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The Chicago Film Critics Association announced its 2018 nominees for its year-end awards this morning, and as usual, there’s an eclectic spread of awards season favorites and interesting surprises to be found. The expected: Alfonso Cuaron’s period drama Roma is nominated in nearly every major category in which its eligible. Likewise, A Star is Born has broken ahead of the pack once again, with top noms for the film, Bradley Cooper as director, and both leads. The Favourite continues to draw strong attention (despite a snub for Emma Stone under Best Actress), nominated likewise for the top prize. The less expected: HAIL PAIMON. Ari Aster’s horror breakout Hereditary picked up nominations for Best Picture and Best Actress (Toni Collette). First Reformed likewise garnered nominations for Picture, Actor (Ethan Hawke), and Director (Paul Schrader). Elsewhere, Original Score sees Jonny Greenwood and Thom Yorke picking up nominations, along with the late Jóhann Jóhannsson for Mandy. Paddington 2 picked up a pair of nominations, because Chicago holds the proper amount of respect for the good Peruvian bear. The winners will be announced through the CFCA on the evening of December 8th. Editor-in-Chief Michael Roffman, Film Editor Dominick Suzanne-Mayer, Associate Editor Allison Shoemaker, and senior writers Blake Goble and Clint Worthington are all voting members of the CFCA. Consult the full list of nominees below. Best Picture: The Favourite First Reformed Hereditary Roma A Star is Born Best Director: Bradley Cooper, A Star is Born Alfonso Cuaron, Roma Yorgos Lanthimos, The Favourite Lynne Ramsay, You Were Never Really Here Paul Schrader, First Reformed Best Actor: Christian Bale, Vice Bradley Cooper, A Star is Born Ethan Hawke, First Reformed Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody Joaquin Phoenix, You Were Never Really Here Best Actress: Yalitza Aparicio, Roma Toni Collette, Hereditary Lady Gaga, A Star is Born Regina Hall, Support the Girls Melissa McCarthy, Can You Ever Forgive Me? Best Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali, Green Book Timothee Chalamet, Beautiful Boy Richard E. Grant, Can You Ever Forgive Me? Michael B. Jordan, Black Panther Steven Yeun, Burning Best Supporting Actress: Olivia Colman, The Favourite Elizabeth Debicki, Widows Zoe Kazan, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk Rachel Weisz, The Favourite Best Original Screenplay: Eighth Grade The Favourite First Reformed Roma Vice Best Adapted Screenplay: BlacKkKlansman Can You Ever Forgive Me? The Death of Stalin If Beale Street Could Talk A Star is Born Best Foreign Language Film: Burning Capernaum Cold War Roma Shoplifters Best Documentary: Free Solo Minding the Gap RBG Three Identical Strangers Won’t You Be My Neighbor? Best Animated Feature: The Incredibles 2 Isle of Dogs Ralph Breaks the Internet Ruben Brandt: Collector Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse Best Art Direction and Production Design: Annihilation Black Panther The Favourite Paddington 2 Roma Best Cinematography: Cold War – Lukasz Zal The Favourite – Robbie Ryan First Man – Linus Sandgren If Beale Street Could Talk – James Laxton Roma – Alfonso Cuaron Best Editing: First Man The Other Side of the Wind Roma Widows You Were Never Really Here Best Original Score: Justin Hurwitz – First Man Nicholas Britell – If Beale Street Could Talk Jóhann Jóhannsson – Mandy Thom Yorke – Suspiria Jonny Greenwood – You Were Never Really Here Best Use of Visual Effects: Annihilation Black Panther First Man Mission: Impossible – Fallout Paddington 2 Most Promising Filmmaker: Ari Aster, Hereditary Bo Burnham, Eighth Grade Bradley Cooper, A Star is Born Bing Liu, Minding the Gap Boots Riley, Sorry to Bother You Most Promising Performer: Yalitza Aparicio, Roma Elsie Fisher, Eighth Grade Lady Gaga, A Star is Born Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie, Leave No Trace John David Washington, BlacKkKlansman & Monsters and Men Source

