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First Wave of Semibreve 2026 Artists Announced

Gerda Krivaite
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First Wave of Semibreve 2026 Artists Announced

Semibreve Festival 2026 has announced the first wave of artists participating in its 16th edition. Returning to Braga from 22–25 October, the upcoming programme spans sound, moving image, installation and performance. Over the past decade and a half, the Portuguese festival has developed a unique reputation within contemporary audiovisual culture for offering a structured environment for artists to present ambitious projects while challenging the boundaries between concert, exhibition and digital art.

Taking place across venues including the historic Theatro Circo, the contemporary arts centre gnration and the Capela Imaculada, the Semibreve festival spotlights site-responsive and technologically mediated practices within Braga’s architectural landscape. Braga, one of Portugal’s oldest cities, was designated a UNESCO Creative City of Media Arts in 2017 thanks to its baroque architecture and religious heritage, qualities that no doubt inflect the festival’s spatial choices. This year’s programme in particular places an emphasis on world premieres and newly commissioned works exploring audiovisual artistic forms and sonic experimentation.

Christian Fennesz and Oscar Jockel with Saffron on Grey feature among the first artists announced, alongside new collaborative works by PYUR and Tarik Barri, Qasim Naqvi and Steven Wendt, and Malcolm Pardon with Gustaf Broms. The line-up also includes performances and installations by Noémi Büchi, Sam Slater, TYGAPAW, Azu Tiwaline and João Carlos Pinto.

Semibreve’s scale continues to be intentionally contained. The festival consolidates its programme into a focused sequence of encounters across only a handful of venues, a feature which distinguishes it from larger international events and allows for closer engagement between artists and audiences.

Myrtle Beach Car Accident Lawyer: Protecting Your Rights After a Serious Crash

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Myrtle Beach Car Accident Lawyer: Protecting Your Rights After a Serious Crash

Car accidents can happen at any time and often leave victims dealing with physical injuries, emotional stress, and financial burdens. In a busy tourist destination like Myrtle Beach, traffic congestion and distracted driving increase the risk of serious collisions every day. When an accident happens because of another driver’s negligence, victims may have the legal right to seek compensation for their losses. Working with a Myrtle Beach Car Accident Lawyer can help injured individuals protect their rights and pursue the financial recovery they deserve.

Many car accident victims face expensive medical bills, lost income, vehicle repair costs, and ongoing pain after a crash. Insurance companies may try to minimize payouts or pressure victims into accepting low settlement offers. Having experienced legal representation can make a major difference during the claims process and help ensure victims are treated fairly.

Common Causes of Car Accidents in Myrtle Beach

Car accidents happen for many reasons, but most are caused by driver negligence. Distracted driving remains one of the leading causes of collisions. Drivers using mobile phones, adjusting navigation systems, eating, or losing focus for even a few seconds can cause devastating accidents.

Speeding is another major factor in many crashes. Drivers who exceed speed limits have less time to react to sudden traffic changes or road hazards. Aggressive driving behaviors such as tailgating, unsafe lane changes, and running red lights also contribute to serious collisions.

Drunk driving continues to be a significant danger on Myrtle Beach roads. Alcohol and drugs impair judgment, reaction time, and coordination, making accidents far more likely. Tourist traffic and unfamiliar roads may also increase the chances of crashes in busy areas.

Poor weather conditions, defective vehicle parts, and dangerous road conditions can also play a role in accidents. Determining the exact cause of a collision is important when pursuing a legal claim.

Why Car Accident Injuries Can Be Serious

Even seemingly minor car accidents can cause serious injuries that require long-term treatment. Victims may suffer from whiplash, broken bones, head injuries, spinal cord injuries, internal bleeding, and soft tissue damage. Some injuries may not appear immediately after the crash but can worsen over time.

Severe injuries can affect a victim’s ability to work, care for family members, or enjoy normal daily activities. Medical treatment may include surgeries, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and ongoing care. In catastrophic cases, injuries may lead to permanent disabilities or chronic pain.

Beyond physical harm, accident victims often experience emotional trauma such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress. A Myrtle Beach Car Accident Lawyer understands the full impact a collision can have on a victim’s life and works to pursue compensation for both economic and non-economic damages.

