Category: News

Celebrities are known for different things, they all seem to have their niche but Morgan Freeman has cemented his place as the ultimate recognizable voice. In fact, if you ask some people who the voice of God is, Freeman will come to mind with his deep distinctive voice.

When thinking back, there doesn’t seem to be a woman’s voice that you immediately associate with that divine superpower to captivate listeners. Before Freeman was the voice of God, there was James Earl Jones, the voice of Darth Vader. With his deep hearty bass-like voice, even Jones’ laugh is so distinctive that you automatically attribute it to him.

Someone on Reddit decided to find out what female actor people believed had the ability to instantly step into the shoes of someone like Freeman as far as voice is concerned. Some of the answers were pretty surprising while others, you can instantly see how they’d fall into that category.

The post exploded with varying answers and threads of people agreeing or disagreeing with someone’s pick. Obviously everyone has their favorite actors and everyone’s idea of what makes a voice iconic differs from person to person. But commenters didn’t just stop at naming who they thought would fit the description, they gave detailed reasons for several of them.

One of the first recognizable names on the list was Kathleen Turner. She was the voice of Jessica Rabbit in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, co-starred with Michael Douglas in Romancing the Stone, and even won over indie film lovers with her twisted turn in Serial Mom. One commenter described her voice as “low and sexy.”

Eartha Kitt was high on the list for obvious reasons. Of all the people listed, Kitt probably had the most distinctive voice. It was almost as if she purred as she spoke with her low sultry cadence. She played Catwoman in the 1960s Batman series but she had a long career before and after that role. Sadly, we won’t get to have any more chances for Kitt to become the voice of a goddess as she passed away in 2008 at the age of 81.

Reddit users were pretty annoyed that Helen Mirren was further down the list than they would’ve liked. Others felt the same about Judi Dench with both women receiving praise about the seductive sound of their voices. Mirren has been in a plethora of movies and shows but younger folks may best know her from her role in Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses.

While Dench, better known as Dame Judi Dench also has an impressive assortment of titles on her acting resume, many will know her from her role in the James Bond franchise.

Clearly there are different opinions on who should wear the crown as the best female voice, but all of the women listed have had amazing careers. If we want to hear their voices, we simply need to turn on the television, though I’m in favor of one of these ladies narrating as many documentaries and audiobooks as possible. Curious what actress you think has the vocal chords to give Freeman a run for his money.

However chaotic your Thanksgiving dinner was, it had nothing on Donald Trump’s. The former president spent the holiday breaking bread with new anti-Semite Kanye West, who brought a friend: an even bigger anti-Semite who’s also a white nationalist sexist incel who thinks “dating women is gay.” Trump has flailed about trying to spin the meeting, and not very convincingly. Now it appears it has gotten him a surely unwanted round-the-clock guest.

As per The Associated Press, Trump’s presidential campaign has put new protocols in place to ensure he never dines with unapologetic bigots again. (Or at least with Nick Fuentes.) One is that anyone who wants to meet with him has to be fully vetted, though it’s not clear what exactly that entails.

Another, more restrictive protocol is that a senior advisor will be with him “at all times,” to make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid (or at least something so bad that even his allies will be horrified, like eating with people who have threatened Jewish people). It’s not a new practice; Trump had someone hovering over him at all times during his presidency. But it does mean he has a babysitter, there to protect him from himself.

The backlash over Trump’s Thanksgiving dinner has been fierce, though it’s telling that any Republicans who have condemned it have been careful not to actually mention his name. Looks like the GOP still live in fear of him, even after he’s palled around with bigots.

(Via AP)

Anybody who thought the vinyl resurgence was just a fad was mistaken: The industry has experienced a legitimate revival. As a result, music fans are interested in physical media in ways they may not have if the decades-old medium hasn’t made a comeback. That doesn’t mean everybody is listening to just their parents’ old music, though. That’s part of it, sure, thanks to rereleases that present classic albums in new ways. A vital part of the renewed vinyl wave, though, is new projects being released as records, of which there are plenty.

