Roundup Review | Top streaming recommendations for May 15
Features and entertainment writer Josh Mandell breaks down his top music, TV and movie picks for the week: "An Evening With Silk Sonic," "Louder Than Words (from 'tick, tick… BOOM!’)," "The Graduate" and "Vinland Saga." Photo collage by ANGELINA HICKS, editor-in-chief
“An Evening With Silk Sonic” | Silk Sonic
Two of the most talented and unique artists working right now decided to team up and make one of the coolest, retro-sounding albums I’ve ever heard. Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak have had their own successful solo careers for quite some time now. They would ultimately release this sensational album in late 2021, which led to an enormous amount of love and critical acclaim.
“An Evening With Silk Sonic” has just 10 songs, spanning over 30 minutes of total runtime. While I wish the longevity was doubled, I’m instead forced to live in a world with only 10 Silk Sonic songs. Luckily, the ten they put out are pretty spectacular, front to back. The album is not bound to a certain genre but shows shades of R&B, funk, pop and soul with a little bit of rap mixed in.
The first single to be released was “Leave the Door Open,” one of the most listened to songs on the album. It is the epitome of groove and makes you want to go back to the ‘70s and dance. Part of the reason I love the song as much as I do is because it has no deeper meaning, it has no existential purpose, it is just about leaving the door open and seeing where that takes the night. Plain and simple story and lyrics with the most elegant sound. Mars and .Paak team up for an absolute tone-setter of a song that pulls you into this world that you’ll never want to leave.
My favorite song on the album is “777," a Las Vegas-themed song with a melody that is truly out of this world. The song is about gambling and trusting your gut, but this is a song where you can turn your brain off, become a sponge and absorb everything about it.
The superstar duo did a small residency in Las Vegas shortly after the release of the album, but they did not allow phones, so the event is completely undocumented. As of right now, they have no plans for more music or touring, so you can join me in praying they change their minds.
“Louder Than Words” (from "tick, tick… BOOM!") | Andrew Garfield
For the final week of Roundup Review, I wanted to share a song that has a good sense of catharsis and finality, and I feel as if this is that song. “Louder Than Words” is the final song in a brilliant musical that was released on Netflix in 2021, “tick, tick… BOOM!" — a project that has a lot of history behind it.
“tick, tick… BOOM!” is an original musical written and performed by Jonathan Larson back in 1991. The musical was about Larson’s life as a playwright and the struggles he faced both internally and externally. The musical did just okay and did not launch Larson’s career as he would have hoped. That is until he wrote the absolute masterpiece that is “RENT” in 1993. Unfortunately, he would not see the incredible success that “RENT” became as he passed away the night before its debut from an aneurysm. Following the immense success of “RENT,” “tick, tick… BOOM!” was reevaluated and revived many times on and off Broadway.
In 2021 “tick, tick… BOOM!” was adapted into a movie-musical starring Andrew Garfield. The film is about Larson’s life, writing the musical “Superbia,” the stress of failure and feeling behind in life as he just turned 30 and still works in a diner.
“Louder Than Words” is the final song of the film, where Larson questions everything about humanity and why we do the things we do. The song is absolutely beautiful and is the perfect finale for the musical. If I could describe the song in one word, it would be catharsis. Larson doesn’t seem content, but he seems like he believes again in what he’s doing and continues to try and understand people and our humanity.
This song has a special place in my heart and I strongly suggest you listen to it, along with watching the movie, they both are spectacular.
“The Graduate”
When it comes to movies that understand a young person’s experience, few portray it as accurately as this one. “The Graduate” is an absolutely wonderful movie and now may be the perfect time of year to watch it. It has timeless themes intertwined in the most elegant places that evoke thought-provoking conversation. The cinematography and editing were revolutionary during the film’s release in 1967, and the music is phenomenal. This movie was truly ahead of its time.
The film is about a recent college graduate who struggles to find his place in the world. Benjamin Braddock (played by Dustin Hoffman) can’t seem to figure out what he wants out of life. As time goes by, he coasts along aimlessly in no search of purpose. Eventually, purpose finds him, taking shape as an older woman named Mrs. Robinson (played by Anne Bancroft), who is a friend of his parents. They start a secret romantic relationship but eventually, the story evolves into a love triangle between Benjamin, Mrs. Robinson and her daughter Elaine (played by Katharine Ross).
The film grossed nearly $100 million, which, adjusted for inflation, is nearly $850 million today. It received seven Academy Award nominations, taking home only one for best director. “The Graduate” has been widely recognized time and time again as a top 100 film of all time by AFI.
The movie’s portrayal of youth and the angst we feel hits very close to home – the sense of having no idea what we want to do. While the film was released in the ‘60s, it has stood the test of time and continues to be a poignant commentary on American Society.
“Vinland Saga”
I have no idea why this show is not talked about nearly as much as it should be. “Vinland Saga” is one of the most beautiful, groundbreaking and visually stunning stories I have ever seen. Anime art styles are always so different, but this one is by far my favorite. Everything is so carefully crafted with the utmost care.
The show follows the journey of a young boy named Thorfinn. Facing nothing but devastation, he sets off on a mission to avenge his father’s murder. Losing all sense of who he is and what matters to him only propels him further for vengeance. Thorfinn is taken in by vikings and faces a whole new world away from home. He goes through the ins and outs of the viking world being forced to learn its nuances and violent tendencies. He is forced to become a strong warrior within himself and learn how to survive on his own.
What makes "Vinland Saga" so compelling is its exploration of complex themes like war, revenge and the struggle for power and control. The characters are multi-dimensional, with their own motivations and desires that propel them through the story. Thorfinn, in particular, is a fascinating character to watch, as he struggles with his desire for revenge and his own inner turmoil.
The animation in "Vinland Saga" is nothing short of breathtaking, with stunningly detailed battle scenes that are both thrilling and nerve racking. The sound design also adds to the immersive experience, drawing viewers even further into the world of the Vikings.
Overall, "Vinland Saga" is an epic and emotionally resonant anime series that is sure to leave a lasting impression on its viewers. Its intricate storytelling, well-developed characters and gorgeous animation make it a standout among historical and action anime series.
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It has been such an honor getting to share my weekly recommendations with you guys and I really appreciate the love and support through it all. I decided to make a playlist for all of the songs I recommended with a couple of songs I didn’t get the chance to talk about! The YouTube link is here. The films I wrote about this year can be found here! Thank you for reading all year.