Photo Gallery: Falls Festival (Day 1) ft. Ocean Alley, Dizzee Rascal and more – Lorne (28.12.18)

Mallrat, Hockey Dad, Ocean Alley, Dizzee Rascal and more helped kick off the first day of Falls Festival in Lorne. John Goodridge is on ground and brings us back these photos:

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On the Shelf: From Starwood’s Two-Fold Whisky to Kilderkin’s Larrikin Gin

You might not want the same-old go-to spirits for this year’s NYE house party, especially since there have been some new expressions released over the past few months that have really tempted drinks enthusiasts away from their regular bottles. New Year’s Eve brings the perfect time to introduce our new column, “On the Shelf”, which…

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Film Review: Holmes and Watson (USA, 2018) is the surprise Anti-Trump film of the holiday season

When a film doesn’t have a media preview screening, you know the confidence from the studio in its quality must be low. Following that up with a dismal score on Rotten Tomatoes (currently 6%) only seems to reinforce their fears. This year’s mainstream US holiday comedy – which in past years has included surprise hits…

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The AU Review’s Game of the Year 2018

Choosing your favourite game of the year is hard. We’ve done it every year since we founded The AU Review’s games section in 2014, and it never gets any easier. In 2018, we played so many incredible games that it became impossible to list and number every last one of them, so we opted not…

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Get your set times and maps for Sydney’s NYE in the Park as tickets near sell-out

Now in its second year, NYE in the Park has lined up an incredible group of artists who are set to help bring Sydneysiders into the New Year on Monday. Set in the lush surrounds of Camperdown’s Victoria Park, The Jungle Giants, Hayden James, Hot Dub Time Machine, Thundamentals, Confidence Man and many more will…

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Interview: Savannah and Briony of Kinder (NSW) reveal their favourite NYE moments and music of 2018

Electronic duo Kinder have had an amazing 2018, and now they’re finishing it all off with an appearance at NYE in the Park in Sydney this coming Monday – right before flying off to Falls Festival. Ahead of the show, we looked back at the year past with the pair, as they reflected on their…

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Interview: Hot Dub Time Machine’s perfect New Years Eve and pitching Fisher to win Hottest 100

Hot Dub Time Machine will be helping finish off 2018 with an appearance at NYE in the Park in Sydney this coming Monday. Ahead of the show, we looked back at the year past, as he reflected on his favourite moments of 2018, his favourite music of the year and give you some hot tips…

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Film Review: The Favourite (UK, 2018) is a raucously glorious and wickedly delicious good time

Absurdist cinema is not for everyone. The directorial work of master of the bizarre Yorgos Lanthimos likely hasn’t sat well with most audiences. By the same token, period films aren’t exactly most people’s cup of tea either. When presented with an absurdist period piece directed by Lanthimos, one may have some trepidation. Leave your apprehension…

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Interview: Jason Momoa on the 5 year journey to Aquaman and loving his own movie

As Aquaman swims his way into cinemas today (read our review here), the King of Atlantis himself, Jason Momoa, has been travelling across the globe in the film’s lead-up to promote the latest offering from the DC roster. Returning to Queensland’s sunny Gold Coast, where the film was mostly shot, Momoa chatted with The AU…

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Film Review: Vice (USA, 2018) shines with its ensemble as McKay’s spiritual successor to The Big Short delivers

Already a critical darling and favourite of the award season, Adam McKay’s new film Vice tackles an unlikely subject, with perhaps an even more unlikely lead actor. In the film out Boxing Day, Christian Bale transforms himself into Former US Vice President Dick Cheney, as McKay – who also wrote and produced the film –…

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Film Review: Cold War (Poland, 2018) is a dryly amusing, dramatically concise and romantically passionate epic

It seems that autobiographical stories that stem from the lives of film directors are in the spotlight in terms of critical acclaim lately. There are great films out there like the Spanish family drama by Carla Simon, Summer 1993; the relationship comedy-drama by Tamara Jenkins, Private Life; the semi-autobiographical rom-com by Eva Vives, All About…

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Live Review and Photo Gallery: British India + Social On The Veranda – Corner Hotel, Melbourne (20.12.18)

It has been a long road for Melbourne based band British India, releasing six albums over the past eleven years and countless tours through the country. Yet, the lead in to the weekend was the end of an era as one of the band’s leading members and creator Nic Wilson performed his final shows with…

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Tech Review: The Nespresso Barista is the best thing the company has done this year

Frothed or flat; hot or cold. Those were the limited options you always had with your milk every morning if you were using any Nespresso machine with its included Aeroccino frother. The company’s tech has come such a long way that the smaller, more niche details wouldn’t have bothered the majority, but for those wanting…

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Why a trip to Grow Your Own Festival needs to be in your Summer plans

It’s finally here – the Summer season of festivals that not only provide an eclectic mix of the best acts currently touring, but require a road trip which offers the chance to visit some of Australia’s most unique and stunning regional locations. Here are our top reasons for why you need to plan a road…

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Melbourne’s best New Year’s Eve parties for 2018/19

Sydney may have the more famous fireworks display, but Melbourne hold their own when it comes to raucous New Year’s Eve parties well worth heading out for. Assuming you’re not house partying this year, you’re going to want to know where the best spots are to party 2018 into the past, so we’ve rounded up…

