discovering and sharing the music that moves us

Month: December 2023

The 10 Best Films of 2023
29Dec By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments
Features, Film, Reviews

The 10 Best Films of 2023

It's time to take a look at the best films of 2023. I managed to view over 120 new releases this year and there was a lot to love. Despite the Writers Guild and Screen Actors Guild striking this year, there was a wide array of movies to choose from. The true impact from those strikes will not likely be felt until next year, although the box office of several releases this year were likely less than they could have been due to a lack of promotion. It wasn't all doom and gloom for the overall business - 8 feature films crossed the $200 million mark in ticket sales and 'Barbie' ended up grossing over $636 million domestically. The films below weren't necessarily the biggest hits, but they are the ones that have lingered the most in my mind. Emma Stone stars in 'Poor Things,' ...
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ICYMI: ‘Rye Lane’ is a Refreshingly Creative Meet-Cute (Review)
22Dec By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments
Features, Film, Reviews

ICYMI: ‘Rye Lane’ is a Refreshingly Creative Meet-Cute (Review)

'Rye Lane' is the debut feature from director Raine Allen-Miller. Earlier this fall, the it led the pack with a whopping 16 nominations at the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA). While attending a friend's art exhibition, Dom (David Jonsson) breaks down in a gender-neutral bathroom. His long-term girlfriend Gia has cheated on him with his best friend and Dom just can't take it anymore. He feels safe to have an isolated cry in the bathroom, but Yas (Vivian Oparah) overhears him in the stall next door. The two cross paths later while checking out their mutual friend's artwork on display and Yas clocks Dom by noticing it was his shoes under the bathroom stall. But Yas has recently gotten out of a relationship too and, although she plays it cool, it was also a difficult experience ...
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Auld Lang Syne Punked-Up: The Dollyrots’ Cover New Year’s Anthem
22Dec By SimonNo Comments
Features, Music

Auld Lang Syne Punked-Up: The Dollyrots’ Cover New Year’s Anthem

The Dollyrots, the dynamic punk-rock trio consisting of Kelly Ogden (bass and vocals) and Luis Cabezas (guitar and vocals), along with current touring drummer Simon Hancock, are gearing up for an action-packed 2024. They've just announced a January tour alongside Bowling For Soup and Lit. Additionally, a March tour with Gymshorts as support is on the horizon. Tickets for both upcoming tours are available now. Before bidding farewell to 2023, The Dollyrots have dropped a punk-infused yet sentimental rendition of the New Year's Eve classic, "Auld Lang Syne," released on Wicked Cool Records. Kelly Ogden reflects on the inspiration behind the rendition, stating, "Usually, when Auld Lang Syne comes on, I feel a bit wistful... I mean, maybe it’s the champagne, but it’s also time to re...
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Radiobot: Listen To Debut Single “This World’s On Fire”
17Dec By SimonNo Comments
Features, Music

Radiobot: Listen To Debut Single “This World’s On Fire”

Radiobot is a dynamic musical trio featuring Brett Scallions, Billy Harvey, and Eddie Wohl. They're making waves with their debut original single. "This World's On Fire" is available now on all major music platforms via TLG/Virgin Music Group. This and their previously released Bob Dylan cover gives listeners a taste of what's to come from this exciting band. According to the trio, their debut album is set to drop in Spring 2024, In a statement, the band expressed their intentions behind the single, stating, "At a time when the world certainly feels like it's a mess, we hope listeners will enjoy the comical tongue-in-cheek lyrics in this song. That, along with the stomp beat, should get your booty shaking and have some fun with it." Adding an extra layer of entertainment, Radiobot ha...
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The Force (Re)Awakens: Djedi Returns With Epic New Single “Ambedo”
14Dec By Ambur Masen1 Comment
Features, Music

The Force (Re)Awakens: Djedi Returns With Epic New Single “Ambedo”

At the end of last year, we had asked a very important question: will we be seeing The Return of the 'Djedi' in 2023? Well, we're very happy to report that yes, in fact, we are seeing Djedi's return in 2023, and with a huge new track, "Ambedo"! Check out "Ambedo" by Djedi below, via YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d82VhFA0BCw 'Huge' doesn't even begin to properly describe this new Djedi song, but it was the word that came to mind upon hearing "Ambedo" for the first time. That's probably because everything about it is huge--the intensity, the atmosphere, the emotion... In particular, this tune gives major vibes in the realm of 'epic hero reaches the final climax of his story--and the stakes couldn't be more dire!' As a result, we feel that this song would make for ...
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Polyvinyl Records Presents Birthmark’s Highly Anticipated Album ‘Birth of Omni’
13Dec By SimonNo Comments
Features, Music

