‘Okay, I’ll admit it… I’m jealous of people with Spotify Wrapped’
Apple Music just isn’t the same...
Opinion
Why Sadiq Khan was correct to reject the ‘Stratford Sphere’
For once, a politician has put people over profit....
Afternoon Encore | Why matinee gigs are making a comeback
As matinee gigs see a resurgence across the UK, we take a look at the appeal of these daytime shows. With artists such as S Club 7, Royal Blood, Annie Mac and Rick Astley on board, could this be the dawn of a new live music era?
From S Club 7 to Blur | The psychology behind the reunion tour boom
Nostalgia sells, and reunion tours are cashing in. We examine the complex interplay between nostalgia, escapism, and the desire to recapture our past, all set to a familiar soundtrack.
FKA Twigs leaks | When will people stop stealing new music?
FKA Twigs has announced she won’t officially release her new album after it leaks online. Should we think twice before streaming leaked music?
When will bands stop having to change their names unfairly?
Famous philanthropists EasyGroup (the brand owners of EasyJet) are suing Easy Life over their name. Alexandra Haddow explores what this means for the battle over band names.
The Absolute State of the Apple Weather app
It's not just rain, okay? It's British rain. Jessica Furseth explores why the Apple weather app is rubbish at predicting the nuances of the UK's unpredictable weather pattern.
Protea review | Kota the Friend dances into summer
★★★☆☆
With Protea, Kota the Friend is back with an upbeat rap album that sounds as good as it feels, but lacks the consistency or focus to elevate it beyond ‘vibes’.
Why Rina Sawayama’s vital callout provided the weekend highlight at Glastonbury 2023
Among the many commendable moments this year’s Glastonbury festival provided, Rina Sawayama’s callout during her Saturday night set – aimed at a certain frontman – was the most admirable of the lot, writes Laviea Thomas.
Has Wes Anderson finally out-Wes-Andersoned himself?
With the release of Asteroid City this week, Kate Padley asks, has Wes Anderson out-Wes-Andersoned himself?
The Absolute State of The Hundred
The first Ashes Test match of the summer gets underway today, but cricket’s greatest spectacle is crammed into the start of the summer to make room for the game’s most offensive degradation: The Hundred.
Is it time for Hollywood to give up on the multiverse?
With Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse swinging into cinemas this weekend, isn’t it about time we gave this multiverse stuff up for good?
The bad feminism of Sam Levinson
Sam Levinson’s The Idol screened its first two episodes at Cannes Film Festival and so far, critics haven’t been kind to it.
OFCOM is set to regulate streamers for the first time – but isn’t that a good thing?
Streamers are up in arms at the new Draft Media Bill’s threat to put them under OFCOM’s remit, but isn’t this one change that’s long overdue?
It’s 2023, do we still need live-action remakes of classic films?
With the release of The Little Mermaid, we ask the question on everyone’s mind: do we actually need these live-action remakes?
The Absolute State of Guinness World Records
With all the good records gone, the Guinness World Records have become a cash grab, eroding the authority of their name, and turning what should be a celebration of human achievement into an exercise in corporate greed - or, in some cases, worse.
How Steve McQueen and Jonathan Glazer took on the Nazis with their Cannes films
Rory Doherty explores how Jonathan Glazer and Steve McQueen explore the horrors of the Nazi regime and the rise of fascism in Britain.
From Screen to Stage | The insufferable rise of film-to-musical adaptations
Examining the rise of film adaptations as musicals and their implications on modern attitudes towards art, culture, and entertainment.
The Absolute State of Paper Straws
Paper straws continue to plague society, heralded as a “green” product when they are simply greener than their plastic predecessor. Instead of comparing the two, it’s time to shift the needle towards outlawing single-use straws altogether, recognising them as the infantalising and superfluous scourge that they are.
The Compo Face | A look at the British stories that really matter
There is a new journalistic form sweeping across Britain. It is known simply as the “Compo Face”, and it's equally horrendous as it is glorious.
The Absolute State of the Welsh Rugby Union
A proud rugby nation is being run into the ground, with this week’s provisional World Cup squad debacle again highlighting the absolute state of the Welsh Rugby Union.
The Absolute State of Nicholas Alahverdian
This week, footage emerged of American sex offender Nicholas Alahverdian (also known as Nicholas Rossi) putting on a comically bad performance as a British and Irish man named Arthur Knight - at least it might be funny, if he wasn’t, you know, a convicted sex offender, domestic abuser and alleged rapist.
Cigarettes and sex appeal | Has the allure of smoking finally burned out?
A new study reveals that non-smokers outperformed smokers on dating apps. Is smoking sexy, or is the appeal gone for good?
Weed legalisation, 420 and the second Great Stink
420 celebrations in Hyde Park make for a rather depressing sight and smell, but the event inadvertently highlights how obsolete Britain’s marijuana laws are.
The Absolute State of the Michael Schumacher AI interview
Amidst the confusion over how to best harness the powers of artificial intelligence, this week has provided one clear example over how not to use the technology.
How is artificial intelligence going to change music?
We imagine a dystopian musical world of the future, as industry experts warn of the danger posed by AI if not handled with sufficient care.
Why James Bond shouldn’t go back to the 60s just yet
With the hunt for a new 007 in full swing, Ciaran McGhee argues James Bond should stay in the present instead of returning to the 60s.
The Absolute State of gambling adverts
Premier League clubs have reached a long overdue agreement to ban gambling sponsors from the front of shirts, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg in Britain cracking down on gambling advertising.
The Absolute State of Andrew Tate's War Room
I tried to join Andrew Tate’s War Room and become one of the budding prophet’s disciples. It’s a shame, therefore, for a charlatan with such lofty ambitions, that The War Room is such a rubbish scam.
The Absolute State of the Elizabeth Line
It’s a rainy Thursday morning at the start of what looks to be a particularly British (read: terrible) April, so of course the Elizabeth Line, now just over ten months old, smells of wet dog.