RYDER CUP 2012 FINAL DAY REVIEW

Looking back at a wonderful three days of team golf, there is not a lot to complain about for Europe. With a seemingly impossible task on the final day singles, it looked like USA would take the Ryder Cup on their own Chicago turf. Davis Love's men only needed to find 4.5 out of 12 available points on the final day to take the ultimate prize in golf. With a nerve-racking start due to Rory McIlroy's late arrival, it seemed like Europe were set to lose it all.

However after sterling match wins by Luke Donald, Ian Poulter, Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose and Paul Lawrie,  the job was looking a bit closer to possible.

One man in need of definite recognition is Ian Poulter - he is the definition of the modern Ryder Cup. So passionate and inspiringly emotional, he bagged 100% of his points from the games he played, holing many long putts and rallying the Europeans to no end. Celebrating every magnificent shot with a fist bump and a roar, his passion infectious throughout his team. He was also the only player on Team Europe to not concede any points. Let's hope he can keep up his emphatic form and come through and win a major or two.

Another exciting game was Sergio Garcia's narrow win over ever consistent Jim Furyk. Watching this game I found myself getting ever annoyed with how many greens and fairways Furyk hits, and how docile he was about it all (second only to Dufner, who's facial expressions suggested he didn't know where he was). The loopy-swinged veteran bore down on fan favourite Garcia, and often seemed to have the beating of him. With some uncharacteristic errors from Furyk, Garcia was handed the win on the 17th green.

Soon the score was 13-13 with two games left to finish, both at all square; Kaymer/Stricker and Molinari/Woods. Stricker, who's putting had been rocky all weekend, managed to pull off a few unlikely long putts to take the game to the end. Kaymer had only feature in one of the previous 4 matches over the weekend and looked uncertain. Suddenly he had a put for the championship, and thoughts immediately reverted back to fellow countryman Bernhard Langer's 1991 missed putt for the championship. But no such woe, Kaymer hit the ball true and it hit the centre of the cup at pace, sealing the championship at 14-13 to Europe with one match left to finish (A draw was enough for Europe to retain.

Now here comes the painful part for the remaining match. Francesco Molinari and Tiger Woods had to finish their game, knowing that it was inconsequential and that they were missing out on the start of the Team Europe's celebrations. I feel for the pair, who had to wait a good fifteen minutes to play their approach shots to the green, knowing that Tiger could only try and halve the championship by winning his match.

Once they got to the green, they had to similar length putts to halve the hole, though Tiger had one shot in hand and putted to secure the match and the final point. He missed the putt and then to the world's surprise, Woods gave Molinari his not entirely unmissable three foot putt to half that match in the most sporting gesture in recent years. This secured a win - not just a half- for the Europeans at 14.5-13.5.

This sentimental sporting act may have got the one time world number one up in the world's estimations, but he was blasted by the bookies, who lost millions on paying out winning bets. Apparently no one bets on a draw for the championship, and a 14-14 finish would have upped the profits massively for many betting companies.


Woods said: "I went one up at 17, and I asked what was going on down at 18 because my responsibility was to be able to get my point.

“Then they said that Europe has a chance to win on this hole, or retain the Cup.

"Then after that all went down, my putt was useless. It was inconsequential. So I hit it too quick and gave him his putt and it was already over."

A special mention has to go to one of the most loveable characters in golf and the captain of the European team, Jose Maria Olazabal. He rallied his team with motivational speeches, and moved the record breaking television audience with a breathtaking emotional toast to former playing partner, the late Seve Ballasteros.

No more Ryder Cup for another two years, but plenty of exciting golf in between. Two years for Donald, Westwood and Poulter to get some major championship wins under their belts and battle to retain the cup in Scotland in 2014.

RUSH

One of my favourite comedy films at the moment is I Love You Man, starring the hilarious Paul Rudd and Jason Segal. If you haven't seen it already then I really recommend it. It puts a crude and blokey spin on the Rom-Com genre - it's one of those that you can convince your lady to watch on date night, as well as enjoy with your mates. It is one of the few films that I could feasibly watch every day.

The film however is not the main focus of this article today. This being (loosely) a music blog, I want to focus on the band that Peter Klaven (Rudd) and Sydney Fyfe (Segal) are both obsessed with - Rush. The duo's friendship blooms through their love of the band and their jam sessions to songs of which.

I am actually ashamed to say that it was the film made decades after the formation of Rush that made me have a listen to them. Originating from the same era as Sabbath, Purple and Hawkwind, the equally Daddish prog-rock trio are still going strong nowadays, and even appear in the film itself.

The two songs that were in the film and that convinced me to have a listen to some old Rush albums are Tom Sawyer and Limelight. Neither are as progressive and intricate as some of the other more complicated tracks - one particular symphony called The Necromancer (hmm) is a 12 minute journey that truly expresses the smokey intricacy of the band.

