Friday, February 29, 2008

Goldfrapp and the Smurfs


I decided that this new Goldfrapp hippy folk thing sounded like it could be better than many people were saying. So off I trotted (well skidded - snowing again...sigh) to the record store to buy it in quaint old CD format. And it's a very, very lovely thing. So lovely I got to the end and listened to it again. Yes, it's not the amazing quirky pop we all love her for but, hey, she's Goldfrapp. It's still pop, still has choruses, still has beats - it's just quieter. That's all. Is that so bad? Go buy it or 'borrow' it. I like it a lot.

So back to the election (sorry, I'll be brief). Hillary, bless her, put out a terrible attack ad on Obama. Weirdly, can't find the original on YouTube but did find this spoof of it:  



Doesn't it show out of touch campaigning that when you search for 'Hillary phone ad', you get this? On the day the original ad first airs? It's all a bit sad. Obama has made a much better counterattack ad but Hillary is really dragging the whole thing into the gutter. She's still winning in Ohio though...

Let me leave you with this - when charity gets it very, very wrong:



Apparently, you're not supposed to laugh. Oh.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Is Goldfrapp a fashion cheat?

Well, is she? Fashionistas should check out this entry on The Look. Another fine entry by Paul - part time LA tour guide.

Is it lazy to simply reference other people's blogs? Yeah, I guess so, but you don't care, do you??

And the Oscar goes to...


There's been a lot of criticism of 'Britain's own' Tilda Swinton over her Oscars look. No make-up? Are you a crazy woman?? But haven't we seen seen this look before?



So Bowie can't really remember much about this time. We all know that feeling. But it doesn't make it a bad look. Well, does it?! 

It's not like she's the first:


Americans can be so bitchy.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Katie says...

So, Katie (whose fault this whole sorry mess is) has complained that this blog is far too 'USA! USA! USA!' and nowhere near 'Oh Canada' enough. Well, given that it's been minus something revolting and snowing outside for as long as any of us can remember, this should come as no surprise. But, in the interest of inter-north American fairness, this will be a post about that little known area of interest, Canadian politics. This is Katie, by the way, going through her brief but always jolly British Nationalist phase. She went all Serbian after this and, as I write, is probably burning down some embassy or other.

There's going to be more than one election over this side of the pond this year. Oh yes. Canadians, too, will soon be 'going to the polls'. Rumour has it that said election will be called any day now. And once it's called, all mention of Senator 'so-called' Obama and Hillary 'Bill' Clinton will be just a vague memory. And then a few weeks later the whole thing will be over. Some would say that a Canadian general election is no election at all. Where are the endless debates, the months of campaigning? Where are the attack ads and the ugly rumours? Where is the super this and super that??

Canada does things a little differently, thank you very much. A month or so and it's done and dusted. This is probably due to the cold - who wants to open the door to a political campaigner when your nose might fall off? 

"But hey!" I hear you shout above the whistle of the tumbleweed, "who is going to win?". There are two main candidates - Stephen Harper and his Tories (yes, they have tories here too, except they're still scary and neo-con and don't hug hoodies) and Stephane Dion and his Liberals (they're all lovely and liberal, hence the name). Now you would think that, given Canada's reputation for general niceness and global citizenry, Dion would be a shoe-in. But no! Whisper it, somewhere out there, somewhere in the tundra, there lives not only a yeti but a whole slew of nasty right-wing Canadians. I know, shocking. But there's loads of them and Harper will almost certainly be voted back into office. Canadians will then, once again, wring their hands in angst while the rest of the world will, admittedly, fail to notice. It's the curse of Canada - everyone likes them but no-one really cares that much. Maybe if they met some of these nasty Canadians, they would like them slightly less. But they still wouldn't be bothered either way, if they were honest.

So there you have it, Katie, some proper (ahem) Canadian political punditry. Can we get back to the Democratic debate now? They're in Texas and talking cobblers about Cuba. Hillary wouldn't meet Castro's brother, apparently. To be fair, he probably wouldn't want to meet her very much, either.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Blimey...



