[The Weekly Swarm] 4/6 - 4/12
Last week was definitely a great week for us. We visited a Scientology church and lived to tell the tale, Nick analyzed not only the treatment of Latino characters in TV, but also the positive effects YouTube has had for musicians, Xander reviewed and recapped new episodes of Game of Thrones, Mad Men, Better Call Saul, and Marvel's Daredevil, and I wrote a thing or two about Spike Lee's Chiraq. Find all of this and more in this week's installment of The Weekly Swarm below!
Television Has Been Good to the Latino Community Lately
Get Fancy and Check Out the MCA on Tuesdays for FREE
Spike Lee's Use of Chiraq for His Next Film is Enraging
My Trip to the Local Scientology Church
[Trailer] ANIMALS
Spike Lee's Use of Chiraq for His Next Film is Enraging
[Weekly Netflix Fix] The Sheik, New 30 for 30 Added
Video Saved the Radio Star: How YouTube Pulled Off What MTV Couldn't
[American Idol-izer] Top 7 Perform
David Lynch Walks Out on Twin Peaks Revival
Television Has Been Good to the Latino Community Lately
[Weekly Netflix Fix] The Sheik, New 30 for 30 Added
[American Idol-izer] Top 7 Perform
[This Week In TV] Game Of Thrones; Marvel's Daredevil; Mad Men; Better Call Saul
[American Idol-izer] Top 7 Perform
Man, I'm so sorry I wasn't here to cover last week for you all (I moved cross country). So much went down last week, and with so little space here, I can't cover it all. Daniel Seavey finally went home (he was bad, folks), Idol introduced a feature from its big competitor The Voice with the #IdolSave (sort of as an apology from using the save too early in the season, I guess), and Kelly Clarkson was all sorts of fabulous.
Now it looks like we're moving away from the theme weeks as this week is a general "Billboard Top 100 Hits" featuring Florida Georgia Line and Jason Derulo as guest mentors. The whole night was filled with single shilling performances, and it was the first time in a long while that felt like a current competition. For once, it felt like whoever wins this can actually survive on the radio. Unfortunately, that meant the mentor critiques weren't as strong as they were in past episodes. I know Florida Georgia Line is a big name right now, but after hearing what they had to say to the contestants I question their musicality entirely. Jason Derulo wasn't too bad though.
Also, Iggy Azalea and Jennifer Hudson performed for some reason. It was a totally sour way to bring Hudson back. I know she's not a winner, but she deserved better than this. Then again, at least she fared better than Ruben Studdard and Candice Glover last week. Yikes
Anyway, let's break down the Top 7.
Video Saved the Radio Star: How YouTube Pulled Off What MTV Couldn't
In 1981, MTV revealed their very first music video, the ironically titled "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles. In that single moment, the age of visual media exploded and radio began its decline into obsolescence. To this day, most of what you'll find playing on radio is the same recycled Top 40 hits over and over again. For an artist to gain any type of fame, it used to be that they'd have to work to get their single on the radio, and after a few weeks of play, get to have a music video on TV. Fortunately, that's not the way it works anymore.
With the rise of the Internet age, video sites like YouTube helped revolutionize the music video medium. While it may have damaged the music industry in terms of revenue, it's been pretty damn great for the rest of us. With every video wanting to become the next "viral" sensation, music videos are finally doing what they were intended to do and make us want to buy music again.
[The Weekly Swarm] 3/30 - 4/5
We had a short week last week, but not one without some strong editorials from our team. Angela shared her photos from SXSW 2015, illustrating just how lovely and diverse Austin becomes during the annual festival. I reviewed SXSW darling film Uncle John, as well as shared my interview with the film's writers, directors, and lead actor. Xander reviewed the latest installment in the Fast & Furious franchise, Furious 7. Hubert wrote about Wrestlemania 31 and its ability to entice former wrestling fans. You can find all of this and more below!
