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James Wan’s “Malignant” is Magnificently Brutal (Review)

21Sep

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Film, Reviews

James Wan’s “Malignant” is Magnificently Brutal (Review)

Over the course of his directorial career, James Wan has launched the successful horror franchises for "Saw," "Insidious," and "The Conjuring." His latest effort is unlikely to spawn any sequels (famous last words for this genre, I know), but it does deliver a wildly imaginative and terrifically blood-soaked thrill ride. Annabelle Wallis ("Peaky Blinders") stars as Madison Lake, a pregnant woman living with an abusive husband. Early on in the film, he throws her against their bedroom wall during an argument and nearly knocks her unconscious. She is able to lock him out of the room, which sends him to the living room couch for the night. Madison wakes up hours later with her head bloodied to the sounds of an intruder. By the time she makes it downstairs, she finds her husband g...

The Lumineers Set To Release A New Single Monday

19Sep

By SimonNo Comments

Music, Reviews

The Lumineers Set To Release A New Single Monday

UPDATE: The new single "Brightside" has been released. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JrH5kZH8_0 The Lumineers have been teasing fans on their social media channels that something new is coming soon. Rumor has it their brand new single will drop Monday. The band is fresh off of their first live performance in front of fans in 552 days. Up next they have a show booked at the Santa Barbara Bowl on Wednesday. https://twitter.com/thelumineers/status/1438537152879603713 Since the 15th they've had a cryptic tweet pinned to the top of their Twitter feed. The new material will be their first since 2019's III album which features fan favorites "Gloria", "Life In The City" and others. https://twitter.com/thelumineers/status/1438195471697199107 Then, around noon ET Sunda...

17Sep

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Film, Reviews

What’s Up With “Licorice Pizza”?

Film nerds started buzzing this week when official social media accounts turned up for the upcoming movie from Paul Thomas Anderson. His highly anticipated follow-up to "Phantom Thread" was shot under the working title of "Soggy Bottom," but we now know it will officially be called "Licorice Pizza." Twitter started to buzz earlier in the week when moviegoers at Tarantino's New Beverly Cinema reported the trailer had started to show up before screenings there. Subsequently other theaters like Chicago's Music Box Theatre were posting that they had gotten a 35mm treat from the director (note the lead on the print still retains the original name). https://twitter.com/musicboxtheatre/status/1438544757647683587 https://twitter.com/newbeverly/status/1438212828385591299 What ...

Sueco Drops New Single, Goes Viral With “Paralyzed”

15Sep

By SimonNo Comments

Music, Reviews

Sueco Drops New Single, Goes Viral With “Paralyzed”

Sueco is already a gold-certified artist with the Recording Industry Association of America. He's topped 500 million streams globally and boasts millions of followers on social media led by the 5.6 million people on his Tik Tok account. But it feels like he's only just begun to tap into his potential. Up until now, he's earned respect in the hip-hop genre but "Paralyzed" hits different. The song does begin with a hip-hop cadence but quickly kicks in with an early 2000s hardcore/screamo vibe but with a modern-day sensibility. Tik Tok #FYP Travis & Sueco I first stumbled on Sueco late one-night scrolling through Tik Tok. I'd heard songs of his before but didn't necessarily know it was him. He does deserve credit for creatively promoting the release of the new single through...

St. Vincent Checks in to “The Nowhere Inn” (Review)

14Sep

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Film, Music, Reviews

St. Vincent Checks in to “The Nowhere Inn” (Review)

The evolution of Annie Clark as a musician has been pretty incredible to watch over the years. From the quieter introspection of her 2007 debut album "Marry Me" to the full-on glam rock persona she has taken on more recently, she has become an award-winning artist recording as St. Vincent. Despite the acclaim and a rabid fan base, she isn't exactly a household name. That's where the fun begins in "The Nowhere Inn," a film that begins with Clark in the back of a limousine. The driver rolls down the window to make sure she knows that he's never heard of her and then calls his son and puts him on speakerphone to make sure it's clear that they don't really believe she's famous because they've never heard of her. Director Bill Benz ("Portlandia") helps bring this wild mockumentary to lif...

