Paramore

It’s been a while…

/ Lisa

As the headline says, it has been a while. My first post in… (actually, I can’t be bothered looking at the date of my last post) a few months, at least. So just a few musings…

AVATAR: It has become the highest grossing movie of all time. I honestly don’t know what all the fuss is about. Went to see it in 3D, which was barely a redeeming factor, because there totally could have been more stuff coming out at you. The storyline was barely existent and very reminiscent of Pocahontas. I agree that the CG animation is amazing and if Avatar wins Oscars for its special effects, good on ’em. However, if it gets best picture, which is highly likely, I will be ashamed of the entire human race. I like movies which actually have a plot and storyline, flashy blue aliens just don’t do it for me. But, I can understand why people are going to see it in their droves – as James Cameron says in January’s issue of Empire: “Controversy is more interesting than agreement. Controversy fuels curiosity.”

BIG DAY OUT: A week before I was to drive to Auckland I was very much contemplating selling my ticket. Until about 9pm I still wished I had. But then Muse took the stage. A-MAZ-ING. I loved seeing them play super massive black hole live and the amount of energy they exerted on stage was addictive to watch and listen. A redeeming act to the hot, sweaty, un-exciting, day that was the Big Day Out. Oh and Rise Against were rad to see again, but the sound on their stage was unbelievably shit making it difficult for them to be amazing.

UP IN THE AIR: Two words: George. Clooney. And another: SWOON. Personally part of me wants to live like his character Ryan Bingham – nothing in my backpack because I burnt it all (you’ll get this reference if you go see the movie) and I totally want one of those awesome 10 million miles cards. What could be better than flying all around the US and staying in totally sweet hotels and getting paid for it? Anyway, it’s about a company that fires people, that is the business. So with the economic down turn, their business is booming. Anna Kendrick plays his protege of sorts Natalie Keener. She proves she is so much more than Twilight and will probably still be making movies when K-Stew has used up all her Twilight fame. Definitely worth a watch, if not several.

MY SISTER’S KEEPER: I was so frikin’ angry they changed the ending. HOW DARE THEY. Bad Hollywood etiquette. Changing a novel’s end to make it more film worthy. BAD HOLLYWOOD, BAD.

THE INFORMANT: WTF? Adds new meaning to Matt Damon (said in that retarded-team-america way). What a fucking idiot. Has an Austin Powers feel to it, but ultimately the movie is just bullshit, bullshit, bullshit.

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES: ZOMG. So good. 19th Century period England where they all fight zombies and were taught by ninjas. BRILLIANT. And of course there is Mr Darcy. Set to be turned in to a movie with Natalie Portman as Elizabeth. Can’t wait. Everytime I watch the 2005 film version of P&P I keep expecting zombies to jump out.

GLEE: TV Programme: amazing. Soundtrack No 1: amazing. Soundtrack No 2: amazing. Can’t wait for the second season. It’s like High School Musical but for adults. Oh and Cory Monteith who plays Finn is 28. Playing a 16-year-old. That’s just weird.

ANNOUNCED GIGS: Pixes announced a side show at The Powerstation on the 11th March and it sold out in 2 minutes. I didn’t even have a chance. However I have better things to do then, like The Backstreet Boys concert that’s happening at Vector. Then Cobra and Gaga. It will be a busy weekend. Paramore gig transferred locations to Waitakere Trusts Stadium in order to open up some more tickets because it sold out on the day and then the extra tickets sold out too. I am lucky enough to have one. Weeee! But still, gig’s now out west and not south, still does not make travel easy.

FALL OUT BOY: Chatter all week about Fall Out Boy officially breaking up because of some tweets sent by Pete and the gang saying they quit. Every band has to have a break at some point and that is what they are doing. They’ve recorded CD after CD and done nothing but tour for the last seven years. They’re on a break and they don’t know how long it will last. I’m going to take the come-backs-are-very-popular route. It gives me hope.

And hopefully this set of rants will have reinstated the weekly rant-athon and more regular postings.

Lisa out.

Getting my rant on – week 2

/ Lisa / 1 Comment

So, finally Paramore have announced the dates for their New Zealand tour – March 4 and 5, Auckland and Christchurch. What I want to know is why are they having the Auckland gig at the Telstra Clear events centre? Seriously hard to get to much?

Owl City have been announced as openers for Cobra Starship’s Auckland gig. Now at first I had no idea who this guy was but on further investigation found he is actually super awesome. Think a young Postal Service = RAD. Single “Fireflies” is definitely worth a listen.

Also realised Cobra’s gig is the same day as The Pixies – wonder which I will go to? Probably Cobra as I think Pixies is sold out.

This Is It – finally went to see it, in its last week of viewing. MJ is amazing and it is hard to believe that he was having so many problems in the lead up to his death. I would imagine anyone doing as much dancing and singing as he was, would not have insomnia.

