"Star Wars: The Last Jedi" Movie Review

By: James Southworth
Rating: 3/5 Stars

Let's get one thing out of the way, since so many people are gonna have a strong reaction to this review one way or another: I think that the modern-day Star Wars fan base is a toxic minefield. Expressing your opinion about the new Star Wars films one way or the other is going to get you lambasted with hate. If you praise episode 7 or 8, then you might as well be a heathen who doesn't understand what the Star Wars universe is, and you should feel bad. However, if you critique them, then you're not a "real" Star Wars fan, and you should feel bad. There's seemingly no balance to be found. In this review, I will try my hardest to find a semblance of balance. In fact, my review will probably look very balanced between positives and negatives. I am cut right down the middle in how I feel about this film.

It is nearly impossible for me to talk about this movie without going into spoilers. So, you have been warned. Do NOT read this review any further if you haven't seen the movie, unless you're the type of person that doesn't care about spoilers. "The Last Jedi" picks up literally immediately from where episode seven left off, with Rey extending out Luke's lightsaber towards him. It's an interesting idea to have a Star Wars movie do this, meaning that these two movies alone are only taking place over a matter of days. Let's start with the positives of this film, though, because I think there are many of them. Like most any Star Wars film, this one is visually gorgeous, and I think that comes mainly from the unique directorial vision of Rian Johnson. He really knows how to make most every shot of this film pop off the screen. There are many different locations, and most of them are really cool to look at. The island Luke lives on has some of the most impressive shots of the whole movie, with there being a lot of sweeping shots of it. The island definitely feels like it has a reverent personality of its own. I also love the planet where the climax of the film takes place, as we have these dark red colors starkly contrasting with bright whites. It makes the big moment of the film that much more interesting to look at. The action sequences also all look rather incredible, although I'd have to say I like the beginning sequence better than the ending one. There's all sorts of cool creatures in this film that are visual treats as well. The real highlight is clearly the Porgs, who aren't overused and offer some of the best and cutest laughs of this movie.

I also felt that there were a lot of incredible performances in this movie. I know that several people have problems with Daisy Ridley's portrayal of Rey, but I liked her in episode seven, and I like her just as much now. She's just as good of a protagonist as Luke Skywalker. She's certainly better than Anakin in the prequels. I like seeing the journey she goes on in this movie. Ridley really brings a lot to her character, despite the director having some questionable development in her story. John Boyega as Finn remains to be my favorite of all the new Star Wars characters. Even though he has one of the weaker story lines to work with in this film, he still is always passionately portraying his character. In every scene, Boyega keeps Finn consistently charismatic and heroic. He offers the easiest character to attach to out of all the new ones, and I hope they give him more to do in episode 9. The real standout performance of this movie, though, is Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker. He has some tough material to work with, and he really knocks it out of the park. Anytime Hamill was on screen, I became significantly more invested in what was going on. Despite any problems I have with how Johnson changed the character of Luke, I still think Hamill was totally invested in this role in every single second, and he really lifted this film. I was not the biggest fan of Adam Driver as Kylo Ren in episode 7, so it was a pleasant surprise to see him become one of my favorite parts of "The Last Jedi". The story line he gets is easily the best and most consistently done in the film. If you trace the film from beginning to end, you can see how Kylo interestingly transforms from apprehensive apprentice to vengeful Supreme Leader. Driver's scenes with Ridley were among the best in the film, offering both actors chances to have interesting conversations about the conflict they see in one another. Carrie Fisher does great work as Leia, and her performance in this movie is all the more bittersweet knowing she won't be in the next one. Of course regulars such as C-3PO, R2D2, and Chewbacca were delightful to see as well. The Yoda cameo is also a pleasant surprise, and it doesn't feel like overdone fan service. The conversation between Luke and Yoda about the old ways of the Jedi is very compelling. I also enjoyed Laura Dern and Benecio Del Toro as Holdo and DJ, even though their characters weren't that important.

Now, so far, I've been very positive about this movie. As you can tell, there's a lot I like about it. The moments with Luke, Rey, and Kylo were all very interesting, and this movie is visually amazing from beginning to end. But, what really can make this movie suffer is its storytelling. I like films that take risks. I'm the type of person that wants to give movies that are trying something new the benefit of the doubt. When I heard that this Star Wars film would be taking risks, I was all for it. But, the risks this movie does take are usually questionable at best, and infuriating at worst. One of the biggest issues in this film was its introduction of a new Force power. Just as a precursor, I do not expect a Star Wars movie to be the most logical thing in the world. But, you should still be able to understand its rules. We have seen in all other Star Wars movies exactly what the Force can do. It rules are overall simplistic: either the force can hurt someone else (force push, electricity, choke), or it can be passive power which benefits someone but doesn't have to hurt another (mind control, lifting an object). There is a new force power introduced in this movie. I am in no way against seeing new elements of the Force introduced. But this one was just not established well. We see it first through Rey and Kylo's conversations. Apparently, through their mind they can talk with one another, and see one another too, but not each other's surroundings. They can touch each other, even if they're not really there. They can gain parts of each others' environment (for example Kylo gets water on him from the island). That seemed like way too many rules to me already. The rules of this power get thrown into further confusion in the climax where Luke goes to fight Kylo. We find in a twist of events that Luke is actually projecting himself with that new force power to fight Kylo. Kylo can't touch him with his lightsaber, and guns couldn't harm Luke either. This reveal makes the force power  even more confusing. So, when Luke uses this power he can touch Leia (and she can touch him), but he can just choose for Kylo's lightsaber not to harm him? Or is it that this force power somehow already has the condition to where you someone can't hurt you when you're using it? I still don't know the answer to these questions. Luke dies after using this power. We've never seen a Jedi or Sith die from using the force. Why would an experienced Jedi Master die from it? We find out that Snoke was the one who was actually making Rey and Kylo see/talk to one another, and he doesn't die from using this power, so why does Luke? There's way too many questions, making this power's introduction have a weak payoff.

Rian Johnson also takes a lot of different narrative risks with his characters. These risks come across in a more negative light. For instance, I really didn't like what was done with Poe. There's no denying we've seen cocky characters in the Star Wars universe before, Han Solo being the first that comes to mind. But Poe's character is on a whole new level. His cockiness actually costs people's lives several times in the film. It made him come across as unlikable and frustrating. I suppose he had some growth at the very end of the movie, but it wasn't clear whether it was significant. I also didn't like that Snoke ended up as a plot device. We learn nothing about who he actually is, how he came to power, nothing. In this film, he is just meant to be someone for Kylo to kill so he can become supreme leader. I already was unsure of Snoke in the previous movie, and this made me hate his inclusion. The reveal of Rey's parents is also very underwhelming. It would've been too obvious for her to be a Skywalker, but her parents being nobodies seemed like a dumb choice to me. You could argue that Anakin was also born to nobodies, but he was built up to seemingly have had no father, making his birth more mysterious. There's nothing interesting about Rey's birth. I get where Johnson was going thematically with this, but I don't think it was presented as well in the film as it could've been. My biggest gripe is what Johnson does with Luke's character. I was actually really liking what he was doing with Luke, until the end. This beloved character is turned into nothing less than a coward, not going out to face Kylo himself but instead doing it from the comfort of his island. Even though I understand that Luke may have changed in his isolation, this choice took away anything that was distinctive about his character. Luke has always been the character to face his opposition head on, even at his lowest point. Some people seem to think what Johnson did is a bold risk, but I don't. It make's Luke's death far less impactful, and ultimately left the movie out on a sour note. Some miscellaneous problems with this film included the mainly unnecessary Finn and Rose side plot, a still overdone performance by Domnhall Glesson as Hux, and the cringe worthy scene of Leia using the force.

