Off Topic The Review Thread

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sb_73 said:
For me Madness are one of the most perfect pop bands ever from this country or anywhere else for that matter. The whole was way bigger that the sum of the parts. Apart from being from the wrong part of London there’s not much wrong with them. And this lovely little film is a bit of social history which will resonate with a lot of us, of a certain vintage.

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The above video makes them really unlikable ... However ...

Madness were the first live band I ever saw. I was aged 15 and it was at The Hammersmith Odeon. I think that their main hit at the the time (80/81) was 'Embarrassment.' I remember being mesmerised that this band that I adored was appearing before my own eyes.

I love 'Madness' and I once picked up Suggs in my cab, ( outside Chelsea CFC. ) To be fair to to him, he said that he didn't feel any connection to the club anymore. He grew up in Park Walk SW10 and went to school there. Hence the connection before moving to NW London.
Due to my wife working in the music industry we were fortunate enough to attend some of their back stage gigs and got to meet him a few times as well as the rest of the band ...I've probably seen 'Madness' more than any other band, probably only seconded by 'Squeeze.'



 
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QPR999 said:
The above video makes them really unlikable ... However ...

Madness were the first live band I ever saw. I was aged 15 and it was at The Hammersmith Odeon. I think that their main hit at the the time (80/81) was 'Embarrassment.' I remember being mesmerised that this band that I adored was appearing before my own eyes.

I love 'Madness' and I once picked up Suggs in my cab, ( outside Chelsea CFC. ) To be fair to to him, he said that he didn't feel any connection to the club anymore. He grew up in Park Walk SW10 and went to school there. Hence the connection before moving to NW London.
Due to my wife working in the music industry we were fortunate enough to attend some of their back stage gigs and got to meet him a few times as well as the rest of the band ...I've probably seen 'Madness' more than any other band, probably only seconded by 'Squeeze.'


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Was it you who punched Suggs in the eye? He looks a bit nervous…..

I had no idea how unpleasant some of these lads had been in their youth, thank goodness they focussed on music eventually. I was a good little boy (largely) but I knew people like this. I liked the film for the images of seventies London, formative years. It was horrible but I miss it…..
 
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QPR999 said:
The above video makes them really unlikable ... However ...

Madness were the first live band I ever saw. I was aged 15 and it was at The Hammersmith Odeon. I think that their main hit at the the time (80/81) was 'Embarrassment.' I remember being mesmerised that this band that I adored was appearing before my own eyes.

I love 'Madness' and I once picked up Suggs in my cab, ( outside Chelsea CFC. ) To be fair to to him, he said that he didn't feel any connection to the club anymore. He grew up in Park Walk SW10 and went to school there. Hence the connection before moving to NW London.
Due to my wife working in the music industry we were fortunate enough to attend some of their back stage gigs and got to meet him a few times as well as the rest of the band ...I've probably seen 'Madness' more than any other band, probably only seconded by 'Squeeze.'

Here's a picture of me and Suggs ...

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Suggs was such a nice bloke, I asked him to ring my missus, the conversation went like this, ..
'Hello, do you know who I am?
My wife was in bed and half asleep and thought it was one of my mates.
He then started singing ... I never thought I'd miss you, half as much as I do, about you.
And then she knew. And had a nice chat with him, top bloke.
 
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sb_73 said:
Was it you who punched Suggs in the eye? He looks a bit nervous…..

I had no idea how unpleasant some of these lads had been in their youth, thank goodness they focussed on music eventually. I was a good little boy (largely) but I knew people like this. I liked the film for the images of seventies London, formative years. It was horrible but I miss it…..
Click to expand...

I don't think Madness would've made it without Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley. They wrote most of their songs or so I believe. I do stand to be corrected of course, I like to think I know a lot about them but not everything.

One other thing about them ( Suggs ) Is that I mentioned to him, is that a gig in 1992 in Finsbury Park registered on the richter scale. He said that he forgot all about that but mentioned it in an interview a few weeks later in one of the sunday supplements. I was working at a fire station at the time and told them that it was me who reminded him of this ...

Madstock - Madness | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic
 
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sb_73 said:
Was it you who punched Suggs in the eye? He looks a bit nervous…..

I had no idea how unpleasant some of these lads had been in their youth, thank goodness they focussed on music eventually. I was a good little boy (largely) but I knew people like this. I liked the film for the images of seventies London, formative years. It was horrible but I miss it…..
Click to expand...

