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Eels Share New Single ‘Christmas, Why You Gotta Do Me Like This’

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Eels have released a new holiday track, ‘Christmas, Why You Gotta Do Me Like This’. It’s set to appear on their upcoming compilation EELS So Good: Essential EELS, Vol.2, which is out December 15, and follows the band’s previous festive songs, ‘Everything’s Gonna Be Cool This Christmas’ and ‘Christmas is Going to the Dogs’. Listen below.

Eeels’ new compilation follows Meet the EELS: Essential EELS 1996-2006 Vol. 1, which came out in 2008. It spans 20 songs, including three previously unreleased tracks.

Bolis Pupul Announces New Album ‘Letter to Yu’, Shares New Single

Bolis Pupul has announced his debut solo album, Letter to Yu. Following the producer and singer-songwriter’s 2022 album with Charlotte Adigéry, Topical Dancer, the 11-track LP comes out March 8 via their label DEEWEE. Lead single ‘Completely Half’ arrives with a music video filmed in Hong Kong and directed by Bieke Depoorter. Check it out and find Letter to Yu‘s details below.

Made with Soulwax, Letter to Yu is a love letter to Pupul’s late mother, who passed away in 2008 in a traffic accident. “When I started to think about my roots, I started to embrace them,” Pupul, who was born to a Belgian father and a Chinese mother, said in press materials. “And it became more and more important for me to get in touch with them. I went to evening school and began learning Chinese. I did that for four years. That was the first step.”

In 2018, Pupul made his first visit to Hong Kong with the intention of locating where his mother, Yu Wei Wun, was born. He began writing a letter to her, which eventually became “the centerpiece of this album.” Pupul added, “Even though this trip was very emotional and at times sad, I also had some great times that just made me really happy. This resulted in a very uplifting melody where I felt like I could handle my life.”

Letter to Yu Cover Artwork: 

Letter to Yu Tracklist: 

1. Letter To Yu
2. Completely Half
3. Goodnight Mr Yi
4. Frogs
5. Doctor Says
6. Spicy Crab
7. Ma Tau Wei Road (feat. Salah Pupul)
8. Causeway Bae
9. Cantonese
10. Kowloon
11. Cosmic Rendez-Vous1. Letter To Yu
2. Completely Half
3. Goodnight Mr Yi
4. Frogs
5. Doctor Says
6. Spicy Crab
7. Ma Tau Wei Road (feat. Salah Pupul)
8. Causeway Bae
9. Cantonese
10. Kowloon
11. Cosmic Rendez-Vous

Review: 21 (2008)

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Running a fast one on Las Vegas Casinos, has been a dream that has captivated countless people. With many blockbuster Hollywood films and documentaries about cheating Vegas celebrating this dream, even with hackers taking down Vegas casinos. But what if one group actually made this a reality without cyber attacks, but with sheer ingenuity and probability? Such is the premise of the 2008 movie, “21.”

Plot Overview

“21” revolves around the true story of the MIT Blackjack Team, focusing on the character Ben Campbell and his involvement in a group of students using their mathematical skills to beat the casinos in Las Vegas. Ben Campbell, needs a $300,000 scholarship for Harvard medical school. He is recruited by Professor Rosa to join a group of card-counters planning to make a fortune in Vegas on weekends.

Card counting is a strategy used in certain casino card games, particularly in blackjack, to gain an advantage over the house by keeping track of the ratio of high-value to low-value cards remaining in the deck or shoe. While not illegal, casinos generally frown upon and may ban individuals found to be card counting.

Ben initially resists but eventually joins the team and learns the blackjack system through montage sequences and passes the test. The team goes to Vegas, and they start winning. Casino security begins to notice their activities, and that’s where the thrill of the chase, the ultimate cat and mouse game begins.

Character Portrayals

The lead character, Ben Campbell, portrayed by Jim Sturgess, is central to the narrative. Other notable characters include Kevin Spacey as Mickey Rosa, Laurence Fishburne as Cole Williams, and Kate Bosworth as Jill. Each character contributes to the dynamics of the story.

Behind-the-Scenes Talent

The success of the film is attributed to the direction of Robert Luketic, the screenplay by Peter Steinfeld and Allan Loeb, and the dedication of producers Dana Brunetti and Kevin Spacey.

