Category: Trending

Indie music has grown to include so much. It’s not just music that is released on independent labels but speaks to an aesthetic that deviates from the norm and follows its own weirdo heart. It can come in the form of rock music, pop, or folk. In a sense, it says as much about the people that are drawn to it as it does about the people that make it.

Every week, Uproxx is rounding up the best new indie music from the past seven days. This week we got new music from 100 Gecs, Yves Tumor, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Phoenix, and more.

While we’re at it, sign up for our newsletter to get the best new indie music delivered directly to your inbox, every Monday.

100 Gecs — 10,000 Gecs

With videos featuring fireworks set off in the living room and a guitar being smashed on the ground, 100 Gecs know how to keep the attention on them. 10,000 Gecs was their highly anticipated answer to a groundbreaking debut that was hard to follow; however, the duo managed to get even weirder, making fans surprised and satisfied.

Yves Tumor — Praise A Lord Who Chews But Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds)

The singles for Yves Tumor’s new album Praise A Lord Who Chews But Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds) previewed an atmospheric, eclectic experience, which one can already guess from the dramatic title. Together, the different songs blend together to create a cohesive, immersive listen-through. “Lovely Sewer” vibrates and buzzes with subtle excitement; “Parody” is a laid-back ballad in the realm of Tennis or Mac DeMarco. “In Spite Of War” is a memorable highlight.

Meet Me @ The Altar — Present // Past // Future

Finally, Meet Me @ The Altar unveiled their highly anticipated debut album Present // Past // Future, whose blazing singles were nothing short of exciting. But the ebullience of songs like “Kool” and “Say It (To My Face)” are also balanced with more downtrodden tracks like “A Few Tomorrows,” a thoughtful meditation on loss.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra — V

“The Garden” is a groovy, hypnotic hook for Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s new double album V. It encapsulates the dreaminess that’s to come throughout the next hour; the atmospheric songs pour into one another, sharing a spellbinding, celestial texture that keeps the listener in his hold the entire time.

Dazy — OTHERBODY

Dazy’s surprise OTHERBODY EP is a treat after they’ve unleashed the explosive OUTOFBODY last year. Those songs were reverb-drenched rock anthems with sticky melodies, especially the infectious “On My Way.” OTHERBODY is no less electrifying. “Every Little” is a fuzzed-out ripper that sounds like American Idiot on steroids; “Submarine” is a catchy, idiosyncratic ballad, still staticky.

Fenne Lily — “In My Own Time”

About “In My Own Time,” Fenne Lily shared, “This song’s about the weight of stasis — about time moving too quickly and too slowly and every mistake feeling both permanent and inconsequential.” It’s painfully relatable as she sings about the pressure of existence against soft guitars: “Sometimes I feel like I’m just killing time here / Or maybe it’s killing me.”

Feist — “Borrow Trouble”

“[‘Borrow Trouble‘] began as a contemplative acoustic morality tale and shape-shifted itself into the sound of trouble itself,” Feist said about their kaleidoscopic new song. “It’s a mess that holds its own logic. It’s the convincing cacophony that thoughts can be.” “Borrow Trouble” follows its own rules, and the lyrics are as boundary-breaking as the sprawling sound: “Even before your eyes are open / The plot has thickened ’round your fears.”

Warm Human — “Daylight Savings”

“Daylight Savings” is a mellow, lush ballad that Warm Human describes as being “my stream of consciousness about whether or not to text an ex on their birthday, and the cyclical thinking that comes from staring at a road for fourteen hours a day.” The pain is palpable in the sullen guitars and airy vocals; it’s a sprawling but heavy listen.

Phoenix, Clairo — “After Midnight”

Phoenix unveiled Alpha Zulu last year with a bang, and they’ve spiced up the track “After Midnight” by recruiting the one and only Clairo. Her voice is a wonderful contribution to the already invigorating song; her harmonies with Thomas Mars’ voice are one-of-a-kind, adding a new texture of bewitching lightness.

Lauren Early — “Good Girl Bad Boy”

Lauren Early’s new song “Good Girl Bad Boy” kicks off with a memorable hook: “Am I an incel, am I hysteric? / I don’t care, I love you, I can’t bear it / I don’t care if it’s problematic / I don’t care if it’s overdramatic.” With a lo-fi, bedroom-pop sound, Lauren Early captures the feeling of Gen Z: “Is this a romance or a horror?”

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

Nic Cage isn’t really a “sequel” person per se, and maybe that’s just because he is still living with the consequences of agreeing to star in Ghost Rider 2: Spirit Of Vengeance, or maybe it’s just because he is sick of hearing jokes about stealing the declaration of independence. No matter the reason, Cage hasn’t done a sequel in years, and he doesn’t really want to. Maybe it’s because he’s Goth.

Cage recently spoke to Collider while promoting his new movie Renfield, where he plays a little-known vampire named Dracula. While he was open to the idea of returning as Draculas in the future, he says he tends to stay away from past roles. “Every time I do a movie and create a character, I’ve got to get them off of me,” the actor admitted. “It’s not healthy for me to have too many of these psychotics running around in my head.” Speaking of psychotics, have you watched Color Out Of Space recently?

