this is the mutts nuts

Advantages: lyrics to die for
Disadvantages: not enough tracks

...Mr love pants has got to be the best album ever. Ian dury is the quite essential urban poet and every time you listen you will spot something memorable that you will want to quote down the pub or even when trying to impress your future partner. Actually I only bought it unheard because the dog on the cover is identical to mine! But when you play this CD the music and lyrics hit you like a sledgehammer and yiu just want to keep playing it to soak up more poetry. Ian Dury's lyrics are just so clever, clever, clever. The first track, 'Jack s**t George is surely autobiographical and relates the thoughts of someone who was failed by the education system, with lines like 'When have you ever been top of the class- not once. What will you be when you're out on your a***- a dunce.' My favourite lyric of the whole album is from track 7...

doctorloz 24.05.2006 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Mr. Love Pants - Ian Dury & The Blockheads

Scrupulously-researched moving biography of a unique character ,

Advantages: Well-rounded, objective picture of the man and his times
Disadvantages: Lacks index

...Ian Dury was a complete one-off. Stricken with polio in childhood, born in middle-class Harrow but determined to shake off such origins to the extent of acquiring a real Cockney accent, he became an art school rebel whose early pub-rock experiences, as front man of Kilburn & the High Roads, led to one frustrating move after another. But he came out smiling, briefly, with the music sea change that was punk and new wave from the end of 1976 onwards when he put together a band, eventually christened the Blockheads, to take Britain by the scruff of the neck, hitting the Top 10 with "What A Waste" and going all the way to No. 1 with "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick". After that it went pear-shaped, and a short career in films and associated avenues beckoned, before he started working for children's and cancer charities, and returning to...

JOHNV 15.07.2000 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Sex & Drugs & Rock'n'Roll: The Life of Ian Dury - Richard Balls

Wishing us a fond farewell

Advantages: great music even better lyrics
Disadvantages: this is the last!!!!! and Robbie Williams is on it.

...If you like Ian Dury and you don't own this CD you should be knocking on Woolies' door first thing in the morning because this is too good to miss. It probably won't be remembered as a classic but it is, after all, the last album by Ian Dury and the Blockheads. The songs were recorded between 1991 and 2000 and Blockheads dubs were added in 2001.The album was organised by Ian's wife Sophy, daughter Jemima, son Dexter, the Blockheads and Jamie Spencer and all at east central one who released Ian Dury and the Blockheads previous albums. The whole project is a work of love and dedication to a great musician and urban poet with contributions by family, friends and fellow musicians. Ian Dury's lyrics are, as always, sublime.A sort of cross between Noel Coward and Spike Milligan, although there is not so much humour in this collection...

doctorloz 08.06.2006 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Ten More Turnips From The Tip - Ian Dury

Gutted it Wasn't Better

Advantages: Well paced
Disadvantages: Unrealistic ending

...There?s always a risk in taking on a new author, even in a genre that suggests you should enjoy the book. The quotes on the backs of books are usually unanimous in their praise and can?t be relied upon to be an accurate judge of the quality between the covers. But when an author is compared to others you already know are great writers, this does raise the expectation level a little. This is not always a good thing. Gus Dury is a former journalist, down on his luck and living most of his life at the bottom of a bottle, and the rest at the bottom of a pint glass. He?s running his deceased friend?s pub, but not terribly well and he?s drinking more profit than he?s making. One night, hearing a commotion on a hill and going to investigate, he literally stumbles across a murder victim. Found at the scene with blood on his hands, he...

Soho_Black 07.12.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Gutted - Tony Black

The Exiles-french cinema that isn't all post-coital cigarettes

Advantages: Beautiful scenery, great music and a nice story
Disadvantages: Some may dislike the lack of a concrete story

...vibrant and varied soundtracks I have heard. As Zano rather cheesily says a one point in the film 'My religion is music' and throughout much of the journey from Paris the couple are surrounded by music, first of all from being plugged into their music players and then increasingly from listening to live, local players which seems symbolic of their attempt to get in touch both with their roots and with people in general as they travel. The music ranges from techno to rock to flamenco and traditional Algerian and helps the film to come alive and as well as complementing the stunning cinematography throughout which focuses on the changing landscape and faces on the move south. Zano is played by Romain Duris, a common face in French cinema and plays his part of a slightly sombre and introspective artist extremely well, something which makes...

flyingllamas 17.09.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Exiles (DVD)

Top video!

Advantages: Catchy tune; tasty models as extras
Disadvantages: Bob as a skeleton. Urgh!

