The Brown Note Movie Review

Barbarian (2022) Film Review

One of the most acclaimed low-budget cross-over horror successes of the year, but having watched it near back to back with, Smile, I kinda feel the reviews for both films should be reversed. Admittedly this film is much more original and has much stronger themes, but where as Smile is relentless, scary and dread-fueled, Barbarian has a LOT of down time and a lot of dead ends. Much of the story and characters seem in service to the themes, there wasn't much dread and few scares. I appreciated its gonzo final third and imaginative, jarring shifts but felt it was way less than the sum of its parts.

Alex G - God Save the Animals (2022) Album Review

The ninth album from Pennsylvania's Alex G contains compelling and immediate melodies and emotional, personal lyircs SOME of the time. It can also drift a bit.

Smile (2022) Movie Review

The latest in the long line of low budget horrors, that cross over to major box office, is a far classier affair than expected, with a superb lead performance by Sosie Bacon. Like the movie, she is at her best credibility descending in psychosis in this supernatural chiller. A brilliant sound-stage and music and an expert hand at the overused trope of jump scares rounds out a near excellent film.

Jockstrap - I Love You Jennifer B (2022) Album Review

Last review for a bit, and slightly less than the universal acclaim - though still very strong and often thrilling for the long awaited UK duo's debut.

Beth Orton - Weather Alive (2022) Album Review

I'm not sure why the stunning new album from veteran, Beth Orton isn't being called post rock, as it fits firmly into the heritage of Talk Talk's, Spirit of Eden and Laughing Stock.

Freddie Gibbs - $oul $old $eparately (2022) Album Review

My favorite rapper eschews his famed one-producer projects with few guests to go for the multi-guest, multi-producer angle most others can only do. It's never going to be bad, though I wished he'd pushed even further and sadly it's only the old head guest spots that are on par with the MVP himself.

Beast (2022) Movie Review

Well, well, well. It's been a couple of years since we last found ourselves at the zero out of ten saloon. Thank me for watching the Idris Elba lion film, so you never have to. Less Jaws, than Jaws 4 - only without the laughter and entertainment. A whopping big fat zero for no merit in any direction of film-making. The Megan Fox lion film was MUCH better.

Bullet Train (2022) Movie Review

Brad Pitt brings a fair bit of comedic charm to a rote action film that aims at a very low hill and struggles likes a guinea pig to get over it.

Giorgia Meloni Won In Italy, Is Fascism On The Rise In Europe?

Not really, unless you count her winning 26% of the vote, in a country with 65 governments since WW2 - closer to one a year than two - where 74% of Italian voters didn't vote for her and where AT LEAST three parties are needed to form government at any one time. Especially so when you factor in that Italians voted for economic reasons above all else, including right wing populism - with the blow back from the unending war in Ukraine causing parts of the country to register 20% plus now living in poverty. But that does not mean it should be ignored, fascism rarely rises with majority support and in both Sweden and Italy, immigration is a problem the left and centre ignore or delegitimize at their peril.

The Afghan Whigs - How Do You Burn (2022) Album Review

Greg Dulli's 90's stalwarts were one of the greatest alt rock acts of arguably the greatest decade in American alt rock, with a run of albums that rival anyone and in 1965 (a straight 10/10) still being one of my favorite go to albums. Since their 2010's rebirth, they've hardly been slouches, but this third album is their finest document since their heyday. In a terrific year for indie and alt guitar music - one of the best.