The Cherry Poppin' Daddies

To be honest, the band name may be enough in itself to lure you in - I know it was for me.

The Cherry Poppin' Daddies are a versatile bunch; I think it would be fair to say that they mainly stick to the ska genre, but that isn't really my bag. If it is yours however, then by all means check out their recent compilation, Skaboy JFK. Even for someone not that keen on ska, there are some very good songs on there - Hi and Lo is pretty catchy.
 
The Daddies have a useful habit of combining all of their songs which are of a similar style on compilations. The one which I listen to a ridiculous amount is Zoot Suit Riot, which contains most of their swing inspired tunes. And it is fantastic: Steve Perry's swarthy, jaunty voice, combined with high octane drums and about as much brass as you could possibly handle, make for maybe the most fun album I've reviewed here.

This album is musically accomplished but makes it look oh so easy, combining a classic style of crooning with some casual cursing, adult content and often comical lyrics. They just have it all!

Their more recent album, Susquehanna is also excellent, often channeling a more 'flamenco' vibe with a lot of Spanish guitar and frantic beats. Roseanne is a long-standing favourite of mine, filled with passion and emotion and beautiful lyrics, showing yet another string to this group's (if anything, too stringy) bow. The Mongoose and the Snake is another brilliant track on that album, but I can't just sit here listing all of the brilliant songs the Cherry Poppin' Daddies have penned - that would make for a very long and boring article and a tired Spodle.

... well, just one more: the first song I actually heard by CPD was Irish Whiskey which appears on two of their albums, which has much more of a classic rock feel to it, though with some ska elements (depending on which version you listen to - I prefer the Soul Caddy one) and the dizzying momentum and string accompaniment associated with the American Irish tradition of Flogging Molly and Dropkick Murphys. If you like those bands, I imagine you would like the Cherry Poppin' Daddies - it would be difficult not to find something you like amongst their plethora of different albums and styles.

Everfree (mini post)

So I read Everfree, the third episode in Nick Sagan's dystopian series which began with Idlewild.

My overall thoughts were that it was a little disappointing. I'm not sure if it's because I was younger when I read the first two or because the author had a lot of plot to fit into a single novel (the entire reconstruction of humanity no less), but it seemed a little two-dimensional. The amount of things that happened left little space for character development - arguably not as necessary since they have all been introduced previously, but still extremely important I feel. This also resulted in the action feeling a bit rushed and lacking in impact.

On the plus side, the book does wrap up the story pretty well. It wasn't a struggle to get through and my prior attachment to the characters and knowledge of their history carried me through, making me care about their fates. It isn't a terrible book, nor is it a great one. I was as whelmed as whelmed can be.

This is just a short post as I don't like to slate things - the point of this blog is to big up little known but accomplished artists, but I hinted that I would report back on this novel so I thought I would follow through - this also serves to prove that I can be discerning (I don't just love everything!), so it might lend my taste some integrity.

Stay tuned for a proper post soon :)

Haunted

Chuck Palahniuk is best known for his novel Fight Club, which became the incredibly successful cult movie directed by David Fincher. Fight Club is probably the novel I enjoyed least by Palahniuk however - perhaps because I was already such a big fan of the film and it therefore seemed to hold nothing new for me (I had the same problem with King's The Green Mile when I finally read it last year).  Haunted was the first book of his that I read, and it's a strange one that's for sure. Nevertheless it secured my appreciation for Palahniuk's work and I have subsequently worked my way through most of his bibliography.

Part of what makes Haunted so engaging is its unusual format: a series of short stories embedded into the main plot and authored by the main characters. The over-arching plot centres on a group of writers attempting to 'find' their masterpiece by taking part in a retreat based on the visit made by Lord Byron and Mary Shelley amongst others to the Villa Diotati in 1816 (this is where Shelley came up with the idea for Frankenstein).  The characters are known only by nicknames which are explained in the short stories making up every other chapter and providing autobiographical information in flash-back form.

