Series One of Sherlock ends with a potential bang

NO! NO NO NO NO NO! DAMN IT, THAT'S NOT FAIR!

Why the passionate response? You see I just finished the third and last episode of Series One of Sherlock, the BBC update I posted about a few weeks ago. What you read above was pretty much my reaction from the couch. Only three episodes ever...and this one ended with a cliff-hanger!

WHAT? It's only been recently announced that the show's been picked up for a second series, and the writer's decide to end "The Great Game" like that, with all of us hanging on the edge of our seats? I just looked, and the next episode isn't scheduled to appear on English TV until the fall of 2011 at the earliest. A whole freakin' year from now! And Lord only knows when we'll see it here in Canada. WHAT THE HELL, MAN?!

Alright, I've vented. You know what? It was still a great show, and I will be counting down the days until we see more. I'm kind of foolish that way.

A new modern update of Sherlock Holmes and it's not House!

I almost missed this show. Let me say that again; I almost didn't see this! Can you believe that? This is so up my alley it's not even funny. The only reason I heard about it was because I was checking my email and once I signed out I came across a link for new TV on Canadian channels, and there it was. And of course, I was intrigued, and immediately marked it on my calendar so I wouldn't miss it.

That show is Sherlock, a BBC series that aired across the pond earlier this year and has now made it's way onto Showcase here in Canada. The premise is that it's the Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson we all know and love, plus other familiar characters like Inspector Lestrade, Mrs. Hudson and Mycroft Holmes (plus a certain notorious villain), but their adventures are set in 21st century London instead of 19th century London. A modern retelling if you will. So we have Holmes practicing his deductive skills amidst the practices of forensic science and during the height of the information age.

And while that sounds like a total gimmick, it works so well. So well. Our two heroes call each other John and Sherlock now, because nobody calls their friends by their last names these days. The John Watson presented here is still a veteran of Afghanistan, but the war he fought in was the war on terror instead of the second anglo-afghan war. Plus he still writes about the adventures he has, but on a blog.

As for this Sherlock Holmes, he is a modern man in every sense of the word. He makes full use of texting and the Internet and posts a website on the art of deduction, but he can still read a crime scene or a person with just his eyes and a magnifying lens and make it look like he has ESP or something (a notion he would find laughable). The modernness never feels forced, I think because Holmes himself was always a modern man, even in Arthur Conan Doyle's stories.

The first episode, and there are only three 90 minute episodes, so I don't know if that counts as a series, is called "A Study in Pink", and as you may have guessed it's an update on "A Study in Scarlett" the very first Holmes story written. Many of the same elements are there, including Holmes and Watson meeting and forging their immortal partnership. The entire 90 minutes was so gripping I couldn't dream of turning it off. There was action, a great chase scene, intense stand offs, and a surprise twist regarding one character that I never saw coming. And the two leads fantastically embody their characters. Benedict Cumberbatch (great name) perfectly portrays Holmes' energy, eccentricities, humor and cool demeanor. Plus he's fairly easy on the eyes, which I can always appreciate. And Martin Freeman, who I recognized from the BBC's The Office and The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy, nicely pulls off the more down-to-earth counterbalance to Holmes, while keeping Watson a smart, resourceful, funny man-of-action that he is.

Can't wait to see what else is in store, and I'm so glad I came across that article. Funny how fate comes along and brings a new obsession.

Fan Expo 2010: Day 2

I think I'm in love. With who you ask? James Marsters. Now lots of you will probably think, yeah, we know, you've been in love with Spike for ages. True, but now I'm in love with the man behind Spike.

And so leads us to my second day at Toronto's geek heaven. The trip to and from was much easier this time around (thank God, no smoke on the tracks I guess). How would I describe today? Exhausting and not without it's mild irritants, but mostly...magical.

I arrived at the Convention Center around 9am and found a line, as I'd expected, but a much shorter line this time around, only going down Simcoe a little ways. And though I travelled alone, I managed to make a line buddy by the name of John. We chatted for some time about likes, dislikes, home life and what brought us here today. He was there mostly for gaming and anime, so the opposite of what I was there for, but we found a lot to talk about regardless and he explained the finer points of his costume to me.

I got in at about 10:15am. Perfect. I had time to take a quick look around, ask about the iTunes gift cards and discover that they were only being given out to people buying tickets that day (Boo!) and to find the room, two floors down, where the DC Universe panel discussion was being held. That was a very interesting talk between some DC writers and artists about some upcoming projects, and some very interesting questions came up (among them were what everyone's favorite DC and Marvel characters were).

