Rare Round-Up: Entertainment News of the Week (01/12/2023)

As we gear up for Christmas and the festivities are in full swing, let us take you through what’s been happening in the movies, in music and games. Whether you’re wanting to know about the latest news in entertainment or you’re somebody who is doing the last bits of the Christmas shopping (or the first bits!), you’ll find something of interest below, I’m sure.

As always, Fridays mean new (and remastered) music, but this week’s lone release of actual new music is Peter Gabriel’s I/O, marking the former Genesis frontman’s tenth solo album and the first collection of new material since 2002’s Up. Gabriel began planning what would become I/O as early as the year 2000, but was subject to delays, re-recordings and reworkings until its eventual completion 23 years later.

As for remasters, ABBA have a number of singles with limited edition releases featuring picture disc with imagery from the band’s original era as well as B-side companion tracks. Namely, The Day Before You Came, One of Us, Head Over Heels and Under Attack.

Metallica’s second studio album Ride the Lightning is riding to coloured vinyl. Originally released in 1984, the album showcased Metallica’s growth and lyrical sophistication, expanding their material past the beyond sound of which they are best known.

The latest album by P!nk, Trustfall; released earlier this year, is landing on vinyl in an expanded edition. As well as the critically acclaimed album, the Tour Deluxe Edition features six live recordings from her 2023 Summer Carnival Stadium Tour as well as two covers, specifically Sade's No Ordinary Love and Sinead O'Connor's Nothing Compares 2 U with Brandi Carlile; and two new singles, including Dreaming, which is a collaboration with Marshmello and Sting.

The Corrs’ greatest hits album from 2001, which covered their first 3 albums and hit double platinum success is also getting a remaster this week. The expanded reissue features 21 tracks including the hits 'Breathless', 'Runaway', 'What Can I Do', 'Radio', 'Dreams' and more.

Nelly Furtado’s third studio album, the 2006 multi-platinum Loose is still held as one of the biggest and best Pop albums of the era. Now, it’s getting long-awaited arrival on 2LP vinyl.

For you 80s kids out there that frequented the dancefloors, NOW are hitting us with the aptly titled NOW That’s What I Call 80s Dancefloor: Disco and Electro. It features KC and the Sunshine Band, Whitney Houston and many, many more across two discs.

In film and TV, it’s been a quieter week than usual. The biggest home video release this week comes from BBC’s Doctor Who and the Time Lord’s incarnations of David Tennant and Christoper Eccleston who donned the suit and sonic screwdriver between 2005 and 2010. Eccleston was the first incarnation of the “New Who” series upon its revival after having ceased production in 1989, and has continued to become one of the most successful and most beloved sci-fi franchises of all time. With brand new box art, art cards and included all episodes and specials, as well as bonus features all in glorious upscaled high definition!

In other news, the first trailer for the Mad Max spin-off featuring Furiosa hit YouTube. Originally portrayed by Charlize Theron in 2015s Mad Max: Fury Road, this is the story of a younger Furiosa in the form of Anya Taylor-Joy as she continues to sky-rocket to the top of the Hollywood ladder. The prequel also features Chris Hemsworth as the villainous Warlord Dementus and the trailer promises more of the post-apocalyptic action that blew our minds in the Tom Hardy-led Fury Road.

Taylor-Joy isn’t the only one facing the apocalypse though as Jodie Comer stars in The End We Start From, which also had a trailer drop this week. Set in London as it is hit by a huge flood which covers the capital in a sea of dirty water. That being terrifying and tough enough to traipse through, Comer’s character, simply referred to as “Mother”, also has a baby to take care of through these events. Jodie Comer is another star who has seen a considerable rise, and this marks her first leading role on the big screen.

What are you most excited about this week?