Polyvinyl Records Presents Birthmark’s Highly Anticipated Album ‘Birth of Omni’

Birthmark is the brainchild of accomplished multi-instrumentalist Nate Kinsella and a new album is on the way. Birth of Omni is set for release on January 19th, 2024 through Polyvinyl Record Co. Following the well-received lead single "Rodney," Birthmark has unveiled "Red Meadow." The new material is accompanied by a visually striking music video directed by Kinsella himself. Photo Credit: Tom Medvedich In "Red Meadow," Kinsella explores the complex dynamics of midlife and parenthood. He shares how these experiences can reshape relationships and one's understanding of oneself. The music video, co-directed by Chris Strong, employs light, darkness, and dance to articulate the emotional essence of the song. Kinsella and dancer Robin Mineko-Williams move together in tandem, symbolizing a...
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On Glitch Art, Internet Music, & More: a Conversation with skxllflower [Exclusive Interview]
13Dec By Ambur MasenNo Comments
Features, Interviews

On Glitch Art, Internet Music, & More: a Conversation with skxllflower [Exclusive Interview]

"I feel like I came home after taking a long trip around the music industry–I’ve realized I felt most at home working on tunes like this."- skxllflower If there's any Liquid Ritual release that you need to pay attention to this year, we truly believe that it's this one: "distance2" by skxllflower, a newcomer to the wave scene who has, to our surprise, only been at it for about three months. skxllflower's recent turn towards making wave music isn't the only surprise we ran into over the course of this exclusive interview with him, but it may have been the most shocking revelation, especially given just how good this new track is. See for yourself: check out "distance2" by skxllflower, via Spotify. "Are we dreaming?" "distance2" has this gorgeous, inimitable daydream-...
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Creeper Announced as Support for Black Veil Brides’ 2024 Tour Across North America
12Dec By CJNo Comments
Events, Features, Music

Creeper Announced as Support for Black Veil Brides’ 2024 Tour Across North America

Southampton's favorite goth rockers, Creeper, have been quite busy these last few months. The band just wrapped up a European tour supporting Atreyu, and back in October, they released their third studio album, Sanguivore, with Spinefarm. That's not all... Earlier this year, Creeper not only performed at the Heavy Music Awards. but was also listed in three different award categories: Best Single (for "Ghost Brigade"), Best UK Artist, and Best UK Live Artist. Now, the band has even more good news: Creeper is coming to North America to support Black Veil Brides on tour in the spring of 2024, after they complete a 12-date run of shows in the UK. Want the details? Keep reading. "Yeehaw cowboys, cowgirls, and cowothers across North America..." The 'Bleeders' tour is comp...
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Timely Sci-Fi Thriller ‘The Creator’ is a Visual Marvel (Review)
8Dec By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments
Features, Film, Reviews

Timely Sci-Fi Thriller ‘The Creator’ is a Visual Marvel (Review)

'The Creator' is set in the not-so-distant future. In 2070, humans are at war with artificial intelligence. Director Gareth Edwards has a knack for crafting inventive sci-fi thrillers that look far more expensive than their actual budgets. In 2010, he made a film called 'Monsters' that was made for under $500,000 using consumer-grade software and edited on a laptop. It didn't make a lot of money at the box office, but managed to get the attention of Hollywood. It led to him rebooting the Godzilla franchise in 2014 and helming 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' in 2016. Gareth Edwards' 'The Creator' (Courtesy of 20th Century Studios) With this latest film, he took $80 million and, yet again, made it look like a film with a much higher budget. There may not be any shots in the fin...
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Excitement Builds For Green Day’s 14th Album With “Dilemma” Release
7Dec By SimonNo Comments
Features, Music

Excitement Builds For Green Day’s 14th Album With “Dilemma” Release

Powerhouse punk rock trio Green Day is making waves once again with the release of their latest single, "Dilemma." The band, comprised of Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, and Tré Cool, has delivered another instant classic. The song packs a punch and is set to be featured on their upcoming 14th studio album Saviors due January 19, 2024. Photo credit: Emmie America In the accompanying video, we find Billie Joe Armstrong navigating the consequences of a wild night. The footage embodies the lyrics' brutally honest reflection on addiction and mental health struggles. "'Dilemma' was one of those songs that was kind of easy to write because it was so personal to me," Armstrong shares. The track explores the pain that arises from witnessing the challenges faced by peers dealing with addic...
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