10. Like Pacific - Waste Of Breath
Last week: NEW!
9. Avril Lavigne - Bite Me
Last week: NEW!
8. Stand Atlantic - Molotov (Ok)
Last week: 9.
7. Silverstein - It's Over
Last week: 8.
6. As It Is - I Miss 2003
Last week: 7.
5. Meet Me @ The Altar - Now Or Never
Last week: 5.
4. Sunrise Skater Kids - Homeless Millennial
Last week: 4.
3. With Confidence - What You Make It
Last week: 3.
2. Nothing, Nowhere - Pieces Of You
Last week: 2.
1. Stereos - Hands Off You
Last week: 1.
Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season thus far but we are not quite done yet. I've usually taken this time of year to talk about the baseball hall of fame ballot or to start off my year end lists. I'm not prepared to do the latter and I have a podcast that covers baseball, specifically the Toronto Blue Jays but we do lots over there MLB wide (www.anchor.fm/insidethedome) so baseball thoughts will likely stay there. But what we did get recently is a new Disney+ Marvel show in Hawkeye, the 5th that takes place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, all of which that were released this year so I thought it would be fun to rank them based on how much I enjoyed them.
I'll be honest, I haven't finished What If? Maybe it's because it's a series of one offs instead of cohesive story telling? I'm not sure. When I watch it I do enjoy it it just hasn't been must see tv like the other 4 shows on this list have been despite being the only animated show, and animated expertly might I add at that.
4. Loki
I feel like Loki might have suffered most from the pandemic as there were several episodes that seems to just have Loki by himself or with one or two other people simply talking. I enjoyed the time authority reason for existing and the villain shown at the end but despite being excited to see Loki go solo, his storyline was pretty stale overall.
This was a fantastic show and very nearly took the #2 spot but it just came up a little short. Doing a lot in only 6 episodes, this show not only deals with the financial toll of being a Superhero (Falcon) but also the mental toll it takes on your psyche, especially if you were brainwashed and did some regrettable things in the past (Winter Soldier). Oh also race in America is a big thing still in 2021, who knew?
2. Wandavision
Like I said, Wandavision and Falcon & Winter Soldier were very close. Ultimately it'd be easy enough to say Wandavision got an extra three episodes so that was the difference maker but the first three Wandavision episodes overall didn't do much for me, what it did do was keep me coming back for more to try to unravel the mystery at hand and once we got into normal MCU mode I was invested in following Wanda's journey of grief over Vision.
I'm probably going to get a lot of hate here but I absolutely love this Hawkeye series. I will not speak specific spoilers but the way they combined another Marvel show into this one was brilliantly done and we still get the emotion from other series with Hawkeye and Yelena dealing with Natasha not being around anymore in their own ways. But overall this is based on the Fraction/Aja run of Hawkeye which has been my favourite Marvel Comics book of the last I dunno, 20 years? So yeah. Hawkeye definitely deserves this placement. Oh and I will also be watching this series every Christmas from here on out as this is essential viewing now.
10. Rain City Drive - Cutting It Close
Last week: NEW!
9. Stand Atlantic - Molotov (Ok)
Last week: 10.
8. Silverstein - It's Over
Last week: 9.
7. As It Is - I Miss 2003
Last week: 8.
6. Bring Me The Horizon - Die4u
Last week: 1.
5. Meet Me @ The Altar - Now Or Never
Last week: 6.
4. Sunrise Skater Kids - Homeless Millennial
Last week: 5.
3. With Confidence - What You Make It
Last week: 4.
2. Nothing, Nowhere - Pieces Of You
Last week: 3.
1. Stereos - Hands Off You
Last week: 2.