I've never felt so inconclusive about a Star Wars movie before. This is the only Star Wars movie where I really feel completely middle-of-the-road about it. I can easily give an opinion about any other Star Wars movie. "The Empire Strikes Back"? Easily one of my favorite movies of all time. "Attack of the Clones"? A movie which has way too many moments of cringe inducing dialogue and bad acting to make the good scenes worth it. With "The Last Jedi", I can't lean definitively either way. There are so many things I love about this movie. The scenes between Rey and Kylo are some of the most compelling Star Wars moments I've ever seen. Mark Hamill's impressive performance is a huge plus. However, when I think of this movie I also thing of the bad aspects: the horrible establishment of the new force power, or the underwhelming character arcs created for Luke and Snoke. This movie doesn't make me feel the great amount of love I've had for the original trilogy. But, it also doesn't give me the same feeling of overall dread for the prequels (besides episode 3, which I really like). I don't like this movie, and I don't hate this movie. As a Star Wars movie, I think it's fine to watch. That's the thing I can say most confidently. Ultimately, I'd recommend you see this movie. It seems to be the most polarizing Star Wars film to date. I understand people who either love it or hate it. For me, I have to just accept that I'll always be right down the middle.

5 Christmas Movies You NEED To See!

By: James Southworth

It's Christmas Eve, an always exciting year for me and my family, and I'm sure for many others. There are so many children anxiously awaiting gifts, waiting for Santa to come down the chimney. Even though I'm past the age of a child, I still often can feel the magic of Christmas; it's pretty irresistible. There are so many great movies out there that can definitely help put you into the Christmas mood. While there are some Christmas films I feel are overrated (such as "Elf" and "A Christmas Story), there are many others that I love. Here are 5 Christmas movies that I think you should watch!

1. Krampus

A Christmas movie that also is a fun horror movie? This movie sounded like a lot of fun to me when I first saw previews of it, and I definitely wasn't disappointed with what I got. In fact, this movie is even better than I initially expected it would be. We see main character Max feeling a little disenchanted by Christmas because of how his family members treat one another. The viewer can certainly see where he's coming from: his father's side of the family is a prime example of dysfunctional, with two cousins who are bullies, his uncle is rude to everyone, and his aunt is judgemental. Max only seems to be able to get along with his German grandmother. But, when things go seriously wrong at dinner, Max bitterly wishes that this Christmas would just end. His angry wish becomes true in a very extreme way, as he summons the mythical creature Krampus, who is the dark opposite of Santa Claus. Let me just say, this film is a whole lot of fun. We've got a lot of great comedians in the cast, with Adam Scott as Tom (Max's father) and David Koechner as Howard (Max's uncle) shining the brightest. This movie certainly does have a dark tone, but there are plenty of fun elements too it as well, such as pyromaniac gingerbread men and puppets who try to eat the children. Between all the comedic moments, though, is actually a pretty touching theme about seeing past people's flaws and trying to appreciate them as they are. This movie ultimately shows the audience that family is at the center of Christmas, and we so often take that for granted. This lesson is shown in a sometimes dark fashion, but it never gets too dark. Even with the horror elements, this still has a Christmas spirit to it. Even though this is a fairly recent movie, I like watching it when Christmas comes around.

2. The Polar Express

Easily one of the best book to movie adaptations out there. Because this film is based on a rather short children's story, of course the creators were going to have to add some stuff to the movie. I think the stuff they added worked excellently. This movie introduced this sort of photo realistic animation that creators were trying to do at the time. For this movie, at least, I felt the animation was incredibly impressive. The human characters did look oddly real, but you could also tell that they were animated. It was an interesting combination. The visuals of this film are just breathtaking, especially in the moment where the train is introduced and the colorful landscape that's created for the North Pole. The snow in this movie is practically a character, since it feels like you can touch it. The music in this film is mostly really good, with the beautiful song "Believe" by Josh Groban, the fun "Hot Chocolate", and Steven Tyler's self-satirizing song "Rockin' On Top of the World" being the highlights. The voice work in this movie is really good, with Tom Hanks voicing an impressive 6 roles. It's impressive how different he sounds as the hobo versus when he voices Santa Claus. The other voice actors were great as well, but Hanks really makes this movie shine. I love the touching thematic arc of believing in something greater than yourself. This is a classic Christmas movie in my opinion, easily one of the best around.

3. How The Grinch Stole Christmas (TV Special/Movie)

I put the TV special and movie together of this because I do really like both of them (though I prefer the TV special more). This Dr. Seuss story is easily my favorite of his. I find the character of the Grinch to be so interesting and memorable. I love the arc Suess gives him, as it just embodies what Christmas is supposed to be about: that this holiday has something so special and enduring about it that it can turn even the most bitter of hearts around and help them find a reason to love. The TV special tells this story about as perfectly as one could hope, with the addition of memorable songs included, especially that delightful title track that is unrelentingly catchy and filled with clever wordplay so indicative of Seuss. I know a lot of people don't like the movie version of this story. I won't deny that I have some problems with it, as well: the sexual innuendos/jokes, almost entire lack of likeability of any Who (except for Cindy), and the Grinch having a love interest all feel unnecessary. But I personally like that they give the Grinch a bit of a backstory, a compelling reason for him to dislike Christmas. I also think that Jim Carrey did great as this character, passionately embodying him and making him very funny. I also thought Taylor Momsen as Cindy was charming, and the movie didn't overuse her. Though the film is not objectively as good as the TV special, I still find myself returning back to both of them every Christmas.

4. A Charlie Brown Christmas

I don't know of a single person who doesn't like this TV special. In my opinion it's for good reason. This is one the only Christmas special I have listed here that I'm sure I've watched since I was very young, probably since before I can remember. My family loves the Peanuts, and I do, too. This movie brings out the charm of every character, multiplying it tenfold. This is one of the few stories where Charlie Brown really gets to have a bit of a happy ending. I do like how it's a running gag that Charlie Brown just always messes up, as Charlie himself is always able to pick himself back up. In this special though, his mistake actually seemed to hurt him a bit, so it was inspiring to see everyone lifting him up by decorating that ugly looking tree and making it look like something beautiful. For such a simple story, there's a powerful message under the surface. The tree that Charlie picks up almost seems to be symbolic of him, as he and the tree both are underappreciated. But, with care and love, both of them become something more. My favorite part of this special is where Linus tells the Christmas story. Linus has always been my favorite of the Peanuts characters, as he has a very childlike wisdom to him, and is one of the only characters who doesn't underestimate Charlie. His telling of the Christmas story is matter-of-fact, but it's also presented in a very heartwarming way. I love the music of this movie too, as it has a soothing jazz feel to it, and really helps create the atmosphere of a movie Christmas movie that should be watched with family.

5. The Nativity Story

If you asked me what my favorite Christmas movie of all time was, I would most likely answer with this movie. So many times, movies specifically with a Christian centered message in mind come across as cliched, cheesy, and terribly made. Not this one, though. I still remember watching this movie for the first time in theaters with my family. It begins with a haunting rendition of "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" (my favorite Christmas hymn), which does a good job at setting up the somber and reverent tone of the rest of the film. This movie feels incredibly realistic from beginning to end. The film doesn't shy away from the violence of the government and the horrors that Herod inflicted. It shows how the poor classes were pushed and thrown around. I just love how this film showed that there couldn't have been a more perfect time for Jesus to come into the world. I also think this film did a great job with both Mary and Joseph. The viewer is able to entirely understand both of these characters' fears and uncertainties, and then the viewer gets inspired at the courage of these characters. I thought Keisha Castle-Hughes and Oscar Isaac as Mary and Joseph respectively both give amazing performances. They really embody these characters and make them very believable. I loved the relationship established between these characters, as they start off unsure about one another, but by the end they do have a very real relationship. Ciaran Hinds also gives superb work as Herod, giving this character a lot of interesting humanity, which makes the more evil and murderous part of him all the more frightening. Alexander Siddig as Gabriel makes the angel appropriately mysterious, and the actors of the three wise men offer some of the best comedic relief of the movie (yes, there is comedy in this movie, and it works surprisingly well). I think this movie is visually interesting, and the image of the nativity it gives is not forced or ham-fisted, but rather beautiful and inspirational. This is easily the best explicitly Christian film ever, and it's also my favorite movie to watch when winter comes around. It reminds me of exactly why I celebrate this holiday, and I hope that you, too, can find something to love in this film and the rest of the movies I mentioned. Merry Christmas to you all!

