Horror Movie ‘New Group’ Collapses on Itself
With the artful subtlety of an SNL sketch, New Group is a sophomoric B-horror that splits tedious humor with the utterly stupid political convictions of a preteen.
Nick Malone
Nick Malone is a writer and podcaster living and working in Chicago. He co-hosts the cultural commentary podcast Thot Topics.
‘It Was Just an Accident’ Hides Life’s Extremes in Plain Sight
Jafar Panahi’s Palme d’Or-winning revenge thriller, It Was Just an Accident, slices into memory and the desire for revenge with a double-edged knife.
‘RachelOrmont’ Is Peter Vack’s Candy-Colored Feel Bad Shock Cinema
Peter Vack’s candy-colored RachelOrmont dares the squeamish to reckon with the schizoid darkness happening on cellphones all around them.
Sleigh Bells Want to Be a Different Band on New Album
Sleigh Bells’ new album is the sound of a band who desperately want to move on from being pigeonholed, but toss in some distracting, misplaced easter eggs.
Overthink Dance-Punk’s the Dare at Your Own Risk
The Dare’s What’s Wrong With New York? is euphoric, massive, funny, blissfully unironic, and finally real male pop. I wouldn’t overthink it.
Charli XCX Is Everything on ‘Brat’
Brat is next-level Charli XCX, a miracle and an instant classic. It’s the kind of album that makes you feel lucky to be alive at the same time as it.
Chicago Critics Film Festival 2024: The Good, the Unremarkable, and the Dead on Arrival
Axe murder, motor scooter theft, projectile breast milk and more from a week at the Music Box Theatre for the Chicago Critics Film Festival 2024.
Nicki Minaj Reigns on ‘Pink Friday 2’
Pink Friday 2 is the sound of Nicki Minaj cracking her knuckles and getting her hands dirty again. It’s the purest distillation of her uniquely feminine bravado.
Pleasure Systems Brings Light to Grief-stricken Folk with “Everything I Need”
Pleasure Systems’ “Everything I Need” is built from familiar textures: warm and lush vocals, bedroom synths, and vividly drawn scenes of domesticity and quiet.
The Dare’s ‘The Sex EP’ Wants You to Have a Really Good Time
The Dare’s mission is urgent, as simple as breathing. Have a good time – a stupid good time – like your life depends on it. Because it literally does.
Lizzo’s New Album Isn’t Quite As ‘Special’ As She Thinks
Special is such a disappointment because you can hear the better album Lizzo is capable of making, but she insists on cranking out one-size-fits-all empowerment jams.
Does Gay Fandom Help Pop Divas?
Looking at Rina Sawayama, Azealia Banks, Charli XCX, and Kim Petras’ rise and fall in the charts one wonders – does gay fandom help pop divas’ careers?