1967's "Deadlier Than the Male" is a Bond-esque spoof that gives women a larger role but still keeps them subservient to a male mastermind. The movie is well shot but the plot is clumsy and the dialogue is often stilted. Overall, a decent film but one that could have been far better. 6/10

The self titled album by The Olympians is another monster Daptone album, this one purely instrumental. The Olympians' take on funk is a little lighter than most, helping differentiate themselves and creating a breezy listen that still rewards a deeper focus. 5/5 youtu.be/Yj1VHGIwZUI?...

1975's "Report to the Commissioner" has an interesting premise, great location shots, and a strong cast. Despite those attributes, the film spends far too much time talking and never establishes the characters as real people, leaving the audience only passively engaged. 6/10

"Something About April II" by Adrian Younge has a solid batch of instrumentals as you'd expect from Younge but the vocalists are generally off-putting and the lyrics are conspicuously empty. We've heard similar instrumentals on much better tracks, making this a particularly frustrating listen. 1/5

"Uptown Special" by Mark Ronson contains one of the biggest singles of the 2010s, a good late career Mystikal track, and then a considerable number of mediocre R&B tracks with poor lyrics and no sense of cohesion. Overall, a pretty good outcome. 2/5 youtu.be/7Ya2U8XN_Zw?...

bari weiss saw this and decided that she had to hide it from the american public

@rosterresource.fangraphs.com hi Jason, happened to notice that Luisangel Acuna has the wrong trade history listed on the transaction tracker

"What the World Needs Now" is another strong slab of funk by The Sugarman 3. While I would have appreciated a stronger rhythm section emphasis, the band is in fine form across the tracks, creating an album that consistently entertains even if it does not always thrill. 3/5 youtu.be/yuZ4-2hj9RQ?...

Expect a "revolt" among 60 Minutes staff over Bari Weiss pulling the CECOT segment at the last minute, one network insider told me. Another CBS News reporter added that a Rubicon had been crossed with this decision, which 60 Minutes correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi called "political" and not editorial.

………

"The After Party" by U.S.D.A. is a useful clarification - your album can be awful but as long as one song connects it's still a 2/5. That one song lands entirely due to Freddie Gibbs, who outshines everyone else on the album by a massive amount. 2/5 youtu.be/agMgLAgKIhw?...

"Desire" by Backwoods Jupiter is an extremely obscure Bob Dylan tribute, which is a shame because they do a good job with that inconsistent album, especially when they stray from the original versions. The album isn't even on YouTube but some live performances are. 3/5 youtu.be/r1-TD6P9rAA?...

“Gantchev suffered from type 2 diabetes and told his wife no diet accommodations were made for him. She and Anna said the small amount of food that is given to people detained at North Lake was not enough for maintaining Gantchev's blood sugar levels.”

Milwaukee Mets down unfathomable

Rewatched 1981's "Thief" which is one of my favorite movies. Gorgeously and extremely meticulously shot, tightly paced, and well acted, this story of a man struggling to build his ideal life through elaborate heists has a surprising amount to say about work and power in America. 10/10

"Blood From Stars" by Joe Henry has consistently strong instrumentals but Henry's vocals were not compelling enough to frequently take advantage. The lyrics are solid but not a selling point, making this an album that is consistently pleasant but a little empty. 2/5 youtu.be/Y4yuylX_VOo?...

1982's "The Verdict" is a gritty but redemptive film about a lawyer who is shocked to find that he will not allow himself to take the easy way out of a difficult case. Paul Newman shines as the broken lawyer in screenplay writer David Mamet's first great film. 8/10

"River: The Joni Letters" by Herbie Hancock is an outstanding Joni Mitchell tribute album as the band, material, and execution are all great. Almost all the tracks successfully add a new dimension, ironically with only the title track falling short. 5/5 youtu.be/CwDIJjYhQRo?...

NEW: Humanitarian officials staged a last-minute plea to Trump officials at their fancy hotel to re-start food aid $ for a huge refugee camp in Kenya. The Trumpers blew it off and babies starved. @annamaria.bsky.social & Brett Murphy www.propublica.org/article/keny...

2015's "Miss Sharon Jones!" is not a standard music documentary, as instead of focusing on recording dates and tours it focuses on Jones' battle against cancer. The emotional and honest documentary honors its subject as both an artist & a person, making her 2016 death even more heartbreaking. 9/10

"Poor Boy: Songs of Nick Drake" is a jazz album tribute that is clearly of more interest to a jazz fan than a Drake fan. While a couple songs like the strident title track will appeal to everyone, the rest use Drake's music as a springboard for esoteric jazz tracks. 2/5 youtu.be/uPx_XC4geoI?...

The incredible material of 1976's "Heartworn Highways" allows it to overcome a lack of structure and the relegation of some of the best performances to the outtakes. Rewatching it emphasized how lucky we are to have this, especially for the Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark parts. 8/10

"Dirt Farmer" by Levon Helm has a painful fetishism of traditionalism that severely constrains its sound. It is no coincidence that the best songs were written by contemporary songwriters Steve Earle ("The Mountain") and Buddy & Julie Miller ("Wide River to Cross"). 2/5 youtu.be/CfdWT0JhL3Q?...

"Dirt Farmer" by Levon Helm has a painful fetishism of traditionalism that severely constrains its sound. It is no coincidence that the best songs were written by contemporary songwriters Steve Earle ("The Mountain") and Buddy & Julie Miller ("Wide River to Cross"). 2/5 youtu.be/CfdWT0JhL3Q?...

