TV Review: Happy Endings - "Of Mice & Jazz-Kwon-Do"

Season 1 - Episode 7

E4 (UK)

Despite the episodes being shown in (an even more than ABC did in the US) bizarre order, Happy Endings has been a very enjoyable show so far in its first season. The comparisons to Friends are inevitible (six friends, including a married couple and a former couple) all hanging out together almost exclusively, but the similarities pretty much end there.

In this episode (which we'll call Episode 7, as it's the 7th that E4 have shown, and in production order, but the 6th on ABC), Dave and Alex both think the other wants to get back together, but the truth is they actually just find something useful about the bizarre arrangement they seem to have made for themselves. In the end all is sorted out, and this strand ends up being the strongest Dave and Alex plotline of the season so far. The show is pretty much split in three this week with Penny and Jane (the always delightful Eliza Coupe) joining a Krav Maga class, and Max trying to out Brad as a gaycist (insisting that Brad believes all gay men are attracted to each other).

It's another strong showing for Happy Endings, which is now into its second season in the States. The characters are fun, the writing is tight, and the show keeps going from strength to strength.

*** 1/2

TV Review: Up All Night - "Birth"

Season 1 - Episode 6

NBC (US)

The main strength of Up All Night so far in it's highly impressive early run has been the sheer likability of the two main Characters Reagan (Christina Applegate) and Chris (Will Arnett). While it seems to have become commonplace in sitcoms to set up a character or characters as being flawed, eccentric or just downright bizarre, Chris and Reagan are just normal (although upper middle class) new parents, struggling but coping just fine while being aided by Reagan's best friend, TV presenter Ava (Maya Rudolph) the token eccentric.

Episode six shifts the pace a little by flashing back to the birth of baby Amy, and how Reagan's perfect birthing plan went completely wrong - setting up the sweet mild chaos that we've already seen. While everything that Reagan had planned is falling apart, Chris is contemplating not taking paternity leave, as his colleague at his law firm believes he could be made partner by Christmas. This part of the story closes with a really sweet scene in the birthing room, and even though we knew where the scene was leading, it was still a really warm and lovely moment.

Up All Night is probably the best new comedy series this season so far, mainly due to the two leads, but in no small part down to the smart writing. Episodes like this just heighten the appeal even more.

****

Album Review: Serengeti - "Family and Friends"

David Cohn, aka Serengeti has been releasing albums at an alarming rate since debuting in 2002. Racking up ten solo albums, and a further nine in collaboration with other artists in those nine years, he has established himself as one of the premier artists in underground hip-hop, known for his intelligent lyrics and innovative productions.

"Family and Friends" is no departure for Serengeti, in that he changes his style once again. Most of the album sits over a sparse, simple electronica style allowing his flowing lyrics to shine through. Clocking in at just over half an hour, the record is short, sharp and to the point, never letting itself get too complicated. The album's highlight is "The Whip", the story of a broken down (fictional) UFC fighter, looking to make something of his life again. A stunning song and story, it sits in deep contrast with the upbeat tone of the other ten tracks.

With "Family and Friends", Serengeti has created yet another album of sublime lyrical hip-hop, up there with his previous best work "Dennehy" and "Gasoline Dreams". If he can keep up this quality, another two albums next year won't go a miss.

**** 1/2

Watch: "The Whip"

TV Review: Wilfred - "Doubt"

Season 1 - Episode 11

BBC Three (UK)

Wilfred has been fucked up since episode one. The premise is Elijah Wood's Ryan sees his neighbour's dog Wilfred as an Australian man in a dog suit. The two have a bizarre relationship, best friends who drink and smoke together, but it's Wilfred who is in charge of the friendship.

"Doubt" sees the introduction of Bruce, a drifter who claims to have had a similar relationship with Wilfred in the past. His stories cause Ryan to mistrust Wilfred, which in turn, of course, makes Wilfred plot his own bizarre brand of revenge. The episode from about half way gets really fucked up. Even for Wilfred. I really did not see the twist coming - an utter act of mindfuck which proved Wilfred as the darkest "comedy" ever to hit mainstream television.

With only two episodes of the season to go, it's difficult to see where Wilfred is going to go. But whatever way they do go, it's going to be a sick and twisted ride.

****

TV Review: Fresh Meat - "Outward Bound"

Season 1 - Episode 5

Channel 4 (UK)

Fresh Meat has been a refreshingly funny comedy drama about a group of six freshers living in a shared house. The show has set up a dynamic of the group's blossoming fucked up friendships, which have been tested through a series of sleeping with each other, their teachers, and their general anti-social, yet social behaviour.

"Outward Bound" sees the gang jump on a coach to London to take part in the student protests. Naturally things don't go according to plan, and chaos ensues. Vod manages to become a cult figure after hitting her head on a table and saying it was the cops, while also managing to find out about Oregon's affair with their professor. Kingsley gets caught up in a bizarre love triangle. Howard infiltrates a vet school protest. JP gets stuck helping a disabled student, much to his chagrin, and control freak Josie ends up as the leader of the protest. All sorts of chaos manages to happen before they board the coach back to Manchester, with equally touching, awkward and funny results, which could lead to a number of scenarios next week.

Fresh Meat has filled a void where there were no student comedies. While its definitely no Young Ones, I'll hope it has done enough to merit a second season.

*** 1/2

Album Review: Mastodon - "The Hunter"

Simply put, Mastodon are amazing. There's not many more words that can describe them. So amazing that I named their 2009 album "Crack the Skye"

the album of the decade. Two years later, and is their follow up album "The Hunter" a worthy follow up? Yes. In a very different way.

Gone is the album long concept and the ten-minute plus songs. In are thirteen hits of progressive sludge metal so hard hitting that its almost

too easy to miss the sheer complexity of the songs. Trail single "Curl of the Burl" is the most radio friendly the band have ever been, yet the

song has so many layers that I'm still hearing new ones on the umpteenth listen. Accessability seems to be the aim on this album, the lack of a

concept allows you to drop in and out much easier than before, but listened to as a whole, this is a quite wonderful feast for the ears.

Mastodon seem incapable of making bad music. Even their instrumental soundtrack EP to the much maligned "Jonah Hex" was highly listenable. "The

Hunter" is a totally different beast to "Crack the Skye", but five albums into their career, they continue to make spectacular music.

**** 1/2

Watch: "Curl of the Burl"

Album Review: Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds -"Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds"

After 15 years as the driving force behind Oasis, Noel Gallagher's first solo outing was either going to be a rehash of his former band's glories, or something completely different altogether. Remarkably, "High Flying Birds" ends up being both, at times even on the same song.

Sitting somewhere between Oasis' early output and their more psychadelic influenced early noughties albums, this is most definitely a Gallagher record, but where Beady Eye went full on Oasis while homaging the Beatles even more, Noel takes a more electronic influenced route, with dance beats creeping in and psychadelica playing a big part in the album's structure. In fact, only on album closer "Stop the Clocks" (which incidentally has been floating around as an Oasis demo for the past 10 years) does he produce a true "Oasis sounding" track. And a top level one at that. Songs like the two singles "The Death of You and Me" and especially the Vauxhall soundtracking "AKA... What a Life!" take his simple lyrics and melody format, but progresses it into something more, something - not new - but different.

"High Flying Birds" doesn't reach the heights of "Definitely Maybe" or "(What's the Story) Morning Glory?" but very few albums do. What it does stand as, is Noel Gallagher's best collection of work since those two. While the later Oasis albums had high points, this is a consistantly good rock record, and a pleasantly surprising return to form for one of Britain's most enduring singwriters.

****

Watch: "AKA... What A Life"