Neil Peart is one of the greatest technical drummers in the business, and it definitely shows in Rush's music. He is one of the drummers that actually uses every part of his behemoth kit, none of it for show. Every track is filled with impossible drum fills and double bass drum blasts - one of the aspects of any band that sucks me in consistently. This old video of the track YYZ is an exciting showcase of the talent of the trio:

Though this band aren't my favourite of my Dad's record collection, the technical brilliance of the band and prog rock genre has to be admired. I guess you have to be in a certain mood to listen back to any big rock band of the era, but if you have a classic/prog rock playlist, make sure you get a few of the mentioned key tracks on there. I find it great music to cook to for example.

Watch the film too if you haven't already. Actually watch any film with either of both of the main actors in it. Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Knocked Up, Anchorman, 40 Year Old virgin etc.

Breaking Bad - My new favourite thing ever.

You know when you have got some spare time and you want a new television programme to sit in front of? Well my favourite watches used to be Friends, Scrubs, Heroes, The Office etc., all great shows (in my opinion) but I have watched them all multiple times. Previously ignored suggestions from friends included The Wire, Californication, and most devastatingly Breaking Bad. but after hearing all about the series and being implored to watch it multiple times I decided to sign up for another free month with Netflix and get stuck in.

I was instantly and pleasantly surprised to learn that Bryan Cranston played the starring role of Walter White. Cranston most famously played Hal in the series Malcolm In The Middle, which used to be one of my favourite daytime programmes. after reading a brief synopsis of Breaking Bad, I was intrigued to witness how Bryan Cranston would play such a different character to Hal Wilkerson - a happy go lucky Dad of four boys who was endearingly clumsy and eccentric. Whereas Walter White is presented to start with as a meek and often frail fifty year old family man and over-qualified chemistry teacher. The simple premise of series is as follows: Walter White is giving only months to live, so he turns to cooking his own perfect recipe of crystal meth with his ex-pupil sidekick, in order to leave his wife, son and unborn daughter with enough money to get by once he has gone.

The partnering performance is put in by relative unknown Aaron Paul, playing Jesse Pinkman - the ex-pupil of Mr White and a slap-dash drug dealer who evades the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) by the skin of his teeth every time. Pinkman's character is oddly warming, as he yos and bitches his way through a never ending plethora of unfortunate events.

Now I don't want that guy that gives away the whole plot and spoils it for everyone, so I will try not to be. But one thing that strikes me now I am into the third series is how grippingly the characters are developed throughout the episodes. The transformation Walt goes on throughout is utterly compelling, as he battles through two jobs, illness and parenthood. And at the same time, Pinkman develops with his 'partner' and they go from being an unlikely pairing, to a couple of the most powerful drug lords in Albequerque, New Mexico.

The supporting performances have to commended too, without giving too much away. Mr White's son Walter Jnr. suffers with cerebral palsy. Actor RJ Mitte also suffers with the illness, but had to regress from his therapy in order to portray the heightened symptoms that the character is subject to. Walking only on crutches and slurring his speech, Walt Jnr. tugs at the tightest heartstrings and is the cornerstone of the White family, with his Dad and Mum thinking only of his comfort.

Mother Skyler White is played Anna Gunn. She is the only part of this series that consistently grates on  me - she always has something to complain about. And her eyes are really scary and off putting, and what a shit name.

Mary and Hank Schrader are Skyler White's sister and brother in law. They are the supportive secondary family to the Whites, and though seemingly minor irritant in the script to begin with, they become increasingly pivotal in later series. And you will also come to learn that DEA Hank Schrader is one hard bastard.


I'm not sure what else I can say about the show without giving the brilliance away. But it has become one of my favourite series of all times - up there with Scrubs and Friends, and if you know me, then you will realise how much of a big deal this is. It is not necessarily an easy watch, but it is as compelling as they come - every episode ends with a hook to keep you interested. Honestly, if you have 45 minutes to spare every day, you'll get through most of the episodes before your free month with Netflix is over.

And people doubted Netflix's value for money!

Back to blogging

It has been a fair while since my last blog and I really need to get back to it. I have had a load of shit thrown my way in the last few months but it is time to get back on the horse. I am going to open up this blog to more than just music, for when I feel like boring you lot with football, films or food.

Coming up is a generous post about my recent trip to Bestival, as well as some of the better films and or music releases I have listened to recently. I also want to give writing about my apparently experimental cooking habits recently, even if it is just to give me something to do while I'm being a bum/job hunting.

See you soon.

Wasting Light

My favourite album of this year so far is with out a doubt Foo Fighters - Wasting light. It is excellent from start to finish, and my favourite of all their albums. A opinion possibly not shared by the biggest Foo fans, as most prefer the early offerings from Dave, Taylor and co.

