TV REVIEW: THE BEATLES ANTHOLOGY

4/5

The Anthology Album

9 Episodes. Starring: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison & Ringo Starr. Create By: The Beatles. On: Disney +.

Get back to Disney Plus, if you want to spend more time with The Beatles. Mickey Mouse has given the Fab Four from Liverpool a lot of real estate in Disneyland over the last few years. Almost like the Marvel of superheroes, Star Wars and, cue the clouds, 'The Simpsons'. Now, if you thought Taylor had her era here, and from 'The Final Show' of 'The Eras Tour', to 'The End Of An Era' six-episode docuseries coming at the same time, the biggest musician since John, Paul, George and Ringo really does, wait until you see these lads. 'The Lord Of The Rings' director Peter Jackson's almost nine-hour 'Get Back' documentary, taking a look at the making of their landmark last album 'Let It Be', and their final show on the rooftops of downtown London started it all, saving us in our social isolation, coming out of COVID. But over the last few years, Disney Plus have also given us the remastered 'Let It Be' documentary, thanks again to Jackson, and the year that was, the 'Beatles '64' epic. 

Count of more 'Help!' to come from The Beatles original movies before we get the fabulous four ones from Sam Mendes starring Harris Dickinson, Paul Mescal, Joseph Quinn and Barry Keoghan. Not to mention Saorise Ronan and 'Shogun's' Anna Sawai as Linda McCartney and Yoko Ono, respectively. A Starz Original on the streaming service even gives you McCartney's '3, 2, 1', with a little help from his legendary producer friend, Rick Rubin (The Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Johnny Cash's 'American Recordings'), but this is The Beatles 'Anthology' that you've been waiting for, created by the band itself. Nine episodes in the biographical docuseries like no other, not even Tay, Tay, gives us a backstage pass to the life and times and highs and lows of the greatest group of all-time. From studio creation to commercial success. Bowl cut to bohemian look. This Apple Corps series tells the tale of Beatlemania, from the scream of teens, to behind-the-scenes. All restored with love by Peter Jackson's Park Road Post.

The long and winding road of this eight-year band (that was it?!), that will last forever takes you through plenty of twists and turns through their eight day week. But all you need is to come together over the love. From coming to America, The Ed Sullivan Show and Shea Stadium, to causing uproar in Japan when they became the first band to play Tokyo's 1964 Olympic martial arts venue, the Nippon Budokan. Now a regular concert fixture in the city, this writer seeing Norah Jones and The Smashing Pumpkins there in just one-week, last September. But from The Cavern, to the Budokan, these Liverpool lads faced trouble in The Philippines when they didn't make a royal appointment for lunch. Frenzied fans full of tears are bound to break some hearts, and some thought that would be it for the Fab Four, but then 1967 came. And an outstanding output like nothing before, or since. After reloading the 'Revolver', they visited 'Sgt. Pepper's', a 'Magical Mystery Tour', all whilst giving us 'The White Album' and taking a real trip on a 'Yellow Submarine', before they crossed 'Abbey Road' to 'Let It Be'. And now, a new ninth episode reunites Paul, Ringo and the late George as they try to make new music with old Lennon recordings. One that you can hear, added to the anthology, now and then. Always to return. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'The Beatles - Get Back', 'The Beatles - Let It Be', 'Beatles '64'

TV REVIEW: TAYLOR SWIFT - THE END OF AN ERA (The 6 Episode Docuseries)/THE ERAS TOUR-THE FINAL SHOW

4/5 ('The End Of An Era')

5/5 ('The Final Show')

Era Redefining

Swiftly, the word "era" has become Taylor's. Even though all of us, not this 40-year-old though, are using it always to describe our everyday life. "I'm in my cream cheese on bagels era." No, you're not, Jack, you're just having a nice breakfast. Enjoy it, whilst we run to work with toast hanging out our mouths. We're in our, "oh DAMN! I'm late again" era. Don't let it go cold for Instagram. Seriously though, Taylor Swift is redefining everything. Music, culture, the economy of some countries. From rerecording her own albums to take back ownership of her masters from the man. To performing all of these albums, or eras, in concert for the biggest tour the world has ever seen on a sold-out stage across the hemisphere. The star who was born to do this is our generations Elvis. And coming out of the cage of COVID, we've never seen a tour quite like this, thank you very much.

I missed it here in Tokyo, but I could still feel the atmosphere outside of the Giants Dome that held Taylor's version two years back. Not sure if I regretted not taking up the offer to digitally pay for tickets from the various X accounts that would be suspended a day later. Anyone in attendance knew they were the lucky ones, mind you. Even the Japanese government reassured the watching world that Taylor would be here just days after she watched her now fiancée Travis Kelce win the Superbowl with his Kansas City Chiefs, like the jerseys that adorned the crowd. If you missed out on a once in a lifetime experience (how does she follow this?), then Disney Plus already has you covered with the concert movie to go along with Miss Americana's 'Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions', behind-the-scenes look at her quarantining to create one of her deepest and best albums to date. But last Christmas, Disney also gifted us with the mammoth three-and-a-half-hour final show of The Era's Tour from Canada's Vancouver, BC.

