#4 - Featuring Life's Too Short, Little Dragon, Shogun 2: Total War & the unsung heroes of the English Premier League

Sportz - Ryan Smith


I'm going to take a look at some of the English Premier Leagues unsung heroes...


Steven Taylor - Newcastle United (200 appearances, 13 goals)


The twenty-five year old centre-back is now in his ninth season at ST JAMES' PARK. Taylor stuck with the Magpies when they were relegated, and has been instrumental at the back in Newcastle's recent revival. Taylor also has plenty of international experience, he has represented England at many levels, including twenty-nine caps for the under-21's. Mr Capello, take note. 


Paul Robinson - Blackburn Rovers (128 appearances)


Although Blackburn currently lie in nineteenth position and look likely relegation fodder at this early stage, Robinson is the only player who can be pleased with his performances thus far in the campaign. You don't get forty-one England caps for nothing and despite always having a calamitous error in him, most of the time he's a class act between the sticks.


Vincent Kompany - Manchester City (107 appearances, 4 goals)


The Belgian beast has been at Citeh for a few seasons now, since signing from Hamburg in the summer of 2008. His quality saw him survive the departure of Mark Hughes, with Mancini putting complete faith in the big man, handing him the captaincy following Carlos Tevez's abysmal conduct. Kompany has been a rock in City's asecent to the top. Additionally, he came second in the Premier Leagues 'Weirdest head' competition, finishing runner-up to Gervinho. 


Glenn Whelan - Stoke City (141 appearances, 7 goals)


Whelan signed for Stoke for £500,000 from Sheffield Wednesday at the end of the winter transfer window of the 2007/2008 campaign, and hasn't looked back since. Being a key player in the Potter's side that won promotion that year, he has gone on to be a regular in a now well-established Premier league team. Whelan may not be the most glamorous of players, but he is quality and can be relied upon.


Patrice Evra - Manchester United (260 appearances, 3 goals)


Despite being a 'crybaby' (just kidding), the French international left-back is into his seventh season at Old Trafford now. At the age of thirty, he shows no signs of slowing down, looking to add to four domestic titles, three league cup wins and Champions League success in 2007/2008. Despite this startling array of silverware, he still doesn't get the praise he deserves. Truly world class.




Muzique - Tommy Howe


Tommy says from all the albums released this year few have impressed him quite as much as...

Artist: Little Dragon

Album: Ritual Union

Year: 2011

Genre: Electro/Synthpop

Rating: 8.5/10

Verdict: A charming blend of electro and pop that gets sweeter with every listen. One of the most promising breakthrough albums of 2011.

The Swedish quartet consists of childhood friends Hakan Wirenstrand, Fredrik Kallgren Wallin, Erik Bodin and the beautiful Swedish-Japanese front woman Yukimi Nagano. 2011 has been a fantastic year for the Gothenburg outfit; the release of Ritual Union has pronounced their undeniable ability and elevated their status from indie minnows to a band teetering on the edge of mainstream success.

The successful year for Little Dragon is perhaps due, in some small part, to the two collaborations with Gorillaz on the hugely popular ‘Plastic Beach’ album. As a result of this alliance, Little Dragon were invited on a world tour with Gorillaz, further exposing their talent and enhancing their reputation within both the Indie and Pop worlds.

The albums starts with title track and spearhead single ‘Ritual Union’, a bewitching electro-pop track, emphasized by Nagano’s beautiful vocals. When I first got hold of the album, having heard and loved the single, I expected the remaining tracks to fall short of the benchmark set by such a strong start. Fortunately the galloping and upbeat ‘Little Man’ delivers more electro goodness. Follow-up single ‘Brush The Heat’ is the first passive offering, but it’s deep tones and typically alluring vocals make it equally impressive.

The middle section consistently provides more upbeat electro-pop, and it is that very thing that makes the album listenable and enjoyable time and time again…consistency. ‘Shuffle A Dream’, ‘Please Turn’ and ‘Crystalfilm’ are equally rich in sound and spirited enough to keep you engrossed at the half way stage. The latter in particular, with its resonant beat and fluid vocals is magnificent.

‘Precious’ and ‘Nightlight’ make up tracks 7 and 8, the former toying with the dubstep sound that has been the demise of so many bands in the past, yet Little Dragon manage to side step the potential banana skin that is the inevitable nauseating drones of the most disgusting of subgenres. The midsection of the song very nearly hurtles into dubstep oblivion, but claws out with enough time and style to suggest that this song is merely the experimental and production orientated track on the record. Nightlight, which you’ll undoubtedly recognise if you’re a FIFA player, delivers another slice of electro-pop, the sound which the band appears to have mastered.

The album tails off to a wonderfully tranquil climax, ‘Summertearz’ and ‘When I Go Out’ both delving into the depths of production ability that the band obviously possess, yet equally ambient, effective and all refined by the effortless Nagano on vocals. The closing track ‘Seconds’ is the perfect end to a brilliant record, simple, charming and uncompromisingly powerful. The album eventually fades into silence and you’re left wondering where the last half hour has gone.