10 GREAT Christmas Songs

By: James Southworth

I think lots of people would look at me as somewhat of a Grinch when it comes to my rules about listening to Christmas music. I absolutely refuse to listen to any Christmas music before December, usually mid-December if I can help it. Like any music, listening to something way too much makes me dislike it or lose interest in it. Don't get me wrong though, as a whole there's a lot of Christmas music I like. In this post I want to share 10 Christmas songs I listen to every year (plus one new song). Some of them will be typical ones, while others are ones that I think most don't listen to. Hope you enjoy my list, and look out for my upcoming list of five of my favorite Christmas movies!

10. "Mistletoe (The Christmas Sweater Song)"- Tenth Avenue North

This song is the most recent out of my list, as it comes off of TAN's Christmas album "Decade the Halls, Vol. 1". I would actually recommend you listen to the whole album, as it has a cool concept of doing Christmas styles in a variety of decade styles, from the 1920s to the 2010s. This song in particular is such a delightful listen. In this song, the band does their best 90s Weezer impression, and they pull it off in a very fun way. You can tell lead vocalist Mike Donehey is having a great time. The whole band puts some real passion into making this song sound like it could've come right out of the 90s, and it does sound like it could fit into that time period. The lyrics are hilarious and sweet as Mike tells a story about waiting for his wife at a Christmas party. I don't want to reveal the lyrics or the story, as it's more something to find out for yourself. After listening to this song, take a listen to the rest of this release, as it is one of the most creative Christmas albums I've heard in years!

9. "Emmanuel"- Michael W. Smith

Michael W. Smith has done so many Christmas songs that I love, but this one still takes the cake. I still remember the moment when I first heard this in 2002 when my family purchased a "Wow Christmas" album. It was actually my first introduction to Smith, and while I've fallen away from him over the years, I still have a nostalgic love for his old music. This song in particular still feels like a prime Christmas song to listen to. It reveals simplistic yet powerful truths about Jesus ("Wonderful counselor/Lord of life,lord of all/He is the Prince of Peace, Mighty God, Holy One"). The song is so upbeat and enjoyable, Smith naturally exudes his charm through his vocals, and as usual his piano playing is masterful. This song is irresistible to me, and will always be a Christmas song I come back to.

8. "His Favorite Christmas Story"- Capital Lights

This is one of the few songs that I've heard repeatedly on Christmas radio that I haven't gotten tired of. In fact, I think I find it all the more reminiscent of the power Christmas can offer each time I listen to it. One of my favorite things about Christmas songs is the way they tell stories, and this song does that in a very powerful way. If you don't know about this song already, it's about a man who falls in love with this woman, but never actually gets married to her, and they get disconnected after a while. If you don't know the payoff to this song then I don't want to spoil it to you, but let me just tell you it's very touching and heartwarming. Unlike a song like, say, "Christmas Shoes", this one does not manipulate you with melodramatic emotion. Instead its simply presented story stands well on its own, and the musicality of the song, which does a good job at being upbeat rock and transitioning to a piano ballad, helps naturally contribute to the emotion. This song screams Christmas in every minute of its run time.

7. "Heat Miser"- Thousand Foot Krutch

I still remember the moment that I discovered that TFK had done a version of their own of "Heat Miser". When I first listened to it, I had a huge smile on my face. This song definitely is TFK in every way. It has an fun, head-nodding guitar riff. The drums sound powerful in the background. And Trevor McNevan is having the time of his life on the vocals, really just singing out these lyrics. He actually makes it sound like he's playing the character of the Heat Miser as he lets out a menacing but fun laugh at the beginning the track, and he plays the character through his voice throughout the whole song. This song isn't particularly deep, but it doesn't need to be. It's just a joyous listen through and through, and offers a unique and unexpected take on a classic Christmas song.

6. "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"- Fit for a King

Normally more intense band Fit for a King take a softer route on this well-known Christmas hymn. This is easily my favorite version of the hymn. Clean vocalist Ryan O'Leary really shows the power of the lyrics, as he doesn't let one word go unnoticed. His natural passion is noticeable throughout, and you can feel his reverence for the message this song has to offer. The beginning parts of this song are already really good, but it's in this song's ending moments that it really becomes something else entirely. There's this really impressive buildup, and then an even better payoff where the guitars come in so strong and O'Leary just unleashes in his singing, making his voice reach some new heights. We even get to see unclean vocalist Ryan Kirby contribute, though the band effectively mixes in his unclean vocals so as to not turn the song into something it's not meant to be. This track actually left me speechless when I first heard it, and I still love it every time I listen to it. I know this is a Christmas track, but it may even be one of my favorite FFAK tracks in general.

5. "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch"- Thurl Ravenscroft

Of course this song has to make my list. I love "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"- the story, the classic TV special, and, yes, even the Jim Carrey movie (more on that later). I still love Ravenscroft's deep bass vocals and just how much of a personality he brings to the song. This song just feels like it's a Christmas song through and through. Dr. Seuss, of course, brings out his trademark charm through the lyrics in which he compares the Grinch to so many interesting things, making for all sorts of still-quotable moments. I love the brass instrumentation that goes throughout this song, giving it a classic, timeless feel. Most everyone knows this song, and it is definitely for a good reason.

4. "Wizards in Winter"- Trans Siberian Orchestra

If you don't have a TSO instrumental as one of your favorite Christmas songs, then I personally think there's something wrong with you. For the past many years, this band has defined what a good Christmas song should be: rocking, fun, and still having a feeling that it belongs perfectly in the winter season. This song is one of my favorites by the band in general, because it has everything about them that I love: talented guitar work, a fun piano, and a general nostalgic Christmas feeling emanating from it. You've probably heard this track before, you may just not realize it. This band is just right for the season.

3. "The Wind"- Demon Hunter

This is an original Christmas song by one of my favorite bands that I feel has gone extremely underrated. It's one of DH's most accessible songs, a solid hard rock track with something about it that still feels like it belongs in Christmas. This is pretty dark for a Christmas track, but it still feels very powerful, especially in Ryan Clark's excellent vocal delivery. I absolutely love the imagery that the lyrics provide, using winter as an interesting metaphor for isolation: "These city lights illuminate your breath/As you tell of all the ways that you feel dead/December left you cold and alone". I told you, this song is dark. But, like with many other DH lyrics, there's a powerful resolution to this track in which Ryan seems to talk through the perspective of God who tells this person that He won't let them go. I also love how this track ends on a beautiful string arrangement. This is a very unique Christmas song, and if you're reading this post, I beg you to stop reading and listen to it right now.

2. "Sleigh Ride"- August Burns Red

Much like with what I said about Tenth Avenue North, I'd strongly advise you to listen to the entirety of ABR's Christmas instrumental album "Sleddin' Hill". Even if you aren't a fan of metal, I think you'd enjoy this release as a whole. It's entirely instrumental and it's a very fun ride. Almost any track from the album could make this list, but I personally find this one to be the most unique and interesting. This song will have you singing it in your head (or out loud), as it does a good job of bringing the catchiness of the original through the excellent guitar work. This song feels like a metal song throughout a lot of its run time, with some creative blast beats interspersed, and some very talented drum work as well. But, the song is actually very creative in that it changes genres a few times throughout. A piano appears very suddenly, and the song suddenly turns jazz. Then, it becomes an interesting ragtime like track, before shifting into a epic rock ending. It doesn't sound like these genre shifts should work, but ABR are such talented instrumentalists that all the shifts go naturally into one another. It makes for a song that I still can't get enough of.

