Category: News

Animal Collective’s 11th album, Time Skiffs, came out earlier this year and it’s yet another psychedelic journey into musical mind elevation. While still experimental, the songs on Time Skiffs have more defined form, and as Uproxx’s Steven Hyden says, it’s “Animal Collective’s comeback record.” Yet somehow, through a storied indie rock career with 11 album releases, Animal Collective hadn’t appeared on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series until today.

While their newly released session is technically a Tiny Desk (Home) Concert, it actually takes place at the Massachusetts Museum Of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA), giving it an especially trippy feel. The concrete-walled room with a concrete stage has lettered designs pasted on the walls as Panda Bear sits on the drums, Geologist is up on stage with his gear, Avey Tare is on bass and lead vocals in the front, and Deakin on the keys. They each take turns adding to the vocal arrangements for three songs: “Dragon Slayer,” “Car Keys,” and “Kings Walk.”

But the trippiest part of the Tiny Desk Concert is the person behind the lone tiny desk itself. Covered in a colorfully-designed cloak, a “time skiff rider” with full face paint, cuts shapes out of construction paper throughout the entire set. “We got our time skiff rider showing up for the tiny desk,” Avey says in between the second and third songs.

It doesn’t make very much sense, but that’s kind of the point. It’s a deeper opportunity to lose yourself in the music amidst something non-sensical and it’s a great Tiny Desk from AC.

Watch Animal Collective’s Tiny Desk (Home) Concert above.

Are the Emmys dumb? Yes. Am I dumb for caring about the Emmys? Also yes. But this rare instance of self-awareness won’t stop me from both confused and infuriated that for the second season in a row, the cast of HBO’s holy-comedy The Righteous Gemstones, one of the best shows on television, wasn’t nominated for a single Emmy.

To paraphrase Baby Billy, go inside and watch The Righteous Gemstones, nerds.

The Righteous Gemstones has, in fact, never been nominated for an Emmy! in any category! even for its movie-level cinematography on a TV budget. But I’m channeling my rage on the acting snubs. Nothing for John Goodman, who has somehow only won a single Emmy — Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, which is funnier than anything that happened Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip — despite his many seasons as peak TV dad Dan Conner on Roseanne. Nothing for Danny McBride, who plays stunted man-children better than basically anyone. Nothing for Adam DeVine, or Tony Cavalero (#JusticeForKeefe), or Cassidy Freeman, or Tim Baltz, or Walton Goggins (who was also ignored every year for his work on Justified).

But the most galling snub — for any category, honestly — is Edi Patterson.

Let’s look at the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series nominees: Alex Borstein for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Hannah Einbinder for Hacks, Janelle James for Abbott Elementary, Kate McKinnon for SNL, Sarah Niles for Ted Lasso, Sheryl Lee Ralph for Abbott Elementary, Juno Temple for Ted Lasso, Hannah Waddingham for Ted Lasso. Did Ted Lasso really need three nominees? Did Kate McKinnon have to get nominated again? Is anyone still invested in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel? The Emmys could, and should, have made room for the best comedic performance of the year:

The Emmys need to quit misbehavin’ and nominate The Righteous Gemstones cast.

In 2018, Mumford & Sons released Delta and toured the album that year through 2020. Since then, things have been weird for the group. In 2021, the group’s Winston Marshall took a break from the band after facing backlash for supporting conservative journalist Andy Ngo. Later, he left the band entirely, noting in a statement, “I could remain and continue to self-censor but it will erode my sense of integrity. Gnaw my conscience. I’ve already felt that beginning.”

Since then, the band’s future has been uncertain, but we know what Marcus Mumford has going on at least in the relative short term: Today, he revealed he has a solo album called Self-Titled coming out on September 16. Furthermore, it will feature contributions from Phoebe Bridgers, Clairo, Brandi Carlile, and Monica Martin, with production from Blake Mills.

In a handwritten statement, Mumford shared, “In January 2021, facing demons I danced with for a long time in isolation, I wrote a song called ‘Cannibal.’ I took it to my friend Blake Mills, and we began the process of making this album, dear to my heart, called (self-titled).’ It comes out September 16th 2022, produced by Blake Mills and featuring Brandi Carlile, Phoebe Bridgers, Clairo & Monica Martin.”

Earlier this week (as Consequence notes), Mumford wrote in a newsletter, “In January last year I set myself the task of trying to write some songs and just follow where they led. When I showed the first two to the lads in the band, we all agreed it was probably a story I had to tell on my own.”

It’s not yet clear when “Cannibal” or any other songs from the project will be shared.

Stranger Things 4 may still be the talk of Netflix, and a looming fifth season may be all that fans are clamoring for after finishing a hefty final few episodes of Season 4. But one of the show’s stars is already setting his sights on what may come after Hawkins.