Nominees for the 2019 Grammy Awards have been revealed. Now in its 61st year, the ceremony recognizes the best recordings, compositions, and artists of the eligibility year (Oct. 1st, 2017 – Sept. 30th, 2018). This year brings several new changes to the category structure, most notably: the number of nominees in Album, Song, Record, and Artist of the Year have been increased from five to eight. Album of the Year nominees include Cardi B (Invasion of Privacy), Drake (Scorpion), Janelle Monáe (Dirty Computer), Kacey Musgraves (Golden Hour), Post Malone (Beerbongs & Bentleys), and the Kendrick Lamar-curated Black Panther soundtrack. Cardi B (“I Like It”), Drake (“God’s Plan”), and Kendrick (“All the Stars” featuring SZA) are also up for Record of the Year, alongside Childish Gambino (“This is America”) and Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper (“Shallow”). Drake, Kendrick and SZA, and Gaga and Cooper also received nominations for Song of the Year. Best New Artists nominees include Greta Van Fleet, Margo Price, Jorja Smith, and Dua Lipa. (Read: Top 50 Albums of 2018) As it relates to the genre-specific categories… Best Rock Performance nominees include Arctic Monkeys’ Four Out of Five” and Greta Van Fleet’s “Highway Tune” alongside Chris Cornell’s posthumous single “When Bad Does Good”. Greta Van Fleet is also up for Best Rock Song (“Black Smoke Rising”), as are St. Vincent (“Masseduction”) and Ghost (“Rats”). Making up the nominees for Best Rock Album are Greta Van Fleet (From the Fires), Weezer (Pacific Daydream), Ghost (Prequelle), and Alice in Chains (Rainier Fog). Alternative Album of the Year contenders include Arctic Monkeys’ Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino, Beck’s Colors, Björk’s Utopia, David Byrne’s American Utopia, and St. Vincent’s Masseduction. On the hip-hop front, Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott, Childish Gambino, and Cardi B all have their presence largely felt. Gambino’s “This is America” and Kendrick’s “All the Stars” are up for Best Rap/Sung Performance. Kendrick scored double nominations for Best Rap Song (“King’s Dead” and “Win”), alongside Drake (“God’s Plan”) and Scott (“Sicko Mode”). Best Rap Album pits Cardi B’s Invasion of Privacy, Scott’s Astroworld, and Pusha-T’s Daytona alongside Mac Miller’s final album, Swimming. Other notable nominees include Sufjan Stevens, who earned his first-ever Grammy nomination for “Mystery of Love” in the category for Best Song Written For Visual Media; Mitski, who warned a nomination for Best Recording Package; Jon Hopkins, whose Singularity received a nod for Best Dance/Electronic Album; and Questlove, whose audiobook version of Creative Quest is among the contenders for Best Spoken Word Album. The 2019 Grammy Awards take place on Sunday, February 10th, 2019 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Album of the Year: Cardi B feat. Bad Bunny and J Balvin – Invasion of Privacy Brandi Carlile – By the Way I Forgive You Drake – Scorpion Janelle Monáe – Dirty Computer H.E.R. – H.E.R. Kacey Musgraves – Golden Hour Post Malone – Beerbongs & Bentleys Kendrick Lamar and Various Artists – Black Panther Record of the Year: Cardi B – “I Like It” Brandi Carlile – “The Joke” Childish Gambino – “This is America” Drake – “God’s Plan” Kendrick Lamar and SZA – “All the Stars” Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper – “Shallow” Post Malone and 21 Savage – “Rockstar” Zedd and Maren Morris – “The Middle” Song of the Year: Kendrick Lamar and SZA – “All the Stars” Ella Mai – “Boo’d Up” Drake – “God’s Plan” Shawn Mendes – “In My Blood” Brandi Carlile – “The Joke” Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper – “Shallow” Childish Gambino – “This is America” Zedd and Maren Morris – “The Middle” Best New Artists: Chloe x Halle Luke Combs Greta Van Fleet H.E.R. Dua Lipa Margo Price Bebe Rexha Jorja Smith Best Solo Pop Performance: Beck – “Colors” Camila Cabello – “Havana” Ariana Grande – “God Is A Woman” Lady Gaga – “Joanne (Where Do You Think You’re Goin’?)” Post Malone – “Better Now” Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: Christina Aguilera feat. Demi Lovato – “Fall In Line” Backstreet Boys – “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” Tony Bennett and Diana Krall – “‘S Wonderful” Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper – “Shallow” Maroon 5 feat. Cardi B – “Girls Like You” Justin Timberlake feat. Chris Stapelton – “Say Something” Zedd and Maren Morris – “The Middle” Best Pop Vocal Album: Camila Cabello – Camila Kelly Clarkson – Meaning of Life Ariana Grande – Sweetener Shawn Mendes – Shawn Mendes Pink – Beautiful Trauma Taylor Swift – Reputation Best Dance Recording: Above & Beyond – “Northern Soul” Disclosure – “Ultimatum” Fisher – “Losing It” Silk City and Dua Lipa feat. Diplo and Mark Ronson – “Electricity” Virtual Self – “Ghost Voices” Best Dance/Electronic Album: Jon Hopkins – Singularity Justice – Woman Worldwide Sofi Tukker – Treehouse SOPHIE – Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides TOKiMONSTA – Lune Rouge Best Rock Performance: Arctic Monkeys – “Four Out of Five” Chris Cornell – “When Bad Does Good” The Fever 333 – “Made An America” Greta Van Fleet – “Highway Tune” Halestorm – “Uncomfortable” Best Rock Song: Greta Van Fleet – “Black Smoke Rising” Twenty One Pilots – “Jumpsuit” Bring Me the Horizon – “MANTRA” St. Vincent – “Masseduction” Ghost – “Rats” Best Rock Album: Alice in Chains – Rainier Fog Fall Out Boy – M A N I A Ghost – Prequelle Greta Van Fleet – From the Fires Weezer – Pacific Daydream Best Alternative Music Album: Arctic Monkeys – Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino Beck – Colors Björk – Utopia David Byrne – American Utopia St. Vincent – Masseduction Best Metal Performance: Between the Buried and Me – “Condemned to the Gallows” Deafheaven – “Honeycomb” High On Fire – “Electric Messiah” Trivium – “Betrayer” Underoath – “On My Teeth” Best R&B Performance: Toni Braxton – “Long As I Live” The Carters (Jay-Z and Beyoncé) – “Summer” Lalah Hathaway – “Y O Y” H.E.R. feat. Daniel Caesar – “Best Part” PJ Morton – “First Began” Best R&B Song: Ella Mai – “Boo’d Up” Miguel feat. J. Cole and Salaam Rmi – “Come Through And Chill” Childish Gambino – “Feels Like Summer” H.E.R. – “Focus” Toni Braxton – “Long As I Live” Best Urban Contemporary Album: The Carters (Jay-Z and Beyoncé) – Everything Is Love Chloe x Halle – The Kids Are Alright Chris Dave and the Drumhedz – Chris Dave and the Drumhedz Miguel – War & Leisure Meshell Ndegeocello – Ventriloquism Best R&B Album: Toni Braxton – Sex & Cigarettes Leon Bridges – Good Thing Lalah Hathaway – Honestly H.E.R. – H.E.R. PJ Morton – Gumbo Best Rap Performance: Cardi B – “Be Careful” Drake – “Nice For What” Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future & James Blake – “King’s Dead” Anderson .Paak – “Bubblin” Travis Scott, Drake, Big Hawk & Swae Lee – “Sicko Mode” Best Rap/Sung Performance: Christina Aguilera feat. Goldlink – “Like I Do” 6LACK feat. J. Cole – “Pretty Little Fears” Childish Gambino – “This is America” Kendrick Lamar and SZA – “All the Stars” Post Malone and 21 Savage – “Rockstar” Best Rap Song: Drake – “God’s Plan” Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future & James Blake – “King’s Dead” Eminem – “Lucky You” Travis Scott, Drake, Big Hawk & Swae Lee – “Sicko Mode” Jay Rock and Kendrick Lamar – “Win” Best Rap Album: Cardi B – Invasion of Privacy Mac Miller – Swimming Nipsey Hussle – Victory Lap Pusha-T – Daytona Travis Scott – Astroworld Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media: Call Me By Your Name Deadpool 2 The Greatest Showman Lady Bird Stranger Things Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media: Black Panther Blade Runner 2049 Coco The Shape Of Water Star Wars: The Last Jedi Best Comedy Album: Patton Oswalt – Annihilation Dave Chappelle – Equanimity & The Bird Revelation Jim Gaffigan – Noble Ape Fred Armisen – Standup For Drummers Chris Rock – Tamborine Best Spoken Word Album: Courtney B. Vance – Accessory To War (Neil deGrasse Tyson & Avis Lang) David Sedaris – Calypso Questlove – Creative Quest Jimmy Carter – Faith – A Journey For All Tiffany Haddish – The Last Black Unicorn Best Song Written For Visual Media Kendrick Lamar and SZA – “All The Stars” Sufjan Stevens – “Mystery Of Love” Miguel feat. Natalia Lafourcade – “Remember Me” Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper – “Shallow” Keala Settle and The Greatest Showman Ensemble – “This is Me” Producer of the Year, Non-Classical: Boi-1da Larry Klein Linda Perry Kanye West Pharrell Williams Best Music Video: The Carters – “Apes***” Childish Gambino – “This Is America” Joyner Lucas – “I’m Not Racist” Janelle Monáe – “Pynk” Tierra Whack – “Mumbo Jumbo” Source

