January 2009 – Rober Awards

Music Poll Update: It’s Britney vs. The Veronicas, bitch!

February 1, 2009January 31, 2009 by Roberto

THE VERONICAS-4ever

After the announcement of this year’s nominations a few weeks ago, everything led to believe this would be the year of Portishead, with two newcomers, Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes gathering the awards left free by the Bristol trio. However, the recount so far does not confirm this initial trend.

After the jump, we give a quick look at those categories where competition is at its fiercest. Among them, the biggest surprise is the most recent one, “Guilty Pleasure”, where international fan clubs of Aussie sisters The Veronicas have movilized their members to vote; followers of Britney, also nominated, fought back , putting the star ahead on the race and leaving far behind initial favorites such as Alphabeat and Duffy. Interest for this category has been so high, that total voters nearly reach 700, doubling in number any of the others. There are still ten days to go before official awards and music poll’s results are announced. You can vote here. May the best one win!!

BRITNEY SPEARS-Circus

Tras el anuncio de las nominaciones semanas atrás, todo parecía indicar que este sería el año de Portishead; con dos nuevos valores, Bon Iver y Fleet Foxes acaparando los premios que el trío de Bristol dejaran libres, pero los resultados de las votaciones hasta la fecha no parecen confirmarlo.

Tras el salto, damos un repaso a aquellas categorías donde la competición se encuentra al rojo vivo. Entre ellas, la mayor sorpresa sin duda es la mas reciente, “Guilty Pleasure”, donde los clubs de fans internacionales de las australianas Verónicas han llamado al voto a sus miembros; los seguidores de Britney, también nominada, contraatacaron y van en cabeza, dejando muy atrás a los a priori favoritos Alphabeat y Duffy. Tal ha sido el interés por esta categoría que los votantes se aproximan ya a los 700, doblando en número a los de cualquier otra. Quedan aún diez días para que premios oficiales y resultados de la encuesta se revelen. Puedes votar aquí. Que gane el mejor.

2008 Film Review: 10 Surprises & Guilty Pleasures

January 8, 2012January 27, 2009 by Roberto

10-EDEN LAKE-James Watkins

De entre la avalancha de mediocres producciones de terror provenientes de los cinco continentes, este modesto film británico sorprendía tanto por su eficaz realización – realmente daba miedo – como por su premisa a modo de metáfora sobre las relaciones entre las diferentes clases sociales en Gran Bretaña.

Among the avalanche of mediocre horror productions coming from all corners of the globe, this modest British film surprised as much for its assertive execution –it was actually frightening- as for its core metaphor about the relationship among different social classes in Great Britain.

Rober winners at Obama’s Inauguration (II)

January 26, 2009 by Roberto

ARCADE FIRE-Intervention

More Live moments from the many conmemorative balls celebrating Barack Obama’s inauguration.

2008 Film Review: 10 Disappointments

January 8, 2012January 25, 2009 by Roberto

QUANTUM OF SOLACE-Bond didn’t live up to its expectations.

2008 Film Review: The 10 Worst Movies Of The Year

January 25, 2009January 24, 2009 by Roberto

THE DARK KNIGHT-The late Heath Ledger’s iconic performance.
Como ya ocurriese el año anterior, la cosecha cinematográfica del 2008 tampoco será recordada por ser particularmente buena para la historia del séptimo arte: al optimismo de una temporada de premios plagada de trabajos interesantes, le sucedió pronto la apatía de una primavera casi desierta; un verano cuyos blockbusters no compensaban la carencia de propuestas más arriesgadas y creativas y un otoño sin grandes títulos. La industria en Europa parece concentrar sus apuestas de prestigio en los primeros meses, causando cada vez un mayor desnivel cualitativo con el resto.

El cine de “arte y ensayo”en general y el Europeo en particular daban pocas alegrías, en un ejercicio particularmente decepcionante en España y Francia; con esperanzadores signos provenientes del nuevo cine italiano. El mumblecore y películas de bajo presupuesto como “Buscando un beso a medianoche” nos hacían añorar la época dorada del cine independiente americano, hoy absolutamente dependiente de unas majors cada vez menos amigas de abrir nuevos caminos. En la otra cara de la moneda, los adaptadores de comics conseguían al fin encontrar el punto justo para pasarlos a la gran pantalla con resultados tan espectaculares (Batman) y entretenidos (Iron Man) como su material de origen merecía.

Como ya va siendo costumbre, comenzamos este repaso con aquellas películas que consiguieron burlar nuestro habitualmente alto control de calidad para horrorizarnos por completo. En el 2008 hubo malas películas para dar y tomar (solo de pensar en “El guru del amor” de Mike Myers; las intentonas de Paris Milton o el remake de la de marcianos con Keanu Reaves, perfectamente caracterizado en su papel de extraterrestre sin emociones, nos entran a la vez retortijones y ganas de agradecerle al destino nuestra infinita suerte al poder esquivarlas.) A continuación las que más nos disgustaron.