Whatever you might be into, each November brings a slew of new vinyl releases that has something for everybody. Some stand out above the rest, naturally, so check out some of our favorite vinyl releases of November below.

The xx — Coexist (10th Anniversary Edition)

As the world waits for new music from The xx, one of their best projects, Coexist, turns a decade old. So, Jamie xx, Oliver Sim, and Romy have dropped a deluxe anniversary edition of the album, which is pressed on striking “crystal clear” vinyl. The band said of it, “That’s the special thing of having records, is that they are a concrete diary, a moment in our friendship. The fact that it’s been ten years, reflecting on that time passing and the music belonging to other people in those ten years — Coexist means something to us, but the connections that people have to those songs now. Fleeting moments of people saying they got married walking down the aisle to ‘Angels,’ it’s very surreal and special to be part of those people’s lives.”

Get it here.

Stranger Things 4: Soundtrack From The Netflix Series

Between Kate Bush and Metallica, music played a major role in the fourth season of Netflix’s unstoppable hit Stranger Things. The soundtrack was memorable beyond that, too, which makes this 2-LP vinyl release a terrific compilation. You can get the version you want, too, as different retailers are carrying different exclusive variations.

Get it here.

Human League — The Virgin Years

The Human League’s time of Virgin Records was a massive success, most notably thanks to Dare, a top-3 album in the US. That and a handful of other releases from the Virgin era are included in a new box set and each one is pressed on colored vinyl chosen by the band: Dare is on turquoise vinyl, Fascination is on transparent lime vinyl, Hysteria is on yellow vinyl, Crash is on transparent red vinyl, and Romantic? is on crystal clear vinyl.

Get it here.

Townes Van Zandt — At My Window (35th Anniversary Edition, RSD Black Friday 2022)

Townes Van Zandt kept largely quiet in the ’80s save for the one album he released during the decade, At My Window. This 35th-anniversary pressing features newly remastered audio pressed on sky blue vinyl and if you want it, it’s limited to just 6,000 copies, so act quickly.

Get it here.

Dolly Parton — Diamonds & Rhinestones: The Greatest Hits Collection

It’s tough to condense Dolly Parton’s storied career down to just a standard-length compilation album, but that’s just what Parton has done with Diamonds & Rhinestones. The collection features songs from between 1971 and 2020, and while there’s a standard black edition that’s always a timeless look, the pink glitter vinyl pressing is particularly lovely.

Get it here.

Alice Coltrane — Ptah, The El Daoud (Reissue)

Verve Records and UMe are teaming with vinyl kings Third Man Records to relaunch the “Verve By Request” vinyl reissue series and they’re starting with Alice Coltrane’s Ptah, The El Daoud. One of the first albums Coltrane released following the death of husband and collaborator John Coltrane, it features contributions from jazz icons Pharoah Sanders and Joe Henderson.

Get it here.

Beach Boys — Sail On Sailor – 1972

1972 was a transformative time for the Beach Boys, an era they chronicle on their new box set that features 1972’s Carl And The Passions — “So Tough” and 1973’s Holland. There’s a lot for fans to sink their teeth into here, including unreleased outtakes, live recordings, radio promos, alternate versions, alternate mixes, isolated backing tracks, and a cappella versions.

Get it here.

Guns N’ Roses — Use Your Illusion I & II (Box Set)

In 1991, back in the day when surprises releases weren’t as common as they are now, Guns N’ Roses shocked the world by dropping two new albums, Use Your Illusion I and II. Now, the albums have been remastered for a fresh reissue across multiple formats. In particular, there’s a ton going on with the 7-LP box set, which features a total of 97 songs (63 of which are previously unreleased), along with a 100-page book and other archival documents and collectibles.

Get it here.