How a Myrtle Beach Car Accident Lawyer Can Help

After a car accident, insurance companies often move quickly to protect their own interests. Adjusters may ask victims for recorded statements or offer settlements before the full extent of injuries is known. Accepting an early settlement can leave victims without enough compensation for future medical expenses or lost wages.

A Myrtle Beach Car Accident Lawyer can handle communication with insurance companies and guide victims through the legal process. Attorneys investigate accidents thoroughly by reviewing police reports, collecting medical records, interviewing witnesses, and examining crash scene evidence.

Lawyers may also work with accident reconstruction experts and medical professionals to strengthen the case. Establishing liability is critical in any car accident claim, especially when multiple parties are involved or fault is disputed.

An experienced attorney can also negotiate aggressively with insurance companies to pursue fair settlements. If negotiations fail, the lawyer may file a lawsuit and represent the victim in court.

Compensation Available After a Car Accident

Victims injured in car accidents may be entitled to several types of compensation depending on the circumstances of the crash. Medical expenses are one of the most common damages recovered in personal injury claims. Compensation may cover hospital bills, emergency care, surgeries, medications, rehabilitation, and future treatment costs.

Lost wages may also be recovered if injuries prevent the victim from working temporarily or permanently. In cases involving severe injuries, victims may pursue compensation for reduced earning capacity if they cannot return to their previous job.

Pain and suffering damages may compensate victims for physical pain, emotional distress, mental anguish, and reduced quality of life. Property damage compensation can help pay for vehicle repairs or replacement.

In fatal accident cases, surviving family members may be able to file wrongful death claims to recover funeral expenses, lost financial support, and other damages resulting from the loss of a loved one.

What to Do After a Car Accident in Myrtle Beach

The steps taken immediately after a car accident can affect the strength of a future legal claim. Victims should seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if injuries seem minor at first. Some conditions may not show symptoms immediately but can become serious later.

If possible, victims should gather evidence at the scene, including photographs of the vehicles, road conditions, injuries, and contact information for witnesses. Filing a police report is also important because official accident reports often serve as key evidence.

Avoiding direct negotiations with insurance adjusters before speaking with a lawyer is usually recommended. Insurance companies may use statements against victims to reduce compensation.

Contacting a Myrtle Beach Car Accident Lawyer quickly can help preserve evidence and ensure important legal deadlines are not missed.

Importance of Proving Liability

Proving fault is one of the most important parts of a car accident case. South Carolina follows comparative negligence laws, which means compensation may be reduced if the victim is found partially responsible for the crash.

A skilled attorney can gather evidence to prove the other driver acted negligently. Evidence may include surveillance footage, witness statements, accident reconstruction reports, and phone records showing distracted driving.

Building a strong case requires careful preparation and attention to detail. Legal representation often improves the chances of recovering fair compensation after a serious accident.

Choosing the Right Myrtle Beach Car Accident Lawyer

Choosing the right attorney can make a significant difference in the outcome of a car accident claim. Victims should look for lawyers who have experience handling personal injury cases and negotiating with insurance companies.

Strong communication, dedication to clients, and thorough case preparation are important qualities in a lawyer. A reliable attorney can answer questions, explain legal options, and provide support throughout the legal process.

Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning clients do not pay legal fees unless compensation is recovered. This allows accident victims to seek legal help without additional financial pressure.

Conclusion

Car accidents can create serious physical, emotional, and financial challenges for victims and their families. Medical expenses, lost income, pain, and stress can quickly become overwhelming after a crash caused by another driver’s negligence.

A Myrtle Beach Car Accident Lawyer can help accident victims understand their rights, gather evidence, negotiate with insurance companies, and pursue fair compensation. Taking quick legal action can strengthen a claim and improve the chances of recovering damages. With experienced legal guidance, victims can focus on healing while protecting their financial future.

FAQs

When should I contact a Myrtle Beach Car Accident Lawyer?

It is best to contact a lawyer as soon as possible after the accident. Early legal guidance can help preserve evidence and protect your rights during insurance negotiations.

What compensation can I recover after a car accident?

