Well this looks like it's going to be awesome. Directed by Martin Scorsese, based on a novel by Dennis Lehane (one of the writers behind The Wire), a top notch cast, and interesting subject matter too boot.

My advice is to watch the first minute or so of the trailer, get excited, then turn it off. There is nothing more infuriating than a trailer which gives away the entire plot of the movie- and this seems to fall into that accursed category. Be warned.

It's due for release here on the 9th of October.

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M.I.A and Blaqstarr putting there own twist on that Wire theme song or Tom Waits Way Down in The Hole

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Happy voting day! Let's celebrate by taking a look at the top five songs about voting.

(Don't worry, they're not as terrible as you think)

Click read more for the music.


5. Curtis Mayfield- Move On Up

Apart from the Mayfield's lyrics- urging aspiration and optimism, yet compromise ("Take nothing less than the second best")- this song has voting significance for those who've watched 'The Wire'. It provides the soundtrack to 'Cutty' Wise's election morning run in Season 4, and one of the pivotal moments in the series' political storyline. Classic use of music in TV- perfect for the scene, and really makes you think about the lyrics. You can watch the clip here.



Click for mp3


4. Tokyo Police Club- Your English Is Good

It's a bitchin pop-song, and Dave Monks' lyrics shamelessly rip the piss out of Politicians half-assed attempts to act sincere. "You don't need a change- you're future's with us!" and the oh so subtle refrain of "Give us your vote if you know what's good for you". Deadly.



Click for mp3


3. The Who- Won't Get Fooled Again

Pete Townshend seems a bit fed of up the same old shit, and 'Won't Get Fooled Again' is practically the ultimate anti-voting anthem. Apparently a British Labour government in the 70s got into power on the back of student riots demanding change. When Labour got in, they promptly forgot about all their promises and just did whatever the hell they wanted to do. Hmm, sounds familiar...
"Meet the new boss, same as the old boss" sums up Townshend's disillusionment with 'The System', and his coda is effectively him saying 'fuck this' and buggering off to live in a commune.



Click for mp3

2. Stevie Wonder- You Haven't Done Nothing

Good ol' Stevie Wonder becomes the voice of the people, preaching about how much of a failure & general arsehole Richard Nixon was. And as we all know, back in the day Stevie found it nigh on impossible to do anything without being incredibly funky. The lesson is: if you can't vote, buy a clavinet and recruit a backing band- it's the next best thing.



Click for mp3

1.Radiohead- Electioneering

One of my favourite Radiohead tracks, you can almost feel Thom Yorke spitting with disgust as he takes pops at every aspect of fake-smile politics. As always, his disgust is articulated to perfection: "Riot shields, voodoo economics, it's just business...".

Genius.

Best song about politics ever.



Click for mp3

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Rob thinks the version of Down in the Hole from the second Season of The Wire performed by Tom Waits is the better version. I disagree. The version of the song performed by the Blind Boys of Alabama that plays on the FIRST season credits of The Wire is better. True Waits wrote the song but this version is funkier.



Okay the video sucks but the songs great.

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Ok, I'm officially now a big fan of The Wire; and yes, that is my main reason for featuring this video, but Wire or not, Tom Waits is a god amongst men and this video is amazing.

So for your enjoyment here's Mr. Waits with Down in the Hole (which, for all those as yet uninitiated, is the theme tune for The Wire):

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season 5 of the wire starts in America in January (if you don't know what im talking about its in my opinion the best tv show ever)a few promos and prequels have been popping up on youtube.(there more of them on youtube im just gonna post two)
McNulty Season 5 Promo


When Bunk Met McNulty (2000)


also in January see two Wire albums being released the first "...and all the pieces matter" - Five Years of Music From The Wire,is a pick and mix of all the music thats been in the show over the four seasons it includes several takes on the shows theme-- the Tom Waits-penned "Down in the Hole"-- by the Blind Boys of Alabama, the Neville Brothers, and DoMaJe, also on the track listing is Steve Earle, Paul Weller, Solomon Burke, the Pogues, and others, all interspersed with dialogue culled from the show.The booklet for Five Years includes essays from series writer George Pelecanos and hip-hop journalist Jeff Chang, and an interview between the show's creator David Simon and novelist Nick Hornby that originally appeared in The Believer.
The second cd is called Beyond Hamsterdam: Baltimore Club Tracks From The Wire and as the name suggests is club tracks that would not seem out of place in the baltimore clubs.

"...and all the pieces matter."- Five Years of Music from The Wire:

01 "This America, man." (dialogue)
02 The Blind Boys of Alabama: "Way Down in the Hole"
03 "Why would anyone ever wanna leave Baltimore?" (dialogue)
04 Michael Franti & Spearhead: "Oh My God"
05 Rod Lee: "Dance My Pain Away"
06 DJ Technics: "My Life Extra"
07 "The king stay the king." (dialogue)
08 The Neville Brothers: "Way Down in the Hole"
09 "We used to make shit in this country." (dialogue)
10 The Nighthawks: "Sixteen Tons"
11 Lafayette Gilchrist: "Assume the Position"
12 "What the fuck did I do?" (dialogue)
13 Jesse Winchester: "Step by Step"
14 Paul Weller: "I Walk on Gilded Splinters"
15 Solomon Burke: "Fast Train"
16 The Pogues: "The Body of an American"
17 "All the pieces matter." (dialogue)
18 Stelios Kazantzidis: "Efuge Efuge"
19 "Omar comin'!" (dialogue)
20 DoMaJe: "Way Down in the Hole"
21 "If it's a lie, then we fight on that lie."
22 Tyree Colion: "Projects"
23 "Later for that gangsta bullshit." (dialogue)
24 Bossman: "Ayo"
25 Sharpshooters: "Analyze"
26 "Wars end." (dialogue)
27 Masta Ace: "Unfriendly Game [ft. Stricklin]"
28 Ogun: "What You Know About Baltimore [ft. Phathead]"
29 Diablo: "Jail Flick"
30 Mullyman: "The Life, the Hood, the Streetz"
31 "An act of daily journalism." (dialogue)
32 Steve Earle: "I Feel Alright"
33 Tom Waits: "Way Down in the Hole"
34 "You remember that one day summer past?" (dialogue)
35 Blake Leyh: "The Fall"

Beyond Hamsterdam: Baltimore Tracks From the Wire

01 DoMaJe: "Way Down in the Hole"
02 Tyree Colion: "Projects"
03 Rod Lee: "Dance My Pain Away"
04 DJ Technics: "My Life Extra"
05 Ogun: "What You Know About Baltimore [ft. Phathead]"
06 Diablo: "Jail Flick"
07 The Get 'em Mamis: "When You See Us [ft. L. Cash]"
08 Dirty Hartz: "That's Da Sound [ft. Verb]"
09 Bossman: "Ayo"
10 Mullyman: "The Life, the Hood, the Streetz"
11 Lafayette Gilchrist: "Assume the Position"

oh and season 4 is out on dvd this week

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