 
Iain McNay 06/06
BOOKS
Piers Morgan - The Insider:
Memoirs of former newspaper editor; read it while I had the flu. Not my
normal type of book at all, it is actually very interesting in places..
CDs
Boo Hewerdine 'Harmonograph' : Bought it when I saw him
live. It's the songs he wrote that others recorded and had success with. Do try
and seek it out, he really is a great songwriter.
Zero - A Martin Hannett Story 1977-1991 : Compilation
produced by Ace Records of some of the productions of the late Martin Hanett.
Includes 'Jilted John' by Jilted John - a really great track!
Scott Walker - 'The Drift' : Scott has moved far away from his days of
Scott 1 to 4. I enjoyed his last album, 'Tilt' and on first playing 'The Drift'
is no less accessible. I need to hear it a few more times; always admire artists
that record what they want rather than what they think everybody else wants.
FILMS
Murderball : Truly inspirational film. Such a shame there
was only 3 other people in the cinema when I watched it. It's a documentary that
follows the US paraplegic basketball team. These guys are all in wheel chairs
but are still totally driven and pretty crazy. It's funny, moving, a good story,
makes you think, and inspires you to make the most out of your life. Here they
are in messed up bodies, stuck in wheel chairs and they still get on and do what
they can, and all seem to have amazing girlfriends. All Power to the human spirit!
Enron : The Smartest Guys In The Room Documentary about
the Enron scandal. How the hell did these guys get away with it for so long?
Well made, really interesting viewing. Seek it out.
Syriana : Not sure that I can really recommend this. Most confusing.
I think I'd have to see it at least 3 times to begin to work out what is really
going on. A bit of a mess....
Good Night, And Good luck : Story of 1950 anchor man Edward Murrow
who took on Senator McCarthy and his anti-communist witch hunts. Enlightening.
Crash : Best film I have seen in ages. Thoroughly deserved it's Oscar
success. So often events didn't turn out as you expected, brilliant stuff..
Grizzly Man : I always liked bears so was looking forward to this film.
A Werner Herzog documentary about Timothy Treadwell's life where he spent many
years living with wild bears. Timothy was a somewhat naive and unbalanced character
but some of the shots of him with the bears are just amazing. Beautiful scenery
as well. Of course, in the end he gets eaten alive by the bears he idolised,
but I guess it had to end that way.
Capote : Story about the writer Truman Capote and how he came to write
the ground breaking book, 'In Cold Blood.' Worth watching
Hidden (Cache) : I knew it was going to have a somewhat inconclusive
end from the reviews so I was prepared. What I liked about this film was that
it was a different. There are apparently on-line discussion groups that try and
work out what actually happened and what the film was really about.... I quite
like the fact that your are left just not knowing...
Pierrepoint Film about Britain's most prolific hangman (he hung over 600 people).
He really did handle his job with a great deal of decency. He had his standards
and you can't help admiring him for them. Really quite fascinating.
New York Doll : Very well made and moving documentary about the life of
Arthur 'Killer' Cane who was the bass player with the New York Dolls. Really
worth seeking out if you can find it on at a cinema somewhere, or get the DVD.
GIGS
Goldfrapp - Reading Very polished!
Boo Hewerdine - Kingston Boo used to the singer with The Bible.
Now gigging occasionally on his own, his voice and songs are better than ever,
Catch him if you can.
Jackie De Shannon - London Legendary US singer-songwriter who had apparently
never played a live gig in England before. Hard to believe. She came over, met
the band three days before the show and it was like they had played together
for months. She looked great and sang wonderfully. A memorable evening. |