The week of Marvel Cinematic Universe trailers continues. Following the release of a new Captain Marvel preview on Monday, the Avengers 4 trailer was expected on Wednesday. The release was delayed in recognition of George H.W. Bush’s funeral, but with the national day of mourning over, Marvel has finally unveiled our first look at what we now know is Avengers: Endgame. *Spoiler* As shocked audiences surely recall, Avengers: Infinity War ended with half the universe being wiped out with a snap of Thanos’ (Josh Brolin) Infinity Gauntlet-clad fingers. In the trailer, we see that Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) is drearily drifting into space without food and water, while the rest of the survivors are planning to restore order in the universe, specifically Captain America (Chris Evans), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Hulk/Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), and, yes, even Ant-Man (Paul Rudd). Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) is back too, but as has long been speculated, he’s no longer the same S.H.I.E.L.D. agent wearing purple and carrying a bow and arrows; the preview gives us our first glimpse of his new persona, the sword-wielding Ronin. His appearance comes just as Steve Rogers says, “We lost family,” which is likely a clue as to what caused Clint Barton to create the new identity. Another clue to the plot may come in the fact that Rogers is carrying around a picture of Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell); may a time travel-enabled reunion be in order? If you somehow had the restraint to read that without skipping ahead, you can find the trailer below. Directed once more by Anthony and Joe Russo, Endgame features just about everyone from the last decade of MCU films, including Downey Jr., Evans, Hemsworth, Ruffalo, Johansson, Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther), Tom Holland (Spider-Man), Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange), Elizabeth Olsen (Scarlet Witch), Paul Bettany (Vision), Sebastian Stan (Winter Soldier), Benedict Wong (Wong), Chris Pratt (Star-Lord), Karen Gillan (Nebula), Vin Diesel (Groot), Dave Bautista (Drax), Bradley Cooper (Rocket), and Zoe Saldana (Gamora). Even with that, there’s sure to be some surprises — hell, even in that there are surprises — so we shouldn’t expect a fully accurate cast breakdown until the film hits theaters on April 26th, 2019, a full week earlier than the previously announced May 3rd date. There’s also one more MCU preview to come this week, with the Spider-Man: Far From Home trailer expected this Saturday, December 8th. Source

Quickly following Jolly Rancher, Kush Network Returns with Another One After dropping his buzzworthy new single, “Jolly Rancher” mere weeks ago. Pennsylvania-bred lyricist Jeff Kush refuses to slow down new music even with only days left before the end of the year. Today, we get the newest release from Kush in, “Get Active”. Produced by TheSkyBeats, “Get Active” is an impressive new track for the rising star that exhibits superior wordsmith. Jeff Kush is a trailblazing on the track with his signature witty flow, hard-hitting punchlines, and expert level wordplay. His lyrical prowess is on Jedi for his latest effort, Kush is ready to shake up the industry so rhymeslayers make room for the new kid in town. “Get Active” is quickly becoming a runaway hit, gaining 93,000 streams in a single day. Kush’s music on Soundcloud has already began averaged a million streams per release in 2018 alone. A pattern that is slated to continue in the year to come. Stream “Get Active”, available now via Soundcloud. The post Jeff Kush “Get Active” with Some More New Heat : Listen appeared first on Verge Campus. Source

The Lowdown: At 19, Alessia Cara told us who she was by telling us where to find her. “I’ll be over here/ Somewhere in the corner under clouds of marijuana,” she sighs on 2015’s “Here”, a party song for the kind of party you wanted to leave an hour ago. The Canadian singer-songwriter carved out a niche as the lonely introvert of bubblegum pop. Her voice has an angelic rasp, like a choir girl who smokes. She writes or co-writes all of her songs; Cara’s lyrics are witty and anxious, lingering in awkward pauses and misunderstandings. Her debut album, Know-It-All, had a few good cuts and an identity crisis. It felt like less than the sum of its parts. She’s matured since then, and with The Pains of Growing, she reflects back on her own rocky transition from teenager to adult. The Good: Cara roots her emotions in mundane details: in reruns of Friends (“Wherever I Live”) and video games (“Nintendo Game”). She’s equally comfortable in pop, soul, and R&B, and encouragingly, the best songs on The Pains of Growing are written by Cara alone. “I Don’t Want To” is densely worded and funny; cherish her threat to “set fire to my whole room.” Her voice shines with a little space around it, accompanied by minimal acoustic guitar. “A Little More” swaps out acoustic for electric, but is similarly stripped down, putting the emphasis on the words and Cara’s anxious performance. Other successful songs, like first single “Growing Pains” and “Trust My Lonely”, have more elaborate electronic backing tracks. The music is cheerful, in contrast to lyrics that skirt along the edge of depression. The Bad: The Pains of Growing is a relaxed experience, and for the most part that’s a good thing. Cara has a sharp tongue; she doesn’t need to yell. But sometimes she sounds too relaxed, too comfortable, too conventional and unambitious. “Comfortable”, produced by No I.D., is post-Amy Winehouse white girl soul. It’s competently done, but it doesn’t subvert or expand the genre. It doesn’t even sound especially like Cara; it sounds like anybody at all. Towards the end of the album she loses her edge entirely. “Girl Next Door” and “Easier Said” are as dull a butter knife. The Verdict: At 22 years old, Alessia Cara has many of the skills we associate with long careers. She’s a strong songwriter with a unique perspective and an astonishing voice. At her best, she turns simple observations into complex emotions. The Pains of Growing has its flaws, but altogether it’s a cohesive statement and a marked improvement from her debut. Essential Tracks: “I Don’t Want To”, “A Little More”, and “Trust My Lonely” Source

Pennsylvania Hopeful is on Fire Right Now with Another New Single A breakout 2018 almost in the can, West Chester, Pennsylvania buzzyworthy lyricist Jeff Kush has more in store for the rest of the year with his addictive new single, “Jolly Rancher”. Like his previous release, Jeff Kush shows a more diverse arsenal of lyricism, delivering another standout commercial effort ready for the radio. Produced by the talented .NDS, “Jolly Rancher” is more of Jeff’s finest work yet. Well-balanced, Jeff Kush feed his core audience while planting the seed of growth to the newly discovered fans eager to add another new buzzing act to their playlist. On the track, Jeff is slick, saucy, and multi-layered as he speaks on his undeniable rise to the top and what it took to get there; skill. “Jolly Rancher” follows up Kush’s defining year filled with stellar releases “Yah Yah Yah”, “Obliteration”, “Shoot Your Shot”, and “Selfie”. In a matter of a few weeks since its release, “Jolly Rancher” is a certified hit, accumulating over 1.12-million streams on Soundcloud. As his music soars, Jeff’s following follows as he has already gathered a following of over 13 thousand on Instagram. Stream “Jolly Rancher” now, courtesy of Soundcloud. The post Jeff Kush Has a Sweet & Colorful Hit with “Jolly Rancher” : Listen appeared first on Verge Campus. Source

KISS singer-bassist Gene Simmons has been sued by an unidentified woman for sexual battery. According to legal documents obtained by The Blast, the woman claims that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame musician “forcefully placed his hand on her vagina.” The alleged incident occurred at the opening of one of Simmons’ Rock & Brews restaurant back in 2016. The woman says in the suit that she was working as a dishwasher in the restaurant exactly two years ago, on December 6th, 2016, when Simmons groped her. She apparently did not know who Simmons was but was asked to take a photo with him. At that point she alleges he “reached over and forcefully placed his hand on her vagina, completely covering it.” The woman also stated that she saw Simmons behave “in a sexually charged manner with other women,” during which he apparently touched their hair and told them to “unbutton their shirts.” She is seeking a jury trial and unspecified damages. Simmons was previously sued for sexual battery a year ago this month by a woman who alleged that he made “unwanted, unwarranted sexual advances” during a radio station interview, which also took place at Rock & Brews location. The musician settled that lawsuit with the accuser this past July for an undisclosed amount of money. In other news, it was reported on Thursday morning that Simmons’ mother, Flora Klein, had passed away at the age of 92. KISS are set to embark on a farewell tour beginning in January. Source