There's a lunar eclipse going on tonight. Brilliantly, the local news predicted it was going to happen in seven hours time. Glad they're as good at astronomy as they are at meteorology...

Tevez

My very great friend Sophie called me tonight from Milan airport - she was at the Armani show don't you know! Anyway, she then texted me from Heathrow to ask the score in the Man Utd-Lyon game - Sophie is from Lyon and London and supports Liverpool (go figure!). Anyway, I thought it was funny that someone who lives in London had to phone Canada to find out the result of a sport we can only really follow through the Guardian Unlimited minute by minute report. United grabbed a draw in the last five minutes, if you're interested (although if you were interested you know that by now...). 

Thank you Tevez, you were a good buy.

Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip

How did this show get cut?

I never saw it when it was on TV - I didn't really have a TV in the UK and I am still to work out TV schedules over here. But I read that it was great on, I think, either the Guardian or the Times website. So I bought the DVD set. It's just awesome. Of course it is - it's written by Aaron Sorkin (of West Wing fame) and has great actors. It's funny, it's an exaggerated version of reality and it's serious. Nothing this good gets made in Europe, ever. But it wasn't watched. Why?

I know I'm on a bit of an LA trip right now but really, buy this series. I can only think that it is a little too close to reality in Hollywood and some overly sensitive TV exec decided to get it off the air. Or it is too Hollywood for the average American. Who knows? But buy this series, you won't be disappointed...

The democrat race is getting ugly and will only get uglier. More of that later but if you want better reporting than I can give you, subscribe to the NY Times and Washington Post mailings. It makes the British electoral 'battle' look a bit sad. 

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

My hotel


In case you didn't get how great LA was...

Why does CNN love Obama?

Why does Clinton always start her speech a few minutes before Obama? She's done it time and time again. And all that happens is that she gets past her thank-yous and suddenly Barrack is on stage and CNN ALWAYS switch to him. Even when he's just thanking local workers. Why is that?

There are a number of possible reasons. CNN may have decided that Obama has this in the bag. This is unlikely - the Super Delegates might easily screw the voters - it's close enough for the establishment to blow it. It could be because they think that Obama is McCain's best chance - let's face it, CNN is a tad right wing. But that's unlikely too because every Republican hates he Clintons. So maybe it's just that he's much better TV. Her speeches are policy dirges - tired old ideas from the last decade. His sound like MLK and JFK combined. McCain sounds like a tired old uncle at the end of a party. He sounds like the future. It may be a vague future but it is inspiring in a way you could only get away with in America.

So, Obama has, it appears, won yet again in Wisconsin - you have to wonder where Clinton can go next. Dirty, you have to assume. She's already started. She has, to her credit, sent Bill to the side-lines (he sounds like a grumpy old man these days). But Obama has momentum, you can't see it being stopped by anything other than the democratic party. That isn't to say that the Republican can't destroy him as a crazy left-winger. They have a lot of time to paint him as way left of George McGovern. And if anyone doesn't know what that means, read Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing On The Campaign Trail '72 - the best American political book out there.

But for now, let's enjoy Obama's rhetoric, even if he has borrowed some of it from his friends...

Sweet Dreams My LA Ex

Well, technically there is no LA ex but, you know, it was either that or 'Ain't Nobody Straight in LA'...

So, Los Angeles, what a fine place to celebrate your birthday. And what a great place to meet up with pretty much your oldest friend. 

I loved LA. And sometimes I hated LA. Quite often the dislike was sparked by yet another overheard conversation (all conversations in my hotel were designed to be overheard). They normally involved some old guy and a young blonde girl, with the old guy promising a part, a shoot or an introduction to "this guy Larry who's working on this amazing project...".

But between that (and, let's face it, what do you expect in Hollywood?) I loved it. I loved the sunshine - everything is in colour! I loved the music - I have had a soft spot for Laurel Canyon for a while but I didn't expect the quality dance music, the weird covers (who covers Bowie's Repetition in a house stylee?) and those moments when you're sitting in a bar and go 'What is THIS?!' And I loved the weird, cool boutiques and bric-a-brac shops. 

