. . . listening to: Sufjan Stevens, All Delighted People. His new album is out, but this hour-long "EP" shouldnt be ignored, especially the title track and the 17-minute closer, Djohariah.
Underworld, Barking. Their recent album may not be as banging as previous ones, but it's far more consistent.
Warpaint, Exquisite Corpse. The debut album of an LA all-girl four-piece who play Crawdaddy in Dublin on Thursday.
... watching
The Social NetworkDavid Fincher's impressive movie about Facebook, which features a performance of palm-dampening creepiness by Jesse Eisenberg as founder Mark Zuckerberg.
The Inbetweeners(Channel 4), Filthy, juvenile, puerile and burst-out-laughing funny.
Love/Hate(RTÉ1), Two episodes down, two to go – and while it's imperfect, it is developing.
... happy we went to:
Cartoons with a live orchestra at Bugs Bunny at the Symphony, at the Grand Canal Theatre in Dublin. Each time the RTÉ Concert Orchestra struck up the famous merry melody was an injection of pure fun.
... reading
Richard Holmes, The Age of Wonder. What happened to Mungo Park? Why was Shelley labelled an infidel? Holmes explores the thrilling, often (literally) explosive place where science met art in the 19th century.
Damon Galgut, In A Strange Room. It was an outsider for the Man Booker, but it is a fine novel by an underappreciated writer deserving of a wider readership.
Oliver Jeffers, Up and Down.The Irish illustrator's latest tale of a boy and his penguin. Great for young readers. Just as enjoyable for their parents.
... arguing about
The Silver Tassie
The
Financial Times
came here and gave five stars to the Druid production at the Gaiety. Fintan O’Toole last week lauded it on these pages (a “monumental production”). But during the week we heard of walkouts, complaints about the acoustics and confusion about the plot (although it has become obligatory to refer to the “problematic” second act). It is now touring, so if you missed it you still have a chance to cheer or grumble, as you see fit.
...looking forward to
Kylieat the O2 (March 22nd and 23rd). She looks a bit cosmetically pinched these days, but that won't be problem from a few rows back.
Apolloat the NCH (November 9th). A performance of Brian Eno's Apollo music accompanied by Nasa footage on a large screen. Spacey.
The X FactorIt remains an entertainment monster. Besides, something needs to plug the gaps between episodes of The Apprentice.
... saying
no to operatic snobbery
“Monkey suits are a more important part of the ethos at Wexford than they are at Glyndebourne. And rather than let me deal with the potential shame of turning up in normal clothes, sob, sob, both Wexford and Opera Ireland have chosen at different times to try and twist my arm, and make sure their proprieties were observed"
Michael Dervan, in The Irish Timeson Wednesday
... a little bemused by
the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature’s decision to give its award on the night the Man Booker winner was announced. Leanne O’Sullivan won the former, but it was lost in the Booker blitz. There was only going to be one winner of that contest. However, BBC News cut off the acceptance speech of Howard Jacobson (left) to go to the Chilean mine, proving there are things bigger than the Booker.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/SJQTLMCMMRC2PLALXUKEWWS6HU.png)