Even though Cage doesn’t seek out sequels, he does have a few ideas in mind. The actor has already expressed interest in a Face/Off sequel, and now he is even open to growing out his hair for another Con Air adventure. “I think that there’s plenty of room for a Face/Off sequel. I think Con Air lends itself to a sequel,” he said, adding that he was interested in a sequel to The Rock before Sean Connery passed away in 2020.

In Con Air, Cage plays a former Army ranger who has to stop a prison break aboard a plane. Hey, it’s better than a plane full of snakes. He didn’t go into details about what a sequel would entail, but hopefully, Steve Buscemi would be open to returning in some capacity.

The actor then admitted that he tries not to think too much about sequels. “I think those two would work. I haven’t really thought too much about sequels, I really haven’t. I like trying to bring something new each time in the storytelling aspect…but I think that’s what many young people want.”

What young people really want is another Pedro Pascal/Nic Cage buddy comedy. It would go even more viral now. Throw Paul Mescal in there and you’ve got a TikTok-approved hit.

(Via Collider)

After just getting over a “major editing glitch” that accidentally led to an entire episode being spoiled, Jeopardy! fans have already moved on to a new controversy involving prolific actor Ewan McGregor. However, for a change of pace, this particular fiasco does not involve his fan-favorite role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars. Instead, it involves one of McGregor’s lesser-known films.

The incident went down during Monday’s episode when contestant Melissa Klapper fielded a $600 clue during the final round of the game.

“The force of Lasse Hallström was strong to pull in this Scot to play a fisheries expert in Salmon Fishing in the Yemen,” host Ken Jennings read to which Klapper quickly buzzed in and responded, “Who is Ewan McGregor?”

While McGregor is correct, Jeopardy! fans exploded on social media with accusations that Klapper mispronounced the actor’s name and actually said “Who is Ewan Gregor?” Some even went so far as to tag Jennings on Twitter.

Via Newsweek:

“Anyone else notice that Melissa gave a response of ‘Ewan Gregor’ instead of Ewen MCGregor on tonight’s episode of #Jeopardy? Clearly the judges didn’t,” another viewer said.

One fan opted to directly address Jennings on his Twitter account, writing: “Hi Ken, on tonight’s Jeopardy, Kelly answered ‘Ewan Gregor’ to the question about Salmon Fishing in the Yemen and was given the points when the answer should have been Ewan McGregor. Were the scores ever corrected?”

You can see a video of what appears to be Klapper’s alleged mistake below:

As the controversy escalated, Reddit users came to Klapper’s aid and noted that, while it sounds like she mispronounced the name, “the judges have a direct feed to the contestants’ microphone which we don’t hear when the sound gets mixed for television, and they heard something different.”

Sure enough, a close examination of the YouTube footage at slow speed showed “the ‘Mc’ is definitely there but barely audible.” Newsweek also reviewed the footage at the same speed, and it “showed that Klapper did say McGregor’s last name correctly and in full during the round.”

It looks like the Force was with her.

(Via Newsweek)

Men like Nietzsche, Gandhi, and Socrates were pop culture’s original gatekeepers. If those philosophers were so insistent on convincing us that vengeance is such an empty thing that they tripped over each other to pen dramatic warnings about graves digging themselves and wounds festering, well, revenge must feel pretty damn good, right? Watching it play out on screen certainly does, and there’s no shortage of movies that trade on the entertainment value of getting even. The thing is, we need more. A lot more. And from a feminine perspective.

What began as an exercise in 70s horror exploitation with movies like I Spit On Your Grave and Lipstick has morphed into a narrative model with more than just violent delights and violent ends to its name. Revenge movies now have something to say, not only about the cruel, animalistic nature of mankind but of the evolving meaning of arbitrary concepts like “right” and “wrong.” A good revenge movie causes us to question, contemplate, and contend with our collective humanity and the systems in place that are meant to – but don’t necessarily succeed in – upholding it.

Promising Young Woman is a perfect example. When writer/director Emerald Fennell tells the story of Cassie (Carey Mulligan), a 30-something college dropout so consumed by grief after her friend Nina commits suicide that she doles out a tame method of vigilante justice on men who make sport of violating women the same way Nina once was, it’s more than fulfillment fantasy, it’s a form of protest. Not just against societal views of women that cling to life through generations like cockroaches, but against the systems in place that make it easy for perpetrators to move past their transgressions and impossible for their victims to do the same. Cassie isn’t brandishing weapons or planning elaborate schemes to punish the men who hurt Nina — not at first. Instead, she’s reveling in the sense of invincibility her simmering rage often feeds. She doesn’t fall into the stereotypes that regularly plague women’s revenge stories, eschewing the idea that a woman must be battered or scorned to deserve a chance at retribution. And she’s certainly no man — protected by plot armor and a sense of ego-stroking righteousness in his crusade against some bad apples tarnishing his gender’s on-screen reputation. She’s just a woman who is fed up and is finally doing something about it.