Victims may recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, and future medical treatment costs.

What if the insurance company offers me a settlement?

You should speak with a lawyer before accepting any settlement offer. Early offers are often lower than the actual value of the claim.

Can I still file a claim if I was partially at fault?

Yes, South Carolina comparative negligence laws may still allow you to recover compensation if you were partially responsible for the accident.

How long does a car accident case take?

The timeline depends on factors such as the severity of injuries, insurance negotiations, and whether the case goes to court. Some claims settle within months, while others may take longer.

Clairo’s New Album: Everything We Know So Far

Konstantinos Pappis
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Clairo’s New Album: Everything We Know So Far

Clairo has been teasing a new album. The singer-songwriter’s fourth LP has yet to be announced, but here’s everything we know so far.

How long has it been since Clairo’s last album?

Clairo’s most recent album was 2024’s Charm. It arrived three years after Sling, which was released two years after her debut, Immunity.

What is the title of the album?

It hasn’t been revealed yet. Clairo hasn’t shared its release date or any of the track titles, either.

What label will the album be released on?

Last September, Clairo announced she’d signed with Warner Music Group (WMG) subsidiary Atlantic Records. “I’m so thrilled to begin this next chapter of my musical journey with Atlantic,” she said at the time. “From our first meeting, they immediately understood my vision, and it feels good to know I can continue to be as expressive and free with my ideas with a great new partner by my side.”

What has Clairo said about the new album?

As of this writing, everything we know about Clairo’s new album comes from a series of vlogs she posted on TikTok. “I’m feeling really good about the music,” she said. “I’m feeling really good about where I am and the things I’m striving for. I feel like this is one of the first times I’ve been — I’m back in that place where I’m having big dreams and trying to accomplish them. It’s nice to have proof that I’m this inspired.”

She also talked about handling criticism while in the process of making the record. “It doesn’t get easier making an album. I don’t think an album would completely define me. People didn’t like Sling and I know that. And, fair. That’s fine. I love it.” (Me too.) “I made it at that time in my life and I love it. It’s different but to me so badass that was the follow-up to my debut album in the grand scheme of things. Of course I care, but ultimately you stop caring after time has passed. I could make me sad if I let it but I can’t. I’m trying to learn how to not let it get there. I have to be proud.”

What will the album sound like?

We really have no clue. It may still be in the process of being completed. However, when asked what the record would look like as a landscape, Clairo compared it to “wide open space.” And if it were a place? “Maybe Paris.”

This post will be updated…

10 New Songs Out Today to Listen To: They Are Gutting a Body of Water, Lido Pimienta, and More

Konstantinos Pappis
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10 New Songs Out Today to Listen To: They Are Gutting a Body of Water, Lido Pimienta, and More

There’s so much music coming out all the time that it’s hard to keep track. On those days when the influx of new tracks is particularly overwhelming, we sift through the noise to bring you a curated list of the most interesting new releases (the best of which will be added to our Best New Songs playlist). Below, check out our track roundup for Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

They Are Gutting a Body of Water – ‘charter spec’ [feat. Horse Jumper of Love]

They Are Gutting a Body Water have joined forces with Horse Jumper of Love for ‘charter spec’, their first new music since last year’s LOTTO. It’s a typically eruptive piece of music that nevertheless leaves plenty of space for Dimitri Giannopoulos’ wistful melodies. It’s part of a new collaborative mixtape that hasn’t been detailed yet, but should be exciting.

Lido Pimienta – ‘Tóxica’

Lido Pimienta has announced a new album, Caribenya, arriving on July 17. The lead single ‘Tóxica’ overlays a cumbia rhythm with harp, viola, and electronics, but it’s the hook that really grabs your attention. “Someone told me that making a classical album was gonna be impossible for me and I did it, an ‘impossible-only-Europeans-could-ever-do-this album’; Caribenya is the counterpart where I got to be less cerebral and have more fun,” Pimiento explained. “With my friends, I’m more collaborative, because I usually work alone; it has a sense of joy and collaboration that is very Caribbean. It’s like ‘come over and hang. You don’t need to set up an appointment, you can just knock on the door.’”