2021 may have been a strange year overall but as much as things change some stay the same, hence we got a new What's A Partridge? What's A Pear Tree compilation for you as it's time for volume 13! The new album tracklisting is listed below as well as a mediafire link to go along with all past volumes. More of a Spotify guy? Well good news every song on one of these comps that is up on Spotify is in a handy playlist HERE and I also have a playlist of other music I tend to pull from for these comps right HERE
What's A Partridge? What's A Pear Tree? Volume 13:
1. Mayday Parade - I'm With You
2. Capital Lights - His Favourite Christmas Story
3. Butch Walker - Walking In A Winter Wonderland
4. Settle Your Scores - Xmas Exile
5. MxPx - Christmas Party
6. Reel Big Fish - Skank For Christmas
7. August Burns Red - Home Alone Theme
8. Golden Gate - Christmas Without You
9. BoyMeetsWorld - Home For The Holidays
10. Loveless & Downer Inc. - Last Christmas
11. Jaret & Kelly - Get Christmas Right
12. New Found Glory - Holiday Records
13. Descendants - Christmas Vacation
14. The Offspring - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
15. Janick Thibault - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
16. blink-182 - Boxing Day
17. Stellar Kart - Punk The Halls
18. Skatune Network - This Christmas
19. Simple Plan - Christmas Everyday
20. Green Day - Xmas Time Of Year
What's A Partridge? What's A Pear Tree? Volume 12:
1. Dallon Weekes - Sickly Sweet Holiday
2. blink-182 - Not Another Christmas Song
3. Patent Pending - Jingle Bells Mazel Tov (Dreidel Song)
4. Bowling For Soup - Father Christmas
5. Relient K - Silver Bells
6. Senses Fail - Donde Esta Santa Claus
7. Story Untold - Silent Night
8. Butch Walker - Last Christmas
9. Jonas Brothers - Like It's Christmas
10. Dropkick Murphys - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
11. Goldfinger - Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
12. New Found Glory - December's Here
13. We The Kings - The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting)
14. Reel Big Fish - Mele Kalikimaka
15. Taylor Swift - Christmases When You Were Mine
16. Good Charlotte - Let The World Be Still
17. Plain White T's - That Christmas Feeling
18. Dave Melillo - All I Want For Christmas Is You
19. MxPx - Punk Rawk Christmas
20. The Rocket Summer - O Holy Night
What's A Partridge? What's A Pear Tree? Volume 11:
1. Aly & AJ - Greatest Time Of Year
2. Goldfinger - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
3. Echosmith - Baby Don't Leave Me (All Alone At Christmas)
4. Panic! At The Disco - Feels Like Christmas
5. Butch Walker - Frosty The Snowman
6. I Don't Know How But They Found Me - Merry Christmas Everybody
7. Set It Off - This Christmas (I'll Burn It To The Ground)
8. Creeper - Fairytale Of New York
9. Plain White T's - Do You Hear What I Hear
10. Patent Pending - A Better New Year
11. Fight Fair - Going Nowhere
12. Relient K - O Holy Night
13. Bowling For Soup - Miss You Most On Christmas
14. Taylor Swift - Christmas Must Be Something More
15. Carousel Kings - We Wish You A Merry Christmas/Auld Lang Syne
16. The Rocket Summer - Elf Creep
17. The Summer Set - This Christmas
18. Broadside - Wish List
19. MxPx Ft. Emily Whitehurst & Pierre Bouvier - December
20. Reel Big Fish - Whatever U Celebrate
What's A Partridge? What's A Pear Tree? Greatest Hits Volume 1:
1. Anberlin - Baby Please Come Home
2. From The Top - Hot Chocolate Stains And Candy Canes
3. All Time Low - Fool's Holiday
4. A Change Of Pace - Christmas On The Coast
5. Plain White T's - Christmas Won't Be The Same Without You
6. Sunrise Skater Kids - 12 Days Of A Pop Punk Christmas
7. These Kids Wear Crowns Ft. Vital - You're My Mrs. Claus
8. Artist Vs. Poet - Airplanes And Candy Canes
9. Man Overboard - Decemberism
10. Unwritten Law Ft. Sum 41 - Unwritten Christmas
11. The Matches - December Is For Cynics
12. Relient K - Santa Claus Is Thumbing To Town
13. Divided By Friday - All I Want For Christmas Is You
14. The Summer Set - Love By Our Side
15. Bayside - Angels We Have Heard On High
16. Suckerpunch - This December
17. .fun. - Sleigh Ride
18. All These Lights - Christmas Wish
19. Hawk Nelson - Up On The Housetop
20. Good Charlotte - Last Christmas
10. Stand Atlantic - Molotov (Ok)
Last week: NEW!
