Charm School

Reviewing a new Roxette CD isn't something I expected to be doing again but here we go.
Charm School is Roxette's first new album since Room Service in 2001 (an album that had some awesome songs but was overall disappointing) and as a long time fan approached it more hopeful than anything else.
It does take a few listens, and is very much stuck in the early 90s, but I have to say I like it - so much so that I can happily listen to the entire CD straight through (though there is one track I don't particularly care for and occasionally skip it).
The catch with Charm School is I think you need to be a fan. I don't see any 18 year olds picking this up and loving it.
Unlike most Roxette albums this one seems to be fairly evenly split between Per and Marie for lead vocals.
The opening song Way Out got stuck in my head there for a while and that's a great sign. The album is also a fairly even mix of up tempo and slow songs with Per specialising on the up tempo and Marie the ballads. And that's the way it has always been, pretty much.
Top five songs on the album are as follows: Only When I Dream (a sort of Coldplay-esqe feel), Speak To Me (a rare slowish song led by Per), Way Out, Dream On (whimsical sound) and Sitting On Top Of The World (a bittersweet closer sung by Marie).
It's great to have a new bunch of Roxette songs, particularly since it looked like there would only ever be repackaged hits albums for a while. They aren't as great as the classics but, in a way, Charm School is a throw back to the late 80s-early 90s when you could have a bit of fun.

If you liked them don't be afraid to try this one out.

Signals

I've had Signals, the debut solo album by Travis Caudle for a while and it continues to grow on me.
On first listen a few tracks stood out but having now had it on good rotation in my car this weekend I've started to get right into it.
Travis is the lead singer of WA band The Woodenelves, a band I discovered by chance a few years ago and that produced a stunning album called Trips Between Worlds.
Signals isn't quite as instantly listenable but it's a bit like hearing familiar songs and having pleasant memories of them. One thing that stands out is his voice. It stood out on the Woodenelves' album as well but Travis has stripped things back a little on most of the songs on Signals and his voice resonates.

Unlike a lot of throwaway pop that is around these days, Signals is a positive yet reflective journey about life.

Take the title track for example. The following is a quote from his website regarding the song and some lyrics.

''The title track, Signals, is all about getting to a point where you get rid of all the things which don’t work in your life, understanding that by giving away some of your security you actually gain freedom.''

''It’s just something you feel, A point you reach somehow
You’ve gotta take the life you have now and throw it all away
To reinvent the wheel, send a signal somehow.
You gotta take the life you have now and throw it all away.''

The first time I listened to Signals, the overall album, I put eight of the 12 songs straight onto my ipod. That's a pretty good indication of that familiarity the album has. And they have continued to grow on me. Away from the title track I very much like Out Of Your Depth and the last song, Rise.
Travis Caudle is an artist that there's a fair chance you haven't heard of before. It's a shame if that's the case. From the Woodenelves songs, which still get a lot of airplay at my place, to this lyrically fantastic and musically subtle solo effort, Travis has given me plenty of hours of entertainment. Well worth it, too.

What the Fraggle?

Fraggle Rock the movie is in the planning stages, apparently.
While the show was, and still kinda is, fun do we really need an 'adults only' version of a beloved children's show.
Their definition of 'adults only' is probably not what you're thinking. When they get around to agreeing on how to define what 'edgy' is then that's the definition we should run with.
Seriously, have we run out of ideas?
Is that a question that actually needs to be asked?

What, you've never seen a hypocrite before?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I caved.
I gave in to the facebook phenomenon today after a short discussion with a friend yesterday. But I hereby swear to delete my profile if I feel it is not useful.

* by the way, the header comes from an episode of The Big Bang Theory.

OK, I admit it

One for the 'guilty secrets' file.
I have to admit that I really enjoy the TV show Glee. It's really silly but for some reason highly enjoyable.
Perhaps it is the fact they drag out classic songs to cover each week, I don't know. But it is something I will casually flick over to from time to time.

A story worth hearing

When someone who has battled cancer for their entire life says there's no point in being unhappy then you should listen.
When they are just 18 you can't help but pay attention.
I have to say I was taken aback by the story of Samuel Symons, which was told tonight on Australian Story on the ABC.
The story told by the teenage son of well known musician and TV personality Red Symons should serve as a wake up call to us all. Don't take life for granted and enjoy what you are given.
He said he has no time for death and never will and added that by being unhappy you are preventing yourself from living.
I won't go into his details, I'm sure they'll be well published in the coming days - if they haven't already.
But I will say that I did get a little teary-eyed near the end, such was the power of his story, his words, his courage and his outlook.
We all see Red Symons as a funny, if brutally abrupt, person largely from his years on Hey Hey It's Saturday. It's amazing that he was able to perform a comedy show while his son was battling cancers at such a young age (Hey Hey finished in 1999 or thereabouts).
If you missed this episode of Australian Story try and catch a repeat. It's worth 30 minutes of your time, believe me.

