Papa, can you hear me?

I've put a deposit on a desk at Industria. Click here for more info about Industria.

I'll try and get some pictures to show everyone, but it's basically a vintage 1950's desk made of Tasmanian Ashwood, which has been deconstructed, refinished, then recontructed. It looks amazing. A bit small, but defiantly cute, the desk has four pull out drawers running down the right-hand side and a slim pull out drawer directly beneath the desk running all the way across to the left side. It's a winner. Something I'll pass onto my kids. Bless. Tear.

Meanwhile, AM, where have you been? I e-mailed you, but with no response. Are you okay? Drop me an e-mail. Word. (I'm really into the monoword summarical (is that a word?) completions at the end of paragraphs. Peace.)

Blog readers also note the addition of another link (welcome to the superfuture) and another blog site. Welcome Miss Damsel. Love your work.

All work and no fighting

Can you hear the ticks? The tocks? Is that the sound of Madonna ageing?

Stop it.

My review of 'Confessions On A Dancefloor' will not be jaded by my cynicism towards Madonna. Meanwhile, I just perused through The Herald Sun's HIT Liftout, reading Cameron Adams' pathetic review of Confessions. That man needs to be hosed down with ice cold water. Madonna could release a Crazy Frog collaboration and Adams would find it groundbreaking.

Madonna has reclaimed/revisited/reinvented her 'youth' with Confessions On A Dancefloor. The first single, 'Hung Up', is a radio friendly (albeit Joy FM), gay pumping track with a hefty but superb loop of the Abba hit 'Gimme Gimme Gimme'. Without the sample, the song would be lost, with a mediocre melody. But it's a great track, and she was smart enough to include the sample, which is why Madonna is so great at what she does. As a lead single, Hung Up is a perfect comeback after American Life was so poorly received (personally I loved the rap, but anyway...). The song has thankfully made me forget about her children's books, her shocking L'Oreal campaign, and her grandma dress in the Love Profusion video (what the?!). Although, as a lead single, it is quite misrepresenting of the actual album. Hung Up, is probably the only moment on the album where she sits on her dancing queen throne. There doesn't seem to be another point on the album where listeners are able to really let loose. It's hard to find that moment on the album. The moment where the song is playing in a club and the song reaches it's peak and the glitter rains down from the roof and everyone throws their hands in the air and goes nuts. Topless. If you're lucky.

'Deeper And Deeper', where she sings 'you got to just, let your body move to the music' sampling 'Vogue', is a perfect example of a moment. Another is 'Ray Of Light' at the point of 4min25secs, where I can guarantee you, if the song is playing in a club, is the precise moment that absolutely everyone is not going nuts on the dancefloor, reinacting Madonna's sped up dancing in the accompanying music video.

There are quite a few highlights however. 'Get Together' is the best Madonna dance track made since 'Impressive Instant' which criminally was not released from the Music album. An amalgamation of Madonna's own 'Holiday' (the lyrics are much a continuation on the theme anyway), Stardust's 'Music Sounds Better With You' and a Cyndi Lauper track on a pill. Love it.

The second single 'Sorry' is irresistible dance music. Starting with a muffled beat which explodes at the entrance of her vocals, my thoughts can't get past imagining an 80's New York dance hall with Madonna on the main stage, a la Mariah in the opening club scene in 'Glitter'. (Yeah, deal with the Glitter reference, Mariah is cool now, didn't you get the memo?)

The closest song Madonna has included that appears to even almost let loose is probably 'Jump', with one of the catchiest hooks on the album, and a crazy and defiant, leave-all-the-shit-behind lyrical theme. A purely beautiful song with a great beat, Jump should be earmarked as a single.

'I Love New York' is a well intentioned but poorly executed tribute to the city that made Madonna the Queen. Rivaling the Black Eyed Peas 'My Humps' for 2005's Dumbest Lyrics Award, she silks (that's my word for talking and singing at the same time) 'I don't like cities but I like New York/ other cities make me feel like a dork'. Sure.

Don't go past Track 9. Red-stringed religions are still not cool to sing about.

