Hello friends! Sorry, my movie and book reviews are kind of throw-aways this week.
Below are my reviews:
Album: Blue Rev by Alvvays
4/5 stars
This week, I decided to go back to Pitchfork for album recommendations; they ranked Blue Rev #3 in their list of the 50 best albums of 2022. Alvvays is a Canadian, indie pop band. I guess I had heard their music before this week because I noticed that I had at some point liked two songs on Spotify from their previous records: “Archie, Marry Me” and “Dreams Tonite”. I have no idea who showed these songs to me, but I think it might have been Spotify who recommended them to me. That, or maybe I heard them on KCRW. By the way, I love KCRW (an amazing radio station) and these songs give off strong KCRW vibes.
Upon first listen, I thought this album was…sonically muddled? I really need to learn how to describe music better, but that’s the best way that I can think to explain it. I could barely understand the vocals. That said, this album really grew on me throughout the week. Even after my first listen, I still thought it was an enjoyable album that I wouldn’t mind listening to more than once. Upon multiple listens, I grew comfortable with their sound and I can even sing along to a line or two.
These were my top songs in the album:
“Easy On Your Own?”
“Tom Verlaine”
“Velveteen”
If you like Beach House, Best Coast, or maybe Courtney Barnett, then I think you will like this album. Even if this kind of music is not what you’re usually into, I would still recommend giving it a go! It’s a pleasant and wistful album.
Book: Just Not That Into Billionaires by Annika Martin
3/5 stars
Just Not That Into Billionaires is book 6 in the Billionaires of Manhattan series by Annika Martin. Again, these books are just a guilty pleasure for me. I didn’t like this one as much as Return Billionaire to Sender, but it was still fun! I liked that the protagonist, Francine, is Filipina. Francine is sweet, fun, and determined. She is a ballerina with big dreams of going on a tour around the world, but when she finds out that she has been unknowingly married for the past ten years she is forced to seek out her old flame to ask for a divorce and sort out her travel visa. Obviously we know what’s going to happen from there!
If you are into romcoms, check it out!
Movie: Morbius – Directed by Daniel Espinosa; Written by Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless
1.5/5 stars
I am forever cursed to watch any movie that Jared Leto is in, that is, until we find out for sure if he is a true creep or not.
Growing up, I never really had celebrity crushes, alive ones at least, but when I was about 21 I watched Requiem for a Dream for the first time and I decided that Jared Leto was the most talented man alive. I thought, “Wow! Who is this talented, handsome man?!” Then I found out that he was the frontman of the band behind the emo anthem, “The Kill.” So my mind went, “Ermahgerd! This guy can sing too! He is a sexy actor and rockstar.”
For the next year or so, I allowed this man way too much headspace. I’m not kidding when I tell you that I lost sleep over how obsessed I was with him. Looking back, I am very embarrassed that I decided that 21 years old was an ok time to develop a ridiculous crush on someone famous who is mediocre at best as an artist. I admit now that he is pretentious and way too devoted to “The Method.”
My love for Jared Leto died bit by bit after every bad movie and album that he put out. We all know Suicide Squad was garbage, but if you listened to 30 Seconds to Mars’ album, America, you know that it was a complete abomination. Even so, I paid way too much money for a meet and greet before one of his concerts in Phoenix, if you can even call it a meet and greet. I took a picture with Jared and his brother Shannon. Shannon said he liked my dress, but Jared didn’t even say hi to me. Jared and Shannon also did a QnA and we were told ahead of time that we couldn’t ask Jared anything about his movies or about his private life, so we all sat there like…well what do we ask him? Jared basically complained the whole time about how hot Phoenix is.
YoU tHinK?! JARED
The cost of the meet and greet didn’t even include the tickets for the actual show, so I paid separate and got tickets for the cheapest area (the lawn, in my case). Funny thing is, 30 Seconds to Mars is not really popular enough to sell out an amphitheater because our seats ended up getting upgraded. The lawn area was closed and half the regular amphitheater seats were empty. The show sucked, by the way. Jared barely sang. He would sing like 3 words, spin around a bit, then be like, “Sing everyone! Get on your f*cking feet! Wow Phoenix, it’s so hot!” It was pretty pathetic. The best part of the show was when Walk the Moon got on stage and helped them actually put on a good show.
And no, I’m not just salty because he didn’t compliment my dress. It really was that bad. Anyway, that’s the night Jared and I got a divorce, but like most exes do, I still keep up with what he’s up to and enjoy watching the train-wreck that his career has become.
Thanks for putting up with my rant.
Back to the movie review! I put off watching this movie as long as I could because at this point I’m starting to feel bad for Jared and his horrible choice in movies. The man is definitely being humbled and knocked off his high horse. What can I tell you about Morbius that you don’t already know? It sucks, but it doesn’t suck enough for it to be completely unwatchable. I don’t think it’s even bad enough to watch just for a laugh. Jared wasn’t really even that bad in this movie. Matt Smith gave his own performance a good old try too, but ultimately this movie was never going to be good.
Watch this movie if you’re bored, I guess?
One Per Week 
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