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Lady Gaga's new album, Mayhem, just dropped on Friday, but a number of critics are already singing its praises. The album scored 85 on Metacritic based on the first 11 reviews counted. By the time you read this that number will likely have changed. But if it holds steady, Mayhem will be the highest-scoring record of her career.

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"Bow down, little monsters!" says Helen Brown (The Independent UK). "For her sixth studio album, Mayhem hails the return of your Mama Monster to all her shock-horror-bop glory." She adds, "At a moment when America’s leaders seek to shove its marginalized citizens back into the shadows, she invites them back into the centre of the floor, celebrating their defiant differences in the bright strobe lighting."

Alexis Petridis (The Guardian) writes, "It’s consistently well-written, teeming with hooks and liberally sprinkled with intriguing musical left-turns.

A new Ariana Grande era has begun with the release of her seventh studio album, “Eternal Sunshine,” on March 8. And it may be one of her best if the reviews are any indication. As of this writing it has earned a MetaCritic score of 83 based on 12 reviews counted thus far: 11 positive and one somewhat mixed, but none outright negative.

SEEGrammys 2025: What’ll it take for Taylor Swift’s ‘Tortured Poets Department’ to win (or lose) Album of the Year?

Brittany Spanos (Rolling Stone) is especially effusive, calling the album “some of the most honest and inventive music of her career … It’s a divorce album that goes through all the stages of grief, and the singer navigates a new beginning with some of the most honest and inventive songs of her career so far.” Neil Z. Yeung (AllMusic) adds, “Grande strikes a balance between the warm, lush R&b...

Olivia Rodrigo released her sophomore album, “Guts,” on Friday, September 8. Expectations were high after her studio debut, 2021’s “Sour,” achieved critical acclaim, won her three Grammys and has been certified quadruple platinum as of this writing. But judging from the initial reviews, “Guts” has leaped over the sky-high bar Rodrigo set for herself.

Based on the first 11 reviews, “Guts” has an astronomical MetaCritic score of 93 out of 100. Compare that to “Sour,” which based on 20 reviews received an 83 score that itself indicated reflected universal acclaim from music journalists. For the moment this album rates 10 points better than that, though that number might have changed by the time you read this.

SEEOlivia Rodrigo (‘Bad Idea Right?’): She’s obsessed with her ex in 2nd video and single from ‘Guts’ [Watch]

Rob Sheffield (Rolling Stone) says the album is “witty, pissed-off” and contains “her most ambitious, intimate and messy songs yet.” “Guts,” he proclaims,...

Pop singer-songwriter Kesha is back with her fifth studio album, “Gag Order,” which comes three years after her last effort, 2020’s “High Road.” It was released on Friday, May 19, and the early reviews have been highly favorable, adding up to a MetaCritic score of 82 as of this writing. What do you think of the collection?

If her score holds at 82, it would outdo the 81 she received for 2017’s “Rainbow,” her comeback album following a protracted legal battle over her accusations of sexual assault against her former producer Dr. Luke (“Gag Order” is the last album she will release under contract with his label). But it must be noted that the 81 for “Rainbow” was based on 27 reviews, while only five have come in for “Gag Order” as of this writing.

SEEBillboard Hot 100: Every #1 song of 2023

Nevertheless, those reviews are full of praise. Four are classified as positive, while one is marked as somewhat mixed,...

Five years after releasing their self-titled EP, the supergroup Boygenius — consisting of Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, and Julien Baker — dropped their full-length debut studio album, “The Record,” on March 31, 2023. What do critics think of the new collection?

As of this writing most of the notices are glowing. Based on 12 initial reviews, it has a massive MetaCritic score of 91. That’s seven points better than their EP, but expect the Metascore to fluctuate as more journalists give it a spin. Considered individually, Bridgers has a career average of 82, while Baker’s is 84, and Dacus’s is 81. So it appears that they’re even better together than they are apart.

SEE2024 Grammy predictions: Album of the Year

Rob Sheffield (Rolling Stone) gives “The Record” a perfect score, saying that “the power of Boygenius is how something weird, unpredictable, and slightly dangerous happens when these three musical minds meld … They prove they’re...

