tv shows

With the start of the new tv season, I've temporarily traded in my World of Warcraft addiction for a rekindled tv-show addiction. Besides pretty much daily doses of local programs Man Bijt Hond and Komen Eten, and a couple of local series (Los Zand, Code 37, De Jaren Stillekes), I'm also watching:

Mad Men won best drama for the second time in a row at the 2009 Emmy's.
Can't say this is a superexciting show, because plotlines aren't really that spectacular, but as a visually stunning document of a time era, it does a pretty good job. I love all the sixties clothes, interiors, cars and all that jazz. Let's have a look at the ladies:


And of course, Don Draper is my new hero. Stylewise, he is very reminiscent of Dale Cooper.




I quit watching House MD somewhere during the first season because I found the episode structure too formulaic (pretty much a medical CSI) and the side characters just not thrilling enough. When I heard that Olivia Wilde (if the picture below can't convince you, check out her emmy's 2009 attire here) was joining the cast in the fourth season, it was enough to convince me to give it another try, and right now, I'm pretty much hooked again. First of all, the whole plotline of House choosing a new assistant by testing which one can cope with his bullying the longest, is pretty cool. Secondly, Ms. Wilde (you may have seen her in The OC or The Black Donnelly's) is someone I never mind watching, and the makers of this series know this, because she's the only cast member that gets regular close-ups. Seeing as half of the most episodes is made of medical reasoning that us regular mortals can only pretend to comprehend, this show does a pretty good job at staying interesting.


Fifth season of Lost isn't really doing much for me at the moment. Third season of Entourage is still ok, but I'm not seeing enough Emmanuelle Chriqui, and I still hate the main character Vincent Chase. Such a douche. Second season of Flight of the Conchords remains mildly entertaining and periodically hilarious. Saw one episode of The Sarah Silverman show, major disappointment. And I would watch 30 rock on the national tv station on Saturday, but unfortunately it has to concede its time slot pretty much weekly to the Vuelta and other total non-events. Boo.

Leffingeleuren

Attended the small but cosy music festival Leffingeleuren for the first time ever. Here's a shortened and abysmal translation of my Dutch facebook festival report:

Expected a lot from Blood Red Shoes, but they didn't deliver, mainly because Laura-Mary had some technical issues, so she finished the set with hardly a word to/a look at the crowd. Which is a shame because they really could've won over the youthful crowd with an energetic set, had they tried. Shame.

Alela Diane played a really good set for a lame and disinterested crowd. Ashamed of my compatriots. Mostly songs from the 'To be still' album, with Alina Harden as extra singer (they made an EP together) and a rhythm section, that was useful to drown out the conversations of the people in the back. Best voice. Here's a random (older) pic of Alela with a cat:


I was very pleasantly surprised with J Tillman. He played an interesting and unpredictable set, with long instrumental jams, and some parts where he can showcase his amazing voice.

Dinosaur Jr. had to make up for the disappointing set at the Pukkelpop festival in August. Appreciated the opener 'Thumb', and they played a lot of songs I didn't know, but overall, again they couldn't live up to my expectations. Only played the Barlow track 'Back to your heart' from Beyond (I guess the reunion tour for that record was too long), and pretty much the same tracks from the new album and "hit" singles as Pukkelpop, whereas I would've liked to hear 'I want you to know', 'Ocean in the way', 'Friends' or 'See you' from the new album. Sound was pretty bad and the singing, ...well you know.

podcast 10

Podcast number: 10
Date: 12/09/2009
Language: none
File Format: MP3
File Size: 73 MB
Duration: 78 minutes
#songs: 24
Genre: ultimate eighties compilation

Comments:
10th podcast w00t. This is my ultimate (inevitably highly subjective) eighties podcast, main selection criteria were:
- tracks had to have an eighties feel
- should all be tracks that I can listen to a couple of times in succession without getting bored/annoyed.
- where possible, I opted for a lesser known single

Composition: 75% radio (pop)rock singles, 10% perfect pop tracks, 15% poppy new wave stuff.

Tracklist:
01 The Cure - Just like heaven (1987)
02 Suzanne Vega - Marlene on the wall (1985)
03 Sugarcubes - Birthday (1986/1988)
04 Michael Penn - No myth (Romeo in black jeans) (1989)
05 Heaven 17 - Let me go (1983)
06 R.E.M. - Pop song '89 (1989)
07 The Pretenders - Don't get me wrong (1986)
08 Echo And The Bunnymen - Bring on the dancing horses (1985)
09 Queen - Invisible man (1989)
10 Prefab Sprout - Cars and girls (1988)
11 Simple Minds - Someone, somewhere, in the summertime (1982)
12 This Mortal Coil - You and your sister (late 80's)
13 U2 - I will follow (1982)
14 Madness - Baggy trousers (1980)
15 Sinead O Conner - Mandinka (1987)
16 Spandau Ballet - True (1983)
17 The Police - De do do do, de da da da (1980)
18 Arbeid Adelt - Lekker westers (1983)
19 Talking Heads - Once in a lifetime (1980)
20 The B-52's - Love shack (1989)
21 The La's - There she goes (1979)
22 Dire Staits - Money for nothing (1985)
23 New Order - The perfect kiss (1985)
24 The Clash - I fought the law (1979/1988)

Get it here: Click