This video has had 12 million hits since Thursday according to You Tube

A couple of initial observations -
1) Jonas Akerlund has worked with Madonna / Prodigy / Blink 182, so he knows what he's doing.It really, really shows.
2) Madonna, come in, your time is up. Thanks for your efforts for the cause. However,there's a new kid in town and she's got something you never had- a sense of self-deprecating humour.
3) Product Placement TO DIE FOR.
4) Beyonce knows a good thing - she's doing something far more artistically risky than she'd ever dare on her own.Is white pop more adventurous than what passes for R n B these days?
5) The Daily Mail will love it - Smoking, sweary Lesbians!
6) Clever nod to Tarantino.

Anyway, observe and feedback!

I have my own ideas / opinions, but I'd like to throw this one to the considerable movie-going experience.
At my school, we're planning on running films after school for the 6th form to have discussions "about".
The first one is, shock, horror, "Schindler's List".
Now I admire Spielberg's movie, but a) it's very long and b) doesn't really ask much of its audience besides witness the travelogue of horror, c) Been used to death (pardon pun) by the school before.
I'd like to think (adopting trendy teach pose) that there are other films that ask questions of its audience and create a response. Bearing in mind also, how little a lot of kids ( in my experience) know about movies and their culture besides the current top ten, it's a real chance to broaden the movie-experience for students and generate a bit of love for some "real" films.
I've been thinking of "Hidden" or "Night of the Living Dead" or even (god help me) "Eraserhead".
What do the massive think, what would they recommend?

Just a quick word of thanks to all of you that gathered in the Britons Protection in Manchester tonight. It was lovely to get to chat to you in a very busy pub. I'm a little bit "tired and emotional" at the moment, so I'll post in more detail, tomorrow, but I think we can say that it was a success and yes, there will be others..May has been mooted for the next massive mingle.
See you all there, and again, thanks.

This may be a little bit early, but I thought that if I posted now, then people would have enough notice to make plans rather than leave it until Tuesday / Wednesday.
Date - Friday 5th March
City - Manchester
Place - Britons Protection Pub
Time -7pm onwards
Come one, come all from the North-West. Hopefully, this will be the first of many.
Initial numbers suggested about 10 or so? Is that still the case?
Hope to meet many of you there...my wardrobe choices have yet to be made for the evening, but I will brandish a copy of The Word to make myself recognisable.
Be seeing you?

I've just been rereading Michael Azerrad's "Our Band Could Be Your Life" (US Underground 1980-1990) and it struck / irritated me just how sniffy he gets about
a) British Music
b) British Music Weeklies
In the first case, he dismisses the UK music scene in the 80's as either being dominated by fey synthpoppers with no taste for rock, or those bands like Wire / Slits / Raincoats / YMG / PiL /UK Subs that are hugely influential are given short shrift in his quest to glorify the US scene.
The Weeklies meanwhile are portrayed as guillable fools who bought into acts like Butthole Surfers / Big Black / Sonic Youth because they were desperate for the novelty value and good copy that they provided us sensation-starved Brits.
That pissed me off a bit. I'd argue that as a nation we've always been more susceptible to new forms of music. Of course we are a far smaller nation, but we gave a lot of US bands a lot of coverage that bolstered their standing at home when they returned from their European tours, giving them greater domestic exposure (He's particularly scathing about the J&MC riots compared to what Sonic Youth did).
I've tried to read Rolling Stone and a few other US music magazines, but have found the writing to be little short of an ordeal.How do others feel?
Am I being over-sensitive? Are we more deferential to US acts in our music magazines than they are to our music? Is the same true today?
I'd appreciate some POV's from any of the writers that were around during this period.
I know that Azerrad's working with Bob Mould on his autobiography and I'm very interested on how he deals with Sugar and the considerable success they had over here against their US profile, to see if these opinions are replicated.
Anyway, from what the Massive have read, what's their take on US music journalism and their attitude towards music produced in the UK?

This is currently being shown on Five USA and it's fantastic. From the pen of Kurt Sutter, it's gripping, well acted with a whole host of well-rounded characters. It doesn't claim to have the scope of The Wire, but it's damn fine TV.

Caprica's shaping up quite nicely too.

In the podcast, Heppers mentions the possibility of a gathering of the Northern Chapter...
Who's interested?
Where should it happen?
When should it happpen?
Who wants to organise it?
Living in Warrington I know a little bit about both cities, but not enough to claim to know the best drinking spots. Will gladly help out though...

Woke up early, decided to spend some time trolling Amazon trying to work out which graphic novels seem worthy of a punt, now that I've finished off Garth Ennis' "Punisher" run.
However, my mind starts wandering and I remember a fragment of a tune I used to really like..I head over to YouTube and whaddya know..there it is even in the format I first viewed it!

I used to love this song, and it got me thinking..what album is it on? Going back to Amazon revealed A LOT of albums that Udo has done. There isn't much in the way of track listing(s). I can get the song, but is his back catalogue worth a listen? My german's pretty poor, but that won't hamper my enjoyment.
Inevitably, I turn to greater wisdom than mine-anybody out there willing to impart their Udo-related wisdom?

I'm off to see them tonight in Manchester (it being 12-25 an'all) and am quite looking forward to it. Anyone caught any of the previous shows? Anyone going to the Academy tomorrow night?

Have just got in from watching James Cameron's "Avatar" in 3D and I have to say it well worth every penny of the £10 I spent to see it.
It's truly a remarkable piece of work, and whilst the plot is a bit "Dancing with Dangerous Hippy Smurfs", and a few of the familiar Cameron passions are on display (Weapons technology etc), the 3D renders it a completely immersive experience. The alien landscape is, it must be said, the Yessongs album cover brought to life, but so beautifully displayed that you almost find yourself holding your breath in awe.
The Avatars are incredibly emotive and totally captivating.
It's not a short film, but it's not a boring one, and the 3D WORKS,not just as a gimmick but as a way of drawing you into the story. The battle sequences are fraught and involving and I think I got something in my eye at one or two points during the film, so entranced was I.
In short, it works.
Give yourself a treat and try it.

Anybody else catch this last night? Great to see so many of the cast back together with a Seinfeld script that genuinely seemed to be funny. I've thought a couple of the episodes have tended towards farce (the peeing episode) but the section with Michael Richards and the knock at the door was sublime. Comedy manna!
Can't wait for the season finale with the mock episode.

Anybody else found the new series to be really annoying? I enjoyed the first two series but felt the series was running out of puff by the Christmas special.
This new series is just....irritating.
Apparently, I'm not the only one
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/dec/04/gavin-and-stacey-tv-ratings

This is a long shot, but I'm starting to dip my toes, very gingerly into the murky waters of improvised music courtesy of the Wire Primer ( I know, I know..) and I've ordered "London Concert" that is meant to be the two of them at their peak.
Two questions to the assembled big brain collective..
1)Anyone know why they fell out so spectacularly? The book hints at rumours flying around, but absolutely no clarification.
2) Any other improvised musics people would recommend?
Oh, and one more
3) Anyone bought Sylvian's "Manafon" and if so, do you rate it?

My 40th is approaching, and the GLW is starting to look a touch exasperated over my inability to pick a present for the big day. I'm lucky in that I don't want for much, in fact the only thing I've ever really coveted is a Chapman Stick (blame a youthful obsession with Crimson and Gabriel), but they're waaaay too expensive.
So, following the electronic games thread, I'm toying with a PS3 (I know, I know..I need to grow up). One question I do have ,and this may swing it,is concerning the blu-ray player- is it multi-region? Do any of the massive have the PS3? Would they recommend one? I've had a PS2 for years and would appreciate any advice / observations the Massive could impart.
Failing that, what great presents did the members of the Massive get when they hit 40 (Apologies if this is a thread that's been already run)!

Any other subscribers in the UK not received the current issue yet due to the bleedin'postal strike? I know, I know, I should just stump up the cash and take one off the shelves, but that's not why I subscribed. I also know that as soon as I do buy one, it'll plop down onto the mat.