Newsnight On Speed

I watched the first edition of 10 o'clock Live, and I needed to relieve some of the frustrations I gained from watching it, so, here is my 10 o'clock Live Review:

David Mitchell, Charlie Brooker, Lauren Laverne and Jimmy Carr. I don't think Laverne can even sneer properly... 

I love and adore Charlie Brooker.

I love and adore David Mitchell.

I rather quite like Jimmy Carr.

Lauren Laverne was on Channel Four’s 10 O’clock Live too...

"10 O'Clock Live will provide a fresh and unashamedly intelligent take on current affairs from a young perspective", is what was said in the shows build up by the commissioning editor. However, I felt let down and disappointed after watching it.

For weeks Channel Four have been building this show up, and for weeks I have been looking forward to the shows start. It sort of ended up feeling like a Goldfish which has leapt out of his bowl; it lays there not moving but occasionally dances around full of life for a little while and calming down again. Parts of the show were dull and boring, such as Laverne attempting satire or Carr making unoriginal jokes about the week. The dancing occurs when Mitchell interviews a politician or Brooker point’s fun at news figures.

The main problem I had with the show was that they tried to fit far too much into it. Just as something became interesting or David Mitchell had backed the bankers into the corner of a bank and started a fierce debate, it was time to wrap up for the adverts or maybe even Lauren Laverne.

The jokes weren't that 'cutting edge' either; it’s the same old ones. Point and laugh at the banks. Sneer at those suited-up Tories. Go on, cringe at Sarah Palin's patriotism because we just told you too. I mean, Jimmy Carr was only on the show because he is the comedy go-to guy for Channel Four. There must be some kind of contract which states that he has to be in all forms of witty comedy on Channel Four. And Lauren Laverne? Lauren Laverne? Really? Was there some issue of the show having too many testacies and not enough ovaries, and just hired the cheapest female comedian they could get for fifteen consecutive Thursday's?

I know I only really watched the show for Mitchell's rants and for Brooker's observations. I didn't watch the show for the other two really. I was amazed at how great David Mitchell was at interviewing and getting the answers. Jeremy Paxman, when you die, we know who is getting your job. Also, was it just me who thought Charlie Brooker looked extremely bored throughout? That quiff as well; if he turned around any quicker, Laverne would have to start walking with a Labrador and a white stick.

This show came from Channel Four's Alternative Election Night, in which the quartet of comedians done a very similar show satirising the election. That was a great show which I enjoyed. That was a lot longer. I understand that Channel Four want this show to be part of the political TV weekly schedule, along with Question Time and Newsnight. This show has the potential to join in with the big boys; this show will bring politics to the younger generation. I mean, it's only had one episode. It has plenty of time to mature. To improve. To learn. To grow into a show which may last years and have the big political names to go in an attempt to acknowledge the young voters.

However, I am half expecting a future Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe episode to critique, in a much better way than I, 10 O’clock Live. I actually want there to be a show with just Charlie Brooker and David Mitchell. They could just rant in their usual misanthropic way at today's society. I think that would be a great show.

I'm not sure about the audience either. Did they think they were sitting in The X Factor studios? All they seemed to do was cheer and boo. Banker says something negative. BOOOO. David Mitchell strikes back with a satirical point. YAAAAY. You don't get that sort of behaviour on Question Time. Just calm down will you!

Also, the camera angles. As soon as a point being made by an interviewee becomes slightly tedious, we have lots of different camera shots which pan across the table and zoom in and out. Again, you don't get that sort of thing on Question Time. A comedy show is allowed to have serious point making, but Channel Four don't seem to understand that and think their audience will get bored if something doesn't change. I hate that about TV shows. I just want to watch and pay attention to the speaker, and now I can't see him because you're swooshing away from his face. Oh, now he's had to shut up with his serious point because Lauren Laverne wants to talk again.

