Okay, look, I'll admit it. When my girls are down for the night, I have a tendency to doom-scroll on social media. Mainly on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube (because apparently I'm a "boomer"), but eventually I make my way into the infamous TikTok. The app that began as a lip-syncing video app for kids that replace the beloved Musical.ly in 2018. Now days, depending on your rank algorithm, you'll see everything from politics to preachers, cars and animals, and even some STEM content. In the last year, the app has been overrun with shop content, making every other video feel like an infomercial. (There is a lot of controversial content to be found on that app, but that's a different post altogether. Please don't let your kids use social media unsupervised.) However, every now and then I am offered a video about a book that makes for a great reading suggestion, or a band posts a video that makes me immediately go find their music. Tonight happened one such event.

As I was doom-scrolling, I happened across a video that looked like a familiar scene. It looked like a band practice, and I, being one for nostalgic things, stopped and watched. What caught my attention was the voice coming out of my screen from the drummer of the band, LASTELLE. I'm a big fan of drummers who can sing because if you can keep time and sing pretty, then you really have something going on. I quickly realized that I was going to like the song simply because it's my favorite genre, post-hardcore. (Deal with it, okay.) And that's all it was. It looked like a closed, live set, featuring music that my eardrums prefer. So, I did what every respectable social media lurker does, I like the video, subscribed to the channel, and left a comment.

"I got goosebumps, so now I'm gonna go figure out how I can buy this!" is what I wrote in the comments section. Then, I did just that. Hey, I told you up top that I'm a boomer. I like to own the music, and I like physical media when I can get it. In this case though, I had to settle for digital. I quickly found their newest EP called, Exist Vol. 1 on iTunes and paid a measly $5.50 for the six-song short list. It's just over 20 minutes long, and I wasn't ready for it. I don't remember if I've ever written about this before, and I'm not going to go into details about it now, but music is colors to me. Especially if it evokes emotion. I literally see auras of color as I'm listening to music. No, not all music, and it's not only music that can cause it, but that's all I'm sharing about it because this EP kicked off some vibrant auras right away. These six songs have just made me laugh and cry and smile ear to ear. I loved it in its entirety.

That's my review. It's simple, it's short, and it's honest. Give this a listen if you're a fan of the genre.

A little more. Most music I love is purple and blue. This EP was vibrantly purple and blue of many hues, but there was a brightness, like a white woven throughout that felt like it was pulling me through the textures and undertones that were the catalyst of the emotions I felt. Maybe it just caught me at the right time, which is something I'll test by listening again tonight, and again later in the week. Sometimes I think we need an influence, and there's no better influence for me than music. Maybe I just caught wind of a new favorite, or perhaps I've just doom-scrolled enough to give TikTok a perfect reference for the kind of music I prefer.

Here are some standouts, but it's really a no-skip EP. (It's only 20 minutes!)

The EP begins with a soulful wail in Pine. It's a short song at 2:42, but it's beautiful. It perfectly leads us into this post-hardcore selection and sets the tone for the record. This is one where you'll hear the vocal talents across the board. For those reading who don't like the "screamo" genre, this is a good example of what we like about it. Yes, at times the vocals can sound aggressive, but the musicality is peaceful and emotional.

Breathe Me In pulls at your heart, much like the post-harcore Christian songs of the early 2000s that I grew up listening to. This song felt so familiar to me. Remember the nostalgia I mentioned? A lot of it came from this track. This is likely due to my teenage years spent jamming with my best friends and my brother, learning every song we could that would help us craft our own sound. I was particularly drawn to this kind of music. Lyrically, the song is about a fading love. In my mind, however, it mustered feelings of longing for companionship with friends (best friends) who've fallen out of touch. So, if you're reading this, let's fix that.

The very next track, Changes with the Seasons, feels like the anthem on this EP. It's a perfect song to use as an example of what this EP offers, or even what this band, LASTELLE sounds like. Following Breathe Me In, it's the second longest song on the record, and it pairs so well to drive home the emotional value of the music. This track has some really interesting textural elements going on throughout it. They are in the higher register, but it almost makes you feel like you're on a spaceship watching a dying star explode. (Been there, done that...)