9. Silverstein - It's Over
Last week: 10.
8. As It Is - I Miss 2003
Last week: 9.
7. Grayscale - Dirty Bombs
Last week: 1.
6. Meet Me @ The Altar - Now Or Never
Last week: 7.
5. Sunrise Skater Kids - Homeless Millennial
Last week: 6.
4. With Confidence - What You Make It
Last week: 5.
3. Nothing, Nowhere - Pieces Of You
Last week: 4.
2. Stereos - Hands Off You
Last week: 3.
1. Bring Me The Horizon - Die4u
Last week: 2.
10. Silverstein - It's Over
Last week: NEW!
9. As It Is - I Miss 2003
Last week: 10.
8. Hot Milk - I Think I Hate Myself
Last week: 2.
7. Meet Me @ The Altar - Now Or Never
Last week: 8.
6. Sunrise Skater Kids - Homeless Millennial
Last week: 7.
5. With Confidence - What You Make It
Last week: 6.
4. Nothing, Nowhere - Pieces Of You
Last week: 5.
3. Stereos - Hands Off You
Last week: 4.
2. Bring Me The Horizon - Die4u
Last week: 3.
1. Grayscale - Dirty Bombs
Last week: 1.
11. Santa Forgive Me
Although most of the tracks on this album are lyrically simple, harkening back to Christmas classics of the past with the guitars taking a back seat to the bass and drums, Santa Forgive Me is arguably the most simple and the least likely to come back to.
10. Christmas Card
Christmas Card just missed the bottom spot as instantly it was one of my least liked tracks on this album with it's repetitive lyrics but ultimately I gave it a nudge up for at least singing about something (finding the perfect Christmas card) that hasn't been done a million times before.
9. For Christmas Sake
The nostalgia is real on the closing track of this album. Harkening back to toys wanted as children of the 80's (He-Man and G.I. Joe among others) shows us the innocence Christmas brings out of people even as adults just simply looking back.
8. Snow
Lyrically Snow is likely one of, if not the strongest track on this record but this slow paced ballad doesn't do enough instrumentally to stand out among the other similar tracks here. It also has not been a favourite of mine being released back in 2014 but still not making it onto a volume of "What's A Partridge? What's A Pear Tree?" my annual Christmas comp. (shameless plug)
7. Nothing For Christmas
Speaking of my Christmas CD, Nothing For Christmas was featured way back on volume 6 and although it has been mixed slightly different on this album it's still basically the same song so it lands here in the middle of the tracklist ranking.
6. It Never Snows In Florida (Holiday Version)
The oldest song released on this album, the original version was featured on NFG's full length debut back in 1999 as a high octane pop-punk song. For the holidays it's an acoustic jam with jingle bells replacing the drum sounds. Never a big fan of the original this now works as a holiday jam with the new instrumentals.
5. Our First Christmas
Okay so I may be a bit biased here. Our First Christmas has some of the tropes I complained about near the beginning of this list but my wife and I started dating around Christmas (December 2012) so it's just a bit sentimental to me and ultimately we want songs to make us feel something so that's why it cracks the top 5.
4. December's Here
The last of the pre-released songs is here at #4. December's Here was released last year to advertise the then upcoming NFG Christmas livestream. Again nostalgia plays an import role in talking about watching Home Alone and Elf many times and reciting all the quotes to fully get into the holiday season.