Son Lux – ‘Endlessly’

The experimental trio Son Lux are back with news of their next album, Out Into, which is led by the quivering yet motivational ‘Endlessly’. The track was originally commissioned by the Ohio-based marching ensemble the Bluecoats before Son Lux realized it fit seamlessly into the LP. “We’re going places we’ve never gone before in terms of energy, attitude, color,” the group’s Ryan Lott commented. “And it all comes from having reverence for those initial sparks, for treating the voice memo version of the idea as the most sacred iteration.”

Tyondai Braxton – ‘UnFS’ and ‘Piiano’

Tyondai Braxton, who used to front the experimental rock outfit Battles, has announced a new album. Splayed Werks, out August 21, comprises 15 electronic and electroacoustic compositions, and today we get to hear two of them, the intricately percolating ‘UnFS’ and the eerily ambient ‘Piiano’. “Every record I’ve ever finished, I’ve been shocked with what it is,” Braxton reflected. “I’ve never known it was finished until it was. Then you get to learn about it retroactively. If I’ve done it right, the finished thing will feel like its own personality, its own being, its own vibe. [Splayed Werks] included.”

Liquid Mike – ‘Drowning Machine’

Liquid Mike tackle weighty subject matter on their new single, ‘Drowning Machine’, but their brand of punk rock is still hooky as well. The track draws inspiration from a range of people vocalist/guitarist Mike Maple grew up with or knew from a distance that died young. It arrives ahead of a run of dates with Teen Suicide and Cloud Nothings, PONY, and Prince Daddy & the Hyena.

Party Dozen – ‘Special Unit’

Party have signed to City Slang, marking the announcement with an invigorating new song called ‘Special Unit’. The Australian duo shared the following statement to introduce the accompanying video: “You have the right to remain stupid. Anything you say or do will be laughable. If you cannot afford common sense, a version of it will be provided for you. You have minimal training and exhibit zero qualities that qualify you for the authority bestowed upon you. So here’s your gun, and your uniform. Have fun out there and welcome to SPECIAL UNIT.”

Swapmeet – ‘2 C U’

Swapmeet have previewed theirt upcoming debut LP Mount Zero with an intoxicating track, ‘2 C U’. The song “captures the excitement of wanting to see someone, the mindless things you think or do in anticipation, and how the nerves that follow cannot be controlled,” according to the band.

Truck Violence – ‘Your name, It’s walking’

Truck Violence have unleashed a new single, ‘Your name, It’s walking’, from their forthcoming LP The weathervane is my body. The pulverizing track comes paired with a music video directed by Kirill Sommer.

Play Time – ‘Open the Door, Joey’

Play Time – the trio of percussionist Booker Stardrum (SML, Photay, Lisel, Wendy Eisenberg, Jefre Cantu-Ledesma), saxophonist Will Epstein (Nicolás Jaar, Photay, DARKSIDE, Dave Harrington), and synth player Ben Vida (Marina Rosenfeld, YarnWire, Lea Bertucci, Tyondai Braxton) – have announced their debut LP, Magic Object, landing July 3 on Balmat. The first single, ‘Open the Door, Joey’, is spectral and mesmerizing. “You’re hearing us discover the voice of the band in real time,” Vida shared. “We finished those sessions and we were like, ‘Oh, that’s what our band sounds like now.’”

Worst Ex Ever Season 3: Cast, Rumours & Release Date

Alexandra Pleșa
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Worst Ex Ever Season 3: Cast, Rumours & Release Date

Worst Ex Ever is back with season 2. Unfortunately, the four stories it features are no less horrifying. The true crime series serves both as nightmare fuel and cautionary tale, which may be why it’s currently drawing in viewers from all over the world.

With 8 million views last week, Worst Ex Ever became the third most-watched show on Netflix globally, as well as the #1 show in four countries. Should we expect more episodes somewhere down the line?

Worst Ex Ever Season 3 Release Date

At the time of writing, there’s no official news available about a potential Worst Ex Ever season 3. That doesn’t mean a follow-up isn’t going to happen.

The second season debuted recently, so Netflix might be waiting to assess viewership before committing to more episodes. As long as another season gets the green light, new episodes could arrive in a year or two.

