Ledger family want to provide for Matilda & other

Brian Wilson, That Lucky Old Sun

2008-09-10T18:06:00.001-07:00

When, in 1963, Ray Charles recorded the 1949 standard, That Lucky Old Sun, he nailed the real pain behind the lyric: the underdog's dreaming of an end to the trouble, strife and misfortune of a lifetime spent in servitude and humiliation. Beach Boy Brian Wilson's take on it is pretty different. Used as a recurring theme to his series of 'rounds' reflecting the overtaking of a Californian day it's given a Four Freshmen, barbershop blandness that's totally at odds with the brokenheartedness it was meant to convey. If there's a sadness anyplace on this album it's in the places where he pines for lost friends, crime syndicate and non-existant 'Surfer Girls'. All of which begs the question; do we really want more of the airbrushed, idealised California, no thing how couched in sun-kissed harmonies and adolescent innocence it may be? This time, maybe not...

This nostalgic aspect has been used too often. That Lucky Old Sun - premiered last year on London's South Bank - is a romp by a 66-year-old through and through halcyon years that ne'er existed. When he says ''when you wake up here you wake up everywhere'' it's the sound of a man who's bought into a myth of Los Angeles: 1 that doubtlessly contributed to him losing touch with reality in the mid-60s. How else could he perform something as banal as Mexican Girl ("Girl, you cast a net/On the day we met")? It's sure enough a different vision of immigrant LA compared to that of Ry Cooder on his Chavez Ravine album.

As ever, the Wondermints revive the profound of Wilson's ideal Beach Boys (without the gripes of Mike Love, for starters) and they in some manner manage to do jurist to the legacy of lost brothers Carl and Dennis. But you can't help thinking that they're giving us a photocopy of the idea of the band.

Luckily, Wilson employs genius wordsmith Van Dyke Parks to toughen

Mariza, Terra

2008-08-31T18:13:00.001-07:00

It's been three years since the world's most famous modern-day fadista released any newfangled material. A gruelling spell schedule, the stylish stopgap that was Concerto Em Lisboa, and the recent box congeal have all signalled that Portugal's 'material girl' was drawing a line under the first phase of her vocation, so expectations on her fourth studio album are predictably high among fans.

The 'new album, new producer' philosophy she's followed so far continues here, with Spain's near in-demand knob twiddler, Javier Lim�n, taking that role this clock time around. His trademark swimming guitar grooves are a recurring presence, and he even brings along his prot�g� Buika, who duets with Mariza on his own Pequenas Verdades. As soon as the erratic Mallorcan opens her mouth, it's as if you�re listening to a Buika album, which may or may not be considered something of a imitation pas.

The velvet strings that characterised Mariza's third studio apartment album Transparente have been replaced by frequently-used hand drums, deuce-ace pianists and a giddy muted trumpet, which helps lend Beijo De Saudade a quite Cuban feel, even if it is a Cape Verdean morna, featuring the other very welcome guest vocalist, Tito Paris.

The rest of the material is mostly dual-lane between updates of definitive fados and more recent compositions, in both cases by regular favourites. There's also the lively folkloric Fronteira, the jazz-tinged As Guitarras by Brazil's Ivan Lins and a couple of euro-ballads (Tasca da Mouraria and Morada Alberta) by or involving Portuguese rock icon, Rui Veloso. He whitethorn have penned the wondrous Transparente, merely neither of these offerings is in the like league, and more likely here for the domestic rather than international

market.

Terra is a reconciliation act between holding on to roots and reaching out to wider musical influences that's varied and accomplished just somehow less than the sum of its opulent parts. Mariza's crystal foghorn of a voice is as terrific as e'er, but subsequently half a dozen plays, there�s not quite enough that rattling hangs in the store or has that special spark of genius she's capable of delivering.

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Beautiful Losers

2008-08-11T18:10:00.001-07:00

Beautiful Losers celebrates the spirit behind one of the most influential cultural moments of a generation

In the early 1990's a loose-knit group of like minded outsiders found common ground at a little NYC shopfront gallery. Rooted in the DIY (do-it-yourself) subcultures of skateboarding, surf, punk, hip hop & graffiti, they made art that reflected the lifestyles they light-emitting diode. Developing their craft with almost no influence from the "establishment" art earth, this group, and the subcultures they sprang from, have

Charlotte Church: 'I Want a Rugby Team of Babies'

2008-06-25T08:05:00.001-07:00

Charlotte Church says she wants a "rugby team" of up to six babies by the time she reaches 32.

