Movies:

There's no point in me offering up the "10 best films of all time" because simply googling (that's right googling not yahooing or binging) that phrase will give you a far more informed list than I could offer. Instead here are 10 films that, good, bad or otherwise, are most definitely worth your time.

1. Pan's Labyrinth - Directed by Guillermo del Torro
In the bleak setting of fascist Spain in 1944, living with a harsh and quite simply evil stepfather who is also an army captain, Ofelia is a young girl who discovers a fantasy world full of hope and adventure. Pan's Labyrinth is both a gritty tale of resistance in war torn Spain and a pure fantasy tale full of strange and memorable characters. It's a film I saw shortly after it's release but the power of the story and it's characters stays with me still. Pan's Labyrinth is not a happy Disney fairytale but don't let that put you off.

2. Videodrome - Directed by David Cronenberg
David Cronenberg is my all time favourite film director because of this film. I am so completely sold on his work that this entry was very nearly for Crash. Ultimately I chose Videodrome for the strong effect it had on me and the importance of the message it carries. Max Renn is a cable-tv producer of the look out for new material who stumbles upon Videodrome, a sadistic game-show that uses real graphic violence and torture. It quickly becomes and obsession for him and as he finds out more about the show he finds himself drawn into a much more dangerous reality than the show could ever depict. Cronenberg uses Videodrome to comment on how technology effects and corrupts people, something he did again in eXistenZ and Crash, in a stylistic and visceral way that needs to be seen. While his later works on the subject are also great Videodrome is the original and, in my opinion, best.

3. Rec - Directors Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza
Remade as Quarantine and ruined. Rec tells the story of a tv crew following a local team of firefighters for the evening, think along the lines of The One Show or similar, who get drawn into a nightmare. Shot on a single handheld camera exactly as you would expect from a small tv outside broadcast unit the crew and the firefighters find themselves quarantined (see what the remake did there?) in an apartment block where strange and terrifying things are happening. It's a great example of horror done properly and is worth seeing if only to keep money out of the hands of the makers of Quarantine which manages to become nonsense despite being re-shot virtually scene by scene.

4. Run Lola Run - Directed by Tom Tykwer
You have 20 minutes to get 100,000 Deutsche Marks to save the life of your boyfriend. What would you do?
Run Lola Run shows what Lola tries 3 times each one showing a bit more of the world around her and how her actions affect the people she comes across. Franka Potente is great as Lola and cuts a unique figure with her bright red hair. Each of the 3 runs has a different outcome for all concerned and the ultimate payoff will bring a smile to your face. If you have never seen a subtitled film Run Lola Run is a great place to start.

5. Hot Fuzz - Directed by Edgar Wright
The second film in the "Blood and Ice Cream Trilogy" from the Wright, (Simon) Pegg and (Nick) Frost creative team surpasses the first by virtue of not having a rom-com sub plot. Now I love Shaun of the Dead so I'm not being critical but I am a bloke and I do enjoy a good buddy movie, action flick. With all the comedic genius of Wright, Pegg and Frost and the bombast of films you might expect from Michael Bay or Jerry Bruckheimer you have to be a very harsh critic not to enjoy Hot Fuzz. Who wouldn't love a cop drama set in a Gloucestershire village?

6. The Crow - Directed by Alex Proyas
This gothic cult classic would not be anywhere near as important if not for the tragedy that befell the movie during filming. Brandon Lee, son of Bruce Lee and a rising star at the time, died as the result of an accidental shooting on set. The fact this would be his last film makes the tragic tale of lovers separated by violence all the more poignant. While it suffers slightly from being a bit dated these days the style and direction is still as solid as ever. If you haven't seen The Crow or you don't know the story behind it then you really should go and buy the dvd watch both the film and the extras which include Brandon Lee's last interview before his death.

7. Resident Evil: Degeneration - Directed by Makoto Kamiya
The Resident Evil series of games brought survival horror to the masses like no games before them. To that end a whole generation of gamers were excited to hear a live action film was being made and then disappointed when it turned out shite. Degeneration goes some way to put that right by sticking to the cannon of the games and by bringing back two of the game's better known characters Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield. Set 7 years after the events of the second game, a year after we last saw Leon in Resident Evil 4, the two protagonists find themselves caught in the midst of yet another outbreak. If you haven't played the games and are currently bored and or confused don't worry, Resident Evil: Degeneration stands alone as a great zombie flick.

