Staff Picks: Must-See Albums, Books, and Series

Another week, another batch of staff picks!

A monochrome illustration of a person's face surrounded by roses and hands holding a chain.

The Romantic by Bruno Mars

It’s been nearly a decade since Bruno Mars’ last LP and he looks like he hasn’t changed much since then. But he is one of those rare artists like Adele or Enya, who can get away with making us wait for long periods of time for more of the same, as long as it continues to be this good. Catchy and flawlessly produced, The Romantic is 30 minutes of pure pop pleasure. – Sean Farrell

Two people engaged in a serious conversation, with a focus on their facial expressions. One person is looking intently, while the other appears surprised, set against a backdrop of a window with soft curtains.

His & Hers by Alice Feeney

After listening to Alice Feeney’s His & Hers audiobook on Hoopla, I had to give the 6-episode limited series of the same name a watch on Netflix. As usual, I have to say the book was better. Both are centered on a story told in his, hers and someone else’s opinion. Who is telling the truth and what is really happening? Both keep you on the edge of your seats and guessing as to what is happening throughout! – Barbara Brewster

BOOK / AUDIOBOOK:

LIMITED SERIES:

A person wearing a black hooded cloak and a ghostly white mask, known as the 'Scream' mask, standing in a dimly lit environment.

Scream 7

Is the seventh installment in this long running slasher / whodunnit series likely to be as good as the first? No. But with original screenwriter Kevin Williamson back in charge, it should at least keep fans happy. Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox return to try and elude yet another Ghostface killer while trying to determine just who is under the mask. Not every horror movie needs to be Sinners or Hereditary, so just sit back and enjoy the violent ride. – SF

A person holding a black gaming storage device with a USB connector, featuring labels and icons.

Video Store•Age

Collectors of movies on physical media like DVD or Blu-ray sometimes wonder what the next big format upgrade could be. It’s unlikely to be another disc, as it looks like 4K Blu-ray is about as information dense as they can become. Whether they were looking to take that mantle or just to release something quirky and collectible, Video Store•Age may have stumbled upon it regardless: proprietary, encrypted USB drives.

Founded by CEO Ash Cook, a long-time Sundance Film Festival programmer, the company sells their drives in select retailers and online at https://www.videostoreage.com. They launched this Winter with 5 acclaimed films: Caveh Zahedi’s Higher Education, Vera Drew’s The People’s Joker, Sam Feder’s Heightened Scrutiny, L. Frances Henderson’s This Much We Know, and Michelle Tea’s Valencia along with 5 short films. Working with indie studios like Oscilloscope Laboratories and Utopia Distribution, this format shows a lot of potential. It does require users to plug it into a PC or Mac to view it, which itself would need to be cast or plugged into a TV to view that way. The current films are in 1080p High Definition, though COO Aidan Dick said via email that the format can support 4K resolution or anything that the H.264 codec can handle. It’s an interesting idea and one that I could easily see becoming a big deal. If I get my hands on one I’ll let you all know how the experience goes. – SF

Close-up view of a textured surface resembling scales or organic materials in a dark setting, with hints of blue and green colors.

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters

The first season of Apple TV’s MonsterVerse series was a silly, spectacular blast. Season 2 promises more thrilling kaiju action on a scale that is not often seen on the small screen. Premiering today to positive reviews, fans of Godzilla, King Kong, and their assorted friends and foes will not want to miss it. Just make sure to check out Season 1 first! – SF