One of the reasons the Hip are such a Canadian musical institution is that they consistently produce quality records with no filler. There is always some looks to their past and a few new ideas thrown in on each succesive record. World Container is no different and is probably the most varied and ambitiuos in a while. Probably a result of bringing in Bob Rock. However, with perhaps the exception of "In View", they do not pander to the mainstream, stay loyal to their path and blaze some new ones.

My one complaint with the Hip over the past few years is that Downie's performances tended to be overly reserved on the records and over-the-top, 'always at 10' in the concerts - with no dynamics. On this record we see a great mix of studio and live-Gord: yelling, singing, soft, loud, yeahs, yelps and all the tics that make him such a great showman. Even some of the rants of last tour make it into a couple of the songs, which is a real treat for fans. The band never disappoints and Rob Baker continues to be one of the most creative and under-rated guitarists out there.

Highlights are many but "Lonely End of the Rink", "Love Sic", "Kids Don't Get It", "Family Band" and especially "The Drop Off" should be absolutely killer in concert.

Romantic.

Oh Titanic movie, I love you. I totally couldn't believe that Jack and Rose fell in love despite all that they were up against.

It's so hard to believe they could finally get together and find out that they are soul mates. After all, she was engaged to a very rich man with beautiful jewels and high-class friends in First Class. While Jack was a starving artist in STEARAGE! Unbelievable...

But it sure was the right decision because Rose's fiance was downright bad. Do you know how I know, he said mean things about Jack, just because he was poor and he was jealous and he was mean to Rose. I couldn't believe that he lied to save his own skin when Titanic was sinking!! Only a truly evil man would do such a thing. I think we can all agree that Jack was right for Rose, even though he had no money. He was so caring and thoughtful and he opened up her eyes to things she had never seen before.

Girls, you should always go for the man with the kind heart not the big wallet because the guy with big wallet is always bad, even if he doesn't wear a black cape, top hat and pencil-thin moustache. Titanic clearly shows us that helpful lesson.

In all Titanic is the best movie ever. Anyone who thinks I'm wrong just has to look at all the Academy awards it won. It will forever be remembered alongside other best picture classics like Gladiator, Braveheart and my-second favourite movie ever: Forest Gump!

Wolfmother without a doubt is reinventing the hard rock genesis that Sabbath and Zepplin created in the early 70s. What is so impressive is how good it is.

Although the musicianship isn't up to the lengendary levels of Page, Plant, Iommi etc. the energy and power are as close to it as anything else produced in the last 20 years.

This group understands what made rock and roll so fanatstic in the 70s. If they grow and improve on this base, they will be something truly special for the next generation of purist rock and roll fans.

This is a 3/4 star album but I give them the benefit of the doubt as it is a very ambitious debut.

There are some very strong songs here. It gets a little gimmicky here and there (the questionable operatic intro and unfortunate lyrics to 'If You Talk to Much' sullies what is otherwise the strongest track on the album). Slip-ups are overcome by songs such as 'Moth', 'Rush' and 'Miles Around', which are well-rounded, progressive rock.

I hope this group keeps it together because they obviously have some serious rock and roll skills that just need to be focused properly.

Constantines defy categorization. They can be sweetly soft and melodic for one song, introspective and dark the next, throw a curveball with something brash raw and angry and then bring it all together with perfect rock guitar hook. All on one album and it all fits perfectly together, seemingly defying logic.

Their songcraft is not only original and totally engrossing but it reflects a cohesiveness and passion that one rarely sees in bands that have been together for years, let alone one that is only on their third album.

Expect big things...

This is still (in 2006) the best record PJ has made since Vitalogy - maybe even better considering the album as a whole. It seems, however, that it never resonated fully with the public and some fans the way 10, Vs. and Vitalogy did because of the long layoff and more importantly, the fact its predecessor, No Code, was a commerical disappointment. This is unfortunate because Yield stands up, song for song, with their very best works.

This is one of the few instances where a critically and publically acclaimed band delivered, when the bar had been set impossibly high.

I thought their first two albums were quite good but spotty in places. This album is, song-for-song, an exceptional piece of work. Each song can stand on its own yet flows perfectly and effortlessly with the next.

No one would have been surprised if Coldplay tripped-up on the intense scrutiny and hype that preceded this record (it seems that there are some reviewers who are still trying to knock them down a peg). However, in my opinion, they triumphed.

Coldplay has taken the mantle from U2 as the best middle-of the-road band that everyone on earth has heard of.

Not an easy accomplishment...

David Cronenberg's portfolio of work always frustrated me. You could see the creative genius behind the many, varied stories he told but they always seemed to come up a bit short or go over the top or strain credulity. I used to believe 'Naked Lunch' was his best work, especially considering the obtuse source material. However, this is the director's crowning achievement.

AHoV finally gets the balance between story, characters and violence/horror/gore that his previous films could never quite find. The pacing of the film is absolutely perfect and aftre starting slowly, accelerates to the unusual conclusion. Perhaps the greatest surprise of the film is that after the initial curveball, there are no more real surprises - it unfolds in a wholly believable yet gripping storyline.

One constant in Cronenberg's work is excellence in casting and here there is no let-down. Mortenson, Hurt, Bello and Harris are brilliant. The couple of poor reviews here seem to be due to disgruntled Lord of the Rings fans. It should be needless to say that this is NOT Lord of the Rings but some people are not too bright.

As the Amazon review states, this film is "worthy of serious study and widespread acclaim".

To assert that anything from this album is rip-off or unoriginal is ludicrous. Absolutely, you can hear the influences of southern rock, prog, jam-bands and some other genres thrown in, but the genius is taking those influences and creating something new and exciting.

If this isn't one of the very best albums of '05, I don't know what is. I haven't stopped listenting to it for the past year and I enjoy it more and get more out of the songs every time I do. Moreover, the songs translate surprisinly well to the live show and I am eagerly awaiting the proposed DVD.

'Z' may be the most original and progressive record to come out in the past 5 years not recorded by a band named Radiohead. An absolute masterpiece and highly recommended.

Dead Man is not without it's faults (the main one being it really drags in a couple of places) but it should still be required study for every serious film director.

This film blends exceptional acting, beautiful cinematography, sparse but biting dialogue, dark humour and a haunting score to demonstrate what directors, actors, producers, composers (the whole lot) should aspire to.

This is a reaffirmation that film can still be an artform and not a mass-consumable widget. Perhaps the reason that there aren't more films like Dead Man is that the chief ingredients are imagination, creativity and a willingness to sidestep convention.