That Fennell never depicts violence against women, instead focusing on Cassie’s quest for revenge and trusting audiences to understand how violating and traumatizing Nina’s experience was – not just for her but for those who loved her most – is one of the most important elements of the film. Promising Young Woman never glorifies the torment that often serves as a catalyst for women’s revenge stories. Instead, Fennell invites us to enjoy watching “nice guys” reap what they sow before leaving us with a compelling idea about justice – who it’s meant for, who it actually serves, and what we’re willing to risk to get it.

Whatever reactions the film’s controversial ending sparked in audiences, just the idea that we were left thinking about the ways revenge stories have often failed women and wondering how we were meant to feel about Cassie’s final act shows how much progress we’ve made when it comes to these kinds of movies.

For a long time, women could only get revenge if they “earned it” through suffering, and only if it somehow propped up the performative machismo that made men feel better about watching it play out on screen.

One of the most prolific subsets of the revenge genre that serves as an example of this is the idea of the “rape and revenge” movie, a narrative blueprint that required female characters to experience life-altering trauma so that male characters could play their savior. In Ingmar Bergman’s The Virgin Spring, in Wes Craven’s The Last House on the Left, in Michael Winner’s Death Wish, women bear the brunt of the pain that spurs the men in their lives to later inflict it – normally on two-dimensional thugs portrayed as outcasts and criminals motivated by insanity or psychopathy. The daughters and wives who are beaten, raped, and humiliated in these early, horror-forward revenge films served as sadistic, symbolic window dressing – a cautionary tale that would further misogynistic ideas about sexual assault and a woman’s responsibility in it — and a kind of propaganda for the ultramasculine, meant to bulk up men’s ego and enshrine specific gender roles. Women got to play distressed damsels, men their unflappable saviors, and white knight syndrome continued to haunt what could’ve been a transformative period on screen for strong female characters.

Was it entertaining to watch the villains of these films suffer, sometimes in ways worse than their female victims? Duh. Vengeance activates the reward circuitry in the brain, no matter the gender of who wields it. But looking back on those movies, and the ones they inspired – we’re getting to you, Liam Neeson, hold on – we’re left with a feeling that revenge on film could be so much more.

That critique isn’t meant literally – those movies didn’t need more blood, more savagery, more machine gun ballets – but that’s what Hollywood heard when it revived the revenge genre in the aughts. It gave Neeson’s gruff, overprotective father figure a specific set of skills, sending him overseas to rescue his naïve young daughter and annihilate an underground sex trafficking ring in the process. It killed John Wick’s dog, spurring Keanu Reeves into a depressive rage cycle where he dispatched professional hitmen with ease – and an emotionless stare. It transformed Denzel Washington’s middle-aged hardware store employee into a killing machine so proficient, he can take down the Russian mob in Boston with just a nail gun and an exhaust pipe.

There were a few exceptions to the status quo, films like Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill Vols. 1 & 2 – an homage to Lady Snowblood, another 70s revenge film with a woman at its center – that tasked women with kicking ass in the name of vengeance instead, but even those stylized feminist fantasies had lingering edges of the male gaze. (And it’s hard to tout Tarantino’s commitment to spotlighting violent anti-heroines when you know the cost actress Uma Thurman paid for it behind the wheel of that convertible.)

When revenge movies drifted further from their horror beginnings, and eschewed action-adventure for the teen comedy route, that’s when they began to have substance – at least in the eyes of the women watching them. Heathers angst-ridden body count, Mean Girls queen bee coup, girls belonging to disparate high school cliques banding together to orchestrate the downfall of a serial cheating school jock in John Tucker Must Die – these revenge movies relished the dramatics raging hormones often fuel and wielded them in service of empowerment stories that carried surprisingly progressive messaging. Even a film as divisive as Karyn Kusama’s Jennifer’s Body – a movie marketed to teenage boys but clearly dedicated to the girls they often torment and wrong – pushed this iteration of the revenge movie forward. When Amanda Seyfried’s character berates her demonically-possessed friend for “killing people,” only for Megan Fox to exasperatingly respond, “No, I’m killing boys,” that wasn’t just a culture shift, it was a big bang moment for how far women could now take their murderous impulses on-screen, without feeling guilty for it.

In French director Coralie Fargeat’s Revenge, Jen is a sugar baby stereotype who survives a sexual assault, an attempted assassination, and a relentless chase through the desert only for the filmmaker to flip the lens. Instead of lingering on depicting Jen’s trauma, Fargeat lets audiences gaze at the males she’s now hunting down for revenge, through the gun sight Jen has aimed at their naked, flailing bodies desperately trying to survive her savagery. And in Netflix’s Do Revenge, it’s the ending director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson gives this teen revenge refresh that feels a bit revolutionary. Instead of repenting and changing their ways, making amends to those they’ve hurt, and touting forgiveness as the best path forward the next time someone wrongs them, Drea (Camilla Mendes) and Eleanor (Maya Hawke) embrace the fact that they’re each other’s “fucked-up soulmates,” driving off into the sunset as their classmates deal with the fallout of their scheme.

