The Godfather is widely considered one of the greatest films ever made (it’s no Mafia!, but it’s close), but the production was not without its difficulties. Multiple directors were considered before Francis Ford Coppola took the job (and even he initially turned it down as he found Mario Puzo’s source material to be “pretty cheap stuff”). Executives did not want Marlon Brando, long past the height of his fame, cast as Don Corleone. And the real-life mafia tried to shut down the filming of the eventual-Best Picture winner.
Despite all that, The Godfather turned out to be an influential masterpiece, inspiring the most re-watchable movie and HBO series of all-time. It will also serve as the inspiration for Francis and the Godfather, about the making of the film.
Deadlinereports that the drama will cover “the legendary and wild battles that went into making the 1972 classic The Godfather,” starring Oscar Isaac as Coppola and Taylor Swift fan target Jake Gyllenhaal as producer Robert Evans. Francis and the Godfather will be directed by Barry Levinson, who has Coppola’s full support. “Any movie that Barry Levinson makes about anything, will be interesting and worthwhile,” he said:
It will be very interesting to see who Levinson casts to play Robert Duvall (Tom Hagen), James Caan (Sonny Corleone), John Cazale (Fredo), Talia Shire (Connie Corleone), Diane Keaton (Kay Corleone) and the rest of that fantastic cast. But the film focuses on the clashes between filmmaker and a studio chief who needed a hit.
At least we already know Oscar Isaac works well with cats. The Offer, a Paramount+ scripted series “about the making of The Godfather from the perspective of film producer Al Ruddy,” is also in the works.
After releasing a string of EPs over the last few years, Amsterdam-based multi-instrumentalist Nana Adjoa let her imagination run free on her debut album Big Dreaming Ants. The result is a ten-track effort that is quite unlike anything else you’ll hear this year, bouncing back and forth between elements of soul, folk, jazz, and more while her razor sharp lyrics dig into deeply intimate but relatable topics like race, gender, religion, and sexuality.
To celebrate the new album, which is out now, Adjoa sat down to talk Big Thief, having a board game made about her, and The Matrix in the latest Indie Mixtape 20 Q&A.
What are four words you would use to describe your music?
Alternative, lyrical, soulful, dreamy.
It’s 2050 and the world hasn’t ended and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?
Music that offers solace and is adventurous at the same time.
What’s your favorite city in the world to perform?
Berlin. I had some great experiences there, and I love the feel of the city (or Casablanca―the crowd was totally insane).
Who’s the person who has most inspired your work, and why?
I don’t know. I feel like mostly the people I have enjoyed being in a band with or have enjoyed sharing the stage with have all inspired me, more than bands or people I listen to.
Where did you eat the best meal of your life?
It’s been over 10 years, but I think I love my father’s Ghanaian cooking more than anything.
A couple come to mind at this moment, making it impossible for me to choose just one. So let’s stick to two 🙂 A Mavis Staples concert in Rotterdam, which brought tears to my eyes within the first couple of sentences she sang. What a powerful woman and what a voice. And something totally on the other side of the spectrum, Massive Attack show(s). I’ve seen them a couple of times now, but their first two shows I went to really gave me the chills. They have these great visuals, with messages they translate to the language of the country they play in, so for me in Dutch. With a lot of political engagement. Both Mavis Staples and Massive Attack left me feeling charged and ready to face anything.
What is the best outfit for performing and why?
Something simple and comfortable. I feel really uncomfortable on stage wearing “something special or something out of the ordinary.” It kind of makes me feel like a fool, and distracts me from just enjoying the playing of music. Of course I don’t wear my comfy sweatpants on stage, but something that looks proper enough for management to be happy, and something comfortable enough for me not to be distracted by it.
Who’s your favorite person to follow on Twitter and/or Instagram?
I’m not really a “Twitterer,” but on Instagram some sports people like skater Manny Santiago or teams like Ajax (football/soccer).
What’s your most frequently played song in the van on tour?
To be honest, I never used to listen to music very much in the van, but we recently did start a collaborative playlist we can all add music to. I foresee that a lot of the Red Hot Chili Peppers will be added.
What’s the last thing you Googled?
I was looking for a photo shop in Amsterdam where they can develop black and white photo rolls. Sounds a bit pretentious haha, but these are the first black and white photos I made, so the next step is to get them developed somewhere and see how they turn out.
What album makes for the perfect gift?