Bridge burning is a perfect opener to the album, introducing one of their highest octane albums so far - and I think this is why it is my favourite. It is on par as an opener with the anthemic All My Life and The Pretender. I'm glad Mr Grohl has included his fierce screeching ability in this song (and album overall) as it was fairly limited in Echoes... White Limo is one of their heaviest songs so far, and is much like Q.O.T.S.A's Six Shooter, which perhaps not at all coincidently, Dave drummed for.

I had the enormous fortune to see them play early July at Milton Keynes Bowl. Three hours of ferocious but utopian music, a proper gig experience. They even played old favourite such as Breakout, The One, Learn to Fly and the original version of Everlong - which had been replaced with an acoustic counterpart up until recently.With a guest appearance from Alice Cooper himself, this show was one to remember.

Dave Grohl is one of the greatest performers, and all round chaps around. Three or four songs in, he had a short breather and a sip of beer, and jeers from the crowd ended up with him seeing it gone. An act that would seal his place in my immediate social company forever. He's just one of those guys that I know would be a lovely bloke. One of them that you could sit with and have a massive laugh. Sigh.

Anyway, back to the album.
My favourite Foo Fighters track is now Rope. Before this it was Times Like These. I'm not sure many would agree with my choices as they have so many more famous and classic tracks. It would be interesting to know everyone's favourite. Rope wins my vote though mainly for Taylor's incredible drum track. The riding in the chorus is too much, together with some emphatic fills and a solitary cowbell hit for good measure. Foo Fighters is home to two of my favourite drummers anywhere, Dave and Taylor. Check this out...

Wonderful.

Arlandria is another favourite from the album. It is home to one of my favourite lyrics of the record:
"Shame, shame go away, come again some other day.
Memories keep haunting me, help me chase them all away."

I'm not sure why I like it so much, lyrics have never been the main thing to attract me to a song, but these say something. 

Admittedly Wasting Light falls away rather after Back and Forth, but is picked up again by the end track, Walk.

I have listened to this record everyday for the last few weeks. If you haven't listened to the album already, I implore you. Do it. 

Revision Music

It's that time again, time to knuckle down and think of new ways to procrastinate. I feel I want to tell you all about my favourite music to revise to, or in this case, write a 'useful' article to. I've never been one to revise particularly well, but I definitely cannot do it in silence.

I like to start with an epic song, something that will get you in the mood for a few hours of solid(ish) productivity. For me, Heather Small - Proud works. It is big song that guilts me into starting work. If you find yourself singing along, that's fine too. Don't stop until you get enough does the job just as well, it's all a personal preference.

After a bit of Heather Small I like to introduce a band that I know really well - I find it hard to revise while listening to something I have not heard before, as it takes more concentration on first listen. Take Kasabian, Three albums worth of music that seems to help  me work. The more mellow Club Foot and The Doberman are key tracks, but it pays to put the artists on shuffle so you don't keep fiddling about with it. The Rapture - Pieces of the People We Love as an album is also an excellent and easy listen that you can nod your head too.

Massive Attack is another good shout, as it will soothe you into impenetrable calm, ready to work. I tend to try and stay away from music with big beats during revision, as I end up too involved with the music rather than the work in hand. So too is the case with Rap or anything with endless lyrics, as I know I will start trying listen to every word of it, taking my thoughts off of Bordieu's theory of Distinction.

Justin Timberlake, Fatboy Slim, Gorillaz, Blur, Arctic Monkeys, Them Crooked Vultures, Jamiroquai, and Elbow are all great, - as long as you mix it up a bit.

Most acoustic music will work too, as it is simple and calming, though too much of it leaves me bored and slightly frustrated, as some of the acoustic covers floating around on Spotify make me angry.

Anyway, I suppose you all already have your revision playlists sorted, so pay me no heed. I just wrote this to feel productive. GOOD LUCK!

Give A Little Listen

Do you remember the unbearably nineties boy-trio that gave us MMMbop , Hanson? Of course you do.  So they are back. Well, they never actually left, with 8 studio albums under their belt. However, I challenge anyone to name more than three songs.

The new(ish) single ‘Give A Little’ was released in February this year, and is definitely a million miles from my usual music taste. If I did not enjoy the song then I would feel really quite embarrassed about writing this. Actually no, I still feel a bit silly.

The song is simple, catchy and likeable, but I wonder if anyone would notice them had it not been for their exuberant bubblegum presence in the late nineties. The glib trio, now 31, 28 and 26, have grown into a suave bunch having lost the feminine hair styles and dungarees, and it is now evident that they are all definitely male.

Judge me if you will, I like it. The video is fun too, just lots of colourfully dressed people dancing around in an awfully contagious manor.  If you don’t appreciate it then put it down, I just think it’s worth a go, for nostalgia's sake.