1. "Christmas Eve Sarjevo"- Trans Siberian Orchestra

I had to put at least two TSO songs on this list. For a while now, this song has easily been my favorite Christmas song of all time. I still remember when I first saw the beautifully done music video to this track (you need to watch the music video when listening to the song, it really fits with the song perfectly). I think when people think TSO, most will think of this song, and they have every right to. The guitar work in this song is a delight to the ears, and the way the band uses the piano adds to the magical vibe the song gives off. "Carol of the Bells" has always been an epic feeling track to me, and TSO makes the epic nature of it much more apparent to the listener. I especially love the ending where the guitarists get to show off to the listener in an explosive and memorable ending. This song embodies the spirit of what Christmas is supposed to be, and I can't go any winter without listening to it over and over again!

Asking Alexandria "Asking Alexandria" Album Review

By: James Southworth
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Asking Alexandria has had an interesting history with their fans. Most everyone loved their first two albums, as they appealed to their largely metalcore fanbase. Those albums were what ultimately made them famous. "From Death to Destiny" (my personal favorite AA album) was a complete 180 for the band, with Danny making his classic rock influences known. Then, Danny left the band due to having to go to rehab, because drugs were destroying him and his relationships with his band mates. For only about two years Denis Stoff took over vocals, and the band released their weakest album as well as one of my least favorite albums of 2016 in "The Black". With such bad reception, Denis ended up leaving the band, and Danny came out of rehab and became the lead vocalist again. Now they're looking to totally redefine their sound, as this new self-titled release is full of experimentation of all types. How does it fare for AA? For me, this self-titled album has a lot of excellent songs. However, the excess of experimentation makes it a very mixed and confusing listen, especially in its second half.

The first half of this album, for the most part, is great. It sounds totally different for the band, but that is not at all a bad thing. I'm glad that Danny wants to stay ahead of the curve and not always be known as a scene metalcore band, which is the direction the band was going with yet again on "The Black". AA immediately establishes their new sound with one of the best songs on the album, "Alone in a Room". This song does a great job at combining an interesting pop sound in its verses with a soaring hard rock chorus. It seems like these two disparate elements couldn't possibly go together, but they do in a surprising yet effective way. Holding this song together- and honestly, making this album stand out more than it would've with a different vocalist- is Danny Worsnop. His talent is undeniable, as he effortlessly shifts his voice from a more smooth pop style, to a gritty, passionate rock style. We see even more talent in Danny's voice in another one of my favorite tracks, the lead single "Into The Fire". Man, this song is killer. Right from the opening thunderous guitar riffs, you know that you're in for a treat. The chorus of this song sounds like it could be on a classic rock record, and Danny's vocals naturally evoke that classic rock tendency. I also love his screams in the bridge. He just lets loose on this song, and it's a real delight to behold. "Hopelessly Hopeful" is another masterful track, really making the first three tracks pack a masterful punch as a whole. I like how Danny discusses the contradictions inside of himself in this song, and the chorus of this song hits hard and makes the track even more memorable. Even though I'm not usually a fan of pump-up songs, "Rise Up" is undeniably fun, especially in its chorus which has an epic sound to it.

There are several other great tracks here that deserve mention as well. "When the Lights Come On" emphasizes on electronics, and Danny puts his vocals into a more higher register. It's definitely another very experimental move, but I think it works. "Vultures" is easily my favorite on the whole album. This song is a straight up acoustic ballad, something that Asking Alexandria has never done before. I love the lyrical content of this song as well: "It's hard to see what's underneath, is it me?
Where do I turn? Everywhere I look these vultures burn the life right outta me/Do I run, or lay down and die?/Is it time to close my eyes?". The lyrical content of this song really helps to make it powerful and emotive. But the real shining star here is Danny, as his vocals sound beautiful. He lets his voice sound raspy, but at the same time, you get to see just how naturally talented he is. This song gives the listener a true insight of what exactly Danny is capable of. The heights his vocals can reach are seemingly limitless. The song "Eve" brings back AA's more standard metalcore sound while combining it with the hard rock edge of the new album. Because of that, this song really does bring the best of both worlds to the listener. The lyrical content of this song cleverly alludes to the Adam and Eve story, using it as a metaphor for a fatally flawed relationship. This release ends off well with the emotive "Room 138", in which Danny pours his heart out about the aftermath of his drug overdose. This song hits hard musically as well, with some impressive screaming. It makes for a powerful end to the album.

There are plenty of great tracks on this album. But there are also many tracks that don't work for me. As a whole, this album can be a bit disorienting. While I love songs like "Vultures" and "Eve", for example, it is a weird choice to shift from an acoustic ballad immediately to a song which has a lot of metalcore influence. I get that the band wanted to try a lot of new stuff on this album, but it could've been put together a little more cohesively. I know a lot of people liked the single "Where Did It Go?", but this one just didn't work for me. It reflected on the band's history in a bit of a cheesy way, and unlike "Alone in a Room", the combination of pop verses with a rock chorus didn't flow very well here. "Under Denver" oddly chooses to have these synth effects that sound like they belong on an early 2000s Attack Attack record. This song just sounds dated, and it also has a forgettable and repetitive chorus. "Empire" is easily the worst song on the record. Although the rest of the bad songs on here aren't always cohesive, none of them compare to the outright idiocy of this one. This track "features" a rapper named Bingx, but he practically controls this song as he raps (yes, raps) on the verses, and Danny only sings in the chorus. I have no clue what AA was thinking with this song, as it is awful and sounds absolutely nothing like what they were trying to do on the rest of the album. It doesn't even seem like they're contributing to the song very much as it's dominated by electronics rather than real instrumentation. "I Am One" is very forgettable, and one of the only tracks where I would say Danny didn't sound very passionate in his vocal delivery. Finally, I know the bonus track "Explicit" is supposed to be making fun of metalcore tropes, but the song is still cringeworthy, and the lyrics are not funny.

I've always appreciated Asking Alexandria for their willingness to experiment. Many bands on Sumerian Records stay in the rut of chugging out the same metalcore releases with nothing too unique about them. AA could do the same, as they have a fanbase who eats that stuff up. But, thankfully they don't. Even though I'm ultimately middle of the road about this album, I still would recommend some of it, especially the good songs I named, because those tracks make this album worth checking out. I think I'll be staying on board if this is the road the band is going down. With time, I see this style of music working for them. As of right now, though, this self-titled release is a bit of a mixed bag, not great, but not horrible either.

Favorite Songs: "Vultures", "Alone in a Room", "Into the Fire", "Eve", "Hopelessly Hopeful"
Least Favorite Songs: "Empire", "Under Denver", "Where Did It Go?"

Project 86 "Sheep Among Wolves" Album Review

By: James Southworth
Rating: 4/5 Stars

This year in the world of music has been one of my favorites, simply because many of my favorite bands have been releasing new material. Project 86 applies to the previous statement, as they are one of my top 10 favorite bands. I first discovered them with their album "Picket Fence Cartel". They blew me away with their interestingly written lyrics and their intensity which was hard hitting, but still accessible. Andrew Schwab is one of the best vocalists in the hard rock scene, and one of my favorites in general for how he is so versatile. P86 consistently make great music, although they did make a slightly weaker release three years ago in "Knives to the Future". This new album, "Sheep Among Wolves" has the band going back to their more intense roots, while also keeping the tightness of their new albums in tact. This release also has some experimentation, which helps to make this album excellent.

