I read this during my recent trip to Seattle, an impulse buy as I was waiting in Terminal 4. As always, a tough book to read, with hardcore subject matter.
Welsh creates some good characters as he develops the story of a Scottish cop, holidaying in Florida with his fiancée as he tries to recover from a particularly unpleasant child murder case.
Our ‘hero’ Ray ends up embroiled in a protection case of his own, escorting a young vulnerable girl to safety after she finds herself in danger from paedophiles.
Whilst Welsh creates a good story, it isn’t a taut thriller that keeps the pages turning. You care about the characters, and so you keep going – but I did find it a little bit dry, no great twist, no great revelation.
I’ll keep hoping for Welsh, I like his style – but I think he needs to get back to his roots a little bit.
Took my sorry ass off to the Lincoln Square cinema in Bellevue to see the new Robert De Niro and Al Pacino movie – ‘Righteous Kill’ yesterday, and whilst I was enjoying the giant seat, enormous popcorn and gallon of diet coke, I managed to see a really good film.
De Niro and Pacino play two experienced New York cops, dealing with serious crimes and even more serious criminals. As some of the more seedier criminals start getting murdered in cold blood – it becomes clear that these two are some how involved.
Getting these two back together has taken 13 years (1995’s – Heat), and it is an irresistible combination. Just one of these actors on screen is a treat, to have them both is electrifying. Unfortunately, the script doesn’t really match up to the great acting – sure, there are some laughs – but those feel mainly down to the delivery than to the sharp writing. The filming and direction seems a bit pedestrian, and the surrounding cast really don’t live up to lead players (maybe excluding Brian Dennehy). Casting 50 cent (billed is Curtis Jackson) in amongst these two, is not a pretty sight.
All that aside – it is a movie worth seeing, if only to witness two of the best actors in the same frame – that alone is worth $10 and two hours spend drinking the worlds biggest soft drink.
Righteous Kill is released on the 25th September in the UK
I’ve had a whole week enjoying the new Kings of Leon album – and it is an absolute corker.
By the time I post this – I fully expect them to be number one (yep – they are) with ‘Sex on Fire’ and so this album will be eagerly awaited.
This is a monster of an album – a spaced out desert sound – loads of reverb and squealing guitars. Super vocals from Caleb Followill, and ample backing from the rest of the brothers.
In a nutshell – buy this album, you won’t be disappointed – I’d love your opinion if you’ve heard this – I’m new to the Kings of Leon in detail, so what should I listen to next?
For a track by track, click more
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I’ll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah
At 73 – many men would be settling down to a life of repose, but Leonard Cohen has been on a comeback tour – taking in festivals and arenas all over the shop. Last night he took to the stage in sharp suit and hat and delivered an amazing set ‘just the other side of intimacy’ at the O2.
So I couldn’t resist my first trip to the O2, to see Leonard Cohen playing a sold out arena for his only solo date in London on this tour. Some new tour dates have been announced – tickets on sale tomorrow.
The band were truly sublime, mixing gentle jazzy sounds, with precision arrangements and delivery. The backing vocalists – Sharon Robinson and the Webb Sisters were fantastic. There was a selection of songs from right across the catalogue, Bird on a Wire, Suzanne – through to Democracy and In my Secret Life.
Leonard Cohen was wonderful – humble, but with a just a touch of stage aristocracy. The voice rumbled around the huge auditorium, roaring at the right moments – soft and gentle in between songs when he recited a few lines or made some funny comments.
Highlights for me were a spoken word version of ‘A thousand kisses deep’, ‘Everybody Knows’ and the most amazing version of Hallelujah – which totally reclaims the song from every piss-poor cover version of recent years.
It was a truly sublime concert – and ticks one of the boxes of live music that I need to see before I die (Scott Walker is the other if you’re interested – and that box may remain empty for some time).
The O2 is a little bit sterile for this sort of gig (great venue in terms of sound and size – travel from the west of London is a bit of mission) – I suppose it will suit the Coldplay/Elton John gigs down to the ground, but you can’t blame them for picking a venue with great sound (if a little quiet) and loads of seats.
Tracklist after the jump – although my memory is a bit shaky.
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I read this during my recent trip to Seattle, an impulse buy as I was waiting in Terminal 4. As always, a tough book to read, with hardcore subject matter. 
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