Reviews
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Review – The Boy Named If by Elvis Costello & The Imposters
The Boy Named If Elvis Costello and The Imposters Released 14 January 2022 (EMI Records and Capitol Records) I’m a little late to the game, but I wanted (very, very briefly) to review what I think is a fantastic album–and, as an Elvis Costello fanatic and aficionado, I had to give my two cents on this 2022 rock masterpiece. The highlights for me: The Voice. It is no secret that Elvis has one of the most distinct voices in all of rock. Of course, some vehemently dislike this brand of distinctiveness. Yet, those in the know rightly rate it as a highly expressive tool. On this album, Elvis uses his…
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Star Trek: Discovery Season 4, “Kobayashi Maru”
Discovery's season four opener is overflowing with nods to the decades of Star Trek that came before it. And with an episode title like Kobayashi Maru, we know we're in store for some serious Trek nostalgia. At the outset, the message is clear. The Federation is back, baby!
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Review – The Mysterious Benedict Society
The Mysterious Benedict Society is a new Disney+ series based on the 2007-2008 YA novel (written by Trenton Lee Stewart and illustrated by Carson Ellis). The show’s basic premise is that Mr. Benedict has recruited a group of children to infiltrate The Institution (run by Mr. Curtain) to stop Curtain’s nefarious mind-control plans. The series stars Tony Hale (playing two roles, Mr. Benedict and Mr. Curtain) and also features Kristen Schaal (as Number Two), MaameYaa Boafo (as Rhonda), and Ryan Hurst (as Milligan). We’ve been watching as a family each Friday, and we’ve all enjoyed the show. As many know, it can be challenging to find a show that the…
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Review – Ted Lasso
Ted Lasso is joyous. It’s a show that makes you happy—but not in a saccharine, overly sentimental way. It shows us a character who knows himself. It shows us what believing in ourselves and others can do. I’m a somewhat pessimistic person in general, and this show got me right where it counts. And it’s funny as hell, too! All of the above is in no small part due to Jason Sudeikis’s prowess as a comedic performer and personality. If Ted were in someone else’s hands, things could go off the rails quite easily. Sudeikis has confidence that shines through his performance; it’s not cocky, but it is assured—just like…