The biggest controversy of this week has been Adam Lambert’s performance at the American Music Awards. After searching Google and YouTube for hours and unable to find a video to show me what actually happened (thanks Dick Clark Productions making copyright claims – you make my life so easy), I came upon a crappy TiVo-ed video camera-ed version. What was supposed to be a S&M-themed performance of Lambert’s debut single “For Your Entertainment” has caused controversy because he kissed a male, fondled his back-up dancers and apparently gave the fingers to the audience (I totally didn’t see that). All I have to say is: GET OVER IT. IT’S NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL. As for his song, didn’t really like it, but I may buy his album, just for shits and giggles.

Oh joy. The Feelers are doing another summer tour. Yawn.

Stan won Australian Idol. If you didn’t want to know who won till Friday, tough. Not like it’s been kept a secret. TV One ran a piece on Monday, it was a trending topic on Twitter and 20/20 has a piece on Stan’s past. The media has not made it easy to avoid finding out. I’m just thankful that blond chick didn’t win, because seriously, she butchered a Fall Out Boy song a few weeks ago and didn’t deserve to win.

Loving Miley Cyrus “Party in the USA” – it’s just so catchy. But you don’t gain any cred for mentioning Jay-Z or Britney.

Also bought Gin’s album, still haven’t really listened to it, but what I have, it is really good.

Getting my rant on.

/ Lisa

Paramore – having finally announced an NZ show, they still haven’t come up with the candy.

Over the last week or so there have been several music related things that have just ground my gears – I feel this may become a weekly thing, a series perhaps? Yay or Nay?

Chris Brown – Lil Wayne is not going to revive your career and if I can transform ya is a metaphor for your career, stop now because there is no way anyone will respect you any more, no matter what Phil Bostwick says. You sucked in the past, you suck in the present and the future doesn’t look very bright either.

Paramore are coming to NZ – the announcement came last week over twitter, but any details are still forthcoming. You’ve announced. You’re fans want to know the deets. Hurry up already. People have been waiting a long time for this – I know I have.

And what was with that pitiful second announcement for the BDO? Are they serious? They needed to announce a few more big headliners and everyone knows that the third announcement won’t have anyone big, just the little Kiwi and Aussie bands, which most aren’t worth seeing. This round – I’m only keen for Jet and The Veils. Then there is the controversy with Beanie Man – are they going to announce another act to replace him? Seriously. FFS.

Sean Kingston is back. I wish he wasn’t. Especially when he is number eight on the NZ top 40. Say what!? And what is up with the video? A cartoon version? Someone help us.

However, absolutely loving Gin “Oh My”. Enough said.

Finally picked up the New Moon soundtrack. First listen I wasn’t that impressed, but it is growing on me slowly. The music is different from the Twilight soundtrack, but as New Moon takes a sudden turn, the music fits the 180. Look forward to seeing the movie later in the week (!!!). Will post reviews of both when I get around to it.

Rant: DONE.

Not just another brick in the wall.

/ Lisa

This review first appeared in AUT University’s student newspaper Te Waha Nui.

Brand-New-Eyes-paramore-6866084-600-600

When Paramore announced they were cancelling six shows on a European tour because of “personal issues” it looked like the end for a band that was only just making the big time. But with a break and another member added to the group they are back with their third album that blows all doubt about their existence out of the water.

Brand New Eyes shows Paramore aren’t just another band trying to stay in the lime light after their break-through album Riot! It shows they are here to stay, so move over No Doubt, you’re old school. Meet your replacement.

The first single off the album, Ignorance, is set to take over the summer airwaves as the song to rock out to. As the song goes “ignorance is your new best friend” – if you haven’t heard it yet, get to know it intimately as it’s going to be around for a long time.

As any album produced by Rob Cavallo, who has fashioned such albums as Green Day’s American Idiot and My Chemical Romance’s The Black Parade, it holds great expectations – ones that are met and exceeded, exponentially.

Brick By Boring Brick has been announced as the second single off the album, but yet to hit airwaves. It is definitely not a boring brick. Everything about it creates imagery that many a song never manages. The line “ripping wings off butterflies” serves as the inspiration for the album cover.  These guys really know how to pick their singles – it is a great follow up to Ignorance, making two of the strongest songs on the album probably the two best songs to rock the summer with.

Brand New Eyes is a great mix of the typical Paramore rock, but they show their fluffier side with The Only Exception and Misguided Ghosts by going acoustic.

Fans will be happy to know Decode, the song Paramore wrote for Twilight, is a bonus making up this 12 track album.

Brand New Eyes is more adventurous than Riot! and is Paramore’s re-invention album, which cements them as one of the best bands of current times.

This is the summer album, if you don’t have it; you’re just another boring brick.