If the shoe fits...

I spent an exorbitant amount of money on a new pair of shoes today.
Not normally my thing to top 100 bucks on shoes but it has been done in the name of better comfort for my feet, which have been a bit sore of late.
My shoes are usually fairly cheap (never spent three figures on them before) so hopefully they will prove a good investment. They are tailored to my feet so hopefully I will be able to see some results.

Living on Mars

You could be forgiven for thinking we're in some kind of twilight zone this morning.
Waking up and looking out the window to a sea of red is a bizarre experience. Like having a Total Recall moment.
Even now, behind the curtains, there is this eerie reddish presence.

Gary Unmarried

Just when you think there are no new shows coming through that are any good (hey, they are remaking Melrose Place!) comes Gary Unmarried.
I know this comedy has been through its first season in the States, but in keeping with Australian TV trends the executives wouldn't know a good show if it bit them.
So finally, just as season 2 is about to start in the US, Gary Unmarried premiered here on Thursday - and it's awesome!
The likeable Jay Mohr plays Gary, a recently divorced painting contractor with two kids and whose ex-wife has just announced she is marrying their old marriage counsellor.
From what I hear, this show gets better as it goes on but based on the first episodes (pretty sure we got the first two in an hour-long episode) I'm coming back again. Very funny.
In other news, I had an interesting experience while trying to purchase The Simpsons Season 12 box seat.
At Big W they advertised the 3D head box set for $39 but the normal box set is apparently still $53 despite the fact that everywhere else the two are the same price. I couldn't convince them that the two packagings contained exactly the same thing and went around to JB Hi-Fi and got the one I wanted. (I'm a stickler for continuity when collecting things).
At JB they gave me a free Simpsons DVD with the season 12 box set. So there, Big W.

Baptism of fire

They say the best way to learn something is the hard way.
As a general rule I'm not sure I agree but I found out at work today that being thrown in the deep end is actually beneficial. You find out whether you can handle a difficult task.
At this stage I think I handled a difficult task quite well, though I didn't have lunch until 2.30pm or so and thought I might explode (for different reasons) around lunch time. So much information to take in and so many different people coming to you for instruction.
So running the show today was unexpected, it wasn't supposed to happen until next week, but it seems a baptism of fire can tell you a lot about yourself.
And, in hindsight I think it was great to get the experience today for next week.
Like I said a while ago, careful what you wish for.

The Listener

Every now and then you find a new TV show that's a cut above the drivel the networks serve us up.
Mostly, sadly for us Aussies, to watch the quality stuff you have to rely on the internet. So it is with the Canadian drama The Listener which although it is not a new concept caught my attention in one episode.
Toby Logan (Craig Olejnik) is a mid-20s paramedic who, through something he sees as a curse, can read minds. Only one person, his childhood counsellor, knows of his ability.
With his past somewhat cloudy, Toby starts to see his ability as a gift and seeks to help people (he really does pry quite a lot into things ambos probably don't ever go near).
It's not the concept that makes the show appealing but the characters and certainly the lead, who I have never heard of before.
So far 13 episodes have been produced and it has apparently been picked up by NBC in the States for the summer. It will be interesting to see how it goes, since I am only in the early stages at the moment.

Chance meeting

I don't know whether it is significant or not but today I bumped into a guy I hadn't seen in maybe four years since he left church.
Funny thing was, initially I didn't remember his name. It was on the tip of my tongue but I just couldn't place it. Fortunately we had a bit of a chat and a coffee (well he had the coffee) and when ordering it they asked his name. Bingo, and it saved me a bit of embarrassment.
Ever seen the movie Sliding Doors? Well had I not caught the train I did this afternoon I would have arrived at the shopping centre 20 minutes later than I did and would not have bumped into him. I don't know if that is a significant thing or not. But it was odd after so long.

