Prisoner Cell Block H - Volume 8 (UK DVD release)

Long before Bad Girls was even thought of we had this gritty Australian depiction of prison life, which featured lesbianism when it was still very much a controversial subject, murder, prostitution, drugs, corrupt officers, riots, escapes, babies being buried alive and so much more.

I'm reviewing this particular volume because a) it's just been released here in the UK, and b) it includes some of my favourite episodes which were dominated by the arrival of new inmates, Sandy Edwards and Kate Peterson. The DVDs cover episodes 225-256 and is released on Fremantle Home Entertainment. Extras are Val Lehman (Bea Smith) reminiscing about her time with the show. If you read on, please be aware that this review will contain some spoilers.

Vera Bennett has just left and (not) said her goodbyes, and the irrepressible Colleen Powell (po-face) has been promoted to acting chief prison officer in her place - cue a lot of tension amongst the prisoners and staff alike as she stamps her authority wherever she can, doing whatever it takes to make her promotion a permanent one.

Bea steps down as top dog and it soon becomes apparant she is ill. It turns out to be kidney disease and she needs a transplant operation - fast!

With Bea out of the way the road is clear for a new top dog to take over - step forward Sandy Edwards, a tough murderess who doesn't care who she steps on to take over. Despite a few teething troubles she soon becomes popular with the inmates as she gets plenty of scams going, one of which sees Judy and Doreen sent to Barnhurst for a few episodes.

You'd think that with all these main players gone that the series would suffer. Not so, as Marie Winter, a nasty piece of work already known to Bea and Sandy, is transferred to Wentworth and coaxes Sandy into starting one of the most exciting riots Wentworth has ever seen. It's certainly my favourite riot of the series and is covered over three of the best episodes ever.

After the riot, Marie sets Sandy up to take the blame so she is out of the way in solitary. With no competition left, Marie takes over and starts bringing drugs into the prison - something which gets Bea's back up immediately on her return after her transplant, Bea then teams up with Sandy against Marie. In the meantime Sandy has also started a fling with new prison officer, Steve Faulkner.

During all of this in-fighting, the supposedly good-natured Kate Peterson is playing a dangerous and cunning game by doing deals with Detective Inspector Grace and Officer Powell to get her murder conviction overturned. She does this by passing on information (lagging) about the other inmates, mainly Sandy and Marie, both of whom would kill her without hesitation if they found out. Bea is the only person who doesn't trust her from the start and has her fears confirmed by a doctor at the hospital, but how can she convince Sandy that her friend is no good?

So with all of this action to be had, and you can throw in Lizzie burning her house down after receiving threatening phone calls, Erica's kidnap by anti-prison activists, Jim's rocky relationship with temperamental new officer Janet Conway, Judy being paroled and bumping into evil Jock Stewart again, Doreen's escape from the attendance centre which the women are cleaning up as a work release project and so much more besides, how could you miss out on viewing these episodes again. I really couldn't give this any less than 10/10.

Taylor Dayne - Floor on Fire (Thin Red Men Radio Mix) [NEW SINGLE]

Many people consider her a one-hit wonder, but Taylor Dayne produced some of the best disco influnced pop tunes and heartfelt ballads of the late eighties and for most of the nineties too. You could call her the original Anastacia, and this song is definitely capable of setting as many dancefloors alight as the aforementioned's biggest hit, I'm outta love.

This is by far the best thing she has done in years, and if Radio One would only A-list it then it would be huge. Catchy doesn't even begin to describe it and it wouldn't sound out of place on Lady Gaga's new album. Download it now and you'll be dancing in your living room within a couple of minutes, I guarantee you. Amazing. Shame it won't be a hit. 9/10

'The Confession' a novel by John Grisham

I have a confession of my own, that this is the first John Grisham novel I have ever read. And it took me precisely two weeks to finish, which is good for me considering 'The Slap' took at least six. Therefore, at 450 pages, I would have to say it was a real page-turner indeed.

The story follows the Texas legal system, in particular the death penalty, as one young footballer called Donte Drumm is due to be executed in four days time when the story begins, for a murder which becomes apparant that he did not commit. Travis Boyette is the real murderer and he is suffering from a brain tumour, he comes forward to a priest some 400 miles away with very little time to spare. It then becomes a race against time to stop an execution which the police, the governor and most of the legal system are intent on seeing go ahead.

I don't want to give too many details away as I would recommend that you read the book, especially if you're a fan of thrillers, but it is a tense read for the most part and it throws up a few shockers along the way. It's very factual in its account of the story and none of the people involved in the case are left out in the detailed time-line of events. Because of this the scenes swap around fairly frequently and this is no bad thing as it keeps you from getting bored. Grisham manages to give you a very good insight into the legal system over there, despite his own admission at the back of the book that he 'loathes research', and I just thank God that we don't have the death penalty in the UK as this book is a brilliant argument against it. 8/10

The Pierces - You & I

The Pierces are two sisters from Alabama who released their debut album as far back as 2000. Four albums in and (probably thanks to being heavily plugged on Radio 2) people are finally sitting up to take notice.

Kicking off with what should have been the biggest hit of the year so far, the I-can't-rate-it-highly-enough first single You'll be mine, the album starts very much as it means to go on. The song is summery, an instant classic, has a retro folky feel and is just amazing.