Worst Ex Ever Cast

  • Kelly Matthews
  • Kristen Wilson Chapman
  • Sabrina Grigsby
  • Matt Johnson
  • Christopher Lane
  • Nicholas Jones
  • Heather Ens

What Is Worst Ex Ever About?

A true crime anthology, the series explores relationships that spiraled. They eventually devolved into manipulation, abuse, stalking, or even murder. It’s created by the team behind Worst Roommate Ever and combines interviews with dramatic reenactments to examine how love turned into nightmare. Each episode focuses on a different case, told largely from the perspective of survivors.

Season 2 opens with “Dating the Deadpool Killer,” an episode centred on Kelly Matthews and her relationship with Wade Wilson. A heavily tattooed Florida man, he initially appeared charming. As the relationship progressed, however, Wilson became increasingly erratic and violent.

The episode follows the horrifying escalation that eventually leads to Wade murdering two women. If his name sounds familiar, he was internationally known as the “Deadpool Killer” because he shares a name with the Marvel character. The episode examines how warning signs were overlooked and how law enforcement handled earlier complaints against him, which makes it particularly infuriating.

The second episode focuses on Geoffrey Paschel, known from 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days. The third tells the unsettling story of Katie Long and Joyce Pelzer, while the fourth follows Karen Kummerer’s abusive relationship with Scott Freeman.

If Worst Ex Ever season 3 happens, it will likely follow the same pattern, sharing disturbing stories that stay with you. Light viewing, this is not.

Are There Other Shows Like Worst Ex Ever?

If you were gripped by Worst Ex Ever, check out some of the other true crime content available on Netflix. Recent additions include Should I Marry a Murderer?, Trust Me: The False Prophet, The Predator of Seville, and The TikTok Killer.

Son Lux Announce New Album ‘Out Into’, Share New Song ‘Endlessly’

Konstantinos Pappis
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Son Lux Announce New Album ‘Out Into’, Share New Song ‘Endlessly’

Son Lux have announced a new album, Out Into, which is set for release on September 18 via This Is Meru/City Slang. It’s led by the nervy, motivational new single ‘Endlessly’, which was originally commissioned by the Bluecoats, a marching ensemble based in Canton, Ohio. Check it out and find the album cover and tracklist below.

“We’re going places we’ve never gone before in terms of energy, attitude, color,” the group’s Ryan Lott said of the new LP. “And it all comes from having reverence for those initial sparks, for treating the voice memo version of the idea as the most sacred iteration.”

“When I say ‘find,’ I also mean ‘become’ and ‘change,’” Lott continued. “We’re continually changing as we learn who we are. That’s partly what Out Into means. We come out of something and into something else. Every moment is an exit and an entrance at the same time.” Rafiq Bhatia added, “There’s this way in which Ryan is imploring people to have deep human experiences and connections, and run toward those things. And for us, creating is an example of that. His lyrics feel hand-in-glove with how these songs were made. There’s an intimacy to the way we’re consenting to the terms and conditions of modern life.”

Son Lux’s new project follows a pandemic-era trio of albums: Tomorrows 1, Tomorrows 2, and Tomorrows 3. They’ve since scored two films, 2022’s Everything Everywhere All At Once and 2025’s Thunderbolts*. They also released an EP, Risk of Make Believe, in January 2025.

Out Into Cover Artwork:

[Album Artwork] Son Lux - Out Into

Out Into Tracklist:

. Want You To Love
2. Out Into Us
3. Endlessly
4. Even If it Hurts
5. You Could Be The One
6. Summer’s Gone
7. Apparition
8. No God Like A King

Xiu Xiu Announce ‘Xiu Xiu Eraserhead’ Studio Album

Konstantinos Pappis
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Xiu Xiu Announce ‘Xiu Xiu Eraserhead’ Studio Album

Last month, I got to see Xiu Xiu’s live show reimaging David Lynch’s Eraserhead, preceded by a screening of the film. It was a truly mind-bending experience, and I hoped it’d get the studio treatment. That’s exactly what’s being announced today: Eraserhead Xiu Xiu is out July 10 via Polyvinyl, and along with the news, they’ve shared their chilling rendition of the movie’s ‘In Heaven’, originally written by Peter Ivers, with lyrics by Lynch. Check it out below.

