Archive

12 Years A Slave

Posted 4:44pm Sunday 2nd March 2014 by Tim Lindsay

Grade: A+ “I don’t want to survive. I want to live.” While 12 Years a Slave is expertly (and beautifully) set in 1840s America, it is not a very comfortable film to watch. Steve McQueen’s (Shame and Hunger) film has garnered a raft of Oscar nominations and accolades, a testament to Read more...

Dallas Buyers Club

Posted 4:44pm Sunday 2nd March 2014 by Rosie Howells

Grade: A - Dallas Buyers Club tells the true story of Ron Woodrof, an HIV-positive hillbilly given 30 days to live and with no availability of effective medicines to change his fate. In a desperate attempt to extend his expiry date, and make a little money on the side, Woodrof begins Read more...

Empress Dowager Cixi

Posted 4:44pm Sunday 2nd March 2014 by Bridget Vosburgh

Jung Chang’s Wild Swans, a retelling of her own family’s history through the female line, was (and presumably still is) an eminently readable and fascinating book. With her latest work, Empress Dowager Cixi, she again showcases her gift for retelling great big chunks of history in an accessible and Read more...

When Your Neighbour’s Problems Become Your Own

Posted 4:44pm Sunday 2nd March 2014 by Hannah Collier

The Blue Oyster Art Project Space on Dowling Street - recently re-located, re-furbished and re-directed - is the coolest little gallery I’ve been to in Dunedin. Comfortably minimalistic with its smaller sized rooms, unpolished wooden floors, white walls and warm light, Blue Oyster is the perfect Read more...

Download of the week: Kane Strang (NZ)

Posted 6:57pm Sunday 23rd February 2014 by Adrian Ng

Based in Dunedin, Kane Stang is the city’s resident songwriting genius. When he is not drunkenly stammering in manic rock band Dinosaur Sanctuary, he is writing clever, interestingly crafted, psych-pop songs. Released last year, A Pebble and a Paper Crane is available for free download at Read more...

New this week

Posted 6:57pm Sunday 23rd February 2014 by Adrian Ng

Welcome to the 2014 Critic music section. I’m Adrian Ng, a songwriter and producer based in Dunedin. What qualifies me to write about music, let alone curate a section around it? Not much, really. I’ve realised that when it comes to music, the person you should pay the most attention to is yourself; Read more...

Artist Profile: Brown

Posted 6:57pm Sunday 23rd February 2014 by Adrian Ng

Brown are a four-piece alternative pop band based in Auckland and Dunedin. From confrontations with boy racers to recording an acapella covers cassette, Michael Cathro, AKA Skinny, talks to Critic’s Adrian Ng about his approach as a songwriter, his memories of Dunedin life, and also gives us an Read more...

Broken Bells - After The Disco

Posted 6:57pm Sunday 23rd February 2014 by Adrian Ng

Grade: B Broken Bells is comprised of James Mercer (The Shins) and Brian Burton (Danger Mouse), who team up again following their 2010 debut. After The Disco is an album of very well crafted songs, merging elements of new-wave and disco with Mercer’s trademark pop sensibilities. The Read more...

Warpaint - Warpaint

Posted 6:57pm Sunday 23rd February 2014 by Adrian Ng

Grade: A- From start to finish, the sophomore effort from this Los Angeles-based four piece emanates a dense atmosphere, each track transitioning beautifully to the next. Soaked in a somewhat ethereal splendor, the record is held together by a subtle, carnal groove which comes across as Read more...

Broken Age

Posted 6:57pm Sunday 23rd February 2014 by Baz Macdonald

Grade: A As consumers, we are at the mercy of what sells. When what you like is “what sells,” that’s a wonderful fact. However, when something you like is niche, then it can be the worst. However, the last couple of years have given gamers the opportunity to directly influence what they like Read more...