Kiss — Creatures Of The Night (40th Anniversary 3LP Deluxe Edition)

Creatures Of The Night was an end of an era for Kiss, as it was their last album to feature them in their signature makeup (until 1998’s Psycho Circus). It also turns 40 years old in 2022 and the new 3-LP reissue features 16 studio rarities as well as live performances from the Creatures ‘82/’83 Tour.

Get it here.

Krill — Alam No Hris (10-Year Anniversary Reissue)

Krill carved out a space for themselves in the Northeast DIY community ten years ago with their debut album, Alam No Hris. Now, Sipsman has teamed with Sren Records (the band’s fake label) to put this classic “krillwave” LP onto vinyl for the first time.

Get it here.

Flaming Lips — Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots (20th Anniversary Edition)

It’s been two decades since Yoshimi and some pink robots got into it and Flaming Lips are celebrating with an expansive anniversary reissue. This 5-LP box set includes the original album, B-sides, demos, radio sessions, and a bunch of other rarities. All in all, there are 56 tracks here, 30 of which were previously unreleased.

Get it here.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

SZA fans have had December circled since November 12, when she was unveiled as the musical guest for the December 3 episode of Saturday Night Live, which led to the assumption that her long-awaited sophomore album would drop around the same time. SZA confirmed S.O.S. is coming in December and teased the album cover, presumably, today (November 30).

Who is going to have the undesirable task of following SZA on SNL later in December?

The iconic sketch comedy series confirmed its December show schedule yesterday. The December 10 episode will be hosted by Steve Martin and Martin Short and feature Brandi Carlile as the musical guest.

“The greatest @nbcsnl of the year!” Carlile posted to Instagram. “I would fly to New York City just to witness this from the audience. But instead, I get to sing my songs on my favorite show.”

Carlile last performed on SNL on October 23, 2021, to complement an episode hosted by Jason Sudeikis. More recently, the six-time Grammy winner joined Sir Elton John to sing “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium, John’s final US tour performance.

SNL‘s 2022 will wrap on December 17 with Austin Butler hosting and Yeah Yeah Yeahs performing.

Butler enjoyed a breakout year because of his titular role in Baz Luhrmann’s biopic Elvis, while Yeah Yeah Yeahs returned to music with Cool It Down, their first album since 2013’s Mosquito. Karen O explained why the band doesn’t perform many live shows, so there’s extra incentive to enjoy Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ second-ever SNL set. (The first came all the way back in 2009.)

It all starts this Saturday, December 3, at 11:30 p.m. EST on NBC with host Keke Palmer and SZA.

It’s only a couple of days until Metro Boomin releases his highly anticipated album Heroes & Villains. The hype for the LP has been increasing exponentially, especially after the rapper delayed it due to the tragic passing of Migos member Takeoff. So far, we’ve been shown the artwork and the tracklist for Heroes & Villains.

There are a lot of elements about the record for fans to be excited about, but a major one is the number of features. Out of the 15 tracks, four have features. Guests include Future and Chris Brown on “Superhero (Heroes & Villians),” 21 Savage and Young Nudy on “Umbrella,” Travis Scott and 21 Savage again on “Niagara Falls (Foot Or 2),” and Mustafa and 21 Savage (a third time) on “Walk Em Down (Don’t Kill Civilians).”

Check out the full tracklist for Heroes & Villains below. You can also view it here.

1. “On Time”
2. “Superhero (Heroes & Villians)” Feat. Future & Chris Brown
3. “Too Many Nights”
4. “Raindrops (Insane)”
5. “Umbrella” Feat. 21 Savage & Young Nudy
6. “Trance”
7. “Around Me”
8. “Metro Spider”
9. “I Can Save You (Interlude)”
10. “Creepin”
11. “Niagara Falls (Foot Or 2)” Feat. Travis Scott & 21 Savage
12. “Walk Em Down (Don’t Kill Civilians)” Feat. 21 Savage & Mustafa
13. “Lock On Me”
14. “Feel The Fiyaaaah”
15. “All The Money”

Heroes & Villains is out 12/2 via Boominati Worldwide and Republic. Pre-order it here.

