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Music
Review.
- Singles -
The Avalanches 'Electricity' (XL)
- Continuing from the
carelessly brilliant cut-and-paste exploits of Frontier
Psychiatrist, The Avalanches seem unceasing in the development of
their reputation as credible participants in the alternative dance
genre. From directly behind a bold, choral intro, dirty
basslines reel forth into the abyss of big beats. This
combined with funky sampling methods suggests that resistance to
such contagious pleasure is considered futile.
- Singles -
Stereophonics 'Handbags And Gladrags' (V2)
- Christmas is coming, and
the tradition of bands releasing records that can be enjoyed by
the whole family continues with the latest offering by the
Stereophonics. Comprising of three recordings of TV
appearances in the last
12 months, two from Later...With Jools Holland, and one from the
John Lennon tribute show Shine On, we see the band playing a
series of cover versions from the 60's that must be some of their
favourite songs, given the amount of effort that they appear to be
putting into them. Its just a shame that they no longer seem
to be able to provide this kind of intensity and depth of feeling
when performing their own songs.
- Albums -
Robbie Williams 'Swing When You're Winning' (Chrysalis)
- Apparently,
the beat that beat in the heart of Robert Peter Williams was
the beat of swing music. So, not one afraid of trying
something a bit different, Robbie has a bash at being Ol' Blue
Eyes. Hence this little gem, released shortly after his
previous album, Sing When You're Winning which sold about 40
squillion copies. Containing songs by Nat King Cole, Al
Jonson and Cole Porter, this album isn't for li'l sis whose
musical wisdom stretches no further than Destiny's Child and
Atomic Kitten. He may be trying to be Sinatra but his voice is
damn good on this record, almost mistakable for the King of Swing
himself. They've even managed, by the miracles of modern
technology, to put the two men together in It Was A Very Good
Year. Robbie hasn't got the strength or smoothness of voice
to completely carry it off, but hell he gives it a bloody good
shot! Jane Horrocks shows off her vocals in Things and Nicole
Kidman is good for a laugh in Somethin' Stupid. Jonathan
Wilkes, Robbie's flatmate, even gets a go in Me And My Shadow.
Mr Williams is charging a whopping £175 for a seat to see his
show at the Royal Albert Hall - and people are paying, so the
geezer's doing something right. Your granny would love this
album, its good, the songs are good...oh to hell with it, Robbie's
good. There, I said it.
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Review by:- Miranda Schunke
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- Network
Geeks
- Recent research suggests
that the image of the devoted internet user as a geeky loner
is a false stereotype. Professors at the University of
Warwick claim that people who spend long periods of time at
their computers are more
sociable and community-minded than the average person. The
study found that 30 per cent of hardcore internet users belong
to a
large friendship group, compared to the 25 per cent achieved
by non-users. Professor Andrew Oswald and Dr Jonathan Gardner,
who conducted the study, also discovered that regular internet
users were also 50 per cent more likely to attend church
services on a frequent basis. The Professor added, "They
don't leave out their friends and family because they spend
time hunched over a computer, they simply watch less
television. This research should be very useful in
overturning common stereotypes."
Article
by Miranda Schunke
Offensive
Friends Reunited On The Web
A popular school
reunion website is littered with offensive and libelous comments,
users of the site have claimed. 'Friends Reunited' was set up
to reunite old school friends, however the website has been criticized
for having insufficient control over the comments that can be
posted.
Teachers' unions have expressed their concerns over the safety of
the web page. According to them, the 'memory board' section,
where people can leave comments about pupils or teachers, is open to
abuse. As one teacher said, 'Teachers have to learn to take a joke
but there is a
big difference between insults in the playground and comments on the
internet which can be seen by millions.' Friends Reunited found at www.friendsreunited.co.uk
is one of the UK's most popular websites. This week it will
register its three millionth user since it was set up in October
2000. Over 40,000 schools in the country are currently
registered on the site.
A spokesman for Friends Reunited said that the site had received
only 12 complaints about messages, and had introduced an emergency
delete button for offensive remarks. Ginger Productions are
currently discussing the possibilities of a television version of
Friends Reunited called Reunions.
Article by Miranda Schunke
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Photographs of the
"Mark of Respect" held in Liverpool for George Harrison
will be put up next week on the music review page.
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