When we say we want more female-driven revenge movies, this is what we mean – we want to see a world different from our own, where women take back their power (in whatever form they please) and revel in wielding it. That doesn’t necessarily equate to violence against men, but it does mean that women get to challenge the social structure men have put in place. One that says women can’t be predators because they must be protected. One that thinks masculinity is the only weapon worth wielding against injustice. One that allows women to be messy, complicated, unlikable beings to a point – but never far enough to truly appreciate the grotesque, depraved, morally deficient version of who they can be if given the right motivation. If pushed just a little too far.

Since Chat GPT first burst onto the scene in late November, the whole energy around its usage has really changed. Not too long ago, the Internet was flooded with hilarious conversations taking Chat GPT to the bounds of its creativity. It wasn’t uncommon for Chat GPT to write poetry, be a wizard, rap, and make fun of haughty farm-to-table influencers.

Nowadays, the servers are overpowered by premium users seeking to abuse the power of AI to build businesses. Basically, Chat GPT has grown up and doesn’t have time to play around. And with the new improvements of Chat GPT-4, these boring business bro requests have only intensified.

Fear not! Even as people race to master the duller capabilities of Chat GPT, there will always be some folks prodding the light-hearted soul of this technology. Here are some quirky, fun, and ironic conversations with Chat GPT we found on the internet.

1. “WHISPERS OF SAFETY”

The improvements to Chat GPT’s artistry are not only frightening but beautiful. I count at least five brilliant quotes from this one.

2. DEAR STEPHEN

From, “Stephen you useless ****R” to “I hope this email finds you well.”

3. COPING WITH TENSION

It’s “unlikely.”

4. EMO RAPPER

“Like the clothes that I’ve spun.” Interesting how Chat GPT characterizes this Emo Rapper as one who can sew clothing for his own personal brand. Very functional.

5. HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY

Warning, using Chat GPT for emotional occasions like this is a gamble. If your recipients find out the real author, it could be game over.

6. CALL ME AODHÁN

It seems like Chat GPT has thought long and hard about this.

7. AI! AI!

“In a land of code and algorithms.” So, how big is this country? Is it a population of one?

8. SOME IRONY

A moment of silence for Gary Kremen…

As AI becomes more and more prevalent, there are naturally some who will shout hallucinations of doom and gloom, and even more who will try using this new technology to make a ton of money. Everyone’s still coming to terms about what this is and what its implications could be. But amidst of all this urgency and cut-throat energy, it can’t hurt to just have some fun. Chat GPT is remarkable for so many reasons, and one of them is its witty, dry, almost innocent (at times) sense of humor.

As this technology grows, hopefully a few people will keep using it for entertainment, in addition to solving our most pressing issues.

Who makes the best fast food double cheeseburger? We tried to answer this question two months ago when we blind-taste tested our favorite fast casual double cheeseburgers. But looking back on that list, it seems a bit unfair. The burgers we selected for that list were from what you can arguably call “fast casual restaurants” and two of the three — In-N-Out and Shake Shack — are only available in a handful of states.

That leaves a lot of people out of the conversation, and we’re not about that — so we decided to run another round of blind double cheeseburger taste tests by focusing on five of the biggest brands in the fast food universe. We grabbed double cheeseburgers from Burger King, Carl’s Jr (AKA Hardee’s on the east coast), Jack in the Box, McDonald’s, and Wendy’s and put them to the blind taste test in search of the very best.

Who will come out on top in this fast food burger brawl? Place your bets now.

PART I — Methodology

This year we’ve blind taste tested double cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches, crunchy tacos, and French fries (twice), and each time I’ve pulled my hair out trying to figure out how to collect as many orders as I can while still ensuring that the food is warm, in order to be as fair as possible. That wasn’t an issue this time. We’re dealing with the big brands here, so four out of five of these restaurants were located in the same two-block radius.

The only restaurant that was a bit out of the way was Wendy’s. I picked up that burger first and hoped for the best as I rounded up the other four. Once home, I went outside, donned my trusty blindfold and waited as my always-patient girlfriend served me a cross-section of one burger at a time. I took a few bites and moved on to the next one. After the burgers were tasted, I photographed the untouched cross-sections so you wouldn’t have to see my gruesome bite marks.

The burgers used in this taste test included:

• Burger King — Double Whopper With Cheese
• Carl’s Jr — Double Superstar
• Jack in the Box — Ultimate Cheeseburger
• McDonald’s — Double Cheeseburger
• Wendy’s — Dave’s Double

If you’re a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder fan, I hear you, and originally I was going to include the Double Quarter Pounder over the value menu Double Cheeseburger but several people insisted that I order the Double Cheeseburger instead (girlfriend included) claiming it to be the superior burger. In short, if McDonald’s ranks lower than you’d expect, blame my girlfriend.