My top 5 Michael Jackson songs

Like most people around the world I reacted to the news of Michael Jackson's passing with a fair amount of shock.
But, and I wonder if this is a different thought to others, it's because he was one of those personalities you thought would be around forever. Some people, above the rank of celebrity, seem immortal. Princess Diana was one of those.
So in honour of the King of Pop, these are my favourite Michael Jackson songs. They may not be his biggest sellers or signature tunes but I reckon they were supreme anthems.

5. Man In The Mirror
A haunting memory from my high school days, this song is actually quite inspiring. If you want to change things start with yourself, a great message.
4. Smooth Criminal
I'm not exactly sure to this day what the song is actually about but it is so infectious.
3. You Are Not Alone
This song is a perfect example of what he was capable of, a perfect ballad. It's heartfelt and moving and I never tire of hearing it.
2. Come Together
While the Beatles version is excellent I think this is one of the few covers that surpasses the original. What he did to this song was give it the guts it needed, the heavier sound. It's also the only song I have sung karaoke more than once.
1. Give In To Me
Dangerous was the first CD I ever owned and this song was always the standout. With Slash on the guitar, this song also has guts and a sound that makes me want to scream out the words. The video clip is awesomely cool as well.

Body balance

Most of us aren't used to stretching in ways illustrated by pilates and the like.
Tonight I attended a class called body balance, which was a mixture of pilates, yoga and stretching but with also an emphasis on relaxation.
I must admit I was rather negative about it before tonight, having been pestered into going, but I have to say that it was pretty great.
That's despite being a rank amateur. I'm sure I stood right out in my red shirt (won't be going so bright next time) and with my occasionally uncoordinated movement.
I also sweated heaps so that probably means it was doing some good. Afterwards I certainly polished off a bottle of water fairly nicely!
It's now a few hours since the class finished and I feel fairly good, though the body knows it's been through a workout.
So it was a pleasant surprise.
On a sad note, my dad's aunt died yesterday of cancer. It's amazing how quickly it has happened.
I remember seeing her at Christmas and she was pretty good, in fact I don't think it was known then that she had it. She was a lovely lady, she used to live next door to my grandmother and was quite an active person.
I do know she was a fairly strong churchgoer and that's great.

Susan Boyle, take a bow

In one of the most surprising, and inspirational, videos I've come across the performance of I Dreamed A Dream, from Les Miserables. by Susan Boyle on Britain's Got Talent has to be seen to be believed.
If ever there was a classic `don't judge a book by its cover' case then this is it. The judges, including the notoriously picky Simon Cowley, are left close to speechless and rightly admit to this 48 year old Brit that they pre-judged her and wrongly. And they don't have any trouble in fessing up.
If you haven't seen it head here and you won't be disappointed.

Love The Beast

I'm not into cars much at all but what was so great about Love The Beast is that while it is about Eric Bana's lifelong love of his car I don't really think it is about the car itself.

If you get what I mean.

Sure, there was a fair bit of shop talk that those who work with or are passionate about cars will understand that I didn't. But it doesn't change the experience.

What we have here is a documentary telling the story of Bana's love of `the beast' and what you learn is quite remarkable and I think is very genuine.

Despite being a Hollywood star now that wasn't always the case. At one stage he was a struggling stand-up comic who was booed off a stage in Albury.

He used to work on his car with a few mates and 25 years later they still get together to tinker, talk about and drive cars.

The focus is Bana's participation in the Targa Tasmania rally in 2007.

What I took away from this film, which features segments of talks between Bana and the likes of Jay Leno, Dr Phil and Jeremy Clarkson, is that Bana is a real person.

What I mean by that is when you see a Hollywood star it is almost always in a contrived setting whereas this is raw, real and genuine. And if it isn't then Bana is a much better actor than anyone could ever think. He comes across as very grounded, attached to his car and this is illustrated when he crashes it during the rally.

There's a great moment with Jeremy Clarkson (of Top Gear for those not familiar) where he says, in his blunt manner, something like `you've travelled half way around the world to ask me whether you should fix the car, just go fix the car'.

It is a very personal movie and I think you come away with a lot of respect for Eric Bana, because few people (let along movie stars) give you such an intimate look into their life and into their heart. He should be applauded. An 8 out of 10.

Chuck

TV networks here really wouldn't know a good show if it hit them in the face.
And it seems they've missed the boat with my wonderful new obsession Chuck which is due to start on Pay TV in January.
A comedy-action series, this show was recommended to me by a neighbour and after about 10 minutes I was hooked.

It's apparently been voted in the top 10 shows of the year in the USA and it is easy to see why.