I left that a few minutes early to get in line for the Tron Legacy sneak peak. I was a little worried once I saw the line, but it turns out it was in a huge theatre, so finding seats was no trouble. There was some talk of everyone having to confiscate their cameras and phones, as they were showing secret movie scenes, but fortunately it did not come to that. They just had security guards to keep an eye on things. Once in my seat I met another Melissa and her mother and brother. The Tron preview was hosted by InnerSPACE hosts Ajay Fry and Teddy Wilson, and featured a peak at the new video game with one of the games designers and a Wii demo on the big screen. Then we had a great compilation of clips showing Tron references in pop culture, from 30 Rock to Family Guy to music videos and South Park. Then a very cool surprise; Mr. Bruce Boxleitner was brought out, an actor who has starred in both the original Tron and the upcoming feature, and is maybe best known for starring in Babylon Five. Then we were shown both a trailer and seven minutes of never before seen footage, all in 3D (glasses were handed out as we came in). Honestly, the movie looks pretty cool, and I'm excited to see it. Mr. Boxleitner came out with Ajay Fry to answer a few questions from the audience. I quite enjoyed Mr. Boxleitner, he was funny and charming. One thing he pointed out was that the original Tron was slammed by the critics at the time and did poorly at the box office, but he feels that some of the blame for that lands on the fact that E.T. came out that same summer and, as he put it, sucked all the oxygen out of the room. But, he was quick to point out, E.T. doesn't have a new movie coming out 27 years later. The audience cheered at that. He also encouraged all of us to go out and see it four times each opening weekend.

By the time that wrapped up and we had deposited our 3D glasses in the recycle bin it was a little after 1. I knew it was too late to try to go to the Stan Lee presentation, but as that wasn't high on my list of things to do this weekend that was alright. I was ready to get some lunch. But, by then the size of the crowd had ballooned to almost locust-like proportions. There was a nice sized crowd of people waiting to get in outside, so leaving the building was impossible unless I wanted to join the wait to get back in. And they were only letting people back upstairs a few at a time to try to control the crowd, so there was a crowd of people waiting around the escalator. Seeing I had nowhere to go and nothing to do, I decided to go get in line for the James Marsters Q&A, even though that wasn't for a couple of hours. I found the right line, got comfy, found a granola bar I'd packed for just such an emergency and settled in with my iPod Nano. Plus I had to deal with a mass of people, including a few behind me who kept talking at booming volumes and kept wiggling into my personal space. Grrr.

But you know what? Totally worth it! I got a great seat, just a couple rows back from the front and on the aisle, so I had the clearest view I think I've ever had at Fan Expo. After another half-hour, our hosts (Teddy Wilson and Natasha Eloi) introduced the man of the hour. He's looking good, that guy; his brown hair's grown out a little bit and he had on a sleeveless shirt, showing off his arms. Meow. It was funny hearing him talk and not sound British. He sounds very American, and I thought at times I detected a Southern twang to his voice. Still, I'm not picky.

He was an absolute delight. He was funny, intelligent, gave nice full answers and was great with the fans. Turns out he's a well rounded actor. He's not only done the Sci Fi stuff like Spike or Captain John or Brainiac, but also the stage and Shakespeare and more main stream stuff as well. When asked about playing villains he talked about how in Shakespeare there are no villains (with the exception of Iago or maybe Richard III), and that that's how he's always seen the characters he's played. He told some great stories about working on "Once More With Feeling" and how hard the cast worked to make that come to life. He talked about his new projects and how much he relates to his character on Caprica. He talked about Angel and having to make it look like he was kicking David Boreanaz's butt while Boreanaz had a bad knee but wouldn't give up until the scene was finished. Of course he was asked about his kiss on Torchwood with John Barrowman. Again, meow. He described Barrowman as a born leader who helped him out of a tight spot while filming and made him feel comfortable about that hot and heavy scene. Apparently Marsters was originally hoping to get on Doctor Who but they didn't need him for anything there and came up with this role on Torchwood instead. Our gain.

A couple of my favorite responses: when asked if there was anything about Spike he would've played differently; "Nothing." And when asked if it was better playing a supercomputer than a vampire; "Actually, I don't think anything's been better than Spike." Yay! Spike's voice even made a brief appearance this afternoon.

But the most awesome thing came right near the end. He sang for us. Someone asked him if he remembered any lyrics from "Once More With Feeling" and would he sing them for us. He confessed that he didn't, but he could sing something else. A song from a TV movie he'd done for SyFy. I made sure the video option on my camera was running. Honestly, it was lovely when he started singing. For a song from a TV movie it was haunting and sad, and he sold it. The whole auditorium went silent. I was beaming and felt something pretty deep. It was a real moment.

And then he finished, and it was over. One last round of applause and a standing ovation, myself included. I left feeling so satisfied and happy. I knew that if I'd experienced nothing else that whole day that one hour would have made the trip worth it.

The crowd had dispersed somewhat by that point, so I made it back upstairs and basically walked around for about an hour and a half looking at comics and collectibles and displays until my shoulders ached, my feet started to hurt and my mind went numb. I got some graphic novels, some free stuff, and checked to see when Mr. Marsters would be signing autographs tomorrow. Then a little after 6 I left to head back to the subway. They were keeping the Expo open until 8 tonight to meet demand, but I figured it's been a good day and the time had come to leave.

So there's two good days. Can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring. Last day, a few things on the agenda. How will it all go down? To be continued...

New music videos you might want to check out

Couple new music videos out this week that have made it onto my iPod.