So, after two days in the sunshine state it was back to chilly Canada and two lovely evenings with my friends. Two timezones, four days of partying, a 30 degree temperature change (twice) and now I've broken the forty barrier. And I'm glad to say, I don't feel any different.

On an entirely different note, two of my very good friends have recently started my new favourite music blog: mynewfavouriteband.com. It is to be highly recommended to anyone who loves music and great music writing - there's not too much of that around these days. Actually, there's none of that in Canada but that's the great thing about the interweb, eh?

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Clinton weirdness

Two posts in a day, keen or what?

Clinton just came out to speak in Texas. She looked a bit mad and a bit like she might break down. She also came out to U2's 'Street With No Name' - isn't that an odd choice of song? I want to run, I want to hide? I'm sorry, what was that? Our love turns to rust, blown by the wind, trampled in dust? Erm...ok...  She also came out with the most uncomfortable 8 year old latino kid dressed in the most cliched Mexican outfit. He looked like he just stepped out of a school play of Blazing Saddles. Please, please don't make this the candidate.

And now she's getting all weird and emotional while reading her thank-you list off a cue card. Oh, and she's in El Paso - my god, she's going to make a burrito in a minute. She sounds desperate and slightly mental and the face-lift looks like it's slipping. Then again, she's in Texas, a crazy, crazy state. The place where they have billboards with the classic sell: 'Buy yourself a big juicy pig'. To eat, obviously. 

Come on America, come on. This 'I am a human being, really, I am' rubbish can't work, can it?

Meanwhile, Obama looks like he'll overtake her in delegates. But not super delegates. Everything is 'super' in America. The super delegates (or the democratic establishment as they are otherwise known) could decide this race.

You need to look this speech up on YouTube - it's kinda disturbing... CNN just got bored or freaked out by it and cut her off for a commercial break. 'Burning down love' indeed...


 

Winter blues

So, Toronto is conspiring to keep me here. We're in the middle of the third bad snow storm in two weeks. It's the most snow for twenty years, or something. My plane had better not be cancelled tomorrow. However, if it does take off, what better time to get out of here. This winter sucks.

Going to LA for my birthday is going to be a bit sad without my perfect friend, Melissa. If ever there was a trip we should be taking together, this is it. If anyone knows how to party like a rock star, Melissa is that girl. I miss her a lot but she's in Oz and, quite frankly, is having a much better time than we are right now!

But still, I really can't wait to get out of here. It's 75 and sunny in LA - coming back on Saturday is going to be 'interesting' (i.e. miserable). The best we can say is that at least we'll appreciate the summer...

Three more Democrat primaries tonight and Obama is killing Hilary in Virginia, as he has been in all the primaries since 'Super' Tuesday. Come on, America, make the right choice. Make us proud. Please. Do. Not. Screw. This. Up. Huckabee might embarrass McCain in Virginia (he's winning right now). That would be funny until you realise that behind the folksy charm is the mind of a mad man. He doesn't believe in evolution and he could become the leader of the 'free' world. Nice.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Running to the sun

It is ridiculously cold right now. It's a cold you don't ever get in the UK. Yesterday, for example, the ten minute walk back from the video store left my face stinging - it almost felt like it was burnt in an odd way. Hibernation time.

But who cares about that - I'm off to LA! Admittedly, this will be a short trip, just three nights and two whole days. But still, two days of sunshine and 20 plus temperatures is going to seem like heave (albeit a slightly strange Los Angeles heaven). I'm meeting my good friend Paul Gorman and his girlfriend Caz. They're flying back to the UK from Oz, via a stop-off in LA. Paul lived there for a while when he was a journalist at Music Business International (I think that's what is was called), so he knows his way around. Paul is also my party buddy from London - Paul's parties are legendary in west and south-west London.

Paul taught me the martini are like nipples rule. One is not enough, two is perfect, three is one too many. You have to go to three to properly learn this rule...