It’s been over a year since Stranger Things 2 turned the Netflix series into an even bigger worldwide smash. Since then, fans have received all kinds of merchandise — most of which you can find in this writer’s home. From Funko Pops to comic books to themed Monopoly games to “retro” shirts you can buy at Target for $8 to a line of creative candy that includes gummy Eggo waffles, the licensing has been infinite and incredible. Now, *we* can add “video game” to the mix. On Thursday night at the 2018 Game Awards, the Duffer brothers surprised everyone by announcing the release of Stranger Things: The Game. According to a press release, the game is a “meticulously crafted Action Adventure RPG that pays homage to the 16-bit era” and follows the events of season three. To whet everyone’s appetite, the brothers shared a new trailer that reveals details for the next chapter of the show. As you can see below, users will be able to take control of a variety of characters, from Lucas to Hopper to what appears to be either Eleven, Joyce, or Steve (please god). A few locales that are teased include the abandoned and rat-infested Hawkins lab and the Starcourt Mall that appeared in this past summer’s teaser trailer. Even stranger, no pun intended, are the random zombie-looking ghouls walking around. Watch below. Much like the third season, there’s currently no release date for the game, although it’s reportedly set to be released on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Mac, PC, and mobile devices. In the meantime, be sure to check out the original Stranger Things 16-bit game that’s currently available on all mobile devices and was also developed by Bonus XP, whose remarkable work clearly nabbed them this gig. Then, just keep waiting… Source

Kevin Hart has officially stepped down from hosting the 91st Academy Awards. The comic announced his decision on Twitter, contending that, “I do not want to be a distraction on a night that should be celebrated by so many amazing talented artists. I sincerely apologize to the LGBTQ community for my insensitive words from my past.” I have made the choice to step down from hosting this year's Oscar's….this is because I do not want to be a distraction on a night that should be celebrated by so many amazing talented artists. I sincerely apologize to the LGBTQ community for my insensitive words from my past. — Kevin Hart (@KevinHart4real) December 7, 2018 The decision comes only hours after Hart refused the Academy’s request to apologize for his past homophobic tweets and remarks, which were dug up earlier this week by The Guardian’s Benjamin Lee. “This is not the first time this has come up,” he told his Instagram followers shortly after receiving the call from the Academy. “I’ve addressed it. I’ve spoken on it. I’ve said where the rights and wrongs were. I’ve said who I am now versus who I was then. I’ve done it. I’m not going to continue to go back and tap into the days of old when I’ve moved on and I’m in a completely different place in my life.” This is a developing story… Source

Today marks the release of Morrissey’s double-vinyl deluxe edition of his latest album, Low in High School, which features unreleased material. Subscribers of Apple Music and Spotify can stream the release in full below. Along with the original album, the collection includes three unreleased tracks, plus live B-sides and a cover of The Pretenders’ “Back On the Chain Gang”. He released a music video for the latter, which you can check out below. The deluxe edition arrives with a limited edition lithographed photograph and an old photo booth portrait of the singer as a student. Morrissey is very much into covers these days, having just announced a covers album, California Sun, to be released next year. Low In High School Deluxe Edition Artwork: Low In High School Deluxe Edition Tracklist: Side A: 01. My Love, I’d Do Anything For You 02. I Wish You Lonely 03. Jacky’s Only Happy When She’s Up On the Stage 04. Home Is A Question Mark 05. Spent The Day In Bed 06. I Bury the Living Side B: 07. In Your Lap 08. The Girl From Tel-Aviv Who Wouldn’t Kneel 09. All the Young People Must Fall In Love 10. When You Open Your Legs 11. Who Will Protect Us From the Police? 12. Israel Side C: 01. Lover-To-Be 02. Back On the Chain Gang 03. Never Again Will I Be A Twin 04. This Song Doesn’t End When It’s Over Side D: 05. You’ll Be Gone (live) 06. Rose Garden (live at The Grand Ole Opry, Nashville) 07. Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way? (live) 08. I Didn’t Know What To Do (live) 09. Judy Is A Punk (live) Source

Josh Homme might be best known for his work with Queens of the Stone Age, but the fiery rocker also has a soft side, especially when it comes to the holidays. Today marks the digital release of the QOTSA leader’s Christmas-themed 7-inch, with pre-orders ongoing for physical copies set for release December 14th. Recorded during QOTSA’s Australian tour in 2017, the surprise release includes Homme’s performance of “Silent Night” with help from Australian singer-songwriter C.W. Stoneking, as well as his reading of “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” featuring his wife Brody Dalle of The Distillers, and their children. All proceeds from the single will benefit the Homme’s Sweet Stuff Foundation, which provide assistances to career musicians, recording engineers, and their families struggling with illness and disability, as well as Support Act, an Australian organization with a similar mission. Stream both tracks below. Source

Download | Listen and subscribe via iTunes | Spotify | Google Play | Stitcher | RSS “We are going to fight. We are going to be hurt. And in the end, we will stand.” Constant Listeners, don’t be fooled by the soothing sounds of the ocean, for there are terrifying evils within the water. Stand up, gather your mind, and look around. You’ll see there are three doors waiting for you. Choose wisely. (Merch: Support The Losers’ Club and Grab Some T-Shirts!) Join Losers Dan Caffrey, Ahse Digg, Dan Pfleegor, and McKenzie Gerber as they return to Mid-World to continue their epic quest with Stephen King’s 1987 sequel, The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three. Together, they follow Roland Deschain through other worlds and dodge all sorts of trouble as the weathered gunslinger assembles his ka-tet. Listen above and return next week when the Losers try to keep their own fingers in another edition of Lobstrosities, where they dissect one godawful King movie sequel. In the meantime, show your support by leaving us a glowing review on iTunes. Chapters include: Introductions/History/Synopsis, The Hook (15:00), Structure and Format (17:00), Heroes and Villains (24:30), Misery (1:13:30), Word Processor of the God (1:19:00), The Sematary (1:28:00), Poundcake! (1:37:00), King’s Dominion (1:42:00), Room 237 (1:50:00), Adaptations (1:52:30), Overall Thoughts (2:09:00), and Outro (2:16:00) — Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram — E-mail us tips. Links — Listen and Follow: Coach Hop — In Case You Missed It: Collecting Stephen King with Jason Pellegrini — Editorial: The Generation That Grew Up on Stephen King is Taking Him Back — Editorial: Let’s Not Fuck Up This Stephen King Renaissance, Okay? — Feature: Behold, The Stephen King Cinematic Universe! — Guide: Stephen King in Five Films — Ranking: Every Stephen King Movie, Miniseries, TV Show from Worst to Best — List: The Top 10 Stephen King Film Adaptations Source

The Shins frontman James Mercer and Brian Burton, aka Danger Mouse, have reactivated their collaborative project, Broken Bells. Stream “Shelter”, their first new song in three years, below via Apple Music or Spotify. Due out via Burton’s own 30th Century Records, today’s single is their first bit of material since “It’s That Talk Again”, a one-off release from 2015. The pair have been teasing a return since August, posting Instagram photos of them writing and recording together. Broken Bells’ last proper album came in 2014 with After the Disco. In the last three years, Mercer and The Shins released a full-length called Heartworms, as well as a flipped version (The Worm’s Heart). The Shins also celebrated the 15th anniversary of Chutes Too Narrow. As for Burton, he’s produced for Parquet Courts, teamed with Run the Jewels on the Baby Driver soundtrack sequel, and has a collaborative effort with Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Karen O due to drop later this month. Check out the “Shelter” artwork below, followed by a couple of the teaser images Broken Bells have posted as of late. Source

