Review: The Dirt (2019)

The Dirt (dir. Jeff Tremaine, 2019) – Mötley Crüe dishes the dirt on how they came to be one of the most notorious rock ‘n roll groups in history.

Verdict

Unapologetically wild, The Dirt delivers a disappointingly shallow play-by-play of Mötley Crüe’s chaotic frivolity.

Review

The Dirt is in every way an affront to modern society, where strong women reign and amoral heroes are often frowned upon. It is thus unsurprising for vitriol to befall the Crüe stories of sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll, back in an era long gone. Much of the criticism is sadly rightful, this coming from a Crüehead who has been eager for the film.

Faithfulness is far from its fatal flaw, as one may expect. Accuracy is of little importance in a biopic, and even if it is, the insane stories are mostly true. Any readers of The Heroin Diaries and the titular biography would know that The Dirt is as accurate as the band’s drug-addled memories allow.

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Music Recs: O.R.k., Bloodbound, Black Pistol Fire

Music Recs is an attempt at regular Friday content, the sharing of good music that I found this week, and honestly, just an excuse to promote my favourite old/new bands.

O.R.k. (feat. Serj Tankian) – Black Blooms

System of a Down may not be releasing a new album anytime soon, but Serj Tankian is certainly still going strong. This time, he teams up with progressive band O.R.k., lending his prowess to their talent. Black Blooms is but one of several indelibly melancholic masterworks off Ramagehead, and LEF does well enough on his own. Even so, his emotionally charged vocal truly finds no better complement than Tankian’s powerful voice.

Music Recs: Red Handed Denial, Liliac, Bishop Gunn

Music Recs is an attempt at regular Friday content, the sharing of good music that I found this week, and honestly, just an excuse to promote my favourite old/new bands.

Red Handed Denial – Empire

Have you ever done a YouTube deep dive? Nothing weird, but the delve into the endless depth of recommended videos till you stumble upon something or someone cool, like Lauren Babic. Beyond her covers of bands from Periphery to Paramore, she also fronts the amazing Red Handed Denial. I have but one valid question about her music… does it djent? To that, they say, 0-0-1-1-1-0-0.

Music Recs: Reignwolf, Joyous Wolf, Hozier

Music Recs is an attempt at regular Friday content, the sharing of good music that I found this week, and honestly, just an excuse to promote my favourite old/new bands.

Reignwolf – Are You Satisfied?

Like rock n’ roll? Pick this album up, stat. Led by amazing blues guitarist Jordan Cook, Reignwolf’s Hear Me Out has March off to an incredible start. His latest work rings with might, blowing expectations out of the water. It is rumoured that those who do not crank Are You Satisfied? up to 11, are likely guilty of blasphemy.

Chiang Mai: Of Temples, ATVs, and Thai Rock Bars

December may just be the best season to avoid the heat in Chiang Mai. Temperatures typically hover around 30°C in the day and 20 at night, which is as good as it gets here. With Day 1 spent away in Chiang Rai, we were down to four days in the city. Thankfully, there was plenty else to do.

Temples visiting was a given. If you have never been to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, you have never been to Chiang Mai, so say the locals. And so we took a songtaew up the steep mountains and arrived at the stairs towards the pagodas, a sight worth every of the 309 steps.

Wat Doi Suthep.

This is a sacred site to the Thais, and is considered to be one of the holiest pilgrimage spots for Buddhists. It has the scale to show for it. Awash in royal gold, the temples and shrines are pure displays of grandeur and magnificence.

Favourite Rock and Metal Albums of 2018 Vol. 2

With ten slots proving barely adequate for this year in music, a second part comes due. Sorry for the lack of consistency, as I slip in and out between soft rock and metal(core) favourites. So try not to lift your finger off that volume dial.

In no real order and in time for the new year, enjoy Volume 2 of 2:

10. The Temperance Movement – A Deeper Cut

The blues continue to invade modern music, as The Temperance Movement releases their third solid rock n’ roll record. A Deeper Cut is yet another next top-notch album to join the impressively consistent collection of indie label Earache Records.

Capable of throwing out raw rockers like Caught in the Middle and Backwater Zoo, the beloved British band is unafraid to slow down for tender ballads such as There’s Still Time and the brilliant title track. And what is perhaps as much our blessing as it is the band’s, Phil Campbell’s raw vocals work amazingly well on both.

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