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Film

The 10 Best B-Movies You Haven’t Seen

By Zoë Leverant on

We’ve all heard of (and probably watched) tons of classic trashy drive-in movies: The Blob, Plan 9 From Outer Space, and much of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 canon. But dozens of cult-worthy flicks have languished for years in relative obscurity, some with small followings and others with no recognition at all. Terrible movies made before camp was cool are oddly comforting to watch, so we’ve picked ten for your enjoyment while you wait out the dreary weather. Grab some popcorn, call your friends, and get settled in for conniving women, terrifying aliens and lots of screaming. … Read More

Music

The Year in Guilty Pleasure Pop Songs

By Zoë Leverant on

Admitting we like mainstream pop and cheesy novelty music can be an exercise in shame. But every year, a handful of songs are so good that we have to put our fears aside and declare our fierce love for them. It’s rare that the Top 40 gets anywhere close to bearable, so if we have to suffer through 30 Seconds To Mars, The Black Eyed Peas, and some of this year’s other worst releases, the least we can do is be happy when something undeniably catchy comes on the radio. We won’t tell, but we bet you love a lot of these, too. … Read More

Television

The Best and Worst American Remakes of British TV Shows

By Zoë Leverant on

Since the Revolutionary War, Americans have been getting revenge on the British by appropriating their culture. A Brit made the first television broadcast in 1925, but since we’d like to think we can claim the medium as our own, it’s only natural that we do everything we can to steal their successful telly programming. Sometimes it works, sometimes it gets lost in translation, but we never stop trying. As we look forward to (or, more accurately, dread) MTV’s remake of the fantastic UK series Skins, which premieres in January, here’s a look at the best and worst American versions of UK TV shows. … Read More

Music

Flavorpill’s Underrated Awards 2010: Albums

By Zoë Leverant on

We’re as addicted to end-of-year list-making as your average bloggers. But after a while, we get sick of seeing the same names over and over again. Hey, did you hear about that Kanye album? How about The Social Network — pretty great, huh? That’s why Flavorpill is launching a new yearly tradition: The Underrated Awards, honoring our favorite people and things from the cultural universe that we feel have been criminally under-appreciated. Our second installment focuses on 2010′s most unfairly overlooked albums, from records released early in the year that were forgotten by the time best-of season rolled around to releases too strange to garner much attention outside of a small niche. … Read More

Music

A Collection of Wonderful Songs About Horrible People

By Zoë Leverant on

Brace yourself before reading this one. Making music about offensive things for shock value can come off as cheap and lazy, but these songwriters — cheeky, serious, and in between — know exactly what they’re doing. Whether it’s murder, oppression, or abuse that really turns your stomach, here are ten fantastic songs that make moral bankruptcy a little more listenable. You won’t like the people in any of them, but we suspect you’ll be singing along in no time. … Read More

Music

A Eulogy for Great Bands We Lost This Year

By Zoë Leverant on

Maybe all good things really must come to an end, but it seems a little cruel that seven of them had to do so this year. With careers spanning from less than five years to nearly two decades, the bands that broke up in 2010 all left a mark on the music map that won’t be soon forgotten. It’s sad to think we’re entering 2011 knowing we won’t hear new music from any of these artists or be able to see them live, so let’s keep our fingers crossed for new groups to pick up the slack. For those who quit their rock, here’s our salute to you. … Read More

Music

The Year’s 10 Best Underrated EPs

By Zoë Leverant on

Although many of us treat it like the LP’s short, weird cousin that everyone forgets to invite to parties, the EP is a rewarding but surprisingly difficult form to master. Often an opportunity for an artist to experiment with a new sound or expand on past ones, its tracks must be memorable but not overbearing. The perfect EP should satisfy on its own but still leave the listener anticipating a musician’s next release. With an overwhelming number of fantastic albums released in 2010, only a few EPs attracted widespread interest, leaving many worthy ones in the dust. Here are ten we think deserve a closer listen, perfect bite-sized records for your hungry ears, listed in no particular order. … Read More

Music

Middle-Aged Indie Rockers We Wish Had Been Our Parents

By Zoë Leverant on

Many kids dream of growing up as someone else — in a royal family, on a distant planet, or as a movie star. But such aspirations don’t sound quite as fun in the long run as having amazing musicians for parents. By the time most rockers hit 40, they’ve calmed down enough to make a family and have years of experience to draw on for wisdom and guidance. And it’s not just any experience — the music industry often throws curve balls at its participants, and any parent who has had to contend with predatory label reps or getting their gear stolen on tour knows a thing or two more about overcoming obstacles than the average mom or dad does. Living in one of these seven artists’ households means a great record collection and a creative atmosphere to keep you company — even when you’re grounded. … Read More