Second Listen Sunday : Randy Jackson, “Randy &the Gypsys ”
Unless you’re a music purist, mentioning Randy Jackson from the famous family is likely to elicit a joke. However, any serious Jackson fan knows that Randy had musical achievements long before the punchlines. Before he was old enough to buy a drink, he had already co-written “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)” and “Lovely One” with Michael Jackson.
Slow Jam Saturday : Dazz Band, “Heartbeat”
R&B fans are still raving about the Joe and Donell Jones Verzuz, which Joe easily won in my book. I’ve always been a fan of Joe, so while revisiting his catalog I was reminded just how much I loved the 2014 bop “Love & Sex, Pt. 2.”
Single Review: Romeo Miller, “Selfie” and “Doin Something feat. Trevor Jackson ”
Romeo Miller was one of those artists who was never really on my radar. When he hit the scene, I was 20, and at that point there was only room for one kid rapper in my music collection. That said, I always felt Miller had natural charisma, and for years I figured his true calling was acting after seeing him in the film “Honey”.
“Colony” Review: Yeon Sang-ho Finds Fresh Blood in Familiar Zombie Territory
Horror director Yeon Sang-ho returns to the world of Korean zombies with his latest film, “Colony”, released by Well Go USA. Co-writing the screenplay with Choi Gyu-seok, Yeon explores familiar genre territory while avoiding the typical outbreak formula. Instead, “Colony” introduces an intriguing twist to the infected mythology and delivers the intense, blood-soaked spectacle audiences expect from the filmmaker.
“Coyote vs. Acme” Review: Wile E. Coyote Finally Justice
Director Dave Green continues to carve out a comfortable niche for himself in family-friendly entertainment with his third feature, “Coyote vs. Acme”, from Ketchup Entertainment. Samy Burch pens the screenplay from a story she crafted alongside James Gunn and Jeremy Slater.
Second Listen Sunday: Jasmine Guy, “Jasmine Guy”
Earlier this week, fans were excited when the trailer for Netflix’s upcoming sequel series, “A Different World”, was released. In response, I thought it would be fitting to pay tribute to Jasmine Guy’s self-titled album from 1990 for this week’s Second Listen Sunday.
Slow Jam Saturday : The Miracles , “I Didn’t Realize The Show Was Over”
Some jobs in music are difficult, but being asked to replace Smokey Robinson is another. When Robinson stepped away from The Miracles in the early seventies, Billy Griffin inherited a microphone attached to one of Motown’s most recognizable voices.
“Feed” Movie Review: Irish Vampire Folklore Can’t Fully Sink Its Teeth In
Saban Films “Feed “has the makings of a horror film that could leave a mark, but it too often rushes past the very ideas that make it interesting. Writer-director Marco Van Belle combines grief with Irish vampire folklore, creating a monster whose most frightening weapon is not simply bloodlust but the possibility of giving a grieving woman exactly what she wants. That is a terrific foundation. The film just does not dig deeply enough into it.
“The Snare” Review: A Familiar Thriller Setup With Real Emotional Bite
Director Merlin Camozzi’s “The Snare” from Obscured Pictures works because it recognizes that one bad break can feel like a life sentence when you’re already struggling.
Pure Scum Review: Privilege Runs Wild Through the Streets of Melbourne
Since the release of “A Clockwork Orange,” directors have attempted to capture the essence of reckless youth and toxic masculinity without making the characters engaging or appealing. Writer-director Gideon Aroni takes on this challenge in “Pure Scum,” a gritty Australian psychological thriller that follows two privileged young men through an increasingly disastrous night in Melbourne.
Second Listen Sunday : The Tony Rich Project, “Birdseye”
When I reflect on the summer of 1998, I was preparing for my junior year, while R&B seemed to be at a crossroads. Brandy and Monica were dominating the youth market with their blockbuster sophomore albums, while established male singers like Luther Vandross and Gerald Levert were comfortably settling into Urban AC.
Slow Jam Saturday : The Tony Rich Project, “Like a Woman”
When you hear the name Tony Rich, “Nobody Knows” is likely the first song that comes to mind. That record was a massive success, and its influence still lingers. However, true music enthusiasts recognize that Rich was never a one-hit wonder. He possessed an incredible talent for songwriting.