Boygenius have released The Film directed by Kristen Stewart, a visual counterpart to their first full-length album The Record.

Formed in 2018 by singers Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker, the indie rock supergroup followed up their self-titled 2018 EP boygenius with their debut album on Friday (31 March).

Along with the 12-track record, the trio teamed up with Oscar-nominated actor Stewart to produce a 14-minute music video featuring visuals for the songs “$20”, “Emily I’m Sorry”, and “True Blue”.

In the first part of the triptych, a confused Baker is shown hastily running around an unfamiliar rural home where she eventually helps repair an old car.

Bridgers leads the second portion, singing “Emily I’m Sorry” as she stands in the middle of a monster truck arena as trucks drive around her.

The final act follows Dacus as she paints the interior of a house a deep blue. She’s then...

Phoebe Bridgers lashed out at supposed “fans” who she says subjected her to “dehumanising abuse” earlier this year.

The singer announced the death of her father on 3 January on Instagram. Just over a week later, she was spotted walking through Lax with comedian Bo Burnham amid rumours that she and Irish actor Paul Mescal had ended their relationship of roughly one and a half years.

In a new interview with Them magazine alongside her boygenius bandmates Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker, Bridgers said she was “bullied” by fans during that difficult period.

“I’m coming from a place of literally – I’m feeling it in my body as I’m saying it, but – people with my picture as their Twitter picture, who claim to like my music, f***ing bullied me at the airport on the way to my father’s funeral this year,” she said.

“If you’re a...

Phoebe Bridgers lashed out at supposed “fans” who she says subjected her to “dehumanising abuse” earlier this year.

The singer announced the death of her father on 3 January on Instagram. Just over a week later, she was spotted walking through Lax with comedian Bo Burnham amid rumours that she and Irish actor Paul Mescal had ended their relationship of roughly one and a half years.

In a new interview with Themmagazine alongside her boygenius bandmates Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker, Bridgers said she was “bullied” by fans during that difficult period.

“I’m coming from a place of literally – I’m feeling it in my body as I’m saying it, but – people with my picture as their Twitter picture, who claim to like my music, f***ing bullied me at the airport on the way to my father’s funeral this year,” she said.

“If you’re a kid...

Taylor Swift enjoyed a light-hearted dig at her TikTok fanbase during the opening night of her new tour.

The singer-songwriter, 33, was responding to a rumour that had circulated on TikTok that she dislikes one of her own albums – 2020’s Evermore.

On TikTok, fans of Swift have long joked that the artist “hates” the album, with videos being shared arguing both for and against this being the case.

Performing at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on Friday (17 March), Swift alluded to the TikTok debate while introducing her song “Champagne Problems”.

“The Evermore album [is] an album I absolutely love... despite what some of you say on TikTok,” she quipped.

“I see it. I’ve seen all of it,” she added.

The gig was Swift’s first tour date since 2018, and comes at the start of an extensive US tour, titled The Eras Tour.

Evermore was released during the pandemic, just...

Critters is a 1986 American science fiction horror comedy film written and directed by Stephen Herek. It stars Dee Wallace, Scott Grimes, M. Emmet Walsh and Billy Zane.

The plot of the movie follows four small alien creatures, which were accidentally brought to Earth from their home planet by a space probe, as they wreak havoc on a rural Kansas town while being pursued by an intergalactic bounty hunter. Along the way, they meet up with Charlie (Grimes), his brother Brad (Billy Zane) and the local police chief (Walsh). The critters must evade capture and find a way back home before their appetite for destruction leaves the town in ruins.

The special effects used for the Critters range from puppetry to robotics. They have been described as “fuzzy rodents with razor-sharp teeth and an appetite for human flesh”. Although initially thought of as evil creatures that only wanted to cause mayhem and harm people,...

Mick Fleetwood has said that it would be “unthinkable” to perform as a band right now, following the death of Christine McVie.

McVie died in November last year, aged 79, following a “short illness”.