Wrapping up the EP, In Unison leaves you wanting more, and it does this playing on the melody from the previous song. I absolutely love when bands do this. Again, I tend to be one that buys music, so I also tend to listen to albums in their entirety. These themes make you stay connected to the music, and it offers a little bit of insider information that only those who listened track to track would know. It threads two pieces of music together, and it always tickles my brain. This track is where the EP leaps from good to great in my opinion, and with it being named Exist Vol. 1, I am excited for a Vol. 2 or a full LP.

At this point I've listened to the album twice, and it's lovely. Though, I couldn't find a physical copy to purchase, I did visit the band's website, and purchased an autographed zine. I really wanted something I could call back to about this album. I wasn't expecting this on a Sunday night, but hey, can't hurt to head into Monday on a high note, right? Actually, when I was a little over halfway through my first listen, after I'd already bought the album, I went back to TikTok, found the video I'd commented on in my liked videos from my profile page, and left a reply comment under the original.

"BTW, that was a great decision. These guys kick ass!"

Thanks for reading. Go listen to some music, nerds.

This isn’t going to be a review where I write out the whole plot, and then in one or two paragraphs I tell you what I thought about it. I don’t think that helps a reader determine whether or not to watch a film or read a book. So, here’s my review of 2021’s Dune.

After watching it at the beginning of 2024, I think this movie got the hype it actually deserved. I really thought the casting was great, and it made me want to see good sci-fi movies again. I had read Frank Herbert’s Dune a couple of years ago. I followed that with Isaac Asimov’s Foundation, and some other hard sci-fi after that. I’ve really been making my way through some of the greatest science fiction books ever written, and I love them, but y’all, this one ain’t a book review (which, I must continue telling myself).

Even before reading the novel, I was a fan of Dune. When I was younger, I watched the 1984 David Lynch directed Dune film with my dad. My dad was a sci-fi fan, and he liked it even though it was touted as “the worst movie of the year” by Roger Ebert. Dad was also an artist, and the world that Lynch painted was vibrant and weird, just the kind of thing he really liked. So, I had been looking forward to this movie since I heard it was in production.

Much Deserved Hype
I wish I would have been able to see this in theaters. It feels like the right kind of cinema for a full immersive experience. I did however, watch it in 4K with surround sound, so that experience wasn’t too bad at all. There is just something extra special about going to the movie theater (it's the popcorn, I won't lie). Dune immediately captured me with that slowly increasing heartbeat rhythm. It was a mirror of my anticipation for what I’d heard was one of the best sci-fi movies in a decade (though, Blade Runner 2049 still holds it for me). Regardless, I was immediately drawn into the world of Arrakis and the struggle of the Freman people.

The cinematography on screen throughout the movie was incredible. It gave me the same kind of feeling that the Lord of the Rings trilogy gave me when I watched them in theaters for the first time in the early 2000s. It felt like I was watching something historic. Maybe that’s a little hyperbolic, but The Return of the King came out in 2003 and it still holds up today. That’s good cinema. That’s what I believe this version of Dune was, good cinema. Now, there were some differences between the book and the movie, but I think we can all agree that doesn’t break a great film. In fact, some might argue that’s what makes it a great film.

The casting was so good. There are big names attached to this film, and in some ways that owes to its success, but the focus is on Paul Atreides, played by Timothée Chalamet. In Dune, he plays a believable protagonist whose attention is scattered between who he is and who he thinks he should be. There’s something subtle about him that makes you think he’s just a wimp at first, but then he continues to prove you wrong, and it’s wonderful. Some other highlights: Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho could not have been better cast in 2021. His character is lovable and regrettable… kinda (book nerds will understand), leaving you wanting more of him. Rebecca Ferguson as Paul’s mom, Lady Jessica, plays her as an eerie and strong Bene Gesserit sister who holds her secrets close and retains a smouldering dark beauty throughout the film. She seems out of place with the Freman, but I think she’s just as Frank Herbert, and importantly, director, Denis Villeneuve intended. Zendaya as Chani isn’t in this movie very much, but her presence is felt throughout, and she is a brilliant contrast to the harsh desert of Arrakis. Honestly, there is something about Zendaya that captivates audiences, and that has been proven over and over.