Next comes It will not be forgotten, which screams 'hit'. Of course it probably won't be in today's climate but it is to be the third single I believe and is an obvious choice. Love you more follows and has a rockier, more indie edge, and then it's back to business with We are stars.

The whole album has the same retro feel, reminding you of lazy summer days sat in the park drinking wine. There are shades of The Bangles, Fleetwood Mac and Joni Mitchell influencing the whole affair, not more so than on second single Glorious - where never has a song title been more appropriate in summing it up. Kissing you goodbye is so catchy it hurts and surely has to be a future single. Drag you down is magnificent and one of the diamonds in an already jewelled crown, which is surely destined to be one of the albums of 2011. 9/10

Roxette's Charm School

I've had this a while now and it needs introducing to a wider audience as it is a joy.

After a ten year break in which they pursued solo projects Roxette are back with a vengeance with an album to charm the pants off you. There's nothing new here in terms of production or musical styles and they stick to the same formula that has always been Roxette, therefore they will forever remain untrendy and probably never have another hit until the world wakes up and decides we need an early nineties pop revival.

The songs are near to flawless though, and instantly memorable enough to have produced at least five big hits had this been released twenty years ago at the time of Joyride. First single, the imaginatively titled She's got nothing on (but the radio), is catchy enough and should have been a hit, although it's probably one of my least favourite tracks. It was second single, Speak to me, that really..... spoke to me. Although I didn't think it was an obvious single choice it is definitely a grower.

Album opener, Way out, kicks the album off with a bang, Joyride/How do you do style. This is followed by the tender, No one makes it on her own which is typically sublime Roxette balladry. For me the three major highlights come right at the end of the album, starting with the moody After all, there are shades of James' She's a star here in the music and the song is all the better for it. The marvellous Happy on the outside follows and the album closes with what I consider to be one of the best and most endearing, heartfelt ballads they have ever done, and that is Sitting on top of the world which is where they should be after this effort. 8.5/10

In Your Dreams by Stevie Nicks (CD)

My music collection is extensive to say the least so expect to see a lot of cd reviews. I have got into the whole downloading thing, but if it's one of my favourite artists then nothing can beat holding the actual cd in your hand. Not many artists are more loved by me than Stevie Nicks, and Fleetwood Mac too needless to add.

This album has been a long time coming, with ten years since the last solo effort and eight years since Fleetwood Mac's last album, and as I am impatient I had to get it from Amazon US on import!

It kicks off with Secret love, the first single, which was never going to trouble the Uk top ten as it's not R&B or dance (2 genres that I do love, but come on song buyers give something else a go too). The song is typically Stevie and isn't immediate but does get under your skin after a few listens, and the same can be said of the album in general.

Her vocals sound silky smooth throughout the whole 13 tracks here, with the help of Dave Stewart (of Eurythmics fame) on production. He also lends his vocals to the brilliantly captivating Cheaper than free, which is the album closer. It's almost worth the ten year wait for the title track alone, for In your dreams (the song) is as instantly catchy and memorable as any of her solo work and would almost definitely have been a big hit if released over twenty years ago. I'd say it was the 'Rooms on fire' of the album in terms of mass appeal and once lodged in your brain you'll be humming it all day I guarantee you.

Other highlights include Annabel Lee, Everybody loves you, You may be the one and the wonderful Italian summer, which Q magazine listed as one of their songs to download last month despite giving the album an unfairly poor review. I'm sure they must have been listening to something else because there's nothing not to love here.

I'll admit it took a couple more listens to get into some of the tracks, but a lot of fans are hailing this as the best album of her career. I wouldn't go that far - that honour would surely go to The other side of the mirror or Bella Donna, but there's plenty to keep you occupied here while you wait for the next Fleetwood Mac reunion. 8/10

My review of 'The Slap' by Christos Tsiolkas

Hi there.

I have no idea how I'm supposed to start these things as I am a total virgin to the whole blogging experience. Anyhow, I have recently got into writing and have therefore got back into reading books after a long absence. One of the books I have read recently is 'The Slap' and below I will give my thoughts.

The slap in question is dished out by a male guest at a suburban Aussie barbecue to one unruly child. Around half of the guests believe he deserved it, while the rest think that there is never an excuse to hit a child, especially if you're not one of the parents. The book follows eight different stories of the central characters and follows them as they continue with their lives in the months following the slapping incident, each sparing time to give their own opinion. If I had to sum this book up in a few words it would be 'Think Skins meets Trisha'.

What did I think of the book? I'll start with the negatives. It's too long, it could have been wrapped up in half the time and left me to move on to the far more rewarding 'Room' a whole lot quicker. The slapping debate covers about a tenth of the entire book at most and is barely mentioned once the ensuing court case is over, which is in the first half of the book. After that it just feels like a collection of different stories which have no relevance to the story as a whole. There are far too many sex scenes, and I am no prude but they seem to come from nowhere and I found them a bit boring and there just to fill up the pages.

Now the positives. It's an enjoyable, easy read, despite its length. The author is very good at giving over eight different points of view and you get a real feel for their very different lifestyles. I found myself initially thinking that the child deserved the slap, then you hear more about the man who dished it out and you realise that he's actually quite violent to his wife too, after that I was constantly changing my view and this made the book more interesting, although I wished that the author had used up more pages on the whole debate as I felt it was a good subject to explore. I really liked the characters of Anouk, Connie and Richie. Overall I would give this book 7/10.