In The Independent’s tribute to McVie, Helen Brown said McVie “sent love across the airwaves”.

Now, while being interviewed at Sunday’s (5 February) Grammy Awards, he told the Los Angeles Times: “I think right now, I truly think the line in the sand has been drawn with the loss of Chris.

“I’d say we’re done, but then we’ve all said that before. It’s sort of unthinkable right now.”

The musician said he would continue to perform in separate projects, like the rest of his bandmates.

“They all get out and play, so I’m gonna be doing the same thing, finding people to play with,” he said, before joking: “Anyone out there?...

We watch Sam Smith arrive at an old castle. Within seconds, they’re inside, surrounded by provocatively dressed dancers undulating suggestively. Smith stands at the centre, tassels on their nipples. Streams of water bounce off their face. In a nearby room, leather-clad BDSMers thrust amorously atop beds. I suppose it’s no wonder Smith’s latest music video, for the disco-inflected track “I’m Not Here to Make Friends”, has got people up in arms. It’s a raunchy, unabashed display of sexuality. Some have branded it “pornography” – but they’re wrong. It’s an accusation that reeks of homophobia.

The track itself isn’t the issue. “I’m Not Here to Make Friends” has pretty innocuous lyrics – tamely horny lines about looking to pull in a nightclub. Smith’s video, too, shouldn’t really have raised too many eyebrows: the non-binary English singer was simply embracing the kind of in-your-face,...

We watch Sam Smith arrive at an old castle. Within seconds, they’re inside, surrounded by provocatively dressed dancers undulating suggestively. Smith stands at the centre, tassels on their nipples. Streams of water bounce off their face. In a nearby room, leather-clad BDSMers thrust amorously atop beds. I suppose it’s no wonder Smith’s latest music video, for the disco-inflected track “I’m Not Here to Make Friends”, has got people up in arms. It’s a raunchy, unabashed display of sexuality. Some have branded it “pornography” – but they’re wrong. It’s an accusation that reeks of homophobia.

The track itself isn’t the issue. “I’m Not Here to Make Friends” has pretty innocuous lyrics – tamely horny lines about looking to pull in a nightclub. Smith’s video, too, shouldn’t really have raised too many eyebrows: the non-binary English singer was simply embracing the kind of in-your-face,...

Poppy Jay & Rubina Pabani, stars of BBC Sounds podcast Brown Girls Do It Too, announced as hosts

Poppy & Rubina have been confirmed as the hosts of this year’s Audio Production Awards ceremony to be held on Wednesday 23rd November.

The Awards, sponsored by Audible, will be held at a gala evening at the BFI on London’s South Bank.

The APAs, organised by AudioUK (the trade body which champions and supports independent audio production businesses in the UK), celebrate outstanding achievement in audio production across a huge range of audio content including; podcasts, audiobooks, sound design, radio, presenting and more.

Producer, Sound Designer and Presenter Axel Kacoutié received nominations across three categories, as did Producer Victoria Ferran, nominated for Best Arts & Culture Producer, Best Entertainment Producer and Producer of the Year.

Presenter category nominees include talkSPORT’s Lianne Sanderson for Best New Voice, Claudia Winkleman and Rob Beckett for Best Presenter,...

Taylor Swift fans are “obsessed” with the new music video for her song “Bejeweled”.

The fairytale-inspired video, released on Tuesday (25 October), was directed by Swift and features Haim, Burlesque star Dita Von Teese and makeup mogul Pat McGrath.

Fans took to Twitter to share their reactions to the new music video.

“‘Bejeweled’ is probably my most favourite Taylor music video in a very long time,” one fan wrote.

“Just watched the ‘Bejeweled’ music video and I’m obsessed it’s so fun and cryptic,” wrote another.

“The ‘Bejeweled’ music video might be one of my favorite music videos ever,” another shared.

“The use of colours and implementing fairytales but also making connections to so many of her own works is so, so, so satisfying and just proves why she’s a genius,” they continued.

The singer’s eagle-eyed fans also noticed some Easter eggs and references to Swift’s rumoured...