With pay picking it up here that mean some genius at the networks passed on it, probably the same bunch that passed on Dexter, Gossip Girl and Friday Night Lights, just to name a few.
For the uninitiated, Chuck centres on the unlikely life of an average computer geek Chuck Bartowski (Zachary Levi, centre) who is implanted with government secrets by an old college friend-turned spy. Yeah it sounds odd but it works really well and the support cast is great.

Yet another series I'll be watching on the net and trying desperately to get my hands on the first season DVDs.

Surprise encounters, evaluations and grand finals

The past few days have been interesting to say the least.
Whether through coincidence, if you believe in that, or some higher reasoning, I bumped into a couple of people from a previous church this week.
Completely out of the blue. Had I taken different paths to where I was going at the time I wouldn't have had either encounter.
The first was with a guy I listed on my `old friends' post a week or so ago.
Seeing Nathan was great and I wasn't surprised to learn his life is still ridiculously hectic. Everything I like about him was still evident and he didn't give me the impression that I was bailing him up either. That's what makes my comments about some regret in the way things went while we were friends (I'm not saying we aren't now but it is hard to be friends with someone if you never see them) even more pertinent.
I left that conversation hopeful that there is a future there but, realistically, I'd say there probably isn't. But you never know.
Less than 24 hours later I bumped into Melissa at my local shopping centre.
Strangely enough I had wondered what she was up to not long before and there she is. Off overseas with the husband to try their luck.
By Saturday I was wondering who I was going to run into next. You know what they say about things happening in threes! Anyway I didn't so I guess there were no signs of anything there.
On Friday night I caught up with a good mate who, surprisingly, I hadn't hung out with at all this year due to several different circumstances.
Craig is a guy who was always a very good influence and support (and I'd like to say I've been the same back on the latter score) and little has changed there despite both our situations changing slightly. We didn't do much as it was the end of a long week but it was great going out for dinner and talking, about trivial and serious stuff. We have vowed to do it more often and I'd say we will. I haven't talked about him much on this page but he is one of my favourite people.
It's been a nice weekend, albeit a bit frustrating with some close calls with my selections for the races yesterday.
I enjoyed the weekend, particularly a reasonably laid back Sunday, and even Manly winning the grand final 40-0 won't spoil it. They played better and deserved to win. At least people won't feel bad about hating them next season. You know, everyone has two teams - yours and the one playing Manly. Just how rugby league should be.

The I.T. Crowd

I've got to say I am a sucker for British comedy - they just seem to be able to hit the spot.
A while back I was given The I T Crowd by a mate but for whatever reason (distraction with Dexter probably) haven't watched it until this week.
What a mistake!
This is one of the funniest series I have seen in a while, and I've only watched series one (of two to date).
It centres around computer nerds Roy (right in the picture)and Moss (centre) and the newly appointed employee Jen (left), who doesn't know anything about computers.
I just loved the scene in one of the early episodes where Moss, who is amazingly well played, responds to a fire breaking out by sending an email asking for help when he can't remember the phone number. Look for it on YouTube, it's a classic.
I very much like witty comedy and for some reason British comedy hits the spot much more often than the Americans and they normally don't overdo it. Only 12 episodes of this show so far whereas a standard US season is around 24.
Check it out, it's a good laugh.

The Script

I really like it when you find something new that has flown under the radar. UK band The Script haven't been super hyped here just yet but if good taste prevails they will very soon.

Coming across this self-titled album reminded me of how I discovered The Fray a couple of years ago and, interestingly, these guys aren't far from that ball park.

They are fairly conventional pop/rock but there is something about them that has attracted me.

With the amount of crap music around these days and far too much R&B/rap junk it's refreshing to hear some real music.

On the negative side there are only 10 songs on the album which, I think, is pretty poor at a time when 13 or 14 is necessary.

But on the positive side they are a cracking 10 songs so I guess a song or two of filler wouldn't add anything (unless they were great as well).

On first listen (and I always do these reviews on first listen) it is easy to like, the lyrics are good from what I can gather as I haven't listened to it while reading them yet.

The single We Cry is excellent and I could pick out any of the 10 as stand-outs and I love it when I get a CD like that in my hands. Another standout is the last track I'm Yours. Reminds me of when I got The Fray, The Woodenelves, Rascal Flatts, Gavin DeGraw, John Mayer and Lifehouse's latest.

These guys are a welcome addition, and you could do a lot worse.