BOOKS - MOVIES - MUSIC
HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]: 

Bookazine Book Review

Movie Review

Mott's CD review

Sophon Cable TV Schedule

Bookazine Book Review: Money Number One

by Lang Reid

This slim volume is subtitled “The Single Man’s Survival Guide to Pattaya”. Written by antipodean Neil Hutchison, this paperback was published last year, and has rapidly become a best seller, according to Bookazine’s management.

The dedication at the front of the book says it all, “To the ladies of Pattaya. Without them, the place would still be a quiet fishing village and I would be a sadder, but wealthier, man.”

The book begins with general advice on such diverse topics as transport, safety, hotels, money, food, drugs, STD’s and AIDS and medical facilities. The advice is salient and refers to every tourist to Pattaya, not just the single men. Baht busses are covered, complete with the complex fare structure, which really only means that you pay more than the locals, come what may.

From there, Hutchison launches into a personal narrative describing the people, the bars and the bar girls. It is detailed enough for the first-timers to quickly understand the difference between short time bars and beer bars and why the novitiate will never be able to win at Connect 4.

There is a very amusing section of Essential Thai-English for Pattaya and throws much needed light on why all bar girls greet newcomers with the same set phrases, “Hello sexy man”, “Sit down please”, “Where you come from”, “Where you stay” and “Do you have Thai lady.” The important rationale behind all these questions being one to ascertain how much money you have, what exchange rate they have to use to convert to Thai baht and whether they might have to share the pickings of your wallet with someone else.

All the way through the book there are “tips” which generally have come from the author’s personal experiences. Even in the pool halls where Hutchison advises, “Some of the older tables would make Neil Armstrong feel right at home.”

Undoubtedly the advice given throughout can be solicited in any bar - but this book covers 90% of the “grey” areas.

The review copy was made available by Bookazine in the Royal Garden Plaza, next to Black Canyon and Boots. RRP is 395 baht. It is an amusing read with such aphorisms as “Pattaya is like Disneyland, except the rides are better.” It follows on the tradition of another Pattaya Guide that was done many years ago by Aussie Ken (these chaps from Down Under certainly are assiduous in their study of Pattaya’s bar scene). Whilst it is light-hearted in its approach, the underlying message of “Caveat Emptor” comes through strongly. The voracious male is well advised to remember Hutchison’s words, “The reality of Pattaya is that here, men are no longer the predator, but the quarry, no longer the hunter, but the hunted. This can be a daunting prospect.” In the bar girl scene in which the book is set Hutchison has accurately hit the nail on the head. I would recommend that the single male, with fire in his heart and conflagration in his jocks should study the book before having his first beer. He will save more than the price of the book.


Movie Review: Beautiful Mind

By Poppy

There is really a strong story at the heart of this film. It’s an incredible portrait of a brilliant man and his mental illness and a very intense love story.

Russell Crowe’s performance could actually win him another Oscar, Jennifer Connelly stole every scene she was in and what really helps this movie stand out is the supporting cast. Adam Goldberg (very underrated) and Ed Harris as Parcher also deserve recognition for their roles - also the actor who plays John Nash’s college roommate, Charles; he’s brilliant.

Russell Crowe is John Nash, a typical absent minded, aloof but highly intelligent and witty mathematician, surrounded by equally talented but worldlier friends and foes. He lives in his own world and his fascination is breaking codes and playing with numbers. He jots down complex equations on walls, windowpanes and any other place you can think of. In one of the scenes he’s shown trying to formulate the pattern of a pigeon’s movement in the park! A bit ‘batty’ for sure.

It’s not until the second half you realize that this film is not just about the life of a great mathematician; there’s something more mysterious going on. You discover that John Nash is a schizophrenic and the movie gets better and better from this point.

A tearjerker of a movie that is also intelligent and challenging. Well worth viewing.

Directed by Ron Howard

Cast:

Russell Crowe ... John Nash, Ed Harris ... Parcher, Jennifer Connelly ... Alicia Nash

Christopher Plummer ... Dr. Rosen, Paul Bettany ... Charles, Adam Goldberg ... Sol, Josh Lucas ... Hansen, Vivien Cardone ... Marcee, Anthony Rapp ... Bender, Jason Gray-Stanford ... Ainsley, Judd Hirsch ... Helinger, Austin Pendleton ... Thomas King, Victor Steinbach ... Professor Horner, Tanya Clarke ... Becky


Mott’s CD review: 

"YES" - The Yes Album

by Mott the Dog

**** 4 Star Rating

Unequivocally the defining progressive rock album of 1971, “The Yes Album” was the collected batch of music that brought “YES” from promising up comers to international superstars. Most of the songs here 30 years later are still the mainstay of their live show.

“YES” were one of the bands who helped create the genre known as progressive rock, where more emphasis was put on the musicianship and songwriting ability of the band members than whether they could leap about in pretty clothes on Top of the Pops. “YES” and their fans took themselves very seriously which had already led to dissention in the ranks as original lead guitarist, Peter Banks, had been fired for the horrendous sin of drinking alcohol and enjoying himself both on and off the stage. This did, of course, not deter all future “YES” guitarists to copy Bank’s style right up to the present day. Enjoying oneself was also the reason for the loss of drummer Bill Bruford the following year.

Despite this rather sterile work method, it would take a braver scribe than I to be anything other than full of praise for this great album. There is a crucial blend of musical styles, superb musicianship, adventurous songwriting, the desire to stretch their collective musical ability to the outmost limits, and plenty of chances taken and no fear of diversity shown by the first two tracks. “Yours Is No Disgrace”, a fully fledged rock workout clocking in at nine minutes forty one seconds, with its extended solos, soaring harmony vocals, and a storming infectious main riff stolen from the “Bonanza” T.V. theme. This is immediately followed by “The Clap”, a Steve Howe acoustic guitar workout recorded live that year at the Lyceum London.

“YES” were everything a progressive rock band should be. Soaring keyboards provided by the rock orientated Tony Kay (this was his last album with the band as he was soon to be supplanted by the ultimate progressive rock keyboard wizard Rick Wakeman. But then again, that’s a whole other story). Steve Howe providing concise, driving, intricate, and sometimes subtle guitar, a solid bottom end rhythm section holding down all the songs. The majesty of “Pomp and Circumstance” next to the interwoven delicacies of acoustic piano and classical guitar. This album is an absolute must for those who like their music refined but with plenty of strength down the backbone.

By the time the band reach the closing song “Perpetual Change” the pedal has definitely been pushed to the metal and the song is built up to a magnificent rampaging conclusion, the perfect ending to a fine album. (Although Peter Banks probably surpassed them with his own version of “Perpetual Change” which he released on his own band Flash’s debut album changing the song title to “Dreams of Heaven”.) Nevertheless, “The Yes Album” is a fine work. Later, with umpteen lineup changes, only bass player Chris Squires has been with the band permanently. “YES” were to release some appalling dross, but this catches a fine band at their zenith.

Musicians

John Anderson - vocals, percussion
Chris Squire - bass guitar, vocals
Steve Howe - electric & acoustic guitars, vachalia, vocal
Tony Kaye - piano, organ, moog
Bill Bruford - drums, percussion

Track Listing

1. Yours Is No Disgrace
2. The Clap
3. Starship Trooper
4. I’ve Seen All Good People
5. A Venture
6. Perpetual Change