Taylor Swift has released her 10th album, Midnights, along with a new video and a surprise seven additional songs.

Critics have so far shared positive reviews, with The Independent giving Midnights five stars. Critic Helen Brown called it Swift’s “darkest and most cryptic album yet”.

Fans are also praising the record, and claiming that Swift temporarily crashed Spotify upon the release of the seven bonus tracks.

Many are now poring over Swift’s lyrics for her usual Easter eggs and any references to her personal life.

A few particuarly pointed lyrics in “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve” – taken from the album’s 3am Edition – seem to allude to her previous relationship with John Mayor.

The release of the music video for “Anti-Hero” – directed by Swift, herself – has certainly provided Swift fans with plenty of material.

Some fans believe “Lavender Haze” references Swift’s current partner, the actor Joe Alwyn,...

How are the Taylor Swift “Midnights” reviews? Her new album dropped on October 21 — at midnight, of course — and music journalists have already started chiming in.

So far the critics are raving about the collection. After 11 reviews countedi as of this writing, it has a MetaCritic score of 92. If that number holds up it will be Swift’s best score to date, besting the 91 received by her re-recorded “Red (Taylor’s Version)” last year. This continues the trajectory for Swift, who has matured from country-pop star to renowned songwriter and critics’ darling. 2020’s one-two punch of “Folklore” and “Evermore” established a new level of artstic cred and received (at the time) the highest critical scores of her career.

SEEAmerican Music Awards: Can Taylor Swift win Artist of the Year against one of the only people she’s ever lost to?

Helen Brown (The Independent) says, “Swift’s feline vocal stealth and...

Taylor Swift has released her 10th album, Midnights, along with a new video and a surprise seven additional songs.

Critics have so far shared positive review, includingThe Independent which gave Midnights five stars. Critic Helen Brown called it her “darkest and most cryptic album yet”.

Fans are also praising the record, and claiming that Swift temporarily crashed Spotify upon the release of the seven bonus tracks.

Many are now poring over Swift’s lyrics for her usual easter eggs and any references to her personal life.

A few particuarly pointed lyrics in “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve” – taken from the album’s 3am Edition – seem to allude to her previous relationship with John Mayor.

The release of the music video for “Anti-Hero” – directed by Swift, herself – has certainly provided Swift fans with plenty of material to pour over.

Some fans believe “Lavender Haze” references Swift’s current partner, the actor Joe Alwyn,...

Taylor Swift has released her 10th album, Midnights, along with a new video and a surprise seven additional songs.

Critics have so far shared positive review, includingThe Independent which gave Midnights five stars. Critic Helen Brown called it her “darkest and most cryptic album yet”.

Fans are also praising the record, and claiming that Swift temporarily crashed Spotify upon the release of the seven bonus tracks.

Many are now poring over Swift’s lyrics for her usual easter eggs and any references to her personal life.

A few particuarly pointed lyrics in “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve” – taken from the album’s 3am Edition – seem to allude to her previous relationship with John Mayor.

The release of the music video for “Anti-Hero” – directed by Swift, herself – has certainly provided Swift fans with plenty of material to pour over.

Some fans believe “Lavender Haze” references Swift’s current partner, the actor Joe Alwyn,...

Taylor Swift has responded to the consistent speculation about her relationship with Joe Alwyn in a new track, “Lavender Haze”.

The singer-songwriter released her 10th studio album, Midnights, on Friday (21 October).

In The Independent’s five-star review, the work is described as Swift’s “darkest and most cryptic yet”, with reviewer Helen Brown advising listeners to “Turn the lights off and let these songs prowl around you”.

The album’s opening song, “Lavender Haze”, has quickly generated discussion among fans for its lyrics, which seemingly reference her six-year relationship with Alwyn.

“All they keep asking me / Is if I’m gonna be your bride / The only kinda girl they see / Is a one night or a wife” she sings, before the chorus: “I'm damned if I do give a damn what people say/ No deal/ The 1950s s*** they want from me.”