Critical Reception and Awards

Jim Sturgess’s Hollywood debut was an exciting journey, and the cast embraced the Vegas experience, immersing themselves in the world of MIT students turned gamblers. Kevin Spacey faced challenges during the film’s production but ultimately found success in bringing the story to the screen.

Despite receiving only average ratings on platforms like Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb, the movie gained popularity and was nominated for awards, winning the ‘Best Ensemble’ category at the 2008 ShoWest Convention USA.

Other Notable Casino Movies

There are many iconic casino movies that have captivated audiences with their thrilling plots, high-stakes games, and glamorous settings. Here are some famous casino movies like 21 that romanticize the casino industry:

  1. Casino (1995):
    • Directed by Martin Scorsese, “Casino” is a classic film set in the world of Las Vegas casinos. Starring Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Sharon Stone, the movie explores the rise and fall of a casino empire and the intricate relationships within.
  2. Ocean’s Eleven (2001):
    • Directed by Steven Soderbergh, “Ocean’s Eleven” is a heist film featuring an ensemble cast led by George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Julia Roberts. The story revolves around a plan to rob three Las Vegas casinos simultaneously.
  3. Rounders (1998):
    • Starring Matt Damon and Edward Norton, “Rounders” is a drama about high-stakes poker. Damon plays a reformed gambler drawn back into the world of underground poker to help his friend pay off a debt.
  4. The Sting (1973):
    • Directed by George Roy Hill and starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford, “The Sting” is a classic film set in the 1930s about two con men who plan an elaborate scheme to con a mob boss.

21’s Influence on the iGaming Industry

While many have mixed opinions about 21, its impact on casino culture, especially for blackjack players, continues to be felt. Unlike land-based casinos, the upper-echelon of online casinos, which today are worth hundreds of billion dollars, have extensive and detailed guides about poker and Blackjack games, with success tips on how to win. No doubt some players were inspired by 21 to sharpen their blackjack skills, so they can win lucrative blackjack tournaments, that can top hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Spending Your Spare Time The Right Way

Are you fed up with spending your spare time scrolling your phone? When we have spare time and don’t use it to our advantage, it is a waste.

It doesn’t matter if you want to start an arts and crafts hobby or a new sport, it is good to spend your spare time wisely. 

Using this guide, you can find the best ways to make the most of your spare time.

Play a game

When you have spare time and want some fun, you can play the likes of spider solitaire online. Passing the time by playing games is a lot of fun and will guarantee to make the time go quicker.

You can play these alone or with friends. Either way, you can enhance your gaming skills and have a lot of fun. You don’t need to scroll your phone. Instead, you can play a computer or app game and have lots of fun. Who knows, you might even find a new hobby.

Coffee with friends

What better way to spend spare time than having coffee with friends? You can catch up with an old friend or take a colleague for tea at the local coffee shop. 

It is good to socialize when you have spare time. It helps your mind stay connected and your mental health stay good. You can go for a walk to get your steps in. Or, stay cozy inside and enjoy some time gossiping and sharing news.

Learn a new skill

Whether or not you are a skillful person, it can be a great idea to spend your spare time learning a new skill. Whether you have an idea to learn a new language or how to paint, do it. There are so many new skills you can pick up.

These skills can be for fun. Or, you could use them in your career or a side hustle. It is great to challenge yourself and learn new things. Your brain will remain healthy and you can feel fulfilled in your free time.

Relax in the bath

Ooh, what sounds better than spending an hour or so relaxing in a bath? We must make time for self-care. If you don’t often find enough time to relax and indulge in yourself, try to spend your spare moments doing things like this.

A long relaxing soak in the bath will do your mind and body wonders. It is good for your muscles to de-stress and your mind to get lost in the essence of silence.

Read a new book

If you are someone who enjoys reading or knows they want to read more, it is a smart move to read more books when you have time. 

You can find something to challenge yourself. You can use these challenging books to learn new things. Or, you can pick up stories from your favorite author and get lost for 30 minutes or so. Find somewhere comfortable to read as this will make the experience much nicer. Plus, it might encourage you to spend a little longer relaxing. This is great for your mind and body.

