First let me raise an issue I have with the album. The eleven tracked Save Rock and Roll includes four collaborative numbers, a high concentration when compared to their back catalogue. And, having waited so long for this record I personally would have preferred it to showcase their talent, not that of their friends, although saying that; ‘Rat a Tat featuring Courtney Love’ is one of the highlights album capturing the Rock and Roll of the title. ‘Save Rock and Roll ft. Elton John’, on the other hand, does not float my boat. Moments of over synthesising I may have been able to overlook but my biggest problem is Elton John, making it sound like someone attempted to fuse a F.O.B song with one from The Lion King, ignore Elton John and the song is beautiful- unfortunately with his inclusion it just loses its edge. Collaborations with Foxes and Big Sean are nice enough, I just can’t see what they added to the expected high standards of F.O.B tracks, Patrick Stump’s voice has always been more than enough to carry the songs.

Kicking off with the two pre-released singles ‘The Phoenix’ and ‘My Songs Know What You Did’, the album immediately sets the tone. That stadium anthem sound we’ve come to love and expect from the band is there from the off, choruses made for chanting and hard hitting beats – something somewhat missing from the big band sound of their last album. The album has an electro influence new to their sound but the focus remains on the quality of the band themselves closer to the sound of Infinity On High than any of their other records. For the die-hard fans out there, you can pick moments which prove that this is an album made for the band and fans rather than the music companies.

So, the overall reaction: I’m happy! When it comes to F.O.B I’m always going to have exceedingly high expectations. The first listen I was unsure but every time after it just keeps getting better and I’m sure it won’t be long until I can once again say I know all Fall Out Boy songs off by heart. So if you’re a fan of F.O.B you won’t be disappointed, and if you’re new to this amazing band you’re in for a treat discovering this and their whole back catalogue.

The full data will be available online soon, and the winners were as follows:

Chair: Mitch Rushton
Print Editor: Harry Taylor
Radio Editor: Liam Jones
Web Editor: Laura Say
Secretary: Alex Pike

Sports: Dave Daly
Lifestyle: Poppy Tester
Arts: Andrew Simpson
Opinion: Ed Cullen

Advertising: Sam Halford
Web Admin: Theo Taylor
Graphics and Design: Laura Say
Sub Editor: Ellie Patterson
Welsh Officer: Carwyn Blayney
Music: Nick Robinson
Photography: Tomos Nolan
Social Secretary: Cameron Smyth

The election for Marketing and Events Manger was a tie between Paddy Chapman and Chris Humphreys, so neither were elected. An email will be sent out tomorrow explaining the next steps for this position and will include the full votes.

Congratulations to everyone who was elected!

He brings together excellent wit and youthful enthusiasm, despite him being 41 (-still surprises me now)! He gets the crowd hooked into the likeability and laugh out loud material performed in such a passionate way. He mixed his act between using safe material and more outrageous jibes.

A remark that stood out, “the press need a new Diana to replace the one they broke,” shows how he uses observations from life, showing how he is a skilled comedian to make us consider how tabloids misrepresent things.

Along with his humour revolving around current affairs, he frequently brought the audience to the forefront better than I’ve seen many comedians do in recent years. Most comedians tend to have a bit of a laugh at the front row’s expense, yet his interaction with not only just the front row, but all over the theatre was admirable and absolutely hilarious. Addison was able to use his improvisation experience to bounce off  the questions that he prompted audience members with in order to personalise the show with topics such as the lies that your parents told you.

Overall it was a highly enjoyable evening. Although the set is nothing new, Addison’s performance comes into his own due to his enthusiasm, intelligence and personality. The show is very funny which is the key thing for a comedy performance, I came away very satisfied with the nights entertainment. I am sad this will be his last tour, as I would have very much liked to have seen him again.

Iron Man 3 boasts an impressive cast and a host of characters that’ll make fans of the comic books start jumping in their seats. In the wake of the events of New York, which have left Tony battling his own personal demons, America is faced with a new terrorist threat in the form of the formidable Mandarin (played by Ben Kingsley, whose surprising performance is perhaps the highlight of the entire film). Throw in a megalomaniacal scientist with a luxuriant bouffant, a rather worrying development in the biomedical field, a whole host of conspiracy theories and Gwyneth Paltrow’s bare midriff, and you have the season’s biggest film.