Swift and Alwyn have endured countless headlines speculating over their relationship status,...

Taylor Swift has responded to the consistent speculation about her relationship with Joe Alwyn in a new track, “Lavender Haze”.

The singer-songwriter released her 10th studio album, Midnights, on Friday (21 October).

In The Independent’s five-star review, the work is described as Swift’s “darkest and most cryptic yet”, with reviewer Helen Brown advising listeners to “Turn the lights off and let these songs prowl around you”.

The album’s opening song, “Lavender Haze”, has quickly generated discussion among fans for its lyrics, which seemingly reference her six-year relationship with Alwyn.

“All they keep asking me / Is if I’m gonna be your bride / The only kinda girl they see / Is a one night or a wife” she sings, before the chorus: “I'm damned if I do give a damn what people say/ No deal/ The 1950s s*** they want from me.”

Swift and Alwyn have endured countless headlines speculating over their relationship status,...

Sadiq Khan has led celebrations for Little Simz after she won the 2022 Mercury Prize.

On Tuesday (18 October), the rapper was named the winner of the prestigious award for her album Sometimes I Might Be Introvert. The album was The Independent’s Album of the Year in 2021.

The 28-year-old beat out competition from the likes of Harry Styles, Sam Fender, Self Esteem and Joy Crookes.

London mayor Khan, rapper Jme and music fans took to Twitter to congratulate the Simz on her win.

Khan wrote: “Huge congratulations to the inspiring and incredible Little Simz on winning the Mercury Prize! Doing London proud.”

“Lil Simz won the Mercury Prize. That’s a good thing. If you haven’t already go and check the album out for yourself,” wrote Jme.

Singer Laura Mvula tweeted: “Congratulations Little Simz on your Mercury Prize win!!!!!”

Music fans also shared messages of support Simz – born Simbiatu Ajikawoor – on Twitter.

Little Simz has been announced as the winner of the 2022 Mercury Prize.

The 28-year-old British artist won for her fourth studio album, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert.

The announcement was made during a live ceremony, which recognises the best British album of the year, at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, west London, on Tuesday evening.

Simz, born Simbiatu Ajikawo, fended off competition from 11 other acts, including Leeds-based post-punks Yard Act, North Shields rock singer Sam Fender, and pop singer Harry Styles.

“Wow, I’m very overwhelmed, I’m very grateful, glory to God, thank you so much,” Simz said, accepting her award. “To my family over here, my loved ones right here. I want to say a huge thank you to the Mercury for this incredible prize.”

She continued: “I want to say thank you to my brother and close collaborator Inflo... he’s known me since I was so young,...

The International Women’s Podcast Awards, a unique event celebrating the very best moments in podcasting created by women and non-binary folk, has announced their winners for 2022. The awards recognise the work of women and non-binary people in podcasting, both behind the mic and behind the scenes, who have created incredible audio moments and intimate listening experiences.

The 2022 International Women’s Podcast Awards was hosted at The Conduit in London by acclaimed comedian, podcaster and writer, Deborah Frances-White, whose own podcast The Guilty Feminist has had more than 95 million downloads worldwide. 180 guests were present in London for the event, with nominees attending from as far afield as Los Angeles, Israel, Zambia and Switzerland. A wider global audience watched via a livestream from The Conduit, giving the awards a truly international reach.

Naomi Mellor, founder of the International Women’s Podcast Awards, said:

“It’s been a real joy to hear...

The new album from indie-pop band Sports Team opens with a blast of pure euphoria. “Oh yeah, that’s the game,” sings frontman Alex Rice over a rush of student disco guitars. “Life’s hard but I can’t complain.”

Picked apart, the lyrics – from the group’s forthcoming second LP, Gulp! – are revealed to be rather bleak. “The Game”, the outwardly joyous first track, is a laundry of woes confronting Gen Z-ers and millennials in this age of unaffordable housing and gig economy-type zombie jobs. Yet the feeling it communicates is one of exultation and living in the moment.