This album gets off to an excellent start with "MHS", which also serves as the album's lead single. This song is classic Project 86 in every way. Andrew unleashes with his screaming in a delightfully intense way, and the guitar riffs hit hard. It's practically impossible to not head bang to this song. I don't know how any P86 fan could hate this song (as far as I can see, all fans of the band love it), as for me it brought back memories of songs like "The Spy Hunter" or "Sincerely, Ichabod". This one is meant for the fans, and I definitely see this one being well received in a live setting. This song is certainly one of the highlights of the album. "Dead Man's Switch" also has a recognizable P86 sound to it, with Andrew's more hardcore styled vocals taking the helm. "Imaginary Me" does a good job at combining the elements of the band's old albums with their new releases. This is the first song on this album to use clean vocals, and of course Schwab sounds just as good singing as he does screaming. I love the redemptive nature of the lyrics as Andrew expresses how he wants to stop being this lesser version of himself: "So ready to kill the dragons I’ve been chasing/So willing to end the life that I’ve been bleeding/There’s nowhere left for me to run I draw this line or I become imaginary". This album as a whole has a powerful thematic arc of denying who you really are as a child of God due to a feeling of brokenness. This is where we get the first indications of that theme, and it continues to appear in other tracks.

"Freebooter" is one of the band's more accessible tracks, with an interesting alternative rock feel. I don't know if I've ever heard the band do something like this, and thankfully it works to the band's advantage. I love how even over two decades into their career, P86 still looks for ways that they can push the envelope and experiment with their sound. "By Constantine" is another track that I'm sure is going to be a fan favorite. It is definitely the most intense song musically on this album. Andrew's screams go to some incredible places, and the guitar work and drumming are both extremely impressive. The title track is lyrical gold, as it discusses how we as Christians like to shapeshift to fit the whims of the society we're a part of: "Reach into the past for a moment here with me/When fangs would emerge, when vision would blur/When we lived for the kill without hope for the cure From the beast". I love how this song uses animal imagery to symbolize the dangerous instincts that we have when we aren't in relationship with God. This song also serves as a parabolic warning to listeners to not always believe that every Christian you encounter is in real relationship with God. This album has an amazing closing, as the last two tracks are among my top favorites. "The Great Escape" is easily my favorite from the album. This song is thematically dark for the band- not that the band hasn't done dark content before, but this is one of their darkest. This song talks about escaping a dangerous religious cult, using violent lyrics to highlight how harmful it is to be a part of a cult who is not actually who they say they are. Musically, this song is a straight up rock jam, and it's easily one of the best songs of the year. This album ends off with "Metempsychosis", one of P86's softest, most beautiful and haunting tracks. This song discusses how we often try to change our physical appearance to hide the depths of our souls. The way the song does this lyrically is very powerful and emotional. The music only helps to add to that emotion. You just have to listen to the song to really get the full experience.

A few weak points in this album keep it from being entirely perfect. "Copper Wish" is a pretty bizarre track. It doesn't seem to know what kind of direction it wants to take musically, treading somewhere between ballad and hard rock. This stylistic choice just doesn't work. It left me scratching my head, wondering what the band was trying to accomplish. Also, the lyrics in this song are a bit too cryptic for me, and their disturbing nature doesn't really seem necessary as Schwab sings "We drown the water with the babes/To drown the grief we gain". There's a point where dark lyrics are necessary, but in this song they're very over the top. The purpose of those lyrics, if there is any, is lost in the confusing nature of this song. "Into Another" is a very short song, and it's generally forgettable. It's not a very interesting track in any way. It's clear the band is trying to just use their general sound for this song, but they didn't really do anything to interest me. This album as a whole is also sadly a little too short, only 35 minutes. I wish there had been a little bit more content.

Even with the weak points, Project 86's new release shines. One can easily tell by listening to this album that Andrew Schwab has been doing this for a very long time, and knows how to deliver quality content. Even with the rest of the band being a revolving door lineup, this band has not gone down in quality. If anything, they continue to keep my interest as they experiment with their sound with every album. Schwab only gets more powerful as a vocalist and a lyricist. Like every other album P86 releases, this one will go criminally underrated. So please, if you see this review, give this album a listen. This is one of the most lyrically deep hard rock/hardcore releases of the year, and it's sure to be one of my favorite albums of the year.

Favorite Songs: "The Great Escape", "MHS", "Metempsychosis", "By Constantine", "Sheep Among Wolves"
Least Favorite Songs: "Copper Wish", "Into Another"

Top 10 Best Hit Songs of 2017

By: James Southworth

I said last year that I felt that 2016 was a pretty bad year for music for the pop charts in comparison to 2015. This year, I honestly wish we had the stuff in 2016 back, because 2017 has only been worse. This year introduced a great increase in trap music dominating the pop charts, along with Soundcloud "rappers" hitting the scene. So many hit songs this year were boring, repetitive garbage. Many hit songs have made my worst songs of the year just because of how bad they are. However, there were still 10 songs I could find that stood above all the other awful stuff of this year- and they stood high. So, here are my top hit songs for this year!

10. "What About Us"- P!nk

I have actually gotten interested in quite a bit of P!nk's backing discography. You can tell from listening to her that she has a bit of a rock edge that she expresses, and even has quite a few songs with some real rock-like punch to them. Still, when she leans more heavily on the pop side, such as with this song, it's not a bad thing at all. On this track in particular, her voice really shines behind that wonderful sounding piano. The drumbeat that drives this song makes it easy to nod along to, and the chorus of the song gets stuck in your head. Lyrically, this song actually addresses a pretty important theme in wondering why people won't address the disenfranchised minorities: "We are problems that want to be solved/We are children that need to be loved/We were willin', we came when you called/But man, you fooled us, enough is enough". It's nice to see that P!nk  is so concerned with those whose voices need to be heard, and the fact that this song became so big made her message even more widespread. That along with the great musicianship of this track makes it deserve a spot on my list.

9. "Attention"- Charlie Puth

Even with an artist I am not normally fond of, I will always give credit when credit is due. I absolutely detested Puth's album "Nine Track Mind" that came out last year- in fact, it hit my number 2 spot for my worst albums of the year. But this song... I mean, how could I not enjoy it? This song has an undeniable bass groove in it (yes, real instrumentation, a rarity in the Billboard 100), and you can really hear it throughout the song. Puth sounds very natural against this upbeat song, and he even sounds earnest as he's addressing this girl who doesn't really love him, instead she just wants attention. In this song, I could actually see why so many people are attracted to his voice, as his talent really seeps through. I couldn't help nodding my head along to the song, and I never grew tired of it. If this is an indicator of what the rest of Puth's album will be like, then I am honestly looking forward to listening to it.

8. "What Lovers Do"- Maroon 5 ft. SZA

FINALLY, a Maroon 5 track that actually sounds like more than just Adam Levine and maybe one other person is contributing to the song. I hate most of the rest of this band's new album "Red Pill Blues", but this song is quite good. It reminds of something that could be on "Hands All Over". This song definitely has a nice vibe to it, and it's one I could see people dancing along to. There's nothing super deep about this song, but I don't think that is what Maroon 5 was going for. This song is just pure fun, and I don't mind that at all. What really makes the track even better for me is actually the feature by SZA. I could see her talent in her debut album "Control", and she puts her wonderful voice on display here. It fits well with the pop/rock vibe of this song, which is a pleasant surprise. Even though the chorus is a little repetitive, there's still something that's irresistible about it. Perhaps its' Levine's effective usage of his falsetto, or maybe it's because it sounds like the whole band is actually having fun for the first time in a very long time.