To give to someone, any J.J. Cale record. To receive, I’d love a record/band I don’t know up until that point in time but is a great unknown treasure, preferably from some decades ago.
Where’s the weirdest place you’ve ever crashed while on tour?
I guess it was when I was playing bass in this other band years ago. Someone was nice enough to lend us their apartment in Denmark (I think it was Copenhagen?), but the bedroom where I stayed had some weird features including blacklight settings haha.
What’s the story behind your first or favorite tattoo?
Don’t have any, yet.
What artists keep you from flipping the channel on the radio?
Nina Simone, Frank Ocean, Radiohead, Christine & The Queens, James Blake, Bob Marley & The Wailers, and many many others.
What’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you?
For my (17th? 18th?) birthday, two of my friends made an actual board game for and about me. “TriviNaNa.” It was a nicely put together board with random pictures of me and random rules. All of the questions were about things like my height, which toothpaste I used, what my favorite bands were, etc. Great piece of work, and a very funny gift.
What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?
Don’t be afraid to be yourself and find out along the way who you really are. It’ll be alright.
What’s the last show you went to?
The last show I went to, pre-corona, was a fantastic one: Big Thief playing Paradiso (Amsterdam). This was in the beginning of March, so just before we went into our lockdown here in The Netherlands. It’s a beautiful band, and I had seen them once before at a festival (Best Kept Secret). I love the main hall of Paradiso―it’s got a church-like vibe―so it was extra great to get to see them again in this setting. The audience was blown away, and they really played incredibly well. So a very great last concert to be at. I’ve been to some theatre stuff in the last few months, but no concerts yet.
What movie can you not resist watching when it’s on TV?
The Matrix (as well as the two sequels). One of my favorite movies of all time. When it’s on, I right away get sucked into this human vs. computer world, and I have to watch it out.
What would you cook if Kanye were coming to your house for dinner?
Hahaha, wow. I would probably make vegetarian lasagna. I’m not a great cook to be honest. So keep it simple, and make sure I have a very nice natural wine to go with it. Does Kayne drink?
Big Dreaming Ants is out now on Bloomer Records. Listen here.
Danny Brown is one of those rappers who not only can will to anything but also seems to be on a mission to prove that he can, as often as humanly possible. Case in point, his new collaboration with electronic producer Jimmy Edgar comes with a cavernous, glitchy composition that would throw many lesser rappers’ flows into complete disarray. Danny not only finds the pocket, but he also uses the eerie, mechanical instrumentation to pen a poignant commentary on current events. “Stay stressed out, no helpin’ out, we gotta keep it together,” he commands on the hook.
Brown is also one of those rappers who pops up every so often to wreck shop and then vanishes for months or even years at a time. In this case, it’s been almost eight months since he appeared in the video for Run The Jewels’ “3 Tearz,” nearly a year since he released his Q-Tip-produced album UknowwhatImsayin, and even longer than that since he last poked his head out with a high-profile collaborator in the form of Gorillaz on their Humanz track “Submission.”
Each time, Brown took on a completely different musical style and proved that he’s one of the game’s foremost weird beat demolishers. May his next foray into the spotlight come a lot quicker than usual.
Listen to Jimmy Edgar’s “Get Up” featuring Danny Brown above.
Fresh off the news that the Borat sequel is not only real, but arriving on Amazon just before the election, the Republic of Kazakhstan Twitter account (the film’s official social media channel) dropped a scathing new teaser last night shortly before the presidential debate. The perfectly timed tweet latched onto an embarrassing email sent out by the Trump campaign that announced the president won the debate hours before it even started.
“Congratulation to great friend of the Kazakh people @realDonaldTrump for winning debate today!” the tweet read before the debate. “Impressive and amazing result for a strong premier who always put America and Kazakhstan first!”
The satirical video goes even further with the propaganda vibes by praising Trump for being the “strongest premier in history” and argues that he’s not racist because “black guys love him so much they kneel before him” while showing an image of football players kneeling before games, which is obviously not in support of the current administration. The clip also calls Trump a “protector of women” while showing a clip of the president partying with Jeffrey Epstein, but with clearly fake subtitles added to the footage.