When the writers are unexpectedly trapped in the abandoned theatre they have chosen as their hermitage, in true dark and surreal style from Palahniuk they do not behave as expected. Each writer more desperate for fame than anything else, they endeavour to make their situation worse in the knowledge that a harrowing, near-death experience will give their story importance and mystery when they are inevitably rescued. Cue wastage of the dwindling food supplies, self-mutilation and plots to sabotage the other residents (each character reasoning that the fewer survivors, the better their story).

As is always the case with Palahniuk's writing, both the mini back stories and the events which transpire within the framing narrative are often gruesome, graphic and shocking. Be prepared for necrophilia, cannibalism, suicide and much more as the tale unfolds. The writer's - clearly - odd imagination births a series of disturbing scenes which create a satirical view of modern life and the pursuit of fame and integrity. This is a mood which runs through all of Chuck Palahniuk's work (I would recommend Choke and Lullaby as two more of my favourites as well).

The macabre and almost nightmarish feel of this cult writer's work, along with the cynicism of his narrators and post-modern writing style, really emphasises his message about people's ability to distance themselves from the horrors of modern life. He paints a shallow, vindictive picture of society - almost comical in its cruelty - which, although entertaining and thought provoking, could definitely get you down if you read too much at once.

Idlewild and Edenborn

I'm not sure if Nick Sagan's dystopian trilogy technically falls into the 'young-adult' category. I read them when I was quite young but I don't set much store by those age restrictions in literature - if it's good it's good. Actually that goes for anything really, I mean everyone likes Toy Story, right? Why should you feel guilty or 'uncultured' just because it's animated and there aren't any naughty words?

Idlewild does revolve around a group of teenagers - set in the near future, they attend a school where virtual reality is used as a teaching tool and also by the students to create their own little worlds in which to socialise and/or reflect. The interactions within the group are realistic and relatable; prejudices and tiffs amongst the boys and girls blown up into dramatic rivalries that seem like the be all and end all of existence - just like real high school. However, they are to find out that they are woefully mistaken, and not in any kind of easy or gradual way.

The narrator is Halloween, one of the teenagers who wakes one day with no memory, only the certainty that someone has tried to murder him. His attempts to remember who he is and what happened aren't helped by the insane virtual environment he has created for himself over the years, or by their seemingly sadistic tutor Maestro.

I'm hesitant to give out spoilers (although the blurb does hint at the story's trajectory) so if you want to go into these books blind, STOP READING NOW.

... so around 20 years before we join Halloween and his friends, a plague has wiped out all of mankind. The ten teenagers were genetically modified and placed inside a virtual reality designed to condition them into perfect pillars of a new human race. It doesn't quite go to the dead scientists' plan though and their release from the computer world becomes fraught with danger and fear.

I think what I like about this book, aside from its gothic and sci-fi overtones, is that at its heart it is a classic whodunnit. A mysterious crime, a limited number of suspects and a cool narrator, determined to get to the truth. And he is pretty cool, our Halloween. I used to have a bit of a crush on him, insofar as you can fancy a written description of a fictional person.

The second book in the series, Edenborn, follows the characters as they attempt to restart society on an empty Earth.  They have split into two camps: one believes they should just rebuild humanity as it was and the other that the people they create should be improved genetically.  I actually read this second installment first, because I was a strange child. A maverick some might say. I still enjoyed both books although I think the first one would have been more surprising and the second would have made more sense if I'd come to them in the correct order.

Perhaps my favourite element of Edenborn is the girls' sociopathic daughter Penny and her relationship with Halloween's misanthropic son, their teenage angst leading them to disaster whilst the grown-ups remain distracted by the bigger picture.


Both novels are very good, with three-dimensional characters and interesting concepts at their heart. I only recently found out that the third book, Everfree, exists and I plan to read it soon, so I may review it here. Watch this space you lucky people!