It isn’t alone in that respect. As the music industry recalibrates after the pandemic, the floodgates have opened on records that revel in catharsis. Chief among them is Beyoncé’s dancefloor epic Renaissance. There is also Rina Sawayama’s Hold The Girl, out this week and featuring shiny-eyed Corrs...

Sam Fender, Little Simz, and Harry Styles are among the artists shortlisted for the 2022 Mercury Prize.

The shortlist was unveiled in July, comprising 12 albums – from rap and jazz to indie and Cornish folk-rock – that will compete for the coveted award at a ceremony held this September.

This year’s entries are among the most eclectic in recent years. Little Simz is shortlisted for the second time with her critically adored Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, following on from her nod in 2019 for Grey Area.

Rock singer Sam Fender receives his debut nomination for his second LP, Seventeen Going Under, as does pop star Harry Styles, who has been shortlisted for his third studio album, Harry’s House. His record is arguably the most “pure pop” album to be shortlisted since Ed Sheeran’s controversial nomination in 2017.

First-time nominees make up most of this year’s nominees, following last year’s shortlist which included 10 debuts.

"War of the Worlds" is a live action modern-day reworking of H.G Wells' science fiction story (1898), written and directed by Howard Overman (Misfits") and produced by Studiocanal-backed Urban Myth, stars Gabriel Byrne ("The Keep") and Elizabeth McGovern ("Downton Abbey"), airing Season Two October 28, 2021 on Fox:

"...in Season Two, 'Catherine Durand' (Lea Drucker) will find out more details about 'Bill Ward' (Byrne). This search might help her to uncover the origin of the 'Invaders' aleens species and the reason why they entered the Earth..."

McGovern plays 'Helen Brown, Adel Bencherif is 'Colonel Mustafa Mokrani, Emilie de Preissac is 'Sophia Durand', Natasha Little is 'Sarah Gresham', Daisy Edgar-Jones is 'Emily Gresham' and Ty Tennant is 'Tom Gresham'.

Click the images to enlarge...

Dance pop star Lady Gaga and legendary crooner Tony Bennett seemed like an odd combo when they teamed up for their 2014 collaboration album “Cheek to Cheek.” But it proved a successful match-up, topping the Billboard 200, certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America, and winning them a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Album. Now comes their followup “Love for Sale,” a collection of Cole Porter covers that is likely to be their last collaboration, and likely the last album that Bennett ever records since the beloved 95-year-old has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. What do critics think of his farewell from the public stage?

SEELady Gaga songs, ranked: Her top 25 greatest hits including ‘Rain on Me,’ ‘Shallow,’ ‘Born This Way’ and more

As of this writing the album has a MetaCritic score of 72 based on seven reviews counted thus far: four positive and three somewhat mixed, but none outright negative.

Lorde is back! It’s been four years since the release of her critically acclaimed sophomore album “Melodrama” in 2017, and eight years since she debuted as a 16-year-old with her debut album “Pure Heroine” in 2013. Now comes “Solar Power,” which is a marked change of pace for the New Zealand singer-songwriter. But what do critics think of this effort, which was released on August 20?

“Solar Power” is receiving mostly positive reviews, scoring 70 on MetaCritic based on 16 reviews counted as of this writing: nine positive and seven somewhat mixed, but none outright negative. Despite being a generally positive consensus, it is a step down from her previous efforts: “Pure Heroine” scored 79 and “Melodrama” was a critics’ darling with a score of 91. That might be a reflection of her change in tone.

SEETaylor Swift songs, ranked: Her top 28 greatest hits – where do ‘Cardigan’ and ‘Willow’ rank?

After two albums of darker, moodier material,...

Bruce Springsteen released his 20th studio album, “Letter to You,” on October 23. It’s his first time recording with the E Street Band since “High Hopes” in 2014. So what do critics think of the beloved rock musician’s latest set?

SEEFirst-ever Gold Derby Music Awards: Vote for the 2021 Gdma nominations now!

