Album Reviews
Interpol
A Fine Mess EP
May 20, 2019 Web Exclusive
If I had to name the new Interpol release myself, A Fine Mess might've been my pick without even knowing there was an included song of the same name.
Idlewild
Interview Music
May 20, 2019 Web Exclusive
For their eighth studio album—their second since returning from a three year hiatus in 2013—Scottish indie rockers Idlewild have returned to their roots by way of producer Dave Eringa.
The National
I Am Easy to Find
May 17, 2019 Web Exclusive
Not long into "You Had Your Soul With You" one realizes The National's new album I Am Easy to Find is closely related to their last one, 2017's Sleep Well Beast: they share the same quest for meaning in a fractured world, the same skittering heartbeat, shimmery melodies and abrupt endings.
Classic Interviews
Alicia Vikander
On Pointe
Nov 15, 2012 Web Exclusive
Danish director Nikolaj Arcel estimates that he saw 70 actresses in Denmark while trying to cast the role of Queen Caroline Mathilda for his film, A Royal Affair, but none of them had the regal quality that he had envisioned for the character. He found what he was looking for when he met Swedish actress Alicia Vikander, a classically trained dancer who studied at The Royal Swedish Ballet School for nine years.
Comic Book Reviews
The Weatherman Vol. 1
Image
Apr 05, 2019 Issue #65 - Mitski and boygenius
Collecting the first six issues of the series by writer Jody LeHeup, artist Nathan Fox, and colorist Dave Stewart, The Weatherman scratched our sci-fi/action/adventure itch better than anything has since Schwarzenegger's big-screen heyday.
Book Reviews
Patrick McGuinness
Throw Me to the Wolves
Apr 30, 2019 Web Exclusive
In his third book, Patrick McGuinness takes on a murder and the media's propensity to jump to conclusions.
News
Vampire Weekend Share Video for “This Life” (Feat. Danielle Haim)
May 20, 2019
Vampire Weekend released a new album, Father of the Bride, earlier this month via Columbia/Spring Snow. Now they have shared a video for the album's "This Life." The song features backing vocals from Danielle Haim of HAIM, who also appears in the video alongside frontman Ezra Koenig.
Interviews
Ladytron on Their Self-Titled Album
May 20, 2019 Issue #65 - Mitski and boygenius
Ladytron are one of the most innovative bands of the 21st Century. Formed in Liverpool back in 1999 by Helen Marnie, Mira Aroyo, Reuben Wu, and Daniel Hunt and bonded by a love of experimental electronic music and pop, the four-piece released their debut album, 604, two years later after a batch of critically acclaimed singles and EPs.
The End: Telekinesis
May 17, 2019 Issue #65 - Mitski and boygenius
To end out the week, we ask Telekinesis some questions about endings and death. Telekinesis is the project of Seattle-based singer/songwriter/drummer Michael Benjamin Lerner, whose new album is titled Effluxion, which comes from the Latin term meaning "to flow."
Pleased to meet you
Stella Donnelly on “Beware of the Dogs”
May 10, 2019 Web Exclusive
Gathering her voice between intermittent coughing fits and sniffles, Stella Donnelly apologizes for being sick for the interview, wishing that she were more readily able to express herself.
Lists
Ranked: 2019 Oscar Nominated Documentary Shorts
Feb 24, 2019
Best Documentary Short is routinely one of the strongest categories, perhaps because the natural, open-ended approach to documentary filmmaking sees incredibly ambitious projects peter out. Certainly the reverse happens, as with Hoop Dreams. Unfortunately, this year includes two entries that might technically fall within the parameters of documentary filmmaking, but are too calculated and told from the benefit of hindsight to have the typical effect of nonfiction storytelling. No, not every documentary needs to be vérité, but every documentary should create a sense of the present tense. The two that do not heavily dilute the category.
By Shawn Hazelett
Live reviews
A Place to Bury Strangers at The Bodega, Nottingham, England, May 1, 2019
May 08, 2019
It might be over a decade (May 2008 to be exact) since A Place to Bury Strangers first unleashed their brutally uncompromising show on the city of Nottingham.
Blog
PLAYlist 39: Hex Roller, The Table is Lava, & Happy Salmon
May 13, 2019
Some of the best games are the really simple games. Some of the really simple games also happen to be really affordable games.
Media
- Premiere: Younghusband Share New Song “Modern Lie” Younghusband
- Versus Share Video for New Track “Invisible Love” Versus
- Faye Webster Shares New Track “Right Side of My Neck” Faye Webster
- Cate Le Bon Shares New Track “The Light” Cate Le Bon
- Heather Woods Broderick Shares “I Try” Video Heather Woods Broderick
- Watch: The Get Up Kids Share Video for “The Problem is Me” The Get Up Kids
Cinema Reviews
Non-Fiction
May 01, 2019 Web Exclusive
Olivier Assayas needed to get something off his chest. A lot of things, it turns out.
DVD Reviews
The Heiress
Studio: The Criterion Collection
May 20, 2019 Web Exclusive
Adapted from a 1947 stage play, The Heiress is a gothic romance but feels strongly of a piece with the film noir genre, which was reaching its zenith in the late 1940s.
Television Reviews
Leaving Neverland
(HBO, Sunday March 3 and Monday March 4)
Mar 03, 2019 Web Exclusive
Leaving Neverland, a sprawling account of alleged sexual abuse at the hands of Michael Jackson, was set for controversy from the moment it premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival.