Music Aug-Sept 08

1. Pink- So What
Pink's first single from her forthcoming album, 'Funhouse', is literally a V-shaped sign to her ex-husband, Carey Hart. 'I guess I just lost my husband,' is how the feisty, adolescent, confident Pink starts her rock anthem for divorced women. With all the attitude which only Pink could get away with, this songs goes over the top and across the line and yet we forgive it, it's Pink. It's extremely catchy and it should be as it's produced by Max Martin who previously collaborated with Pink on hits such as 'U + Ur Hand' and 'Who Knew'. It's more than a break up song, it will get everyone singing as most people can relate to the lyrics. With lines like, 'I'm fine and you're a tool,' the some what juvenile lyrics are some of the best because during a break up, who cares how you act, this is real life. The video falls in the same category as their is cameos from her ex as well as hair setting a light and jibes to Jessica Simpson.

2. Anastacia- I Can Feel You
After a three year break, Anastacia returns with her single, 'I Can Feel You.' Produced by Ne-Yo, the song starts with a futuristic groove piano beat which will get anyone wishing they were at a disco. Then she comes in, the little lady with the big voice. After a first listen you may not be convinced but after the second or third time you realise the potential of this single. Reminiscent of 'I'm Outta Love' and 'Not That Kind', this song has gone back to basics.

3. Rooney- Get Away
I found their recent album in my local bargain bin, probably not the best advertisement for a relatively unknown band but had I known how good it would sound before hand, I would defiantly have bought it before now. 'Get Away' is one of the UK bonus tracks and my favourite on the album. Known for providing music on 'The OC' this altern rock band has easy synths, captivating lyrics and bouncy rhythms. 'Get Away' ticks that criteria and during the chorus you realise this song is brilliant to have on at a party and effortless to dance to as the music takes hold of you. The guitar solo shows their talent and that Rooney may be here for longer than others thought.

4. The Rasmus- Livin' In A World Without You
Hailing from Sweden, The Rasmus were relatively unknown in the UK, US and Australia but managed to achieve success throughout other parts of Europe including Germany and Scandanavia. That all changed in 2003 when they released 'Dead Letters' which signified their breakthrough. 'In The Shadows' reached number three in the UK and number one is the US. Five years later they are due to release their new album, 'Black Roses', and the lead single, 'Livin' In A World...'. Their music has been bought right up to date yet sounding like they did all those years ago. Their alternative rock beats have allowed them to expand into an all round band, showing that it's not just heavy metal that they can capture.

5. Daniel Powter- Next Plane Home
Here we hail the return of Daniel Powter and his sophmore release, 'Under The Radar.' 'Next Plane Home' is the lead single and unfortunatly is no 'Bad Day' (the most played song in the last five years). Although after listening to the piano driven ballad I am inclined to give this song more of a chance than other reviews have. I will hold my judgement of his new material until I hear more, I am just hoping for more danceable hits.
In the meanwhile, what do you think?

The X Files: DIY Sex Change

Over the years there have been some captivating duos, Starsky & Hutch, Batman & Robin and even Jay & Silent Bob but none of them dealt with the ghouls of the night. During the 80's we all knew to call 'Ghostbusters' but during the 90's, something happened, FOX picked up a show that would become a worldwide phenomenon and whose names we would never forget; Mulder & Scully.

But ten years after the first feature film, the team returns with what could be their oddest outing yet. Known for being tight on its chronology and following a link of ideas searching for 'the truth' , the show stepped over boundaries that other writers only dreamt of. What added extra zest to the mixture was that not all stories were sci-fi bound and sometimes our friends at the FBI dealt with serial killers as well as aliens!

The new film entitled 'I Want To Believe' falls into the same category of the classic 'Monster of the Week' episodes, which don't follow the 'mytharc' of the show but instead allows the story to act as a stand-alone thriller. A good idea, I say, for Chris Carter & Frank Spotnitz (Creators) as not only are the older 'X' fans going to enjoy this but also those unaware of the characters, stories and ideas established from the series.

So the film starts and to be able to see both David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson reunited on screen together brings an instant smile. Mulder's grown a beard and Scully's working for a Christian Charity Hospital, how on earth are they going to don their FBI jackets again? Here enters Billy Connolly (Scottish Comedian) as the Rev Crissman, a 'recovering' paedophilic priest, of course he is a man of the cloth and the shock factor, he used to touch kids, I am sitting there just hoping there was a reason for that...

The story moves at differed paces throughout, fast for the capture of the FBI agent, slow for the reintro of our protagonists, slower for the Rev C and too fast for the introduction to the villains of the film... some Russians in a lab. This film does sound awfully clichéd, doesn't it? But it pays off when it comes to the chemistry with Mulder and Scully, they actually share a bed together... hang on they are together! It seems that over the nine seasons of the show, they never actually allowed the 'love' relationship to blossom but in the film we see that not only are they together but they bicker like an elderly couple over nearly everything!

There are a couple of faster scenes when Mulder is running around trying to find the Russian stealing organs which did keep you on the edge of your seat until the anticlimax of the death of another FBI agent... So to the end of the story, it turns out that female parts are being stolen from abducted women and attached to a man who is married to the man who was stealing organs and someone was touched by Billy C's character and someone dies of cancer and there is a car crash and another old character returns and all in all you are wondering, what?

Yes, this just seems to be an ad for Russian DIY Sex Change and yet I came out the cinema feeling all in all satisfied with the outcome. (I was slightly upset there were no aliens!) The acting from DD and GA was top notch and the support acting was skilled enough to keep the film rolling. Amanda Peet just made me want to watch 'Studio 60', Billy Connolly kept making me shout out his name in a bad Scottish accent and I was just wondering when Xzibit was going to 'pimp' Mulder's ride.

I would recommend you see this film, it's fun for the summer, it's easy to take the mick out of and after all that, you may actually enjoy it.