The best of 2007

by NICK GYE

I CAN'T say for sure whether these movies and albums were released in 2007, but that's when I first saw or heard them.

Movies: In order that I liked em.
1. Control. It was with some trepidation that I saw this. A powerful film illuminated by some great performances by the actors playing Curtis, Peter Hook and the manager. The on-stage scenes are very well done.

2. HollywoodLand. While Ben Affleck is perfect as the big jawed Reeves, it is Adrien Brody who steals the show.

3. Lucky Miles. The year's best Australian film. Forget yer bloated overrated Russel Crowe, Nicole Kidman etc films. Essential Australian humour and pathos.

4. Bridge to Terabithia. Some people didn't like, I did. Never read or heard of the book.

5. Stranger than Fiction. Any film that features a (the) Wreckless Eric song has gotta be worth seeing.

6. Breach. Yeh, pretty good.

7. 1408. Not too bad. To me though he's best as a guy in a record shop.

Most overrated person in movies: got to be Quentin Tarantino. Proves the adage 'a man's actions are judged by his reputation'.

Most silly and not at all entertaining film of 2007: 300. Some hotels have lots of crappy movies to watch. This was even on the plane.

Albums: In order that I like em.
1. The Runaway Found: The Veils. From NZ. Superb. Beautiful, soaring, dot dot dot. Listening to this inspires me to do great things, that I don't is no fault of the album but is merely due to the erroneous position of the moon in the sky.

2. Jean Lee and the Yellow Dog: Ed Kuepper. First from Ed for six or so years. Only sour note is Chris Bailey - sounds terrible.

3. la revancha del tango: Gotan Project. Would make even Janette and John Howard dance.

4. Fall Heads Roll: The Fall (I think this is their album before last). Oh yes, one of their best. He looks 110, but he can still snarl.

5. Circus Live: John Cale: All the good stuff here, including a lurching Pablo Picasso. Played recently at the Fly By Night in Fremantle. He has, as we all know, the best version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah (take note Mr C).

6. Ga Ga Ga: Spoon. Yeh, good.

7. Our Love to Admire: Interpol (1. Touring Australia and Brazil soon). Play the first song loud and it will stop a herd of charging rhinos. How are things on the West Coast?

8. War Stories. Unkle. Likeable.

9. The Good, the Bad and the Queen:

Disappointing: Weekend in the City. Bloc Party. Bland. Oh how I despise the bland second album. This is the shopping mall of albums. Silent Alarm was intense, full of energy and tension like a coiled up stretch of wire about to snap and lop your unsuspecting ankle off as you pass by. Now they have all sat round a bong in the living room and decided it would be better to mellow out a bit. This is worse than if they made a ratshit second album, er, speaking of which...

Most disappointing album: Some Loud Thunder: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: A mess, couple of good songs towards the end barely redeems this as being above Mrs Mills 20 yodelling greats (1979).

Album I wanna get: Curses: Future of the Left.

Need you ask why? (2. Touring soon).

RIP: February 28 - Billy Thorpe, British-born Australian rock performer, 60. Got arrested at Rottenest for swearing.

Those touring dates in full:

1. Interpol

17 February - Perth, Metro City

19 February - Brisbane (Pig City), Convention Centre

21 February - Sydney, Hordern Pavilion

25 February - Melbourne, Festival Hall

26 February - Adelaide, Thebarton Theatre

11 March - Sao Paulo, Via Funchal

13 March - Rio, Findicao Progresso

15 March - Belo Hoizonte, Chevrolet Hall

2. Future of the Left

Mar 04 Perth - Amplifier

Mar 06 Melbourne - Northcote Social Club

Mar 07 Melbourne - Northcote Social Club

Mar 08 Meredith - Golden Plains Festival

Mar 09 Sydney - The Annandale Hotel

5 January 2008

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fall

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