First is the new flashy Adam Lambert video for his latest single "If I Had You". Awesome song, but basically the clip is a rave in a forest; pretty to look at, but not much else to it. Still, bonus points for Lambert's weird ass, Braveheart hair.

Second is the new Gorillaz video for their latest single, "Melancholy Hill" (in my humble opinion, a much wiser choice for a second single than "Superfast Jellyfish", which was originally slated to be the next single but has been bumped). At the moment this one is offered exclusively from iTunes for a nominal fee. I really like it, but anyone unfamiliar with Gorillaz mythology would be lost. Basically it's about how the band and their collaborators made it to the Plastic Beach, and kind of picks up where the video for "Stylo" left off. Gorgeous animation though, and it propels the vague storyline along.

My iPod is officially jammin'.

The only Doctor I trust

There's a t-shirt on ThinkGeek.com that I have been sorely tempted to buy. On it is a 1950's style London police call box. Underneath that are the words "You never forget your first Doctor."

To the uninitiated into the pantheon of Sci Fi, that t-shirt probably wouldn't make a lick of sense. What, some would ask, does a police call box have to do with a doctor? And what the heck is a police call box, anyway? (There's a Wikipedia article on them here.) Shall I fill you in? The shirt is in reference to Doctor Who, a British Sci Fi series that first aired all the way back in 1963. I actually just finished reading the graphic novel Doctor Who: The Forgotten, which was excellent by the way, so it's been on my mind lately. Why should anyone care? Because Doctor Who has the distinction of being the longest running Sci Fi series ever. Ever! And not just in England, or in North America, but in the entire world! Check the Guinness Book of World Records, it's in there. 31 seasons (or series, as they call them across the pond), and as of June 12, 2010, 767 episodes! Considering how some shows barely last a season, that's an amazing feat.

And that's also a surprising feat, considering that the premise for the show is a little out there. It would be almost impossible to summarize the entire show here, but in a nutshell the main character is an eccentric, mysterious, 900-and-something-year-old humanoid alien known only as The Doctor. From the planet Gallifrey, the Doctor is a Time Lord, which is an extraterrestrial race that has mastered time travel through advanced technology. The Doctor achieves this through a device called the TARDIS (and to really earn my geek stripes: that stands for Time And Relative Dimensions In Space). The TARDIS is a vast, complicated space ship capable of going to any point in time or any planet in the galaxy, but from the outside looks like a standard police call box (aahhh, now the t-shirt makes sense). With this ship the Doctor goes on many adventures to face foes and right wrongs, often bringing along at least one companion on his journeys (a companion is a general term for whomever the Doctor travels with, often human and often female, who acts as a stand-in for the audience).

So how can the series have lasted this long, you may ask? I mean, surely one actor hasn't played the Doctor since the 1960s, right? You'd be right, and actually the show's creators found a way around this, and rather brilliantly I think. You see, Time Lords are able to do something called Regeneration. What that means is when they've been critically injured and/or about to die, they're able to regenerate into a new body. Same character, different appearance. So whenever an actor is tired of the role, a 'death' scene is filmed, and a new actor steps into the part. As of right now, eleven different actors have played the Doctor over the years, starting with William Hartnell in 1963, all the way up to Matt Smith, who took over the role in January of this year. Likewise there has also been a stream of companions and villains, many of which are unique to one Doctor, others of which have transcended several regenerations.

You know how the shirt says you never forget your first Doctor? For me, that would be Paul McGann, the eighth incarnation. My first exposure to the world of Who came in May of 1996 (I would've been 14 at the time). Fox had created a TV movie with the BBC, starring McGann, as a continuation of the Who franchise. The show had been off the air since 1989, and this movie was intended to be a back-door pilot for an American produced Doctor Who series, which would've also starred McGann. Alas, it was no meant to be, as the film did not do well on American televisions and the show was not picked up. Though McGann only appeared on the screen once as the Doctor, he continued to play him in radio serials and the Eighth Doctor appeared in other media. I remember when the movie aired, but as I had school the next day I was only able to watch the first half. Looking back on it now, I realize it was a pretty bad movie. Still, in spite of that, it managed to capture my imagination, and I never forgot about it.

Then in 2005, I got my second taste of Who when the BBC decided to relaunch the series as an hour long, modern, action-packed Sci Fi drama. Bring in Ninth Doctor Christopher Eccleston (btw, the Doctor's change from his eighth to his ninth incarnations is the only regeneration that has not been shown on screen). After one season, Eccleston dropped out and then David Tennant stepped in as the Tenth Doctor (pictured above with companion Martha), who is probably my favorite incarnation thus far, and also a huge fan favorite in general. Though I haven't seen all the episodes of the revamped series, every single one I have seen has been tense, funny, deep, filled with action, sometimes dark and often resonant. It's really breathed new life into the series as a whole and created a whole new fanbase. While I haven't seen Matt Smith's work on the role yet, the general buzz has been good. Things are going well.