7. "Young, Dumb, and Broke"- Khalid

In a year full of new talentless new trap artists, it was nice to see a new artist who actually had legitimate talent in Khalid. This guy really can sing, that's for sure. I like that he's using a sort of classic R&B sound, while making it sound refreshing by adding some modern touches to the song. The relaxing feel of this song comes out in a way that feels very organic, and Khalid's voice flows nicely against the backing beat of the song. You can feel him having a bit of fun in the chorus, and he isn't afraid to let his voice exude this slightly raspy quality. I really loved that he let that part of his voice come out in the song, because it made this song feel so much more legitimate than all the processed autotune that often permeates the Hot 100. This song lyrically is also really solid, as it talks very frankly about how high school kids are often in a very hard position after they graduate. Khalid doesn't romanticize the hard transition from college to high school, but he doesn't make it awful either. There's a sort of subtle celebration about leaving this point in your life while also acknowledging the hardships you'll have to face. Not many hit songs have topics like this on their mind, so I'm definitely excited to hear more from Khalid.

6. "Let You Down"- NF

It was a pleasant surprise to see NF, an outspoken Christian rapper as well as one of my favorite rappers in general, charting on the mainstream with this song as well as his album. He's definitely been an underdog, but it looks like this song could make him bigger. While I didn't necessarily love "Perception" as a whole (it was still a good album, don't get me wrong, just not as hard-hitting as his backing discography), "Let You Down" remains to be one of my favorites from the album. NF sings throughout most of this song rather than rapping, and I like his singing voice. The chorus is definitely easy to latch on to. I also like the earnestness in it as NF is apologizing to his father for not always being the best son for him. He is at his best when he is being honest and emotional, and this song has both of those things. The vocal distortions used in this song are effective rather than annoying, and as always, the superb production of this song makes it that much more enjoyable to listen to. I really hope this song causes NF to be even braver in his faith for the mainstream.

5. "Castle On The Hill"- Ed Sheeran

This song came out very early in the year, but it has continued to stick with me. An arena rock song doing well on pop radio? That is an extreme rarity these days, so of course this song is a bit of an anomaly. Ed Sheeran has an uncanny skill to make any song of his feel accessible. It's clear to see he has a formula, but the formula works, so I can't complain. This song could've been cheesy in Sheeran reminiscing on his childhood, but instead it's well-written and touching: "I'm on my way/Driving at ninety down those country lanes...And I miss the way/You make me feel, and it's real...". I could feel Sheeran's emotions about his childhood in this epic but still relatable chorus, especially as he let's his voice have a certain intensity to it that most pop artists wouldn't risk trying. Sheeran knows just the right way to make his songs have a wide connection with a big audience, but still be creative enough to stand out in the crowd. That is a formula that is to be envied, and I can't deny that I think I will continue to enjoy the way he makes songs.

4. "Green Light"- Lorde

Lorde's album "Melodrama" was extremely popular among critics and audiences, so it makes no sense to me why her album didn't have more well-performing singles. It went way under the radar on the Hot 100, which is a real disappointment. But, "Green Light" charted, so of course I'm gonna give it a spot on my list. This is easily one of my favorite songs on her new album. It's fun, electronic, and upbeat. Lorde's voice is as intriguing sounding as usual, and she really takes her voice to a lot of different places on this song, especially in the buildup to the chorus where she hits some pretty impressive low notes. Lyrically this track is one of the most well-written of any hit song on this list, as Lorde is waiting for the green light to get over this awful breakup she went through. The upbeat nature of this song cleverly disguises its heart-wrenching undertones, and I love this track for that reason. I definitely recommend you listen to this song if you haven't!

3. "Humble"- Kendrick Lamar

Even though "DNA" is my favorite song of Lamar's new release- and the song also charted- "Humble" still did better, and I want to give this song some credit. The peppy piano beat that flows throughout this whole song is very effective, and it is certainly creative in a year that had more predominantly just boring, processed, electronic beats. This song has done very well on the Hot 100, and I think it's for very good reason. The title of this song is delightfully ironic, as Lamar himself is anything but humble in the track. He's pretty braggadocious, but that is more to shut up the people who try to tell him that he's overrated or not talented. This song is a diss track through and through, but it's a fun diss track. And Lamar also addresses how he hates the fake nature of filters on social media; he'd rather have real beauty. This cleverly relates to the idea that Lamar himself doesn't want to be fake; he wants everyone to know exactly what type of person he is, and that includes exposing flaws of himself such as the fact that he doesn't like when people criticize him. This song has a long going on under the surface, as is the case with almost any Lamar song, and that's exactly why it's charting so high on my list.

2. "Praying"- Kesha

This song and Kesha's album "Rainbow" both absolutely blew me away. I've never been a big fan of Kesha's backing work, as her vocals sounded a bit too obnoxious to me, and her songs often just felt like all they were about was empty partying. But, I still felt for Kesha as she was going (and is still going) through this sexual assault court case with Dr. Luke. This song is clearly addressed directly to Dr. Luke. Kesha could've easily lambasted this guy, and no one would blame her. But, what does she do instead? She forgives him, saying "I hope you're some where praying/I hope your soul is changing/I hope you find your peace/Falling on your knees". Wow. Just wow. It's not very often that we see such powerful themes in a pop song, especially one that successfully charts on the Hot 100. I love how Kesha powerfully explores her spirituality in this song, as she has clearly found her own peace. This song is lifted up even more musically, as Kesha's voice sounds raw, natural, and beautiful, especially when she hits a jaw-dropping high note in the bridge. The piano of this song is gorgeous, and I love how the backing drumming increases in intensity. This song builds and builds to an incredible climax. This is an inspirational track, and it's one I hope people will remember. It's one of my favorite songs of the year.

1. "Sign of the Times"- Harry Styles

A nearly six minute rock epic done by a former member of One Direction? It just doesn't sound like a likely scenario- and yet here we are, with Harry Styles adapting a classic rock style inspired by the likes of David Bowie, Bon Jovi, and the Rolling Stones. I LOVE this song. It blew me away from my first listen. I've always felt that Styles was the most talented member of One Direction, and he definitely is able to full unleash that talent in this song. The moment the beautiful piano playing starts, you know you're in for a treat. When the guitars and drums came in full force, I became fully invested. This song has an interesting, mysterious quality to it as Styles sings, "Just stop your crying, it's a sign of the times/We've got to get away from here...They told me that the end is near". You can feel that this song is talking about some sort of change happening. Is Styles referring to a change in his relationship with a person? Or is it perhaps a more significant change? Either way, this song is lyrically so interesting, and it's very epic. This song keeps on building and becoming more intense. Just when you think you've reached the most intense part of it, the song will surprise you with a much more intense section. I love the ending of this song, as Styles lets loose and shows off in his vocals, while still retaining a sense that he really wants to reach his audience in a powerful way. I didn't expect to love any song of Styles, much less his whole album. I most certainly did, though. Check out this track, and after that, check out his amazing debut!

Trivium "The Sin and the Sentence" Album Review

By: James Southworth
Rating: 4/5 Stars

Trivium has stood to be one of the most respected as well as one of the most hated modern metal bands out there. I have seen people who passionately love this group, and there are plenty who hate them. Most people who dislike the band are those who say they softened up too much on their later releases, especially their most mainstream album "Silence in the Snow". While I will say that album was not their best, it is still a great melodic work with some beautiful choruses and some clear talent. For those who are fans of the band's harder work, they will definitely not be disappointed with the band's newest album "The Sin in the Sentence". This release combines the best parts of Trivium: it has Matt Heafy shifting effortlessly between beautiful cleans and hard-hitting screams, absolutely unbelievable drumming, relatable lyrics, and killer guitar work.

