The Useless Critic 2.0

By Britt and a Brit Daryl's Take "Love This Giant"- David Byrne and St. Vincent she is flawless.     I usually can’t stand brass bands; they’re so needlessly loud, like every band member is trying really hard to be heard over each other. “Love This Giant” is different, however. It’s more subdued and gentle, which is much nicer. On the track “The Forest Awakes,” for example, there’s a melody in the background (I think it might be the French horn), almost keeping the pace of the song and then a trumpet comes into play over the top of it. Both instruments are audible and clear, neither is trying to be louder than the other and it sounds great.  I prefer the slower-paced songs on the album because I find brass music can be annoying if it’s too fast and loud. “Lazarus” is a good track because of this; it’s soft and slow (though it speeds up a little, mid-way through) and the lyrics are just as softly sung; Annie Clark almost breathes the words “cool w...

Joachim Löw                                                   By Guest Writer: Daryl Cox Löw is Germany's manager and is usually directing play from the sidelines in a suit and sometimes a scarf. I think he looks more dapper without the scarf. I reckon he must have them pressed before each game as they're always crisp. Cesare Prandelli Cesare Prandelli manages Italy. Look at that suit and slicked back hair!  The team badge on his breast pocket is a nice touch too. Laurent Blanc Laurent Blanc is France’s manager. I like his smart/casual style with his top buttons open and what appears to be a coffee stirrer in his mouth. Roy Hodgson England’s new manager has an ...

By Guest Writer: Daryl Cox    The Euro 2012 tournament got underway with the first group A games, Poland vs. Greece and Russia vs. Czech Republic. As you may know, the tournament has been surrounded by controversy because of the Ukraine's human rights abuses and treatment of Yulia Tymoshenko and the racist chants and attacks at a Dutch training session. While I disagree with UEFA's assertion that we should put aside the incidents until the tournament is over (I'm not sure we can ignore them JUST because the tournament is on or, at least, I can't) I am looking forward to it and hope it won't be marred by more incidents like those. However, I also think it's futile for world leaders to threaten to boycott the tournament. The thing about football is that people fucking love it all over the world. Tymoshenko could be being whipped in a fan's front room and they'd still watch the game and ask her to keep the noise down.    When I watch world f...

By Guest Writer: Daryl Cox  Predictably enough our (yes 'our,' I'm totally part of the team) first game was a disappointment. Though Lescott scored first off his massive forehead, France were able to pull it back shortly after with a cracking shot from Nasri.  Look at Lescott's Forehead. What's going on there? England then did their usual thing of playing defensively in their half and just passing around. It makes for boring football. My dad reckons it's better to keep the ball than lose it, even if it's just being passed around whereas I shout 'GET FORWARD GET A GOAL.' The problem with trying to hold the ball is that England lose possession so easily and, because it's in their own half, leave themselves open to an easy goal. When they do lose possession my grandad says 'You bloody idiot' like a disappointed parent.    I think part of England's constant disappointment is that we build them up to be so much. ITV, on...

APOLOGIES TO DARYL, SORRY YOUR COMMENT WAS DELETED IT'S GOOGLE'S FAULT AND NOT OURS xoxoxox

Life’s Too Short Episode 2 Review The second episode of Life’s Too Short, with Johnny Depp, somehow manages to be funnier, more awkward and vulgar than the first episode with Liam Neeson. It’s a testament to Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s amazing writing and their ability to make anything funny. Even full blown AIDS. This time, Warwick Davis finds himself at a science fiction convention debating with a mother about tumours, having an unconventional interview and acting as a muse for Johnny Depp! Though he does make a guest appearance at a wedding at the end of the episode, I want to concentrate on Davis’ interactions with Gervais and Merchant and the star and also the convention. At the sci-fi convention, Davis has an area where he is selling mugs, mouse mats etc. with his face on them. By far the biggest seller (though that isn’t saying much) is signed photos of himself for £25. The problem here starts when a mother and her son get to the front of the queue. She tells Davis...

Life’s Too Short Episode 1 Review Life’s Too Short is the brilliant new sitcom from Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant starring Warwick Davis as the short part in the title. It’s a mockumentary in the style of The Office and it feels good to see Gervais and Merchant returning to that format, something they certainly have the feel for. It follows a fictionalized version of Warwick through his daily life, taking calls about potential jobs for him and the dwarves he represents at his agency, Dwarves for Hire, meeting other celebrities who are also playing fictionalized versions of themselves (Liam Neeson, for example, wants to get into standup comedy in this first episode) and dealing with the divorce his wife is putting him through. This version of Davis is arrogant, conceited and can’t seem to see his failings, laying them on other people and events in his life. However, we can feel some sympathy for him as he seems to be surrounded by people who must be the worst at their jobs in...