Now, if that wasn't enough, as a plus, the house of mouse has also given us another documentary to go along with Glen Weiss' great directed showstopper that's available in 4K and Dolby Atmos for all your home cinemas. Featuring, as a treat, the entire set of her album 'The Tortured Poet's Department', that we didn't get from the showgirl's previous set. But the real find for the fans is 'The End Of An Era', 'The 6 Episode Docuseries'. A backstage past to all the inner workings and planning that go into creating and crafting the biggest concert of all-time. Fondly featuring family and friends, this intimate and inspired doc also stars Gracie Abrams, Sabrina Carpenter, Florence Welch, Ed Sheeran, and of course, Travis. Around three quarter of an hour each, these episodes are epic, but they become something else when they introduce us to the cast and crew that Swift states she couldn't do without. Tears will be shed, like when Taylor was deeply affected by the attacks that happened in my hometown of Southport at a Taylor themed dance event for children. And we can't thank her enough for reaching out to meet the families. Purists will love the songwriting process. Fashionistas will say yes to the dress. Yet it's the Emmy worthy, standout episode for Marjorie that gets the most personal. An era to her own. World, welcome back to 'The Eras Tour'. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Taylor Swift - The Era's Tour (Taylor's Version)', 'Taylor Swift - Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions', 'Taylor Swift - Miss Americana'.

REVIEW: J. COLE - THE FALL-OFF

4/5

Fall Through

It's a cold world, but it's still a Cole one. Even if some fans lost respect for Jermaine when he gracefully bowed out of the big-three beef with Kendrick Lamar and Drake...but we all knew who the big he was anyway. Cole's move showed class like his concert speech. I'm just mad at him for saying that Kendrick fell-off "like 'The Simpsons'". I sit on that sofa every day after work to watch the Evergreen Terrace family. I know it ain't like it used to be, but I still love them the same. Well, falling through like coins in the couch (thank you, Drizzy), J. Cole is back with 'The Fall-Off'. His seventh seal and first album since 2012's all-star weekend of 'The Off-Season' coming in around the same time he got a SLAM cover and contract with the NBA's Africa league. Following his fourth mixtape, 'Might Delete Later' in 2024, that he took back like his K.Dot diss.

Preceded by the sensational single 'The Fall-Off Is Inevitable' and it's classic continuing and compelling music video, Cole purists are in for a treat, as 'The Fall-Off' is a double album. But wait...word on the street, confirmed by Cole, is that this double delight is actually his final studio album. Well, if that's so, he goes out with a bang! Like Kobe, there are 24 new tracks to remind you who the G.O.A.T. still might be. Conceived over a decade in a room that looks like the awe-inspiring artwork. Just one wooden easy chair and the hard work of a lot of wires, 808s, CDs and tapes in the deck. The instant vintage that powered Jermaine Cole to be the powerful platinum artist that he is and you can see in the amazing alternative artwork's perfect portrait. Beautiful beats ('Drum N Bass') and lasting lyrics ('Bombs In The Ville/Hit The Gas') lace these changing CD's, as J. Cole gives it up for various legends that came before him, covering and interpolating lyrics from the likes of DMX and OutKast.

This one hour and one-minute long album shows that 2026 is already going to be a big one, just one week into the second month. Coming seven days after the UK's finest Labrinth also gave us part one of a two disc special with his 'Cosmic Opera Act I', coming after last year's 'Prelude'. And Cole had his own precursing EP with last month's celebrated 'Birthday Bash' with DJ Clue. After the '29 Intro', featuring a serious sample of James Taylor's 'Carolina In My Mind', the NC rapper gives us what he's known best for, a hive of active lyrics that sting like a hornet's nest. The man that once boasted about having no features, also has uncredited cameos from Future ('Run A Train', 'Bunce Road Blues' (also with Tems)), Erykah Badu ('The Villest'), Petey Pablo ('Old Dog'), Burna Boy ('Only You') and Morray ('What If'). Not to mention, production from the legendary likes of The Alchemist and many, many more. From 'Two-Six', to the beautiful bonus of 'Ocean Way', the 'Safety' if off as Jermaine unleashes lines like, "Congruent with s### that I do to rhymers/On Deuteronomy, ain't s### n####s can do but honor me/What I'm quotin’ is God sculpted, come view the pottery" for all you 'Poor Thangs' like a "punk b####!"

The 'Legacy' has already been set for this legend of the game, but tracks like 'The Let Out' will make you wish for another album of the same name. Let it be so, Jermaine. Because it's 'Lonely At The Top', but it's never been this compelling. This player's tribune gives us a 'Life Sentence' of dedications ("My flow switch, slow the pace, this the Ma$e one/I'm not a player but I'm crushin' like the late Pun/Let's take one, go"). Pointing to the only one that can judge, the most high, as the 'Man Up Above' offers the terrific Saturday to Sunday, night to mo(ur)ning testament of, "Certainly are, while y'all prefer to be hard/Memories of my dog's wake, it's hurtin' me, y'all/The windows to his soul closed, saw its curtains be drawn/Innocent as a child, but weren't we all? Before the h##s and the smoke." 'I Love Her Again' takes you even further into the heart of a man who delves deeper. And even a 'Quik Stop' offers the quotables of, "We need to change our ways, doin' the same thing we did yesterday/Making beats, gettin' high, chasing freaks, feeling fine/It's still the same old s### (The same old s###), but I think we ain't gon' quit/Making a rhyme, climbing a hill, stayin' alive, tryin' to live." Wise words to ponder before that's it for all of us. Trust, 'and the whole world is the Ville' as Fayetteville's finest signs off with his last sports adjacent album. The Friday night lights are shut off, but the sideline story will still be told. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Playlist Picks: 'The Fall-Off Is Inevitable', 'Legacy', 'Ocean Way'.

Spin This: J. Cole - 'The Off-Season'