Trivium comes out guns blazing with the title track that opens the album. This 6-minute epic gives the listener a really good sense of what is to come in the album. I absolutely love every minute of this song. It especially excels in showing off Alex Bent's godly drumming talent. I could listen to this song over and over again just for that. Everything about this song sticks; you're already left breathless by the end of it, and there's still ten tracks to go. Something you notice about this album is that when you think you've heard the best of it, you're wrong. "Beyond Oblivion" may be even better than the preceding track, and it's certainly one of my personal favorites off the album. I just love the chorus of this song; it is seriously so catchy. I've found myself singing to it frequently, and that is what makes this song work so well. It would be criminal for this song to not be a single. "Other Worlds" sounds like it could be right at home on "Silence in the Snow", and for me that's not at all a bad thing. This is one of the more easily accessible songs on the album for all metal fans. While I wouldn't say this song is one of the best, it's still certainly a solid track and the chorus is once again very catchy. If there's one thing that Trivium really excels at on this album, it is writing choruses that will stick in your head for a long time to come.

The middle part of this album has the absolute best material this album has to offer. "Betrayer" is a brutal metal onslaught. This song in subject matter initially could sound cliched, as it is addressing a friend who betrayed Matt. But the way this song works makes the betrayal sound like it has so much weight and anger to it. I especially love the line "Unto you I proclaim/'Creonte' shall be your name". Matt screams out this line in such a passionate way that the listener can't help but feel his anger. The guitar work in this song is excellent, and the breakdown in the song blew me away. "The Wretchedness Inside" has a similar anger to it, with an awesome beginning guitar riff and Matt's screaming dominating the whole song. This track is probably the most intense on the album, and I couldn't resist headbanging to it. The lyrics to this song are some of the most compelling: "This blood I bleed, I bleed for you/I paint the walls with my misery/This blood I bleed, I bleed for me/I cannot live if I can't breathe". Matt's screaming in this song blows it out of the water, and the jaw dropping guitar solo only makes this song that much better. "Sever the Hand" is yet another brutal song, starting off instantly with a groovy guitar riff. What makes this song work so well is its unpredictable tempo shifts. You just don't see them coming, making this song a bit of an interesting adventure and experimentation for Trivium. "Beauty in the Sorrow" has a cool thematic concept in its lyricism, and feels more like a classic Trivium track; it's definitely one I can see being a fan favorite. Easily my personal favorite, though, is "The Revanchist". This song is a seven-minute epic, telling an intriguing story. "The color of your fear/Confusion deep inside/Resentment boils over/In me, you can confide". This song emphasizes a lot on instrumentals, especially in its middle section. The drum and guitar work is at its absolute best here (and it's already been superb in other songs). The chorus has such an epic feel to it, and Matt's best clean vocal work is highlighted here. This great album ends off on a high note with the brutal track "Thrown Into The Fire", which is filled with mainly screaming and left me with a smile on my face.

While I wouldn't say there were any tracks I hated, there were still a few that were clearly not as good as some of the other material on here. The lead single "The Heart From Your Hate" got mixed reactions from audiences. While I didn't hate it that much, it still did seem rather basic in structure. Its chorus is repeated way too much, and the guitar riffs and drumming are standard. Lyrically it is not that interesting. "Endless Night" is another song that I don't dislike, but I don't really find it as impressive as other songs on here. It feels like it was built to have success on radio, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. This album as a whole is definitely impressive in the instrumental and vocal department, but I wouldn't say the lyrics are always that compelling besides the songs that I pointed out. I don't think every album needs to have super deep lyrics or themes. But some of these general topics, such as hate, betrayal of a friend, hypocrisy, and overcoming the evil parts of yourselves, have been done before.

Even with those negative aspects, I still can't say I disliked the lyrics, and I definitely can't say I just liked this album. In fact, I would go so far as to say I loved it. Almost every song here has something memorable about it, and this album does not overstay its nearly hour-long run time. This is a fun metal album with a veteran band clearly at their height, really showing off their talent in the best way. I would highly recommend this release, especially if you're a straight up metal fan, or if you are someone who enjoys Trivium's harder material. This review is coming in right at the end of the year, but that doesn't mean this album isn't eligible for my year end lists- In fact, I'd be willing to bet it will make it into my top albums of the year!

Favorite Songs: "The Revanchist", "Sever the Hand", "Beyond Oblivion", "The Wretchedness Inside", "The Sin and the Sentence"
Least Favorite Songs: "The Heart From Your Hate", "Endless Night"

Taylor Swift "Reputation" Album Review

By: James Southworth
Rating: 2/5 Stars

It's very popular right now to hate on Taylor Swift. In fact, it's at a real peak. Honestly, in some ways it's easy to understand why. Swift has been involved in a variety of dramas lately, with her most recent ones being where she sued a small blogger as well as a small business with some overall bad reasoning. Still, there is some hate against her I feel is unwarranted, with some people making ridiculous claims that she supports white supremacy and is anti-feminist. I guess that comes from the fact that Swift doesn't talk politics too much, but to me it's stupid to expect a pop star to make statements about subjects like that. Even if she did, no one would be satisfied with her response. Anyhow, even in the midst of a very bad climate against her, Taylor Swift released "Reputation" to immense success. While I will say that this album wasn't quite as bad as I was thinking it could be based on its singles, it still isn't good. "Reputation" shows Taylor latching on to drama/hot topics to keep her fame in tact, not her music. For the most part, this album is full of generic trap/pop trends, petty and cliched lyrics, and lots of hypocrisy.

There are a few songs here that are good. In fact, there is one that I would characterize as great in "Getaway Car", easily the album's best track. This song is a nice, welcome surprise. It has a catchy backing beat to it, and its usage of electronics and synths is effective. I also appreciated that Swift shows some awareness in this song of how her being unreliable in relationships is really wearing her down: "There were sirens in the beat of your heart/I shoulda known I'd be the first to leave/Think about the place where you first met me... No nothing good starts in a getaway car". These aren't really legendary lyrics, but they still have a rare moment of showing that Swift is aware of the damage that she can cause and that she often regrets it. While I was not a big fan of most of the singles, "...Ready for It?" is admittedly a bit of a fun listen for me. It's ultimately not that memorable, but I still can't deny that I like the big, booming electronics which give the song an almost cinematic feel. Swift does a little bit of a rap/singing thing on this song, and it does works surprisingly well. The chorus is also very catchy. The vocoded vocals on "Delicate" create an interesting effect, and help add to the vulnerability of the track. It's another track with some well written lyrics. I also think "King of My Heart" is a fairly solid track, even if it's not really that special when compared to other songs on the top 40 charts.

That's only 4 out of 15 tracks that I can say I enjoy. For the most part the rest of this album is somewhat repetitive in nature. The other songs are made competently enough, but otherwise don't really impress. What really brings this album down for me is that there are a good handful of songs that I absolutely detest. One of the worst contenders is the track "This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things". This song has everything in Taylor Swift I can't stand: her pettiness, her ridiculously repetitive choruses, and obnoxious cynicism. This track is dedicated to Kanye West and Kim Kardashian (it attacks the former person more), calling them out for being the cause of so much drama. This song feels very hypocritical, as by making this track Swift herself is just adding more fuel to the fire. Every single line in this song feels like it's begging to be put in an annoying "15 times Taylor Swift ANNIHILATED Her Haters" Buzzfeed article. Lyrically, it's just a cringe compilation, and the production values make the backing dubstep-esque effects sound obnoxiously loud. My least favorite song come in "Look What You Me Do", a song that still makes me shudder every time I hear it. This song is just awful in structure. Its beginning verse has such a dull lifeless trap beat, and it somehow becomes even more lifeless in the "chorus" where Swift simply repeats the title of the song over and over. And the line "Sorry the old Taylor can't come to the phone right now/Why?/Oh, because she's dead" deserves all the critical lambasting that's been thrown at it. This song does NOT usher in a "new" Taylor. This is still the same Taylor, always looking to the next piece of drama to latch on to, still looking to new boys to write break up songs about. Nothing has changed in this track.

