I’ll be honest — I needed a break. A mix of big life transitions, burnout, and good weather had me take an impromptu vacation from writing this newsletter. While I felt frustrated that I wasn’t putting anything out for two months, I realized I needed some time to catch up on reading, find movies worth mentioning, and expand my listening habits.
Thank you for still staying subscribed to my newsletter or for checking out this post. I’m also working on other writing assignments that I’m excited to share with you and my community. So, thank you for sticking around. Now, onto the reviews.
BOOK: Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell -⭐⭐⭐⭐
At first, reading Cultish as someone who didn’t grow up in the States was a bit confusing. Eventually, Montell provides condensed yet in-depth accounts of the US’ history with cults — more specifically, how US history and the role of language have led to prolific organized fanaticism.
Cultish includes an interesting selection of cults from Jonestown, Scientology, to Peloton. However, Montell misses the opportunity to include some of the most discussed cults in the US today. She references former President Trump’s verbal tendencies but fails to dedicate a chapter to the cult/s he has sparked. To keep the momentum of beginning with Jonestown and Heaven’s Gate, Montell could have ended with a chapter on a cult that has a more detrimental impact on the general US population instead of trendier and more palatable cults born out of lifestyle Internet culture.
But Montell excels in humanizing former and current cult members by not writing about them as anomalies of society. She includes many interviews that provide insight into how different types of people could be convinced to join cults, big or small. Even Montell herself shares her own near-recruitment experiences. The variety in cults and interviews shows the weight language has on creating and maintaining these groups. In concise and witty writing, Montell makes a sound argument on how new vocabulary tied with power dynamics can serve as recruitment and reinforcement in cults.
MOVIE: On the Count of Three (2021) - ⭐⭐
Val is desperate to get away from his strained family ties, uncertain romance, and dead-end job - even if it means death. Hearing that his best friend Kevin had a recent suicide attempt, Val comes up with an ambitious plan: break Kevin out of his psychiatric facility so both of them can kill each other.
On the Count of Three hinges on the conversations between the friends, whether it’s planning for their deaths, reminiscing about their childhood, or arguing with each other’s logic. But it feels theatrical and overdone when they talk about their suicides. The seriousness in Val’s eyes is too much to the point that it’s not believable.
What is believable is when Kevin admits he has never used a gun before and will “just vibe it out”. They express their fear of being lumped together with mass shooters; although as a black man, Val says he won’t be. Val reprimands Kevin’s cliche way to prepare to end it all — by playing “Last Resort” by Papa Roach in the car.
The film rushed through all of these lighter, comedic but essential moments. Along with last-minute revelations, it was difficult to connect and root for Val and Kevin, which is exactly what the viewer needs to do for a movie, especially where the stakes are life and death, to have an emotional impact.
MUSIC: Loving in Stereo by Jungle (2021) - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I have mentioned in past newsletters about my music slump. But listening to Loving in Stereo by Jungle had me excited to listen to music again. For their third album, the British duo draws inspiration from the 70s to produce hi-fi disco and funk tracks. With tasteful and smart composition and instrumentation, Loving in Stereo is an enthralling and cinematic listening experience.
Immediately, the listener is introduced to dramatic strings and ethereal vocals with the first track. These elements, paired with upbeat percussion, funky bass lines, and electronic special effects, are what make “Keep Moving”, “All of the Time”, “Lifting You”, and “Can’t Stop the Stars” the best tracks in the album. These songs sound full but not overcrowded. The energy is consistent and the ball is never dropped. Yet, even with a slower and more stripped-down song like “Goodbye My Love”, the song gives room to featured artist Priya Ragu’s warm, sultry, and mesmerizing vocals.
Besides getting the instruments and vocals right, Jungle captures their 70s sounds by committing to recording their own samples. I was in disbelief at my first listen that these weren’t samples. With all this, Jungle is one of the few contemporary artists that can impart the soul and emotion of the 70s through such a fun and spirited album.