Gomez

These aren't so obscure, particularly not to me. I was brought up listening to Gomez alongside such greats as Van Morrison and The Eagles; to me they're a classic and therefore it seems like they should be to everyone else.

Gomez are pretty successful, more so in America I believe (a song of theirs features in the movie American Beauty) - but quite a few people aren't aware of their music and  this is a sin, which I am here to rectify.

I'd say their best albums are Liquid Skin and Bring It On, the latter of which contains perhaps their most famous song, Whippin' Piccadilly. They're a British Indie band whose use of electric mixing and sounds mingle with jazz influences to create a unique style, funky and bluesy but also modern.

Ben Ottewell's voice is fantastic; powerful and gravelly - and the variety of voices and instruments they employ along with their imaginative, if occasionally nonsensical lyrics ("open hearted surgery never works" ... except it does, doesn't it lads?), are a joy to listen to. From the soulful sensuality of Rosalita (Liquid Skin) to the bouncy energy of Detroit Swing 66 (In Our Gun) and Get Myself Arrested's pure coolness (Bring It On), Gomez are consistently wonderful.

Check them and their entire back catalogue out, you won't regret it.

Transition

Iain Banks is a very well-known writer so this may not seem an appropriate book to review, but as a science fiction novel (not written however, under his sci-fi moniker of Iain M. Banks), this one may have slipped through the cracks slightly; none of my friends who are fans of his have read it.  Even if it's not obscure enough I don't care - anyone who hasn't read it, should.  And since the recent news about his terminal cancer diagnosis, it seems germane to pay tribute to one of my favourite British authors.  The world will be a lesser place without him.


Transition is set in a world wherein the existence of parallel universes had been proven.  Selected people are able to travel, or transition, between these universes with the aid of a drug developed by the inhabitants of an adjoining Earth known as Calbefraques.  These people are overseen and governed by an all-seeing and corrupt parliamentary council known as The Concern.

The characters followed during the novel are largely from the aforementioned version of Earth although they flit between various universes, including our own.  The main protagonist is a hired assassin called Temudjin Oh, enlisted by The Concern to perform tasks of varying skill, violence and size to aid the manipulation of history in multiple worlds.  Through the eyes of those with a clear view of the Concern's overall intentions (such as the mysterious Mrs Mulverhill and the psychopathic Madame d'Ortolan) as well as relatively ignorant outsiders like the cynical entrepreneur Adrian Cubbish of London, Earth (ours), we see the effects of The Concern's actions and the uprising of those intent upon bringing them to an end.

With a twisting and turning plot entangling Temudjin in a battle of political interests, revolutionaries, dangerous experimentation and lethal missions, the storyline gradually unfolds, drawing you in.  Iain Banks has achieved that rare quality in a work of fiction - a storyline rich and complex enough to intrigue and entice the reader, without alienating them with unnecessarily convoluted descriptions or back stories.  It is as complicated as it needs to be without it becoming a negative thing (a fine line often tripped upon, especially by sci-fi and fantasy writers).

Fun, exciting, sexy, filled with action and interesting characters, Transition fulfils everything you could want from a sci-fi novel.  Perfectly crafted and brilliantly written, it's definitely worth a read even if you don't usually go for this genre.
               

Iain Banks

                             

Another Earth

This is what is going to be an uncommon occurrence - a film review.  For the simple reason that advertisement of films is an easy and immediate process; you see a trailer and know whether you want to watch it.  So good films get watched by a lot of people.  This isn't necessarily the case with music (as many great albums take several listens to make an impact) and even less so with books. A blurb is a pitiful excuse for a word trailer.  However, if I know of a great film which I believe to be under-valued I will give it a mention - such as now with this one. 

Another Earth was released in 2011 and won awards at the Maui and Sundance Festivals that year.  On the face of it, it's a sci-fi centring on the discovery of a nearby planet identical to Earth; not only host to intelligent life but an echo of our world - same cities, same people, same lives and events.  This element of the film takes a back seat however, to make room for the story of Rhoda Williams.  