Xiu Xiu have a string of dates lined up in the fall, where they’ll be playing their Eraserhead set. Aside from the new album, you can prepare by revisiting 2016’s Plays the Music of Twin Peaks. Even if the new record faithfully captures the performance, though, nothing can fully prepare you for its visual component. Trust me.

Revisit our 2024 interview with Xiu Xiu.

Eraserhead Xiu Xiu Cover Artwork:

eraserhead

Eraserhead Xiu Xiu Tracklist:

1. Viento
2. Sleep Synth
3. Tetra
4. Steampipe
5. Smashy Smashy
6. Ether
7. In Heaven

Inside Times Square — Sorry — Inside Gucci Cruise 2027

Vera Adamidou
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Inside Times Square — Sorry — Inside Gucci Cruise 2027

Incoming trick question: where would someone holding a selfie stick like an Olympic torch and wearing an “I love NY” hoodie still warm from the gift shop shelf, find Kim Kardashian, Lindsay Lohan, Alix Earle, Willy Chavarria, even Anna Wintour, within the same neon-lit radius on a Saturday night? I know you thought of Times Square and immediately turned down the visual. You should. Unless, of course, it’s Gucci Cruise Saturday. The only night where this exact encounter can happen simultaneously with a Spider-Man asking for $20, an M&M’s Store bag swinging dangerously close to your face, narrowly dodged with a panic-purchased $9 bottle of water. So much for Gucci losing its weird. If nothing else, Demna understands the value of a public hallucination.

Gucci Cruise 2027
@gucci via Instagram

With no distance left between fashion and commerce, and the smell of street hot dogs hanging in the air, banners had Gucci written all over them. Half an hour before the show, the LED walls attempted a scenic getaway to nature. Picture golden sunsets, the greenest fields, horses running in slow, AI-generated loops, all politely interrupted by Gucci advertisements. Gucci water, Gucci pets, even Gucci life longevity supplements made it onto the screens. Good thing the Gucci world was separated from the real one by nothing more than black fences. And without warning, everything went pitch black. Seconds later, the show’s opening look appeared live across the surrounding screens, pulling even Spider-Man, still somewhere in the crowd asking for $20, into the brand’s reality.

Gucci Cruise 2027
@gucci via Instagram

Demna has a thing for characters, clearly seen in La Famiglia to Primavera, and now in GucciCore. This “core wardrobe” brought out the classics. Suits looked to the Tom Ford era, web stripes to the Alessandro Michele one. Outerwear is everywhere, oversized furs, pared-back trenchcoats, peacoats in English wool, usually reserved for British royalty, or their guards. Denim also found its way onto the lineup, sometimes glazed like a donut, placed between subtle florals and animal prints. As did midi skirts and dresses, with the brightest moment seen on Paris Hilton, her previously unseen brown hair oddly grounding a vivid yellow look.

Gucci Cruise 2027
@gucci via Instagram

The cast was unexpected, to say the least. Tom Brady confirmed the “leather for the boys” moment, while Cindy Crawford closed the runway in full feathers, just before Alex Consani appeared looking like a beautiful, slightly unsettling doll. wearing the collection’s star. She wore the collection’s standout piece, a sheer, almost dissolving dress, the kind of fabric that feels like it’s still deciding whether it wants to exist as clothing or atmosphere, layered with an alarming amount of jewelry. And just like that, Times Square went back to selling everything to everyone.

Album Review: Kevin Morby, ‘Little Wide Open’

Konstantinos Pappis
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Album Review: Kevin Morby, ‘Little Wide Open’

How do you relate to Kevin Morby’s music if you’ve never even been to the Midwest? So much of the singer-songwriter’s work is beloved for its sense of place; I tend to appreciate it because it never seems entirely tied to a single one. Even as he delivers his most settled and, by all accounts, most Midwestern album to date, Morby’s life is split between Kansas City and Los Angeles, as he and his partner, Waxahatchee’s Katie Crutchfield, are expecting their first child. Tour has always been a kind of home to them both, and Morby’s discography offers a taste of different parts of the US: an hour in NYC, another in Memphis, and then you’re off to the next city. In the past decade that I’ve been aware of his music, his albums have never found me in the same place, and I doubt the next one will. Little Wide Open, in its grand simplicity and cautious optimism, doesn’t cling to Middle America as a nostalgic signifier but mines its abundance of imagery, honouring a beautiful region you can drive through but will always ride passenger to time. It’s the same where you are; Morby just makes the truth easier to embrace.