3. Somber Christmas
This track was used to announce the album and they couldn't have picked a better song to do so. The duality handled in the lyrics is equal parts sad (a devastating break-up) and happy (looking back on happy memories) makes you feel all at once.
2. Don't Fight It's Christmas
Don't Fight It's Christmas has the best hooks on this album, likely because it's sonically the closest to a straight up pop song on the record and I simply can not get enough of it.
1. Holiday Records
Vinyl is all the rage so it's natural to flip through your loved ones vinyl collection to pull out any Christmas records you can wear out to get yourself in the holiday mood. Holiday Records is easily the standout on this album thus far. You can expect to see it on this year "What's A Partridge? What's A Pear Tree?" compilation.
10. As It Is - I Miss 2003
Last week: NEW!
9. Real Friends - Teeth
Last week: 3.
8. Meet Me @ The Altar - Now Or Never
Last week: 9.
7. Sunrise Skater Kids - Homeless Millennial
Last week: 8.
6. With Confidence - What You Make It
Last week: 7.
5. Nothing, Nowhere - Pieces Of You
Last week: 6.
4. Stereos - Hands Off Of You
Last week: 5.
3. Bring Me The Horizon - Die4u
Last week: 4.
2. Hot Milk - I Think I Hate Myself
Last week: 1.
1. Grayscale - Dirty Bombs
Last week: 2.
Synopsis: When a single mother and her two children move to a new town, they soon discover they have a connection to the original Ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind.
My thoughts: Afterlife is certainly more kid friendly then it's predecessors were at the time they came out. Of course with VFX improvements it's no longer that scary so I'm not condemning you for having your kids watch the original films. On that same note like Shazam, this isn't just a love letter to Ivan Reitman's original films but the 80's family adventure film scene as a whole. Ivan's son, Jason Reitman of Juno fame, takes the directors chair this time around and he's basically the perfect person for the job but the film definitely could've used some trimming in the middle but the opening set up and the conclusion specifically are well executed and the cast is extremely charming all around.
Final verdict: 4 homicidal mini-pufts out of 5.
Synopsis: In the world of international crime, an Interpol agent attempts to hunt down and capture the world's most wanted art thief.
My thoughts: More style than substance is found in Red Notice. It's clear that Netflix backed a brinks truck up to the 3 stars houses in order to get them to sign on, but style only goes so far. The chemistry found between Reynolds and Johnson works well enough and Gadot knows how to play a mysterious femme fatale perfectly but the script leaves a lot to be desired and the epic twist could be spotted a mile away, and by that I mean very early in the movies runtime. The ending also sets up for a sequel which I feel will happen just as name recognition alone would lead to suggest. It's not all doom and gloom though. The locations they hit are breathtaking and what fight chorography we have is enjoyable but I expected more of it expecially given the around the world heist premise starring Deadpool, The Rock and Wonder Woman.
Final verdict: 3.5 buddy comedies out of 5.
Synopsis: On an alternate earth, the Joker tricks Superman into killing Lois Lane, sending Superman down a path of destruction.
My thoughts: I think we've had enough of evil Superman in the DC Animated Universe. Supes had enough people on his side in this flick that they could've pushed the dictator role home but instead they just wanted to push the Superman violent content instead. Given that this is a DC Animated movie I do expect quite a bit of violence but would it kill them to spread the killings around? The animation was cool and from what I recall it mostly stuck to the original book before skipping to the end to wrap things up. That unfortunately means no sequel is likely so my wishlist will be flushed down the proverbial toilet. Not the worst DC animated movie this year, but not the best either. It's been a while since I was wowed by one. Maybe 2022 will be the year.
Final verdict: 3.5 dead superheroes out of 5.
10. Point North - Stitch Me Up
Last week: NEW!
9. Meet Me @ The Altar - Now Or Never
Last week: NEW!
