Review Day

There are no major spoilers in these reviews.

Veronica Mars (PG-13):
Since this movie was birthed on Kickstarter by fans of the old TV show, it's clear from the opening moments that it's for fans only -- new viewers will not find enough to appreciate in the series of neverending cameos, callbacks, and continuity. The movie plays out like an extended TV episode, brimming with familiar actors and staying open-ended enough for future expansion. It had been a few years since I watched the show, but I was mostly able to recall all of the characters that kept showing up -- the ones that I didn't recognize didn't impact my enjoyment. The "case" being solved during the movie is good enough, but you'll probably want to watch it just to spend more time with your favorite characters.

Final Grade: B+

Newsroom, Season One:
This is a show about a news program that decides to stop pandering to the audience and only report the facts. The show relies upon a sea of flawed, human characters and witty banter as it walks through notable news events of the past few years. At times, it's almost as emotionally manipulative as the media it skewers, and it's not quite clear whether this is an intentional, ironic choice or not. Overall, the season kept me amused for ten episodes, and I would watch more, but I wouldn't stand in line in the rain for it.

Final Grade: B

La Roux by La Roux:
This is a CD of electronic dance music featuring a female vocalist. I really liked Tigerlily and Bulletproof, but the rest of the songs are forgettable. I felt like most of the songs featured too many timbres in her higher octave, which was annoyingly thin and reedy, like an unsure oboist in concert band.

Final Grade: C+

Yes! by K-OS:
A catchy hip-hop album by the Crabbuckit guy. Some songs are more successful than others, and his experimental stuff falls kind of flat.

Final Grade: B-