Notebook Letters 11

The Von Bondies' legal h*ll

By John Earls

"There's no bitterness. We still get Christmas cards from people at Warners."

The Von Bondies are back with insanely catchy new album Love, hate And Then There's You. It's their first album for five years, delayed because for three years Warners refused to release it- but they wouldn't let them go either.

Jason Stollsteimer says: "I totally see why Warners acted how they did."

1/6.

Remarkably calm about the band's legal battle, singer-guitarist Jason explains the delay was down to a new A & R man.

"At our first meeting, he said he'd never signed us," says Jason. "When we gave him the new album, he said 'It's not emo enough.' Well, good! The last thing we are is emo.

"But I can see why he wouldn't drop us either. If the album did well after he let us go, he'd have lost his job."

2/6.

Jason also got divorced while the band tried to get free from their contract.

"I didn't pick up a guitar for a year," he admits. "Even if the dispute was ended, I couldn't see us regaining the lost momentum. The band was over.

"We have a history of taking bands who go on to do great things as support acts to us- The killers, Kasabian- I thought I might do something like promote new bands instead."

3/6.

When Jason decided to get the band back in 2007, drummer Don Blum was the only other member who wanted to carry on.

"That's fair enough," chuckles Jason. "I couldn't really expect Marcie or Carrie's lives to go on hold, could I?

"We have two new women in the band now. I know people think that having a guy/ two women line-up is a gimmick, but I need two women for vocal harmonies in our songs. That's the real reason."

4/6.

Known for their explosive gigs, the band have been revitalised by new girls Christy Hunt and Leann Banks, found via friends' recommendations.

"They have so much energy, it's unreal," says Jason. "I never thought it'd happen, but Don and I are being made to look slack on stage.

"For the first time, I'm talking to the crowd a lot too. Don and I have a stand-up routine going on between us."

5/6.

Over from Detroit for a tour this week, Jason is understandably delighted to be back. Only one thing seems to bug him.

"Calling our new album 'garage rock' is tiresome," he sighs. "That's when you start to think of reviewers have listened to the record first.

"One reviewer said it's like Kaisers. That's more fair- I'd say it's more old Britpop, like Blur, but if a critic needs to bring it up to date, cool."

6/6.

Teletext page 824; 21st of April, 2009.

New singles

By John Earls

GIRLS ALOUD Untouchable 8/10

The standout from Out of Control, an unusually straight-up '90s rave backing lets the Girls relax with their vocals, bellowing away to their hearts' content over what could exactly be a Sasha tune.

JE SUIS ANIMAL The Mystery of Marie Roget 8/10

Inspired by the Poe novel, with cute jangling letting excellently spiky vocals sound even more sharp.

1/6.

New singles out this week

GALLOWS The Vulture (Act II) 6/10

An odd choice of first single from Grey Britain. Whereas the album has several punk workouts addressing moral decline, this somewhat haphazard swirl of dark imagery is as formless as the routine metal behind it. A rum affair.

JUNIOR BOYS Hazel 5/10

A weak return, the vocals try too hard and too obviously to capitalise on '80s disco revitalism. Meanwhile, the sparse bleeps add up to very little of a tune.

2/5.

New singles out this week

WILLIAM ORBIT Optical Illusions 8/10

While the soft tweets and acoustics have been familiar on Orbit's work since his Strange Congo ambient series, this simple addition of Karen Poole singing "Call my name" also makes this his most commercial song in years. Utterly blissful ambient pop.

FRIENDSHIP The Graveyard Shift 3/10

The London duo try to copy vampire Weekend's slickness, but feeble shouty megaphone vocals render them laughable.

3/5.

New singles out this week

OKKERVIL RIVER Pop Lie 8/10

Will Sheff is adept at traditional New Wave pop as he is at spooky rock. Banned from a mythical college radio station in 1984, it's bolstered further by singalong new B-side Millionaire.

ST VINCENT Actor Out of Work 8/10

Lord knows her Marry Me album didn't make Annie Clark huge. Luckily for ears everywhere, she's back with more fuzzy guitar heaven, romantically sung, like a lost Belly classic.

4/5.

