Stevie's Stonkers #5: 'The Wilhelm Scream - Live' by James Blake

While the stonker is usually the place for brash off the cuff observations and not, conversely, quiet & emotional reflection, I make the rules so that's the way it's gonna be. Mr. Blake has spent the past year making a name for himself as one of the most promising young DJs/producers worki...ng in the post-dubstep musical landscape, from cutting up 90's R&B into unrecognisably beautiful forms on "CMYK" to dismantling the idea of what voice and piano can sound like on the "Klavierwerke" EP. Just as he's garnering attention he's already pretty much abandoned those musical forms for more relatively straightforward songs on his forthcoming full length debut. The Wilhelm Scream showcases his impossibly fragile and surprisingly impressive vocals, underscored by melancholic keys, lyrics suggesting a heartbroken man resigned to his fate. A grown man could cry, and in fact i almost wish i was broken hearted so i could lose myself in this.--Stephen Rogers

Winterbells

Addictive as fuck internet game with great music and an awesome score system. Our best so far is 69,500. Come and have a go if you think you're 'ard enough!

http://www.ferryhalim.com/orisinal/g3/bells.htm

Jesse Melia's Top 11 PS3 Games Of All Time!

Hey, Dean here. I e-mailed Jesse Melia recently asking for a list of PS3 game recommendations. He responded quickly with the following list, each equipped with a mini-review. I was a little upset he did not include my own favourite...Saints Row 2!

11. Dead Space (Scary and dark yet also fun)
10. God Of War 3 (Cinematic, violent and explosive)
09. Metal Gear Solid 4 (Flawed but also at times masterful)
08. Killzone 2 (Amazing graphics and brutal combat)
07. Bioshock (Peerless story, great setting and engaging gameplay)
06. Rainbow Six Vegas (Slick, fun and challenging)
05. Resistance series (The best shooter on the PS3)
04. Mass Effect (A beautiful, cinematic, life engulfer)
03. Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit (Fun, fun and also fun)
02. Red Dead Redemption (Brilliance on every level)
01. The Uncharted Series (Perfect in every way)

Have You Seen It? #2: The Other Guys (2010)

Originally Appears in Issue 5. Out Now on DVD.

The Other Guys is yet another solid instalment in the long running series of films where Will Ferrell has some amusing occupation. This one however is elevated beyond the Semi Pro’s of the world due to the presence of Mark Wahlberg. Both play detectives, Ferrell as a pencil-pushing desk jockey and Wahlberg as his tough-as-nails but emotionally fragile partner.

Playing the role 100% straight, Wahlburg acts as a perfect foil for Ferrell’s madcap antics, with many of the film’s comedic high points involving his general bewilderment towards his oafish partners actions. Add to this a supporting cast that features Samuel L. Jackson, Dwayne Johnson and a criminally underused Michael Keaton, and The Other Guys has all the ingredients in place. To its credit, the film succeeds for the first hour, with wall-to-wall one-liners and the usual Will Ferrell buffoonery to keep the fans appeased. There is some vague story behind the laughs which has something to do with Steve Coogan and money or something, but it’s just a tool to get our heroes into more turmoil

The director, Adam McKay who has directed several Ferrell hits, shows a surprising flair for action with several superb set pieces littered throughout the film. But his combination of action and comedy sadly falls short in the film’s second half, when it simply runs out of steam. It’s a shame, because everyone involved is on top form and the film, which could have been have been Anchorman good, just ends up being good. --Jesse Melia

No Fake Records!

'No Fake Records!': Nineties Hip-Hop Night

This Saturday at The Pint, Eden Quay. Whether you're attending or not, we're taking requests on the Facebook Event Page. Get involved here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=187375521289038

Stevie's Stonkers #4: 'Lightnin VIP' by Skream

Olly Jones has sweet fuck all to prove to the dubstep purists lobbying accusations of him being sellout. His second record as Skream saw him branching into more laid back and occasionally ravey territory, and the dubstep supergroup he formed with Benga and Artwork gave the dubstep genre it's... biggest pop hits. Showing he hadn't lost sight of where he came from and in a very festive spirit Skream released the Freeizm album on Christmas Day for, you guessed it, free, featuring some of the most straight up womping dubstep tracks he's put out in ages. 'Lighnin Vip' proves once again he's a master of blending absolute filthy basslines with foreboding atmospherics. This is Skream just doing what he still does better than anyone, even though it wasn't necessary prove anything to anybody, this did it nicely anyway.