It's just a snapshot of me and the lead singer of Madness. I wouldn't read too much into it. It would've probably taken up a millisecond of our lives. He wouldn't even recall it if you showed it to him. I think he was quite drunk at the time anyway.
 
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QPR999 said:
I don't think Madness would've made it without Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley. They wrote most of their songs or so I believe. I do stand to be corrected of course, I like to think I know a lot about them but not everything.

One other thing about them ( Suggs ) Is that I mentioned to him, is that a gig in 1992 in Finsbury Park registered on the richter scale. He said that he forgot all about that but mentioned it in an interview a few weeks later in one of the sunday supplements. I was working at a fire station at the time and told them that it was me who reminded him of this ...

Madstock - Madness | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic
Click to expand...
I was at that one
 
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Just started looking at The Pursuit of Love on the BBC, the dramatisation of Nancy Mitford’s book, which I have not read. Dominic West has a dream role and he’s very good in it, but I’m most struck by how much the style and direction owe to Wes Anderson, specifically Grand Budapest Hotel.

Odd soundtrack too. Quite surprised to be hit with New Order’s Ceremony during a drama about 1930s aristocrats.

Not sure this will hold my attention, but at least it’s not yet another crime procedural.

Actually it’s growing on me, quite funny.
 
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On now, but too late for working people - Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets on Sky Arts.

Excellent recreations of early Floyd, making me ache for when I heard them the first time round.
 
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Sublime to the ridiculous on the Today programme just now, within seconds of each other.

Firstly, the magnificent Jeremy Bowen talking, big picture, about the events in Israel/Palestine. As always he was clear, authoritative, full of love and respect for that part of the world. He can see no hope in current circumstances and although he was throughly professional throughout, this clearly upset him.

Followed by Michael Morpurgo reading a dreadful poem about the dead minke whale in the Thames. And I mean truly dreadful, an embarrassment, worse than a thirteen year old would write under duress in English class. ****ing unbelievably bad. So awful I can’t get it out of my head.

I suggest that someone commissions Morpurgo to write a poem for every single animal that dies. Should keep him too busy to read any of them out on the wireless. And that the editors of the Today programme are given a Chinese burn.
 
Anyone got Apple TV? No, me neither - but I've just started watching one of their programs, a remake of Mosquito Coast. I've not read the book or seen the Harrison Ford/Helen Mirren film so can't comment on any similarities, but apparently it follows the same premise but in modern times. I'm finding this quite riveting, four episodes in. Definately worth watching if you have access to it
 
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I’ve got nothing against Amol Rajan, BBC Media Editor, presenter of the Today programme, presenter of the One Show, presenter of the Media Show, sometime presenter of Start the Week…….but he does seem to have rather a lot of jobs. Almost as many as Jermaine Jenas or Alex Scott.
 
Steelmonkey said:
Anyone got Apple TV? No, me neither - but I've just started watching one of their programs, a remake of Mosquito Coast. I've not read the book or seen the Harrison Ford/Helen Mirren film so can't comment on any similarities, but apparently it follows the same premise but in modern times. I'm finding this quite riveting, four episodes in. Definately worth watching if you have access to it
Click to expand...

Remember liking the original Ford movie.

Definitely intend to check this out, somehow! (No idea how to get half the programmes I want to watch).

Quite like Justin Theroux, is he good in it? Thought he was excellent in 'The Leftovers' a few years back.
 
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Hoop-Leif said:
Remember liking the original Ford movie.

Definitely intend to check this out, somehow! (No idea how to get half the programmes I want to watch).

Quite like Justin Theroux, is he good in it? Thought he was excellent in 'The Leftovers' a few years back.
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The original movie was filmed in Belize a few years before I lived there, and always meant to watch it but never got around to it!

I really enjoyed The Leftovers - and Theroux is very good in this too. The performances of most of the cast are excellent.

You can download episodes from here if you don't have a streaming platform...

https://eztv.re/search/mosquito-coast
 
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Stroller said:
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Could there ever have been a time like this?
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Not without lysergic acid.

A milder intoxicant is wine, and I have finally got round to investigating Naked Wine which I remember you have been into for some time. Really good so far, not just for personal consumption, but also as an easy and good quality gift option for the deserving, delivered to their door!
 
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sb_73 said:
Not without lysergic acid.

A milder intoxicant is wine, and I have finally got round to investigating Naked Wine which I remember you have been into for some time. Really good so far, not just for personal consumption, but also as an easy and good quality gift option for the deserving, delivered to their door!
Click to expand...

You need my address? <cheers>
 
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