This LA trip is well timed, because Saturday is my (ahem) 40th birthday. Forty. Cripes. So, what better way of celebrating this minor milestone than by partying like a rock star - two nights in LA then back to Toronto for a long weekend of debauchery (or hiding from the ice with a bottle of wine and whatever duty free I bring back. And maybe a little poker...). 

Enough for now. Next time I will have tales of Hollywood to impart. Hold on Britney, I'm on my way!!

 

Monday, February 4, 2008

And Manning gets away...

yes, the Superbowl was amazing. Not just a good game, an amazing game. Nobody gave the Giants a chance but nobody thought the Giants defense would do THAT to Brady. And then there is that play. I'm not going to try and rewrite what proper sports journalists have written - just check out the NY Times post-game articles and read why American sports journalism beats the UK. Partisan? Yeah! An understanding of why sport can be a great thing. Oh yeah...

And now it's Super Tuesday tomorrow. Who knows what will happen? Hillary cried again today - surely to god no-one will fall for that again? But, you know, it's California. Obama is catching her though, according to the polls. Then again these are polls that said he'd take New Hampshire by 10. I saw an Obama speech on CNN the other day (don't remember where). He really is good. There's not much there in terms of policy but so much in terms of that most shallow thing - vision. And you get the impression that the USA and the world could handle a bit of optimistic vision right now. McCain seems to have the Republican party nomination sewed up - that's a bit of a relief. Romney is a bit odd. And a bit wrong. So it could be Obama against McCain, which might be the best two options America has. Personally, I think either Rebublican candidate could kill Hillary because nobody really wants Bill in the White House again.

But let's go back to the Superbowl - what a game! The Giants killed them. Superbowls are normally a bit rubbish - game over by the end of the second quarter, people moving away from the TV to the poker table after the half time show. This time, no-one will remember Tom Petty's show from this year. And that, ladies and gentlemen, can be nothing more than a victory for us all. 

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Super This, Super That

So, it's Superbowl weekend. This is very exciting, UK reader(s). Football (American) is a much maligned sport in the UK. Rugby fans are particularly sniffy and patronising about it. Rugby fans have no idea what they're talking about (a general rule for life). While rugby is a bunch of slightly over-weight public school boys and Australians running about and bumping in to each other, football is a proper contact sport. There is a reason for the body armour - it's really, really dangerous. And yet - and this is a truth for sports generally here - cheating, play acting and illegal play is considered an affront, almost, to America itself. Even in hockey (where fighting is part of the game) any block that looks like it was made with the intention of hurting another player is met with huge fines and bans. Football is also the perfect TV sport. If a sport was to be designed by TV people, football would be it. It lasts just the right time to get slightly drunk and has natural breaks in play just long enough to sell viagra to slightly drunk men who can't get it up any more.

Anyway, just take it as read that the Superbowl is a good thing. This year it is being spoilt only by the fact that Prince's astonishing half-time performance last year is being followed by, erm, Tom Petty. Hmm, thanks.

Also this week is Super Tuesday. Or Super! Tuesday!! as CNN would have it. This is, as you know, when 20 odd states hold their Primaries or Caucuses. This is almost as exciting a contact sport as football. NBC certainly think so. During the last championship game a preview for Super Tuesday was shown at half time - followed by the classic line - 'football and politics, what more do you need - all here on NBC'. And they may have a point.

American TV calls politics using sports language. 'Obama needs to keep moving the chains', 'McCain hit him out the park on that point', 'when Bush gets the ball back after November he's not going to take a knee. He's going to step back and throw it long'. This last one is a football analogy, meaning Bush isn't going to play out time on his presidency, he's going to want to end on a big play. In this case, the 'throw it long' bit is football speak for 'he's going to bomb Iran out of existence'. It's nice to know these things are taken as seriously as football...

I heard that the UK got shut down this week because it got a bit windy. It's a bit embarrassing really, isn't it? It's as if the UK infrastructure was designed and built on a wave of heady optimism generally missing from the British character. "It'll be fine! The summers will be sunny and the winters benign. Trust me, wind and snow in England? Not going to happen, mate". Bless Britain. I miss it a bit.