I will still watch the upcoming 14 episodes, despite my negative thoughts, because I know it will improve. They just need to slow it down and not rush it. Get rid of segments from the show. Maybe even loss a certain blonde presenter from Radio 6. I don't know, but Channel 4 need to do something because I'm not sure it can be successful the way the first episode was. I mean, that's what we need to remember; it is only the first episode after all; and it’s live.

I might have a slight crush on the guy; but not in a gay way, more in an admiration way... Yeah.

If you cannot wait until the next episode for a bit of Charlie Brooker cynicism, then watch 'How TV Ruined Your Life' on BBC 2, Tuesday, 22:00.

In the words of Charlie Brooker: “That’s all we’ve got time for, now go away!”

Album Review: McFly – Above The Noise

I think the popular phrase ‘Never judge a CD by its cover’ is pretty relevant to this album. When I first saw the album art work, my initial thoughts were ‘Oh dear, what a shame’. It doesn’t give the impression of a classic McFly album, but you know what; it isn’t actually that bad.

If I were to instead judge the album by the first twenty seconds, I would tell you not to waste your time listening to it. Anything that has a ‘robotic’ female voice introducing a song is usually crap. However, I persisted, partly due to having nothing else to do, but that is not the point.

Forgetting that voice, the first song, ‘End Of The World’, is alright. It is nothing special, but okay. The song to me sounds somewhat reminiscent of the riff and whatnot of The War of the Worlds soundtrack, with its slightly apocalyptic sound (not surprisingly considering the name). Slightly catchy, then the song ends with that bloody woman again. The second song is their first single from this album, ‘Party Girl’ which also starts with that woman yet again introducing the song. I didn’t really like the song when I first heard it on YouTube some months ago, and still don’t but I am more accepting of it now I’m used to its modern pop sound.

The first two songs do not feel like introductory songs to a McFly album, with them taking a slightly more JLS/Lady Gaga sound. There is nothing wrong with that, but I’m just not used to that kind of behaviour from them.

The third song ‘If U C Kate’ has already annoyed me by looking at the track name. No, I think you’ll find its ‘If You See Kate’. Anyway, the song is reasonably acceptable. It’s catchy. It has decent lyrics. It has a decent sound and decent singing. Slightly techno if anything. Actually, you may remember a guy called David Jordon who was relatively popular a few years ago. If you know who I’m talking about, this song sounds slightly reminiscent of him. Also, there is no sign of that woman talking, so all is fine. Maybe she is called Kate and she walked off and left them…

The next song, ‘Shine A Light’ is the first actually quite good song that is worth listening to. This is the second single from the album, and when I first heard it, I was pretty against it, but something changed, and I’ve now actually listened to this single a fair few times, I really like it. I don’t think much on the lyrics ‘eh, eh, eh’ being repeated, but it is otherwise fine. It also includes some guy who is apparently popular called ‘Taio Cruz’. He’s alright.

The fifth song, ‘I’ll Be Your Man’ is rather lovely. A slow sound and it’s nothing too overpowering. It has quite good lyrics and actually rather heartfelt. It does have an electric guitar solo in the middle, which I’m not so sure about. It’s as if Slash walked into the recording studio and played a basic, yet annoying, riff over the top. Either way, the song is actually quite good, despite my negative criticism. The sixth song, ‘Nowhere Left To Run’, has a slightly techno vibe to it, which I’m not keen on, and again seems like a crossbreed between Westlife and JLS actually (I’m not sure whether that’s a compliment or not really). Again, it is pretty good though, despite my comments.

Now, I think the album takes a third turn, and I like the direction. The seventh song, ‘I Need A Woman’, is very catchy and actually slightly excites me. It has a decent beat and decent people playing instruments. The lyrics are great and actually is very uplifting I think. I can feel my head swaying from side to side when I listen to this song. The added finger clicking works a real treat too. ’That’s The Truth’ is very JLS-y (a new verb for you). However, once the song gains momentum, it is fantastic. A powerful beat which actually takes you slightly by surprise and gives you another lift. The drum and guitar pieces have actually been pieced together pretty well with the nicely sung lyrics neatly placed on top.

