Summer pop includes new Young album.
Ridley Scott and Neil Young herald return of summer
The dog days of summer will soon be upon us. Sure, you could spend them lounging in the sun. But why not hide away indoors and watch Tom Cruise vamp it up as a tattooed, hairmetal rocker, or watch Christopher Meloni vamp it up as the new fang on the block on HBO’s True Blood. And if you do venture into the great outdoors, be sure to bring along the buzzworthy music of the summer — from Neil Young to Justin Bieber. (You don’t need to hear the birds chirping, your life isn’t a Disney movie.)
Here are the must-see entertainment trends and premières from June through August.
MOVIE S
Blockbusters with brains: Prometheus (June 8) and The Dark Knight Rises (July 20). Prometheus is Sir Ridley Scott’s return to science fiction and his return, of sorts, to his iconic 1979 film Alien. Starring Charlize Theron and Noomi Rapace, Prometheus is a pseudo-prequel about a human ship’s search for a civilization that once visited Earth. (The script is written by Lost’s Damon Lindelof, so let’s pray said planet is NOT home to a race of smoke monsters.) Meanwhile, Batman is back — blacker and battier than ever — to relegate the Thors and Hulks of the world to the superhero sandbox. Director Christopher Nolan’s final Batman effort promises more of the adult themes and philosophical underpinnings that made The Dark Knight so Oscar-worthy — and Anne Hathaway in a catsuit is for all of us troglodytes. Meow.
Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter (June 22): What’s that? You didn’t realize the 16th president of the United States was also a vampire slayer? Well put that history book down — all the facts you need are on in this big screen “biography”! (I predict Hollywood does Dick Cheney Unicorn Hunter next).
Rock of Ages (June 15) and Total Recall (Aug. 3). When I first looked at the season’s listings, I was confused. I assumed Total Recall was a Cruise documentary in which the actor tried to remind us that he used to be famous. Turns out, Total Recall is a remake of the 1990 film from Arnold Schwarzenegger — this time Colin Farrell gets to play all the sci-fi mind games. Meanwhile, the film Rock of Ages could mark Cruise’s resurrection as a megastar. The actor is at his finest when toying with elements of his own public persona ( Magnolia, Eyes Wide Shut). Cruise playing a perpetually shirtless, sexed-up, semi-crazed ’80s hair-metal musician just might be the summer’s scene-stealer.
The Amazing Spider-Man (July 3). Tobey who? Andrew Garfield ( The Social Network) was born to play the worldfamous webslinger. He first donned Spidey’s costume at age three, and an emailed family photo of the incident helped Garfield land his dream role. (Since hearing this news, I’ve been emailing a photo of myself in a George Clooney mask to casting agents around Hollywood. Being George Clooney is MY dream role). To further get your Spidey senses tingling, Emma Stone plays the comic book hero’s first, illfated love, Gwen Stacy.
The Lizard, one of SpiderMan’s most iconic villains, makes his big-screen debut in this 3-D franchise reboot. Comebacks: Fiona Apple ( The Idler Wheel ..., June 19), Smashing Pumpkins ( Oceania, June 18) and Alanis Morissette ( Havoc and Bright Lights, Aug. 28). The dark damsel Fiona returns — and it’s safe to assume she’s still feeling like a criminal. Her full album title?: The Idler Wheel is Wiser than the Driver of the Screw, and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do. (We’re glad to have your undeniable talents back, but maybe work on the whole album naming thing?) Meanwhile, the Smashing Pumpkins’s Billy Corgan may pull a “Tom Cruise” on the music front this season — reminding people he used to be famous, too. And, finally, you oughta know Alanis, but we haven’t heard from her since 2008. In the meantime, Feist has usurped top spot on the pantheon of Canadian songstresses. Oldies but goodies: Aerosmith ( Music From Another Dimension, Aug. 28), The Beach Boys ( That’s Why God Made The Radio, June 5), Rush ( Clockwork Angels, June 12). Finally, the entity known as Steven Tyler explained in an album title — I always knew he was from another dimension. Meanwhile, Brian Wilson is lying in bed no longer, as the Boys of California are back with a new album and world tour. And finally, lovers of Geddy Lee’s voice can line up like clockwork for a new Rush album. Like father, like son?: Usher ( Looking 4 Myself, June 12) is poised to do battle on the charts with his young musical protege, Justin Bieber ( Believe, June 19). Usher’s first single off the new album was called Climax and Bieber’s album single contains the refrain “If I could just die in your arms, I wouldn’t mind.” Bieber may be 18, and a Young Skywalker to Usher’s Darth Vader, but he clearly has yet to go over to the dark side of the (pop) force.
Neil Young and Crazy Horse (and other Cancon): I refuse to classify Neil Young as an oldie but goody. He gets his own category. Shakey reunites with Crazy Horse for their first album together in nearly nine years, set for release on Tuesday. Americana lives up to its title, offering their take on songs drawn from the American folk music tradition — including Woody Guthrie’s This Land is Your Land and 19thcentury classic ditties such as Clementine, Wayfarin’ Stranger and She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain. Meanwhile, new offerings on June 12 from Metric ( Synthetica) and Wintersleep ( Hello Hum), two of the best indie acts in this country.