On first listen, Confessions On A Dancefloor is certainly not New Madonna's best album. Ray Of Light is arguably still her perfect mix of maturity, boundary-pushing creativity and commercial packaging. Although, this is precisely what Madonna needs in terms of image. It's given her a chance to connect with her Old Madonna fans, yet reinvent herself enough so that younger, New Madonna fans have something new to hear. Sampling, and plagiarising her own back catalogue allows older fans to connect with the new music and at the same time gives the younger fans a reason to rummage through her classics. Her music videos show her hitting the dancefloor, hard, so visually we see a fresh, energetic Madonna. Dance music is radio friendly, so her audience is maximised. At the core, Madonna is a dance/sex icon. Her concerts are dance driven, and so her tour will be well anticipated. Going back to her roots is the perfect move Madonna can make to take advantage of her entire fan base.

Madonna - Confessions On A Dancefloor (LP) ***1/2 (3.5/5)

Turn, turn, turn your head around

It’s an illusion
There’s too much confusion

Down in your heart
Find the secret
Turn your head around
Baby we can do it, we can do it all right

Can we get together?
I really want to be with you
Come on, check it out with me
I hope you feel the same way too

I search my whole life
To find the secret
And all I did was open my eyes
Baby we can do it, we can do it all right

Do you believe we can change the future?
Do you believe I can make you feel better?

Do you believe in love at first sight?
It’s an illusion, I don’t care
Do you believe I can make you feel better?
Too much confusion, come on over here

It’s all an illusion
There’s too much confusion
I’ll make you feel better
If it’s bitter at the start, then it’s sweeter in the end

- performed by Madonna
- taken from Madonna's "Confessions On A Dancefloor" LP

Revenge.

I've now put into place a 'moderator' on the comments placed on my blog. Spam bloggers and spam commentators beware, you're not hacking into this blog anytime soon. Biatches.

Love.

Leave me alone. Leave me alone.

Pictures from the Kelly Clarkson 'Breakaway' Tour @ Rod Laver Arena. 09.11.05

I had a moment with her. She looked at me while singing 'Because Of You'. I almost cried. I wanted to faint. Clarkson also did a show-stopping rendition of Annie Lennox's 'Why'.



'Wha-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-ay?'

I loved the fact that all the 12 yo girls in the audience had no idea how important and special that song was. It was great to see Clarkson finally make everyone believe the hype. She is an amazing vocalist, song writer and performer. An impressive point was her ability to hold her own on a stage with just a band; no backup vocalists. Madonna and Kylie would die. Not that you go to see either of their shows for their vocals. *insert bells and whistles here*.



Kelly talks alot. But not in the annoying my-name-is-christina-and-i'll-talk-like-i'm-black sort of way. She was bubbly, and for such a bubbly, positive person, her music is certainly depressing, if not suicidal. She spoke like she was a 12 year old high on wizz fizz, but sang like she was a bitter woman who was over the crap that men dished out to her. Love it. Love her.



A simple and stunning concert.


OnAir with BlackPunk : Sugababes - Taller In Most Ways (LP)

Industria on Gertrude. Desk on Hold. Is it Ashwood? Oak?

We started our day at Bear Brass. Oak's day was destined to be a day ruled by losing money and loving the Heinekens. Matt and I got all dressed up for the occasion, and as we travelled to Flemington, the whole travelling crew practised their 'Who are you dressed by today?' speech.

"Today, I'm wearing a suit, shirt and tie by Arthur Galan AG, shoes by Dolce & Gabbana, socks by Polo Ralph Lauren..." Wank.

It got more and more ridiculous the more and more we drank. Good times.

Paulina looked stunning in a Scanlan & Theodore dress. There you go sweetie. Love you too. As Matt & I continued to throw back the Heinekens we started to get restless, pointing out the number of truely hideously dressed women (and men) in the Nursery Carpark, at which point we decided to check out General Admission. Something I will never be able to witness ever again. It was really scary. We hastily power walked our arses out of there and back into familiar territory. Another Heineken thanks.








OnAir with BlackPunk : Madonna - Confessions On A Dancefloor (LP)