The singer-turned TV presenter -- who's The singer-turned TV presenter -- who's expectingt her second child with boyfriend Gavin Henson -- says she wants to get married after having her babies young, and that she will "have everything done" and look fabulous.

She also says Welsh rugby star Henson wants more children than she does.

Church tells British chat show host Jonathan Ross in an interview airing Friday, "I want between four and six [children] and Gavin wants eight. I want all my babies by the time I'm 32 so then I can have everything done. We're trying to create a little rugby team."

And on being a parent, the 22-year-old says, "I didn't drink at all, I love the whole pregnancy process. I thought 'I'm going to be a nightmare', but it was fine.

"Ruby's a proper daddy's girl... Gavin helps with everything."

Charlotte -- who is due to start filming the third series of her hit Channel 4 chat show The Charlotte Church Show in the summer -- added, "Even when I was breast-feeding in the night he'd get up to be supportive because I was knackered."

And will Church, who was said to of had the 'Voice of an Angel' as a teen, be returning to her singing roots? "I think I'll try and fit it in around the babies," she says. "I'm happy with the simple life, I feel so lucky for everything I have."

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Indy Magnetizes $311.1 Million

2008-06-12T18:24:00.001-07:00

When the final tally of Memorial Day weekend ticket sales is calculated, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is expected to wind up with $311.1 million worldwide, with about $151.1 million of that amount coming from the U.S. and Canada, according to Paramount Pictures, its distributor. The movie reportedly got a boost from 30- and 40-year-old moviegoers, a demographic group that is more selective about the films it takes in in than the primary teens and 20-year-olds who make up the primary movie-going audience. "That [older] audience was excited to see the movie and excited to bring their kids with them," Paramount distribution chief Rob Moore told Reuters. The expected $151.1-million Memorial Day gross in the U.S. was surpassed only by the $153 million that Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End took in over the same holiday weekend last year. The top ten films for the four-day (Friday through Monday) holiday weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Media by Numbers (Thursday results are not included): 1. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Paramount, $126,040,000; 2. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, Disney, $28,642,000; 3. Iron Man, Paramount, $25,650,000; 4. What Happens in Vegas, $Fox, $11,150,000; 5. Speed Racer, Warner Bros., $5,205,000; 6. Baby Mama, Universal, $4,208,100; 7. Made of Honor, Sony/Col/Rev, $4,200,000; 8. Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Universal, $2,19,9120; 9. Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantánamo Bay, Warner Bros., $1,200,000; 10. The Visitor, Overture Films, $91,7000.

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Kylie Minogue to celebrate 40th birthday with family dinner

2008-06-06T19:27:00.001-07:00

Kylie Minogue turned 40 today (May 28), and is set to mark the occasion with a lavish family dinner in Germany.

The singer will take a day off from her current European tour and be joined by parents Ron and Carol and sister Dannii, reports BBC News.

Minogue will resume the tour on Thursday in Munich. The sold-out tour arrives in the UK on July 5, kicking off with a show at Glasgow SECC.

Interface

2008-06-05T19:46:00.000-07:00

Artist: Interface

   Genre(s):
Drum & Bass
   New Age
   Electronic

Discography:


No More Ghosts and Want Your B

   Year: 2004
Tracks: 2


Next Area

   Year: 1995
Tracks: 10


Slow Colours

   Year: 1994
Tracks: 10


Circles and Squares

   Year: 1993
Tracks: 10


Sight Of Life

   Year: 1992
Tracks: 9

Madonna happy to be adoption 'guinea pig'

Angelina Jolie - List Of Top 100 Most Influential People Published

2008-06-05T19:44:00.001-07:00

Top celebrities ANGELINA JOLIE, BRAD PITT and MILEY CYRUS have joined U.S. PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH and the DALAI LAMA on The World's 100 Most Influential People list.

U.S. magazine Time has published its fifth annual list of what it believes is the world's most influential people from a range of categories including leaders, thinkers, artists and scientists.