Like the year before, 2008’s cinematographic harvest won’t be remembered as a particularly good one in the history of the seventh art: the initial optimism of a rather strong award season, plagued with interesting works, was replaced by the apathy of a nearly deserted springtime; a summer whose blockbusters didn’t compensate for the lack of riskier and more creative propositions and an autumn lacking of engaging titles. The European industry seems to concentrate their prestige bets on the first months, creating an ever increasing quality imbalance with the rest.

Arthouse films in general, and the European ones in particular, gave little reason for joy, particularly disappointing in Spain and France, but with hopeful signs coming from the new Italian cinema. Mumblecore and low-budget movies such as “Searching for a midnight kiss” made us long for the golden era of the US Independent filmmaking, today quite dependent on a few majors, not very inclined to break new ground. On the flip side of this coin, comic adaptations reached some of their brightest moments, with results as spectacular (Batman) and enjoyable (Iron Man) as the source material deserved.

As usual, we begin this review with those movies which managed to skip our normally high quality control and got us completely horrified. In 2008 bad films were everywhere (the mere though of Mike Myers’ “Love Guru”; Paris Hilton’s acting attempts or the remake of sci-fi classic “The Day the earth stood still” with a perfectly cast Keanu Reeves as the emotionless alien, made our skin crawl. We were thankful to our destiny for granting us the immense fortune of being able to avoid them). Our 2008’s film hall of shame after the jump.

Rober Winners At Obama’s Inauguration

January 23, 2009January 22, 2009 by Roberto

ARETHA FRANKLYN-My Country Tis Of Thee

Although the political attitude of many of the Rober Academy members’ ranks from mild apathy to full cynicism, we cannot help but sharing the joy and illusion of the USA while celebrating the most important historical moment the nation has lived for a few generations: The arrival of America’s first black president and his symbolic values of equality, freedom and hope for all; much needed in this troubled time.

To wish him all the best on his role as what it used to be called “the leader of the free world” pop stars of all backgrounds were playing in multiple shows and parties across Washington and the rest of the States yesterday. From the Queen Of Soul, Aretha Franklyn, who sang the patriotic anthem “My Country Tis Of Thee” at the Inauguration to Arcade Fire. Everyone who’s anyone in the pop world, except maybe for, errm, Daddy Yankee…were somehow involved on the celebration. Here’s a few of the most notorious moments

Listen to the new Red Hot compilation curated by The National

January 23, 2009January 20, 2009 by Roberto

Until its release on February 17th, The Red Hot Organisation – an international charity dedicated to raising funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS, founded on the premise that even without a cure, AIDS remains a preventable disease and music is a great vehicle to raise money and awareness for it – will be streaming one new song a day from their latest project Dark Was The Night; curated by Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National, who have gathered together an impressive group of artists and a total of 32 exclusive tracks recorded for the compilation. It will be available as a double cd/triple vinyl/download. You can listen to the tracks here.

This is the 20th year of Red Hot, and this is the 20th release, since their first iconic and Rober award winner “Red Hot + Blue” in which artists such as Neneh Cherry, David Byrne, kd Lang, Les Negresses Vertes, Neville brothers and many others covered Cole Porter’s standards hoping to help the audience gaining awareness about the disease and its prevention.

The tracklist goes as follows:

The XXVII Rober Awards Poll is Open: VOTE NOW!!!

January 8, 2012January 10, 2009 by Roberto

YES, WE CAN TOO
La Academia Rober de las Artes y las Ciencias del Entretenimiento te invita a participar en la edición XXVII de los Premios Rober. Tras el salto encontrarás la encuesta musical con todas sus categorias. Si necesitas mas información audiovisual sobre alguno de los nominados, cada categoria contiene un enlace donde se facilita. La encuesta se cerrará el 10 de Febrero. Si, tu tambien puedes!!

Para ayudarte a reflexionar, eschucha la selección musical de los Rober Awards 2008 en hype machine.

Gracias por tu participación.

The Rober Academy of Entertainment Arts & Sciences proudly invites you to help us choose the XXVII Rober Awards. Please find our complete music poll after the jump. Should you need any further audiovisual information about any of the nominees, there is a link providing it for each category. Polls will close on February the 10 th. Have your say about the best music of 2008. Yes, You Can too!!

To help your choices, you can listen to the 2008 Rober Awards playlist in hype machine.

Thanks for your votes.

Listen to the Best Album of 2009?

January 10, 2009 by Roberto

ANIMAL COLLECTIVE-“Merriweather Post Pavillion” Artwork.

Listen and Enjoy here.

Bon Iver streams his new EP in full

January 10, 2009 by Roberto

BON IVER-Blue Tulip (Okkervil River cover)
After his retirement to a cabin in the woods turned to be one of pop music’s most creatively succesful retreats for ages, being currently celebrated in best-of charts and awards around the globe; Justin Vernon returns to civilization with his first release after “For Emma, Forever Ago”. Bon Iver’s new … Read more