...Is it just me or are there shades of the late Ian Dury in Bob Williams' latest single when he does the talkie bits? Just me then? Thought so. So, what's going on with the video then, eh? Is it meant to be a strip tease gone wrong or something? I don't get it. Starts off all right. Bob strutting about, being cheeky, showing off his bod, etc. Generally, showing off the quality my girlfriend describes as "it". What does she mean? Well, Robbie "has just got 'it', don't know what 'it' is but you just gotta love him for 'it'". Didn't make sense to me either, chaps!!! Anyway, weird video + good song = loads of TV and newspaper attention + probably a new girl = big Number 1 and loads more money in the bank for Britain's Best Male. Nice one, Bob, you've done it again!...

chal 17.07.2000 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Rock DJ - Robbie Williams

Not his best....

Advantages: Still an excellent performance artist
Disadvantages: Where to now for him?

...Robbie's latest album is not quite up there with the likes of Millenium. I think he amy have lost a little of his edge, whether that be cos he aint taking drugs and getting as drunk no more or otherwise! The new song is 'average' but will almost certainly get to number 1 fuelled by the so called Robbie mania. I actually must agree with another Dooyoo member that there are tingles of Ian Dury in there which isnt a bad thing. The video actually looks quite cheap and as if it was done on a very tight budget. There doesnt seem to be any meaning or kind of story but then I suppose that aint essential for a pop video. Robbie does however seem to have a bobbing problem. He looks as if he wants to do the supergrass thing with the pogo-sticks, except without the pogo-sticks! Good artist but his latest isnt the best....

flashsweeney 18.07.2000 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of I've Been Expecting You - Robbie Williams

Lady in the water (dvd in the bin)

Advantages: an imaginatve story
Disadvantages: very poorly portrayed

...... Cleveland Heep Bryce Dallas Howard ... Story Jeffrey Wright ... Mr. Dury Bob Balaban ... Harry Farber Sarita Choudhury ... Anna Ran Cindy Cheung ... Young-Soon Choi M. Night Shyamalan ... Vick Ran Freddy Rodríguez ... Reggie Bill Irwin ... Mr. Leeds Mary Beth Hurt ... Mrs. Bell Noah Gray-Cabey ... Joey Dury Directed by - M. Night Shyamalan DVD info ////////\\\\\\\\ Runtime ? 110 mins Audio ? Dolby 5.1 Video ? 16.9 widescreen Certified ? pg Extras - story board to film comparison, deleted scenes and music and sound designs To sum up //////////\\\\\\\\\\ As I have mentioned earlier it seems a real shame that they couldn?t make this story work as I felt it could make a great movie. The trailer made it look like a fantastic watch but then trailers often do. The movie might appeal more to a younger...

lynseyb 25.05.2007 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Lady In The Water (DVD)

Naughty but nice

Advantages: Great food, central location, interesting toilets! Dramatic
Disadvantages: If you dont like classical music it could put you off as its all they play

...Sarastro is based on Dury Lane in London's Covent Garden area. Its a well known restaurant among the theatre going community and as such is a great place to go for either an early meal pre your show (around 6pm onwards), or a late meal afterwards (anything up to 11pm) The first thing I should tell you about Sarastro is that it is themed as an opera restaurant. Instead of normal tables in rows, when you walk into Sarastro you will see high off the ground almost ceiling level diners, who have accessed their opera box styled tables by climbing up a set of around 4 stairs and into their box. Beneath each box is a sort of cubby hole which houses another table, for those diners who either didn't book early enough to dine in a box, or who prefer to keep their feet on the flag stoned ground. The decor is all gilt framed mirrors, velvet...

Shoka 01.04.2006 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Sarastro Restaurant, London

The Coquette and the Cuckold

Advantages: A sharp script and direction, great performances and luscious production design.
Disadvantages: Subtitle-phobics beware!

...-tongued asides, which are beautifully translated in the subtitles, so after a while you forget you're reading the script and hear it instead. Romain Duris grasps the frustration of Jean-Baptiste Poquelin in his performance. The character is determined to pursue dramatic acting despite having no talent for it, thus making a rod for his own back. He's very observant and can spot faults in others but not himself. Duris imbues him with great humanity and gives an intense turn while fulfilling the pratfalling aspects of the script with aplomb. He also share lovely chemistry with his on-screen lover. Fabrice Luchini is a buffoonish foil to Duris, as the character of Monsieur Jourdain has no self-knowledge while being entirely self-obsessed. His performance as the pompous bumbler is over-the-top, but it fits the part's pressing desire to fit in...

afy9mab 12.03.2008 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Moliere (DVD)