Congratulations is the second full length album the American duo MGMT have released under that name. It follows on the heels of 2007’s hugely popular Oracular Spectacular.

The album will not have any single releases, in order for it to be seen and experienced as a whole. Perhaps the band saw the popularity of the big singles on Oracular Spectacular as a hindrance in the quest to get their message across. I see it as indicative of the pretences that are apparent all over this album.

Points need to be given to the boys for their use of different genres and sounds throughout the album, some in a seemingly experimental way. Having said that, there is nothing here that we haven’t heard before. Tracks like Song For Dan Treacy (complete with fake British accent), It’s Working and Congratulations are massively derivative. Honestly, you’re better to go back to the source and experience where this music really came from. I completely understand that all contemporary music is bound to be influenced by other music, probably in many ways, but there comes a point where it’s hard to understand the justification for producing something in addition to this source material. …read more

After a lot of gossip flying about 2010’s Splendor In The Grass lineup, the list is finally here. As usual, the lineup is excellent so if you can spare the cash and get yourself there, you’re sure to have a ball. Featuring The Strokes, Pixies, Band of Horses, The Temper Trap, Mumford & Sons, Florence and the Machine, Grizzley Bear, Passion Pit, Midlake, Broken Social Scene, We Are Scientists and Goldfrapp this year’s Splendor is sure to impress. For the full lineup and ticket details check out the official website.

The Icelandic band, Sigur Rós, has a very loyal group of followers scattered throughout the word, so when lead singer, Jón Þór Birgisson, announced he was to create a solo album, there was understandably some reservations held within that camp. Well, that album is now here. Released under the name of Jónsi, we have the album, Go.

Firstly, I should mention that I am one of those Sigur Rós fans. I also should mention that I really enjoyed their latest album, Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust, which was criticized for being too commercial. In any case, I was also concerned, as I always am when a lead singer goes out on their own, as to how this album would turn out. Would it be nothing like the band’s music and difficult to connect with, or, paradoxically, would it be so similar to their material that there would seem little point in not just creating the album for the band. I think that Go actually manages to tred that fine line, as it is both easily recognisable as Jón Þór Birgisson, but is enough of a departure from Sigur Rós, for it to stand up on its own. …read more

Kick Ass is based on the Marvel Comic of teh same name, written by Mark Miller and drawn by John Romita Jr. It follows the story of Dave Lizewski played by Aaron Johnson in his efforts to be a real superhero, like he sees in his comics. His exploits as a cotumed hero, not only inspire others to don masks, like the much better equiped Red Mist (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) and fight crime, but leads to a fateful encounter with the secretive heroes Big Daddy and Hit Girl, (Nicholas Cage and Chloe Grace Moretz respectively) a father daugter duo, out for revenge against a drug boss.

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Stone Temple Pilots have just released the tracklisting for their sixth studio album, Stone Temple Pilots, which is set to be released on March 25th. After reforming in 2008, Stone Temple Pilots, have been writing ad recording this album as well as getting in a few shows. With more northern hemisphere summer shows lined up for after the record’s release, perhaps we’ll see the band heading down south for our summer. …read more

In March of 2008 Zooey Dechanel and M. Ward, together known as She & Him, released their optimistically named, debut album Volume One. Now, almost two years to the day comes the follow up, Volume Two.

I love Volume One. Even two years after its release, it is regularly played from start to finish at my work and home. Volume Two offers more of the same; delightful indie folk tunes with a retro twist. And while Volume One has a couple of those songs, that while not unlikable, you could easily skip, Volume Two has no such tracks, making it a great boppy album that perhaps even surpasses its predecessor.

The first single In The Sun, is a lovely, bright, melodic song, which includes backing vocals by Tilly and the Wall. The album also features covers of both NRBQ’s Ridin’ in My Car and Patience and Prudence’s Gonne Get Along Without You Now. Both of these songs slot in beautifully with the original tracks written and recorded for the album. …read more

Despite being quite let down by Tim Burton’s form in recent years, I was very excited to see his take on this old favourite, Alice in Wonderland. Not a remake of either Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland or its sequel Through The Looking-Glass, the film sees Alice return to Wonderland thirteen years after her childhood visit, a visit Alice remembers through dreams, she in fact believes the memory to be a dream.

As a child, Alice, is very close to her father who understands and encourages her whimsical nature, but as a Alice enters adulthood, and after the death of her father, she finds it very difficult to conform to the Victorian society she must become a part of. Enter the White Rabbit and Alice’s adventure begins.

Many of the characters we grew up with once again join Alice beneath the surface: Tweedledee and Tweedledum, The Cheshire Cat, March Hare, The Dormouse, The Red and White Queens, and of course, The Mad Hatter. The story sees Alice and company on a quest to fight the fabled Jabberwocky and restore the land to the White Queen’s rule.

Alice in Wonderland looks amazing. Combining live action and animation, with 90% of filming being done with the use of green screens, so much more is achieved than would have been possible with conventional filming. From the Red Queen’s bulbous head, to Alice’s fluctuating size, to the Knave of Hearts’ stretched out frame, it’s all wonderful. …read more

The much awaited Quantic Dream release, Heavy Rain, has finally hit the shelves. Written and directed by the company’s founder and CEO, David Cage, this game received much publicity and hype before its release, due to the realistic graphics and multiple playable protagonist angle, but does it live up to all the talk?

The game commences with playable character, Ethan Mars, awakening to a picture perfect day in his ideal suburban home. Straight away the graphics have an immense impact. As Ethan walks around the house; showering, dressing and generally investigating, it all looks very real. It actually feels like you are somehow playing a movie. From the running water in the bathroom basin to the dust particles and dandelion flowers flying through the air, the game looks good, there is no denying that. This aspect of Heavy Rain continues for its entirety, with the copious amounts of rain and various settings. …read more

Death Knight is the latest offering from Tokyopop and Warld of Warcrafts collabaration. I details the story of Thassarian, whom Alliance players in World of Warcraft, will be very familiar with, and for the Horde players out there, Koltira, your Thassarian is also present in the manga.

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2K Games have just announced the first of their post-launch downloadable content for the hugely popular BioShock 2. March will see the the release of the Sinclair Solutions Test Pack, the first of several planned downloadable packages, which will include “a number of customization features that will allow players to further their character’s development in BioShock 2’s multiplayer modes and provide a deeper multiplayer experience”. Sure to be music to the ears of those BioShock fans out there.

Sinclair Solutions Test Pack includes a rank increase to level 50 with Rank Rewards, new playable characters and a third weapon upgrade for each weapon.