This week, JOE has been mostly reading, watching and listening to the following things
When JOE isn’t working incredibly hard to bring you the latest and weirdest from the world of the internet, we enjoy nothing better than sitting down to study physics and quantum mechanics. After we’re done with that, we also like to read regular books, listen to music and watch a movie from the movie box. These are our choices for what to get your eyeballs and earholes on this week.
Eamon Dunphy – The Rocky Road
There are a flood of sports bios out for the Christmas market this year but one of the most interesting is Eamon Dunphy’s The Rocky Road. Covering his early life in Drumcondra, his less than stellar football career in England and his transition into media work, and Public Enemy No 1, in Ireland, the book is as fascinating as the man himself.
Stuffed with charm, wit and acerbic opinions, often on the same page, we can’t wait for Volume II, which the man himself claims will be called ‘Wrong About Everything’. It has a lot to live up to, baby…
Pacific Rim
Guillermo Del Toro’s big budget tribute to the Japanese Kaiju movies that he loved as a child is both entertaining and visually stunning. Del Toro’s previous efforts have included the rather splendid Pan’s Labyrinth (El laberinto del fauno) and Hellboy, but this is something that’s in a totally different vein. In his capable hands, Charlie Hunnam and Idris ‘Cancel the Apocalypse because I’m Stringer Bell’ Elba put in some great performances, and our very favourite Charile Day of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia changes tact to take on a less comedic role.
Basically, the real question here is do you want to see a bunch of giant monsters fighting huge robots, with plenty of special effects? Of course you do.
Los Campesinos – No Blues
Released at the end of last month, JOE has really been enjoying the latest effort from this great band that hail from Cardiff, especially opening track ‘For Flotsam’, which is a great way to kick off an album in style. This is their fifth album in their seven year existence, but they just seem to keep getting better and better, in particular with Gareth Paisley’s lyrics always hinting at some pretty important subjects like love and death, while packaged in a fun and catchy indie package.
The melodies and hooks are light and enjoyable, but the subject matter of the songs is much deeper than that. The contrast makes it a great album, showcasing their brilliance once again.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