8. Sunrise Skater Kids - Homeless Millennial
Last week: 9.
7. With Confidence - What You Make It
Last week: 7.
6. Nothing, Nowhere - Pieces Of You
Last week: 6.
5. Stereos - Hands Off You
Last week: 5.
4. Bring Me The Horizon - Die4u
Last week: 4.
3. Real Friends - Teeth
Last week: 3.
2. Grayscale - Dirty Bombs
Last week: 2.
1. Hot Milk - I Think I Hate Myself
Last week: 1.
Label: Rise Records
Press release: Today, Angels & Airwaves have officially announced their highly anticipated sixth studio album, LIFEFORMS, that will be released September 24. They have also announced a world tour, that will go into 2022. Both of these announcements were first made from space, when the band partnered with Sent Into Space to launch a renewable hydrogen capsule which played an out of this world premiere of the entire album along with displaying the tour and album information.
My thoughts: It had been nearly 7 years since Tom Delonge released any music and I honestly expected more out of these 10 tracks, the first 2 singles released last year without an album announcement had me excited but it's been a mixed bag since then and the unreleased songs were as well unfortunately mixing in grandiose themes over barely there guitars that are drown out by synths with catchy hooks. Rebel Girl is probably still the highlight of the album but Automatic and No More Guns were the best deep cuts but I miss old Tom. Maybe his next material (New blink???) will be better.
Label: Roadrunner Records
Press release: Turnstile have announced a new album, ‘Glow On’, which is their first in three years. The Baltimore hardcore outfit shared details of their third record on a billboard in their hometown. It’s due for release on August 27. The LP follows the group’s previous two records: 2018’s ‘Time & Space’ and their 2015 debut ‘Nonstop Feeling’.
My thoughts: Kudos to Turnstile for following pop song structure but layering every kind of instrumentation possible. Still hardcore at it's core but with every genre around the sun surrounding it. Wild Wrld is probably my favourite of the deep cuts but overall it's hard to beat the burst of energy that T.L.C. provides.
Label: Sharptone Records
Press release: Boston Manor will be releasing a five-track Desperate Times Desperate Pleasures EP on October 29 via SharpTone. Discussing the EP as a whole, frontman Henry Cox shares: “We made this record just coming out of lockdown. We’d tried to write throughout 2020 but nothing was coming out; everyone’s mental health was suffering – it was just a really frustrating time. “And then, as soon as January this year hit, just like that all these songs started flooding out of us. It was a really great opportunity to exorcise all of the frustration and pent-up emotion of the previous year and really process those thoughts and feelings.
My thoughts: In case the above didn't convince you this was a pandemic project than the lyrics certainly do. Feelings of isolation and loneliness is played throughout. Pre-released songs Algorithm and Desperate Pleasures are definitely the highlights but this record is enjoyable from front to back showcasing what Boston Manor is capable of doing and I think I even like it better than the record they released at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020's Glue.
10. Boston Manor - Desperate Pleasures
Last week: NEW!
9. Sunrise Skater Kids - Homeless Millennial
Last week: NEW!
8. Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! - Complete You
Last week: 1.
7. With Confidence - What You Make It
Last week: 8.
6. Nothing, Nowhere - Pieces Of You
Last week: 7.
5. Stereos - Hands Off You
Last week: 6.
4. Bring Me The Horizon - Die4u
Last week: 5.
3. Real Friends - Teeth
Last week: 4.
2. Grayscale - Dirty Bombs
Last week: 3.
1. Hot Milk - I Think I Hate Myself
Last week: 2.
Synopsis: Marvel Studios' Eternals features an exciting new team of Super Heroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, ancient aliens who have been living on Earth in secret for thousands of years. Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, an unexpected tragedy forces them out of the shadows to reunite against mankind's most ancient enemy, the Deviants.
