‘Love Stories (The Taylors Version #1)’ by Elizabeth Eulberg: Book Review

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

This book is a must for Taylor Swift fans. I compulsively read Love Stories (The Taylors Version #1) because I was so consumed with the characters, the drama, and the Taylor Swift Easter eggs. There’s even a nod to one of my favorite (non-Taylor) singers! Elizabeth Eulberg does an excellent job with the characters’ individual voices. I’ve been using Love Stories as a benchmark for other young adult novels with multiple narrators. The recommended age for ‘Love Stories’ is 12-18, and the content does skew young (they’re high school freshmen), so one should feel comfortable sharing with mature middle grade readers who have read Jen Calonita’s companion book The Taylors.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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.

Ash Go to the Stars with ‘Ad Astra’ Power Pop Opus

On By Amy Lordan-TrippIn Music, Power Pop1 Comment
L-R: Tim Wheeler, Rick McMurray, and Mark Hamilton of Ash / Photo courtesy of Ash

Ad Astra opens strongly with “Zarathustra,” which gives off Queen/Flash Gordon score energy. Yes-it’s the Zarathustra of Richard Strauss and 2001: A Space Odyssey fame, and it’s a banger! Other standout tracks include “Which One Do You Want?”, which is my new bisexual anthem, and “Fun People”- a massive earworm that features Graham Coxon of Blur. BTW, “Which One Do You Want” gives some delightful, jangly Johnny Marr vibes. My sentimental heart aches for “My Favourite Ghost.”

“Deadly Love” is a solid, classic Ash ballad. “Keep Dreaming” feels like what would happen if The Cars and Fountains of Wayne had a power pop baby. Adam Schlesinger would’ve loved it. The previously released cover of “Jump In the Line” finds a home on Ad Astra, though it feels like it should have been an ending track (or, if possible, a hidden track!). The trio attacks the song with the same spirited verve they had when they covered “Cantina Band” 30 years ago. “Dehumanised” has a brilliant bridge and continues the space theme with an ending that sounds like a rocket burning away.

The title track brings us back full circle with a return to the stars. Coxon makes his second appearance on the album’s charming closer. Ad Astra is definitely gonna be in my top five albums of 2025.

Bandcamp Friday Picks 10/3/25

On By Amy Lordan-TrippIn industrial, Music, Shoegaze, Synth PopLeave a comment

Hooray! It’s Bandcamp Friday again! My favorite semi-monthly holiday. Here’s what I’ll be picking up:

  • Sunlight Echoes (Pre-Order) by Whitelands – This album is scheduled for release on Sonic Cathedral in January 2026, which seems like forever away, but it’s actually not! Backing vocals on their track “Sparklebaby” by Emma Anderson, formerly of Lush and Sing-Sing, make this album a must for me.
  • THE BPM (Pre-Order) by Sudan Archives – Due for release on October 17, I’m pre-ordering THE BPM and also getting Sudan Archives’ previous release Athena. The intriguing Sudan Archives is the brainchild of violinist Brittney Denise Parks.
  • Songs For Switches (Pre-Order) by ʙʟᴀᴄᴋ ᴄʀᴏss ʜᴏᴛᴇʟ – This sumptuous industrial/darkwave album is being released on the perfect day: Halloween. The Chicago group features former members of Stabbing Westward and The Atlas Moth.
  • “Girl, so confusing” by Hinds – Once a quartet and now a duo, Hinds take their lo-fi brand of garage pop and put a unique spin on the Charli XCX hit.
  • Pratts & Pain by Royel Otis – I’m over a year behind on this one. “Sofa King” is so infectious, I have to get Pratts & Pain in addition to this year’s (Hickey), which, unfortunately, isn’t available on Bandcamp.
  • Caramel by Coach Party – Synthpop crossed with your favorite industrial-gloom-pop band. Maybe She Wants Revenge? With a dash of The Killers for good measure.
  • Is It Now? by Automatic – If you ever wondered what Ladytron would sound like if they were from Los Angeles, here is your answer and it is gorgeous!
  • “Little Black Dress” by Francis of Delirium – A new single from my favorite artist from Luxembourg.
  • “Doldrum Days” by Miki Berenyi Trio – If it’s new music from a former member of Lush, I’m going to buy it. Lush is pretty much my all-time favorite band. 🤷🏻‍♀️
  • Bury the Key by TOPS – My friend, Phillip, made me curious about this album when he described it as “breezy.” (If you knew Phillip, you’d realize how good an artist would have to be for him to be into a “breezy” sound.) Indeed, Bury the Key is lovely! It sounds like dream pop with a hint of yacht rock.
  • Dance Called Memory by Nation of Language – Upon first listen, I was like, “This sounds incredible.” And then I realized that I was bewitched by the nostalgia of my goth days in college. I’m fine with that. Recommended for fans of Future Bible Heroes.
  • All That Is Over by Sprints – If you haven’t heard the Sprints’ debut, Letter to Self, you need to fix that. After you’ve bought that barn burner, put your headphones on and listen to their sophomore effort. They manage that soft-loud-soft angst so well. And do try to catch them on tour. I’ve already got tickets for their February 3, 2026 show at The Sinclair in Cambridge, MA.
  • Adult Romantix by Winter – It’s shimmering-twee-shoegaze-indie pop and that’s for me!