There were many other great performances in this movie. It seemed like the actors were making a movie they cared about and they believed in the vision, which says a lot about the director too. But there was a performance that stood out to me. Oscar Isaac as Duke Leto Atreides. Isaac plays the part perfectly as the even-handed and compassionate leader. I felt like he conveyed strength in his obedience to the emperor in leaving Caladan for Arrakis to take over the spice operation from the Harkonnens. Notably, this was an uncomfortable position that the emperor put him in, and a job nobody in the galaxy would want to take from the Harkonnens. It demonstrated the strength that no doubt won him the loyalty of the Atreides forces throughout his Dukedom. Isaac isn’t in the film for very long, but his presence commands the audience’s attention in every scene. He’s a tragic character, and one whose consequence is the rise of Lisan al-Gaib.

I know I didn’t spend a lot of time talking about the plot and telling you about how exciting the battle scenes were (they were lit, by the way), but I will encourage you to watch this film. In my opinion, this series will become classic sci-fi cinema. We’ve been through almost 20 years of sci-fi being mostly super hero flicks, so it is refreshing to see a production of this magnitude and quality based on something other than “HULK SMASH!” And that’s coming from a guy with over 200 comic books on the shelves behind me.

My Popcorn Rating:
DUNE: Part 1
4 🍿

What did you think about this film? I personally can't wait to watch Part 2.

Thanks for reading.

So, for Valentines Day my wonderful girlfriend, Ashley, did something incredible for me. (Get your minds out the gutter, ya freaks!) She bought me the entire Harry Potter Blu-Ray collection! *Nerd Squee* The most exciting thing about it was that she hadn't seen them all. And as for the last few movies, I haven't seen them since they were in theaters. I also had the advantage of having read the series. I'm not going to bore you with my review of the books, because that would be a long, long review. The end result would be that I liked it so much  I can't believe it's a real thing written by an actual person. It isn't something that was written by someone who's been dead for decades or centuries. J.K. Rowling is still very much alive. Have you ever been on pottermore.com? I'll admit it, I have. And I was sorted into the Hufflepuff house. (At least I'm not a Slytherin...) Besides, the dreamy Cedric Digory was a Hufflepuff.

Okay, I've rambled long enough. I'm not going to review these movies individually. I want to review them as a series. My reasoning behind that is because I feel each of these movies stands up as a success on its own. I think there were quite a few things wrong with the series as a whole compared to the books. However, this is always the case when comparing a movie to a book. These 8 movies are really fun to watch. I want to put the emphasis on fun. At times we were laughing together, and at other times we watched in awe. For me, it was like sharing one of your favorite things with a kid who is discovering how much they love it too. I didn't expect Ashley to love this series like I do, and maybe she didn't. But she enjoyed the experience that got us to sit down together and get engaged in something. That's why these movies are special. They are about the same group of friends and they are played by the same actors. (Other than Dumbledore... and what happened to Crab?) It makes it easier to feel attached to the characters. Even kids can watch and follow along. It makes for a very good family film series.

So, time for my favorites. I really liked "The Sorcerer's Stone". It sets a perfect tone for the rest of the series. My favorite of the series is "The Prisoner of Azkaban". It successfully transitions the series into a darker place that it eventually comes down to. Also, it stars Gary Oldman as Sirius Black. Gary. Freakin'. Oldman! That was my favorite book as well. It wasn't a perfect adaptation, but its content was still pretty well in tact. I also liked "The Goblet of Fire", but mostly because of Fred and George Weasley. They were hilarious in it.

Poll Time! After we watched the series I felt like I needed more. (As a fangirl often does. LOL!) So, I took a poll to find out which house my friends would want to be sorted into. Keep an open mind, folks. My friends are pervs.​​

• SLYTHERIN - 5
• GRYFFINDOR - 6
• HUFFLEPUFF - 5
• RAVENCLAW - 5
• BEAUXBATONS - 1
• PETER-PUFF - 1
• DOBBY - 1

So, I found this interesting. Other than my brothers, whom know nothing about Harry Potter, making ridiculous claims, it was an even race. Obviously, Gryffindor was the winner, but it was neat that others found so much interest in the other houses. (Myself included.) It makes me think that maybe the Harry Potter universe extends farther than I had ever imagined. It has landed in most of our households as one medium or another, and it has made its impression. I don't think we will see another series as impactful as this one for a long time.

COMING UP: I'll review and album or a live show. That is, if I can take this Alt-J record off the turntable. (It's so good.)




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