As the first Iron Man film without Jon Favreau at the directorial helm, there’s definitely a different feel to proceedings, with Shane Black opting for a far more humorous approach than his predecessor. There are more one-liners in this film than the first two Iron Man films combined, and for a franchise with Tony Stark at the forefront, that’s saying something. The effects that the events of New York have had on Tony are deftly conveyed, and the results are heart-breaking. On the surface, this film really does tick all the boxes: plausible character development, groundbreaking special effects and dialogue so sharp that it rivals Guy Pearce’s jaw line.

That’s not to say that the film is without fault, however. A much toted turn by Rebecca Hall as a scientist with a secret starts off promisingly but falls flat, probably due to the fact that her character ultimately seems to serve no point other than to demonstrate Tony’s prowess with the ladies, despite her impressive qualifications and job title. The biggest flaw at hand, however, is that perhaps typically for a superhero movie, the plot does tend to stray into the overdone and clichéd – how many films have we seen now with a middle-aged, white male president getting into a spot of bother at the hands of a charismatic, sociopathic villain? – but it’s easy to overlook this when it’s wrapped in such a shiny package.

In summary, Iron Man 3 is fun, surprisingly thought-provoking and just generic enough to be self-aware – three things that Marvel seem to have turned into a winning formula. We can only hope that the rest of Phase 2 continues in a similar vein, and that Marvel keep upping their game. If they do, then the next few years should be very interesting – and rewarding – indeed.

Oh – and just a hint to any first-time Marvel viewers – don’t leave the cinema before the very end of the credits. Really. Trust me on this one.

Damage to the offices after the fire on the 26^th

THE FIRE at the National Library on the 26^th April was started by a worker using a blowtorch on the roof, a report has revealed.

The report, published by Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service described the events before the fire broke out: “Shortly after 14.30 one worker was using the blow torch to warm the roof covering on the edge of the Third Library Building Offices roof.  The blow torch caused the ignition of the wood behind the external cladding.”

“The two workers attempted to extinguish the fire however they were unable to access behind the external cladding from the roof edge and the application of water had no effect on the development of the fire.”

The building which was affected by the fire, known as the Third Library Building Offices, was undergoing significant repair following damage sustained during high winds in January 2012.

The two workers on the roof had reportedly been stripping the covering using a scalping machine, however the covering around the edges of the roof was to be removed using a propane blow torch and hand tools.

Once the fire began, Library staff attempted to extinguish it but were unable to access the timber behind the external cladding. They notified Mid & West Wales Fire & Rescue Service at 14:38 after raising the fire alarm.

The scene was attended by a total of 11 crews (from Aberystwyth, Lampeter, Machynlleth, Tregaron, Llandysul and an incident command unit from Carmarthen  along with a number of ambulances and police units), including an Aerial Ladder Platform, Incident Command Unit and a High Volume Pumping appliance.

• Watch our video of the fire
• View our gallery of images from the fire

The Panel said there “remains a risk of recurrence of similar inappropriate behaviour” by Dr Majeed

A DOCTOR who worked at Bronglais Hospital has been suspended for six months after a panel heard he signalled to an 18-year old student to kiss him after receiving treatment at the hospital in October 2010.

Dr Aamir Majeed, who worked in the Accident and Emergency Department at Bronglais, was treating the patient for a suspected broken ankle after a night out.

After X-rays, he took her into a private room by herself and showed her how to use a pair of crutches. When they were finished, he stood by the closed door and he pointed to his cheek, signalling for her to kiss him.

He later acquired her mobile number, and texted her on several occasions.

A year later, he tried to add her as a friend on Facebook, although he claimed this was a mistake as he added everyone in his phone’s contact list.

Dr Majeed appeared before the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service this week where he admitted “inappropriate” behaviour towards the patient.

“Highly inappropriate”

The Fitness to Practise Panel said his behaviour towards the patient was “highly inappropriate”.