Have you seen Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery? Then you probably saw it in a movie theater. Netflix, which shelled out a fortune for the much-anticipated sequel (plus a threequel), granted it a brief traditional release, letting it play multiplexes for a mere week. It did well! It probably would have made a pretty penny had it been allowed to sit in theaters for months! Netflix top brass know this — and they seem to be fine with that.

As per The Hollywood Reporter, Netflix co-CEO Reed Hastings took part in a wide-ranging conversation, where he said, among other things, that new, chaotic Twitter honcho Elon Musk is “the bravest, most creative person on the planet” whom he’s “100 percent convinced that he is trying to help the world in all his endeavors.” After picking up your jaw from the floor, you may proceed to another whopper: that he’s okay not making money off of theatrical.

Hastings admitted that by not giving Glass Onion a proper theatrical release, they were leaving “lots” of money on the table. Cool with him, he said. “It’s a promotional tactic like film festivals, and if it works well we will do more of it,” he said. “We are not trying to build a theatrical business, we are trying to break through the noise.”

It’s not clear what Netflix’s game plan is here. They’ve been hemorrhaging subscribers this year, which means they could use some scratch. Theatrical runs have long been a great way to pay the bills. But perhaps they’re hoping to lure more people back to the service they abandoned, just so they can watch Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc solve murders while sounding like Foghorn Leghorn. Who can tell with disruptors like Reed Hastings?

In the meantime, Netflix may cry uncle, sort of: They’re toying with dropping Glass Onion back in theaters…after it hits their coffers…in a month. In any case, at least it will make its streaming debut on Dec. 23.

(Via THR)

It’s been almost a month since the GOP’s promised “red wave” failed, when one MAGA candidate after another either underperformed or crapped out. One of them was Kari Lake, Arizona’s anti-Trump anchor-turned-Trump-loving governor-hopeful. She lost. It was a tight race but she didn’t win. Alas, like the former president she used to hate, she’s cried voter fraud without offering any substantial evidence. Now it appears she’s following the Trump playbook all the way to the end.

As per Raw Story, Lake went on jailbound Steve Bannon’s podcast, where she said some things that could get her jail time, too, or at least sued.

“This is a time for Americans, for Arizonans to stand up,” she told Bannon. “I saw in Mohave County with [Ron Gould] on the Board of Supervisors. He said, ‘I’m doing this — I’m certifying this under duress. They’re telling me if I don’t, I’ll be locked up. They’re telling me, I’ll be arrested. They’re telling me is a Class 6 felony and I’m doing this under duress.’”

She then went one dangerous step further. “But I wish that somebody would say, ‘You know what? Arrest me then. I don’t care,’” she said. “We need people with courage to say, ‘Class what felony? Go ahead, go for it, arrest me because this is a botched election and you’re disenfranchising the folks in Mohave County when you allow this kind of election in Maricopa County to stand.’”

To recap: A candidate who lost an election is asking her supporters to commit crimes. Even Trump knew to keep this kind of language relatively vague so he could claim plausible deniability. Lake isn’t doing that. It’s yet another unhinged statement from a sore loser who’s been making wild claims, such as that everyone will become “slaves” if she’s not declared a winner of a race she didn’t win.

On the plus side, Lake doesn’t have anywhere near the same following as Trump — not even close. If we’re lucky, in a few months the only thing people will remember her for are her weird blurry Zoom filters.

(Via Raw Story)

We’re one step closer to getting another cinematic Bruce Lee. According to The Wrap, Sony’s 3000 Pictures imprint has closed the deal for Ang Lee to direct his own son, Mason Lee, in a biopic of the iconic, peerless martial artist/movie star.

“Accepted as neither fully American nor Fully Chinese, Bruce Lee was a bridge between East and West who introduced Chinese Gung Fu to the world, a scientist of combat and an iconic performing artist who revolutionized both the martial arts and action cinema,” Ang Lee said in a statement. “I feel compelled to tell the story of this brilliant, unique human being who yearned for belonging, possessed tremendous power in a 135-pound-frame, and who, through tireless hard work, made impossible dreams into reality.”