So there's Doctor Who in a fairly large nutshell. It has a cult following, critical acclaim and awards, longevity, instantly recognizable theme music and a fair share of spin-offs, including other British Sci Fi cult series Torchwood. It's influence in the Sci Fi world as well as in pop culture, particularly British culture, is beyond measure. Call me crazy, but I think it's here to stay, at least for a while longer.

If you're curious, check out this YouTube clip to see the different regenerations over the years in order. Now, I should probably just order that t-shirt. Fan Expo's coming, and I'll need things to wear.

Movie Review: Get Him to the Greek

It's not often that a side character from a movie can become enough of a break-out that they earn a starring role in their own film, but Aldous Snow, played by British comedian Russell Brand, the lecherous, old-school rocker from Forgetting Sarah Marshall is one of those rare characters that was too big for his small part and just had to be upgraded.

The end result of that is Get Him to the Greek, directed by Sarah Marshall helmer Nicholas Stoller. The plot centers around Snow's fall from grace after releasing a disastrous album. Aaron Green, played by the always likable Johan Hill, works as a talent scout at Pinnacle Records, and suggests that Snow stage a comeback show at the Greek Theatre in L.A. The idealistic young man is then charged with getting the demanding, messed up rock star from London to L.A. within three days. As you expect, hilarity ensues.

And it is hilarious. Hill and Brand have great chemistry together, and their differing personalities clash nicely onscreen. The supporting cast also adds some great laughs, particularly and surprisingly Sean "Diddy" Combs, who plays the head of Pinnacle Records. Combs' public persona is always so serious you wouldn't expect him to deliver the laughs he does here, but boy howdy you're laughing whenever he's on screen. And despite the craziness, there are some soft, genuine moments as well as the characters rub off on each other.

There's some great music too, put on display through music videos and performances, courtesy of Snow's band Infant Sorrow. Apparently along with being a comedian and an actor, Brand can be a rock star as well. As soon as I got home I found the soundtrack on iTunes and downloaded three of my favorite songs. "Furry Walls" in particular is the one to get (you'll know why when you see the film).

My Verdict: A funny and crazy night of rock & roll excess.

My new musical obsession with Girls Aloud

So I've discovered a new band that I'm totally in love with. Well I should say it's a band that's new to me, as they've actually been around for a while. It's Britain's own Girls Aloud, and their upbeat dance tracks have been playing non-stop on my iPod.

You see, there was a time in this media-head's life where she was enraptured with another five girl British group called the Spice Girls. And since then, I've been looking for another girl group to fill the void. But who? All Saints? They had some good songs, but they didn't have the charisma of the Spice Girls. The Pussycat Dolls? Again, some good tracks but they're not really a girl group; more like one singer and a bunch of back-up dancers. Plus, the message they pose to young girls is questionable.

A while back I was flipping through an old issue of UK's Cosmopolitan and saw a page on Girls Aloud (they were named the Ultimate Fun Fearless Females in that issue). I was intrigued. Who was this supergroup our friends across the Atlantic had been enjoying since 2002? Going to iTunes and sampling a few tracks I downloaded their take on "I Think We're Alone Now". It's played on the iPod for a while, but this last week I thought to myself 'maybe I ought to check out some more songs'.

Boy, am I glad I did. I've gotten to know Cheryl, Nicola, Kimberley, Sarah and Nadine a little better, and what I've discovered through YouTube and downloaded tracks is just how freakin' catchy their songs are. Some are remakes, many of them are original tracks, and almost every one I've heard is really cool. So far I've downloaded "Long Hot Summer", "Swinging London Town" and "Racey Lacey" from their album Chemistry, and "Sound of the Underground", "Love Machine", "Jump" and "I Think We're Alone Now" from Sounds of Girls Aloud. I also got "Something Kind of Ooohhh" from the Run Fat Boy Run sound track. I've been humming them around work, which has probably been annoying the heck out of my co-workers.

You know what the weirdest part about the success of Girls Aloud is? The group actually started out on a reality show? They're from Popstars: The Rivals. Can you believe it? They're actually in the Guinness World Records as the most successful band to come out of reality programming.

So if you're looking for something new, check them out. You can find their videos on YouTube, or try their website. Cheers dears.

New Harry Potter site and, FINALLY, a date for the theme park

So two pieces of news for us muggles.

A) There is finally a set date for the opening of the new Harry Potter theme park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, at Universal Studios in Orlando. June 18th. A little later than the 'spring' opening we were originally promised, but not by much. Write it down people. A truly historic date. As soon as I'm able, you know I'll be there.

B) A new official Harry Potter site from Scholastic has just gone live. All 7 books, quizzes, lots of terminology. Oooohhh, geek overload.

Now if only the next movie was coming out before November, we'd truly be in business.

Album Review: Plastic Beach

So I finally got around to listening to Gorillaz's new album, Plastic Beach. I picked up my copy the very day it was released...and then I didn't listen to it until almost a week later. After I spent ages ranting about it and waiting expectantly. What the beep is wrong with me? Life gets in the way, that's the problem.

