Dusty Mag

Kokoroko is adding to the summer heat with their latest album, Tuff Times Never Last. The upcoming long play will be the London-based septet’s second studio album since their debut release in 2022.

Based on a press release, the band shared that the project “explores togetherness, community, sensuality, childhood, loss, and above all, perseverance.”

The LP is expected to have 11 tracks, including Never Lost, Sweetie, Close To Me, My Father in Heaven, Idea 5 (Call My Name), Three Piece Suit, Time and Time, Da Du Dah, Together We Are, Just Can’t Wait, and Over / Reprise.

Across several songs, fans can expect a variety of offerings. Specifically, Kokoroko delivers afrobeat-meets-jazz sound, bossa nova, funk, neo-soul, and lover’s rock.

“Innately, we’re jazz musicians, but we’ve tried not to kind of box ourselves into one sound,” Sheila Maurice-Grey says regarding their upcoming project.

To kick off the album, the band recently released their new single, Sweetie. They have also announced the official dates of their summer tour.

Tuff Times Never Last will be available on July 11 via Brownswood Recordings.

Arcade Fire is officially returning to the music scene with their latest album, Pink Elephant. It will be the Canadian indie rock band’s first long-play release in three years.

Prior to the LP announcement, the band kept a relatively low profile. This is due to front man Win Butler facing sexual misconduct allegations in 2022. Now, the band is ready for their comeback and a seemingly new beginning.

Their upcoming album is preceded by a single called Year of the Snake, which “represents a time for renewal, positive transformation, and new beginnings,” says the announcement as reported by Hypebeast.

In line with this, the announcement explained that the title Pink Elephant refers to “that paradoxical effect where the effort to suppress a thought leads to it being impossible to avoid.” 

The forthcoming album will feature 10 tracks, including Open Your Heart or Die Trying, Pink Elephant, Year of the Snake, Circle of Trust, Alien Nation, Beyond Salvation, Ride or Die, I Love Her Shadow, She Cries Diamond Rain, and Stuck In My Head.

Slated to release under Columbia Records, Pink Elephant will drop on May 9.

James Gunn, along with DC Comics and Warner Bros, hints at a new beginning for their cinematic universe in a five-minute sneak peek at the forthcoming Superman film. The first look was initially revealed earlier this week during the Comic-Con in Las Vegas.

After being appointed Co-Chief Executive Officer of DC Studios, Gunn’s upcoming Man of Steel movie will be the first feature film to hit the big screen.

David Corenswet Embodies the Core of Superman

The five-minute preview opens in an icy scene, where Superman (played by David Corenswet) is lying, beaten up, and bleeding. Then, he whistles, calling his pet dog Kypto for help. When it arrived, Superman asked Krypto to bring him home. The dog pulled him to the Fortress of Solitude, where a group of robots carried him for fixing. Consequently, Superman continuously expressed his gratitude, to which the robots responded, “No need to thank us, sir, as we will not appreciate it.” Nevertheless, Superman continued to show his appreciation, embodying the superhero‘s uninhibited kindness and altruism.

Towards the end of the trailer, the last son of Krypton is showcasing what he does best — saving the world. Contrary to most trailers, the sneak peek did not end with any title card. It closes by showing the “S” symbol, lowkey bragging that everyone knows who Superman is.

A New Superman Era

Generally, the sentiment towards the new film and actor is positive, which is crucial as it hopes to bounce back from the “failures” of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). While the DCEU had its loyal fan base, most Superman fans wanted to see the classic take on the character. The chatter always centered on Zack Snyder’s Superman being dark, gritty, and too serious. Now, Gunn and Corenswet’s rendition of the iconic superhero could be the most heartwarming, implying a brighter future.

Moreover, Gunn seemingly added his signature style to pave the way for a newly imagined DC universe. According to DC Studios, the cinematic universe now blends “epic action, humor, and heart, delivering a Superman who’s driven by compassion and an inherent belief in the goodness of humankind.”

The film cast includes Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Edi Gathegi, and many more.

Look up! Superman will fly into cinemas on July 11.

Tom Cruise, once again, showcases his unwavering commitment to delivering death-defying stunts in the official trailer of Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning. The film will be the eighth installment in the blockbuster franchise, which was based on the television series created by Bruce Geller.

Ethan Hunt’s Most Dangerous Mission Yet (Should he choose to accept)

In the latest trailer for the highly-anticipated movie, Ethan Hunt (played by Tom Cruise) will run into his inevitable destiny. Picking up from where the previous film ended, Hunt will be leading his IMF team against a formidable artificial intelligence known as the Entity. However, the villain claims that his team has been betrayed and that all secrets are compromised. In line with this, several scenes display Hunt in handcuffs, seemingly being arrested — with everyone going against him. As one character states, “If we want to bring the world back from the brink, we have to deal with him.”

As expected, the Final Reckoning trailer shows Tom Cruise performing exhilarating stunts, including dangling from a plane, jumping into the ocean from an aircraft, going underwater in a submarine sequence, and more dangerous running.

A Visionary Team Delivers Another Thrilling Mission

Christopher McQuarrie worked as the director of Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning and co-produced it with Tom Cruise. Moreover, McQuarrie and Erik Jendresen wrote the screenplay. Furthermore, the film’s executive producers include David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, and Chris Brock.

Along with Tom Cruise, the film stars Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Angela Bassett, Pom Klementieff, Esai Morales, Mariela Garriga, Henry Czerny, Holt McCallany, Janet McTeer, Hannah Waddingham, Nick Offerman, Shea Whigham, Tramell Tillman, Charles Parnell, Greg Tarzan Davis, Lucy Tulugarjuk, Rolf Saxon, and Mark Gatiss.

The Final Mission

There is no concrete announcement from anyone that this is going to be the final movie in the iconic franchise. However, the film trailer and the title hint that it could end the adventure of the IMF. Nevertheless, Cruise and McQuarrie have always played their cards close to their chests, so anything is possible. For now, fans can hold on to what Ethan Hunt said in the trailer, “I need you to trust me — one last time.”

Filmed for IMAX, Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning will hit theaters on May 23.