If I sound mad in that previous paragraph, it's because I am. There are some other tracks here I don't like as well, although I don't feel quite as passionate about them. "End Game" has Swift rapping again, and this time she does not sound good. Her whole segments sound completely forced and unnatural, and the generic backing trap beat brings the song down further. I can't stand Future's feature (I can't stand him in general). While I usually like Ed Sheeran, he just doesn't sound like he belongs on this track at all. "Gorgeous" has Taylor Swift seemingly reveling in the fact that she wants to cheat on her old boyfriend for this attractive boy she meets at a party. She really wants to justify cheating, saying that she just can't possibly resist this guy's handsome face. It's actually sort of detestable in subject matter, and makes me dislike this song even more. Something about the chorus of the song irks me, as well. "I Did Something Bad", "Dancing With Our Hands Tied", and "Dress" all suffer from Swift trying to make a song about sleeping with a guy sound sexy or edgy, but failing. "New Year's Day", "Don't Blame Me", "So It Goes...", and "Call It What You Want" all have a sense of sameness to them. Even though they're not really bad or offensive in any way, they still leave no lasting impression.

This album is just not good overall. I don't hate it, but I definitely don't like it either. I would legitimately recommend a few of the songs I liked. But still, it just amazes me that this album sold so much in pure copies. What exactly makes Swift work so much for people? It seems like I'm not the only one that has that question. It seems like now more than ever people are calling her out as overrated. Swift wanted to change her image into something more edgy with this album. While I suppose overall the album was a bit darker, what is she really doing that is any different from any other big female pop star? Katy Perry, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato., Taylor Swift... all of them have taken their image and tried to make it more edgy and dark. She's not taking any real risks here. It's a trend that's getting tiresome, and Taylor Swift unsurprisingly follows the trend. With the exception of some songs, I would not recommend "Reputation".

Favorite Songs: "Getaway Car", "Delicate", "...Ready for It?", "King of My Heart"
Least Favorite Songs: "Look What You Made Me Do", "This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things", "Gorgeous", "End Game", "I Did Something Bad", "Dress"

"Blade Runner 2049" Movie Review

By: James Southworth
Rating: 5/5 Stars

In 1982, the world was introduced to Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner". This movie was a box office bomb and went unnoticed for a long time. But, as years went by, so many people were starting to love the movie and see the value in it that it became a big cult classic. Even now it's recognized as a revolutionary film which uniquely combined the genres of sci-fi and noir together. Excitement was buzzing when a sequel so many years later in "Blade Runner 2049" was announced this year. However, the results of this movie were sadly the same: it was a big bomb in American box offices, making only a little over $30 million in its opening week. In my opinion, this movie is one of the most underrated movies of the year. I also think it, too, will probably become a cult classic. With superb performances from everyone, gorgeous memorable visuals, and compelling themes about humanity, "Blade Runner 2049" is easily the best film of the year.

In this movie we are introduced to the character of "K", played by Ryan Gosling. He is the newest generation of replicants, and is also a blade runner tasked to take down old replicants. When he discovers the possibility that there may be a replicant who is part human, part robot, this sets him on a mission to find the rogue ex-blade runner Rick Deckard. This seemingly simplistic plot really gives way to some surprisingly deep themes that make you think. In its long run time, the movie begs us to consider what exactly is human versus what isn't. K, despite being a robot, still seems to have more human emotion than any other actual human character on screen- and there are many human characters we're given for comparison. It's hard to not sympathize with him as he goes on this very hard journey throughout this film discovering who he really is- and the reveal may not exactly be what the audience was expecting. But that's the beauty of it: we don't get any easy answers in this film in considering our own humanity and what it entails. The film also makes us consider how dangerous it can be to practically become God with usage of our technology. Through Jared Leto's character, Niander Wallace, we get to see what a human who is practically a god can become like- delusional, mad, and evil. In this dystopian world, audiences get an uncomfortable reminder that it can be risky to let our technology control us. This idea has been done many times before, but in this movie it's done in a new way, and I loved it.

This film also excels in its visuals. I mean, wow, what a beautiful movie. This is the third movie I've seen this year where I'd have no objection if it were nominated for/won the Oscar for best visual effects. Seriously, there's not a single shot here that isn't still ingrained into my memory, even if it's several weeks after I've seen it. There are some beautiful wide shots of the world that K inhabits, and the several other parts of the world that K travels to- my favorite visuals come from Wallace's home; all of them give off this spiritually foreboding feel. Much like the original, this futuristic world does feel in many interesting ways tangible. For every unrecognizable thing shown, there are still certain things we can identify with, such as an old Jukebox or even an product placement. There's a really cool fight between Deckard and K which turns into a visual spectacle when they go into this theatre of sorts, and that area is really utilized creatively. Director Denis Villeneuve and producer Ridley Scott worked together on this film, and both of them have quite a knack for making very memorable visuals in their movies. Having them work together makes for a film where every shot looks so breathtaking yet also so realistic, like you could live there. If it sounds like I'm gushing over the look of this movie, it's because I am. This movie should be seen just for its look alone. No other movie this year looks anything like this movie. It has its own clear identity, and that works completely in its favor.

The performances in the film, both leading and supporting, are absolutely stellar. Ryan Gosling gives the clear best performance as K. His work here showed to me yet again why he's quickly becoming one of my top favorite actors. With every movie, he improves himself in his acting craft. Many people saw him as just a pretty face at the beginning of his career (myself included), but he has become so much more. Gosling has a hard job in this movie: making his character have clear robotic tendencies while also making him relatable and human. He traverses both of these aspects beautifully, as at the beginning of the movie we see him deadpan, monotoned, and indifferent. As the film goes on, though, just one look in his eyes and you can see that K is becoming more compassionate. The scenes between him and his "lover" Joi (who is really a hologram) are some of the best moments in the film, as it's just Gosling giving so much great development to his character. For me, this may be his best performance to date, comfortably rivaling his work in "La La Land" and "Drive". It's awesome to see Harrison Ford in a more tough action role again as Deckard. I loved seeing this character back, and even 35 years after the original movie, Ford still made Deckard seem like the same type of character, but with logical changes incorporated. Even though Ford was in a bit more of a supporting role than I was initially expecting, he still had some complex stuff to work with, especially in having to deal with fatherhood. He gave just as good of a performance as Gosling, and they had impeccable chemistry together. Perhaps the most surprising performance I liked was Jared Leto as Niander. I usually think Leto goes way too over the top in his work, but here he really nailed the character, giving him a vibe that was so frightening and off-putting. He did it in a very subtle way and gave me chills. For the brief time they were on, I also enjoyed both Dave Bautista and Robin Wright's respective turns as Sapper and Lieutenant Joshi.

After the credits of this movie rolled, I just sat there in speechless amazement, absolutely awed by what I had just seen. It's not very often that a movie like this comes around- one that deserves repeat viewings, and one that will stay in your memory for a long, long time to come. There's something about this movie that not many movies have done for me in the past few years: it has that feeling of a special classic to me, something that I would want to show to future generations just to see the looks on their faces when watching it. This movie has gone severely underrated this year, and I think it will continue to be overlooked. So, please, if you haven't, go see it NOW. Not only is this my favorite film of the year- this is also one of the highest 5/5s I will ever give to any movie. It is already becoming one of my favorite films of all time. I wouldn't be surprised if it eventually reaches my top 10! There are some films that objectively have no problems to them and you do like them, even love them. But then there are films that are on a totally different tier. "Blade Runner 2049" is one of those movies. What an absolute landmark achievement in film making.