The film will be shot from a script by Dan Futterman, who wrote Capote and Foxcatcher and, perhaps more importantly, played Val in The Birdcage — a rare perfect movie.

Bruce Lee has been played by several actors in multiple projects, including Jason Scott Lee in the hero-worshipping Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story and, more recently, by Mike Moh in a cringe-worthy scene in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. It would be impossible to get Bruce Lee right by any metric. He simply means too many things to too many people. Still, Mason Lee has his work cut out for him in taking on the highest profile starring role of a career marked by supporting performances and a handful of leading man turns in popular Chinese films.

On the other hand, he’s been working in movies with his dad since he played “Baby” in 1993’s The Wedding Banquet, so this seems like a role he was literally born to play.

(via The Wrap)

If Herschel Walker’s brain-breaking dialogue about werewolves and vampires (both of which he clearly believes are real, by the way) had you convinced the former football player might have delivered the most nonsensical political speech of the 2022 “erection” season — if not the history of the world — hold on to your get-well cards, people. Because the senatorial hopeful just gifted us with another inane word salad.

On Tuesday, PatriotTakes posted a video of a hyped-up Walker either advocating for a border wall, explaining why walls don’t work, or offering up his dog — who may or may not be a good boy — as border security while relaying a story about someone asking him about border security. Yes, it’s all as muddled and confusing as that sentence makes it sound.

Clear your head, pop a Xanax, and listen for yourself below.

Of course, it didn’t take long for others to wonder what in the f**k Walker was talking about (and for at least one person to pay tribute to Walker with a poem):

Speaking of Herschel Walker and dogs, never forget that he lied when he said his opponent was lying about having a dog. Raphael Warnock does, in fact, have a dog.

In a landmark, bipartisan 61 to 36 vote, the Senate approved the Respect for Marriage Act on Tuesday setting the stage for same-sex and interracial marriage to remain legal, even if they are struck down by the Supreme Court. It’s believed that the bill will be quickly passed by the House and signed into law by President Biden.

Even though same-sex and interracial marriages are legal in the U.S., after the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade last summer, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas noted that the decision that legalized gay marriage rests on the same principles that underscored Roe.

This signal by the conservative justice pushed Democrats to quickly work to codify same-sex and interracial marriage into law.

If the Respect for Marriage Act becomes law it would require all states and the federal government to recognize legally-conducted marriages. Therefore, if the decisions that legalized same-sex and interracial marriages were overturned, states still would have to recognize all marriages conducted in the U.S.

So, if Kentucky made same-sex marriage illegal and a same-sex couple got married in another state where it was legal, say California, Kentucky would still have to recognize the marriage. The only barrier a couple would face to getting married would be traveling to another state to have their wedding performed.

Republicans added a religious consideration to the Respect for Marriage Act that protects nonprofit and religious organizations from having to provide support for same-sex marriages.

u201c61-36: The U.S. Senate passes the Respect for Marriage Act, repealing the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act and codifying federal recognition of statesu2019 same-sex and interracial marriages.nn12 Republicans joined Democrats in voting u201cyes.u201d All the u201cnou201d votes were Republican senators.u201d

— The Recount (@The Recount)
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After this historic vote, Chasten Buttigieg, husband of Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, shared a Twitter thread where he showed what the Senate moved to protect. “This morning, after dropping the kids off, I came home and stopped to take in the aftermath of a chaotic morning. And it got me thinking. This is what marriage is to me,” Chasten wrote.

Last year, Pete and Chasten became the parents of a son and a daughter.

u201cThe Senate is poised to vote on the #RespectForMarriageAct today. nnThis morning, after dropping the kids off, I came home and stopped to take in the aftermath of a chaotic morning. And it got me thinking. nnThis is what marriage is to me. ud83euddf5u201d

— Chasten Buttigieg (@Chasten Buttigieg)
1669743573

Bibs I should have tossed in the sink that were leaking milk onto the counter. Little toothbrushes they used to scrub the teeth that have been keeping them up at night. Tiny hairbands from Penelope’s quick updo in which she kept repeating the word “bosh” while I brushed her hair.