Finn Wolfhard, who plays Mike on Stranger Things, has already dipped his toes into Hollywood as an actor. And now he’s going behind the camera as well. As Variety reported on Tuesday, Wolfhard will write and direct a feature-length horror-comedy for Netflix, entitled Summer Of Hell.

“Stranger Things” star Finn Wolfhard and “When You Finish Saving the World’s” Billy Bryk are set to write and direct the horror-comedy “Hell of a Summer.”

Wolfhard, Bryk and Fred Hechinger (“The White Lotus,” “Pam and Tommy”) will star in the film, for which plot details are being kept tightly under wraps.

Wolfhard has starred in two It adaptations as well as Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and later this summer will appear in When You Finish Saving The World, an A24 movie from Jesse Eisenberg and produced by Emma Stone.

“I am so excited to be co-directing my first feature film,” Wolfhard, according to Variety. “I get the chance to work with an incredible cast and crew, and to work with a company like 30West and Aggregate is a real dream.”

Byrk appeared with Wolfhard in both Ghostbusters and his A24 project. And Hechinger stole scenes in The White Lotus as the object of a certain hotel manager’s affections. As for Wolfhard, Summer Of Hell will be his second directorial project, following a 2020 short film, Night Shifts.

[via Variety]

Twice is set to return with a new mini-album. Earlier today, the K-Pop girl group took to social media to tease their upcoming 11th mini-album, Between 1&2.

Arriving in August, Between 1&2 marks the beginning of a new era for Twice, who have taken the world by storm with their catchy pop tunes and dance-ready instrumentals. Their songs — which are often sung in Korean, Japanese, and English — have become the soundtrack for several memes and TikTok videos.

Last month, Twice member Nayeon released her solo album, I’m Nayeon, but has continued to work with her bandmates. She revealed in an interview with Vulture that she looks forward to touring with them and meeting Twice fans from all over the world.

“I think there are many Once [the official name for Twice’s group of fans] around the world that want to come to our concerts and see us,” she said. “But there are many countries that we still haven’t visited, and many Once that couldn’t come to see us for personal reasons. So I think I’ll feel that it’s enough once we meet all of them, and they agree that it’s time.”

Between 1&2 is out 8/26 via JYP Entertainment and Warner Music Japan.

Twice is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Steve Bannon desperately wants to testify in front of January 6 committee during one of its live television broadcasts. The former White House strategist has already received Donald Trump‘s blessing in the form of the former president offering to waive executive privilege. Naturally, this all seems a little too convenient, and the consensus is that Bannon has changed his tune in an effort to avoid going to trial for his contempt of Congress charges.

However, Bannon took things a step further on his far-right War Room podcast where he vowed to go “medieval” on his “enemies” if the January 6 committee allows him to testify. The rant was one part rant and one part dare, but it was very clear that Bannon planned to use his time to settle scores.

“Pray for our enemies, okay? Pray because we’re going medieval on these people. We’re going to savage our enemies” Bannon said. “So pray for them. That’s who needs prayers. Not MAGA, not War Room, and certainly not Steven K. Bannon.”

As Bannon continued, the rant devolved into a game of chicken between the former Trump advisor and the committee. Via Mediaite:

“But hey, my offer is out there like, here’s what I need. Give me a date, a time, a room number, a microphone, and a Holy Bible,” Bannon continued, repeating his demand that he be allowed to testify in public – preferably during prime time.

“I can take the oath on Zoom, deliver that and we’ll see how good you are little Jamie Raskin and Liz Cheney and all of it – serve it up!”

Bannon wrapped things up with a threat that’s sure to go over well with a House committee that’s actively investigating an insurrectionist attack. “We’re killing the Biden administration in the crib and we’re glad,” Bannon boasted.

(Via Mediaite)

Ed Sheeran has been winning for some months now. He earned his fifth No. 1 album with = which he released last fall. He scored remixes with Taylor Swift and Lil Baby for songs from = and he later released a “Tour Edition” of the project. Elsewhere, he won a plagiarism lawsuit that he faced over “Shape Of You” and game through on guest verses with J Balvin and Camila Cabello. With that being said, it seems like Sheeran was served his first L in a long time and it was given to him by a young kid who attended one of his recent concerts.

On Monday, a video of a young Sheeran fan at a concert was shared on social media. As “Bad Habits” blares in the background, the youngster can be seen showing off all types of dance moves from spinning on the floor, hopping in the air, and playing air guitar to popping and locking and kicking out his heels. Those around the kid got a kick out of his dance skills as they seemed to earn more attention than Sheeran’s concert.

As the video made its rounds on social media, Sheeran (or at least his team) eventually caught wind of it and shared his thoughts. “Think it’s about time Ed gets a backup dancer,” reads a tweet that was posted on Sheeran’s Twitter.

