It’s time for another run down of all the crap that’s been running through my head in this Pop Culture April fiesta. This edition will feature some of the top TV, films, and music that have been floating through the bluetooth that is me in my hovel.

Please feel to follow me on Spotify, as I often have some cool playlists, or just some old faithfuls that you might want to listen to now and then. There’s music for all emotions with DJ Wade!
https://open.spotify.com/user/ga5dd851yci0v9ises7m09whs?si=3416f3a985c84701

Music

Let’s kick it off with some of the tunes I have been listening to on my latest playlist ‘Spring Clean’.

JPEG RAW-Gary Clark Jr.

I’m not going to recommend a song from Gary Clark Jr’s latest album JPEG RAW, instead I’ll just say listen to the whole damn thing a few times, and find your faves. It’s nice to actually hear an artist deliver a full album again, instead of some synth-pop vocals and over dubs. Texas born Gary rocks the shit out of the entire album, and ‘Maktub’ is a good song to start you out with.

Fun fact, I was attending a Gary Clark Jr concert in 2018 with some friends, and prior to the concert I spotting him outside a pub with his wife. As the only confident one I approached him and said ‘Hey Gary!’, to which he turned and coolly looked at me. I didn’t dare ask for a photo because I’m over 35, but he did give me a nod and told us to enjoy the show. And boy we did.

The End of the Contender-Everything Everything

Synth-pop band Everything Everything from Manchester have been bopping out ditties for the past 7 years, but it’s this new track that really got my workout moving faster.

A fun and light hearted song, ‘The End of the Contender’ hits you with those high pitched feels.

Dream Job-Yard Act

The boys from Leeds are back at it with another killer album called ‘Where’s My Utopia’ to yank 2024 right in the fun bags.
You have to love the Northern drawl and the intelligent and poignant lyrics as James Smith is backed with a rockingly sick song in ‘Dream Job’.
Play the whole album, then Gary Clark Jr…then again and again.

Here’s my link to the Spring Clean Spotify playlist.

TV

As someone who works in TV, I am always nerding out on the best shows to binge on. It’s no secret that I am ‘go to’ person with friends, family and online yodels as to what’s cool.

So giving you some of the latest ones I am watching, sit back on the couch and hit record.

Shogun-FX

This updated version of the 1975 James Clavell novel takes us back to feudal Japan where once again a British sailor is about to find himself entwined in the wrath and warmth of the Shogun era.

I remember watching the original series in 1980 with my family gathered around to watch a swash buckling Richard Chamberlain loin his way through the geishas. Back then TV mini-series were must see family events, and although 8, I remember it fondly.

Back to the new one though where Cosmo Jarvis brings an aroma to the role you can almost smell through the screen. Anna Sawai steals the screen and many of my early morning dreams as Toda Mariko, and the whole thing is just a romp of fun.

There is so much to unravel it will be interesting to see if they are able to squeeze another season out of it. HBO must be livid they missed this one.

Fargo-Season 5

Much like the nightlife in North Dakota, Fargo can be a little hit and miss when it comes to a good night. Season 5 brings us the powerful Jon Hamm, the incredible Juno Temple, a magnetic David Rysdahl and Jennifer Jason Leigh like you have never seen her before.

If you’re a fan of action, mystery, murder and one of the best final scenes of a final episode ever, then make sure you pop Fargo into the old VCR for a popcorn sesh.

Movies

Roadhouse-DVD

As a big fan of the original Roadhouse and that ridiculous throat pull move, I couldn’t wait to see what Jakey G would do with the new version. After all, they worked together on Donnie Darko so maybe he was going to channel some sort of connection.

Promo for the movie was out early for the 2024 version, with shots of Gyllenhaal fighting at a big UFC match, and Conor McGregor talking big on Tik Tok. Then came the news that the movie would not go out to theatres first, but could also be watched on Amazon Prime, which meant everyone could watch it. Not a good start to launch a movie.

Elwood Dalton needs the cash, so he moves to the keys to use his reputation to enforce the laws at ridiculously violent Florida bar. Sure, the cops aren’t there, but surely a tourist board is going to want to clean this crap up?

Anyway, Elwood soon ruffles the cock feathers of a local coke-head developer, who does what every guy on Charlie wants to do, call in Conor McGregor. Speaking of cocaine, McGregor looks like he snorted that and steroids in his role as Knox, a wordplay on punching-get it?
Despite spending all that time in Hollywood, Conor acts like he’s never met a lesson, in a bombastic performance that looks like a UFC fighter trying to be a 90s’ Jim Carrey.

The final scene was so over the top, I was hoping that a shark was going to jump out of the water and over the ultimate fight. Because then the shark jumped them, get it?

Worst part about the whole thing was that there was no throat punch. You bring back a classic movie and you don’t end it with the final homage? Disappointing.

More pop culture stuff soon.