You can watch the teaser below:
Congratulation to great friend of the Kazakh people @realDonaldTrump for winning debate today! Impressive and amazing result for a strong premier who always put America and Kazakhstan first! pic.twitter.com/qLljQ8b5UU
Reportedly titledBorat: Gift of Pornographic Monkey to Vice Premiere Mikhael Pence to Make Benefit Recently Diminished Nation of Kazakhstan, the surprise sequel was shot guerilla-style and very quickly during the COVID-19 shutdown. However, the pandemic wasn’t the only safety concern for star Sacha Baron Cohen. According to Deadline, the Borat actor wore a bulletproof vest on at least two days of shooting. As to whether Cohen was in danger from the shooting location and/or the Secret Service is not known, but we’ll probably find out when the film arrives.
One month after Chadwick Boseman’s untimely death at age 43 from a private battle with colon cancer, it remains difficult to grasp how the world has lost the Black Panther star. He was a real-life hero by many measures, and each passing week still brings stories of his immeasurable acts and presence. For this week’s Marvel comics, Ta-Nehisi Coates (who wrote the Black Panther comic book series drawn by Brian Stelfreeze) penned a beautiful tribute to the actor who embodied King T’Challa.
Coates (who also, it should be noted, also penned The Atlantic piece that inspired Damon Lindelof to reimagine Alan Moore’s Watchmen graphic novel for HBO) knew Boseman for decades after meeting during a protest at Howard University. He praised Boseman as a “warrior” who was “regal even then.” In short, he was blown away by his friend’s presence and intellect. Via GamesRadar:
“There was something almost otherworldly about Chad – I would listen to him talk and only catch about 60% of what he was actually saying. It took time to realize that this was because Chad was always a few steps ahead of everyone. He was perfect. He had T’Challa’s royal spirit, the sense that he did not represent merely himself, but a nation. And this is how I am understanding his death.”
The rest of the eulogy can only be described as breathtakingly beautiful to behold, and it must be read in full, which you can do below (via Alex Abads on Twitter). As Coates writes, “We simply cannot afford to be without Chad.” It’s a eulogy fit for a king and one that sends Boseman off onto a “different kind of journey,” one that matches up with the Black Panther lore, so that the king’s power might be harnessed by future warriors for lifetimes to come.
Marvel’s comic book tribute to Chadwick Boseman (written by Ta-Nehisi Coates/drawn by Brian Stelfreeze) is truly beautiful. pic.twitter.com/atmLXvWRYG
BTS are in the midst of a week of appearances on The Tonight Show, which they launched on Monday with a pair of performances. They returned to the program last night for day two with a pre-taped performance of “Home.” The performance was a spectacle, with the group singing from within a set designed to look like a home. At one point, they found themselves in a rotating room, like the kind used to film that scene from Inception.
Meanwhile, the group is also the subject of a new Variety profile, in which they say they address politics in a time when many other artists are. Suga said, “I don’t consider ourselves as political. We aren’t trying to send out some grandiose message. We would see Army as a conduit for our voice or our opinion. Army speaks their own initiatives, and we always respect their opinions, as we respect any other person’s.” RM added, “We are not political figures, but as they say, everything is political eventually. Even a pebble can be political.”
They acklowledge their influence, though, as RM said, “Our [‘Dynamite’] video has seen 80 million, almost 90 million views in just a day. In a way, that’s very weighty — and almost frightening.”
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 hadn’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 month brings a new slew of vinyl releases that has something for everybody. Some stand out above the rest, naturally, so check out some of our favorite vinyl releases of September below.
Rex Orange County — Bcos U Will Never B Free (Reissue)
Rex Orange County
Rex Orange County has been at it for half a decade now, and he decided to celebrate by re-releasing his debut album, 2015’s Bcos U Will Never B Free. He reflected on the release, saying, “I remember being 16, midway through my final years of school and feeling like I had a lot I wanted to say. I didn’t have a strong intention with the release of Bcos U Will Never B Free, I just felt determined to make something and put it out into the world. But with it came the idea and belief to pursue music as a career. I could have never predicted that I’d end up playing some of those songs to the people in all the places I’ve toured since. And I feel so lucky to still be making music 5 years on.”
Tea For The Tillerman was a big one for Yusuf (the artist also known as Cat Stevens), and now, 50 years later, he has decided to revisit it. His latest is Tea For The Tillerman 2, his 2020 re-imagining of the album that features the exact same songs performed very differently.
The Rolling Stones have some classics (duh), and now a highlight, 1973’s Goats Head Soup, is available in multiple new re-released editions. The vinyl version comes with ten bonus tracks, including alternate versions, outtakes, and three songs that were previously unheard, including the Jimmy Page-featuring “Scarlet.”