Grammy-Winning Rockers Mastodon Announce New Album And Fall Headline Tour

13Sep

By SimonNo Comments

Events, Music, Reviews

Grammy-Winning Rockers Mastodon Announce New Album And Fall Headline Tour

Mastodon is set to return to the road this fall on a co-headline tour with Opeth. The cross-country jaunt is in support of their brand new studio album Hushed and Grim. The 15 track double LP will hit record shops and digital platforms on October 29. The album is the first release of new material in four years for Mastodon. You can preview the brand new single "Pushing The Tides" below. 2017's Emporor of Sand took home the Grammy for "Best Metal Performance", their first win in five nominations. Hushed and Grim was recorded in their hometown of Atlanta, Georgia over the span of 12 months with producer David Bottrill. He's known for his work with acts like Tool, Muse and Rush. The album reveals a band that has matured as songwriters and who have opted to tap into a wide range of infl...

Spike Lee Tackles 9/11 Anniversary and Much More in HBO Doc Series (Review)

10Sep

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Film, Reviews

Spike Lee Tackles 9/11 Anniversary and Much More in HBO Doc Series (Review)

Spike Lee has been directing for over 35 years. In addition to his many feature films, he has released multiple documentaries for HBO over the years including the Oscar-nominated "4 Little Girls" and last year's stage recording of "David Byrne's American Utopia." After Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, he won three Emmys for "When the Levees Broke," a 4-part HBO documentary series that examined the impact and fallout from the storm. As we approach the 20th Anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 9/11, Lee has again turned to the cable network for another 4-part documentary that is as powerful as it is difficult to watch. "NYC Epicenters 9/11→2021½" may have began as a way to pay tribute to those who lost their lives twenty years ago, but it became so much more along the ...

Saint Slumber Released an Off-Beat, Alt Pop New Single, “freak!” ft. 100+ of Their Fans

8Sep

By Ambur MasenNo Comments

Music, Reviews

Saint Slumber Released an Off-Beat, Alt Pop New Single, “freak!” ft. 100+ of Their Fans

Saint Slumber has always been in a category of their own. They have a special blend of alternative rock and dark, electronic pop that I have never heard anywhere else. They're always doing something new that surprises me and this new single, "freak!", is no different. Blending over 100 fan voices into a choir for the track, Saint Slumber's latest release is more than a song: it's a force to be reckoned with. Check it out on Spotify below-- https://open.spotify.com/track/5oAnYRa5iZUjKG9wK0QIE5?si=Dppo0HlvSDaVufB36agPlw&utm_source=copy-link&dl_branch=1 In short, "freak!" is an offbeat anthem of total self-acceptance and is a welcome sight to see in my Spotify library. It came two long months after "never / nowhere", the last Saint Slumber single. "I don't know wh...

Kings County Release Blistering Version Of Måneskin’s “Beggin'”

8Sep

By SimonNo Comments

Music, Reviews

Kings County Release Blistering Version Of Måneskin’s “Beggin'”

Hard rocking quartet Kings County has released a killer cover from one of the year's most talked-about bands. Måneskin was initially formed in Italy in 2016. They've recently achieved lift-off with a dual pair of singles in "Beggin'" and "I Wanna Be Your Slave". The question is, are you saying their band name right? Regardless of any potential pronunciation issues, we're here to talk about the fact that Kings County has delivered a hard-hitting rendition that pays tribute to the original while making it all their own. Meet Kings County Kings County is made up of Rob Dexter on vocals & bass with Steve Bell on guitar and sharing in the vocal duties. Then you have Joe Lopez holding it down on drums with Bill Kania also on guitars and vocals. Our very own Cammy K had a chance to...

Dead Sara’s New Album ‘Ain’t It Tragic’ Set To Drop September 17

7Sep

By SimonNo Comments

Music, Reviews

Dead Sara’s New Album ‘Ain’t It Tragic’ Set To Drop September 17

The highly anticipated new album from L.A. rockers Dead Sara is set to be released on September 17 via Warner Brothers Records. The album release marks the band's first new material since 2018's Temporary Things Taking Up Space EP. Ain't It Tragic was largely written during the pandemic and was co-produced by Dead Sara's Sean Friday along with Noah Shain who has worked with the band previously. Featuring 11 new songs, guitarists Emily Armstrong and Siouxsie Medley bring the dual guitar attack while Friday anchors each track with beats. “Deep in the making of this album, in the thick of the pandemic, we had nothing to do but write and record music. Amid all that was happening in the world and the day-in day-out in the studio we let our guards down and let whatever happen, happen… lo...