Movie Blitz 6/7/11

My last Movie Blitz was pretty depressing, with a load of disappointing movies. Now that the Spring/Summer's upon us, there's been quite a change!

X-Men: First Class
I grew up with the comics and have always been a big fan of the movie franchise. And unsurprisingly, I loved this reboot/prequel. It's right up their with the Star Trek reboot from a couple of years ago. Smart, well acted and cast, and completely thrilling (even if they messed with some of the continuity). The truth is, even though I'm a built-in audience, I didn't think I'd like it as much as I did! A

Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules
Another thing I'm a fan of. The books are hilarious and the first movie was quite the little charmer. I think this is even better than the first one, though. The cast has really grown into their roles and the middle-school humor is always cringingly, realistically awkward. A-

Hanna
I wasn't sure what to expect from this movie, but I had high hopes. It ended up being even more enjoyable than I thought it would. Amazing direction and acting make this a solid thriller, but the real jolt of human emotion sets it above the pack. A

Fast Five
I'm not a fan of this franchise (although, to be honest, I've only seen #4), but as an action movie, this blew me away. Sure, the writing/acting can be cliched and eye-rolling, but this has the best action sequences I've seen in years. Stuff that'll really take your breath away. That entire last sequence? WOW. A-

Thor
I make it a point to see every Marvel Comics movie, as I was such a Marvel nut growing up. Thor's never been one of my favorites. They did what they could with him, but I found myself slightly underwhelmed. Still, it's a solid lead-in for next year's sure-to-be-epic Avengers movie. B-

Ultraviolet Sound - Dead On The Dancefloor

"Music is my freedom"

Ultraviolet Sound are that rare thing: a genuine, American electropop group. With emphasis on the POP. This is the kind of music I expect to see coming out of Scandinavia, so it was a great surprise when I heard their single Girl Talk on the radio the other day. It's no Alphabeat (Americans aren't capable of being that unironically joyful), but it's about as close as we're gonna get. Dead On The Dancefloor, one of several standouts from their new album, is a pulsing dance track with a real 80's feel. Sarah Hudson's vocals have a glossy, cotton candy feel to them, reminiscent of similar acts like Jessie & The Toy Boys and Alice In Videoland. I could honestly do with a little less of a Hot Topic look for them when it comes to styling, but that's a minor gripe.

Ultraviolet Sound - Dead On The Dancefloor by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Pop Blitz 6/3/11

The Wanted - Glad You Came
The world's most relevant boyband (currently, at least) returns with a new single inspired by European dance hits of the past few years. It's a natural transition and an interesting choice for them. The production definitely works. I think I'm going to need to give the melody a chance to grow, though. B+

Coldplay - Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall
I didn't even know they were releasing a new single this month. I've never been as big a fan as some (always preferred Keane, to be honest), and although this doesn't have the wow factor that Viva La Vida had, it's much better than I expected. I dig the power pop melody, though the production feels a little muddled. B

Pitbull - Give Me Everything
Does it sound like all of the other urban/dance hybrids out there? Yep. But it's at least a pretty solid example of the genre. It'll sound dated in about a month, but there are definitely worse things out there. B-

Joe Jonas - See No More
This project had so much potential, but this song is not very good. The verses are nonexistent and the chorus sounds like a weak Jesse McCartney track. I never really liked the Jonas Brothers, but their singles were better than this. C-

Aloe Blacc - I Need A Dollar
This is a real throwback, and I'm happy to see such a strong soul track doing well in the UK. It's the Adele factor, I guess. People are into this kind of stuff. It's got a real authenticity to it and is spot-on lyrically for this particular moment in time. B

Nicki Minaj - Super Bass
I've tried to get into the whole Minaj thing, but it hasn't been easy. I do like this. It's got that crazy sound you want with Nicki's music, but doesn't forget a strong(ish) hook. B

Alex Gaudino - What A Feeling
Kelly Rowland again ventures into the dance realm with this collaboration. It's, as usual, a great match for her vocals. The song could be stronger, but it'll do for the Summer. B+

The Potbelleez - Feed Off Me

"Where do I end, where do you begin?"

I've written about Australia's Potbelleez once before (how's that for an opening sentence?), and remarked about how much I hate their band name. It's completely unappealing and makes you anticipate some dreadful, boozy schlock rock outfit. In fact, this band makes trendy, commercial dance pop. Throughout the album, vocals are shared between several band members, making for a somewhat scattershot listen. But when it works, it works. Opening track, Feed Off Me, forgoes the trendiness that mars some of the later songs for a straightforward, anthemic pop sound. There's a rock influence here as well, which gives the whole thing a meatier production. Fans of Swedish dance pop (like the Attic, for instance) will love this.

The Potbelleez - Feed Off Me by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Son Of A Kid - Like You

"She asked me what my dreams were"

My beloved Set Fire Run (formerly known as Dyno) have changed their name yet again and are now Son Of A Kid. They've been a little vague about the reasoning behind this and what exactly it means, but it seems as if there's been a bit of shift in focus from the trio towards more of an individual artist. I could be wrong, though. What's important is that the music's still coming. Along with the name change, we've got a new song. Like You has been recorded in both a Son of a Kid version and a Set Fire Run version. Not being one to let things go easily, I'm a bit obsessed with the Set Fire Run recording. As usual, the standard's incredibly high. It might not be 100% commercial or trendy, but this is real pop music. Let's hope the third time's the charm and these guys break out the way they deserve to!

Like You (Set Fire Run version) by sonofakid

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. 'Like' the new facebook page here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.