The Brown Note Movie Review

Jurassic World Rebirth (2025) Movie Review

I'm not entirely sure where the rebirth happens in the 7th movie of the financially indestructible franchise, given it's basically a remake of Jurassic Park 3. But it is viciously hamstrung by terrible dialogue and acting, more befitting a low budget horror movie. Instantly the worst of the lot and I've never seen Scarlett Johansson so bored in a movie.

Jim Legxacy - black british music (2025) Album Review

The modern music critic is the biggest coward going. If it ticks the right boxes, they worship it out of fear. That's the only reason for the insane level of universal acclaim this album from the very talented Londoner has got. I found it difficult to get through, bland, almost Beiber-esque modern mainstream pop-R&B/Rap, and it definitely doesn't live up to it's title and theme. It feels more like the day-time TV of Black British Music.

Ballerina (2025) Movie Review

This John Wick spin off suffers most for an unforgivably trite story. I feel like I've seen this 'young girl that loses her parents and grows up to be an assassin' story a hundred times already. It also fails to make good use of its luminous star. Outside of that, it looks fantastic, is made with great competence and an enjoyable watch.

Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts - Talkin to the Trees (2025) Album Review

Given Mr Young's insane amount of releases in recent years, I suspect this maybe one fans have skipped. You shouldn't. In a banner year for live performances from Young (Glastonbury etc), this attendant studio album is one of the most ramshackle he's ever made, but its full of idiosyncrasy and Young in the now. Unusually specific personal lyrics, churning garage rockers and several gentle ballads, that show he has lost none of his ability to craft melodies and songs as pretty as Helpless or Harvest Moon.

Clipse - Let God Sort Em Out (2025) Album Review

The feverishly awaited return of the mighty Thornton brothers, Pusha T and Malice (plus production again from the Neptunes/Pharrell Williams) after more than fifteen years, has been the rap event of the modern era. Unless you like children's rap like Travis Scott and Drake. There was no way on earth it could live up to the hype or their heyday best. It does. Every last aspect - from the rollout to the music - is peerless class.

Thunderbolts* (2025) Movie Review

One of the best reviewed superhero projects since GOTG3 and it still stiffed at the box office. The days of comic book movies earning a billion are long gone, even half that is a success now. Florence Pugh takes over from Scarlett Johansson (who ironically just killed her at the box office...) as the new Black Widow (kind of). There are big plusses and nearly as big minuses here. The themes, soul of the film, the lead actor and for once even its visuals, are excellent. Shame they had to saddle it with the worst dialogue this side of The Batman, and some repetitive scenarios and overlong sequences can be a drag.

Gone But Forgotten: Amon Düül II

My intermittent series on albums, movies or bands that either were denied classic status on release or have been forgotten about since. Though their Krautrock peers, Can, Neu!, Faust and Kraftwerk still get plenty of coverage, these equally brilliant pioneers are rarely mentioned. Their first three album run, Phallus Dei, Yeti and Dance of the Lemmings (two of which are doubles) is one of the finest in rock. In fact this was supposed to be their first FIVE albums but I ran out of time (#5 Wolf City is also a masterpiece). A genuinely wild ride through some of the best proto-metal, prog rock, space rock and krautrock out there.

Overrated: Why Saving Private Ryan (1998) is the Most Overrated Film of the Last 40 Years

A new segment on this channel called Overrated. I am a hater at heart and love trashing things more than loving them. So this bit will feature things that have garnered universal acclaim, that I don't think are actually any good. Here the holy cow, that stinks up every list of best war films, reviewed in depth, where I factually and objectively state why Saving Private Ryan was never any good.

Glastonbury 2025: Charli Vs Neil, Kneecap Vs Bob Vylan

In an era where the live music mega-festival has changed, a look at two elements from the recent Glastonbury festival. Charli xcx Vs Neil Young, is live music important at a live music festival anymore? And the Kneecap/Bob Vylan controversy.

Sinners (2025) Film Review

MASSIVE SPOILERS Director Ryan Coogler certainly has critics bending over backwards, but like Black Panther, this - the best reviewed major release so far this year - is nowhere near as good as the insane level of praise it's got. A beautifully made and totally worthy watch, but a long way shy of a masterpiece in multiple ways. The first half is done so well, I kinda wished the vampires had stayed away.