PART II — The Tasting

Taste 1:

None of the ingredients are coming together here. I’m tasting onion, ketchup that’s too sweet, some savory mayo, giant chunks of overpowering onion, watery tomato, bitter wet pickles, and mealy beef that’s far too dry. The flavors just don’t seem to meld in the way they should, each ingredient is hitting my taste buds in succession rather than as a harmonious whole.

What’s worse is, none of those individual ingredients is very good on their own. We’re off to a rough start.

Taste 2:

A significant step up from Taste 1, the meat is very prominent in this burger, it has a great savory flavor and a juicy texture that doesn’t taste overcooked. It’s bursting with umami, and while the meat is thick, it’s easy to chew through. Overall it’s very greasy, and maybe a bit over-salted, but it tastes decadent in all the right ways.

The bun is soft and spongey, and the pickles, onion, and tomato medley bring a nice snap to the mouthfeel and a fresh infusion of flavor that helps balance out the beefy notes.

Taste 3:

Compared to the last two burgers, this one feels incredibly small. It’s almost bite-sized by comparison. It’s a little hard to tell it’s a double — the ratio of meat to bread is a little too weighed to the bread side — but the flavors are pretty interesting. The onions and pickles have a very strong and pungent quality, and the meat is way too salty and yet.. there is a strange, addictive pull to this one.

Each bite had me a bit thirsty for more, even though I wasn’t completely sold by the flavor. It’s not a very meaty burger, but damn is it satisfying.

Taste 4:

Hmm, this is a strange one. It’s significantly cheesier than the other burgers, and there are some creamy nutty elements to the cheese. Pretty tasty, but the rest of the burger isn’t doing it for me. The meat is very grainy and dry, the mouthfeel is mushy, and there isn’t any tomato, lettuce, or pickles to balance things out.

It’s not bad by any means, but it feels like something is missing from this burger.

Taste 5:

Very nice and meaty. The lettuce, onion, and tomato are a significant step up here, it’s got snap and it’s almost salad-like. The sauce is a bit sweet and very savory and helps to elevate the meat, which is great, but the meat is a weak point. It has a nice charred quality to it, but it’s a bit overcooked and dry. It lacks any juiciness. It needs that sauce desperately to keep it from being a chore to chew through.

Altogether this burger is good but… not great.

PART III — The Ranking

5. Burger King — Double Whopper With Cheese (Taste 1)

I’ve long been a vocal critic of Burger King so I can’t say I’m surprised to see BK come in at last in this blind taste test. The Whopper is one of the most famous burgers in all of fast food, but it probably shouldn’t be. It just doesn’t have anything going for it that makes it special or sets it apart. Burger King’s old claim to fame was that its burgers were flame-grilled but so are Carl’s Jr’s. And they do it significantly better than BK.

At BK you can have it your way — but let me suggest that “your way” is to avoid the Whopper at all costs.

The Bottom Line:

Stick with the Ch’King sandwich.

Find your nearest Burger King here.

4. Jack in the Box — Ultimate Cheeseburger (Taste 4)

The Ultimate Cheeseburger is making a statement, it’s saying “this is the best way to have a cheeseburger,” and even if it’s wrong, we applaud them for trying. My favorite part of this burger is that it has three slices of cheese on it, two American, and one Swiss. More fast food burgers should utilize Swiss, but at the end of the day it just feels like this burger needs a bit more to it to make it something special.

Maybe that “bit more” is simply adding bacon, which is probably why Jack in the Box has a Bacon Ultimate Cheeseburger, but unfortunately for them, this isn’t a bacon cheeseburger ranking.

The Bottom Line:

It’s at least interesting, but it’s not quite the “ultimate” cheeseburger it claims to be.

Find your nearest Jack in the Box here.

3. McDonald’s — Double Cheeseburger (Taste 3)

Okay, I get it, I’m on board with the weirdos who prefer McDonald’s Double Cheeseburger to its Double Quarter Pounder. There is just something strangely addicting about this cheeseburger, maybe because it’s the only double that you can finish and think “I could eat another one.” I’m not sure, but with the weird salty flavor and the addicting toppings, this burger just works on the pleasure centers of the brain!

The Bottom Line:

Is McDonald’s Double Cheeseburger superior to the Quarter Pounder? Absolutely. In this burger’s case, less meat is more.

Find your nearest McDonald’s here.

2. Carl’s Jr — Double Superstar (Taste 5)

Carl’s Jr gets an A rating on its ingredients. This is hands down some of the best produce you’re going to find amongst big brand fast food companies and one of the largest burgers of the lot. As I said in the tasting portion, the tomato, onion, and lettuce have some nice snap, like I was eating a salad with a beef patty on top!

What holds Carl’s Jr. back is the meat. It’s too dry and too thin to really win me over. I think Carl’s Jr knows this, which is why it has another class of burger — the Original Angus, but unfortunately, the Original Angus is not available as a double (at least officially), so it was disqualified from this taste test.

The Bottom Line:

It has a lot going for it, but the dry overcooked meat is holding it back.

