VINYL

SO, I THINK I PREFER THE ALTERNATE ENDING.

It’s worth watching, anyway.

Replaces the cheap (though admittedly nerve-wracking) bathroom fight by a, uh, likelier ending, although it does feel a little rushed.

I HAVE SETTLED ON AN ‘ALBUM OF THE SUMMER’

WAVVES - KING OF THE BEACH

The band’s third record in as many years is undoubtedly their most solid, at last fulfilling the promise their grungey lo-fi pop had made us in the past few years with its countless ‘Goths’. It is a collection of short, honest, hard-hitting tracks that are more layered and showcase more patience than those found on Wavves and Wavvves, as ‘Post Acid’ and ‘Green Eyes’ so willingly demonstrate. Though not aggressive enough to make the chillwave trend cringe (and perhaps just ironic enough to make its detractors smile), Nathan Williams & co. make summer more fun than most of their contemporaries while referencing a wide variety of musical heroes of the past, resulting in an album far richer than it may initially seem. The most welcomed change, though, is in the songwriting: despite further exploration of similar lyrical themes (see: ‘Idiot’), King of the Beach marks the emergence of melodies and structure in the band’s music. And hey, call me sold on pop, but there ain’t nothing that gets me like a good ol’ sing-a-long.

The irony of it all? I hear the tour is a fucking knockout. Yeah, that Wavves.

INCEPTION

How could I not be curious, after all this talk?

I had a fair amount of expectations: I was hoping I’d recognize the quality of the film and understand what is blowing everybody’s brains out without necessarily waiting or hoping to myself fall head over heels for it. After all, I have always preferred character-driven subtle plots (read: Julianne Moore movies) to high budget explosions, gunshots and manly yelling (read: Bruce Willis movies), right?

As it turns out? 
IT IS THE MOST EXCITING FILM I EVER DID SEE.

Not my favourite nor the best, but the most riveting cinematic experience I have witnessed. I was thrilled to the point of biting my nails, sitting on the edge of my seat as tense as I ever recall being for a good two and a half hours. And I’m not talking cheap thrills either - Inception is a blockbuster far more complex than we’ve seen in years. Its main strengths do lie in the art direction, the special effects and the exploitation of one of humanity’s most intriguing and unknown facets, dreams, but the cast is solid as rock and carry on their shoulders the weight of a movie sure to be remembered.

I won’t urge you to watch it since you most likely already have, but damn is it tempting.

Props, Nolan.

(P.S. Marion Cotillard is one hell of a mix of elegance and rebellion. Gotta give her snaps for being one of the most interesting figures today.)