New singles out this week

THE TEMPER TRAP Science of Fear 8/10

Dougy Mandagi's lyrics about how the Iraq war is a trick to let "them" grind you down with fear are so obvious, the song needs a show-stopping vocal, a heart-racing wall of guitars and fluid drums to work. Luckily, that's exactly what it gets. A barnstorming debut.

THE AUTHOR Household 6/10

Engaging enough shouty synth-pop from Jersey but, lacking a memorable hook, it's The Automatic on an off-day.

5/5.

Teletext page 822; 21st of April, 2009.

Metric/ Fantasies

Reviews by John Earls

Four years after cathartic breakthrough album Live It Out, the Canadians return with their most optimistic songs.

Mostly, it's only the lyrics that show a new happiness, with Sick Muse and Stadium Love just as fiery as before.

But, of the softer moments, only the sweeping Twilight Galaxy is similarly accomplished, with Blindness a bland ballad. Just enough adrenaline to compensate on a transitional ride. 7/10

1/8.

Depeche Mode/ Sounds of The Universe

With the trio getting on better than ages, it ironically means the music is at its most messed up, darkest and scuzziest since violator.

No longer tiptoeing around each other, they throw themselves into bleak epics, whether it's the dark dance of Fragile Tension or the sinister ambience of the Dave Gahan-penned Come Back.

Full of the big, bold statements and paranoia of their finest work. 8/10

2/8.

King Creosote/ Flick The Vs

To hear the veteran Scottish folkie experiment with dance is intriguing.

It's only partially successful, with several songs rambling on too long Coast On By is superb freak-out psych-pop like SFA, but it's telling the most traditional song, the jaunty fiddle of Rims, is also a highlight.

His lugubrious whisper sometimes chimes with the grooves, but he hasn't quite perfected the mix just yet. 6/10

3/8.

Richard Swift/ The Atlantic Ocean

Although billed as the proper follow-up to Dressed Up For The Letdown, the more experimental touches of his As Onasis EPs derails Swift's fourth album.

Wilfully perverse, Swift is capable of magnificent falsetto soul (Lady Luck) and rollicking, catchy piano pop (RIP).

But a lot here, not least the title track, sees Swift play it for cheap laughs, hijacking his talent with gaudy piano lines and kooky vocals. 6/10

4/8.

Brakes/Touchdown

Album three from the Soft Parade/ ex-BSP types is their best by some distance.

If the Hey Hey single was scrappy, it's also the worst song here. Eamon Hamilton develops into a charismatic, wide-open singer. The songs are also adventurous, whether it's the joyous country-rock of Crush On You or the simple rock & roll of Two Shocks.

Full of unflashy great technical flourish, it's an eclectic gem. 8/10

5/8.

Art Brut/ Vs satan

"I guess I'm just developing late", chirrups Eddie Argos on DC Comics. Ruddy get on with it, then.

After their second album saw signs of development, they retreat back lyrically and on Eddie Argos' one-note nasal whine into grating kitsch Black Francis' production is basic too.

Even when the music varies from tired indie-punk, like the creeping menace of Normal, Argos' shtick ruins it. 4/10

6/8.

Jim Bob/ Goffam

The Carter USM singer's first solo work since the band reunited is a concept album of a world needing superheroes.

Atypically dark lyrically, the live method of recording adds a vitality of Jim Bob's playing, the likes of Goffam cops and Architect rattling past full of bite and brio. His geezerish vocals have rarely sounded more urgent.

Capable of poise too, it's not just Carter fans who should look in. 8/10

7/8.

Hanne Hukkelberg/ Blood From A Stone

Third album from the Norwegian, who has built up a devoted cult here.

Alas, this may halt her momentum. A pacier listen than before, she proves unsuited to hollering over fairly pedestrian guitar-pop, no matter what found sounds are used to accompany it.

Whereas Hukkelberg's fragile vocals are fine for her wistful ballads, only the floaty FX of No Mascara Tears here is worthy of her past. 5/10

8/8.

Teletext page 823; 21st of April, 2009.

Daniel is unchanging

Yeah, Daniel Day-Lewis always plays the same character in his films. My Left Foot. In The Name of The Father. gangs of New York. All the same. Carl, Barrow

Vortex: Glad we agree, then. He plays self-obsessed people, only the surface details vary.

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 21st of April, 1009; 1/6.

