Sons of Anarchy Review: “Suits of Woe” (7×11)
Let’s get this out of the way up front: this should be the antepenultimate episode of a seven or eight episode season, tops. For all the plot that this season has had to this point, every new twist and knot in Jax’s elaborate vengeance scheme, there really has not been enough story to justify the…
Album Review: SBTRKT – “Wonder Where We Land”
SBTRKT, the reclusive electronic artist, came into the fray with his self-titled debut album that combined house, some dubstep elements and minimalist soul. With collaborations under his belt with Little Dragon's Yukimi Nagano, Londoner Jessie Ware and relative newcomer, the soulful Sampha, his debut was a breath of fresh digital air in this era of stagnant EDM…
Monterey – “Sailors” EP Review
"Remember all the days you were so lonely. When leaving wasn't the only thing on your mind." Trying to standout among the New Brunswick music scene isn't an easy task. It's a community that's absolutely packed with incredible potential and exciting new sounds, but Monterey is standing out in a very unique way. Just give…
Interview: Chris Beninato and Carter Henry of Monterey
If you don't know about the booming music scene in New Brunswick or Asbury Park, you should educate yourself. One of the bands making a splash are rockers Monterey. With their newest release, the trio is taking a different route and exploring a more emotional side (check out our review here). I sat down…
Scandal Review: “Where the Sun Don’t Shine” (4×09)
As “Where the Sun Don’t Shine” begins, Rowan has gone off the grid following Olivia and company’s failed attempt on his life. Our intrepid heroes spare no effort in their attempts to find him; as Olivia so marvelously puts it, “As for my father, hunt him, find him and kill him.” But then Olivia is…
Broadway Review: “On the Town” Revival
I have been humming Leonard Bernstein songs on repeat since seeing the current revival of On The Town at the Lyric Theatre. It would be impossible not to hum a few bars, even for the most cynical New Yorker, after being whisked along by the snappy and energetic production of this Broadway classic. On the…
“The Real Thing” Broadway Review
“I’m acting normal! You’re all acting strange”. For much of the beginning of Roundabout’s revival of “The Real Thing”, this quote by Maggie Gyllenhaal’s Annie holds very true. Director Sam Gold has crafted an uneven, sometimes frustrating, but ultimately rewarding revival of the Tom Stoppard classic. One of the playwright’s finest plays; “The Real Thing”…
American Horror Story: Freak Show Review – “Test of Strength” (4×07)
Lo, my friends: John Landgraf giveth, and John Landgraf taketh away. In the very same week where Sons of Anarchy reinvigorates a flagging season with a stunning, emotional episode, American Horror Story comes completely off the rails, on the heels of a pretty good outing. After all my ballyhooing about how “Bullseye” brought focus…
Parenthood Review: “Adam Brownstein Must Be Stopped” (6×08)
“Aaron Brownstein Must Be Stopped” is just a great episode title, and happily, it accompanies a pretty great episode. Any time spent on Max is generally time worth spent, and this week is no exception. But the episode also achieves the remarkable feat of taking Crosby’s story, which has oscillated of late between boring and incessantly petulant,…
Album Review: The Jazz June – “After the Earthquake”
Topshelf Records has a place near and dear to my heart. It's the label that signed one of the bands that I sat in awe watching back in the 10th grade days of post-rock yore. Now that I get to review one of their newest releases, I can take a little taste of their full…