Review Anything

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Music Album Review- 'Random Album Title' by Deadmau5

I must admit, I’m a bit of a Deadmau5 fan but this album has seemed to have slipped my attention. From back to 2007 when the track ‘The Reward Is Cheese’ was growling out of every festival in Europe to his most modern track ‘Catbread’, another treat, I have found his music to be exceptional and he shows signs of having immense talent. I know his music but I don’t know the artist so I think it’s time I do a little research.

Well, what I found out is that he’s HUGE around Europe, scooping up awards left right and centre and most recently winning Beatport’s Dance Music Awards for best Electro-House artist 2008 and is nominated again for it in 2009. That’s all good on paper but how good is his music really? Perhaps the album ‘Random Album Title’ will further educate me.

His regular style is that of an Electro-House that is perfect for the clubs in Ibiza as it borders on being Euphoric with many of the tracks being laced with cool echoes and sunshine organs. To be honest, I found this album to be more of a Trance album than that of a House album but I was attracted to the catchy hook of the track ‘Faxing Berlin’ and the hypnotic lull of the track ‘Slip’. I found the track ‘Arguru’ to be the best track on the album as its musical piano-feel that morphs into a Big Beat song is subtle yet capable of filling any dance-floor.

However, I feel that many of the tracks are too alike each other, and at no stage do they climax to their full potential. The closest thing, I felt, to the Electro-House genre, was the track ‘Sometimes Things Get, Whatever’ which in fact closely resembles The Chemical Brothers track ‘It Doesn’t Matter’ to the degree that it made me conclude that this album lacks spunk and originality. For those of you who are looking for something with more of an edge, or for those of you Deadmau5 fans out there, I’m afraid I would have to recommend giving this one a big miss.

Interesting Fact Of The Day

Image via Wikipedia

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch procejt at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosnt mttaer waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe!

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Quote of the Day - Albert Einstein

If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?

Albert Einstein

Music Album Review: No Line On The Horizon - U2

No matter what they do, they do it right. U2, ladies and gentlemen, have produced yet another cracker. ‘No line on the horizon’, which was recorded in Morocco, has churned out a selection of 11 brand new juicy songs.

The opening title song introduces this album in anthemic fashion and is sure to be blown over the radio waves in style. The song ‘Magnificent’ has a Joshua Tree feel off it and oozes U2. A new twist U2 add to their album is with the song Unknown Caller which has some Middle Eastern sounds on it and is similar to the feel we get off The Killers album Sam’s Town- a nice modern touch. ‘Moment of surrender’ is delicate and simple with a slight gospel touch of it and plenty of personality. The song Stand Up does exactly what it says on the tin- it makes you want to get up and march to its thumping beat. The song Breathe is perhaps the best song on the album as it is laced with a Rock n Roll style germane to the 1960s and is complimented with a fine guitar solo echoed perfectly with piano and a cello solo- well done lads.

Like a good wine- Bono just gets better with age! His vocals are second to none on this album and the band seems as tight as, if not tighter than ever. This album is not as unique as Pop or as explosive as Achtung Baby but it certainly will be played on every radio station in the world because it’s a great listen and it was done the U2 way- world dominance with a consistently talented edge.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Book Review: Universe The Definitive Visual Guide

Well… if you’re feeling a little spaced out these days and are looking for some answers in the stars, look no further my friends- Have, I got a cosmic treat for you. The book ‘Universe’ is a definitive visual guide to everything in the universe beyond our own planet Earth. The photographs, pictures, diagrams and interpretations of extra-terrestrial encounters are SPECTACULAR.

The book takes the format of an encyclopaedia and the text is factual and informative. A lot of the information is also scientific and gives quite detailed (but understandable) accounts of scientific processes, such as the formation of Stars, the creation of the Solar System and the location of our neighbouring Galaxies-in fact it even contains a map of the Universe- genius! The diagrams include maps of all the Constellations for each month of the year for both Southern and Northern Hemisphere stargazers.

The book is very well laid out in three easy to follow sections: 1) Introduction to the Universe 2) Guide to the Universe and 3) The Night Sky. There also keys in each section that gives Information on scientist, Factfiles, Close-Ups, Historical Information and much more. The book is littered with facts and figures, yet it is very much so aesthetically pleasing. The information is also refreshingly concise and not too laboured or over-emphasised.

However factual and concise the books seems to be, I found it to be so interesting that I read it straight through from cover to cover- between the images and information on our local planet’s moons, such as the close-ups of Ganymede, to the most beautiful pictures of Stars and Nebula ever seen.

Whether you have a two year old child who likes colours or are doing a PhD in Astronomy, if you want to see the Universe in all of its glory, you will NOT find a more visually detailed book than this. DK's ‘Universe’ is a must for space-lovers and a definite for all.