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Johnny Marr recommended Raw Power by The Stooges in Music (curated)

 
Raw Power by The Stooges
Raw Power by The Stooges
1973 | Punk, Rock
8.4 (9 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"When you inevitably are asked about your favourite record, you can scratch your head and go through a list, because your taste changes from year-to-year or through different periods of your life. However, I have always been able to say that Raw Power is my favourite from the moment I first heard it, and I don't think it has been equalled since. A couple of friends recommended it to me. At the age of 14, I was starting to play guitar in a certain way and the name [of Stooges' guitarist] James Williamson kept cropping up. A couple of guys I knew assumed I had been listening to Raw Power because of the way I was playing riffs. So I thought I had better investigate. I knew all about Iggy and The Stooges but I wasn't aware of Raw Power. I got the album in about 1976. I had heard so much about it that eventually I want into town to buy it and I picked up a copy for about three quid, which was all I had. The cover alone made me want to buy the record, and, when I heard it, I realised why my mates had been saying what they had. In particular, the song 'Gimme Danger' started off with a riff that was very much like one I was playing with the band I was in at the time. As a guitarist, James Williamson's playing struck me as having the technique of Jimmy Page but with the irreverence and attitude of Keith Richards. I have since become friends with James and have talked to him about what he was doing back then. He knew exactly what he was doing and it was very deliberate, which is always quite impressive. There is a lot more I could say about Raw Power. It gave me a path to follow as a guitar player. It was an opening into a world of rock & roll, sleaze, sexuality, drugs, violence and danger. That's a hard combination to beat."

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A Paradox of Fates (Prevent the Past #1)
A Paradox of Fates (Prevent the Past #1)
Rebecca Hefner | 2020 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A PARADOX OF FATES is the first book in the Prevent the Past series and if you're looking for a science fiction/time travel with hot romance, then you've definitely got the right book.

Now, I'll be honest here, I love science and respect the hell out of anyone who can understand it. Me? Not so much. It's too much for my head to get around and when we start talking about paradoxes and how many times this has looped before? My eyes start glazing over. This is in no way caused by the author's writing. That was gripping stuff, full of humour, betrayal, loss, you name it.

This is absolutely character-led and I am invested in each and every one of them. I'd only read about a quarter of the book and I was looking to see who came next and how the trilogy finished. I was already that invested!

Did anyone mention plot twists? Cause there's more than a couple here! Honestly, I loved how it kept me on my toes. And can I just say - I've never cried so hard over a cat!

This isn't a genre I normally read but after reading Etherya's Earth series and loving Ms Hefner's style of writing, I thought I'd give it a go. And I'm so very glad I did! I am hooked on this series and can definitely recommend it.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Apr 26, 2023
  
Richard D. James Album by Aphex Twin
Richard D. James Album by Aphex Twin
1996 | Electronic, Pop
(0 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"Well, what can I say? This is a hugely exciting record. Aphex Twin has got a huge reputation, obviously. When I was 16 it was one of the things which I had on MiniDisc, which we all had back in those days! I would just listen to it continuously. It was just around the time I was starting to make electronic music on my own, and I remember thinking, how can you make this? The technology I had and the software I had was absolutely shit, and I remember fiddling with it and thinking that I couldn't figure out how to make these drum beats so complex, and so delicately put together. Every five seconds or couple of bars something new happens. There's none of this copy and paste which all dance music at the time was doing, thinking in particular of that kind of Ibiza dirge that was shit and was on the radio 24/7. You just get 15 bars of the same thing, then one change, whereas Aphex Twin was the exact opposite of that. He would just keep your interest piqued the whole time, and that's one thing which I have always strived to do with the band, just to stop things being boring. Perhaps we push it too far, but I think all the 'inciness' and the whole thing about not letting it rest and be copied and pasted, I think is in my music as well. The other thing about that record is that it's not really a dance record at all, it's just music. I mean you can dance to it if you want, but there's lots of classical stuff on there really. There are lots of quiet moments, and lots of awkward stuff that is not really dance music."

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The Perfection (2019)
The Perfection (2019)
2019 | Drama, Horror, Thriller
Dumpster fire!
Can someone please, please tell me when Netflix is going to make a good movie? Every once in a while I read a lot of gushing reviews for a Netflix made film (which means the studios didn't want it) and I give it a try.

For the record, most of them are average or below average, like Bird Box, and everyone is talking about them I suppose because it is something new. I have seen a lot of movies in my life, so I guess I am somewhat jaded or expect more or the unusual to make me interested. I am not one of those people who says "they don't make them like they used to" since I do seem to find very good recent movies as well, but not this piece of shite that's for sure.