California Songs

On By Amy Lordan-TrippIn MusicLeave a comment

I’m heading west to Los Angeles next week, so I’m updating my “California Adventure” playlist. Following is my current list of songs about L.A. and/or California. Some popular songs are omitted because I’m just not a fan of the artist (Sorry, RHCP fans!) or I’ve heard them one too many times (i.e., “California Girls”). My playlist starts with “Intro,” which is a bit of dialogue from the Gregg Araki film Nowhere. It’s spoken by actor James Duval and is sourced from the soundtrack. The second track is “Back to Cali,” by LL Cool J, but after that, it’s pretty much a jumble that fills ten hours. The playlist can also be found on Apple Music.

  • “Pacific Ocean Blue” – A
  • “Hollywood Sunset” – Barry Adamson
  • “Escape From Los Angeles” – AFI
  • “Angel In L.A.” – Kelli Ali
  • “Maybe California” – Tori Amos
  • “Pacific Palisades” – Ash
  • “Tinseltown” – Ash
  • “Hollywood Bowl” – Band of Skulls
  • “California” – beabadoobee
  • “California Saga (On My Way To Sunny Californ-I-A)” – The Beach Boys
  • “Ms. California” – Beach Bunny
  • “Blue Jay Way” – The Beatles
  • “California Nights” – Best Coast
  • “The Only Place” – Best Coast
  • “Los Angeles” – The Bird and The Bee
  • “Los Angeles” – Frank Black
  • “California” – Perry Blake
  • “I Won’t Go Hollywood” – Bleu
  • “California” – Blink-182
  • “Los Angeles” – Blink-182
  • “Hello L.A. Bye Bye Birmingham” – Blue Cheer
  • “California Stars” – Billy Bragg & Wilco
  • “Drinking In L.A.” Bran Van 3000
  • “Tangerine” – Buffalo Tom
  • “Cowboys From Hollywood” – Camper Van Beethoven
  • “In California” – Neko Case
  • “All the Gold In California” – Nick Cave & Warren Ellis
  • “Thoughts” – Charli XCX
  • “California Man” – Cheap Trick
  • “California” – CHVRCHES
  • “Beverly Hills” – Circle Jerks
  • “California” – CMAT
  • “Still In Hollywood” – Concrete Blonde
  • “California” – Copeland (But it’s also about Florida)
  • “Malibu” – Miley Cyrus
  • “Party In the USA” – Miley Cyrus
  • “Hooray for Hollywood” – Doris Day
  • “California” – Lana Del Rey
  • “Did You Know There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd.” – Lana Del Rey
  • “Freak” – Lana Del Rey
  • “West Coast” – Lana Del Rey
  • “California” – Dressy Bessy
  • “Oh My California” – Drinking Boys and Girls Choir
  • “Hotel California” – Eagles
  • “San Berdoo Sunburn” – Eagles of Death Metal
  • “Wannabe In LA” – Eagles of Death Metal
  • “Californiamiut (Going to California)” – Elisapie
  • “Like a California King” – Everclear
  • “Santa Monica” – Everclear
  • “Mulholland Dr.” – Failure
  • “Funtimes In Babylon” – Father John Misty
  • “Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings” – Father John Misty
  • “Leaving LA” – Father John Misty
  • “L.A. Song” – Fischerspooner
  • “California Sex Lawyer” – Fountains of Wayne
  • “Hollywood Nites” – Kim Fowley
  • “California Crossing” – Fu Manchu
  • “When Evening Falls On Tinseltown” – Future Bible Heroes
  • “Soarin’”- Jerry Goldsmith
  • “Sunset Blvd” – Selena Gomez & benny blanco
  • “California (The Way I Say I Love You)” – Good Charlotte
  • “California Nights” – Lesley Gore
  • “Hollywood” – Gorillaz feat. Snoop Dogg & Jamie Principle
  • “California” – Grimes
  • “It Never Rains In Southern California” – Albert Hammond