As of this writing the album has a MetaCritic score of 89 based on 16 reviews counted thus far, 15 of them positive, one of them somewhat mixed and none outright negative. Springsteen is no stranger to critical adulation, but that score currently makes “Letter to You” the Boss’s highest-rated album of new material since MetaCritic has been keeping track.

Reviewers are saying the collection “delivers something very close” to “the electricity of live music,” with Springsteen and his band recording the songs together live in the studio. It’s “one of the warmest and most reassuring records of his career,...

Fans have had to wait a while for Alicia Keys‘s seventh studio album, “Alicia.” Her previous album, “Here,” was released four years ago in 2016, and she had originally intended to drop this collection earlier in 2020. But due to the Covid-19 pandemic she pushed it back from March to May until finally it became available to listeners on September 18. So what do critics think of it?

SEE2021 Grammy predictions: Album of the Year

As of this writing “Alicia” has a MetaCritic score of 77 based on 11 reviews counted thus far: nine positive and two somewhat mixed, but none outright negative. That’s one point higher than “Here,” and it’s actually her best MetaCritic score since her debut album “Songs in A Minor” back in 2001.

Keys is being praised for her “remarkable gift for classic soul-indebted melody,” to which she adds “more eclectic sounds than she’s tried before.” She’s “welcoming,...

Katy Perry‘s new album “Smile” dropped on August 28, 2020, three years after her last release, “Witness,” underperformed commercially. So will this be the record that puts her back on top? Critics have already started to weigh in. Scroll down to see some of the reviews.

Seebts (‘Dynamite’) made YouTube history, but can their first English-language song finally break them through at the Grammys? [Watch]

As of this writing the album has a MetaCritic score of 59 based on seven reviews thus far: one mostly positive and the rest somewhat mixed, but none outright negative. Perry has never really been a critics’ darling, though. The critical average of her five albums as Katy Perry (after one self-titled Christian rock album as Katy Hudson) is 54. Her 2010 album “Teenage Dream” scored 52, and that didn’t stop it from going eight-times platinum, producing a record-tying five number-one singles, and earning a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year.

It’s official: there’s no sophomore slump for British singer Dua Lipa. Her single “Don’t Start Now” became the highest charting of her career on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, and then the rest of her album, “Future Nostalgia,” dropped on March 27 to some of the year’s best reviews. Have you listened to her latest collection?

SEE2021 Grammy contenders: These are top artists and albums that may get their due next year

As of this writing “Future Nostalgia” has a MetaCritic score of 88 based on 17 reviews thus far, all of which are positive. That makes it the third highest rated album of the year to date. And its 16 points better than the still-impressive 72 she scored for her self-titled debut album in 2017.

Critics are calling the album “sensational,” “breathtakingly fun,” “ambitious” and “sophisticated.” It may seem unusual “to be as happy as Dua Lipa’s second album makes...

The little furry creatures that made a bloody splash in the 80s have crash-landed again and they’re hungry. The cast and crew of Critters Attack! made a special appearance at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con and they had a lot to say. Here are a few highlights. Steve Blum who voiced the Critter’s had this to say about working on the film. He did all the voices for the Critter’s in about 8 hours in a studio in Burbank, California. Each Critter has its own personality. He really put over the puppeteers and the people behind the scenes. Keith Arbuthnot was one of the puppeteers and was super cool to talk to about the film. Keith’s favorite scene in the movie revolves around want to be YouTube personality who meets an untimely end in horrific Critters fashion. They had 20 some Critter puppets on-site during filming. Both...

Ed Sheeran‘s “No. 6 Collaborations Project,” which dropped on July 12, is a bit of a departure from his last album, the multi-platinum, Grammy-winning “Divide.” As its title suggests, it features genre-hopping collaborations with artists ranging from Justin Bieber to Skrillex to Travis Scott. But what do critics think of this star-studded 15-track collection?

As of this writing the reviews are, well, divided. “No. 6” has a generally positive score of 62 on MetaCritic, but five of those reviews are classified as mixed, while only four are outright positive. But this is actually on par for Sheeran relative to his previous work. “Divide” also scored 62, while “Plus” (2011) and “Multiply” (2014) both scored 67. He ended up winning Grammys for Best Pop Album and Best Pop Solo Performance for “Shape of You,” so even some less enthusiastic reviews might not slow him down any.