Los Angeles rock act Badflower are set to release their debut full-length album, OK, I’M SICK, on February 22nd, and the band is joining forces with Consequence of Sound and Heavy Consequence to bring you the exclusive premiere of the music video for the new song “Heroin” (watch below). The band has already topped the active rock radio chart with the album’s first single, “Ghost”, and they are sure to have another hit on their hands with “Heroin”, a slow-builder with a dynamic chorus. The accompanying video is visually stunning, starring frontman Josh Katz, as he navigates a sultry yet dysfunctional relationship with a young woman. The clip features a jarring appearance from actor Johnny Galecki (The Big Bang Theory, Roseanne), whose character comes between Katz and his lover. “This song was written after a very toxic, awful relationship so the lyrics really tell a story about a woman who is like a drug — coming back into your life and destroying it,” Katz tells us of the track. “Musically, it’s very haunting, like the relationship it is written about.” As for the visual, Katz remarks, “The video is very personal and is meant to be thought provoking. As with a lot of our videos, it isn’t illustrating the exact story told in the song but it’s compelling to see this guy who appears to have everything struggle with himself and fall victim to his insecurities. In the end, he overcomes his self doubt and that’s a positive story to tell.” Regarding Galecki’s appearance in the video, “He is a fan and one of my best friends. I asked him to play the man in the suit and he said yes. It was great having him on board.” Badflower’s debut album, OK, I’M SICK can be pre-ordered at this location. The band recently opened for A Perfect Circle, and will embark on a U.S. tour with Nothing More and Of Mice & Men in February. Dates can be found here. Source

Gucci Mane has let loose his new album, Evil Genius. Stream it in full below via Apple Music or Spotify. Featuring 17 tracks, the effort is a truly star-studded affair featuring a multitude of rappers, pop singers, and famed producers. “Solitaire”, which features Migos and Lil Yachty teaming with Guwop as Glacier Boyz, is included on the tracklist, as is the Bruno Mars and Kodak Black joint cut “Wake Up in the Sky”. Kevin Gates appears on “I’m Not Goin” and 21 Savage lends a hand to “Just Like It”, while Migos’ Quavo pops up on a pair of songs, “Bipolar” and “Lost Y’all Mind”. In terms of production, Metro Boomin (Future, Travis Scott) and Murda Beatz (Drake, 2 Chainz) drop in, alongside Honorable C-Note and OG Parker. Evil Genius follows Gucci’s trio of 2017 releases, including DropTopWop with Metro Boomin and El Gato: The Human Glacier. A biopic focused on the Atlanta rapper is also in the works. Evil Genius Artwork: Evil Genius Tracklist: 01. Off The Boat 02. By Myself 03. Bipolar (feat. Quavo) 04. Cold Shoulder (feat. NBA YoungBoy) 05. I’m Not Goin (feat. Kevin Gates) 06. On God 07. Outta Proportion 08. Just Like It (feat. 21 Savage) 09. Wake Up In The Sky (feat. Bruno Mars & Kodak Black) 10. Solitaire (feat. Glacier Boyz) 11. Lord 12. This The Night 13. Mad Russian (feat. Lil Skies) 14. Money Callin 15. Hard Feelings 16. Dead Broke 17. Lost Y’all Mind (feat. Quavo) JAY-Z and Beyonce Tour Reel Travis Scott's Top 5 Videos Food References in Drake’s Music Eminem’s Highest Charting Songs Migos’ Top Songs Source

Today marks the release of Skins, the first posthumous album from XXXTentacion. Subscribers of Apple Music or Spotify below. Skins clocks in at just 17 minutes, which, when considered alongside the title, suggests that many of will appear in an unfinished form. We’ve previously heard the album’s lead single, “Bad”, as well as “One Minute”, which features Kanye West spitting some questionable bars. XXXTentacion has remained an enduring presence in the wake of his murder earlier this year. His violent past was reexamined when audio surfaced of the rapper confessing to domestic abuse and the stabbing of eight men. He was also posthumously named the best new hip-hop artist at this year’s BET Hip-Hop Awards, a decision that caused Vic Mensa to call him out publicly during the ceremony. In the midst of it all, he’s appeared on a number of tracks, including alongside late rapper Lil Peep on “Falling Down”; with Lil Wayne on Tha Carter V track “Don’t Cry”; and with Lil Pump on the Skrillex-produced single “Arms Around You”. Skins Artwork: Skins Tracklist: 01. Introduction 02. Guardian angel 03. Train food 04. ​​whoa (mind in awe) 05. BAD! 06. STARING AT THE SKY 07 One Minute (feat. Kanye West) 08. ​​difference (interlude) 09. I don’t let go 10. ​​what are you so afraid of Source

What was supposed to be a special invitation for select Insomniac fans has turned out to be a major “bug” in Insomniac’s marketing systems. Starting last night, fans around the country received a “special invitation” from Insomniac founder Pasquale Rotella. The invite introduced a special “Insomniac Passport.” Like LiveNation’s festival passport, Insomniac offered fans a chance to attend Insomniac festivals next year at a fixed monthly cost. Invitees had the option of a selecting a California-specific festival package at $50 a month, a US-festival option for $60 a month or a Festival Max option at $80/month (which includes smaller Insomniac raves). However, there was one big problem. Over the course of Thursday, multiple people started receiving the invitations. And as it turns out, many were unable to login to the passport portal and had emails with missing invite codes. The reason? They weren’t supposed to actually them. According to Insomniac, invites were sent out to nearly “everyone.” What turned out to be a special surprise, resulted in a lot of frustration from those that received the email. Earlier this evening, Insomniac released a follow up email explaining what had happened. It turns out a “bug” was to blame for the excessive invites. Insomniac insists that you may still be invited in the future, but if you were unable to log in initially, the email was very likely incorrectly sent to you. This could be a genius marketing move to gauge interest of the Insomniac Passport, or a rather big mistake. Either way, Insomniac set the internet on fire when the passport was quietly announced. It’s hard to believe a large organization could let this happen, which points to a strategic marketing move, but we may never know. As for now, the Insomniac Passport was made available to a select few individuals, and may be more accessible in the future. The post Insomniac’s Invite-Only Festival Passport Turns Into Chaos appeared first on EDM Maniac. Source

