SIGRID IS BACK! Norway’s finest import has returned with a funky, infectious single, and it’s the thing that’s keeping me moving today. And that vocal fry?!?! “Fort Knox” is the second single from Sigrid’s third full-length record, There’s Always More That I Can Say, coming your way on October 3rd. Preorders and such here!
Show Review: Carly Rae Jepsen: Emotion 10th Anniversary Show at Troubadour, 8/19/25
Photos by Gordon Elgart
E*MO*TION by Carly Rae Jepsen is an extremely rare record. It’s simply perfect. It landed at #2 on our list of greatest records of the 2010s, and if we re-evaluated that list, it likely would be #1 five years removed from the last decade. When Jepsen announced that she was going to do one show in 2025, and it would be playing that seminal record in full, I decided it was best to make sure I was there.
Film Review: “Eden”
A star-studded affair to relish (then forget)
The “Galapagos Affair” is a fascinating and troubling true story. Multiple eyewitness accounts have been published, as well as a documentary and non-fiction books, about the incident. Director Ron Howard, no stranger to the “based on a true story” aspect of filmmaking (Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, Frost/Nixon, Thirteen Lives, among others), depicts the “Galapagos Affair” in his new film, Eden, a thriller set among paradise-seeking settlers on the island of Floreana in the 1930s. Eden is a star-studden affair, a sexually-charged collision of characters unfolding in a harsh natural environment, but the crucial “why” behind the proceedings is never explored, resulting in the film’s inability to be anything more than a diverting thriller. Continue reading “Film Review: “Eden””
Film Review: “Ne Zha 2”
A cinematic fireball of epic proportions and rich mythology
Here’s a couple movie tidbits to know before your next trivia night: 1) the highest grossing animated film of all time is Ne Zha 2; and 2) the highest grossing non-English language film of all time is, you guessed it, Ne Zha 2. With a global haul of over $2.1 billion and counting, this box office record-buster is a Chinese animated sequel to a 2019 animated movie about a popular Chinese mythological figure and humanity’s deity/demon protector, Nezha. The Ne Zha films are directed by Jiaozi and developed and produced through his production company, Chengdu Coco Cartoon. Now, after setting international box office records and following a short stint in a few North American theaters in February, Ne Zha 2 takes aim at American audiences with an English-dubbed version in theaters. Despite its complex plot and intimidating mythological context, its stunning visuals and epic scale more than earn its theatrical experience. Continue reading “Film Review: “Ne Zha 2””
Single of the Week: “Heartbreak” by Ivy
I *love* Ivy. The faux French Pop project from married couple Dominique Durand and the late, great Adam Schleisinger was almost certainly a thing of the past when COVID stole the life of one of America’s greatest songwriters in 2020. However, while working on remaster / reissues of Ivy’s fantastic catalog, Durand started listening to various demos from over the years, called up bandmate Andy Chase and, bam! We have a new Ivy album! And much like a ghost giving you a warm hug, these are all songs worked on by Schleisinger. Even though COVID is still frustrating our lives, its impact has reduced in the last year, and hopefully will continue to wane. That being said, “Heartbreak” sounds as fresh and inviting as anything off their classic record Apartment Life, and I’m eager for more music and to hopefully see them live again.
“Heartbreak” comes from Ivy’s upcoming record, Traces Of You, in stores and at your friendly neighborhood DSP on September 5th!
Film Review: “Highest 2 Lowest”
Lee and Denzel’s fifth collaboration is a mix of many highs and 2 many lows
It’s tough to avoid comparing a remake to the original, especially if the original is a five-star masterpiece. Such is the case for Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest, which is based on Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 procedural crime drama, High and Low (which is based on a 1959 book, King’s Ransom by Ed McBain). Kurosawa’s High and Low explores stark class divisions within post-war Japan, challenging the characters with life-threatening moral dilemmas and utilizing a detailed police procedural plotline to expose these divisions, literally and metaphorically. Lee moves the 1960s Japan setting to a present-day New York City, shifts the protagonist’s business empire from a shoe company to a music label, and abandons High and Low’s slow burn pace for a thriller, all of which deliver a mixed bag of results. Continue reading “Film Review: “Highest 2 Lowest””
Outside Lands 2025: 15 Instant Set Reviews
I’m no stranger to Outside Lands, having only missed two iterations of it since its debut in 2008 (2010 and 2021 for those keeping score). I’ve seen a lot of changes, and I admit that I miss a few things that have gone away, such as the Barbary tent and the craft vendors in the Polo Fields. But, in return, the addition of the Dolores’ stage, spotlighting SF’s rich legacy of LGBTQ culture and arts, as well as the gorgeous Duboce Triangle stage, has been a welcome addition. This year, in particular, felt like the “nicest” Outside Lands has ever been. People were kind and polite. Taller folks were letting shorter folks in. I lost my water bottle leaving a set, and a kind woman RAN AFTER ME TO GET IT BACK TO ME! I’ve never hugged more strangers, and it was all just so very lovely! Also, everywhere I went, I saw a young person with “Fuck Ice” written on their clothes, or a Palestinian flag, rainbows, “No Kings” attire, etc- For those believing the hype that Gen Z is all conservative and MAGA, that certainly wasn’t what was happening in the park this weekend. Truly, Outside Lands 2025 was a welcome respite from the real pain the world is feeling right now.
Continue reading “Outside Lands 2025: 15 Instant Set Reviews”
Film Review: “Nobody 2”
The first Nobody does it better
Hutch Mansell, the deceptively mild-mannered, disgruntled everyman (and former elite assassin), is back. Hutch pleased audiences with a barrage of brutal bad guy beat downs in 2021’s Nobody, directed by Ilya Naishuller (Heads of State), a self-aware, more grounded version of a John Wick-esque action flick. Nobody was a surprise hit, considering its non-action star, Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul; Mr. Show), and because its release coincided with the controversial return to theaters from Covid-19 lockdowns. And yet its success greenlit a sequel, and Nobody 2, from director Timo Tjahjanto (The Shadow Strays), mostly delivers the same ruthless fun as the original, but with more than a few questionable choices. Continue reading “Film Review: “Nobody 2””
Film Review: “Weapons”
It’s 2:17 am. Do you know where your children are?
Zach Cregger triumphs with Weapons, proving the success of his 2022 critically acclaimed horror movie Barbarian was no fluke. Indeed, the writer/director’s sophomore effort is the better picture. Clever, downright scary, and at times laugh-out-loud funny. Cregger’s new film brings freshness to a glutted genre in need of something new. Continue reading “Film Review: “Weapons””
Single of the Week: “With You” by Jorja Smith
Jorja Smith keeps knocking out banger after banger. “With You” is a bright and happy tune perfect for detaching from the stress of life, holding your loved ones, and enjoying the sun. It’s delicate and just housey enough that it’s got a sexy groove without being, well, annoying.
Jorja Smith is playing Outside Lands on Sunday evening (6:50 / Twin Peaks Stage), and I can’t wait to hear this one in Golden Gate Park.