UKCasual

TV - pleased by the return of Annika: Scotland-based procedural/noir with some great scenery and touches of dark humour. Otherwise Good Omens, The Righteous Gemstones, What We Do in the Shadows & Only Murders in the Building all continue to entertain.

Film - a couple of recent-ish ones that I have enjoyed lately are The Fence (2022): well done '80s Bristol tale which captured the bleakness of the time well and You Hurt My Feelings (2023), a thoughtful, well observed relationship piece from Nicole Holofcener very much in the same milieu as a lot of Woody Allen's films.

I've finally gotten around to watching season Three of Ted Lasso. I'm not sure why they made the decision to push the episodes above 50 minutes; it messes with the pacing and leads to less snappy dialogue...and the shows grasp of the business of football has never been less... realistic.

Aside from those complaints it's been pretty good stuff.

Latest URNE album and the new Kataklysm album for me.

I've been enjoying the first couple of episodes of Strange Planet on Apple TV. I wasn't sure they could translate a comic strip into something that runs 20(ish) minutes, but it has had me laughing a lot.

Oh, and listening to Messy, the new album from Cindy Alexander. She did a super intimate (audience of 3, me being one of them) livecast the other night, it was really nice.

Also: they remastered the Lush albums? I'll have to check that out.

Twisted Metal, I wouldn't call it great but it's good enough to be enjoyable.

Across the Spider-verse, it's very good but so hectic and fast paced I struggled to keep up a few times.

I'm finally read to admit that I actually like Apple TV's Foundation now (I'm very brave). They do seem to have responded to some of the criticism of Season 1, and it's less a show of such strikingly different two halves.

For music, I'm a big fan of ladies singing in regional accents: so 'Conversations' by Women's Hour, and 'Someone to Drive you Home' by The Long Blondes have been on my playlist recently

TV: I'm still going through the Star Wars: Clone Wars series. Just finished season 4 and I'm still really enjoying it. Also started season 5 of The Walking Dead. I'm watching that in fits and starts so I don't get sick of it. 😂

Music wise, my go-to is always a synthwave band called The Midnight.

Only Murders in the Building, started season three, will watch the latest episode tonight, always loved Martin Short since Innerspace.

Oh I totally forgot. I'm loving the most recent album by Radiator Hospital. Been a fan of their ramshackle power pop since their debut EP in 2012. New album is $1 (or more) on their Bandcamp.

https://radiatorhospital.bandcamp.com/album/cant-make-any-promises

11 tracks in 29 minutes. Bam.

Been rewatching workaholics with my daughter. It’s so stupid we love it.

Weekly releases: what we do in the shadows - new series is killing it.

How to with joh Wilson - another where the latest seasons 3 episodes so far are just fantastic.