PJ Harvey — To Bring You My Love (Reissue) and To Bring You My Love — Demos
UMe/Island
PJ Harvey has become a staple of the Uproxx vinyl round-up in recent months, and she’s back with another reissue for September. This time, it’s Harvey’s third album, To Bring You My Love, and an accompanying demos collection, the latter of which includes previously unreleased recordings.
Get To Bring You My Lovehere. Get To Bring You My Love — Demoshere.
The Bicycle Thief — You Come And Go Like A Pop Song (Reissue)
Immediate Family Records
The LA alt-rockers received a ton of acclaim for their 1999 album You Come And Go Like A Pop Song, and it was re-released on the 21st of the month, in honor of its 21st anniversary. The release comes with a bonus 7-inch yellow vinyl that contains two songs from the 2001 Artemis Records reissue of the album, as well as a digital download card that offers access to 24 rarities that have never been released before.
The Wu-Tang Clan member’s acclaimed 2006 album just got a slick reissue via Vinyl Me, Please. The release was the site’s hip-hop record of the month, and this edition is pressed on gold and black vinyl and comes with an exclusive stencil.
L7 was a pioneering underground rock act of the ’90s, and Smell The Magic was a defining effort. Thus, it’s getting a 30th-anniversary edition via Sub Pop that’s pressed on clear vinyl with orange, blue, and gray accents. This release was also remastered, so this classic album will sound as good as it ever has before.
Dear Nora — Three States: Rarities 1997-2007 (Reissue)
Orindal Records
This collection of Katy Davidson tracks has been out of print for some time, but now it’s back as a 3-LP vinyl box set, of which only 500 copies will be released. It includes a previously unreleased bonus track, “Time Is Now (Autumn Version),” of which Davidson says, “‘Time Is Now’ is a song that tells a timeless story from a zoomed-out perspective. The narrator has come to a deeper understanding by taking life lessons into account from a distance. But it’s also zoomed-in. It’s a meditation on the exact present moment, which is constantly arriving and leaving, elusive, but something that we pursue as if it’s the holy grail.”
Nine Inch Nails — Quake; Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross — The Social Network (2020 Definitive Edition)
UMeUMe
Trent Reznor has involved himself in some iconic soundtracks over the years, and now he has re-released two of them. The Nine Inch Nails soundtrack for the 1996 video game Quake has gotten a spiffy 2-LP remaster, making this the first time the soundtrack is available on vinyl. Reznor and Atticus Ross’ The Social Network soundtrack has also received a “2020 Definitive Edition” rerelease, a 2-LP version pressed on 180-gram vinyl.
Out of nowhere, Fleet Foxes have a new album out, Shore. The folks at Vinyl Me, Please were prepared, though, as they’re offering an exclusive pressing on hyacinth vinyl. Furthermore, this release also includes side D etching by visual artist Dino Matt and a 24″ by 24″ poster insert.
Like many other artists who released an album amid the pandemic lockdown, Phoebe Bridgers was forced to get creative for her virtual performances in place of live sets — and she did. The singer performed a “world tour” shortly after releasing Punisher, which consisted of livestreams from her bathtub, kitchen, and bedroom. For her Tiny Desk concert, Bridgers sang from the Oval Office. Now, for her appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers, Bridgers was able to find a more mobile setting.
For her late-night performance, Bridgers opted to give a rendition of her track “I Know The End.” Sporting a vintage lace dress, Bridgers explored an opulent opera house while delivering lyrics to her touching track. Opening in a grandiose greenroom which she decked out with antique lamps, the singer moved effortlessly through each room, eventually arriving on the stage and finishing off the track to a room of empty seats.
Ahead of her Seth Meyers performance, Bridgers spoke to Uproxx about her headspace while writing “I Know The End:” “I was talking to a friend the other day about what separates the millennial generation from other generations, and for the most part, we’re the first generation to not really be living for the next generation. So many people fought for a better world before us, like our parents. And now we’re just fighting to even stay alive. People have stopped romanticizing the future. I just feel like I could never imagine a time beyond now. I used to know what my life would look like in eight months, now I certainly don’t.”
Watch Bridgers sing “I Know The End” on Late Night With Seth Meyers above.
The Philadelphia 76ers’ coaching job is still open, and apparently, they’re wasting no time in seeing if the latest name on the market would be interested in talking about the position. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Sixers and Doc Rivers, who parted ways with the Los Angeles Clippers earlier this week, are going to sit down sometime soon to discuss their vacancy.