But today, finally, it was playing nicely on my car stereo, and I have to say my high expectations were definitely not dashed. It's a fun little confection of eclectic tastes, from rap to pop to orchestral tracks to middle eastern music and oh so much more, mashing it all together, bringing lots of guest stars like Snoop Dogg, Bobby Womack, De La Soul and Little Dragon into the whole sordid affair. The music has kind of an island feel to emphasize the 'beach' in the title, and, perhaps most importantly, it features cartoon characters! Beach brings to light once again what Gorillaz is all about.

Standout tracks? Well, as you may have seen in a previous post, I can't say enough good things about first single "Stylo". But, as for the rest of the album the song I had to listen to again once it was finished was "White Flag", which mixes rap by Bashy and Kano with a Arabic orchestra. Amazingly, it works really well together, and if was still belly dancing, this would be a track I would perform to. "Rhinestone Eyes" is a pretty, spooky, ethereal number, the kind of track you could film a slow motion scene to in a movie. "Glitter Freeze" has a hand clap and bass line reminiscent of Gary Glitter's "Rock and Roll (Part 1 and 2)", which I'm sure is on purpose. After hearing the album's recently announced second single, "Superfast Jellyfish", I'm very surprised it was chosen as a single. It's fun, but not exactly commercial. And it's funny me saying that because the song is basically a commercial for a non existent breakfast snack. The style of the song reminded me of "Rock the House", from Gorillaz's debut album. Anyway, check it out on the band's YouTube page and you'll see my confusion (check out the other videos while you're there if you're not too familiar with the band). Future third single, "On Melancholy Hill", is a rather light, somewhat 80's sounding tune. The rest of the tracks are just as jumbled in style and genre, but all in a good way.

The only major complaint I had with Plastic Beach was that the accompanying synthesizer tracks on some of the songs, particularly "Glitter Freeze", reminded me of a dentist's drill. And seeing how I'd just had a filling about four days ago, I really didn't need that.

Of course, I picked up the Experience edition, which comes with a DVD featuring a 40 minute documentary on how the album was made. Turns out the doc is a collection of snippets from the whole process of bringing Plastic Beach to life, with no narration to help sort out what you're watching. It was interesting seeing the different guest musicians come together (Bobby Womack in particular is a treat on camera), and seeing the 8ft. model of the Plastic Beach being built and photographed for the album cover and website (I hadn't realized they'd actually built a model). But I was hoping for more information on the animated band members, and there were only bits and pieces of conversation and some preliminary drawings. Still, I enjoy seeing the creative process in action, but if you're not into seeing the magic behind the curtain you might want to give this a miss. Instead, buy the deluxe version for the access to online content, which gives you wallpapers, screen savers, extra videos and other features.

My Verdict: Totally worth the wait, Plastic Beach is something fresh, different and fun to mix into the pop music scene.

Go see the band's official website to hear the album in full, and lots of other goodies. Gorillaz websites are always worth checking out.

Stylo video released

My main reaction to the new music video from Gorillaz could best be summed up in seven words: "Oh my God, is that Bruce Willis!?" Turns out it is him. How cool is that?

Otherwise I kind of felt like Homer did during a flashback episode of The Simpsons when he was watching an episode of Twin Peaks. "Brilliant! I have absolutely no idea what's going on."

It's a high-paced, car chase of a video, similar in vein to the virtual band's earlier offering for "19-2000". Except this time, where most of their past videos are either traditionally animated or a combination of traditional animation and live-action, "Stylo" features a mix of live-action and computer animation, which I believe is the first time that's happened in their music videos (I have most of their previous videos on my iPod, so I've had a chance to look). The results look great, and gives "Stylo" more of a cinematic feel. Willis helps with that too.

Otherwise though, I'm not sure what this is all about. Murdoc Niccals, 2D and the new android Noodle are driving down a desert road in a bullet-riddled roadster. They manage to avoid a rather inept police officer but are then hotly pursued by Willis' character who appears to be...I'm not sure, maybe a hit man or a bounty hunter or a cop? Beats the heck out of me.

I've been keeping track of Gorillaz news ever since I've heard of the new album, and there have been hints and allusions to the new storyline through interviews and video clips, but it's all been intentionally vague (at least I hope it's intentional). Some of the things that have been hinted to are further referenced in this video, like the creepy shadowy figure that rises out of the sand. But as the new album was, according to the current story-arc for the virtual characters, made on a plastic beach in the middle of the ocean I don't know what this whole high-speed chase is about. Keeping the beach in mind, however, the final scene does make a little sense.

If I've piqued your curiosity, take a look on YouTube and tell me what you think. Am I making too much out of this? Maybe, but I'm a big fan and I'm hoping that answers are coming, hopefully once the album's released on March 9th. Soon my pretties, soon!

Gorillaz are back!

One of my very favorite bands have finally, finally, after years of silence, released a new single. And my heart gives happy palpitations along with the driving bass line.

To give you an idea of how long fans like me have been waiting, the last Gorillaz single was released all the way back in 2006. Since then only rumor and the occasional mention in interviews gave fans hope that a new album could be in the works. In fact, back in January of 09 rough demos of three new songs were aired on British radio, and then popped up online. I haven't listened, because I want to hear the completed songs fresh, but they confirmed fan's hopes that an album was indeed coming down the pipe line.