8. Sunset Boulevard - Directed by Billy Wilder
This one is a classic. It's a black and white 1950 film noir. It's often cited as one of the most noteworthy films of American cinema. Deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the U.S. Library of Congress in 1989, Sunset Boulevard was included in the first group of films selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. What's more is it tells a compelling tale of a failed screen writer drawn into the fantasy world of a fading star as she plans her grand comeback. As with all films of this caliber you owe it to yourself to make time for it, dim the lights, open a bottle of wine and let the twisted glamour of 1950 wash over you.

9. Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 - Directed by Joe Berlinger
The Blair Witch Project was an instant horror classic. It's low budget shaky footage created a myth so believable, thanks to a great publicity campaign, many people actually believed. Working within the universe the first film created and treating it as real Book of Shadows is the fictional movie based on the real events of the fictional events in the first film. Get it? No? Don't worry. Book of Shadows is a cheap and dirty, no brain-er of a cash in that doesn't deserve to be held in the same light as the original but it is a decent and creepy horror worth a look.

10. Battle Royale Directors Cut - Directed by Finji Fukasaku
"At the dawn of the millennium, the nation collapsed. At fifteen percent unemployment, ten million were out of work. 800,000 students boycotted school. The adults lost confidence and, fearing the youth, eventually passed the Millennium Educational Reform Act, AKA the BR Act...."
A class of school children are transported to an island, fitted with explosive collars and given random weapons. The idea is that they fight to the death until only one remains. Battle Royale depicts the panic, terror, sadistic pleasure and desperation that ensues. The directors cut includes extra footage that I believe helps make some of the supporting characters more human and as such should be the version you watch. It's a great film that you will spend the weeks after viewing asking yourself, "what would I do?"

Cheers,
R.

A Bright New Beginning

Nothing says arrogance like someone telling you what to think. When it's some random nobody at the other end of a web site it's even worse so, just for you cos you're lovely, here's the beginning of my new regular feature:

 

Oh Yeah! Comes with a sexy banner too!
Ok, so first up is Books. Books are good and without the following 10 you're life is missing a level of fulfillment that will allow hipsters to laugh at you. Armed with these 10 books and the eye-strain that will come from reading them you'll be a better person. So, in no particular order:

1. 1984 by George Orwell
Seriously, everyone should read 1984 by the time they're 18. It should be on the curriculum at school if only so you actually know where Big Brother came from before it was a TV show and you understand what doublespeak is. Besides being the source of many a song lyric or buzz phrase it's a good story too about forbidden love and betrayal. In fact if you haven't read it yet go and buy a copy NOW!

2. Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk
Better known for Fight Club, Chuck Palahniuk is a masterful author with a depraved imagination. Haunted is the most twisted, depraved and corrupting novel I've ever experienced. This is not a book for anyone under the age of 18. Telling the tale of a group of writers and telling the stories they write under extreme circumstances Haunted pushes the boundaries of what's acceptable to breaking point. A point the author references himself in the afterword. No other media could tell this story and for that reason alone Haunted makes the list.

3. A Philosophical Investigation by Philip Kerr
Set in the near future and telling the story of a serial killer who kills other potential serial killers based on a test which shows an abnormality in the brains of all people capable of serial murder. Told from the point of view of the anti hero and the detective pursuing him it's a gripping thriller which calls into question the fundamental beliefs of right and wrong.

4. Night Watch by Sergey Lukyanenko
Forget the film and read Night Watch. The epic struggle between light and dark has reached a stalemate and is held in a fragile truce by the Night Watch, forces for the light who police the night, and the Day Watch, forces for the dark who police the day. As ever in these situation events conspire to disrupt the balance and as this trilogy begins (followed by Day Watch and Twilight Watch) we are introduced to the players in this epic saga and watch as the delicate balance begins to crumble. It's not the most accessible universe to get into even before the idiosyncrasies of Russian life become factors but it's well worth the effort.

5. World War Z by Max Brooks
10 years after the Zombie War, a cataclysmic struggle between man and the undead of course, Max Brooks travels the world to compile an oral history from those that were there. The book reads like fact and tells the stories of many individuals chronicling the war from the earliest outbreak to the final days. It's been 4 years since I read WWZ but I still well up every-time I think back to some of the tales of survival. There is a movie in the works, but 1) don't hold your breath it was meant to be out this year but is taking much longer to come to life and 2) it cannot do justice to the book as there's just too much to cover. There's love, horror, comedy, tragedy and more. There is something for everyone here but if you're a fan of zombies you'll be in heaven.

