The Brown Note Movie Review

Wolfs (2024) Film Review

I feel this Brad and George star vehicle was slightly maligned on release. It remains a high quality outing for the platinum-plated pair and very well made. Plus not reliant on relentless high octane action, at least at first.

Jamie xx - In Waves (2024) Album Review

If ever there were a case of following your own imitators. The XX alumni's debut, In Colour, helped set a template that Coachella-esque electronic music has tried to follow ever since, making this sophomore album lack the lightning in a bottle aspect of its predecessor. Though a lackluster first half gives way to a much stronger second, particularly when the soul samples and collaborators are in the background.

Godspeed You! Black Emperor - No Title as of 13 February 2024 28,340 Dead (2024) Album Review

For the first time since the first album review on this channel, Black Country, New Road's Ants From up There, a BIG FAT TEN OUT OF TEN, for the latest album from the Canadian Post-Rock titans. Some of their most stadium worthy rock to date, whilst feeling closer to a symphony by Gustav Mahler. And in case you were wondering. as of 25 October 2024 42,847 dead. 16,765 of those children.

The Substance (2024) Film Review

Writer director Coralie Fargeat announces herself in manner akin to Quentin Tarantino, with her second film. Being both unbelievably don't give a f*ck bold and hugely literate in the history of cinema, wearing a dazzling array of influences across this amazingly wild schlock horror. Margaret Qualley and an awards-likely Demi Moore are fearless accomplices. One of the years best, most controversial and talked about films.

 

 

 

The War on Drugs - Live Drugs Again (2024) Album Review

Like its predecessor - Live Drugs - I'm left with the same feeling that I wish half the song choices were different, as at its best, the opening a closing salvos, it's fantastic and a fine representation of one of alt-rocks great bands but much of the middle run is a bit too flat an samey. Def one for fans only. Though Under the Pressure is one of the finest 10 mins of music this year.

Caribou - Honey (2024) Album Review

Although it wont stand on quality as being one of the esteemed Dan Snaith's finest, as either Caribou or his other alt Daphne, Honey will go down as one of the most important and challenging albums of this era. The use of AI in music is already a hugely controversial topic and one Snaith hits head on by using AI to turn his own voice into a variety of female singers.

Gone But Forgotten: The House of Love

My infrequent series on albums, movies or bands that were either denied classic status on release or have been forgotten about since. I've gone on at painful length about my anger at The House of Love - the first exciting and original British indie guitar band since The Smiths - never being included in conversations about either Shoegaze or Britpop, despite being more foundational and sooner for bands like RIDE and Slowdive than My Bloody Valentine themselves. The fact is, that with most of their best material being recorded before the 90's waves even began, they were too soon to a party they helped create. Here a look back at their debut album and the releases either side, that show them as one of the best British bands of the whole show.

A Shout out to the Needle Drop (Anthony Fantano)

A quick shout out of total respect to the Internets busiest music nerd, The Needle Drop, AKA Anthony Fantano. His recent posts on Macklemore and Godspeed You! Black Emperor, have been amazing in a world where so many journalists and socially conscious artists avoid the genocide in Gaza like the plague. Link below

https://youtu.be/oInyT46gNHE?si=VvN9SJfON9Y6_6n8

Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) Movie Review

Outstanding meta commentary, charisma between the leads, humor. Actual film and story - quite slight.

The Crow (2024) Movie Review

It's been a while between drinks (Madame Web I think) but we're back and firing with a BIG FAT ZERO out of ten for this well loved and warmly received remake of the overrated but hugely influential original. Here, FKA Twigs (with apparently BOTOX in both her face AND emotions), plays a talentless aspiring musician, with model looks, who hangs around in rich people's apartments >cough< whilst Machine Gun Kelly falls in love with her. If you can imagine how insufferable spending time with these two is, as they discuss their moon tattoos, you can imagine the awful first 40 minutes of The Crow being some of the hardest cinema I have watched this side of Salo or Come and See.