There were shades of Black Swan, Suspiria, Hostel and even I Spit on Your Grave in this film; however, the plot twists are so ridiculous here there were moments I gasped in aughter when I'm sure I was supposed to be disgusted.

Nothing extreme I can see in a movie bothers me anymore, so the gruesome bits weren't the problem. The horrid, contrite screenplay and bad over acting were.

If anyone seriously is considering watching this film please let me know and I will seriously give you 1000 other movies which you should watch instead.

I think I would say watching your TV turned off for 90 minutes would be more entertaining than watching The Perfection.

  
Show all 6 comments.
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Sarah (7800 KP) Jun 23, 2019

Wow I think this is the lowest rating I've ever seen you give @Andy K 😆

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Andy K (10826 KP) Jun 23, 2019

Ha @Sarah I guess I would say I tend to watch movies I think I would enjoy. 2 out of 10 is probably a bit extreme, but after reading all the rave reviews I guess I was expecting much better. @Dork_knight74 certainly agree a conversation would have made a boring movie so I guess I would say if the acting and screenplay were better I would have accepted the plot as is.

Mad Shelia (2016)
Mad Shelia (2016)
2016 | Sci-Fi
1 or 2 good songs on the sound track (0 more)
Everything (0 more)
You have to watch 1000 bad films to understand what make a film great
Where to start. I love watching films that are out of left field. So when I heard about this i had to look for it, i found it on youtube in 2 parts, it was to be to 60min tv movies but it works better as 1 1h film.


What is China known for? Yes that is it knock offs. Mad Max: Fury Road was nominated for Best Picture so lets rip it off. So i have seen that in the past but this was so low budget. We are talking looking for change in tbe couch low budget.

Some of the vehicles look like they used cardboard on them as props.
CG effects that were not needed that you can point out and would look better if left out.
In seens with motorcycles they were going so slow that the front tired would wobble to try to stay balanced.
The best acting came from the goofy sidekick.
Shelia was trying to look like a male in the beginning, you would half to be deaf and blind not to figure out she was a female.
They are in a wasteland and everyone is clean.
Acting skills or the lack of.
And many more problems.

If you ever think about watching this movie
DONT DO IT!! I WATCHED IT FOR YOU
You will get more enjoyment out of the trailer. If i had seen this in the theater i would have walked out. My friend and i could say after watching this was. WTF and we will never talk about this again. But after tradhing it i can say it had 1 or 2 good songs on the sound track
  
Doctor Who - Series 12 (New Season 12)
Doctor Who - Series 12 (New Season 12)
2020 | Adventure, Sci-Fi
Getting stale
When Doctor Who first came back into our screens, I loved it and loved it for quite a few series however the longer the show has been running for, the more tired of it I become. Like with any tv show, I think there comes a time when you should call it a day before it starts to become stale and people lose interest. I’m afraid to say that Doctor Who has gone past that point for me.

Don’t get me wrong, this was still a fairly enjoyable series. I adore Jodie Whittaker as the Doctor, I think she’s rather wonderful and I’m surprised at how many people don’t really rate her. I also find all of her companions quite bearable and probably the most bearable out of all of those that have come before - most likely because they haven’t tried to shoe horn in some cringey romantic aspects with the Doctor. Although I can only think of The Chase when I look at Bradley Walsh.

The problem is that the storylines are all getting a bit old and rather samey, whether they’re new enemies or old ones returning. Especially with the old foes returning, how many more times can we see the return of the Daleks or the Cybermen? It’s been done too many times. It was nice in this series to see the return of a familiar friendly face and it was nice in a way to see the return of a familiar and much loved enemy, however without spoilers I will say that this returning face isn’t quite as good as the one that came before it.

Overall this was an enjoyable series but not particularly memorable, and I really think they should consider giving this show a rest for a while.
  
Nasty Little Cuts
Nasty Little Cuts
Tina Baker | 2022 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, Thriller
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I learnt a new phrase today: Domestic Noir. My ignorance is probably down to the fact that I would never normally read a book in this category. I’d avoid it. I’m glad that I didn’t let it put me off this time though, and after reading Tina’s previous book ‘Call Me Mummy’, I knew that I was going to be in for one hell of a good read.

This book is phenomenal. It’s read-it-thorough-your-fingers-with-your-eyes-shut kind of phenomenal.