Brit Marling plays the young woman whose prospects are shattered by a horrific accident in which her mistakes lead to the deaths of a woman and child.  Four years on we rejoin her life, freed from incarceration but forced by anxiety, depression and a criminal record to take on a cleaning job at her former school.

She seeks out the man (played by William Mapother) who's wife and child were killed because of her and - by an unusual but believable series of events - takes a job cleaning his house, whose dingy interior and state of disrepair reflect clearly that his life too, has become empty and miserable.  The four years have led to acceptance of his loss, but made it no less painful.

Throughout the film, the two become closer and their hesitant friendship brings some brightness to each of their lives. This relationship and its journey towards inevitable complications and heartbreak makes for a compelling human drama, set against the constant backdrop of 'Earth 2' and the inescapable news coverage of its discovery.  Beautiful cinematography and the constant image of the mirror planet hanging in the sky contrasts with the bleak reality of the two main characters' lives.  

The unsteady, sometimes blurry handheld camera work which marks this out as a low-budget independent film - as well as the extremely subtle acting by the two leads - creates a strong feeling of realness which lays the tragic subject matter bare.  

This film is extremely affecting.  Its themes of pain and loss really bring home the randomness of the universe and how everything can change in an instant. And the fact that a lot about the newly discovered Earth is not revealed keeps the viewer's interest alive.  You can't help but be intrigued by the idea of a parallel planet and its implications.

Another Earth is a beautiful, engaging story of pain, dark truths, love and relationships.  Maybe not suitable if you're looking for an evening of light viewing but it's wonderful and you should watch it.

The Dresden Dolls

I absolutely effing love the Dresden Dolls.  They are sublime.

Amanda Palmer's wailing vocals and off-key piano playing may not be for everyone but to me they embody everything I love about 'weird' music.  Weird means different, means like nothing you've heard before.  It means original and unique, and that's what I look for in a band.

Their début album - my favourite - ranges from the manic silliness of Girl Anachronism and Coin-Operated Boy to the sad, soulful vulnerability of Half Jack, with Palmer's fun and poetic lyrics often touching on something deep, dark and disturbing - like in the troubling Slide.

Brian Viglione's drumming is punchy and imaginative, keeping the songs strong and surprising. The two elements of the band work together perfectly and it's a testament to their genius that they can achieve so complete a sound without guitar or bass players.

Dresden Dolls' mix of cabaret, twisted classical crescendo and punk makes for fresh and beautiful listening.  Their self-titled first album is one of those records that comprises brilliant songs but also comes together as a whole to create a work of art; a sepia-toned, Plath-inspired, pain-tinged, musically accomplished masterpiece that never fails to touch and engage me.

I know a lot of people won't like this album - it's definitely a grower - but I think it's awesome and everyone should give them a listen.

This is a song from their second album, which is creeping ever closer to the first's top spot the more I listen to it, as it has some wonderful songs on it.  Delilah has been a favourite for a while.

Songs of Love, Loss and Debauchery

Now here is a band that is criminally underrated.  And again, one about whom no-one except my good friend Jayne, who introduced me to them, seems to have heard (in my experience).  Even the guy we got talking to when we got to see them live was there to see someone else. 

Kill It Kid are fantastic, and this is one of my favourite ever albums.  Produced by Eels and PJ Harvey producer John Parish as a teaching exercise at Bath University, its complex riffs, grinding bluegrass-style guitar and heavy beats are right up my alley.  To go along with those, there's folksy harmonies, beautiful lyrics and - in my mind - an incredible violinist (Richard Jones, who unfortunately left the band after this album).

Lead singer Chris Turpin's vocals are bluesy and unique - the power of his voice only became fully apparent to me when I saw him perform on stage.  I wondered how that sound didn't damage him on its way out.  And it's perfectly complimented by the other singer/keyboardist Stephanie Ward, whose delicate feminine tone harmonises wonderfully with his throaty timbre. 

