Unrestricted #3

Television: The Walking Dead

Set in present day America, The Walking Dead follows a group of characters as they try to survive in a world torn apart and riddled with the dead. Unlike many zombie films and television shows, The Walking Dead has depth and a good solid story with good solid characters and acting which is just as good as what you'd find anywhere else. The writing is crisp and realistic, never verging on the melodramatic. If you can throw away any preconceived notions of the horror genre before watching this fantastic show, then you will be blown away - not only is this show paced fantastically, it also does not rely on constant action which allows for great characterisation and for the audience to be able to see the interaction and interplay between the characters which is vital for a show which, at its core, is about humanity and our moral and ethical guidelines. Now entering its third season, The Walking Dead is one of the best pieces of drama you will see on television today.

Music: Mogwai

Mogwai are a 5 piece post-rock band formed in the mid 1990's who specialise in instrumentation and distorting effects. So far the band have released 7 studio albums, with the first, Mogwai Young Team, standing out due to the great inventive nature of the sound and its gripping and spellbinding qualities, taking hold of you from its haunting opening to its heavy and disorientating finish. Mogwai really are one of the most original bands out there, with every album possessing its own unique sound and vision.

Unrestricted #1

Unrestricted is going to be a weekly (or every two weeks) entry about what I am loving in the world of music, television, film, literature and some other fields. The main idea behind this is that the blog is mainly focused of theatre and so these entries will help it becomes more rounded, whilst also giving insight into different arts fields. My picks will not necessarily be new releases, nor will they always be the old classics; instead being what I am loving right now.

Music: Bjork - Biophilia

Bjork's newest album combines the beautiful simplicity of Vespertine with the electronic nature of Homogenic to form an album which is huge in scope. Taking inspiration from nature and how the universe works, Bjork skillfully weaves her beautiful lyrics with a sound scape of drum and bass whilst also incorporating an ever changing app (which sadly does loose its appeal after time). The real stand out tracks on the album are Thunderbolt, Mutual Core and Sacrifice. What is really interesting about the album is how it has evolved as I went to see Bjork perform this new material at the MIF (Manchester International Festival) and since, the tracks which appear on the album are darker, more intense and bigger in scale. Admittedly this is not Bjork's best album (although it is near the top), but it is refreshing and it is always great to hear new material from the ever evolving performer that is Bjork.

Literature: Albert Camus - The Outsider

Albert Camus' infamous novella The Outsider has alluded me all these years and so I recently seizes the opportunity to finally get round to reading it. The short work is centred around the narrator, Mearsault, and is split into two parts - part one being his freedom and part two being a captive. Without wanting to ruin the book for those who have not read it, it really is astonishing in capturing the real essence behind the notion of being free and the idea of society expecting certain things from individuals. Although a quick read, Camus' writing offers enough insight into the workings of the characters which allows for this beautiful book to flow from one scenario to another. Highly recommended, especially for fans of existentialist literature or indeed those who want a thought-provoking and challenging read.

Television: Entourage

Entourage is a brilliantly executed, hilarious television show from HBO which features some truly hilarious performances and cameos from those within the world of Vince, a rising star in Hollywood. Each episode, though short in length, offer a burst of entertainment which no other show can rival - the foul mouthed tirades from Ari, the quick one liners from Drama and the camaraderie are just a few features which help make Entourage unique and highly addictive. The show, however, does loose momentum in the final seasons in comparison the first few, but still remains intoxicating viewing.