I watch a lot of TV and movies
Length: 38:46
Synopsis: Radio-friendly pop with little depth
Recommendation rating: 2/5
What I like about it: some songs are musically quite decent, more still are catchy and inoffensive enough
What I don’t like about it: i know he can do better; it feels shallow and even cynical in parts, uses his voice poorly
Review:
A sadly forgettable, though probably commercial, album from the deep-voiced English singer-songwriter.
Content notes (may contain spoilers):
Length: 62:14
Synopsis: The Queen of Pop delivers a sexy dance epic
Recommendation rating: 5/5
What I like about it: dancy, catchy, iconic
What I don’t like about it: a couple of underwhelming tracks, some lyrics/vocals
Review:
So many contenders for album of the summer this year and in rides Beyoncé on her Godiva-inspired horse and bowls them all over. Lushly produced, playful, stylish and sexy, Renaissance surpasses even Lemonade in my opinion and is an indispensible record for those interested in pop. My favourites are Cozy, Cuff It, Break My Soul and Thique.
Content notes (may contain spoilers): sex
Where to find it: BritBox
Length: Three 1-hour episodes
Synopsis: a mysterious death is investigated by amateurs in rural Wales
Recommendation rating: 3/5
What I like about it: fun
What I don’t like about it: missable
Review:
Hugh Laurie ably adapts this standalone Agatha Christie mystery into an entertaining if convoluted yarn that doesn’t outstay its welcome. Will Poulter’s limited range is well-hidden behind the affable character of vicar’s son Bobby Jones and Lucy Boynton is charming as his friend, tomboyish aristocrat Lady Frankie Derwent. The cast is rounded out by Hugh’s impressive list of old friends such as Paul Whitehouse, Emma Thompson and Jim Broadbent.
Content notes (may contain spoilers): death, murder, hanging, drugs and alcohol
Where to find it: BBC iPlayer
Length: Seven 45-minute episodes
Synopsis: Brit coming-of-age Sex and the City stuffed with middle-class millennial nostalgia
Recommendation rating: 2/5
What I like about it: pretty good albeit scattershot soundtrack, occasional interesting moments
What I don’t like about it: way too many interchangeable party and sex scenes
Review:
BBC3’s latest overhyped and overprivileged comedy-drama finds starry-eyed childhood friends trying to make it as young media professionals in Camden. Their divergent paths through young adulthood and differing development rates threaten to tear them apart but friendship will win the day after over five hours of pointless partying, repetitive sex and cheap nostalgia pops.
Content notes (may contain spoilers): a whole lot of sex, drugs and partying
Where to find it: NowTV
Length: Six 1-hour episodes
Synopsis: People use people at an expensive Hawaiian resort
Recommendation rating: 4/5
What I like about it: human drama and social satire
What I don’t like about it: feels long and plodding, some storylines and characters are uninteresting
Review:
Mike White’s wonderful empathy is on display in this slow-burning miniseries (since renewed as an anthology) about several unrelated guests at an exclusive tropical resort: a ‘Lean In’ tech CEO and her family, a newlywed couple with a wealth disparity, and a grieving single woman with attachment issues. It opens with a promise that one of these will die, then begins setting up their characters – a process that seems to take the whole first half of the series. The languid pace is likely intentional and, along with the beautiful Pacific imagery and music, sets an enjoyable tone for a binge watch but makes it hard to want to come back to after just one or two episodes.
Content notes (may contain spoilers): drugs, racism, nudity, sex, defecation, violence
Where to find it: Disney+
Length: 100 minutes
Synopsis: A Chinese-Canadian teenager rebels against her parents as a menarcheal red panda
Recommendation rating: 4/5
What I like about it: good themes, fun setting and cartoon animation
What I don’t like about it: it’s a little forgettable compared to Pixar’s best
Review:
The real Pixar movie of this year, Turning Red is a fun all-ages adventure about puberty and growing up. It’s a very worthy addition to their collection of message movies such as Inside Out and Soul, movies you could watch and discuss with older children to introduce them to certain ideas and themes. I appreciate that this film comes the closest I’ve ever seen in children’s media to endorsing rebellion against parental authority, it’s pretty great to see that barrier being broken down.
Content notes (may contain spoilers): menstruation, friend drama, parental conflict, megalophobia
Where to find it: Disney+
Length: 100 minutes
Synopsis: Buzz attempts heroics for an hour and a half
Recommendation rating: 2/5
What I like about it: occasionally looks pretty, Sox
What I don’t like about it: miserably pointless
Review:
Ranking at the bottom of the Pixar canon alongside Cars 2 and Toy Story 4, this misadventure begins with the following mind-boggling title card then dives in media res before we have a chance to ask questions: “In 1995, Andy received a Buzz Lightyear toy. It was from his favourite movie. This is that movie.” What follows is an almost complete mess of plot holes and questionable decisions soaked in a dusty atmosphere reminiscent of The Martian (2015), the Pixar team are wasted here and don’t seem to have connected with or taken the time over the material. Sox will move plenty of merchandise, I’m sure.
Content notes (may contain spoilers):
Length: 73:18
Synopsis: Orchestr-Ellis-Bextor
Recommendation rating: 4/5
What I like about it: i love orchestral pop so was always gonna like this one
What I don’t like about it: just some of the source material
Review:
When my pop-loving best friend suggested I listen to Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Greatest Hits album, my reaction was apathetic but when elle told me that it’s backed by an orchestra, I quickly changed my tune. The album is unfortunately frontloaded with hits which don’t really fit the style (Groovejet) or which, let’s be honest, aren’t great source material (Murder on the Dancefloor) but they’re still impressive and only get better from there. I was under the impression that I only knew the two songs mentioned above but I recognised many more from the early-mid ’00s charts and the ones I didn’t recognise were generally beautiful ballads. She’s a wonderful singer and the orchestra do a great job, resulting in the album of a career.
Content notes (may contain spoilers):
Length: roughly 30 minutes
Synopsis: Smooth soundscape
Recommendation rating: 4/5
What I like about it: complex and beautiful sounds, assured composition
What I don’t like about it: it’s quite laid-back for my personal taste
Review:
This is a really well-made record but a hard one to put into words.
Content notes (may contain spoilers):
Length: 39:33
Synopsis: Underwhelming dance rock record after a 6-year hiatus
Recommendation rating: 3/5
What I like about it: the band has a new drummer and she’s fantastic, Sex Magik is a decent track
What I don’t like about it: Kele’s more grating habits are in overdrive, everything feels disjointed and doesn’t come together into memorable songs
Review:
Having had a crush on Kele Okereke half my life, I’m more excited for a new Bloc Party record than most but it really doesn’t live up to any of my hopes. The dance elements have been toned down and the amplifier’s gain setting turned up to 11. Kele alternates between channelling Morrissey’s crooning and The Hold Steady’s tuneless yelping over guitar noise. It’s not an appealing combo and mostly makes me want to listen to their first two albums again.
Content notes (may contain spoilers):