The 2008 complete list - which includes more than three times as many men as women, drawing nominees from 23 countries - was released on its website on Thursday (01May08) and will be available on news stands on Friday (02May08).

Others entertainers in the round up include, singer Mariah Carey, talk show host Oprah Winfrey, who has made the list five times, more often than anyone else, and filmmaker Tyler Perry.

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Rapper The Game begins jail sentence

2008-06-05T19:43:00.001-07:00

Rapper Jayceon Taylor aka 'The Game', turned himself in yesterday to begin his 60-day jail sentence for a firearm violation.
Twenty-eight-year-old Taylor surrendered to authorities at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles, according to the Deputy of the Sheriff's Bureau, Oscar Butao.
On 11 February, the rapper was sentenced in Los Angeles County Superior Court to serve 60 days in a county jail, 150 hours of community service and three years' probation.
He had been charged with possession of a firearm near a school and pleaded no contest to the felony, Butao said.

Naomi Campbell - Campbell To Stand 30 Feet Tall In Giant Artworks

2008-06-05T19:42:00.001-07:00

Supermodel NAOMI CAMPBELL is to be immortalised in a set of giant sculptures by British photographer NICK KNIGHT.

The catwalk beauty - who Knight has described as "one of the most famous and beautiful women in the world" - has been modelling for the artist to help him create the unique 30 foot (9.41 meter)-tall pieces, with the help of three-dimensional scanners.

Knight says the first two sculptures will depict Campbell "straddling the barrel of a large tank", while another will be a "circle of three Naomis, like The Three Graces".

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Peaches Geldof filmed buying drugs

2008-06-05T19:41:00.001-07:00

Rocker Bob Geldof’s daughter Peaches is to be quizzed by police after she was caught on tape buying drugs from Amy Winehouse’s alleged dealer.
In the clip, captured by a hidden video camera, Geldof, 19, can apparently be seen handing a man and woman $280 in cash and being told by the man the deal will cost her $380.
She then agrees to the amount and tells the couple, “I’m going to need Valium tomorrow after this.”
According to reports, the tape was seized by authorities as part of an investigation into the drug-dealing pair, Jonny Blagrove and Cara Burton, who police believe are running a celebrity drugs empire.

Today's SIFF schedule

2008-06-05T19:39:00.001-07:00

What would a film festival be without at least one movie featuring indie queen Julianne Moore? "Savage Grace," based on a true story, stars the redheaded dynamo as a social climber destined for high-society scandal. It plays at 1:30 p.m. today at Pacific Place.

Today's schedule

Egyptian

11 a.m. — "Secret Festival"

1:30 p.m. — "Newcastle"

4:30 p.m. — "Young People F'ing"

7 p.m. — "One Hundred Nails"

9:15 p.m. — "Bad Habits"

Harvard Exit

11 a.m. — "Son of a Lion"

1:30 p.m. — "The Saga of Anatahan"

4 p.m. — "Great Speeches from a Dying World"

6:30 p.m. — "FLOW: For Love of Water"

9 p.m. — "Go with Peace Jamil"

Pacific Place Cinema

11 a.m. — "Time to Die"

1:30 p.m. — "Savage Grace"

4 p.m. — "TBS (Nothing to Lose)"

6:30 p.m. — "Captain Abu Raed"

9 p.m. — "Blind Mountain"

SIFF Cinema

11 a.m. — "The Ties That Bind"

1:30 p.m. — "The Art of Memory"

3:45 p.m. — "Walking Dreams"

6:15 p.m. — "Once Upon a Time... "

8:30 p.m. — "Rare Gems from Pilot Animation Studios"

Uptown

11 a.m. — "Kung Fu Panda"

1:30 p.m. — "Fighter"

4 p.m. — "Ben X"

6:30 p.m. — "Strangers"

9 p.m. — "Shall We Kiss?"

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Ledger family want to provide for Matilda

2008-06-05T19:37:00.001-07:00

Heath Ledger's family have said that they intend to make sure that his former partner Michelle Williams and their daughter Matilda are "taken care of".
The declaration came after it was revealed that the actor had not updated his will since embarking on a relationship with Williams, leaving everything to his parents and sister.
Ledger's father Kim said in a statement: "Matilda is our absolute priority and Michelle is an integral part of our family."
"They will be taken care of and that's how Heath would want it to be."