TV Smith - Coming Into Land (2011/Music Review)

Avid music fans may know TV Smith as the singer and songwriter for the influential UK punk band, the Adverts. It has been a long time since he has recorded such classics as ‘One Chord Wonders’ and ‘Gary Gilmore’s Eyes’. As it turns out, TV Smith has enjoyed a long lasting solo career, leading up to his most recent release, Coming Into Land (2011-Boss Tuneage Records).

Coming Into Land is an album that is laced with paranoia concerning modern consumerism and the loss of identity in a marketplace culture, mixed with moments of great optimism towards individuals who can still create, despite having the cards stacked up against them. Normally this combination can come off as preachy, or overall cheesy. Yet, with the way TV Smith has crafted this album, it comes off lacking any pretension, and in fact, is a catchy intelligent album that will leave its songs stuck in your head for days.

The album kicks off in a way that fans that have only listened to the Adverts may not expect. Worn Once introduces us to the album with a country-western styled sound. TV Smith enters, singing, “shattered streets / shattered town / boarded up / shuttered down / bad loans / broken homes,” creating an atmosphere of a world on the cusp of becoming a ghost town, rendered lifeless because of an unsustainable culture of rampant consumerism. The album reaches an optimistic pinnacle by the third song, Probably, a pop-ridden tune in which Smith proclaims, “we’re probably as safe as we’ll ever be / because the world is wild and free / and there is no certainty.... even though we’re bored and sedated there’s a chance we could get creative / there’s a chance we will rise up and look down / upon the clowns.”

While the overall pop influence of the album might have some old punk rockers declaring TV Smith a sell-out, the sentiment couldn't be further from the truth. Beneath the layers of instruments and an overall catchy structure, TV Smith still comes off as an angry man, hardened by the world around him. He’s an old dinosaur who has simply mastered his craft while never losing his roots. And with the number of albums he has released since the Adverts, perhaps that is what has allowed him to tread above the water instead of drowning beneath.

THE VERDICT: THE GOOD



TRACKLIST:
1. Worn Once
2. True Believers
3. Probably
4. Complaints Department
5. Man Down
6. Us And Them
7. Deactivate Autoslave
8. Headhunters
9. A Trouble To Yourself
10. Dawning Of False Hopes
11. Coming In To Land
12. No Message Please

Hundra (1983)

An epic, sword wielding film that resembles the likes of Red Sonja and Conan the Barbarian. In this fantastical world there is a tribe of women that have sworn off any partnership with men. In order to keep their society thriving, some of the women visit other settlements in order to receive the male "seed". If the 'seed' produces a female child, she is gladly welcomed into the tribe. On the other hand, if it is a male child, he is simply left behind at the nearest settlement while the mother once again attempts to produce a female heir.

Hundra, the best of the female warriors, finds the idea of reproduction appalling. She refuses to let any man 'penetrate' her, let it be with his sword, or, well, with his other sword. But when her tribe is decimated by a pack of ravenous, rape happy men, Hundra must ensure that her tribe survives by getting... boned.

With a decent musical score, Hundra is worth at least one watch through. Though, the films novelty may wear off due to the oversimplification of gender roles within the story.

Staring Laurene Landon as Hundra
Directed by Matt Cimber
Music by Ennio Morricone


THE VERDICT: THE BAD

Gamer (2009)

Future entrepreneur, Ken Castle, has created a technology that renders live humans into puppets for the use of others. At first, the technology is used for a real life society sim, but Castle develops a game in which users can take control of convicts and battle in an 'id software' like deathmatch. Consequently, these battles are broadcast live, using poor camera angles, horrible cinematography, and apparently, a freaking strobe light throughout the film.

There really isn't much to say about this movie. It is bad. The story is bad. The acting is bad. The cinematography is bad. And the editing is bad. The only remotely redeemable aspect of this film is the acting of Michael C. Hall (Dexter), who plays Ken Castle. But even that is about as rewarding as receiving a high five after being repeatedly hit over the head with an over-sized dildo.

In short... this film sucks.

Starring: Gerard Butler, Amber Valletta, Michael C. Hall, and Ludacris.
Directed by: Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor
(yeah, this film sucked so much balls that it had to be made by more than one person!)

The Verdict: God Damn Awful