An evocative album, it always puts me in mind of dusty desert roads and the deep South - even after the surprising revelation that it's creators are a group of English university students.  

I urge you to listen to this album - I cannot fault it and I never tire of it.  

Darlings of the Splitscreen

For my first music related post I thought I'd go uber-obscure with a band whom nobody (save the person who introduced me to them years ago - and I suspect he may have known them personally since they are from Sheffield) seems to have heard of: Darlings of the Splitscreen. I used to listen to them constantly despite their limited back catalogue and still go back to them regularly. 

They spout a brand of funky electro-pop with more energy than much else out there at the moment - with fun and clever lyrics epitomised in the track In/Out and computer based robotic riffs like that of Juxtaposed, they offer a low-budget, up-tempo bubblegum style that I feel is lacking in pop music.

I am espousing their merits now as there seems to have been a bit of a dearth in their material in the past few years and I fear that their already negligible fame will slide into nothingness pretty soon. And I feel they're talented enough to deserve a bit of exposure.

The best place to hear most of their songs is on their myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/darlingsofthesplitscreen/
and their EP This Is How We Roll is available on iTunes.
They also have at least one music video on YouTube.

So go and check them out, I hope you enjoy. Here's the only song of theirs I could find on SoundCloud; the WTF Panda Club remix of one of my favourite DOTS song, Hiroshima:


https://soundcloud.com/massnerder/darlings-of-the-splitscreen-hiroshima-wtf-panda-club-remix

The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan

So for my first post, I've chosen a work by one of my favourite writers - relatively recently discovered by me - and the first book of his I read.  As a sucker for all things supernatural - albeit often disappointed by the genre - it was inevitable that this novel would catch my eye as I browsed in the train station's WHSmith's. A recommendation on the cover from Nick Cave piqued my interest and I bought it on a whim.

I expected a pacey and entertaining read at best, but it truly blew me away.  Duncan offers up a gripping and tense, page-an-inch-from-your-face storyline, recounted by a charismatic lead, shot through with violence, gore and heartbreak. Cliffhangers at every turn mean that the story will keep you hooked to the end and beyond. 

We join the protagonist Jake Marlowe after 200 years of life, constantly plagued by his animal urges and haunted by his crimes, the only one of his kind left in the world. Hunted by a government branch intent on wiping out werewolves, he has grown weary of life and is contemplating suicide - but shocking events and new revelations lead him into an intriguing adventure, a new lust for life and a desperate fight to hold on to it.

  

A lot of people will be put off by a book about werewolves; they don't exactly have a long affiliation with great literature (I'm looking at you, Twilight). I can see people glaze over when I recommend this book. They nod and listen but I know they won't go near it.  However, this book is different: superbly written with about as much sex and violence as it could get away with without being gratuitous. Well, I'm sure some would argue it's a bit gratuitous, but in my mind there's nothing wrong with that. 

It's a while since I read The Last Werewolf but, as with all of the Glen Duncan books I have read, his character development is so strong that the people and events about which he writes have stuck in my head for a long time afterwards. The characters seem so real that I felt I knew them and, like with all great books, when I turned the final page and closed the book I was left with a feeling of 'what now?'

Luckily Duncan wrote a sequel and the final episode in the trilogy is due for release soon.  To avoid spoilers I won't talk too much about the second instalment but in my opinion, it isn't as good as the first. It is however, still an exceptionally good read, and if you enjoy The Last Werewolf as much as I did you'll be desperate to read on.

Incidentally Glen Duncan's earlier novel, Death of an Ordinary Man, is a very different but perhaps even better novel. An incredible book which had a real impact on me and is both hard-hitting and tender in generous measures. I could have chosen that less famous Duncan work to review, but as a twist on a well known myth, I feel that The Last Werewolf is an accessible and extremely enjoyable entry into the works of one of the most talented British authors working today.