But the music gods have smiled on us, as we now have a release date; March 8th (Lord, how do I wait?)

For those of you unfamiliar with Gorillaz, here's the skinny. It's a virtual band, which is a fancy way of saying that while Gorillaz is made up of real people, most famously Damon Albarn of Blur, what is projected to the public via music videos and even live performances is a group of cartoon characters, drawn by Jamie Hewlett, who are meant to be the actual 'band' (think The Archies, but waaaaay cooler and much more twisted).

The cartoon band members include two Englishmen, a Brooklyn native and a Japanese girl who was FedExed in a crate to them when she was 10 (bear in mind, these are cartoons we're talking about). 2-D is the blue haired, accident-prone vocalist (though the voice you hear is actually Albarn's); Murdoc Niccals is the egomaniacal, satanist bassist; Russel Hobbs is the mentally unbalanced, hip hop drummer and Noodle is the socially conscious, Japanese-government-experiment guitarist. Still with me? OK, good. Anyway, these characters have their own histories, their own personalities and have had their own experiences with Gorillaz, all of which has been documented in the tell-all book Rise of the Ogre, told from the point of view of the 'band' and the creators behind them (great book by the way, but again, pretty freaky).

So, the new song. A lot can happen in four years, but if you give "Stylo" a listen, you'll hear that time has not softened the band's (animated or live-action) unique approach to pop music (check out the official website to hear for yourself). Gorillaz is known both for collaborating with a wide assortment of musicians and their desire to experiment with different musical formats, to come up with new definitions of pop music. "Stylo" features Mos Def and Bobby Womack, providing rap and soul respectively, mixing them with a pulsating rhythm that is very easy to dance to. The president of Parlephone (the band's record label) described the song as "a dark twisted track that sounds like the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack on MDMA." Couldn't have said it better myself. Love it! Can't wait for more.

I'm curious what the animated characters have been up to (and yes, I know they're not real, but still). Looking at new artwork in various magazine articles and for "Stylo" (see above), the four of them have changed quite a bit in the last few years. There's been talk that Noodle is now an android. I don't know what that's about, but hopefully all will be revealed before too long.

Plastic Beach, Gorillaz's third album, is out March 8th, and a new music video is in the works as well. Happy days, people! Hopefully the band will be just as animated as ever (always end on a good pun).

Movie Review: Sherlock Holmes

You know, I've been anticipating this movie for about a year. I've run programs about it at work, put Victorian mysteries on display at the library, and revisited Arthur Conan Doyle's original works about the great detective (can you tell I'm a fan? Well I am, very much).

I had one massive worry about it, however. The Holmes franchise has been a fairly inactive one of late, which saddens me greatly. It's a huge mine of novels and short stories (both Doyle's and other authors), movies, even television shows. The original canon holds up so well over a hundred years later, and I am all for new audiences discovering one of the most prominent, enduring and intriguing fictional characters ever created. As the new movie approached, with Guy Ritchie at the helm who, if we're being honest, has been very hit and miss as a director, my only hope for everyone involved in making the film was; Do not screw this up!

Turns out, they didn't. Don't believe me? Check the box office receipts.

While Sherlock Holmes will never win an Oscar (though it's star is nominated for a Golden Globe), it's a fun, action packed romp through smoggy Victorian London, and Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law do excellent justice to Holmes and Watson. Their banter with each other was one of the most enjoyable parts of the movie. The plot was loyal to much of the original canon, but was willing to also take a few liberties to create it's own story. Irene Adler was involved too, and I'm always happy to see her, as she only had one appearance in Doyle's works.

I feel that this movie corrects a lot of misconceptions about the detective and doctor. Watson in particular has gotten a bad wrap as a bumbling sidekick. The Dr. Watson that Doyle first conceived was a smart, brave, capable army vet who was always reliable in a pinch, and so Jude Law portrays him here. And for those naysayers who declare that Ritchie unnecessarily bumped up the action and turned Holmes from a strict intellectual into a fighter need only read the original stories to find Holmes the boxer, sword fighter and martial artist. Check and mate. Downey Jr. deserves that Golden Globe nod for keeping Holmes' quirks and demons, while maintaining the detective's charm and humor.

My Verdict: A nice, light relaunch, and hopefully those rumors of a sequel will come to pass.

Album Review: Reality Killed the Video Star

Part of the thrill of purchasing my new car was following my uncle's example and also getting a new album, to be the first thing played on my new stereo. My choice? Robbie Williams' latest offering, Reality Killed the Video Star (clever title, nes pas?)

Williams' albums can generally be sorted into four categories: experimental mixes (The Ego Has Landed, Sing When You're Winning, Escapology), booty shaking club tracks (Rudebox), downers (Intensive Care) and records where he's clearly trying to be Frank Sinatra (Swing When You're Winning). Reality would fall somewhere in the first category, as most of his albums do. Some songs you can dance to, some you can't, but all have their own charms and messages. Really, those types of albums are Williams' strong suits, when he can just cut loose and write whatever the heck he feels like, and I got the impression here that he's feeling a little thoughtful right now, perhaps due to his recent bout with rehab for prescription drugs.

