Category: Pop Culture

The Future Looks Bright for Jem and The Holograms

On By Amy Lordan-TrippIn Pop Culture, TelevisionLeave a comment

Earlier this month, BOOM! Studios, in collaboration with Hasbro, announced that it has licensed the publishing rights to the fabulous ’80s IP Jem and The Holograms! Here’s what BOOM! Studios detailed in a press release:

Fans can look forward to all-new stories with Jem and all her friends coming from BOOM! Studios in 2026, along with a BOOM! Direct Reserve Campaign collecting the historic run of JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS comics launching on Kickstarter this November.

The news arrives during the brand’s milestone 40th anniversary, following the debut of new dolls from The Loyal Subjects, marking an exciting new era for the iconic franchise.

“I was part of the team that brought JEM & THE HOLOGRAMS back to comics in 2015 and saw first-hand the positive impact our stories had on a broad and diverse community of readers,” said Michael Kelly, Publisher of BOOM! Studios. “I could not be happier than to be working with Jerrica, Kimber, Stormer and the rest of the group (yeah, even Pizzazz) once again.”

Note that the new dolls from The Loyal Subjects are available to pre-order from their website. Some are even scheduled to ship before the holidays (Hint, hint). For continuing news on Jem and The Holograms and more from BOOM! Studios, stay tuned to this blog.

Bandcamp Friday Picks March 2025

On By Amy Lordan-TrippIn Music, Pop Culture, Shoegaze, Synth PopLeave a comment
  • Winter Gardens – “Anthropocene” This fantastic synth wave/shoegaze single is such a tease. I want a full-length album from this UK outfit!
  • Andy Bell – Pinball Wanderer Shimmering dream pop plus some groovy Madchester-sounding tunes from Ride’s Andy Bell. Includes a heavenly cover of The Passions’ “I’m In Love with a German Film Star” featuring Dot Allison and Michael Rother. It’s on one of my favorite labels-Sonic Cathedral.
  • Saint Etienne – The Night Somehow, I missed this chill album when it came out in December of last year. It’s a shift for the band, moving to a more ambient, atmospheric vibe.
Travels With Brindle | Photo by Vintage Girl Studios
  • Travels With Brindle – No. 1 In Heaven Starring Travels With Brindle This fully-licensed Sparks covers album takes the original Giorgio Moroder-produced disco gems and gives them a lovely, twee second life. Recommended for fans of The Magnetic Fields.
  • Various Artists – Los Angeles Rising Nick Cave, PJ Harvey, Jarvis Cocker, and others have donated previously unreleased tracks for this fundraising compilation to aid those affected by the Los Angeles fires.
  • Die Feen – Dinner & Drinks & Desserts Addictive dark wave with a touch of new wave on Die Feen’s latest two tracks.
  • SPC ECO – Hello The prolific Dean Garcia (Curve) and his daughter, Rose Berlin, have manifested another electronic opus with gorgeous layered synths.
  • Chalk – Conditions III I am obsessed with Chalk. As I said in my “Favorite Music of 2024” list, Chalk would’ve fit in perfectly on Wax Tracks in the ‘90s. They’ve released another EP of thrumming industrial rock. I’m dying to see them live.

Top TV of ‘24

On By Amy Lordan-TrippIn Pop Culture, TelevisionLeave a comment

Here’s a list of my favorite TV shows from the past year and where you can find them.

  • Somebody Somewhere (Max)
  • Heartstopper (Netflix)
  • Ripley (Netflix)
  • The Empress (Netflix)
  • Agatha All Along (Disney+)
  • Hacks (Max)
  • The Bear (Hulu)
  • Dead Boy Detectives (Netflix)
  • Uzumaki (Cartoon Network/Max)
  • House of the Dragon (Max)
  • Doctor Who (Disney+)
  • What We Do In the Shadows (FX/Hulu)
  • The Boys (Prime)
  • Fargo (FX/Hulu)
  • Bridgerton (Netflix)
  • Curb Your Enthusiasm (Max)
  • Interview with the Vampire (AMC+)

October Bandcamp Friday Picks

On By Amy Lordan-TrippIn Music, Pop CultureLeave a comment

It’s already Bandcamp Friday again! On Friday, October 4, 2024, Bandcamp waives their revenue share and pass the funds directly onto artists and labels. Here are some tunes I implore you to check out!

Attic Ocean – the heavy blue and then after dark New shoegazers from Düsseldorf, Germany enrapture with this EP from 2023 as well as on their brand new single “Young Again.”

Glare – “Mourning Phase” The Texan outfit has released this new single that harkens back to ‘90s dream pop and shoegaze. Catch them next year at the Something In the Way fest at Roadrunner in Boston on February 2.

Wishy – Triple Seven Brazilian illustrator (and my pal!) Luciano introduced me to Wishy based on our common love of Ash. He was right; they sounded excellent! Full of power-pop vim and vigor. And then I realized that I’d be seeing them in February at Something In the Way. Lucky me!

Gillian Welch – Woodland Studios Another brilliant album of timeless bluegrass/folk from Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. See them on tour if you can. I was fortunate to work for their label’s distributor eons ago and every time I saw the duo was magical. I’m looking forward to seeing them in New Hampshire in December.

NewDad – Banshee EP Ireland’s NewDad released their debut album, MADRA, in January. This charming, indie pop EP is from 2022. Looking for something to celebrate casting your vote on Election Day? Go see them at the Middle East Upstairs in Cambridge, MA. Reminder: check to make sure you’re registered to vote at Vote.org.

Winter Gardens – “Moon Jockey” Britain’s Winter Gardens released this single last year. It sounds like Ladytron and Ladyhawke had a baby and I love it! They also have a smashing brand new single called “U/U.”

Ken Andrews – Secrets of the Lost Satellite The lush solo album from the man behind Failure is a must. It’s just been released as a high resolution download.

Year of the Rabbit – Year of the Rabbit Another Ken Andrews selection! This stellar album has also just been released as a high res download and it’s one of my all time favorite albums.