This album should leave you a little bit dumbfounded, or feeling aggrieved that it came to an end, and if you, like me feel this upon first listen you’ll stick it straight back to track one and do it all over again. A couple of months later and I’m even more hooked than I was at the beginning, it’s an instant pleaser, a gradual grower and one you’ll continually revisit. I can’t recommend it enough, the front-runner for my album of the year.

Listen to these:

'Brush The Heat' - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Jtuf1TIl3E
'Seconds' - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M34EGD7NIEw



Televizion - Stephan Marfleet


Stephan casts his eye over Ricky Gervais & Stephan Merchant's newest show...


Life’s Too Short (2011)

               

The latest series created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant is Life’s Too Short, another foray for the duo into mockumentary-style broadcasting, this time focusing on a fictionalised version of the dwarf actor Warwick Davis. In the past Davis has collaborated with the pair on both The Office and Extras, and a series was commissioned after he proposed the idea and title of the show to the award-winning duo.

Warwick Davis with global superstar Johnny Depp.

             

Upon watching the first episode of what will be a seven-strong series, it is instantly palpable of the influence given by Gervais and Merchant to Davis, with the familiar toe-curling awkwardness of both Andy Millman and David Brent oozing out of every pore of Davis’ three foot six frame. The manner in which his life remains in a limbo of constant denial will serve to divide fans of Gervais and Merchant’s former work, with one half ecstatic to see a proud return to form, yet with the other half dreary of what may be seen to drag out the same old shtick employed in the past. One thing that cannot be denied though is that Davis’ performance is worthy of being associated in close company with both The Office and Extras, such is the audience’s pity and affection for him.

Gervais and Merchant’s turn is also appreciated, with the former making no attempt to steal the show in a well planned change of character to a more confident yet equally irritable form. The best scene so far produced is with guest star Liam Neeson, who comes to the office of the pair to seek advice on his proposed move into stand-up comedy, which although formulaic in its creation serves to satisfy all one could want in an interaction between the three. It remains to be seen how Gervais and Merchant will manage to keep their characters firmly affixed in Warwick’s life throughout the series, as the established dynamic so far is one of derision peppered with an abstinence to firmly deny him their company. One aspect that will be interesting to note is whether this problem will reflect the entire dynamic of the show, as it is already foreseeable that the show in its entirety could become extremely played out and predictable.

However, I hasten to mention that this is merely a possibility, and in all truth one I do not see happening such is Merchant’s flair for script writing. Gervais’ return to TV comedy alongside his lanky partner is warmly appreciated after an ill-advised foray into cinema (with the exception of Cemetery Junction, which unlike the others involved Merhcant in the production process, and was also not sickeningly American) as he shows no signs of relenting in his goal to affix his name among the stars of British comedy.

To return to Davis, his role as the main character of the series will be tested as it continues, but there are already very good omens for the show. Some critics have lamented the similarities between Life’s Too Short and its antecedents, notably Jim Shelley of the Daily Mirror, who whined about the fact that there is “no mention of the recession” in the entire episode, whilst failing to commend any of the actual jokes. 

Gervais has evolved as a comedian since his last two creations, becoming more abrasive to audience members and revelling in how his celebrity lifestyle has detached him from normal society. What this change will do to the openness of the show will only become clear upon its completion. Hearty fans will embrace the similarity between Life’s Too Short and its predecessors, and such is the passion of Gervais and Merchant for creating characters to captivate the general public, which also recently saw the successful completion of the final series of An Idiot Abroad, that one can expect serious development and enjoyment as the series goes on.

Gamez - Josh Motteram


Josh takes a look at...


Shogun 2: Total War - PC

Another game this week, this time a bit of PC real time strategy.

Shogun 2 is the newest addition to the Total War series, and marks 10 years since the release of the first game Shogun.  I became hooked after playing Rome: Total War in 2004, and have bought all the newest games since and loved all of them, but this one is definitely my favourite.

Set in 16^th Century Japan, the ultimate goal of the game is to conquer your opponents either through force or diplomacy, and ascend the throne as Shogun (Emperor). As with all Total War titles, the game play shifts from turn based to real time. The main part of the game is turn based, and centres on an interactive map of Japan where players manage their empire and navigate their armies and argents, whilst constructing and upgrading soldiers and buildings.

When two armies clash or a city is besieged, a battle begins and the game play shifts to real time, the player clicks and engages your troops with the enemy, whilst manoeuvring over a varying terrain. The battles are insane at times as you watch a wave of cavalry charge out of the woods into a blob of unsuspecting enemy infantry, or a katana hero unit of 30 men hold off about 500 as you retreat back uphill.

If you fancy a break from the campaign, the online multiplayer mode is a great way to improve at the game or just have a laugh. Again set on a map of Japan, players build up their army and ranking through capturing provinces which first require you to beat a human opponent, unlocking a number of new units and perks for each victory. As you and your unit’s level up, the battles get bigger and bloodier as you face more skilled opponents with equally intimidating armies. 

The Total War series is often compared to the well-known Civilization games, but Total War goes bigger and better, dwarfing it with the richness of its content.  With it’s immersive gameplay and stunning graphics, Shogun 2 it like no other game around. A must have. 

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCISPi6LFy0