One thing that caught my attention with this particular album was that Trevor Horn had a hand in this. He's well known in the music industry for many, many things. For me though, he will always be the man who produced one of my favorite albums; ABC's The Lexicon of Love. Mr. Horn's presence can be felt quite prominently on Reality in the sweeping violins and other grandiose musical additions thrown into Williams' tracks.

The first single, "Bodies", is by far my favorite song here. I'm still not entirely sure what it's about...it seems to be a mix of body image angst and spiritual crisis. But it's got a sense of urgency about it that's hard to miss or resist. The second single, "You Know Me", is a light, lovelorn song which, and I'm not sure why, somehow seems to involve rabbits. "Starstruck", "Blasphemy" and "Difficult for Weirdos" are all tracks I'd recommend, but the album is good as a whole.

My Verdict: A great record that'll make you think and make you dance. Now Robbie, PLEASE come and play in Toronto! Don't make me come over there.

Album Review: The Boy Who Knew Too Much

Ahhhh, Mika's back! Happy days!

And as it turns out, the Brit pop star's new album, The Boy Who Knew Too Much, is a worthy follow up to his last outing, Life in Cartoon Motion, released all the way back in 2007. Boy is a fun, frothy mix of disco, pop, vaudeville and a few other odd yet invigorating ingredients, which makes for a tasty audible treat.

I downloaded this to my iPod right on it's release date (Sept. 22), and in the last two days I don't know how many times I've listened to the opening track and first single "We Are Golden". Like I mentioned in a previous post it has become my most current anthem. It's the kind of song that you sing along to at the top of your lungs while jumping around in your underwear (which, by the way, is what Mika does in the music video). A sample of the uplifting lyrics:

"Teenage dreams, in a teenage circus
Running around like a clown on purpose.

Who gives a damn about the family you come from?

No giving up when you're young and you want some!" (Awesome!)

But there's plenty more to this album. You can clap along to "Blame it on the Girls". "Rain" has a baseline that made my car mirrors vibrate nicely. "Dr. John" reminded me of the Beatles. Then down near the end of the album you have the 1940's nightclub feel of "Pick Up Off The Floor" and "Lady Jane" (though "Lady Jane" had some pretty trippy lyrics).

My Verdict: Boy was well worth the wait and a brilliant second helping of a talented artist. Hopefully there'll be more to come.

My Own 9 Years of Beatlemania (and Counting)

EW came out with a great issue last week. As the front cover proclaimed: The Beatles Invade Again! (Just as a side note, I've always loved that picture of John and Paul, from back when they were still getting along). Now that Beatles: Rock Band has been released (I so want it!), along with digitally remastered versions of their albums, rock's greatest band is poised to make yet another splash on the pop culture scene. And while nothing will ever come close to the original Beatles craze back in the 60s, the fact that they still generate such excitement is a testament to their quality as a band and their impact on culture and history.

I didn't officially hop on the Beatlemania bandwagon until the holiday season of 2000. Ah, what a magical time; I had finished high school the previous summer, and had just started at the University of Waterloo, taking my first tentative steps into adulthood. Through December of that year I was working a part-time stint at the Hickory Farms kiosk at our local shopping mall to earn a little extra dough for Christmas. But you see, that kiosk happened to be located right outside the HMV store...and just a few weeks before, the album 1 had been released.

Some of you may recall 1. It was a collection of twenty-seven of the number one singles the Beatles released from their heydays of the early sixties until they broke up in 1970, and the first compilation album on one disc for the band. It also happened to become the best selling album of 2000 world wide, surpassing everyone's expectations and once again putting the Beatles back in the spotlight.

Now me standing at the counter of that Hickory Farms kiosk for a few hours a day, I couldn't help but listen to 1 as it was played over the HMV speakers...and I fell in love. Head over heels in love! From the youthful exuberance of "She Loves You" to the sorrow of "Eleanor Rigby" and the mature bluesy sound of "Come Together", the richness and variety of their music struck a chord with me big time (pun intended). 1 made it's way onto my Christmas list, and it was in my stocking that year. I still have it to this day.

I don't want to make my onset of Beatlemania sound like a religious experience, but in some ways it kind of was. Before that Christmas I was still lingering in my boy band phase of adolescent musical tastes. Once I got into the Beatles a whole world of music opened up for me. As I tried to experience everything I could having to do with the Fab Four I also got into the Stones, the Who and other 60's bands, then I moved on to the eclectic mix that was the 70s. For the last few years I've been way into New Wave and 80s music (still haven't really revisited the 90s yet; go figure). Suddenly the pop music landscape was much bigger and far more exciting than I ever could have imagined.