You can check out the youngster’s dance moves in the video above.

Ed Sheeran is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

This year’s Emmy nominations turned out a few surprises, including Rhea Seehorn finally (!) receiving a nomination for her work as Kim Wexler in Better Call Saul. Elsewhere, the expected nominees arrived for The Staircase, Only Murders In The Building, Succession, Squid Games, Stranger Things, and more, and then there are the really pleasant developments.

I’m referring to the strong showing in the Best Limited Or Anthology Series category for Hulu’s Pam & Tommy, which was not only a blast to watch but a skillful spin in the trash-prestige arena. The honors include an overall series nomination and Leading Actor/Actress nods for Sebastian Stan’s rock-out session as Tommy Lee and Lily James’ layered performance as Pamela Anderson. And Seth Rogen got a nomination, too, for portraying the mulletted sex-tape thief, but sadly, there’s no Animatronic Talking Penis category, so Jason Mantzoukas loses out, but hey, you can’t have everything.

Yes, the show revolves around a “home movie,” but it’s also an exploration of the heavy blows dealt to Pam while she struggled to cope with her violation of privacy. For her part, Pam has determined to to tell “the real story” to the world in a Netflix project, but this Hulu series takes as sensitive of a view as possible, and Lily and Sebastian really threw themselves into the transformative process. Her performance was raw, and he had so much fun outside of the Marvel box. Granted, the show faces stiff competition from The White Lotus candidates along with those from Dopesick, Inventing Anna, and The Dropout, so there’s no telling who shall sweep the broadcast, but we’ll be watching.

The Emmys will air on Sunday, September 4.

The last time we’d heard from Young Fathers, the Mercury Music Prize winners had just released their incredible 2018 album, Cocoa Sugar, and dropped the prescient video for “Toy,” which depicted some of the more despicable world leaders as children. Their hiatus lasted longer than expected given the circumstances surrounding the pandemic, but it gave Young Fathers an opportunity to get back in the studio without an agenda. “Geronimo” is the first song that the trio of Alloysious Massaquoi, Kayus Bankole, and G. Hastings completed, and it’s another beautiful, visceral piece of music from the always affectatious group.

“I’m on the verge of something divine that’s gonna keep me alive,” they harmonize on the song’s bars. The slow-burning rhythm is tinged with a steel drum and it just feels like a long-awaited, cathartic outpouring. “It’s a track about contrast because life is contrast — pushing through, giving up, all at the same time,” the band said in a powerful statement, which you can read in full below.

We highly recommend you smash that play button on “Geronimo” above.

“A good time trying. That’s what Ma said, she was smiling, but it was meant as a warning.

It’s a track about contrast, because life is contrast – pushing through, giving up, all at the same time. Wanting everything and then wanting nothing, then wanting everything again. It’s kind of reflective of where we are at the moment, trying to remember how to do this again.

Trying to make music and all of the other stuff that comes along with it. Trying to forget all the bad bits, just trying to get somewhere. And that’s where we are right now, trying to get somewhere.

It’s the tenderness in toil, we had expelled a bunch of stuff with a lot of drive and wilder energy beforehand but this one had focus. It widened the scope again for us personally, that’s where the real high comes from. We grew another arm. We surprised ourselves.

So coming back with a track called ‘Geronimo’ feels quite fitting. Just the 3 of us again, but still in a f*cking basement.”

The 2022 XXL Freshman Cypher has arrived. The first round consists of Doechii, SoFaygo, KayCyy, and Saucy Santana, with a beat produced by Wheezy. Obviously, your mileage may vary, but the clear standout here is Saucy Santana, who approaches this year’s Cypher like he has something to prove, delivering a rapid-fire verse with a hand on his hip like he’s already tired of the inevitable Twitter comments.

Members of this year’s class included the above-mentioned names, as well as Babyface Ray, Babytron, Big30, Big Scarr, Cochise, Kali, KenTheMan, and Nardo Wick. It’ll be interesting to see how this group is divided up between the next two potential Cypher videos. Will the Detroiters Babytron and Babyface Ray be split up? What about the two Memphis upstarts, Big30 and Big Scarr? Meanwhile, standouts in the standalone freestyles included Doechii, Saucy Santana, and Nardo Wick, so that last name will certainly be one to watch out for when he shows off his skills alongside his classmates.

2022’s Freshmen have had a standout year so far, with Doechii delivering an explosive performance of her songs “Crazy” and “Persuasive” at the 2022 BET Awards and the Danny Brown-cosigned Saucy Santana securing a Beyonce sample on his song of the summer contender, “Booty.”

Watch the first 2022 XXL Freshman Cypher above.