian indie-pop/avant-garde band Architecture In Helsinki and their song Desert Island. Architecture In Helsinki are a Melbourne-based indie-pop group who've been active since on the music scene since 2000 and includes members Cameron Bird, Gus Franklin, Jamie Mildren, Sam Perry, and Kellie Sutherland. Desert Island is a single just released on April 5th, 2011 and which will appear on their upcoming Moment Bends album also due out on May 3rd, 2011. If you like what you hear you can check out their official website HERE.

A Brief Movie Review for 'The Brother From Another Planet' (1984)

Movie = The Brother From Another Planet (1984)

Director = John Sayles

Rating = 4/5 Stars ****

I seem to like John Sayles movies, and I really liked this one. This one is about an alien, who appears quite human, who crash-lands in New York City where he must blend in and learn how to live amongst the humans while evading pursuit by his alien slave-owners. This movie really is a social commentary on illegal immigration, slavery, and racial issues. The message I got after watching this is you don't necessarily have to be from another planet to feel like an outsider in another culture, country, or even a strange neighborhood in your own city. The movie is entertaining, I would recommend it, and I would watch it again. Also, this movie is currently available on for free viewing in full on YouTube Movies HERE.

Feature Song Of The Day = 'Here She Comes' by Skipping Girl Vinegar (2011)

Today's song goes to another great Melbourne-based group called Skipping Girl Vinegar, and recently released song their song Here She Comes. Skipping Girl Vinegar are an indie-roots band that have been active on the Australian-music scene circa 2006, they are based out of Melbourne, Australia, and consist of members are Chris Helm (drums and bv), Mark Lang (vocals and guitar), Sare Lang (bass, bv) and Amanthi Lynch (keys and bv). According to the band's wikipedia page they are named after an animated neon-sign of Audrey the Skipping Girl located in Abbotsford, Victoria. Here She Comes was released as a single on February 24th, 2011 and can be purchased/previewed on ITunes HERE. I had the pleasure to see this group live in Melbourne in 2008 and was impressed by how good they sound live, definitely check out their other songs too.

Feature Song Of The Day = 'City Dreams' by Antonio Paul (2010)

Today's song goes to Australian indie-pop group Antonio Paul and their song City Dreams. Antonio Paul are based out of Bunbury, Western Australia and consists of members Marc Antonio, Michael Paul,  Jordan Gianfrancesco (live synth), and Sam Maher (live drums). City Dreams appears on their Treasures EP, which was released in September of 2010. You can check out their Unearthed Page HERE, their Facebook page HERE, or even purchase their EP HERE.

TED TALK: Eli Pariser: What Is The Internet Hiding?

Featured Song Of The Day = 'Be Mine' by The Kooks (2006)

Today's feature song is already a few years old but I liked it enough to feature it here today, and it is bonus track Be Mine, by British indie-rock group The Kooks. The Kooks are an indie-rock band out of  Brighton, England who formed in 2001 with members Luke Pritchard (vocals and guitar), Hugh Harris (guitar), Paul Garred (drums), and Max Rafferty (bass guitar). Be Mine is a bonus track found on the enhanced/import version of their CD-album Inside In/Inside Out, which was originally released in 2006, so don't go looking for it on ITunes or Amazon because this bonus-track does not seem to appear on the digital-album version, but only on the audio-import-cd version as far as I can tell. If you like what you hear go check out their website HERE.

Another Classics Shuffle: 'I'll Be Around' by The Spinners (1972)

I know I keep changing the name of this series, and what I am really looking for is a simple title to post songs pre-1980's under, so now its Another Classics Shuffle. Today's shuffle results in the 1972 classic track I'll Be Around by American R&B vocal group The Spinners (known as "Detroit Spinners" in the UK). The Spinners are a Detroit-based soul-music vocal group who formed in 1961 and who had various hits during the 1970's and there are a few members to mention so I won't go into that here. I'll Be Around was released in 1972 on the group's self-titled Spinners album and it would reach #1 on the U.S. R&B chart and #3 on the U.S. Pop chart, and #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Chart. This song has been covered many times and ways by many artists but I would personally recommend the 1994 Rappin' 4-Tay version which you can listen to HERE.

Feature Song of The Day = 'Moon As A Mirror' by Joshy Willo (2011)

Today's feature song is Moon As A Mirror by Australian roots/folk/rock musician Joshy Willo. Joshy Willo originates from Elliston, South Australia, has been involved in music for most of his life playing guitar and drums as well as singing vocals. He has released his first album of the same title as todays feature song Moon As A Mirror on April 11th, 2011, which can be purchased in full at his ITunes page HERE. Also, you can check out his Unearthed page for more biographical info HERE. There is no video for this on YouTube, so you will have to visit one of the links above to actually listen to today's song.