But the Beatles remain my greatest love, always at the top of my list of favorite bands. A Hard Days Night is also on my list of favorite movies (if you haven't seen it yet, it was re released on DVD back in like 2002, so hop to it!) When George Harrison passed away in November of 2001 I mourned with the rest of the world, partly because I feel like I didn't get the chance to have him in my life for as long as so many others had. With John Lennon assassinated in 1980 (about eleven months before I was born) Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are the only two surviving members now. I visited NYC for the first time in August of last year, and got the chance to see the Dakota and Strawberry Fields in Central Park, and I'm so glad I did.

While I doubt that everyone will have the same experiences with these mopped topped kids from Liverpool that I have, I am grateful to the Beatles not just for their music and not just for their impact on history, but for opening my eyes to a greater selection of music. Don't get me wrong, I still love the Backstreet Boys, but now I can add "Magic Bus" and "Paint it Black" to my iPod along with "I Want It That Way". And as the Beatles continue to make an impact in the world, I will cheer; I will experience it along with everyone else; I will join in the debates over which songs and albums are better than others; and I will keep listening to the music, no matter what format it comes in.

And you know Beatles: Rock Band will be on my Christmas list this year.

Book Review: Twenties Girl

What would you do if, in the middle of a whole bunch of other problems in your life, you started seeing the ghost of a deceased family member?

In the world of Sophie Kinsella, it's likely that situation would involve hilarious misadventures and a heavy dose of angst but, somehow, it would all work out in the end; and on that note Twenties Girl does not disappoint.

I had only ever read one of Ms. Kinsella's books, Confessions of a Shopaholic; and while I liked it I did not feel compelled to read any further. That series' heroine, Becky Bloomwood, was charming and relatable, but I found her staggering irresponsibility a bit of a turnoff (Of course you're in financial trouble, you just spent $400 you don't have on a scarf!)

But in Twenties Girl, Lara Lington (who's my age, by the way) is also charming and relatable, but also a hard worker trying to do the right thing and make her way in the world. That's something I can get on board with.

And Sadie, Lara's 105 year old great-aunt who's lingering on after death in the guise of a 23 year old 1920s flapper girl, is just a gem of a character; bold, brassy, take-no-prisoners and fun. She and Lara prove to be quite the team as Lara searches for Sadie's beloved dragonfly necklace and Sadie dips her fingers into Lara's personal and professional lives...whether Lara wants her to or not. What emerges is an adventure in life, love, history, secrets and the importance of family. Some might say this next statement is sacrilege, but I liked it much better than Shopaholic.

My verdict: Funny, touching and with ghosts. What's not to like?

What you may not know about Ricky Gervais

I didn't know this little tidbit of information until I was flipping through my new Famous magazine, and I thought I'd pass it on, just 'cause it is so surprising for those who didn't know.

See this gentleman in the picture? On the left?

That, dear readers, is Mr. Ricky Gervais!

I'm not making that up, I swear. Apparently, back in 1983, Gervais was part of a new wave pop duo called Seona Dancing (according to Famous it's pronounced SHAW-nuh Dancing) with a Mr. Bill McCrae. The name of the band came from a girl Gervais knew at University College who loved to dance.

They released a couple of singles, "More to Lose" and "Bitter Heart", in 83, and neither broke U.K.'s Top 40. The band called it quits shortly after, but Gervais spent a little more time in the music industry, managing the band Suede and working as a DJ. After that, he went on to become the comedian, actor and writer that we all know and love.

Weird, huh? Though in some ways it does make sense. Gervais has shown musical talent in his other works, like on The Office or, one of my favorites, his song "Lady" on his guest spot on The Simpsons.

So there you have it; Ricky Gervais, new waver! Just a little trivia for you. Or maybe you already know, and I'm just late to the party.

You can find the music video "Bitter Heart" on YouTube (click here). While you're there check out one of my favorite clips, an outtake of Gervais' appearance on Sesame Street, which proves that while that show is meant for kids, it's definitely run by adults.

Book Review: The Graveyard Book

Recently (after having to return it to the library part way through and because it takes me so long to read a novel) I finally finished Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book. I am a huge Neil Gaiman fan. Huge! I have read the entire Sandman chronicles, Coraline, Marvel 1602, A Study in Emerald (a great short story with a twist, which you can find here), as well as various picture books and short stories. And Graveyard does not disappoint, though admittedly the premise sounds a little macabre.

The story centers around a boy called Nobody Owens, who, believe it or not, is raised in a graveyard by the ghosts and other creatures of the night who inhabit it. The reader follows Bod on several instances throughout his unusual life leading up to a very dramatic climax.

Now for someone like me, who doesn't mind stepping into the slightly darker side of fantasy (see my recent posts on vampires), I found this premise very intriguing and I felt that Gaiman pulled it off well, keeping everything in that fantasy world but still believable. For those who may balk, I think that you'll find the characters endearing enough and the plot interesting enough to look past the setting. Plus, as Mr. Gaiman said in a recent interview, the whole point of the book is that life is worth living, and I got that sense as I was reading through it. And I had to keep myself from crying at the end.

My verdict: An excellent read, but it'll depend on what your tastes are