The ninth song, ‘Take Me There’ is again a JLS-y song, but I’m not so impressed by this song as the previous two. It has those pretty decent lyrics and it has an okay beat to it. I feel like it could have been made slightly more powerful to echo the previous songs, but it works reasonably well. ‘This Song’ is the tenth song. It has an introduction which grabs your attention with what sounds like a Sitar, which seems to be occasionally added. It’s a pretty decent song which seems to have been composed quite well and has, yet again, pretty good lyrics. It also has bursts of power, which improves the song.

The eleventh, and last, song, ‘Foolish’, is quite a nice song, and quite a contrast to the beginning sound of the album. It has that JLS-y sound again and the beat is pretty repetitive and slow. The lyrics are alright. It isn’t anything spectacular, but it is rather a lovely song, and that’s good enough for me. I was expecting the album to end with that woman saying something again, but she didn’t, so that pleased me.

I think this album works well as a collection of songs, but as eleven cohesive tracks, I think it fails. Every few songs, it seems to change its sound, and you don’t even recognise them being the same band throughout. Maybe that is a credit to McFly’s ability to have a variety, but I don’t personally think it works properly. It has those few songs which I think to be absolutely brilliant, like ‘Shine A Light’, ‘I Need A Woman’ and ‘That’s The Truth’, but I just wish the whole album was like that. I particularly dislike the first two songs, and I think they are possibly the songs which feel most out of place on this album.

My overall opinion? It’s alright. If you like occasionally brilliant songs, you’re in for a treat, but if you are like me and like your albums to be cohesively sounding, then you will be disappointed, but persist none-the-less.

Let's Pry Into My 2010

Hello and welcome to the New Year; it is the first day of 2011. Enjoying it so far? I hope you are. I hope you're not suffering too much for your deeds of New Years Eve to celebrate the coming of a New Year. Mind you, it is your own fault, so just suck it up.

Anyway, only one paragraph into this blog and I have already drifted off topic. This is an uninteresting blog about the past year; or more specifically, my past year. I spend the whole year blogging about events which happen throughout the world, on television, in politics and maybe a tiny bit about my life. This is my one time, each year, to share with you my year and its events - good and bad.

In conclusion; my 2010 hadn’t been that great. In fact, and I don't wish to sound melodramatic, but it has actually been the worst year of my life thus far. I remember blogging in 2008 that was the worst year of my life, but I was just in negative mental place when typing. I now look back and consider 2007/2008 to be my best years of my life. However, I don't think I will look back upon this year and think 'You know what - I was too negative'.  I may look back and think 'It was the year which helped shaped my future' and 'if that hadn't happened, imagine how bad it would be now', but I won’t look back with joy.

Within the first week of 2010, I failed my driving test. I should have taken that as a sign that it wasn't going to be a great year, but I didn't. I didn't see it coming, and that was my fault. However, a few months later, I passed my driving test, and the first few months of the year, where actually quite good. I felt good about the upcoming months. Then Easter happened. I claim that my year went downwards from then. I broke my iPod earphones. They were on the floor, and then my size 11's stood on them. I couldn't listen to my music for days!

Yeah, I'm not that shallow to be that upset at breaking earphones. However, it was like an elaborate domino effect. It starts off as a small domino being pushed, but then it ends up knocking over a huge skyscraper. Now, that is melodramatic my dear readers.

Anyway, the few weeks which followed were the ones that ruined the year for me. My camera broke, which again sounds pathetic, but it isn't when put into context. I had a photography exam in two weeks time, and the camera actually (in what I now see as irony but at the time was annoying) broke while preparing for the exam. Anyway, I went out and brought a new, better camera and took better pictures in preparation for the exam. I then, three days before the exam I had spent two months preparing, got Chicken Pox.