Create something fun

Do you like the sound of making new things? If so, it is a great idea to spend your spare time creating things. You could learn a new skill and learn how to make furniture from leftover wood. 

There are so many things you can create in your spare time. Whatever comes to mind, do it and have fun with it. You might pick up a new hobby and continue spending your spare time doing things that bring you joy.

Get that body moving

Why not boost your fitness when you have a bit of free time? If you have a spare hour, you could use it to go for a run and have a hot shower.

It is wise to fit exercise into your weekly routine. If you don’t often find the time to exercise, it makes sense to do it when you get spare time. If exercise isn’t something you enjoy, you might be able to think of other ways to spend your spare time. But, you need to know it is good for you and you will feel amazing afterward.

Did you know that having a nap can be productive?

A nap is actually a productive way to spend your leisure time. If you are feeling tired, your body will benefit from the extra rest. 

It is good to get 20 to 30 minutes. This gives your body and brain enough time to unwind and reset itself. You should wake up feeling like new!

Get that to-do list finished

If you have an evergrowing to-do list, try to use your spare time to run errands. Sounds terrific, right?

You will find yourself feeling satisfied when it comes to the end of your spare time and you have a lot fewer things on your mind. If you have been meaning to go to the post office, you can do this. You might even have time to return the clothes you bought two weeks ago. Whatever you need to do, try and get it done in your spare time.

See more of the fantastic world

If you enjoy travel, it is a great idea to spend your spare time exploring new places. You could explore local places and see more of where you live. 

Or, your spare time might look like a few days due to the annual holiday. Either way, use this time to explore more of the world. Adventuring is great for the soul and it will leave you feeling fulfilled. Even if you don’t have anyone to go with, you will feel rewarded. Don’t let a lack of people put you off from seeing the world. You can have so much fun on your own.

Using this guide, you can find the best ways to use your spare time. You don’t need to lie around being bored. There is so much you can do to feel satisfied.

Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo Announced as Final ‘SNL’ Musical Guests of 2023

Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo have been announced as the musical guests for the last two Saturday Night Live episodes of 2023. On December 9, Rodrigo will return for a second time as the musical guest with host Adam Driver, while Eilish is set to perform on the December 16 edition of the show, hosted by SNL alum and Barbie star Kate McKinnon. This week’s episode is hosted by Emma Stone, with Noah Kahan making his SNL debut as musical guest.

Future Islands Release New Single ‘The Fight’

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Future Islands have dropped a new single, ‘The Fight’, taken from their upcoming album People Who Aren’t There Anymore. It follows previous singles ‘The Tower’, ‘Peach’, ‘King of Sweden’, and ‘Deep in the Night’. Check it out below.

People Who Aren’t There Anymore is set to arrive on January 26 via 4AD.

Watch Keanu Reeves’ Dogstar Perform ‘Breach’ on ‘Kimmel’

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Dogstar were the musical guests on last night’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live. The band – which features Keanu Reeves on bass, guitarist/vocalist Bret Domrose, and drummer Robert Mailhouse – performed ‘Breach’, a single from their latest album Somewhere Between the Palm Trees and Power Lines. Watch it below.

Somewhere Between The Palm Trees and Power Lines, Dogstar’s third studio album and first since 2000’s Happy Ending, came out in June.

MGMT Share Video for New Single ‘Bubblegum Dog’

MGMT have shared ‘Bubblegum Dog’, the second single from their upcoming album Loss of Life. Following lead cut ‘Mother Nature’, the track arrives with an accompanying video directed by Julia Vickerman and The Best Show co-host Tom Scharpling. Check it out below.

“We all saw the video for ‘Bubblegum Dog’ as an opportunity to combine the charming, DIY, surreal, cardboard craft aesthetic of shows like Yo Gabba Gabba and The Mighty Boosh with these ultra-serious grunge videos we grew up watching on MTV – all that heavy, brooding angst smashed up against absurd childlike fun,” Vickerman and Scharpling said in a statement.

