Gamma US レコード& CD

Review: Looking at Usher it seems as though he is somehow defying the ageing process. He looks as boyish and innocent now as he did some 20-odd years ago during his initial pomp. The American has legions of adoring fans who continue to swoon over his every super smooth verse and hooky vocal. Coming Home is the star's ninth full-length album and another irresistible blend of new soul and r&b that lands just ahead of his appearance at the legendary Super Bowl halftime show. What's more, this one comes on lovely limited peachy sky vinyl to make it all the more irresistible.

Review: The Colour Purple is one of those films that went against the odds in the wrong way - the second adaptation of Alice Walker's novel about a Black couple living in the Deep South around the turn of the 20th Century, it built on a legacy of acclaimed literature and cinema (Steven Spielberg's 1985 film), came with a strong cast and had $100million spent on it. Yet, after its release in 2023, despite great reviews and multiple award nominations, it grossed just $67million at the global box office. Musicals aren't for everyone, of course, although it's hard to find fault here. Songs range from super dramatic, almost tribal and certainly stage-filling epics, through to kitchen sink soul, roots, blues, R&B, hip hop, and power pop, and listening through even without the visual focus, leaves a big, long-lasting impression.