Over-acting Day-Lewis

Couldn't agree more about Daniel Day-Lewis being a "Samer Actor". He overacts and receives way too much critical acclaim. He has no idea how to be subtle, and more importantly has never played a normal, everyday character. He's an wdul actor. Just proves how far "Method Actors" can get in Hollywood. Lizzy, Ealing

nicolas cage! The ultimate samer? Den, Woking

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 21st of April, 2009; 2/6.

Caine/ connery samers

sean connery and Michael Caine should have been on the "same act" list. For the last 35 years, neither has varied their performances. Gareth, Ealing

I don't disagree about Sandra Bullock tends to play the same character but she does it so well plus she epitomises the very fanciable girl next door like no other actress I can think of currently on the screen. Tom, Brentwood

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 21st of April, 2009; 3/6.

Chambers's Rabid hit

Sad to hear of Marilyn Chambers's death. I'm not very familiar with her (ahem) most popular roles, but she proved her acting credentials in David Cronenberg's Rabid. And on the subject of Cronenberg, has there been a more consistently brilliant director in the past 30 years? Nicko, Derby

Is Zac Efron playing Tom Cruise's son in the Top Gun remake? Susan, C'chester

Vortex: Not to our knowledge. And Cruise isn't doing Top Gun 2.

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 21st of April, 2009; 4/6.

Correcting fifty

I'd just like to put something right about your review of Fifty Dead Men Walking. It is said McGartland squirms at violence yet he shoots someone in the head. In fact he clearly does not shoot the person in the head. Someone does it for him, then one of the bosses says "What was that all about?" Andy, Liverpool

Which '80s film inspired scenes in predator? It may have starred Jack Palance. Tim, London

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 21st of April, 2009; 5/6.

Pirated on the QT

Why all the focus on Wolverine being illegaly downloaded? Tarantino's Inglourious B*sterds has suffered the same fate. I hope this doesn't have a negative effect on its success, as QT needs a massive nit. Hopefully with an A-list star like brad pitt in the lead, this will be achieved. Rich, Aylesbury

Belated condolences on the death of Peter Rogers, responsible for the Carry On films, one of Britain's great cultural gems. Peter, Wakefield

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 21st of April, 2009; 6/6.

I'm glad Keane are going to concentrate on the US. Tom Chaplin comes across as a charmless pixies of boundless horror. He's the only ex-drug addict who gets worse the cleaner his system is.

Also, I'm not a Radiohead fan at all, their music leaves me cold. If melody is sacrificed for the sake of experimentation, it becomes a chore to listen to. And where is Thom Yorke's bad-Cobain hairstyle of the Pablo Honey days? Bring it back. Kirkland Ciccone

The Void; Teletext page 825; 22nd of April, 2009; 1/7.

I agree with Attilathehood over Madonna's image. She's always been a singalong pop act who only once got close to credibility, with Ray of Light, despite choosing a variety of trendy producers.

Madonna is another case of people trying to intellectualise pop. You only have to look at the fuss made over Abba in the past few years, and no doubt the same will happen to Girls Aloud in the future. Nicko

The Void; Teletext page 825; 22nd of April, 2009; 2/7.

Nice of Neiltay to ask why anyone whould bother to listen to Oasis any more. In my case, it's because I enjoyed Dig Out Your Soul more than any other album of last year. Not that I believe Neiltay listened to it before discussing it as sludge. I'm bemused why people have a chip on their shoulder over Oasis. Aaron O'Neill

After seeing him on C4, Paul Morley is a self-important idiot who gives critics a bad name. Martyparty

The Void; Teletext page 825; 22nd of April, 2009; 3/7.

Most remote Voider? Sure, we have the festival in June. But, apart from that, the Isle of Wight just has endless tribute acts. Mind you, T Rextasy were good. As a big Marc Bolan fan, I didn't think I'd say that. Hackney Rob

I remember Madonna at Live Aid, the only performer whose set deliberately over-ran. The big screens were canned, and then she invaded The Thompson Twins' set. The rest is history. Richard C

The Void; Teletext page 825; 22nd of April, 2009; 6/7.

*rupert murdoch's first name is keith.

* bob marley banned smoking at home.

* Ten per cent of sharks are luminous.

10 things we didn't know last week; Ceefax page 129; 27th of April, 2012; 1/3.

