Artist: Jack Parow - Album: Eksie Ou

 

The Afrikaans rapper is back and he is just as uncensored, in-your-face and fun as ever. If you had asked me a few years ago what I thought Jack Parow actually represented, I wouldn’t have been able to answer you, but now I know: He makes a brilliant mockery of South African life and culture, and somehow makes you feel proud to be a part of such a weird and wonderful country.

What makes this even better is the way that he does this. Jack Parow takes the most entertaining pieces of South African culture and personifies them in himself. He’s a rapper, an Afrikaner, a South African rocker and more. Eksie Ou is his latest release and I’m happy to say that he has continued to do what he does best. The songs are produced and written well, and Parow’s rapping style and lyrics fit well into the theme. Be warned though, do not take this music too seriously, it’s mainly supposed to create a party mood and bring humour to the table, and it does so brilliantly. Of course, it’s not for everyone and it’s hard to identify who would or wouldn’t be a fan (because there are so many different reasons to like or not to like his music). Simply, if you knew about and liked his music in the past, you are a fan, in which case you must buy Eksie Ou. Testosterone, super ego and confidence drive this album above the level of his previous work and it’s clear that, while he isn’t going to grow up any time soon, he has certainly come into his own as an entertainer.

By Matthew du Plessis

 

WIN

A copy of Jack Parow’s latest album Eksie Ou

SMS “EksieOu,” your name and your full postal address to 32545

• Only 1 entry per cellphone number

• SMS charged at R1 per SMS

• Lucky draw will take place on 31 May 2012

• The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into

 

DVD: Paul

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, the comedic legends that brought you Shaun of the Dead (which is good enough for me to not have to mention others) have released a science-fiction comedy. I have always wanted them to make a movie like this and now it’s here. But can it live up to the standard that these two Englishmen have set for themselves? To start with, this is a story of two English sci-fi geeks who go to the USA to attend Comic-Con and then take a road trip to famous UFO spots around the country. During their travels they run into Paul, an alien that has recently escaped from Area 51 after finding out that he was about to be used in a deadly experiment and is now being chased by agents from a secret government organisation. After the two humans get over the shock of having met a real live alien, they take him with them and go on the run, with the black-suited agents hot on their heels.

If you have never seen a Pegg and Frost movie before you will probably enjoy it very much, but I know better. I know they can do better. The humour is not on par with previous works and the storyline is

surprisingly boring. The worst part of the movie is probably the pacing. There will be a car chase when you rather want to learn more about the characters and then when you’re in the mood for some humour and adrenalin, the characters get soppy and rather talk about their problems outside of the whole ‘the men in black are after us and our alien’-debacle. Paul, the alien, was also not done as well as I would have liked. The CGI effects used to create him could have been used better and his character is also flawed. As we find out, he has been on earth for a very long time and has become a purebred American who smokes, drinks and understands social interaction very well, even though he can be abrasive at times. How and why would he learn all this if he spent all his time on earth hiding from humans and living in a top secret military base? He is also too similar to Roger from the animated series American Dad, but not half as funny or strangely lovable.

Paul is then not a good movie from the perspective of a Pegg and Frost fan. It’s not as funny as their other films, not as well written and the concept behind it cannot begin to compare to what they have thought up in the past. If I had never seen another movie from them I probably wouldn’t have been this critical, but I just can’t shake the feeling that this was a half-hearted attempt. It’s still not a terrible movie, so watch it – but just don’t expect much!

By Martinette Lauw

 

Book: Steve Jobs - Author: Walter Isaacson

Steve Jobs – the founder of Apple and many revolutionary products. This is a very well researched biography of a man who followed his passions and made it his job. He was good at business and interested in technology - the basic recipe for what has become a billion dollar industry.

Steve Jobs’ story is inseparable from that of the advancement of technology, from the first personal computers to sleek Apple Macs, from iPods and iPhones to the iTunes store. The book makes for an interesting read, especially if you are a gadget fan. It’s a celebration of the merge of technology, business and innovation.

Walter Isaacson has done justice with his balanced perspective on the man – his strengths and faults and entertaining stories of alliances and opposition - from long-time friends like Wozniak, to well-known companies such as Pepsi, Pixar, Disney and Microsoft. Steve Jobs has definitely left his mark on multiple industries. He was a visionary who was out to get what he wanted. One gets the idea that he was not the easiest guy to work for, but what a legacy! I was also interested to read about his personal life and was surprised by his glorification of drugs and Zen Buddhism. Next time I listen to my iPod, instead of taking it for granted, I’ll remember the man who dedicated his life work to making my life easier and more enjoyable.                                                      

By Sandi Mallinson