“Ben and Andrew are legitimately funny guys, so we were excited they got to really go for it with their acting, paying homage to the eternally moody mid-90’s rock stars they looked up to when they were kids,” they continued. “They were completely game for everything, playing around with different wigs/costumes/personas/facial hair and continually chiming in with new ideas along the way. That was a wonderful feeling, because it let us know they were having a good time. For the climax of the video, they let us shoot gallons of pink slime at their faces, which we appreciated. Ben got quite a bit in his mouth, which was unintentional … but he thought it was funny, so then we were allowed to think it was funny.”

The Jesus and Mary Chain Announce New Album ‘Glasgow Eyes’, Share New Single

The Jesus and Mary Chain have announced their next album, Glasgow Eyes, which is scheduled for release on March 8 via Fuzz Club. Check out the lead single ‘jamcod’ along with the LP’s cover and tracklist below.

Glasgow Eyes, which follows 2017’s Damage and Joy, was recorded at Mogwai’s Castle of Doom studio in Glasgow, with Jim and William Reid drawing inspiration from “Suicide and Kraftwerk and a fresh appreciation of the less disciplined attitudes found in jazz,” per a press release. “But don’t expect ‘the Mary Chain goes jazz,'” Jim Reid remarked. “People should expect a Jesus and Mary Chain record, and that’s certainly what Glasgow Eyes is. Our creative approach is remarkably the same as it was in 1984, just hit the studio and see what happens. We went in with a bunch of songs and let it take its course. There are no rules, you just do whatever it takes. And there’s a telepathy there – we are those weird not-quite twins that finish each other’s sentences.”

Glasgow Eyes Cover Artwork:

Glasgow Eyes Tracklist:

1. Venal Joy
2. American Born
3. Mediterranean X Film
4. jamcod
5. Discotheque
6. Pure Poor
7. The Eagles and The Beatles
8. Silver Strings
9. Chemical Animal
10. Second of June
11. Girl 71
12. Hey Lou Reid

Militarie Gun Enlist Bully for New Version of ‘Never Fucked Up Twice’

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Militarie Gun have shared new versions of two songs from their debut LP Life Under the Gun. Listen to ‘Never Fucked Up Twice’ featuring Bully vocalist Alicia Bognanno and ‘Very High (Under The Sun)’ below.

In addition to the new tracks, Militarie Gun have announced a run of 2024 North American tour dates, marking the band’s first full headlining tour since the album’s release. It’s set to kick off on January 31 in Phoenix, Arizona and wraps up in Seattle, Washington on March 9.

Militarie Gun 2024 Tour Dates with Pool Kids and Spiritual Cramp:

Jan 31 – Phoenix, AZ – The Rebel Lounge*
Feb 2 – Dallas, TX – Rubber Gloves*
Feb 3 – Austin, TX – Mohawk*
Feb 4 – Houston, TX – House of Blues Bronze Peacock*
Feb 6 – Nashville, TN – Basement East*
Feb 7 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade (Purgatory)*
Feb 8 – Tampa, FL – The Crowbar*
Feb 9 – Miami, FL – Gramps*
Feb 10 – Tallahassee, FL – 926 Bar*
Feb 12 – Raleigh, NC – Kings^
Feb 13 – Washington, DC – The Atlantis^
Feb 14 – Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church^
Feb 15 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom^
Feb 16 – Boston, MA – The Sinclair^
Feb 17 – Montreal, QC – Les Foufounes Electriques^
Feb 18 – Ottawa, ON – The Brass Monkey^
Feb 20 -Toronto, ON – Velvet Underground^
Feb 21 – New Kensington, PA – Preserving Underground^
Feb 22 – Detroit, MI – Edgemen Printing^
Feb 23 – Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge^
Feb 24 – Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry^
Feb 25 – Kansas City, MO – recordBar^
Feb 26 – Denver, CO – Marquis Theatre+
Feb 28 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court+
Feb 29 – Las Vegas, NV – Eagle Aerie Hall+
Mar 2 – Santa Cruz, CA – The Atrium at The Catalyst+
Mar 3 – San Francisco, CA – Noise Pop @ Rickshaw Stop+
Mar 5 – Sacramento, CA – The Starlet Room+
Mar 7 – Portland, OR – Polaris Hall+
Mar 8 – Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theatre+
Mar 9 – Seattle, WA – Neumos+

* with Death Lens
^ with Spaced
+ with Roman Candle