Tag: reviews

Music/Movies, Uncategorized

The Fifty Best Songs Of 2024

by Matt DrufkeLeave a Comment on The Fifty Best Songs Of 2024
The Fifty Best Songs Of 2024

Well, if we can say anything about the state of music in 2024, we can certainly say that it was decidedly less horny than last year.

Look, there were definitely still some efforts to keep the mojo running in music. Sabrina Carpenter, Tinashe and Addison Rae all did their best to get us going like so many did in 2023. But there was not enough to overcome some of the bigger feelings we got this year: Rage. Contempt. Loneliness. Hopelessness.

Because of this, joyous songs (and there were a good number of them) felt like overwelcome lifeboats getting us to the next day. And even with this year’s crop of the best songs taking us to darker, more introspective places, there was still so much amazing music to share. Let’s take a look at the 50 best songs from a very good year of music.

Yes, there’s a playlist at the bottom of the article. Let’s boogie!

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Music/Movies, Pop Culture, Uncategorized

“Have You Heard of Martini Ranch?” by Riki MJ Adams

by rikimjadamsLeave a Comment on “Have You Heard of Martini Ranch?” by Riki MJ Adams

“Have you heard of Martini Ranch?” 
It’s a question that I ask of anyone who gets to know me on a long enough timeline.  More often than not, I’m not even met with a faint glimmer of recognition.  Which always blows my mind until I remember that I also had to be introduced to Martini Ranch long after it had ceased to exist.  

I remember exactly how it happened, I was working as a truck driver in 2017, and I had a lot of time to listen to podcasts on the road.  A personal favorite was the Witch Finger Horror Podcast.  I’d started listening to it as a fan of the band Kittie (who still rips by the way and just dropped a phenomenal album back in June), because the vocalist Morgan Lander was one of three hosts along with Megan Rae, and Yasmina Ketita of Rue Morgue Magazine.  As I was listening to episode 19, titled “Near Dark and our tribute to Bill Paxton” (he had died earlier that year) I heard the name Martini Ranch for the first time.  

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Music/Movies, Pop Culture

A true actor’s director: A review of Hit Man plus a ranking of Richard Linklater

by Matt DrufkeLeave a Comment on A true actor’s director: A review of Hit Man plus a ranking of Richard Linklater
A true actor’s director: A review of Hit Man plus a ranking of Richard Linklater

Of the indie directors to come out of the 1990’s, Richard Linklater might be the hardest to attach a label to. He doesn’t have Steven Soderbergh’s visual style or Quentin Tarantino’s inventive storytelling skills or even Kevin Smith’s ability to write a great scene. But, if there was any director from this class I think I would like working with if I was an actor, it would be Linklater. Because the man is a true and selfless collaborator.

In his great movies, of which there are many, the Texas filmmaker works hand in hand with his onscreen talent to create the best possible product. In many of Linklater’s films, the actor has a screenwriting credit, which shows you exactly how much he wants the input of his talent. And then there is Boyhood, in which he worked with his three principal actors over the course of a dozen years to truly show the experience of growing up.

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