My thoughts: Eternals leaves a lot to be desired in a regular vacuum. Through the lens of a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie and it's even worse. Eternals does somewhat follow the MCU formula with some world saving action paired with jokes and heart from (mostly) sympathetic characters however I couldn't be sold on any of it on the whole. I'm sure I'll come to enjoy some of the characters as they pop up elsewhere in the MCU and I'm willing to give Eternals another watch down the line but this flick did little for me.
Final verdict: 3 lackluster MCU movies out of 5.
Synopsis: Everyone's favorite spooky family is back in the animated comedy sequel, The Addams Family 2. In this all new movie we find Morticia and Gomez distraught that their children are growing up, skipping family dinners, and totally consumed with "scream time." To reclaim their bond they decide to cram Wednesday, Pugsley, Uncle Fester and the crew into their haunted camper and hit the road for one last miserable family vacation. Their adventure across America takes them out of their element and into hilarious run-ins with their iconic cousin, IT, as well as many new kooky characters. What could possibly go wrong?
My thoughts: A definite step down from the first film (which had it's own separate issues). This is a departure from the classic characters we know which I'm sure was intentional it just didn't work. It's basically an excuse to make a family movie and they made the characters The Addams Family to have some name recognition.
Final verdict: 3 hairy cousins out of 5.
Synopsis: In this reimagining of 1999's She's All That, teen social media influencer Padgett's humiliating on-camera breakup goes viral, leading her to make a risky bet to save her reputation: she swears she can turn scruffy antisocial Cameron into prom king material. But things get complicated when she finds herself falling for him IRL.
My thoughts: The acting is real bad, let's get that out of the way. The premise is fun enough and they gave the lead a more realistic transformation than in 1999 when they took her glasses off and gave her a dress. There was also a few fun callbacks to the predecessor and had a decent enough message but outside of that and a few chuckles the script was not good.
Final verdict: 3 gender swapped remakes out of 5.
Synopsis: Minutes after Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis), her daughter Karen (Judy Greer) and granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak) left masked monster Michael Myers caged and burning in Laurie's basement, Laurie is rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, believing she finally killed her lifelong tormentor. But when Michael manages to free himself from Laurie's trap, his ritual bloodbath resumes. As Laurie fights her pain and prepares to defend herself against him, she inspires all of Haddonfield to rise up against their unstoppable monster. The Strode women join a group of other survivors of Michael's first rampage who decide to take matters into their own hands, forming a vigilante mob that sets out to hunt Michael down, once and for all. Evil dies tonight.
My thoughts: The previous installment breathed a lot of new air into this long struggling project, though I will admit I liked the Rob Zombie Halloween but just like that movie I was disappointed by the follow-up but unlike that one I didn't completely despise Halloween Kills, it simply didn't move the needle forward as much as I would've liked. Of course a sequel is already in the works so let's just hope this is the issue of a prolonged second act to get us to a worthwhile finale in it's own film.
Final verdict: 3.5 Shatner masks out of 5.
Synopsis: The Great Gonzo – world famous daredevil artiste, has done it all, seen it all, and survived it all. But on Halloween night, the fearless Gonzo takes on the greatest challenge of his life by spending one very daring night in the most grim grinning place on Earth …The Haunted Mansion.
My thoughts: This Muppets special won't gain many new Muppets fans. It's simply a situation where if you like the not quite a mop, not quite a puppet characters, you'll like this. Will Arnett and Taraji P. Henson seem to be having a blast making this which does show and Haunted Mansion gives us all the heart and soul we expect from a Muppets production. They've been a little hit and miss recently and this isn't a hit like past Muppets movies you fondly remember but not the misses like you recall as well. It's comfortable in the middle but given the track record of late you'll take that.
Final verdict: 3.5 Disney rides out of 5.
Synopsis: After a proposed pipeline creates divisions within the small town of Beaverfield, and a snowstorm traps its residents together inside the local inn, newly arrived forest ranger FINN (Sam Richardson) and postal worker CECILY (Milana Vayntrub) must try to keep the peace and uncover the truth behind a mysterious creature that has begun terrorizing the community.