Find your nearest Carl’s Jr here.

1. Wendy’s — Dave’s Double (Taste 2)

Even though each of the burgers in this lineup was from big fast food corporations, Wendy’s deserves to be in another class. While the produce isn’t quite as good as Carl’s Jr’s (especially this awful romaine lettuce), the meat is bursting with savory beefy flavor. Wendy’s is the only brand out of the five that uses fresh non-frozen beef, and that really makes all the difference.

This burger just comes across as way more flavorful and therefore satisfying than the competition.

The Bottom Line:

Non-frozen meat makes all the difference. If the other big brands took a cue from Wendy’s and ditched the frozen stuff for something fresher, we’d have a significantly better fast food landscape to navigate! Until then, if you’re doing fast food double cheeseburgers from the colossal chains, make it Wendy’s.

Find your nearest Wendy’s here.

Lil Nas X may have spent the last several days (actually, years) defending his sexuality but it turns out all it took for him to reverse course was a co-sign from the right artist. Of course, he was joking when he said goodbye to his queer icon status after learning he’s Saweetie‘s celebrity crush… but we’d understand if he wasn’t, to be honest.

Last week, after a Twitter user trolled Nas, writing, “I feel like he’s not really gay or not really that feminine it’s so forced,” Saweetie got into some hot water with fans over liking the tweet by mistake. After realizing her error and removing the like, she explained, “He was lookin fine af that’s why I liked the video. I didn’t see the shadiness …*unlikes*”

However, Nas, a Twitter veteran and a pro at handling awkward situations, showed there were no hard feelings by quote tweeting a fan account’s post of a video featuring Saweetie talking about her crush on him on E! News. During the interview, Saweetie admits, “My celebrity guy crush is Lil Nas. He is so fine. He looks better than me!” She also cracked wise about wanting to know his skincare regimen.

In response, Nas wrote, “Goodbye LGBT community,

we had a great run.”

Given that as recently as last year, fans were getting romantically connecting Saweetie to practically every eligible male rapper out, this one was out of left field. But it’s nice to know Nas and Saweetie have mutual respect for each other — maybe that can lead to some music (please?).

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

Coldplay leader Chris Martin was just the guest on a new episode of the Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend podcast that debuted March 19, and he made for an entertaining episode. He gave his humorous take on singers on talk shows, and he also shared a funny story about a funny moment he and a nurse shared in an elevator.

At the end of a newly shared video clip from the episode, O’Brien told a story about his mother meeting Jim Carrey, not knowing who the world-famous actor was, and encouraging him to keep trying at having a successful comedy career. That prompted Martin to share a similar story about celebrity going unrecognized, except it was about himself.

He explained:

“I was visiting my friend who had cancer at the time, in New York, in hospital. I was coming down in the elevator with a nurse in all her glory. Like, six pens in the pocket, you know. And I was singing… not loudly, not like, ‘Hey check this out!’ But I was mumbling or something. She said, ‘Oh, you have a beautiful voice!’ And I said, ‘Oh, thank you so much.’ She said, ‘You know, you should… you should do something with that.’

And I said, ‘Oh, well maybe.’ And she said, ‘Also, you look like the guy from Coldplay.’ This is really true! And I said, ‘Yeah, people say that.’ And she said, ‘You know what you should do? You should call restaurants and say that you’re him because you would get really good tables. And then she left.”

Watch the clip above.

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

Alex Jones is not the voice of reason. He’s been busy lately figuring out a way how to not pay Sandy Jones parents after losing his defamation trial for slandering them. He’s been claiming that the Feds want to take his cat away, and he’s also been reportedly “holding firearms” of January 6 rioters, but he’s now echoing Marjorie Taylor Greene and saying that Trump houldn’t have called for protests from the MAGA devotees upon his possible arrest.

Really, Alex Jones is departing from Trump on this issue. Granted, he also drops multiple conspiracy theories into this rant, but here’s the video clip, and we’ll follow up with his quote:

“I’ve got an issue with Trump on that, and I’m not saying that he didn’t have the right to say it… but I would have said it better. We got set up on January 6. We know that now. A million people people came there. A few hundred attacked the police. The police hit themselves with tear gas.

“Trump says, ‘Take our country back and protest if I get indicted.’ You can see that some people will think, ‘Take the country back,’ and then if some provocateurs do something, they can point right at Trump and say, ‘See, he basically pushed them do do this’ … It does look like he’s trying to use the public to push right up to the edge … he’s lighting up a cigarette while he’s playing with gasoline”

Claiming that the police tear-gassed themselves is, of course, dangerous and false and on brand for Jones.

Sure, it says something that even Alex Jones believes that Trump shouldn’t be inciting people to (as he did on January 6) “fight like hell” again or anything close. Then again, the conspiracy theories in Jones’ rhetoric are still completely off-the-hook and harmful as well. And this is also a guy who said that a big bowl of chili makes him forget basic facts about his children. So maybe it’s good that Alex Jones said one thing to deter violence, but he’ll probably make up for it sooner or later.