Former Clippers coach Doc Rivers will meet with the 76ers in the Philadelphia area, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA@Stadium.
Rivers, who won a championship at the helm of the Boston Celtics in 2008, spent the last seven years of his coaching tenure with the Clippers, but that came to an end following the team’s disappointing exit in the conference semifinals to the Denver Nuggets, in which the team blew a 3-1 series lead and fell in seven games. The team never advanced past the conference semis under Rivers’ watch. Still, he is a respected name around the league and has won plenty of games during his coaching tenure, accruing a 943-681 record in his career.
Philly has been linked to a number of big names in their search to replace Brett Brown, with names like former Houston Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni and former Cleveland Cavaliers coach (and Rivers’ ex-assistant with the Clippers) Tyronn Lue popping up in their search. Some reports have gone as far as to say that D’Antoni is the favorite, in part because of a wild plan to eventually lure James Harden to the City of Brotherly Love, but it appears that calculus may have changed now that Rivers is available.
Though Tim Arnott, better known as the electronic musician Ukiyo, has made a name for himself by hanging in his home studio and is “fairly used to the concept” of spending the majority of his time indoors, he’s definitely getting tired of living that locked down quarantine lifestyle. At this point, he’s as eager to get back on the road as anyone else. So we linked up with the Australian producer and multi-instrumentalist on the heels of his newest single, “The Middle,” to ask what his first post-pandemic travel stops will be.
The results are refreshingly home-focused. Lucky for Ukiyo, his “home cities” are Sydney, Perth, and Freemantle, Australia — all just entering their summer season. And after a long, quiet quarantine, you can’t begrudge the man wanting to visit his local Apple Store. He spices up those picks by shouting out his dreams of grabbing his first slice of New York pizza, getting a drink at his favorite Indonesian surf bar, and visiting the country that inspired his name — Japan.
We seriously can’t wait until that moment we can safely board a plane and scan the geography of a place other than home from the side window. When that time comes, Ukiyo’s “The Middle,” with its pulsing motorik beat and slowly simmering arpeggio-generated energy, is sure to be part of our travel playlist. Check out the video for the track above and dive into Ukiyo’s post-pandemic travel plans below.
I’ve really started to miss the sound of people chattering. I find I make a certain type of song if I take my laptop to a cafe and get the coffees flowing. I’m also an avid people watcher, so I need my fix there too.
The Apple Store, Perth, Australia
My goddamn laptop keeps randomly shutting down so this will be stop numero uno, for sure. It’s also certainly not my least favourite place in the world. Maybe I can convince them to upgrade me to one of those new 16 inch ones.
Although I’ve pulled together a pretty decent little home theater setup to get me through the boredom, there’s definitely nothing better than the real thing. I’ve been struggling to find new movies I haven’t seen –if you’ve got any let me know, save me from doing another rewatch of Community.
If you visit Freemantle, Luna on SX plays the best movies — just make sure you’re not sitting in the front row or you’ll come away with a neck injury.
The last time I was out of Australia I was in Bali making music with a group of really awesome musicians. We were meant to be heading back soon so hopefully it won’t be long until we’re mobile again. I finished this single when I was there last time!
I’ve never felt more on holiday than I did having a drink with that crew overlooking the ocean at Single Fin.
I was meant to be finally heading to America for the first time in June, so I’m pretty bummed that didn’t pan out. Lots of people over there that have helped me get to where I am who I need to thank in person. Heard a thing or two about the pizza too, I’ll be trusting Casey Neistat’s recommendation and heading straight to Joe’s.
The Sand Dunes, Lancelin, Australia
Matsu
This place is only a couple hours away from my home & has become my go-to place to get away and clear my mind. Crazy sand dunes that look like nothing on Earth, amazing beaches, and far enough from the city that you can see some stars.
I haven’t really found writing sessions are for me up to this point but I do miss meeting all the super talented musicians over there and getting to know them a bit better in a studio. That being said, it’s been nice in a way that everyone’s been stuck collaborating online at the moment like us Perth musicians are nearly always stuck doing.
Kyoto, Japan
The #1 destination I’ve had on my to-do list for years now. As soon as this is all over and I’ve got a holiday I’ll be heading over there for a holiday. The name Ukiyo is actually a Japanese word for living in the moment and detaching yourself from everyday life, so heading over there for a little bit of that sounds incredible.
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