The Charlatans: Simpatico. CD Review @ buttonhole.com.au

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Remnants & Relics. Buttonhole *Special* Feature

Welcome dear reader to Remnants & Relics, the first in an ongoing series of features looking back at various aspects of yesterday's video games. This series is one that I'd hoped to kick off many months ago, but I just haven't had the time to do it justice, until now. So consider this your opportunity to put on your best pair or rose-tinted glasses, open up a luke-warm can of clichés and prepare to hop aboard the way-back-machine.... It came from beyond two dimensions! -A Look Back at Isometric Gaming-

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Welcome Buttonhole readers to another feature that is so choc-full of goodness that I've divided it into several sections. The top half is about the Indy video games showcased at ACMI. The bottom half is about the Pixar exhibit. It's ridiculously long and all terribly interesting to read, so you may as well read it in two halves, or just the parts that interest you. After reading about the ACMI exhibits on their website and getting more than a little excited, I decided to make the perilous trek to inner Melbourne. With time on my side and money stuffed in my pocket I ventured forth to the train station. Once on board I passed the time by staring out the window, reading a volume of Dark Horse's Concrete and snacking on tasty fruit. Arriving at Flinders St, I wandered around until inevitably finding my way out of the rat-maze like station.

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By Australian Ninja

Classic Comic-book Review. Kraven's Last Hunt

"Here lies Spider-Man - Slain by the Hunter" So reads the grave of one of histories greatest superheros. "But he's not dead, is he? What happened to everyone's favourite web-slinger? Spidey seems to be alive and well now, what with his three movie deal and a string of monthly Marvel comic-book titles to his name, so why was he buried six feet under? The year is 1987. The company is Marvel. The character is Sergei Kravinov also known as 'Kraven the Hunter.' Back in the 60's Stan and Steve (Lee and Ditko, respectively) churned out a heap of cool villains for the title "Amazing Spider-Man." Doctor Octopus, The Cham

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Poor Jason gets forced out of his comfort zone

Publisher: Shock Records

Sat, 5 August 2006

Jason Vorhees image

by: Jason

I'll start off by saying i'm probably not the best person to be reviewing music CDs.I rarely listen to the radio, I've got my favorite music and I stick with it. As you would imagine, my first point of call (as well as listening to the CD, of course) was the good old interweb, which provided me with some background information on the band, at least. The following is an excerpt from a March 2006 Press Release located on the Charlatans website: www.thecharlatans.net
"Two seconds into 'Blackened Blue Eyes', when Mark Collins' guitar punctuates the super groove of Tony Roger's piano, one thing is clear -- The Charlatans are a vital force. And then Tim Burgess's vocals come in, with a melody that's so beguiling it almost disguises the disturbing intensity at the heart of the song. It's great to have the band back with a record, 'Simpatico' that finds them better and fresher than ever, and ready to take on the world again. It's a record, in short which sees every member of The Charlatans step up to the plate and give it everything."

The press release then goes on to give a bit of history on the band, how they started/formed in 1989 and overcame the setbacks of their keyboard player being jailed, then later being killed in a car accident during recording of an album. But back to the point; does the album live up to the hype? Well, read on.

It's probably best to describe this album as radio friendly, with out being nauseatingly poppy. Some of the songs almost have a reggae feel to them, others a jangly almost chime like sound that is unmistakably English which leads me to believe that these guys could probably make an album of washing machine noises listenable. They are also not what you would call a limited band with either the keyboardist or guitarist easily stepping up and driving the songs.

Track Listing:
1. Blackened Blue Eyes
2. NYC (There's No Need To Stop
3. For your Entertainment
4. Dead Mans Eye
5. Muddy Ground
6. City Of The Dead
7. Road To Paradise
8. When The Lights Go Out In London
9. The Architect
10. Glory Glory
11. Sunset & Vine

On the whole, a very funky albums with real groove. Personal favorites include tracks 5 and 8 (written with the London bombings in mind) it's clear (even to a dimwit like me) these guys know exactly what they are doing. The album is certainly something different for me and while I don't hate it i'm not going to be turning music shops inside out for The Charlatans back catalog. If you've been a Charlatans fan for years then you've probably been waiting for this for a while or if you seek something fresh in your musical diet then by all means give it a listen.

by: Jason

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*Sammy's note: Jason didn't give me a score, so I just whacked an 8 on here. * Not my cup of tea; but then, I'm a tone deaf metal head, what the f**k would I know?

Overall:
	8.0

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Manifest '07 Report

Ninja's note: Once again, it's time for another Buttonhole report on the Melbourne Anime Festival, otherwise known as Manifest 2007. If you missed Ichibod's feature on a previous Manifest, check it out here. This Manifest coverage comes to you courtesy of forum regular and newest Buttonhole contributor Borgieman, a cool guy who knows his Anime and has been known to play a video game or two. So read on true believers! A Day at Manifest 2007

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By Australian Ninja

Only Yesterday. Anime Review

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By Jason

Speed Grapher V1. Anime Review

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