The human cost of Trump's gutting of USAID: By the time Tor Top’s mother was sick with cholera, the nearby clinic had been shuttered for weeks. He bundled her into a canoe & paddled toward the nearest hospital, 8 hours away. Less than halfway into the journey, his mother died. New, @propublica.org

"Lilith Fair: A Celebration of Women in Music" collects highlights from the festival's first year. While a bit of a mixed bag, this compilation covers enough ground that there's likely something for everyone, even if there's probably no one that will love it all. 2/5 youtu.be/XhwlOSCLTSs?...

*Literally all investigations of firms with ties to Trump crypto businesses or involving Trump donors have been dropped. *The pattern of non-enforcement for crypto is different from other SEC cases

if these kids were conservative influencers, it would not have been "things can happen"

"Trespass Original Score" by Ry Cooder is an effective score for an underrated film (8/10 for me) but generally does not translate outside of the film. The best tracks have a little more energy than the rest, helping them engage the listener more. 2/5 youtu.be/_xpUnP6Y8E0?...

The RFK, jr effect.

"Class of '55: Memphis Rock & Roll Homecoming" has an all-star crew but pairs them with mediocre songs and badly dated 80's production. Only a solid solo Cash track near the end keeps this from the scrap heap, making this a terrible missed opportunity. 2/5 youtu.be/ELHVWELp8Gg?...

so, this right here? this is one of the absolutely most lawless, brazenly unconstitutional impeachable offenses ever committed by any president other than trump in the history of our country. like, this is an open and shut case. and it's a case which targeted *republicans.*

"Silver" by Johnny Cash is a tale of two sides. The first side features several inspired covers with some overdubs that sound a lot less obstructive than they must have in 1979. The second side has lesser songs and instrumentals, making for a slightly deflating listen. 3/5 youtu.be/6xhXxbtXMA8?...

"Happier Now" by Native Harrow is a slice of Americana that looks back to rock, 70's folk, and gospel to make a strong new blend. The majority of the album gels well, thanks equally to singer Devin Tuel's warm voice and the vibrant music led by Stephen Harms. 3/5 youtu.be/tEf2Ks4ASEQ?...

NEW: Pentagon lawyers asked State Dept. if US could send survivors of Trump's boat strikes to a notorious prison in El Salvador. Then Pentagon pushed to have survivors sent anywhere but the US — to prevent any US court cases. Gift link to our @nytimes.com story: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/u...

"Something More Than Free" by Jason Isbell is an album of subtle pleasures, befitting a man both enjoying and wrestling with newfound sobriety. The lyrics are consistently solid but too often trip on themselves, leading to a satisfying but not memorable listen. 3/5 youtu.be/Nd_KO4UsVHA?...

"Songs of Bob Dylan" by Joan Osborne benefits from unexpected song choices and the tracks where Joan adds some grit. On the contrary, the album is weakened in places by some overly pretty arrangements. All told, well worth listening to, even if you are not a Dylan fan. 3/5 youtu.be/aUB9Zg9S-Kg?...

"Jimmy & Wes: The Dynamic Duo" by Jimmy Smith & Wes Montgomery proves these two pair exceptionally well. Aside from the always cringeworthy "Baby, It's Cold Outside", every track is a winner, as Jimmy's organ and Wes' guitar pair like peanut butter and chocolate. 5/5 youtu.be/k7Ddc63Ycoo?...

Really interesting piece with some Dylan content about how this audio wizard salvaged some of the Empire Burlesque outtakes that appeared on Springtime

don't worry, john roberts says this is a legitimate exercise of presidential power and if we did anything to curb it, we would be robbing the executive of the energy he needs to do his job

1952's "High Noon" more than lives up to its classic status, as the simple tale of a sheriff trying to rally the town to confront the vengeful gang continues to resonate. Beautifully shot and scripted, it works as both a straightforward tale and an allegory of the 50's and of now. 9/10

One of the most brutal music reviews I have ever read www.allmusic.com/album/go-tel...

1973's "The Spook Who Sat by the Door" starts off slow but rapidly builds steam as it follows the fictional first black CIA agent. Shockingly confrontational, the themes of racial oppression and rebellion create a harrowing warning of a dark past, personified in a mindboggling riot scene. 9/10

For better and for worse, "Live: Hope at the Hideout" is a pretty good summation of a modern-day Mavis Staples concert. Great setlist, full on charm offensive from Mavis, too much from the backing vocalists, and a tendency to get a little overly cute. 2/5 youtu.be/qeosL7Vpn9g?...

There are well upwards of a BILLION dollars (of OUR money) this year funneled to projects designed specifically to make Trump feel Good about himself: www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol... Trumps private and public furious response to the onrush of media coverage about his mind, health, age, sleep…

NEW: www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...

The premise of "Spirituals & Gospel" by Mavis Staples and Lucky Peterson - Mavis sings gospel over uncluttered instrumentals - is golden. Unfortunately, Lucky's playing is too plain and Mavis' vocals are far too restrained, creating frustratingly dull results. 2/5 youtu.be/OdFBlZA29jA?...

cool that the official position of the administration appears to be that black people don’t really count as americans

1997's "Grosse Pointe Blank" follows a hitman who decides to try to have it all and go back to his high school reunion. The film also tries to have it all: action, comedy, and romance. Thankfully, the movie has a far smoother time than its star, pulling off this satisfying blend with aplomb. 8/10