6. Tricks Of The Mind by Derren Brown
Whether you're a fan of Derren Brown or not this book will have something to interest you. It's a mix of autobiography and instructional manual telling both how he came to be a mentalist, mind reading, devil spawn (ok, that's a bit extreme) and how you too can sell you soul for mind powers! (again not true). It's a good read and will no doubt encourage you to set up a memory mansion and start trying to count cards.

7. Born On A Blue Day by Daniel Tammet
An autobiography by a high-functioning autistic savant may not sound like a great read but I promise you won't be able to put it down. Few things are more inspiring or life affirming than seeing a person overcome adversity, especially when that person is just a nice guy like Tammet.

8. A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby
If you've seen any of the film adaptations or read any of his other novels then you'll know Nick Hornby's style. A Long Way Down tells the story of 4 strangers with nothing in common except the fact they all meet on the same rooftop one new years eve ready intending to kill themselves. As their immensely personal plans are disrupted by their meeting they band together to try and get through their problems one day at a time. Told from the perspective of the for main characters some events are seen several times and in several ways each with the humanity and humour you'd expect from Hornby.

9. The Bible
Regardless of your religious beliefs or lack there of the bible makes for a fascinating read. More than any other written work this book has influenced life in the world today, especially here in the uk, so you really should at least dip into it to see why. If you regard it as pure fiction the bible tells one hell of a story or two and will arm you with all the tools you need for a theological argument down the pub.

10. The Holy Blood And The Holy Grail by Michael Baigent, Richard Liegh and Henry Lincoln
By now most of us have read or seen The Da Vinci Code. The pivotal plot point in that tale is the assertion that Jesus, yup the star of The Bible, didn't die on the cross and in fact had a family and blood line that lives on to this very day. This is the book where Dan Brown got his idea, although definitely not in a plagiarism way - more a copy bits of a book no-one remembers and hope no-one notices kinda way. The authors work back from the present day to the time of Jesus exploring the very real possibilities of "what if?" It's an intriguing read that will shed light on Medieval Europe, The Knights Templar, The Vatican and the heresies that could be closer to the teachings of Jesus than Catholicism.

Cheers,
R.

Side One, Track One

Praise be to Sweet Zombie Jeebus! Thank Godaroo! After a week of being unable to form this article I've had a "Eureka!" moment. Unlike Archimedes I wasn't in the bath, (nor was I changing the world with my discovery but hey) I was playing some riffs on my guitar and started playing Sleepflower by Manic Street Preachers. It's the opening track to their second album, Gold Against The Soul, and begins with a lone guitar playing and infectious riff that sets the theme for the track. After a couple of repetitions it's joined by the bass playing the same and Sean Moore's typical tub thumping and the track comes to life. As an album opener it is one of my favourites as it never fails to get the volume cranked up and my head bobbing. As with most tracks on this list it's not the best by the band but it is a great example of the phenomenon that is the "side one, track one."

All albums need to start somewhere, somehow and the choice of first track sometimes be the difference between an album's residency on your ipod and being confined to the back of the cupboard with cassette singles from the '90's. As with all music there's no rules. Some great first track begin with a bang, some whimper into life, some just start and some don't exist at all. Before I continue I want to share some notable exceptions to the rule, great album, shit opener. Frankly anything that labels Track 1 "Intro" falls into this category just for being pointless (eg. Limp Bizkit - Significant Other) to feeling like it was cut from a track to create a single (Muse - Absolution). An "Intro" track just means none of the real songs on your album have enough impact to grab attention or that you're more worried about the singles than the album as a whole. The other type of exception is when a fully fledged opening track just doesn't cut the mustard. Finelines by My Vitriol is an amazing album but is begins with an instrumental track which builds into first track proper, Always: Your Way, (Smashing Pumpkins's Meloncholy And The Infinite Sadness does the same) and as such stunts the appeal of that track. In both examples the first track is very good and enjoyable but only really works in context and as such cannot be considered for this list.