I grew up in a blue-collar family, bouncing between apartments and eating free school lunches. In other words, a 45-minute drive to the beach was my idea of a luxury vacation. Never did I think that exclusive tropical destinations and all-inclusive resorts were in my future. To be honest, all-inclusive resorts seemed like an over-the-top indulgence to me. And if there’s any resort chain that was the epitome of that idea in my mind, it was Sandals.

You know, the brand with immediately recognizable commercials full of pristine ocean-front infinity pools and happily carefree vacationers.

While I still believe that all-inclusive properties are an indulgence (even for the mega-rich) after visiting a Sandals property myself, I now know that… they just might be a worthwhile one (assuming you can afford it). I spent a week at Sandals Royal Barbados, located on the beach in Saint Lawrence Gap, and it was exactly what I imagined a Sandals might be like but… well, better. It was an all-out luxury experience complete with 24-hour on-call butler service, romantic balcony claw tubs (my personal favorite hotel room feature, perhaps ever), seaside views, and an endless supply of freshly-made food and drinks.

It’s basically a luxury amusement park for adults. Not to mention, the on-site bowling alley, brand-new rooftop bar, and array of water sports.

Between the happy honeymooners and elderly rich folks, I did feel out of place at times (or at least the young hand-me-down-wearing girl in me still felt that way). But the thing I realized throughout my trip is that everyone deserves to indulge in a luxurious travel experience from time to time. I’m certainly glad that I took one, and that I experienced it with my best friend. While romantic resorts like this one are often magnets for couples, it’s also the perfect environment for you and your closest friends to, how do I put it plainly… ball TF out together???

Check my full hotel review below:

WHY IT’S AWESOME:

I think the fact that luxury resorts are most frequented by a singular audience is even more of a reason to visit. To diversify the scene and expand one’s own travel experiences. Sure, it might take some extra time and a vacation-dedicated savings account. But to be honest, the luxury and comfort you’ll find at Sandals Royal Barbados are worth the splurge.

Foodies will love the bottomless meals at the property’s 20 dining options. Adventurers will take advantage of the unlimited watersports and nearby boating excursions. Wellness enthusiasts can spend their days relaxing at the Red Lane Spa and lounging by one of the 11 pools (Yes, you read that right — eleven). Those looking for a lively nightlife scene can sip locally-made rum and listen to nightly live music in the resort’s central courtyard. Or, you can head into town just a mile down the road for some local cuisine and weekend parties.

With such a vast property full of tons of amenities that appeal to different tastes, there really is something for most appetites. Speaking personally, I found my place at Sandals Royal Barbados in the calm moments between the fun-filled excursions and fine dining — strolling down the beach at sunset with my lifelong best friend, soaking under the waterfall showerhead for just a few extra minutes, savoring that first sugary sip of a piña colada on a hot afternoon…. You get the idea.

FOOD & DRINKS:

There are 14 bars and at least 20 dining options — if you somehow try every one of these throughout your stay, you deserve an award. For those who want a healthy salad and smoothie between pool sessions, Heart & Sol offers plenty of fresh greens. This is where I came each day to feel better about the questionable number of cocktails I was consuming. If you’re looking to taste authentic Caribbean food, head to The Jerk Shack for a casual poolside snack and a hearty helping of spicy jerk chicken. I don’t even eat chicken, but I had to try a bite. I immediately asked myself, “wait, why am I a vegetarian, again?”

Chi is the perfect place for a fancy ambiance and mouthwatering Asian delicacies. Oh, and don’t forget to start your morning with a doughnut and coffee from Sweet n’ Salty’s. I’m not going to list and describe every restaurant (that would take me far too long), but you get the point. If you don’t leave this place desperate for a workout at the gym, you didn’t take enough advantage of the all-inclusive perks (again, I know this is my thrifty mentality at play but — it added to the fun to try as much as I could!).

As for the bar scene, you’ll be able to find rum punches and daiquiris around every corner. If you want beer and a nightly activity all in one, the bowling alley is your spot — good luck avoiding gutter balls after a few drinks. Brew lovers will gawk over the wraparound craft beer bar, which serves 19 different brews from around the world. My personal spot on the property was the rooftop bar and pool, which overlooked the main resort pool and beach area. I loved it not only for the view but also because there never seemed to be a crowd there (I think this is partly because guests didn’t know it was there) so it’s a nice place to sip and chill in peace.

AMENITIES:

• Unlimited fine dining at 21 restaurants
• Unlimited premium liquors
• 14 bars, including rooftop and swim-up bar
• Stocked bar in every room
• All amenities at adjacent Sandals Barbados
• PADI-Certified SCUBA diving and equipment
• Snorkeling and equipment
• Hobie Cats, paddleboards, kayaks, glass-bottom boat
• Bowling at Lovers Lanes
• 11 pools and 6 whirlpools
• Tennis and land sports
• State-of-the-art fitness center
• Day and night entertainment and live shows
• All tips, taxes, and gratuities included
• Roundtrip airport transfers
• VIP Rolls-Royce transfers for select suites
• Escorted fast-track immigration for select suites
• WiFi in room and all common areas
• Free wedding for stays of three nights or longer

ROOM TYPES:

The Sandals Royal Barbados hotel rooms are ultra-glamorous yet somehow make you feel right at home. I was first escorted and welcomed to my room by my personal butler who proceeded to pop us a bottle of champagne as soon as we stepped into the space. “This must be what Drake feels like,” I thought.

