discovering and sharing the music that moves us

Month: May 2022

Breaking Waves: Just Connor & “Hyperstrike”
Features, Interviews, Music

Breaking Waves: Just Connor & “Hyperstrike”

Considering it has been almost exactly a year to the day since I first spoke with Just Connor about his music, I think it's only right to do this first issue of Breaking Waves about him... Especially since today is the day that the first Just Connor track of 2022 drops! Please go ahead and stream "Hyperstrike"-- I promise you, it will send you on a gorgeous sonic journey. It's what I've had on repeat all morning. By the time you reach the second drop, you will realize that no one does wave music quite like JC. That's what I realized a year ago, and have realized time and time again, on my "journey through wave". I say it like that because that's what this has felt like--a journey. Ever since that first conversation with JC, it has felt like I've been on a journey to discover w...
Hulu’s ‘Crush’ is a Charming Queer Rom-Com (Review)
Features, Film, Reviews

Hulu’s ‘Crush’ is a Charming Queer Rom-Com (Review)

Hulu's 'Crush' is part of a growing batch of films and television series that focus on young queer people finding love. Following Netflix's 'Heartstopper' series, which is one of the most charming love stories in recent years of any orientation, this heartfelt and comic debut feature from director Sammi Cohen follows a young artist named Paige (Rowan Blanchard) who would do anything to get close to the girl she has a crush on at school. Rowan Blanchard and Auli'i Cravalho star in 'Crush' (Photo by: Hulu) For Paige, being gay has just been a fact of life. She's been out at school for years and has an overly supportive mother (Megan Mullally) who tries to show her how much of a cool mom she is by gifting her vibrators and dental dams. The target of her affection is Gabriela (I...
Lady Gaga’s “Hold My Hand” Is The New Top Gun Theme Song
Film

Lady Gaga’s “Hold My Hand” Is The New Top Gun Theme Song

Lady Gaga has contributed the theme song to the new Top Gun: Maverick movie. Due later this month, the epic ballad sets the tone for the film. The soundtrack is packed with nostalgic tunes and a few that are hot off the press. YouTube Available the same day the movie hits theaters, the soundtrack will be available via Interscope Records. Featuring new tracks from Lady Gaga and One Republic alongside classics from the original like Danger Zone from Kenny Loggins, it's sure to spark some nostalgic feelings for the original film. Gaga wrote and produced the song with BloodPop with addition production from Benjamin Rice. Premiere Set For May 27th After Five Delays Top Gun: Maverick will be debuting in theaters on May 27th on Paramount Pictures. The highly anticipated premiere ha...
Poll: Where Do You Discover New Music?
Features, Music

Poll: Where Do You Discover New Music?

Listening habits have evolved over the past few decades. Today, there are far more options when it comes to discovering new music. Take the MendoWerks poll below and let us know where you're finding tasty new jams. But first, let's look at some recently-released numbers for 2021. According to statistics from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), recorded music revenue in the United State grew a whopping 23% percent to $15 billion last year (retail value). All major formats experienced growth with the exception of digital downloads. Paid subscriptions continued to be the largest driver of growth. RIAA research shows that 84 million people belonged to a subscription service in 2021, up from 75.5 million the previous year. The news wasn't so promising when it came to ...
Michael Bay Returns With Action-Packed ‘Ambulance’ (Review)
Features, Film, Reviews

Michael Bay Returns With Action-Packed ‘Ambulance’ (Review)

The new film from maverick director Michael Bay will stand the test of time with audiences despite its lackluster showing at the box office. The action-packed thriller is a remake of a 2005 Dutch film called 'Ambulancen' about brothers who risk it all to pull off a bank robbery to cover some massive medical bills. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II stars as Will, an unemployed veteran with a newborn baby and a wife in need of a costly experimental surgery. He is struggling to find a job that will pay him enough to help his family when he gets a proposition from his half-brother Danny (Jake Gyllenhaal). Without much time to consider the implications of his decision, he agrees to join Danny and his nefarious crew to pull off a bank robbery that could solve all of his problems. As is o...
AWOLNATION Tour Announced, Covers Album Drops Friday
Events, Features, Music

AWOLNATION Tour Announced, Covers Album Drops Friday

AWOLNATION is hitting the road and tickets go on sale Friday. Not-so-coincidentally, the highly anticipated covers and compilation album will be released the same day. My Echo, My Shadow, My Covers and Me features appearances by Beck, Jewel, Brandon Boyd (Incubus), Taylor Hanson (yes, that Hanson), and many others. Photo Credit: Credit: Kari Rowe Joining AWOLNATION on tour are Badflower and The Mysterines. Dubbed the 'Falling Forward' tour, it'll kick off October 6th in Utah and run through November 18th in Seattle. Highlights include stops in New York City, Los Angeles, and Brooklyn Bowl Nashville. Tickets are on sale to the general public Friday at 10 am local time and can be found here. There is a special pre-sale underway for members of the AWOLNATION fan club through Thursday....
Five New May Album Releases That Should Be On Your Radar
Music

Five New May Album Releases That Should Be On Your Radar

Here are five new May album releases that caught our attention. Just for the record, Coheed and Cambria's new LP was on the list until we found out it had been pushed back until June. It never hurts to throw some fresh material onto your playlists so hopefully, you'll find a tasty nugget or two here. And before we get into it, honorable mentions include Warpaint's Radiate Like This on May 6th, Kendrick Lamar's Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers on May 13th, and Harry Styles' Harry's House on May 20th. 1. Arcade Fire WE Release Date: May 6th What you should know: This will be the first new album from Arcade Fire in nearly five years. Their latest single "The Lightning I, II" debuted in mid-March. Around that time multi-instrumentalist Will Butler announced that while he pla...