Second Listen Sunday: Ruff Endz, “Love Crimes”
My initial introduction was on the soundtrack to the 1999 film “Blue Streak” with the mid-tempo track “Please Don’t Forget About Me”. Produced by Dru Hill’s Nokio, the song wasn’t anything special, despite a strong vocal, and came across more as filler. However, it was another soundtrack effort six months later that won me over. In the spring of 2000, the duo appeared on the soundtrack of the dance film “Center Stage”.
Slow Jam Saturday: The Braxtons, “I’d Still Say Yes”
Nineties R&B was a special time. Particularly when it came to groups, both male and female, for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, I wanted to venture back to 1996 and show some love to The Braxtons’ cover of “I’d Still Say Yes” from their 1996 sophomore album, “So Many Ways.”
Reality bites—literally—in “The Jurassic Games: Extinction”
Reality TV collides with prehistoric monsters, again, in The Jurassic Games: Extinction, the continuation of 2018’s sleeper hit.
“Thou Shalt Not Bore: Saint Clare is a stylish spin on morality and mayhem”
“Saint Clare” is the kind of off-kilter genre gem that sneaks up on you. Stylish, darkly comic, and anchored by a surprisingly nuanced performance from Bella Thorne, it offers a twisted take on the vigilante thriller, wrapped in Catholic guilt and laced with satire.
Second Listen Sunday: LeVert, “The Whole Scenario”
When we reflect on R&B reunions from 1997, the first group that often comes to mind is New Edition. However, during the spring of that year, the R&B trio LeVert reunited to release their final album, “The Whole Scenario,” which is this week’s pick for Second Listen Sunday.
Slow Jam Saturday: Beyoncé & Bilal, “Everything I Do”
Written and produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis along with their frequent collaborator Big Jim Wright, “Everything I Do” is a ballad that perfectly blends Beyoncé’s mezzo-soprano with Bilal’s ethereal falsetto. As music fans already know, Jam & Lewis know how to get the best out of artists when it comes to romantic duets.
“Sovereign” is a haunting true crime drama anchored by powerhouse performances
Dennis Quaid adds authoritative gravitas as Police Chief Jim Bouchart, a figure whose attempts to maintain order clash with the Kanes’ escalating defiance. Quaid avoids caricature, instead portraying Bouchart as a man striving to do the right thing in a system just as flawed as the one the Kanes oppose. There is also strong supporting work from Martha Plimpton, Nancy Travis, and Thomas Mann.
“Brick” is trapped in a wall of missed potential”
The latest foreign horror film on Netflix is “Brick,” created by writer and director Philip Koch. Tim (Matthias Schweighöfer) and his girlfriend, Olivia (Ruby O. Fee), are now dealing with a recent tragedy, having seen better days. Oliva is ready to leave Tim and start somewhere fresh, but he convinces her to stay one more night.
Second Listen Sunday: Atlantic Starr, “Radiant”
Released on February 3, 1981, “Radiant” featured the group primarily writing the material while also collaborating with legendary Motown producer James Anthony Carmichael. The album’s first single, “When Love Calls,” was written by The Lewis Brothers and showcased a lead vocal by Sharon Bryant. This lively track conveys the importance of seizing love when it presents itself and highlights the potential consequences of indecision.
Slow Jam Saturday: The Whispers, “A Song for Donny”
If you’ve ever grieved for a departed artist or even a departed friend who left us far too soon, then “A Song for Donny” is a song for you.
“The Sandman Season 2” is worth the wait
Volume 1 of Season 2 is exceptionally engaging. Dream, portrayed by Tom Sturridge—who has adeptly synthesized the characteristics of both angels and demons into a haunting vocal performance—faces challenges that differ significantly from those presented in Season 1 as he seeks to reconnect with his dysfunctional yet very human family, known as the Endless.
“M3GAN 2.0” Is a genre-bending glow-up that stays too long at the party
Two years after besting M3Gan, Gemma (Allison Williams) and Cady (Violet McGraw) are living a somewhat tranquil life. Gemma is becoming a successful author and advocate for the regulation of artificial intelligence, while Cady, now aged 14, is in a rebellious stage. M3GAN, on the other hand, is being held in a small, harmless robotic doll for safety purposes.