So to the list. I have chosen 10 notable examples of what I consider to be great album openers. There are better tracks out there by these artists but as the first track to the album they grace the grab your attention, set the mood and give you a taste of what to expect. So fire up your music source of choice, find these tracks and enjoy:

1. "Awakening" by The Reasoning from Awakening
The album is a modern prog rock odyssey and this opener sets you up brilliantly. Initially sounding like an extract from Tubular Bells you'll have to wait 20 seconds or so before the over-driven guitars and melodic riffing begins. About 1 minute in the vocals start and you'll begin to see where this is going. Clocking in at 6:49 it's quite and opening statement for any album let alone a debut but as it weaves it's way through various styles it won't disappoint. At 4:22 we're treated to a true welsh rock solo which could easily belong to our next band....
2. "Sleepflower" by Manic Street Preachers from Gold Against The Soul
As I said before this is the track that switched on the light-bulb for this article. If the opening riff isn't enough to hook you then James Dean Bradfield in full rock mode will. It's not the most well regarded track from the album, over shadowed by La Tristesse Durera (Scream to a Sigh), but it is a worthy opener containing as it does all the elements of the album to come and seamlessly setting up single From Despair To Where.
3. "Everyone's At It" by Lily Allen from It's Not Me, It's You
Ms Allen's thoughts on drug abuse open her second album and does so in style. Splashy cymbals and a constant kick drum on 8th beats fade in with rising sirens and a simple vocal melody that promises something special. If you know Lily Allen's work then you'll not be surprised by the rest of the track which stands up strongly against the three singles the follow.
4. "Showdown" by Pendulum from In Silico
The third opener from a difficult sophomore album in this case begins with the same splashy cymbals and driving kicks of the last track but with Rob Swire's vocal from the off. As it builds, layer by layer, a solid drum and bass influenced rocker emerges and sets up what proved to be a divisive album for fans. Regardless of what your opinion is Showdown makes this list for it's no nonsense approach that just gets things rolling.
5. "Pornography For Cowards" by Million Dead from A Song To Ruin
Who needs intros? For a their debut album Million Dead simple play the blister riff from the opener twice and scream. In less than 10 seconds you'll be rushing as if down the first big hill on a rattling, old roller-coaster...in and earthquake...headed straight to hell. And what a roller-coaster it is. At 30 seconds you're soring towards daylight again, 1:00 and you're rushing around corners build speed before the beginning of the end at 1:27 as you hurtle inevitably towards a wall. It's a musical rush that blows away the cobwebs and encourages you to "gird up your loins" ready for what follows.
6. "Needled 24/7" by Children Of Bodom from Hate Crew Deathroll
As with all power metal there's a lot going on from the opening chord stabs and any song the offers a solo within 20 seconds is a winner in my book, but what qualifies this for my list is it's accessibility. Children Of Bodom are hardly the most listener friendly of bands but the opener for their forth album is a catchy tour de force which will encourage you to dance along in a similar way to the best Dragonforce tracks. Not bad going for a band named after a triple murder from 1960.
7. "You Held the World In Your Arms" by Idlewild from The Remote Part
When your first track on the album is going to be a single and contains anthemic guitars, strings, driving drums and drunken shout along lyrics then you don't need an intro. A simple snare hit prepares you for the opening riff which hits full force and starts an album made by a band at the height of their powers. Three of the album's four singles are the first three tracks and this punchy start gives you everything you need except a chance to adjust the volume.
8. "Torn" by Creed from My Own Prison
When beginning an introspective album such as this bombast isn't necessarily right. There's no need to raise the pulse or get people dancing and the opening arpeggios of "Torn" do precisely the opposite. Scott Stapp's mournful vocals cut through beautifully as the track gets going and the grungy guitars reassure you that there's rock to come. By the time the track strips back to those arpeggios for the outro you'll be in no doubt what you are listening to and probably be nestled into a comfy chair clutching your favourite teddy.
9. "Did You Miss Me?" by The Cooper Temple Clause from See This Through And Leave
If you could capture the sound of my tinnitus it would be something close to the high note that rings through the first 2 minutes of this schizophrenic, electronic, noisy bastard of a track. It's got a face only a mother can love and will leave you feeling uncomfortable and slightly shaken before you realise it's actually a friend for life if only you can get past the hideousness of it all.
10. "Invaders Must Die" by The Prodigy from Invaders Must Die
If you're going to start an album with the title track it had better be a doozy. If you are a band going back to your roots it's doubly important. A simple bass riff fades in and after 49 seconds it hits. All the classic elements are there and any apprehension fades away as the music brings you up almost as much as the drugs (that you are most definitely not on!)

There you have it, 10 great tracks that begin varying quality albums that range from good to amazing. Have a listen and see what you think.
Cheers,
R.