Reading it on The Pigeonhole, one stave a day for 10 days was a feat of endurance - the wait between staves was tortuous. This is NOT an easy read, and should probably come with some sort of trigger warning. It’s dark, emotional, visceral. It’s violent and frankly traumatic.

Debs and Marc should probably have never got together, never mind got married and had children. They’re both emotionally scarred from terrible childhoods and have never confronted, or been treated for, these psychological and physical injuries. And now they just seem to vent their feelings on one another with physical violence.

There’s loads of backstory that explains why they are in their current predicament, and honestly, I did feel some sympathy for them. But then, and Tina Baker does this so well, she gives with one hand, and snatches away with the other. Every past revelation of abuse or trauma, is bookended by domestic violence.

Honestly, it sounds horrendous, doesn’t it? But I couldn’t stop reading. As I said on The Pigeonhole: What a reading experience this has been. I’ll leave a review, but what can I say that will do this book justice?

Well, I can say this: Read It.
  
So, I have been in a bit of a book slump this year. I work hard. I have a two year old. I just don't have the time or the brain power for the types of books I used to read. 800 page epic novels are just too taxing on my time presently. Until I have the time like I use to, I want instant gratification from the books I read.

Now when I say this book is trash, I don't mean the story is rubbish. Far from it I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. What I mean is it isn't 'high' fiction, its probably not going to win any awards. What is is though, is a simple to read, quick paced, sexy book. I am not going to drag out descriptions about the characters and any flaws they may have had in character development (there were some, if I am to be anyway critical). I have read much much much worse books by 'high quality' authors. This was at it's simplest form a book that I have enjoyed reading. I enjoyed it so much that i will most likely read any future novels.

I also feel like it actually wouldn't take too much for this story to actually become 'high' fiction. but when a book it this short there is only so much character and world building that can be done. If it were ever re-edited to be expanded, would I read it again.... yes. The skeleton of the story is very good. but it is at present definitely a book written to get as quick as it can to the juicy (sexy) parts. some good shameless smut is included. So if you aren't into that, this is not the book for you.

This book well and truly got me out of my reading slump.
  
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Sharpie0499 (114 KP) rated Speak Your Mind by Anne-Marie in Music

Jul 13, 2018 (Updated Jul 13, 2018)  
Speak Your Mind by Anne-Marie
Speak Your Mind by Anne-Marie
2018 | Pop
Catchy songs (3 more)
Excellent songwriting
Songs are relatable
Remarkable vocals
Only two songs I don't like (0 more)
Impossible To Not Listen To
Since I heard 'Ciao Adios', Anne-Marie had me hooked. I was so excited when I heard about her debut album 'Speak Your Mind'. Since it was released in April, I have not stopped listening to it. The songs are catchy, relatable and I can't help but sing and dance along to them whenever I hear them. Her song-writing skills and vocal abilities are amazing and I think she is one of the best female pop artists at the moment. I would say that she is up there with Ariana Grande and Demi Lovato, whose songs are amazing and vocals are incredible also. The only downside to this album, is that there are a couple of songs I am not such a fan of: 'Can I Get Your Number' and 'Some People'. If I heard them, I would listen to them and maybe even sing along, but I do prefer her other songs and feel that these two are the weakest on the album. Overall, this album is amazing and I don't think I'm going to stop listening to it anytime soon.
  
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Sarah (7800 KP) created a post

Jun 11, 2019  
Last night I went to watch Backstreet Boys at the Manchester Arena. Not going to lie, BSB were one of my favourite bands when I was younger and I was never able to see them live at the time. So needless to say when they announced a new tour, I jumped at the chance to go and the tickets were like gold dust.

All I can say is that after 26 years in the business, the boys have still got it. They've all got fantastic voices live which is a bit of a surprise for a boyband and they can't half dance too. They really know how to put on a good show, and the majority of the audience were up on their feet throughout the entire show (us included). They did a good mix of all of their classic tunes interspersed with some from the new album too. If I have to criticise anything, they could have upped the stage production. It was just them on a massive stage with a lot of flashing lights and videos of random things playing on a screen in the background. Whilst its impressive that they can hold the stage themselves, maybe a little more would've been good. Also, I was a bit sad that they didnt come out on stage dressed as monsters for Everybody... but still a very good show and a childhood dream come true 9/10

I'll leave you with a picture of me & my friend rocking our retro looking BSB tickets ?
     
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Andy K (10826 KP) Jun 11, 2019

Looking great Sarah! Thanks for posting!

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Erika (17789 KP) Jun 12, 2019

I saw BSB around 8 years ago, when they toured with NKOTB, they're so good! Glad you got to see them!