Old Review 2

Another old review I did, this time for Smallville in 2007.
Seriously, this is how I spent my time whilst in post-graduate study.


show: Smallville
episode: Noir
Oh dear...
Not impressed at all. It was an intriguing concept, but the problem was that this episode was neither one thing or the other. If the hook for the episode is a 40's flashback, at least make most of the episode that way. As it was the plot couldn't seem to decide where it was supposed to be. It reminded me of that episode of 'Lois and Clark' which was also set in a noir flashback, and like this episode also featured the protagonists. However, here the noir sequences were poor I thought. Stilted dialogue and cliched archetypes. However, I did like the way they used wipes and back-projection, just like those classics of the 40's they were trying so hard to emulate.But once again with Smallville, it seems to be one of those episodes of a season that just come out of nowhere and have no relevance to any continuing plotlines.But seeing Clark as a bumbling reporter was good if too brief. Seriously, I can't even remember the plot and I just watched it! Something about Lana meeting a reporter with information and Jimmy being a hero. Now can we get back to the series please?

Another old review.

Whilst still sorting through old reviews I did in various places in cyberspace, here's a review of Blur's Special Collector's Edition in 2004. What a sad stoodent I was. Still, 5 people found it helpful apparently.

Britpop's founders at their peak.
This album is an excellent retrospective of a band at the height of their artistic (rather than commercial) peak. From the My Bloody Valentine fixated period of songs like 'Luminous' and 'Hanging Over'- all swirly guitars ending in repetitive feedback, through to the more familiar 'la la la' elements of Britpop in 'Threadneedle Street'. Rather than being a mere b-sides album, this edition is like an alternative early history of Blur, perfectly complementing 'Leisure', 'Modern Life is Rubbish' and 'Parklife'.There is an experimental nature to some of the songs (like most b-sides), especially in 'Badgeman Brown' amd 'Es Schmecht'. On 'Got Yer!' Damon's mockney ramblings seem a little embarrassing - the track obviously being a precursor to 'Essex Dogs' and indeed 'Ernold Same'. The instrumental tracks are interesting. I'd love to know what Damon's then girlfriend Justine Frischmann thought of 'Anniversary Waltz', given her supposed hatred of German music. The only disappointing track is 'Beard', a pseudo-jazz effort uncharacteristic of Blur, and I could have done without the Japanese fans rendition of 'Bank Holiday'.But this album represents everything that was good about Britpop. Graham's guitar work on tracks like 'Inertia' sounding like a beefier, distorted Johnny Marr and Damon is on fine form throughout, except on ' Maggie May',(Blur's only cover to date)where he clearly struggles with the high notes!This is how Britpop should be remembered though. Not your Liam swaggers, Weller ballads, or Suede dandy-isms. Just cracking songs and innovative, exciting music made by four brilliant musicians with turned up Levis who pretended to be from Camden. Two years after this album Blur had moved on musically (and geographically) but this is an essential purchase for everyone who thinks 'Modern Life Is Rubbish' remains their best album.As Damon sings on 'Theme From An Imaginary Film': "Oh shame it's over/its been such fun and we had a ball".No truer words were said.