[RH Photos] The Culture Clash at SXSW 2015
[SXSW Review] Uncle John
[Review] Furious 7
[Weekly Netflix Fix] First April Update
[SXSW Interview] Steven Piet, Erik Crary, John Ashton (Uncle John)
WrestleMania 31: Results and Match Reviews
[Weekly Netflix Fix] First April Update
[This Week In TV] Archer; Community; New Girl
[RH Photos] The Culture Clash at SXSW 2015
Photos by AngieStarPhoto
SXSW came and went yet again this year, and as Austin cleans it's streets and goes back to normal, many of us out-of-towners are back home still recollecting the culture combo we were part of. Whether you're from Chicago, Atlanta, California, Texas, New York City, the UK, or anywhere else in the world, SXSW has become a place where anyone can come to mix culture, share art, collaborate, and eat endless delicious food options. In the past week, I've received more CDs, mixtape downloads, Instagram followers, and openly met more strangers and brand ambassadors than I ever have.
SXSW truly is a festival of its own kind. There's much more than music, film showcases and conferences, as it's more of a combination of Texan culture, art, food, and most of all, a diversity in people. Outside of the local "Keep Austin Weird" types, you have endless writers, bloggers, photographers, videographers, musicians, and actors from all over just trying to stick out and be seen or heard, and all in an open, free spirited form. Most intriguingly, it's all random... one minute you could be listening to a rock band on Rainey Street and the next you're bumping into Wiz Khalifa downtown, then backstage with comedian Hannibal Buress and Chance the Rapper at the Fader Fort (true story). And right when you think you've seen or experienced the most random scenario, someone else will share an even more random story with you. It's on open environment that connects all types of people and this is what loved to capture on the festival. I'm not saying it wasn't fun shooting the performances at various venues, but it was the wandering, behind-the-scenes, spontaneous perspective I loved the most - the plethora of food trucks were a definite plus.
Here are some photos I gathered that I feel capture the essence of the people and scenery while walking around at SXSW. From locals, to people of all ages from different parts of the world, to the food scene, culture, ambiance, and most of all, the great American gem that is Austin, Texas. Find more photos here.
[The Weekly Swarm] 3/23 - 3/29
Last week featured some of my reviews and interviews from SXSW, including Turbo Kid, which was my absolutely favorite film of the festival, Oswald wrote a wonderful editorial about Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter and the racial insensitivities of its protagonist, Bridjet reviewed the wonderful FROOT album by Marina and the Diamonds, Travis rounded up some choice albums from 2015's first quarter, Xander revisited Doctor Who's "Rose" episode, Bridjet shared her thoughts on Girls' Season 4, and Hubert provided a very in-depth and entertaining preview for last night's Wrestlemania 31. Find all this and more below!
[SXSW Review] Fresno
[SXSW Video Interview] Paul Feig and Melissa McCarthy (Spy)
[Weekly Netflix Fix] Final March Update
[SXSW Review] The Boy
[Review] White God
Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter's Character Problem
[Review] Get Hard
[SXSW Review] Turbo Kid
[SXSW Video Interview] RKSS (Writers/Directors of Turbo Kid)
[Review] Marina and the Diamonds: "FROOT"
[American Idol-izer] Top 9 Perform
[Video Playlist of the Week] Girl Power
First Quarter Album Round-up
Girls Season 4 Recap
Fox Reopens The X-Files For Six Episode Miniseries
WrestleMania 31: Final Card Preview and Match Predictions
[American Idol-izer] Top 9 Perform
[Weekly Netflix Fix] Final March Update
Ten Years Of Modern Doctor Who: Revisiting 'Rose'
[This Week In TV] The Flash; Arrow; Agents Of SHIELD
[Video Playlist of the Week] Girl Power
The first quarter of the year is coming to a close and the women of the music industry have been slaying the competition. With new releases from some of your favorite artists and some artists you should know, this week’s playlist is packed full of the latest jams. Girl power!
- Madonna - Living For Love
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The queen of pop has been doing massive PR work for her new album Rebel Heart. Just this week she wrapped up “Madonna Week” on Ellen and just released tickets for her upcoming tour (35 cities in the U.S.). While her album may have dropped this week, it’s worth the listen for fans to hear the queen of pop coming back to the top.
- Ellie Goulding - Love Me Like You Do
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Ellie Goulding gained some major publicity for this song, which appeared on the 50 Shades Of Grey soundtrack. While the movie was a total flop amongst critics, the song went straight to #1 in most countries and snagged the #3 spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
- Phoebe Ryan - Ignition / Do You… (R.Kelly / Miguel Cover)
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Browsing through Spotify’s “Top Hits” playlist, I discovered Phoebe Ryan’s mashup of R.Kelly’s “Ignition” and Miguel’s “Do You…” which is adorable (if you can call a song adorable) as well as catchy. While she doesn’t have many other songs yet, I’m guessing she’ll be in the “Top Hits” playlist with another song soon.