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Theatre Review: The hilarious Peter Pan Goes Wrong hits Melbourne in time for Christmas

With Christmas just around the corner, an evening at the theatre is one of those quintessential traditions that many people venture on in order to elevate their festive spirits. Arguably, one tale in particular that seems reminiscent of the Christmas period is that of Peter Pan. Set in hibernal London during the winter, with messages…

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The best New Year’s Day parties in Sydney for 2019

Shake off that epic NYE hangover and make it a two-day binge to bring in the New Year. Sydney’s got some of the best New Year’s Day parties in the world, so sleeping it off just ain’t gonna cut it if you want to kick-start 2019 in the most epic way possible. To help, we’ve…

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Film Review: Mary Poppins Returns (USA, 2018) is a delightful return to the whimsy and magic of Disney musicals

Disney once again mines its own intellectual property for more family fun over the holiday season. Their recent trend of recreating their animated features into new “live action” films has been an ongoing and generally successful juggernaut. However with Mary Poppins Returns, they’ve opted for a new take on the Poppins tale.

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Tech Review: One month with Google Pixel 3 XL – the good and the bad

Google are in the ideal position to make the Pixel 3 XL the best Android phone on the market, they just haven’t quite done that yet. Current users of the phone, which is mostly excellent but has a few substantial downsides, have been divided over the product since it was released, from the strangely intrusive…

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Sydney’s best New Year’s Eve parties for 2018/19

It’s that time of year again, and you can bet Sydney’s best venues are going to pull out all stops to try and top their previous New Year’s Eve celebrations. We’ve sifted through and picked out five parties we think are totally going to be worth it this year, so if you don’t yet have…

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Track of the Day: JD McPherson “Ugly Sweater Blues” (2018)

Unless you’ve somehow managed to avoid all retail stores for the past month or so, you’re probably already close to peak Christmas song saturation, so you’ve probably already had your fill of jingle bells for the year. But, please bare with us as we close out of 2018 with one last Track of the Day…

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And the winners of the 5th Annual AU Awards are…

On Wednesday we were excited to reveal our nominees for the 5th Annual AU Awards, celebrating the best in Australian music over the last 12 months. Now today we’re presenting the winners across all those categories, which are awarded based on both recorded and live merit. Australian Live Music Event of the Year (Metro) St….

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Games Review: Borderlands 2 VR (PSVR, 2018) is a fun and well-made romp through Pandora and beyond

I’ve had a rocky relationship with PSVR, to put it as kindly as possible. From mild headaches and blurry vision to a nauseating journey through Skyrim, I feel like I’ve been through the wars with the device. Honestly, it’s not had that much use at all, and I was ready to give up before Borderlands…

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The 40 Best Records of 2018 from Australia and around the world

It’s time to look back on the incredible year of music from Australia and around the world as we count down our 40 favourite records from the year. We’ll rush through 40-11 and then get into the nitty gritty of our top ten releases… 40. Tinashe – Joyride 39. David Byrne – American Utopia 38….

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We’re not spoiled for choice with gaming merch in Australia

I’ve been looking everywhere for what might be good gaming merchandise. I’ve trawled through official sites, brick-and-mortar stores and even outlets like Red Bubble. I have to admit, there’s not a whole lot of variety across all three of these, and what’s there is usually not that good, covered in brands or weird quotes or…

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January’s Xbox Games With Gold features Celeste and the best Far Cry game ever made

It’s almost 2019, and that means a whole new year of free games for Xbox Live Gold subscribers. With December’s Games With Gold lineup finally winding down, January’s selection have been announced and they are very bloody good indeed. The month’s selections are four games, divided as always into two Xbox One titles and two…

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Film Review: Aquaman (USA, 2018) proves utterly unapologetic in its decision to play everything as riotous

After what has felt to be an endless journey for Jason Momoa‘s portrayal of the King of Atlantis to grace the screens, Aquaman finally arrives in the hopes of both serving the character justice and steering the DC ship back on course after the underwhelming Justice League. Traditionally a blonde-haired/blue-eyed creation that was often the…

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Film Review: Ralph Breaks The Internet (USA, 2018) is more than just memes and viral videos

When 2012’s Wreck-It Ralph was released it conceptually took video game nostalgia and the joy of arcade games and brought that idea to life. This time in Ralph Breaks The Internet (aka Wreck-It Ralph 2) the sequel ups the ante by taking our two main characters from their comfortable video game realm into the much…

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Live Review: Current you hates past you for missing The Beths at The Lansdowne in Sydney last night

As the silly season well and truly begins to hit its straps and everyone starts to wind things up at work (he types as he sits at his work desk procrastinating a grant application due in mere hours), the tour cycles of bands touring across this brown land of ours continues to go at breakneck…

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Track of the Day: The Raconteurs / The Saboteurs “Sunday Driver” (2018)

It’s been a decade between drinks, but The Raconteurs have returned with two new songs and a new album on the way sometime in 2019. The songs were released via 7” to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the groups last album Consolers of the Lonely. The Raconteurs, who are also known as The Saboteurs here…

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