78 Saab seem to have been on the Australian music landscape for a long time now, it was nearly a decade ago that their music first started to get noticed through iconic TV Shows such as ‘The Secret Life Of Us’, therefore it is quite a shock to realise that their new album, ‘Good Fortune’ is only the fourth full length album that the band has recorded.

And once again 78 Saab have dropped a good album that doesn’t quite do enough to be considered great. It’s for that reason you feel that 78 Saab have always remained ‘that band that has potential’ but have never really taken the journey up the fame tree. But at least when you fork over your cash for a 78 Saab album you know you’ll get ten quality tracks like the very smooth ‘Both Sides’ that the band have allowed to open ‘Good Fortune’.

‘Whatever Rules You Break’ showcases the fine songwriting talents that 78 Saab have continually shown over the years while the great melody of ‘Warm Jets’ reminds you how sweet rock can sound when it’s being pumped up by a group of talented musicians.

‘Never Gonna Be’ sees 78 Saab continue on their smooth rock path while ‘Avarice’ opens with a little bit of edge, certainly enough to break-up the feel of the album and stop it from becoming a monotonous smooth-rock-snooze-fest. The change in feel continues with ‘All At Sea’ which is rock with real bite… almost bordering on the English pop-rock sound that has launched bands like Arctic Monkeys.

‘Chasing The Light’ is catchy enough to keep the listener’s attention while budding musos will find themselves captivated by some of its instrumental charms while ‘Hold You’, ‘Situations’ and ‘Small Things’ fall back into the smooth rock category. And while they are good songs they certainly don’t do anything to separate 78 Saab from all the other rock bands out there.

‘Good Fortune’ sees 78 Saab produce ten quality tracks yet you still feel like there is something missing. There are certainly no tracks you could recommend for radio play, yet in a strange way you still feel satisfied from having listened to the entire album. This won’t endear new listeners to 78 Saab but will be lapped up by long-term fans. Smooth rock for the serious music lover.

Dave Griffiths

One thing is for sure Australian electronic artist DJ Soup will never die wondering. The way he mixes genres on his new EP Ubersoup has to be heard to be believed. There is so much going on here, and you can’t help but love it.

“Ur Whatz Hapn” sees DJ Soup team up with Evelyn Duprai and create a song so sexual it would make Portishead blush. Duprai terrific real-soul vocals make this one of the best tracks to be released this year.

“Online Love” sees DJ Soup head down the cheesy pop-electronica road but remarkably enough it is still catchy enough to make you want to listen. Duprai returns on “So Much Power” a faster track that sees DJ Soup mix soul with R&B… and again it sounds brilliant.

“Midnight” contains vocals by Damian Miller and while it does take a few listens to get used to the old-style crooner vocals it is well worth the effort. The EP then closes with “Dreams Of Mother’ another great track that shows just how good electronica music can sound.

DJ Soup has dropped an absolute gem with Ubersoup and if you haven’t heard any of his work then now is the time to start.

Dave Griffiths

“Set In Stone” is the amazing new single from Tales In Space… one of the freshest young groups going around. This single is so catchy you’ll find yourself listening to over and over and even humming along to it. These guys know how to create the perfect single and we can only wait with baited for breath for their new EP.

Dave Griffiths

Rio opens with a scene of flash and color and then never really dips from there. And this is one time when some amazing animation isn’t let down by a weak story. Quite the contrary actually as this is a film that’s story and characterization is deep enough to keep both children and adults enthralled.

The film follows Blu (voiced by Jesse Eisenberg – The Social Network, Camp Hope), a Blue Macaw that is ripped from his rainforest home as a fledgling and then smuggled to America. As fate would have it he literally falls off the back of a truck and is rescued by Linda (Leslie Mann – Little Birds, Shorts) whose lonely life is consumed by the lovable bird. Enter, Tulio (Rodrigo Santoro – There Be Dragons, Post Grad) whjo convinces Linda to travel to Rio so Blue can be mated with Jewel (Anne Hathaway – Love And Other Drugs, Alice In Wonderland) in a bid to save their species. But this doesn’t go smoothly with Jewel and Blu again becoming the target of bird smugglers which means Blu has to shake off his ‘pet’ mentality in order to make sure they both survive.

The creators of Rio (incidentally the same team that brought us the Ice Age movies) are really onto a winning formula when it comes to animated films. The stunningly colorful animation certainly does justice to real-life Rio De Janeiro, while the animation itself is so good you feel that the characters are real and that you are right there in Rio with them. Screenwriter, Don Rhymer (Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son, Surf’s Up) only adds to the recipe of success. His characterization of Blu and Jewel is what makes them seem so real while Rhymer has been able to develop a script that exposes a cruel act like bird-smuggling while making the film child-friendly just goes to show what a great writer he is. His story will certainly never bore you and such is your attachment to the main characters that you never want to see anything bad happen to them. Even the subsidiary characters are 3-dimensional… something that doesn’t happen very often these days.

The voice actors also need to be congratulated for their work on Rio. None are easily obvious with even Jesse Eisenberg managing to disguise his distinct voice by giving Blu a bit of a twang. As you would expect Anne Hathaway is certainly up to the task but the person who steals the shows is Jemaine Clement (Predicament, Dinner For Schmucks) who voices the evil, Nigel. He is so good you’ll think it is an actor of the caliber of Geoffrey Rush behind the mic.

Rio is the kind of family film that is a joy to take the kids to. The kids will be entertained for 90 minutes by a film that captivates the imagination and the parents won’t find themselves bored out of their brain as they struggle to put up with a kiddy-film. Rio will be loved by people of all ages and is one of the best animated films to surface so far this year.