  • “Please Please Please (Young Hollywood)” – Head Automatica
  • “Miss California” – The Heavy
  • “Liquid California” – Heretix
  • “LAX” – Kristin Hersh
  • “Hollywood In Winter” – Hex
  • “Malibu” – Hole
  • “Pacific Coast Highway” – Hole
  • “California Took My Bobby Away” – Holy Wave
  • “L.A. Woman” – Billy Idol
  • “Winter In L.A.” – Japanese Breakfast
  • “California Via Tennessee” – Shooter Jennings & Hierophant
  • “Hollywood” – Junkyard
  • “Whirling Eye” – The Kills
  • “Celluloid Heroes” – The Kinks
  • “California” – Lenny Kravitz
  • “California” – L.A. Guns
  • “California” – Ladytron
  • “Creepin’ Coastline of Lights” – Mark Lanegan
  • “Death’s Head Tattoo” – Mark Lanegan
  • “California and Me” – Laufey
  • “Castle In Hollywood” – Laufey
  • “Hollywood Is Just a Dream When You’re Seventeen” – Amanda Lear
  • “Going to California” – Led Zeppelin
  • “It’s Sunny Outside” – Letters to Cleo
  • “Hollywood Lawn” – Jenny Lewis
  • “New In Town” – Little Boots
  • “Going Back to Cali” – LL Cool J
  • “California Songs” – Local H (This is my last musical track of the playlist!)
  • “Los Angelenos” – The Lost Vegas
  • “California” – Loudermilk
  • “Sunset Strip” – Courtney Love
  • “California” – Low
  • “California (All the Way) – Luna
  • “Californian Dreamin'” – The Mamas and the Papas
  • “Hollywood Babylon” – The Misfits
  • “Walking In L.A.” – Missing Persons
  • “West Hollywood” – MØ
  • “Sweet L.A.” – Morcheeba
  • “Hotel California” – Nerf Herder
  • “I Love L.A.” – Randy Newman
  • “Growin’ Up In California” -Night Ranger
  • “Hollywood Baby” – 100 Gecs
  • “California Blue” – Roy Orbison
  • “West Coast Serenade” – Palmdale
  • “Outta Time” – Orville Peck
  • “California” – Phantom Planet
  • “Hollywood Perfume” – The Pretenders
  • “Burn Hollywood Burn” – Public Enemy feat. Ice Cube & Big Daddy Kane
  • “Electrolite” – R.E.M.
  • “I Remember California” – R.E.M.
  • “Down Rodeo” – Rage Against the Machine
  • “California Sun” – Ramones
  • “Ode to L.A.” – The Raveonettes feat. Ronnie Spector
  • “Pink Pony Club” – Chappell Roan
  • “Leaving Los Feliz” – Mark Ronson
  • “California Paradise” – The Runaways
  • “Hollywood” – The Runaways
  • “I Love LA” – Skee-Lo
  • “Losing California” – Sloan
  • “L.A.” Elliott Smith
  • “California (Hustle & Flow)” – Social Distortion
  • “Highway 101” – Social Distortion
  • “Riot On Sunset Strip” – The Standells
  • “I Love LA” – Starcrawler
  • “California, I Love That Name” – Stars
  • “This Hollywood Life” – Suede
  • “Back to California” – Sugarcult
  • “Los Angeles” – Sugarcult
  • “California Nights” – Sweet
  • “Come to California” – Matthew Sweet
  • “Hollywood (Down On Your Luck)” – Thin Lizzy
  • “I Left My Wallet In El Segundo” – A Tribe Called Quest
  • “California Love” – 2Pac feat. Dr. Dre
  • “Malibu” – Sharon Van Etten
  • “Promising Actress” – John Vanderslice
  • “So at Last” – Butch Walker
  • “To Live and Die In L.A.” – Wang Chung
  • “California Fade” – Anna Waronker
  • “California” – The Wedding Present
  • “Beverly Hills” – Weezer
  • “California Kids” – Weezer
  • “L.A. Girlz” – Weezer
  • “La Brea Tar Pits” – Weezer
  • “Living In L.A.” – Weezer
  • “Delicious Things” – Wolf Alice
  • “Los Angeles” – X
  • “The Destruction of Laurel Canyon” – Youth Group
  • “Valley Girl” – Frank Zappa
  • “(Go to) California” – Rob Zombie