Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways

FOO FIGHTERS: SONIC HIGHWAYS
I genuinely pity the Dave Grohl-bashers whose antipathy towards the Foo frontman caused them to miss this inspiring and exuberant documentary series that’s more about the (partial) musical legacies of eight American cities than the making of a Foo Fighters album (altho’ that part’s fun, too). Get caught up.

Foo Fighters, Sonic Highways

Foo Fighters, SONIC HIGHWAYS (Roswell / RCA)
For music hipsters, hating the Foo Fighters is as much a part of the inventory as beards and PBR. Their loss. SONIC HIGHWAYS may overreach at points, but it fulfills all of my rock requirements (especially “Congregation” and “Outside”). It’s an eminently satisfying musical travelogue that demands a sequel.

Better Call Saul

BETTER CALL SAUL
Exceedingly high expectations in pop culture are rarely met. Here’s the exception. A pitch-perfect semi-prequel to the second best TV drama of all time handily stands on its own, deftly balancing humor and pathos and brilliantly acted at every turn. Perfectly formed from the pilot, it’s as good as TV gets.

75 Years of Marvel: From the Golden Age to the Silver Screen

75 YEARS OF MARVEL: FROM THE GOLDEN AGE TO THE SILVER SCREEN by Roy Thomas (Taschen)
Thomas’ disinterest in anything past the Bronze Age is palpable as a mere 50 (of 700!) pages are dedicated to a rote, staccato summary of Marvel events from 1985 to 2014 (which is fine with me, as I don’t care much either, but younger fans will). Attractive, but hardly comprehensive.

The Juliana Hatfield Three, Whatever, My Love

The Juliana Hatfield Three, WHATEVER, MY LOVE (American Laundromat)
While the licks and hooks remain sweet and chewy, Juliana’s everlasting propensity for bad boys feels lyrically unforgivable at this age (“Ordinary Guy” is just embarrassing). Songs about dogs only fare a bit better, but neither regrettable subject does irreparable harm to a welcome return from the Three.

Inside Llewyn Davis

INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
In FARGO and A SERIOUS MAN, the Coen Brothers’ nihilistic worldview is presented with just enough sugar to make the pill less bitter. This excruciating rumination on the perils of artistic integrity (coupled with poor decisions and bad timing) offers zero catharsis or levity (especially if you love cats).

The Flash

THE FLASH
While I appreciate the old-fashioned superheroic spirit of the CW’s melding of Barry Allen and Wally West FLASH comics, the babyfaced cast’s romantic angst weighs too heavily for me to become overly invested. Still, the clever use of villains and overall arc are enough to keep me coming back.