* Students at Massachusetts Institute of Technology throw a piano off the roof every year.

* Milton Keynes is the most popular place in the country for first time buyers.

* Pigeons have 'satnav brain cells'.

* Robert Redford didn't want to include hit song Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head in the 1969 film butch cassidy and the sundance kid.

10 things we didn't know last week; Ceefax page 129; 27th of April, 2012; 2/3.

* German football's Bundeslinga is the second best attended sports league in the world, behind American Football's NFL.

* Older women invest more in their daughters' lives than their partners'.

* sir tom jones has an iconic red phone box cemented into the ground by his swimming pool in his LA home.

10 things we didn't know last week; Ceefax page 129; 28th of April, 2012; 3/3.

Bring on The Fourth Kind

Can't wait for upcoming The Fourth Kind but what has happened to Descent 2? It seems to have disappeared off the radar. New subject: best movie death. Has to be Robocop: toxic waste, pricelesss. David, Barnsley

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 1st of November, 2009; 1/6.

King In New York a gem?

Hidden gems? Try Charlie Chaplin's A King In New York- a perfect satire on the American way of life at the time. Gavin, Norfolk

Hidden gem? Try Blood on satan's claw about the resurrection of satan in 17th Century England. The attic sequence is terrifying. David, Sheffield

My first ever rentals were An American werewolf In London and Invasion of the blood farmers. Iain, Mansfield

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 1st of November, 2009; 2/6.

Is Eraserhead too weird?

Charlene- the weirdest film I've ever seen is Eraserhead. I just didn't get it. H, Basingstake

Just seen The Burning for the first time in 25 years. Very tame now and poorly acted, yet quite enjoyed it! sniper, Sheffield

One rap music film which I rate but others might not is Boyz N The Hood. A very scary portrayal of life in the rap capital of the world. Paul, Hants

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 1st of November, 2009; 3/6.

Thirty Nine Steps still good

Saw the 1935 Thirty Nine Steps this morning and enjoyed it. Easy to ignore continuously errors, but why did the males have eyelid make up on? In a black and white movie it looked just like the actresses' make up. If they did a scene for scene remake like psycho, I would want one thing: that the hero goes back and kicks the h*ll out of the farmer who beats his wife up. Phil, leeds

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 1st of November, 2009; 3/6.

Why doesn't Ken get his dues?

Ken Russell's The Boyfriend is an underrated gem of camp. This director is generally unfairly neglected. Sean, Chorlton

Peter- You can never complete your collection, you only add to it. I've got hundreds of films and always feel the need to add more to my collection. The weirdest movie that I've seen? I will go for The Machinist. Chris, Hamilton

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 1st of November, 2009; 4/6.

Fancy something unsettling?

Annie- Try The Innocents (Deborah Kerr), The Others and any Val Lewton/ Jacques Tourneur production. Deeply unsettling. Valeria, Bath

V Olliver- Your review of This Is It is quite frankly unfair. Whilst I respect your opinion, the man is dead. Have some heart and realise that the film was never intended to make history or win Oscars. Instead it was a tribute for the fans. Gemma, Newcastle

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 1st of November, 2009; 6/6.

This really is it

This Is It is great. I wish I could have seen the performance on stage but the cinema is better than not seeing it. I recommend it. Peter, Middles*x

I'm so pleased that Film4 is showing Tyrone Power movies. Jaz, Glasgow

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 2nd of November, 2009; 2/6.

It was destiny

As I remember the first two films I ever rented were the thing (the John Carpenter version) and A Nightmare On Elm Street, to watch on a Friday night with friends. Great entertainment, and two films destined to become classics in their own right. Stuart, Hardy

Barrie, Wales- The film about a military plane crashing with the survivors disappearing is Soul Survivor and I think it starred William Shatner. John, Moray

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 2nd of November, 2009; 3/6.

Best movie deaths

I'd say that the best movie death is Ripley's at the end of Alien 3- her cruciform cradling of a newborn alien queen whilst descending into fire is really rather good. Matth, Wakefield

Best movie death- the evil Russian from No Retreat, No Surrender 2. A picture of stalin, wrapped in a Russian flag, then dragged to his own crocodile pit. 1980s cold war American jingoism at its most unsubtle. John, Darlington

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 2nd of November, 2009; 4/6.