1. Badlands

“Don’t underestimate midwest American sun,” Kevin Morby sang at the heart of 2022’s Sundowner, “Try as you might but you will not outrun the burn.” The sentiment isn’t too far off from the one that opens Little Wide Open, except the looming sense of oblivion doesn’t shrink down his songwriting; “Heaven is a place on Earth” and “the sky expands and you and I expire.” Morby doesn’t sound irreparably alone here – he’s even got Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon mimicking the tornado siren for the listener’s sake, plus sweetening backing vocals from Sylvan Esso’s Amelia Meath and burbling lines from Aaron Dessner. 

2. Die Young

In a committed relationship, the fear that one partner will pass on first isn’t irrational – it’s a certainty that can unnerve the most contented souls. “I know that it’s going to hurt if I get there first,” Morby bellows on the opener, but on the following track, he offers a pact: “Let our songs build rooms in time/ And see to it that if we die young/ I’ll live on through you/ And you’ll live on through me too.” Grateful to have replaced the “if” with “that,” he lets fear out the back door.

3. Javelin

Morby is preoccupied with “everything ending now,” but his backing band sounds raucous and radiant, setting him loose as Meath’s melody is traced by electric guitar, synths, and horns. Andrew Barr’s drums are especially prominent, reinforcing Morby’s troubadour affirmations. 

4. All Sinners

Over cloudlike percussion, Aaron Dessner’s subtly warm contributions have a clarifying quality: when Morby sings of a wind in the distance, Dessner seems to calculate its force. It gives the album’s most illuminating couplet the space to breathe: “If time plays tiny violins then we play symphonies through the centuries/ And if time is a violent ride, then we ride passenger.”

5. Natural Disaster

If the first four songs swell with gratitude, ‘Natural Disaster’ gives way to the burden of insecurity, voiced by none other than Lucinda Williams in a brief but sobering spoken-word bit. When the natural metaphors dry up and the pictures don’t do his inner world justice, Morby’s current of words succumbs to plain emotionalism, which works wonders. Oliver Hill’s strings rush in to animate the ghosts Williams warns of, then gladly fold into tears and laughter. 

6. 100,000

The song might as well have been left on the cutting room floor were it not for Meg Duffy of Hand Habits, who thunders in with a guitar solo (backed by their Perfume Genius bandmate Tim Carr on drums) that’s especially funny after an unexpected Metallica reference.

7. Little Wide Open

The feeling of smallness may recur in Morby’s discography, but it’s rarely sounded so epiphanic. The title track stretches on for a solid eight minutes, each musical layer – from Katie Gavin’s backing vocals to Mat Davidson’s fiddle to Collin Croom’s pedal steel – sliding in as a gentle affirmation. It’s no surprise the album’s centerpiece is an epic paean to vulnerability, but its most disarming lines are also its most humorous: “Humiliate me baby, fuck me up bad/ Drag all our secrets like cats from the bag/ Use all our insides to decorate the parade.” At every turn, the promise of drifting off into solitude belies the thrill of companionship; and within the dream of eternal anonymity hides the kindness of those named in the credits and beyond.

8. Cowtown

The simple camaraderie between Morby and Dessner shines on ‘Cowtown’, which credits just the two of them. In fact, Dessner is content to let himself drift in the background, as Morby creates the illusion of being alone with his guitar in a chuckle-inducing meta moment. Little Wide Open may be a sprawling album, but it’s in these lonely little moments that his longing for escape really resonates. 

9. Bible Belt

The record’s lonesome stretch continues on ‘Bible Belt’, an unassuming highlight that honours the highway’s liminal spaces. Morby’s wordplay is comforting more than just clever: “Life on Earth may take some time/ And you can’t avoid a void so wide.” 