— Chasten Buttigieg (@Chasten) November 29, 2022

The stacked plates, empty and crusty after a hurried but hilarious breakfast full of giggles ad music. The twins bounced along to the Christmas music as they ate their bananas and eggs while I prayed for the coffee maker to go faster.

— Chasten Buttigieg (@Chasten) November 29, 2022

My husband danced around me and fed the dogs while singing along to the music, which made the kids smile, doing his best not to get anything on his suit before rushing out the door and off to the to the airport. I didn’t remember where he was headed, but I knew it was important.

— Chasten Buttigieg (@Chasten) November 29, 2022

This is what marriage is to me. Mornings spent negotiating diaper bags, getting sweaters on wiggling toddlers, and feeding the dogs. It’s scattered building blocks on the floor and scrambled eggs on the wall. It’s goodbye kisses at the door and thermoses of coffee in the minivan.

— Chasten Buttigieg (@Chasten) November 29, 2022

It’s having the right to juggle it all with the person who makes you feel loved and supported amidst the chaos. It’s the right to have a shoulder to lean on at end of the day in the first place. It’s the promise of hard work for your partner, your kids, and for us, our country.

— Chasten Buttigieg (@Chasten) November 29, 2022

My marriage has filled this house with so much love it makes me want to be a better husband, father, and citizen every day. It’s called me to something bigger than myself while recognizing that my kids are now the most important thing in life, and I’d do anything to protect them.

— Chasten Buttigieg (@Chasten) November 29, 2022

Our family and our union push me to make sure we leave our kids a country and a world they can thrive in so that they, too, can enjoy all of the love and light and happiness that Pete and I have known simply by falling in love with one another.

— Chasten Buttigieg (@Chasten) November 29, 2022

I know how precious this union is and how sacred and fragile our unions can be in the eyes of our ever-changing democracy. We are not yet afforded the pleasure of letting our shoulders down, of taking a breath. We are fully aware that some desperately want to take this away.

— Chasten Buttigieg (@Chasten) November 29, 2022

I hope that we can move on from these votes, these arguments, and these debates soon. I hope that our friends on the other side of the aisle will listen to over 70% of Americans and vote to protect families like mine and the unions that make us all better Americans.

— Chasten Buttigieg (@Chasten) November 29, 2022

And if a member of congress is confused, or has questions and wants to turn down the noise from the online rhetoric – our playroom is always open, should you want to meet a family who is just trying their best to make their kids happy and their country better, just like you.

— Chasten Buttigieg (@Chasten) November 29, 2022

Chasten’s post is poignant because it shows how all marriages, regardless of the sex of those involved, look the same. Especially after having kids. It’s constant domestic chaos, punctuated by quick outbursts of fun all tied together by love.

For those who oppose same-sex marriage, all they have to do is spend a morning in the Buttigieg household and they can see that it’s not much different than any straight marriage.

Chasten even invited members of Congress to come and visit his home to see for themselves.

“And if a member of congress is confused, or has questions and wants to turn down the noise from the online rhetoric—our playroom is always open, should you want to meet a family who is just trying their best to make their kids happy and their country better, just like you,” Chasten wrote on Twitter.

By colifying same-sex marriage into law, Congress won’t be doing anything revolutionary. It’d simply be solidifying rights that 71% of Americans think same-sex couples should have. Signing the act into law would also go a long way toward settling an issue that has been a point of contention for a generation.

“I hope that we can move on from these votes, these arguments, and these debates soon,” Chasten wrote on Twitter. “I hope that our friends on the other side of the aisle will listen to over 70% of Americans and vote to protect families like mine and the unions that make us all better Americans.”