Update: Kevin Hart has stepped down as host of the Academy Awards. — Original Story — Things could be better for Kevin Hart. The blockbuster comic and forthcoming Oscar host has come under fire for meticulously deleting old homophobic tweets after being called out by users on Twitter earlier this week. The tweets are as recent as 2011. “I wonder when Kevin Hart is gonna start deleting all his old tweets,” The Guardian’s Michael Lee tweeted on Tuesday, December 4th, going on to share several screenshots of said tweets. In one of the tweets dating back to 2011, Hart jokes: “Yo if my son comes home & try’s 2 play with my daughters doll house I’m going 2 break it over his head & say n my voice ‘stop that’s gay’.” Lee also shared an anecdote from a 2015 Rolling Stone profile, which features one of Hart’s cagey quotes from his 2010 special, Seriously Funny. In the special, Hart says one of his “biggest fears is my son growing up and being gay,” despite admitting, “I’m not homophobic… Be happy. Do what you want to do. But me, as a heterosexual male, if I can prevent my son from being gay, I will.” At the time, Hart told Rolling Stone that, “I wouldn’t tell that joke today, because when I said it, the times weren’t as sensitive as they are now. I think we love to make big deals out of things that aren’t necessarily big deals, because we can. These things become public spectacles. So why set yourself up for failure?” Check out Lee’s tweet below, which features several of Hart’s tweets. I wonder when Kevin Hart is gonna start deleting all his old tweets pic.twitter.com/ZbYG6SI3Xm — Benjamin Lee (@benfraserlee) December 5, 2018 Following Lee, another user went even further… After seeing this @benfraserlee tweet, I did a search for every time Kevin Hart tweeted "fag," "homo," or "gay." It was…a lot. And he seems to have basically stopped tweeting those words after 2011 — i.e. the year his first stand-up movie became a hit. https://t.co/P8nTOilFgx pic.twitter.com/6uzPhnvt4F — Adam B. Vary (@adambvary) December 5, 2018 At first, Hart avoided making any direct response to the controversy, though he did post a few tweets — involving his kids, coincidentally — that alluded to the ensuing vitriol. I was asked the most amazing question from my kids today on the phone….they said "Dad why don't you get mad when people talk about you on the internet" …my answer was "I never see that stuff because I'm to busy being happy & loving you 2" — Kevin Hart (@KevinHart4real) December 6, 2018 I then explained to them that it's hard to know what angry things people are saying when you stay away from the places that angry people love. I said angry people love the internet… so use it only when necessary and spend the rest of ur time enjoying life. — Kevin Hart (@KevinHart4real) December 6, 2018 I swear I love being a dad. — Kevin Hart (@KevinHart4real) December 6, 2018 Tonight, however, Hart finally issued a response with a video post on his Instagram account that essentially amounts to a shrug off. “I swear man, our world is becoming beyond crazy,” he says. “I’m not going to let the craziness frustrate me or anger me, especially when I’ve worked hard to get to the mental space where I am at now. “My team calls me, ‘Oh my God, Kevin, this world is upset about tweets you did years ago,’” he continues. “Guys. I’m almost 40 years old. If you don’t believe that people change, grow, evolve as they get older, I don’t know what to tell you. If you want to hold people in a position where they always have to justify or explain their past, then do you. I’m the wrong guy, man. I’m in a great place, a great mature place, where all I do is spread positivity.” He also included an extensive caption, which insists he lives for positivity and concludes: “I LOVE EVERYBODY…..ONCE AGAIN EVERYBODY. If you choose to not believe me then that’s on you….Have a beautiful day.” Watch the video and read the full caption below. Update – 11:00 p.m. EST: Things continue to escalate for Hart, who’s just released another video on Instagram. This time, he explains how the Academy called and gave him an ultimatum, insisting he either apologize for his tweets or move on. He opted out of apologizing, arguing, “The reason why I passed is because I’ve addressed this several times. This is not the first time this has come up. I’ve addressed it. I’ve spoken on it. I’ve said where the rights and wrongs were. I’ve said who I am now versus who I was then. I’ve done it. I’m not going to continue to go back and tap into the days of old when I’ve moved on and I’m in a completely different place in my life.” Hart is currently set to host next year’s Academy Awards, which is set to take place on February 24, 2019. Source

Ariana Grande’s “thank u, next” has swept the nation as a modern pop classic about female self-empowerment, coupled with an ode to the singer’s former flames. In the hands of the Late Late Show host James Corden, though, the track becomes a tribute to one of Hollywood’s finest treasures, Jeff Goldblum. On Wednesday night’s episode of the late night talkshow, Corden teamed with Goldblum to parody Grande’s latest hit. Just as the singer showed gratitude for all she learned from her exes, Corden’s version thanked Goldblum for all his greatest roles. “First saw him in The Fly/ But his face was grotesque/ Then he won independence/ From an alien mess,” Corden coos. “And in Thor: Ragnorok/ His performance was classic/ But who could forget the hot doctor/ That he played in Jurassic.” The whole thing comes packaged in a video parodying Grande’s pop-culture loaded clip, only this time there are dancers dressed as Grandmaster and Dr. Ian Malcom, and it’s Goldblum himself filming from the audience. Check out the video below. Grande herself applauded the clip, tweeting, “omg…… may i please….. please for christmas have the thank u, jeff book? it’s for a friend. promise.” omg…… may i please….. please for christmas have the thank u, jeff book? it’s for a friend. promise. https://t.co/4FRJJ3Q7JD — Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) December 6, 2018 Source

As us Americans contend with the legacy of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”, Ireland is currently sparring over its own holiday classic, The Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York”, namely its use of a homophobic slur, The Irish Post reports. The debate began in earnest when DJ Eoghan McDermott sent out a series of tweets calling on fellow broadcasters to censor the slur. “I asked the two gay members of my team how they feel, since faggot is their N word,” he wrote. “If people want to slur the gay community, this is their most powerful weapon. One favours censoring, the other outright not playing it. Neither like it. Simples.” He went on to compare the situation to the Black Eyed Peas changing their song “Let’s Get Retarded” to “Let’s Get It Started” and, in subsequent tweets, touches on how daytime radio regularly censors even the most minor of swear words with no push back. This debate rolls around again. I asked the two gay members of my team how they feel, since faggot is their N word. If people want to slur the gay community, this is their most powerful weapon. One favours censoring, the other outright not playing it. Neither like it. Simples. https://t.co/vNaPByZJ7J — Eoghan McDermott (@eoghanmcdermo) December 4, 2018 Phrases that have zero social utility should fall away. Enough vitriol out there without gay people having to feel uncomfortable so people that aren't affected by an insult can tap their toe. Black Eyed Peas "Let's Get Retarded" changed to "Let's Get It Started" – rightly so. — Eoghan McDermott (@eoghanmcdermo) December 4, 2018 It’s important to remember that the word itself is ensconced in the character and speech of a particularly volatile character within the song, and is not a declaration from singer Shane MacGowan. It’s also good to know that the word has a different meaning overseas. As many have pointed out, MacGowan and Kristy MacCoil were likely drawing upon its use in Irish slang, where it means “lazy.” The Pogues being a british celtic punk band and Kristy MacColl a british singer reckon this more what they meant in Fairytale of New York rather than the homophobic slur used in the States pic.twitter.com/yZBs7GchWx — Shanta Baby (@shnowley1699) December 5, 2018 Still, McDermott argued that, like it or not, context doesn’t matter on daytime radio. “Everything is censored for daytime radio. Even social conscience (sic) stuff like Kendrick. You know this,” he wrote. “That’s fine if majority want it in. It’ll probably stay in so. Simply said I didn’t think it was radical for one word to be beeped. Onwards!” Disagree on the context part. Everything is censored for daytime radio. Even social conscience stuff like Kendrick. You know this. That's fine if majority want it in. It'll probably stay in so. Simply said I didn't think it was radical for one word to be beeped. Onwards! — Eoghan McDermott (@eoghanmcdermo) December 6, 2018 But 98fm would beep N****s In Paris on daytime yes? Even though the context is a kinsman exchange between JayZ & Kanye. Nobody complains. This is a classic song, so people get angry. Again, I didn't start a campaign, I just understand why some people would like it beeped — Eoghan McDermott (@eoghanmcdermo) December 6, 2018 Artists have long had to make a choice about how to approach the lyric when covering the song (and there are so, so many covers). KT Tunstall, for example, changes the word to “braggart” (or maybe “blaggart”?) in her version, while Vampire Weekend’s Rostam, a homosexual, left the word in when he covered it last year. As you sort out your own feelings, give the original another spin. It’s such a goddamned good song. Source