Dave Griffiths

Melbourne electronic-outfit Duosseudo (pronounced due-oh-sue-doh) return with a new single off their forthcoming album. On “Turning Up Gold” the duo team up with Adam Ferns to deliver a single that has a strong 90s feel and shows that Australian electronic music is still well-and-truly on track. A smooth track that grows on you after a few listens.

Dave Griffiths

3Oh!3 drew international attention to themselves on the back of their successful single ‘Don’t Trust Me’ and their duet with current-it-girl, Katy Perry, ‘Starstrukk’. They proved that there was still a place in the world for bubblegum pop, but do they have the legs to create a career, or are they simply just another one-hit wonder? Well, their new album ‘Streets Of Gold’ shows that they are still at the crossroads of their career. There are some gems to be found here, but also some absolute trash.

A piece of mundane album filler, the uninspiring, ‘Beaumont’ kicks off the album and then is followed with some bubblegum pop with extra grunt in the form of, ‘I Can Do Anything’. These are the kind of songs that you can see commercial radio lapping up, but making the serious music fan very sick indeed.

‘My First Kiss’ sees 3Oh!3 team up with another pop-starlet, this time with Ke$ha, it’s cheesy but thankfully not as bad as Mika. ‘Déjà vu’ finds 3Oh!3 sounding a lot better, even if it something that sounds like it could have been left on any of Britney Spear’s later albums. But even the harshest critic has to admit that ‘We Are Young’ is catchy enough to be good… and you’ll probably hear it soon when the party of teeny-boppers next door is being busted up by the cops. It sounds like a song the new generation will choose as an anthem.

‘Touchin On My’ shows that when they want 3Oh!3 can produce some good pop while ‘House Party’ could well be Gen Y’s answer to ‘Fight For Your Right To Party’. Even the cheesy ballad ‘R.I.P.’ seems to eventually grow on you after a few listens, however this is where the album hits a snag. ‘I Know How To Say’ is catchy but oh-so-annoying while ‘Double Vision’ is so cheesy it will have you heaving, and title track, ‘Streets Of Gold’ should have been left on the cutting room floor… and then trampled on several times. You could also possible say the same thing about ‘See You Go’.

‘I’m No The One’ shows that 3Oh!3 possibly found their old East 17 albums and learnt how to write something verging on heartfelt, while you can only listen to ‘Love 2012’ and wish that 3Oh!3 could write an album of tracks like this. The album then closes with 3Oh!3 two previous hits ‘Don’t Trust Me’ and ‘Starstrukk’ (with Katy Perry), just in case you didn’t buy them the first time around.

You would have to be a total pop fan to find 3Oh!3’s ‘Streets Of Gold’ interestingly enough to buy. It may be good for a Gen Y party but will be given a wide birth by serious music fans. Cheesy pop for the new generation.

Dave Griffiths

There is no middle-ground when it comes to new Australian film ‘Wasted On The Young’ – you are either going to really love it, or really hate it. The visual style of this film is so experimental you’ll either think that director, Ben C. Lucas (TV’S ‘My Generation’) is Australia’s freshest talent or that he has ruined the film by throwing in every little thing he has learnt at film school… what you can’t can’t say is that he hasn’t tried.

‘Wasted On The Young’ follows the life of Darren (Oliver Ackland – ‘Tinman’ TV’S ‘The Slap’) and his step-brother, Zack (Alex Russell – ‘The Wheeler Boys’). Zack is the popular swim-team star who wins over more friends by running wild parties, while Darren is the quiet one that is largely ignored by most, bullied by Zack’s friends, and almost views school as a war-zone. Things look up for Zack though when the beautiful, Xandrine (Adelaide Clemens – ‘Vampire’, TV’S ‘Lie To Me’) starts to show an interest in him. But when Xandrine attends one of Zack’s parties and is sexually assaulted and left for dead, Darren decides it’s time for revenge.

This film certainly heads into some dark areas. Lucas really doesn’t hold back. He shows teenage life the way it really is and he’s not frightened to show that for some kids school is a horrible place they can’t wait to get out of. Sure, the film is laced with drugs and violence… but for some teenagers today, that is an everyday thing. Early on it seems the film will be ‘edgy’ in the style of ‘Gossip’ and ‘Cruel Intentions’, but ‘Wasted On The Young’ takes the next step-up and becomes a thriller that will certainly have you on the edge of your seat. Yes, Lucas tries some experimental things (like mobile text messages appearing on the screen) but they all fit with the vibe of the film… and some of Lucas’ shots are truly amazing.

‘Wasted On The Young’ also shows that the new generation of Australian acting stock is also certainly something to be excited about. Adelaide Clemens has shown with her television work that she is one of Australia’s brightest sparks, but it is Oliver Ackland that steals the show here. Ackland puts a brilliant performance that deserves to attract some award wins. This would have been a draining film but the cast look truly professional and they should be proud of their work.

If you are looking for an edgy thriller than you can’t go past ‘Wasted On The Young’. The director makes some brave gambles and they pay off with the film looking slick and very European. This is one time when an experimental feel to a film enhances it, and with a great story and some brilliant acting performances you’re left with a thriller that will take your breathe away.

Year: 2010

Director: Ben C. Lucas

Stars: Oliver Ackland, Alex Russell, Adelaide Clemens

Classification: MA15+

Runtime: 97 mins

Rating:

Dave Griffiths