- Charli XCX - Famous
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Charli XCX just released her music video for “Famous” this week, which is directed by Eric Wareheim of Tim And Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! As a Tim & Eric fan myself, I was pretty pleased with the outcome. The video and song are “#LMFAO tite.”
- Marina And The Diamonds - Forget
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Marina And The Diamonds recently released her third album, FROOT, which has many critics fawning over her matured sound. A definite spring tune.
- Matt And Kim - Can You Blame Me
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Matt And Kim are about to drop their fifth studio album, New Glow, on April 7, 2015, but their newest single “Can You Blame Me” is already out for your listening pleasure. Perk: in this version of the song (Kim version), you can put your device (mobile, tablet, iPad) up to your face so it’s like Kim is singing through you.
- Florence + The Machine - St. Jude
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The English songstress has released her first single this week from her upcoming album, How Big How Blue How Beautiful, which will be released June 1, 2015.
- Best Coast - Heaven Sent
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FINALLY, Best Coast are putting together their new album, which is going to be released May 5, 2015. Thus far, if “Heaven Sent” and “California Nights” are indicators of how the album will sound, fans should get pumped (even Bill Murray is a fan). It seems Bethany Cosentino has been hard at work at something other than trying to get Drake to become her BFF.
- Oh Honey - Sugar, You
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The two New York singers came together a couple of years ago to create Oh Honey, an alternative-pop band with acoustic flare. Their newest EP, Wish You Were Here, dropped this week via Fueled By Ramen. The band is still under the radar, but have been featured on Glee, Red Band Society and various commercials.
- Courtney Barnett - Pedestrian At Best
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This Aussie has been getting quite the hype lately with the release of her debut album this week, Sometimes I Think And Sit And Sometimes I Just Sit, which is exceptional.
Marina and the Diamonds: "FROOT"
The saying, “the third times’ the charm” has worked for few artists, and Marina and the Diamonds fits the phrase to a T when it comes to the release of her junior album, FROOT. She’s already established herself as a powerhouse indie-pop woman with many faces, some sweet and some fierce, but always fresh.
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With the release of her first album, The Family Jewels, in 2010, Marina Diamand is was an excited, young woman searching for the road of fame and fortune with an innocent sparkle in her voice. Her sophomore album, Electra Heart, took listeners on a journey through her alter-ego’s Madonna-esque heartbreaker lifestyle, which produced chart-topping hits like “How To Be A Heartbreaker” and “Primadonna” in 2012.
FROOT is different than anything Marina has done in the past; then again, she’s always been this way. Every album she has put out has been a different persona, but FROOT is Marina all grown-up. Taking cues from a place of self-discovery and space-y themes, FROOT is the perfect balance of sweet and powerful.
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Her singles thus far, “Froot” and “Forget,” might be the only two songs off the album that are reminiscent of the old Marina with Bjork style vocals mixed in. Nonetheless, they’re pop chart worthy while maintaining a strong indie sound (which might have to do with the 1980’s arcade 8-bit soundbyte in the background). “Blue,” a personal favorite, has that heartbreaker “girl power” perspective that Marina has been perfect at putting into lyrics: “No, I don’t love you/No, I don’t care/I just want to be held when I’m scared/And all I want is one night with you/Just cause I’m selfish/I know it’s true.”
Once again, Marina has done everything herself. Standing behind her one producer this time, Marina oversaw the mixing, the editing and the finishing all while writing all the lyrics herself. She said she was able to grow up, in a sense, from Electra Heart and become the woman she is today because of FROOT. Taking on influences from 70's disco and early 80's electronica, FROOT holds its own sound with Marina being the ringmaster behind it all.
While FROOT is different than the faces of Marina in the past, some of the songs might get lost for fans of her earlier, more upbeat work. It's not that the songs are good, it's that they are sultry and mature. Even if pop enthusiasts favor her singles off FOOT, the rest of the album is clearly definable as indie. But that's not why she does what she does; Marina wants people to follow her as she discovers herself and that's exactly why FROOT is the perfect fit as her junior album.