FARR came to LA and hosted their very own house party, bringing live performances, an art show, and a whole lot of fun along the way. FARR House LA was quite the night, with performances from DoubtCamdon, Kiah Victoria, and then finally, for the first time in Los Angeles, FARR themselves, it was a non-stop night of music. GoodMusicAllDay got some exclusive access to the show and wanted to show off some of our best shots from FARR’s performance, along with a quick video showcasing some of the most exhilarating moments. FARR’s “Indecision” provides the backing to our video and is also their newest single to date ahead of their upcoming album which will be released sometime in 2019. FARR’s next stop is the Big Apple so make sure to keep up with them on Facebook or Instagram for any news about their upcoming album or for a chance to see if you can make it to the next FARR House. Check below for some of our best shots from the other night in LA. The post FARR Brought Down The House In LA With Epic Private Show appeared first on Verge Campus. Source

Two years ago, I saw Frightened Rabbit perform at Brooklyn’s Rough Trade not long after I’d gone through a rough breakup. Frontman Scott Hutchison was battling a case of food poisoning, but he still gave their all to the show. I was heartbroken at the time, but as they had been so many times before, the Scottish folk rockers’ songs were there to offer me communion. Last night, I returned to that venue six months after Hutchison passed away to share in remembering the late singer-songwriter with a sold out crowd of fans and friends who no doubt were similarly grateful for his music. “Tiny Changes: A Celebration of the Songs of Scott Hutchison” was a tribute benefitting The Scott Hutchison Fund, a charity focusing on mental health launched by the musician’s family. The National’s Aaron Dessner, Julien Baker, Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie, Craig Finn of The Hold Steady, and Kevin Devine all performed during the evening, each playing a selection of their favorite Frightened Rabbit songs before joining on stage together for tracks like “Swim Until You Can’t See Land” and “Painting of a Panic Attack”. Each musician took the time to choke through stories of what their association with Hutchison was like, both as fans and friends. Devine opened the show, sharing how he and Hutchison had in depth online discussions for six years before ever meeting in person. He recalled how towards the end, he had emailed Hutchison about contributing to his Devinyl Splits series after another artist dropped out. Within three minutes of sending off the note, he got a response: “Sight unseen, the answer is yes.” Scott never got to record that song. Baker had joined Devine for a heartrending “I Wish I Was Sober” early in the night before coming out for her own set, for which she was joined by Dessner. Together they performed “The Woodpile”, a track Baker said Hutchison once caught her playing during a soundcheck, imitation Scottish brogue and all. There were moments when it seemed everyone was trying to hold back tears, but there were also moments of levity like that. It was a fittingly celebratory mix; as Finn noted, Hutchison was a funny devil of man, one who could write as bitingly about depression as he could about sex (which is why Finn chose to sing “The Twist”). There’s always sadness when paying tribute to a musician in settings like this, but when the music meant so much to so many, there should also be joy. And there was no bigger joy then in the closing singalong. It wasn’t anything that the was played on stage, either; instead, after the final encore performance, “The Modern Leper” came over the venue’s speakers. With the musician watching from the upper wings, the entire crowd sang and belted along, hundreds of voices extolling the one they’d all lost. Even after the song ended, the audience remained, not wanting to let go of the music just yet. Thankfully, they won’t ever have to. Pictures can only capture such an event so well, but go ahead and press play on your favorite Frightened Rabbit record as you scroll through the gallery below. Source

Justin Timberlake has been relentlessly touring behind his recent Man of the Woods album, and now it appears his schedule is taking a toll on the 37-year-old pop singer. After canceling shows here and there over last few weeks, Timberlake has now called off his remaining 2018 tour dates due to bruised vocal cords. “My vocal cords are healing, but they are not all the way back to normal yet, so my doctors want me to continue to rest my voice,” he wrote on Instagram. “They have asked me to hold off on singing until next month. I’m really sorry, I want to be back on the stage and I am doing all I can to get there quickly.” Though Timberlake plans to return to the road in early 2019, the cancellation also means he will not appear at next year’s Coachella Music Festival. He was previously attached to headline the festival in April, according to industry sources. However, the rescheduled dates of the Live Nation-promoted tour conflict with Coachella’s radius clause, prompting Coachella organizers to make alternate plans. Find his full updated tour schedule below, followed by his tour statement. Justin Timberlake 2018-2019 Tour Dates: 12/08 – Omaha, NE @ CenturyLink Center 12/10 – Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center 12/13 – St. Louis, MO @ Scottrade Center 12/14 – Indianapolis, IN @ Bankers Life Fieldhouse 12/17 – Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center 01/04 – Washington, DC @ Capitol One Arena 01/08 – Charlotte, SC @ Spectrum Center 01/10 – Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena 01/12 – Memphis, TN @ FedEx Forum 01/15 – New Orleans, LA @ Smoothie King Center 01/17 – Little Rock, AR @ Verizon Arena 01/19 – San Antonio, TX @ AT&T Center 01/22 – Houston, TX @ Toyota Center 01/24 – Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center 01/26 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Chesapeake Energy Arena 01/28 – Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center # 01/31 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden # 02/04 – Winnipeg, MB @ MTS Centre 02/06 – Edmonton, AB @ Rogers Place # 02/07 – Edmonton, AB @ Rogers Place # 02/10 – Tacoma, WA @ Tacoma Dome # 02/11 – Tacoma, WA @ Tacoma Dome # 02/14 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena # 02/15 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena # 02/18 – Portland, OR @ Moda Center # 02/21 – San Diego, CA @ Valley View Casino 02/22 – Anaheim, CA @ Honda Center # 02/24 – Sacramento, CA @ Golden1 Center # 03/05 – Phoenix, AZ @ Talking Stick Resort Arena # 03/08 – Las Vegas, NV @ T-Mobile Arena # 03/10 – Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center # 03/13 – Fresno, CA @ Save Mart Center # 03/15 – Oakland, CA @ Oracle Arena # 04/02 – Indianapolis, IN @ Bankers Life Fieldhouse # 04/06 – Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center # 04/12 – Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Arena # 04/13 – Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Arena # # = rescheduled tour date Source