The room was completely pristine and modern with a vibrant island flair. The best part, though, was the spacious balcony (remember that balcony claw tub I mentioned?). I stayed in a Club Level Barbados Suite (with Butler Service), but there are 21 total room types you can book — from oceanview penthouses to swim-up suites.

View all of the Sandals Royal Barbados room types here.

THE BEST THING TO DO WITHIN A 15-MINUTE WALK:

While it’s hard to pull yourself away from the lavish resort life, it’s worth taking a 15-minute walk outside to explore Saint Lawrence Gap — if you want to immerse yourself in the action, head to the West End. Coined, “The Gap,” it’s basically one long street full of seaside cafés, lively bars, various hotels, and small businesses. You’ll pass by lots of vendors selling souvenir trinkets and handmade bracelets. You can stop in for a cocktail at a quiet restaurant or pub during the day (I went to Mimosas Barbados) or have a boisterous night out at the club. Or you can walk the boardwalk and lounge at another beach.

Regardless of how much this experience charmed me, it’s worth leaving the resort bubble even if it’s just for an hour or two.

THE BEST THING TO DO WITHIN A 15-MINUTE DRIVE:

What’s a Caribbean vacation without a boat ride out on the water?

And you might as well make it a booze cruise. The best thing to do within a 15-minute (ish) drive from the resort is to take a catamaran tour with Island Routes. A bus will pick you up from the resort so you don’t have to worry about transportation, and the drive is a great opportunity to get a small glimpse of Bridgetown, the island’s capital. Once you hop aboard the catamaran, you’ll sail through the crystal blue water, go snorkeling (look out for sea turtles and stingrays!), sip on rum-spiked cocktails, and venture to other parts of the island.

BED GAME:

A luxury resort like this one isn’t going to skimp out on unworthy hotel beds. I mean, come on! I can confidently say that I passed out peacefully every night. The perfectly fluffed pillows and plush but not-too-heavy comforter created a cozy sanctuary to come home to after a long day of…sunbathing and swimming. (I mean… I was chill as sh*t on this trip.)

The best part? The cleaning staff leaves a piece of artwork on your bed every afternoon made from origami towels (literally, swans made out of a bath towel) and rainbow popsicle sticks placed into endearing sayings, such as “hello sunshine.” It’s the little touches that stand out.

Rating:

9/10

SEXINESS RATING:

I mean… we never go 10/10 here but…

There’s a reason honeymooners and couples are attracted to this place. It’s damn romantic! Much of the staff was confused to find out that my best friend and I were not, in fact, in a relationship. I guess it doesn’t help that we got a massage for two at the spa, which kicks off with a “love candle” burning ceremony. And I know I’ve mentioned this twice already, but let’s not forget about the balcony claw tub.

Can you imagine soaking in a warm bubble bath with your boo as the sun goes down over the horizon? The point is, Sandals is sexy as hell whether you go with your partner, your friends, or even on a solo luxury getaway.

Rating:

10/10

THE VIEWS AND PHOTO SPOTS:

There is literally an endless supply of photo backgrounds and gorgeous views. From the rooftop bar to the beach to the decked-out beach chairs and pool cabanas to your very own hotel room, you’re sure to leave your trip maxing out your iPhone storage (I’m still posting photos from this trip, and I visited almost a year ago).

Rating:

9/10

BEST SEASON TO VISIT:

There’s really no bad time to visit Barbados, but the best time to go is between mid-December and mid-April, as this is the island’s dry season. During this late-winter and early-spring period, you’ll experience temperatures in the high 80s and endless sunshine.

IF I HAD TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ONE THING:

Maybe it’s just because I’m not used to having 24-hour service like some other resort travelers, but my only (and I mean only) complaint is that our butlers were almost too attentive. They’d call us to check in multiple times a day, make our reservations for dinner then walk us to the restaurant, show up on the beach or at the pool when we were lounging…It was incredible to have anything I needed at every moment, and I’m incredibly appreciative of their help and what they do, but… at times it felt like a little much. A person being lazy all day just doesn’t have too many needs!

BOOK HERE:

As gaudy and inaccessible as it all might appear on the surface, people of all ages, relationship statuses, and backgrounds should consider indulging in the extravagance of an all-inclusive at least once in their lifetime. Based on my own experience, Sandals Barbados is one hell of a place to do it. Book your stay HERE.

INSTAGRAM IMAGES TAKEN AT THE SANDALS ROYAL BARBADOS:

Uproxx was hosted for this story by Sandals Royal Barbados. However, they did not review this story. You can learn more about the Uproxx Press Trip policy here.