"The Richmond Sessions" by The Sherman Holmes Project is a solid effort at replicating The Holmes Brothers magic but the reliance on outside guests drags down the album. Sherman himself is in fine voice and the songs that do connect make it worth checking out. 2/5 youtu.be/ClSYUWOfT6M?...

"Brotherhood" is the final album of The Holmes Brothers and ends the group's legacy on a solid note. While they take a step back by bringing in more help, the album continues the roots band's long tradition of solid grooves, tight harmonies, and heartfelt lyrics. 3/5 youtu.be/nGqhIKmb1u4?...

Recorded this day 60 Years ago! Classic! Bob Dylan - Live 1966 "The Royal Albert Hall Concert" (Full Album) youtube.com/playlist?lis...

1954's "Vera Cruz" has a paper thin plot, wooden characters, and dated action sequences. Gary Cooper and Burt Lancaster do their best to save the film and impart enough cynicism and nihilism to inspire the Spaghetti Western genre but cannot redeem the film as a standalone feature. 5/10

"Sound of Sinning" by Monophonics is solid soul that flourishes when the songs let lead singer Kelly Finnigan go full throttle. Like a sports car, taking him out for a spin feels a little silly when he is obeying the speed limits, but watch out when he cuts loose. 3/5 youtu.be/upRBztLrlhg?...

“.. The idea of a high-ranking government official receiving an escort from the SEALs for a recreational swim near the tomb is ‘horrifying,’ said William M. McBride, a Navy veteran and professor emeritus of history at the U.S. Naval Academy ..” @nytimes.com www.nytimes.com/2026/05/15/u...

2008's "Soul Power" is the movie that "When We Were Kings" was supposed to be, a documentary about the Zaire 74 musical festival associated with The Rumble in the Jungle. The documentary squanders its momentum with dull construction and travel sequences but the performances are terrific. 7/10

"We're in This Together" by Low Profile is one of the great unheralded early rap albums. W.C. (yes that one) had not yet fully developed his distinctive style but that actually shows off his impressive lyrics even more, while the D.J. Aladdin beats are rock solid. 5/5 youtu.be/XpXg0NAiWnk?...

Carter was the icon that Matthew and so many others have said and "Slip Away" is his masterpiece. You can draw a pretty straight line from this to much of the early 70s soul that remains so beloved today. youtu.be/IkhdHWF0Vms?...

Good thread that argues that Dylan's letters from the past are really letters for today, thereby making a strong argument for the importance of the project:

Trump is poised to effectively steal $1.7 BILLION in taxpayer funds to pay off January 6ers and other political allies, without any oversight by Congress and despite the fact that the people who’ll be handed cash straight from our paychecks don’t have viable legal claims.

"H.A.R.D." by Joell Ortiz & KXNG Crooked has the great flows these 2 rappers are known for but on most songs it is painfully clear how little they have to say. The overly commercial hooks and beats also detract, making this a tough listen even given how short it is. 2/5 youtu.be/hSavd3_Li8g?...

"Single Mothers" is a lower key album from Justin Townes Earle that relies on a stripped down feel instrumentally, raising the pressure on the lyrics and JTE's singing. Thankfully Earle more than delivers, making this less heralded album yet another masterpiece. 5/5 youtu.be/-bR7RYs-My8?...

This would constitute one of the most brazen, most appalling acts of corruption in U.S. history. I know we’re numb to all of this but this is a seven-alarm fire. www.nytimes.com/2026/05/12/b...

Funny story. 2 quick notes: 1) Despite their claims, this May 13 show was not the last show of the tour as they played 4 more shows with him over the next 5 days. 2) This is the last time Dylan has performed this song as part of his set, as the only later performance was as a guest of Tom Petty.

hoovermaxxing

"This Is Now!!!" by Craig G is a great album from the Juice Crew legend despite the 12 year gap from his prior release. Craig's lyrics are consistently strong and the motley crew of producers works well. Typically, the hook is to blame if a track falls short. 4/5 youtu.be/pHxoaZq4WI4?...

The Motion Man debut "Clearing the Field" ably demonstrates his great flow and consistently funny lyrics. This album also has great production from KutMasta Kurt and could have been a 5/5. However, it is too long and completely runs out of steam at the end. 4/5 youtu.be/4HDgDIPITGg?...

Lonnie Mack should have been a superstar but he had the misfortune of getting swamped by the Beatles. If only he'd had a little more time to establish himself or a bigger label behind him... youtu.be/WBlIVwdr318?...

"One Time, One Night" by Sweethearts of the Rodeo has a bit sweeter sound than their debut that did not appeal as much to me but still features the group's excellent harmonies and a fairly strong set of material. I could have done without the Beatles cover however. 3/5 youtu.be/_sDBtwzApP8?...

The debut "Sweethearts of the Rodeo" album is far too short (23:43) and does not always land but shows the group's promise. Their tight harmonies and fresh sound that hearken back to their roots keep the songs engaging despite a lack of standout material. 3/5 youtu.be/Hpcrx99_9fc?...

the most anti free speech administration in this country’s history

The Trump administration has granted more than 180 polluting facilities nationwide a two-year pause on compliance with Clean Air Act rules. www.propublica.org/article/clea...

2010's "The Fighter" is part family drama and part boxing movie, serving as a solid if not exceptional example of both genres. The supporting performances from Christian Bale and Melissa Leo lift the sometimes overly stylized film that does not give the main character of Micky Ward much depth. 7/10

One of my grails, "How Sad, How Lovely" reveals the ahead of her time talent of Connie Converse, a 1950's singer songwriter before that was a thing. The songs are great but it is her delivery that sets them apart, as she laces the songs with emotion and pathos. 5/5 youtu.be/xs1-r7iCZY4?...