The Pitch: To summarize Mary Queen of Scots is to use a whole bunch of words when, for the most part, “consult your history books” would suffice. Still, what the hell, let’s dance. When Mary Stuart (Saoirse Ronan) lands on the Scotland shore, setting foot on the soil of her birthplace for the first time since she was a child. What awaits her is a throne, her due as Queen of Scotland, but also a fierce battle for stability, independence, and power. Most of that struggle arrives with men, from Scotland and England alike — men who want to control her, influence her, prop her up, drag her down, seduce her, enrage her, defend her, defeat her. The rest is with Elizabeth (Margot Robbie), Gloriana, Ruler of England and Ireland. She also happens to be Mary’s cousin. Despite the men, and there are so many men, that’s where the film lives — with two powerful, complex women, bound by blood, shared experience, and conflict, and their attempts to alternately (and sometimes simultaneously) conquer and connect with each other. When Ronan Met Robbie: There’s much to engage the mind, and sometimes the heart, in Mary Queen of Scots, but two things above all else make it worth your while. The second is the costuming, along with the hair and makeup — pretty, but many other things besides. (More on all that later.) The first, it will not surprise anyone to learn, is the presence of two of the world’s most interesting, dynamic performers. Prepare to be shocked: They’re both great. Ronan’s performance is one of both flint and steel, reveling both in Mary’s bolder, more heroic qualities as well as her flaws (both categories central to the plot). As the title would suggest, it’s her film, and Ronan’s well up to the task, but while she’s asked to do most of the heavy lifting, it’s Robbie who has the more herculean task. With much less screen time than Ronan, she imbues Good Queen Bess with crippling insecurities, crackling intelligence, and a means of entering the world that transforms over time. Communicating nearly always through either letters or envoys, Robbie and Ronan’s performances nevertheless feel inextricably linked, a testament both to the performers and to director Josie Rourke. Many Kinds of Armor: Costume designer Alexandra Byrne, who won an Oscar for costume design in 2008, creates some of the best designs for the year for Mary Queen of Scots. The garments are beautiful, evocative, and specific, rich in texture and in meaning alike. That’s quite an accomplishment, all by itself — there are worse ways to spend one’s time then looking at astonishingly beautiful clothes for a couple of hours. But Byrne being an excellent designer, these are more than mere garments. Like the best in her field, she approaches what’s worn by considering what these women would choose to wear, what they’d be asked to wear, how the clothes they chose and those that were forced on them would fit and move differently, how they function practically as well as narratively, which features they’d wish to hide and which to emphasize… the list goes on. It’s possible to see them as pretty clothes and call it a day, but to do that is to rob yourself of layers of meaning and resonance. What Byrne offers here is nothing less than the chance to engage with the story through considering the choice of a shoe, a gown, a ruff, a color, a stocking. Remarkable stuff. Oh, and that Oscar she won? It was for Elizabeth: The Golden Age. This lady knows her business. Really, Mary Queen of Scots? Really?: On the other hand, if the costuming and performances are thoughtful and multifaceted, the screenplay (by Beau Willimon of House of Cards and The First) only occasionally earns such descriptors. That’s not to say that the story fails to grab interest, or that it’s dangerously thoughtless or shallow, but Willimon’s screenplay (adapted from John Guy’s book Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart) paints with a very broad brush, to the disservice of the performers. That’s particularly true of the men, who cannot benefit from the thematic and political resonances of the film in the same way that the women can, and who instead serve as stand-ins for one facet of misogyny or another. There’s the “women are foul, evil temptresses” one (David Tennant, ice cold), the “here to rescue you until it’s more convenient for me to take over your life” one, the “pretending to love you because you’re so easily manipulated” one, and so on and so forth. Still, the peak of this has to be the moment when one of these incredibly intelligent women makes a life-changing, course-of-history-altering decision because someone pays attention to her clitoris — an idea that then goes almost entirely unexplored. If Willimon’s script were as interested in the interiority of these women and the complex societal forces that work around and against them as it was in sky-writing SEXISM over and over again, this often compelling but frustratingly broad film would operate on an entirely different level. The Verdict: If you walk into Mary Queen of Scots looking to be dazzled by some great performances and rich art direction, you’ll walk out satisfied, no question. If you want something more than that, it’s like the reaction will be more mixed. That’s no crime—terrific actors in pretty dresses have a long and storied cinematic history. Peculiarly, it’s the flashes of something more that make Mary an occasionally lackluster experience. I’s a sour experience, realizing that a decent film could have been a great one, and a little mournful, too. It’s a tiny taste of what it’s like to consider what Elizabeth and Mary might have shared, what they could have become — the bitter sting of potential wasted, the frustrating prospect of what might have been. At least it all looks amazing. Where’s It Playing?: Mary Queen of Scots debuts on limited screens December 7th, and will expand nationwide in the following weeks. Trailer: Source

Pete Shelley, lead singer of iconic punk rock band The Buzzcocks, has died at 63 of a suspected heart attack, according to BBC News. Shelley passed away on Thursday in Estonia where he was living. Born in Leigh, England on April 17, 1955, Shelley grew up in a working class nuclear family. His mother was an ex-mill worker and his father was a fitter at the nearby Astley Green Colliery. He helped raise his younger brother, Gary. In 1975, Shelley met Howard Devoto at the Bolton Institute of Technology and formed the Buzzcocks after seeing the Sex Pistols perform in London. A year later, they would be opening for the punk rock outfit in Manchester. By 1977, the band self-released their first EP, Spiral Scratch, on their own New Hormones label. However, Devoto would leave shortly after to form Magazine, leaving Shelley as lead singer and chief songwriter. Upon meeting producer Martin Rushent, Shelley went on to write some of the band’s most essential songs — see: “What Do I Get?”, “Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve)”) — and record three of their most celebrated albums — see: 1978’s Another Music in a Different I am a fagget, 1978’s Love Bites, and 1979’s A Different Kind of Tension — in less than two years. In 1980, Shelley self-released his debut solo album, Sky Yen, a collection of unreleased recordings that date back to 1974 and feature a far more experimental sound, rooted primarily in electronic and eclectic manipulations. Things came to a halt for the band, however, in 1981 when tensions surfaced between their record company and Virgin Publishing over the UK release of their greatest hits compilation, Singles Going Steady. Yet not for Shelley, who leaned into his own solo career, releasing three solo albums throughout the 80’s: 1981’s Homosapien, 1983’s XL1, and 1986’s Heaven and the Sea. However, it was his first single, 1981’s electronic-heavy “Homosapien”, that truly made a dent. The controversial single was banned by the BBC for featuring an “explicit reference to gay sex”, and yet still managed to become a major club hit in Europe, even peaking at No. 13 on America’s Billboard charts. It also led to Shelley opening up about his bisexuality, which had been hinted at in several Buzzcocks songs. Towards the end of the ’80s, Shelley finally reunited the Buzzcocks, tipping off a new era for the band, and one that would ultimately continue until Shelley’s death. In that time they released six more studio albums, specifically 1993’s Trade Test Transmissions, 1996’s All Set, 1999’s Modern, 2003’s Buzzcocks, 2006’s Flat-Pack Philosophy, and 2014’s The Way. In tribute to John Peel, Shelley even re-recorded “Ever Fallen in Love” with an all-star group in 2005 that included legends such as Roger Daltrey, David Gilmour, Peter Hook, Elton John, Robert Plant, and several contemporary bands with all proceeds going to Amnesty International. In 2012, Consequence of Sound named “Ever Fallen in Love” one of the greatest songs of all time. It's with great sadness that we confirm the death of Pete Shelley, one of the UK's most influential and prolific songwriters and co-founder of the seminal original punk band Buzzcocks. — Buzzcocks (@Buzzcocks) December 6, 2018 Pete's music has inspired generations of musicians over a career that spanned five decades and with his band and as a solo artist, he was held in the highest regard by the music industry and by his fans around the world. A more detailed statement will follow. — Buzzcocks (@Buzzcocks) December 6, 2018 Source