10. I Ride Passenger

The album was almost called I Ride Passenger, and the song’s central idea – when it comes to the passage of time, we’re all in the same boat – still reverberates through the record. Here, Morby brings it to life by making the fiddle and piano, instruments that carry weight lyrically, feel like the main players while he takes the back seat. But the sad and familiar song he makes them play harbours memories of home, which smells like cinnamon and roses and motor oil. Then it slows down, turning slightly ominous, “Cause time is a violent driver.”

11. Junebug

It’s still a wonderful ride, though. ‘Junebug’ buoys the record’s dark, sinister edges with a lovely melody, adorned by Tom Moth’s harp as Morby’s morning bird meditations return to the purity of childhood. 

12. Dandelion

Morby’s vignette-like lyricism crystallizes on ‘Dandelion’, but the image that jumps out to me is that of friends writing songs about butterflies, which sets up the final track.

13. Field Guide for the Butterflies

Field Guide to the North American Butterfly is a vintage book Morby stumbled upon at Dickson Street Books in Fayetteville, Arkansas; he repurposes the title as if grateful to have found a better word for sensitive types than “wallflower,” addressing those of us who clam up against the conquering vastness: “Can’t be too brave out there, beneath the sky.” But you still have to muster some amount of courage in a world where death is not always natural, which is why the stereotype of sitting against the wall feels unsuitable. And you still have to be grateful: “Thank God that we didn’t die young/ Flying over highways like we weren’t butterflies,” he sings near the start of the album. Morby hatches his metaphors early; we just get to watch them grow. 

Rivals Season 3: Cast, Rumours & Release Date

Alexandra Pleșa
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Rivals Season 3: Cast, Rumours & Release Date

Chaotic drama Rivals is back with season 2, and the wait between installments has been worth it. The show is just as juicy and addictive as you remember.

A fun blend of scandal and romance, Rivals raises the stakes during its sophomore run, so it’s safe to assume that it will get even more bonkers. Could that mean a third season is also in the cards?

Rivals Season 3 Release Date

At the time of writing, there’s no official news about a potential Rivals season 3. That said, the future looks promising.

Season 2 will consist of 12 episodes, more than the mere 8 we got in season 1. On top of that, executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins is optimistic.

“We’ve already planned season 3. It’s not officially greenlit yet, but the stories are all done. We’re ready. We’re ready to go,” he said.

If all goes well, a third outing could arrive sometime in 2027.

Rivals Cast

  • Alex Hassell as Rupert Campbell-Black
  • Nafessa Williams as Cameron Cook
  • Emily Atack as Sarah Stratton
  • Oliver Chris as James Vereker
  • Danny Dyer as Freddie Jones
  • David Tennant as Tony, Lord Baddingham
  • Aidan Turner as Declan O’Hara
  • Victoria Smurfit as Maud O’Hara
  • Lisa McGrillis as Valerie Jones

What Is Rivals About?

Inspired by Jilly Cooper’s bestselling 1988 novel of the same name, Rivals takes place in the fictional English county of Rutshire during the 1980s.

An intoxicating mix of glamour, sex, politics, and romance, it’s set against the backdrop of the booming independent television industry. The story revolves around the bitter rivalry between former Olympian and notorious womanizer Rupert Campbell-Black and TV executive Lord Tony Baddingham. Their battle for media dominance drags an entire social circle into emotional disaster.

The first season finale went full soap opera and left Tony’s fate uncertain. Turns out, he’s still kicking in season 2, but he’s even more vindictive than before. We’re predicting messier public scandals and romantic entanglements ahead.

While Rivals season 3 isn’t a sure bet yet, the second season is still ongoing. In the UK, you can catch episodes weekly on Disney+ until early June. The final six episodes of the season will arrive at a later date yet to be announced.

Are There Other Shows Like Rivals?

If you’re enjoying Rivals, shows with similar vibes include Mad Men, This Is England, GLOW, Pose, The Morning Show, and Masters of Sex.

Alternatively, check out some of the other titles trending on Disney+. Like The Testaments, Scrubs, Paradise, and Love Story.

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