My thoughts: Based off a VR game, which is based off a card game that I like, Werewolves Within, had a good set up and the movie kept you guessing. I felt like they focused a bit too much on the comedy element and not enough on the horror element unfortunately. But that was really the only downside as I felt this cast of relative unknows did well and the visual effects weren't too bad given the budget the filmmakers were working with.
Final verdict: 3.5 twists out of 5.
10. Ice Nine Kills - Rainy Day
Last week: NEW!
9. Hawthorne Heights - Tired And Alone
Last week: NEW!
8. Stereos - Hands Off You
Last week: NEW!
7. Real Friends - Nervous Wreck
Last week: 1.
6. Bring Me The Horizon - Die4u
Last week: 7.
5. Real Friends - Teeth
Last week: 6.
4. State Champs - Just Sound
Last week: 5.
3. Grayscale - Dirty Bombs
Last week: 4.
2. Hot Milk - I Think I Hate Myself
Last week: 3.
1. Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! - Complete You
Last week: 1.
Label: Fearless Records
Press release: At a totally sold-out fan event at the Mystic Museum in North Hollywood, CA, horror metal titans, Ice Nine Kills announced their long awaited sequel The Silver Scream 2: Welcome To Horrorwood. The fresh slice of horror-themed brutality will be released via Fearless Records on Friday, October 15 and can be pre-saved here. Speaking on his band’s newly announced album, Ice Nine Kills frontman and driving creative force, Spencer Charnas shared: “True to horror franchise tradition, there is always a sequel…”Welcome To Horrorwood” follows in the bloody footsteps of its predecessor, paying tribute to 13 more of the most gruesome tales to ever grace the silver screen. In this latest INK offering, the last album and video series is portrayed as a work of fiction. The new story line thrusts the band into a brutal “real world” slaying. The only traces of the crime are 13 songs left behind by the suspected killer…
My thoughts: People are losing their minds over this record. I'm sitting here thinking did I miss something? It's predecessor was much better in my opinion. Horrorwood does still have some strong moments but the pop song structure that made these songs based on movies so strong is seemingly lost here. Maybe it was as a result of constructing an overall narrative that was not found on the earlier records, or maybe Spencer and co. just wanted to push a louder sound that was sprinkled in on TSS to be the overarching sound on this record. I'm still excited to see where the videos go from here, especially since they've already covered some of my least favourite songs (Assault & Batteries, Funeral Derangements) so now we can see what they do with some of my favourites after one listen (Ex-Mortis, The Shower Scene).
Label: Fearless Records
Press release: Philadelphia's alt rock band Grayscale are pleased to announce third full-length Umbra. The album finds the band not reborn but refined and truly coming into their sound. Umbra arrives on August 27 on Fearless Records. For Grayscale, Umbra is the end of the beginning. All previous records served as stepping stones accumulating and shaping the band's course and leading them down an artistic and aesthetic path to this point. Umbra is more of a feeling than a concept; it is an energy. It is all the things we keep underneath or to ourselves. It is the cold feeling of internal conflict, the bargaining, and the wickedness that exists within a space otherwise covered in light. The sounds don't necessarily match the stories; the energy doesn't always match the intent. It's not about the light or the dark. It's about the light and the dark.
My thoughts: I'll keep this one short. This is an incredible record. Grayscale started playing with new sounds and instrumentation on their previous record but it made for a mishmash of songs that sounded like their old stuff, great songs that evolved the band and bad songs that they did too much with. That being said Grayscale clearly realized what worked on that album and ran with it here giving us an AOTY contender.