It carries on. I wasn't allowed to resit the exam. Ahh, bugger. Then that is where it starts snowballing and just getting worst. Me not being able to sit the exam meant that I wouldn't get enough grades to get into University. Therefore, getting Chicken Pox ended up in me not being able to go to University and essentially put my life on hold for an entire year. Talk about timing. Geez! Out of all the weeks in my life to get Chicken Pox, it had to be that one. Not only that, but I have a Chicken Pox scar on my face. It just gets worse.

A few weeks later, I became 18. I was looking forward to that, but I found out I shouldn't have. That was pretty rubbish really. I had a big party against my will. I didn't particularly want it, and I was right, but since when has my mother listened to me? I just think most people who attended, played a part in ruining the evening. Plus, I really hurt my back that afternoon, so I was already in a bad mood.

Then the rest of the year ended up being very quiet. People came and went from my life for reasons no-one has actually explained to me. September came and I returned to school, while my peers went to University. Even the most happiest of people could not have been depressed during those few days. Also in September, I witnessed a suicide. To anyone considering suicide - don't. It's the most selfish thing you can do, and even by thinking about it, you're a bit of a self-deprecating bastard.

A man jumped off a bridge just moments before I drove under it and got hit by a man driving an Audi TT at half 11 on a Saturday night. I was out picking my Mum and two of her intoxicated friends up. I have never seen three middle aged woman sober up so quickly. But yes, so when you commit suicide like that, think about not only how it will affect all the people in your life that you care about, but also those who have to see your body laying in the road; or worse - the person driving the car you fall in front off.

I didn’t exactly have the best luck with my 'motor' either since I passed my test. Broke down in August, then took about 6 weeks before it was properly repaired with a new Throttle Body costing a fair few hundred of our English Pounds. Then, with its MOT a few weeks later, they discovered rust on the frame holding the engine in; so nothing important. I was told that running a car was expensive, but I had no idea about how much. So, that hasn't exactly helped my year.

However, apart from those things, nothing else dramatically bad has happened. The Chicken Pox and its aftermath is the event which has ruined the year for me. I should actually be writing this blog in a rare break from doing University work, but instead doing it amongst doing very little Photography work due to me doing it all last year. Since May, this has been a rather unproductive and boring year, and made more depressing due to the fact I have spent yet another being single.

Wallace, Gromit and The Were Rabbit at Canterbury's Anifest

It wasn’t been bad though. I have made the most of this year long quiet spell in my life and doing things I want to be doing and relaxing before I have three years of going into massive debt and having little in the way of free time. I mean, lots of bad things have happened this year, but the odd good thing had happened. I did pass driving test. I taught myself how to whistle. I even learnt the basics of riding a horse. I have ridden a horse. I never thought that I would have done that in 2010. I have seen Wallace and Gromit in their tiny existence. I have even sat feet away from one of my Childhood heroes - Ardal O'Hanlon. How amazing are those things?

2010 has been a bad year, but there are plenty of good things which have happened, but surely the good things are not as interesting to write about. I still feel negative and I still stick to my statement of 2010 being the worst year, but this is the time of year for reflection; and it's surprising how much better when you look upon everything that happened other than just the main things which stay in your head. The people who have stayed in my life are obviously the best people on the planet.

What will 2011 hold for me then? I have absolutely no idea, but hopefully this time next I will be writing blogs in between University work and maybe even writing them from the comfort of an apartment in London. It could just be an amazing year. A year of huge changes it is sure to be. I bet I'm still single though.

Anyway, this is enough self-orientated blogging, I hope you all had a great 2010, and that 2011 is a great year for you filled with love, laughter and health.

Edit:
This year I also went to see some pretty amazing fireworks, where I also met a Dalek. Yes, a Dalek. So that is another two positives for 2010!

And here is the proof: A Dalek pimping out women in florescent jackets...