The panel said that Dr Majeed’s breach of patient confidentiality had been driven by a desire to pursue a personal relationship, and that his misconduct was aggravated by the age of the patient and the likelihood that she might have felt intimidated by him.

The chair of the panel, Professor Stephen Miller, said: “You used your role as a doctor to attempt to pursue a personal relationship with a patient, putting your own interests ahead of those of your patient. Whilst the Panel accepts that no relationship ensued and that Patient A did not come to harm as a result of your actions, your misconduct undermines the trust that patients and the public are entitled to place in doctors and has brought the profession into disrepute.”

Dr Majeed had claimed until the start of the hearing that the patient who had instigated the kiss, and had “repeatedly denied” that he had urged her to do it.

He had also claimed his text messages to her had been for medical reasons, and only admitted it was a cover for him to pursue a personal relationship with her when he was cross-examined during the hearing.

The panel said they were “not satisfied that you have full insight into your misconduct, nor that you have fully absorbed the ethical and professional principles that should underpin your behaviour in working with patients”, and that there “remains a risk of recurrence of similar inappropriate behaviour”.

Dr Majeed, who moved away from the area in March 2011, was suspended as a doctor for a period of six months.

The Singles Club EP marked a huge turning point for the band as it was their first release since the departure of the Farro brothers. It showed that as a three piece they were still able to produce not just hard-hitting, pulse-racing, modern rock, but also acoustic guitar riffs able to ease even the foulest of moods. At 17 tracks and just over an hour long, the album is the largest the band has produced to date. The problem with this is that so many of the tracks feel like filler that no one had the sense to cut. Of the entire track list, I find myself enjoying only three – two of which are the singles from the album ‘Now’ and ‘Still Into You’ the third being ‘Proof’,  a track which succeeds in taking me back to the good old days before ukulele based interludes were deemed necessary for an alternative rock album. For me releasing a self-titled album is a statement along the lines of ‘this is our band, and this album more than anything embodies our sound’. I hope this definitely is not the case here, having been a Paramore fan since my early teens.For me their signature sound has never involved the appearance of a gospel choir making an appearance for backing vocals, a sound which I thought had long died out, it’s Hayley Williams producing notes unimaginable for someone of her size over fast-paced, exciting guitar and thrashing drums. The album’s success should in no way be attributed to the music contained within, but to the label, Fueled by Ramen, and their marketing team. I’ve no doubt that this is certainly just the beginning of major main stream success for Paramore – I just hope that they don’t forget those of us who still enjoy the type of music that built their fan base in the first place.

Headliner Tinchy Stryder performed in the Great Hall, despite stating on his Twitter he had problems with his eye. Stryder performed a comprehensive set, including his well-known single ‘Number 1’. As the final act of the night, he brought activities in the Arts Centre to a great close.

Stryder brought the night to a close, despite suffering a black eye / Photo: Daniel Quigley

Before Stryder took to the stage, the Indie band The Futureheads, from Sunderland, performed. They played several songs from their last album, which was recorded entirely A Cappella, proving that there was certainly diversity in musical-tastes at the May Ball.

The Futureheads provided diversity in musical tastes / Photo: Daniel Quigley

Sam and the Womp’s performance concurred this, as the act mixed elements of electro dance and traditional Balkan music, resulting in the unique sound of their debut single ‘Bom Bom’. In an exclusive interview with ASM, they revealed that their second single was due to be released in August this year.

Gentleman’s Dub Club rocked the crowd with “Emergency” / Photo: Daniel Quigley

Back 2 Black and Gentleman’s Dub Club warmed up the Great Hall with their upbeat sets. After their performance, in an interview with ASM, Gentleman’s Dub Club also revealed their plans for the coming summer. Their Riot Tour is set to play across many locations within the UK. They also stated their return to Wales was scheduled, and they would be performing at two locations; Narberth and Cardiff.