Label: Self-released
Press release: rationale. have revealed that they are releasing a new record, and it's dropping next week! 'If The Problem Persists' is set to drop digitally on September 24. It will be released on vinyl in early 2022 via Smartpunk Records. The Chicago trio consists of Joe Taylor (Knuckle Puck), Dan Lambton (Formerly of Real Friends) and Ryan Rumchaks (Knuckle Puck, Homesafe).
My thoughts: Those that did not feel the new Real Friends album gave them what they wanted (not sure why you'd feel that way but whatever) then behold rationale.'s new EP featuring Dan Lambton vocals. That being said this sounds more like early Real Friends then the strides they took on Composure which seen Dan write a lot for the first time. I had high hopes but it left me a little disappointed but still a worthy listen especially if you need to pick yourself back together (get it?).
10. State Champs - Outta My Head
Last week: 10.
9. As It Is - IDC, I Can't Take It
Last week: NEW!
8. Bearings - Get The Need
Last week: NEW!
7. Bring Me The Horizon - Die4u
Last week: 9.
6. Real Friends - Teeth
Last week: 7.
5. State Champs - Just Sound
Last week: 5.
4. Grayscale - Dirty Bombs
Last week: 4.
3. Hot Milk - I Think I Hate Myself
Last week: 3.
2. Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! - Complete You
Last week: 2.
1. Real Friends - Nervous Wreck
Last week: 1.
Synopsis: In No Time To Die, Bond has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.
My thoughts: Going in I wasn't sure if this would be Craig's last bond but I can now say with absolute certainty it will be. Daniel Craig looked bored most of the time, although his character didn't have much to be happy about he didn't have to look this out of tune the whole time. That being said this is at the very least a middling Craig Bond film as the other cast stepped it up as did the writing and the direction even though the Bond theme remained stagnant as it has been a while.
Final verdict: 3.5 Bond girls out of 5.
Synopsis: In this raw and raunchy comedy, straight-laced Marcus and Emily (Lil Rel Howery, Yvonne Orji) are befriended by wild, thrill-seeking partiers Ron and Kyla (John Cena, Meredith Hagner) at a resort in Mexico. Living in the moment, the usually level-headed couple lets loose to enjoy a week of uninhibited fun and debauchery with their new "vacation friends." Months after their walk on the wild side, Marcus and Emily are horrified when Ron and Kyla show up uninvited at their wedding, creating chaos and proving that what happens on vacation, doesn't necessarily stay on vacation.
My thoughts: I'm pretty comfortable in naming this the best straight up comedy I've seen this year, though that list is short compared to past years and this film is not without flaws but the cast provides you enough chemistry and heart that you can pretty safely ignore the films other shortcomings.
Final verdict: 4 illegal drugs out of 5.
Synopsis: Meticulous and preternaturally skilled, Kate is the perfect specimen of a finely tuned assassin at the height of her game. But when she uncharacteristically blows an assignment targeting a member of the yakuza in Tokyo, she quickly discovers she's been poisoned, a brutally slow execution that gives her less than 24 hours to exact revenge on her killers. As her body swiftly deteriorates, Kate forms an unlikely bond with the teenage daughter of one of her past victims. Starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Woody Harrelson, and directed by Cedric Nicolas-Troyan, Kate follows a burned assassin's furious pursuit of one last self-appointed job.
My thoughts:
Final verdict: 3.5 shots out of 5.
10. State Champs - Outta My Head
Last week: NEW!
9. Bring Me The Horizon - Die4u
Last week: 10.
8. Meet Me @ The Altar - Feel A Thing
Last week: 1.
7. Real Friends - Teeth
Last week: 8.
6. Dragged Under Ft. Spencer Chamberlain (Underoath) - Brainwash Broadcast
Last week: 6.
5. State Champs - Just Sound
Last week: 7.
4. Grayscale - Dirty Bombs
Last week: 5.
3. Hot Milk - I Think I Hate Myself
Last week: 4.
2. Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! - Complete You
Last week: 3.
1. Real Friends - Nervous Wreck
Last week: 2.