Critics who admire the album praise its “sweet, elegant and emotionally sincere...

We have loved actress Dee Wallace, who starred in the original Critters as Helen Brown and returns to the franchise for a second time in the mysterious role of Aunt Dee in Critters Attack!

Wallace’s career spans 45 years with highlights including featured roles in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, 10, The Howling, Cujo and The Frighteners, in addition to consistent roles across popular primetime television series, including recent turns on Supernatural, NCIS and Grimm. Wallace was nominated for an Emmy Award for her performance as Patricia Spencer in the legendary soap opera, General Hospital.

Produced by Blue Ribbon Content in association with Syfy, with production services provided by Blue Ice Pictures. Critters Attack! lands on earth on July 23, 2019, from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on Blu-rayTMCombo Pack, DVD and Digital.

Critters Attack! and The Banana Splits Movie will be jointly featured on a panel at Comic-Con International on Thursday, July 18 from 4:...

As some of you fellow horror movie fans out there might already know, this summer an all-new Critters movie is headed our way on digital and Blu-ray starring the original film's actress Dee Wallace (E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial). And today Wallace spoke a bit about what enticed her to return to the franchise all of these years later for director Bobby Miller's Critters Attack!.

"I was so happy when they sent me the reboot of Critters. My first question was is this going to be CGI? And they said no, [they] were going to use a lot of the original design of the puppets. It's all going to be puppets. And I went, 'oh, let me read the script.' I liked the script, and I liked my part in it - she's a real ball-buster - but my first concern was if this was going to be CGI. Because in a film like that,...

2019 has been going pretty well for Mark Ronson. He won both a Grammy and an Oscar for co-writing Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper‘s ubiquitous duet “Shallow,” which reached number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 after the duo’s performance during the Academy Awards telecast. Now he’s making another bid for the top of the charts, and maybe some more Grammys, with his fifth album, “Late Night Feelings,” which dropped on June 21.

Producer and songwriter extraordinaire Ronson doesn’t sing his songs. He leaves that to an all-star lineup of guest vocalists, and in the case of “Late Night Feelings” they’re all women, including Miley Cyrus (“Nothing Breaks Like a Heart”), Alicia Keys (“Truth”), Camila Cabello (“Find U Again”) and Lykke Li (the title track). That slate of collaborations has earned the album positive reviews: as of this writing it has a MetaCritic score of 72 based on six reviews counted thus far — four positive,...

Do you remember the 80s sci-fi horror franchise Critters!? Well, they are making a comeback and the first trailer has been released for the new film, Critters Attack!

This film is a continuation of the original story and Dee Wallace (E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial) returns to reprise her role as Helen Brown from the first film. The movie looks like it will offer audiences a fun, silly, and violent experience. One of the charming aspects about the film is that the effects still look like they are from the 80s.

Here’s the synopsis:

Dee Wallace (E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial), who starred in the original Critters as Helen Brown, will sink her teeth into the franchise for a second time in the mysterious role of Aunt Dee. Inspired by the film series from the ’80s and ’90s, Critters follows 20-year-old Drea (Tashiana Washington), who reluctantly takes a job babysitting for...

Following IGN's trailer reveal that proved the Krites are returning to Earth and "everyone is on the menu" in the new horror comedy Critters Attack!, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has now announced a July 23rd Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital release date for the fifth Critters film, and we have a look at the cover art and list of special features ahead of its ravenous release:

From the Press Release: Burbank, CA – The feeding frenzy begins! Critters Attack!, the newest entry in the bloody, live-action, horror/sci-fi film series lands on earth on July 23, 2019, from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital for $24.98 / $19.98 / $19.99 Srp. Fans can also watch the fur-ocious creatures’ television debut on Syfy, scheduled to air in October.

Dee Wallace (E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial), who starred in the original Critters as Helen Brown, will sink her teeth into the franchise for a second time...