Radio 1 DJ Mistajam performed in the Main Room of the Union, hosted by MTV and Black House. Well known for his 11pm-1am Saturday night slot on Radio 1, Mistajam created an eclectic set, mixing new with classic bass music, sampling electro, deep house, and even Reggae. In his interview with Bay Radio’s Station Manager, Mitch Rushton, he described his experience of Aberystwyth: “Despite the roads on the way here definitely wanting to kill you, I made it in one piece and really enjoyed it. The crowd were very responsive. Small but perfectly formed which was great, I enjoyed it.” He also offered advice to anyone pursuing a similar career to his own: “you need to continue to practice every day, always make sure that you’re justifying your position”.

Attractions could also be found in the area between the Union and the Arts Centre. The Concourse was home to the WonderIce Ice skating rink, as well as several food and drink stalls. Earlier in the evening, the Ball was opened by the University Wind Band.

In the Cwtch, the Alt-Bay and UMCA stage had a variety of local bands perform, including the Welsh language bands Swnami and Y Bandana. The stage also saw a debut performance from Space Cadet, and a rock and roll set from Benign Sun. The night in the Cwtch was ended with Gypsy Wine Cartel, playing their local well-known songs.

This message was displayed on the big screen during the event

Tension was felt in the evening’s processions, as the Art Centre staff took the opportunity to stage further protest over the suspension of Director Alan Hewson and Operational Manager Auriel Martin. The screen that was used for streaming the Great Hall’s stage displayed the message “SHAME ON YOU April McMahon”. Despite the jovial atmosphere, the message provided a reminder of current events and the protests the University faces.

• Keep your eyes peeled for exclusive interviews with the acts and more in the next few days!

The Boars Head site before development

A MEETING with the landlord and owner of the student flats apparently threatened with demolition has been arranged for students today (Tuesday 14^th May).

Geraint Dafis, who owns the former Boar’s Head site, will be joined by the University’s Accommodation Office, Student Support and the Students’ Union for the talk, which will take place in Pantycelyn Small Lounge at 3pm today.

It is expected to be an informal talk to inform students about the situation and offer support.

The meeting follows a hearing at the Magistrates Court regarding the enforcement action, which is being taken in two parts.

Occupants living in Ty Newydd have received notice of the action (not to vacate at this stage) as Dafis was in the Magistrates Court regarding issues with works to that part of the building.

Both the proprietor and the occupants of the rest of the building have also received notice of the enforcement action (again, no notice to vacate), but Dafis has been given a few months to appeal, in which case it could take up to six months.

Richard Duggan from the Planning Department at Ceredigion County Council has confirmed that the courts will take students’ circumstances, including the academic year and tenancy agreements, into account when making any decisions on potential demolition. If the appeal on the rest of the building was lost, the planning inspector would put a condition on the demolition order to this end.

Tenancy agreements on the buildings reportedly begin in July and concerns have been raised that current occupants may have agreed to stay on from 1^st July, and other students may have already signed to begin their tenancy from July without knowing the situation.

However, Duggan has confirmed that there is “no chance of demolition before September.”

• Councillor for Aberystwyth North, Mark Strong, has said that he is happy for students to contact him by email with any concerns.

Some of Britain’s top cyclists will be making a rare appearance in Mid Wales in the three day event, encompassing a variety of different stages over the weekend.

Friday will see over 500 cyclists taking part in various events, including the professional Tour Series hitting the town, which will be televised on ITV4, along with the Juniors event and Town vs Gown.

The route will circumnavigate Old College, Aberystwyth Castle and the Pier, meaning roads on the circuit will be closed for the day.

Saturday will see downhill mountain bike racing make its debut in the festival. Qualifying will be taking part in the morning of the 25^th, with the main competition later in the day, with cyclists racing down Constitution Hill and finishing on the north Promenade. Organisers are hoping it will create a ‘pit lane atmosphere’ with mechanics working on bikes, a commentary team and stalls from partners of the events. The races that day will also be Round 2 of the MIJ Racing Welsh Series.

The final day of the festival on the 26th will see cyclists taking to the terrain of the local area in one of three routes to cover all abilities, the longest and most treacherous being the 105 mile long Y Cawr (“The Giant”) route.

• Aberystwyth Cycle Fest are also currently looking for volunteers to marshal the event. If you’re interested, go to http://www.abercyclefest.com/volunteers for more details.