The average American has three friends.

The 1996 documentary "When We Were Kings" brings the larger than life Rumble in the Jungle between Muhammad Ali and the heavy favorite George Foreman to life. Packed with incredible footage and Ali's verbal sparring, this is a great sports film and a compelling look at the African diaspora. 9/10

Multiple women serving sentences for nonviolent crimes at the minimum security prison where Ghislaine Maxwell is now serving time were punished for speaking to reporters about the special treatment Maxwell receives. At least two women were transferred to higher security facilities as punishment.

Following Southwest 3908 which was supposed to leave Boston at 8:25 AM this morning and still has not left. They have been "taxiing" for well over an hour www.flightaware.com/live/flight/...

"At Carnegie Hall! The Complete Concert" by Flatt & Scruggs was a bit of a disappointment, as the setlist and performances seemed to be shooting for accessibility and not depth. Merle Travis guesting for the last couple songs was a nice surprise. 2/5 youtu.be/ncR1rsDEaCI?...

he is spiking your electricity prices

"Unfinished Business" by Wanda Jackson is a terrific late career release. Jackson's singing remains fresh and compelling and the album benefits from supportive production from Justin Townes Earle. JTE also duets with Jackson on a song and her JTE cover is a highlight. 5/5 youtu.be/iAMHOfuDihg?...

1959's "Fires on the Plain" is a harrowing and unrelenting movie about a soldier enduring the utter disintegration of the Japanese army on Leyte in 1945. Indelibly shot, the movie raises questions about the cost of the human desire to survive and has lost none of its power to shock. 8/10

BLOCKBUSTER from @by-cjewett.bsky.social on how FDA blocked publication of studies finding Covid & Shingles vaccine are safe www.nytimes.com/2026/05/05/u...

The lead plaintiff in Callais v. Louisiana said on social media that he was at January 6:

"The Skiffle Sessions" by Van Morrison, Lonnie Donegan, and Chris Barber has an easygoing atmosphere of dudes getting together to play classic songs. While inoffensive and often enjoyable, there's little that makes a deeper impression and requires multiple listens. 2/5 youtu.be/Oe7Y1GbqZcY?...

"The Grass Is Blue" shows that Dolly Parton can effortlessly crush a bluegrass album. After all, she's got a great understanding of the genre, she's got her striking voice, and here she's got a top notch band and strong material that keeps her in the forefront. 5/5 youtu.be/4K0M_E3PvSg?...

"The Lost Recordings" of Jim Croce offers a well curated slice of live and demo recordings that demonstrates his talent as a singer, songwriter, and guitarist. This consistently engaging album proves he would have been a lasting star if not for his tragic death. 5/5 youtu.be/G2Hffc4i9jU?...

1957's "Night Passage" has some lovely cinematography and a reliably strong James Stewart performance but the plot fails to create any interest as it staggers towards the climax. Additionally, the characters are one dimensional, making it easy to predict the maudlin ending. 5/10

"Mr" by Leslie Odom Jr. is a large step forward from his debut, as Odom blends more of his musical influences and adds more of his voice. Only a muddled and subdued middle keeps this from being the classic album the first songs suggest it could have been. 4/5 youtu.be/EIgR5sCYJZ8?...

"Tick Tock Tick" by Will Porter features a ridiculous guest list: Dr. John, Bettye Lavette, several Womack Brothers, and a collection of New Orleans icons. Unfortunately, Porter himself is only a fair singer, making this album heavily reliant on its aging guest stars. 2/5 youtu.be/mPf4aNNLz5Y?...

Slow Train Coming, Infidels, Nashville Skyline

I do not think Lou Rawls get the props he deserves as a pure singer. For example, he's gliding all over this song and his vocals are utterly impeccable without him seeming to break a sweat. What a jam. youtu.be/ESRt5_YPbMI?...

"Little Honey" is probably the most polished album I have heard from Lucinda Williams. Thankfully the song quality remains high and the lyrics remain gritty underneath the honey, making this another excellent album nearly 30 years into her career. 4/5 youtu.be/Ag7FrruiP_k?...

Silovs deserved better. He bought his team more than enough time to score

"Atlantic Unearthed: Soul Brothers" is a cleaning out the vaults exercise that is most notable for the unreleased Donny Hathaway and Wilson Pickett songs. There are also quite a few cuts that had never been released on CD and the material is consistently solid. 3/5 youtu.be/InwHZB8222E?...

1998's "Rush Hour" meets its modest goals by delivering a funny buddy cop film with strong action sequences. The plot is perfunctory and all of the characters except the two leads are wooden but those aspects are not why anyone in their right minds would decide to watch this movie. 7/10

"A.W.O.L." by AZ has one great song (produced by DJ Premier of course), a couple solid songs with well picked guests, and then a bunch undermined by poor production and tired concepts. AZ's flow remains strong but there's simply no redeeming some of these beats. 2/5 youtu.be/by6knd72LFo?...

The Dylan section is predictably great, but so are the Paul Simon, Jay-Z, Outkast, Willie Nelson, Kendrick Lamar sections and so many others. Well worth reading

"Sunday Nights: The Songs of Junior Kimbrough" proves that Kimbrough's alchemy cannot be duplicated. These covers generally turn up the volume and lose the hypnotic feeling that Junior specialized in, with only a few covers finding a new and successful spin. 2/5 youtu.be/-orvZsUEaXI?...